Chapter 32- Cold feet part 2

For as long as she could remember, she usually sat on the sidelines when everyone else was dancing. It was a quirk Jean had developed at an early age.

It's not that the lithe, red head minded dancing with shorter men, it was the way they looked at her as if she was a freak that really irritated her; like it was her fault that she was so much taller than they were. However, agreeing to be Logan's escort had guaranteed that she could at least indulge in a pair of heels without worry. Besides which, between other willing partners like Erik, Hank and Charles she had expected to have a full card. What she didn't expect was to be standing in the middle of floor while Erik gawked unhappily at the professor and his dance partner.

'Erik, let's sit,' she whispered, trying to lead him to one side, 'you look…tired.'

From the seat section, John had risen to his feet in concern, now noticing what Erik's intent focus had settled on.

Apologetically, her dance partner began moving her towards where the handyman stood, 'I'm sorry. Do you mind dancing with Logan for awhile? I can't…I think I need to sit this one out.'

'Once more around the floor,' she pleaded, trying to keep him talking rationally.

He hesitated but then obediently tightened his grip and she was thankful that he was now focused on her face, rather than staring at Charles and Hank who were twirling away a few couples down from them. 'You're upset Erik. What's wrong?'

After a minute of silence where she grew increasingly nervous, the older man pointed towards the two men with their clasped hands, 'I wished I had known about McCoy. I didn't know he was gay. I was so mean to him, Jean.'

The woman in his arms smiled in stunned surprise. She thought he had been jealous that Charles was dancing with another man!

'Henry only came out recently. I think having Xavier as a friend really helped him get his courage in the end,' she confided in him, nodding discreetly towards John to let him know all was well.

That didn't surprise Erik in the least. Charles had a special way with people and he was filled with pride that this strong, compassionate man chose to call him friend. He didn't deserve him.

'I don't deserve him,' Erik mumbled to his partner which caused Jean to duck her head so he wouldn't see her smiling even more at such an unusually,vulnerable sentiment from the normally, self confident man at her side.

Having completed the requested turn on the floor, he handed the woman to her official escort with thanks, before grabbing a drink from the bar. Thoughtfully, he stared at Charles in the distance who was busy maintaining a steady one sided dialogue, trying to keep his clearly frightened and pale colleague on the dance floor.

Why hadn't Xavier told him! It explained so much now. With a heartfelt sigh, Erik painful reviewed each moment of interaction that he had had with McCoy, wincing anew at each instance where he could have been more patient and reasonable. Although why he should care was beyond him. Cheese on toast! This was Charles' mellowing influence!

Wait...cheese on toast? What the...?

Suddenly, one of the wedding guests zoomed under his nose, interrupting his internal dialogue.

'Do you want to dance?' she asked bravely. Erik smiled affably at the pretty young woman before frowning darkly at the overabundance of make up she had used to cover up her youthful features.

'Are you even old enough to be out of diapers?' he asked seriously. Mortified, the girl slunk away to join her group of inappropriately dressed and heavily made up friends.

Saints preserve him! These under aged girls were trying to put him back him prison! This is what happened when he tried to be pleasant to strangers!

From the corner of his eye he observed another woman approaching him but this time he was on his guard.

'Hello handsome, do you want to get me a drink?' she inquired hopefully.

'You can get a juice in that tent,' he said calmly, pointing out the way. She was the right age but he wasn't interested however, this could be some important associate of Charles. He couldn't take the chance of atomically insulting her to get rid of her more quickly.

She pouted prettily and then sickeningly batted her eyelashes, 'I was hoping for something a little stronger.'

Her intent now clear, Erik appeared to be turning it over in his mind before fishing out his cell phone, 'I just need to check that with my parole officer my dear and then I would be happy to join you.'

He snorted evilly into his glass of cranberry juice as she disappeared in the proverbial puff of smoke. Rolling his shoulders to relieve some of his tiredness, he stepped away from the pole he was leaning against as Charles finally approached him across the field of dancers. Unfortunately, the professor had been immediately kidnapped by the couple's grateful parents after the conclusion of the ceremony and since then they kept missing each other on the floor.

His eyes narrowed in confusion as the young man abruptly came to a halt for no apparent reason and studied his surroundings with something akin to embarrassment. However, as Erik strode forward to close the gap, another woman unexpectedly blocked his path. Focused as he was in reaching Charles, Erik could still concede that she was quite remarkable; full figured and confident, eyes sparkling with intelligence and humor. At another time he would have been considered it a pleasure to talk to her

'Hello, I'm Raven. Come, let's dance.'

In some dismay, Erik could see some unknown wedding guest inching towards Xavier and almost acrobatically he grabbed her hand and then spun around to latch on to the professor's waist. The gentleman that was approaching to engage Charles, shuffled away hurriedly as Erik sent him a scorching white, hot glare.

'Can't they leave you alone for a second?' he complained bitterly to the young man plastered awkwardly to his side. 'Perhaps I should pin a sign on your back.'

Naturally, the professor ignored that ridiculous suggestion as he shook Raven's hand. 'Do you mind if I dance with him first? We haven't had a chance all night.'

The blonde beauty raised her hands in a gesture of sociable surrender, as her quick mind deciphered the situation she had wandered into.

'Would your other friend dance with me?' she asked doubtfully as Hank waved shyly at the trio that was now looking in his direction. He awkwardly shambled towards them as Charles beckoned and Erik looked on in relief as Raven happily led the doctor back to the floor despite his understandable hesitation. Erik suddenly realized the boy was a lot taller than he appeared when he wasn't hunched over as if trying to disappear into himself. It was good to see Hank smiling and enjoying himself.

In the meantime, the older man turned his attention back to his own partner who had plucked his juice glass from his hand and downed it thirstily. Solicitously nudging him towards a catering table to obtain a plate and another cold drink, Erik watched in some concern as Charles collapsed in a folding chair clutching the refreshments to his chest.

'Who knew that you were such a party animal?' Erik groused affectionately, trying to deflect his disappointment that he wasn't going to get the opportunity to dance with the young man. He sat in front of the professor to block him from public view while he leaned over to remove the Englishman's shoes.

Charles grunted quietly, but didn't comment as he concentrated on making serious damage to his plate of assorted pastries. With a grateful moan he leaned into Erik's fingers as they massaged his neck. 'I haven't forgotten that you owe me a back massage.'

'More than more one, if I remember correctly,' the older man acknowledged, stealing a cheese puff off the plate, 'Are you alright?'

The academic nodded. 'Give me a minute and we'll dance'

'Charles, you are tired,' he noted in a disapproving manner, 'we can….'

'I will never be too tired for you,' the young man interrupted him firmly. It was Erik's turn to feel oddly flattered and he smiled warmly as he tucked a wayward stand of hair behind Xavier's ear.

'You know Charles, if you hadn't slowed your pace, Raven would not have intercepted me before you did. Why did you do that?'

The professor tensed, not one bit fooled by the other man's casual tone of voice. He had hoped Erik would let it slide and with a sigh he braced himself for a lecture.

'Well I am glad she did,' Xavier responded evasively, pointing a half eaten tuna sandwich at a happy Hank on the floor.

Their eyes connected for a long moment and Charles could see that the other man would not be put off, 'Erik please. It was nothing… a momentary lapse in confidence. Just look at her! She's absolutely stunning.'

'And?'

Charles rolled his eyes at the other man's insistence in the matter. 'And I am not. You are such a prat! I can't believe you made me say that out loud!'

He pressed his lips together, annoyed that Erik had pushed him into that verbal admission. Charles knew he was being silly but sometimes it was hard to be even moderately self assured when your partner was so much more handsome than yourself. As he stared straight ahead, he began to wriggle around uncomfortably in his chair as he felt the older man studying the side of his face intently.

'Your features suit me,' Erik replied bluntly. 'You get some really strange ideas in your head sometimes. Eat your cake and stop talking such foolishness. Actually, maybe its best if you stopped speaking all together before you aggravate me even more.'

Charles cut his eyes to the other man's face but he couldn't see his expression as Erik was studying the floor. HE decided to let it go. He didn't think he had the energy to get into another disagreement with his friend in any case. In strained silence they sat by side, sharing the hors d'oeuvres off the plate until a new song started to play causing Charles to quickly stuff his feet back in his shoes before holding out a hand to Erik.

'I asked the sound technician for a waltz,' the young man exclaimed excitedly. 'I can teach you, it's easy…well no, not really but…'

'Of course I know how to waltz,' Erik snapped, still in a bit of a surly mood. 'I'm not a complete barbarian.'

The taller man allowed the professor to pull him to his feet by accepting his outstretched hand. He was forced to concede a small smile at the absurd, excited look on Charles' face as he turned to face him.

He wasn't smiling when they both stumbled and almost fell flat on their collective asses.