As soon as Charles had heard those thoughts in Erik's head he'd dragged Raven and David away from the man. He didn't want anything to do with that life; it was why he'd moved here to get away from that life. After the accident, he'd hidden his previous life away. Wiped minds changed his name from Xavier to Penbroke so no one would know who he was. He couldn't risk David or Raven's safety if the wrong people found out that he was, or his reputation of being a mutant and supporter of human-mutant relations.

Raven had tried to talk to him when they got home but Charles blocked her. She didn't need to know the extent of the problems his past work had caused. She didn't know about the reasons behind the accident. Now, best for her to be oblivious.

Ignoring Raven's curiosity, Charles threw himself into sorting out the relevant paperwork for getting Raven into the local school, David into a day care and finding a job for himself. Now that he couldn't get to his family money without alerting people to who he was. Before the accident, he'd been one of the key people, politically speaking, fighting for mutant rights. That had gained him a lot of enemies from people like Striker who were against mutant's altogether. And Charles wasn't a food; he knew that that was the reason for his loss of legs. A hit and run were no one could find out who'd done it. Not even Charles' telepathy had been able to help that night.

"Charles." Raven's voice carried into Charles' study. "Are you alright?"

"Perfectly." Charles replied though it was obvious Raven didn't believe him.

"You would say wouldn't you? I'm here to help."

"I know." Charles replied, though he wouldn't allow Raven to fall into the mess he'd landed himself into. Not that anyone but he knew the extent of this. "You're starting school next week by the way."

Raven frowned at the abrupt change of subject and gave Charles a look that clearly said this conversation wasn't over. "I got you a job." The abrupt statement made Charles frown at her. "Science teacher at the high school. You start next week by the way." The last was said in a copy of his own voice, exact thanks to raven's own mutation. As Raven disappeared, Charles sighed wondering why he wasn't arguing about this with Raven. Being a teacher, while something Charles had always wanted to would cause complications. And yet, that didn't seem to matter at that point because it was about time he had something in his life he wanted, other than David and raven.

...

Erik didn't know where he got Charles Xavier from Charles Penbroke from and he didn't understand for an instance why Charles had acted so strongly at only a thought. Unless Charles was a telepath and now Erik really was thinking crazy things. Even crazier than the thought that Charles was cute, especially those large blue eyes of his. God, he sounded like a 13 year old girl. Quickly banishing the thoughts, Erik made his way down the side street to the back door of the hellfire club.

"You are late comrade." Amazed stated on Erik's knock. Pushing past the teleworker, Erik walked into Shaw's office. Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw looked up at his entrance but said nothing. Erik felt the telepathic nudge of Emma's mind against his own but he pulled up his defences, not wanting the other mutant to hear of anything his thoughts about a human.

"We were just discussing our new recruits." Shaw said, referring to the mutants inspired by Shaw's mutant hating speech the night before.

"Only one has any potential and Angel is still in school." Emma said and Erik noted the disappointed look on Shaw's face.

"Those other mutants, her friends are to but we've asked her to persuade them to join." Shaw replied, a hint of enthusiasm in his eyes. Erik nodded, knowing from Emma that all of those mutant children had a great deal of potential within them.

"Is that all you wanted?" Erik asked, trying to keep his tone calm even though he wasn't. He couldn't understand why Shaw always insisted on going through pointless exercises before getting to the point.

"No, you've heard of Charles Xavier haven't you?"

"Everyone has." Erik replied. In truth he had read most of Professor Xavier papers and if the mutant wasn't such a pacifist then he would have tried to persuade him to join them.

"Well he's vanished." Erik frowned, not liking where this was going. "We all agree that Professor Xavier is a dangerous man. All the more dangerous because he sides with the humans." Erik nodded, wondering where Shaw was going with this. "I want him found and made an example of. Kill him so other mutants know they cannot be allowed to stand with the humans but only with us."

Erik said nothing, unsure of what to say. He understood Shaw's reasoning but at the same time Erik had always admire the Professor because of the work he did with mutants. And the man's own mutation was something to be admired. "An Erik, I want you to do it."

"Okay." Erik said because Shaw had asked him and without Shaw he wouldn't be alive today. Even if he knew killing Charles Xavier may well be the biggest mistake of his life.

...

"Hey." Raven started at the voice calling behind her. She'd left Charles alone in the house, wanting to give her brother some alone time so had taken David to the park. After meeting Erik, she'd noticed that Charles had been acting only again. Raven knew something was wrong but knowing Charles, her brother wouldn't say anything until the last moment.

"I'm Alex." The blonde said, sending Raven a smile as he sat next to her on the park bench.

"You're new around here aren't you?" This time a red head appeared next to Alex with another boy.

"I'm Darwin and this is Sean." Darwin said.

"Auntie Raven." David shouted, pulling Raven's attention from the three boys. "This is my new friend Scott."

"Hey Scott is Alex's brother." Sean said, making David frown at the older boy.

"You're red like auntie raven." raven froze when David said this to Sean, knowing the younger boy was referring to her natural form.

"Erm...sorry to break it to you kid but your auntie is blonde like Alex." Darwin said, kneeling down in front of the child.

"No auntie Raven isn't blonde she's blue." David replied, stubbornly glaring at Darwin.

"What is he talking about?" Sean asked, turning to Raven confused. Raven's silent for a minute. She'd been hoping that maybe they could be friends but, as much as she loved David, she should have realised the child wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut about her mutation.

"I'm a mutant." she finally said, expecting a completely different response to the one she got.

"So are we." Darwin grinned and Raven found herself grinning back. Maybe this place would be more fun that she thought it would be.

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