I can't believe how long it took me to finish this story. I think it has spanned almost the full length of my university career? On the off chance that anyone who was there in the beginning is reading this now, I am so sorry that it took me this long. I sometimes find it really hard to get into the right frame of mind for writing, which is not only inconvenient for me, but for any readers waiting on the next chapter as well. I also had to make sure I was prioritising my uni work - which I definitely haven't done today, by the way, so that I could finish the story. I'm now moving into my last semester, which means I'm writing a dissertation. I still have two films to cover in my Lord of the Rings story, and plenty of ideas kicking around in my head, but finding the time to work on them all is going to be really hard this semester.

Anyway, anyway, anyway. Thank you so much for reading this, whoever's left... I've loved writing this story and I hope it's been enjoyable for you reading it.

It's the end of an era for me.

Chapter 17 – Of Fragile Souls

We were finally allowed back to the mansion, once our injuries were taken care of and we had been debriefed. Tensions had been uncomfortably high between us, Moira, and the CIA agents dealing with us, but they had promised a sensitivity in their interrogations considering the circumstances. We had been allowed to return home without them knowing where home was, knowing that at least Moira was accompanying us there and she had the location for them. Little did they know, she had promised us that she would never reveal it to them.

It was dark when we arrived, so Charles quietly instructed us to go to our beds. He had barely said anything since the beach, and whenever he did speak, his words were drowning in a sadness I couldn't comprehend.

"What about Evy?" Alex replied, just as quiet. "The doctor said we need to wake her up every couple of hours."

Subconsciously, I lifted my hand to touch the bandage wrapped around my forehead, remembering the stiches holding my skin together. The doctor had told us I had a mild concussion, nothing too serious, but to still keep an eye on me through the night. I felt guilty about it, not really wanting to be an inconvenience to anyone when we'd all already been through so much.

"I'll take care of her," Charles said, waving Alex away. "Go, get some sleep."

Charles himself was on a stretcher, recovering from his gunshot wound. Hank was wheeling him around, with Moira hovering over them. Sean, Alex, and I had been lingering behind them, exhausted and in shock still. Charles was never going to walk again.

"Are you sure?" I asked Charles, certain he would want to be alone.

He attempted a smile up at me. "I very much doubt I'll be getting any sleep tonight, Evelyn. Looking after you will keep me busy."

"Where do you want to be, Charles?" Hank asked hesitantly. It was clear he was feeling awful about having to ask Charles where he wanted to go, when he'd still been able to walk only that morning.

Charles sighed quietly. "Put us in the lounge, would you, Hank? There's a comfortable couch Evelyn can rest on, and space for me to be next to her."

As Hank pushed the bed down the hallway, Moira gave us a strained smile and moved to the stairs leading to the bedrooms. I stood there with the boys, feeling tiny in the massive, silent mansion. It had never been loud before, but this quiet was deafening, and miserable.

"Night, guys," Sean finally spoke, breaking the silence. He looked as though he had wanted to say more, but hadn't known exactly what he could have said. With an expression that looked nothing but broken, he turned and followed Moira.

Unshed tears burned my eyes when I looked up at Alex. "How do we come back from this?" I whispered, my voice breaking. Seeing everyone like this was killing me.

Alex's face contorted in pain before he gathered me in his arms and brought me into him. One of his hands came to cradle the back of my head as I tucked my face into his neck, unable to stop the tears from falling. I clung to him desperately, feeling utterly selfish for needing comforted when Alex was likely feeling as awful as I was. I just couldn't hold it in anymore. We had lost so much.

"It's gonna take time," Alex murmured. "And it won't be easy. But we'll get there, okay? Together."

Somehow, my broken heart managed to soar. I pulled back from him, my hands moving to cup his cheeks as his fell to hold my waist. "Alex, you have no fucking idea how glad I am to have you here with me," I rushed out, trying to convey how I felt through my touch and my gaze. I had no idea how to put my feelings into words that would do them justice. "Thank you for not getting killed."

He let out a brief, sad chuckle, and lifted his finger to touch the underneath of my chin. "I think I do," he mumbled. He leaned down, his face moving closer and closer, and pressed his lips to my cheek, gentle but firm. He kissed me again, higher this time, making a trail up to my temple as he pulled me into his chest once more. "You mean everything to me, Evy," he whispered.

I squeezed my eyes shut against the fresh onslaught of tears, wrapping my arms as far around his back as I could, my fingers digging into his clothes. I couldn't get close enough, and it terrified me that he could have been taken from me today, like Darwin had been. It felt completely absurd, being treated as if I meant something, never mind everything, to my new family, but it filled me with so much love, happiness, and warmth, and I realised just how much I appreciated and loved the people I had known for such a short time. This was home, right here in Alex's arms, with my friends around me, and I never wanted to leave.

"Oh, uh, sorry," Hank muttered.

I opened my eyes and slowly untangled myself from Alex. "It's okay," I smiled softly, wiping at my eyes.

Hank was standing in the hallway with a blanket and a pillow. "These are for you," he said, handing them both to me.

"How is he?" I asked, looking past Hank into the hallway.

Hank sighed, shifting uncomfortably. "Terrible," he answered. "He's doing his best to hide it."

I frowned, knowing I couldn't have expected anything better, but still feeling awful. "And you?" I asked gently.

He blinked a few times, subconsciously running his hand over the blue fur on his arm. "I don't really know," he muttered.

Alex reached out for Hank's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze, looking utterly sympathetic. I was glad for how far the two had come, but just hated the circumstances. The blonde turned to me next and left one last kiss on my cheek, before waving solemnly to us and going up the stairs.

I sighed, the dull headache that had been with me since the beach throbbing a little harder. "I guess all we can do just now is rest up," I shrugged.

Hank nodded. "I hope you get some sleep."

"What about you?"

He looked away from me. "I think I'm just going to start cleaning up the lab." When he saw the protest forming on my lips, he interrupted me. "Someone needs to be awake if anything happens with you or Charles, anyway," he insisted. "I'll check in on you both every so often."

I realised there would be no swaying him. "Okay, Hank. Thank you."

I clutched the blanket and pillow to my chest and walked quietly down the hallway towards the lounge. The mansion was barely lit, casting shadows over the floors and furniture. I could faintly hear the others walking around upstairs, but I was acutely aware of the two missing pairs of footsteps, and I felt my heart ache for them. It felt as though I'd never get used to their absence.

"Hi, Charles," I said quietly when I came into the room. Hank had moved the coffee table out of the way so that Charles' bed could sit next to the couch I was to sleep on. He had a few books around him, and he was staring at them, his fingers twitching on their covers every so often. I didn't think he had heard me.

I moved to the couch and laid out my blanket and pillow, watching the telepath from the corner of my eye. Even when I sat down, facing him fully, he didn't lift his gaze. I frowned at him, wondering what the best way to handle such a situation was. Charles and I had never really spent much time together, just the two of us, because Erik would usually be with him, wherever he was. Either that, or he would be with Raven, or Hank, or Moira. It seemed that he'd be spending a lot of time by himself now that his sister and his closest friend had left him. He and Hank seemed to get on well, having their passion for mutants in common, but the rest of us… It didn't feel as though we were primarily friends. It felt as though we were primarily students, or people being looked after. How could we be there for Charles as only his students?

"I appreciate you doing this," I told him. When he said nothing, I impulsively reached out to hold the hand nearest to me.

He took a moment to react, looking down at my hand around his. He sighed, curling his fingers around my own, and looked up at me. For a few seconds, I saw the pain and sorrow in his eyes, and I realised just how broken he was, mind and body. But then he smiled sadly, managing to cover up some of what was really going on in his head.

He squeezed my hand and said, "Get some sleep, Evelyn."

Throughout the night, every two or three hours, Charles would wake me gently and have me say some facts about myself, where we were, or what had been happening recently. He never looked as though he had just woken up, but instead looked more and more exhausted as the night went on. Sometimes Hank would be there, hovering in a doorway, or sitting on the armchair in the corner, but it was always Charles who woke me, and he always did it with a soft smile and kind eyes. He was usually holding a book in his hand, and I saw from the first or second wakening that he was on page thirty-seven; my heart broke when I woke up for good the next day, noticed that same book in his hand, and realised he hadn't read even a page further.

"Did you get any sleep?" I asked quietly, sitting up.

"I got some much-needed time alone with my thoughts," he smiled. "Hank fell asleep on the chair about an hour ago, though."

I looked over to the armchair and smiled at the sight of Hank resting his head on his fist, his eyes closed, snoring lightly. "Hopefully he rests for a while," I said.

Charles nodded. "The others are in the kitchen making some food."

I turned to put my feet on the floor, and nervously fidgeted for a moment. "Shall we join them?"

He smiled, almost looking amused, but shook his head. "You go on ahead. I'm fine here, with Hank."

"Will you try to sleep?" I asked, standing up.

"I'll try," he said, but something told me it was more about humouring me than telling the truth.

I nodded silently, accepting that there was nothing I could do about whether he slept or not, and quietly made my way out of the lounge.

The hallway was much brighter this morning with the sunlight pouring in through the windows, and there was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen further down. For a moment, I imagined us a few months down the line, enjoying our breakfast together like a family, the way we had when we had been training, and I felt hope. But when I entered the kitchen, all I saw were three brave faces, and some half-hearted movements.

"Hey," Moira greeted me gently. "We've got some eggs, bacon, sausages, and-ʺ she paused to check in the frying pan Sean was attending, "an attempt at pancakes," she smiled. "Want any?"

"Sounds amazing," I smiled back. "I'll take two of everything, if that's okay."

"Of course it is," she replied, and somehow I knew we both realised that any ill feelings we had towards each other had dissipated after Cuba.

"I can't promise anything amazing," Sean told me over his shoulder, "But I can promise maximum effort."

"That's good enough for me," I chuckled.

Alex was sitting at the table, so I moved to the seat next to him and sat down. He was already working on a plate of food – minus pancakes – and a glass of orange juice.

"Hey," he murmured, stroking the back of my hand with one finger while the rest held onto his knife. "How you feeling?"

I shrugged. "I'm okay. The headache's gone and I slept, so that's good." I reached up to unwrap the bandage from around my forehead. "How are you?"

He finished chewing the mouthful of food he'd shovelled in a second ago and swallowed. "I'm alive, you're alive, everyone else is alive, even if they left. I'm good."

I smiled at him. "Good."

"How was Charles?"

My smile fell. "He didn't sleep. He looked completely exhausted when I woke up. He said he had some time alone with his thoughts."

"Must be difficult to come to terms with losing his sister, best friend, and the use of his legs," Alex said, frowning down at his plate.

"It's good that he has you guys to help him through it," Moira said as she put down a plate of food in front of me and at the seat opposite. "Sean, your plate's next to the sink," she told the ginger as she sat herself down across from me.

"Will he want some food?" Alex asked her.

She shook her head. "He told me this morning he was fine."

"He's missing out," Sean joked weakly, before setting a plate of pancakes down in the middle of the table. They weren't very neat or consistently thick, but they smelled brilliant and we had syrup and chocolate sauce, so I was excited.

"They look great," I smiled up at the lanky mutant. He retrieved his plate of food and sat down across from Alex.

"So, what happens now?" Sean asked, before digging into his food.

Alex and I glanced at each other, and then at Moira. She shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure," she admitted. "I suppose, having seen you in action, the CIA will most likely want to have some sort of control over you all. But they'll never know where this place is."

"I'm not having anything to do with them after they tried to literally bomb us," Sean grunted, then glanced at Moira. "Except knowing you, obviously. You're fine."

"They know we're dangerous," Alex put in. "They were scared of us. They just need educated."

"I don't think it's going to be that simple," I replied regretfully. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try." I knew that the mood had deflated significantly because of the conversation, so I ate some of my food and tried again. "This is amazing, Moira, by the way. Just what I needed."

"And the pancakes?" Sean asked hopefully.

I cut off a chunk of the one I had prepared with syrup on my plate and groaned. "Wow," I replied, "They looked like shit, but they taste incredible."

Sean chuckled. "Thanks for that."

We made a good attempt at light conversation while we ate our food, finding it hard to forget all that had happened, but finding it harder to make it through the day smiling. When we finished, I helped clear up and wash dishes, before excusing myself to get changed.

Once I was freshened up, I stood at the hole in my wall, looking out over the estate. I couldn't see Darwin's clearing from here, but I could see which trees I walked through to get there, and that alone was enough to comfort me somewhat. He was never far, and the memorial was something that Shaw could never take from us.

I blinked a few times, a little startled. I knew that Shaw was dead, but I hadn't quite fully realised it yet. Our enemy was gone, and could no longer hurt us. The threat of his ruthlessness was no more. I wasn't exactly sure how Charles thought that he could stop Shaw without killing him, but I was glad that Erik beat him to it – the thought that Shaw could still have been out there, plotting his revenge against us, held in some kind of prison that would eventually fail, was almost too much to bear.

No, knowing that he was dead and gone for good was better. Erik killing Shaw was better. And it didn't make me a bad person for thinking like that.

With a sigh, I pulled myself through my hole of a window and took hold of a root, making it lower me gently to the ground two stories below. My bare feet touched grass, and I let go of the root to walk away from the mansion. Being outside in the fresh air, sunlight, and sounds of nature was far more calming than being in the silent halls of the mansion. Outside, there was life all around you to keep you company, gentle chirps and the rustling of leaves making sure you were never drowned in isolation and silence. While in the mansion, all you had were empty and dark hallways that seemed to press closer the longer you walked them.

I made my way softly through the trees towards the clearing, running my hands along the bark and the leaves that stretched out to me. When I came through the other side, I was surprised to see Alex already sitting in front of the memorial.

He turned to face me, smiling. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

I smiled back, walking towards him. "You knew I would?"

"When I realised talking to him would make me feel better, I figured you would too," he told me.

I sat down next to him, and he took a hold of my hand, intertwining our fingers. "You know, my parents kept me for twelve years, and they never meant half of what you all mean to me. I never knew you could grow so close to people in such little time," I mused.

He smiled. "Would you ever want to visit them?"

"My parents?" I asked, my eyebrows almost disappearing into my hairline. When he nodded, I thought about it. "I don't know. I never thought I'd get out of the asylum. I knew they would never visit me there, but I didn't consider that one day I would be able to be the visitor." I looked down at our hands, watching his thumb stroke my skin. "Part of me never wants to see them again after they abandoned me like that."

"And the other part?" he asked gently.

"The other part wants to rub my sanity in their faces," I smirked. He chuckled at my response, and looked away from me. My humour died down, and I sighed. "I guess I could maybe get some closure and finally move on from my past," I shrugged. "What about you?"

"Now that I'm not as scared of my mutation anymore, I'd love to visit my parents and see my brother again," he admitted. "I've really missed them." I smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "I was thinking, if I did go visit them, maybe you'd want to come with me?"

I blinked at him, touched. "I would love that, Alex."

"Good," he replied, nodding to himself. He cleared his throat, looking at the memorial again. His free hand came up to rub the back of his neck, then moved round to rub his cheek and jaw. Then it ran through his hair. I was about to question him when he chuckled suddenly.

"What?" I asked, frowning at him with a small smile.

"I was just thinking of something Darwin said to me," he replied. He looked down at our hands, then back at the memorial. "Remember the night we stayed up and talked in the rec room?"

"Yeah," I answered, watching him, "You taught me how to play that game."

"Darwin was awake when I went to bed," he continued. "That night he told me that you and I were perfect for each other." My breath caught in my throat and my heart started hammering in my chest so loud I was sure Alex would be able to hear it. "He said he was sure that we were gonna help each other grow, and that he was looking forward to watching it happen." He cleared his throat again, and looked down. "I hope he did get to watch."

I looked down as well, caught off guard and completely unsure of how to reply. I had never been in a situation like this before, and while I felt a happiness I could barely contain, I was also terrified.

"I know this isn't exactly the most ideal time to be telling you all this," Alex murmured. "But after Cuba," he trailed off for a moment. "I didn't know if either of us would be coming back in one piece. But we did, both of us, and now I feel like I shouldn't wait for another life or death situation to pass by before I tell you how I feel."

He took a deep breath and turned to face me, taking my other hand in his as well. "I am not good at this shit," he admitted, laughing tensely. I stared up at him, frozen to the spot. "You helped me get over my fear of my mutation," he told me, "And, for that, I can never repay you. You made me want to be a better person, but you also accepted me for who I was from the beginning, with no complaints. Basically, I think Darwin was right. You helped me grow, and I think that we're perfect for each other."

It took me a few moments to realise he was finished speaking, and that it was expected that I should have been replying. I had a sudden mass of overwhelming emotions, and I had no idea how to put them into words. Then it came to me: I didn't need to.

I leaned forwards and took one of my hands from Alex's grasp to hold the side of his neck to steady myself. He met me halfway when he realised what I was doing, and then we were kissing. My eyes closed automatically and I tried to lean closer, feeling nothing short of complete as Alex's lips moved against my own. His free hand was on the side of my face, his fingers losing themselves in my hair, his thumb stroking over my temple.

When we finally parted, he leaned up to press a kiss to my forehead, being careful to avoid my injury. He pulled away a little, but kept his hand on my face as I kept my hand on his neck. My heart was bursting in my chest with every positive emotion under the sun, and I couldn't stop the grin that stretched my cheeks.

"I'm definitely falling for you," I said quietly, more to myself than to him, after I'd been questioning what my feelings had meant in Cuba.

He grinned back at me, glancing at my lips again. "I don't blame you."

I laughed, shaking my head at him. "When did you get so damn arrogant?"

He inched closer towards me, smirking. "When you kissed me."

"Well, I'll just have to make sure I never-ʺ

He cut me off before I could finish, pressing his lips against mine once more, but I couldn't find it in myself to be even slightly irritated.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

A few hours later, Charles had gathered us in the lounge. He was propped up slightly on some pillows to see us all, and Hank was no longer snoring in the armchair. We sat around our telepath, wondering what news he could have for us so soon after Cuba.

"I've been thinking about where we go from here," Charles began, looking around at us all. "I know some of you have families you might want to return to, and I completely understand and respect that. Some of you might also wish to go your own way, separate from your families, and from me. Again, of course you are able to do that." He took a breath. "However, if any of you wish to stay here, you are more than welcome to call it home. I mean that from the bottom of my heart." He smiled, and I realised that he wasn't using it to hide anything – he was genuinely happy. "I want to invite as many mutants as I can here, to give them somewhere safe to stay and learn. I want to start a school for them, somewhere they can get an education without having to hide their abilities. I want to help them master their mutations so that they can protect themselves, and those around them. I want to help our fellow mutants, and show the world that we can have peace."

We were quiet for a moment, absorbing the information.

"Charles," Hank said, shaking his head, "That's a brilliant idea. I want to stay here and help."

"I don't want to go back home," Sean stated. "I can't be myself there. When I'm here, I feel like I have a purpose."

I nodded. "There is nowhere I'd rather be than here, with you guys. You're my family."

"School was never really my strong suit," Alex spoke up. "But this is the safest place a mutant can be, and the safest place for me to keep training."

Charles smiled widely, tearing up. "Thank you all," he said sincerely, "It means a lot to me that you want to stay. I think we have a bright future ahead of us."

"And you gave it to us," I told him, exchanging brilliant smiles with my family.

In that moment, I knew that we were all going to be okay. As long as we had each other, we could get through anything. I had never been more happy to have been born a mutant.