X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Forty One
Author's Word: Hi, everyone. Thanks for the last round of feedback (I love you, Alicia!) and here's hoping for wider responses this round. Thank you to the new members of the family who added the story to favorites and alert. I hope you all enjoy this.
Charles stirred and after a few seconds, fully awoke. His crystal blue eyes looked toward one of his bay windows, which poured in a glowing radiance from the bright and thick accumulation of clouds. When Charles sat up, he noticed the item left on his nightstand. He picked up the small red bag and looked through it. He smiled at the assortment of Hershey kisses and heart shaped hard candies. He held up the tiny card and unfolded it to read the message.
Happy Valentine's Day, Prince Charles!
I love you,
Your Princess Becky
IIIIIII
Finished with the completed mix, Frank worked to get it carefully poured into the heart lined mold he had laid out in the frying pan.
"Okay, ten seconds, right?" Frank counted off in his head then removed the mold, leaving a perfect heart cake in its place. "Hey, it worked. I just hope it tastes like yours." He next picked up the white bowl of diced strawberries and added them to the soft center of the cake. "I think I got it now. Thanks, Mommy. I love you." He hurried to hang up the phone so as to return to the stove.
Raven came in a half hour later, yawning into her hand. She ceased movement at the pile of uniquely shaped cakes on the stove, along with the full pitcher of orange juice, Charles' tea set, a plate of lightly browned toast, and bowl of scrambled eggs all laid out on top of the stove.
"Frank, did you do all this yourself?" The shape-shifter appeared highly impressed.
"Well, I was up, anyway." Frank approached her, shyly holding a crimson envelope out. "Happy Valentine's Day, Rae."
Smiling widely, Raven removed the card from its envelope. The front depicted a large glittery mirror. Inside it read: For True Love and Beauty Grows From Within.
She chose to read Frank's personal scrawled out message out loud. "I know I'm not as smart as Hank, but I always think about that night you found me in the park and I'll never forget it. You're so beautiful to me. Love, Frankie." By the end, Raven had to work to keep the growing tears at bay. "Thank you." She pulled him into a near smothering hug, but Frank did not mind at all.
Entering the dining room, Charles saw Alex, Sean, Joey, and Becky seated. Alex had the art glue out and worked to carefully reattach a fluffy feather to the pink wand he had gotten Becky for her birthday. Ever since unwrapping it, the girl had rarely been seen without the new accessory.
"Good morning, everyone," Charles greeted warmly.
"Morning," the teenage boys replied while Joey said, "Happy Valentine's Day, Dad."
"Happy Valentine's Day, little one." Charles walked towards his seat, stopping to kiss Becky on top of the head. "And a very happy Valentine's Day to you, Princess. Thank you so much for the gift. It was wonderful to awaken to."
"You're welcome." Becky watched the other headmaster walk in next. "Happy Valentine's Day, Erik."
"Happy Valentine's Day, Uncle Erik!" Joey added.
Erik looked at the small children fondly before grinding out, "Bah humbug," and sitting in his regular chair.
Alex gave off a snort.
"I see you're going the bitter and lonely route," Sean observed.
"I'm not bitter- much." Erik rubbed Becky's hair then reached across the table to touch Joey's hand. "And certainly not lonely. I just happen to find this day to be yet another occasion for unnecessary décor and greeting cards."
"It's all in good fun, Erik," Charles said.
"I'll say," Sean concurred. "I can't wait for the dance tonight."
"I can't wait to see you dressed like one of these townie clowns," Alex brought up.
"Make fun of me all you want, Alex," Sean shrugged. "But this year, I have a girlfriend. A gorgeous, smart, groovy, and completely understanding girlfriend."
Charles smiled at the redhead. "I hope you and Maya have a lovely time tonight. But mind curfew. It is a school night after all."
"Yes, sir," Sean nodded.
Frank and Raven walked in with the selection of breakfast items.
"Ooh," Becky and Joey reacted to the special cakes.
"My mom makes us heart shaped pancakes every year on Valentine's Day," Frank explained. "I already know mine won't be nearly as good as hers."
"We'll be judges of that," Erik said. "And these look sensational."
"They certainly do," Charles agreed.
Raven glanced around. "Where is Hank?"
Before long, in walked what looked like blue hydrangeas in a white pot guided by a pair of legs. Lowering the pot, Hank revealed his face.
"Hank?" Raven smiled expectantly.
"Roses are red," the scientist recited, holding the pot out to her, "but I prefer blue."
Overcome with giddiness, Raven had to be mindful not to knock the hydrangeas right out of his hands as she leapt up to hug him around his neck. Hank hugged her to him with his spare arm then arched his head back to possess her lips with his own.
"Geez, why doesn't he just eat her?" Alex commented.
Charles cleared his throat pointedly. "Raven, Hank, the little ones are present."
"If they keep doing that, they're gonna make some little ones," Frank quipped softly.
Erik gave the side of his leg a small swat while he tried to hide his smile.
After the couple managed to pry apart, Raven placed the pot in the center of the table. Once they were all officially seated, they started passing the food around. Frank's heart cakes proved an immediate success with everyone.
"Your mother taught you well," Erik said, giving the boy a wink.
Frank smiled and enjoyed the rest of his breakfast.
IIIIIII
Sean stood facing the mirror in his room while Hank rolled the lint brush along the fronts of sides of his clothes for him. Sean wore a pair of tan khakis with a white collared shirt and a red sweater-vest over it.
"I can't believe I'm going to a dance," the young teenager marveled. "This has been forever."
"I know it has," Hank sympathized.
"I remember the last time I went to a dance," Alex recalled from where he stretched out across Sean's bed. "Me and a couple other guys made the smoke detectors go off. I got suspended. Like, really, did they think that'd be a punishment for me?"
"Sean, please ignore the bad influence." Hank ran a pair of fingers through the younger male's hair. "I think we're done here."
"I'm changing," Sean announced suddenly. "I knew I shouldn't have gone with the red. It draws too much attention to my hair. I look like a carrot."
"You do not." Hank placed his hands on Sean's shoulders comfortingly. "You look fine. Great I would say."
"Hey, kid." Sean glanced back at Alex. "You look cool as hell."
A slow reassured smile spread across Sean's face. "Thanks, guys." He picked up his gray blazer to complete his look.
Hank patted his shoulder now. "Your lady awaits."
While Hank guided Sean out, Alex lingered out in the hall.
"All dolled up and ready to go I see."
Alex looked over his shoulder to see that Erik had just walked up. "Yep. I don't even know what he's so excited about. Dressing like a preppy to hang out with preppies at some square preppy function."
Erik gave Alex a knowing stare. "Wish it were you?" When Alex only glanced down, Erik slipped an arm around his thin shoulders. "Want to spend the evening throwing snowballs at the happy couples we pass?"
"Yeah," Alex grinned, instantly perking up.
IIIIIII
"As time goes on and we continuously move through the generations, the mutated cells are only going to grow and multiply," Charles theorized. "At the rate the mutated species is popping up amongst us, I predict there will be one mutant child born out of a familial brood of four."
"That is incredible," Maya reacted as Raven removed the remaining curlers from her hair. "Do you think it'll get to a point where a mutated child is more common than a standard homo sapient?"
"I would not doubt it," Charles responded. "The gene itself can manifest itself in very subtle ways. From an additional finger that a physician can lap off at birth to Becky's curly hair."
"Becky has it easy," Maya said, pointing at her head of curlers. "The rest of us have to go through this for a date."
"Don't worry. We're just about…" Raven removed the last one. "Done. You're all set."
"Thank you, Raven." Maya stood from the parlor chair and removed the white robe Raven had offered her for cover. Underneath she wore a soft pink dress with a slightly fluffed out skirt that came to her ankles.
"Maya." Sean walked in, completely star-struck. "You look fantastic."
Hiding a blush, Maya pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "So do you."
Charles smiled at the young couple. "You two go on and have a wonderful time, but remember no drinking or smoking—"
"Or trips to Mexico," Raven tacked on.
"We'll be good," Sean promised, taking Maya's hand. "We better get going."
"Oh, hold on, kids." They turned back and nearly became blinded by the intense flash from Charles' camera. He took a couple more posed shots then said, "Alright, off you go. Drive safely, Sean."
After they left, Alex and Erik strolled through next.
"Where are you guys going?" Raven asked.
The two looked at each other before replying in unison, "Nowhere," then continued on towards the front.
"I would probe their minds but part of me fears what I'd learn," Charles said. He looked at his sister. "I suppose you and Hank will be off next."
"Soon I guess." Raven had to smirk. "This is a twist. The first year I have a date on Valentine's Day and you're playing stag."
"You deserve it so much more." Charles kissed her cheek. "Have a good time with Hank. But not too good a time."
"Yes, sex is bad," Raven nodded. "Got it."
"Right then." Charles left out and headed for the kitchen, where the three youngest residents sat working on different homework assignments. "Since the rest of the family is going out tonight, I thought it unfair for the four of us to be excluded from the fun." He smiled at them. "Who's for pizza at the mall?" The suggestion received instant positive reactions from the children. "After homework of course." That got less enthusiasm.
IIIIIII
Raven, naturally, found Hank in his lab a bit later. "Okay, you've had me on pins and needles all week." She walked up, wrapping arms around his middle. "It's our first Valentine's Day… where are we going?"
Hank put a hand to his ear. "Do you hear that?"
Raven looked confused. "Hear what?"
"The lack of fledglings and adult supervision," Hank smirked. "This is a rare gold plated opportunity, Raven. We have you, myself," he started kissing along her neck, "and this mansion."
"Playing house minus the kids," Raven deduced, quickly growing on the idea. "Just call me a cheap date."
IIIIIII
No sooner did a blonde man and woman join lips before an army of white cold spheres shot out, splattering them both mercilessly. The woman shrieked and attempted to run off in high heels while the man with her shielded himself with his briefcase and rushed after her.
From where they stood across the way in an alley, Erik and Alex let off deep throaty laughs.
"Your precision was much better that time," Erik commended.
"Thanks. So, that was what? The fourth, fifth happy sap pairs?" Alex attempted to recall.
"There will be lots more where they came from as this night dwells on," Erik said. "Just wait."
Alex sat by him up against the brick wall. "Thanks for coming out tonight. Seems all Sean and Hank want to do anymore is talk about their wives."
Erik stared off at the opposite wall for a long moment. "I don't suppose you'd be interested to hear about mine then."
The blonde teenager lost his smile at the unexpected statement. "What? You're married? How? No, better yet, who?"
Picking up a wad of snow in his gloved hand, Erik poked at it as he spoke. "Her name was Magda. We escaped the camps together. I proposed and she accepted. But my memories— thoughts of Shaw. I couldn't let them go. The hunt caused a wedge between us. I came home one night and she was gone. We never even made it to our wedding." Erik made a fist, crumbling up the remaining snow.
Having not expected to hear such a tale, all Alex could think to say was, "I'm sorry."
"There are worse things," Erik attempted to dismiss.
Biting his lip for a moment, Alex suddenly blurted, "I almost died in a plane crash." Erik turned all attention to him. "My dad was a pilot. He was taking us home from a trip, but something went wrong. All of the parachutes caught fire, except one. He and Mom tied us to it."
"Us?"
"My brother," Alex clarified slowly. "I held onto him as tight as I could but it wasn't strong enough because the next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital. They told me I was the only survivor."
Erik put an affectionate hand to the young man's hair. "You've always been a survivor." He pulled the teen down to rest on his chest.
As they waited on more couples to pester, the two sat in silence, recalling the other's story and reliving their own.
IIIIIII
Frank watched as Joey scribbled on a napkin using the complimentary crayons the restaurant had to offer. "Is that all you do anymore?"
"Frank, let him alone," Charles said. "He isn't bothering anyone."
Becky took another bite from her pepperoni slice. "The girls at the dance studio still think I'm crazy because I eat so much. But I think they're all going to disappear if they get any skinnier."
"Lots of mothers place pressure on their daughters when they're performers," Charles explained. "I'm afraid such things are quite common place here in Westchester."
"That's just 'cause rich people are full of it." Frank then darted eyes towards Charles. "No offense."
"Very little taken," Charles replied then considered something. "But Frank, it really wouldn't hurt for you to take on an extracurricular activity. The center where Joey has his art lessons offers a variety of different things for children. They have sports as well."
Frank appeared to find that interesting then said, "I'm not taking tennis or badminton or any wimpy prissy stuff."
"Would fencing be masculine enough for you?" Charles proposed.
Frank's eyes went wide with intrigue. "That's legal around here?"
"Not that sort of fencing, Franklin," Charles cleared up. "I was referring to the sword fighting variety."
"Sword fighting?" Frank grinned. "Oh yeah, now that sounds good."
IIIIIII
When Raven came into the dining room, the only lighting to meet her yellow eyes consisted of the pair of long candles on the table. Two plates of steak, peas, and baked potato had been set.
Hank finished folding the final napkin when he looked up. "Well?"
"Doomed to be together is sounding better and better every second," the young woman remarked. "Hank, this is great." They sat down by each other. "But I see you've been holding out on me again."
"I'll admit that cooking isn't so far from chemistry," the scientist said. "Somehow I only feel inspired when you're my sole dining partner."
Raven gathered a spoonful of baked potato but a good portion of it slipped down near her cleavage. "Oh, hot, hot." She went to grab a napkin but Hank seized her hand.
"Please. Allow me." He dipped his face down and promptly began clearing the pieces of potato away with his tongue.
Raven felt her heartbeat increase as he continuously licked her. "Hey." She gathered a spoonful of peas from Hank's plate.
Hank sat up again then held his mouth open for her. Raven fed the vegetables to him then gave him a quick kiss.
"You taste better," Hank told her. He reached out to stroke her face. "Blueberries."
She turned her face slightly to kiss his thumb. "Where did I find you?"
"That rock I was under."
"Where did you find me?" she asked next.
"Inside a flower. In a glorious meadow." He touched her hair. "We better eat before it gets cold."
Raven complied but honestly thought the two needed to worry about anything but heat in that moment.
IIIIIII
Bored of snowball flinging, Alex and Erik chose to walk through the streets of Westchester. They soon wound up in a deserted park, compliments of the winter weather.
"Ya know, sometimes I start thinking about dating." Alex wrapped an arm around a pole of the swings set. "Then I see Sean practically falling over himself to impress a chick and I just decide against it. I like the way things are now, though. Especially this instructor training."
Erik nodded, taking up a seat in a middle swing. "You're doing well there, boychick." He noticed the momentarily wide grin Alex attempted to hide. "What?"
"It's nothing," Alex attempted to brush off. "Just… I like when you call me that."
Indicating the swing next to him, Erik instructed, "Get in."
"Are you serious?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Get in," Erik reiterated. "Go on."
Going along with it, Alex plopped down in the swing, grabbing onto the chains with each hand. Erik stood and got in behind him. Pressing his hands to Alex's back, Erik gave him a strong push. Alex gripped the chains tighter as he pumped his legs out. Erik kept on pushing him that way then took possession of the chains and used his magnetic powers to control it now.
"Whoohoo!" Alex cried out after a moment. When Erik finally stopped the ride, the teenager hopped up and gave the man a punch to the arm. "You're it." He dashed off.
Erik was behind him in seconds and tackled him down into a heap of snow. "You'll have to do better than that, little Havok."
"I'm not little," Alex tossed over his shoulder. "You're just a stinking redwood."
Allowing him up, Erik then noticed how chilled the boy's hands felt. "Where are your gloves?"
Alex sat up a little. "I forgot to grab them."
Shaking his head, Erik removed his own. "What am I to do with you?"
Alex smiled as Erik slid the gloves onto his hands now. "You don't have to do that you know."
"Hush. If you catch a cold it falls on me to nurse you. Again." Erik got the gloves on him then went to work rubbing the teen's hands.
"Oh, you had to bring that up?" Alex said with a playful eye roll. "You won't hear me complaining when I have to change your bed pans. How old are you, anyway?"
Erik responded, "Older than the snow, younger than the wind." He stood, holding a hand out to Alex.
"Someday," Alex stated, taking the hand and allowing Erik to pull him up, "I'll know all your secrets.'
"I welcome it, boychick." Erik patted his shoulder. "Come on."
Alex followed after him out of the park.
IIIIIII
Once they had the dishwasher loaded from their dinner for two, Hank set up the projector along with a thin screen upstairs in his lab. He had gone out earlier that week to make sure he rented their favorite romantic movies before anyone else had a chance to snag them. They fixed some popcorn then decided to start things off with their equal favorite, Casablanca.
Raven lay with her upper half on Hank's lap, quickly becoming wrapped up in the film. She scooted up to reach the popcorn bowl. Hank became alerted to her slight movements. Everything from her intake and exhale of air to the way she seemed to twist on his lap brought out a great sensation in him. He brought his hand up, smacking her lounge pants covered bottom.
She jumped at the strike, hand freezing in the popcorn bowl. "But what did I do?" Her voice carried coyness.
"Natural order of things." Hank gave her another one. "I have to mark my territory." He rubbed his hand in a circular motion over her behind to warm it before smacking it again.
Raven took a strong breath through her nose, completely enjoying every single strike of his hand.
Hank lifted her up next, speaking close to her ear. "Raven… my Raven." His breath spoke her name with a depth no one else could possibly reach, as if she honestly powered him.
Glancing down for a moment, Raven informed, "It's my turn." She slipped from his grasp to crawl down. She started removing his socks.
"What are you doing?" Hank watched her curiously.
After she had the last sock off, Raven lowered down to start planting kisses all over the enormous feet.
Hank shook his head, moving them from her reach. "Stop that, Raven. I don't want you kissing my feet. Not now, not ever. You're not less than me."
"I know," she said. "But I want to." Her yellow eyes bore into him. "Please, baby."
Taking time to think about it, Hank finally nodded his approval. He leaned back against the front of his desk, observing as his girlfriend provided absolute pleasure to his lower appendages. A low satisfactory growl escaped his lips. He wanted her, needed her.
Raven gasped when he grabbed her. Hank gently rested her on the floor and pulled up her shirt a little. He moved down and nuzzled and licked near her bellybutton. He then kissed all the way up her body until he got to the lips.
"I love you, Hank." Raven took his hand, holding it against her cheek.
"I love you, too," he immediately returned. "Valentine's Day and every day. I wish to have you. In every way."
"You already do," she told him strongly. She stroked along his forehead then rubbed his hair at the temple. "I'm yours, Hank."
"And I am yours." He lay down beside her, taking her into his arms again.
IIIIIII
Gathering the several dozen napkins he had collected, Charles sat on the bench nearest the water fountain and placed Joey in his lap. He wetted a handful of napkins then started going over Joey's ice cream coated shirt to remove the chocolate stains before they could fully set in.
"I'm only thankful you're not in white," Charles remarked, continuously dabbing at the red sweater.
A woman pushing a blue baby carriage came through, heading for the exit. "Wish I could get my husband to do that. I have to beg him just for a diaper change."
Charles glanced up with a smile. "Well, I'm not married myself."
The woman observed Charles with Joey in his lap as well as Frank and Becky seated beside him. "God bless you," she said before strolling out of the ice cream parlor with her sleeping baby.
Taking a moment to watch their departure, Charles turned to his brood. "Alright, it's about time to be headed home. Who needs to go to the bathroom?" All three hands went up. "To be quite honest, so do I." The Professor stood Joey then got up himself. "Frank, take Joey with you to the men's room. I'll wait outside the ladies' for Becky."
"Okay." Frank took Joey's hand and the way to the male facilities while Becky and Charles headed across the way to the women's.
Frank finished his business first and walked out to wash his hands. Joey came out seconds later and went to the sink. Frank watched the younger boy a moment before gathering some water in his hand from the faucet and spritzing Joey with it.
"Hey!" Joey laughed, waving his wet hands Frank's way.
The two then proceeded to splash each other with handfuls of water.
When they did not come out after so long, Charles poked his head inside. "Would this be your way of avoiding your baths tonight?" Joey went to hug the Professor's leg cutely while Frank gave the man a hard hug. "And now you've soaked me. Marvelous." Nonetheless, he rubbed Frank's back and ran fingers through Joey's hair. "Let's all dry off so we can return home, yes?"
"Yes, sir," the boys complied.
Uncle Charles, Becky petitioned for mentally, where is everybody?
We fell into a little water trouble, Princess Charles answered, wait in the ladies' room and we'll be out shortly.
Okay.
After using the bathroom's paper towels to dry his pants a little as well as the boys' hair to keep them from catching cold in the night air, Charles used the bathroom himself then led them out. Once they collected Becky, the four of them put their coats and winter gear back on. They made their way out to the large parking lot.
When they made it back to the mansion, Charles sent the children upstairs to prepare for bed. Seeing the kitchen light on, Charles headed that way and happened upon Sean, who sat at the table in his pajamas with a plate of cookies in front of him.
"Not even a moment past curfew," Charles observed approvingly. "How was the dance?"
"It was great." Sean took a long sip of milk. "Until these random guys started pelting us with snowballs. They moved too fast for us to get a good look at them, but Maya figured they were just a couple idiots from their rival school."
Charles shook his head. "Such utter immaturity. Well, I'm glad you two got to enjoy yourselves." He went over, taking a cookie from Sean's plate. "Be sure to ask Maya over for dinner again soon."
"Oh I will," Sean assured. He finished his treat and stood. "Night, Charles."
"Good night, Seanie." While the boy left out, Charles brought his plate to the dishwasher. He then made his way up to check on the children.
IIIIIII
Hank's ears took in Raven's breathing from where she lay beside him on the floor of the lab. They rested under a blanket with their heads on top the same pillow; both items had been leftover from one of the numerous times Raven had covered the devoted scientist after finding him asleep at his desk. Judging by the heavier breaths from the blue female, Hank knew she could not be fully sleeping.
"What's wrong?" he whispered to her. "Did you want to move to a bed?"
"No," Raven immediately protested, running her hand along the long arm he had wrapped securely around her. "This is the comfiest bed ever. I just can't help thinking about my brother."
"Which one?"
"The cutie with the extra tummy," Raven replied and Hank could honestly see her smile in the dark. "He does so much around here, for all of us. And these headaches he's been having— I'm worried about him."
Hank thought for a moment before speaking. "Charles is the kind of person who spends most of his energy devoted to those in his care and a very minute amount on himself. Maybe you could have Erik speak with him. He's likely to listen to him."
"Yeah, maybe." Raven rolled over to snuggle in closer to him.
The young scientist gave a kiss to her cheek then her lips to help soothe her. He soon felt her enter a relaxed state in his hold.
IIIIIII
Erik carried twin mugs of hot chocolate into the parlor. He gave one over to Alex, who sat on a loveseat close to the roaring fire.
"Thanks," Alex said, taking the mug.
Before he sat by him, Erik took hold of the nearby fleece throw and draped it around the teenager's shoulders. "Enjoy yourself tonight?"
"You know it," the blonde replied without hesitation. "What about you?"
"Between you and deflating the wide-eyed aspirations of eager young couples- I'd say a good time was had by all." Erik gave off a smirk before taking a drink of his hot chocolate.
Alex smiled. "I'm just sorry we got Maya and Sean. You don't think they saw us, do you?"
"If they had, I'm sure Charles would have been waiting in here to rake me across the coals. I could blame you, but," Erik rubbed the young man's hair, "who could get angry with a face like this? I don't know which of my boychicks will break the most hearts; you or Frank."
Going silent for a moment, Alex eventually asked, "Why'd you pick me?"
Erik looked at him questioningly. "What?"
"Why do you take so much time out to train with me? I can see Frank since he's the undercover brain, but Hank and Sean are the geniuses."
"Did I choose you… or did you choose me?" the metal wielder put forth.
Alex thought about it for a moment then came up with, "I don't know."
"Perhaps the decision was made by a power much higher than our own," Erik proposed. "Whatever the case may be, you need to know that I love you, Alex." He toyed with the rim of his mug. "I know I don't say that often enough."
"Hey, neither do I," Alex mentioned. "It took me forever just to say it to Joey. And I'd give my life for that kid."
"He's your second chance," Erik said. "Joey, Sean, Becky, Frank, along with Hank and Raven. Are you familiar with the story of Job?"
"Royally screwed, right?"
"That's part of it," Erik nodded. "In the end, though, he gained back tenfold what he had lost. I think the same is true of you."
Alex paused to consider that. "I know it's been a long time, but do you want a second chance after what happened with Magda?"
"I don't see myself going within ten feet of the dating pool ever again," Erik told him honestly. He put his left arm around Alex and pulled him in to his side. "I happen to think I have more than enough right here already."
Nestling against the man, Alex's tired eyes fell on the shelf on the other side of the room that held up his surfing trophy.
IIIIIII
With the presence of what felt like a cool breeze, Charles' eyes shot open. He sat straight up in bed and flipped his legs over the side. He placed his feet inside his slippers then walked around to inspect his windows. When nothing appeared out of place, he started to return to his bed but reached for his robe he had left across the footboard instead.
After he had it on and tied tightly, Charles left his bedroom and made purposeful steps down the hall and stairs. He did not stop until he made it to the front of the house. He unlocked the door and gripped the knob before turning it. He stepped out into the brisk air. There his eyes landed on the yellow haired creature seated on a bench. Her white winter gear blended in greatly with the atmosphere around them.
"I just hate cliché holidays." She got up, approaching him carefully. "Hello, Charles."
Only able to hope that his dreams had not chosen to deceive him again, Charles managed to speak. "Emma."