Chapter 19

"Erik, I won't force any of my X-Men to join your Brotherhood."

"Force? I'm not forcing anyone to do anything! But I have to be able to lead them on missions, Charles. You said it yourself we can't have two separate teams in the field with different objectives."

"...No. We can't simply sit on our hands and hope that the government comes around eventually. Any time we waste is time they spend developing weapons against us. New ways to control us."

"There's more than just one way to fight for our rights. We need to educate people on the science around mutation. We can work to influence the public and private sectors; we need time and patience. Violence isn't the only way..."

"How long Erik?"

"What?"

"How long before you decide Max is old enough? Before you make our son a soldier in your war?"

Three days.

They've been at it for three days, the two of them all but locked in the study, trying to come to an agreement on the future of the X-Men and the Brotherhood. More importantly (or the same thing really) they are negotiating their own futures and the role Erik will play in Charles' and Max's lives. It requires commitment on both their parts, along with the willingness to compromise and move past their troubled history.

When he made the decision and promised his son he would stay on at the School, Erik had genuinely believed he and Charles could make it work. That hewould make it work. There's nothing and no one in the world he loves more than his new family and he's determined to do everything he can to come to an arrangement they can both support whole heartedly.

Now, as he watches Charles roll out of the study with barely a backwards glance, he thinks he might have spoken too soon and made promises to Max that he doesn't know how to keep.

Charles' words sting, his accusations still ringing in his ears as he rubs his forehead and sighs. Leaning back in his chair he stares at the flames in the fireplace and tries to quell his brewing impatience and irritation with his former lover. For all that the Professor has stated his desire for Erik and Raven to come home, his behaviour the last few days has him completely at a loss.

A light knock at the open study door pulls Erik out of his thoughts and he looks up to see Sean wandering in, setting a martini on the coffee table in front of him before taking a seat on the sofa. He doesn't understand why the other man has brought him a drink of all things and says so, in a tone that's not a little wary.

Sean just chuckles, the ice in his own glass tinkling softly as he takes a sip and says, "You look like shit Magneto. Thought you could use something stronger than the tea you and the Prof. have been living on the last few days."

"Thanks," he doesn't know what else to say and being around his former team is uncomfortable at best, their interactions still fraught with tension. Alex's contempt at least is easy to handle; Erik knows the sentiment well and doesn't begrudge the other man his anger and resentment. His dealings with Hank and Sean though, are vastly different and he's realized in the last few weeks that the two of them aren't anything like the young men he used to know.

At a glance, Hank is not far off from how Erik remembers him; still soft spoken and prone to excited ramblings about his latest projects. He carries himself these days with a lot more poise and confidence, an awareness and lithe grace that speaks to an understanding and acceptance of his enhanced abilities. There's a quiet strength about him that Erik admires; a willingness to stand against Magneto and challenge his views and actions intellectually as easily as Alex is ready to do the same physically. They are Charles' champions – their unwavering dedication to the Professor and his ideals such a stark contrast to the transient loyalties of his own followers in the Brotherhood.

And where Alex has styled himself protector and guardian and Hank as wise council and spokesperson, Sean has taken on the unlikely role of caretaker to Charles' family of mutants, young and old. The man in front of him is centered and keenly aware of everything around him, nothing of the excitable young man he remembers shoving off the satellite platform all those years ago.

"How's it going with the Prof?" It's a loaded question that's delivered with a tone completely devoid of judgement, managing to ease Erik back from a vicious retort.

"It's..." He shakes his head and takes a drink of his martini, swirling the olive around the bottom of the glass as he admits, "It could be better."

Sean snorts loudly at his comment and shakes his head. "I can imagine."

"Can you?" He arches an eyebrow and watches the younger man settle into his seat across the way, stretching his legs onto the coffee table. A few minutes pass in silence before Erik takes another sip and says, reluctantly, "I'm...not sure how we're going to make this work."

"Why?"

"We're going in circles," Erik shrugs, leaning back in the armchair. "Our differing views about humans and mutants haven't changed in the last eight years. And we can't seem to come remotely close to a compromise on any issue we've discussed."

The curiosity is evident in Sean's eyes though he doesn't seem terribly surprised at the revelation. And he doesn't hesitate to demand an example from Erik. "Like what?"

"I suggested that we merge our two teams. Having more skills and more support during operations will make it easier and safer. We'll have more flexibility in the field and more people available for back-up to handle surprises."

"And who's going to lead the missions? You, I assume." There's no dismissal or anger in Sean's tone, just a simple statement of fact.

Erik nods and continues, "Charles said no. He was adamant that Alex wouldn't agree to it and that he would never force him or any of you to follow my orders."

"Well the Prof. is right about Alex," Sean answers, tapping the edge of his glass absently as he mulls over Erik's words. "He's field command for the X-Men so you'd need his support to make it work. And he doesn't trust you Erik, so there's no way he's going to take orders from you."

He tries hard to rein in his frustration at Sean's comments though his reply is still delivered through gritted teeth. "Perhaps Alex can be convinced to put his personal feelings about me and Charles aside and do what's best for the team."

His barb is ignored, the younger man remaining perfectly affable in his response. "You might not believe this Erik, but it's more than just how he feels about you and Charles. There's a pretty big difference in the way the X-Men and the Brotherhood function; more than just a simple case of who gets to be in charge."

"Explain."

Sean leans forward in his seat, pulling his feet off the coffee table and says, randomly, "Why does your team follow you?"

"What? What does that have to do with-"

He's cut off mid-sentence by a small wave. "Just...trust me I'm going somewhere with this. Answer the question please."

Erik narrows his eyes and bites back the surge of irritation, choosing to tolerate the line of questioning for now. "Many reasons. Because they've been hurt by humans before and don't want to be in that position ever again. Some are angry and some are scared. All have good reasons to fight for their freedom and their right to live without fear."

"And some for good old-fashioned revenge," Sean murmurs quietly, shaking his head, "though I can understand why they would feel that way. My point though, is that for all intents and purposes the Brotherhood is an army and you are its General. You lead and they follow and I doubt you allow anyone except maybe Mystique to question or contradict your orders."

"It gets the job done," he argues, not understanding the direction Cassidy is taking.

Sean gives him a slightly amused look but continues without acknowledging the rebuttal, "The X-Men, it's not like that with us. Charles will always involve the whole team in planning our missions..."

"I listen to my team..."

"...and we follow orders without question because we trust each other with our lives. And we trust each other to make decisions that the whole team can support and defend."

It would be easy to scoff at the other man's words; discount the sentiments being conveyed as having no real place in war. And yet he can't but acknowledge these very real differences between the X-Men and the Brotherhood are the reason he and Charles have struggled to come to a compromise. The Professor's team loves him and follows him with unwavering loyalty whilst his own people are ruled predominately by fear or need...and sometimes it's a fear of Magneto himself.

In truth he's not ashamed of it; fear is an emotion he understands well and has no problems manipulating. Abilities and passion are enough to bring mutants to his side and sheer power and a ruthless nature keep them in check. But he's not fool enough to think he can trust most of them to guard his back, let alone with his life.

"So it's hopeless then? There's no chance of compromise? To find a way to make this work?"

"You understand don't you, Erik? Why we don't trust you? Why the Prof. doesn't?" Sean shakes his head, the look on his face sad despite his placid tone of voice. "You left us in the middle of nowhere, with Charles injured and no way for us to get help. We were on that beach for six hours, Magneto, before Hank fixed the radio and Moira was able to convince the CIA to come for us. And even then, Charles had to use his powers on them, so they wouldn't take us into custody."

He does understand; realized mere hours after he left with Raven and the members of Shaw's old team that he had essentially abandoned Charles and the others in a war zone. Once the haze of rage and adrenaline and the pain of Charles' words had cleared he had...doubted. It had seemed his only course of action to take in that heated moment; to demand that a choice be made in the face of expected and utter betrayal by the humans.

An impulsive and - he felt at the time - justified decision to put as much distance as possible between himself and the man who refused to stand with him, united against a common enemy.

The man he loved who chose them and rejected him.

And Erik had chosen too; to turn from Charles' beliefs and leave in his righteous fury and indignation, shedding their unspoken promises like the discarded shell of a life he never should have wanted and couldn't keep.

If Sean has any clue to the mad tumult of his thoughts or notices the bone white of his knuckles as he clenches his fingers on the arm rest, he makes no mention of it. He barely seems to see Erik as he takes another sip of his drink, wiping a finger distractedly on the film of water coating his glass.

"It was really bad...for a long time. When we first got to the mansion we had no clue what to do. Charles sent Moira away not long after we got back. He never said anything to us but we know he was devastated that yet another person he cared about was gone from his life for good.

"Those first few months...between his therapy and then finding out about Max and his mutation. And then he tried to reach you and you never wrote back. The Prof...well it was hell for him as I'm sure you can guess, though in the end it made us all stronger. Closer. And Max's birth tied us together in a way that's difficult to explain."

"I can't change the past Sean," he rubs his face tiredly, feeling wretched and hopeless and pretending not to see the sympathetic glance directed his way, "I can only try to change things going forward. But I can't do it alone. No matter Charles' reservations, he's going to have to try. Otherwise, there isn't any point for me to be here."

The other man leans forward, arms braced on his knees as he answers, "That's what I'm trying to tell you. The Prof. is trying but it's going to take time. And patience. Something you're not really known for, I know." With a grin reminiscent of his much younger self he continues, "Don't give up because he does want this, more than he's willing to admit. But he still thinks you'll leave, if he just pushes you hard enough. Understand?"

"Why?"

Sean shakes his head slightly. "Why what?"

"Why are you telling me all this? Helping me?"

A smile again, full of good humor. "Because having you back will make Charles happy. And nobody deserves it more."

The interrogation begins, the moment he walks back into the kitchen.

"Well? How did it go?"

"Are they making any progress?"

Alex doesn't say anything, nursing a beer as the other two bombard Sean with their questions. He walks over to the fridge and grabs one for himself, popping the cap off with the bottle opener before sliding into the seat at the kitchen island next to Hank.

He shrugs and says with a soft sigh, "My talk with Erik was fine. And it's going as well as we expected. Which means not very well at all."

Raven snorts, drumming her fingers impatiently on the marble counter. "What did you expect with those two stubborn idiots? What are they fighting about?"

"Lots of things I think. But the biggest issue is what to do about the X-Men and the Brotherhood."

Hank nudges him gently with his elbow, eyebrow raised in question. "You think they'll be able to sort this out themselves?"

Sean watches as Alex gets up from the kitchen table and walks out without a word. He shares a look with the others in the awkward silence that follows, though neither Raven nor Hank say anything or attempt to call him back.

"I don't know." He takes a swig of his beer and grimaces. "I hope so. I think they both really want to make this work they just haven't figured out how to do it."

"Then let's help them figure it out," Alex interrupts, stalking back into the room with a pen and legal pad. "We know how the Prof. thinks and we are the X-Men. We know what decisions have to be made and what we can live with." He stares pointedly at Raven and says with an air of impatience, "Can you negotiate on Magneto's behalf? Does he let anyone else in the Brotherhood have opinions?"

The smile that crosses Raven's face sends an involuntary shiver down Sean's spine, 'unfriendly' a gross understatement for the look she gives Alex. "Yes, I can speak for Magneto, " she answers, voice silky smooth as ice.

Hank rolls his eyes at them both and exhales loudly with a frustrated sigh before picking up the pen and pad. "Alright then. Shall we begin?"

July 12, 1963

Erik,

Our son was born on June 3rd, weighing six pounds eight ounces. Max is healthy and perfect and is adjusting well to life at the mansion.

Be assured that I love him more than I can say and I will do my very best to be a good father. When he is old enough to understand, I will tell him about you.

I won't be writing to you anymore.

Charles

The memories don't fade with time, a blessing and a curse that has plagued Charles Xavier for as long as he can remember.

Every moment he ever spent with Erik is preserved with crystal clarity and readily accessible, to relive in all of their joy and heartache, glory and despair.

It hurts to deny Erik his memories of Max, when all Charles has wanted for the last eight years was just this; for his lover to welcome him back into his heart and his mind. But the thought of sharing such an intimacy again fills him with dread; for Charles to bare his soul and lose himself in Erik's brilliance, to gamble with their fragile truce and his own hard won peace of mind.

And from the way their discussions have been going the past three days, Charles can't help but think it's the wisest course. Because the risks aren't just his own to take this time (his life, his heart, his legs); he has Max's well being to consider before all else.

His musings and his doubts follow him all day, through a subdued breakfast with Erik and Max, his morning classes and then a late lunch with Raven. Retreating to the library gives him some much needed time to relax and regroup, though his break is interrupted by Max's sudden and much welcomed arrival.

"Hi Daddy!" His son greets him with a toothy grin and a gentle push of missedyouwhyareyouinherebyyouselfwhat'swrong and Charles sets his book on the table beside him to make room for the little boy on his lap. "What are you reading?" he asks out loud, instead of the questions bouncing around in his head. "'The Once and Future King'? Is that your birthday present from Vati?"

"Yes, it's one of my favorites. Reading it helps me think."

Max turns his head to look up at him, eyes bright and steady as he says without hesitation, "You're feeling sad today...and a little scared. You're thinking about Vati, aren't you? Whether he'll leave anyway, even though he said he would stay."

Though Charles is shielding most of his concerns and disagreements with Erik, the little boy's empathic abilities still manage to sense his unease, proving that in this aspect of their shared gift at least, Max's powers are outpacing his own at the same age. And there's also the fact that their son is smart enough and observant enough to put the pieces together without his telepathy; of his parents' struggle over the past few days to carve out a place for Erik at the School.

Charles wraps his arms around Max and places a gentle kiss on the top of his head, brushing the soft brown curls with a touch meant to comfort. He wishes more than anything that he can guarantee the idyllic future his sweet, perfect boy craves but it would be pointless and irresponsible to lie. He knows better than his naive self eight years ago, just how little his desires have ever held sway over Erik's intentions.

"He really does want to be here, Max. And I can promise you that your Vati and I are doing our very best to make it happen."

Max's body curls a little tighter against his chest in answer, "I'm scared too, Daddy. I don't want him to leave."

"Me neither, love. Me neither."

When Charles arrives at the study after dinner, gut clenched with trepidation and mentally prepared for a fourth day of arguments and lack of progress he finds the room unexpectedly occupied. Raven and Hank are seated on the couch with their heads bent together speaking quietly, a small stack of papers placed neatly in front of them on the coffee table. Alex is standing in front of the fireplace with his back turned, arms crossed and body tense while Sean is humming softly under his breath as he paces back and forth across the room.

He can feel Erik coming up just a couple of paces behind him, a sharp and wary edge of surprise radiating from the other man as he takes in the same scene. The others all turn as he rolls into the room, their faces determined and minds loud with worry and anticipation.

"This is a surprise." The droll comment doesn't hide the suspicion that colors Erik's words as the man glares at the unexpected – and unwelcome - audience. "What are you all doing here?"

The reactions from the others vary; Raven rolls her eyes while Hank sits up straighter in his seat, hand reaching absently to brush the stack of papers in front of him. There's a derisive snort from Alex and an amused chuckle from Sean and Charles can't help but let out his own exasperated sigh in response, "Erik, please."

They each make their way to their usual seat; Erik dropping elegantly into his armchair in front of the chess board and Charles gliding smoothly into the space across from him. There are a few beats of uncomfortable silence as the two of them wait for the others to make their intentions known.

"Ahem." Hank shifts himself forward on the couch, clearing his throat before he starts, "We're here to help you come to an agreement regarding the X-Men and the Brotherhood."

"Really?" Erik arches an eyebrow, the curiosity barely discernible as he and Charles share a look of muted surprise. "And how do you propose to do that?"

"Here, we made a list," Hank answers, taking the papers he's been subtly arranging on the coffee table and offering copies to them both with a quirk of his lips. "We went through the key issues you're likely to be working through and came up with some...recommendations."

Raven cuts in before he has a chance to elaborate, "What Hank is trying to say so very diplomatically is that we've hashed out most of the sticking points you two have been arguing about the last few days and have come to what we think will be an agreeable solution to both sides."

"You think we need your help-"

Alex turns to face them at last, expression impassive as he addresses Erik's objection with a brisk retort. "Yes, we all think you two needed the help," he snaps, "not because you're not brilliant, capable leaders but because you are both incredibly stubborn, opinionated and much too emotionally invested in the outcome of these negotiations to think beyond the confines of your own philosophies. Trust us to know when to let you lead and when to provide support."

"If it makes you feel any better," Sean interjects with a soft chuckle, "Alex and Raven did a more than admirable job fighting it out on behalf of the X-Men and the Brotherhood. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how thorough we've been."

Charles looks around the room, the pride and fierce loyalty on the faces of his loved ones helping to ease some of the uncertainty he's been wrestling with the past few days. "I trust you, all of you. Tell us what you've come up with. Please."

"The Brotherhood-"

Erik interrupts with a sigh that's almost resigned, "Let me guess. You want me to disband The Brotherhood."

Hank continues speaking without missing a beat, "-and the X-Men should continue to exist as separate entities. Though of course there will be a lot more communication and information sharing going forward."

"We can't disband the Brotherhood for a number of reasons," Sean adds, "no offence but there are some very dangerous folks on your team, Erik. Not just hostile to humans but potentially harmful to mutants too. And we can't very well bring everybody here to live with us at the School. The safety of the children is our first priority."

"The government won't believe that the Brotherhood has just suddenly disappeared overnight after eight years of activity." Raven voice is brittle as she continues, "They'll assume we're hiding and planning something big and go on the offensive. Better to have their focus stay on us; we can't risk the CIA diverting more resources identifying mutants and taking them into custody. Or god forbid, turn their focus here."

Hank waves his hands around as he speaks, caught up in the explanation as he continues on, "The Brotherhood serves a purpose, you see. Think of it as good cop, bad cop but with the X-Men and the Brotherhood. Fear – the threat of violence and retaliation is in itself a deterrent. And fear will keep the government from going too far and pushing too hard, too fast; give us time to change public perceptions about mutants."

"I don't understand it doesn't really sound like much of a change from how things are now. Erik still runs the Brotherhood and I still run the X-Men and we're still at odds."

"And how can I live in the mansion if I'm running the Brotherhood? How is any of this helping us?"

"You're not at odds," Alex says with a sigh, "no more killing humans. We will protect ourselves and any mutants in danger but we don't strike preemptively. Not anymore.

"But we won't sit and wait for the public or the government to change their minds about mutants. We actively work to further mutant rights. In public through legislation, funding, education. We run the School and provide a safe place for those who need it. And behind the scenes we rescue mutants in danger, destroy illegal facilities and research."

"What matters is that you run things together," Hank adds, "you make decisions regarding the Brotherhood, the X-Men and the School together. Compromise. Not violence as the first step but as a last resort. You can do this together, the two of you. The way it was always meant to be."

Hank's last words hang, palpable in the silence that follows as they all wait with bated breath for a reaction. As usual, Erik is completely unreadable though Charles is quietly hopeful, allowing himself to believe they may finally be on their way to a workable arrangement.

After what seems like an eternity, Erik is the one to speak first.

"Assuming we agree to this...compromise, we'll have to work out a living schedule. Perhaps I live here two weeks every month? I want to be here as much as I can for Max but I can't leave the Brotherhood without a leader. They're not like your team Charles, I need to be there to watch-"

Raven slips out of her seat and crouches in front of Erik, taking his hand. "You're right. The Brotherhood does need someone there; to watch them and to run things day to day. But that person isn't going to be you."

"What are you...you're not saying..."

"I am," she nods and grins at him, fierce and determined, "you'll live here with Charles and Max. And I'll stay at the base and handle the Brotherhood's operations."

Raven turns to Charles next, taking his hand with her free one. "I want you both to know this isn't a rash decision on my part; I've been doing a lot of thinking about this. This house, this life; it's not me and hasn't been for a long time. I want to be your sister, Charles and Max's aunt but I don't have to live here to do that. I'll visit, as often as I can though I know it isn't the same as being here all the time. I just...I want to do my part, to make things right...for everything. I love you."

"I love you too, Raven," is all Charles can think to say in return before they are moving down Hank's long list, the realization of concessions andcompromise and progress giving form to years of unfulfilled dreams.

He's bursting with optimism, for the first time since before Cuba that he and Erik will stand together. Enough to believe since Erik's arrival at the School that another painful break wasn't inevitable.

He's thrilled.

Though the departures that follow in the coming months really shouldn't have surprised him.