Charles had always been a creature prone to worrying, but he found that once he made a choice, his anxiety level rapidly declined. That proved true now. There was still work to be done, but he felt like he was on a level plain now. He and Erik had reached a consensus and he had a rough idea of the future.

He had begun fantasizing again, sketching out what life would be like. Charles would wake and break his fast with Erik and their children. He would go into town and visit wherever they decided to build the school to make sure it progressed adequately. He could teach a few classes once it was established and they would allow kids from all over Genosha to enroll. Perhaps he could create a partner school for Non-Gifted children or programs to promote literacy across Genosha. If they were lucky, they would have a child or two, but if not, then they still had their four children to raise between them. He pictured trips to see all the things he had read in books but had not thought he would view in person, time spent together as a couple and a family in picnics, birthdays and holidays, sharing more stories about their past until they knew each other completely.

He left Edenhall the day after accepting Erik's proposal. It was better if Erik's visitors didn't know he spent the night, so he was gone before the servants woke and saw him. He walked back to the castle with a bounce in his step. His heart tugged insistently for Erik, but he was happy enough to ignore it. He returned to his bedroom with haste and pressed his back to the door once he entered. A smile lit his face as he held the ring to his chest, placing it over his beating heart.

"I take it you said yes," Moira commented, startling him.

Charles' eyes popped open and he saw the woman holding David in her arms, a knowing smile on her face.

"I did."

"Congratulations. I'm glad."

Charles smiled at her sincerity as he greeted his sleepy son with a hair tousle.

"You're the first person I've told. Even Anya doesn't know yet."

Moira gave him a slightly apologetic look before asking her next question.

"Have you thought of what to say to Lord Frost?"

Charles' smile started to wane a little and some doubt finally crashed through his haze of joy.

"No, not yet," he admitted, dropping on to his bed.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Moira started, sitting beside him.

"Hmm?"

"Lord Frost is not a sentimental man. It's better to come at him with cold, hard facts. Perhaps it would be prudent to compile some historical instances of unconventional marriages to prove that your marriage to the prince won't cause the country to implode in on itself the way he believes."

Charles sat up straighter. That wasn't much different than formulating an essay or research paper. He could investigate and argue a position with the best of them. That was his comfort zone even. He would be able to meet Lord Frost on that level confidently.

"That's a great idea, Moira. I didn't spend years in university without picking up some skills."

"Hank and I will help. His father is the records keeper for Genosha and he and I worked on many research projects together when we went to school. Between the three of us, we can brainstorm ideas about the best approach."

"Oh, I couldn't ask you to involve yourself more than you already have. It's my problem, I don't want to put it on you."

"I'm offering and I'm sure Hank will agree. I like you, Charles. Hank does as well. We're happy to help."

Charles' lip twisted in doubt. It would be easier with other hands and eyes, but he was reluctant to accept help with this, his pride still getting in the way.

"The prince has helped me through several binds over the years. Consider it repayment for that."

Charles smiled, picking up on her intentions to circumnavigate his stubborn pride. He appreciated her efforts and gave her a nod in reply. She smiled back at him before handing David over and setting off to procure breakfast for them.

Charles looked down at his drowsy son who was making a valiant effort to curl himself up into Charles' chest.

"Guess what? We're staying."

David gave him a largely disinterested look before projecting an image of Erik at him. Charles chuckled in reply.

"He'll be back tomorrow morning and so will the children. Then we can start plans about making our home here."

David accepted this as an answer and moved to lay his head back on Charles' chest, but he moved down to press a kiss to his head before he could.

"Thank you for bringing me back. I didn't say it before, but we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. My little hero."

He lightly brushed his nose against David's, drawing a laugh from the child before he burrowed into Charles contentedly. The older telepath sighed in mutual comfort. He decided to allow himself to bask in life's new possibilities and joys and push the worries back until later.

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Charles stood outside Lord Frost's chambers, his mind abuzz with nervousness, running over what he wanted and needed to say. He had spent most of the day shut up in his study with Hank and Moira. He immersed himself in the history of House Lehnsherr, the ruling monarchs and their mates, as well as initiatives and laws put in place. It was essential to educate himself on the history of Erik's family and the precedents set by his forbearers. Moira and Hank were endlessly helpful, putting things into context when Charles didn't understand, and injecting a bit of levity and distraction for him when he got worried or anxious.

Armed with the knowledge he had crammed into his brain, he made his way towards Lord Frost's study. He steeled himself before he knocked and stepped into the room when bidden entry. Lord Winston was behind his desk with his daughter by his side. The lord's face was carefully blank as he studied him while the lady knight looked at him with a measure of interest.

"Lord Charles, I have been expecting you. Sit, if you please."

He sat down at the desk across from the older man and the other telepath who Lord Frost did not order away. She must know of his offer then. He thought of her veiled accusations and disdain with his relationship with Erik. He thought he would only be contending with one person throughout this conversation, but that was fine. He could handle this. He clasped his hands together on his lap, fiddling with the ring on his finger so they would not see that he was shaking.

"Am I to assume you have come to a decision?"

"I have."

"And?"

Charles took a deep breath before answering.

"I'm afraid I must decline your offer."

There was a diminutive flash in Lord Frost's eyes while Lady Emma's lip quirked into a smirk.

"Oh, woe. However, will dear Christian cope?" Emma commented, her voice unemotional, but there was a delighted gleam in her eye that denoted her amusement with the situation. Charles didn't bother to examine it.

Lord Frost cut her a withering glare before turning back to Charles.

"That is disappointing. I had thought we reached an accord."

"I cannot say some of your words did not ring true to me. I like to believe myself to be an analytical person, rational. Yet I don't feel I can conduct myself in what you view as the most logical manner in the face of something like this, especially given Prince Erik's proposal of marriage, which I have accepted."

Lord Winston did not look surprised by the admission so much as annoyed.

"It is foolish to believe that decades of tradition would yield to something as fickle as a matter of the heart."

Something passed Emma's eye that Charles did not understand, but she shot a discrete glare at her father.

"Of course not. I am not so illogical as to believe it would, but that says nothing of precedent."

"What precedent?"

Charles sat up straighter, squaring his shoulders to present his first argument. History.

"I am aware that my status as a divorced, foreign man is what gives you pause the most. I would turn your attention to foreign consorts such as Princess Antoinette of Monaco. She helped Queen Angela reform the criminal justice system. Princess Zipporah of Wakanda helped King Edward lead armies to protect Genosha from invasion during the Northern Crusades. Prince Elton of Prussia spearheaded the initiative to expand housing for the working class of Genosha. All were beloved among both the people and the nobles. On the other hand, there is Prince Anders, who was divorced twice when he married Queen Celia. Lord Lars married Prince Albert after they divorced their respective mates. Princess Frederica had a child when she married Queen—"

"I am aware of Genosha monarchal history, more than you I would wager," Lord Winston interrupted.

"Yes, we have had divorced consorts in the past. None of whom divorced their alphas without consent and came to Genosha a fugitive."

Charles conceded that point and quickly moved on to the second one he had prepared. Law.

"That is true. However, in my reading I found that Genosha does not generally recognize marriages that don't conform to its own marriage laws."

Lord Winston's eyes narrowed at that.

"Yes, that is true."

"Queen Olivia, Erik's grandmother, passed a law in an attempt to protect omegas and betas from forced marriages."

Lord Frost blinked at that.

"Yes, I am aware of it. It is a rather fledgling law, not yet fully implemented throughout Genosha or heavily enforced."

"But a Genoshan law, nonetheless. It's age or success rate notwithstanding, the proclamation states that both parties should have two individuals they personally choose to bear witness to the signing of the marriage contract. Furthermore, it states that any marriage contract signed under duress or threat is immediately considered null and void."

Realization flooded both the lord and lady's eyes as they realized where he was going.

"I was not allowed to choose witnesses and was certainly under threat from the Markos, as they held my sister's life over my head, and under duress brought about by the drugs I was forced to take. Technically, under the laws of Genosha, my marriage to Cain is invalid and is not recognized in this country."

He sat back, waiting apprehensively as his words sunk in. Lord Winston and Lady Emma's eyes met. Charles was sure they were conversing telepathically before Lady Emma's lip quirked in a small smile and she turned to Charles.

"I wasn't sure about you in the beginning, but you're not at all what I expected."

Charles was not positive if that was a compliment or not but accepted it, nonetheless.

"You have put my dear father in quite the quandary."

"Emma…" the lord warned, but she ignored it.

"What is he, a staunch traditionalist to do, in the face of precedent and laws? Yield? Perish the thought. But go against those principles he holds so dear? Blasphemous. If only I had come so prepared when it was my relationship he sought to ruin."

Charles shifted uncomfortably at her words and unspoken history, ignoring the looks exchanged between father and daughter. Lord Winston let out a sigh that sounded tired. Charles almost pitied him, almost.

"You do know, by your own admission, that makes your son a bastard?"

"It makes him a Xavier, the same as it does me. At least it will once he is legitimized, should Prince Erik grant me my request."

Lord Winston eyed him with some mixture of disdain and begrudging respect.

"Under the laws of Genosha, anyone seeking asylum from a forced marriage is granted such, once they go through the appropriate channels. That does not mean I accept this match between yourself and the prince. The others may have been lulled by your intelligence, but I am not so easily bought."

The perfect opening for his third point. Guilt.

"I have no designs on buying you, my lord. However, I would speak to you as Charles Xavier, the son of Brian Xavier, a man you claim was your friend, whom you claim that you would've killed for. I know my father well enough to know that if that were the case for you, it was doubly so the case for him. He was a man prone to holding others in extremely high esteem, even when they didn't deserve it. He gave endless chances and believed in the inherent goodness of others without fail, putting aside what the world believed one should be, to see any given person as the best version of themselves."

Lord Frost's face softened into a wistful expression.

"Your father was a rare man, it is true enough. His death was a tragedy."

"Yes. One I had the misfortune of bearing quite alone. None of his friends came to call. None but the Markos. I'm sure Kurt would've kept everyone away. It would give him the time to weasel into my mother's head and convince her to marry him. I know his manipulations all too intimately. I'm sure he convinced you and everyone else that all was well and he had everything firmly in hand at our estate, not knowing all the while that like a snake in the garden, he was biding his time to coil around my family and squeeze us for all we were worth. Regardless, I would implore that given you are knowledgeable about the nature of my forced and false marriage to Cain Marko, your assistance in securing my safety and my son's would be appreciated. I am Lord Xavier's only biological child and David is his only living grandson. The Xavier Estate and all its assets rightfully belongs to me, if not David. Some of which would revert to the Genoshan throne upon my marriage, of course. It is the dowry I can offer my husband. You would probably know more about all the business ventures the Markos stole from my family than I would, so know well what Genosha would gain from my union with Erik. Naturally, anything I may seek to part with rather than pass on to David could be discussed at a later time after I've assessed the damage the Markos have done. The point is, they are nothing more than cutthroats and thieves that stole my father's fortune out from underneath us."

Lord Winston stared at him for a long while, his eyes shrewd and assessing before his lip tilted up. Charles would not call it a smile, there was still an air of coldness to it, but it was not malicious.

"You look like Brian, but you're not like him at all, are you?"

"If I am not, it is because he was taken from me, killed by Kurt Marko in his scheme to steal my father's fortune."

The smile on Lord Winston dropped.

"Is it truly so?"

Charles was surprised by the quick turn in the lord's mood, the seriousness. He was so used to people brushing this fact off that he no longer bothered to try to convince them of it.

"I've heard passing thoughts in his head and he admitted it to me along with claiming responsibility for my mother's death after I returned home from York, beckoned by his threat on my sister's life."

Lord Winston glanced over at Emma. He could feel her prod his shields for access. He let her in, allowing her to see the truth in his statement. She nodded once to her father. A stormy expression overtook the lord's blank face.

"For whatever this quandary with you and the prince is, Brian was a good man and did not deserve such treachery. This changes things. This is an avenue I can pursue."

Charles stared at him, taken aback but hopeful.

"Truly? But it's been so many years, surely no law officer would pursue this now?"

"The law may not, but there are methods that go beyond the judicial."

Charles rose an eyebrow at that.

"So…"

Lord Winston met his eyes.

"For the love and friendship I bore for your father, I will help you regain ownership of your family's estate and finances. That does not mean I approve of you and the prince, or ever will."

Charles felt a bit crestfallen but did not let it show.

"However… you are everything the prince said you were and more. I will be watching you, Lord Charles. You may leave."

Charles stood up abruptly, taking the dismissal for what it was. It wasn't an acceptance, but the lord had not shut him down entirely and it seemed he would not bring the Markos down upon Charles' head, which was his intent in meeting Lord Winston in the first place. As he stepped out of the office, he found Moira loitering in the hall waiting for him. She took his hand and led him away from the room.

"And?"

Charles processed everything that had happened.

"I think… I think it went well."

"Is he going to try to run you out of the city?"

"No. He says he will help me regain control of my family's estate and fortune and accepted my conclusions about my marriage to Cain."

Moira's eyes widened.

"It worked?"

"It did," Charles confirmed.

Their eyes met before they smiled widely at one another. Moira moved in to hug him and he accepted the embrace, a mixture of joy and relief flooding him. That had felt like the most arduous battle he had had to wage, and he had succeeded. It wasn't over, but it was a victory, nonetheless.

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Charles did not join the other nobles in the courtyard or throne room to greet the royal family's return the next day. He wanted his introduction to court to be as organic as possible. He wasn't sure how David would react or how he himself would conduct himself in front of an audience with Erik, so best not to chance it. Erik didn't come to see him immediately either, but they were called to one another by the invisible string binding their hearts. By midday, they managed to drift towards one another until they found each other in the small garden behind the palace where Erik first greeted Charles upon his arrival to Krakoa.

They shot each other smiles when they spotted the other and made their way to one another. Charles was only a little surprised by the kiss Erik immediately placed on his lips, taking no heed to the presence of his guards. Charles pulled away with a chuckle when the other man made to deepen the kiss.

"I saw you just yesterday. It's not been that long."

"It has for me. I had almost convinced myself you had changed your mind and would be gone when I returned."

"Here I am— no need to worry. And I can assure you, my previous indecision is miles away. I conferred with Lord Frost, told him my decision, and spoke to him at length about my position."

Erik's eyebrow shot up.

"You got into another debate with him?"

"Not a debate, I simply laid out my points in opposition to his conclusions. He had to concede that the statements I made were valid. He still disagrees with our union, but he is currently working on something that will only make our marriage even less disputable and may, if all goes the way I hope, leave me with something tangible to bring to this marriage."

"Charles, I don't need anything from you. I only—"

"You only need me, I heard you before. But I don't want to feel like you're giving me everything and I'm giving you nothing."

"You are giving me your sound mind, your kind heart, your unique experiences, your vast knowledge. All of that is not without value," Erik answered, pulling Charles flush against him.

"Not a monetary value. That will always bother me even if it doesn't bother you. Others will think I'm giving you the runaround, that I'm only after you for your money, land and titles. Not everyone, but I can read their minds. People would do a great number of things for a castle, not many of them morally correct. People like that are inclined to impose the same moral ambiguity onto others and believe me to be of their ilk. It may just be for appearances' sake, but I'd rather come to this marriage with something other than a spotty reputation and a child who will be considered a bastard if Lord Frost's plans come through."

Erik gave him a confused look, but Charles waved it off, resolving to explain that later.

"You won't let this go, will you?"

"No."

Erik accepted the answer with a nod but sighed in response.

"I know, I know. As you said, I'm a stubborn, prideful man."

Erik chuckled as he took note of the slight pout on Charles' lips.

"Upset you, did it?"

"No," he answered, his pout becoming even more pronounced in direct contradiction to the statement.

Erik laughed again. Charles could not keep pouting in the face of his expression. Dark circles lingered under his eyes from his time in mourning, along with the faintest bit of red in his eyes. He still looked tired beyond belief despite being put together for public appearance. However, the smile, sharp as it was, made him glow in a way that nearly threw the shroud of grief off him completely. It lifted Charles' spirits to see it. He couldn't resist standing on his toes to press a quick kiss to Erik's lips.

"I'll admit that I am headstrong and no more than that."

"Headstrong? What a quaint euphemism."

"Oh, shut it," Charles mumbled, pulling Erik down into a kiss to ward off anymore teasing at his expense.

He would've been happy to lose himself in the embrace, but a gasp pierced through the silence and cause him to break the kiss. He looked behind Erik to see Anya standing there with the twins and David, a broad smile on her face.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed happily as David looked on indifferently, Wanda gaped at them and Pietro looked between them with mild disgust. Charles caught thoughts running through his head about cooties and the horrors of kissing and couldn't hold back the snort at his childish ruminations.

"When did this happen? You should have told me. Are you mated yet? Does this mean you're staying, Charles? Please, say yes. Please, please, please," Anya begged.

Charles and Erik shared a look between them and then smiled.

"I'm staying. I'll be staying for a long time, in fact."