Alright, so quick reminder here: There are more pairings running around than just Erik and Charles. One of them makes themselves strongly known in this chapter, but don't worry, we have at least... 5 more that are going to show up at some point or another. Cheers all.


Christmas Day, 1962

Charles blinked himself awake the next morning, carefully shifting just enough to see the clock before returning to his original position with a muted groan. Admittedly it was after eight, but he had expected to sleep just a bit longer.

Erik shifted, hand coming up to pet the other's hair. "You could go back to sleep," he rumbled.

Charles blinked drowsily at that, "Did I wake you?"

"I was dozing," he replied.

"Alright. And going back to sleep is unlikely. I expect that after the other two are awake there will be a knock on the door regardless. Sean's apparently more enthusiastic this morning than I gave him credit for."

"Is he going to wake up the other two?"

"I think he has a higher value on his life than that."

"Smart boy," Erik said, kissing Charles' temple. "Should we get up then?"

"Probably should start in that direction. Someone needs to get a fire started in the grate, and I'd rather that someone be over the age of seventeen."

"Which is technically everyone except Sean... Actually, let's not let Alex do that, hm?"

"Alright, someone over the age of twenty then. And Henry's got that thick fur coat, so it is going to have to be one of us."

"Right," Erik said and let out a sound of protest. "Well, if we are, we should, hm?"

"Mhm." Charles shifted away from the other and reached up to grab one of the bedposts and lever himself up, letting out a soft noise as the colder air hit his body.

Erik watched him, itching to help him, but managing to restrain himself.

Once he was vertical he picked up his robe from where it was draped over the arm of his chair, pulling it on and belting it around his waist. He hesitated for a moment before working to get from the bed to his chair as he did each morning.

"I know you can do it yourself," Erik said, voice slightly strained. "But can I help?"

Charles sighed very softly before nodding, "Yes, Erik."

Erik slipped out of the bed, coming around to the other side and gently lifting Charles up.

The telepath wrapped his arms around Erik's neck for balance as the other moved him from the bed to the chair. "Thank you."

"Of course," Erik murmured, setting him down just as carefully.

Charles smoothed his dressing gown over his lap, offering the other a faint smile.

Erik leaned down to kiss him again, before finally pulling back. "We should go if we're going to."

He nodded in response, turning the chair to head out, "Probably, yes."

Swallowing, Erik ran a hand through his already messy hair before following the other.

Sean was curled up on the couch under a blanket when they reached the front parlor, his green eyes sparkling with unconcealed delight though he managed to keep his tone subdued, "I wasn't sure where the matches were. The fire's set, just needs to be lit."

Erik glanced between him and Charles, smiling faintly.

Charles' brow arched, but he smiled a bit at that, "Top left drawer in the kitchen, Sean."

The teen unfolded from the couch hurrying to get those.

"Are you sure you want him to know where the matches are later?" Erik asked softly as Hank emerged, though he looked like he hadn't slept the night before.

"I'll move them." The professor glanced toward Hank, "Henry?"

"Hm? Oh, good morning you two," Hank said, running a hand through his headfur. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas. Did you sleep?"

The larger mutant shifted slightly. "Not really," he admitted.

"Oh, Hank..." Charles sighed softly.

"It's nothing, Professor," he replied quickly, Erik sitting down in an armchair and staying out of the conversation.

The telepath decided to leave that be, nodding slightly as Sean came back into the room with the book of matches he'd found.

Sean moved over to the fireplace, carefully lighting the fire and waiting until the logs caught before putting the screen in place and returning to where he'd been curled up on the couch.

Hank sat down on the other end of the couch, glancing around. "Well, presents or should I start breakfast first? Once, of course, our last member is out of bed."

"Coffee first. Gifts second. Food third." Alex spoke from the doorway, still looking bleary-eyed.

Hank glanced back at him and rose. "I'll get that started," he murmured, sliding toward the kitchen.

Alex watched him go, blinking before sitting down cross-legged in front of the couch.

Erik glanced around the room, content to sit silently in the armchair until the coffee appeared.

Charles moved his chair over next to Erik's armchair.

Erik leaned a hand out, to rest it on Charles' arm, giving the other two an almost daring look.

Alex watched them for a moment, but looked away, his gaze going to the fire. Sean's brows rose but he turned his attention to the hem of the blanket, fiddling with a loose thread.

Hank finally returned, coffee on a tray and cups for everyone, setting it on the table where everyone could reach.

Charles reached over, picking up a mug and handing it to Erik before grabbing one for himself.

Hank took one for himself, handing one to Alex almost automatically, before considering where to sit.

Sean picked up the last one as Alex took the cup from Hank, blinking at him again. Alex took a drink of his coffee, glancing at the others, "Well, Merry Christmas."

Hank mumbled the phrase back, and Erik just nodded, sipping his coffee.

Charles offered Alex a faint smile at that as Sean uncurled again. The redhead glanced around, "I can dole out the gifts?"

Alex shrugged, "Sure."

Erik nodded and Hank shifted slightly, finally settling down on the couch a little behind where Alex was sitting.

Sean slipped off the couch, sorting the gifts before handing them out. He tilted his head on one side as he read the clearly written label on one before handing it to Erik.

Erik blinked at him, and looked over to Charles, arching a brow slightly.

Charles smiled softly at that, gently picking up the gift Raven had dropped off the night before that had remained unopened. He carefully opened it to reveal an elegant pen with a marble stand and a letter opener that it looked like…a soft, only slightly sad, smile graced his features, he'd looked at this particular set in Oxford a handful of months before. Before all of this had started.

Erik watched him, before glancing down at his own gift, finally setting out opening it.

Hank glanced over his presents, pausing at the two—two?—that looked like they were in Alex's handwriting.

Alex warily eyed one of the gifts he'd given Hank. After the conversation the night before he wondered if it was a good idea. But he turned his attention to his own gifts.

Opening the smaller, less hefty gift first, Hank paused for a long moment, looking down at Alex. "... A red yarn ball?"

The blond managed a bit of a sheepish look at that, "It seemed like a good idea at the time?" Sean bit back a laugh that turned to a yelp as Alex hit him.

Hank blinked at that exchange, and gave Alex an unreadable look before a small smile, shrugging. "Well, I suppose the lab needed more color. Though, I refuse to play with it," he said, managing to joke. Swallowing, he turned back to the other presents, opening the ones from the others before attempting Alex's second.

Alex dropped his gaze at that comment. He'd been fighting with himself for most of the night about whether or not to come down and remove that gift. He sortta wished he had now. He carefully opened the gifts from the Professor and Sean before gingerly opening the one from Hank. He traced his fingers around the edge of the new adapter, "You weren't kidding about more streamlined. Thanks."

Hank offered him a smile, not mentioning he had actually been experimenting with rubber, to disastrous results, with Erik in the room. "Perhaps now you'll have to worry about it less," he murmured, finally turning to the hefty package. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know.

Alex managed another faint smile at that.

Glancing around at the others, Hank finally opened the second gift, blinking. "This is a rare..." he started, flipping the book open, "...a First Edition of a rare book."

Alex kept his gaze focused on the adapter, not looking up or saying anything this time.

Charles looked up from where he was seated, glancing between his two students, but not speaking for the moment.

Looking between the yarn ball and the book, Hank reached a hand out, gently setting it on Alex's shoulder. "Thank you, Alex," he said, and withdrew the hand.

Alex stiffened slightly at the touch, but murmured, "You're welcome, Hank."

Hank looked around the room again. "I'll go start breakfast," he murmured, rising again and going to the kitchen. Breakfast, and then sleep. He really needed sleep to deal with anything else.

Alex hesitated for a long moment before getting up and following him.

Erik's gaze followed them, and he glanced over at Charles.

Charles watched them go, listening for a moment to make sure they were both mostly alright before turning to Erik and offering him a gentle smile.

Erik nodded, putting them out of his mind if Charles wasn't concerned.

X-X-X

Hank puttered around the kitchen, pausing to rub his eyes.

Alex paused in the kitchen doorway, "You want a hand?"

"If you like, I wouldn't mind," Hank replied.

He came the rest of the way in, "Sorry about the yarn."

Hank glanced back at him and shrugged. "It... I suppose it's an amusing idea. Perhaps it would be more so another day."

"Yeah, like a month ago. Still. I should have come down and found it last night."

"Well, did you get it a month ago? It's fine, really."

Alex opened his mouth to protest again, but closed it again, deciding that he'd said his piece.

Hank finally glanced back at him. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. What can I do to help?" It was his way of continuing to apologize without voicing it.

Hank pointed. "Eggs might be nice."

"Scrambled?" Alex asked, already moving to get a start on them.

"Please," Hank said, glancing at him again.

He nodded, getting to work on that without looking up again.

Hank finished what he was working on, stepping back and looking over again. "Alex..."

Alex poured the beaten eggs into the frying pan, finally glancing at him, "Yeah?"

Hank looked at the eggs, considering how close they were to being done and put a hand up to his eyes again before murmuring, "Oh, to hell with it," and taking a quick step forward, and another to push Alex against the wall, kissing him in the same breath.

Alex's eyes widened and he sucked in a sharp breath. His first instinct was to push the other away, but the second his hands touched the other man's shirt he found his fingers coiling around it. He leaned up into the kiss for a brief moment before drawing back, "I..."

Hank blinked, eyes slowly widening in horror. "Oh, I, that, I mean, terribly sorry, I'll just..."

He swallowed, his hands still holding on to Hank's shirt. "Hank?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up." He leaned up, kissing the other again, hesitantly.

The taller returned the soft kiss for a moment before drawing back again slightly to look Alex over, a quick dart of his eyes, before surging back into the kiss, arms wrapping around the other. The blond finally let go of the other's shirtfront to let his arms move around his neck, his fingers tangling in Hank's fur.

Hank's hands slid down to his waist, before finally pulling back again for a breath. "I... well then."

Alex swallowed hard, "W-we should finish breakfast..."

"Yes, breakfast... Alex, we..."

"We?" He wasn't sure what he wanted to hear as an end to that particular sentence.

"Are we...?" Hank started and couldn't come up with the words to finish.

"I-I don't know. Yes? Maybe?"

The blue mutant took a breath. "Alright. Well, we should deal with breakfast and then... whatever else."

Alex nodded slightly, slipping past him to check on the eggs.

Rubbing a hand over his eyes again, Hank went to follow him in finishing up the meal.

X-X-X

Erik finally turned to his own gift when Hank and Alex went to make breakfast, opening it slowly, paying more attention to Charles than the package.

Charles offered him a bit of a smile as he turned his attention to unwrapping his gift from Erik.

Fiddling with the wrapping paper, Erik finally got the first layer off, considering the box in question.

Peeling back the paper, Charles ran his fingers around the edge of the box before opening it, his brow arching at the watch inside.

"I'm sure you already have more than enough nice things," Erik said, watching his expression. "But I wanted to get you something as well."

"It's very nice. I've been thinking I could stand a new watch." He ran his finger around the face of the watch, offering Erik a smile, "thank you."

Erik returned the smile, managing not to mention that he had very specifically chosen a watch with a leather strap to minimize the amount of metal he was all but asking Charles to wear with giving him the gift. He'd flipped the top of the box in his lap open, finally looking down. He drew the housecoat out slowly, blinking down at the matching pair of pajamas and... slippers.

Charles watched Erik's expression as his gift was opened, offering him a smile that bordered on a smirk, "You mentioned you didn't have any."

"I'm not sure that was a request for some..." Erik replied, and looked the gifts over before looking back at Charles. "But thank you. I'm sure it'll be a new experience."

"You can leave them here." His gaze moved over to the door as Sean beat a retreat.

Erik arched a brow after the retreating form. "Well, that didn't take long," and he looked back at Charles. "What, are you clearing out a drawer for me?"

He half-shrugged, "I certainly could."

The taller paused for a moment and nodded. "It may make things simpler."

"Then there's certainly room for me to clear out a drawer for you."

"Alright," Erik said, leaning over and kissing his temple.

Charles leaned into the touch, turning enough to rest his hand on the other's cheek.

Erik smiled and pulled back. "Wouldn't want to worry the baby birds any further," he murmured.

The telepath smiled a bit at that, opening his mind to sense the others, his brows rising, "They seem to be doing a good enough job on their own."

"Do I even want to know?"

"I'd have to actually reach their minds for it, and I'd rather leave it to them."

Erik's brow rose again and he shrugged, shifting through his sudden sleeping ensemble. Charles carefully set the new watch and then put it on.

"You like it then?" Erik asked quietly.

"I do. It's very nice. Thank you, Erik."

The taller nodded and sighed, leaning back in the chair slightly. "I should get back."

"I..." He sighed, "Yes, you should."

Erik ran a hand along his hair and sighed softly again. "Thank you for having me. And for the... sleepwear.

Charles smiled softly, "You're always welcome here, Erik. You know that."

Erik leaned over to kiss his temple again before standing.

The telepath reached out, catching Erik's hand and squeezed it briefly, "Thank you for coming, my friend."

"Of course. I'll see you soon, Charles."

He nodded slightly, offering another slight smile. Erik ran a hand over the top of Charles' head and slipped out, heading for the doors.

Sean watched from where he was seated on the stairs, "Merry Christmas."

Erik paused, glancing back at him and nodded. "Happy Holidays," he replied before opening the door and leaving.

Sean watched him go before going back and curling up on the couch again.

Hank entered a while later with a couple plates, handing one off to the professor, before sitting down quickly and all but shoveling food in. Alex came in with two more plates, handing one to Sean and settling on the floor, picking at his food. Charles looked from one to the other, a brow arching but he didn't say anything.

Hank finished quickly and rose. "Merry Christmas all," he said, heading back out.

"Merry Christmas," Alex murmured. The other two offering him similar wishes.

Hank hesitated before heading for his bedchamber, intending entirely to pass out and try to give his brain enough sleep to figure out what the hell had just happened.

Alex excused himself a few minutes later and headed out to the garage to work on the cars some more and try to sort out what he was thinking.


And now for your end notes. There was some confusion before about Charles calling Hank "Henry" which I figure might show up in this chapter again. In the comics, his name is Henry "Hank" McCoy, and the movie never seemed to specify if his full/real name was Henry, but we're running with that assumption.

Also, at a little less than a month and ten chapters into this story, we're sitting with 127 reviews, on 103 people's favorite story lists, and on 202 story alerts. The response to this story has been somewhat overwhelming, thank you all so much!