CHAPTER 6:

(Charles)

The following morning during breakfast, I warned the boys about Erik's forthcoming visit.

"There is something you boys don't know that I feel is about time I share with you." I began.

All three looked at me expectantly.

"Erik came to see me in the hospital while I was there." I thought it was best to let them in on this first.

Sean started coughing as if he were choking on his food. Alex sprayed out the juice he was drinking and Hank's "hand" stopped mid-air with the piece food he was about to put in his mouth which was now frozen open. I decided to continue on quickly before they had the chance to reply.

"And last night...I had a late night visit from him again."

This time, I heard gasps.

"What did HE want?" Hank growled.

"Hank...you said yourself that you know how much Erik means to me. I want you to know that the feeling is mutual for him. We had become best friends when we were all living here, you know that. He deserves the same respect that you show me. And I expect you...all of you to show him it." I stated firmly.

"But Charles, we know that he could be a loose cannon. He has taken over for Shaw like Alex pointed out the other day and who knows what he's planning!"

"And like I pointed out, we don't know that he is up to no good. He has not done anything at all that shows us that. I did not have much chance to find out anything last night, but I have invited him back here for a game of chess tonight. This will give me the chance to talk with him and find out if he is indeed up to anything. And to find out, I need you three to give us some privacy."

The three groaned at this, which made me understand that they were concerned for my safety. "Erik will not harm me. If he wanted to, he would have done so by now."

All three of them looked at me, then rather pointedly towards my legs, then back to my face again. "Erik did not do this to me!" I protested.

"You accused him yourself after it happened, sir!" Alex reminded me.

I sighed. "I mean, Erik did not do this to me on purpose. His actions of that day did cause this yes, but he didn't do it with the intent of hurting me. He does feel guilty about it."

"As he damn well should!" Hank exclaimed passionately.

"That's enough Hank." I stated firmly. "As far as I'm concerned, nothing has changed between Erik and myself. Not until he proves to me otherwise. And I want you to treat him as you did before, when he was living here. I will be fine. Everything will be fine."

"As long as you are sure Charles.." Hank said, obviously still skeptical of the whole idea.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. And speaking of which, I would even go so far as to say that I would trust Erik completely with my life. Still."

Alex, Sean and Hank all looked at me resignedly. "Okay." Hank agreed for them all. "But promise that IF he does try anything that you will scream to let alert us. We will stay close by."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Fine. I promise I will scream long, loud and clear IF that happens to be the case, but I can already guarantee that it won't be necessary." As funny as I found it, I really did deeply appreciate their concern for me as it was genuine.

"Sir...why would he go to see you at the hospital?" Sean asked curiously.

"Because he wanted to make sure his best friend was doing okay." I assured him with a smile that included all of them.

Throughout the course of the day, we continued on with Alex's and Sean's practices. But I found that I was having a hard time giving the boys my undivided attention as the thought of Erik's evening visit fairly consumed my thoughts. And while I was thinking a thought came to me. Something that I had been wondering about because in all of the time since I had met Erik, I never knew...never understood...I made a mental note to ask Erik about it that night...

We had not set aside a specific time for Erik to arrive but I was fairly confident that he would not arrive too late. Myself, Hank, Sean and Alex had our supper and then cleaned up. After that task was done I went to the library to make sure that everything was ready for his arrival, even though the chessboard was always in the "ready to play" position. I moved about the room restlessly, not knowing what else I could do while waiting for him. I decided to leave the library and go in search of the boys whom I found in the 'gym' . I found Sean and Alex on the floor wrestling each other and Hank looking on albeit, with a rather bored expression.

"Must I watch these two play fight all night?" He complained as soon as he saw me.

"Of course not Hank, you may do as you please. Perhaps there is something in the lab you would like to..." Suddenly Hank's eyes became very wide...wider than I had ever thought it was possible for him to make, then his mouth dropped open. He stood as if completely frozen in time.

I frowned. "Hank? Hank! Hank, what's wrong?" I started to become worried.

"Sorry Charles...we...should have warned you.." I heard Erik's voice behind me. I turned my chair around and faced Erik. ...And...another familiar blue colouring...

"Raven? Oh my god, Raven!" I cried out overjoyed at finally seeing my other dear friend for the first time since that day on the beach. I didn't even care about the fact that she wasn't clothed. In fact, it hardly even fazed me at that moment.

"Charles...it is so good to see you again!" She came over to me, leaned down, hugged and kissed me. "Oh...whoops!" She morphed herself into her human form-fully clothed-then hugged me again.

"It's fine Raven, really. I'm delighted to see that you have come to terms with your 'true self".

Raven looked over at Erik and smiled with what I interpreted as a..."lovers" smile, morphed back to her 'true self' and replied, "Thanks to Erik."

Inwardly I cringed. I didn't know what to think of that. Had she and Erik...? But then that kiss last night...what was going on? I could invade their minds and find out right now, but I had promised Raven that I would never read her mind...and in all honsesty...I was afraid of what I might see...

"Beast..." Raven smiled and now turned her attention to Hank who had finally managed to close his mouth. She walked over to him, reaching her hands out towards his.

"Mystique...Raven..." He replied barely audible. He hadn't stretched out his own hands, but more because he was in shock than anything else. Regardless, Raven took his hands into her own when she reached him and they smiled at each other.

"Oh...GOD..." Alex rolled his eyes, voicing his opinion of the scene in those two words as well as with a gesture of sticking his fingers down his throat and pretending to retch. "Why don't you two just rent a room?"

"Alex, that's enough!" I reprimanded him quickly. I was already getting my mind ready to reach out to Hank's in order to calm him down as I was afraid that he would pick up Alex and throw him across the room in his "beastly" anger. Thankfully, Hank didn't pay him any mind as apparently, he was completely captivated by Raven.

However, it didn't slip by Raven. She narrowed her eyes at Alex and said, "I see that some boys around here still haven't reached puberty. Running a daycare these days, Charles?"

"Raven!" I exclaimed as she gave me a slight wink and smile that she did not allow anyone else-namely Alex-to see.

"Beast.." She turned back to Hank. "As soon as I knew I was coming with Erik to see everyone, I was hoping to be able to take a walk on the grounds as I hadn't done so in quite some time. I would love it if you would join me."

"The pleasure would be all mine of course...Raven..." Hank had eyes and ears at the moment for no one else but Raven.

Raven tucked her hand into the crook of his furry arm. Turning to me she nodded, "Charles...Erik..." Then sickeningly sweet, she pleasantly addressed Alex in particular, "Children..." I almost expected her to pat him on the head like he was the family dog.

As the two were quickly leaving the room I saw that Alex was getting ready to use his mutation against their retreating forms. "ALEX! NO!" I shouted just as Erik quickly lifted his arms and with a sudden twist of his wrists, lifted Alex off of his feet, thus distracting him from doing any harm. But now my concern turned to Alex and Erik.

"Erik, stop! Let him go...NOW!" I demanded noting that Hank and Raven were safely out of the line of Alex's fire. Erik immediately did as I bade and Alex landed in a heap. Quickly he jumped up to his feet, ready to square off with Erik.

"Okay...STOP! RIGHT NOW! BOTH OF YOU!" I shouted again, quickly wheeling myself in-between the two and stretching out both of my arms on either side of myself, one towards Erik, the other towards Alex. They both looked at me in surprise. "Alex...you have always been a bit of a hot-head but Rule #1: You never...NEVER go after another with your mutant powers with the intent to harm them, especially if they have NOT threatened, physically harmed or tried to harm you or anyone around you! And MOST especially if that person is Raven! Can't we all just get along even for a few minutes?! My god, how we ever managed all of us living together before is beyond me if are already at each other's throats!" I stopped here to catch my breath, feeling let down by the actions and reactions of everyone. I suppose it was my own fault for expecting too much, too soon.

I saw Erik and Alex exchange looks, look back at me and then Erik started to laugh. "This is how it always was Charles! Don't you remember? And it was all in good fun. All in good fun then...and now." Here Erik looked pointedly at Alex who said,

"He's right sir...I wasn't going to do anything, honest."

I quickly looked into Alex's mind to see that he was telling the truth. I now allowed myself to think back to that time and realized that Erik was right. Even though I had told everyone involved that there was nothing to fear from each other, I myself had become so concerned about how Erik and the boys were going to react to one another, that I had already convinced myself that they would be after each other right off the start.

While this was going through my mind, I actually saw Erik give Alex a friendly slap on his back in comradeship. Alex responded by giving Erik a lopsided grin. Sean came over and joined us acknowledging Erik a half smile and nod. I gave an inaudible sigh in my relief and felt much better about everything.

"Life certainly was never dull when we were all here before, was it?" I addressed the three of them with a half smile of my own, appreciating the memory. Then deciding that enough time had already been wasted, I went on. "Well, I did invite Erik here for a chess game so why don't you fellows carry on with whatever it is you want to do while Erik and myself settle into our game." As I turned to leave the gym, I added with a wink, "And try not to break anything chaps, including each other."

Erik followed me out of the gym and as we made our way to the library, I told him whole-heartedly. "Thank you for bringing Raven with you this time. It is absolulely lovely seeing her again. What a fantastic surprise."

"I admit that I had more than that one reason for bringing her with me Charles."

"And what would the other reason or reasons be?" I asked curiously.

"Most selfishly...to act as a buffer between Beast and myself." Erik continued. "And it seemed to have worked. But also, because you told me to plan to stay awhile and I felt it might be a good idea to use her as an excuse to be away from the others for however long was needed. None of the others know her or her story, so I fabricated an "urgent" reason for her to have to leave, telling them that she would need me to accompany her."

Erik's words gave me hope that he and Raven be staying for more than just the evening. To have both of my dearest friends at my place once again...I was beyond happy at the moment. But then...I remembered...I remembered the way Raven had looked at Erik just a short time ago...

We had just reached the library when I recalled this and we entered the room. I closed the door behind Erik but suddenly I had no desire to play the game.

I turned to face Erik who had just taken his usual seat at the chess game table. "Erik..." He realized that I had become serious. He straightened up and looked over at me inquiringly. "About Raven..." He waited for me to go on. "Do you..." I paused not sure how to pose my question. I tried again. "Have you and she..." I paused again. "Did you and Raven...do you...you know..."LIKE" her? In..."that way"?" I didn't want to have to say the words. I didn't even want to hear the answer but at the same time I had to know.

"Are you trying to ask me if I have slept with Raven, Charles?" Erik looked genuinely shocked. Reluctantly, I gave my head a slight nod. "Good god, no!" Erik hesistated here before resuming. "There was one night when we were living here that I did find Raven in my bed..." I looked at Erik in astonishment...I hadn't known about this! "BUT...all that happened was one kiss. I had told her to leave but we did share one kiss before she left. That was a mistake, but it just kind of..happened. I am very fond of her of course in much the same way that you are, but no...nothing more has happened since that night, I promise you. I have never even thought about it. What would make you think such a thing?" Erik replied. But before I could say anything, Erik vowed passionately. "I would never do that to you Charles!"

As soon as those last words were out of his mouth, a strange look came over Erik's face. But almost before I could register it in my mind, it was gone. It had happened so quickly that I couldn't even be sure that I actually saw it. And because the relief I felt at Erik's reply about Raven was so immense, it was immediately forgotten. "It was the way she looked at you when she thanked you for helping her to feel comfortable in her own skin so to speak." I explained.

"Oh?" Was Erik's puzzled response.

Then I became serious again. "Erik...please be careful with Raven. I honestly believe that her feelings for you go beyond friendship."

"But she's off with Beast right now." Erik pointed out.

"You set that up though...didn't you? After you told me that one of the reasons you had brought her was to be a buffer between you and Hank, I assumed that was your doing." I admitted.

But Erik shook his head. "No. That was completely her. I had nothing to do with it."

I contemplated this for a moment before responding. "I think she is very "fond" of Hank and there definitely was something between the two of them at one time, but I don't know if there is anything more than just a good friendship for her with him now."

This time it was Erik who was thoughtful for a few minutes. "You have my word about Raven, Charles. I promise not to hurt her."

"Thank you, Erik." I said feeling better about the situation and now felt ready to take Erik on. "And now...shall we have our game?" I wheeled myself to my spot and our game commenced...

The game took longer than it normally would have but we hadn't been able to play it in several weeks and we were both being more careful about our moves than we were the last times we had played. In the end Erik beat me, but only just.

"Very well played Charles, that was quite a rematch. I really enjoyed it. Perhaps we will play again?"

"I would not only like a rematch, I expect to have the chance to get even with you." I smiled over the game at him. "I hope we can have one soon again.

"I think I might be able to arrange that." Was Erik's reply.

"Good." I wheeled myself away from the game and over to a liquor cabinet where I poured a drink for Erik and myself. He followed me over, picked up both glasss and then went over to a small settee where he made himself more comfortable. I moved myself over and joined him at the settee where Erik handed me my own drink.

This was it, the time had come at last. I took a sip of my own drink. I decided to start with the question I had come up earlier in the day. I knew it was going to be a sensitive subject, so I took another sip and looking into my glass but not really seeing it's contents I asked my question and braced myself for Erik's reaction.

"Erik...I have wondered about something...what is your real reason for hating the humans so much?"

Only now I dared to look at my friend. I had instantly felt Erik stiffen at my question. Now I saw as he straightened his back and sitting up tall, he looked right at me as he replied rather sarcastically, "Don't you KNOW why Charles? Can't you SEE why?"

"I would rather you told me why yourself..." I answered him. Erik continued to look at me but didn't answer so I went on. "But if that is how you want it...if you would rather I found out for myself..." I stopped here and reached my mind into his, searching for the answer to my question...and I searched...and searched...but after several seconds, I frowned as I found that I was unable to read anything about Erik's hatred towards humans. I was at a complete loss as this had never happened to me before. I had never had a situation where I had NOT been able to read another persons's mind. Even with a forgotten memory such as the one I retrieved for Erik when I showed him the line between rage and serenity I was still able to read... However...I HAD felt that something was there...I was extremely puzzled by this.

Unable to retrieve anything, I looked at Erik who was now looking visibly relieved...almost smug and definitely more relaxed. "It's just as I have told you, Charles. My reason is because they don't like us because we are not like them. We are different from them so they automatically mistrustust us. They would rather "shoot and kill us first and ask questions later". Or rather, not even bother with the questions."

But it was more than that. I know it was because I had definitely felt something in Erik's mind...something beyond Erik`s constant idea of `humans being unaccepting of anything different than themselves`.

"But Erik...of course they are going to react to something they have never seen before! The majortiy of the world still does not even know that the mutants exist. You can't have someone like Hank suddenly turn up in front of them and expect them to NOT be afraid!" I tried to explain. "The humans do not understand Erik. They fear what they don't know or understand. But WE, the mutants CAN change their minds about us and without resorting to violence to do it. I KNOW we can. But it's not going to work by taking them by surprise and scaring them!" I tried to reason with him. "It's a natural instinct to react the way they do!"

Erik fidgeted around a bit in his seat and then hedging the topic, he said, "I thought I was only coming here for a friendly visit and chess game, not a goddanmed lecture!"

Instantly I was sorry for bringing it up. I held up my hands in front of me in surrender. "You're right Erik. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. We haven't had the chance for a friendly visit in awhile. Please...let's just drop it and talk of more pleasant things, shall we?"

I was disappointed of course but at the same time, I didn't want Erik...and Raven to leave already. If they had actually planned on staying for at least the night, then I wanted to make sure they stayed. If possible...for even longer. And now that I knew this was a possibility, I knew I had more time to work at trying to figure out what Erik was up to...IF anything. And to hopefully "work" with him again, where we had left off..

And trying to read that part of Erik`s mind but unable to was still strong in my own mind. What was going on there? It was indeed a puzzle and one that I intended to solve. And in order for me to do so, I needed Erik to be here...