Clara shielded her eyes as she watched both Jean and Erik work together to build the school back together again. She smiled to herself as she literally watched her home being rebuilt after just yesterday being blown to pieces.

She was relieved when they finally landed back in New York to see that the rest of the teachers and children had scavenged around for tents and set up in the yard. Clara turned to the students and watched as they all slowly started to follow the Professor inside.

As they did, she couldn't help but feel like her body was now cemented to the ground, not wanting to go back inside. She couldn't deny feeling a lump in her throat as she remembered the meeting everyone had on the jetplane. Clara swallowed as she wondered if her decision was the right one but no one, not even Hank had argued for her to change her mind. But she knew that she wouldn't be missed for long, even now she was counting down the days to come back and see how the school was being handled. For once in her life, this place actually felt like home and this time, she was both reluctant but also confidant in her time to leave the school.

"So you're giving this the green light?" Hank asked, "The X-men, you're finally letting us train students to be called upon to fight"

Charles answered, "Not anytime soon, at least I hope not, but yes. Being Apocalypse's hostage made me fear for my life and when I anticipated Jean's rescue mission that was when my fear went from my own life to theirs. Scott, Kurt, and Jean have never been in this type of situation and for them to be brave enough to risk their lives for everyone else was more promising than ever for me"

Charles nodded, "I believe that you and Clara would be great teachers for times like these"

"Great" Hank said with a huge smile on his face.

"No"

Everyone's eyes turned to Clara's as she sat hunched over with Erik's cape as a blanket, Charles' eyes focused on hers as he asked, "Clara?"

"No… I don't want to do it" Clara bit her lip, "As much as I am glad to be apart of this rescue mission, it was just too much for me. When we were in the brotherhood, all we did was cause mayhem and destruction, with the adrenaline of almost getting caught fueling us. This was different, this was almost like if we died… the rest of the world does too"

Clara turned her eyes to Charles, "I know I put on a brave face but there's only so much I can take. I'm sorry Professor but I just need sometime away from…"

"Understood" Charles nodded as everyone was eerily quiet, "We can call in a sub to help us for the rest of the semester, maybe a student that recently graduated?"

"She won't need one" Mystique said from across from her, "Because she has me… I'll take her place as the teacher for her classes and help Hank with the X-Men"

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Charles asked hopeful with tears in his eyes.

"Yes, Charles" Mystique smiled, "I'm coming home"

Mystique appeared on her right as she too stared at the mansion.

Mystique scoffed, "I can't believe you're leaving the school"

Clara shrugged, "You know as well as I do that you being the trainer for the X-Men is a much smarter move, Raven"

"But what about your move of leaving with Erik?" Mystique asked.

Clara bit her lip, she was the first one to say that she was not returning and shortly after Erik had said he would not join as well. Raven, Charles, and Hank knew that if they both weren't on board, then they would both leave together. Clara folded her arms over her chest and kicked the grass blades as she cleared her throat. Somehow she believed that Erik wasn't going to want to go around terrorizing humans as he did when they were younger.

"I don't know" Clara answered honestly, "I just have to believe that I am stronger than I was before"

Raven placed her hand on Clara's arm, "You are. I saw it the moment you walked up to me yesterday"

"Thank you" Clara turned and smiled to her friend, "Be easy on my students, will you? They've always looked up to you and asked me millions of questions about when we were in the brotherhood"

Mystique scoffed, "I'll let them slide for about three days max"

Clara nodded over to Kurt motioning around to Jubilee as he teleported from in front of her to behind her as he mimicked the moves he did in Cairo, "What about your son? Are you ever going to tell him?"

Mystique stared in his direction too before she deeply inhaled and turned to her friend, "Yeah and I already have the perfect date in mind… September 25th"

Clara made a face as she said, "Why wait that long? What's so important about that date?"

"Because that was Azazel's birthday" Mystique turned her yellow eyes to Clara, "And also the date I told him I was pregnant"

"I'm glad that you decided to become my replacement… Charles was happy to see that you wanted to stay" Clara nudged her, "Hank was too"

Mystique smiled as she rolled her eyes, "I guess you were right about avoiding my emotions. Time to face them head on and see where this leads with Hank"

"Afterall, seeing your almost brother being killed by an ancient mutant you kind of rethink the decisions you made along the way" Mystique smirked, "You'll visit, won't you?"

"I haven't even left and you're already asking when I'll be back" Clara laughed, "Maybe I will if I hear that you screwed up my only class here at the Mansion"

Mystique chuckled with her before she hugged the other woman, "Until next time, Clara"

"Good luck, Mystique"

Clara waited in the car with the radio just barely playing as she glanced outside to the kids running around and playing in the distance. The door opened on the other side as Erik climbed into the driver's side and closed the door. She turned to him as he started to put the car in drive before looking back over to her.

He asked, "You sure you want to do this?"

Clara turned her head back and looked up to the mansion, everything seemed almost back to normal as kids ran around going to their classes. She was at least happy to know that no one was looking outside with puppy-dog eyes begging her to come inside.

Clara turned back around as Erik watched her, still having the car in park.

Clara nodded, "After the hell I've been through, I think I need a vacation. When I'm ready, I'll come back and torture the kids"

"I already feel sorry for them" Erik shook his head as he placed the car on drive, "So where to? You mentioned that you had a city in mind"

Clara took out the directions and gave them to Erik. He only skimmed them once before he gave her a look to which she deeply inhaled and nodded. Erik didn't argue with her as he drove around the roundabout and back over to the long lane back to civilization. Clara turned around and watched as the mansion got smaller and smaller as she felt like her heart might burst. A rough hand covered hers as Clara looked down to Erik's hand before she looked at him and gave Erik a smile, hoping for the best.