A/N: Sorry for the delay. The Harry Potter midnight premiere took a lot out of me. the movie was absolutely incredible of course!

So I'm back now, enjoy!

Chapter 14: A Return of a Friend

"Charles Xavier did more for mutants than you will ever know." – Erik Lehnsherr

The next morning Charles found Emily sitting in his armchair munching on a piece of toast and reading the paper. She still wore her pyjamas and looked very comfortable.

"Well, Good Morning," Charles said pushing himself up.

"Morning," she replied still reading the paper.

Charles watched her as she ate. He couldn't help but think that it was a little adorable the way she scrunched her nose in thought as she read. He slid into his chair and rolled over to her snatching the paper away.

"Hey! That was not very nice," Emily scolded.

"Well, the paper is obviously more interesting than me so I decided to take the paper." Charles replied chuckling.

Emily chucked the crust of her toast at Charles. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Now, that wasn't very nice," Charles said.

"Well, you deserved it," She replied, the corners of her mouth pulling up.

Charles laughed and handed the now folded paper back to Emily.

"Come on you, breakfast is ready." Emily said getting up and walking out the door.

Charles watched her leave, a smile playing at his lips.

"Stop staring and come on Charles," she called stopping at the door, waiting at the door.

He wheeled himself out, getting a whack on the back of the head with the paper.

"Keep your eyes in your head," she mocked now walking beside him.

She had most definitely been right, breakfast was indeed ready. Hank had made mounds of toast as well as a healthy helping of eggs. He actually ate seconds this morning, which was out of character. Today, he had decided that he was going to work with Emily on training.

Alex and Sean had given him reports on the children. The two boys enjoyed working with the little ones, surprisingly.

Hudson continued to stay close to Hank. Hank was almost sure that he had perfected his cure for Charles. Charles, of course, was still hesitant.

After the children finished eating, Emily pulled herself up to sit on the counter as Charles did the dishes.

"Emily, I tell the boys not to do that. I don't want the children crawling all over the counters too." Charles said in that tone that everyone knew too well.

Emily looked down at him and smirked, "I'm special Professor."

Charles chuckled, "Yes, you are but that does not exclude you from the rules."

He dried his hands and looked up at her. She rolled her eyes and slid down.

"Much better, now I don't feel like a little kid," Charles said.

"Well, you are little." Emily replied patting him on the head before grabbing an apple and taking a bit. "So, what is your plan for me today, Professor?" she said after swallowing.

"We are going swimming," he explained. "So I'd go get a bathing suit. I know Raven had quite a few and I know for sure that there is one in the dresser in your room."

"Then I shall go change," she said smiling purposely strutting out of the room. Charles shook his head, 'Very nice,' he said in her mind.

Charles waited a bit before taking off towards his room. As he neared the room, he felt a strange but familiar presence. He hesitated as he entered the room. He kept a stoic look as he stared at his bed.

It was not empty like he had left it; instead someone lay in the middle of it.

"You always did eat slowly," the German man said smoothly.

"You could have used the front door, Erik," Charles said in a low voice, glancing at the open window.

"Ah, but then Alex would have tried to kill me. This way added a sense of surprise." Erik replied.

There was knocking at the side door in the room causing Charles to look over quickly.

"Charles? I need your help. Are you in there?" Emily called out.

Charles looked at Erik and then back to the door. "Charles?"

"I'm here, hold on," Charles called back heading towards the door.

"Oh, its okay I'll just come to you," Emily said.

"No, Emily don't…" Charles called out panicked.

It was too late. She had opened the door and stood there in a pair of sweat pants with her swimsuit top pressed to her chest.

She looked at Charles and then to Erik. She flushed and looked back at Charles, who ran a hand through his hair.

"Can you tie this?" she whispered kneeling down in front of Charles and turning around.

He flushed as he tied the straps. His hands brushed against the skin of her back causing her to shiver. "There you go." He whispered. He patted lightly, noticing how soft her skin was.

Emily turned around and crossed her arms on her chest. There was an incredibly awkward silence. Emily looked at Charles then at Erik then back at Charles. She raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Well guy on guy, kinky. I'll just leave you two alone," she said smirking.

"Emily, honestly…" Charles scoffed.

Emily now stood by the door, "Oh, don't worry it doesn't bother me. I'll be right here enjoying the entertainment," she said tapping her head as she closed the door smiling.

Charles blushed deeply. He couldn't believe Emily even thought him and Erik would do such things together.

"We don't want to disappoint her now," Erik said, breaking Charles's thoughts. Charles turned to look at him. Erik was on the edge of the bed smiling at him.

"Why are you here?" Charles asked.

"You, my friend, are going to need my help soon," Erik replied raising his eyebrows.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, Raven and I recruited a few more mutants for you," Erik said standing up. He straightened his pants and cleared his throat. "So I thought you would appreciate some company when they arrive tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Erik a little more warning would have been nice!" Charles exclaimed. He wheeled himself to look at Erik who stood at the door way.

"We'll talk more about that later. I believe you would like to see your sister," Erik said motioning for Charles to follow.

Charles perked up at the notion of Raven being home. He missed her a great deal. Erik smiled noticing his reaction.

"She should be down with Hank." Erik said a bit quieter. Charles was already out the door. He of course knew where she was now that he could sense her presence. Erik hung back and watched Charles ahead of him.

His heart jumped up into his throat as he watched Charles wheel himself down the hall. There was still a nagging part of his brain that had himself convinced it was his fault that Charles was this way. He had crippled his best friend.

"Come on Erik or am I too fast for you now?" Charles called out from his place at the new elevator. Erik rolled his eyes and joined his friend.

Once down in the lower levels, Erik was shocked by the new additions.

"One of these rooms is going to be a simulation trainer, another is storage and some don't have a purpose yet. This one, however, is the new Cerebro." Charles explained as they went down the hallway. He stopped out side of the medical facilities that Hank had insisted on taking up a good portion of the area.

Charles hesitated. He could hear Raven's laughter from inside which was accompanied by Hank's.

"She doesn't bite you know," Erik whispered leaning down next to Charles.

"I am aware of that," Charles replied. He pressed the button that opened the door and wheeled in.

Almost immediately he was bombarded with Raven flinging herself into his arms.

"Charles," she whispered as she buried her face into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. She was practically sitting in his lap. It took Charles a moment to realize that she was crying. He pulled her off his shoulder so he could see her. He brushed away a few tears on her blue skin.

"Why are you crying?" he asked chuckling slightly.

"You're…you're in a wheel chair Charles. The last time I saw you, you were in a hospital hooked up to God knows how many machines. Now you're here," She sobbed motioning to the chair.

Erik's shoulders slumped slightly at her words. Charles noticed his actions and pulled the sobbing Raven against his chest like he use to when she cried.

"I'm okay, Raven. I'm okay," he said quietly running his hand down the back of her head.

"Actually, Professor," Hank interrupted. "You're going to be more than okay. I finally got it right."

Raven sat up when she felt Charles tense up.

"Got what right?" Erik asked.

"The cure that's going to make the Professor walk," Hudson said stepping out from behind Hank.

It was the first time Charles saw the boy smile.