Chapter Thirteen:
Welcome Home

Rating: T

Pairing: Alex(Havok)/Sean(Banshee) & Erik/Charles, don't like it don't read it.

Disclaimer- I DO NOT own any of the characters in this, they all belong to Marvel. However, the story is mine.

A/N: Wow… I am SO sorry for the sudden disappearance. A lot happened and I just didn't have access to a computer long enough to type anything out. However, I am finally home and I am ready to go. =D I apologize in advance for the atrociousness that is this chapter… But it will get better! I have a rather bLARGE/b surprise planned for the next one, so be sure to check back tomorrow!

Having been locked up inside the hospital, Charles had become immune to the changing seasons… He'd all but forgotten about them until now. As the car slowly pulled away from the protestors, the small black sedan wading through a few people before it was able to pick up speed and get onto the main roads, he became acutely aware of them. It was early December by now and a rather unpleasant chill had set in, causing the injured telepath to shiver slightly. Instantly Erik pressed a bit closer, tapping Hank on his furry shoulder simultaneously to indicate that he needed to turn up the heat… The car was a bit chilly. In one effortless movement, the jacket that had been covering Erik was quickly slid off and draped over Charles' shivering shoulders so as to keep him just a bit warmer. Slowly a blue hand reached out and fiddled with the knob on the dash of the car, turning up the heat a bit so that the biting cold would be forced out.

Eventually Charles managed to rip his eyes away from the back window, instead turning his gaze to Erik who was staring intently out the window beside him. "Thank you…" The telepath finally managed as he hugged the thick jacket closer to his thin frame using the heat that lingered from Erik's body to warm up his own. Instead of offering up a 'you're welcome', Erik simply turned and stared into Charles' bright eyes, letting the look linger before he sighed.

"I warned you Charles. This is just the beginning. Soon-"

"No." Erik was abruptly cut off by his companion, his own eyes widening slightly as he arched a dark eyebrow. "They simply don't understand, Erik. We just have to help them see, that's all." Charles added, shaking his head back and forth. He refused to accept that such hatred could come about. Erik was right in saying they feared the unknown… Then shouldn't it be there job to educate the humans? To show that they meant no harm?

"Charkes…" This time it as Hank who spoke up, a thick finger moving to push his glasses further up his fur covered nose as he turned in his seat. The seatbelt was already straining to cover his large frame, and after moving a few more inches it locked into place, causing him to jerk slightly and let out a disgruntled sound… but a moment later he managed to land his yellow eyes on his mentor, watching him carefully. "I… I don't know if we can. Every time I've stepped out of the house to get something as simple as the mail…" He trailed off, not wanting to voice the terrible things that passersby on the road had shouted.

"It's because they don't understand, Hank. We will make them though." Charles responded in a cool, confident voice as he reached a hand out and clamped it down on Hank's shoulder, nodding and offering a smile.

"You can't fix ignorance…" Erik retorted, a bit of anger an exasperation leaking into his voice. Charles had experienced firsthand what was to come… and that was only the tip of the iceberg. How was he going to handle when things got worse? When the government stepped in?

"Erik, if we do things the way you desire we will only be fulfilling what they have already decided in their minds." Charles replied, turning his gaze back to his friend, watching him carefully. "We need to teach, not destroy… How will they ever understand if we do exactly what they fear us for?" The question seemed to shut Erik up for a brief moment, and by the time he finally had a retort crafted it had become useless for they'd arrived at their destination.

"We're here." Moira called out simply as she turned the car down the long, gravel drive that lead up to the imposing building, the very one that Charles called home. A slow grin worked its way across the telepath's features as he closed his eyes, allowing the moment to fully register. He was finally home… After months of being locked in a sterile room with four white walls and nothing to stare at but a black and white TV… He was finally home.

Hank was the first out as the sedan pulled to a stop, exiting the vehicle quickly so as to move around to the trunk and retrieve Charles' wheelchair. Moira was second, and shortly after her Erik as well, leaving Charles alone in the warm car for a brief moment before his door was swung wide to let in the biting cold. The familiar landscape that stretched out before him was bare, thankfully… No snow had fallen yet, though with the temperatures steadily dropping he had no doubt snow would arrive soon.

Soon his view was blocked by a large frame, and a warm hand was wrapping itself around his arm, moving to help Charles from the car. Immediately his lips parted to protest the help, but when he saw the determined look on Erik's face he snapped his lips shut, allowing himself to be tugged from the car and placed comfortably in the metal chair. Silence fell among the small group as Charles took a moment to adjust himself, eventually wrapping one hand around the joystick of the chair and pressing it forward, causing the chair to mimic the action. It wasn't until he neared the door that he noticed the first 'improvement' to the house… A small wooden ramp had been placed next to the steps so that he could easily get in and out.

Immediately his gaze flew to Erik who was walking at his side, but the metalworker simply shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, indicating he had nothing to do with it. Before Charles could question him, three very distinct figures emerged from the front door and it suddenly made sense… A very large, unrestrained smile worked its way across his face as he nudged the chair forward and made its way up the ramp for the first time, stopping just before Raven, Alex, and Sean who were all staring at him with questioning gazes.

"You didn't have to do this." He stated, his lips turned upward into a smirk as his blue eyes looked over each one. Raven, for the first time in months, actually had clothing on her thin frame… Though it was only a floor length fur coat, meant to keep her warm despite the biting chill that settled in around the mansion. Alex seemed a tad less disgruntled than normal, a small grin of his own dominating his features as he crossed his arms over his chest. Sean was simply beaming, his white teeth showing through his own grin as he was the first to respond.

"We wanted too. Just wait till you see the rest!" He stated eagerly, reaching his right hand up and jutting his thumb out towards the door behind him. It was then that Charles noticed the white gauze covering said appendage and a rather confused expression crossed his features.

"What on earth happened?" Charles questioned, pushing himself forward a bit to look at Banshee's hand better.

A nervous, embarrassed laugh escaped the redhead as he reached a hand up and rubbed the back of his head, ignoring the quiet laugh that issued from Alex who was at his side. "I've never really worked with tools before…" He murmured, letting that be his explanation as a red heat flushed his pale, freckled cheeks. Before anything else could be said about the subject though, Sean leapt back and pushed the door open, stepping aside so that Charles could be the first to make his way in. "Come on, you gotta see the rest!"

With that Charles was shown around the rest of the house… Various ramps had been fitted on and near the staircases so that he could have better access. Things had been lowered so that he'd be able to reach them better… And other, smaller things had been changed to help ease the transition for the telepath. And, though he was incredibly grateful for the modifications and the time his team had put in on them, he couldn't deny the strange sadness sweeping through him at the fact that these changes had ihad/i to be made.

"And this…" Hank's voice pulled Charles from his thoughts as the blue, fur covered mutant halted in front of two large, metal doors that were clearly a new addition to the mansion. "Is what I spent most of my time on while those two were putting in all the ramps." With that he gestured towards Alex and Sean who glanced at each other before looking back to the doors. They'd had no knowledge of this… How the hell had they not noticed a big blue man putting into large metal doors? Erik simply stood there with a confident smile on his face, arms folded over his chest as he nodded at Hank to continue. With the encouragement, Beast reached out and jabbed his thumb into a small pad that sat directly to the right of the doors, and not a moment later the metal doors slid open to reveal an elevator beyond.

"What the hell?" Alex managed, eyes sliding from the doors to Hank. "We spent all that time on those ramps and you put this thing in?" He questioned, though the words didn't sound nearly as harsh due to the slight joking manner that the blonde laced into his words… However, by the look in his eyes it was clear that he was slightly agitated.

"Yea… I just figured Charles would-" Hank began defensively, but was cut off by Charles who was laughing… actually laughing.

"I appreciate all of this." He stated, his gaze sliding between Alex, Sean, and Hank. Eventually it fell on Erik who had no doubt orchestrated all of this and a small warmth blossomed in Charles' chest. "Thank you." He stated, his voice softening. Suddenly his attention was torn from his friend as a warm, now bare body slid into his lap. Thin blue arms wrapped around his neck and he felt a heat rush his cheeks. Though it was Raven's decision whether to wear appropriate clothing or not, she was his sister… and it was quite awkward to have her hugging him in such a manner.

"We're all glad you like it…" She stated as she pulled back, smiling at him. The blush in his cheeks didn't go unnoticed and she laughed quietly, pulling herself away and standing once more. "I didn't contribute to any of this… But I do have a dinner fit for a king waiting." She stated, gesturing down the hall towards the door.

"Anything that isn't hospital food sounds wonderful." Charles replied with a quiet laugh, and at that the group turned, making their way off down the hall towards the dining room… Finally, Charles was back where he belonged.