AU ending to the movie X men: first class. Charles convinces Eric to change his mind during the beach-scene. First chapter revised hopefully without most of my typos now ;)

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"No, Eric. You did this." Charles' usually calm voice sounded rough and unsteady due to the pain of his injury and regret over the betrayal of his friend. His closest friend, a man he had thought of as a brother. In this moment the pain in his back wasn't nearly as overwhelming as the mental pain because of what Eric had done.

And his friend understood. He released Moira from his death grip and she fell into the sand coughing and struggling for breath. Eric didn't notice. His whole attention was focused on Charles who lay in his lap his head and neck supported by Eric's hand.

He had failed again. Hadn't been able to protect Charles just like he hadn't been able to save and protect his mother. Although his powers had developed so very much since that day in Shaw's office, the one man he considered his family was lying on the beach somewhere in Cuba and he had failed to protect him. Worse. He had been the cause for his injury.

As he looked into those piercing blue eyes Eric realized one thing. If it hadn't been for Charles he would be dead now. He would probably have drowned that night when he tried to stop Shaw's submarine. If Charles hadn't jumped into the water and pulled him out of his rage and back to reality he'd be gone for good. And the young professor had told the furious German something he had always remembered since that night.

You're not alone. Eric, you're not alone.

It had reminded him so much of his mother telling him that everything was going to be okay. The only difference was that back there in this office when he tried to move the penny he hadn't believed his mother. Somehow he'd known that she would die, that he wouldn't be able to move the coin. But with Charles telling him he wasn't the only one and offering his company to Eric the mutant knew he wouldn't have to fight Shaw on his own.

Shaw's got friends. You could do with some, too.

Yes, and Charles had become the closest one of all. His brother.

And he couldn't lose him.

"That's what they want us to do. Turning against each other. But we are brothers. We want the same thing, Charles."

Tears welled up in the professor's eyes and made the blue almost fluorescent.

"Oh, my friend. I am sorry, but we do not." Charles answered, his breath hitching from the pain. He clenched his jaw and looked right into Eric's eyes. The regret he saw there was raw and pure. Sometimes he could read his friend's thoughts without his telepath ability just like an open book.

It had been like this back at the mansion when he had accessed the brightest part of Eric's memories. Every emotion the man felt had been written all over his face. It seemed a lifetime ago, the two of them standing outside on the terrace, Eric trying to move the satellite. And even after all that happened Charles was still convinced that there was some good in his friend. Even after he had shot him, Charles would be glad to help Eric and show him the kindness, the empathy and the fine humor that lay buried deep in his best friend's soul.

But he was afraid that he wouldn't get the chance to do this. Eric had his plans and he was corrupted by his angry and evil thoughts. He actually thought of himself as a monster and he saw no way out of this for himself. On top of that he was still wearing this stupid helmet so Charles had no access to his thoughts. Eric would leave. They were never going to sort this out between them.

Charles' answer echoed in Eric's head.

"I am sorry, but we do not."

No, they didn't, did they. He wanted to make sure that history wouldn't repeat itself. That mankind never enslaved certain people again just because of their genes. He wanted to prevent that mutants would become mere numbers like he did, during the Nazi regime. He would fight for their rights and freedom. Charles just wanted... Yeah, what was it that Charles wanted? Certainly not enslavement for his kind. Eric was sure of that. Charles was the one who cared the most about what happened with other mutants. That's why he and Eric had searched for them. Also to satisfy the CIA and prevent a war but mostly because he wanted to let others know about their abilities and their real personalities. Who they were supposed to be. How to use and control their powers. Hell, Charles had even taught him how to manage his ability and here he was thinking that his friend didn't care about what happened to the mutant society. That was ridiculous, wasn't it?

Charles had closed his eyes and focused on his ragged breathing. The pain was getting stronger and he was beginning to feel the effects of blood loss. But those weren't the only reasons why he concentrated so hard and tried to block out everything else. Any time now Eric would release his hold on him, lay him down and back off. He would leave; that was for sure. But the moments passed and nothing happened. A spark of hope ignited in Charles chest despite of all the pain and he opened his eyes to look at Eric. And there it was. Doubt was lingering in those grey-green eyes which were fixed on something only his friend could see.

"Eric." Charles voice brought him back to reality and their eyes locked. "Take off that helmet. Let me..." He struggled for air and Eric readjusted the hold on his friends neck and head so he could breathe more easily. "Let me help you." he finished, brought a hand up and placed it on Eric's shoulder. "You know I can do that." Eric took the hand and put it back on his lap. He didn't answer and Charles thought he had lost the fight. But after a short moment, with one hand still supporting Charles, Eric pulled the grey helmet from his head.

He sensed the telepath's presence in his mind immediately although it wasn't nearly as strong as usual. Charles' ability was weakened by his condition but still he managed to get a good insight into Eric's recent thoughts.

As he scanned through his friends thoughts Charles found things he hadn't dared to hope for. He sensed Eric's struggle about either following his rage and wrath or doing something which nobody had ever taught him to do: showing mercy and trying to understand before drawing conclusions.

The spark of hope in Charles chest became a flame and he focused on that warm feeling inside him trying to forget about the very evident pain. Mobilizing every last ounce of strength he had left he sent an image into Eric's mind. It was something like a flash of pictures that suddenly came into his mind. He saw himself in front of a school class, judging by the desks and the pupils sitting behind them and facing him. Then he saw Charles and himself playing chess in the professor's study, Charles laughing and sipping at a glass of wine. Next, he wandered through the mansion, sunlight floating through the windows and he could actually feel the calm, almost drowsy atmosphere of a late summer afternoon, feeling completely appease with himself and the world. The pictures and feelings ceased as fast as they'd come and he focused his gaze once more on Charles' face.

"It's going to take time, hard work, some long and unpleasant conversation and probably some more things which I can't think of right now. But Eric, ... I will help you to feel that peace of mind you just experienced. I will." Charles stopped and gasped for air. But he couldn't stop right now. He had to say this. "You know we can do that. Contrary... to what you've always thought... You've got...you've got a choice on what you want to do with your life. Don't waste this chance. Please, brother." he whispered.

Charles couldn't talk anymore. He had used his last strength and now the pain took over. He wanted to close his eyes and go to sleep. But he struggled to keep his eyes open even if he couldn't focus on Eric's face because he was waiting for an answer.

Tears pooled in Eric's eyes when he heard Charles calling him 'brother'. He had betrayed, beat and shot the man lying in his arms right now and still he was willing to help him. Trying to make him feel better where it should be his, Eric's, part to reassure Charles that everything was going to be okay. How could he have been so blind? So egoistic and self-righteous? He had had a best friend, a brother in Charles and considered the rest of their team his friends. For the first time in his life he hadn't been lonely and here he was throwing it all away. His body trembled with the realization and the shock that he might never get this back. But Charles had promised that they would find a way, that they would pull through.

And he believed him. So there was really just one thing to do.

"Charles?" he croaked, noticing that his friend's eyes weren't focused and fearing that he had slipped into unconsciousness. However, Charles' head moved a little as if he was trying to alert himself to what Eric was going to say now and his eyes focused on him wearily.

"I'm sorry. Oh my god! I...god, I'm so sorry, Charles. I didn't mean to..." Tears ran down Eric's cheeks and his voice hitched and trembled with emotions. "I never wanted to... Oh god. I am so sorry!" He pulled Charles closer to his own body, pressing his forehead against his friend's repeating the words over and over. Charles felt the turmoil of Eric's feelings through their connection. The remorse, the pain, the regret, the agony and most obviously the guilt. But he could also sense a tiny glimpse of hope and that fact made him smile slightly. "It's all right, Eric. I forgive you."

That was the moment when he couldn't stay awake anymore and darkness and sweet oblivion took him.

Thx for reading. I would really like to know what you think about this so please leave a review ;)