A/N: Okay, so this took me a little longer to write than I anticipated. I already started the next chapter, so I'm hoping it doesn't take nearly as long to complete.
From this point forward, we're diverging from canon completely, so we'll see how this goes... But first, just a few notes:
This chapter jumps ahead in the timeline. There isn't a lot of plot here, but I still thought it was important.
If you're looking for a canon character to stand in as Charles and Erik's child, I apologize as that didn't happen. I originally considered it, but then decided, nope, I'll make my own. In retrospect, I'm not sure if that was the best idea. But we're going with it! Hopefully I didn't butcher this too badly or make Charles too OOC as a parent. (Seriously, I think I've looked at this chapter far too much to tell anymore.)
Also, Scott and Jean make a brief appearance. Fair warning, I've aged them up for this story to make it work. So yes, they will be back in future parts, along with Ororo, though they will be primarily in the background as I want to focus more on the relationships between the characters from First Class.
Okay, I think that's everything. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter One: Hide and Seek
"1…2…3…" Hank counted loudly, emphasizing each number.
A high-pitched giggle was the only response as he continued.
"…7…8…9…"
"Quick, hide!"
The sounds of feet scampering could be heard, followed by another giggle, this time farther away.
"This is so lame."
"Do you want to be caught? Because you can just be it right now," Hank stated, uncovering his eyes with his hand and turning away from the tree he had been leaning against long enough to reprimand Sean. Receiving nothing but silence in return, something he took as a firm denial, he ordered, "Then go hide!"
"Fine," came the resigned agreement, feet trudging along as Sean sighed and walked away, far slower than the previous pair of feet had gone.
"…15…16…17…18…19…20…"
"Where's Sean?" asked a new voice, one he knew far too well.
Hank stopped counting again and answered with a sigh of his own, turning yet again, this time to find Alex. Just what he needed. "He's hiding. Or at least he's supposed to be." Eyes making a quick sweep around the near vicinity, he failed to spot the redhead, though that didn't mean anything.
"Right…" Alex drew out, an amused smirk forming on his face as it dawned on him just what the two mutants were doing. "Aren't you a little old for hide and seek?" he asked, earning him a glare.
"Go away. I'm supposed to be counting."
Alex merely shrugged and dropped down to sit against the tree Hank had just been leaning against, staring expectantly up at said scientist. "Go ahead. Don't let me stop you."
Murmuring about pain in the ass laser shooters and an experiment he needed a guinea pig for, Hank saw Alex's face momentarily pale before it slid back into a mask of indifference as he laughed off the threat. Still, he could detect some nervousness in the other man's tone, telling him that for all of Alex's bravado, he'd won this round. He then re-covered his eyes and resumed counting, fearing he was never going to reach fifty at this rate.
"You know, you could just skip the rest and start looking now," Alex offered. "They won't know the difference."
"That's cheating." Though he had to admit the man had a point.
Alex smirked. "You know you want to."
Hank chose to ignore Alex's goading and continued counting, determined to stand on principle even if it killed him. "Even if I have to kill Alex," he muttered to himself, though it seemed the other man had heard him if the ensuing chuckle was anything to go by. Counting louder to drown out Alex, he finally reached fifty.
"Ready or not, here he comes!"
Again, Hank glared at him before taking off in search of the others.
Sean was the first one he found. It wasn't hard considering the redhead had all but abandoned the game, stopping near a copse of trees about fifty yards away to talk with Jean Grey.
"Aren't you supposed to be hiding?" Hank asked, causing Sean to turn with a sigh and stare at him in exasperation, Jean chuckling all the while.
"Dude, you're cramping my style," Sean complained, not noticing as Jean caught sight of Scott and took off in his direction.
Hank raised an eyebrow as he tried not to laugh. "I hate to break it to you, but you could be James Dean and it wouldn't do any good." Watching Sean's face take on a confused countenance, he shook his head. "You know what, never mind. Just go wait back at the tree with Alex while I finish looking."
Sean merely shrugged and slowly headed back.
"I see you struck out again," Alex commented, taking far too much enjoyment in the situation.
"It was Hank's fault," Sean complained, plopping on the ground next to the blond. "I had her totally in my grasp until he showed up."
Alex started laughing. "You're delusional. You know that, right?"
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Clearly, he was frustrated now.
"Because it's true," Alex said as though it were completely obvious, getting a glare in return. "Face it; no matter what you do, you're never going to get her. That girl is totally gone for my brother."
Sean tried to dispute it, but at that moment, Jean walked by with Scott, totally enthralled in what he had to say, both laughing at an inside joke. Forced to face the fact Alex was right, he leaned his head back against the tree, closed his eyes and groaned.
This only served to make Alex laugh again.
"Uncle Hank found me," a small voice interrupted in a clear pout. It belonged to a little girl of about five years old, with fine, shoulder-length dark brown hair that was tinted where the sun hit it, and eyes as blue and deep as the ocean. Her arms were crossed, and she was trying her best to glare at a spot just beyond Alex and Sean, as though by doing so she could burn a hole right through it.
"That's okay, Sophie. He found Sean, too," Alex tried to soothe, though there was laughter in his voice, causing Sean to open his eyes and send him a look that seemed to say, 'Yeah, thanks a lot.'
The glare instantly melted off Sophie's face, eyes wide, as her arms fell to her side and her body relaxed. She then took a few steps over towards the redhead and asked, "Really Uncle Sean?"
Sean switched his gaze to the girl and nodded. "He found me before he found you."
That seemed to do the trick as a smile lit up her face and she giggled, squeezing her way between the two of them and taking a seat on the ground as well. "Thank you, Uncle Sean," she said, giving him a hug that caused him to redden in embarrassment, not that he seemed to care too much. She then looked over at Alex. "I didn't know you were playing. When did he find you?"
"He didn't find me, I found him," the blond replied with a smirk.
Sophie appeared confused until Sean snorted and said, "Yeah, because you've been here the whole time!"
"That's cheating, Uncle Alex," she was quick to point out.
"Yeah Uncle Alex, that's cheating," Sean mimicked, earning him smack to the back of the head. "Ow!"
Alex began snickering, only to get chastised when Hank appeared.
"Whatever happened to setting a good example?"
The expression on the blond's face became incredulous, as if to ask, 'Are you kidding me? Us set a good example?' Noting the girl sitting beside him, her big, blue eyes staring up at him expectantly, he instead asked, "Aren't you missing someone?"
"Yes," Hank admitted begrudgingly. "I can't find Ethan."
"Ooh, I know where he is!" Sophie exclaimed as she jumped up and moved towards him, grinning from ear to ear, excited that she knew something the grownups didn't.
"Okay, Sophie," Hank said, getting down on her level and looking her kindly in the eyes. "Where is he?"
She impishly shook her head in return, still grinning.
"Sophie…" The blue mutant's voice had taken on a warning tone, alerting her to the fact that she had better tell them now if she didn't want to get in trouble, yet she still refused.
"Uh-uh," she said, giggling all the while in amusement at the exasperated expressions on her three uncles' faces.
"Come on," Alex said with a sigh, standing up from his place on the ground and dusting himself off. "We'll help you look again."
Sean nodded in agreement, taking a little longer to get up.
The small group walked around the grounds for several minutes, calling out to Ethan as they searched, but to no avail. It was as though he had well and truly disappeared.
"I really don't want to tell the professor we lost his son," Hank groaned, getting a look of sympathy from Sean. He was expecting Alex to make a crack at his expense, so it threw him off balance when the blond tried to reassure him instead.
"He couldn't have gone too far and he's not the type to just run away. Believe me, I know. So, he must be around here somewhere," Alex said, earning him a small smile and a nod of thanks from Hank. "We're just missing him."
"He is small," Sean interrupted, ignoring the subsequent sigh and eyeroll he got from Alex.
Ignoring Sean, Hank asked, "If you were Ethan, where would you go?"
"That's easy. The lab," Alex answered without hesitation. "He practically lives there with you."
"Yes, but he knows he's not supposed to be in there without an adult," Hank reasoned. "Where else would he go?"
Alex thought for a moment before shrugging. "He could be literally anywhere. That kid is good at disappearing if he doesn't want to be found."
"Trees are good for that," Sean commented, ducking as Alex took a swipe at him.
Hank's eyes went wide as he suddenly thought of something. "What did you say?"
"Trees are good for hiding?" Sean said hesitatingly, eyeing Alex as though afraid the blond would try to hit him again.
An off-handed comment, something Ethan had said in passing…
"Trees are good for reading. And getting away from annoying sisters."
He knew where to find Ethan.
About halfway up an oak tree, a small boy of about five with wavy dark brown hair, a shade darker than Sophie's, and gray eyes glinting like steel was reclining on a large branch. He was leaning against the trunk of the tree, thoroughly engrossed in the book in his hands. Despite that, he was also highly aware of his surroundings. He was always aware. So, it came as no surprise to him when a high-pitched voice screamed out his name.
"Ethan, come down!" Sophie called out as loud as she could, voice carrying up despite her small size.
He paused midsentence on the page, annoyed at being interrupted. Glancing down, he carefully scrutinized her for a moment, not saying a word, before he returned to his reading. He knew it would upset her, but he didn't care. It wasn't like he had wanted to play this stupid game, she had. He just wanted to read his book in peace.
"Ethan!" She impatiently yelled again. "Daddy wants us to come in!"
That one did get his attention, though he never gave any indication, eyes still glued to his book.
While he wasn't proud to admit it, he had been avoiding his father the past few days. There had been something weighing heavily on his mind. Typically, he would have sought his father out for advice, but this particular topic was one he didn't know how to broach. The last thing he wanted was to inadvertently project something and have his thoughts laid bare for the man to see. Not on this.
"Come down now, Ethan." This time it was Hank calling up to him, followed a few moments later by, "Don't make me come up there!"
Ethan glanced down at the scientist. He could see the determination on his face but chose to ignore him, something he hated to do to the man he so admired, but there was nothing else for it. 'In for a penny, in for a pound,' the old adage briefly passed through his mind. With a shrug of feigned nonchalance, he returned yet again to his book.
It wasn't long before Ethan could feel Hank's presence on the branch next to him. Moving the book to his lap, he glanced up at him in amusement. "Hello," he greeted as innocently as he could despite the mischief shining in his eyes.
Before Hank could say anything, Ethan's mind was flooded with his father's voice ordering, Ethan Liam Xavier, come in right now, no objections.
Ethan winced a little, knowing he had pushed too far as he heard irritation underlying the patience his father normally projected. Yes, Daddy, he relayed back even as he was grabbing his book and trying to make his way down the tree at the same time.
"We're in trouble," Sophie told him, voice barely above a whisper.
I know, Ethan mentally told her as he joined her.
He then took a hesitant look at Hank out of the corner of his eye. Instantly assessing the situation, he mentally ordered Hank to leave and go back to where he knew Alex and Sean were waiting. Throughout it all, the only indication to what he had just done was the telltale finger he had briefly brushed to his temple which caused Sophie to pause and her eyes to widen, thereby allowing him to put some distance between them.
Not one to be left behind, Sophie sprinted after him as fast as her legs would carry her. It seemed that having an extra inch of height on him was good for something after all as she easily caught up with him, slowing down her pace to walk right alongside him. "You're getting much better," she told him, offering him a warm smile.
For the first time since that afternoon his face softened and he returned the smile, one that was even reflected in his very eyes. Knowing she had noticed meant a lot to him. "I've been practicing. A lot," he admitted as they entered through the side door and walked down the hall towards their father's study.
"Soon you'll be as good as Daddy," she praised, causing him to humbly avert his gaze to his feet as they padded along the floor. "I'm so proud of you," she added.
Ethan knew exactly where that came from. They were the same words he'd so often heard their father use when training the students, yet they always felt special when they were directed at him and Sophie. He would never admit it to his sister, but it was something he needed to hear. The fact she was the one saying it carried weight. Then again, maybe he didn't need to say it; maybe she already knew. There was an easy way to find out, but no, he knew how she felt about that. He wasn't about to repay her kindness that way.
"Thank you," he finally murmured, shoving his feelings aside. It was the most acknowledgement he could bring himself to convey.
He then detected the sadness she was feeling, lying hidden beneath all the layers of honest happiness, pride, and selflessness she was emitting. That was so her. The source of her pain became immediately obvious to him. Although he wasn't one for words and reassurance, not the way Sophie was, he knew she needed this. He glanced up, placing his hand on her shoulder to stop her in her tracks. Gaining her full attention and seeing the question in her eyes, he said, "You'll get there, too Soph. I know you will."
While she clearly appreciated the effort, she couldn't help but state, "I'm not like you and Daddy. I'm not a mutant." The last part was barely audible as she cast her eyes to the floor.
"You are," he insisted. He had no doubt of it despite the evidence to the contrary. It was only a feeling, something he hated relying on, yet he knew. "You just… You haven't gotten your powers yet, but you will."
"Really?" came the hopeful reply, Sophie's eyes sparkling again as she dared to believe what her brother was telling her.
He knew what that meant to her.
She may have been taller, but he was slightly older. It shouldn't have mattered, but it did for both of them. He took his role as 'older' brother very seriously (he also took advantage of it from time to time when it suited it him) and had taken it upon himself to protect her. Sophie looked up to him and he knew it. That wasn't to say she always listened to him, quite the contrary in fact; she could be incredibly stubborn and opinionated when she wanted to be. However, they had always been there for each other, functioning as an equal support system, and Ethan never forgot that.
"It will happen. When it does, you'll be great. I know it," he answered her confidently, giving her the reassurance that she needed. Almost immediately he felt the wind knocked out of him as she threw herself forward and enveloped him in a hug to show her gratitude. He pulled himself away from her after a few moments and nodded. "You're welcome." Then, before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed. "Together?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Sophie smiled brightly at him and gave a firm nod. "Together."
Staring out the window of his study, Charles couldn't help but grin as he observed Hank and Alex together under the shade of a nearby tree. He didn't even have to use his powers to know Alex was antagonizing the blue mutant. It was a normal enough occurrence between the two. Besides, Hank's facial expression was a dead giveaway. That said, he knew they – and their bickering – had come a long way since he had first recruited them. It was a nice sight to see.
It was also a welcome distraction while he waited for his children to arrive.
He had been sitting at his desk grading papers while the students took the opportunity to go outside for the afternoon and enjoy some time in the sun, something that had been sorely missed in the preceding winter months. Even the faculty had taken advantage of the reprieve, though Sophie had ultimately been responsible for luring Hank out of the lab despite Ethan's protests; Ethan had taken more than a little convincing as well. Much as he wished he could join them he had a mountain of paperwork to get through and it unfortunately wasn't going to grade itself.
Although he had been wrapped up in his work, it did not mean he was oblivious to what was occurring outside. Being a telepath made it easy to track everyone within the mansion, but it especially proved beneficial in monitoring his own children. He allowed them certain leeway within the grounds, knowing he would have to give them even more freedom as they grew older, but that didn't stop him from being their father. He still worried and had no doubt that would continue even after they were fully grown, independent adults.
As such, he was aware of the situation not long after it occurred. He knew Sophie wasn't being intentionally disobedient. For her, it was simply part of the game. Still, the fact remained that she had failed to listen to Hank. While there was no harm done this time, it could be a serious problem down the road. He intended to fix this before it got that far.
Ethan was a different matter altogether. Despite the incident earlier, one he would still need to talk to him about, Charles had larger concerns when it came to his son.
While he had always been somewhat reserved, Sophie being the more extraverted of the two, Ethan had recently become far more withdrawn. He was ashamed to say he hadn't noticed it at first, but as time went on it became impossible to miss. More often than not, Ethan refused to play with Sophie, choosing to spend his time alone when the two had always been inseparable before. Charles originally chalked it up to nothing more than a phase, just a part of growing older and more independent, but then he started pulling away from everyone. Even Hank had noticed it, commenting that Ethan seemed to have a lot on his mind, more than usual.
The problem was that he had yet to tell anyone and Charles doubted he ever would.
Some of it he had picked up himself. It was true that he tried to respect his children's privacy, but he had caught snippets of it since Ethan's young age prevented him from shielding all of his thoughts, his thoughts and emotions often carrying to his father. He suspected that was the real reason Ethan had been avoiding him. It hurt, but he understood. However, even with those bits and pieces, he had been unable to figure out the exact cause of his son's problems.
He had tried giving him his space and hoped that with time, Ethan might feel comfortable enough to come to him. Now he could see he had been wrong. He wasn't going to force his son to tell him anything, but a conversation was long overdue.
Feeling Ethan and Sophie's presence outside of his door, he knew it was time.
"Ethan, Sophie, please come in," he called out, projecting a moment later to Ethan, While I'm proud of how well you're controlling and growing into your powers, please make sure you never abuse them. He was trying to sound more collected than he felt to help put the twins at ease, having picked up on their apprehension. It seemed to do the trick as almost immediately the door opened and the two entered.
"I'm sorry, Daddy," Sophie immediately apologized before he could say anything, eyes averted to the floor as she slowly walked forward. Coming to a stop in front of the desk where her father was sitting, Charles's face softened and the beginnings of a smile, albeit a sad one, appeared.
He knew her apology was not simply empty words in response to being reprimanded. "Sophie, look at me," he gently prodded, waiting until her eyes met his before continuing. "I know you are sorry, love. I also know you did not mean to cause any harm, but that does not mean what you did was okay." There was no doubt in his mind that she understood and knew exactly why she was in trouble.
He was well aware that his son was something of a prodigy, especially in the sciences where he excelled, something Ethan had inherited from him it seemed. It had earned Ethan the reputation of being the smart sibling, something Charles detested as he knew people were severely underestimating his daughter. Yet he also knew that while Sophie may not have been as knowledgeable as her brother in the lab, she was just as bright and incredibly adept at piecing things together.
"I didn't listen to Uncle Hank when he was worried because he couldn't find Ethan," she explained, confirming his suspicion.
"Yes," he answered, a true smile on his face now. He then motioned her over, turning to face her as she slowly made her way, lifting her up onto his lap and holding her as she snuggled into his chest. "I do believe Uncle Hank almost had a panic attack. Try not to do that again, all right?" Feeling her nod against him, he pecked her on the top of her head. "Good." He then pulled back enough to look her in the eyes for what he wanted to say next. "And I wouldn't worry too much about not having your powers yet. They will appear when the time is right."
"Then why does Ethan already have his?" she asked curiously.
"You and Ethan may be twins, but you are still individuals, each special and unique in your own way," he explained. "That doesn't make him any better or worse than you, just different. His powers do not define him anymore than your lack of powers define you; both of you are so much more. But always remember that whether you have powers or not, it will never change how much I love you."
Sophie's eyes lit up as she seemed to accept this answer, hugging him again. "I love you too."
Charles closed his eyes as he returned the hug, soaking in the moment before he opened them again. "Now, why don't you run along and find Ororo? She was looking for you earlier."
Nodding enthusiastically, Sophie jumped off his lap and started to run for the door. Before she left, she seemed to remember Ethan was still standing there as she stopped. Turning to him, she asked, "Aren't you coming?"
"He'll be along shortly," Charles assured her, eyeing his son the entire time to make it clear he was expected to stay, not missing the 'Oh' that appeared on Sophie's face as it dawned on her what he intended. Once Sophie left, closing the door behind her, he said, "I think it's time we had a talk, Ethan. Are you aware of why you are here?"
"I didn't listen to Uncle Hank," came the dismissive reply.
While Charles appreciated his honesty, he was disturbed by Ethan's nonchalance. "Yes, quite deliberately, I might add. Don't think I approve of your attitude either. What you did out there was incredibly disrespectful. I know you are aware of why your actions were wrong, so I will not ask, though we will discuss revoking your lab privileges if you continue to act like this."
That seemed to get a response as Ethan's eyes widened, Charles picking up the mix of regret and dread that he was feeling.
"But that isn't the only reason I wanted to talk to you," Charles continued. "I get the feeling you have been avoiding me. Are you going to tell me why that is?"
Ethan stared at him somewhat defiantly, not saying a word.
When it became evident Ethan wasn't going to say anything, Charles decided to take the initiative. "What's troubling you?"
"Nothing," was the immediate reply. Too immediate.
"No, there's something," Charles pressed. "You've changed recently. Something is bothering you and I can see that whatever it is, it is the cause of this behavior. Now what is it?" When he didn't get an answer, he said, "Ethan, I want to help you, but I can't unless you tell me what's wrong."
"Why don't you just read my mind?" Ethan challenged.
Charles flinched at the reminder, shoving it to the back of his mind. He knew that wasn't what Ethan meant. There was no way for his son to have known. Still, that didn't make it any easier.
As to Ethan…
His children were the most important thing in the world to him and he wanted them both to feel like they could come to him with anything. That required them to trust him, which meant having a certain level of trust in them. He knew if he entered their minds whenever he wanted something, it would be a violation of whatever trust he had built and over time, it would only lead to resentment. He knew that far too well.
He also knew exactly what Ethan was doing. Based on the emotions he was picking up he had been right. Something had been bothering Ethan, but the young boy was afraid it would upset him. Much as he wanted to identify the source of the problem, he wasn't about to go prodding into his son's mind. He had made that mistake before at great cost and it was not one that he intended to repeat; his son was not something he could afford to lose. So no, he couldn't take the answers he wanted from him, no matter how easy it would have been or how much his son might want him to.
Despite the emotional turmoil he was feeling, he calmly told Ethan, "You know I won't do that unless I feel I have to. Right now, I'd rather you tell me yourself."
Ethan studied him for a moment as though determining whether he should or not. Still, he remained silent.
Seeing the indecision, Charles tried to make it easier for him. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. There's nothing you could say that would make me love you less."
Hesitating for only a moment longer, Ethan finally asked, "Why don't I have a mother?"
Although not what Charles was expecting, he couldn't say it was completely out of the blue. If anything, he had always known this day would come; he was only surprised neither of his children had asked this question sooner. Still, he knew something must have prompted Ethan to ask.
"What brought this on? Did one of the students say something to you?"
While he had tried to instill a sense of security and inclusion amongst his students, he knew that children could still be cruel, sometimes even when they didn't mean to be. The idea that one of the students had hurt his son, even if unintentionally, did not sit well with him. Although it was true that he cared for everyone he had brought into his home, his children would always come first.
Ethan vehemently shook his head. "No, it wasn't them." He paused for a moment and his eyes averted despite the encouraging look from his father.
When it became obvious that Ethan wasn't going to tell him, Charles decided to let it go for the time being; a battle for another day. He then knew what he needed to do, having put it off long enough.
"Sophie, please come in. I know you're out there."
The door slowly opened, and the girl entered, tentatively looking up at her father.
"While I wish you wouldn't eavesdrop, I'm not upset with you," he kindly reassured her as she stepped forward, easily picking up the concern she had over the matter and feeling relief flood over her almost immediately. "The question Ethan asked is something that concerns both of you, so it is only fair you both are present when I answer it. I think it is time you know the truth."
As though realizing the importance of what he was about to tell them, Sophie moved over to Charles's side and stared up at him in anticipation, devoting her full attention to him. Ethan, however, hadn't said a word or moved even the smallest fraction.
"Come here," Charles told Ethan, picking up the boy and putting him on his lap much like he had his daughter earlier, positioning him so that he could easily see both of his children at the same time. His son may not have been as lavish with outward displays of affection, but he could still tell when the boy needed it even if he wouldn't admit it, and now was one of those times. "You and your sister are very special," he began explaining, glancing from Ethan to Sophie. "You don't have a mother because you have two fathers instead."
"Two fathers?" Ethan asked in confusion. "I don't understand."
If the look on Sophie's face was anything to go by, she didn't either.
Charles couldn't help but think how adorable the two looked right now with their faces scrunched up, but he refrained from saying as much so as not to upset his son. "When two people love each other very much, they have a child, or in the case of you and Sophie, children. However, the person I fell in love with wasn't a woman, but a man. I loved him very much and out of that love came the two of you. Does that make sense?"
Both nodded their heads; Sophie quite eagerly and Ethan more slowly as he tried to work through what he'd just been told. However, they also both appeared concerned.
"But why isn't he here?" Ethan logically interjected before his widened as he came to his own conclusion. "He didn't want us." It wasn't even a question, the words carrying a tone of dejection despite Ethan's best efforts to sound disinterested and detached.
Charles had no doubt Ethan would cut that part of him off entirely if he could. Before he could even answer, he was immediately met with Sophie's emotional quarry of, "Doesn't he love us?"
Ethan just shook his head. It was obvious he was holding back tears as he averted his gaze, though Charles had seen them all the same.
"Don't ever think that," he assured, attempting to sooth them. "It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. He doesn't even know about you because he left before you were born."
"Oh," was all Ethan could say, somewhat sadly.
Sophie, meanwhile, stared sympathetically at her father, offering a heartfelt, "I love you, Daddy."
It was obvious to him that she was trying to make up for the love her other father was unable to give him. "Thank you, Sophie. I love you both more than anything in the world." Then, noting her concern directed towards her brother, he added, "Ethan, I guarantee he would have loved you, both of you," he made sure to emphasize, "if he had ever met you. It would be impossible for him not to."
"Really?" Ethan asked, trying not to sound desperate for reassurance.
Although Ethan tried to hide his emotions, often considering them illogical and unnecessary, Charles knew they were there just the same, bubbling just below the surface where anyone who was truly looking could find them. In this instance, it wasn't even that difficult. He was feeling the rejection of his other father, something that was overwhelming him, and Charles knew this was one problem he couldn't easily fix.
"That part of me is dead. It died with… It died with Anya. I can't go through that again, Charles. Don't make me."
The words came to him unbidden, words that had sealed his fate and that of his children, followed by the promise he had made the metal bender. He had already broken so many promises. Remembering the desperation and anger, he had no intention of breaking this one.
And yet, while he knew it was true Erik didn't want children, he really did believe that he would have loved them. Contrary to what everyone else seemed to think, including Erik, the man wasn't heartless. Charles knew that better than anyone. The other man had walled his heart off to so many, but it was still there. So yes, he did believe that with time, Erik could have come to love Ethan and Sophie.
He had a hard time believing there was anyone who couldn't love these two. They already had everyone who knew them wrapped around their cute little fingers. Even Alex had proven to have a soft spot for the twins, especially Sophie who could get him to do anything with a simple glance. That one had surprised everyone, including Charles.
Not for the first time, he wished Erik were here to see these two precious children he had helped create. He liked to think that if the metal bender could just see them, he would feel the same way Charles did every single day. Yet much as he wished for it, he knew it wasn't possible. That door was closed, but it changed nothing. While he knew he would never be able to give his children their other parent, he could still provide them with love and reassurance, hoping it was enough.
""Yes, Ethan," Charles finally answered his son, before adding softly, his voice breaking a little, "You are so much like him. You both are."
"Tell us about him," Sophie requested in much the same way she would ask Charles for a story each night before bed, Ethan nodding his head in agreement. Having never heard about their other father, it was no surprise they would be curious and want to know as much as they could.
Sighing, Charles thought for a few moments about what to tell them. Where did he even begin? There was such little time and yet so many moments between them. Those moments had brought him so much joy, but also a great deal of pain.
"Erik was – is," he quickly corrected himself, "one of the strongest people I have ever met. He survived so much," he trailed off, thinking about the one person he had known better than himself. Or at least thought he had.
Now he had to admit that so much time had passed, so many things had changed, that he may not know the other man at all. The last time he had seen him, at least in person, had been that horrific day on the beach, one that still filled him with anguish and left him with nightmares. The only things he did know were those he heard in reports whenever Magneto was behind an attack, whether through the news or through the accounts brought back from his own students sent out to prevent as much damage as possible.
He wasn't about to share that with his children. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Seeing the expectant faces of his children, waiting for him to continue, he said, "He was absolutely brilliant, though he never thought of himself that way. It wasn't just his strength. He was also highly intelligent and incredibly determined. We actually met when he was trying to raise a submarine and almost drowned."
"He could raise submarines?" Sophie asked excitedly, bringing Charles back from his thoughts and causing a smile to alight his face at his daughter's enthusiasm.
"Not at first," he answered as he thought back on the day that he had pulled the other man from the water. Even after all of these years, the memory was still bittersweet. "He had to learn how to truly unlock and control his power before he could manage that, a power that allows him to control metal. He can move and shape it, even manipulating the magnetic waves around him so that he can move himself."
Ethan nodded his head in understanding. "So, he can fly."
Charles chuckled. "Yes, I suppose you could say that."
"I wish I could fly," Sophie said in awe. Having seen Sean move through the air simply by using his voice, she often marveled at how wonderful it would be to move above the ground.
"Maybe one day you will. You never know," Charles told her, voice invoking endless possibilities. He wanted to encourage her. While he had no doubt that she was a mutant like him and her brother – 'And Erik,' his mind traitorously added – he had no idea how her powers would manifest. He did have his theories, though, and secretly there was a part him that even hoped for one thing in particular. That was something he would never voice.
Even as Sophie's face lit up at the thought of flying, Ethan chose to ask the question Charles knew they both had been wondering. "What does he look like?"
"He is quite tall and lithe in build, which I imagine you will grow to be as well, Sophie," Charles told her, noting her excitement over having inherited something from her other father. "You also have his hair as well as some of his facial features. You look so much like him, but more than that, you have his passion and determination."
He then turned to Ethan, not wanting him to be left out. "Although I am afraid that physically you more closely resemble me, your eyes are his and you have his brilliant smile. But where I really see him in you, Ethan, is in your personality. He always had this intensity for everything he did, something you share, but you also have the same quiet inner strength. You are what I always knew he was capable of being."
For the first time since he had entered the room, Ethan gave a small smile. It was barely noticeable, but it was there. "I wish I could see him."
Charles knew he meant what Ethan meant. The boy wanted more than to just see his other father; he wanted to be able to meet the other man. Much as it pained him to deny his children anything, this was something he just couldn't give him. But then his eyes lit up a bit as he was struck with an idea. "I'm afraid I don't have a photograph, there was never time to take one, but I may have something just as good." Without explanation, he closed his eyes and accessed one of his memories of Erik.
It wasn't hard to find, knowing exactly which one he wanted. It was that day so many years ago when the metal bender had moved the satellite. Despite everything that came after – despite all of the pain and heartache he had endured – that memory remained one of his favorites. There had been so many emotions contained in that single moment in time. It was something special he had shared with the other man and now it only seemed fitting to show it to the children they shared as well.
Once he had it, he projected it to his children, hearing them both gasp as they took in the scene that he had shared with them. When it had ended, he opened his eyes and found himself crying, small tear tracks making their way down Ethan and Sophie's cheeks as well by virtue of sharing in not only his memory, but the feelings that accompanied it.
"He loved you too, Daddy," Sophie finally said as Charles moved his hand up to wipe away the tears from first her cheeks and then Ethan's. "I know he did. So why did he leave?"
That was the question, wasn't it? There were so many reasons, yet none of them ever felt adequate. They had never been enough for him, so how could he possibly find the words to explain Erik's leaving to his children? He knew he couldn't tell them what had happened that day. It was his fault and yet it wasn't. He had failed Erik, hadn't he? And yet they were both to blame for what happened on that beach. The complexities of the situation replayed in his head like a broken record. So many reasons, so many factors, so many variables he wished he could go back and change.
They had loved each other, or so he thought. Sophie seemed as sure of it as he had all those years ago, before… He knew there was really only one answer he could give.
"Because it wasn't enough," Charles answered honestly, his heart deeply, maybe even foolishly wishing it were otherwise. He knew it was insufficient, even to him, yet it was all he had to offer them. How he wanted to give them so much more. He wanted to give them everything.
But then both of his children latched onto him, surprising him in the case of Ethan, showing him just how much they cared. He knew in that moment that despite everything, he was still the luckiest man in the world.
A/N: To anyone reading this, I know things are stressful and the world is pretty crazy right now. As such, I'm going to work really hard to get the next chapter out sooner than later. That said, while I can't do much, I can write and hopefully provide some enjoyment during this crisis. As long as I can write for all of you, I will.
Also, while I don't personally know any of you, I want to extend the same offer that I have already given my friends. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here. This is an open-ended offer for everyone, totally judgement free. Everyone is talking about caring for physical health, which is obviously important in a pandemic, but mental and emotional well-being are as well.
We will get through this.
As to this chapter, let me know your thoughts; comments help fuel me, so any you leave are greatly appreciated! If nothing else, I'm hoping people still want to read this as I still have a lot more planned for this story. For anyone wondering about Erik, he will be coming up, just not quite yet (I'm making him wait a bit). Also, for anyone who wanted to see Charles as a new father with infants, let me know as I may be able to work in a flashback or two, or possibly a side interlude.
In the meantime, stay safe out there!