Chapter 2
Later, she'll wonder if it's fate or irony that she's having her first cup of tea in ages when she feels the feather light touch of someone in her mind.
It's an odd sensation; warm and gentle like a sunny day but a bit wild and uncontrolled. It's alarming to have a telepath in her head – and not because she feels any malice or danger but because it sets her at ease in a way she hasn't felt in a long, long time. In fact, it reminds her so much of...
"Who is this?" She thinks at the presence in her head. It takes a moment to remember how to focus in order to be heard clearly.
The voice that comes back is young, slightly accented and breathless with wonder and excitement. "I did it! I can't believe I found you!"
"Do I know you?" Her mental voice is sharper than she intended and she feels a wince and a slight hesitation before there's a response.
"My name is Max. And you're my Aunt Raven."
She stands and walks from the kitchen table to the open window, hearing, but not really understanding the words. "I don't know anyone named Max. And I'm not anybody's Aunt. You've got the wrong person."
"I know you're my Aunt Raven. I can tell. Your mind is just like how Daddy remembers it. That's how I was able to find you."
It isn't until she feels something wet splashing her hand that she realizes she's shaking. She sets the cup down on the window sill and slowly takes a deep breath. "Who is your Daddy Max? And where are you?"
A little confusion and then, "My Daddy is Daddy...though the others call him Prof or Professor sometimes. But his name is Charles. And I'm at home."
She has a nephew. Charles has a son. How? How had they not known? Why is he looking for her now? Where is Charles?
The voice answers her, "Daddy is really sick and I can hear him calling for you in his head when he's sleeping. He misses you so much. Will you come home and see him?"
She's overwhelmed with a flurry of mixed emotions. Longing to see Charles. Guilt at not knowing he has a son. Sadness that their relationship has become so strained. Anger still at Charles for holding her back, for his unwillingness to understand.
"Is Charles alright? If he's sick he needs a doctor not me."
"Hank is taking care of Daddy but this is the sickest he's ever been and he's sick a lot. Won't you please come see him? He keeps asking for you and for Erik."
She sighs, then turns around and sits at the table again. "If Charles missed us he would have contacted us himself Max. I don't think he'll really want us to come."
There's silence. And then she's hit with a bunch of memories and emotions all at once.
Noise in the kitchen. Not mother. Girl. Beautiful. Blue. Amazing. Joy. Not alone.
Running. Running. Laughing. Raven outside. Love. Love.
Lounging on the couch. Reading. Raven close. Safe. Always safe. Love. Protect her.
Raven in the kitchen. Hurt. Bewildered. Beautiful. Always love.
Her face is wet and it takes her a moment to realize she's crying. Max's voice sounds shy and a little apologetic in her head. "Sorry. Sometimes I push too much too fast Daddy says. Hank says he's projecting and I can hear his thoughts over and over. I know he misses you. Won't you please come home?"
She takes another deep, shuddering breath to calm herself before she sends her answer. "Okay Max. I'm come as soon as I can."
There's a burst of joy so bright and affectionate that it makes her laugh out loud. "Oh thank you Aunt Raven! I know it's going to make my Daddy so happy to see you."
"Alright. I need to make some arrangements now so you should go. I'll see you soon."
"Wait!" A burst of anxiety. Longing. Curiosity. "Will you bring my Father too?"
Silence. "I don't understand Max. You said your Daddy was home sick. Why would I be bringing him with me?"
Nervousness. Impatience. "No. I mean my Father, not Daddy. I can't find him anywhere. Do you know where he is?"
She thinks this is by far the strangest, most surreal conversation she's ever had. And in her line of work, she's had many. "You have a Daddy...and a Father? What's your Father's name Max?"
The name and the image of a smiling face floats into her head at the same time. It's a face she knows very well but the look of love and wonder isn't something she's seen in 8 years. "Erik. Erik Lensherr. Is he with you? You left together. Will you tell him to come too?"
It's a good thing she's sitting down since her legs feel a bit like jelly. "How? Erik and Charles are men. How can they both be your fathers? Who's your mother?"
Charles, in a wheelchair, belly large, unmistakable.
Charles, on a bed. Unconscious. Blood. Shouting.
Charles, holding a baby. "Your name is Max. I named you after your Father."
"Please Aunt Raven. Daddy misses him too. Can you tell him to come?"
She puts her head in her hands, elbows on the table, trying to absorb this information.
This is not going to go well. Not well at all.
"Yes Max. I'll tell him."