The Krakoan port inside of the Summer Home glowed as Charles Xavier entered from the other side. He decided to pay the Summers a surprise visit and see how they were coming along, but it seemed that they weren't home. They weren't on the island itself, so it would seem that they went out elsewhere.

It was early morning on Krakoa, but the time change was never apparent in the Summer Home aside from the artificial lighting.

Charles helped himself to take a look around, assuming that Scott wouldn't mind. The view was remarkable after all. He stepped into the living room and took off Cerebro to admire the Earth in all of it's grandeur when he noticed something. From the corner of his eye he noticed a slumped form of one Vulcan on the floor with a pool of drool forming around his mouth. It appeared that at least one Summers was home after all.

The older man goes over and kneels by Gabriel's side to gently shake him awake when he notices the array of beer bottles surrounding him. "Oh Gabriel…" Charles looked at the man before him. A man who was much less a boy not so long ago.

He propped Gabriel up against the couch and he softly arose from his slumber.

"Huh- oh… blast it. I've done it again." he says, rubbing his eyes. Once they had adjusted to the lighting, Gabriel was surprised to see Charles Xavier kneeling aside him. He expected to see Scott or Alex, or maybe one of the kids but, this… this was unprecedented.

He snaps awake, quick to hide behind his shame. "Oh! Professor… um, I wasn't told you were visiting. If I had known, I would've tidied up-" Gabriel scrambles to his feet with instant regret as his hangover sets in. He tripped over his own feet, forcing Charles to catch him.

"Easy now Gabriel," says Charles, setting the former Emperor back down. "No need to hurt yourself."

Gabriel sighed and lulled his head sideways to look out the window. "Apologies…" he mumbled, averting his gaze. If looking at Charles whole he wore Cerebro was hard, it was definitely harder to look him in the eyes now.

"What for?" Charles inquires politely. "It was I who entered your home after all. I thought I'd surprise you all but it seems the others have gone."

Gabriel then explained to him how the rest of the family went to the beach (or something like that, he was too busy getting drunk the night before to pay attention.) So, he had the lunar home all to himself once again. He would've gone along too if it hadn't been for his newfound nasty habit. He even promised himself he wouldn't do it again, but here he was. It was the only way to get rid of the haunting memories he could think of.

"Ah, I see. It's good to hear that they're getting along fine." Charles comments. Gabriel simply grunted his agreement and fell silent.

Charles studied Gabriel for a moment as the young man's form nearly melted into the side of the couch. It was clear that he was embarrassed to be seen like this, even more so by someone like Charles. Even though their connection was fabricated through a time-skip of false memories (thanks to none other than Charles Xavier himself), Gabriel still felt that they were real. Even before then, Gabriel had looked up to this man and now… now he was looking up at him through a drunken stupor. He turned his head back and expected a lecture of sorts but all Charles did was softly shake his head.

"You are an adult now Gabriel. You do not need me to tell you about drinking." The old man stated plainly. The problem with that was, no one ever taught Gabriel much about real life anyway. And in his short life, he was married- even consummated it, and no one taught him anything. Well maybe someone should have considering that he and Deathbird weren't together anymore. Did she even know he didn't die? Ah well, no matter.

Gabriel opened his mouth in protest, to tell Charles all of that but he just closed it again and admitted that Charles was right. He usually was.

Charles gently ushered Gabriel back to his feet so he could at least get some water. Together, they shuffled toward the kitchen as Gabriel's stomach lurched at every step he took. He let out a hearty burp, much to either of their surprise.

"Pardon!" Gabriel exclaims, slapping a hand over his mouth. "It would seem that there are some fumes left inside of the tank… I'm sorry that you have to see me like this. I promise that I'm a steady burning flame… most of the time."

Okay, so maybe that was a lie and Charles didn't need to read Gabriel's mind to know it.

"Gabriel." Charles set him to lean on the kitchen counter and turned to give him a stern look. "Are you doing alright?"

A moment of silence ensued between the two men before Gabriel let out a loud chuckle. "Ha ha! Of course! Finally being with my family, I could be no better!" he replied heartily, projecting his voice. Doing so bolstered his confidence in his reply, so maybe he could believe it too. "The fire in me is ablaze with the love I share for my blood!"

It was true that Gabriel liked being with his family, and now that he had his friends back, everything should be fine.

But it wasn't.

"Gabriel." Charles stated firmly. "I had wished you could tell me anything by now. But it appears you have yet to trust me after all."

Gabriel sniffed and laid his cheek onto the hard and cool kitchen counter. His own body heat replaced the temperature in a matter of seconds and he began to feel hot with shame. "I'm sorry… " he mutters.

"Don't be."

Gabriel inwardly sighed. His stomach threatened to do somersaults as well. It's hard not to.

"You know, I could still hear you." Charles replied I'm a telepathic message.

"There's no need to close yourself from m-"

"Arg-! Get out!" Gabriel roars and throws up his mental barrier, causing Charles some pain. The old man held his head in one of his hands as he stumbled back.

"Please…" Gabriel whimpers. "Just leave me alone."

"Gabriel please, I can help you. If this has something to do with-"

Gabriel cut him off once more, this time throwing his hands back in contempt. "No!"

The rapid motion combined with Gabriel's hangover caused him to stumble back into some stools and land him squarely on his behind. "It's already bad enough that I have to be reminded of your betrayal every day I set foot on that island. I have already forgiven you… isn't that enough?"

The ceiling danced above Gabriel's head as the tile floor seemed to cave in.

"For once… this has nothing to do with you. So please, please, just let me be."

Charles frowned at the sad sight of his once pupil. "Gabe… seeing you like this, it'd be difficult not to assist. Now please," he reaches a hand toward Gabriel and with his other he pressed against his own temple. "If you simply allowed me to look…ah…"

Gabriel still kept his mental guards up and redirected the mental probing back into Charles' own head. "What is it Gabriel?" he asked. "What is it that you don't want me to see?"

"I don't even know!" Gabriel retorts. "I just keep seeing myself back at the Fault, and-" he narrowed his eyes, "I don't have to explain myself to you. This is my home. Now I would appreciate it if you would carry on your merry way back to the damned island where you belong. And take your stupid helmet too."

Charles dipped his head with slight sorrow. "Very well then," he turned to leave and picked up Cerebro on his way out. "I'm sorry Gabriel. Truly."