Love
The mourning dove cooed the two sleeping children awake, Jamie tried to hide under the blankets from the morning light and Laura groaned at the bird.
“Think if I throw my shoe at the window it would stop?”
Jamie sighed, “that would just break the window.”
“What if I opened the window then threw my shoe at the bird?”
Jamie paused in thought, “…do you think you can get it?”
“I could try.”
“Mmm, that means you have to get up.”
“You’re right.” Laura sighed and stretched, “this is too early what time is it?”
Jamie moved his head from under the covers and looked past Laura who was face first in his pillow. He squinted his eyes at the alarm clock, “it’s 8 am.”
“I’m gonna kill that fucking bird.” Laura mumbled.
Jamie nodded his head as Laura sleepy got up, she trudged her way to the window, and opened it up. She took her slipper, and pulled her arm back when she threw it.
Jamie heard the squaw of a bird and then silence, “Wow!” Jamie sat up surprised, “you actually got it?”
“Yeah, don’t tell PETA” she slipped back into bed and pulled the covers over her face.
Jamie sat their amazed, “you are a true hero Laura Howlett.”
“I try. Now shhh time to sleep.” Laura mumbled.
Jamie was just about to lay back down when a soft knock tapped on his door.
“You got to be shitting me,” Laura rolled her eyes, “it’s the Professor.”
“What? Will we get in trouble for-”
“May I come in Jamie? I know it’s early, but I have some good news.”
Jamie shifted out of bed climbing over Laura to get to the door, “coming.”
He answered the door in a huff and only just a crack to see the Professor waiting in the hallway, “good morning.”
“Good morning Jamie, uh” the Professor had one eyebrow up waiting for Jamie to let him in, “mind if I come in?”
“Well..” Jamie looked behind him to Laura trying to sleep and back at the Professor, “I do mind actually its a bit messy” he rubbed the back of his neck, “why don’t we talk out here?” Jamie squished through the little crack of the door and slammed it behind him causing the Professor to look at the boy suspiciously.
“It’s a little bit personal, do you mind if we go to my office for privacy?”
Jamie sighed and rubbed his eyes he looked at the empty hallway, “no one’s here anyway you can just say whatever it is.” Maybe my parents called up and put me up for adoption.
“It’s not that- it’s good news.”
“Sure…”
“Well I saw on your file that you have another contact and I talked to them last night!” Charles gave a small smile and tapped his arm rest he was genuinely excited to show Jamie that his family still cared for him.
“What other contact?”
“Your grandparents! They even-”
Jamie groaned which halted the good news and he hid his face in his hands, “you talked with my grandparents? What did you say?”
“Nothing bad of course, you’re an excellent student-”
“No, not about that, about my powers what did you say?”
“I said that you are grasping your abilities and you have a better handle on them then before.”
Jamie shook his head he felt tears pricking up against his eyelid, “Professor, they didn’t know. God.”
“I - it’s standard for the contacts on your profile to know the students ability, I wasn’t aware-”
Jamie had started crying into his hands it was too much, at least with his grandparents he could’ve lied and still be loved, and now this.
Charles wanted to bash his head into the wall, this had not made anything better, “I’m sorry, they wanted to see you. They didn’t say anything against you being a mutant.”
Jamie tried to stop crying, but couldn’t and now a few students were walking by looking it at him it made him feel small, and pathetic.
Charles tried to reach out gently, but Jamie flinched away, “I can call them back and tell them not to come today, I’ll do that right now.”
Jamie shook his head, “no, you’ll just make it worse.” He stared at his feet through his hands, “just tell me when they get here.” He mumbled as he entered his room and slammed the door behind him. It was hard enough to shake the trinkets on his shelves.
Laura was on the other side of the door waiting for Jamie, when he re-entered he hid in her neck and sobbed, this summer sucks he thought.
Charles pinched his nose bridge trying to find a solution to the mess he just caused, “I need Erik.” Charles sighed. He didn’t want to get Erik in the long run, knowing the man would just cross his arms and look cocky. However, this was one of the student’s so he figured Erik would behave and help. So as Charles wheeled to his office he sent a telepathic message to Erik who was just finishing up his run with Pietro, “love when you’re done, can you come up to my office.”
“Sure, Liebling I’ll come up when I’m back.”
Around fifteen minutes, Erik came up from his run directly to the office. His shirt had sweat marks and he had his water bottle in hand, “good morning Liebling.” Erik walked in and was still huffing while sipping water.
“You could’ve taken a shower before stopping in.”
Erik smiled slightly, “where’s the fun in that?” He leaned down and kissed Charles.
When they pulled back, Charles playfully batted him away, “you’re getting your sweat all over me.”
Erik was in a good mood and continued to lightly kiss Charles on the cheek and jawline, “don’t tell me Charles you don’t like my kissing?” Erik gave a fake offended voice as he continued to pepper him.
Charles sighed and bit his lip, great I’m going to ruin his day as well.
Erik stopped and leaned over Charles chair, “what’s wrong?”
“Well- it’s nothing…how was your run with Pietro?”
Erik leaned back and crossed his arms, “good, he talked about all the things he wants to do before summer ends.”
Charles stifled another sigh as he watched Erik put his walls up again, “what did he have in mind?” he tried asking hopefully.
Erik looked at Charles then looked away to the window almost contemplating his words before speaking, “you look worried about something, what’s wrong?”
Charles still felt the semi wet kisses that had just been planted on his face and neck, it grew an overwhelming sense of guilt. It stung a bit, “nothing.” He wanted to keep Erik happy, he hated it when he saw his smile fall because of him which it so often did.
Erik scowled as he watched Charles build up his walls again, he always did that, “why do you act like I won’t help you with whatever you need?”
There was a pause in the room and long drawn out silence as Charles looked away, “it’s not that.”
Erik huffed, “then what is it?”
Charles tried to fight the urge to say nothing again, he knew if he did Erik wouldn’t want to stay to hear excuses, and Erik leaving scared him more than telling the truth, “I don’t want to ruin your day, I know sometimes you aren’t happy. It’s hard when I need help from you when your happy because I know you’d rather do other things. You deserve to do other things, then clean up my messes. I just… been making more mistakes lately, but I can handle it.”
Erik melted a bit and his shoulders slumped, “Charles, come here.” He looked at the distance between each other and kicked himself on how it grew so impassably large.
Charles hesitated, sitting behind his desk, the pause grew until Erik gestured to the couch, “can we sit together?”
Charles nodded quietly at the idea and rolled over to Erik on the couch, it was about a minute before Charles adjusted himself out of his chair to sit next to Erik. Charles stared at his hands, he had a lot to say, but everything felt stuck in his throat.
Erik tried to always avoid this topic and ironically when ever it was brought up he sounded exactly like Charles like a broken record of, “I’m fine” or “it’s nothing.” Now that he saw Charles doing the same thing it made him feel ill. “Darling.”
Erik tugged at Charles’ hand, gently pulling on his fingers trying to find the right words, “I still love you despite my depression, I know it’s harder to talk to me when I’m having…episodes, and I can be closed off even when I am “happy” - so to speak, but I still love you. I want to help you, no matter what I feel any day, because I care about you. I married you. We have differences.”
Charles looked at Erik’s hand as he continued nodding at that statement, “but I love you more than those differences, that’s why I’m here.” Erik kissed the side of Charles’ temple, “you don’t ruin my day either I enjoy helping you, I want to be with you.” Erik kissed the side of Charles’ face, it was hard to be affection, but today it came easy for Erik so he relished in it, as he gave it all to his lover.
Charles couldn’t help but smile and the soft kisses and played with Erik’s hand in his, “I just get worried, that you’ll grow sick of me or tired of me-”
Erik now knew where this was coming from, “I’m not leaving, not again, no matter what.” Erik played with the metal ring on Charles’ left finger, “I promised that, and I meant it.”
Charles watched as the metal morphed itself on his finger, feeling a slight tug of Erik he looked up at him, and leaned in to kiss him on the lips.
When they drew back Charles laid his forehead on Erik’s chest.
Erik idly traced pictures on his lovers back, “so…love now that we got all reassured, what can I help you with?”
Charles mumbled something.
“What love?”
Charles looked up at him plainly, “I fucked up.”
“Oh?” Erik’s eyes went a little wide.
“Like really bad.”
“Well uh why don’t you tell me what it was?” Erik rubbed his back a little more and listened very carefully of Charles’ retelling of a last minute decision involving Jamie’s grandparents.
“And they’re coming today.”
“When?”
“Noon.”
Erik looked at his watch, “it’s 9:43-”
“Even with the time we have how are we going to fix it? I can call Jamie’s grandparents and tell them not to come, but Jamie already said just let them come anyway. I don’t want to traumatize him any further, and I don’t know I guess I can erase their memories of our conversation, but that might make things worse!” Charles was spiraling as his thoughts raced at the worst possibilities.
“Charles- Charles” he tilted Charles’ face up at him, he hated the worried marks on his eyebrows and the slight frown on his face, I hate humans. Erik sighed, “I think if Jamie wants his grandparents to come and they are already on their way from Pennsylvania, then we need to let it happen.” Before Charles could interrupt Erik continued, “I will be here with you when they arrive and if they say anything against Jamie or anyone here then we can speak to them more firmly on the situation, you want to give humans a try. Then I can’t believe I’m saying this, let them try. It’s better to get this over with. It will hurt Jamie worse in the long run if we let this draw out. If his family wants to leave him because he’s a mutant. Then Jamie needs to know that. He shouldn’t go the rest of his life getting pushed to the side, and ignored. Some situations can’t be helped Charles, but we will be here for Jamie and that’s what matters.”
Charles sighed, he knew Erik was right, “I just wanted them to be different.”
Erik bit his lip and stifled what he wanted to say, they’re all the same.
Charles knew what Erik thought and looked down in sadness, the more he worked with mutants the more he realized Erik was right, and it made him sick. He didn’t want humans and mutants to live separately he wanted his students to be accepted for who they were. He wanted that as well for himself. However, as more issues piled on top of one another Charles began to feel his hope for peace slipping. The only thing he held onto now, was his students. “Okay, we’ll be their for Jamie today.”
Erik nodded, “well…I should probably take a shower before they arrive.”
Charles most certainly agreed, “yes please do.” He pushed Erik off of him rather hastily causing Erik to laugh a little, “okay I think I got the hint.”
“Come back when you’re finished?”
Erik got up from the couch, “always Liebling” he nodded to Charles as he left the office, both men’s heart beat with anxiety for the upcoming meeting that soon approached.
Jamie was pacing his room back and forth, he swore he was wearing down he carpet.
Laura sat on his bed with two whole plates of breakfast food, “Jamie?”
I shouldn’t have said anything to Charles, if only I kept my mouth shut, this is what happens when you say shit. I’m so fucking stupid-”
“Jamie” Laura gently grabbed his wrist, “you’re hungry” she pushed a plate of food into his rumbling stomach “eat.”
“I’m not in the mood.”
“You’ll feel worse if you don’t eat.”
Jamie sighed and accepted the plate, he sat down on the floor with his legs crossed, “will it make you stop scowling?”
Laura sat across from him aggressively eating her toast, “no, not unless you let me ki-”
“No murdering my grandparents either.”
“I just don’t like seeing yo upset” Laura mumbled, “it’s unfair.”
Jamie softy smiled at Laura’s pout, “I’ll feel better just right now the wounds are fresh.”
Laura stabbed the eggs with her fork making a screeching noise with the plates, “well if you ever change your mind.”
Jamie shook his head, “would you actually kill someone for me?”
Laura nodded, “Jamie I’m wanted by the Canadian government for espionage, assault & battery, and murder. I would do it for you in a blink of an eye.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of crimes.”
“Trust me, that’s the only ones they found.” Laura withheld her smirk, until she saw Jamie smile.
“You are truly amazing.”
“I think your amazing, for withholding all those feelings and you can like control them.” Laura made a fake ball with her hands, “if I was in your situation I would’ve lost control…”
“Well…maybe we can learn from each other?”
Laura nodded at the idea, “yeah! I think I’d like that.” She moved some hair out her face as she ate.
Jamie moved his fork around the food, he took a few bites, as his mind continued to race. “Are they here yet?”
Laura sighed, “almost…”
“What time is it?”
Laura looked over at the alarm clock, “11:35.”
“Great they’re early.”
“Well they aren’t here yet…”
“How far away are they?”
Laura tapped her fork on the plate, “like 10 minutes..”
“Oh geez.” Jamie got up, “I’m just going to wait in Xavier’s office.
Laura was getting up to when Jamie stopped her, “just stay here for now, or anywhere just don’t talk to them, I don’t know how they’ll react to all this.”
Laura sighed, “well I’m not going to let them hurt you!”
Jamie put both his hands up, “I know, you can do something vaguely mean- not violent if they say something.”
Laura rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, “fine.”
Jamie nodded as left his food and rushed to Xavier’s office, he just wanted to hide away. His heart pounded and his head was hurting at the very idea of the conversation about to unfold, and he was hungry. Great the boy sighed as he knocked on the big oak doors.
Erik answered it, “hey kid.”
Jamie promptly ignored him, he was too hungry and pissed off to care, he walked inside and plopped down on one of the chairs. He sat with his arms, crossed and glared at Charles. He was annoyed and angry and he fucking regretted whining to his parents asking them to let him come here. It ruined his life, his relationship with all of his family members for what? Practicing cloning himself. He’s a complete weirdo in a school filled with weirdos and now none of his family wants him, and he’s probably going to be the cause of his grandparents dying of a heart attack.
“Jamie, they should accept you for who you are.” Charles sighed, “I’m sorry.”
Jamie shook his head he knew it was true, but still “if I never met you, none of this would be happening.”
Charles looked at Erik, because he was better in these situations, Charles always tried to find optimism, but right now they needed reality. Erik was far better at finding that. “I’ll go get your grandparents, okay?”
Jamie just tilted his gaze away from Charles and ignored him, he felt a lot of things, hatred/regret/guilt/ and in a moment if someone offered Jamie a chance to be human. He would do anything to take it. The abandonment stung far too much for anything else.
Erik put a firm hand on Jamie’s shoulder as Charles left, “you should be proud of being a mutant. It’s a gift.”
Jamie scoffed, “more like a curse.”
“I know it feels like that right now, but I can assure you it will get better.”
“Please stop with your bullshit speeches, it’s easy for you to say it because it has gotten better for you- that doesn’t mean it will for me.”
Erik sat down next to Jamie and pulled the chair up to the scowling boy, “Jamie if it can get better for me, it will get better for you.”
Jamie gave a side glance to Erik’s number on his left arm, yeah I definitely can’t compare to that, but the growing sadness was still their, “Eric, my family literally chose to abandon me, even if it does get better, I’m alone.”
“You’re not alone.” Eric rubbed Jamie’s shoulder, “Charles and I are here, the students are here, the staff, the school we will support you.”
Jamie rolled his eyes, “you get paid to support me it’s different.”
“Do you think Kurt, Rogue, Laura, and Scott pay? Hell Logan doesn’t even pay and he’s older then me and you combined.” Eric nudged the boy making Jamie give a wet laugh.
“See, so no matter what we will be here for you, remember that.”
Jamie wiped away some stray tears and nodded, “okay.”
“And….” Eric sighed, “you’ll always have a place in Genosha as well when you get older, no matter where you go I guarantee there will be a home for you.”
“Okay.” Jamie nodded as he wiped his face off, it still stung like someone had just stabbed his chest, but Eric held his hand it made Jamie feel like he could withstand it.
Charles and Ororo were waiting on the porch of the Mansion as a mini-van rolled up in the circle packed with suitcases and a bike tied to the rack of the trunk.
An older gentlemen in his late 70s got out of the car, and opened the passenger side for his wife. They both waived to Xavier and Ororo who waived back, “well they look pretty nice.” Ororo responded in a whisper to Xavier.
“Yes, Jamie was pretty confident though that they would have problems with mutants.”
“Kurt’s in his bedroom playing video games, and Beast is in the lab.”
Xavier nodded, “okay” he felt a pang of guilt of hiding the people in the house away, but he also didn’t want to risk any hurtful comments, if only he could protect Jamie as well.
The grandparents approached the house, the older man reached out to Charles and Ororo and shook both of their hands, “it’s nice to meet you ,my names Jim, and my wife here is Betty.”
“Nice to meet you.” Betty nodded her head as she shook their hands, “so where’s our Jamie?”
Charles smiled, “I’m glad your excited to see him, he’s right upstairs in my office why don’t I show you to him?”
Jim moved his hand to gesture inside, “show us the way.”
Charles gave a relieved sigh, and he spoke to Ororo through his mind, “I think we might have misjudged the situation.”
“We can only hope.” Ororo spoke back in her thoughts.
Betty and Jim filed into the elevator behind Ororo and Charles, “so what does this academy specialize in? I saw the sign outside.” Betty asked cutting the silence.
“Ah yes, for gifted youngsters” Charles smiled at the statement, “well technically we specialize in all kinds of talents, it depends on the student.”
Jim huffed, “what’s Jamie gifted in then?”
Ororo looked at Charles, “why don’t Jamie tell you himself, he’s been on the high honor roll all year.”
Betty smiled, “he has? That’s wonderful!”
“I’m surprised that boy can read.”
“Jim.”
“What! All I see is him reading comics, there’s barely anything on the page it’s just pictures.”
“Well maybe he’s branched out, what kind of classes is he taking?”
“This year he’s taking the basics English, Math, Science, U.S history, German for language, and Theater.”
“Theater?” Jim sighed, “well that’s odd.”
Charles and Ororo looked at eachother, as Betty interjected, “he’s always been shy, but were glad he’s coming out of his shell, what did he play in this year?”
“I believe the last play was A Midsummer Night's Dream.”
“Oh wow, and who was he?”
Charles smiled as the elevator doors opened, “Puck, he was very good at it too.”
Jim asked, “is there a play this year?”
“Yes, I believe we are planning Romeo and Juliet, we usually showcase the plays before Spring break.”
“Oh we would love to come.” Betty nodded at Jim who slightly smiled as they walked down the hallway.
“I think Jamie would love that.” Ororo softened a bit as their anxieties melted away.
Finally, they arrived at the office Jamie was sitting in the chair and had a worried expression on when he saw his grandparents. Erik was leaning against the bookshelf waiting and watching carefully on how it was unfolding.
“Ah Jamie there you are.” His grandma came up to him and gestured for Jamie to come and hug her.
Jamie got up and leaned into the embrace, his grandpa looked at the boys sad eyes, “what’s wrong kiddo, thought we wouldn’t make it up here?”
“Just didn’t think you’d want to still see me.”
Betty pulled back, “and I thought it be the other way around, that your too cool for us.” She pinched his cheek making Jamie grumble.
“We didn’t come here all this way not to see you.” His grandpa came and patted his back and pulled the boy into another hug. “Besides we didn’t get much detail other than his man” he gestured to Charles, “calling us at 11 o’clock about you asking for teacher conference, and your parents weren’t respondin to me, we had no choice but to come up and see what was happening. Hell this place wasn’t even on google.”
“Jim, sweetheart we came up to see you, our first priority.” She patted Jamie’s head.
“Yeah we had to make sure no sicko came and kidnapped you or something, but by the looks of this place, hell I wouldn’t even mind.”
“Jimmy.”
“What?” the grandpa shrugged, “and I know you don’t know this with all this technology now a days, but I had to use a physical map to get here. That’s how fishy this place is, it’s not even on google not even one article.”
“He’s just paranoid I keep telling him not to watch Blue bloods at night.”
“I assure you this is a certified school” Charles interjected and wheeled behind the desk to start the meeting.
“Yeah well of course you would say that.”
Betty interjected, “you just had us worried because you called us so late, were not used to phone calls as it is.”
Jim let go of Jamie, “unless it’s scammers of course.” He gave Charles a careful glare.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about any of that. His parents enrolled him if you want to see the documents.” Charles tried to re-assure the worried grandparents as best he could. Ororo drifted out of the room and Erik went to stand a bit closer to Charles now.
“Well I’m not too surprised, Linda went and signed you up for this she always had expensive taste, no offense.”
Charles shrugged, “none taken.” He had to bite back on how affordable it was, but he decided not to go over pricing.
“I am just glad your here for Jamie.”
Jim shrugged, “of course we are” he nudged his grandson and couldn’t ignore how he stiffened against him.
Betty was adjusting herself in the seat as Jim sighed, “so let’s get to it, what’s the issue.”
“Jim” Betty lightly elbowed him in the ribs, “your being so paranoid today.”
“I’m not paranoid I’m reading the room.” He gestured to the overly silent stiff room.
Betty sighed, “well Charles is there a problem with Jamie, you said it yourself in the elevator he’s an excellent student.”
“Yes he is, and I usually don’t do conferences with students in the room…”
“Oh” Jamie almost pointed to himself, “I’m going to wait outside.”
All of them nodded and Jim watched as his grandson rushed out the second he got up from his seat, like he was running from something.
When the door shut, their eyes went back to Charles, as the professor began to explain. “So the reason why I brought you here today with such urgency, is because Jamie brought it to my attention that his parents aren’t communicating properly with him.”
Betty crossed her legs, “what do you mean by that?”
“Well they haven’t spoken in months, and refused to pick Jamie up for winter break, spring break, and now summer. What they’ve told me has been different with what they’ve told Jamie.”
“What did they tell you?” Jim asked.
“Well they said that Jamie wanted to stay to either practice the play he was in or to hang out with his friends who remained at the boarding school during Holiday. What they’ve told Jamie though is they were too busy or on vacation.”
Betty’s eyes went wide and both her and Jim exchanged a glance, “that doesn’t sound like them- I don’t understand why in the world they would do that.” Betty tapped her knee with her finger trying to wrap her mind over the reasoning.
“Well… we believe we have the idea as to why, that’s one of the reasons I called you here is to talk about it. Jamie is going through a very important stage in his life and getting pushed to the side like this can be detrimental to his health, education, and his relationships. We need to know if he’ll be supported.”
Jim waived his hand around, “well of course we’ll be supported he’s our grandson, what would be the reason we aren’t supporting him?”
A pin drop could be heard in the room as Charles looked to Erik who nodded him along, before he told them he asked Jamie telepathically, “it doesn’t seem like your grandparents know despite last nights discussion I had with them, I don’t have to tell them.”
“No…” Jamie’s voice was small like a plea, “just do it.”
Charles sighed, “your grandson is especially gifted, he has the ability to clone his DNA and create a carbon copy of himself or in other words your grandsons a mutant.”
Jim clutched his chest, Betty looked at him as he spoke, “oh god- that’s it? You almost gave me a fucking heart attack.”
Betty sighed as she unclenched her fists.
Erik and Charles both looked at eachother in surprise, “I’m glad your okay- I mean understanding over Jamie’s ability.”
Jim sighed, “at least he’s not gay you almost scared me for a minute.”
Erik and Charles expression dropped.
Jim waived his hand and laughed a little, “I’m just kidding, phew, you being all cryptic and all I thought something was wrong.”
Charles sighed as he pinched his nose bridge, “well his parents aren’t talking to him because of it.”
“Really?” Betty asked, “are you sure? Not some mis-scheduling?”
“No, unfortunately I think Jamie’s mother made it clear when she told him she’d rather he just stay here. She also hasn’t been responding to my calls or emails regarding a teacher conference, you were the only ones who answered. That’s why I called so late…”
Betty and Jim exchanged a look, “well I might know the reason to that, Jamie’s mother our daughter is also a mutant.”
Erik’s eyebrows went up, as listened even more intently.
“She doesn’t really talk about it, she always avoids it or acts like she isn’t. We don’t bring it up because it bothers her, so I’m guessing when she found out Jamie was a mutant- well.”
Jim sighed, “I just can’t believe she’d ignore him though.” He shook his head in disappointment.
“We’ll talk to her.” Betty put her hand on Jim’s knee trying to reassure him, “but in the meantime, I think it be best we see Jamie, we don’t want him to worry about this any longer.”
“Of course-” Charles used his telepathy to call Jamie in, “you can come in now, everything’s okay.”
Jamie held the handle of the door and he was shaking, “promise?”
“I promise Jamie, we made sure of it, your grandparents want to see you.”
“And do they-” Jamie started to cry, his knees shook and he felt weak.
“Shh yes.” Charles tried to re-assure him, but the boy had waves of anxiety that pushed Charles away.
“Is he waiting outside?” Betty asked breaking the small pause in the room.
“Yes, I’m trying to-”
Betty had already gotten up from her chair with Jim following behind her, she opened the door a crack, “sweetheart are you hiding out here?”
Jamie nodded as he cried into his forearm, and tried to breathe in through little gasps.
Betty opened the door more, as she pulled Jamie into her arms, his head was tucked under her chin, “we aren’t going to leave you.”
Jim stood there awkwardly to the side trying to pat Jamie’s back, “and you don’t have to worry about any of this okay, we’ll take care of everything.”
“Yeah you can come stay with us, we were heading to the lake house.” Betty moved some of Jamie’s hair from his face, “and we still have the rest of summer together, and we can stay up here during the school year, does that sound good?” Her voice was soft and sweet and Jamie just nodded through it all, like it was the kindest song he’s ever heard. He took every word to heart and prayed to God they meant it.
Jim, tried to tickle Jamie’s sides, making the boy snort and squirm away, “and when we get to the lake house I will have some - extra - hands to help with yard work.”
“Jim.”
Jamie laughed a little, as his grandpa tried to save himself, “what? We can do other things.”
Betty released Jamie from the hug and wiped his tear stained face a bit, “Jamie, what would you like to do?”
“I just…” Jamie played with the end of his shirt, “want to go somewhere other then here this summer - no offense” he looked over his grandmother’s shoulders sheepishly at Charles.
The Professor reassured him, “none taken, just remember school starts September 12th.”
Jim nodded, “we won’t forget.”
Charles smiled, “we can discuss any outstanding details then. In the meantime Jamie?”
“Yes?”
“Have fun, okay?” Charles told him softly.
Jamie nodded, and said thank you, in his mind causing the professor to smile.
To Charles and Erik’s relief Jamie was able to leave the mansion with family members that loved and accepted him, it was an occurrence that was getting more rare with every news outlet and radio host, broadcasting slurs and harsh realities. This was a changing world. Charles fought so hard to keep a resemblance of what peaceful co-inhabitants should look like, but with passing days the facade slowly unwound for the next generation of mutants.