A/N: Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! I hope you know what your support means to me! Thanks so much! Don't forget to check On the Wings of War to see the one-shot you earned by reaching 200 reviews. I know that some of the reviews aren't showing up for some reason. Please know that I see each review you post as it is sent to my inbox and it still increases the total. I'm hoping it's a error on FF and they will correct it.

This Chapter contains Erik/Charles - You don't like it? Don't read it. Thanks!

Disclaimer: The story belongs to me, the Characters belong to Marvel

Additional Note: Some asked me where the other Mutants were in this story. In Chapter four Charles mentions they gave him a surprise party and while appreciative he sent them home for a while so he could 'rest' when in truth he just wanted to be left alone. Just for clarification.

Christmas day seemed the most relaxed day since they left for the mission. Charles had explained, with some reluctance, why Hank and he were so surprised to see Erik. Apparently the damage caused by Charles had been extensive, and at some points 'touch and go'.

Erik was filling out envelopes with addresses Charles had given him of known mutants they had not been able to reach while working for the government. Erik had been unsure if they would even be there. After the battle, he expected the government to swoop down and collect as many freaks as they could.

Charles had been smart enough not to rise to the bait, and let the comment fall without response. For the moment was writing out a basic lesson plan for when the students did arrive. He would need sleeping arrangements, teaching for typical courses such as academics for those still in school, or even the adults who had not been able to get a proper education due to their mutation.

Charles was busy working when he reached for his drink and his pen fell off the front of his desk and onto the floor. Erik looked over his notes but made no effort to get it. Instead, he moved on to write another address.

"Are you not going to get that?" Charles asked after a moment, the surprise poorly hidden in his voice.

Erik looked up and rolled his shoulders casually.

"I'm busy, get it yourself." Erik said as he had already moved on to another envelope.

Charles studied the other for a moment before wheeling around the desk. He locked one side and brace himself on the edge of the desk then reached down and with some effort grabbed the pen and sat up in his chair. Erik pretended not to notice the look of accomplishment on Charles' face, while Charles pretended not to notice the smirk on Erik's.

Charles wheeled back to his desk and began to write with a little more enthusiasm.

"Charles?" Erik spoke after a few minutes. He stood and handed him the stack of labeled envelopes. "This is a good start, but if you lay out the odds: half won't respond either out of shame or fear, and others won't come because of family reluctance, you may get one out of the twenty we have here. How are you going to find more?"

Charles leaned back to survey the other. He knew Erik had a point. He seemed to be thinking as his eyes shifted out the window for a moment before coming back to see Erik. "I am going to rebuild Cerebro."

Erik raised an eyebrow.

"You can do that?" Erik didn't hide the fact he was unsure over the concept.

"With your help, and with Hank's I should be. Maybe improve on it, I was somewhat lacking on the feedback I gave the government." He smiled, mischievously and it was contagious.

"Charles Xavier, lying to the government?" Erik mused.

"I never said I lied. I merely…retained certain bits of information for personal use."

Erik nodded pleased by this new development. Of course, he did not trust any government. He would sit on the desk looking over the writing that Charles had been working on. He was reluctant to admit it but there was a thrill to teaching a generation of mutants. He had enjoyed working with the group while they had been here.

Still, he had Raven and his crowd still hidden away somewhere in France. He was not quiet sure what to do about them. His views had not changed. They were Homosuperior, not Homosapeians and he would do anything he could to stand in the way of the genocide he knew was coming. He wouldn't see it happen again.

"Erik." Charles voice cut through his thoughts and Erik felt certain there was to be a lecture. Instead Charles just continued in a thoughtful tone. "Our goals are different in large part but there are commonalities."

Erik looked at him, he didn't like the fact the other was in his mind again. He was, however, curious to hear where Charles was going with 'commonalties' argument.

"We both want to see mutants live happy, productive lives. We don't want to see them hurt, or ostracized. By working here, with me, we can accomplish that goal. We can help mutants control who their abilities, give them a beginning so that they can become fully functioning people in the world at large. That is how we are going to turn the tide of ignorance and bigotry, Erik. To show them that we can-"

"Be Human?" Erik finished, something about the way he said human made it sound like a curse word.

Charles sighed letting his head rest on his palms for a moment before he looked up to survey the study. "Do you remember the morning before the mission?"

Erik's entire posture changed as he tensed slightly. Not in fear, simply not expecting that. "Course."

And he did…

(memory - also posted as a one-shot under the title On the Wings of War)

The manor was quiet for the first time since he and his students had arrived. They had all watched the President's Address, and they all knew that tomorrow they faced an overwhelming enemy. No one was really sure how tomorrow would turn out. Erik had recommended everyone get a good nights rest. Judging by the quiet of the house, it would seem they had taken his suggestion.

Everyone except for Charles Xavier. He had always battled insomnia. The main reason was that his mind was too active (even before his mutation) to accept rest with out a fight. So the evening of the big battle, at around three in the morning he would be found stretched out across the plush sofa, with a book in hand.

They faced so much in just a few hours and his mind was consumed with questions and worries. Would they respond well to the pressure of combat? Would he be an effective leader in the stressful situation that he was sure to face? Erik… He sighed outwardly. The soft sound seemed loud amid the quiet of the books. Erik was a whole different concern. He had not been quiet about his intentions, and despite his best efforts, he felt certain the other would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

The study doors opened and he jumped slightly, twisting to his side to see who had walked in at this late hour. He thought perhaps Raven, or one of the students with jitters before the big day. He was surprised to see Erik. He wore grey sweatpants and a robe untied and open.

For a moment Erik seemed just as surprised to see Charles as Charles was to see him. Charles gave a soft smile and Erik a simple nod.

That was all the conversation either needed as Erik moved to look over the rows of shelves before selecting a book. There were many open seats in the large study but Erik opted for the couch where Charles was currently sitting. Charles drew his legs up so Erik could sit on the other end.

That was all.

Minutes crept into hours as they sat reading in peaceable silence. Sometime around four in the morning Charles found himself watching the other from the top of his book. He would look back at the book he was reading before innocently enough stretching his legs out so that his feet came across Erik's lap. Erik gave no further reaction other than lifting his book up so the other could do as he liked, before setting his hands over the top of Charles shins and continuing to read.

Again Charles watched him, but this time his eyes never left the pages. Instead, this time he slipped into the other's mind. It was a confusing and angry place. Erik's mind was sorrow swirled with anger and loneliness. The last of those emotions peaked his interest and Charles delved deeper.

It pained him to see that aside from the affections of his parents, which were torn from him at age ten, Erik had received very little affection since. Needless to say there were the bar room flings, or a short term romances but nothing which seemed to hold a candle to what he had known as a child.

It would seem Erik's obsession for Shaw both created and fed his loneliness.

The realization pained him in a way that he hadn't expected. While he had never had a long term relationship either, he had know relationships. He had experienced affection and returned it just the same. He loved Raven as his sister, and she - while irritating at times - returned it the same.

Erik would be going to battle, surrounded by friends. Yet, even on the eve of this battle he had only just begun to let them in. He still felt so alone. He was going into a battle which might kill him - alone.

"No."

Charles hadn't realized he had spoken aloud until it registered that Erik was looking at him clearly confused.

"No what Charles?"

Erik watched while Charles drew himself into a sitting position. Charles was still watching Erik, though no longer in his mind.

"You aren't going into war this alone."

Erik looked a little irritated, though the gesture was appreciated.

"Stay out of my mind, Charles. You won't like what you find in there."

"But I've seen it. All of it." He offered quietly.

Erik shifted slightly clearly uneasy with the direction of the conversation.

"Then you will understand why I don't care to discuss it."

Charles nodded without responding verbally.

"I'm tired Charles, I'm going to get an hour nap before we get the others up."

Erik began to shift out from under Charles' feet when Charles grabbed the lapel of his robe. Erik turned his attention sharply back to Charles already gearing for a fight. Habit or instinct saw to it that was his first reaction when someone unexpected had grabbed him.

His fight theory went out the window as he turned toward Charles and found himself quite suddenly being kissed. His eyes were wide and he started to draw back. The kiss was chaste and simple, just the brushing of lips together.

Calm down, Erik.

That voice which had caused him to give up the submarine was again in his mind. Without ever planning on it he found himself doing just that. He didn't consider himself gay, and would never have pegged Charles for it either. Something about that moment seemed to be absent of categories or labels.

Two people.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

Charles had started to draw away feeling the tension radiating off the other. As he leaned away he was surprised to find a callused hand weaving through his hair and drawing him back in. This time the kiss was deeper, needing and Charles responded with gusto.

Eventually the need for oxygen drew them apart, their eyes were closed, and foreheads resting together.

The silence was tangible and it seemed neither wanted to break the moment.

Reluctantly, it was Erik who did so.

"What was that for?"

"To make sure you realize - You aren't alone anymore. I want you by my side."

There was a moment of silence before both turned their attention to the door they could hear the students beginning to stir. Erik looked quietly at Charles as he stood up and went towards the door.

"Charles?"

Charles smiled and turned to look at him.

"Come on, we will talk about it when we get home…"

(end memory)

Charles was watching Erik as the memory washed over him. There was something beautiful about Erik with his guard down. The heart breaking part was that beautiful moment was absolutely fleeting. Soon the mask was firmly back in place and Erik was himself once more.

"I still want you by my side in this. I can not do this alone. " Charles spoke looking up to Erik who was still perched on the side of his desk. "Can you do that for me, my friend?"

Erik watched the other in quiet contemplation not sure of his own answer.

Thank you for reading!

New goals: For every 75 (75, 175, 275) I will post two chapters a day

For ever 100 (100, 200 …) I will add a sneak peak one shot to the On the Wings of War in reference of things to come for our lovely little story!

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