I laughed when this one came on.

Still don't own X-Men.

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You'll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins

Come stop your crying

It will be alright

Just take my hand

And hold it tight

I quietly tip toed my way down the hall towards Charles' room, trying hard not to wake any of our new mutant friends staying in the mansion with us. I had the first real nightmare in years, what happened to Darwin still fresh in my mind. I needed Charles, I needed to hold him again, so he could chase away the fear.

I slowly turned to door knob to his bedroom door and slipped inside, making my way over to his bed. I was in my blue form, so I was technically nude, but I figured he would be too tired to care and I could always shift back into my clothed human form before he woke up in the morning. I gazed upon his handsome features and smiled gently, trying to blink my tears of sadness away. I gently pulled the covers back and slid into bed next to him. I snuggled up next to him and hugged his arm into my chest, breathing out a sigh of relief at the contact. My Charles was here now, I would be okay.

"Raven?" He lazily turned his head towards me and opened his bleary eyes. "What are you doing here, love? What's wrong?" He mumbled and locked his gorgeous eyes onto my yellow ones.

"I had a nightmare about what happened to Darwin," I whispered back to him, another tear escaping. His eyes became more aware and he gazed at me with compassion and something else that was fierce.

I will protect you

From all around you

I will be here

Don't you cry

"Oh, come here my girl," He whispered back and turned over from his back to face me, and pulled me towards him in a hug. I clutched at his t-shirt and ran my other through his hair, and let out another sigh of relief and contentment. We were pressed flush against each other now, with one of his arms wrapped around my back and the other weaved through my crimson locks. "No matter what happens Raven, I will protect you. I won't let anything happen to you. You can count on that," he pressed a kiss to the side of my forehead, and paused when he felt the rough scales. "Raven...you aren't naked, are you?" he asked in a soft, wary tone.

"...I wasn't really thinking when I walked down here. I was sleeping in my natural form and just wanted to see you as soon as possible." I swallowed, and started to get nervous when he stayed quiet. "I was gonna change back in the morning before you woke up, I promise!" I whispered back urgently. I really didn't want him to get irritated with me tonight.

He let out a long sigh. "Alright, it's fine, I can't really see anything right now anyway. Just," He paused a moment, like he needed to get his thoughts together. Then I understood. "Don't worry," I spat quietly, pulling away from him a bit. "I won't let my nasty skin touch you. I'll keep away..." I muttered angrily, annoyed and hurt at his refusal to accept me the way I am.

Suddenly Charles let out a growl and pulled me back to him, purposely pressing his lips to my forehead in a wet kiss. "You silly girl," he mumbled against my skin. "I am not disgusted with your skin. You're beautiful no matter what, sweetheart." The telepath rubbed his hand across my back in consolation. "I only want to respect your modesty. It's fine for the night, my dear."

My heart soared at the admission. I thought he only found my human form attractive! This was what I had been hoping to hear for years now. Well, almost what I've been wanting to hear. "Goodnight Charles." I breathed against his chin, not bothering to fight the drowsiness from taking me. "G'night, love."

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I woke up to birds chirping and morning sunlight drifting in through the curtains of Charles' bedroom window. It took me a moment to remember why I was here, but then recalled the small chat we had before falling asleep last night. I blinked the sleep away from my eyes and took stock of my surroundings. In the middle of the night my legs had tangled into the sheets as I changed positions. From the feel of it, my entire backside was uncovered while I lay my entire front against Charles, who had once again shifted back onto his back. My head was laying on his chest and our hands were laced together on his abdomen. His other hand...

...Was on my ass.

I immediately felt my face flush when I felt the warmth caressing my buttocks. I know we've been getting closer and closer over the years, but this was the first time he's ever intimately touched me while I was nude. I tried to wiggle closer towards him and away from the touch. As much as I liked it, I knew Charles would flip his shit if he woke up to this. He only felt comfortable with our unusual relationship when he was partly in denial. Small, seemingly harmless caresses were about as far as I've gotten him so far. I bit my lip when the hand followed me and gripped me possessively at the movement. I tried to control my breathing and my now dirty thoughts. I couldn't let him wake up to this. He'll get scared off and the progress I've been making will be ruined.

Just as I was about to attempt to change into human form (because my cells shifting and waking up Charles was better than him waking up palming my ass), a loud knocking sounded through the room. Without even thinking, I whipped my head towards the door and watched in horror as the person on the other side opened the door without even waiting to hear consent.

"Wake up Charles, I want to start on our lessons early to..day..." Erik paused in the doorway and stared at us in shock. His eyes snapped to my wide yellow ones before fully taking in the full scene.

I had my legs wrapped around tangled in sheets and another set of legs.

I was still blue, scaly, and naked.

Charles' hand was still on my ass. Which Erik got a full view of.

His eyes slowly perused my form before landing back on my face. He raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to say something, and I panicked. I quickly sat up and untangled my legs and moved to get out of the bed. My sudden flurry of movement woke Charles and he mumbled out something to me, but I couldn't catch it. I shifted back to my clothed, human self and dashed out the door, nearly running into the other man as he hurried to get out of the way. I quickly locked myself in my bedroom and sunk down onto the floor.

Why can't they understand the way we feel?

They just don't trust what they can't explain

I know we're different, but deep inside us

We're not that different at all

I'm not sure how long I sat there on the floor of my bedroom. It must of been awhile, because I was startled out of my solitude by a soft knock. "Raven?" Charles' voice called through my door. I cleared my throat and answered, "Come in, Charles." I stood up so he could open the door, and the man walked in and shut the door behind him. I took a deep breath when our eyes met.

"I'm sorry."

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and asked, "Why are you apologizing, love? I should be the one that's sorry," He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I just had...a chat, with Erik. When I asked why you ran away he explained what he had thought he walked into."

"Charles, I-"

"It's fine, Raven. Look, I know I haven't really been acting like a brother should lately, and now because of my perverted behavior..."

"Charles!" I snapped. He looked back up into my eyes in surprise. "Read my mind."

His blue eyes widened. "I thought you didn't want me reading your mind?"

"You're right, I don't." I sighed. "But I'm letting you look now, so you can fully understand how I feel." He swallowed, and raised his slightly shaking hand to his right temple. I was the first mind he linked to it was always ridiculously easy to drift in and see.

His eyes widened a bit more and started to look glassy with emotion. "Oh, Raven..." He was now seeing how much I've always loved him, how much I constantly think about him. He shifted through memories and saw that my attraction to Hank was mostly similarities between himself and the younger man. His eyes darkened when he saw how many nights and days I spent fantasizing about him and what I'd love for him to do to me.

He took his hand away from his head and before I could add anymore to the conversation he covered my lips with his. "I love you too, my Raven." He breathed against my lips, and cupped my face with his hands.

Don't listen to them

'Cause what do they know

We need each other, to have, to hold

They'll see in time, I know

My heart soared in joy and love, I finally had my Charles, the only thing I've truly wanted since I first met him all those years ago. To be with him forever.

Cause you'll be in my heart

Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart

Always.