Chapter 3
After discovering he was pregnant, Erik didn’t know what to do with himself. How far along was he? Was it a boy or a girl? Questions swirled endlessly in his mind, but one thought clung to him above all others—Should he keep it?
Erik knew he wouldn’t be a good father. His life was steeped in danger, in violence. He would only bring pain to the child.
And yet, the thought of leaving the baby in someone else’s care didn’t sit right with him.
Both he and Charles were powerful mutants. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this child was one as well. And if that were the case—if the child was a mutant—there was no way Erik could walk away. He knew all too well what the world did to people like them.
He spent the entire night weighing the pros and cons, but in the end, his decision was clear. He would keep the baby.
But there was one thing he was still uncertain about—should he tell Charles?
Would Charles even want a child with Erik’s genes? Would he even want to see Erik? Worse—would he try to take the baby from him?
Each question felt like a knife to the heart.
----------
Charles sat in his study, grading tests the children had taken a few days ago.
The school was thriving. It had been difficult at first, but over time, it had become easier. Children now roamed the halls—not many, but enough to make the mansion feel alive again. He and Hank taught their classes, and Charles was actively searching for more teachers.
Yet, despite everything, a part of his heart remained unsettled.
He had always dreamed of Erik being here, teaching alongside him. Erik would be great at it, even if he didn’t believe it himself. He had a way of understanding children in a way Charles never could.
Charles missed him deeply.
He knew Erik was still in New York, no longer with the Brotherhood. But what puzzled him most was that Erik wasn’t wearing his helmet.
Had he finally realized how ridiculous it was?
Charles knew he should move on. But after seeing that, their older versions, had remained friends—he simply couldn’t let go. He had long since forgiven Erik for everything. He only wished Erik could forgive himself.
And yet, at night, when Charles lay in bed, regret gnawed at him.
The memory of what he had done to Erik on the plane haunted him. He hadn’t had his telepathy at the time, but he had seen the pain in Erik’s eyes. The humiliation. And it killed him.