Chapter 2
It's been five months since Raven came home. Five months, and she has helped with so much. Hank was wearing his signature smile again, treating Charles as a person, and not something so breakable.
Charles was laughing again. Hoping again. His eyes were shining and his voice was chipper - he was Charles again. And, he had his powers back. Of course, that again came at the cost of his legs, but he’d been managing so well so far - and he continued to get better and better.
On top of that, they were almost ready to reopen the school. After months of preparation and cleaning and all the things, they were finally ready.
There was just one more thing.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Charles asked for the 20th time, adjusting his tie for the 20th time.
“Really?” Raven asked sarcastically, looking over at her brother.
“Eyes on the road, dear.” he mumbled, turning his gaze away from his suit and out of the window. He was nervous - but he knew he needed to do this. To fix this. It was the last thing that they had to do to move on, to start the school and fix their pasts. Well, the last attainable thing, that is.
Moira Mactaggart was a light in all of their lives, especially Charles’. When they got there, to her home, he was understandably nervous, despite his typical cool persona.
Raven knocked twice and the door quickly opened, revealing Moira in her typical tidy fashion. Her hair was much longer now, coming down past her shoulders with a slight curl at the end. She still had that same lovely smile, though it was tainted with confusion.
“Hello?”
“Hi Moira.” Raven said, almost forgetting that she no longer remembered her.
Moira’s face fell into total confusion now, and she took a slight step away from the door. She opened her mouth to say something, but then her eyes fell on Charles and a sense of familiarity fell upon her. Then she knew it.
“Oh my god. You’re Charles Xavier.”
Charles and Raven shared a look before she continued. Did she really remember? How did she forget Raven then? How-
“I've read your papers. Your studies on mutations I- it's fascinating. Please, come in.” she said, stepping back to let the two walk through. Maybe she was being a bit overzealous, but after all she has a big fan.
“So, why did you stop by?” she asked with a shrug, sitting on the couch and signaling for Raven to as well.
“Well I guess there's no easy way to say this.'' Raven shrugged, taking off her coat to reveal her arms which had turned blue. The color spread all over her body until there wasn't a single speck of peach left, and her hair transformed into a deep red. “Ring any bells?” she quipped, despite knowing that just seeing her wouldn't be enough.
“I- woah, hold on I-” she stammered, standing up and backing away from the two.
Chalres shot Raven a look - he didn't expect her to be so forward - before attempting to calm Moira down.
“I'm sorry Mrs. Mactaggart, but there really is no easy way to say this… my I?” he trailed off, holding his fingers to his temple. He didn't wait for Moira to respond - he knew that she wouldn’t know what he meant.
He returned all of her memories; all those times that she laughed along with Raven, all of the times she thought dreamily about Charles, all of the happiness and all of the pain.
A single tear streamed down her cheek the same way it did on the day she lost those exact memories.
“God…” she whispered, sitting back down on the couch.
“I'm sorry my dear. I never should have taken those from you.”
“God… charles? Raven.. I…” she sighed out, but couldn't help but let out a laugh. “It's Good to see you again.”
-
Hell’s Kitchen was not what Avery expected it to be. Well, she didn't really know what she expected in the first place. It was cold, dark and shabby almost anywhere she went. But, not everything was so bad.
Like the bars. She had just turned 21 before Selene’s attack, so that was the first place she started. Though, this wasn't the first time she’d ever drank of course. The first time she ever drank was with Raven and Azazel. It was one of the better memories from the brotherhood; Azazel stealing the bottles, the girls taste-testing them and everyone getting boozy - laughing.
This is why she was here. She didn need to remember that right now. Azazel left them. Raven was home, with her real family.
And Avery was here. Sipping on a bourbon that was somehow worse than the one Azael brough her.
She took another sip and surveyed her surroundings. Everything seemed like it was mixing and melding together, the bright lights bled down into the people below, the floor completely covered by feet and trash and stray cups.
But, there was one man who stood out from all the rest with his suit and slicked back hair. His glasses reflected the multicolored lights overhead when he turned his head to face her.
And she’ll never understand why he came over to sit next to her. Maybe it was because she smiled at him. Maybe it was because she was the only person who looked his age. Either way, he walked over to her and introduced himself as James Wesley.
Avery knew next to nothing about James. At least, nothing important. She grew to learn that he would only drink black coffee with half a sugar packet, but she didn't know his job or who he worked for. She did know that he had a dog, and he owned a very nice apartment and he was very rude, but rudley charming. That's about it.
And James knew that Avery volunteered at an animal shelter, but he knew nothing of her past. He knew that she went for a run every morning, lived in a shitty apartment and refused to take any of his shit.
And they may have been a match made in hell, but they were made. And the year they were together was the most fun part of Hell's Kitchen.
But, nothing fun lasts. At least, not when that “fun” gets picked up as the right hand for the city's biggest crime boss.
And maybe if Avery didn't pick up the whole “superhero” thing, then it wouldn’t have been an issue. But now, she's here. And he’s somewhere.
And after all, she wasn't really a “hero”. She was a vigilante. Stopping your average crime, but it wasn't like she was going to just go in and stop Kingpin herself. Not yet, at least.
-
Erik spent a year alone after the Brotherhood disbanded. And then he made a mistake. That mistake was a woman. In fact, it felt like after Selene attacked he blinked and woke up in her bed. In her home. Lucky, because before he met her - Madeline - he was living from hotel to hotel, and he spent the last of his money buying her a drink.
And she was a kind girl, but she still felt like a stranger, she’d known him for a year and he felt like he didn't know her - but Charles… he knew him for a few months. Maybe less, yet he was all Erik could think about. Him, and the countless mistakes that Erik made that kept the two apart.
And it got bad. He would have nightmares about what he’d done - and rarely were they about what Shaw made him do, but about how he hurt the one person that made him feel like he wasn't a monster. The one reason he could love again.
And there were so many times when he came so close to going back to him. To going back to the school, to his friends, his family. And the one time he had the gall to go, the guts to tell his girlfriend about all of this, to go back to those who might've loved him - she had something to tell him first.
Her pregnancy, and the fact that she claimed to be a “classic American woman” meant that they had to be married. And again - he was in her bed, hearing this news, and then all of the sudden they were kissing on an altar. He had a ring - one that he bought, not made.
The years living with his girlfriend were a blur. And they continued to be during the months when she was his wife. Until, of course, Magnus was born.
He was the reason Erik still knew what love was like. The reason that Erik finally snapped out of it and woke up. The reason that he lived again, and enjoyed it. Ness even brought Erik and Madeleine together - more than they already were.
But it was no longer a complacent “together”. It was no longer eating together, sleeping together, fighting, then forgetting and repeating the situation. Erik felt like he was in a family again, and he was. This was his flesh and blood. Ness was his creation, and if Erik could truly create something so good and pure? Then maybe this could be the redemption that Charles so hoped he would find.
But Charles would never not be a part of his past. And maybe, his future. Maybe Erik would return. Just to apologize. And if he was lucky, he could introduce Charles to his family. Maybe Charles would have one of his own - and that thought left him with a sinking feeling, not a happy one. But, there was nothing he could do about that now, was there?
-
“I can't do this Charles!” she cried into her hands, shaking from the pain, the fear - all of it. “I can't” she repeated, again and again.
And Charles just held her for now. He hugged her tightly and rubbed her back. “It's alright darling.” he repeated in response until she calmed down. “It's alright.”
It has been a year since they brought Moira back to the school. Only a month after that, she was recruited by a highly secret government organization, SHIELD. Charles and Raven couldn't know anything about it except that it paid way more than the CIA, and it was just what she wanted.
They haven't heard from her since.
Though, they did get a surprise. Sean returned. He was as bright and determined as ever, ready to teach. The thing was, he didn't really have a teaching license, so that wouldn't work out. But, they gladly accepted him into the school, and he and Raven convinced Charles that it was finally time to start the X-Men. Of course - Raven, Sean and Charles wouldn’t be enough - they would need at least one more person.
“A superhero team of three would never work. We’d at least need four.”
“Have you called Alex?”
“He's got a baby brother to take care of.”
“Avery?”
“MIA.”
“Azazel?”
“MIA.”
“Damn Raven, what are we supposed to do with this? You sure you don't want in, Hank?” Sean added, leaning back in his chair so his head was upside down so he could see the mutant behind him.
“Mhm. Yep. I’m all good.” he said nonchalantly, continuing to work on whatever he was working on.
“Well, why don't we try cerebro?” Raven asked, turning her head to look over at Charles. It took him a minute to notice, but he looked up from his book and shook his head at her.
“Hm? Oh, no Raven. I’m not going to harass some poor random mutant. Cerebro is for finding students and criminals.” he said flatly, eyes glued back to the paper.
“Ughhhh” Raven whined, laying her head down on the desk. What were they supposed to do? Just wait for some super strong adult mutant to stumble into their arms? Yeah, right.
No, instead a red teleporting adult ran into Raven while she was out on a walk. The one day she gets alone time only to see the last face she’d expect.
“Azazel?” she questioned, seeing him across the bridge. He teleported next to her - something she was still somehow used to.
“I've been looking for you.”
“So have I.”
The two stared at each other for a moment - Raven remembered their relationship. She wouldn't call it romantic persay, but it definitely wasn't platonic.
“Why?” she whispered to him.
“I need your help. You can find Selene, no?” he questioned, pulling away from her without even realizing how close they'd gotten.
What. “what?” was all she could say. What? It's been a year, and Selene still hasn't been caught? Or rather, Azazel hasn't moved on? “No I… maybe, but no I can't…” she stuttered out, still confused.
“Why not?”
“Azazel that's ridiculous I-”
“Well, what did you want from me? Can't we help each other?” he asked, moving closer once again.
“Yeah. Let me help you. Come home with me, join our team.”
“Team? You’re trying that again?”
“It's not the Brotherhood, Azazel. It's something new. Something better.”
“Show me.”
The kids were all on a field trip, and Charles and Hank took them. It would just be her and a few other teachers home for the day. What’s the worst that could happen?
-
“The baby is perfectly healthy.'' The nurse came in with a smile that quickly shifted once she saw the two hugging on the bed. Charles pulled away from the Raven and took the child into his arms. He was so tiny - and strangely human looking considering the hue of his parents. Though, Charles was sure that his mutation would come in time. The baby was quiet - just the occasional gurgle.
But the Raven couldn't look at him. This was not what she wanted. She was 23 for god sake, not even a quarter through her life. And by the time she realized it, Azazel was gone. He had left the same day that they… reunited. He was gone before Charles and Hank even knew he was there. She couldn't get him to join the X-Men, she couldn't even get him to stay the night. But, was that so bad? Wasn't this what she wanted? To be done with the brotherhood completely? And she planned not to tell anyone, but after four months she had a realization that kinda needed to be shared.
And now, this “realization” was sitting in her brother's arms.
“I can't do this Charles….” she whispered, head still in her hands.
“It's ok, he’ll have a good home in the school. I’ll help you with whatever you need I just-”
“No- NO charles you don't understand - I am NOT a mother. Even if he stays he’s still mine I just… I can’t… he’ll be better with someone else, I promise.”
This was the thousandth time they’ve had this conversation, and slowly Charles had begun to realize that Raven was right. They could help and take care of her son, but it wasn't Charles' choice. Raven was not ready for this, and that’s ok. He’d just wished she had been a little more careful.
“I’ll find a good home for him. I promise.”
-
This time, the news that Madeline was pregnant was met with joy, not grief or worry. And everything was ready for the child’s arrival.
Magnus was more than excited. Madeline spent most of her time resting or eating- she truly appreciated her alone time especially when Erik was taking care of Ness, so that's how it was.
“I hope he's a boy.” Ness said, jumping on his bed. Madeline wanted to wait until birth to find out the assigned gender of the child, and her son was impatient as ever.
But he would never find out.
Ness was with his babysitter when it happened. She had taken him to a movie - with permission from the parents - but it had gone a little later than expected. Of course, the Babysitter was keeping in touch the entire time they were out. Erik and Madeline were home when they got her last text.
‘Movie's over! Be home in 30 :-)’
‘Don't text and drive hun!’ was the last text Madeline sent to her. And, the lack of response made her assume she took her advice.
Though, she’ll never know if she did. She‘ll never know if it was her fault, or the other car’s faut, or if it was just fate.
Either way, the babysitter and the baby died that night. So did his parents.
-
The next person to show up unexpectedly was Alex. Alex Summers. It was certainly a shock for Hank to open up the school door to find his old friend (?) standing there and not even giving him a moment to breathe before engulfing him in a bear hug.
It was also a definite surprise when Hank saw the young man hiding shyly behind Alex.
“Hey little guy!” Hank said with a wave, hoping his height and fur wouldn't scare him off.
“Oh, yeah. Hank, this is Scott. Scott, say hi.” Alex said, kneeling next to his brother. Scott looked about seven years old, but he was incredibly shy. He just waved up at Hank.
“Nice shades.'' Hank said with a small laugh.
“I need the professor.'' Alex said quickly, standing up.
Hank moved to the side to let them in and shut the door behind them. “What's his mutation then?”