September 6, 1957
"Should I guess?"
"Do you want to?"
Lorna nodded.
"Alright, go ahead."
She bit her lip in concentration, looking off into the distance. Charles watched from his seat at the conference table as Erik smiled indulgently. A chess game had been laid out, but he knew that it would be a while before they played. Lorna took precedence in Erik's mind, a sentiment that Charles could appreciate.
"Is it a dress?" she asked.
Erik laughed but Charles felt it was a valid guess. When she had first come to Genosha she'd had a total of four dresses. Each one was a dark, somber color. There were also scarves for covering her hair. The scarves had made Erik angry, but he had understood that they were a precautionary measure. Susanna didn't have the money to constantly dye her daughter's hair. At least her mother had cared enough to hide her.
However, her drab wardrobe had soon been replaced. The flow of dresses in Genoshan patterns, one of which she wore at the moment, was enough to make anyone pause. Lorna loved different colors, which was good since Genosha patterns employed all the colors of the rainbow. Her old favorite, green, was worn most often though.
Susanna had recieved the same treatment with the slight difference of a shower of rose-themed jewlery. Her fortunes had changed drastically, but Charles could tell she was happy. She was having a calming effect on his friend as well. Before her influence had only been by proxy, but now he was seeing Erik more composed than he had in a long time.
Her own contributions in the public arena had been welcome as well. She had listened with genuine interest about the school and had several public welfare ideas that he wanted to implement. As a struggling single mother, she had seen how difficult it was to get by. It made Charles wonder about Moira and her daughter, but he filed it away. He had to concentrate on the people in Genosha.
"Is it a tiara?" Lorna ventured, "You mentioned a tiara earlier."
"Close enough," he said, "And it's your favorite color."
Lorna looked up and smiled, her hands clasped behind her back and rocking on her toes. In the two months since Erik had gotten his family back Charles had watched with amusement as he spoiled her. Anyone who'd seen him only in an official capacity would, he knew, be surprised to see this side of him.
Although Lorna seemed oblivious of it, she had her father wrapped around her finger. Charles had expected her to get a little more demanding as time went by, but she seemed to be continually surprised whenever her father gave her something. Each time she recieved a gift her face was a mask of childish innocence, perhaps basking in the only safety she'd known in years.
At first she had seemed in awe of her father, rather timid really. Whenever he'd seen the Lensherrs together as a family Lorna had always been silent, staying close to her mother. It was easy to pinpoint the cause. Her father had been absent for nearly half her life. She had only her mother's reassurences that he was still alive. And then he had appeared suddenly, taking them from poverty to a palace.
It was probably the dream of every child with a missing father and a harried mother living in poor conditions. One day their father would come back and take them away from it all. Unlike so many others Lorna's father had actually come and turned her into a princess. Erik had noticed that it was a lot for Lorna to take in and, with the help of his wife, slowly changed it.
After a few weeks she had adjusted, the awe turning to admiration and love. Erik had paid her a great deal of attention and always managed to read her stories at night. While she spent most of her day with her mother her face always lit up when her father came. They were quite alike after all.
Erik waved his hand and a metal box levitated from the table in front of him. Lorna looked at it, her eyes wide. She pushed her hand forward and the metal clasp wavered. Her powers were like her father's, but they were definitely nowhere near his level. She struggled with the more intricate mechanics of metal, so often times somethign as complicated as locks were out of the question.
"Calm your mind Lorna," Erik said, his voice gentle, "Just relax."
Lorna closed her eyes and slackened her stance. The box snapped open and Lorna let out a squeal of delight.
"That's my girl," Erik said.
She beamed and, with a wave of her hand, opened the box. Charles shifted slightly in his seat so he could see. It wasn't as though he didn't already know what it was. He'd been integral to finding and retooling it so it would fit her. Lorna was due to make public appearances with her father and mother soon, and she'd have to look the part of a princess.
Inside the box was a green headpiece. It curved around in the front, wide enough to accommodate her face. The top tapered into two points on either side of the head, almost like cat ears, coming down to a point at the point he imagined would be the forehead. It had originally been silver, but green had been worked into the metal. The balance perfect to rest on her head.
Her mother had a similar one, reworked with less points so it laid flatter on her head. To his knowledge it was gold and Erik's crown was red. The family would make quite the color combination for thier official presentation.
Lorna gasped. Erik picked it up and returned the box to its place. Kneeling down he slipped it over her head.
"There you are," he said.
Her face lit up, touching it tentatively.
"Thank you!" she said, throwing her arms around his neck.
He hugged her back, letting her go after a few seconds.
"Now, I want you to get used to it," he said, "It's a little heavy, isn't it?"
Lorna nodded.
"So you can wear it to your lessons today," he said, "Tell your mother I said it was alright. Now go on. We wouldn't want you to be late."
She shook her head, hugging him quickly again before hurrying down the hall. She stopped just in time to look over her shoulder.
"Bye daddy!" she called, "Bye Uncle Charles!"
With a brief wave she took off. Erik looked after her before walking up to Charles.
"Uncle Charles," Charles mused.
"You're the only one she calls that," Erik said, "Sometimes I wonder if she thinks you actually are your uncle."
He picked up one of his pawns and moved it.
"You might as well be."
Charles smiled, moving one of his own pieces. Erik had expressed the sentiment that they were family a few times. He knew that such an admission cost a great deal from him. He appreciated it, especially since he felt the same way. You didn't fight for the same dream for three years without becoming family.
"You're spoiling her," Charles said.
"I'm aware," Erik replied, sitting down.
"She isn't," said Charles, "Which, I suppose, is how she seems to be able to charm just about everyone."
"Everyone?" asked Erik, quirking an eyebrow.
Charles rolled his eyes.
"I was wondering where she got that cookie from yesterday," said Erik, moving his rook forwards and smirking.
"Don't look at me like that. There were extras," Charles said.
Erik's smirk widened.
"No doubt it will be a trait she'll appreciate when she's older," Erik said, watching Charles' move on the board, "If she charms people as a child then she could very well rule the world as an adult."
"She'll need training," said Charles, "But she's a child right now, so it's not like her lack of experience can be held against her."
He smiled to himself.
"Given the speed with which she won over everyone in the cabinet," he said thoughtfully, moving one of his pieces, "I highly doubt that there will be any problems when you appear with her before parliament next Thursday."
It was true. Erik had presented his family to the cabinet, making sure that they had official recognition. Lorna had even met Logan, who she had been more curious than afraid of. Susanna had shaken his hand and presented her daughter, her face only slightly wary. Logan had seemed more uncertain with what do but the rest of the cabinet had had no such compunctions. Even Emma had tentatively come over, perhaps remembering her own childhood.
"There won't be," Erik said.
His tone was icy and Charles nodded.
"Understood," he said, "Now, business. We need a school. Now more than ever you have to see that we need one for younger mutants."
"Lorna won't be able to go to the normal school," Erik said bluntly, capturing one of Charles' pieces, "She's a princess Charles. What, do you want her bodyguards to help her with her math homework?"
Charles winced.
"Of course not," he said, "But she's not going to be around many children her own age if you keep her away from the population."
"Don't think I haven't thought of that," Erik said, "It's something Susanna and I have discussed."
He rubbed his temples.
"Why can't you hurry up and have some children, make this whole thing easier?" he asked, his tone light.
"When I have the time, and inclination, to do so, then I will," Charles said.
"And Raven told me that you were quite the ladies' man once upon a time," said Erik, smirking, "Changed your ways?"
"I've changed a lot since I was twenty," said Charles, "And I wish she wouldn't go around blabbing about my personal life to anyone she feels like. Yesterday Azazel asked me if I was still afraid of spiders."
"You are," Erik said.
"That's not the point," Charles said.
"You're right," said Erik, "The point is that you have several women who would love to hear your theories about our genes lined up at the door and you appear to be married to your work. It's not good for you."
"Many would have said the same thing about you before Susanna and Lorna arrived," said Charles.
Erik shrugged.
"Times change," he said, "Although I would still like to think of myself as a dedicated politician. I can do both."
"And I will too, when I find the right person," Charles said.
He thought briefly of Moira and ached.
"Now, can we get back to what I was talking about?" he said.
"Your love life?"
"No, the school system," Charles said, sending out his bishop onto the board.
"The school system seems to be intact," Erik said.
"We do have several schools already," said Charles, "but I was thinking we should tailor them a bit more. Perhaps we could have a master school where children could learn about their powers as well as having an advanced program. There are no higher education programs as of yet on this island. We could use one of the old country manors instead of building a new building."
His friend frowned.
"What do you mean, 'tailor' it?"
"Well, I intend that it will take on the human population. There will be an exam to judge for intelligence levels. But some children need to learn about their powers," shrugged Charles, "Many don't seem to be able to control it and those in special need will be taken into consideration."
Erik moved his piece and fixed Charles with a glare.
"Control it?" asked Erik, "I thought the whole point of us having our own country was that we didn't have to conform."
Charles frowned.
"When did I say conform?" he said, "I said control. If mutants can't control their powers then they tend not to do well."
"Control means hiding."
"No, control means breaking down the doors to a city that terrorized people for years," Charles said sharply, "If you or I didn't have control over our powers, then I doubt that we'd be where we are now."
He moved one of his pieces, capturing one of Erik's. Erik leaned back and began drumming his fingers on the table. Charles sighed and leaned back.
"How many times have we been over this?" he asked.
"Obviously not enough to get you to agree with me," Erik said.
"That's not going to happen," Charles said, "Ever."
Erik moved one of his pieces.
"You're stubborn."
"And you're unguarded," Charles said, moving his bishop, "Checkmate."
Erik sighed in frustration. He waved his hand and the metal pieces rearranged themselves to the start of a game.
"You'll never beat me, you do know that right?" asked Charles, smirking.
"I've beaten you twice in the past," Erik said.
"Twice out of how many games?" Charles asked.
His friend rolled his eyes.
"You've been keeping better track than I have," he said, "Not sure how I feel about that."
Charles shrugged.
"We make a good team," he said, "I'll keep track and you'll set up the board."
Erik smiled but continued drumming his fingers on the table.
"So, you really want to give this whole school thing a run?"
"Definitely," he said, "Susanna seems to be behind it."
Erik frowned.
"You got my wife in on it?"
"Yes," Charles said, "She's already involved in the public welfare. Why not this too?"
His friend rolled his eyes.
"You're ganging up on me, you really are."
"We're doing no such thing," Charles grinned, "I figure I'll call it the Institute for Higher Learning."
"Sounds a little generic."
"Naming it after myself at this point would be pure vanity," Charles said, "Especially since I wouldn't be headmaster. I'd pick the staff, I suppose, patronize it, but I couldn't run it with so much on my schedule. Susanna would do much the same I suppose."
With a thoughtful expression Erik moved his piece, the first move in their new game.
"You know," he said, "yesterday Neena suggested that we start up a barracks to train the next generation of soldiers."
Charles shook his head.
"That's not what I want. This is supposed to be a school, not a military camp."
Erik shrugged.
"I'm not saying we have to combine them. We could incorporate the use of powers for combative purposes," he said, "But we'll iron things out later. In any case, we can throw together a charter later. After that you'll have to figure out who should make up your student body?"
"Maybe Lorna?" suggested Charles.
His friend hesitated before shaking his head.
"I told you; I don't think any public school would be safe enough for her," said Erik.
Sighing Charles made his move.
"Just think about it Erik," he said.
"I will," Erik said.
Charles wasn't convinced, but he didn't say anything. Erik brought out his knight before tilting his head.
"You're going to have to find teachers too."
"I know," said Charles, "I never said it was going to be easy."