Chapter 1

July 19, 1959

Moira opened her eyes and sighed. She looked over at the clock next to her and groaned. It was nine in the morning. She'd slept in, but there were still three hours before she had to pick up Rahne from her slumber party with Lorna. Three hours was plenty of time to get things in order and get to the palace, but only just.

She stretched and started to get out of bed, pushing the covers away. A hand grasped her wrist hard enough to keep her where she was but not hard enough to hurt. Moira sighed, looking over her shoulder. Charles' periwinkle eyes bore into hers, somewhere between amusement and sleepiness.

"Where are you off to?" he asked, smiling.

She sighed again. In the eight months since she'd come to Genosha her and Charles had carefully cultivated the image that they were a new couple despite being engaged. It hadn't been easy. They had a public image to maintain and they had to introduce the idea to Rahne. She had also had to be settled as a Genoshan citizen.

Rahne had been naturalized easily, but there were a few more problems with Moira. She had been a CIA agent after all. However, her state as a member of the new task force that hunted down the MRD had helped. Christopher Summers was also a member, his limp preventing him from participating in field work. He still trained the agents that they sent out, a team called the Hellions. They scoured the world for facilities that her branch of the department gathered intelligence on. They had already freed one.

During her time at Genosha she'd managed to get a small house on the outskirts of the capitol. It was smaller than her old house, but in much better repair. It didn't really matter. She knew that she wouldn't be spending too long in it. Charles had promised her that they'd be married before the year was out and she trusted him.

Her faith had been well-rewarded. Things had progressed rapidly since that first month; they had publicly announced their engagement and begun their wedding plans. Finally she had been able to sport a diamond ring on her finger. It was beautiful, three stones cut just right as to not be overdone. It was something Charles had bought shortly after she arrived in Genosha and had shown her for her approval ahead of time.

Her friends had been invited and given roles to play in the wedding. Her arrival on Genosha had given her more, even if she only communicated with Levine through letters about none-business matters. It would be called treason to do anything else, now that they were both citizens of separate countries. It made her sad that she was no longer working with him, but he had been invited to their wedding. He'd assured her that he'd be able to come.

Moira also knew Katherine Summers in a cursory manner now; her and her husband were business associates. She'd even been over to dinner at their house a few times. Besides, Alex's powers had manifested only a year or two before he was captured. Katherine had been anxious for someone to share her worries with who wasn't her husband. Moira remembered the feeling and was grateful that she'd run into Kayla when she had.

More and more she found herself in the palace, dealing with reports on the MRD. She'd managed to build a shaky rapport with Magnus. He trusted her as a worker but she knew that he didn't trust humans too much in general. It didn't seem to put any strain on his marriage, and she wondered why that was.

Her relationship with Susanna wasn't work-related though. As the mother of her daughter's friend they had come into a lot of contact. It helped that she was about to become the wife of the second-most powerful man on Genosha. Susanna could tell her what to expect about that situation.

The sunny woman was the complete antithesis of her brooding husband. He exuded power and majesty and she talked to everyone like they were a close friend. Moira had long ago stopped speculating on how they had ended up together. Like everyone else though she could do the math and knew that they had been together since their teens.

She'd kept in close contact with Kayla too. No matter where she went Kayla was her closest friend next to Levine. She'd trusted her to guard Rahne, not something she took lightly. Newly married and pregnant Kayla had continued to teach school. Rahne was going to be in Kayla's class next year, so they would see each other quite a bit when she went to pick her up. They also orchestrated ways to meet outside of her work.

Logan's reserved manner meant that she rarely visited the house, but they went out as often as they could. Kayla didn't like being cooped up, even if she was nearing the end of her pregnancy. Her friend wasn't the type to stay around home all day. Sometimes Emma would come along too, but not often.

The wedding plans were going along swimmingly. She had dreamed of her wedding when she was younger. There had been less paparazzi bothering her about what type of flowers she was going to have, but it still worked. Having been denied a royal wedding for Magnus and Susanna they were settling on the next best thing.

People talked, of course they would, but not enough of them did to cast any shadows on her diplomatic work when she was in the CIA. Now that they were public she felt relieved in a way. There was no more hiding and Rahne had been excited at the idea of Charles as her father. At times he could be exasperating though, and she rolled her eyes before shifting.

"I need to pick up Rahne," she said.

He propped himself up and glanced at the clock.

"Not for another three hours," Charles yawned, "You've got plenty of time."

Without being too forceful he pulled her back to the bed. He gave her a lazy smile and she shook her head.

"It takes an hour to get down there," said Moira, "And that's not including the traffic. And then I've got to get ready and get something to eat."

"Half an hour to get ready, an hour and a half to get down there," Charles said.

"I take longer than half an hour to get ready," she said.

"Not if you hurry," he said, "Come now love, you can do with another hour."

His words were tempting, especially since his bedhead was adorable, but she knew better. She didn't have time for another hour.

"I have to take a shower first," Moira said.

She could tell that she'd said the wrong thing as soon as the words left her lips. He smirked at her, sitting up.

"Oh really?" he said.

He drew an arm around her neck, pressing her up against his chest. She felt his lips on her shoulder and she shivered, trying to concentrate.

"Charles-" she began.

His teeth skimmed her neck and she stopped.

"Because we could always do that together you know," he murmured, "In fact, that seems like a rather good idea."

Moira closed her eyes as his lips travelled up the side of her jaw. He was nearly on her earlobe when she concentrated and said;

"Charles, I need those three hours because after I take about five showers I need to spray the room and put the sheets in the washing machine."

He froze in mid-kiss. She wanted to laugh, but she figured that the situation was strange enough to start with. She breathed out, convinced that the moment was successfully ruined. She pulled away, wrapping a sheet around her. Moira glanced behind her. Charles was staring at her like she'd grown another head.

"Why…why would you need to do that?" he managed.

She shook her head in disbelief. Was he deliberately being obtuse? No, he'd be smirking if he was.

"You really don't know?" asked Moira.

"No, I don't," Charles said.

Moira ran a hand through her hair.

"In a couple of hours my daughter is going to come back from her slumber party," she said, "And she's going to be in the house for hours."

He continued to stare at her blankly. How could he not understand?

"My feral daughter."

Charles' eyes widened in understanding.

"Oh," he said, "I…oh."

"Yes, oh is right," said Moira, "I understand that one day I'm going to have to explain about the birds and the bees. But not for a few years. And I don't want the discussion to be prefaced by her asking why I smell different."

Charles nodded, looking embarrassed. Once again she wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. He'd been living for mutants for how long and hadn't thought of that? Moira had even been thinking about it for when they were married; some air fresheners were godsends. As she congratulated herself for her forethought a horrified expression crossed his face. He groaned and buried his head in his hands.

"What is it?" she asked.

"What you just said…it just explains all those damned smirks I get from Logan," he muttered.

This time she did laugh.

"How long have you been around ferals Charles?" she asked, "What is it now, five years? Going on six?"

"I don't know," he said, his voice low and slightly rueful, "But whatever it is, apparently it's not enough."

"No," Moira said, still chuckling.

"I never thought of it like that!" he said.

Charles paused and looked around the room. His face became dark and Moira frowned at the expression.

"I never thought of the inconvenience our…trysts would put you to," he said, troubled, "We could do this at my house from now on-"

"That's a sweet idea," Moira interrupted, "But that wouldn't work. It's hard enough dodging the paparazzi as it is."

He gave her a half-shrug before pulling on his pants and walking over.

"I'm sorry about all the fuss around this," he said, "I'd never imagined my wedding would turn into a circus."

She smiled ruefully, reflecting on her earlier thoughts. With Genosha announced to the world it wasn't just Genoshan diplomats who were trying to score a seat. She had been in the CIA long enough to know that half of politics was being seen at the right events with the right people. The other half was inviting the right people. Moira had never thought that that would dictate the terms of her wedding list though.

"It's fine Charles," she said, "If I marry you in front of one person or in front of all of Genosha, it's fine."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. Moira tilted her head back and allowed herself to kiss him back. Even now, after so long of being able to touch each other, his kiss felt like a secret that she had finally been able to enjoy. They had spent too much of their courtship tip-toeing around each other.

His lips started to move but before he could get any further she gently laid a hand on his chest. Much as she would like to continue they had to stop.

"Feral daughter, remember?" asked Moira.

He nodded.

"It certainly explains why you seem to shower so often," he said, smiling slightly, "Or for so long."

"Thank your lucky stars that I got that strawberry-scented body wash. It's made all the difference," Moira admitted, "I mean, if it smells a little too strong to me than it should cover up anything else right?"

"I assume so," Charles smiled, "Apparently I know nothing of ferals."

He kissed her again, this time on the forehead.

"See you this afternoon to go over the plans?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course," Moira said, "We're going to need a way to get the Russian diplomats in without putting them too close to the American ones or redoing the entire seating plan."

She cocked her head.

"Or starting World War III."

"Their very presence on this island might do that," sighed Charles, "Few Genoshans are happy with them. Still, we have to show our goodwill."

"And our friends get the front rows," Moira said.

"And our friends get the front rows," Charles agreed.

He squeezed her hand before getting the rest of his clothes together. Moira began to leave the room but Charles coughed.

"You know…I could spray the room and put the sheets in the washing machine," he said, "It seems only fair."

She stopped in the doorway. Turning around she gave him one last kiss on the cheek.

"Have I told you how much I loved you today?" asked Moira.

"Not today, no," Charles said.

"Well, consider it done," Moira smiled, "The spray's under the sink, and I think you know how to work the machine."

Still smiling she walked down the hall into the bathroom and began to run a shower.


A/N: And back for another round! The idea for Moira's worry about Rahne's ability came from noamg, who pointed out that she'd probably be able to smell that with her feral senses. Makes things a little mroe complicated.