Charles watched out the window of the carriage he resided in at the scenery passing him by. It had been so long since he had been back in Westchester, let alone Salem. Years. Everything looked disconcerting, from the things that appeared different to that which remained the same.

There were memories both bad and good that he thought of as he rode through the city. He felt excited as he saw the park he used to watch birds in and explore, but that dulled as he saw the doctor's office where Kurt had him treated. His heart warmed as he saw a sweet shop where his father used to take him and Raven and then froze over as he passed the church where he and Cain were wed. His spirits soared as he recognized people milling about who he had had amicable dealings with. He greeted them when they noticed him, exchanged smiles and waves, but stopped after spotting several of Kurt's sinister acquaintances sprinkled among the crowd. He had no fear of them. They couldn't touch him even if they wanted to. He had the protection of the royal guard as prince consort. Charles wouldn't let them get close, at any rate, considering the precious cargo he had on board.

He looked down at baby Nina, cradled and swaddled lovingly in the crook of his arm. She was fast asleep, the long trip from Stark manor to the Xavier estate having tuckered the infant out. Across from him, David and the twins were bunched together playing with the many toys Tony saw fit to lavish them with. Beside him, Anya had a book in one hand and Lorna clutched in the other. His eldest daughter stared, entranced at the pictures in the book her older sister read to her, the one-and-a-half year old pointing at a few things of interest. Charles' gaze softened as Lorna giggled at Anya's exaggerated voices for the fairytale she read.

He had been so worried he wouldn't be able to give Erik children, that his fertility problems with Cain and subsequent divorce had rendered him barren. Then he got pregnant almost immediately after the wedding practically back to back. It was his pregnancies that delayed his trip home by years. He had been too overly cautious during his pregnancy with Lorna to chance the visit and then he didn't want to leave her after she was born. When she was old enough to travel, he discovered he was pregnant with Nina, so the trip was put off once more. Three years later, things had settled and he and Erik decided it was a good time to pack the family up and make the voyage across the sea to Westchester. They had to visit the queen of Westchester first. It would be unseemly of Erik, as a king, not to pay attention to such courtesy.

After Erik and the queen had settled their matters, the family made their way to York to visit the Stark estate. Charles hadn't gotten to see Tony and Pepper since the wedding and insisted on it. They spent longer than he had originally planned, but Tony's newest inventions caught both Charles and Erik's attention. After a week, Charles put his foot down and stopped letting Tony distract him from his purpose.

It was a three-day ride to Salem from York. On the way, it seemed like word had got out that the King of Genosha was coming along with Charles and it drew something of a crowd. He got general impressions of curiosity and mirth from some of the people they passed and disbelief and scorn from others who couldn't square up how lucky he had gotten, to marry a king. It was similar to what Kurt had said when he found out about Charles and Erik. Charles would rather not think of that confrontation. Kurt had died only a year into his stay in Cuba, struck down by a heat stroke. Cain still lived, as much of a self-centered brute as ever if his guards' reports were believed.

Despite the more tumultuous circumstances that led to his return and the bad memories, Charles was glad to be back in Salem. This was his home for so many years. There was good here with his father and his sister. It meant something to him. He wanted Brian Xavier to be more to his children than just the namesake of a school in Genosha. He wanted them to understand his importance to Charles, as well as Raven's. He wanted to share his life and history with his family.

The Xavier estate was just as Charles remembered it. The green hills yielded to the pale brick mansion rising up into the sky impressively. The hedges in front of the mansion were immaculately cured and the general vegetation appeared to be well-maintained. Charles expected no less. His decision to send Logan as his steward to oversee the estate was a foregone conclusion. He didn't trust anyone else to represent his and David's interests here. The carriage stopped a few feet from the front door. David and the twins immediately began clambering to get out so they could see the house. Charles didn't bother reprimanding them. They had been endlessly patient with the long trip. Well, Wanda and David had been, Pietro kept begging to get out and run the rest of the way, wanting to stretch his body's newfound capability.

Anya shot Charles an amused look at the children's rambunctiousness, but he could tell the young alpha was just as eager to get out.

"Are you nervous?" Anya asked, probably picking up on his little ticks.

"Not nervous. Apprehensive. I haven't been inside these walls in over three years. I just wonder what I'll find, what's changed."

"It's yours now, right? You can make it anything you want."

"My wise daughter, always handy with much-needed reassurance."

The two glanced over to see Erik appear by the carriage door. Charles smiled up at his husband. Erik leaned down to press his lips to Charles' and he readily accepted the contact.

"You smell of horse," he commented once Erik pulled away.

The older man made to move, but Charles held him fast.

"I didn't tell you to go anywhere, did I?"

"You most certainly did not. How lucky I am to have a husband so endlessly patient as to put up with my equine odor."

"Lucky indeed."

Charles pulled him down for another kiss but pulled away at the sound of disgust beside him.

"I'd rather not be trapped in this carriage with the two of you when you're like this. The poor babies don't need to be subjected to it either," Anya commented with faux repulsion.

Erik shot her an amused look before assisting Charles and Nina out of the carriage and then Anya and Lorna. The green-haired child immediately stuck her arms out to Erik and he took her with little hesitation. As much as Erik liked to claim to have grown immune to the beguiling charms of children, Lorna had him wrapped around her little finger.

Charles turned back to the mansion looming above him. Half of him felt like it was inviting him to come inside while the other half felt the need to flee. He clutched Nina a little closer in his arms for comfort. As if drawn by his distress, Erik's hand was suddenly holding Charles'. He looked over as the older man raised the hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it.

"I'm right here, otzàr."

Charles smiled in reply.

"I know. I'm ready."

Erik squeezed his hand in comfort once more and Charles pressed back as Anya slotted herself to his other side. The two shared a smile before the family walked forward, ready to confront Charles' shadowy past and his brighter future.