a/n: sorry for the slow update... high school is such a pain. enjoy this lovely chapter and don't forget to review! :)
Chapter 25: A New Life Begins
January and February flew by in a blink of the eye. The snow that had once covered the ground had turned to slush.
All the children had been kept busy with their new toys, which pleased Charles to no end.
The boys had busied themselves with readying the school for the new students. Alex and Sean were finding their way in the world of carpentry by building bunk beds. The goal was to maximize the space.
Hank had decided to study some basic medical procedures since the rate of injury seemed to be increasing with the construction. Charles couldn't help but laugh at the facial expressions Hank would make as he read the text books. It wasn't like the books lacked in detail.
In the past months after the discovery of Raven's pregnancy, there had been quite a bit of discussion as to where she would have the baby. It was the possibility that Raven could accidently change back into her regular form at the hospital that worried Charles and Erik the most. The humans were still not exactly the most friendly towards mutants.
Hank had offered to look into delivery procedures while he was studying, but Raven had awkwardly changed the subject.
It was now the beginning of March so decisions were going have to be made soon.
Charles had woken up relatively early that morning. He lay on his side with his head propped up on his arm. He loved to wake up early and watch Emily sleep. The nightmares of her past no longer plagued her; now she slept soundly through the night. She looked so beautiful laying there.
Her hair was spread out across the pillow and she had the blanket balled up in her fist across her chest. The corners of her mouth were turned up slightly in what looked like a smile. It was all so peaceful.
Charles gently brushed a few strands of hair out of her face and leaned forward pressing his lips against hers. He felt her smile and kiss him back. He pulled back and grinned.
"Good Morning," he whispered.
"How often do you watch me sleep?" Emily asked opening her eyes.
Charles's face fell. He looked like a child who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"I…um…" he stammered.
Emily laughed and rubbed the sleep out her eyes. "It's cute." She said sitting up.
Charles sat up as well. He watched Emily leave the bed and walk over to the window next to her side.
"Beautiful day," she said sarcastically. It was an overcast day and the sky threatened rain.
"And that is why we are staying in doors today," Charles said getting out of bed. He crossed over to his dresser and pulled out clothes to wear.
Emily did the same thing and began to strip out of her night clothes. Charles threw his clothes on the bed and walked over to her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her shirtless body close.
"Charles, I'm hungry," she whined as he kissed her neck.
"So am I," he mumbled against her kiss.
Emily giggled and whacked his arm playfully, "Not that kind of hungry!"
Charles laughed too, but stopped when he heard the bedroom door open.
"Hey, Professor, I was wondering if… OH MY GOD MY EYES ARE BURNING!" Sean exclaimed his hand flying up to cover his face.
"That is why you knock, Sean," Charles said mockingly.
"I know that now! Jeez, I forgot what I was going to say. Ugh, I'm scarred for life." Sean continued as he backed out of the room. He pulled the door closed and left them alone.
"See? We need to get dressed." Emily protested wiggling out of his arms. She finished changing as he changed too.
Together they exited the room and headed towards the kitchen. All the children sat at the table eating different kinds of cereal. They each acknowledged their presence and continued to eat.
"Hey! We are having a lazy breakfast this morning," Raven said from her spot at the counter. She was beaming at them.
Charles noticed that she had chosen to take her human form this morning. He grabbed himself a bowl and handed another to Emily. They ate in silence, except for Raven's happy humming as she washed the dishes the children brought her. Charles saw Emily subtly staring at Raven's baby bump.
This wasn't the first time Charles had caught her staring. He had seen her glance at Raven and her entire expression would change for just a second. But just as quickly as her expression would change, it would flicker right back to the original one.
Charles still was not entirely sure why she was acting the way she was, but he figured it had to do with something what Shaw had done to her.
Erik strolled into the kitchen and kissed Raven on the cheek. He wore a sweatshirt and sweatpants that were his typical workout attire.
"So are you going to help me with kids today?" Erik asked grabbing an apple off the counter.
"Yeah, of course." Charles replied. He got up and set his bowl in the sink.
"Great I have them in the Danger Room. You get to run the electronic half," Erik said kissing Raven one more time before leaving the room.
"You better follow," Emily said smiling.
"Be good," he said kissing her on the top of her head.
"You know I will," she called after him.
Charles traveled down stairs to the practice room that had been dubbed the "Danger Room" by Alex.
He walked into the control booth and sat down in the chair at the control panel. He looked into the room through the glass window in front of him and saw Erik, Alex, Sean, Hank, Scott, and Christopher. Erik looked like he was giving them a pep talk.
Charles chuckled and pressed the button to the microphone. "Are we ready?"
Erik turned around and grinned, "Go easy on us Charles."
"Of course, my friend." Charles replied. He entered the computer system and selected one of the easier scenarios Hank had designed to test them.
He watched the boys carefully. He wanted to be able to tell where they needed improvement. Surprisingly, things were going very well.
Erik had proven that he was quite the leader. He was firm, but encouraging. His control of his own mutation had also improved significantly. Erik had found that point between rage and serenity.
Alex and Sean worked together flawlessly. The two had a great dynamic. Hank had found his way into the mix and was good at adapting to what the others did.
Scott and Christopher continued to impress Charles to no end. The two boys showed great maturity as well as strength for their age. Hank had invented special glasses that helped Scott adapt his energy blasts like his brother. Christopher had become increasingly adept at changing his form. He tended to favor bird forms mainly, which made his nickname, Talons, all more appropriate.
There was a part of Charles that wished he could be down there in the action as well. However, Emily and he had decided that it was better if he didn't push his luck with his legs.
A green light flashed on the control panel signaling that the boys had completed the exercise.
"Good job, guys. I want to try something different. Alex and Scott, I want you two to work together this time. Sean I want you to work with Chris. Erik and Hank, you two fit in where you are needed. Those sound good?" Charles suggested.
"You're the boss, Professor X," Erik called out.
"Get going, Magneto." Charles replied as he keyed in the next sequence.
Emily sat with Raven, Iris, George, and Hudson in the living room. The rain that had threatened earlier had finally decided to fall.
The three children watched the T.V. contently. Raven layout on the couch flipping through one of the numerous baby catalogues that she had acquired.
Emily found herself looking at Raven's stomach. A lump formed in her throat. She didn't know what to say to her. Raven was five months pregnant. All Emily could think to say was the obvious.
"What does it feel like?" Emily blurted out.
Raven looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. "What does what feel like?" she asked.
"Being pregnant? What does it feel like?" Emily asked quietly. She eyed the children then looked at Raven again.
Raven shifted to a sitting position and placed a hand on her swollen stomach. "Come here," she said patting the spot next to her with her other hand. Emily got up and sat down next to her.
Raven grabbed her hand and placed it on the side of her belly. She gently pressed Emily's fingertips into her side and smiled as she felt the baby shift. Emily's eyes widen as she felt the movement as well.
Raven giggled, "That was her foot."
Emily pulled her hand away, her fingertips tingling slightly. "That was strange."
"Yeah, it is pretty strange. But in a way its pretty amazing. She likes to roll around a lot, especially when Erik talks to her." Raven explained.
"Erik talks to her?" Emily asked slowly.
"Yes, every night and every morning. Don't tell him I told you that." She explained.
"I won't. You think the baby is a girl?" Emily continued.
"I guess. I mean it's just a feeling I have." Raven said.
Emily smiled.
The smile didn't stay for long. She felt a strange feeling in the back of her mind. It made her uneasy. Raven noticed her changed in behavior.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Emily's brow furrowed as she got up and walked over to the bay window. It had gotten very windy, very fast.
"Raven, take the kids down stairs and ask Charles and Erik to come up here please." Emily said seriously.
"Alright, what's wrong?" Raven asked her voice shaking.
Emily looked back at the now frightened young woman. She forced a smile, "Nothing right now."
Raven nodded slowly and took gathered the three kids up. She led them out of the room quietly.
Emily turned back to the window and watched the wind pick up more. She felt Charles's and Erik's presences enter her mind.
Charles stood next to her and grabbed her hand. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"It got windy," she replied her face serious.
"That happens during a storm, sweetheart." Charles said stepping in front of her. He rubbed her arms up and down soothingly.
"It got windy," Emily repeated, but slightly slower. Charles looked at her confused. He saw Erik tense up next them.
The rain was coming down hard now and the wind was howling.
Suddenly, the three heard a scream that carried out above the sound of the rain and wind. The scream didn't come from inside the house; it came from the outside.
Erik looked at Charles and then sprinted out of the house into the rain. Emily tensed and ran after Erik. Then it hit Charles. He could feel what was going on now. He ran out into the rain and found Erik and Emily standing at the end of the gravel walk way.
The rain cut through his clothes quickly and the wind caused the water to whip painfully across his skin.
In front of them stood Emma Frost in her diamond form and Riptide, who was the source of the violent wind.
It wasn't these two mutants that had Charles's heart racing. It was the one behind them. Azazel stood silently with Iris in front of him. He was grasping her shoulders tightly and he had his tail drawn across her throat.
"She's just a child, Emma," Erik growled.
"So now our fearless leader talks to us again!" Frost spat. "You leave us for the company of children!"
"She's one of us!" Erik yelled.
"What can I say? You left and we got bored." Emma taunted. Charles started to bring his hand up to his temple. "Uh-uh, sweetie, remember you can't control me when I'm like this." Emma continued.
'Charles, we have to do something,' Emily projected into his mind.
'I'm on it, don't worry.' He projected back. 'Erik, take down Frost. I'll get Azazel. Emily's got Riptide.'
'Alright,' Erik replied.
'Emily, can you handle Riptide?' Charles asked.
'Yes,' she replied back quickly. He could feel her anger in his own mind. Iris was her little girl. She was THEIR little girl.
"Your move Magneto," Emma hissed.
Everything after that happened so fast.
Erik launched himself forward and tackled Frost. Emily took the water from a nearby puddle and created a noose that wrapped around Riptide's neck. She yanked him down quickly and made to grab Iris. Charles couldn't get into Azazel's mind. Frost was blocking him.
He quickly turned his attention to Riptide who was reaching towards Emily's ankle. He froze the Latino man in a heart beat.
They had the upper hand; Erik, Emily and himself. But the feeling of relief was stripped away in one sickening move.
Emily grabbed Iris's hand and wrapped Azazel's wrists behind his back with a rope of water. Her trick didn't last long. She lost her focus when she saw the look of terror on Iris's face. Azazel whipped around and vanished then reappeared behind her. She heard him chuckled in her ear before she felt a searing pain in her side. She smelled sulfur as he vanished again and then heard Charles yell.
Emily dropped Iris's hand as she fell to her knees clutching her side. Everything was blurring from the spreading pain. She registered Erik's yell as Azazel reappeared and took Emma; but then she couldn't focus.
Emily fell onto the opposite side of the pain and rolled onto her back and stared up into the rain.
'Yeah, beautiful day alright,' she thought before she blacked out.