ANote: Boo hoo…no one is talking to me this weekend :( Anyhow, I might be busy next week so most likely I will post week after next. Take care!

Chapter 14- Friends and or lovers part3

Hurriedly, Charles stepped out his shoes and quickly tip toed through the apartment. While he DID find it unsettling to have missed Erik so much considering he had only been away for the morning, he had decided to just go with the feeling. Just because the older man wasn't interested, did not mean he had to change who he was and how he behaved. It was Erik's loss as far as he was concerned. However, the professor looked down worriedly at the bakery box of tiramisu that he had gotten for the recovering patient.

On their return journey, the Englishman had caused Logan to stop in the local patisserie shop while he hopped out of the car to pick out something. It was very typical of him to purchase some flowers or fruit just to brighten someone's day, but he didn't want to push the man away by crowding his personal space. Erik had shown a marked willingness to haul their friendship back on an even keel, and he didn't want to jeopardize that. But still, he HAD to thank him for being so thoughtful and encouraging this morning, didn't he?

'I am NOT changing who I am!' the younger man told himself fiercely, clutching the gift firmly in his hand and marching into Erik's room as if going into a war. If the other man had a problem with the way he liked to buy people presents then he would have to suck it up. This was his house, dammit!

Charles stupidly stared at the empty hospital bed, 'Erik?'

He let out a sigh of relief when he heard the man call out to him from the balcony. This was fantastic! He was recovering so well. Erik was able to sit up for longer and longer periods without getting dizzy. Had he successfully walked out to the balcony for himself? The doctors had said that except for the five stitches in his head the man was in excellent health. Normally it would have made Charles' week, to see the other man sitting in the sunlight surrounded by pots of colorful spring flowers wearing an unusually warm and welcoming smile on his face. As it was, the bakery box slid from his nerveless fingers and hit the ground with a plop.

'Charles what's wrong?' the older man cried out in concern, 'are you ill?'

Erik attempted to wheel himself forward and decided that it would just be easier for the other man to close the distance. He held out both hands but judging from the blank expression on his face, it was clear that the young man's thoughts were very far away.

'Charles! Come here to me NOW!' he ordered sharply as the man swayed shakily and he was relieved to see him stumble forward.

The second that he had both of the professor's hands in his, he pulled him down gently to his knees so that they could be at eye level.

'Hey,' Erik said softly, giving the soft, little hands an encouraging squeeze. 'You look like you've seen a ghost.'

The older man watched anxiously, as the other broke his hold inorder to lay his hands along the wheelchairs' armrest.

'I HAVE seen a ghost,' the Englishman replied in a soft, cryptic whisper.

It was clear to Erik now that this was once Charles' wheelchair but judging from its age, it wasn't a recent purchase. How old was the young man when some dreadful circumstance had forced him into this metal prison? He thought his life was complicated but each new day revealed some unexpected layer to the professor's life.

'How long?' he asked sympathetically.

The professor smiled sadly because indeed, what really was one to do in the face of such memories. He pointed to some faint scratches that on the inside of the frame. 'I was in this wheel chair for exactly eight months, and five days and it is certainly a nauseating feeling seeing you in it, my friend!'

He wasn't really good at comforting people but he rested his hand on one of Charles', offering him his silent companionship, as the smaller man's mind wandered back to a time that guessing from his strained expression, was one of great physical and mental anguish.

Erik smiled when the other man finally looked up. If there was one thing that he would always remember about the professor was the beautiful colour of his eyes. 'I was just startled Erik. I am alright. I'm glad Logan was able to restore the chair for your use.'

'Were you in an accident?'

'No,' he confessed. 'I wasn't a very healthy child. I had some issues with a bad cold and then with my back. It took a while for the doctors to sort me out.'

The older man felt a little flutter of disquiet in his stomach as he recalled the earlier conversation he had with Logan. Had he not mentioned something about doctors? 'You would tell me if you are not feeling well, won't you Xavier?'

The professor was beginning to realize that the other man alternated between his two names depending on his mood; Xavier when he was surprised, stressed or annoyed and Charles for everything else.

'Charles?'

The older man leaned in even closer as the Englishman failed to respond.

'You care about me a lot don't you?' the professor teased lightly, trying to diffuse the emotional moment with some humor.

Their faces were only inches apart and Charles was finding some trouble breathing under Erik's intense, could he say, almost smoldering look.

'Yes,' the older man replied simply.

Yes. Yes what? The professor had forgotten what they had been discussing. Was he supposed to say something now? The only thing he knew was how hard his heart was beating as he focused on the pair of lips hovering right above his. All he had to do was move in a little closer and they would be his. He was so close he could smell the spearmint from the toothpaste that the older man favoured!

He was abruptly woken from his zombie like state when Erik gripped him hard on his shoulder.

'Um…yes. Yes I will. Yes I promise I will,' the younger man babbled incoherently, having regained his senses. Oh buckets, how mortifying! He was like some giant hormone around the taller man.

The ex-prisoner raised his eyes to look over Charles' head.

'Should we come back, Master Erik?' a polite, voice discreetly inquired.

Oh god.

With a little groan of embarrassment the Englishman turned around to find his entire kitchen staff in the doorway, staring at them in avid curiosity.

'I told them to hold lunch until you arrived,' Erik explained waving them forward to go ahead and set the table.

Quietly and efficiently they laid out the plates and silverware while one of the girls picked up the bakery box and laid it on a side table with the extra dishes and in a twinkling they disappeared in a flutter of black suits and white aprons.

In the interim, Charles had tried to rise to his feet but Erik pushed down on his shoulder keeping him in place. As they waited for the servants to disperse, the younger man could feel himself flush uncomfortably. Twice in one day he had crossed the line into the man's personal space and although Erik had assured him that he was not bothered by it this morning, he wasn't sure what the man was going to say now. The professor would pay good money NOT to hear what he had to say!

Finally Erik turned to him with an expectant look and Charles stared back in confusion, the guinea pig inside of him still wanting to run for the hills. The older man raised an eyebrow at his continued silence. 'Have you changed your mind about kissing me?'

The Englishman opened his mouth to respond but of course no sound came out. His mind had gone completely blank.

'May I?' and without waiting for permission, Erik reached out and placed two fingers under his chin, titling Charles' face to his before pressing his lips delicately against those of his kneeling companion's. 'I never let a kiss go to waste.'

His caress was so gentle that Charles couldn't stop the tears that had started to gather in his eyes. He was completely overwhelmed that Erik could be capable of such indescribable tenderness in his touch.

TBC