New Year's Eve 1962

Charles frowned, digging through the drawers of his desk again before triple-checking his bookshelves and rolling into the bedchamber to search that room again. Where had he put that book? It had to be around somewhere, he wasn't quite finished with it yet.

Erik entered, closing the door softly behind him, having decided to stop by for New Year's Eve. "Hello, Charles."

The telepath glanced up, "Oh, hello, Erik."

Erik leaned over, running a hand through his hair. "And what are you up to then?"

"Trying to find my book. I was hoping to finish it soon..."

"Which book?" Erik asked, keeping his expression innocent.

"The Once and Future King. That one I was reading a week ago." He looked up, "You haven't seen it have you?"

"Me?" Erik asked, expression still innocent. "If you can't find it, I could certainly get you another copy."

Charles' brow rose at that, "That didn't answer my question."

A small smirk started playing around Erik's expression. "Maybe not."

The telepath crossed his arms, appraising the other, "You didn't happen to pick it up?" Erik offered him a smile, and kissed the top of Charles' head. He sighed, "Erik, I wasn't finished with it!"

"I'm sorry, I thought you had been. I'll find another copy."

"Are you enjoying it?"

Erik nodded, sitting down on the couch. "Yes. It's rather interesting."

Charles wheeled over, pausing for a moment before shifting onto the couch slowly and carefully. "Good to hear. I'm sure I can find another copy, I'm not even sure what's in the library here."

"You don't know what's in your own library?" Erik asked, settling an arm around Charles' waist, content to sit beside him.

"Well, I haven't been here much over the last few years. My step-father used it as his private chambers and I was rather young when my father used it."

"I'm sure you could plan an expedition."

He nodded, "I may have to do that. It's a lovely old room, I just haven't had time to deal with the books recently."

"A tragedy. You have to take more time for yourself Charles, or you'll burn yourself out."

"You worry too much, Erik. I'm fine," he smiled softly, resting his head on the other's shoulder.

"I get to worry about you," Erik replied.

"You've enough to worry about without adding to it."

"Perhaps. But I want to worry about you."

"I'm alright though, Erik. I take care of myself. I promise."

"Good," Erik said.

Charles tilted his head back so he could look up at Erik, "How have you been?"

Glancing down at him, the German smiled. "Well enough. Busy, with different things. I believe Azazel has been postulating that I have a secret lover."

Charles' brow rose, "Well, he's not far off... You don't think he'll bother with it, do you?"

"Bother finding out who or make a fuss? No. I think he just likes making noise and bothering people. Besides you are my lover in all but one aspect. I certainly love you, remember?"

The telepath smiled softly, though it didn't fully reach his eyes, "I do remember. I love you too, so very much Erik."

Erik kissed the top of the other's head. "It's fine, Charles. To me at least."

He sighed, "I know. I know."

"Does it bother you?" Erik asked after a moment.

"I..." Charles looked away, "Perhaps a bit."

"I'm sorry," Erik said, rubbing a hand along his cheek. "And not just because it's my fault—no, I'm not about to go down the road of a guilt trip over that again, though I always will be somewhat. I'm just sorry."

He leaned into the touch, "I know. I'll be alright, Erik. It's just another thing."

"Well," Erik said slowly, moving his thumb in a circle along Charles' cheek. "Do you know you can't? Or if you ever will? After all, a while ago you implied you were getting some sensation back."

"I don't know I can't. I think someday. Sensation below the damaged vertebrae has been showing up from time to time outside of the tests. Like I said, it's just another thing."

The taller nodded, the arm that had been touching Charles' cheek dropping back down to hold him around his waist. "Then, someday. We'll work through things as they come."

He smiled softly up at Erik, "What did I do to deserve you?"

Erik sincerely tried to quash down on the first thoughts that sprang to mind. The scar on your back, having your sister leave, and getting shot in the spine?"Not sure," he actually said.

The love and strength, the companionship, and the joy you bring me? he responded. Charles reached up, running a hand over Erik's cheek, "You're so much more than you give yourself credit for."

"I was really hoping you hadn't heard that," Erik murmured, moving to bury his face in Charles' shoulder.

The telepath's hand moved up to brush over Erik's hair gently, "I'm sorry, I'll try to remember to let your thoughts be yours."

"It's fine, usually," Erik replied. "Though, sometimes I wonder what I was thinking to fall in love with a telepath."

Charles smiled softly, turning his head enough to kiss Erik's temple, "Does one think when they fall in love?"

"I suppose it generally goes against form," Erik admitted with a grin. "Did you have any plans for tonight?"

"Not yet. I don't really make evening plans this year. Even for New Year's."

"Why not?"

"Because I have to take some time to myself so I don't overdo it." His lips curled into a slight smile, "Honestly though, I just find myself tired by the evening."

Erik hummed, kissing the other's neck gently. "Well, it is New Years. Do you have champagne somewhere?"

"I'm sure there's some in the wine cellar. Though I haven't been down there in a couple of years."

Erik nodded, and extracted himself. "If you point, I'm sure I can find the way. And something suitable. How are the baby birds doing tonight?"

"Sean's actually out with his parents for a few days. They finally came in-state. Alex has been closeted in the garage for a couple of days—I haven't asked or pried, if he wants to talk he can come. I think he's considering going out tonight. I don't know about Hank."

Erik nodded. "Well, to the wine cellar with me then. I'll return shortly."

"Alright." He focused, sending the directions into Erik's mind before thinking about it. Erik's brows shot up at that, but he finally nodded. Charles bit his lip slightly, "Sorry…"

Erik stepped over to lean down and kiss his temple. "Don't be. I'll be back," and strode out.

The telepath leaned his head back, closing his eyes and considering if the proposal that was waiting for him to speak it was suitable tonight.

Several minutes later, Erik returned with a pair of bottles and a pair of glasses. "I wasn't sure which you would prefer, or how much we could go through," he said, setting them both down.

Charles opened his eyes, smiling at that, "Well, I'm not picky when it comes from the cellar here and we'll have to see how much we actually get through, hm?"

Erik smiled and nodded, settling back down beside him, with the glasses and the bottles on a side table.

Charles leaned against him, thinking for another long moment, "Do you mind pouring me a glass, Erik?"

Erik nodded, proceeding to pour two of them and handing one to Charles, before putting that arm around his waist again. "Well, to a Happy New Year then. Welcome soon enough to 1963."

"To a Happy New Year. It's so filled with promise."

Erik glanced at him and smiled. "I hope so."

Charles returned the smile, "I'm sure of it."

Erik had to lean down and kiss that smile. The smaller man leaned up into the kiss, his free hand moving to rest on Erik's chest for balance. Erik smiled at that, returning the kiss almost lazily for a while before pulling back.

Charles shifted enough to rest his head on Erik's shoulder, "I love you."

"I'm glad," Erik replied, carding his fingers through Charles' hair.

The telepath leaned into that touch, sipping at his drink, "Erik?"

"Yes?" the other asked, tilting his head toward the shorter.

"I-I have something to ask you. It's something I know that you'll need time to consider and I ask that you take that time."

Erik blinked and nodded. "Alright..."

"I think it may be possible to link our minds. Fully, not just a stray thought here or there. I want to know if you'd be willing to do that?"

The German straightened his spine and didn't respond for a moment. "How linked? What…what exactly would that mean?" he asked, not because he was against the idea so much as processing it, his mind trying to gather information.

"A full link would mean that you would have full access to my mind and vice versa. I know it's a lot I'm asking."

"Can... alright. So it would mean we would know each other's thoughts. All the time?"

"When we're not blocking them, which I can teach you how to do. And I'm sure there's a range to it—there is to all telepathy."

"Do you have any indication of how much of a range?" Erik asked.

"I'm not certain. I know my own range, without an amplifier, is weak but present at a couple hundred miles. With both minds' strength, I don't know. Could be as few as my range or as great as double it, which I think would be nearly five hundred." He spoke softly, doing his best to keep his tone from sounding either clinical or pushy.

Erik nodded again, taking a breath. "Alright. I... if we're linked, would it be fairly constant? And if so, what would happen if one of us died?"

"The link would be broken for one. The other would know, and depending on the distance the other might feel it."

Erik shifted, holding Charles a bit closer. "Not that I'm planning on dying, but the things I've been doing lately... they're dangerous. And I don't want to do that to you again."

Charles leaned against him, glancing up at him, "I'm willing to take that risk, but it's up to you. You don't need to decide now."

Erik took a deep breath, rubbing small circles against Charles' hip. "Alright," he said softly. "I'll think about it."

The telepath offered him a slight smile before blinking. He lifted his head enough to look down at Erik's hand, "I..." He blinked again, a smile slowly spreading across his features. "Erik, I can feel that. It's intermittent and only slight, but I can feel that."

Erik blinked, and pressed slightly harder. "You can?"

Charles nodded, his eyes lighting, "Yes. I-I can."

Erik ran his hand from Charles' hip down his thigh slightly and back up, leaning over to kiss him.

The smaller man leaned up into the kiss, his hand moving to the back of Erik's head to draw him down a bit further. Erik allowed himself to be tilted down, shifting so he put his glass down, and wrapped both hands around Charles' waist. Charles set his glass down on his chair, his other hand moving to trace Erik's spine. Tilting further down into the kiss, Erik drew him a bit closer. The telepath made a soft sound at that, pressing closer as best he could. In reply, Erik tugged him as close as he could get. Moving his hand from the back of Erik's neck to his upper arm, he could feel the emotions spiraling around and intertwining.

"You really are amazing sometimes," Erik laughed softly, pulling back.

"Oh?" Charles blinked at him in confusion, managing not to protest the withdrawal.

Erik hummed, and kissed him again gently.

You're rather amazing yourself, love.

If you say so.

I do. He smiled against the kiss, finally drawing back as the clock chimed.

Erik tilted his head to look at the clock as well.

"It's almost the New Year."

"So it is," Erik murmured.

Charles leaned in to kiss him again briefly, "We've made it here."

"We have," Erik agreed, kissing him gently.

"I'm so very glad."

Erik nodded, holding him again. "Well, welcome to a New Year. May it go better than last."

"I'm certain it shall. Happy New Year, Erik."

Erik leaned down into another kiss.

January 7th, 1963

A week later, Hank checked through the main rooms of the mansion, since the other three were supposed to be out grocery shopping or some such. The car was gone, and it seemed empty enough. He retreated to his lab, putting on the music louder than normal. Something popular, peppy even, and a far cry from his usual classical and opera. Honestly, it sounded something more like one would find on a jukebox at a club, not in the lab of a serious scientist.

Alex woke up, glancing at the clock. It was a lot later than he usually got up. He made his way downstairs, checking for the others as he went. He finally reached the lab and stuck his head in, his brow rising at the sound of the music, "Well, I like it better than the operas."

Humming along to the music, Hank all but jumped out of the stool he was perching on, spectacles on the end of his nose. "I...What? Oh, Alex," he said and his eyes widened, his glasses nearly falling off a second time during his attempt to turn the music off.

Aelx's brow rose at that, "Nah, it's not a bad song. Just didn't peg you for the sort to listen to it."

"I, yes, well, I find variety can be the spice of life and... weren't you going with Sean and the Professor today?"

"Yeah, apparently they decided to let me sleep."

"Well, oh, I suppose you needed the sleep then," Hank started.

He shrugged, "I guess. It wasn't anything big anyhow."

"Suppose not. So, can I, erm, do anything for you?"

He shook his head, "No, was just seeing if anyone else was here and or up."

"Well, I'm rather both, so I suppose that works," Hank said, starting to come down from the panic of someone walking in, perching himself back on the stool.

"Guess so. How're you?"

"Once I've gotten my heart restarted, rather well today."

"Good to know. You listen to that much?" Alex asked.

"When others are not around... on occasion," Hank offered.

"Huh, interesting."

Hank shifted. "Oh? Interesting? Besides the ruin of my reputation as an intellectual you mean?"

"I doubt this would ruin that. At least not with anyone here."

"I suppose not," the larger mutant admitted.

"That doesn't mean I'm letting you forget it though."

"Oh, god," Hank rubbed a hand over his eyes. "Great. Just great. Is there any way I can convince you not to?"

Alex grinned, "Not sure yet."

"Any ideas?" Hank asked, smiling faintly.

"Hm...Not really. I'll have to think about that for a while."

Hank was still smiling, though he shook his head. "Well, do let me know as soon as you've figured it out. And how are you feeling anyway?"

"Still waking up, but fine. Why?"

"I haven't seen much of you the past week..."

"Oh...yeah. Just been doing my usual."

"A lot more of it, it seems."

Alex frowned, "You saying something?"

"Not... really?" Hank spread his hands out. "I'm just hoping you're alright and..."

"I will be. I at least have things to do this year." He studied Hank for a moment, "It's not you I'm avoiding, I'm still not thinking about Christopher."

"Oh, I-I mean, I wasn't worried that you were," he said, shifting. "Though it was perhaps less reassuring that it could have been. Have you come to any conclusions about your brother then?"

"I never have conclusions about him. I just have things to do to distract me this time."

"Perhaps... it would be better to try and sort some things out, rather than just being distracted?"

"How? It's not like it'd change anything."

"It might help you though," Hank continued and wished he would learn when to stop talking.

"Again. How?"

Hank shrugged. "Emotional stability? I don't know, I'm sorry. I'm prying again."

"The how was a how to do it." He sighed, looking away, "You've probably got a bit of a right to pry."

"I... wish I knew. Talking about it might help, but I'm not sure. And, I'll only pry as much as you let me. I don't want to push you."

He sighed again, finding a stool and perching on it, "I don't know..."

Hank turned fully to look at him. "About the talking or what to say?"

"What to say I guess."

"Well, you've had time to think about it surely. So, he's your older brother. Have you heard from him before?"

"Yeah, a few times. Got gifts the last three Christmases. Met him just before my powers showed up."

"How did that go?"

"It was the most awkward hour and a half of my life. He's...well, everything I'm not."

"How so?" Hank asked, almost bristling at that.

"Good student, even-tempered, brunette, the chosen son, no prison record, college-graduate now, and human."

"Oh Alex," Hank said softly, reaching forward and resting a hand on his knee. "You may not have honors or degrees or whatever he has, but you are good. You're funny, and smart in a different way, and you were given more problems than most people."

"Caused more too... I dunno, Hank. I'm not much to write home about."

"Well, if I was still in communication with my parents I might protest that. No, you're not perfect, but you're young. And tend to make things explode. That doesn't really reflect on who you are."

"I dunno. I'm...well, not exactly the man of someone's dreams."

"And he is? That's a rather boring dream it sounds like," Hank huffed, very carefully not mentioning Alex might well be the one of his dreams.

"He's engaged, so... guess someone thought so." He froze realizing how that sounded, "I..."

"Hm?" Hank asked, tilting his head slightly.

He shrugged, "Nothing. I dunno. I never know after I hear from him."

Hank nodded. "Well, I can't really say that you're someone I dreamed about but... I like you. A lot. I'd consider writing home about you if that was viable. You even bring me Twinkies and food when I'm in overwork mode. It's very endearing."

Alex managed a faint smile at that, "Thanks."

Hank nodded again, hand still on Alex's knee. "Anytime. I'm apparently better at pep talks than I knew."

His hand moved to cover Hank's petting the fur there, "Apparently. Thanks again."

Hank hummed slightly as his fur was petted. "You're welcome."

He grinned, continuing to stroke the fur, reveling in the silky feel.

Hank shifted slightly at that. "You really do seem to like my fur..."

"Hm? Oh, it's soft."

Offering him a smile, Hank put his other hand on Alex's shoulder. "Well, I suppose that's a better reaction than I would get from many."

"Anyone who reacts differently is an idiot. You're still you."

"There aren't many who would say the same," he said softly. "But thank you."

Alex offered him another smile, "You're welcome."

Hank shifted a bit closer. "Can I...?"

He hesitated and then nodded, "Yeah."

It took Hank another moment, and he leaned forward, lightly kissing the other. Alex leaned into the kiss, his hand moving to comb through Hank's fur gently. After several more moments, the blue mutant purred softly. Alex smirked into the kiss, continuing the movement. Slowly, Hank moved a bit deeper into the kiss, still purring. Alex leaned up at that, his hand tracing up from Hank's hand up his arm, smoothing the fur back down again.

Smiling, Hank finally pulled back slightly.

Alex made a small noise at the withdrawal, but offered him a grin, "Yeah?"

Hank offered him a smile in reply. "I really do like you, you know?"

"I..." He grinned, "I know. I like you too, a lot."

"Good," Hank murmured. "I'm rather glad of that, all things considered."

Alex grinned, leaning his forehead against Hank's, "So am I."

Your note from Victoriousscarf: Hank and Alex have attempted to stage an invasion of the story. They like showing up, and they're fairly cute. Not to mention a fascinating contrast to the mess going by the names of Erik and Charles. For example, Erik and Charles constantly are confessing love to each other, mostly to reassure and convince themselves they're okay. Alex meanwhile ((Very ala Wesley from the Princess Bride)) tells Hank he loves him by saying "It's you/you're you" and Hank expresses love with inventions and food.

Then your author realized today she was wearing a black turtle neck and casual business pants. And remembered why she was the Erik muse of the story.

Thank you guys as always for the amazing feedback we've been getting! We're really, truly honored.