The Next Day:

Moira did not know how the hell she had convinced the general to let Erik have this damned submarine (she had probably done it with the help of Charles; or something) but she was starting to regret it.

It was not as if she had not known what it was for. She had been there when Erik announced he was going to fight a currently nonexistent war, of course. He had even given her a small dip of the head and assured her that in the new world, she would have a place for what she had done for mutant kind. Meaning Charles.

And also meaning, Moira knew, that she would probably be reduced to a second class citizen, forced to serve the mutants around her for the rest of her life. She had kindly told Erik where he could stuff his proposition and his new world. Sean had commented upon her choice of words, whistling beneath his breath and stating "that's just not nice."

Despite that debacle, when Charles had asked her the night before to talk to the general about giving Erik and Raven the sub instead of having them steal it, she had been unable to decline.

Now she wondered how she had managed it and also wished that she had not. Despite any difference she and Erik had, Moira still respected him. She had not come to see him as a friend, but definitely as an ally. She was loathe to admit that she was sad to see him go.

And Raven… She recognized a lot of herself in Raven. She saw her younger self the same way, self-conscious about her looks and ability. Moira had once suffered from the same insecurities, and she had fantasized about taking Raven on a shopping spree and maybe talking to her about it when they were done with Cuba.

That domestic dream was being shattered now, as Raven and Erik prepared to leave. The submarine rested on the side of the ship, partially raised out of water. A small crowd of soldiers, eyes wary and curious at once stood on deck. They stood in a quiet, shuffling ring a few feet away from the mutants, staring. None of them knew the real reason that Erik was leaving. They knew better than to ask. Not even the general knew the real answer, but he was there too. Standing to the side and watching with eyes that saw too much.

Also free were the three prisoners. Azazel, Riptide and Angel had already jumped into the submarine. They were below, getting everything ready for take-off. Only Erik and Raven stood on deck, ignoring the crowd with barely contained frustration.

Moira could tell Charles was uneasy too. He was still getting used to being seen in his wheelchair, and she was sure he could feel the mocking and evaluating eyes on his new transportation.

Nevertheless, he was taking it with serene Charles calm, raising a hand to squint at the blinding sun. There was not a cloud in the sky and the incessant roar of waves was their only indication of moving. The sun seemed at a standstill. Moira could swear it had been in that exact same spot for three hours now.

Hank, Sean and Alex stood behind Charles, silent, brooding. Moira stood at his side, wondering what to do, what to say. Should she say anything?

"Erik!" That was Angel. Her burnt wing had healed in captivity. She fluttered off the side of the deck, flashing a disgusted look at the soldiers that whistled and hooted upon seeing her. "We're all set to go!" She called. Erik nodded, placing his hands in his pockets. He looked as calm as Charles did.

"Thank you Angel," he replied. "Tell the others to wait," he ordered. Angel nodded and turned, but as if she had remembered something she quickly spun in midair and quickly flittered to the deck. She crossed the small distance from the railing to Charles and gave him a chaste kiss on the forehead.

"I'd still be a stripper if not for you," she told him quickly. "I never got to thank you for finding me that day, professor," Moira crossed her arms, uncertain about how to take this new development. There was sincerity in Angel's eyes however. Charles smiled and squeezed her hand.

"It was quite my pleasure, Angel. Take care of yourself, hmm?" She nodded and stood. Her eyes locked with the boys. A small, hesitant half smile took over.

"Thanks for that night, boys. It was wild," Moira shook her head, remembering the night that Shaw had attacked. Had it only been a few months before? Alex gave a shrug, Hank shuffled his feet and Sean smirked.

"No problem, Angel. See you later," Sean chirped for all of them.

"And Angel?" Alex nodded to her. "Don't forget to find time for dancing," Moira looked back at him, wondering if he were making fun of her but Alex's face was serious. Angel seemed to understand. She nodded and in a quick flitter of her long wings had vanished over the side into the submarine.

A wave splashed against the side of the ship, spraying a bit of sea foam unto the deck. Moira wondered if that meant they were approaching land. Raven pretended to be indignant about the water seeping into her boots. Erik walked towards them, his blue eyes shaded into a darker color by the sun.

His eyes scanned Hank, Sean and Alex. "Are you sure none of you would like to come?" Moira felt Charles stiffen at her side, but his worry was misplaced. Alex, Sean and Hank shuffled closer to his wheelchair, faces stubborn.

"We're sure, Erik," Han told him passively enough. "Thanks," Erik let a small sardonic smile cross his lips.

"I thought not," he admitted. "Well in that case, I'm proud of you, even if you aren't coming. You three have worked hard and you have good hearts. You should stand up for what you believe in," Alex swallowed hard. Sean blinked back tears and Hank's fists clenched.

"Yes, well," the blue one mumbled, his fists loosening at a calming glance from Charles. Raven appeared over Erik's shoulder. "We had a good teacher," Erik looked a bit surprised, his eyebrows shooting up as if to say: who, me? Hank grinned with feral teeth and stepped forward, offering one giant paw. "Be safe, Erik," Erik smiled and stepped forward to shake the paw.

"You too," while Erik moved down the line, shaking each hand, Raven approached her. Moira sighed and decided for the gentler truth.

"I'm glad you found a purpose, Raven. I really am," Raven smiled back, yellow cat eyes blinking slowly. There was arrogance there. She thought Moira was inferior after all, but there was also fondness.

"Thanks. Will you do something for me?" The way she said it told Moira she expected that it would be done whether Moira consented or not. She waited.

"If he finds someone else," Raven nodded towards Hank. There was genuine sadness in her eyes now. "Someone who really cares about him, don't let him back out just because he's afraid, all right? He deserves better," better than me, Moira heard the rest of the statement even if it was not spoken. Her heart ached. She nodded and suddenly pulled Raven into a tight hug.

"I will," she promised as Raven hesitantly wrapped her arms around her. She hugged her close. This was the last moment they would be together as friends. For the past few months they had been the only girls in a mansion of men. That kinship would not die. "Goodbye, Raven," Raven nodded.

"Take care, Moira," they separated. Raven looked over her shoulder and grinned at Sean. He was waiting theatrically, tapping his foot as he waited for his own hug.

"What am I, chopped liver?" he demanded.

"A screaming ghost, actually," Raven chuckled as she moved from one body to another. She squeezed Moira's arm, and then she was gone. Moira turned around to see Erik kneeling in front of Charles's wheelchair, staring up at him with the look of a man who very much wanted to continue arguing, but kept silent out of propriety alone. The younger man looked down at him with a look of sadness, but also of resolution.

"Erik," he was saying, softly so as to not alert the soldiers who were watching. "If it comes down to a battle between us… Let it be me," Moira's eyebrows scrunched, and it occurred to her that it was rude to eavesdrop. Still, what did Charles mean, let it be me? Judging by Erik's look of acute horror, though, he meant…

Oh.

He meant that should someone need to die in the battle that was sure to erupt between the old friends remade into enemies, Charles wanted to be that one. He did not want to kill Erik; so he was asking Erik to kill him.

Bloody idiot.

Moira gulped. Erik did so as well. "Charles, don't ever ask me to…" Charles lowered his voice.

"Please, Erik. I cannot bear to lose another friend," Charles's eyes flashed to Raven, then back to Erik's face, his own eyes desperate. Erik glanced at the soldiers watching anxiously before closing his eyes.

Slowly, as if it pained him, he gave a small nod of the head. Charles laid a hand on his shoulder. "I know I don't have to ask you to take care of Raven," he changed the subject mournfully. Erik shook his head, eyes still closed.

"I will protect her with my life," he swore. Charles nodded just as Raven appeared over Erik's shoulder. Moira saw absolute trust flash in his stormy blue eyes before he squeezed Erik's shoulder.

"Goodbye, Erik," he whispered and his voice sounded like the wise breathing of the ocean.

"Goodbye, old friend," Erik stood and his voice had sounded like the accepting suckling of fire. Raven dropped to her knees in front of Charles. The telepath took both of her hands into his.

He stared at her, and she at him, both of them stubborn, self-righteous, loyal…Hurting. Moira felt a lump in her throat. A warm and furry hand landed on her shoulder. She did not have to turn to know that it was Hank standing behind her, his eyes glued to the goodbye as if it were his own. In a way, Moira supposed it was.

All of a sudden, startling Moira with how fast she could move, Raven had lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Charles's neck. He, on the other hand, was not surprised. Large hands wrapped around her torso and stroked her orange hair. "I would get on my knees and beg you to be safe," Charles told her in a choked voice.

"But it might prove problematic for me, and I don't think you'd listen anyway," They both barked a short snort of laughter, as if it were some private joke between them, made harsher by present circumstances.

Raven hid her face in Charles's neck for a moment, but Moira still heard a muffled voice say: "I love you Charles," His grip tightened.

"I love you too Raven. Be safe," the thought of safety probably had not occurred to her. She was going off to war, after all. Charles caught the stray thought and flashed Moira a look full of pain. He knew.

She cringed apologetically and allowed Hank to guide her behind Charles. Raven stood, letting her eyes wander over the remaining group. Erik came to her side. The friends all stared desolately at one another, no one quite sure how to break the silence. Erik's eyes shifted to the humans, palpable hatred in his eyes.

Then, without another word, he turned swiftly on his heel and walked to the edge of the boat. He did not look back. Raven's eyes lingered on Hank, sad, regretful. "And Beast," she called. "Remember, Mutant and Proud!" she swiveled, running after Erik.

Together, the two of them hopped over the side into the waiting hole of the submarine. Moira heard a whooshing swish that she took to be the waves pulling them into her bosom, and then silence. The others were gone, leaving six very frightened and heartbroken people behind to face the future alone.