A week later:

"Dinner? Here!?" Moira demanded, wondering if either Charles had lost his mind or she had begun hearing things. She sincerely hoped it was the former because she sort of needed to remain sane, but it was not impossible that she was losing her wits. After all, she lived with mutants, all of whom were suicidal. And insane. And stupid, bloody, idiots.

Especially him.

Charles was obstinate for a man who had been in immobile with a deadly fever a few nights ago. "Yes, here," the telepath continued, crossing his arms. He gazed at her calmly, and with no less Charles charm, but there as something in his eyes that made her think that his normal act was just that- an act.

A good one, albeit, he had managed to fool the younger ones into believing he was alright. The world, even, because he had delivered four speeches in the past week on the bombing in Boston, urging Mutants to remain nonviolent, but he wasn't fooling her. Or Erik, for that matter. Where was he, anyway? Usually he was the one who had to deal with a stubborn Charles. Goodness knew he was the only one who could.

The two men, for some reason this week, had become opposites in even more of a conspicuous way. Where Charles was secretly hiding his pain, Erik was…Happy. Moira never thought to see the day. He looked as free as he acted. He actually smiled on a daily basis now, and he fairly glowed when Emma walked into the room.

Moira was less surprised by their quite obvious love for each other (Cassidy called them the 'love and war' couple) than by the fact that somehow, all of the demons that seemed to have followed Erik around for so long were…dormant.

Granted, not put to rest gone. She would still see him tense when he smelled smoke or make some bitter comment about Shaw, humans or whatnot, so the demons existed, they just didn't torment him anymore. It was incredible.

"Moira, they saved Warren's life, and I want to show them a proper debt of gratitude," his eyes sparked with intelligence that remained undimmed by emotion. "Besides, I think Erik has his eye on Colossus for the X-Men," Meaning he had gleaned this information from Erik's mind directly but didn't want to say so. Really. How stupid did he suppose she was?

"You're rich, Charles," Moira pointed out irritably, as Bobby got done counting upstairs and hollered "ready or not, here we come!" followed by Kitty's shrill shriek of excitement as they went looking. She smiled.

"You could take them to Barbados. You could buy them a mansion. Why do they have to come here?" She demanded. Usually, he would be saying this to her.

"Because I could do that for anyone…"

"Then why don't I have a mansion in Barbados?"

"Moira, please, you're far too valuable a friend to me for me to insult you with lavish gifts!"

"It is okay, Charles, really. I would find it in my heart to forgive you. Promise," that inspired a brief chuckle out of him, and Moira felt accomplished.

She sighed. "Are you really, really sure?" She asked.

"Yes, Moira. I trust them,"

"You trust everyone,"

"Not the point," they had a momentary staring contest, trying to over will the other into doing what they wanted… Charles won, by sheer force of his faith in others. That, at least, was not broken.

"Fine," she harrumphed, crossing her arms. "I'll invite them, and bring them, but I hope you know what you're doing,' a shadow of sadness flitted across his face and he cringed. Moira snapped her mouth closed, remembering an agonized voice from a week before in the backseat.

"I led them there to die."

"I do too, Moira," Charles said, softly. He looked up at her with haunted eyes. "I do too."


"This is Professor X's house?" Jason gasped from next to her. Cecilia, who had been staring at the beautiful landscape of New York (she had been to several states, but never New York. It reminded her a bit of Rhode Island) turned around at the insistent poking of her brother. She slapped at his fingers, trying not to smile.

"At least act as if you're older than six years old," she scolded, without much bite. In all truth, if ever her brother did start showing some maturity all the time she wouldn't know what to do herself.

In the front of the car at the wheel, she heard Moira chuckle. Jason wasn't listening anyway. He took her shoulder and shook it, pointing. Cecelia looked over his shoulder towards the place that they were approaching for dinner and almost gasped aloud at the sheer magnificent beauty.

The sun was setting over the giant mansion they were approaching. Cecilia's heart skipped beat at the sheer magnitude and grandness of it, and she knew that had it been anyone else's house, she might laughed at the ridiculousness. What did a person need all of those rooms for? What reason was there for the grandness in this day and age, and when so many had less?

But the knowledge that Professor X kept his students here made more sense. The mansion, from a certain point of view, also could act like a fortress. One could hide from enemies for days in there, and there were strategic advantages to having such a large estate when under attack. She nodded, trying not to show how impressed she was. Jason saw it anyway. He nudged her.

"Amazing, huh?" he asked as the car circled to the front door before stopping. Moira stepped out. Jason quickly undid the door and followed her.

"Well," The CIA agent who had given them the invitation and picked them up outside of Boston said with content. She looked up at the mansion with obvious fondness. She looked awfully comfortable here, as if she had just returned home after a rather prolonged journey. "This is home," Cecilia nodded and allowed Jason to help her out of the car. She stared at the textured brick, her mind flashing back to pictures of Victorian castles and kings.

"It's beautiful," she observed.

"Now remember," Moira began again, before they could go up the steps. "You are not to mention the location of this place to anyone," she told them for perhaps the twentieth time and Cecilia had no doubt that the two of them would regret it if they did. She gave Moira a swift nod in reply.

Both of them would rather die than give away Professor, but Moira didn't have proof of that yet. Cecilia knew that she would have been wary of strangers too; she often was whenever she was with Jason. He was her little brother, after all.

Which was half the reason why she was first up the stairs after Moira. Despite the people that lived here… Two years of hiding mutants had taught Cecilia that sometimes the unexpected happened just when one least expected it, and if it did happen this time she would not allow any harm to befall her brother. "Welcome to Xavier's school for Gifted Mutants," Moira welcomed them, considerably more cheerful, as she inserted a key and opened the large wooden doors with a gentle grunt.

She walked in, the two of them following, Cecilia first. Jason whistled beneath his breath. At that moment, a long, lanky man with a head of thinning black hair and a large, protruding nose walked in. Cecilia smiled; a gesture which he returned and swept an elegant bow. "May I take your coats, madam, monsieur?" He asked. Cecilia giggled as Jason thumped Michael on the back.

"This," Moira introduced him with a sly smile. "Is Michael. Our other resident human. He's also a doctor," she said.

"We saw you at the school opening," Jason remembered. Michael nodded as they handed him their coats.

"Moira and I follow the mutants about everywhere to make sure they stay out of trouble," he explained, with a shining grin. He winked at Moira, who blushed and snickered in agreement. "You wouldn't believe the riff-raff they get up to when we're not around. Some of them even fly about places instead of walking like respectable people," Cecilia got the distinct impression he was talking about someone in the room. This suspicion was proved correct when a red-headed boy around sixteen popped his head in from a doorway to the left.

"You telling rumors about me again, doc?" he demanded severely. There was a humorous twinkle in his eye though. Michael reached over to ruffle his hair like a father would do to his most spoiled son.

"Yes, Banshee. I'm talking about you. Say hello and then take these to the study, would you?" He requested, handing him their jackets. Sean took them, sticking his tongue out at Michael playfully. Then he turned to them. "Hey, I'm Sean," he introduced himself happily. "The kids should be here in about four seconds to take you to the dining room. Dinner will be ready soon," he assured them.

"What are we having?" Colossus inquired curiously. Sean gave an unknowing half-shrug.

"Emma says I'm a safety hazard to have near hot things," he told them with an impish grin. "So I would ask one of the children. They're not deemed hazards," and with that he vanished into the adjacent doorway once more. True to his words, before Cecilia could ask just what Sean's mutation was, the space was suddenly filled with children.

She felt a thin slice of paper shoved into her grasp. Cecilia looked down to see a gaggle of mutants at her feet. She smiled invitingly, and they all exchanged glances, not knowing what to make of this new stranger. "Its a thank you card," the winged boy she had rescued told her as the smallest one handed Jason one as well.

"For saving Warren," a red-headed girl explained shyly. Cecilia's heart melted as she held the heartfelt gift. She hadn't expected this.

"Well," Jason knelt there so as to seem less intimidating. He was tall, after all. "It was quite our pleasure," he pointed to the smallest one. "Now, what's your name again? Kitten?" She smiled at him. Cecilia shook her head. Jason had always been good with children.

"Kitty," she answered. Jason scratched his head.

"Yes. I remember that now," he said. Kitty giggled. Cecilia smiled and offered a hand to Warren.

"Would you lead us to the dining room please?" She asked. Warren's answering grin at her politeness was reward enough for saving his life. He grabbed the offered hand and happily steered her down a long train of hallways while the others introduced themselves excitedly either to her or Jason.

While they dragged her down the halls, their excited voices filling the emptiness in her chest, Cecilia was reminded why she stood up for mutants in the first place. Most of it was because of Jason. She wanted him to be treated just like everyone else. She wanted him to be free of fear, but more than that she wanted to be part of something that might save countless generations of mutants. Countless generations of people that might never know the fear she had known her entire life- that one day someone might take the only family she had away because he was different.

That was well worth being expelled from school, being banished for her compassion.

The dreams that she had had there weren't as strong as the hope she had that these children might grow to be something bigger than her, might live in a world that was too good for her. By the time Cecilia was brought to peace by these answers, her nervousness at meeting Professor X again and her sadness from the bombing a week earlier falling from her mind, they had reached the dining room.

A long wooden table, adorned with a white tablecloth was already set up. A glowing chandelier swung overhead. Steaming piles of food had already been placed there, and from the side door another woman walked in. Cecilia gasped in surprise.

Was that Mystique?

As if on cue, Professor X and Magneto walked in next, speaking to each other like they were the oldest of friends. "Come on!" Warren tugged at her hand. "You have to meet everyone!" everyone?

She and Jason exchanged a glance. It had seemed at the opening that Magneto and Professor X knew each other beyond nothing other than name. What was he doing here too?

"We live here," Jason swiveled around, but Cecilia had heard Diamondhead approach. The blonde-haired woman swept past them with a bowl of steaming green beans in it. "We didn't know what you would prefer," she told them apologetically as the bowl suddenly floated from her hands onto an empty space at the table. Jean looked very concentrated as her hand directed the bowl there.

"So we sort of made everything we could think of. Azazel!" a small whoosh of air signaled the appearance of another. He raised an eyebrow at Emma questioningly. "Is the chicken done?" A silent nod. "Then bring it out, clothead! And where is…? Ah, Alex, Cassidy, where've you two been?" Emma asked as two others walked into the room, holding hands. Cecilia looked on, amazed at how…fearlessly they all used their powers. Jason looked absolutely ecstatic.

"We had to drag Hank from his lab," Cassidy explained as they took their seats at the table.

Warren tugged at her hand gently. "I'll show you your seat," he offered. Cecilia grinned.

"Thank you sir," she replied, amused and flattered by the attention. She looked up to meet Professor X's eyes. She cocked a brow. "I suppose the media doesn't know everything, does it?" she asked, glancing between him and Magneto.

"What is it with you and deducing everyone's secret motives?" her brother groaned as Scott showed him his own seat. The professor chuckled softly, the sound reminding her of the deep growl of a lion as he protected his clan. That was a weird image.

"Not everything," he agreed as he wheeled up to her. They shook hands warmly. "It is good to see you again, Cecilia. I see my students have already given you a warm welcome," she nodded and hugged her card to her chest.

"Yes, a most welcome one, Professor," she agreed. He waved his hand dismissively, giving her an odd look.

"Please, you saved Warren's life. Besides, barely anyone actually calls me that but the outside world. Call me by my given name, Charles," he said, and to Cecilia she recognized it as the seal of trust and gratitude like no other. She squeezed his hand.

"As you wish," she accepted merely. Magneto, for once without his helmet, crossed his arms and regarded Charles with narrowed eyes.

"I thought your given name was bloody idiot," he informed him.

"That's my secondary name," Charles agreed as he wheeled to the head of the table where a gentle push by Hank pressed him firmly into place. Charles smiled over his shoulder at his partner and Cecilia could not help but feel content in this circle of boundless love.

She sat next to Jason as the children hopped into their seats with the ease of people who had done this plenty of times. "Since we're going by given names," Magneto proclaimed from his seat at the other end of the table. "Mine is Erik," Charles raised his eyebrows and as Diamondhead passed, she kissed his forehead.

The girls giggled and the boys sniggered, letting out small exclamations of "ooohhhh!" Erik gave them amused looks.

"I'm Emma," Diamondhead proclaimed as she sat at Erik's right side, pouring herself a bottle of Champaign. Moira and Michael re-entered, laughing over some private joke. Mystique sat next to Hank. The other three-Wolverine, Riptide and Azazel sat last. The hot plates of food were still steaming. Cecilia felt her stomach rumble. Jason's mouth was watering. They had not eaten such a feast since… She had never had such a feast.

She looked up. Charles was smiling at her. He gestured to the food. "Please take it," he requested. "It will teach the children to be more sparing of their own snacks and meals," he gave them a stern look, but it did not seem to have any threatening affect on the children. They merely gave Charles smiles.

She looked up. Charles was smiling at her. He gestured to the food. "Please take it," he requested. "It will teach the children to be more sparing of their own snacks and meals," he gave them a stern look, but it did not seem to have any threatening affect on the children. They merely gave Charles smiles.

Then, something amazing happened, and it had to do with all of them merely being mutant. "Jean, pass the Mashed potatoes, would you?" The bowl floated over to Sean.

"Scott, can you warm up my chocolate milk pretty please?" A laser beam shot from his eyeglasses and towards the bottom of the cup. Kitty's chocolate milk began to boil.

"Bobby, ice, if you would?" Bobby fisted his hand and offered three perfectly frosted ice cubes to Raven, dumping them into her cup.

"Riptide, stir that soup a bit more," a tiny tornado floated over the table, sucking into it spoons and forks before landing in the bowl, churning it like a blender.

"Erik, I believe we're going to need some more forks now," Erik didn't look up from eating when he raised a hand and suddenly four forks came spearing towards him. They were diverted to their appropriate places a second before they stabbed his hand.

"Oops, Kitty. I forgot napkins. Can you get them?" Kitty finished spearing her green beans before promptly melding through her chair and turning. She returned a few moments later, went straight through the chair, and laid down a stack of napkins. No one seemed at all surprised or disturbed by these tricks.

In fact, the table worked perfectly well with bowls being lifted and tornadoes being made and ice cubes being blown and laser beams traveling to bowls. Cecilia watched the controlled chaos for a moment before a slow smile overtook her face. She looked at Jason and saw him grinning at her too. In their minds, a single thought appeared at the same time.

I love this place.