A big thank you to everyone who is reading this story. As well as a thank you to those who have added it to their follow/favourite list.

And last, but certainly not least, the kind words given by you reviewers on the latest chapter. I'm glad it was well received and that you are enjoying the interactions between Charles and Ann.

To Guest: Thank you for reading this story even though you normally don't read fics in their early stages, and even planning on adding it to your fav. list. I felt overjoyed when I read your review, thank you so much.

To everyone else, thank you all so much for making my day.

Enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter 6 - Toast for breakfast

"This is the best breakfast I have ever had!" Raven exclaimed as she returned to the table. In her hands was a large white plate, filled to the brim with scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and some fried tomatoes. She sat down in her chair and clapped her hands ecstatically.

"You haven't even tried it yet." Charles stated. "And what's wrong with beans on toast?" He frowned as he took a bite from the food he'd just described.

"Whaf wrongf wiff it?" She replied with her mouth full. Her brother threw her a look and she chewed before quickly swallowing her eggs. "It's beans. On toast!"

"Good morning, everyone." Moira MacTaggert appeared next to their table. Her auburn hair pulled back in a low pony tail and she was wearing her office outfit. A navy coloured pencil skirt and a navy blazer over a white blouse.

"Good morning, love." Charles leaned forward and moved the chair next to him. "Have a seat."

"Thank you, Charles." The agent commented as she sat down. "I see we're almost complete."

She'd knocked on Ann's door the second she left her own hotel room this morning, but there was no reply. Moira reckoned her friend was still knocked out, sleeping off the hangover she must be experiencing from last night. There was a slight urge to knock the door down and simply drag Ann out of the bed. But Moira refrained from it and instead went downstairs to the reception where she asked the girl there to phone up room 312 for a wake-up call. That ought to do the trick.

"I'm sure both of them will be down shortly." Charles replied, referring to Erik and Ann. He took a sip from his coffee, hiding the slight smirk forming behind his cup.

::::::...::::::

Ann was woken abruptly by a loud ringing right next to her head. She jolted up and clutched her chest with her left hand. Her pulse beating rapidly. "What the bloody hell..." She gasped, turning towards the phone situated on her bedside table.

Groggily Ann reached for it. "Hello?"

"Good morning, miss Weaver. This is the reception with your wake-up call service. I hope you had a goodnight sleep. Breakfast is served until eleven o'clock."

The woman moved the handset away from her ear to stare at it for two seconds before putting it back. "Right. Thank you."

"My pleasure, miss. Have a great day." A click sounded and the call ended.

This had Moira written all over it. Ann let out a loud groan as she slowly made her way out of bed. She wasn't upset or anything, at least not with Moira. If anything she was disappointed in herself. Drinking more than she could handle when she knew the consequences that would have. Those very results were currently pounding in every possible corner of her head.

With her hand placed firmly up against the dark red wall, Ann balanced herself as she made her way towards the bathroom. A semi cold shower was just what she needed to wake up. Actually, what she really needed, or wanted, was more sleep. But she knew that wasn't going to happen and she'd already made enough of a fool of herself in front of Moira and Charles. She was still upset with both of them, but that did not excuse last night's behaviour.

Speaking of Charles, despite the amount of alcohol Ann had had, she could still recall their conversation vividly. He was an odd one that man. But he had been kind enough to guide her back to her hotel room, something she would have to thank him for later. Walking past the small desk standing against one of the walls, Ann glanced at the clock on top of it. Ten a.m.

She had to be quick about this if she wanted some breakfast. Her stomach suddenly growled, but more in protest than a longing. Coffee then with some toast would be enough. Ann stepped into the bathroom and turned the tap to let the water run in the shower. Lukewarm water cascaded down her hair and body, Ann closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh as the memories of last night flooded into her mind.

Matters she had thought about before Moira and Charles had so blatantly interrupted her. Even to this very moment Ann was still unsure what it was she wanted to do. Last night she'd been convinced that what she really wanted was to head back home to London. But it was something Moira had said which made her rethink her initial decision.

What makes you so special that you're too good to help defend the world from a dangerous maniac? You've helped me more than once before, but helping your own kind is out of the question?"

The problem wasn't that Ann didn't want to help. It was that she had no clue how she could help and even if she could help locate Shaw, although with the way her power worked that seemed highly unlikely, there was really nothing else she could do. Not against someone like Shaw. But that wasn't the real reason. She just wanted to remain what she had always been.

Unnoticed and unseen.

Yes, she had helped Moira in the past. But that was always behind closed doors. The credit and honour for solving a case always went to Moira. Ann didn't need the validation because what if the CIA, or others, discovered how she managed to find all those people Moira was looking for? There was no telling what other organisations might do once they discovered the CIA had someone in their midst with unexplainable powers.

But that was before Ann met Charles and Raven. Before she learned that she wasn't the only one with a mutation. Perhaps Moira was right. What made her so special that she was too good to help them out? They were willing to help. They hadn't doubted or hesitated for a second and their powers were even more advanced or visible than hers.

The throbbing sensation in her head was increasing its presence. Ann raised her hand and rubbed her left temple slowly and firmly. This headache was probably going to stay there for the remainder of the day.

::::::...::::::

Erik Lensherr checked his watch just as he was about to step out of his hotel room. He had been up since seven o'clock this morning. He'd taken a stroll around the block and enjoyed a peaceful and quiet breakfast. He reckoned the others were awake by now, perhaps even downstairs already. After Charles Xavier had removed the drunken woman called Ann from the bar, Moira MacTaggert had made her way over to him.

"Charles told me you were here." She'd said.

"I'm surprised you didn't notice. I thought the CIA had eyes and ears everywhere?"

His comment was rather uncalled for, but Erik hardly cared. She was either there to yell at him or ask something of him. Turns out, it was the latter, although he was certain there was also a part of her that wanted to put him in his place for not helping when Ann had fallen off her bar stool.

"The bar is about to close. I suggest you have back to your room. We're leaving tomorrow morning at eleven thirty. Sharp." After that, the agent had turned around and practically stomped out of the lounge.

Erik shook his head at the memory and shut the door behind him as he walked out of his hotel room. At that very same time, the door across from his opened up, revealing someone he was not expecting to see. She was wearing a short dark green skirt, with a black short sleeved turtle neck top. Her boots were made of leather, brown, and stopped a couple of inches below her knees.

"Oh, good morning. It's Erik, isn't it?" Ann looked as equally surprised to find him standing there.

"It is. You must be Ann." He nodded.

They hadn't been properly introduced as of yet, despite being in the same car yesterday. But the entire evening had been incredibly hectic, leaving no chances to exchange common courtesies. That, as well as Ann pretending to be asleep during the ride over to the hotel.

"Ann Weaver." The woman introduced herself. She extended her hand towards him, which he accepted.

"Erik Lensherr." He arched an eyebrow as she told him her name. For a second he thought he'd misheard her, but there were obvious difference from what Charles had told him the woman was called. Hannah Weber. Though Charles had explicitly told Erik to refrain from calling her that, unless he had a death wish. He couldn't help but wonder what that was about.

"Forgive me, Ann, but I was under the impression you have a different name?"

The look of shock on the girl's face was more than apparent and immediately Erik realised what Charles had told him was probably true. He quickly cleared his throat. "Never mind, I probably misunderstood. You are on your way downstairs, I presume?"

Ann visibly relaxed a little and she nodded, but a slight hint of scepticism was still apparent in her cyan eyes. "Yes. I haven't eaten yet. Have you?"

"Around half past seven already."

"Oh." She mouthed.

Erik took a step back and motioned towards the left. "Shall we? I'm sure the others are already there."

Ann was pretty certain that they were indeed. Especially because of that ever so considerate wake-up call Moira had arranged for her. Any other day Ann would not have held back to give her friend a piece of her mind. But she couldn't do that, not after the way she behaved last night. Moira had every right to do what she did. Although a bit less of a rough wake up would have been nicer considering the state of Ann's hangover.

Together Erik and Ann made their way through the corridor towards the lift. A quiet spell surrounded them. Normally Erik had no trouble making small talk. Sometimes it was preferable over awkward silences, such as the one he was currently experiencing. But he found himself finding it difficult to come up with anything to say to the woman. It did seem as though Ann didn't mind the silence.

But as soon as they stepped into the lift and Ann had told the liftboy to go down to the ground floor, she turned to Erik and looked up at him. "You were in the bar last night, weren't you?"

He frowned at her question which was a little unexpected but not that surprising, considering he had been there to witness all that happened from the moment she had stepped into the hotel bar lounge. How she sat down at the bar, almost in the centre but a little more to the right in order to have a perfect view of the band that was playing. He'd watched her closing her eyes to listen more intently to the music. Swaying her shoulders and hips slowly when a song played that she enjoyed.

He'd also seen the amount of alcohol she managed to consume in a short while, which meant that she was either a lover of a good drink or in a particular kind of mood. Based on the behaviour of the bartender, who did not shy away from pouring a little more than what was considered normal for a hotel to offer, Erik figured it was the latter. He wondered why she was asking him about last night. Was she surprised that he hadn't come to greet her or worried that he had seen her fall off her chair like a ragdoll.

He lowered his eyes. "Yes. I was in the mood for a drink and a quiet place, which it had been until two other certain individuals joined the scene."

Ann immediately averted her gaze and turned her head away. "In that case, I guess I owe you an apology as well. As far as first impressions go, I took the cake with this one, didn't I?"

"Compared to destroying a ship? I'd say you haven't taken the cake at all."

The elevator came to a halt and the metal doors opened up. Erik politely let Ann out first and then walked beside her towards the breakfast hall. His comment still resonated in her mind. Was he trying to make her feel better by mocking himself or was he making fun of her? She couldn't really tell, but then again, she knew absolutely nothing about him except for his name and what sort of power he had.

::::::...::::::

Raven placed both her hands on her stomach and let out a sigh of delight. "That was delicious."

"I should say, you've had two servings." Charles commented as he set his empty coffee cup aside.

"Would have gotten three if it was up to me." His sister retorted.

"Nobody is stopping you, Raven."

Moira raised her arm and glanced down at her watch, ignoring the two people bantering right in front of her. It was half past ten already. Clenching her jaw, she leaned back in her seat and glanced around the room. Within half an hour the car would arrive, along with Frank, to take them to the CIA research facility. But she still had no idea whether or not Ann was going to join them. Moira had already thought up multiple arguments to use in order to convince her friend to stay with them. However she knew it wouldn't be fair to treat Ann that way. She had made a promise, or actually Charles had, that she could decide for herself. Still a part of Moira hoped Ann would join their cause.

"I believe the last two members of our party are finally here." Charles suddenly said, his eyes focused on the newspaper he'd folded and was currently lying on top of the table next to his plate.

Moira shifted in her seat and turned around to look over her shoulder. Erik and Ann were heading their way and the agent relaxed a little at the sight of them. At least they were on time and they seemed ready enough to leave the hotel once Frank would be there. She straightened herself, pushed her chair back and got up.

"Good morning, you both. Mr. Lensherr. Ann."

Erik nodded at her, before greeting Charles and Raven. Moira cleared her throat as the tall man took the chair she'd been sitting in a second ago. She turned to Ann and smiled softly. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

"I'll live. Though I could have died from that rather unnecessary wake-up call you arranged for me." Ann replied, her mouth twitching a little.

"I highly doubt that, but I'll make sure to try a different approach next time." Moira told her.

"If there will be a next time." The other woman replied and immediately a frown appeared on the agent's face. "That being said, I actually need to talk to you." Her eyes shifted towards Charles for a second who had decided now was a good time to ignore his newspaper.

"In private." Ann added.

Moira didn't even question her about it. She ushered her friend to follow her and together the two of them walked towards a glass door which would lead them outside towards the terrace. Once they were out of sight, Charles turned his attention to Erik.

"You were up early this morning. I take it you had a good night's sleep despite all of the commotion yesterday?"

Erik leaned forward, grabbed a metal pot filled with coffee and poured its contents in a white cup. "Commotion? You have to be a bit more specific, Charles."

"Never mind." Charles grabbed his own cup and held it in the direction of Erik. "Would you be so kind?"

The other mutant didn't reply, but he complied nonetheless. Erik had been with them for around twelve hours now and though they hadn't exchanged a lot with each other, the atmosphere was calm and relaxed. As if they'd known each other for longer. Or perhaps it was because of what they were. Strangers. Freaks. Hidden amongst the common and plain.

Charles thanked him for the coffee and slightly turned his chair towards the ceiling high windows giving a perfect view of the terrace. Erik observed as the other man set his cup back on the table before raising one hand and placing two fingers against his temple. With his eyes, Erik followed Charles's line of sight and it didn't take long for him to discover what the professor was looking at.

"Anything interesting happening outside?" He asked.

"God, is he,- Charles, are you eavesdropping again?" Raven placed her hand on her brother's shoulder and shook it.

"Of course not." He answered quickly, but she knew he was lying. The way he was sitting, touching the side of his head while staring straight ahead. Clearly he was listening in on Ann and Moira. She let out a frustrated sigh and slapped him on his back.

"Oi!" Charles exclaimed, losing his focus and turning around. "Easy, would you?"

"You do realize they're out there, so we can't hear them?" Raven crossed her arms and cocked her head. "Fine, you know what? Do what you do best. But if they ask, I'm telling."

Her threat fell on deaf man's ears. Charles immediately moved and continued with what he was doing earlier. In the meantime, Erik eased back into his chair and took a sip from his coffee. He was rather enjoying himself with these late morning developments taking place in front of him. This was going to be interesting.

::::::...::::::

"Alright, we're away from everyone. What do you want to talk to me about?" Moira asked as she leaned her behind against the black coloured iron fence.

Ann stepped next to the auburn haired woman, placed her lower arms on the railing and folded her hands together. "Remember what I said to you after the last case I helped you with?"

The agent arched an eyebrow, not completely following what specific case Ann was talking about. "The one with those communists ?" She tried.

The other woman shook her head. "No. The one before that. Jamie Barnes?"

As soon as Ann said Jamie's name, colour drained from Moira's face. Not because she was recalling the conversation Ann was referring to, but because of the case itself. Jamie Barnes was the name of Moira's former partner. They hadn't been working together for that long and it was before Moira was assigned to start working overseas for the CIA. The two of them had instantaneously clicked the minute they met. Jamie was the one who gave Moira that extra push she needed in order to get to the top of her field.

"It crossed my mind last night." Ann continued her quietly. "How things could have,- should have ended. And what I said to you the day after,- Well, you know."

"Ann, I understand why you said what you did back then. What I don't get is why you're bringing this up now?" Moira furrowed her brow and turned towards her friend, who let out a deep sigh.

"Because I never told you why. I know you think you understand, but you don't. Not really."

"Of course I do. Ann. There was nothing you could have done to change the outcome,-"

"That's not why I walked away." Ann said before Moira could finish her sentence. "It wasn't necessarily because of your former partner that I told you I never wanted to go with you on a case again." She paused and took her arms off the iron railing. "It was because of you and because of what I am."

"I don't understand?" Moira replied. Especially the because of you part threw her off.

Ann's mouth twitched a little. "I could feel your eyes on me all the time. I knew you knew that I wasn't normal. How could you? But with Jamie, it felt as if I slipped up. And because he was your partner, I got scared. He wasn't a random guy. He was CIA, like you. I was afraid that the agency or maybe even the FBI would find me because of his death and how you found him."

She wasn't entirely wrong and Moira bit her bottom lip nervously. She never really believed in psychics, seers, fortune tellers and all that mumbo jumbo. But Ann made her question all of those things every time she asked for her help. When Jamie Barnes went missing one night during a case they were working on. Instead of contacting the CIA, Moira immediately went to Ann who was living in the states at the time.

It took more than a day, but eventually Ann contacted her with the news that she had found Jamie. Dead. The location of his body had been so secluded, they would have never been able to find it that quickly, if it hadn't been for Ann. Of course Moira never told the agency how she had found Barnes, but they didn't believe her story either. A feeling of guilt settled in the pit of Moira's stomach.

She could have exposed her friend on multiple occasions, though the thought never crossed her mind. Not even Jamie Barnes had known about her. Moira had genuinely believed that Ann broke contact because of Jamie's death. Because she couldn't find him in time. But it hadn't been about that. She'd been afraid. After seeing how the CIA's director responded to Charles Xavier and Raven, Moira could understand how Ann must have feared for her life at the time.

She knew only a little of Ann's past. But enough to know why the woman tended to keep to herself. Hide in the shadows. Never take credit for things she'd done. The latter had nothing to do with humility, but the fear of being hunted down, only this time because she wasn't like a regular human being. But because she was a mutant.

"Ann?" Moira said and she reached for the other woman's hand. "If you want to go back to London, I understand. I do now. I'm sorry that I didn't realize it sooner. I'll help you arrange a flight, if that's what you want."

Ann's expression softened and for the first time in a long while, she smiled warmly at the agent. "If you'd asked me this last night, I was convinced that leaving was the thing I truly desired. Go back to London. But then you said something to me in the bar which made me think. And then I thought about those people in there,-"

She paused and nodded her head into the direction of the dining hall where the others were having breakfast. "You were right, Moira. They are like me, the only difference is that they aren't as afraid as I am. At least, not frightened enough to not help find this Shaw bloke of yours. That's rather admirable, wouldn't you say?"

Then she narrowed her eyes a little as she caught a glimpse of a certain someone looking in their direction. Actually, Erik was also turned their way, but Charles was staring directly at her, and he quickly dropped his hand onto his lap. An immediate suspicion of what he'd probably been doing popped up inside her mind. Son of a,-

"I'm going to regret this..." The woman muttered under her breath.

"Wait, are you telling me that you're staying?" Moira blinked with confusion but her mouth was beginning to form a smile.

"I'm staying."

Suddenly Ann gasped as Moira unexpectedly threw her arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

That was a promise Ann knew Moira could not keep, but she appreciated the thought nonetheless. Gently she pushed the other woman back and returned the smile she was being given. "Shall we go back inside? I could use some food before we leave. If you don't mind?"

Moira looked down at her watch. It was already a quarter to eleven. Frank would be there soon. "Yeah, sure. You go on. I have to go and meet Frank up front."

"Alright." Ann replied, feeling an eruption of nervousness and anxiety inside her stomach.

The two went their separate way. Moira rushed across the terrace, while Ann headed inside. As soon as she stepped through the door, the others were already looking in her direction. With a clenched jaw, she made her way over to their table. There was no doubt in her mind that when she saw Charles looking at her earlier, he was listening in on her conversation with Moira. She could practically feel it in her bones.

The second she reached them, Raven jumped up with excitement and beamed at her. "I heard your coming with us."

Ann's eyes immediately shot to Charles, who was apparently incredibly engrossed with his newspaper, even when her gaze landed on Erik he too seemed rather engaged with his cup of coffee.

"You were correctly informed. Thank you for that, Charles." She said with heavy sarcasm.

"You're welcome, Ann." Charles smiled as he lowered his paper and pushed a plate with two pieces of toast and marmalade in her direction. "Erik told me you haven't had breakfast yet?"

The woman pressed her lips in a tight line as she slowly lowered herself onto the chair next to him. Not even a minute had passed since telling Moira she was going to stay and her prediction was already coming true. She was going to regret this.

I think this is a nice place to end it, don't you think? I guess it was to be expected Ann would stay, but here was a little explanation as to why she was reluctant to join. Of course it doesn't explain how Moira and Ann first met, but that will come in due time.

Hope you all enjoyed Erik's moment with meeting Ann properly. And Raven being all sibling like to Charles.

Would love to hear your thoughts, or anything else you wish to share. So far I've noticed most of you are already rooting for Charles and Ann to end up together.

Let's see what will happen :) Have a great day!