AN: Sorry for the absence. Had to get out of a super bad situation IRL. It's taken care of now. Plus this chapter has proved difficult at best.

Oh yeah for those curious, the face claims I'm using for these characters are a young Jane Seymour for Rachel, and Ryan Eggold for William.

The door to Charles' office opened, Rachel's gaze steady on the floor. Kitty was as chipper as ever, Kurt's tail twitching in antsy curiosity.

"Rachel's going to be staying with us for a time." he declared, much to Kurt's confusion and Kitty's excitement.

"She can take the room next to mine." she offered without a moment's hesitation, earning a curious head tilt but a small smile from Rachel. Logan wasn't so sure about her still, but then that had been the same response to him. If Charles said it was fine, then there must be something he didn't know. He would still want to be cautious, but he ultimately trusted Charles' judgement. Kurt's joined the conversation,

"And what about-"

"Ah, yes, I suppose I should talk to you about that." she seemed to know where his inquiry was going, her attention darting across the floor with hesitation.

You can do this. The warm voice of Xavier encouraged, and she gave a nod, forcing herself to breath. Charles spoke out loud this time,

"Kurt, perhaps you could show her where she'll be staying." he seemed relaxed enough by the idea, but then there wasn't very much that could unnerve the professor truly. Kurt gave a nod, moving forward to offer her an arm, though her hesitance lingered.

He didn't dare break the silence as they climbed the stairs, though he still managed a smile and nod for the students they passed. The unspoken tension kept his chest tight (could that have been furthered along by her very gift, perhaps?), heart racing with every step. Just what did she need to talk to him about? And why did it make her so nervous?

"Ah, that would be Kitty's room." he pointed it out, moving to the next, "And I suppose this will be you." she gave a nod, having taken to keeping her arms crossed tight and chewing on her bottom lip again. Thinking it a safe bet she would want privacy for this conversation his tail closed the door behind them.

"Rachel, what's happened?" she was still standing rigid, face set to the floor. He took the chance of moving forward, slowly reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder, his concern growing by the second.

"You have the right to know a few things, and be able to make an informed decision on just what you want." she'd slipped back into the careful mask and brisk words. It only made him take a step closer, resting his other hand on her cold cheek. She didn't lift her gaze to his, but she pushed the words across her tongue.

"There's so much to say I'm not sure where to begin. The most pressing thought on your mind is probably about William, yes?" Kurt considered that and decided to answer honestly,

"I know the importance of family. But frankly I've wondered if he isn't-"

"Toxic?" Kurt was going to use a gentler word like over-bearing, not one to attack someone's family, but the certainty with which she said it made him raise a brow. He waited to allow her to continue. She took a moment, took a breath, preparing herself for what was to come, and lifted a hand to the ever present scarf at her neck. Pulled it away, a thick scar waiting beneath, spread across the length of her neck. His eyes widened at it, grip tightening on her shoulder as his heart broke, but she spoke again before he could offer condolences, "What happened to me wasn't an accident. Nor was I in a comma as he likes to say," she finally lifted her eyes to his, "I found my obituary. But somehow, he found a way to bring me back. I still don't know how." her words had begun to pour out all the faster, break neck fever pitch, mask of neutrality cracking under the weight of panic, "I wasn't busy after our initial visit, he hid my phone. I had to find it while he was gone. I've tried leaving before. It...didn't go well. Inevitably I wound up injured and had to return, hospital out of the question. And when I did return..." she trailed off at last, black pooling back into her eyes for a moment before she closed them and shook it off. He felt that chill multiply, get pulled back.

It was so much to take in at once, and he could tell it was barely the tip of the iceberg. She took a step back, out of his grasp before he could think of what to say.

"I haven't been heroic at all. I've been exactly what was expected of me. A creature in the dark, a monstrosity hired to acquire this target or that for less than legal means-" he finally cut her off, reaching out again, a hand for each shoulder.

"Rachel," she froze at the name, face still turned away from him, "this changes nothing." a single eye found him, incredulous. He stood his ground, "If you were gone from this world, you're now returned. If you wish to leave the control of your brother, I will help you. If you wish to atone for your past, God forgives." he faced the chill waiting for him to move a hand to brush part of her hair behind an ear, out of her face, "if you've been given a second chance at life, it is still yours to live." Her brow furrowed, her response barely a whisper.

"How can you say that so easily? Doesn't it bother you? Being this close to the walking dead?"

"That's not how I see you." Her attention turned back fully, eyes rapidly flitting between his. Confusion. Her gaze narrowed to suspicious slits, tone growing sharper.

"You don't know what I've done."

"Do you want to keep doing it?"

"...No."

"Do you want to stay with your brother?"

"No." The answer came more firm.

"Do you want to be on your own?"

The answer came as a whisper, "No." She took a moment, letting the situation settle in a touch.

"I still don't understand. My lack of memories, what I am truly, you act like this is all...normal."

"I wouldn't say normal, nein. But we have had our fair share of events here. Those of us with less savory pasts. We have lost members of our family, and had them returned. We've had our memories taken or warped. I can't say life here has been...uneventful. We have faced many hardships and dangers. But we pull through and move forward together."

He watched her work to understand the concepts. Gave her the time to let it sink in. Until at long last she seemed to accept what was taking place. She spoke up with the tones more familiar, the confidence she usually carried herself with.

"I do not believe in God. But I will believe in you." the words took him back, not sure exactly how to respond. He didn't have time to, before she leaned out from behind the half veil of hair to place her lips to his. Not aggressive or passionate, as gentle as his touch on her shoulder had been. Testing, the natural chill of skin contact spreading across his skin. But he took that as the same kind of excitement to be expected from a first kiss, and when she started to pull away he leaned forward in turn. It didn't quite feel like the right moment for much more than that, but the last thing he wanted was for her to think such behavior was unwanted. He had already offered to be at her side. To help where he could. It had been up to her to accept the offer. As their lips parted she leaned in to wrap arms around him, and he returned the motion. Words unnecessary.

The world can be hard. But that doesn't mean you stop trying. As long as you're willing to fight for it, Kurt believes at least, things will get better.

AN: song for Rachel: Icon For Hire's Off With Her Head.