Rise or Fall

by Heiress Mellie

First Class: Charles and Erik have accepted their roles as guardians and headmasters over the young mutants but there is still work to be done for the greater than typical family. This is a familial and discipline, including spanking, centered fiction.

26. Chapter 26 The Fall

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Twenty Six

Author's Word: Yes, yes, yes! You guys really made my week with all of those incredible reviews. My anniversary celebration was spectacular as well. Thank you all again and enjoy this newest installment!

Gripping on tightly to the white fluffy bear she had received over the holidays with her right arm, Becky let off a soft contented murmur. Seconds later, she felt a chill pass over the uncovered portions of her body. Tugging on her blankets tighter, she attempted to soothe herself from the brush of cold. Feeling her bedroom grow somehow darker, Becky rolled over and opened her eyes. She felt her entire system go into shock at the horrifying red face that stood over her bed, watching her sleep.

At the grin of pure wickedness he cast down at her, Becky let off a scream she herself did not know she had been holding in.

Down in the parlor, Charles leapt back in his seat, kicking over the chess game in the process. The motion startled Erik in such a way, he looked back and saw it; the man in the red face adorn in complete black.

"Azazel," Charles named before jumping up. "Becky!" He ran out of the room with Erik in rapid pursuit.

By the time the men made it upstairs to Becky's room, the rest of the once asleep household had already arrived. Hank and Raven stood by the bed, trying to calm the hysterical little girl in it. Alex remained by the doorway, trying to keep Frank and Joey back. Becky frantically flung out every nearby object she had, trying to combat her nonexistent intruder.

"Becca, calm down," Hank urged, ducking just in time to miss the pillow his sister threw next.

"Get out!" Becky wailed. "Get out! Don't see me!"

Raven took Becky's hands and managed to hold them down to prevent her from hurting herself more than anything. "Becca, please! He's gone. There's no one there."

Becky, he is gone. There is no one here. No one has been here.

With Erik at his heels, Charles made it over to the bed. Since Raven managed to contain her for the most part, Charles sat by Becky and as gently as he could entered her psyche.

Coming down from the frantic spell, Becky placed her tearful eyes on Charles. "He was here. He was right here in my room. He tried to touch me."

Taking her into his arms, Charles hushed her delicately. "Shhh, Princess. It was only a bad dream. We all saw it. You were only projecting. It's all right now."

"Make it go away, Charles, please," Becky pleaded. "Make it go away."

Charles held her tighter, rocking her a bit. As he went to work locking away the terrors that plagued his little charge, he hummed into her ear.

Raven went to Hank, relaxing on his chest.

Alex turned to the younger boys. "All right, you two. Back to bed. Let's move."

Frank, still shaken by the whole thing, walked off without question. Alex picked a wide-eyed Joey up, knowing there was no way the kid could sleep alone after all that, and carried him out.

Between the kind murmuring echoing off Charles and feeding into Becky, Erik saw everything around him bleed into crimson. His breathing slowed and deepened, his eyes showed a hostility he had not felt in a long time but became quite familiar with once it crept back inside him, and his entire being felt frozen yet charged at the same time. He abruptly spun around and stormed out.

Taking notice of this, Charles instructed, "Hank, take care of Becky," before hurrying after his fellow headmaster.

Erik went into his bedroom. Going over to the closet, he used his magnetism to get the door open. He yanked out his long buried overnight bag and brought it over to his bed. As soon as he dropped the sack down on top of the mattress, he stopped, suddenly unsure of what he planned to do.

"Back to square one I see." Erik looked back, finding Charles in his doorway. The young professor stepped inside fully. "After everything we've been through, after every battle and obstacle, you dare to entertain these thoughts again.

Erik pointed out towards the window. "Shaw is out there, Charles. Somewhere. You expect me to believe that after all this time, Becky's all of a sudden having these nightmares again? Emma Frost is loose and she did something to her. I know it."

"How could she possibly?" Charles rationalized. "Not one of them knows of Becky's existence."

"The same way they did not know of Angel's existence?" Erik threw back. "Or better yet, Darwin's?" The names clearly sparked a dark reaction in Charles. "Look how that turned out. Not this time." Erik shook his head determinedly then returned to his bag, unzipping it. "They're not getting anywhere near Rebecca, not near these children."

"If you leave to go hunt down Shaw, Rebecca will die," Charles stated. Though Erik did not turn back around, his posture stiffened. "She will die if you leave her. She's already lost one father in the most gruesome fashion imaginable. Would you really take another away from her?"

Gripping his bag, Erik threw it to the floor. "I'm worthless! I'm completely useless to her. You're the one who's able to sooth her mind. What good am I to her? What good am I to anyone?"

Charles got closer upon him. "Stop pitying yourself," he ordered, teeth clenched. "You mean everything to that little girl, to all of us here. Including me. But if you walk away now? Then you truly are worthless. And selfish."

Stony silence entered the room after that. Charles stayed focused on Erik, who glanced back and forth between the side wall and his discarded duffel on the floor. He ran an uncertain hand across his face.

"Erik?" Both men looked over to see that Raven had just walked in. "Becca's calling for you."

Charles turned to their brother with expectant eyes.

Wordlessly, Erik passed by the two of them and went back across the hall to see about the frazzled child.

Raven's gaze fell on the abandoned duffel on the floor. She looked to Charles with a concerned countenance. He extended his hand and when she linked up with him, Charles tugged her over to embrace. Pressing an affectionate hand to the back of her lavender robe, Charles knew that in that one night something had shaken his household. Now, it fell on him to set it straight once again.

IIIIIII

When Becky's eyes opened again, they met with no disheartening images. Her bedroom seemed to glow from the immense sunshine seeping through the windows. She attempted to roll over onto her back, but found it a tad difficult with the strong arm draped over her with a protective grasp no living vessel would dare attempt to breach.

Feeling the movements from the babe, Erik loosened his grip a little while keeping his eyes shut. His attempts to sleep for the majority of the night had proven in vain, with faint murmurs of distress echoing from his vulnerable little girl every so often. With every slight cry she had emitted, Erik cursed the one behind it to begin with. Any damage the metal wielder himself had experienced paled in comparison, which only intensified his disdain.

"Erik?" Becky gazed up at the ceiling as she spoke.

"Hm?" the half-awake adult next to her responded.

"Do you still miss your parents?"

Erik's eyes peeled open now. "Every day. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," she said.

He gently tugged at a few strands of curls. "Wouldn't fib to me would you, Sweet Imp?"

"No, Erik." Becky rolled over to face him. "I was just thinking."

"World beware," Erik joked with a wry smile. "Are you hungry?"

"Mmhmm." She put her hands in his. "Can I have smiley face pancakes?"

At the simple request from the little maiden, Erik lifted her hand up slightly to kiss the tiny fingers. "Would you like the world on a silver platter? Perhaps a star to make your beautiful eyes sparkle even brighter?"

Beaming now, she told him, "I'm so glad I have you."

"Are you?" He let off a growl, attacking her neck with playful nips. The action resulted in a giggle capable of only by a little girl. When she started to get up, Erik gently pushed her back down onto a pillow. "Rest. I'll bring breakfast to you when it's ready."

Knowing how Erik could be at the mere thought of her developing any sort of head throb, Becky settled down. "Yes, Erik."

Erik placed the white teddy bear he had hand selected for her into her arms. "Stay put." He kissed her forehead before going off to practice his culinary skills.

IIIIIII

Picking up yet another toy car, Alex made a free throw with it, sinking it successfully into the large laundry basket on the couch. Ever since Christmas, toys seemed to almost take over the entire house. He wondered exactly why the kids felt the need to just leave things laying around where someone could easily break their neck— when he realized how much he sounded like Erik, Alex had to silence his own mind.

He looked over when Charles came in and dropped himself into the nearest chair. "Hey. You're not looking too good."

"Early retirement sounds promising," Charles said.

Alex appeared confused. "But you haven't even been a professor for a year."

"I meant retire from telepathy." The man used his fingers to soothe his weary temples. "It proved to be quite a battle to keep Becky's monster at bay. I only wish I could dissolve them altogether for her."

Alex came over, using his hands to knead away the tension in Charles' shoulders. "I think you're doing too much."

"Never enough," Charles disagreed then glanced around. "Have you seen Joey?"

"He's in the kitchen with Frank. I fed them a little while ago," Alex answered. "Raven must not have gotten much sleep because she slept right in."

"It's probably more worry than anything."

"Hey, Charles?" Alex spoke again after a moment. "Is something going on around here? I mean, you and Erik have been acting weirder than usual and now Becky's dreaming about that creepy red dude again."

Charles responded, "It's no concern to you."

Clearly frustrated, Alex wanted to know, "Why do you guys always stick me at the kids' table? Look, I know I'm not Hank, but I don't get what I have to do to earn a little trust around here."

Taking him by the wrist, Charles pulled him over to stand in front of him. "Alexander," the Professor stated, "there's no need to earn what you already have. Erik and I both have an enormous amount of trust in you. The reason we choose not to confide every piece of information to you is because we don't want you to have to carry such weight. You've had quite enough of that in life as it is. You deserve some sprinkle of childhood before it's over."

Absorbing that, Alex said, "You don't have to baby me. I'll be down for anything you need me to do."

"Oh, I know," Charles said matter-of-factly. "I'm so proud of you. How far you've come."

The corners of Alex's mouth turned up with delight. "Really?"

Charles nodded. "Of course, I saw the potential from day one. You put every effort and commitment into what you do. You're able to love so fully where it concerns Joey and the young ones. It's truly a privilege to be able to take over your rearing from here on out."

Lowering down a little to look at him closer, Alex said, "Then I guess it's a privilege to have you and Erik to kick me in the ass so much."

Charles chuckled at that then tapped the teen's lips lightly with a chide of, "Language."

IIIIIII

Raven came into the lab with a mug of coffee in each hand. At the sight of her beau experiencing some sort of slumbering attack, she dropped her cargo on the nearest table and ran to him. Raven shook the quivering scientist vigorously, having never seen him in such dismay.

Hank popped his head up with a gasp. "Raven," he recognized before hugging her closely.

"Are you okay?" she asked, returning the tight lock.

"I just can't get it out of my head," Hank said, his voice distant. "Becca's screams."

"I know," Raven emphasized.

"No." Hank shook his head, pulling back a bit. "You don't understand. Becca does not scream. She laughs, she squeals, and she occasionally cries, but last night?" In a sudden motion, Hank used his long arm to knock every beaker off the table in front of him.

Raven jumped as the glass smashed. "Hank…"

"I'm sorry," he immediately said. "That was uncalled for." He touched his hand to his forehead, trying to regain control over himself. "Becca's father was killed. Does she have to carry these disturbing images for the rest of her life, too?"

"Charles won't let her," Raven stated with great certainty. "I just wish he'd do something about Erik, too."

Hank glanced at her. "What about Erik?"

"Do not quote me on this," she said first, "but last night Erik was ready to go after Shaw again. By himself. Part of me thinks he still might. What's crazy is, if he really did take off, I wouldn't like it. He's become a part of this family and I really do see it now. If he's gone, we're pretty much rowing with one paddle."

Facing forward at these new developments, Hank's expression went pensive. In the back of his mind, he had expected this from Erik all along. Now, to have the reality present seemed so surreal.

IIIIIII

Chomping on another mouthful of cereal, Joey turned to the boy on his left. "Frank?"

"Yeah?" the pre-teen replied, eating his own flakes.

"Why would the devil come after Becky if she's good?"

"Okay first, that was a nightmare," Frank said. "Second, the devil likes to pick on people because they're good. He doesn't need to bother with bad people because he already has them."

"Does he live inside the bad people?" Joey asked. "People where I used to live said he lived in me."

Frank frowned, turning to look at him. "Joey, that's bull. Kids don't have the devil in them, especially little kids. My uncle used to say I had the devil in me all the time. That's just one of those adult phrases. You know, like when they say they're gonna hang you. If they actually hang you, they'll go to jail."

"Oh," the younger boy understood.

The pair looked over when Erik walked in.

"Have you eaten?" he asked them. They indicated their cereal bowls. "That's hardly breakfast." He retrieved a mixing bowl from the cabinet under the sink. "Have I ever made latkes for you?"

Joey tilted his head curiously. "What's that?"

Erik explained, "Potato pancakes." He smiled slightly at the little boy's grimace. "That was my first reaction as well. I have a proposition for you, Kangaroo. Try just a taste and if you don't like it, I owe you a dollar."

"Hm, okay," Joey agreed.

Frank came over to stand by Erik at the counter. "Can I help?"

Erik looked at him and replied, "I'd love to show you the recipe, boychick."

Several minutes later, Charles entered the kitchen. "What on earth is that fantastic aroma?" he inquired, going to sit near Joey.

The quite satisfied child held a piece of pancake out to him. "Uncle Erik made us lattes."

Charles ate at the piece offered to hm. "Mmm, splendid."

"And it's latkes," Frank corrected, "dingus."

Joey countered with a grin, "Dodo."

Erik gave Frank a tap on top of his head and Joey one where his behind stuck out on the chair. "No name calling before tea."

Joey giggled, sitting up on his knees in the chair. "Uncle Erik, how come I get it on the butt?"

Erik tickled his nose. "Because you're the baby and your head isn't hard enough just yet."

Charles smiled at the interaction between the two of them. "Erik, about last night—"

Erik shook a hand. "I plead temporary insanity."

"Oh, only temporary?" Charles put forth with a raised eyebrow.

Erik, holding up the plate of finished cakes, said, "You can always starve."

At the threat of food deprivation, Charles knew his somewhat level-headed brother had returned.

IIIIIII

"What happened in here?"

Hank kept brushing the glass mess with the broom. "Just a small accident. Nothing overly exciting."

Erik, naturally, suspected more but let it drop. "I thought you might care for nourishment." He came in closer and placed a short stack of the potato pancakes down on the table near where Hank currently swept.

"I'm too preoccupied to eat presently," Hank said in a monotone. He got the last bits of stray glass into the dustpan. "But thank you." Erik only nodded and turned to leave when Hank chose to speak again. "There are roughly 148.94 million square kilometers of land on earth."

Erik immediately looked back. "Come again?"

Pushing his glasses back up his nose, Hank said, "Even if that number reached the billions, if you ever ever do anything that would hurt my sister, you will have no shelter from me."

Completely and utterly taken aback by the young man before him, Erik could not respond right away.

Finally, he laid his hands out on the table and said, "They will be yours to slice off."

Hank nodded.

The mutual understanding set between them, Erik took his leave of the lab.

After emptying the dustpan in the nearby trash, Hank put the cleaning accessories back in his small closet. He sat at the table and studied the cakes for a moment. He lifted the knife and fork and tried a bit. After the first bite, he immediately went to work devouring the rest.

IIIIIII

Charles answered his private line in the parlor on the third ring. "Good afternoon."

"Wrong, Charles," Moira replied on the other end. "Dead wrong."

Frowning deeply, Charles demanded, "Moira, what's happened?"

"We just received a live report from Helena, Montana. Shaw's unleashing an attack on St. Peter's Community Hospital."

Astounded at first, Charles quietly cursed Shaw's timing. "We'll be there."

After gathering a few more details from the woman, Charles summoned Erik, Hank, Raven, and Alex telepathically.

When they all gathered together in the parlor, Charles began the explanation. "I can't imagine why Shaw's taken on such a random target."

"He's trying to get a message across," Erik stated. "For him, there's no way better than with a body count."

"I cannot believe this," Raven said with a shake of her head. "A hospital, really?"

"Why are we wasting time talking about it?" Alex wanted to know. "We need to go help them."

"No," Charles said. "Only Hank will accompany Erik and I into Montana. You and Raven are to stay here with the children."

"Swear to me you'll be careful," Raven demanded.

"You have my word," Charles assured. He turned to Hank. "Is the jet ready?"

The scientist replied, "We'll soon see."

IIIIIII

Trying to make sense of the destruction and noise pollution around her, Moira felt at an absolute loss. She gazed overheard in time for a huge plan to soar through. She saw that it was prepared to make a landing in the now vacant parking lot and made fast tracks towards it.

Descending from the plane first, Charles jogged over to her. "Moira, we came as soon as we could."

Erik popped up behind Charles almost instantaneously with a fixed gaze of determined impatience. "Where's Shaw?"

"If you find out, tell me," Moira answered. "Then we'll both know. He caused an excessive amount of property damage and several injuries were retained, but no fatalities."

"That's wonderful to hear," Hank said, approaching the scene last. "Though a tad too good to be true."

Erik shook his head. "You mean to tell me he broke a few windows and went along his merry way? Impossible. Charles, find him. Now."

Focusing for a moment, Charles performed a mental sweep of the area. "I cannot obtain a reading on him."

"Then do one on Emma Frost," Erik urged, clearly not about to accept anything resembling defeat. "Or another of his ragtag band."

Nodding, Charles tried again. "Angel. I sense her. She's north. Not far away at all."

"That's all I need." With that, the metal wizard took off.

"Erik!" Charles shouted, darting after him.

"The man's a fool," Moira stated.

"You don't know the half of it," Hank commented as the two of them followed next.

Developing a hunting urge he had not felt in so long, Erik ignored everyone around him in his pursuit. From out of seemingly nowhere, he felt a sharp pierce in the middle of his chest that made him go down.

Charles caught him before he hit the pavement. "Erik?" He lowered to his knees, trying to prop the older man up as best he could.

Hank came over and fell to his own knees beside them. As carefully as he could, he removed the dart from Erik's anatomy. He studied it, realizing it was made of some sort of jagged plastic, which would have made it impossible for the metallic mutant to ever sense it coming.

"Is he all right?" Moira asked from behind.

"I'm fine," Erik insisted, though his slow breathing suggested the contrary. He tried to get to his feet. "Come on. They'll get away."

"You can barely stand," Hank pointed out.

"I can make it," Erik hissed.

"Erik, you could very well be poisoned," Charles reasoned. "We have to get you treated immediately."

"No." Erik attempted to break free from Charles' hold.

At the continued protest, Charles raised a hand. "Go to sleep." In less than a second, Erik's eyes closed and his large frame toppled against Charles.

Lifting Erik up to carry, Hank decided to keep him stabilized until they returned to New York. Whatever toxin had been contained in the dart had not taken him down instantaneously, therefore would need several hours to course through his body.

IIIIIII

"Sean, you went to a museum?" Frank reclined in his seat, popping another piece of bread into his mouth. "You could have stayed at school for that." He paused to listen for a moment. "Okay, was it a real mummy or a wax job from an old movie?"

Alex glanced across the way. "You plan on giving that phone a rest any time soon?"

"What are you, the Phone Police?" Frank shot out then snickered into the receiver. "Hey, Sean, Alex is PP."

The blonde teenager rolled his eyes then took notice of the girl seated beside the pert little pain. "Becca, what's with you?" At the zero response from the outwardly distracted green eyes, he petitioned her again. "Becca, come on. Eat up. Becca? Hello? Becca?"

Joey gave him a tap on the shoulder. "You're not allowed to call her that."

"Raven calls her Becca," Alex pointed out.

Frank piped up, "That's because Raven is Hank's main squeeze. Plus you're ugly."

"I'm locking you up in the pantry after dinner," Alex threatened, jabbing a fork the twelve-year-old's way.

Becky tapped her fingers along the edge of the white tablecloth. "When are Erik, Hank, and Charles coming home?"

"In a little while," Alex told her. "They're still at that meeting deal."

Raising her head up to face him, Becky stated accusingly, "I know you're not telling the truth."

Alex gave her a sharp look and started to say something to follow it when Raven came back into the dining room.

She pulled Alex up and over to a more secluded spot. "They're back. Erik's injured."

It surprised Alex when he felt his own blood flow cease for a moment at the information. "Is he okay?"

"Hank thinks so, but Charles wants you to keep the kids away from the lab until we know for sure." Raven patted his forearm. "Don't worry." She gave him a heartening gaze before leaving out again.

Turning back to the trio of little people, Alex went over and squatted by Joey's chair. "You almost done, buddy?"

"I ate all my corn," Joey reported.

"All right," Alex grinned. "I can't wait to tell Charles." He stood, picking him up. "So, who wants to eat dessert in front of the TV?"

"Talk to you later, Sean. Tell your brother I said hi." Frank re-connected the phone's receiver to its base.

Becky followed the three boys out, walking at a far less enthusiastic pace.

IIIIIII

Peeling lids back gradually, Erik's eyes made out the somewhat blurred images of a concerned golden-blonde and a disgruntled brunette lingering over him. Detecting the unmistakable sensation of metal, Erik gave off a slight cringe when the icy cold circle of the substance pressed against his chest. He managed to prop his head up slightly to see Hank going over him.

"Pulse is normal, too." The young scientist retracted his statoscope and stood straight again.

Seeing him awake, Raven bent over to offer Erik a small hug. "How are you feeling?"

"What happened?" The man's voice had a deeply tired gravel to it. "Where's Shaw?"

"Where's your bloody mind is the better question," Charles retorted.

Raven's eyes went to him immediately, startled by the anger she felt absolutely radiating off him.

"What are you going on about?" Erik asked dismissively as he sat up.

"He's probably referring to this." Hank held up the dart between two of his fingers. "Plastic. You never saw it coming." He went over to a microscope as he spoke. "The good news is that whoever planned this failed biology on a grand level. I took a sample of your blood and it seems the harshest effect found in the chemical from this dart only causes severe lethargy at worst."

Raven said to Erik, "They probably just wanted to knock you off your feet for a while."

"Will he be all right, Hank?" Charles asked.

"Without a doubt," Hank replied with a sure smile.

"Raven," Charles addressed next, "could you and Hank leave us alone for a moment, please?"

The couple obliged without argument. They joined hands and left out together.

Flipping his legs over the side of the exam table, Erik grabbed his turtleneck off the nearby chair. After he had it back on, he turned to Charles expectantly. The Professor remained mute, walking away a few paces.

"So it's the silent treatment," Erik deduced, adjusting his sleeves. "Your maturity astounds me, brother." Getting up off the table completely, the metal wielder came up behind the younger man. "Come now, Charles." Erik placed a hand on his shoulder.

The moment the contact became established, Charles veered around abruptly. His balled hand shot out, colliding with Erik's lower jaw.

Grabbing the offended area of his face, Erik's astonished eyes remained on Charles.

"Damn it, Erik," Charles seethed. "I thought you'd finally moved past this need to run off half-cocked into unnecessary danger. Clearly, you've learned nothing; have gained nothing. I can understand the way things were for you before. You had no one in the world but yourself. Now after everything, what you did today was spit in the face to all of us here. At the end of the day, your vendetta against Shaw is all that matters to you."

"That is not true," Erik insisted the minute the last statement left Charles' mouth. Then he conceded a bit with, "At least not anymore. Months ago you would have been right down to the core. When we talked about this before, I told you I saw the bigger picture when I knew I really hadn't. Then you and the kids. You changed it for me without even realizing it. Shaw had not been at the forefront of my mind until these recent events."

Charles put forth simply, "Relapse is a nasty thing."

Erik glanced away thoughtfully. "I also made a vow to Rebecca. I have to put Shaw down for her sake if nothing else."

"I understand that, Erik," Charles told him. "But in the midst of it all, don't use your word to her as more fuel to feed your own anger."

Erik looked at him again. "Charles?" The petitioned one listened intently. "About today, have I maxed out my insanity pleas?" Charles chuckled lightly before sharing a brief hug with the taller man. "Also, didn't your mother ever tell you not to hit others?"

The telepath considered the question then responded with, "No, come to think of it." He went to the touch the bruised brown mark he had given the other man. "I'm frightfully sorry, Erik. I don't know what came over me."

Erik quipped, "I didn't know those feeble hands were capable of more than paper grading."

"Just remember," Charles cautioned, "when you senselessly endanger yourself, you incur the wrath of the Stern Professor."

IIIIIII

After escaping the inevitable grownup confrontation, Hank and Raven found their way out to one of the second floor balconies.

"I'm glad Erik's going to be okay," Raven said.

"Yes," Hank concurred. He placed an arm around her as a chill came their way. "He was very fortunate. How were things here?"

"Let's see," Raven began the recollection. "I was cooking dinner for the kids and almost burnt myself twelve different times while trying to pretend everything was fine and dandy."

"Your brothers are strong, Raven," Hank reminded her. "You don't have to fear for them in the field."

"It's not just them." She glanced up at him. "Hank, if anything ever were to happen to you…"

Hank pulled her close to him, stroking her hair. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them." Raven stared up at him adoringly. "I thought Othello was appropriate, though I have no plans to lose my own sanity and destroy you right along with myself."

"Oh, thank goodness." Raven let off a playful sigh of relief.

"Raven, life is full of so much uncertainty. We should know that fairly well by now. But with every ounce of my being, I will always fight to come back to you. We'll get through all of this like we've done before." He dipped his head to get in further proximity to her face. "Then we can move forward with our future." They locked up in a long kiss.

Absorbing the cool air as they came apart, the couple returned to observing the night sky. The belief that the current negativity would soon go the way of the autumn leaves lingered with them.

IIIIIII

Reacting to the patter of little feet chomping through snow, Erik glanced to his left to see the adolescent figure that had just slipped out to the front of the house. A large pink and blue checkered blanket covered her from head to toe.

"Rebecca, what are you doing out here?" Erik pointed towards their dwelling place. "You need to be in bed."

"So do you," the girl countered. "You're hurt."

"Back inside, now."

Becky stomped in defiance. "No!"

Erik raised an eyebrow at her. "What did you just say?"

"I don't want anything to happen to you, Erik!' the curly haired child exploded. "I couldn't stay asleep because I kept dreaming I woke up and you weren't here and that you could never come back." Her eyes polished over wretchedly.

In a flash, Erik gathered her up, blanket and all, into his arms. "Hush now." He rocked her trembling body. "It's all right, my precious girl. I'm right here."

"I'm scared," she whimpered. "I don't feel safe without you."

"You have nothing on this earth to fear." Erik balanced her carefully in his hold. "I will eliminate any matter of man who dares to invoke that emotion in you." He stroked her hair out of the way to gain a better view of her eyes. "Don't tell me you've forgotten my vows to you."

"I haven't." Her voice fell into a whisper. "But what if you're not here…?"

Erik lowered in order to sit her on an upraised knee. He took her hand and touched it to the center of his chest. "Do you feel that?"

"You mean where your heart is?"

"No," the man replied, "Last I checked, that resided with you. I mean the wound."

Her face wrinkled into confusion. "What wound?"

"Exactly." Erik formed a specific smile that always seemed to somehow creep its way out in her presence. "This body has withstood the harshest treatment imaginable. Trust me when I say I will be here with you for quite some time yet." He shrugged one shoulder. "Unfortunately for you when you choose to misbehave."

Becky giggled. "Will you stay home tomorrow?"

"I will. Now, let's get inside before we both spend it nursing colds." Erik got up and carried his bundled gem into the warmth of the majestic house.

When they made it upstairs, Erik brought them into his suite and placed her down onto the large bed. He took off his trench then draped it over his desk chair and put his hat in the seat. While he stepped into the bathroom, Becky managed to wriggle out of her blanket and crawled down to the edge of the bed to reach out for the desk chair.

Erik came back out in indigo pajamas to see her trying on his hat.

He sat down beside her and took it off, causing a few curls to tumble as he did. "No covering up the Creator's masterpieces." He gave a peck to her cheek.

Becky smiled and made her way back over to the headboard. She lay back so he could tuck her in. Erik brought the covers up to her neck then settled down beside her.

"Erik?"

He returned her inquiring tone. "Becky?"

"What would you name me if I was your kid?" she asked.

Erik propped himself up on an elbow and peered down at her. "What do you mean "if"?"

She gazed back impishly. "Name, please."

"Demanding woman," Erik commented then went into thought for a few seconds. "Well, I find Rebecca to be a beautiful name, therefore very fitting for you. It's in the Torah and Bible."

"Oh, she was married to somebody, right?" She tried to remember the name. "Jacob."

"That would be her son," Erik said, an amused glint in his eyes. "But in any case, for the middle I've always been fond of Anne, but that's far too common for you. Anya would be my second choice."

Becky said, "I like Anya."

"Then of course, we'd only need to attach Lensherr to the end and there you have it." He put an arm around her. "Is that a satisfactory enough answer for you, madam?"

"Mmhmm." Her eyes closed as she relaxed into the pillows. "Night, Erik."

Taking a moment to listen to the fledgling's soft intakes of air, Erik whispered, "I love you," into her ear before discovering sleep himself.

IIIIIII

Not sure what stirred him, Frank awoke at seven the following morning. When attempts to go back to sleep failed, he decided to use the bathroom and dress for the day. Creating a plan on how to spend the precious hours before the rest of the house awoke, Frank went looking for Becky.

When he found her room vacant, he figured she had fallen victim to nightmares again. Knowing who she would likely turn to in that event, Frank went to Erik's bedroom next. He walked around the bed and tapped Becky's nose.

She jarred and rolled over to face the boy. "Frank, what's wrong?"

"Everybody's asleep." He smiled secretively. "Want to head over to you-know-where and shoot some marbles?"

"Okay," she agreed. She slipped out of Erik's hold as quietly as she could.

Before leaving out, she noticed Erik's hat back on the chair and grabbed it.

After Becky had a chance to change into jeans and a sweater, both children got into their winter gear.

Frank glanced over at Becky as they pedaled into the woods. "You look like Harpo Marx in that hat."

She responded with, "He's funnier than Zeppo."

Once they made it to the mouth of the cave, they hopped off their bikes and entered, guided by the light of Frank's mutation. It was their first return to the hideaway in a couple weeks, due to the fuss of the holidays combined with last schoolwork to finish up. They shot marbles and talked about how awful it was that Christmas break could not last forever for half an hour before grumbling stomachs got to them.

Collecting their colorful orbs, they headed out chattering. As soon as they met with sunlight, they heard what sounded like a swarm of bees. Before they had a chance to look around for any dangerous insects, Becky seemed to vanish as a rapid moving figure snatched her up into the air.

"Becky!" Frank bellowed, watching as a winged female clad in black took off at top speed with the screaming girl in her clutch.

Before he had a chance to unleash a blinding ray, a hand clamped down over Frank's eyes and an arm coiled around his waist.

At the struggling that followed next, the one restricting the boy lowered into his ear. "Shh, shh. Easy, tiger. I need you to settle down, okay? Because I have a very special job for you."

"Get off me!" Frank ordered.

Before he had a chance to kick, he found himself shoved face first into the snow. Getting up into a sitting position, Frank looked up into the face of his attacker. Who he saw surprised him; a fairly tall well-dressed man with thick brown hair and dark shades.

The man lowered over the child, causing him to back up. He extended a friendly hand. "Sebastian Shaw."

As the name resonated in his ears, Frank felt something come over him as he made a move to slap the offered hand away. He watched as the motion only caused the man's hand to shake rapidly.

"Whoa, it's all right," he said to Frank's stunned countenance. "I'm a genetic work of art. You're a genetic work of art. There's no need for secrets here. And hey, you don't need to worry. I plan to take great care of your friend. In the meanwhile, I need you," he reached into his coat, pulling a sheet of off-white paper from it, "to deliver these coordinates to Erik Lensherr."

Frank glared and put on a fake sugary tone. "Okay Mister, but then could you do me a favor and kiss mine?"

Forming a less than inviting look now, Shaw lowered down closer into Frank's personal space. "I'm trying to be nice here, Skippy, which is unusual because I don't actually care for little boys. Now, you have a couple options. Either you can take this to Erik with the use of freewill or wait for him to find you out here. If you go with that option, we—" Frank followed his pointing figure to see another man in a coat and suit and the devil that had appeared in Becky's room standing off by a couple trees. " will be sending an additional message. You decorated in welts." Frank's eyes grew to enormous proportions. "And I alone don't tire easily."

Wishing the man did not have sunglasses on so that he could make full use of his mutation, Frank grudgingly took hold of the paper.

Shaw patted the top of his head disparagingly. "Don't look so down." He stood up, heading over to his cohorts. "I'll send the lady your love."

The three men joined hands and disappeared, leaving behind thick red and black smoke.

Feeling himself suddenly unable to make proper use of his lungs, Frank's breathing shortened and he flopped over. His chest felt like it would soon combust and his intense exhaling caused the snow under his mouth to dissolve.