Well, time for another chapter update. I liked how I got more reviews last chapter when I hinted that I would update faster if I had more reviews. It felt like I was withholding sex to get what I want, but I'm just withholding chapters to get what I want. Which is reviews. Also I'm kind of pissed because pottermore's being a b*tch. Also we won't see anymore of Moira. I liked her in the comics but in the movie she was kind of a b*tch. I might mention her, but nothing more than that.

Well enough of me complaining, enjoy the chapter! Also in case you were wondering, the POV is Charles.

It was a rather dull morning in the Xavier mansion.

No one else was awake yet. Not that I didn't mind the quiet, I actually savored it when my home was like this. The only thoughts were the ones in dreams, and if it wasn't a nightmare, they were always soft and quiet. It was one of the few times in the day I could just concentrate on the simple things and not the problems of the people I lived with.

The thing that held my attention this morning was the slow and relaxed breathing of the lovely woman I shared the night with.

Anne was using the my arm as a pillow, which left me immobile until she woke up. Which given her normal sleeping pattern should be in about thirty minutes. So until then I planned on just watching her, studying her. Even though I had lived with her for about two months, she still managed to surprise me.

Like when we were figuring out her past. Finding out interesting facts that were lost, like how her middle name is Blythe. It was a wonderful distraction from the loss of Erik and Raven. Anne had really stepped up to try and fill the massive hole that my best friend and adopted sister had left. But no matter how hard she tried, no matter what she did, it wasn't enough to fill the void. She had enough problems though. Dealing with the injury and what I believed to be some remnants of Audrey left in her mind was enough for her to handle. And trying to fill the positions of Erik and Raven was just too much.

I suppose it didn't help Anne that I was trying to start up a school, which really takes far more paperwork then one would think. It also didn't help that I was always trying to help her. She didn't want to burden anyone else with her problems. But I liked to help people, I often came off as extremely selfless to others.

I watched as Anne's sleeping hand moved to rest over her chest. More specifically on the spot where the bullet had landed. I remember how Sean had said something about this a couple days after she was healthy enough to leave the hospital. The first thing he said to Anne once she returned to the mansion was a description of what happened, but of course in his own words. It was like second hand smoking. . . But with a bullet.

Sean and Anne were more like brother and sister then anything. When Sean wasn't off with Alex disturbing Hank, he was either alone or near Anne. The brother-sister rivalry was evident. I liked to think of it as the same relationship Raven and I had, but of course under different circumstances.

I could tell that Anne did not get along with Alex. But nobody can get along with everybody, and if she was to dislike anyone here than it would obviously be Alex. Sure they have things in common, but their personalities are a constant barrier. I have tried to get them to become friends, but every conversation they have ends up in an argument, so I just try to make sure someone else is in the room to diffuse the situation.

Which reminds me of a quite interesting situation I had to deal with a few weeks ago. After Anne had started to train again, we found out she now gained the form of a Tennessee Walking Horse. I have yet to figure out why it was that certain breed, but Anne told me to let it be and not question it. But, much to Sean's disappointment, she refuses to allow any of us to have a ride. But Sean being Sean refused to take no for an answer, which needless to say, made for an interesting week.

But I was thankful for all these distractions, they kept my mind off of Erik and Raven. But I still had done things to not remember them, to try and forget the pain of losing them. For example, I now slept with Anne in her room instead of my own. I had often invited Erik up to my room to play chess or to have a drink, and now I could barely look at the damn place because of all the memories.

Even thinking about them makes me feel numbness. The kind of numbness that could happen when you lose your best friend and your only sister, even if she wasn't related to you by blood. And the near loss of the woman I loved almost shattered me. If I had lost the three people I cared the most for in one day, I would have surely lost myself too.

But Hank was able to help her until we finally got to a nearby hospital, where we all waited. That was agonizing, knowing you couldn't do a thing for someone you treasured. I actually can't remember exactly how long we were at the hospital, more than a week I am sure. Most of that was recovery and tracking everyone down who had even seen Hank ( Who was still blue and furry mind you) to wipe their memories. Moira had left because of her job, and I sent Hank, Alex, and Sean back to the mansion after the doctors had deemed Anne healthy enough to be allowed visitors.

The rest was simply Anne and I together in the hospital, her recovering from the wound and I recovering from the loss of Raven and Erik.

I noticed that Anne was beginning to wake up. I might as well speed up the process.

I carefully leaned over and using my free arm, I slipped my hand underneath the blanket and began to trace incoherent patterns on her soft chest but avoiding the wound were she was shot.

Anne hated it when I touched her wound, or for that matter any scar she gained from the incident in general.

"Morning." I heard her sleep ladened voice and glanced towards her face. She still looked half-asleep though. She lifted her head and I moved my arm out from underneath, using the opportunity to complete move on top of Anne.

"Morning to you too." I replied and gave her a gentle but firm kiss. I would have liked to take it further, but knew that Anne wouldn't appreciate it. She had told me time and again that I couldn t just turn a normal situation into a sexual situation. I didn't mind her rule, but it could be annoying at times. So I (reluctantly) ended the kiss and moved off of Anne to stretch out beside her.

"Pity that Hank needs me today for Cerebro." Hank had finished re-building it yesterday and today was the day I was going to use it. To find more mutants and help them.

Today was going to be a good day.