A/N: In the event that I find myself deleted from here you will be able to find this story, and all of my other stories, over at yourfanfiction . com (no spaces, same author name - bloodsoakedleather) if you want to continue reading.

Raven took the club soda Hank had poured and leaned back against the edge of the bar watching her brother curiously from the other side of the room. Charles stayed silent for several moments, eyeing the man with a mixture of suspicion and quiet discomfort.

"I'm sorry…" He began, ready to explain that there was no work.

"I notice you don't have anyone on sax." Erik cut in, indicating his case once again. Raven grinned to herself. "I sing too, if that sweetens the deal." He said hopefully.

"We already have a singer." Charles answered, ignoring the sax comment and making his way over to the bar. "Another club soda please Hank."

"Coming right up." Hank took down a glass and poured the drink. Charles snatched it up and took a gulp.

"What about behind the bar then? I'll take whatever's going, I really need the job."

Charles sighed quietly and shot Hank a plaintive look, hoping he'd tell the other man there was no work there either, but he didn't. Instead he shared a look with Raven that Charles could only describe as conspiratorial and went back to cleaning glasses. Charles sighed again and turned around, his breath catching just as it had moments ago. Raven glanced sideways at him and gave him a discreet wink, which he ignored.

"I really don't think…"

His sister nudged him with her elbow, jogging his arm and almost making the drink in his glass slosh over the side.

"Oh come on Charles, you could at least give the man a chance. He might actually be good."

"We don't need another singer." He argued. "You're our star."

"Thank you Charles, you're a sweetheart." She gave him a smile that was both ridiculously adorable and incredibly irritating as well. "But he's right, we don't have a sax, not since Ray left, and there is a sax solo in 'I Know Why'. Plus, if he sings maybe he can take the boys part." The boys all looked at one another and nodded. "Oooh." Raven added, as an afterthought. "We could even do a duet. 'At Last' maybe, I love that song. Please Charles, please. It can't hurt to listen and if he's terrible we don't have to hire him."

She fluttered her eyelashes shamelessly at him, knowing how hard he found it to refuse her.

"Don't give me that look." He said sternly, deliberately looking away, knowing just as well as his sister that he found it hard to say no to her when she did that. "I can still feel you looking. Stop it." He could feel his resolve beginning to crumble and in his effort to avoid her gaze he found himself looking right at Erik who was watching him intently, hopefully. He ignored the slight shiver that ran up his spine and glanced up at the stage. The boys looked as hopeful as Erik did, they were musicians not singers and they were none of them comfortable with vocals, even in a group.

Charles got the distinct impression that he was being ganged up on and he sighed exasperatedly, pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head gently from side to side as if trying to shake off a headache.

"Oh okay, fine." He grumbled, waving his hand absently in the general direction of the stage. "Get yourself set up and I'll give you a chance. But I'm not making any promises."

Erik nodded his understanding.

"Thanks buddy, you won't be sorry, I swear."

Charles pinched the bridge of his nose again, a little harder this time and thought, I'm already sorry.

"He's kind of a dish don't you think?" Raven said softly after a moment as they both watched Erik and the boys on stage setting up for this impromptu audition, dragging Charles away from his thoughts of impending doom, albeit only temporarily.

"I thought you and Hank were an item."

"We are. I'm crazy about him, you know that, but I'm not blind. And anyway, wasn't talking about me. I asked what you thought."

Charles shot his sister a hard glare.

"Raven!" He hissed a warning at her. He knew where she was going with this and he had no desire to follow.

"Don't Raven me. I'm your sister remember, and I know you better than you care to admit." She reached for his hand and gave it an affectionate, apologetic squeeze. "Look, Charles, I know you're quite determined to be all alone for the rest of your life and I understand why, I really do, and I respect your decision but come on… There's no harm in looking."

His gaze flickered involuntarily over to where Erik stood and remained there for longer than Charles would have liked. He felt a slight fluttering in his stomach and willed the sensation away before biting his lip sharply and turning back to Raven. His blue eyes were a shade darker now, coloured with anger, and guilt, and sadness and a pain long past but not forgotten.

"There is, if I'm caught looking."

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