Chapter 5

He wakes to the feeling of something warm and wet on his cheek.

A soft shuddering breath. A calloused hand cradling his face.

A whispered confession. "Oh Charles...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Charles what have I done?"

Charles opens his eyes, squinting slightly, voice hoarse. "Erik."

Erik's face slowly comes into focus above him and he leans unconsciously into the hand stroking his face. "I came as soon as I knew. I don't...I did this to you."

"You didn't mean to hurt me."

"Oh Gott. Charles, they told me...your legs..."

"My friend, it was an accident. I forgive you."

"I don't deserve your forgiveness Charles. I never deserved you."

"Let me take care of you. I'll stay until you get well."

"And then you'll leave."

"Charles..."

"You're really going to do this? You really want to spend the rest of your life running? Fighting? Killing humans because you think they'll come after you?"

"They will come after us. All of us. They will never accept those who are different, more powerful. They fear us and they'll do everything they can to destroy us."

"Then we have to teach them not to be afraid! That we can use our powers for the betterment of mutants and humans! Attacking them, provoking them will only reinforce their fear of us! Force them to hunt us down to protect themselves!"

"I love you. That doesn't mean I agree with you Charles."

"Please Erik. Don't do this. It's not too late."

" I'm doing this to protect you, since you refuse to protect yourself."

"I don't need your protection Erik! I need you to listen to what I'm saying!"

"You should go."

"I want to stay. I love you Charles. Let me take care of you while you recuperate."

"No. I can't bear to have you here for a little while only to have you leave me again. You need to go. Now."

"Professor." Charles is lost in thought, looking quietly out the window in his office when Alex wanders in.

"Hello Alex," he turns to face his friend, who is eyeing him with undisguised concern. "You're up early this morning."

The blond sits in the chair in front of the massive oak desk as Charles wheels himself around and pretends to shuffle some papers. "I went to check on you but you weren't in your room."

"I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. I came down here to catch up on some paperwork."

Alex sighs, "Are you feeling alright? Do you need anything? Tea? Your medication?"

"No I'm fine really, thank you."

"How did it go with Magneto?"

He's not surprised at Alex's question; over the years, the brash, angry young man they recruited from prison has become his close friend and confidant. He is both insightful and direct, and the years haven't completely taken away his edge.

"As well as one can expect, given the circumstances. We were able to sort out a misunderstanding."

Alex snorts, "What, he forgot where the mansion was located for eight years?"

Charles allows himself a slight smile, "No. It turns out he didn't know about Max." He continues before the other man can ask, "He didn't read any of my letters."

"And I suppose he thinks that we conspired to keep Max away from him and demanded to know how we could do such a thing. Stupid, self important ass."

He smoothes the pile of papers on his desk, running his hand absently across the pages, "It doesn't matter. What matters is he that he knows about Max now and he wants to be a part of our son's life. I've given him some conditions to being around Max and he's thinking them over now."

"What conditions?"

"Things to do with Max's safety and about his dealings with the Brotherhood. But most importantly that he can't wear his helmet around our son."

Alex rolls his eyes, "I'm sure he's taking that well."

"Look Charles," the younger man leans forward and grabs the professor's hand with his own. "Max doesn't need him. You don't need him. He's going to play at being a parent for a bit until the novelty wears off and then he'll run off again. And it's going to break Max's heart to have his Father in his life for a little while only to have to watch him leave."

He's probably not that far off the mark.

"It's not about me or Erik." He squeezes Alex's hand and then pulls away, wheeling himself back towards the bay window overlooking the garden. "This is about what's best for Max. He deserves a chance to know his Father."

Alex shakes his head, "He should have just stayed the hell away."

"This situation was always going to come to a head." Charles turns to look at the other man. "Either Max would realize that he has a Father out there somewhere, who knew he existed but didn't want to see him, or that he has a Father who would occasionally come into his life and then always choose to leave him behind." He's exhausted and his voice breaks slightly, "Either way the best we can do is to love him through this and make sure he understands that it's not his fault when Erik leaves."

"You don't think he'll stay."

"Do you?"

Alex gets up and walks over to stand behind the professor's chair. He squeezes the prof's shoulder lightly before turning to leave. "No, I really don't."