Charles took a deep breath as he silently entered his father's study. Memories of evenings spent playing or studying under his father's watchful gaze and the day he'd learned of the arrangement made during his childhood came creeping into the forefront of his mind. It took the young omega everything he had not to cry and stay focused on the task at hand. He went to the desk that had remained practically untouched since his father's death years before. He dug through the drawers, barely finding what he needed before his stepfather found him.

The events that ensued were practically a blur, ending with Charles' current predicament. Sometime during the fight he'd been thrown over the bannister from the second floor and he knew he was hurt bad but he also knew his stepfather and stepbrother had fled the scene. He had to get to a phone and get away from this place or he wouldn't survive to fulfill his father's last wish that he would be presented to his alpha. He managed to move onto his stomach and tried to push himself up onto his hands and knees, resulting in a sharp pain in his back. He collapsed onto his stomach before he could even attempt to move. He barely managed to drag himself to the phone and called for an ambulance before all faded to black.

At the hospital, Charles was given x-rays and immediately rushed into emergency surgery. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in a stark white room to the beeping and whirring of various machines and monitors. As his eyes came into focus, he noticed new details, including a doctor standing by one of the monitors, checking the data on the screen.

"Are you an alpha or an omega?" The physician asked,

"Omega." Charles answered quietly.

"Mind telling me what happened."

"My stepfather did it…" He managed.

"I hate to tell you that I have some bad news. Your spine was broken and it's unlikely that you'll walk again."

Charles fell silent, not entirely processing the extent of what had been said. That kind of news would be enough to shake anyone, especially an omega that was already in an emotional state.

"I've got to step out. If you need anything, just press the call button."

With that, the doctor left the room, leaving Charles alone to process the information he was given. It was a few hours later before a nurse came into the room, offering a polite greeting.

"Where's my coat?" Charles spoke up.

"Pardon?"

"My coat… I need a favour. I can't go back home. I won't survive." He pleaded. "There's an envelope in my coat pocket with contact information in it. I need the person to be contacted."

The nurse thought about it for a moment, deciding to take pity on Charles and fulfill his requested phone call. Erik answered the phone without glancing at it, not much caring to check the number as he received far more phone calls over the course of a day than he cared for.

"Hello?"

"This is nurse Maria Scot from Mountain General Hospital. Is this a Mr. Erik Lensherr?"

"Yes. May I ask why?"

"We have an omega here that claims he belongs to you."

"What's the omega's name?"

"Charles Xavier."

"I'll be there shortly."

Erik hung up the phone without saying a goodbye. His mind was rushing with possibilities. He'd been told he had an omega promised to him by the Xavier family when they were both children, but he hadn't seen his childhood friends in years and hadn't spoken to Charles since he presented at the age of 16 years. He sped to the hospital, giving little regard to traffic laws. He'd always had his suspicions that Charles was an omega and a rare breed of omega at that. He was clever with an above average IQ for an omega and a male. Erik made it to the hospital in a day instead of two. As soon as he got there, he spoke to the receptionist before being directed to the proper room with a warning that Charles was resting. It took him several minutes to locate the correct room and he entered it without bothering to knock first. Charles was propped up partially by pillows and the lights in the room were dimmed. He wasn't paying much attention to his surroundings. He was far more concerned with the fact he'd been told he would likely never walk again than the new presence in the room.

"Hello, old friend," Erik spoke first.

"Hello, Erik," Charles greeted quietly. "I suppose you don't want a broken omega."

Erik thought over what he should respond with, the bitterness in Charles' voice catching him off guard. He decided to respond in a much gentler manner.

"I'll always want you, maus."

Charles turned his attention to Erik instead of his own thoughts, reaching for his hand as he had many times in their younger days. Erik took Charles' hand, giving it a gentle squeeze in hopes of reassuring him somehow. Charles closed his eyes, trying to draw comfort from Erik's presence, tears stinging the backs of his eyes.

"What happened," Erik ventured cautiously.

"My stepfather," Charles whispered, tugging Erik's hand weakly.

"All you had to do was say something, a phone call or anything and I'd have been there."

"I couldn't."

Charles let out a pitiful whimper, wanting to be held and comforted. Erik settled on the edge of the bed, placing a kiss on Charles' hand. Charles' cheeks turned pink as he remembered the first time Erik had done such a thing. Erik chuckled at the reaction.

"Do we need to make arrangements?"

"For when I'm released and well enough, yes."

"Alright. When do you want to?"

"Before they discharge me. The legal paperwork should already be taken care of for us."

"We'll have to do the bonding after you're well enough. I don't want to hurt you accidentally."

"Thank you, Erik."

Erik offered a smile, giving Charles' hand a gentle squeeze. Charles smiled sadly in return, the tension in his body drained and he relaxed against the pillows.