Author's Note:

So my original 20 chapter outline has now become 21 plus an epilogue; I just can't seem to stop writing more in this 'verse. :) I hope you like this chapter as everyone tries to absorb the news of Erik's decision to stay. Hopefully you're still enjoying this journey and not too frustrated with the pace in which Charles and Erik are working through their (many) issues.

Also, my very limited knowledge of the Danger Room is what I remember from old X-Men cartoons and what I found on wiki so don't kill me if it seems too bizarre :)

As always, thanks to everyone for reading and commenting!

P.S. See notes at the end of the chapter for a quick spoiler re: Logan and Charles's relationship.

Chapter 17

"So I hear you're sleeping with my brother."

He's sitting at the kitchen table nursing his morning coffee when Chuck's sister appears out of thin air and drops casually into the chair next to him. She gives him a toothy grin that's amused but not entirely friendly, a dangerous glint in her eye that makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"There's usually not a lot of sleepin' going on."

The snort that comes out of her is genuine and unladylike and Logan finds himself warming slightly at her reaction. He takes another drink from his coffee, using the time to size up the woman in front of him.

It would be easy for someone to underestimate her he thinks; Raven – Mystique – is beautiful; all sinewy curves and brimming with easy confidence. And though she looks harmless enough in that soft, fluffy robe, swiping a piece of toast off Logan's plate, he's been in enough fights to know a threat when he sees one. There's a lethal edge about her that is sharp and familiar and there isn't a doubt in his mind that Magneto's second in command is a dangerous opponent.

Logan pushes his plate towards her, then leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, the coffee cup still in his hand. "You got somethin' you want to say to me?"

He can see McCoy and Cassidy at the other end of the kitchen, doing a pitiful job of pretending not to listen. There's some obvious clanging of pots and pans that makes Logan roll his eyes – apparently subtlety is a skill neither of them possess. They're probably waiting to intervene should the 'you hurt my brother and I'll kill you' talk he's expecting gets out of hand.

Raven looks over at the other two before glancing back at him, grinning wide as she says with mock seriousness, "Yeah, I do actually...does Charles still moan like a pro during sex?"

Hank actually spits out a mouthful of coffee, setting his mug down with a bang and splashing all over the counter before turning an odd shade of purple. Sean is trying hard to stifle his snickering by sticking his head in the fridge and pretending to rifle around for...something.

She gets up to grab a cup of coffee herself, patting Hank on the shoulder as she wanders by. "God you guys are too easy." He watches her move around the kitchen with obvious familiarity, a smirk on her lips when she sits back down next to Logan. "Well? Does he?"

He arches an eyebrow at her but returns her sly smirk. "That's a bit personal don't you think? And not something I'd expect a sister to know about her brother."

Raven shrugs and takes a sip from her mug. "We shared a flat at Oxford. The walls were thin and he wasn't exactly discreet."

"I really don't think the Professor would appreciate his personal affairs being discussed at the breakfast table." Hank gives them both a disapproving glare as he mops up the counter, Logan ignoring him and Raven chuckling at his words.

"Oh come on. Don't tell me you're not even a little curious? Your prim and proper Professor X and Logan here? Who looks like the dictionary definition of 'rough and tumble'?"

"Listen," Sean wanders over to join them, setting his own plate of breakfast and coffee down at the table. "I've already spent way more time than I'd like thinking about Logan and the Prof's...affairs. And it's disturbing enough since the Professor is...well it's like imagining my Dad having sex. So if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if we could just change the subject."

He doesn't understand the way most other people see Chuck; like he's some sort of paragon of virtue and wisdom with no capacity for basic human feelings like desires, fear or anger. It may not be a fair statement to apply to Hank, Alex and Sean exactly – they had firsthand experience dealing with Charles' struggle post Cuba after all – but Logan thinks they've allowed Chuck to lull them into forgetfulness with his Professor X persona over the years.

There are probably very few people in the world who know the real Charles Xavier - sees the side of him that's full of wicked humor and sarcastic wit. And certainly the ones who had known him best were the ones who hurt him the most so he can't exactly blame the man for keeping folks at arm's length. Logan knows a thing or two about self preservation.

Raven looks like she's about to respond to Sean, when she's interrupted by new arrivals to the kitchen.

"Good morning Aunt Raven! Hank! Sean! And Logan too!"

Lensherr wanders in carrying a beaming Max in his arms, the boy showing no ill effects from the night before. The man himself looks relaxed, like he's finally pulled the giant stick out of his ass so Logan guesses the talk must have gone well between the three of them. The Prof. rolls in beside him, Ororo on his lap and a soft smile on his face and Logan feels the tension in his shoulders loosen a touch at seeing Chuck so happy and unguarded.

The kids hop to the ground and head over to grab their own breakfasts while Lensherr moves to put the kettle on for tea. Charles rolls over to the table and reaches over to squeeze his sister's hand before turning to address the others, "Good morning everyone. Has anyone seen Alex this morning?"

"I saw him go out for a run first thing," Hank answers as he reaches for two bowls from the cupboard and hands them to Max, "I think he needed some fresh air and some time alone."

Sean takes a sip of his coffee and sighs, brows furrowed, "I don't think he's been to bed at all. At least I didn't hear any noise coming from his room all night or this morning."

The Prof. frowns at Sean's words before glancing over at Logan. "I'm sorry about what happened with Alex last night. I'll talk to him and explain."

"Ain't nothing to be sorry about. Go find the kid and I'll keep an eye on Lensherr for ya."

Charles' lips curve into a slight smile as a warm chuckle blooms in the back of his head. Logan looks up just in time to catch Lensherr watching them, his eyes narrowed at the telepathic conversation no one else seems to have noticed.

"I should go find him," the Prof. wheels himself towards the door, stopping by the kitchen island where the kids are giggling with each other over their cereal. "You two have fun and try not to get into too much trouble."

"Okay Daddy!"

"See you later Professor!"

An awkward silence descends amongst the adults once Charles leaves; nobody seems to know what to say or how to act after the events of the previous night. Hank and Sean trade glances and try not to look directly at Lensherr while Raven just sits back and eats her toast with an air of indifference. Logan watches as Lensherr makes himself a cup of tea and then wanders over to take a seat across from him at the kitchen table.

"Logan."

"Lensherr."

The man gives him a wry smirk and takes a languid sip from his cup. He sets the tea down in front of him and says mildly, "I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot yesterday. Since Raven and I are returning to the mansion for good perhaps you and I should get better acquainted."

He quirks an eyebrow but otherwise doesn't react. Of course the man is making the first move, staking his claim on Chuck; Logan expects no less from someone like Magneto. Truthfully, he had known as soon as he saw Lensherr that things with the Professor would end – Chuck has always been upfront with him about his complicated feelings for Max's father. And Logan wants the Prof. to be happy, even if it's with the maniac sitting in front of him.

Course that doesn't mean he wants Chuck to get hurt again. Or that he has to make it easy for old Mags.

Raven stops eating her toast and stares at her boss. "Erik? Are we really going to stay?"

"It's true!" Max slides off his stool and runs over to the table, face beaming. "Vati told us last night he's going to stay. Isn't that great?"

"Sure kid," Logan reaches over and musses the boy's hair, making him laugh. "It's great ain't it Cassidy?"

"Ah...yeah! Great!" Sean smiles uncertainly and looks over at McCoy. "Right Hank?"

Logan's respect for Hank rises exponentially at the words that come out of his mouth in response. "Right...so why didn't Charles say anything just now? And is it just going to be you and Raven? What about the other members of your team? Are you disbanding the Brotherhood?"

Lensherr glares for a few moments before he replies tersely, "Charles and I still have to sort out the details."

"Meaning you have no idea how this is even going to work."

The tense silence that follows Hank's statement makes Max frown at the adults around him. Ororo wanders over and takes his hand, looking worried and then determined before turning to Logan. "Do you think Max and I can train with you today? We've been practicing while you've been away."

Max's face immediately lights up at the suggestion. "Yes Logan! Can we train in the Danger Room today? I love watching you fight!"

Raven doesn't bother to hide her curiosity, tilting her head to the side as she asks, "What's the Danger Room?"

Logan looks over at Sean who shrugs and then over at Hank who gives him a quick nod. The kids immediately take off, running out of the kitchen and down the hallway, hollering excitedly as Logan gets up to follow.

"Alright, come on. I'm sure Hank will be happy to give you the tour."

The early morning run helps to calm him down, the muted colors of the fall foliage a blur as he circles the vast grounds of the School. Alex is relieved that the rain has held off all morning; he needed to work through his pent up emotions outdoors and as far away from the mansion as he could go without actually leaving the estate.

By the time Charles finds him he's sitting quietly on one of the stone benches in the Rose Garden, one of the Prof's favorite spots to stop on their regular walks. He's managed to burn through the irrational anger and feelings of betrayal, leaving only a tired, hollow emptiness in his gut.

"If it's alright with you Prof, I'd really rather skip the talk," he drops his head in his hands, staring at the spot on the ground between his feet as Charles rolls to a stop in front of him.

It's quiet here, a lovely oasis of calm and beauty that Alex has come to associate with Charles. He takes a deep breath and rubs his face before sitting up to look at the other man.

The Prof smiles at him and fuck if seeing that gorgeous face doesn't make his heart hurt.

"I'm very sorry Alex."

"Don't," he shakes his head and exhales long and deep. "You don't owe me any apologies or explanations."

He can feel the Prof's thoughts wrap around him like a blanket, soothing him with real affection and warmth. "I think we both know that's not true."

"I'm not angry," Alex says and then starts to chuckle when Charles gives him a look. "Okay, I'm not angry any more. I've always known that you didn't feel the same way and I'm fine with that, really. You and Magneto...I get it. I might not like it and I might hate what's he's done but you have history together and a son."

He picks up his jacket sitting next to him on the bench and drapes it over the Prof's shoulders as he continues, "It's pretty clear that you'll always view me and Hank and Sean as your students. I didn't really think you'd ever look at me and want something more."

"Alex," Charles reaches over and takes his hand, holding it gently between his own. "It's true that a part of me will always think of you three that way but it hasn't blinded me to the man you've become."

He watches as the Professor hesitates, trying to find the right words to continue. "I don't think I've ever told you what you mean to me."

"You remember how difficult it was after Cuba and then finding out about Max," Charles smiles and squeezes his hand. "All three of you were so wonderful, taking care of me and each other when I was incapable of doing anything but feeling sorry for myself. If it hadn't been for you...I'm so grateful you helped me find my way out of the dark."

"You did that yourself Charles. I just helped you remember not to lock yourself in your head and stay there."

"Do you realize how important you are to me? You and Hank and Sean? You're my family...and after Raven and Erik left...that all of you stayed and after all these years you're still here."

Alex shakes his head and smiles softly. "Course we're still here. We get free room and board."

The Professor chuckles and pulls the jacket tighter around him. Their gazes meet and Alex can't help but be captivated by the intensity of his too blue eyes.

"After Max was born...I admit I was tempted," Charles doesn't look away from Alex though he seems embarrassed. "But I knew it wouldn't have been fair to you, that I couldn't love you the way you deserved. And I was selfish, Alex. After Erik...I needed you not to leave more than I needed you as a lover."

Surprisingly, it doesn't hurt as much as he'd expected to finally hear the words spoken out loud. He takes another deep breath and asks, "And Logan?"

"Logan and I understand each other and more importantly neither of us wanted anything beyond a simple arrangement between friends. And...Logan didn't know me before the accident. He doesn't look at me and see who I used to be without the chair."

Alex wants to object, that he doesn't find Charles any less beautiful now than when he first met him eight years ago. That in fact, his attraction to the other man has only deepened as their friendship had blossomed.

The Prof. shakes his head. "No, I'm not suggesting that you do, that you see me as somehow less than who I was before. It's difficult to explain and probably more relevant to my feelings about Erik...I'm sorry never mind."

"You think he'll compare how you are now to how it used to be between you two?"

Charles doesn't try to hide the sadness that tinges his tired smile. "Perhaps I'm the one who'll always compare. And he'll probably never get over the guilt to see past the chair."

There's nothing he can think of to say in response so they just sit in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the quiet of the morning. Finally, Charles reaches out again and carefully pushes his thoughts and feelings at Alex.

"I'm sorry I hurt you. That I couldn't give you what you wanted."

"Prof...Charles. You're my best friend and my mentor. That's always been more than enough for me."

The burst of relief/love/gratitude from the Professor makes Alex grin and reach over to pull the other man into a hug. They pull apart and slowly make their way back inside, Alex pushing the wheelchair while Charles sits quietly and waits.

He holds off for as long as can before he asks what the Prof's undoubtedly been expecting to hear, "So is he going to stay?"

"Yes. It would appear so."

"And you believe that he will?"

Charles' answering laughter is strained. "I know that he believes he's going to stay."

"Well I guess that'll be good for Max then."

The Professor reaches back to grip his hand and pushes warmth/trust/affection at him. "And how do you feel about it?"

Alex pats the Prof's hand in return and grins. "I'll be fine...eventually. I'm a big boy, I can handle Magneto."

"No doubt," Charles' laughter is genuine now. "Erik should be worried about all of you."

As it turns out, the Danger Room is the steel bunker in the bowels of the mansion, expanded and upgraded into the X-Men's training facility. Raven is only half listening as Hank takes all of them through the secured doors and proceeds to show her and Erik his new inventions.

She can tell that Erik is impressed; the room is a veritable mine field of traps that include projectile firing devices, flamethrowers and collapsing walls. With Ororo's help they can even train in different weather conditions, the vast ceilings and expansive space allowing them to simulate everything from snow storms to a tropical flood.

Tuning back in to the conversation she manages to catch the tail end of Hank's explanation. "...reservoir underground to collect rain water and then we use it to fill this room for underwater training."

"Very impressive Hank," Erik moves into the center of the room, doing a 360 degree turn to take in the details. "But why do you need a facility like this when Charles doesn't think there'll be a war?"

Hank wanders over to the main console and flips the switch to power everything down before answering, "I can't tell if you don't understand the Prof at all or if you just underestimate him. Just because we won't start a war Erik, doesn't mean we're not prepared to fight one."

She's surprised that the barb doesn't garner a strong reaction from Erik, though Logan snickers and Sean gives Hank a pat on the back. The man is deep in thought, no doubt absorbing Hank's words while simultaneously thinking of ways to improve the set up.

Max and Ororo have been waiting patiently while the demonstrations were going on, whispering to each other as the adults marveled at Hank's designs. Finally sensing a lull in activity they run over to Logan and tug on his arm.

"Are you finished yet? Can you train with us now?"

Raven is curious enough to ask, "What exactly are you teaching the kids Logan? I know you can fight but these two are only seven years old."

Max shoots her an indignant look and then glares at Ororo when she giggles at his reaction. "We're not too young! Logan teaches everybody self-defense at the School, even Daddy! It's important to be prepared, if the School is ever under attack."

"Has the School been targeted?" Erik looks ready to singlehandedly destroy whatever unknown enemy has threatened Charles and Max.

Sean jumps in to explain before the metal starts to melt off the training room walls. "No, no. You know the Prof...he teaches us to expect the best and plan for the worst. We train to improve our powers and to defend, not to attack."

"Speak for yourself bub. I always fight to win."

"Logan's a great teacher," Ororo says, gazing up at the man with a mixture of admiration and awe. "He's the best fighter in the entire School."

Max nods his head vigorously in agreement. "Yeah, Logan is awesome Aunt Raven! I bet he can beat anybody in a fight."

"Oh yeah? I'm not so sure Max," she grins and shoots Erik a look that stops him in his tracks. "He's never fought against your father."

"Mystique..."

Logan gives her a feral grin before turning to Erik. "What do you say Lensherr? You want to give the kids a show?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. Charles..."

Max interrupts by grabbing Erik's arm and dragging him over towards the others. "Vati it's a great idea! Daddy told me you used to teach him self-defense too I bet you're awesome!"

"Yeah Lensherr," Logan chuckles, "let's see what you got."

Charles rolls into the Danger Room just in time to see Erik fly across the room and smash against the wall. It's a hard landing that stuns him momentarily but he's already on his feet before Charles can make a sound, throwing a punch that knocks Logan to the ground.

Beside him Alex starts to laugh. "Oh my god I can't believe we almost missed this."

No one notices their arrival, all of them completely engrossed in the fight between the two men. Raven, Hank and Sean are standing close to Ororo and Max, making sure to keep them well away from the brawl.

Neither of them are using their mutations, choosing to fight each other the old fashioned way. Erik is efficient and brutal, relying on his training in Krav Maga to land vicious blows while Logan is all power and speed, meeting every move with an equally devastating counter attack.

For a moment, Charles considers just turning around and leaving; if they want to beat each other to a pulp then so be it. But Max and Ororo are watching and cheering them on from the sidelines and he doesn't want the children involved in this little battle of overblown egos between Erik and Logan.

He rolls forward and projects a message loud and clear into the minds of everyone in the room.

"STOP."

The fight ends abruptly and both Erik and Logan collapse in a heap, bruised and bloody on the floor. Hank and Sean flinch when they see him and Alex by the door but Raven just waves at them and grins. The children run over and start talking to him at the same time.

"Daddy did you see..."

"...Logan threw Mr. Erik across the room..."

"...Vati punched Logan in the face..."

He raises a hand to interrupt their chatter. "Yes I saw enough thank you. The fight's over now and I think it would be a good time for you two to go play outside. Logan and Erik need to get cleaned up and rest."

Max looks disappointed but doesn't argue, saying goodbye to the adults before pulling Ororo with him towards the door. Charles watches until they disappear around the corner before rolling to a stop in front of the two men.

"Feel better?"

Logan shrugs and wipes the blood from his split lip before winking at Charles. "Actually yeah I do. Good fight Lensherr."

"Sure...yeah...let's do it again sometime."

Charles brushes a finger gently across Erik's bruised and bloody cheek, accidentally pulling a hiss from the other man. "I'm sorry, darling. Hank, I think you're going to have to stitch this cut."

"Okay Professor. Come on Erik, let's get you patched up."

"What about him?" Erik points to Logan as he struggles to his feet.

"Don't need it. Give it a minute I'll be good as new."

Both Erik and Raven look surprised at the statement and Charles sighs. None of the others seem particularly concerned (or sorry) that they neglected to explain Logan's unique combat advantages to their former mentor.

"Come on. I'll explain 'accelerated healing powers' later."

Logan's already on his feet, shaking his head and stretching his neck until there's an audible crack.

"Hey Sean. You want to go next?"

They can still hear the laughter coming from the Danger Room as they round the corner towards the infirmary. Raven and Hank are walking ahead of them, lost in their own discussion about the next upgrade to the training facility. He glances over at Erik who is keeping pace with his chair and sends him a soft pulse of concern.

"Next time you should probably use your powers."

He gets a wink and a pained grin in return. "Who says there's going to be a next time?"

Charles rolls his eyes and chuckles. "Don't tell me you're not already plotting revenge."

Erik narrows his eyes for a moment and then answers out loud before stalking ahead of him into the infirmary.

"Getting you back will be revenge enough."

Author's Note: Spoiler Warning!

I know there are a lot of readers who are very patiently waiting for Charles' and Erik's reconciliation. I can promise you that it's coming...in good time. As for Logan, his arrangement with Charles does end but expect him to be a feature in a few more chapters as his friendship with Charles in very important to me (the author) and to the Prof!