Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

***

He knew he couldn’t hide forever.

No matter what his inner six year old wanted.

Hank had returned with some soup, bread and fruit to get Erik to eat.  He scarfed it down, but then promptly fell back to sleep.  It was going to be the cycle for the next week or so.  They needed to get more food in him, and start him exercising – even if it was just to walk to the bathroom.

He had every intention of getting off the bed, taking a quick shower and face the children, but instead woke up with Erik warm against his side, and the sun shining through the window.  For a moment he thought it was that morning … the morning they left for Cuba.

Charles instantly noticed Erik was having difficulties breathing.  He shifted them, making sure he was sitting up, before placing the oxygen mask back over his mouth.   He sent a mental note to Hank, startling the boy awake, he apologized then asked if he could come to the room, with food so Erik could take his medications.

He knew Erik was tired and struggling, since he didn’t bitch at being helped out of the bed and to the bathroom.  The first time he had done this, Erik had argued with him saying he could take care of himself and didn’t need Charles holding his dick while he pissed.

‘It’s not like I haven’t had your dick in my hand before!’  Charles snarked at him. ‘It’s been in my mouth and ass, so holding it while you piss is not all that troublesome!’

Erik had snorted trying not to laugh as it hurt as much as everything else.  In the end, he’d given up letting Charles help.  He knew how difficult that was for Erik.

Once he got Erik settled onto the toilet, he prepped the shower, stripping out of his own clothes.  At least at home he could get into the shower with Erik.  The hospital had too many people coming and going, and the stall was too small.

The room began to fill with steam, as he stripped Erik out of his clothes.  He still couldn’t lift his arms over his head, so the button down sleep shirts would have to do for a while longer.  Charles steadied him while he got into the shower, both sighing at the feel of water against their skin.

He didn’t like how thin Erik had become, the man had an unnatural slim waist, and now he could see his hip bones, and he was pretty sure the image wasn’t sitting well with Erik either – too many bad memories.

Charles took his time in washing Erik’s hair and softly sponging him down.  At one point Erik looked down at him while Charles’ was on his knees, and smirked. “Such a wasted moment.”

Charles smiled, as his hands slid up his thighs, then gripped his hips.  He leaned forward kissing each hip, before leaning his forward against Erik’s stomach.  He didn’t realize he was crying until he felt Erik’s hands in his hair and soft voice in his head.

<<I’m still here Liebling.  I’m not that easy to get rid of.>>

<<I should be taking care of you, not bawling my eyes out in the shower.>>

<<Stand up so I can hold you.>>

Charles wiped away the tears along with the water.   He gave Erik a small smile, who pulled him into his arms, holding him close.  The two took comfort in each other, until the water started turning cold.  With a flick of his wrist Erik turned the water off, cringing slightly.

“Don’t do that.” Charles laid a hand on his chest, eyes on the dark staples against the pale skin.  “It’s only for a while longer.”

“It’s driving me to distraction.”  Erik growled.  “Think how it would be not to use yours.”

“There are times my friend, that would be a blessing.”  He moved them out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry them off.  “But I can understand.”

By the time they got out of the shower, and back into the bedroom Erik had to admit he felt better, he was now hungry and tired.

Hank had replaced the oxygen tank, and made up the bed to some degree.  He motioned towards the chair, where a tray was set with breakfast.  “I figured you would want to sit up and eat, feel a bit more human.”

Erik was going to make a snarky retort, but Charles pinched his arm as he helped him over to the chair, then gave him a look as he sat down.  “Thank You, Hank.”

“That hurt didn’t it.”  The younger mutant smirked, eyes filled with mirth.

“I’ll train you yet.” Erik gave Hank a half smile as he picked up the fork and dug into the eggs, he was really hungry.  He ignored Hank and Charles talking quietly as he finished off the toast, potatoes and grapefruit.  Without stopping the conversation, Charles handed him his medications along with a glass of water.  By the time he finished, he leaned back in the chair, head resting against the back feeling suddenly drowsy.

“Do you want to nap in the chair?”  Charles whispered softly next to him.  “I can wake you up in an hour, we can take a small walk in the garden, get you some exercise.”

“I feel like the family pet.”

“Only if I start petting you.”

“Could you, there are a few places I wouldn’t mind a rub…”

“Stop!”  Hank glared at the two of them.  “Charles you need to deal with Raven, she’s stalking the halls.  Let Erik rest, besides the kids are getting antsy to see him.”

Erik groaned and sunk further into the chair, he paused for a moment thinking back to the day before.  “Did Alex call me dad?”

“See, I told you they were our kids, darling.”  He kissed Erik on the forehead then stood up, smoothed down his shirt and made for the door.  He opened it with a flair of dramatic, and watched as Raven, stopped in the middle of the hall to face her brother.

He turned back around and took one last look at those he loved.  “For those of us who about to die, we salute thee.”  Charles held his head high as he stepped out of the room, to face his destiny.

The door slammed shut behind him.

“Better him than me.”  Erik muttered, as his eyes drifted shut, sleep claimed him once again.

“Amen.”  Hank couldn’t agree more, he was pretty sure it was safer in the room with a pissed of Magneto, than dealing with Raven at the moment.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

***

Charles never felt so exhausted in his life.

Erik was resting, finally.  He had made sure the pillows were fluffed and there were enough to keep the older man sitting up, yet comfortable enough to sleep.  The oxygen mask was resting against his chest at the moment, in case it was needed.

Erik’s breathing was labored, but at the moment calm.

Charles sighed as he moved off the bed, and made his way to the en-suite bathroom.  He looked at the mirror, and cringed.  He looked like he had aged ten years in the past week, with the rate things were going he would be bald by the time he was forty.

He splashed some water on his face, took a few more calming breathes of his own, before making his way back into the bedroom.

Hank was standing just inside the bedroom door.

Charles gave him a warm smile, as he made his way to the dropped bags.

Seeing Erik in so much pain seconds after leaving the hospital had terrified him.  Realizing why he was pissed and hurting, had angered him.  He knew that coming back to New York, and dealing with everyone wasn’t going to be easy.  But he hadn’t figured it would explode seconds they returned, he had hoped for a few hours at least.

“How’s he doing?”  Hank asked voice soft and low.

“Asleep.”  Charles glanced back at Erik, he couldn’t help the small smile.  “They gave him a sedative before he was discharged, lucky it’s kicking in now.  He’ll need food, meds, and probably another shot in a few hours.”

He dug through the duffle bag and pulled out the bag of medications and wad of instructions and handed them over to Hank.  “We’ll need to get some of these prescriptions refilled.”  Charles paused.  “Any means necessary.”

One of Hank’s eyebrows shot up, but he didn’t say anything.  He continued reading the chart and paperwork.  “He’s got metal in his chest?”  He looked up shocked, eyes wide.  “That’s not going to end well.”

“Nope.”  He agreed humorlessly.  “When he uses his powers it pulls on the staples and wire.”

“Yeah so seeing the person who shot you five seconds into recovery didn’t go well.”  Hank kept looking through paperwork.  “We’ve got some nice areas in the garden that would help with the exercises.  Doubt he’ll be up to his five mile morning runs, but a walk to the balcony could be good.”

“Give me the rundown of what’s going on.” Charles sat down on one of the chairs, waving a hand at Hank.  “Don’t sugar coat it.”

Hank dropped his hands and looked at his friend.  “What bad news would you like first?”

“The one that won’t make me screech.”  He sighed falling further into the chair exhausted.

“Well everyone knows you two are lovers.”  Hank shrugged, figured that was the less troublesome.  “Alex’s taking to calling you two mom and dad.”

Charles’ snorted. “I’m going to take a while guess here, and say I’m mom.”

Hank didn’t have to answer that question.  “Raven is livid I’m not quite sure exactly what’s pissing her off, but I’m guessing all of the above.”

Charles didn’t want to know what A through D were exactly, but he was sure he was going to find out in about an hour.

Unless he could hide in Erik’s room for the next ten years.

“Everyone’s leery of Angel, which is understandable.  Azazael has seemed to settle, but isn’t here often.  Janus stays close to Angel, but I have to admit he’s helped out around here, including going for food and doing odd things.  He seems to try to fit in, yet not.”

He waved his hand for Hank to continue when he paused, he knew what was coming next.

“Moira isn’t happy.  She’s feeling part prisoner other part warden.  Alex and Sean have been cool towards her, but nothing outright.  I’m not sure what to do about any of it truthfully.”

“And you?”  He asked gazing intently at his friend.  The fact Hank was still with fur, meant he was working something out for himself or at least hadn’t had time to figure out how to get the ‘beast’ back under control.

“I’m not sure.”  Hank shrugged.  “We did what we set out to do.  Shaw’s dead.  I’m not sure how, nor do I really want to know.  We’ve stopped World War Three, but the US and Russia are eyeing each other like two rabid dogs.  Cuba is caught in the middle, and well it’s like nothing happened yet everything has changed.  As for Erik, it wasn’t until I just saw him that made me realize how bad that moment was.  He took a bullet for you, so I’m grateful, but he wouldn’t have been shot if he hadn’t taken control of the missiles, but if he hadn’t we and Cuba would be ash.”

“That is a good recap of this fuck up.”

“Did he intend to kill those soldiers?”  He asked quietly, glancing at the bed.

“No.”  Charles sat up, resting his head on his hands.  “I saw it in his mind, oh he wanted to, but also knew not to … saying a soldier was just doing his duty doesn’t work on him considering his past, but he also knew most those soldiers didn’t have a choice in what was going on.  In the end I think he wanted to make a point.”

If the damn helmet hadn’t been on, he would’ve have been able to sense what Erik was up to.

<<You should’ve trusted me.>>

Charles looked over at the bed to see that Erik was awake, and probably had been through most of the conversation.

<<You should’ve trusted me!  You didn’t the moment you put on that helmet!>>

Erik sighed, shifting slightly on the bed.

<<Don’t you dare move and pull on your incision you asshole.>>

He snorted.

<<I didn’t want you stopping me from killing Shaw, and you know you would have if you could, no matter the high ground you take when using your power.>>

Charles’ eyes narrowed.  <<It was always your decision.>>

<<Cute you think that.>> He was fully awake, staring directly at Charles.  <<That decision was taken from me the moment he shot my mother.>>

<<You could’ve been the better man.>>  He argued getting annoyed with himself for having this argument when Erik should be resting.

<<But I’m not.  That’s what you don’t get Charles.  I’m not.>>

“You are!”  He stood up, stalking over to the bed and then onto it.  “You are and will always be better than Shaw.  You are not the monster you think you are.”

“I think Hank there would disagree with you.”  He motioned towards the other mutant.

Charles glanced behind him, to see Hank looking between them.  His blue paw moved up to scratch at the back of his neck.  “I think we are all monsters in our own minds.”

Both blinked at the younger mutant.  “You’re not a monster, Hank.”  Charles shifted to move to his friend.

“I’m not?”  He looked down at his body to see a ‘Beast’.

“No.”  Erik added his voice in with Charles.  “I know a monster when I see one, and you Hank are far from it.  Annoying, yes.  But to geeky to be one.”

Charles glared at him, only to focus back on Hank who was snickering.  “You don’t even like me.”

“No Hank, I don’t like that you don’t like your mutation.”  Erik shrugged only to cringe in pain.  “I thought the feet were odd, but useful. Still better than the humans.  Now you’re amazing, and you hate yourself.”

Hank growled. “Don’t make me like you.”

Erik laughed, which led to coughing.  Charles moved next to him, supporting him as he worked to breathe, in the end Hank moved and shoved the oxygen mask over his mouth.

Hank ignored both of them, as he checked Erik’s pulse, not happy that it was high.  “You need to rest, and no arguing internally or externally.”  He gave a small glare at Charles.  “You want to stay in here with him?  I can get your stuff from your room.”

Charles nodded, it would pointless to act like he was going to stay in his own room.  “There’s a list of dietary needs, make sure someone gets groceries.”  He paused glancing at Erik, he could feel him falling back to sleep.  “The food needs to be Kosher.”

“I’ll send Janus, he’s been really good about shopping.”  Hank nodded again, and then moved for the door.  “He’s not really a monster.”

“I know.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m okay with him killing Shaw.”  Hank looked down, not wanting to see Charles disapproval.  “I couldn’t think of any way to keep him alive without him hurting others.  That and he stole Angel and killed Darwin.”

“She made her own decision.”  Charles pointed out, and that was yet another thing he had to deal with.

“Yeah, but we all make mistakes.”  He glanced at Erik, gave Charles a shrug then left the room.

“When did our kids grow up?”  Charles wondered out loud.

“They’re your kids, Charles.”  Erik pulled the mask down, giving him a look.

“Oh no, darling.  You helped me find them, they’re ours.”  He put the mask back on him, then shifted until he was sitting against the headboard, and pulled Erik close.  Only after a moment of hesitation, Erik relaxed and rested his head on Charles’ shoulder, drifting back to sleep.