Perceptive

Every time he looked at his daughter, Charles couldn't help but smile. He'd never imagined that he would have a daughter. He dreamed about it, about having children whether they be boys or girls, but he'd never realistically seen it happening. He'd never met anyone who could keep up with him, or who he could share his whole self with. No one would want to start a relationship with a telepath, he'd reasoned, and why not? After all, living with the knowledge that you could never have any secrets, that the other person could be breaching your trust at any point without your knowledge; who would want that? Then there was his injury, which brought a whole pile of new problems. Perhaps he couldn't even have children any more. Not that many people were willing to consider a long term relationship with a paraplegic, let alone a paraplegic telepath.

But then Erik had come careering back into his life, shattering all those illusions in one short letter. Charles had thrown everything away for the chance of happiness and now, watching Nina sleep with one hand wrapped around his finger, Charles knew with absolute certainty it had been worth it.

Suddenly he became aware of two dark eyes watching him. He smiled.

"What are you doing awake schatzi?" he asked, borrowing Erik's nickname for her.

"Can't sleep," Nina grinned.

"Can't sleep?" Charles echoed. "I'm sure that's not true. Now, daddy says go to sleep."

Nina giggled.

"That won't work daddy."

"Of course it will," Charles grinned. "Daddy says go to sleep."

"Nuh uh. Not working!"

"Oh dear," Charles sighed. "I guess we'll just have to wait for papa to get home then."

In truth, it was unlikely Charles would sleep before Erik arrived home anyway. He hated when Erik worked late; it left him too open to worry. Worry which had only increased since Nina's arrival. When Erik was out of his range, he couldn't protect him, couldn't protect them.

"Will you tell me a story?" Nina asked, snuggling closer.

"A story? I think I could manage that," Charles replied. He shifted down the bed so he was lying face to face with his daughter. With the hand not tangled with Nina's, he reached out and tweaked her nose, eliciting a new round of giggles.

"Not a fairytale, something new," Nina instructed.

"Okay," Charles nodded. "Once upon a time," he began. "There were two boys. They were born hundreds of miles apart, and didn't know the other existed. But both boys were very sad and lonely. Then one day, the younger boy was asked by the knights to help them. And in doing so, he met the older boy. They became best friends, and were so pleased to find each other. Because they were no longer lonely. But most important of all, the boys both had magic powers, and they'd never told anyone else because they were afraid of what people would do. They loved having someone they could talk to about their powers. And eventually the boys fell in love.

"But there was a bad sorcerer, who'd been taunting the older boy for years. The knights asked the boys for their help to stop the sorcerer. The boys agreed, but the sorcerer tricked the older boy. They beat the sorcerer, but his spell lived on in the older boy's head and he ran away, leaving the other boy all alone again."

"What happened?" Nina whispered.

"The younger boy was so sad. He loved his friend so much, and he missed him desperately. Many years passed, and they never found each other. Until one day they fought a battle against each other. They both hurt each other, and it broke their hearts to do so. Eventually the younger boy won, but he let the older one go, because he couldn't bear the thought of what the knights would do to his love.

"But the younger boy was still sad. He was still alone, and he still missed his friend. Until one day he received a message from the older boy telling him how much he still loved him. The younger boy made up his mind and left the knights immediately. He ran away, and found the older boy. He told him how much he'd missed him, and that he still loved him too. The older boy didn't believe him. He'd done so much bad, he felt sure the younger boy must hate him. But he didn't. He forgave the older boy all the wrongs, and slowly the older boy came to realise he meant it."

"Did they live happily ever after?" Nina yawned.

"Of course," Charles whispered, kissing the top of her head.

"Good," she murmured, her eyelids fluttering shut.

"Goodnight darling," Charles said.

"Night daddy."

With a smile, Charles reached for his book, keeping Nina's hand wrapped around his finger.

"Daddy?"

"What is it darling?"

"I'm glad you and papa found each other again," Nina whispered.

Charles stared in surprise, a grin unconsciously spreading across his face.

"As am I," he replied eventually.

When Erik arrived home hours later, exhausted and ready to fall straight into bed, he found Charles lying in bed, book in one hand, and Nina holding the other as she slept.

"Hello," Charles murmured.

"Cześć," Erik replied, leaning down to brush his lips over Charles'. "What is it?"

"Our daughter is far too perceptive," Charles smiled. "And I love you."

"She gets that from you," Erik smirked. "And I love you too."