Chapter Twenty-Nine: One Step At A Time

A/N: Only one chapter left now after this! I know a lot of you haven't been reviewing but I'm guessing that's because you already reviewed this story before I did the edit. It would be nice to get some feedback though! Have you liked it so far? Would you like me to do any one-shots? Let me know :)

"Can't you just hang the bauble on straight?" Danni asked of Sean with a heavy sigh, rolling her eyes meaningfully to Tobi. Sean stood on his tiptoes and attempted to straighten the shiny red bauble, nearly falling and taking down the whole Christmas tree as he did so.

"Straight enough?" Sean panted like he was exerted and Danni rolled her eyes again.

"Boys."

It had been three months – three months since Bishop had finally been destroyed, three months since Max had died and Lucie had left to join the Brotherhood. Lessons were finally coming to a close, with the year drawing to its end. Charles had designated several of the older mutants to set up the Christmas tree.

"I can't believe today's our last lesson until next year." Alex pumped his fist triumphantly, glancing outside at the snow that coated the window and painted Charles's property a brilliant white. "Who's up for tobogganing later?"

Tobi's mind was elsewhere. This year was ending – their first year at Charles's mansion. Yet, Tobi couldn't help but wonder…Charles was like an older brother to her, and he had taught her so much – but did she really need to stay? What would next year bring? Was there anything else she needed to learn from Charles?

"Tobi?" Alex frowned slightly as he inspected her.

She shook her head slowly. "Sorry. Just thinking."

"Don't hurt yourself," Sean teased, tripping over a large present and colliding heavily with the ground.

"Thinking about what?" Danni asked of her.

Tobi shrugged. She wasn't really sure that she wanted to voice her opinions in front of the others, especially as she might hear objections. Actually, what she worried about the most was what would happen to her relationship with Alex. They'd been dating for some time now, but would he leave with her if she decided that was what she wanted?

"I don't know. A lot of things. About next year, mainly. I'm not sure if I want to stay on. I think it's time I made my own way in the world, you know?"

Danni's dark eyes widened with surprise. "You're leaving?"

Tobi just shrugged again. Danni's alarmed tone indicated exactly the sort of reaction her saying she was leaving would get.

"I'm not quite sure just yet. I haven't thought it out."

Her gaze wandered to Alex, who was determinedly hanging the star on top of the Christmas tree, not looking at her. Was he mad because of what she'd said? Worse, did he not care at all? Tobi gnawed at her lip.

"I want to stay," Danni nodded vigorously as she handed Sean a blue bauble to hang, "I think there's still more that I can learn here. I mean, to me, this is home. When I've learnt all I can, I was intending to stay and maybe become a teacher. You know, it would help Charles."

Tobi nodded an affirmation. "Yeah, I know what you mean. What about you, Sean?"

"Uh." Sean's face flushed a little as he glanced across at Danni. "Well, I was thinking I might stay as well."

Tobi watched Alex, who seemed to be deliberately ignoring her. Did his decision mirror hers, or were they going to be heading their separate ways? For whatever reason, Tobi was too scared to ask him. She wouldn't do it front of Sean and Danni for fear of his answer…but would she end up doing it at all?

"Hot chocolate and a coffee?"

Tobi looked up from her magazine and laughed as Danni put down the steaming mugs onto the table. Accompanied by Zelda, the girls had waged snowball war upon the boys – and although they'd managed to win, the three of them were still freezing.

"You sound like a waitress."

Danni shrugged as she sat down between the two other girls. "Hey, maybe I could get a job as one."

Tobi took a sip from her hot chocolate. The warmth spread into her fingers and toes and she smiled at the sensation. She'd almost forgotten what it was like to be warm, she'd been out in the snow that long. She was just reaching for a Tim Tam when Alex appeared in the kitchen, his arms folded across his chest.

"What's the matter?" Danni giggled at the serious expression on his face. "Annoyed that we ended up beating you after all?"

Alex's gaze was fixed solely on Tobi. "I need to talk to you."

Danni's glance was rather troubled, but Tobi brushed it off. She put down her half-eaten Tim Tam and shrugged lightly at the other two girls, before following Alex into the corridor. She could feel the mix of emotions washing off him and for once, she was at a loss to say what he might be thinking.

"Were you serious earlier on?" Alex asked, raking a hand through his blond hair and examining her critically.

"About what?" Tobi answered his question with another question, although she had the feeling that she already knew what he meant.

"About leaving at the beginning of next year. Were you just saying that, or did you mean it?"

Tobi sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. She wished people would stop asking her that. So far, only Sean, Danni and Alex knew that she might be leaving – might being the key word. Tobi hadn't made any definite decision yet.

"I don't even know myself yet, Alex. I haven't made up my mind. Why?"

"Because." Alex's blue eyes were fierce. "If you did leave, I'd come with you."

Tobi was stunned into silence. She knew, of course she knew, that Alex felt very strongly about her. She knew that despite the fact that they were teenagers, their relationship was something special, corny as it sounded. But she hadn't known whether Alex's feelings for her were strong enough for him to part with Charles and the others.

"You…you really mean that?"

Alex laughed and leaned forward to press a swift kiss to Tobi's cheek, surprising her.

"Of course I mean it. Did you think I was kidding when I said I loved you? If you're going, I want to go with you."

Tobi shrugged, not quite sure what to say.

"If that's really what you want. But I know that Charles is like an older brother to you, too. So if you're not sure…"

Alex took Tobi's face in his hands and pressed his lips passionately to hers. Tobi responded with enthusiasm, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer until she was pressed to his chest. Alex deepened the kiss and Tobi ran her hands through his blond hair. Alex's arms snaked around her waist and it was only the need to breathe that forced the two to separate.

"Finally," Alex smirked, "I've found a way to shut you up."

Tobi rolled her eyes. "So you're saying that you only kiss me to shut me up, is that right?"

Alex's expression was mischievous as he shrugged. "Pretty much."

"Okay." Tobi nodded slowly and her green eyes gleamed. "In that case, do you feel like shutting me up again?"

"Hey!" Charles had to exclaim loudly to make himself heard, "What do you lot not understand about 'group photo'? Elliott, you pull that face again and I'll have your tongue permanently removed."

Charles had decided that they were going to have an end-of-year party, to celebrate the challenges they'd all faced during the year. Of course, he'd also insisted on having a photo of his first class. Not everyone was enthusiastic about this – it had taken Tobi nearly an hour to convince Alex to wear a suit to the event, and once he'd heard the word 'photo', he'd skulked off near the punch bowl.

"Alex, get over here, or I'll come and drag you," Tobi threatened, planting her hands on her hips and glaring across at her rather antisocial boyfriend. Alex shrugged and seemed to take her seriously, mooching across with his shoulders tensed and his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Gather together," Charles instructed, peering over the camera and waving his hand for the teenagers to bunch closer. Alex shuffled next to Tobi and put an arm around her waist, his face contorting into a grimace.

"That's not a smile," Tobi hissed in his ear, "That just looks like you're in pain. Come on. Smile, before I give you something to really grimace about."

After a few shots, Charles sighed heavily and couldn't quite stop the smile that crossed his face.

"Alright, now you can have a silly one, if you must."

Some of the faces that the young mutants pulled were ridiculous. Chuckling to himself, Charles shook his head slowly and snapped another shot. When the photos were done, Alex almost melted into a gooey pile of relief.

"Thank God that's over."

"You exaggerate," Tobi told him, tossing back her bronze hair, "It wasn't that bad."

"I agree with Tobi." Charles wheeled over as the two turned away from the punch bowl to face him. There was a smile on Charles's lips, yet his eyes were solemn. "I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you both how much you've grown over the past few months – both as mutants and as people. You've suffered a lot, I won't lie…and I think that it's made you stronger. I am so very proud of both of you."

Tobi could feel the pride radiating off him and knew that he wasn't lying. Overcome by emotion, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around him. Charles laughed, a little surprised by Tobi's reaction.

"I know what we're all getting for Christmas." Elliott practically skipped over to them as Charles wheeled off to speak with the others.

Tobi sighed heavily. "Don't tell me – you 'borrowed' Charles's power of telepathy? Nicely done, Elliott."

"Do you want to know what you're getting?" Elliot inquired eagerly of them.

"No," Tobi and Alex both replied at the same time.

"Well," Elliott paid no attention to their response, "Alex, you're getting a…"

"Elliott." Tobi's voice was stern and her eyes narrowed. "No is no. It would ruin the surprise."

Elliott cleared his throat and stared down at his feet and he suddenly grew serious as he glanced at the pair of them, then across at the other. Under the disco ball, Perry was spinning Zelda in giddy circles.

"Umm…everyone…I kind of have an announcement to make."

Tobi and Alex exchanged surprised glances at everyone's attention turned upon Elliott. There was a rather determined look on his face as he stepped forward. Sean leaned over and turned down the volume of the music.

"This is kind of hard to say…" Elliott scratched at his head awkwardly. "I just…okay, I'll spit it out. I'm leaving at the beginning of next year."

Everyone looked astonished at this. There had been discussion about leaving – but Elliott hadn't been involved in it. Tobi guessed that she wasn't the only one who thought it was time to make it in the big world.

"Seriously?" Even Charles sounded shocked. "This isn't a prank, is it?"

Elliott shook his head fervently. "No, I'm serious. I just feel like…well, there are a lot of memories here, both good and bad. But I'm going to be twenty next year and I think it's about time I took responsibility for myself."

Tobi bit her lip and glanced across at Alex. He offered her a small smile and squeezed her hand reassuringly, and then he nodded. Tobi took a deep breath and found the strength to step forwards.

"Alex and I are leaving, too."

Charles raised his eyebrows. Elliott was one thing, but Alex and Tobi – he hadn't been expecting that. Of course, it was only natural, considering that many of the mutants were growing up…yet Charles had become rather attached to many of his students.

Tobi still wasn't sure that she'd made the right decision. Could she really leave everyone behind? All the memories? It felt a little like on Cuba, when Erik and Raven had left them. It would leave a hole in her heart, a small pit of nostalgia, but it wasn't anything Tobi couldn't deal with over time. Sometimes, they all needed a little pain to grow.

"She's right." Alex stepped forward and his eyes were grim as he observed the others. "Charles, you've been a great teacher. You've been like…the family we never had. But it's time for us to grow up. It's time for us to move on."