A/N: Chap 6, ready to be read. Who knows how much longer this is gonna be, but I have a feeling it'll close out in a few more chaps. I'm just having too much fun writing it! As always, let me know what you thought! SEW/Lady S
Tranquillity Chap Six: Heartlink
"Tranquillity! Watch this!"
Turning her head she watched as Janet dive-bombed into the pool, splashing those who were seated around it, causing many an exclamation as they tried to avoid the spray of water.
"That was good Janet," she called back; her voice filled with laughter for the poor fools the child had soaked.
Still smiling she turned back to her chess game and realized with a frown that she had nowhere to move. Checkmate. Sighing she knocked her king over and slumped back in her chair. Raising her eyes from her fallen piece she glared at her opponent, sitting across from her, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
'Never play against the champ,' Charles had warned her. But had she listened to him? Nope.
"Wanna go again?"
"No thank you Logan, I've been beaten enough for one day."
"Come see me when you feel like being beaten again."
Rolling her eyes she got up from her chair and wandered over to the patio to join the small group gathered there. Slumping back into a chair she avoided the grin on their faces and stared out at the pool.
"All right already! Just say it!" she cried, unable to take the laughing stares.
"Told you so!" some of them cried.
Rolling her eyes with a groan Tranquillity put her hand on her head. "Good grief!"
Laughing at her stage antics the conversation picked up where it had left off. Half listening to them and half watching the children play in the pool she was about to reply to one of Jean's comments when she sat up in her chair and scanned the yard, her eyes mentally checking off each child she saw. 'Janet, Richard, Jimm, Peter, Paul, Susan, Jenny, Jack, Silvy, Eric, Prichard, Sarah, Carmine...'
"Where's Roy?" she said, coming to her feet. Moving toward the wall she scanned the yard again. "Where's Roy?" she repeated.
By now they could all see her concern and had moved forward to look for the young boy. They hadn't gotten far when Wolverine tensed and stopped still. After a moment he looked Xavier in the eyes and ordered everyone inside. Quickly he sent a mental command to go inside at once, no questions, to go to their rooms and stay there. Without hesitation the children, both young and old, swarmed into the mansion, all of them knowing better than to question the professor. The yard was empty now except for the X-men, Charles, and Tranquillity. The X-men spread out over the yard; Wolverine heading in the direction the scent was coming from, to search for the boy as well as anything that would pose a threat.
Standing on the patio, next to Charles, Tranquillity's hands began to shake. "Scared. He's so scared..."
Focusing in on her mind he tried to see what she saw. Roy, in the forest with a large man standing next to him, was staring at the man's talon like hands, his heart pounding in fear.
~ Wolverine. It's Sabertooth. ~
~ I know. I smell 'im. ~
Sending out a message to Jean, Scott and Ororo to back up Wolverine he warned them of who was out there with Roy. Though each of them immediately felt shock and surprise they quickly squashed down their own feelings and focused on getting the boy back safely and ridding the grounds of their thought dead enemy. Keeping a link on them he reached out and took Tranquillity's hand within his own.
"It'll be all right. They'll get him."
Nodding she kept her eyes on the backs of the X-Men as they disappeared into the woods. When she could no longer see them she closed her eyes and focused on the emotions of her scared little child. Her hand still trembled within his, as they stood, sat, silent, waiting for something to happen.
Wolverine approached the small boy warily. Slicing through the bonds that held him to the tree he handed Roy off to Jean, his eyes scanning the forest all the while. With a brief nod of his head he ordered everyone to head back, Wolverine brining up the rear. He didn't like it; things were too quiet. He knew the bastard was out there, waiting to pick one or more of them off. While Scott stuck with Jean and Roy Wolverine stuck with Ororo as they headed back toward the mansion. They were almost to the clearing when Sabertooth attacked, raking his claws across Roy's face. Even before the claw marks were finished being made Wolverine knocked his opponent out of the way and the two women fled the forest with the child, Scott staying behind to help.
Jean and Ororo ran to the patio where Tranquillity took Roy into her arms. She was on her knees; they saw the blood on the front of her dress and on Charles hands but saw no wounds. Their curiosity was outweighed by the need to help Logan and Scott and they began to head back to the woods when the trio of men came flying out of the forest; Wolverine and Sabertooth battling it out while Scott tried desperately to get a clear shot. Jean used her limited telepathy to stop Wolverine from moving while Charles handled Sabertooth. With both men locked in stasis Scott took his shot and fired at the enemy, knocking him to the ground, unconscious.
The immediate crisis over Jean turned her attention to Roy, the young mutant with the gift of flight, his wing like arms setting apart from humanity at first glance. His face was bleeding heavily, his blood soaking Tranquillity's dress. Ordering Tranquillity to take him tom the Med Lab she hurried ahead to ready the drugs and instruments that would be needed. An hour later she emerged from the operating room and announced that the boy would be fine. He would more than likely have a set of scars to remind him of what had happened but that no major damage had been done.
"Any deeper and he'd have lost the use of his face muscles."
Tranquillity relaxed and sank back into her chair though her eyes never turned from their blue and black swirls. Closing her eyes she willed her heart to slow and asked to see him. Jean nodded and moved out of the doorway allowing her to pass. While Tranquillity sat with Roy Charles and Scott moved down to the holding cell to see to their new guest. Sabertooth was still unconscious but it wouldn't be long until he was awake and making trouble for them once again. Scanning his mind Charles saw that he had come with the purpose of murdering Wolverine and himself, all because of what had happened four years ago at the Statue of Liberty.
'Such fierce devotion to the wrong side,' he thought to himself. 'What to do?' he wondered. 'We can't release him anymore than we can keep him here.'
"Make sure the cell is secure. I don't want any repeat performances of what happened out there."
Scott nodded and moved to double check the security of the holding cell while Xavier headed back upstairs to spread the news that the children could leave their rooms. He gave them a short, and very vague, explanation of what had happened, reassured them that everything was okay and released them to try and enjoy the day. While they did emerge from their rooms none of them left the building, not that he had expected them to.
Retreating to his office he was joined by Jean to give her official report on Roy's condition. A repetition of everything that she had already said she added only that he would more than likely have nightmares of what had happened and that they should keep an eye on him for the next few weeks. Nodding he asked Jean to have Tranquillity come to his office after she had cleaned up. Though she nodded to his request he knew she had questions that were burning her tongue.
"Not now. I don't know what happened but I intend to find out."
Nodding once more Jean left the office and headed back down to the Med Lab. Tranquillity was still holding Roy's hands in her own, she hadn't moved since she'd first gone in.
"Tranq..." she said softly, using the nickname Logan had given her. "The professor wants to see you in his office after you clean up."
Though she didn't want to leave the boy she knew Charles deserved an explanation and stood up from her bedside vigil. With a final glance she left the med lab and, after showering and changing in her own room, knocked on the door to his office. "Come." She opened the door and saw him waiting behind his desk, his face impassive, even to her, as he waited for her to close the door behind her. Sitting on the sofa she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, still trying to dispel the fear that she had absorbed from Roy. They were silent for some time as he watched her, rocking slightly back and forth as a mother would a child, on the sofa across the room. Charles hated that he couldn't help her, but he knew this was not the time for him to be a friend. Right now he had to be the Professor, the leader, and keep his distance, both physically and emotionally.
"What happened out there?"
With a sigh she explained the thing that had happened for the second time in her life. "I was sitting on the patio when I felt his sudden fear. When I couldn't find him I searched for his emotions with my heart. That's when I found him in the woods. Roy was so..." her breath quivered but she forced herself to calm down and keep going. "... so scared. I stayed with him, taking his fear and replacing it with calmness. When they picked him up and began to leave the woods I stayed with him, still keeping him calm, taking the fear from his heart and giving him the calm from my own. It takes a lot of concentration to do that since there was such a distance between us. It took everything I had to keep the link going like I was and when Sabertooth struck him I couldn't pull away in time."
"I felt what he did both emotionally and physically. That's why I got the same claw marks he did. They closed when I broke the link but it was too late to stop the blood. That's has only happened to me once, when I had first gotten my powers, and I never knew why, only that it hadn't happened since. I was fifteen and I was having a very emotional conversation with Briggeet. She sliced her finger on a knife and I got the same cut on my finger. It only happens when I have a powerful link open with someone, one so strong that it's as if we two are of one heart. Whatever happens to one will happen to the other. In this case... when Roy was sliced open by that monster, I too was sliced open so long as the link remained in place."
"I never meant to keep it from you, Charles. It hadn't happened in so long I had thought it wasn't going to happen again. It's a very rare occurrence and now that I fully understand how it happens I can assure you I have a better control over it."
He sat still, his eyes never leaving her face as she spoke. It was times like this that he wished she had normal eyes; it was so very difficult to keep distanced when he could so plainly see the pain and fear in her eyes.
"Is there anything else you haven't told me about your gift?"
With a sigh she looked away. "Just one thing. The first, and the last time I tried it...it almost killed me." She stopped there, hoping he wouldn't want anymore. It wasn't the ability that she didn't want to share, but rather it was how she learned that she had it.
"Tell me..." he sensed she was going to spare some of the story. "...everything."
"It's very... embarrassing. Humiliating, actually." Charles didn't waver in his gaze. Taking a deep breath she began her story that happened almost twenty years ago.
"I was twenty six, living on my own in a small town in northern Pennsylvania. I had just moved there, it was during the time when I stayed on the move, too afraid to stay in one place. I was working in a small store, making announcements and answering the phones and one night I was kept behind by the boss to discuss next weeks sale. He went out to refill our coffee mugs. While he was gone another man snuck in and locked the door behind him. He... he wanted to... Jesus!" Tranquillity cried in frustration. "Twenty years later and I still can't talk about this!"
~ Show me. ~
Opening her mind to him Charles saw the events of that night; saw how he had pinned her to the wall, ripping her of her innocence. He watched, feeling it as she had, as her power boiled up within her. Placing her hand on his chest, skin-to-skin, she stopped his heart, paralyzing it with the fear she was feeling right then. He fell to the floor and she was still pinned under him when the manager had broken in to the room. The police had been called but no one could explain the death of her attacker. Doctors had ruled it as a death-dealing heart attack and left it there. What she had done had taken so much energy that she was in a coma for almost a month. When she did finally wake Tranquillity left the town a few days later, heading up north to Maine.
Stepping out of her mind he focused his attention back on her as she huddled herself in the corner of his sofa. 'So much pain in one lifetime,' he thought to himself. Moving away from his desk he rolled over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. They were silent for some time, neither knew how long really, before Jean mentally informed him that Roy had awoken and was calling for Tranquillity. Telling her this she seemed to snap out of her reverie with a shake of her head. Faster than he thought humanly possible she was up from the sofa and out of his office heading toward the Med Lab.
While Tranquillity stayed with Roy Charles needed to figure out what to do with Sabertooth. He couldn't release him yet he also couldn't leave him here. Calling Wolverine into his office he consulted with the man, laying down the law that death and sever bodily harm were not an option. Given those parameters Logan eventually presented a viable solution to the problem.
"Strand him."
"?...?"
"Put the bastard somewhere where he can't leave but can live on his own."
Mulling it over in his mind Charles decided that it was the thing to do. Searching the globe he found a small island, just big enough for one man, and explained to the X-Men what he wanted done. Sedating the giant 'cat' the team loaded him onto the Blackbird and took him to the island the Professor had shown them, leaving him there to wake and find a way to live on his own. Considering that he had no other option it seemed like a humane thing to do. He was removed from society and punished for his crimes while at the same time he was allowed to live his life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Two weeks had passed and Roy recovered from his injuries enough to be released to his own room, but Jean was worried. He had yet to show any signs of port traumatic stress, never having a nightmare or a fear of the forest or anything of the such. At first she thought he was simply repressing it but upon a passive scan she could find no remnant of fear within him from his ordeal. Pondering over it she shared her findings with the Professor. They spent several hours that night discussing it before deciding to speak with him directly the next day. Retiring to their rooms Charles was just about to transfer to his bed for some much-needed sleep when a loud, thrashing music filled the silent night air. Opening his door he saw several other people standing in the hallway scowls on their faces from being woken up. Assuming Jubilee had forgotten to plug in her headphones they banged on her door till she opened it. Standing there before them, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she was as confused as they were; the music was not her doing.
Charles noticed there was one person on that floor who had not emerged into the hallway. Rolling to her doorway he heard the music getting louder. Knocking, which he doubted would have been heard anyway, he opened the door. Jean and Ororo followed him into the room to see Tranquillity thrashing restlessly in her bed. Knowing his voice wouldn't be heard over the music she was emanating he called out to her mentally. As soon as he had done so she sat up in bed with such force that those closest to her flinched back. The few strands of hair that had escaped her braid flew into her face, falling over her eyes, now a solid black, darker than he'd ever seen them before. Her chest heaved with the exertion of the fight she had been nightmaring about.
Her breathing slowed but her eyes stayed their frightened color as she fully woke to her surroundings. Taking a few deep breaths to clear her head she looked around and saw her doorway open but filled with people and a few other people in her room, their concern wafting over her like thick smog.
"I'm... sorry... I... I didn't mean..."
"Are you okay?" Jean asked as she smoothed back some of the wild hair from her eyes.
Tranquillity nodded but didn't say anything, not trusting her voice. With a silent command Charles sent everyone back to his or her rooms, to leave Tranquillity alone and go back to sleep. Jean hugged her friend and retreated back to her room with her husband, Ororo following suit with Remy until it was only Charles and Tranquillity.
"What happened?"
Running a hand through her hair she took a ragged breath. "It was a nightmare. I must still be carrying some of the fear from Roy's time in the forest. I saw what had happened as if I was the one it was happening to." Shuddering she wrapped her arms around herself. "It was awful."
"You're okay now though?"
"I will be," she nodded. "I will be," she repeated softly, more for her benefit than for his.
"Try to get some sleep." He turned to leave, feeling a little awkward about being the only one in her room, when she suddenly rang out in his head.
~ NO!! ~
Flinching from the force of her thought Charles stopped and looked at her. Though her breathing had returned to normal her eyes were still a deep, deep black in color. Silently he turned to face her and waited. She didn't know what to say, only that she didn't want to be alone just yet. Smiling at her Charles began to tell her about how he had began the school, who his first students were, how they came to be here. It wasn't long until her eyes began to lighten and eventually she fell asleep. Watching her sleeping for a moment he was struck by how beautiful she was. Thaddeus had hit it dead on the nose when he'd described her as enchanting. Asleep there in her bed, her face at peace, Charles wondered once more just how old she really was. Times like this it was impossible to tell.
Her room gave no clues to her age. Simply decorated he took in the candles and pictures on her bureau top and the pictures, all hand drawn by the children, which lined her walls. The reading chair in the corner, and the afghan that was draped over it, reminded him how much she loved to read. In the four months she'd been there Tranquillity was constantly taking and replacing books from his library, both in his office and in the library itself. Looking at the book on the table by the chair he saw that she was currently reading 'Much Ado About Nothing' the play by William Shakespeare. Her love for the classic was obvious in both her choices of reading and of music. Next to the small c.d. player was an ever-growing stack of c.d.'s, mostly opera with a few instrumental pieces thrown in.
When his eyes fell upon the incense holder and stick he realized where the scent that followed her everywhere had come from. Courtesy of Jean and Ororo's discussion one day while waiting for Scott he knew she didn't wear perfume. Those two women never thought he was listening to them, though if they ever did find out he would loose his source on half of the gossip of his school. But he had always wondered what the scent was that seemed to waft through the air with her every movement. Now he knew. The incense she burned had become a permanent part of her, seeping into her clothes, her hair, and even her skin. He understood what drove Wolverine from the room almost every time she entered. It was a strong smell, not an unpleasant mind you, but strong enough to be a bother to his heightened senses.
Still Logan never told her how much it bothered him, knowing how much she loved the smell of it. It was a kindness not to many people knew he offered. Just as not too many people knew how much she had helped him come to terms with his past. Their weekly sessions were passed off as training on her part; he helping her to learn to defend herself and she in turn helped him with his nightmares and his emotions. Only Charles, and those closest to Logan, had seen the difference. He still had a long way to go, but the improvements were remarkable.
Sure now that she was asleep, peacefully asleep, Charles rolled out of her room, shutting the door behind him and made his way down to his own, a yawn almost splitting his head in two. Thankfully tomorrow was Sunday, the one day he could sleep in. Lying in bed he placed an arm over his eyes to block the light from the moon, too lazy to pull down the shade, and smelled the incense from her room.
That night Charles fell asleep with a smile on his face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sitting in his office late Sunday afternoon, wishing he was anywhere else but knowing he needed to finish the paperwork, Charles was startled by the knock on his door. Telling the knocker to come in he smiled when he saw Tranquillity enter his office. With a book in her hand her eyes roamed the office and found it empty save for him.
"Can you work with someone else in the room?" she asked suddenly.
Furrowing his brow in confusion, "Yes," he replied.
"Good. I have tried reading this chapter three times and I still can't get through it with all the distractions from the children. May I read in here?"
Laughing he waved an arm toward the sofa, "It's all yours."
With a grateful sigh she sank into the corner of it, her legs curled up under her, and opened her book immediately falling back into the world it offered. Going back to work on his papers Charles' attention was diverted by a small giggle. Glancing up he saw Tranquillity smiling at the book, laughing at whatever part she was reading. Returning to his papers he was again interrupted by yet another giggle. Trying to be annoyed by the disruption he found he couldn't and just smiled at her, completely oblivious to him.
Once more a question rose to the surface of his mind, this time he wouldn't ignore it. "Tranquillity... how old are you?"
Looking up from her book she wore a confused look on her face. "What do you mean?"
"How old are you? How many years have you been alive?" he repeated. "I can never tell. Sometimes you look as young as the children and other times you look so very much older."
Tranquillity laughed. "Well, well... maybe I should keep that one a secret." she teased. "Is it important to know, Charles?"
"Important? No, it's not important, just frustrating when I try to place an age," he smiled.
"Then let me set you at ease. I am older then the youngest child, but younger than the oldest adult."
Leaving no room for further discussion she turned back to her book and ignored Charles. With a mock glare at her answer he turned back to his work, even more curious than before. Just when his mind had begun to return to said work her voice rang out in his head.
~ I'm forty-eight. ~
Grinning he replied, ~ Now was that so hard? ~
So began a weekly tradition. Every Sunday the residents of the mansion knew exactly where to find both the Professor and Tranquillity. Sometimes he would work while she read, or sometimes it was vice versa, other times they would share life stories, read aloud, or listen to music; but everyone knew that they were not to knock on the office door on Sunday afternoon. It wasn't something either of them had set down as a rule, or even hinted at, but it was an unspoken fact. Sunday afternoon was their time, their time alone, away from the rest of the world.
This afternoon they were sipping tea at his desk, listening to music, enjoying the peaceful feeling in their hearts. Her head tilted to one side, eyes closed in the sheer joy of the music, Charles watched Tranquillity sway gently in her seat to the soft rhythm of the music and an idea sprang into his mind. Swallowing a grin he spoke to her.
"Would you care to dance?" he asked.
Opening her eyes she stared at him for a moment. Had she heard him wrong? "Dance?"
"Dance."
With a confused laugh she raised her one eyebrow. "How?"
His grin broke through. "Close your eyes."
Though her eyes still showed her confusion she put her cup down, placed her elbows on the desk, propped her head on her folded hands, and closed her eyes. Moments later a delighted gasp escaped her lips as she viewed the room he had painted in her mind. A large ballroom, empty, with music coming from everywhere, it seemed to glow in the light of the candles that covered the walls. Turning in her spot to view the room she found that she was dressed in the clothing she had worn to the opera, to La Caviatta, her hair done much the same way. As Tranquillity looked all around she took in the beauty of the room before returning to face the way she had originally been standing.
Only now she was no longer alone. There, standing at his full height was Charles, looking devilishly handsome in his tuxedo. ~ May I have this dance? ~ he asked holding out his hand to her.
Smiling at him she placed her hand in his and soon Tranquillity was gliding around the room in the arms of her friend. The song ended but he didn't let her go as another one began playing, then another, and another, and another. Only when she was afraid her feet were going to fall off did they sit down at a table for two that hadn't been there before. Gazing around them in awe she brought her eyes back to her companion.
~ How did you do this? ~ she asked him.
Charles smiled at her and reached out to gently touch her temple. ~ By coming up here. ~ he said. ~ We're in your mind. ~
~ But you can walk. ~
~ Of course I can. Anything is possible in your mind. Even dancing. ~
~ Anything? ~
~ Anything. ~
He watched as she smiled at him and, biting her bottom lip in concentration, closed her eyes as though she were making a wish. In the blink of an eye they had changed scenes, the grand ballroom replaced by the mansion lakeside yard, a soft moon glowing overhead as the night sky twinkled with millions of stars.
Holding out her hand to him she met his gaze and smiled softly. ~ Walk with me? ~
Taking her hand in his they strolled around the lake, their silence a comfortable one, no words being needed. Time has no meaning in ones own mind and before either of them knew it the sun had begun to rise as they walked all over the grounds. Her arms linked through his in the style befitting a gentleman and a lady he led her back to the patio, through the halls, and up to her door before he released her arms still keeping her hand locked within his. Standing there, facing each other, their eyes were locked together. Charles brought his free hand under her chin, moving her head up to meet his as he brought his lips closer to her, ready to taste the sweetness and spice that was Tranquillity.
"Professor!!"
Ripped from each other's minds the two stared for a brief moment before the incessant pounding on the door forced him to look away.
"Come!" he called out, his voice slightly husky and tinged with annoyance.
The door opened and a regretful Scott stepped into the room. "I'm sorry to bother you with this Professor, but there are some people at the door requesting an hour of your time. They won't leave."
Charles suppressed a sigh. "Very well. Show them to the front lobby, I'll meet you there. Have the children steer clear. Until I know who they are I don't want any of them to come near us."
Nodding Scott turned to leave, his eyes pausing briefly at the desk before ducking back out of the office. It was then that the duo realized their positions. There, on the desk, her arms were linked through his as they had been during their walk and he gripped her hands tightly. Raising their eyes to meet once more both smiled shyly but it was Charles who spoke first.
"We shall have to finish our walk another time."
"Yes. Another time," Tranquillity replied wistfully.
Following him out of the office Tranquillity was still by his side when they came upon the man and woman standing with Scott in the front lobby. As soon as they neared them Tranquillity knew something was wrong. She could sense that they were hiding something, they were nervous. The duo standing before them was hiding something and she didn't like it. Charles introduced himself and was about to introduce Tranquillity when she cut him off.
"Meadow. My name is Meadow Lark," she said before he could call her Tranquillity. She saw the man stick his hand out to shake hers and she made sure to place hers a few inches away from his. "You'll have to forgive me. It's easier for you to find my hand than it is for me to find yours."
"I'm sorry, I should have realized you're blind," the man said as he took her hand in his own.
"That's quite all right, all thought I guess it is pretty obvious, or so they tell me anyway," she replied with a small laugh to set him at ease.
The woman took her hand as well. "Meadow Lark, what an unusual name."
"I suppose it is. My mother loved the name Meadow as a child and decided her daughter would be named just that as soon as she had one. She just happened to marry a man named Lark." Tranquillity smiled and laughed politely.
"Well why don't we got to my office and we can talk in private?" Charles suggested. As they made their way back to his office he questioned Tranquillity who was hanging onto him, fully playing the part of a blind woman.
~ Meadow Lark? ~
~ One of the many names Briggeet gave me. ~
~ So what is your real name? ~
~ Gilda. Gilda Lark ~
~ A beautiful name. ~
~ Really? I never cared for it. ~
Charles chuckled in his mind. ~ Well what was that all about? Why use Meadow and not Gilda? ~
~ I don't trust them. They're hiding something. Be careful. ~
~ Stay with us. If you sense anything else let me know. ~
Entering the office the strangers sat side by side on the sofa while Tranquillity and Charles took their positions from earlier. "We were just enjoying some afternoon tea, would you like some?" she offered as she forced her hands to blindly search for the kettle.
"Thank you but no. As I told the other man we needed to speak with you about one of your students here, Professor Xavier."
"One of my students?"
"Yes, a Richard Campbell. Does his name ring a bell?"
"Yes it does. He's one of our younger students."
"Excellent. We need to speak with him as well as his teachers," the man said.
"May I ask what it is about?" Tranquillity asked.
"I'm sorry, it really is a private matter, teachers only."
"Well then you're in luck. I'm Richards teacher."
Noting this the duo conferred silently for a moment and then looked back to their host and hostess. "Very well then, it's better to tell you before we tell the boy. We are detectives from the FBI. About two weeks ago the boys mother was killed, violently beaten before she was killed by one bullet to the head."
Tranquillity gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, closing her eyes to hide the sudden change in color. Charles put a hand on her arm and tried to remain calm for the both of them.
"Parson!" the woman proclaimed in a warning whisper. "I'm so sorry Ms Lark. Sometimes my partner forgets not everyone is as used to it as I am."
Tranquillity nodded, her eyes still closed, but would not speak. "Please continue," Charles said, his hand never leaving Tranquillity's arm.
"We had arrested the father as per the testimony of a witness and he was being shipped to a federal prison. According to a private will the woman kept in a safe deposit box we found out that the boy was here, in a private school, but that there were never any payments made. We're here to investigate why as well as to let the boy know about his mother."
"Well I can tell you that I took in Richard as a favor to Regina Gooding. When she remarried she asked me to keep Richard here since she found out that her new husband was abusive to him. I never asked for any kind of payment as a favor to her."
"Are you a friend of the family?"
"No. She came to me and asked for my help. I agreed to help her and took the boy in."
"Very kind of you, not knowing them and all."
"I figured it was the best way to help her as well as him."
"Well she must have really liked you. Her will stated that should anything happen to her that you were to retain custody of the boy and she requested that you adopt him," the woman explained, reading from a small notepad in her hand. "Apparently the husband, Pete Gooding, never took legal adoption step when they were married. He has no chance at the child, especially in view of the fact that he's the one who killed her."
"Of course, there was never a moment of doubt that I would take Richard. We did discuss this possibility before she left him with me."
Tranquillity thought over what the detectives had said and her mind came back to a question. "You said that you 'had' him in custody. Do you still?"
The two on the sofa exchanged a meaningful glance. Once more they conferred back and forth, their conversation went on and on as they debated something, she protesting whatever it was he was saying, before he answered. "That is the third reason we're here today. Peter Gooding escaped from custody a few days ago. We don't know where he is but we do know that he's armed and dangerous. If you'd like we can post a security detail in the area to provide some protection for you and your students."
"Thank you but that won't be necessary. The mansion has a full-scale security system that will protect us in the event he does try to harm Richard."
"Yes, I saw it on my way in. Pretty high tech equipment there, professor."
"I do my best to protect my students and faculty."
Both officers nodded. "We do need to tell the boy about his mother though. We can or you can but he does need to know."
"We'll take care of it, thank you. It might come a little easier coming from one of us."
"Of course. Here's my card, if anything happens let me know and I'll be out here post haste."
Thanking the man Charles called for Scott to come and escort them out of the building. When the officers had gone from his office he turned to Tranquillity whose eyes had changed from white to a deep blue and black swirl the moment they had been left alone in the office.
"We'll have to tell him." She nodded. Sending out a mental call to the young boy they waited for him to arrive in the office. A few moments later there was a soft knock on the door and he entered the office.
"Yes, Pr'f'ssor?" he asked hesitantly.
"Come in Richard. There is something we need to talk about."
He came in a little farther, standing a few feet in front of the desk, not knowing what to expect. With a heavy heart Charles told him what had happened, leaving out the details, telling him only that his mother had died. Tears sprang to his eyes immediately and he launched himself into Tranquillity's arms, holding onto her tightly as he sobbed for his mother. Squeezing the boy tightly within her arms Tranquillity knew there were tears coursing down her cheeks, not only from Richard's pain, but also from her own. A great feeling of pain and sadness had come over her the instant she heard the truth, as she knew it would be a difficult time for her little friend. He loved his mother so much.
"What's gonna happen to me?" he asked after crying in her arms for quite some time.
"Your mother asked me to adopt you as my own son," Charles responded, unsure of how the boy would take the news.
Looking at the professor for a moment he seemed to be trying to weigh something in his mind. "You don't have to, Pr'f'ssor. I don't need a daddy."
Tranquillity's heart wanted to break and she forced herself to look away. He was trying to be so brave. Richard wanted a father that would love him, he wanted it with all his heart, but he wanted it by choice, not because the man was being forced. In the time that the small boy had been in the school he'd come to look at Charles as a father figure, but he didn't want to be pitied by anyone. 'Such strength to hide such a fragile heart.' Turning her head back to look at Charles she her breath caught in her throat. Though his face was blank she could feel the emotions swimming beneath the calm mask he wore. He wanted to adopt Richard, he did love the boy, more so than he had thought he did. Over the last few months, beginning when he was still trying to get Tranquillity to open up, he had spent quite some time with the young boy. Eventually, after getting to know one another, Richard had made a place in his heart, a place Charles never thought existed, that was more than just a student being loved by a teacher.
Reaching out she grabbed Charles hand in hers and took Richards as well. Placing the together she held their two hands in place and concentrated. Reaching into each heart she opened a link between the two, showing them what the other was feeling. Richard smiled when he realized that Charles did want to adopt him as his own, while Charles came to see that Richard was trying to be brave even though his heart was breaking. Pulling him into his arms Charles held him close. Quietly Tranquillity slipped from the room, closing the door behind her with a smile.
End Chap 6
Tranquillity Chap Six: Heartlink
"Tranquillity! Watch this!"
Turning her head she watched as Janet dive-bombed into the pool, splashing those who were seated around it, causing many an exclamation as they tried to avoid the spray of water.
"That was good Janet," she called back; her voice filled with laughter for the poor fools the child had soaked.
Still smiling she turned back to her chess game and realized with a frown that she had nowhere to move. Checkmate. Sighing she knocked her king over and slumped back in her chair. Raising her eyes from her fallen piece she glared at her opponent, sitting across from her, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
'Never play against the champ,' Charles had warned her. But had she listened to him? Nope.
"Wanna go again?"
"No thank you Logan, I've been beaten enough for one day."
"Come see me when you feel like being beaten again."
Rolling her eyes she got up from her chair and wandered over to the patio to join the small group gathered there. Slumping back into a chair she avoided the grin on their faces and stared out at the pool.
"All right already! Just say it!" she cried, unable to take the laughing stares.
"Told you so!" some of them cried.
Rolling her eyes with a groan Tranquillity put her hand on her head. "Good grief!"
Laughing at her stage antics the conversation picked up where it had left off. Half listening to them and half watching the children play in the pool she was about to reply to one of Jean's comments when she sat up in her chair and scanned the yard, her eyes mentally checking off each child she saw. 'Janet, Richard, Jimm, Peter, Paul, Susan, Jenny, Jack, Silvy, Eric, Prichard, Sarah, Carmine...'
"Where's Roy?" she said, coming to her feet. Moving toward the wall she scanned the yard again. "Where's Roy?" she repeated.
By now they could all see her concern and had moved forward to look for the young boy. They hadn't gotten far when Wolverine tensed and stopped still. After a moment he looked Xavier in the eyes and ordered everyone inside. Quickly he sent a mental command to go inside at once, no questions, to go to their rooms and stay there. Without hesitation the children, both young and old, swarmed into the mansion, all of them knowing better than to question the professor. The yard was empty now except for the X-men, Charles, and Tranquillity. The X-men spread out over the yard; Wolverine heading in the direction the scent was coming from, to search for the boy as well as anything that would pose a threat.
Standing on the patio, next to Charles, Tranquillity's hands began to shake. "Scared. He's so scared..."
Focusing in on her mind he tried to see what she saw. Roy, in the forest with a large man standing next to him, was staring at the man's talon like hands, his heart pounding in fear.
~ Wolverine. It's Sabertooth. ~
~ I know. I smell 'im. ~
Sending out a message to Jean, Scott and Ororo to back up Wolverine he warned them of who was out there with Roy. Though each of them immediately felt shock and surprise they quickly squashed down their own feelings and focused on getting the boy back safely and ridding the grounds of their thought dead enemy. Keeping a link on them he reached out and took Tranquillity's hand within his own.
"It'll be all right. They'll get him."
Nodding she kept her eyes on the backs of the X-Men as they disappeared into the woods. When she could no longer see them she closed her eyes and focused on the emotions of her scared little child. Her hand still trembled within his, as they stood, sat, silent, waiting for something to happen.
Wolverine approached the small boy warily. Slicing through the bonds that held him to the tree he handed Roy off to Jean, his eyes scanning the forest all the while. With a brief nod of his head he ordered everyone to head back, Wolverine brining up the rear. He didn't like it; things were too quiet. He knew the bastard was out there, waiting to pick one or more of them off. While Scott stuck with Jean and Roy Wolverine stuck with Ororo as they headed back toward the mansion. They were almost to the clearing when Sabertooth attacked, raking his claws across Roy's face. Even before the claw marks were finished being made Wolverine knocked his opponent out of the way and the two women fled the forest with the child, Scott staying behind to help.
Jean and Ororo ran to the patio where Tranquillity took Roy into her arms. She was on her knees; they saw the blood on the front of her dress and on Charles hands but saw no wounds. Their curiosity was outweighed by the need to help Logan and Scott and they began to head back to the woods when the trio of men came flying out of the forest; Wolverine and Sabertooth battling it out while Scott tried desperately to get a clear shot. Jean used her limited telepathy to stop Wolverine from moving while Charles handled Sabertooth. With both men locked in stasis Scott took his shot and fired at the enemy, knocking him to the ground, unconscious.
The immediate crisis over Jean turned her attention to Roy, the young mutant with the gift of flight, his wing like arms setting apart from humanity at first glance. His face was bleeding heavily, his blood soaking Tranquillity's dress. Ordering Tranquillity to take him tom the Med Lab she hurried ahead to ready the drugs and instruments that would be needed. An hour later she emerged from the operating room and announced that the boy would be fine. He would more than likely have a set of scars to remind him of what had happened but that no major damage had been done.
"Any deeper and he'd have lost the use of his face muscles."
Tranquillity relaxed and sank back into her chair though her eyes never turned from their blue and black swirls. Closing her eyes she willed her heart to slow and asked to see him. Jean nodded and moved out of the doorway allowing her to pass. While Tranquillity sat with Roy Charles and Scott moved down to the holding cell to see to their new guest. Sabertooth was still unconscious but it wouldn't be long until he was awake and making trouble for them once again. Scanning his mind Charles saw that he had come with the purpose of murdering Wolverine and himself, all because of what had happened four years ago at the Statue of Liberty.
'Such fierce devotion to the wrong side,' he thought to himself. 'What to do?' he wondered. 'We can't release him anymore than we can keep him here.'
"Make sure the cell is secure. I don't want any repeat performances of what happened out there."
Scott nodded and moved to double check the security of the holding cell while Xavier headed back upstairs to spread the news that the children could leave their rooms. He gave them a short, and very vague, explanation of what had happened, reassured them that everything was okay and released them to try and enjoy the day. While they did emerge from their rooms none of them left the building, not that he had expected them to.
Retreating to his office he was joined by Jean to give her official report on Roy's condition. A repetition of everything that she had already said she added only that he would more than likely have nightmares of what had happened and that they should keep an eye on him for the next few weeks. Nodding he asked Jean to have Tranquillity come to his office after she had cleaned up. Though she nodded to his request he knew she had questions that were burning her tongue.
"Not now. I don't know what happened but I intend to find out."
Nodding once more Jean left the office and headed back down to the Med Lab. Tranquillity was still holding Roy's hands in her own, she hadn't moved since she'd first gone in.
"Tranq..." she said softly, using the nickname Logan had given her. "The professor wants to see you in his office after you clean up."
Though she didn't want to leave the boy she knew Charles deserved an explanation and stood up from her bedside vigil. With a final glance she left the med lab and, after showering and changing in her own room, knocked on the door to his office. "Come." She opened the door and saw him waiting behind his desk, his face impassive, even to her, as he waited for her to close the door behind her. Sitting on the sofa she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, still trying to dispel the fear that she had absorbed from Roy. They were silent for some time as he watched her, rocking slightly back and forth as a mother would a child, on the sofa across the room. Charles hated that he couldn't help her, but he knew this was not the time for him to be a friend. Right now he had to be the Professor, the leader, and keep his distance, both physically and emotionally.
"What happened out there?"
With a sigh she explained the thing that had happened for the second time in her life. "I was sitting on the patio when I felt his sudden fear. When I couldn't find him I searched for his emotions with my heart. That's when I found him in the woods. Roy was so..." her breath quivered but she forced herself to calm down and keep going. "... so scared. I stayed with him, taking his fear and replacing it with calmness. When they picked him up and began to leave the woods I stayed with him, still keeping him calm, taking the fear from his heart and giving him the calm from my own. It takes a lot of concentration to do that since there was such a distance between us. It took everything I had to keep the link going like I was and when Sabertooth struck him I couldn't pull away in time."
"I felt what he did both emotionally and physically. That's why I got the same claw marks he did. They closed when I broke the link but it was too late to stop the blood. That's has only happened to me once, when I had first gotten my powers, and I never knew why, only that it hadn't happened since. I was fifteen and I was having a very emotional conversation with Briggeet. She sliced her finger on a knife and I got the same cut on my finger. It only happens when I have a powerful link open with someone, one so strong that it's as if we two are of one heart. Whatever happens to one will happen to the other. In this case... when Roy was sliced open by that monster, I too was sliced open so long as the link remained in place."
"I never meant to keep it from you, Charles. It hadn't happened in so long I had thought it wasn't going to happen again. It's a very rare occurrence and now that I fully understand how it happens I can assure you I have a better control over it."
He sat still, his eyes never leaving her face as she spoke. It was times like this that he wished she had normal eyes; it was so very difficult to keep distanced when he could so plainly see the pain and fear in her eyes.
"Is there anything else you haven't told me about your gift?"
With a sigh she looked away. "Just one thing. The first, and the last time I tried it...it almost killed me." She stopped there, hoping he wouldn't want anymore. It wasn't the ability that she didn't want to share, but rather it was how she learned that she had it.
"Tell me..." he sensed she was going to spare some of the story. "...everything."
"It's very... embarrassing. Humiliating, actually." Charles didn't waver in his gaze. Taking a deep breath she began her story that happened almost twenty years ago.
"I was twenty six, living on my own in a small town in northern Pennsylvania. I had just moved there, it was during the time when I stayed on the move, too afraid to stay in one place. I was working in a small store, making announcements and answering the phones and one night I was kept behind by the boss to discuss next weeks sale. He went out to refill our coffee mugs. While he was gone another man snuck in and locked the door behind him. He... he wanted to... Jesus!" Tranquillity cried in frustration. "Twenty years later and I still can't talk about this!"
~ Show me. ~
Opening her mind to him Charles saw the events of that night; saw how he had pinned her to the wall, ripping her of her innocence. He watched, feeling it as she had, as her power boiled up within her. Placing her hand on his chest, skin-to-skin, she stopped his heart, paralyzing it with the fear she was feeling right then. He fell to the floor and she was still pinned under him when the manager had broken in to the room. The police had been called but no one could explain the death of her attacker. Doctors had ruled it as a death-dealing heart attack and left it there. What she had done had taken so much energy that she was in a coma for almost a month. When she did finally wake Tranquillity left the town a few days later, heading up north to Maine.
Stepping out of her mind he focused his attention back on her as she huddled herself in the corner of his sofa. 'So much pain in one lifetime,' he thought to himself. Moving away from his desk he rolled over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. They were silent for some time, neither knew how long really, before Jean mentally informed him that Roy had awoken and was calling for Tranquillity. Telling her this she seemed to snap out of her reverie with a shake of her head. Faster than he thought humanly possible she was up from the sofa and out of his office heading toward the Med Lab.
While Tranquillity stayed with Roy Charles needed to figure out what to do with Sabertooth. He couldn't release him yet he also couldn't leave him here. Calling Wolverine into his office he consulted with the man, laying down the law that death and sever bodily harm were not an option. Given those parameters Logan eventually presented a viable solution to the problem.
"Strand him."
"?...?"
"Put the bastard somewhere where he can't leave but can live on his own."
Mulling it over in his mind Charles decided that it was the thing to do. Searching the globe he found a small island, just big enough for one man, and explained to the X-Men what he wanted done. Sedating the giant 'cat' the team loaded him onto the Blackbird and took him to the island the Professor had shown them, leaving him there to wake and find a way to live on his own. Considering that he had no other option it seemed like a humane thing to do. He was removed from society and punished for his crimes while at the same time he was allowed to live his life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Two weeks had passed and Roy recovered from his injuries enough to be released to his own room, but Jean was worried. He had yet to show any signs of port traumatic stress, never having a nightmare or a fear of the forest or anything of the such. At first she thought he was simply repressing it but upon a passive scan she could find no remnant of fear within him from his ordeal. Pondering over it she shared her findings with the Professor. They spent several hours that night discussing it before deciding to speak with him directly the next day. Retiring to their rooms Charles was just about to transfer to his bed for some much-needed sleep when a loud, thrashing music filled the silent night air. Opening his door he saw several other people standing in the hallway scowls on their faces from being woken up. Assuming Jubilee had forgotten to plug in her headphones they banged on her door till she opened it. Standing there before them, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she was as confused as they were; the music was not her doing.
Charles noticed there was one person on that floor who had not emerged into the hallway. Rolling to her doorway he heard the music getting louder. Knocking, which he doubted would have been heard anyway, he opened the door. Jean and Ororo followed him into the room to see Tranquillity thrashing restlessly in her bed. Knowing his voice wouldn't be heard over the music she was emanating he called out to her mentally. As soon as he had done so she sat up in bed with such force that those closest to her flinched back. The few strands of hair that had escaped her braid flew into her face, falling over her eyes, now a solid black, darker than he'd ever seen them before. Her chest heaved with the exertion of the fight she had been nightmaring about.
Her breathing slowed but her eyes stayed their frightened color as she fully woke to her surroundings. Taking a few deep breaths to clear her head she looked around and saw her doorway open but filled with people and a few other people in her room, their concern wafting over her like thick smog.
"I'm... sorry... I... I didn't mean..."
"Are you okay?" Jean asked as she smoothed back some of the wild hair from her eyes.
Tranquillity nodded but didn't say anything, not trusting her voice. With a silent command Charles sent everyone back to his or her rooms, to leave Tranquillity alone and go back to sleep. Jean hugged her friend and retreated back to her room with her husband, Ororo following suit with Remy until it was only Charles and Tranquillity.
"What happened?"
Running a hand through her hair she took a ragged breath. "It was a nightmare. I must still be carrying some of the fear from Roy's time in the forest. I saw what had happened as if I was the one it was happening to." Shuddering she wrapped her arms around herself. "It was awful."
"You're okay now though?"
"I will be," she nodded. "I will be," she repeated softly, more for her benefit than for his.
"Try to get some sleep." He turned to leave, feeling a little awkward about being the only one in her room, when she suddenly rang out in his head.
~ NO!! ~
Flinching from the force of her thought Charles stopped and looked at her. Though her breathing had returned to normal her eyes were still a deep, deep black in color. Silently he turned to face her and waited. She didn't know what to say, only that she didn't want to be alone just yet. Smiling at her Charles began to tell her about how he had began the school, who his first students were, how they came to be here. It wasn't long until her eyes began to lighten and eventually she fell asleep. Watching her sleeping for a moment he was struck by how beautiful she was. Thaddeus had hit it dead on the nose when he'd described her as enchanting. Asleep there in her bed, her face at peace, Charles wondered once more just how old she really was. Times like this it was impossible to tell.
Her room gave no clues to her age. Simply decorated he took in the candles and pictures on her bureau top and the pictures, all hand drawn by the children, which lined her walls. The reading chair in the corner, and the afghan that was draped over it, reminded him how much she loved to read. In the four months she'd been there Tranquillity was constantly taking and replacing books from his library, both in his office and in the library itself. Looking at the book on the table by the chair he saw that she was currently reading 'Much Ado About Nothing' the play by William Shakespeare. Her love for the classic was obvious in both her choices of reading and of music. Next to the small c.d. player was an ever-growing stack of c.d.'s, mostly opera with a few instrumental pieces thrown in.
When his eyes fell upon the incense holder and stick he realized where the scent that followed her everywhere had come from. Courtesy of Jean and Ororo's discussion one day while waiting for Scott he knew she didn't wear perfume. Those two women never thought he was listening to them, though if they ever did find out he would loose his source on half of the gossip of his school. But he had always wondered what the scent was that seemed to waft through the air with her every movement. Now he knew. The incense she burned had become a permanent part of her, seeping into her clothes, her hair, and even her skin. He understood what drove Wolverine from the room almost every time she entered. It was a strong smell, not an unpleasant mind you, but strong enough to be a bother to his heightened senses.
Still Logan never told her how much it bothered him, knowing how much she loved the smell of it. It was a kindness not to many people knew he offered. Just as not too many people knew how much she had helped him come to terms with his past. Their weekly sessions were passed off as training on her part; he helping her to learn to defend herself and she in turn helped him with his nightmares and his emotions. Only Charles, and those closest to Logan, had seen the difference. He still had a long way to go, but the improvements were remarkable.
Sure now that she was asleep, peacefully asleep, Charles rolled out of her room, shutting the door behind him and made his way down to his own, a yawn almost splitting his head in two. Thankfully tomorrow was Sunday, the one day he could sleep in. Lying in bed he placed an arm over his eyes to block the light from the moon, too lazy to pull down the shade, and smelled the incense from her room.
That night Charles fell asleep with a smile on his face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sitting in his office late Sunday afternoon, wishing he was anywhere else but knowing he needed to finish the paperwork, Charles was startled by the knock on his door. Telling the knocker to come in he smiled when he saw Tranquillity enter his office. With a book in her hand her eyes roamed the office and found it empty save for him.
"Can you work with someone else in the room?" she asked suddenly.
Furrowing his brow in confusion, "Yes," he replied.
"Good. I have tried reading this chapter three times and I still can't get through it with all the distractions from the children. May I read in here?"
Laughing he waved an arm toward the sofa, "It's all yours."
With a grateful sigh she sank into the corner of it, her legs curled up under her, and opened her book immediately falling back into the world it offered. Going back to work on his papers Charles' attention was diverted by a small giggle. Glancing up he saw Tranquillity smiling at the book, laughing at whatever part she was reading. Returning to his papers he was again interrupted by yet another giggle. Trying to be annoyed by the disruption he found he couldn't and just smiled at her, completely oblivious to him.
Once more a question rose to the surface of his mind, this time he wouldn't ignore it. "Tranquillity... how old are you?"
Looking up from her book she wore a confused look on her face. "What do you mean?"
"How old are you? How many years have you been alive?" he repeated. "I can never tell. Sometimes you look as young as the children and other times you look so very much older."
Tranquillity laughed. "Well, well... maybe I should keep that one a secret." she teased. "Is it important to know, Charles?"
"Important? No, it's not important, just frustrating when I try to place an age," he smiled.
"Then let me set you at ease. I am older then the youngest child, but younger than the oldest adult."
Leaving no room for further discussion she turned back to her book and ignored Charles. With a mock glare at her answer he turned back to his work, even more curious than before. Just when his mind had begun to return to said work her voice rang out in his head.
~ I'm forty-eight. ~
Grinning he replied, ~ Now was that so hard? ~
So began a weekly tradition. Every Sunday the residents of the mansion knew exactly where to find both the Professor and Tranquillity. Sometimes he would work while she read, or sometimes it was vice versa, other times they would share life stories, read aloud, or listen to music; but everyone knew that they were not to knock on the office door on Sunday afternoon. It wasn't something either of them had set down as a rule, or even hinted at, but it was an unspoken fact. Sunday afternoon was their time, their time alone, away from the rest of the world.
This afternoon they were sipping tea at his desk, listening to music, enjoying the peaceful feeling in their hearts. Her head tilted to one side, eyes closed in the sheer joy of the music, Charles watched Tranquillity sway gently in her seat to the soft rhythm of the music and an idea sprang into his mind. Swallowing a grin he spoke to her.
"Would you care to dance?" he asked.
Opening her eyes she stared at him for a moment. Had she heard him wrong? "Dance?"
"Dance."
With a confused laugh she raised her one eyebrow. "How?"
His grin broke through. "Close your eyes."
Though her eyes still showed her confusion she put her cup down, placed her elbows on the desk, propped her head on her folded hands, and closed her eyes. Moments later a delighted gasp escaped her lips as she viewed the room he had painted in her mind. A large ballroom, empty, with music coming from everywhere, it seemed to glow in the light of the candles that covered the walls. Turning in her spot to view the room she found that she was dressed in the clothing she had worn to the opera, to La Caviatta, her hair done much the same way. As Tranquillity looked all around she took in the beauty of the room before returning to face the way she had originally been standing.
Only now she was no longer alone. There, standing at his full height was Charles, looking devilishly handsome in his tuxedo. ~ May I have this dance? ~ he asked holding out his hand to her.
Smiling at him she placed her hand in his and soon Tranquillity was gliding around the room in the arms of her friend. The song ended but he didn't let her go as another one began playing, then another, and another, and another. Only when she was afraid her feet were going to fall off did they sit down at a table for two that hadn't been there before. Gazing around them in awe she brought her eyes back to her companion.
~ How did you do this? ~ she asked him.
Charles smiled at her and reached out to gently touch her temple. ~ By coming up here. ~ he said. ~ We're in your mind. ~
~ But you can walk. ~
~ Of course I can. Anything is possible in your mind. Even dancing. ~
~ Anything? ~
~ Anything. ~
He watched as she smiled at him and, biting her bottom lip in concentration, closed her eyes as though she were making a wish. In the blink of an eye they had changed scenes, the grand ballroom replaced by the mansion lakeside yard, a soft moon glowing overhead as the night sky twinkled with millions of stars.
Holding out her hand to him she met his gaze and smiled softly. ~ Walk with me? ~
Taking her hand in his they strolled around the lake, their silence a comfortable one, no words being needed. Time has no meaning in ones own mind and before either of them knew it the sun had begun to rise as they walked all over the grounds. Her arms linked through his in the style befitting a gentleman and a lady he led her back to the patio, through the halls, and up to her door before he released her arms still keeping her hand locked within his. Standing there, facing each other, their eyes were locked together. Charles brought his free hand under her chin, moving her head up to meet his as he brought his lips closer to her, ready to taste the sweetness and spice that was Tranquillity.
"Professor!!"
Ripped from each other's minds the two stared for a brief moment before the incessant pounding on the door forced him to look away.
"Come!" he called out, his voice slightly husky and tinged with annoyance.
The door opened and a regretful Scott stepped into the room. "I'm sorry to bother you with this Professor, but there are some people at the door requesting an hour of your time. They won't leave."
Charles suppressed a sigh. "Very well. Show them to the front lobby, I'll meet you there. Have the children steer clear. Until I know who they are I don't want any of them to come near us."
Nodding Scott turned to leave, his eyes pausing briefly at the desk before ducking back out of the office. It was then that the duo realized their positions. There, on the desk, her arms were linked through his as they had been during their walk and he gripped her hands tightly. Raising their eyes to meet once more both smiled shyly but it was Charles who spoke first.
"We shall have to finish our walk another time."
"Yes. Another time," Tranquillity replied wistfully.
Following him out of the office Tranquillity was still by his side when they came upon the man and woman standing with Scott in the front lobby. As soon as they neared them Tranquillity knew something was wrong. She could sense that they were hiding something, they were nervous. The duo standing before them was hiding something and she didn't like it. Charles introduced himself and was about to introduce Tranquillity when she cut him off.
"Meadow. My name is Meadow Lark," she said before he could call her Tranquillity. She saw the man stick his hand out to shake hers and she made sure to place hers a few inches away from his. "You'll have to forgive me. It's easier for you to find my hand than it is for me to find yours."
"I'm sorry, I should have realized you're blind," the man said as he took her hand in his own.
"That's quite all right, all thought I guess it is pretty obvious, or so they tell me anyway," she replied with a small laugh to set him at ease.
The woman took her hand as well. "Meadow Lark, what an unusual name."
"I suppose it is. My mother loved the name Meadow as a child and decided her daughter would be named just that as soon as she had one. She just happened to marry a man named Lark." Tranquillity smiled and laughed politely.
"Well why don't we got to my office and we can talk in private?" Charles suggested. As they made their way back to his office he questioned Tranquillity who was hanging onto him, fully playing the part of a blind woman.
~ Meadow Lark? ~
~ One of the many names Briggeet gave me. ~
~ So what is your real name? ~
~ Gilda. Gilda Lark ~
~ A beautiful name. ~
~ Really? I never cared for it. ~
Charles chuckled in his mind. ~ Well what was that all about? Why use Meadow and not Gilda? ~
~ I don't trust them. They're hiding something. Be careful. ~
~ Stay with us. If you sense anything else let me know. ~
Entering the office the strangers sat side by side on the sofa while Tranquillity and Charles took their positions from earlier. "We were just enjoying some afternoon tea, would you like some?" she offered as she forced her hands to blindly search for the kettle.
"Thank you but no. As I told the other man we needed to speak with you about one of your students here, Professor Xavier."
"One of my students?"
"Yes, a Richard Campbell. Does his name ring a bell?"
"Yes it does. He's one of our younger students."
"Excellent. We need to speak with him as well as his teachers," the man said.
"May I ask what it is about?" Tranquillity asked.
"I'm sorry, it really is a private matter, teachers only."
"Well then you're in luck. I'm Richards teacher."
Noting this the duo conferred silently for a moment and then looked back to their host and hostess. "Very well then, it's better to tell you before we tell the boy. We are detectives from the FBI. About two weeks ago the boys mother was killed, violently beaten before she was killed by one bullet to the head."
Tranquillity gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, closing her eyes to hide the sudden change in color. Charles put a hand on her arm and tried to remain calm for the both of them.
"Parson!" the woman proclaimed in a warning whisper. "I'm so sorry Ms Lark. Sometimes my partner forgets not everyone is as used to it as I am."
Tranquillity nodded, her eyes still closed, but would not speak. "Please continue," Charles said, his hand never leaving Tranquillity's arm.
"We had arrested the father as per the testimony of a witness and he was being shipped to a federal prison. According to a private will the woman kept in a safe deposit box we found out that the boy was here, in a private school, but that there were never any payments made. We're here to investigate why as well as to let the boy know about his mother."
"Well I can tell you that I took in Richard as a favor to Regina Gooding. When she remarried she asked me to keep Richard here since she found out that her new husband was abusive to him. I never asked for any kind of payment as a favor to her."
"Are you a friend of the family?"
"No. She came to me and asked for my help. I agreed to help her and took the boy in."
"Very kind of you, not knowing them and all."
"I figured it was the best way to help her as well as him."
"Well she must have really liked you. Her will stated that should anything happen to her that you were to retain custody of the boy and she requested that you adopt him," the woman explained, reading from a small notepad in her hand. "Apparently the husband, Pete Gooding, never took legal adoption step when they were married. He has no chance at the child, especially in view of the fact that he's the one who killed her."
"Of course, there was never a moment of doubt that I would take Richard. We did discuss this possibility before she left him with me."
Tranquillity thought over what the detectives had said and her mind came back to a question. "You said that you 'had' him in custody. Do you still?"
The two on the sofa exchanged a meaningful glance. Once more they conferred back and forth, their conversation went on and on as they debated something, she protesting whatever it was he was saying, before he answered. "That is the third reason we're here today. Peter Gooding escaped from custody a few days ago. We don't know where he is but we do know that he's armed and dangerous. If you'd like we can post a security detail in the area to provide some protection for you and your students."
"Thank you but that won't be necessary. The mansion has a full-scale security system that will protect us in the event he does try to harm Richard."
"Yes, I saw it on my way in. Pretty high tech equipment there, professor."
"I do my best to protect my students and faculty."
Both officers nodded. "We do need to tell the boy about his mother though. We can or you can but he does need to know."
"We'll take care of it, thank you. It might come a little easier coming from one of us."
"Of course. Here's my card, if anything happens let me know and I'll be out here post haste."
Thanking the man Charles called for Scott to come and escort them out of the building. When the officers had gone from his office he turned to Tranquillity whose eyes had changed from white to a deep blue and black swirl the moment they had been left alone in the office.
"We'll have to tell him." She nodded. Sending out a mental call to the young boy they waited for him to arrive in the office. A few moments later there was a soft knock on the door and he entered the office.
"Yes, Pr'f'ssor?" he asked hesitantly.
"Come in Richard. There is something we need to talk about."
He came in a little farther, standing a few feet in front of the desk, not knowing what to expect. With a heavy heart Charles told him what had happened, leaving out the details, telling him only that his mother had died. Tears sprang to his eyes immediately and he launched himself into Tranquillity's arms, holding onto her tightly as he sobbed for his mother. Squeezing the boy tightly within her arms Tranquillity knew there were tears coursing down her cheeks, not only from Richard's pain, but also from her own. A great feeling of pain and sadness had come over her the instant she heard the truth, as she knew it would be a difficult time for her little friend. He loved his mother so much.
"What's gonna happen to me?" he asked after crying in her arms for quite some time.
"Your mother asked me to adopt you as my own son," Charles responded, unsure of how the boy would take the news.
Looking at the professor for a moment he seemed to be trying to weigh something in his mind. "You don't have to, Pr'f'ssor. I don't need a daddy."
Tranquillity's heart wanted to break and she forced herself to look away. He was trying to be so brave. Richard wanted a father that would love him, he wanted it with all his heart, but he wanted it by choice, not because the man was being forced. In the time that the small boy had been in the school he'd come to look at Charles as a father figure, but he didn't want to be pitied by anyone. 'Such strength to hide such a fragile heart.' Turning her head back to look at Charles she her breath caught in her throat. Though his face was blank she could feel the emotions swimming beneath the calm mask he wore. He wanted to adopt Richard, he did love the boy, more so than he had thought he did. Over the last few months, beginning when he was still trying to get Tranquillity to open up, he had spent quite some time with the young boy. Eventually, after getting to know one another, Richard had made a place in his heart, a place Charles never thought existed, that was more than just a student being loved by a teacher.
Reaching out she grabbed Charles hand in hers and took Richards as well. Placing the together she held their two hands in place and concentrated. Reaching into each heart she opened a link between the two, showing them what the other was feeling. Richard smiled when he realized that Charles did want to adopt him as his own, while Charles came to see that Richard was trying to be brave even though his heart was breaking. Pulling him into his arms Charles held him close. Quietly Tranquillity slipped from the room, closing the door behind her with a smile.
End Chap 6