AN: Once Again I'm soooooo sorry I havent updated this story in a while, with University deadlines and a huge case of writers block this story had kind of gone on the back burner. Here is a small chapter to tied you over, and i will write a proper chapter soon as i can. I am trying to right some more beofre deadlines come and i'm completely swamped Love xxx

Its Always You

Chapter 8

Alina stirred in her sleep burying her face deeper into Charles' chest, he tightened the arm that was placed around her waist in his sleep. This made Alina smile, however the incessant knocking on the bedroom door refused to cease and let her fall back into a deep slumber. She carefully removed Charles' tight grip on her waist, he turned over at the action but did not wake. Alina threw the covers off her body and pulled the black silk nightgown back down her legs. She tip toed to the door and opened it slightly to reveal a blue woman with tearstains down her cheeks. She looked up in alarm and leaned over to the chair to pick up a robe. She slipped out of the door and embraced her best friend into a hug, using her thumb to wipe away the tears.

"What happened"?

"It's a mess," Raven whispered quietly

"Come," she said placing a guiding hand on Raven's back. They got into the kitchen and Alina grabbed the pot of coco of the side. She handed her robe to Raven who smiled and slipped it on over her naked body. Alina pulled two mugs of the side knowing that her freind needed to share something important with her that she could not share with Charles.

"Not that I don't appreciate that your blue," Alina reassured Raven "I would prefer to have this conversation with clothes on" Alina smiled at her friend who hiccupped and attempted a smile back.

"I'm so confused Alina"

"Why?"

"Charles' is my best friend but he can't bear to look at me when I am like this" she said taking the mug Alina handed to her. "Yet Eric, he calls me beautiful and exquisite and all these amazing things that confuse me because I shouldn't want to feel them should I?"

Raven looked up at the pale red headed woman leaning against the kitchen worktop with pleading eyes, begging for an answer to her pain. Alina studied her friend thoughtfully and sipped her drink. She took a deep breath trying to find the best way to phrase what she was thinking.

"I think Charles is …" she paused rethinking the start of the sentence "for so long he has wanted what's best for you and for so long it was that he wanted to make you appear normal, but maybe your perception of that has changed and he doesn't quite realise that yet. As for Eric you have a crush" she finished smiling over the rim of her mug.

"Alina" Raven groaned her head hitting the table

"What you wanted the answer, Charles' loves you, you're just angry at him right now."

"I guess"

"So Eric huh?" she asked changing the subject knowing that Charles was a sore subject after the spat Charles had told her about earlier that evening

"He makes me feel like its okay to be me," she smiled to herself. Raven's eyes glazed over as she remembered the way Eric had looked at her in the bedroom, the way he touched her. To Eric she was a woman, but to Charles she was a girl.

Alina smiled along with her, she knew that Raven had grown up and matured since the whole mutants are out the debacle.

"You kissed yet"

"Maybe" Raven said her cheeks going a darker shade of blue.

"OH I knew it" Alina smiled

"His lips are just so soft, and amazing and it makes you feel as if you are on cloud 9" Raven said placing her empty mug on the table. Alina grabbed it and dumped both mugs in the sink.

"Go to bed Rae, everything seems better in the morning huh" she said pressing a kiss to her hair before walking to the kitchen door. She was tired and needed to get some sleep.

"Oh and Rae" she said as the blue woman turned to her "I dig the red hair"

Raven's face broke into a massive grin as the other woman walked out of the door and back up to the bedroom she was currently sharing with Charles.

She slipped in and realised their was a light coming from inside the room, from the beside lamp to be exact. She looked up and Charles was reading a book, his glasses were perched on the end of his nose and his well defined chest and stomach were on show as the sheets pooled around his waist. He looked up at the sound of the door opening with his bluer that blue eyes. Alina could have sworn she melted under his gaze.

"Darling?" he said placing the book down his voice holding the question

"Raven was upset"

"Oh" he said looking down.

Alina sat on the bed facing Charles and carefully removed his glasses placing them on the bedside cabinet. She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. Charles eyes fluttered closed involuntarily as she slowly coaxed his back to laying down on the bed before sliding in next to him

"She'll be fine Charles" she said before closing her eyes and settling down to sleep.