So hi guys sorry this has taken sooooooo long to post :s Anyhoo I'll get straight down to business - any characters you don't recognise from Phantom or X-men verse belong to me - anyone else belongs to their respective owners. Constructive criticism welcome as always. Now on with the show!

X-Men The Imperfect Angel Saga – Part Two: Second Chances

Chapter Two: Would do Anything to Feel the Warmth...

Erik's POV

I watched as Caroline started to fall within herself – the same way she would before having a meltdown. I knew I had to calm her down; otherwise her powers could grow out of control again. But how will I calm her down? After all it would appear she doesn't always respond to the power of my voice. So what other methods could I use to calm her down? I then had a thought – how well would she respond to touch? I remember finding out there is a calming effect to the neck being stroked. But would stroking her neck have the same effect and if so how much pressure would work? After placing her violin down gently on a nearby table before she dropped it, I proceeded to gently stroke her neck. I watched as her brows stopped furrowing and a serene smile overcame her features.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have grilled you so – I should have realised it might evoke such a violent reaction in you." I said gently, as I stopped stroking her neck, causing her to wake with a start.

"Are you ok? You woke with a start there – almost like you were in some sort of trance." I asked gently, to which she nodded slowly in response.

"What happened?! Is my violin ok?!" She asked suddenly with a panic.

"Your violin is on the table over there. I took it off you before you dropped it – I know how upset you would have been if that were to happen." I explained gently, as I pointed at the table where the violin was residing. She immediately picked it up, before holding it reverently like an old friend. Seeing how she worshipped her instrument made me think about my own, and how much I missed it. Yet even though I missed playing my violin, I wouldn't ask Caroline to retrieve it – at least not until she has better control of her powers first. Instead I would continue to teach her to play her violin, until the day when I can be reunited with my instrument. Suddenly the moment was broken by an almighty rumble.

"I guess that meltdown took a lot out of me." Caroline said meekly with a blush, as I realised it was around about dinnertime by now.

"We better get down to the dining room – it is around about dinnertime now." I said gently, before Caroline put her violin away and left the room. I followed close behind as she took a detour to her room, before we made our way down to the dining room. As I watched her walk down the corridor, I noticed something wasn't quite right about her demeanour. I wasn't sure why but she was tapping her fingers in a particular rhythm, and she looked tense like she wanted to bolt at any moment.

"Caroline is everything ok? You look nervous." I asked gently, as I touched her on the shoulder. Yet I pulled away when she stopped suddenly and immediately tensed up.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you, or overstep my boundaries. I just want to make sure you are ok – I can tell something is wrong."

"I'm scared – being surrounded by too many students with powers is making me nervous." She replied meekly, as she continued to tap her fingers rhythmically.

"I'll stay beside you the entire time. And if it gets too much for you just tell me, I'll make sure you remain calm or get you out of the situation – whatever you want at that moment." I beseeched. She slowly nodded before we entered the dining room. As we each sat down in an empty seat I noticed the finger tapping intensifying in rhythm. Was there music playing in her head and she was replicating it? Or were there some other forces at play that I do not fully understand yet? Yet there was a part of me that wanted to stop her rhythmic tapping. However when I placed my right hand on top of hers, she immediately froze and stopped tapping for a moment – before resuming the same rhythm with her other hand. But why did I dislike the tapping so much? Was it a deep seated fear of not fully understanding her? Or was it something else I couldn't explain or fully understand? Soon enough the tapping stopped when Professor Xavier entered the room. So apparently Professor Xavier calmed her rhythmic and incessant tapping – but was it because she felt comfortable around him, or was it because she didn't want him to notice her strange behaviour? I watched as she sat in quiet contemplation, not eating until everyone had food in front of them. Was this habit instilled into her by her parents before they died? Once she finished her meal, she placed the fork on top of the spoon on the plate. The rhythmic tapping resumed, as she waited for the signal to leave the table – all the while she was staring forlornly out of the window. Soon enough the other students and Professor Xavier finished their meal, and Caroline perked up as I noticed the students leaving the table. She quietly followed suit before walking in the direction of her bedroom. Instead of following the other students I followed Caroline – as I wondered why she went towards her bedroom, rather than socialise with the other students. Yet before I could catch up to Caroline, she already reached her room and closed the door behind her. Unperturbed I went up to her door, before knocking gently on its surface. Yet there was no answer, so I tried knocking again. But still there was no answer.

"I'm coming in ok?" I called out before entering the room, yet she was nowhere in sight. Suddenly I heard the sound of water running, which was when I realised she was in the bathroom. Was she already getting ready for bed, despite it being still light outside? Yet through the sound of running water, I could hear another sound that pierced my heart – the distinct sound of sobbing. I wished I could bring her comfort – but I didn't want to intrude on her privacy. But why was she sobbing so much? Soon I relented and knocked lightly on the door – as I became increasingly concerned for her safety and wellbeing.

"Caroline? It's me Erik. I am worried about you – talk to me please." I pleaded quietly through the bathroom door, before waiting for a response. Yet instead of Caroline responding to my statement, the sobbing increased in intensity.

"Caroline please – I just want to help. Please Caroline talk to me." I pleaded as I increased the intensity of my knocking. Suddenly the air around me became cold as snow swirled around me. I knew immediately that if I didn't stop this latest meltdown, she could potentially freeze the entire school.

"I'm sorry for what I am about to do – would do anything to feel the warmth." I muttered beneath my breath, before kicking down the door to the bathroom. However at first the door wouldn't yield, and as I kept kicking it forcefully it continued to be unyielding – as ice formed around it.

"What is going on Erik? Why are you attempting to kick down Miss Aves' door?"

"She is having a meltdown Professor. If I don't get her out she could freeze the entire school. But the door is frozen shut." I replied breathlessly.

"Here, let me try something." He said calmly. But why wasn't he worried about Caroline freezing the entire school? I watched as he placed his index and middle finger to the side of his head, before closing his eyes and furrowing his brows. At first nothing seemed to change, yet as time progressed the concentration on his face became more intense. It was then I realised he was trying to talk to her telepathically. Yet the door to the bathroom continued to freeze over – the ice becoming a thicker and thicker impenetrable shield. I placed a hand on the Professor's shoulder when his hand dropped suddenly and he was breathing heavily.

"I cannot penetrate her mind – for someone who hasn't known her powers for long, she has already mastered the art of blocking people from her mind."

"What are we going to do? If you cannot penetrate her mind, and I cannot get in – how are we going to calm her down?"

"Actually...there is someone who might be able to help us." The Professor replied quickly, before closing his eyes and pressing his fingers to his temple again. I stepped back warily when suddenly a figure of blue appeared from a mist of blue smoke...