Chapter 17
The soft morning light peeked through the slightly open window covers, casting a golden glow across the room. Dust particles floated lazily in the air, catching the sunlight like tiny stars.
Charles groaned as he blinked his eyes open, his body still heavy with sleep. The first thing he saw was Erik, lying beside him, lost in peaceful slumber.
For a moment, Charles simply stared, taking in the sight before him. Erik’s sharp features, so often hardened by the weight of the world, looked softer in sleep. His brow, usually furrowed with thought, was smooth. His lips, which so often carried sharp words and wry smirks, were slightly parted, relaxed. There was a quiet kind of beauty in this—one that only Charles got to see.
His heart ached with something deep and unnameable. He still couldn’t believe it—them, like this, together again. But this time, for real.
Carefully, Charles reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against Erik’s hand where it rested on the sheets. Warm. Solid. Real.
A slow, steady breath rose and fell in Erik’s chest, and Charles allowed himself to close his eyes for just a little longer, letting the quiet comfort of the moment settle into his bones.
When Charles opened his eyes again, he found Erik stirring beside him, his lashes fluttering as he slowly woke.
Charles watched as Erik’s eyes, still hazy with sleep, blinked open. For a brief moment, there was a softness there, an unguarded peace that Charles cherished—one of the few times Erik allowed himself to simply be.
Seeing that Erik was awake, Charles whispered, “Good morning.”
Erik let out a low hum, the sound rumbling in his chest, before his eyes fully opened. He blinked at Charles, a small, lazy smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Morning.”
His voice was rough with sleep, and Charles found himself smiling in return.
For a few moments, neither of them moved, simply basking in the quiet warmth of the morning.
Finally, though, Charles seemed unable to help himself. He leaned in closer, pressing a long, soft kiss to Erik’s lips. Erik responded instantly, his hand coming up to rest against Charles’s cheek, his thumb brushing gently over his skin.
The warmth between them deepened, slow and unhurried, a quiet affirmation of everything unspoken. Just as Erik was about to pull Charles even closer, a sharp cry pierced the air.
David.
Both Charles and Erik groaned in unison before dissolving into quiet laughter.
"Let me get him," Erik muttered before reluctantly pulling away.
With one last glance at Charles, Erik pushed back the covers and got up from the warm, cozy bed. He stretched briefly before making his way to the crib, where David lay fussing, his tiny fists waving in the air.
“Alright, alright, I’m coming,” Erik murmured as he carefully lifted David into his arms. The baby quieted slightly, his cries fading into soft whimpers as Erik held him close.
Charles watched from the bed, a fond smile on his lips as Erik gently rocked David. There was something undeniably endearing about seeing Erik—a man who could command metal with a mere flick of his fingers—completely at the mercy of a tiny, wriggling baby.
"You know," Charles mused, propping himself up on one elbow, "I think he just wanted to be part of the moment."
Erik gave him a flat look but couldn't quite hide the glint of affection in his eyes. "If he keeps this up, we're never going to have another moment again."
Charles chuckled.
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The breakfast table was peacefully quiet, the only sounds coming from the adjacent dining hall where the rest of the students ate.
Charles, Erik, David, Hank, and Peter sat at their own table, separate from the lively chatter of the younger mutants. It was a rare, calm morning—at least, as calm as mornings could be with a baby at the table.
Charles set down his cup of tea and turned his attention to Peter. “How did you sleep, Peter?”
Peter looked up from his plate, chewing thoughtfully before answering. “Pretty well, actually. No complaints.”
Before Charles could respond, David let out a loud, happy coo—right before spitting out the baby food Erik had been trying to feed him. The mashed carrots splattered onto Erik’s sleeve, and he sighed, closing his eyes for a brief moment as if summoning patience.
Peter smirked. “Well, at least someone didn’t like breakfast.”
“Wonderful,” Erik muttered, grabbing a napkin to wipe at the mess. “Just what I needed this morning.”
Hank, who had been sipping his coffee, chuckled. “I think he’s just taking after you, Erik.”
“How, exactly?” Erik asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hank gestured vaguely. “The stubbornness. The refusal to eat what’s given to him. The general tendency to make a mess.”
Peter grinned.
Charles laughed into his tea. “He does have a point, love.”
Erik gave them all a flat look before turning back to David, who was now giggling and reaching for his spoon. “Traitors. The lot of you.”
David, as if sensing the attention, babbled happily and smacked his hands on the tray of his highchair, sending a few stray bits of food flying.
Peter leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “You know, I was worried about the whole ‘big brother’ thing, but I think I’m gonna like this kid.”
Erik groaned, wiping at his sleeve again. “Yes. I’m sure you two will get along wonderfully.”
Charles reached over and patted Erik’s hand, amusement clear in his eyes. “Just think of it as karma, darling.”
Hank nodded sagely. “Karma in the form of mashed carrots.”
Peter burst out laughing, while David continued his innocent, chaotic morning, completely unaware of the scene he had caused.
"How about you and Peter go out today? You've been stuck in this house ever since you arrived—it'll do you some good."
Erik considered it. He loved being with David and Charles, but he worried he might go slightly insane without a change of scenery.
Peter gave a nod, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, that would be fun," he said, his tone a mix of casual enthusiasm and a hint of irony.
Erik rolled his eyes at Peter’s words but agreed anyway. “Fine. But if this turns into some kind of ridiculous adventure, I’m blaming you.”
Peter smirked.
When had he ever been one to accidentally cause an adventure?
Well… actually, he could name plenty of times. But he wasn’t about to tell Erik that.
Peter just seemed to have a knack for attracting the unexpected—whether he meant to or not.
After breakfast—and after saying goodbye to David—Erik and Peter set off, taking one of the cars and heading into town.
Erik wasn’t entirely sure where they should go, but Peter had quickly suggested the park. It was a nice day, the sun shining but not too hot, and the open space gave them the perfect chance to walk, talk.
More than anything, it was a chance for them to learn more about each other.
The drive to the park didn’t take long—roughly twenty minutes. Once Erik found a parking spot, he and Peter stepped out of the car and made their way toward the park’s large, open field.
The air was fresh, the sun warm but not overbearing, and despite the occasional chatter of passersby, it felt peaceful.
As they walked, a simple conversation sparked between them—nothing too deep, just easy, casual talk, the kind that made the silence between words feel comfortable rather than heavy.
They talked about many things—when they first manifested their mutations, Peter’s childhood, how school had gone for him, and how he’d dropped out around middle school. Peter shared stories about his adventures and the things he used to steal.
They also talked about Erik’s experience getting a second mutation, how he had met Charles, and the Brotherhood. Erik told Peter about a few of the places he had been in his search for Nazis, though he kept his childhood mostly to himself. He didn’t want to ruin the mood.
At first, the conversation had started off slow, but soon enough, they found themselves building off each other’s words. Erik had never been one to talk much, but something about being around Peter brought out a more talkative side of him.
It didn’t take long for them to realize the similarities between them, and it fully dawned on Peter that Erik—the powerful, feared mutant—was his father.
As they walked, they happened upon what looked like an open adoption event in the middle of the park. A group of women in bright blue shirts stood nearby, some holding leashes attached to dogs. There were about five dogs in total, all wagging their tails and looking around curiously. It seemed to be a dog adoption shelter.
"Let's head over there," Peter said, a hint of excitement in his tone.
And so, they walked over.
Once they arrived, Peter wasted no time petting every dog in sight. Erik, however, stood off to the side. It wasn’t that he disliked animals—he just never had the opportunity to own one, so he wasn’t sure how to act around them.
One dog in particular caught Peter’s attention—a golden retriever, as one of the ladies in blue had mentioned. She was a year old and full of energy, her tail wagging excitedly as she leaned into Peter’s touch.
Noticing his interest, one of the women walked over with a warm smile. "Good afternoon! Are you here to adopt? They're free—no payment required."
Peter looked up from where he was crouched, grinning as the dog licked his face. "No, I’m not here to adopt. Just wanted to meet these cuties."
The woman chuckled as she watched the retriever eagerly nuzzle Peter. "She really likes you. You should consider it—we’re hoping to find homes for all of them today."
Peter gave it some thought, glancing over at Erik before turning back to the lady. Then, with a nod to himself, he stood up. "Let me ask my dad."
The woman smiled and nodded in understanding.
Peter made his way over to Erik.
"Done playing with the dogs?" Erik asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Actually," Peter began, rubbing the back of his neck, "I was wondering if we could get the golden retriever—her name's Honey. She's really sweet. I would've just taken her already, but I figured I should probably get permission from you first."
Erik stared at his son, then at the dog. A dog in the Charles Xavier mansion—would Charles even allow it? A million questions swirled in his head, but before he could think too much about it, he found himself nodding. "Sure."
Peter's face lit up with a huge grin as he rushed back to the lady. A few words were exchanged, and soon, she handed him a small bag filled with dog food and toys. With a smile, she clipped a leash onto Honey’s collar and passed it to Peter.
With the dog now officially in hand, Peter made his way back to Erik.
Erik glanced down at Honey. She was fluffy, but not overly so, her golden-yellow coat shimmering in the sunlight. He had to admit—she was a very pretty, undeniably cute dog.
As if sensing his thoughts, Honey sniffed at Erik’s shoes before suddenly jumping on him. Caught off guard, Erik stumbled back slightly, his hands instinctively reaching out to steady the dog.
Immediately, Honey started trying to lick his face.
Peter laughed. "She likes you."
Erik managed to gently push Honey back down, shaking his head. "I think I'm already regretting my decision."
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"You got a dog?" Charles said, crossing his arms as he eyed Erik.
Erik gave a nod.
They were currently in the kitchen, away from the students, Peter, and the dog, who were in the living room.
"I wasn’t planning on getting a dog today, Charles. It kind of just happened," Erik admitted.
Charles raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. "Seems like Peter’s habit of unexpected adventures has rubbed off on you, Erik."
Erik rolled his eyes. "It was not an adventure. We walked through a park, and somehow, I left with a dog."
Charles smirked. "That certainly sounds like an adventure to me."
"I'm not mad," Charles continued, pouring himself a fresh cup of tea. "But you should have told me beforehand. Since we already have the dog, you and Peter are in charge of taking care of it."
Erik scoffed. "What? Why am I a part of this? The dog is Peter’s, not mine."
Charles took a sip of his tea, utterly unbothered. "Oh? And yet, who agreed to bring it home?"
Erik opened his mouth, then shut it, scowling. "This is entrapment."
Charles chuckled. "Is it?"
Erik simply rolled his eyes and turned to leave the kitchen.
As he walked away, Charles called after him with a teasing lilt, "Better start learning how to walk a dog, dear."
Erik didn’t dignify that with a response—though Charles swore he saw his shoulders tense ever so slightly.
It had been a week since they got the dog, and Erik had severely underestimated just how much trouble a golden retriever could get into.
Honey had been sleeping in Peter’s room at night, but on more than one occasion, she had decided to follow Erik upstairs instead. More and more, Erik started to realize that, for some reason, the dog seemed determined to follow him everywhere. He didn’t understand why she had taken such an interest in him, but whatever the case, everyone in the mansion found it amusing—especially Charles.
The students adored Honey, and even David seemed utterly fascinated by her. Anytime he saw the dog, he would giggle excitedly and point at her, as if demanding everyone acknowledge just how amazing she was.
The dog loved playing, but there were times when she took it a bit too far. More often than not, her enthusiasm ended with someone flat on their back, completely at her mercy.
Peter had learned this the hard way when a simple game of fetch turned into Honey tackling him to the ground, tail wagging as if she hadn’t just body-slammed a speedster. "I thought I was fast," Peter had groaned from beneath her, while the students laughed.
Hank had also fallen victim when he’d absentmindedly bent down to pet her, only for Honey to take it as an invitation to pounce. One minute, Hank had been standing; the next, he was on his back with a face full of golden fur.
But Erik? Erik was her favorite target. No one knew why, but Honey seemed to delight in ambushing him the most. Whether it was sneaking up on him in the library, charging at him full speed in the hallways, or deciding his lap was the perfect place to sit uninvited—there was no escaping her. Charles, of course, found this endlessly amusing.
"You know, love," Charles had said one evening as Erik sat on the couch, arms crossed while Honey rested her head on his lap, "I think she’s claimed you."
Erik only sighed as he stared down at the dog, who looked up at him with big, innocent eyes.
The students were all outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun on their skin. Some were playing ball, others were working on their homework, and some simply sat around talking with their friends.
Charles was holding David while he and Hank sat under a tree, enjoying the shade.
Peter was out in the field, playing chase with Honey.
Erik was inside, grabbing a ball for Honey since she loved playing fetch.
When he stepped out of the house, he made his way over to where Peter was. But Honey wasn’t with him, and Erik couldn’t help but wonder—she must be with one of the students.
What Erik didn’t know was that Honey had gone off running somewhere, eventually ending up behind him.
Erik was by the water fountain when he suddenly heard Peter shout, “Watch out! Honey!”
Charles, Hank, and many of the students turned just in time to see Honey charging full speed toward Erik.
“Oh no,” Charles muttered under his breath.
Erik, confused, turned his head, but it was already too late. Honey jumped at him, pushing him with all her weight. Unfortunately, Erik was standing right next to the water fountain. Instead of tumbling onto the ground, he ended up falling straight into the water with a loud splash.
Charles straightened in his wheelchair, worry evident on his face. Many of the students let out a chorus of "Oooh" and "Ouch!" as they watched.
Peter dashed over to the fountain.
Erik sat up slowly, pushing the wet strands of hair back from his face.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked, concern in his voice.
Erik glanced over at Peter, then down at Honey, who was lying contentedly nearby with her tongue dangling out of her mouth.
Then, something completely unexpected happened—Erik let out a soft chuckle.
Peter simply stared at his father, dumbfounded. "You’re laughing…?"
Erik moved, standing up and making his way out of the water.
“That was really unexpected,” he said with a small grin, still chuckling. “I couldn’t help but laugh.”
Peter couldn't help but laugh a little as well. "Alright, well, I'm going to take Honey back inside before she causes any more accidents."
Erik gave a nod and made his way over to Charles.
Charles watched as Erik approached and couldn't help but notice the slight limp in his left leg.
Charles’s gaze lingered on Erik’s limp for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly in concern. He knew Erik wasn’t one to show weakness, so this little detail stood out more than it might have to anyone else.
As Erik settled down on the grass, Charles turned to him with a concerned expression. “Are you alright? That was a pretty bad fall.”
Erik looked up at him with a smile, trying to brush it off. “I’m good. I think I might’ve strained my ankle with the way I fell.”
Charles gave him a knowing look, clearly not convinced. “Still, we should have Hank check it out just in case.”
Erik chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Such a worrywart, Charles.”
Charles smiled, his concern softening into affection. “You know me. Someone has to keep an eye on you.”
Erik leaned back, supporting himself on his arms, as he let out a long breath. “I can handle myself, you know."
Charles raised an eyebrow playfully. “I don’t doubt that. But even you deserve a little care now and then.”
Erik rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at his lips. "You should’ve seen it, though. Honey’s got more energy than I expected. Couldn’t help but laugh when she knocked me into the fountain."
Charles chuckled, the warmth between them growing more evident. "Well, I suppose I should be thankful it wasn’t me."
"Next time, I’ll let her tackle you," Erik teased.
Charles’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "I think I’d rather avoid that, thank you very much."