A month later:
Erik felt really, really old while he was watching Logan and Colossus work. Especially since he knew he might have been able to manipulate a tank once upon a time, but that time had faded, the last bit of sand draining to the bottom of the hourglass, fading away to…
"Erik!" a swift smack upside the head brought him out of his poetic stupor. He laughed aloud and rubbed the back of his head, smiling at Emma. She resisted the urge to hit him again-he could see in her eyes that his melancholy paean had amused her secretly. He grinned, pleased to have made her smile.
He loved her smile. Then again, he had already come to the conclusion long ago that he loved her. "Pay attention! There's a tank right there!" She ordered, pointing towards the green and brown automobile heading towards them at top speed.
"And?" he inquired without much worry, from where he was posted behind a large building. "It looks as if our team has it covered," he pointed to the mutants ahead, who were quickly dissembling the tank. Raven had already made it to the top, climbing into the cockpit with stealthy fluidness.
Azazel was right behind her. Riptide, Wolverine and Colossus were keeping the tank occupied. "Colossus, throw me!" Wolverine bellowed suddenly, his metal claws screeching from his skin. The newest addition to the X-Men team, mere weeks old in their operational team, did as he was told. With one muscular arm-now made of the same metal from the tank he had touched-he picked up Logan around the waist and flung him towards the tank.
Erik even cringed when he saw the feral acidity of Logan's attack. In the past month, much had changed, due mainly to their two new friends.
Or, in Charles's case, more than a friend really.
The story had come full circle now as Erik realized just how fun it was to tease his friend about his newest crush. The night of their dinner had gone splendidly. Jason had showed them his powers, and with a bit of assistance from Charles and Erik, and much encouragement from the others, had slowly began to grow in them.
Meanwhile, Cecilia had come to the mansion every day to borrow and return books from the library. While she was there, she and Charles would speak for hours on end, about the human/mutant situation, about Charles's speeches, about the children and eventually their conversations had led to Charles one day asking Erik what he thought of making Cecilia the new head of the X-Men schools for Mutant Youth.
Despite the bombing and the deaths following, other schools around the country were continuing to be built, and they needed an overall leader; a head. At first, it was decided that since Charles had funded it, he should continue Eliza and John's dreams, but due to the increasing popularity of his speeches (He gave up to six in a week now) and the efforts of his X-Men….Charles was a busy bee.
And Cecilia had begged for some way to help the others, at first assisting Cassidy, but she quickly became bored at house-running.
"What do I think?" Erik had gasped when Charles asked after his opinion one day during one of their chess matches. "She's a human, Charles! How can she run schools for mutants?" He demanded.
"You're forgetting that she raised Jason," Charles pointed out.
"She can't ever understand…" he had insisted.
Charles had given him a sharp look. "I think you underestimate her empathy,"
"I think you like her and you're allowing your feelings to cloud your judgment," Erik replied calmly. Charles blushed.
"Do as you wish," Erik had finally conceded, moving his Knight. "But be cautious Charles. Remember, reason over emotion," and Charles had ducked his head, bashful and brooding.
"Thank you for being honest with me, Erik."
Cecilia, the next day, was appointed overarching head of all X-Men Mutant Youth schools and Erik invited Colossus to be on the team. The other man had accepted without hesitation, eyes shining with pride. So now, a few weeks into these new arrangements, four new X-Men schools had been opened and were running.
And they were stuck in South Sudan fighting off an evil warlord. Of course.
The cannon of the tank promptly fell at his feet, lolling back and forth as the wires sticking out of the top sparked and flickered with electricity. Erik looked up, arms crossed, at his X-Men. "Well," Colossus observed, perky as a squirrel as Wolverine came, swiping his greasy claws on his pants. Raven followed, nudging the tank top with her toe disdainfully.
"We're done. Where to now, Chief?" Erik smiled.
"Told you," he quipped to Emma gloatingly before stepping forward. Not for the first time, he felt perfect, contented pride stir in his chest for these amazing group of people. He was honored to stand at their side, to be their leader.
However, neither he nor Charles were unaware that the year was ending. It was September now. Three more months, and the bet was over. The thought of leaving sent a wracking shiver of grief through Erik.
"In the morning, the sun will come again."
He turned his mind from it and marched over to where they were. "Now, my friends," he coughed in the suffocating heat. "We're off to China."
"Okay….Okay…Waldo…Waldo I know times are tough right now…You just have to….Yes, I quite understand, but...No…No, you can't just hire anybody!... Because I do not want any random riff-raff walking about my schools! ... Waldo, you can do it. I have faith in you to hire competent people …" Emma, sitting on the couch in her small hotel room, let out a barely disguised attempt at holding back a laugh. Cecilia sent her friend a murderous glance.
Emma, sitting on the couch in her small hotel room, let out a barely disguised attempt at holding back a laugh. Cecilia sent her friend a murderous glance.
"Listen, Waldo…Yes, but…No, they don't all have to be Mutants …If we're to have equality, then the students will have …Do not interrupt me Waldo …Here, just put Wanda on the phone ….Goodness…No, I'm sure that teachers need a technical teaching degree to actually teach anywhere …Wait, did…? Did you call those few people I recommended?...Waldo, I told you…No, I can't come there. I'm all the way in Michigan …The school is very nice here, now …Yes….Yes…Professor X will be at the Grand opening. My sources told me….. Yes, they're reliable …" Emma watched her with unconcealed amusement, cocking a brow at Cecilia's frustration.
"No…No, but…Waldo, you should know what the Professor looks like. He's on the news about every day…Yes, elections are coming up…No, I am not running for Governor…" Emma grumbled her dissatisfaction about this fact.
"Waldo...No, I can't….What do you mean why do we need teachers anyway?...You cannot have a school without teachers…No, no there aren't…" Emma cocked a brow at her.
"Tell him to shut his trap and give you a moderately intelligent person," she mouthed suggestively.
"Shut up, Emma…No, not you, Waldo, I meant…Oh, never mind... Put Wanda on the phone please ….I am not being unreasonable… Waldo?...Waldo, don't you dare hang up on me…Because if I fire you, you'll be poor. How does that sound for a good reason?" she rolled her eyes. Emma applauded approvingly.
"Don't look at me like that Emma! Waldo, put Wanda on the phone now… Good, very well, bye. Wanda? Oh, thank goodness, can you do something for me...? Yes…Uh huh, yes, that's right…Finally...I knew you would understand my hesitance. I want real teachers for these children. They deserve that," Azazel appeared in the doorway, beckoning Emma to him impatiently. They had to leave.
Cecilia gave them a little wave, sad that her friend had to leave so soon. They had only just begun their game of chess.. Azazel smiled back, discussing something softly with Emma. "What? Oh…Oh, no, that wasn't my point…Wanda, do you or do you not know how to find quality teachers…? Alright, I'll speak it over with the professor…No, Wanda….No, I do not always just ask him…"
She was offended that Wanda believed her to be so very dependent and unknowing. This was her role; that of taking care of the schools. Charles had his own problems. She only bothered him when it was important, or when she just needed to talk to someone who would remain silent and listen to her speak with compassionate, understanding sapphire eyes.
Not that she sat there studying them or anything like that.
Emma heard that thought. She laughed aloud. You are so into him.
Shut up, Emma.
Azazel gave her a curious look as he wandered over to the small couch and plopped down tiredly, rubbing his aching ankles tiredly. I've got to stop pacing when I think, she thought.
"Are you sure you'll be okay…? How's the building coming along? Alright. Alright, I'll see you at the grand opening…Remember to send in that paperwork to the local magistrate…No, that means courts…Judges, Wanda. Yes, those guys …I'm sure they'll comply. The Professor has powerful friends…Yes; he was given the key to the City of Los Angeles last week…He spoke to the Vice President already. What did he say? Oh, the usual. You should wait for equality. It will come. Please keep the crowd nonviolent. You freak me out mutant, yes…. ….Okay…Okay, Wanda. Good luck. Yes, goodbye," And with that she ended the torment.
She looked up at Azazel and Emma with exhaustion. "You know what? After all the schools are built, I'm firing Waldo. And Wanda. Just for being so dang complicatedly irritating," she told them huffily. Azazel crossed his arms, his tail flicking with mocking.
"No, you won't." he snorted.
"You're too nice darling," Emma agreed, before swiftly emptying the chess board. "Until we meet again, my friend," Cecilia nodded and stood to give her a hug
"Thank you for coming Emma. I was getting lonely here alone," she said, glancing out of the small hotel window at the bustling city lights below. It was late at night here. Emma nodded.
"Of course," she said.
"I don't understand why Moira does not protect you too," Azazel stated confusedly. "You are in just as much danger of assassination," Cecilia snorted.
"No, I'm not. I'm a human, remember? Besides, Moira checks up on me every half hour anyway. If I didn't answer once, she'd be here in a heartbeat. I'm perfectly safe," she promised.
Emma sighed. "You're a worse liar than Charles. By the way, when are you heading home?" The mansion, where about eleven books awaited her careful and dutiful attentions.
Cecilia shrugged. "When my work is finished," she replied, simply.
"It's hilarious," Azazel observed dryly. "How you think that there will ever be an end to work," she grinned.
"One can dream, Ivan. Now shoo, shoo! You two heroes have a world to save. I'll best you at chess later Emma," said person rolled her eyes at her. Ever since Cecilia had saved Warren, Emma had been perhaps the friendliest to her besides Charles, welcoming her into the tight nit circle of mutant kinship with open arms. Cecilia was relieved to have her at her side.
"There she goes dreaming again," Emma chuckled. "Very well. Be safe, Cecilia,"
"Likewise," Emma cast another ironic smile before grabbing Azazel's hand. They were gone in a poof. Cecilia flopped unto her couch, letting her feet fly into the air and against the armrest at the end.
Her room lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. Though Cecilia had become accustomed to traveling alone, it was at moments like these when she missed the comfort of human contact. She missed Jason, wondered where he was. Emma had told her he was fine (this was always the first thing Cecilia asked when she saw her) but the worry of a sister could not be dissuaded for long.
Then, maybe a few minute, maybe a few hours later, there was a knock at the door. She jumped, having been half way to sleep. Traveling the country attending the Opening ceremonies of her schools, giving speeches and answering questions about the school was a more exhausting job than she had assumed it would be. It was good work though.
The occupational hazards of assassination were ever present though.
Cecilia stared at the door, half expecting what happened the day they were found out to repeat itself. She looked out the windows, half expecting a helicopter to appear over her deck at any moment, shining a thousand cameras into her face and ordering her to put her hands up.
"Not to worry," Charles assured her curtly on the other side of the door. "I come in peace," he said.
Cecilia's shoulders slumped with relief and she hopped to her feet, her heart lightened by the thought of seeing Charles again. Though, what was he doing here? She bounded over to the door, checked the peephole just in case, before unlatching the lock and allowing Charles to roll in.
"Charles!" She cried. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in New Mexico," Charles replied cheerily.
"I was. Moira says hello. Hank says hello also, but in Japanese," he swiveled in his chair to face her. He had a long wooden box held in his lap, polished and new. She eyed it wonderingly.
"So what are you doing here?" She repeated, aware that she was only in a thin green cotton night shift and a robe. She blushed, thinking about how immodest the garments were. If Charles noticed her bare calves or makeup-less face, he said nothing about it.
"I brought you something," Charles told her with a small smile, patting the box in his lap. Cecilia closed the door behind him, locking it. It would not do to have someone hear Professor X in her room alone at night. They might start thinking indecent thoughts. She certainly did...Not. Yeah.
"You came all the way from New Mexico to give me something? Why couldn't it wait? And how did you even get here?" She asked as Charles handed her the wooden box, tied shut by a single green bow. She took it, curious. Then set it down. It had been about two weeks since she had last seen Charles. True, they were supposed to have met up next week, and she had about four of the books from his library in her suitcase, but seeing him made her feel safe.
She had always lived in a world where she never knew if anyone would attack. He, on the other hand, would sense it before it came. Cecilia had never particularly wished for powers. Upon seeing her brother's struggles with them, she had always assumed they were more a curse than a blessing, but after his training and seeing the other mutants…
Now she understood that the mutations themselves were things of beauty and mystery and prestige. She understood that they were blessings disguised as curses, and Charles was one of the most hidden ones. She smiled at him. "The very fact that you're here is enough. Tell me how you've been," she began, but Charles shook an admonitory finger at her.
"You just don't want to seem greedy in front of me. But no worries, my dear. I'll be glad if you seem so," now she was really curious as to what was in the box. There were benefits to having a rich friend. If that was what they were.
"I don't really need anything," she protested, still valiantly trying. Besides, Cecilia really didn't want anything. The time and work people-Charles- had put into helping her continue Eliza and John's dream was enough. Now all she wanted was to see it through. And see the world brought one step closer to peace.
"Ah, true," Charles's eyes sparkled. "But though you might not need it, I want you to have it. So," he pushed it towards her firmly. "You will accept this gift whether you like it or not," he teased.
She shook her head. He was a stubborn one. "Fine," Cecilia sat down at the couch she had been in a moment ago. Before she opened it however, she patted the spot next to her. As according to their unspoken custom, Charles lifted himself out of his wheelchair (his upper body rippled quite nicely when he did that) and plopped down next to her, his legs dragging like sticks.
"I feel as if I'm opening Pandora's Box," she joked as she untied the green ribbon holding the box closed.
Charles smiled. "That wasn't on sale," he stated. She laughed aloud and the box came open with a light click.
Slowly, feeling as if she were accepting a holy gift, Cecilia opened it. She peered inside the red velvet insides, and beheld a perfect violin, held firmly in place. Cecilia let out a cry of delight and scooped it up by the neck, holding it tenderly.
A small silver chain dropped from where her fingers had touched. Charles caught it and handed it back to her, blushing like a school boy. Cecilia studied the small pendant in his hands. It was a necklace.
The small woman was a light green color, glowing as a tiny ornament in Charles's hand. His fingers wrapped around her with exquisite gentleness as he held her up by the chain she hung on.
Cecilia's eyes went wide at the beauty of the long-haired detailed doll. Tiny eyes stared at her with majestic curiosity, the body was straight, proud and the doll held one fist in the air, triumphantly, defiantly. The other was at her side, passively, dangerously. In the woman's hands sprouted a long scepter, the end a miniscule ball of diamond, the intimate curves and carvings making it seem as if she would command an army any second now.
"Charles," she breathed, as he handed it to her. "It's wonderful, it's beautiful, it's…" she breathed, handling the fragile curves and sharp edges of her new gift with reverence.
"It was my mother's," Charles whispered. Cecilia's eyes snapped up to meet Charles's, and the honesty in his eyes confirmed his statement.
"No! Charles, I couldn't…" she began, but Charles held up a hand to halt the flow of her words.
"Take it. She stopped wearing it after…. Well, a long time ago, before she began drinking. When she was kind, and caring and loving and strong. She dreamed of giving it to a daughter one day," he met her eyes, his own twinkling. "You'll do," despite his gentle teasing Cecilia tried to swallow past the sudden lump in her throat, and found herself unable. She looked away, tears stinging her eyes.
"I love it," she finally said, having no other words. Charles nodded.
"And the violin?"
"The greatest gift I've ever received."
"Good. It was either that or a mansion on Barbados," she laughed again, then the chuckle turned into a hitching sob of… Something good, when she picked up the beautiful violin, her fingers tracing every elegant sweep and noble curve. It was so well-tuned, made out of the finest wood. This must have cost a fortune.
"Charles, I don't understand," she gasped. "What is this for?" She asked.
Now he looked as if he didn't understand. His brows came down with confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Cecilia bit her bottom lip, trying to think of a way to phrase the question without seeming rude. Thankfully, Charles must have either seen it in her mind or caught up to her line of thinking. "It's not an extra gift for saving Warren, if that's what you're thinking," he told her.
Now she was really confused. No one had ever gotten hear gift except if it was Christmas or her Birthday, and only Jason had ever gotten her anything. Usually little things because that was all he could afford. Why…?
"I wanted to give it to you," Charles explained, simply. "I saw the violin in Texas and, well, instantly thought you'd like it and the pendant," he shrugged. "It has been sitting in my mother's old boudoir for years, collecting dust. Raven won't take it, and I don't want to just give it away to anyone," he wrinkled his nose.
"I'm not overly fond of my family, but I respect my ancestors enough not to just donate family heirlooms," he said.
Cecilia gently turned the small queen in her hand. "How long has it been in your family for?" She asked softly, flattered that he would gift her with such a beautiful pendant.
"Only about three generations. Someone bought it in the mid-eighteenth century I believe," it was that old? Cecilia suddenly felt as if the gifts were too grand. How could Charles give these to her a person he had met only a month before? What did it mean? She set the pendant down softly on her lap.
"Are you sure you want to give this to me?" She asked again, unsurely.
"It is why I came from New Mexico," Charles answered with a smile. Then, seeing her downtrodden face, he sighed softly.
"Cecilia," he called. She looked up to see him gazing at her with a tenderness that made her heart jump and look away again. She had never been…Stared at like that before. What did it mean?
"It means," he gently took her chin in between his fingers, turning her head towards him. "That you're important to me. You and Jason have done so much-for the children, for the X-Men, for the school- and you've shown such an amazing resilience. You deserve more," the ending was phrased vehemently. Cecilia felt ears in her eyes.
"I didn't give you anything," she pointed out, still wondering if anyone could be so generous as to just give people things, without reason or wonder.
"Really? Because funnily enough I remember having a bookmark from North Dakota, a water painting from Washington, syrup from Canada and a dream catcher from Idaho sitting on my desk when I've returned home the past few weeks from a mysterious benefactor," she blushed, caught.
"I thought you'd like them," she mumbled, embarrassed to be discovered so easily. She remembered that-finding odd knick-knacks and small mementos from different states along her travels and buying them for Charles. She had meant for it to remain a mystery, preferring to work in the shadows.
I should have known he'd guess who it was, she thought, a bit disappointed, but also glad that she could tell some of the interesting stories that went along with each item.
"I did," he was looking at her with amusement now. "Admittedly, at first I thought they were from Erik-but he would never be so thoughtful as to do something like that for me. Not when he has Emma to buy things for!" He laughed.
"Erik loves you," Cecilia scolded. Charles blushed-as he or Erik always did whenever anyone pointed out their unique bond- and gave a mild half shrug, his shoulder momentarily bumping hers.
"He's my brother," he said. "Anyway," he nodded towards her gifts. "Do you like them?" he asked.
Cecilia gently ran a hand down her violin and necklace. She could only nod, understanding that this wasn't just a gift, it was a sign of his affection and encouragement, it was his way of saying that he was proud of her.
He was not only giving them his family's heirloom, but his admission that she was part of his family now. Wherever she went, whenever she had this, it would always be a reminder of his regard for her. She found tears of happiness in her eyes. She blinked them away.
She had never been more grateful for anything in her entire life, and she had never imagined, all that time ago when she first attended this man's speech in Pittsburgh, that she might meet him, much less be given gifts from him. Only in her wildest dreams… Best not to think about that right now though. It would make her blush.
"I feel unworthy of such things-" Charles snorted –"but yes, Charles. I absolutely adore them. Thank you so much!" She picked up the violin as if it were a child, cradling it to her arm. It was a perfect fit. How had he known?
The benefits of having a telepathic friend, she thought with a smile. "Thank you for my presents," Charles replied, grinning. "You'll have to play for the children when you get back. They'd love it. How are the schools coming along?"
Cecilia sighed and tied the necklace around her throat. It slipped onto her skin coldly, then dropped to sit right above her heart. "As well as to be expected. Tell me, do you know of any good teachers from Oxford? I'll not have perfect riff-raff around my schools teaching these children and that's what I'm getting," Charles pursed his lips, seeing the dilemma.
"Are you accepting only mutants?" he wondered.
"Dear heavens, no," She snorted. "If were to be an equal society of peace, the prejudice on both sides needs to be eradicated," she reminded him. Charles smiled.
"I like the way you think, Cecilia. I'll look into it. I'm sure I can find some actual teachers with Cerebro, if nothing else," ah, yes, that thing which allowed him to locate people. It looked like a giant baseball cap to her, but she had to admit it was an amazing design. Hank was a brilliant inventor.
"Thank you. Professor," she teased. "By the way, you just missed Emma and Azazel," she told him.
"Really? What were they doing here?"
"I was beating Emma at Chess," he chuckled softly.
"You two are worse than Erik and I. You and Emma have become good friends, I've noticed. Do you have a thing for telepaths?"He asked teasingly. She snorted and gave him a light push on the arm.
"Only Emma, scoundrel. She is my friend, though. She asked about the school one day and how I'm doing and we ended up talking about anything and everything… She's a good person," she told him, proud to have made such a close bond in the family already.
"She is," Chares agreed. "I'm planning her and Erik's wedding already. It's going to be in Brazil," he informed her.
"Do they get a choice?"
"Of course not. Should the cake be vanilla or chocolate?"
"Chocolate. With butter cream frosting and lemons on top. You know how Emma likes lemons. And Erik is fond of chocolate. But not German chocolate, for good reason," she said immediately, having observed this.
Charles shook his head wonderingly. "Once again, you are the most perceptive person I have ever met," she preferred to think of herself as merely curious. And observant. Hiding mutants for three years in one's house gives a person a keen eye and good ear for listening.
"By the way, Charles, how did you get here exactly?"
"Oh," he shrugged. "I met a mutant in New Mexico who can open portals to anywhere in the world at whim. I asked her for a ride," he answered, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"You and your fan-club," she snickered. Charles hummed beneath his breath, tipping his head to stare at the ceiling. He closed his eyes, and Cecilia noticed how tired he seemed.
"Worried about the bet?" A single nod.
"Only three more months, Cecilia. In three months a miracle has to happen or…" or Erik was leaving to take over the world. She had heard about the bet, a slip of Charles's mouth one night, and managed to glean the entire story from him. She sighed and folded one leg beneath the other. Cecilia ran a hand through her short hair, pulling at the stray straggles at the base of her neck anxiously.
"Who would he be taking with him?" She asked softly, knowing that this was probably what had kept Charles up.
"The entire X-Men," Charles replied. "Including Raven," his own sister. Into a real warzone.
"Jason will never go along with it," she stated certainly though it made her heart pang. She knew how much her brother loved being part of the X-Men. He felt that with them, helping people around the world, he had finally found his purpose in life. To have that taken away by society would break his heart.
And her brother's heart was her business.
"I know," Charles said softly, popping one eye to look at her. She felt him squeeze her hand. She squeezed back.
"That's why you've been working so hard lately. More speeches, more marches, more demonstrations, more schools," it was a statement, Charles didn't deny it.
"I don't want them to leave," the plaintive vulnerability in his voice was a testament to the trust he had for her. She felt her heart twist. She didn't want Emma to leave either (and she surely would. Emma would follow Erik to the ends of the Earth) and she certainly did not want to become her friend's enemy, confined to the opposite side of every dispute there on.
She let out a long breath. "We have to have faith," he snorted.
"In what?"
"In the goodness inside people, Charles. It will come through. History has taught us that it always does," he opened his eyes, gazing listlessly at the ceiling.
"Yes," he muttered softly. "But will it come through in time to save my family?" There was no answer for that. They lapsed into a tense silence, both of them thinking on their own thoughts.
At length, Cecilia could only say one thing. "Well, I can't promise you much else, but I can promise you that no matter what happens, Charles," she turned to face him. "I'll always be there for you," she promised, sincerely, for there was nowhere else she would rather be than at his side.
Charles opened both eyes, and the way they glittered with gratitude made her smile back. "Well, then," he squeezed her hand. She realized that they were still holding hands, and couldn't help but shiver when a tingle went through her arm. His hand was so much bigger than hers, enclosing, warm, soft, poised. "I can have faith in something definite, at least."
She grinned. "Definitely."
Whoo hoo! Hundred review mark! Thank you to all of my readers out there. You guys are awesome :D
~QueenYoda