Erik finished packing a light bag while Annalise sat on the bed, her hands holding Peter in her lap as she smiled down to him and he watched her. She wondered what he was thinking, but she knew that he was immune to everything that was going on around him. He had no idea what was happening and that filled Annalise with joy. The thought of him being so innocent and young gave her hope that she could keep him that way. It gave her hope that they could create a safe world for him to grow up in.

"I will be back in three days," Erik said, sensing that she was still worrying over him. "I will come back and we will go home."

"I know," Annalise said, finally looking over to the man she now called her fiancé. "And we will get married and everything will be fine. I am still worried."

Erik chuckled and went to sit by her side on the bed, his arm wrapping over her shoulders while his other hand went to run over Peter's head, the motion tender and soft against the baby's delicate skin.

"Because you are a worrier," Erik informed her. "But you are the only one who understands me."

Annalise scoffed at that. "Sometimes I am not convinced I do," she informed him. "But I do see your reasoning behind this. If you say that Trask is like Shaw then I understand why you feel the need to stop him. I know what Shaw did to you."

"I can't let another man like him exist," Erik whispered, bending down to kiss her on the top of her head. "Shaw tortured me and many others, Annalise. That was many years ago and the same thing is still happening today. It is like nothing changes."

"But it will," Annalise said. "It has to change, Erik. People need to see that you are not dangerous…mutants just want acceptance."

"And that is why I wish all humans were like you, my love," Erik declared and Annalise chuckled at that, peering up to him as she arched a brow.

"I doubt that," she responded. "Just come home safe."

"Always," Erik said and leant over to kiss her on the mouth.

He spent the rest of the evening in that very spot, conversing with his wife about what they would do when they returned to London. He promised her that he would find a normal job while she looked after Peter. He told her that they could go on a holiday to the seaside and take Peter paddling in the sea like Erik had done as a child. He promised her so many things that night. If only he knew none of them were going to come true.

Annalise went about her own business in the mansion. It was quiet, despite being full of students and Hank had also stayed behind to make sure that the school was being run while Charles went with Raven and Erik. There was a part of Charles that felt lost in the school. Without Raven he didn't know what he was doing. He had always thought that his sister would be by his side to help him.

"Annalise!"

Hank's yell echoed into Annalise's room as she finished changing Peter. Picking him up, she held him to her as Hank entered the room after politely knocking once. Looking over to him, she wondered why he was so flushed red. It was another moment before he spoke, words seeming incoherent to him:

"You…just…Erik…come…"

Before she could ask him what was wrong, Hank had rushed from the room. She followed him, her strides not as long as his as she kept a firm grip on Peter who was gurgling against her. Moving down the staircase behind Hank, Annalise managed to speak in between gasping for breath:

"Hank, what is it?"

He didn't answer, instead he led her into the sitting room. Thankfully it was empty as the TV played a special news bulletin. Looking to it, Annalise watched on as Hank turned the volume up, folding his arms over his chest and holding his hand to his chin.

"Today, the President of the United States suffered an attempted assassination while in Dallas, Texas. His condition is critical as he is in hospital."

Annalise felt herself turn cold at that news, her head beginning to spin as she watched the TV screen.

"President Kennedy made his way through the crowds in the motorcade before he was shot. The shooter has not been found or named, but we are assured that arrests have been made. However, what appears to have been a clean shot was altered by one man who has been arrested. The man, who is thought to be a mutant, is on Erik Lensherr."

"No," Annalise managed to gasp as she felt everything in her break then. Collapsing downwards, Hank managed to grab hold of her, stopping her from dropping Peter as he helped her move towards the sofa, taking hold of Peter from her as he saw her watched the TV screen.

The sight of Erik knew the President's car was obvious. His hand was held out in front of him as the bullet moved towards the President. It looked as though he was controlling the bullet. But why would he do that? Erik would never do such a thing. He must have been trying to save the President. It was the only explanation. He was tackled before the bullet made impact with the President, Erik on the ground and being held down.

"He didn't do this," Annalise said with haste, looking to Hank. "Erik would never do this, Hank."

"It looks…well…the evidence…"

"Is circumstantial," Annalise scoffed. "Why would Erik try to kill the President? He was one of you. No…Erik was trying to save him. I know it. I know him!"

"Annalise," Hank said, trying to calm her down. He suspected that would be an impossible task as she remained on the verge of hysteria, her hands holding her hair as she felt a sense of sickness take over her. "Charles will try to help him if that is the case. You know that."

"What I know is that I need to see him," Annalise said. "I need to get to him. I need to go to Dallas."

"I doubt that they will be letting you anywhere near him," Hank informed her.

"I have to get near him!" Annalise snapped at Hank, moving to her feet. "He is my fiancé. I cannot let him take the fall for this. I cannot let them keep him locked up. He is innocent."

It was then when the phone began to ring and Hank moved towards it, still holding Peter as Annalise watched reruns of her fiancé being arrested on the TV. She felt sick in the pit of her stomach as she chewed down on her lip and longed to get to him. She needed to get to him. She had to be with him and make them understand that he would not have done this.

"Charles," Hank answered the phone. "Yes, she is."

Holding the phone to Annalise, Hank motioned for her to take it. She did so with haste.

"Charles, what is happening? Have you explained to them?"

"Anna, calm down," Charles urged from her. "I know what it looks like-"

"-It looks like Erik was trying to save the President," Annalise said. "You know that, Charles."

Charles seemed to let out a deep breath as he heard her, a moment of silence following him.

"That is what it looks like you to Annalise," Charles answered her. "What it looks like to everyone else is that Erik just tried to assassinate the President and, if what I am hearing is correct, he has actually done just that."

"But…Erik…he wouldn't…"

"We both know that," Charles whispered down the phone to her, aware that someone might be listening. "But no one else is going to listen. Erik is a mutant. He is dangerous in their eyes and he has just confirmed what danger he actually is. I…I know what might be coming, Annalise, and I need you to be prepared."

"Prepared?" Annalise echoed.

"The FBI will want to question you. You are Erik's fiancé and the mother of his child."

Looking to Peter, another swell of worry took hold of Annalise. "They wouldn't…they wouldn't take Peter away…not my baby…"

"I doubt it," Charles said to her, even though he had no idea the lengths some people would go to in order to destroy mutant kind. The idea appalled him. But he knew that, one day, Peter would be wanted by the wrong kinds of people because of his father. "But I need you to cooperate with them. Answer honestly and truthfully."

"I will," Annalise said with haste. "I will convince them that Erik isn't who they think he is."

"Of course, love," Charles said, knowing that he was humouring her. He had read the minds of everyone he had come into contact with that afternoon. If Erik was not locked away, then the people of America would wish for him to suffer a worse fate.

Erik kept imagining what Annalise would be thinking as he remained locked away in a cell, his hands bound behind his back together. He was sat on a cot, his head resting against the wall as his mind wandered to his Annalise. Would she believe the reports on the TV or would she know the truth? Erik wanted her to know the truth. He had hope that she would know.

He had done what was necessary in order to save the President. He would have managed it too, if he hadn't have been tackled at the final minute. He had seen Charles in the distance and had given him a silent look, urging for him to leave.

Of course, that didn't explain why Erik felt Charles in his head right then.

'Erik?' he questioned

'Charles?' Erik's brow furrowed.

'It is me, old friend. I am outside where you are being kept. I do not know how long I can keep this connection for, but I need you to know that I shall try to do everything in my power to free you.'

'No,' Erik responded, knowing exactly what he was doing. 'You need to distance yourself from me, Charles. If they suspect that I did this, any sympathiser with me will be considered just as guilty. What if they end up thinking you helped me? You were a hundred metres from me. Who is to say that you did not control the gunman to pull the trigger?'

There was a brief silence and Erik worried that he hadn't heard any of that. But then he returned.

'I cannot sit by and let you do that.'

'You need to. You cannot suffer along with me…and Annalise…you need to tell her that I am sorry. She needs to know that I never meant for any of this to happen.'

'She will know.'

'But just tell her,' Erik implored, 'and tell her that I love her. Tell her that I am sorry and that I will not stop fighting to clear my name and make this world a better place for Peter. I need her to know that she gains nothing by standing by me. Instead she risks everything. Peter needs to be her number one concern.'

'This is Annalise, Erik,' Charles warned, 'she will not stop fighting for you. She never has done.'

'This time she has to,' Erik responded. 'Charles, I love her and I need her to be safe. Promise me you will keep her safe.'

'I promise.'

Erik felt a weight lift from him then as he nodded his head.

'The goodbye, old friend.'

Once Charles was gone, Erik felt a tear slip down the side of his cheek. "And goodbye, my love."

...

A/N: Do let me know what you think!