A/N: I swear we're getting to a plot, somewhere in this mess of words! :P Alright I need opinions now. As we as we slowly catch up to the total number of chapters I have written (22), I'd like to know if you'd rather have longer chapters spread out between days, or MUCH shorter chapters more ferquently. I can't have much more left after Chapter 22, 5 chapters TOPS, and hopefully I can get most of it written this weekend, but in the circumstance that I can't, I'd like to know what you think! So please let me know!
Charles was more than excited for today. He had spent the past week training with Jean, but today he was showing his favorite of all Hank's inventions. His giddiness was obviously showing through.
"Are you really that excited to see me this morning?" Erik said entering the kitchen, the corner of his lips turned into a smirk.
"Hmm?" Charles murmured as he took a sip out of his tea. He glanced down at his feet and brought their tapping to a sudden halt. His lips formed the shape of an 'O.'
"Cerebro?"
Charles nodded. "I think it'll be great for her to see what she can aspire to do. It'll allow her to want to learn to control her power, knowing that someday she could use something as powerful as Cerebro. I might even let her…"
Erik gave a loud, forced sigh, rolling his eyes. "Raven may have dealt with your long professor-y ramblings, but I have no tolerance for it."
The only response Charles could give was a small chuckle. "I can't wait til you find something you'll want to talk about for hours, my friend."
"The day that happens, I promise you, I will begin caring about your little lesson plan woes. However, up until that day, you can keep it inside," he said light heartedly.
Before Charles had a chance to respond, Alex and Sean came stumbling into the kitchen, tripping over each other's feet in laughter. Charles sent Erik a mental eyebrow raise.
"And then the way he just…and then she…" Alex slurred in-between laugh fits. Sean responded with a melody of laughs and snorts.
"I feel there's an explanation needed here," Charles interrupted the laugh fest.
"O…crap." Alex muttered under his breath.
"What?" Sean asked cluelessly.
Alex slowly lifted one hand and pointed toward their parental figures.
"O! Great!" Sean said; clapping his hands together. "Hey Prof! You should've seen it! Raven was talking to Jean, and then Hank was standing in the..."
"Sean," Alex gritted out softly.
"Oh no, that's alright Alex. I think Charles and I are quite interested in hearing the rest of this story," Erik said, making quick eye contact with Charles.
"Thank-you Erik," Sean replied, seeming proud to be acknowledged. "Gosh Alex, you really never let me finish or say any of our stories do you? Like the one last week? When we were practicing out by the fountain? You specifically told me to never mention anything to Mom and Dad…"
Alex brought the palm of his hand up to his face.
"Right um, so what happened exactly between Raven, Hank, and Jean?" Charles asked, trying to get to the point.
"Oh, So Jean and Raven were having a bonding talk, and then Hank came storming in rambling something about feelings, and baby, and always being there for her. And the best part was that the whole times he was staring at the floor!" Sean stopped for a laughing break. "So he practically, finally, announced his love for Raven, and Jean had to witness the whole. Thing. Poor girl… Best part was the color he turned. Man…it's like no shade of blue or pink you've ever seen before!"
Alex refused to make eye contact with either of the two older men in the room.
"I think, Raven even had tears in her eyes! Don't you think so Alex?"
Charles' jaw dropped. "Umm…I think I have someone…I need to go talk…to." He walked out of the room with Erik trailing close behind.
xxxxx
Charles found Raven in the only place he would have thought to look. Up on the third floor of the mansion, behind the curtains of the window at the end of the long hallway. It had been the only place deemed safe back during the days of Kurt Marko.
Raven, in the state she was, reminded Charles of the 8-years-old he initially knew. But Raven wasn't that little girl anymore. She was a full grown, pregnant adult. Physically. Mentally – no matter how much she'd refuse it – she was that little 8-year-old who needed her big brother.
"Hey," Charles whispered softly. He squeezed in behind the curtain next to her, noticing now how much easier it had been when they were how much smaller. Had it really been that long ago?
Natural instinct allowed Raven to rest her head on Charles' shoulder. He allowed her to stay there for a while before initiating conversation. "I don't know what any of your thoughts are on this situation, but I can only imagine how hard this was for Hank. He's not the best when it comes to feelings." He could feel the small twitch on the corner of her mouth. "And, I don't know if you want him to, but there's something about Hank that makes me think that'd held make a wonderful substitute father."
Raven lifted her head. "I don't doubt that. I'd love him to…oh…it's just," she made a loud sigh and buried her face back into her brother's shoulder.
Charles unconsciously rubbed her arm. "It's just what?"
She made a soft 'mmph' into his shoulder. "I don't know, it's just, I want my kid to always have that full family structure I never had…not that you weren't…" She quickly tried to bite back on any second meanings she may have unintentionally implied.
"O, I take no offense." Charles reassured. "And you know…hey…" he said picking up her face, forcing her to look at him. "You know, there will always be someone here. And even if something were to happen…to you or Hank, you know Erik and I would never let any…"
"I know."
"Unless it calls me Charlie. Then this all goes out the window." That was luckily enough to put a smile on her face.
"So what now?"
"Now I think you go to talk to Hank."
xxxxx
Erik thought he'd allow Charles and Raven some bonding time, so instead of following Charles like a guard dog, he stayed on the first floor and headed towards the lab – the only place he could possibly imagine finding Hank at a moment like this.
Using his powers, Erik unlocked the door and pushed it open. Inside, Hank was quickly scurrying around the room, sharply turning when Erik opened the door, sending sheets of paper everywhere.
"Oh…uh, Erik."
"Hank."
"What do you…uh…why are you here?" Instead of answering him verbally, Erik just kept a firm gaze on the blue mutant. "Oh, right. Ummm…in all fairness, I think she likes me too."
Erik rolled his eyes. At that, Hank pretended to forget Erik's presence. He continued to shuffle around the lab, paper being thrown aimlessly. The older mutant continued to watch the show, until after few moments, he spoke up. "You know, you did the right thing…" The sound of his voice was immediately followed by more papers thrown into the air.
"If I did the right thing, then why'd she run away crying?" Hank practically snapped, slouching into a nearby chair. Erik grabbed another chair and straddled it backwards in front of the boy.
"And what makes you think that they weren't tears of relief?"
"I just…uh…I just…" Hank mumbled, getting much softer. "I just wish it was as easy for us as what you and Charles have."
Erik gave a soft chuckle and quickly pulled it back. "You think what Charles and I have was easy?" he asked, grinning inwardly at himself.
"You two just seem so perfect together…I just wish…"
"Oh, my boy, you have a lot to learn."
Hank looked up at him. "But you guys have been together since the beginning…it's just…"
"You think Charles and I have been together this whole time?" Erik laughed at the thought of it.
"Well, yeah…wait. You haven't?"
The older mutant chuckled again. "Nope. Not 'til after Cuba. Remember the night after Charles sent me away?"
Hank nodded, his eyes then growing at realization. "But…that's right before you told us. You guys didn't even hide? Not for a little bit?"
Erik's face quickly became more solemn. "We have no reason to hide, Hank." Hank quickly nodded and turned his gaze towards the floor. "Hey, just a little reminder, you did do the right thing. It may take some time, but she'll come around."
"Yah…thanks, dad."
Erik felt an unfamiliar swell in his chest.
He kinda liked it.
xxxxx
Right outside the lab, Charles stood slouched against the wall – a smile plastered on his face.
He heard all of it. Erik's support. Hank's calling of Erik his father. All of it.
He wished the world could see this side of Erik Lehnsherr. Not the harsh, cold-hearted murder. The soft, fun-loving, father figure.
Charles needed to hurry up on his project.
xxxxx
"Alright, so, Jean, today I wish to show you what you can aspire to. Hank designed this for me. I use it to amplify my power, so I can find people."
"Who are we going to try and find today Professor?"
It had been well after lunch by the time Charles was ready to train with Jean. The two of them continued to walk down the long, desolate hallway, hidden deep under the Westchester Mansion. When they reached the end, Charles kneeled down and stayed eye level with the center of the X on the wall. Suddenly a blue, laser-like, light flashed out, scanning his eye. After a moment, Charles stood up, and the X on the wall opened into a large, sphere room.
"If I tell you, you have to promise to not tell a soul." Charles said cheerfully as they entered the room.
Jean nodded her head immediately, grinning from ear to ear. "Alright." Charles said as he picked up the helmet, placing it on his head. "Now, I must tell you, that the mutants I am looking for are very important. Oh. And they're twins." Jean's eyes grew wide. "Okay, so, if you don't mind, could you please flick that switch…"
xxxxx
"You do realize what Friday is, don't you?"
Erik looked up from the book in his hand to see Raven leaning in the frame of the door. "Should I?"
"Wow, Charles really is to selfless for his own good. Friday is March 23rd."
"And…"
"March 23rd as in Charles Francis Xavier's Birthday."
Erik started to mouth inaudible words, "…it's his…" and then he trailed off. He finished up with a nice, "oh."
"And I know that since he's full of himself, you don't know what to get him. And well, I was going to give it to him, but I really think it'd be better if you did. I found it while I was cleaning…and well, here. I'll just give it to you." She walked forward and handed Erik a small box.
Erik opened it up. Inside was an old, beaten up copy of T.H. White's A Once and Future King. "I…I don't understand?"
Raven gave a small, solemn smile. "It's not my story to tell, but I do promise it means a lot to him. Can you just please promise me that you'll give it to him?"
Erik slowly nodded his head, still in shock that it was this book, of all books, that meant something to Charles.
"Thank-you." Raven whispered softly as she left the library. She wasn't even halfway down the hallway when Charles contacted her.
I need your help.
Raven stood there shocked. Charles never asked for help. What do you need?
On Friday, could you please pick up some mutants for me?
Mutants?
Please don't ask questions Raven… he sounded almost…jittery.
Alright. Where do I have to go?
You don't need to do anything, I've already contacted the orphanage… you just have to go and pick them up, alright?
Okay…
O, and Raven?
Yes, Charles?
Can you not mention any of this to Erik?
xxxxx
When Friday came around, Charles made no mention to anyone that it was his birthday, not even Erik. He didn't want people to feel like they were required to do anything for him. But secretly, deep down, he was heartbroken that no one remembered anyways.
It was for this reason that Charles found himself sitting alone on the ground, damp from freshly melted snow, next to the Mansion's lake, by the tree his father used to read to him by. His real father. The one before the days of Kurt Marko.
"Raven told me I might find you here." Charles looked up to see Erik standing over him, a gift in his hand. "Did you really think I'd let your birthday go unacknowledged?"
The thought of it alone made Charles smile. Erik sat down next to Charles and leaned against the tree. He handed him the wrapped box.
"You didn't have to…"
"Shut up Charles and open it."
It was little phrases like that that made his chest burst.
He pulled off the simple bow Erik had tied around the box. When he pulled off the cover, his large grin on his face dropped. "I don't under…
"Raven found it when we were cleaning through the mansion."
Charles lips quivered as they formed the shape of an O. "My dad…he used to read it to me…before he died. Actually right here, by this tree."
A little bit of Erik broke right then. It hurt to think of Charles – innocent, perfect Charles – deprived of anything. Erik had always assumed Charles had had a perfect childhood. Recent events were beginning to cause doubt towards his earlier accusation.
"Have you read it?" Charles asked, gesturing to The Once and Future King.
'Only a thousand times,' he wanted to respond, or 'That book was my saving grace.' The only word he could manage was, "Yes."
"It's one of my favorites."
"Mine too." Charles beamed up at him, and then rested his head against his arm.
"Power is of the individual mind, but the mind's power is not enough…" Charles trailed off.
"Power of the busy decided everything in the end, and only Might is Right." Erik finished for him. The glint in those unholily blue eyes made Erik melt.
xxxxx
Erik, could you be a doll, and bring me my tea?
If only Charles knew that Erik had already made the god-forsaken tea. If only he knew that Erik was currently heading to their room with the tea in his hands.
Scratch that. The bloody telepath probably already did know.
When Erik reached the door, he opened it using his powers, not wanting to spill a single drop of tea. He proceeded into the room.
The o-so-special cup of tea was suddenly implanted into the carpeted floor.
In front of him, Charles Xavier sat in his normal chair.
He had two barely 5-year-old children crawling on top of him.
"Erik! I'd like you to meet Wanda and Pietro Maximoff."
Pleeeeease review:)