Honored

"Look at him!" Charles is holding the newborn baby boy. He's amazing. Such a tiny little child. The baby is sucking his thumb, oblivious to the world. Little Rose is grumpy as no one gives her any attention. The doorbell rings and she runs to open it. "Uncle Erik!" "Hello dear." "Is that for me?" she asks pointing to a big blue bear that he's carrying. "Well, actually…" Her face falls. "For stupid Charlie again…" A big frown appears. "Everything's for him!" She leaves him stamping angrily. "Dear, dear…" Erik smiles a bit. The troubles of youth.

"Here you go. Another one for the collection." "Thanks, it's lovely." Mystique puts the stuffed animal in the cradle joining several others. "I hope there's some room left for the little one himself." They all laugh, enjoying the moment together. "We meant to ask you…" she begins cautiously. "As you know, the baby's named after Charles, but since he's already Rose's... We wondered if you wanted to be… his godfather?" "Me?" Erik asks surprised. "Me? Seriously?" "Yes, you!" Mystique says with a shining face. Both Charles and Erik are shocked; Charles is slightly appalled and Erik completely flabbergasted. Hank looks bemused at the both of them.

"Don't look so astonished!" Mystique urges him. "What do you say?" "I'm honored. I'd love to. Thank you." He turns to Hank. "Are you sure you're on board with this?" "We've talked about it endlessly, so, yes, I am." "Mystique talked you round, did she?" "I can't deny her anything, as you well know…"

"Have you thought this through? Mystique, I'm talking to you, don't walk away from me!" Charles has taken Mystique to a quiet corner of the kitchen. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" "Aren't you always on and on about people deserving second chances and all that? Surely you don't begrudge him this?" "It's just that, you know, in case anything happens, godparents are supposed to…" "I do know that Charles. Isn't that the point?"

Erik has slipped out for a few hours and Charles is trying his best to get Hank to see his perspective. But even he doesn't budge. Hank knew all the arguments; he'd used them himself to no avail. "She thinks the two of you, well, you sort of balance each other out." "Balance each other out?" "You know… Ying and Yang." "Good and evil? Night and day?" "Maybe not that extreme… I thought you two got along better nowadays?" "Well, yes, we do. Only a little, not as much as all that…" "I think you're jealous Charles, pure and simple." Charles sputters.

"Rose, Rose, where are you?" "She's hiding out in the garden again. Man, is she jealous." Mystique sighs. Erik keeps on calling her but she doesn't show. "If you don't come in a few seconds, the gift will go to Charlie," he threatens. "Three, two…." "I'm here. What gift?" She climbs from the crates behind the shed. "I thought that you would like a gift, being a big sister now." "For me?" "Big sisters should get gifts as well, you know." He winks. "Take a look at this." He hands her a bag with a doll in it. It's not pink and girly, wearing a firefighter uniform. "You wanted to be a firefighter, didn't you? That's what you told me last time." "Yes, I do. I can already blow out five candles at once." She smiles.

Charles is gazing at them from the window. Perhaps it is jealousy rather than distrust. He is quite good with children, way better than expected. He should have remembered their babysitting adventure. Hank and Mystique join him. "You're getting reconciled to the thought, aren't you?" "I think I might…"