Set approximately four years before First Class. Some details may be slightly off as I tend to writefrom memory :)

."Mother, you cannot look after a child like this!"

Charles stared at his mother from across the room, exasperated. She had never realised that leaving her baby without attention through a whole night was not humane, and now that the child was six years old she hadn't given her the time of day either.
She was too caught up in her own grief.

Charles knew neither their father nor stepfather would have allowed it, would at least have hired a nanny by now to help. But both were out of the picture, and Charles had moved away to study at Oxford, so he couldn't be of much use.

Lady Xavier sighed and tapped her cigarette.

"She was fine. She will learn not to bother soon enough," she declared, though her voice cracked and she dipped her eyes. Charles sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes.

"You've tested that theory for six years."

The child lying on the settee began to stir, and then whimper. Charles watched his mother for her reaction, but she did nothing, just inhaled her cigarette and stared at the floor. Shaking his head in frustration, the boy went straight over and sat down
beside his sister, scooping her up and cradling her as he tried to see what was wrong. After a brief examination he accurately concluded that she was having a bad dream, and was crying out for comfort.

"Oh, Connie, it's ok. I've got you, love," he told her quietly, looking into her huge blue eyes as she woke up and saw him. She calmed down at the sound of his voice, and as she closed her eyes again he noted that she was unusually aware for such a young
age.

Knowing something was different about her, Charles tightened his jaw and looked back at his mother.

"I'm going to take her back to Oxford," he said firmly. "Raven and I will do our utmost."

This seemed to wake Lady Xavier up.

"What?" She stammered, almost dropping her cigarette. "Don't be ridiculous, you're only eighteen and Raven is even younger," she scolded him. Charles held her gaze and kept a hold of the little girl, who had snuggled into his arms and was sleeping more
peacefully. Underneath the defiance, he could see the true fear and embarrassment in his mother's face, and softened his tone.

"She'll have a better chance at life," he answered. "I am free through most of the day while Raven is at school, and Raven has the nights while I study. We will sort it out."

Lady Xavier bit her lip and sighed. At this, fifteen-year-old Raven came through the door, back from the kitchen with a beaker of milk as Charles had asked her to fetch while she was out gathering the last of her belongings. Charles felt his mother's
eyes on them as he woke Connie and Raven offered her the milk, which she took readily, grateful yet unused to the attention.

As the little girl gulped down the contents of the glass, Raven talking gently to her, Charles took a careful peek into his mother's mind. Through her eyes he saw himself, with Connie safe in his arms, as Raven soothed her.

He also felt her sudden rush of guilt, and a confused pain as she realised that her children were more than capable of looking after themselves, and that Connie seemed happier in Charles' arms than hers. Although, when was the last time she had held her...?

Charles sighed to himself, and as Raven noticed he winked at her.

"What would you say to Connie coming to live with us, love?" he asked quietly.

Raven grinned.

"Yes! Oh, please can she?"

Charles smiled and looked up at his mother, then set Connie on the sofa and stood up. He walked across to Lady Xavier and looked into her eyes, hands on her shoulders.

"Mother, please look at me."

Lady Xavier sighed heavily, eyes flitting around, but Charles waited patiently until she focused on his. He smiled sadly.

"I know that Father dying hurt you, as did Edward's leaving last year, but you can't let it affect your children," he told her firmly. As her eyes dipped in shame Charles shook his head. "I know you hate to hear it but Connie needed you and you've let
her down."

Lady Xavier nodded a little, quiet for a moment, and Charles waited patiently. She looked up at him, guilt stricken.

"I let you down too," she said quietly. She looked across at Raven, who was singing gentle tunes to Connie. "And Raven. You're the one who took her in, made her feel valued."

Charles nodded, and his mother looked back at him and placed a cold, ill hand on his cheek.

"I'm sorry for that, Charlie. Honestly, I am. I was too preoccupied with your father and his work, and then Edward. I never told you I loved you, never showed your sister I cared for her," she said, pained. Charles smiled a little.

"Which sister?" he asked wistfully. Lady Xavier laughed weakly and her eyes became teary.

"Both of them," she whispered. Her eyes did not move from Charles' face, and he daren't look away, but out of the corner of his eye Charles saw Raven look across, wide eyed.

Lady Xavier had finally accepted her.

Charles nodded.

"Thank you for saying that."

His mother stroked his cheek with her thumb.

"It's true. I can see Raven is as much your sister as Connie. That makes her my daughter," she said firmly. Eyes dipping to the floor, she released Charles and turned back towards the window, shoulders hunched.

"The two of you have grown up good and honest and beautiful. If you can do the same for Constantine, maybe she is better off with you."

Her voice was quiet and pained, but Charles knew she meant what she said. She was finally giving in. Not wishing to push her any further, Charles stepped forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He lingered for a moment, then turned and walked back to
his sisters.

"Let's go home," he whispered as he lifted a now sleeping Connie off the sofa and wrapped her tightly in his arms. Raven stood up too, and they left the room as quietly as they could.

When they were halfway down the hall, Charles heard his mother's quiet sobs and hoped to God the girls couldn't hear them too.