I'm so so so sorry I'm late. I'm really bad at this "on time" kind of thing. I'm working on it. I really am.

Book 1

Chapter Eleven

The Xavier Mansion proved to be the perfect place to train. On the first day of training, Belle spent her morning running laps around the estate, building up her stamina. After her tenth lap, she rested on the back steps, looking on at the landscaping. The double doors opened and Moira came out with some spring to her step.

"How's the training going?" she asked, sitting next to Belle on the steps.

"Good, though it's not exactly training. Just cardio to work up to training," Belle breathed back. Moira nodded as she admired the plant life.

"Next time you go for a run, I could join you if you'd like. Just let me know." The mutant looked at the woman for a moment, still catching her breath.

"I would love that. Thank you, Moira." The two exchanged smiles before Belle got up and returned to her room. After a relaxing shower and redressing in clean clothes, she walked to the vanity, her bare feet brushing against the grassy floor. She took a moment to tame her curls into place before slipping on her shoes and closing the door behind her. As she made her way to the kitchen for lunch, she paused when she heard shuffling inside. Quietly entering, she found Charles making himself a sandwich. A bright smile crossed his lips as she came over and bumped into him slightly with her hip. "Hey, you."

"Belle. Always a pleasure to see you. Would you like a sandwich?"

"No no don't trouble yourself. There are leftovers from last night's dinner. I'll just reheat and feast." Charles chuckled at her as she pulled the bowl from the refrigerator. They say at the table and ate in comfortable silence for a while. As she finished her meal, Charles brought his plate to the sink.

"Would you mind coming with me to train Alex?" he asked as he turned on the faucet. She responded with a nod, swallowing quickly before speaking.

"Yes, of course, I'll help!" She quickly brought her bowl to the sink to wash, although Charles was quick to take it from her hands, his fingers brushing against hers as he lifted it from her grasp. "Hey, I-"

"I'm already washing. Keep your hands dry," he said, flashing her a quick smile before going back to his task. Shaking her head and chuckling, she went back to the table and straightened out the placemats. Charles placed a gentle hand against the small of her back as she finished. She straightened out and followed him after the two exchanged smiles. They made their way to the base of the stairs and were greeted by a nervous Alex. After Belle gave him a reassuring smile and a pat on the back, Charles led them down to the basement and showed them a room. Belle glared at the room, very much familiar with the structure and purpose of the space.

"A bomb bunker?" she asked, looking over at Charles in surprise. She then looked over at Alex, who was visible fidgeting from his nerves.

"Yes. This room was made to withstand atomic bombs. I think it can withstand you, Alex." Charles pulled out a mannequin from a separate side room and calmly placed it in the very center of the room before taking Belle's arm and gently pulling her out. "Just aim for the target." Belle followed him as they reached for the door they had entered through as Alex turned to question him.

"But-"

"Concentrate and aim. Belle and I will be right outside." With that, Charles sealed the bunker and checked his watch before fixing his attention on her. Belle raised an eyebrow at him but showed no signs of protest as Charles chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"This is his training? Hit the bullseye?" she challenged, a certain degree of teasing found in her tone.

"I want to see his natural ability," he offered her, his wording causing her to snort loudly and poke him in the side. He let out a sharp laugh and let his arm fall back to his side.

"He doesn't know how to aim. We've figured that out already," she said, making a gesture on her waist in reference to the kind of cut that had sliced through the statue in the government facility's courtyard. She could still see the gleam of amusement in his eye and had to hold back a smile.

"And you will help me teach him. Hank is developing something to help him focus it better. You and I will be the moral support." Just as he finished his sentence, a red light started flashing. Throwing her a smile over his shoulder, Charles opened the door to reveal the room alight with fire, only Alex and the doll standing safely from the flames. "Oh my god," he whispered, quickly grabbing the fire extinguisher and proceeded to walk around extinguishing all of the fire. Belle merely watched Alex as Charles busily promised him that he'd help him control it and gently let a hand fall on his shoulder. The boy looked at her surprised. Thinking for a moment, she formed a dagger of vines in her hand, similar to the one she had used against Emma Frost in her nightmare.

"If I can make this shot, you can learn to aim," she whispered. Alex looked down at her hand before meeting her eyes and nodding. When she threw the spinning dagger, she didn't even spare a glance at the target. Instead, her eyes were trained at Alex's, who was staring at her still and frozen in his spot. The dagger made a thumping sound and both immediately looked over to see that it landed square in the center of the head. Charles watched in awe as Alex grinned at Belle and nodded his head before leaving the room in higher spirits than he had entered.

"That was brilliant," he admired aloud. Belle looked over at Charles and smiled softly when she saw the smile on his face. He came around to stand beside her as he listened to her.

"Well, it's all in his head. That's where he limits himself. That's where he needs to break through." She produced another dagger. "And here," she threw it and it landed directly in the center of the mannequin's chest, "is where his power truly lies." They remained silent as Charles pulled the vines products from the dummy and handed them to her, watching with a gentle smile as she absorbed them back into her palm with a soft glowing light.

Training continued for everyone and every day for the next week, the group not only got stronger but more confident, individually and wholly. Training varied for everyone, playing on their strengths and weaknesses. For example, Belle would start her days with a dozen laps around the estate with Moira, leading into morning sessions with Alex and Charles in the bunker and late morning meditation in the gardens. After a late lunch, she and Charles would have their one on one time together and slowly but surely, she felt her powers within her grasp. Her telepathy was stronger than ever and her control over plants was growing. In fact, she quickly realized that she was unintentionally feeding everyone in the house energy one day over dinner when everyone expressed feeling more energized and lively during the day and she realized she felt a buzzing from inside of her. With every training session with Charles, the stronger her feelings grew and the closer they became, little endearing touches being exchanged between them with more frequencies. After her time with Charles, she would spend the remainder of her afternoon reading and helping Hank in the lab. And just like before, Belle and Charles continued their nightly tradition of him tucking her into bed, every night less and fewer words being exchanged and more loving little touches and smiles appearing.

One day after Belle's late morning meditation session, she was walking back to the house and saw Charles working with Hank, Sean, and Erik on the giant satellite dish. He gave her a bright smile and waved at her. Deciding to pause for a moment and take in some more sun before lunch, she waved back and watched as Charles came running down to join her.

"What are you up to?" she asked, throwing him a curious look.

"You'll see, love," he said with a wink. He then gave Hank a thumbs up. It was then that she noticed Erik up there inching towards Sean. Suddenly, Sean was shoved from the ledge and he was falling with his arms open. Belle gasped and grabbed onto Charles's arm out of fear before the boy let out a sonic scream that renounced him into the air, gliding. Charles was celebrating at the moment, a smile wide on his face before he felt Belle's grip tighten. When he looked over, he could see her squeezing her eyes shut and hyperventilating. He was quick to act, grabbing a hold of her and putting two fingers to her temple. He saw Belle buried under rubble as bombs crashed over her. He shouted her name, but the attack on the camp overpowered his voice. She was crawling out slowly and her mind was processing everything quickly, trying to move. Suddenly, a boot came in contact with her face and Charles saw a woman who hadn't been there before.

"You dirty little freak. Now it's your turn to die." The woman pulled out a handgun and aimed it at her. Charles shouted loud enough for her eyes to meet his before hearing a deafening boom and each returned to the present, Belle in Charles's arms as they collapsed on the floor together. They were both panting and looked at each other.

"You have PTSD?" His voice was quiet but definite and Belle just stared at him, her mind reeling.

"I...Apparently." He stared at her and frowned as she continued to dazedly look at him, her mind hazy with silent pictures of faces she recalled from another lifetime.

"You didn't know?" he whispered softly, holding her close. Her response was a less than enthusiastic shake of her head, barely acknowledging his words. Gently raising his fingers, he brushed her cheek slightly and watched as the fog in her eyes cleared slightly, her eyes able to focus a bit more on him. He was itching to press into her mind, but held himself back, trusting her as he saw her refocusing and coming back to reality. She stared at him for a moment before pressing a palm to her temple and blinking, sighing.

"I didn't know what else to do. I was young...homeless. I didn't know any better and the only people helping the homeless orphan were a few teachers, a librarian, a bus driver, and a woman who owned a run down dinner," she calmly explained, a waver of shame in her voice. Belle composed herself a bit as she looked into his eyes and he pressed his lips together as he watched her. He admired her so much, but he couldn't wrap his mind around her hardships...not in the way he wanted to.

"If we had met before, I would have brought you here. Given you a home, food, clothes, family even…" Charles breathes, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Belle brushed off her blush with a chuckle as she slowly shifted to stand. It was then that she realized they were still on the ground, wrapped up in each other. Noticing the way she had moved to push away and stand, Charles scrambled to his feet and offered her a hand with a tint of pink on his cheekbones. She couldn't help but smile to herself as she took it. Once on her feet, she brushed her hands off and she pocketed them quickly, thinking about his words again. He made to walk away, but Belle's hand reached out and took his arm gently. Turning him to face her, the hand slid down to trace his wrist with her fingers.

"Charles, your sentiment is sweet, but I wouldn't be me if you had." Just as her fingers slid down to his palm and his own curled up to feel hers, Hank came running up to them, cutting the moment short as they stepped away enough to release their holds on one another.

"I knew the wings would work!" he shouted excitedly, grinning from ear to ear and shooting them a contagious smile.

"I knew you'd get it, Hank," Belle encouraged, glazing her downcast look for losing the moment with one of pride. "These suits are just what each of us needed." At the mention of her words, Hank snapped his fingers as though he recalled something important.

"Speaking of which, would you mind coming by early so we can work on yours?" Belle looked at Charles, silently asking him for his permission. To her surprise and slight disappointment, he gave a closed lip smile and nothing more, not a twinkle in his eye as she could feel this mind churning with thoughts and concerns.

"You two can work on that after lunch and Belle can meet me in the garden when she's ready." Without saying another word, Charles walked away, leaving Hank and Belle in an awkward silence.

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