I like to think that after Dark Phoenix Charles and Erik didn’t get together immediately.
Charles moved in with Erik, they had a three hour long debate over who got the bed and who the couch and they ended up in a day-by-day system that just had double the trouble. And of course someone was always running (or wheeling) to the other in the middle of the night to wake them up/calm them down from a nightmare. Then one day Erik came back hurt/very tired, but it was Charles’ turn to take the bed, they had an (unsurprisingly) short argument and they both ended up sleeping on the bed.
Needless to say that, after that, the only person to ever sleep on that couch was Peter when he was visiting.
After Dark Phoenix Shaw emerges and he wants revenge on Erik so Shaw finds Legion and manipulates him into luring Charles off Genosha so Shaw can have a final stand off with him
ok so I saw a post that had Charles and Erik as the married couple in up and had a vision of art. But I cannot find the original posters account so if you know it PLEASEEE tag them so they can see this too
this is also a VERY rough draft but I wanted to share my idea anyway :3
Mending Metals
By sincosma
Chapter: 5/12
Rating: E
Pairing: Cherik
Summary:
I didn’t realize how important this was to you, Charles admitted, sending along the impression of… gratitude. Gratitude that Erik cared this much.
I’m not who I used to be, though. I’m not the same.
And neither am I, Erik replied, leaning back against the headboard. I have no expectations. I just want to help, if I can.
Mental silence fell between them—Charles was still there, drifting carefully in the center of Erik’s thoughts, but he was thinking, guarding the quiet metronome of his thoughts from Erik.
What if this doesn’t work? Charles asked, uncertain.
What if it does?
enjoy the silence? more like enjoy the sadness lmao
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Title: You walked into my life like you had always lived there
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: M/M
Fandoms: X-Men - All Media Types, X-Men (Movieverse)
Relationship: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier
Characters: Erik Lehnsherr, Charles Xavier
Additional Tags: Getting Together, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Genosha, Post-X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019), Charles Xavier Needs a Hug, Erik is a Sweetheart, Erik Has Feelings, Charles is emotionally hurt, Cherik - Freeform
Summary: Charles has resigned himself to a life alone in Paris, but he might be surprised by a visit from an "old friend"...
Will they get another chance to reach happiness?
———
Cherik. Oh Cherik, my love, my heart. I could sing of how I adore thee for forever and a day. But for now, I will instead talk about another beautiful fic.
I love a good Life on Genosha continuation of the canon Dark Phoenix ending. It’s such a natural progression, and the simmering feelings here are just uuuuuuugh. So good. The characters are written perfectly, and you can see the growth there, if you remember them how they were in the beginning (aka in First Class); it’s been thirty years (approximately) since then, and they’ve both lived through much, and learned harsh lessons. But the love? It’s always been there, and it shines brightly despite everything.
The Jane Eyre reference is amazing, both from a meta standpoint (almost wanted Charles to muse about how similar he finds Erik to Mr. Rochester, lol) and also just from an emotional one. That bit where they talk about it, and Charles starts to cry? My hearrrrrrt.
Also, y’all know I’m always here for some non-English endearments, lol.
This fic, like Charles and Erik (and Cherik itself), is gorgeous. Highly recommended.
———
Next Week: Steddie time again! And it’s an angsty one this time, hehe. That’s right, I can branch off from fluff sometimes! Never mind the fact that the hurt is quickly followed by a lot of comfort; I’m not gonna branch out THAT much.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: M/M
Fandom: X-Men (Alternate Timeline Movies)
Relationships: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier, Logan (X-Men)/Charles Xavier
Characters: Erik Lehnsherr, Charles Xavier, Logan (X-Men)
Additional Tags: Post-X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019), Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Torture, Unresolved Feelings, Established Relationship, Blood and Gore, Canon Compliant, no break ups, Canon Disabled Character
Chapters: 1 of 2
Summary:
Four years after the death of Jean Grey, Charles and Erik are enjoying a peaceful life together on the mutant island of Genosha. Things change when the X-Men make a request of their former - and still beloved - mentor; to rescue their friend and the Professor's ex-lover, one James 'Logan' Howlett.
What effect will Logan's presence have on their relationship and their long awaited happiness, when they bring him home to Genosha?
----
Written for the lovely @grippedbydestielfever for MTH 2020! Thanks for your patience and I hope you like the first chapter :D
You walked into my life like you had always lived there
Summary
Charles has resigned himself to a life alone in Paris, but he might be surprised by a visit from an "old friend"...
Will they get another chance to reach happiness?
https://archiveofourown.org/works/31463351
Words:3719 - Chapters:1/1
This morning, like every other morning, sitting on the terrace of the café downstairs from his small apartment, Charles was waiting for his usual coffee while watching the bustle of the street. Delivery men unloading their vans at the grocery store on the corner, the bookstore owner unpacking his shelves, a tourist couple having their picture taken with the view of Montmartre in the background. The passers-by, people going to work, others walking their dogs. All this lively and colorful world coming and going, talking, laughing, reminded him of the hallway of a certain school, in the mornings just before the students entered their classrooms.
And like every morning, Charles was acutely aware of his loneliness. He had voluntarily closed his mind to all other thoughts than his own.
Thoughts that were enough to torment him.
More often than not, they were memories which he forced himself to face. His mistakes, what he should or should not have done. Searching, dissecting when he had lost sight of his values. At what point he had let down those he had sworn to protect since the day he had discovered Raven in his kitchen so many years ago.
But appeasement never came.
At the beginning, Hank gave him news of the school, of the progress of the students, news of each one and then little by little the messages had spaced, Charles put more and more time to answer, letting the distance grow voluntarily. It was now 3 months that he had no news and it was good like that.
Raven, Jean, Alex... and the names of all the others were spinning in his head, like a macabre dance, a torture he was inflicting on himself to atone.
There was only one name that he refused to pronounce, that he refused to think about. The one name that had always been able to read him without having any telepathic powers.
"You're always sorry, Charles. And there's always a speech. But nobody cares anymore."
"Will that be all sir?"
The waitress, pulling him out of his musings, put his coffee on the table.
"Yes, thank you," Charles replied.
"Mutant and proud."
Raven had always been right,
"Or is that only with pretty mutations or invisible ones, like yours. But if you're a freak, better hide."
Mutant yes, but proud he was no longer. He was the freak who had to hide.
He took a sip of his coffee and ran his hand over his face.
He suddenly felt a presence behind his back, and a shiver went through him at the sound of the voice with such familiar inflections,
"How's retirement treating you Charles?"
Erik sat down and placed a small case containing a chess set at his feet. Why was he there? To taunt him? To provoke him? Charles resisted the temptation to read his mind. He clenched his fist on his knee. Erik was the only one to provoke this storm of emotions in him. The only one who had the capacity to unsettle him.
So as always he chose the attack,"What are you doing here, Erik?"
He finally dared to meet Erik's eyes, and he almost gasped, because, in the blue-gray eyes, there was nothing of the harshness, of the disappointment from their last meeting. Erik's gaze was kind and open as he replied with a slight smile, "I came to see an old friend. Fancy a game?"
Erik showed him the chess set at their feet. Their usual chess game, the moment when their minds clashed. That space outside of time, where despite the fights and conflicts, they always managed to find each other. But this time Charles wasn't sure he had the strength to offer Erik a worthy opponent. So he shook his head and replied, "No, not today. Thank you."
He looked away. He couldn't look at Erik when so many emotions were running through him. He was sure he would never see the only man he had ever loved again, and there he was in front of him, beautiful, making Charles even more aware of his own state.
"A long time ago, you saved my life. Then you offered me a home. I'd like to do the same for you."
Charles studied Erik's expression for a long time. Always the same openness and acceptance. He was once again tempted to read Erik's mind.
"You can, you know." Erik made the hand motion that Charles made when he wanted to access someone's mind.
As always he had seen right through Charles, but again no disappointment or disgust in the voice and the eyes.
Charles after swallowing, answered in a slightly hoarse voice, having trouble containing his emotions.
"I don't do that anymore."
Erik simply nodded with a half smile, put his hands in his pockets, then took them out, and held them out in front of him in clenched fists, just like in the old days.
"Just one game. For old times' sake."
Charles gave in, he didn't feel like fighting anymore, he didn't feel like pretending. So he held out his hand to Erik's right fist, which opened to a white pawn.
Erik said with a slight teasing smile, "I'll go easy on you."
Charles replied with the same smile, just a little more hesitant, "No, you won't."
As they set up the pieces, Erik added, "I might surprise you, you know Charles."
Charles stopped his motion as he went to move a knight, and said with emotion in his voice as he stared into Erik's eyes, "You already have."
Time stood still for a moment, neither of them able to take their eyes off the other. Then Charles continued his movement and the game resumed.
The sun was high in the sky when they finished their game. It was Erik who had won. But as always, no matter who won, neither of them cared, the important thing was the duel not the result.
"Well?" inquired Erik as he closed the chess set, "Did you have time to think about my offer?"
"Did you mean it?" Charles hoped Erik couldn't hear the eagerness in his voice, because he really wanted to accept Erik's offer. But did he deserve it? Did he have a right to this home Erik was offering him? And what did a home even mean?
His hand began to tremble slightly, as if he wanted to grasp something, but didn't dare. He closed his eyes to compose himself.
He felt a hand rest on his as Erik's voice said softly, "Charles...". He opened his eyes. Erik's hand opened his clenched fist and intertwined his fingers with his. Charles slowly raised his eyes to Erik's face.
The urge to surrender, to let go, hit Charles even harder. He could see so much in Erik's eyes, but he was so afraid of being disappointed and of disappointing... again. He closed his fingers over Erik's and tried to swallow the lump that was forming in his throat.
Erik continued, "Charles, no demands, no debts, no obligations, this is completely free, I'm just offering you a simple and protected life. It's far from a castle life, but Genosha is a small, isolated island where we have created a self-sufficient community. Most of the inhabitants are like us, "retired" mutants with wounds to heal. You can-"
Charles interrupted him, "It's okay Erik, no need to say any more, I accept. " and after a moment of silence, he added, "Thank you."
Erik simply smiled, put his other hand over their entwined hands and said, "I'm just showing the same generosity that you have shown to me over and over again. No need for gratitude between us. We are just two friends and..."
Erik paused as if he were about to say something else.
"And?" asked Charles, curious about what Erik had stopped himself from saying.
For the first time since the beginning of this meeting, Erik looked a little unsettled before answering, "Nothing... well at least not now."
Charles didn't insist, he knew there was a lot to clear up between them. But now that he had decided to follow Erik to his island, he knew they had time.
"So how do we do this?"
Erik replied as he stood up, "I'll go with you to your flat, you take what you need for a few days, and we'll leave for Genosha. You can get the rest delivered later."
"So soon?"
"Why wait? Do you have obligations here, people to say goodbye to?"
"No!" replied Charles curtly, angry at having been found out once again.
He began to roll his wheelchair quickly toward the entrance of his building. Erik joined him in two strides before putting his hand on his shoulder. Charles felt bad for being so touch starved that this simple touch immediately soothed him.
"Charles, I know what it's like, I've been there. Don't get upset. It wasn't a criticism or a mockery." He squeezed Charles' shoulder before letting his hand fall back.
"I know..." sighed Charles. "Come on."
As they walked through the door of Charles' tiny apartment, sensing that Erik was about to say something, Charles admonished him, "Don't say anything."
Erik waved his hand, as if he were zipping up his mouth without hiding his smile, but finally couldn't help himself.
"My Charles, do you live in that shoebox? I'm disappointed in you! Pretty spartan."
Seeing Charles' dark glare, he pretended to surrender. "Ok, ok, I'm not saying anything more."
Charles muttered, "Liar."
Then they gathered Charles' things and a few hours later they were on their way to Genosha.
__________
Two weeks later, Charles was unpacking the last of the boxes that had just arrived, mostly books. Erik had built him some makeshift shelves. His "residence" like all of Genosha’s, was made of salvaged materials, but Charles didn't mind. Although he had always lived in a certain opulence, he knew how to make do with little.
"Need a hand?"
Erik had just stepped through the curtain that served as a door.
"I'm not saying no."
They hadn't had time to really talk and clear the air between them, but Erik was very thoughtful. Charles was a little insecure, not knowing where he stood. So he decided to just take things as they came. If he was honest with himself, he knew how he felt about Erik. But he wouldn't act, he didn't want to risk breaking the friendship they were rebuilding.
Erik had begun unpacking a box of books.
"Do you have a particular order?"
"No put them on the shelves as they come for now."
So Erik began to put the books away, commenting on some of the titles.
"Oh Charles, Charlotte Brontë really? Jane Eyre as well?"
"Hey Erik, just because you're helping me doesn't mean you have to like what I read."
"Ho Ho! You even marked a page."
Charles remembered, what page and what words he had written in the margin.
"Erik, please put that book away, it doesn't matter."
But he could see from Erik's face that he wasn't about to let go, so he resigned himself and closed his eyes waiting for a reaction, of what kind, he didn't know.
"Charles?"
Charles squeezed his eyes tighter.
"Yes?"
"Is that about me?"
Charles had a small self-deprecating laugh before he replied, "I don't know any other Erik, so yes."
"What do you mean with 'you left Erik and now I'm bleeding'?"
Charles let out a big sigh and put his head in his hands. "This is really embarrassing...it's in relation to the underlined passage that's a little higher up if I remember correctly."
He knew the phrase by heart, because it had resonated in a special way since he'd met Erik, but he hadn't expected the raw emotion that ran through him when he heard Erik read the words aloud.
“I have a strange feeling with regard to you. As if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly knotted to a similar string in you. And if you were to leave I’m afraid that cord of communion would snap. And I have a notion that I’d take to bleeding inwardly. As for you, you’d forget me.”
Charles heard Erik put the book down, and a sound of footsteps, he still didn't want to open his eyes, he was too afraid of what he would read in Erik's eyes. He was aware of Erik's presence very close to him, then a hand clasped his.
"Charles, please look at me." Erik's voice was almost pleading, Charles didn't resist and opened his eyes, to see that Erik had knelt down to be at his level. Then he looked up at Erik's eyes, afraid of what he would find there, and gasped, Erik looked almost amazed, yes that's right, amazed.
"Charles is that how you still feel?" Erik asked him in an pressing tone, his eyes scanning his, leaving Charles no escape.
Charles swallowed, and despite his tight throat, he tried to answer, "Yes."
"But when... I mean since when?"
"When? Do you remember the day you managed to unlock your power. The day you let me access that memory? Well since that day, I've felt this very strong connection between us."
Erik tightened his grip on his hand and asked, "And those words in the margin?"
Charles' voice was a whisper, "After the missiles and the beach, when you left."
"Oh Charles, I...I'm so sorry." The regret was genuine in Erik's eyes.
"Don't be anymore, it's been a long time since I forgave you and since then I think I've made my share of mistakes and bad decisions. Some of which have more consequences than losing my legs. Raven was right, I had forgotten who I was. Why I started all this in the first place. I lost sight of what was important, I lost... I lost so much. And I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner, and... I'm not as evolved as I thought I was. You say you're sorry Erik, but you don't know how sorry I am. Forgive me I... I must..."
Charles had to go, he had to get out, the grief he had been feeling since he left school, no even before, since Raven's death, it was all threatening to come out, he didn't want to fall apart like that in front of Erik.
But Erik was keeping him from walking away. Still kneeling and holding his hand.
"Erik, please move over... let go of me, I have to get out, I-" the tears were starting to blur his vision, with his free hand he was trying to push his wheelchair forward.
"Charles, stop! You don't have to leave. You don't have to be alone anymore. You are not alone!"
Erik loosened Charles other hand's grip on the wheel, and suddenly took him in his arms, and he felt his lips move against his head and the words came to his ears "Charles, you can let go, even though I've failed you many times in the past, this time I won't. Let it go. Don't be afraid, I'll catch you."
Because Charles no longer had the strength to stay strong, because he was craving for someone to lean on, he let go. He let the grief engulf him, because he knew Erik was there and would keep him from drowning.
Erik continued to hold him and whispered over and over, "That's it, let it all out. I'm here mein Liebster. Let it out."
Once the crying dried up, exhaustion fell on Charles and he fell asleep in Erik's arms. He was sleeping so deeply that Erik had been able to lift him out of his wheelchair without him waking up and now he was lying with his back against Erik's front, his head under his chin and Erik's arms wrapped around Charles.
Erik had been torn when he saw his beloved overwhelmed by grief and wondered how long it had been since Charles had been able to express his pain. He had always been attracted to the shining side of Charles, he often compared them to two sides of the same coin. But when he'd found him in Paris, he'd seen that all that light was like dulled.
"Erik..." the still broken voice Charle continued, "Thank you..."
"Sshh Charles, I told you no thanks are needed between us."
"Yeah..." Erik felt Charles relax against him again.
"Sleep, meine Liebster."
Much later, Erik was awakened by a gentle brushing sensation on his face. He opened his eyes, found himself facing Charles, who was withdrawing his hand as if he had been caught with his hands in the jam jar. Erik grabbed his hand and placed it back on his own cheek.
"Don't stop Charles..."
He saw Charles' expression ease as he gently stroked his face with feather-like touches, tracing Erik's facial lines with his fingertips.
Their faces were so close that Erik immediately caught sight of Charles gulping as a veil of sadness passed over his face.
"What's wrong?"
"I've lost you so many times already," Charles murmured.
"But I'm still here and so are you. Now we're together."
Erik couldn't resist, he crossed the remaining distance between them and put his lips to Charles'. It was as if everything fell into place in their worlds at that moment.
They remained for a long time, joined in a soft and almost innocent embrace.
Charles moved back and stared at Erik, looking for something in his eyes. He must have found what he was looking for because he smiled. His hand came up to brush a strand of hair from his face.
His lips parted and he pressed them to Erik's again. Erik licked the corner of his mouth and slid his tongue over his bottom lip, then kissed him. Charles quickly opened up to him, welcoming him wordlessly with his lips and hands in his hair. His tongue mimicked the actions of hers, and soon they were drinking from each other's lips, caught up in a thirst that would not seem to be quenched.
Erik slid his hands to Charles' waist, and pulled him as close as he could get. Charles' head fell back with a moan as Erik’s fingers slipped under his shirt and caressed his back. Erik took advantage of his distraction and lowered his head even further to press himself against his neck. He felt the slide of his tongue against his skin, then his teeth biting the same spot. Charles had a slight startle. His hands slid over Erik's shoulders and his fingers dug in. Erik immediately raised his head, worried about his reaction. "Not good?"
"No. Good. Really good," Charles reassured him in a gentle sigh. Erik smiled fondly and returned his attentions to Charles' neck. But Charles groaned and tugged at his hair, pulling Erik toward him so he could take his lips again.
Much later, as they both caught their breath. Lips to lips, forehead to forehead, Charles asked Erik, "I don't know if I was dreaming or not, but before you called me 'mein liebster', 'my dearest' if I am not mistaken."
For the first time since he had known him, Charles saw Erik's cheeks turn slightly pink. However, Erik's voice was perfectly assured as he replied, "You were not dreaming mein Liebster." He punctuated his words with a tender kiss.
"Unless you prefer, mein Schatz, my treasure." Another kiss.
"Or mein Geliebter, my beloved." Another kiss.
It was now Charles's turn to have slightly red cheeks. But he, too, looked Erik squarely in the eye and asked, "Is that really what I am?"
"Yes, my love and much more." Erik emphasized this with another kiss.
"Since when?"
"I'll show you. By looking into my thoughts in the brightest corner of my sensory memory like you did that time, you will find an additional memory beyond the one you found to help me unlock my powers."
Charles began to protest, "No Erik, I don't want to-"
Erik put a finger over his mouth, "Shhh, I'm asking you to."
He took Charles' hand and placed his fingers against his temple, in the familiar gesture he had when he wanted to access someone's thoughts.
Erik, visibly moved, addressed Charles, "What did you just do to me?"
"I accessed the brightest corner of your memory system. It's a very beautiful memory, Erik. Thank you"
"I didn't know I still had that."
Charles put his hand on his shoulder and said with strength and emotion in his voice, "There's so much more to you than you know. Not just pain and anger. There's good to you, I felt it. And when you can access all that, you'll possess a power no one can match. Not even me."
When Charles exited Erik's head, they were both deeply moved by the strength of the emotions of the shared memory.
Erik pressed his forehead against Charles'.
"What you told me that day, that there was good to me, that you felt it. It's a memory as happy as my mother's. It was also that day that I felt the connection between us. That I knew that-"
Erik paused for a moment.
"That you knew what?"
"That I was hopelessly and madly in love with you. I love you Charles. We've fought together, we've clashed, we've been through terrible trials sometimes together, sometimes against each other, but this, what I feel for you has always been my ultimate truth. I love you Charles."
Charles once again gasped, this time at the open adoration he read on Erik's face.
He raised his hand to his face, tracing the outline of it he said, his voice broken, "Despite all the detours I've taken, all the bad decisions you or I have made, every time, when it counted, you were there by my side, that unchanging presence. I can't tell where you start and where I end. I love you Erik, more than my life."
There. That moment. This moment of perfect communion after all they had been through. The fate, the choices, the events that had separated them, brought them together in a spiral that never seemed to end, it was all over. It was time for them to live. It wasn't the end, it was the beginning. This was their story.
___________
Although I am very familiar with X-men - Movie verse, I have never written for this fandom before. After rewatching Dark Phoenix, I'm only holding onto this ending scene. I wanted to write about Erik and Xavier from there. I hope I did them justice.
As Charles had predicted, one bad day was all it took to turn the world against the mutant population. The “Jean Grey incidents” had spawned a tidal wave of new congressional legislation, intended to contain, detain and restrain all mutants deemed remotely dangerous. It almost seemed as if the world had been waiting for an opportunity, or an excuse, to turn against them.
Also, as Charles had warned, Genosha had been hit hard. It was the first to fall. Every occupant of the island had been taken to covert restraining areas supposedly for debriefing against the once again wanted criminal Eric Lensherr, but in reality these were nothing more than internment camps.
And, as Eric had predicted, it was the start of another holocaust … just as of The Jews not so long ago.
The Jean Grey School for the Gifted had not yet been infiltrated, but unless The X Men could find a way to reverse the tide turning against them, it was only a matter of time.
For the last month, their focus had been rescue. Finding the incarcerated mutants, particularly the youngest children, and freeing them. It hadn’t been easy. The governments of the world had developed very good hiding locations.
Their stealth missions had been risky and dangerous, and they were becoming more so. With Scott now leading the team in the field, Charles worried for him more than ever. Since the loss of Jean, he had become a changed man.
He still did what was necessary for the good of the team. But he was much more reckless with himself and his own life, fearlessly putting himself in harm’s way.
It was only a matter of time until he got himself killed.
This mission had gone badly and turned brutal. Several young new mutants: Samuel Guthrie, Roberto DaCosta, Dani Moonstar, Rahne Sinclair and Illyana Rasputin had been discovered being held in a horrific nightmare mental hospital on a secluded stretch of private land.
The hospital turned out to be a cover for an underground stronghold, complete with a small army of heavily armed security personnel. Careful surveillance led to the deduction that the best way to get in and out was through a hidden access tunnel far behind the main installation. Charles quickly felt that the property was covered by a covert dampening field which severely restricted all mutant abilities.
With Peter and Kurt already injured from previous missions, it was left to the rest of the team to rescue The New Mutants from this macabre hospital. Scott and Ororo had infiltrated the hospital, snuck the kids down to the lower levels and were rushing through the last tunnels before the alarms sounded. Now they were in a race for their lives with a militia close behind them.
Nearing the exit to the outer grounds, Scott made a final decision.
“Ororo, take the kids and go. Get out of here,” Scott said firmly. “You’re team leader now.”
“Come on, Scott,” she replied, her accent heavy with emotion.
“No. They’ll catch us if I don’t hold them off. We can’t let them get their hands on these kids again.”
“Scott …”
“You said you had my back, right?” Scott said, turning to face her.
“Yes,” Ororo answered quietly. “I’ve always got your back.”
“Lead the team,” he told her. “Go.”
With only a lingering moment of utmost respect between the two team leaders, Ororo turned away from Scott and ushered the kids up through the tunnel.
“Come on! Come on! Hurry!” she yelled.
Scott followed the group up to a few yards out of the tunnel, enough to clear some distance, then he turned back to face the army of approaching soldiers which would certainly be his death.
‘Scott,’ Charles called inside his mind.
‘Thank you … for everything,’ Scott told him wordlessly. ‘I appreciate it all.’
Inside the cockpit of the jet, Charles slowly lowered his hand from his temple, his eyes brimming with unshed tears for the young man that was the closest to a son he had ever known.
On the field, Scott steadied himself. The first shots rang out, automatic machine gun fire. Diving to his right, Scott opened his visor and released a beam that cut the top of the tunnel. But it didn’t cut fast enough. With the overlying dampening field weakening him, he was only able to make a partial dent. Part of the ceiling collapsed, but after the first line fell, the second wave of commandos were quick to begin digging their way through the debris.
Scott turned to look behind him. Storm and the others were only halfway across the marsh, struggling to navigate the difficult terrain with their injuries. If they could just make it to the jet hiding in stealth mode just over the ridge, Hank would fly them all to safety. But they needed more time.
Scott turned back to the tunnel. The small army of soldiers were at the edge, leveling down on him, preparing to barrage his position. Scott readied his visor.
This was the end ...
Then, the sky lit up ...
A bright light, seemingly a small meteor, suddenly came shooting down from Heaven, making landfall directly over where Scott stood. Uncannily, there was no impact explosion. Instead, white hot blazing fire cascaded outward, flowing over and even through the entire landscape. Miraculously, the tidal wave of fire halted at the edge of the marsh, just behind Ororo and the children. As for the tunnel, the fire surged inside, leaving no stone unturned.
In the epicenter of the blaze, Scott stood transfixed. He looked around warily, amazed that he wasn’t burning to death. Then, he suddenly realized that he wasn’t standing on his feet anymore … he was floating.
In front of him, a figure began to form out of the fire. Full, flowing, feminine … a figure he’d recognize anywhere. He stepped forward. There was fire in her eyes, her hair was fire and fire flowed over her skin like a living breeze. As he watched, more of her form smoothly faded in from the white hot colors around her, appearing the colloquialism of an angel of God.
“Jean …” Scott whispered.
“Scott …” Jean whispered.
“You … You’re alive? How?”
“It was … The Phoenix. I … I tried to stay away, but I couldn’t,” she said. “There was no way I could watch you die. But, I know your place is with The X-Men. And, after the things I’ve done, I knew I could never go back.”
“You said you would always come back to me,” he told her. “Come back to me.”
Before either of them had even realized it, they were in one another’s arms.
“I’ll always come back to you,” she whispered.
Their lips touched … their bodies embraced … their hearts rejoined.
Their time apart had been crushing to both of them. They needed each other more than their next breath. Nothing in the universe would separate them ever again.
They only parted as the sound of the SR-71 Blackbird approaching startled them. As the jet lowered into hover mode, the hatch opened.
“We’ll figure this out together,” Scott said firmly, still holding Jean’s hand to draw her toward the jet as they seemed to be walking on air.
Jean drew back a little, wary, but Scott wouldn’t let go. He held her firmly. After a moment’s hesitation, Jean followed her alpha. Reaching the jet, the fires around them dissipated, and the burning landscape beneath them quickly cooled to a smoking husk.
Everyone in the cockpit stared at her in stunned silence.
“How is this possible, Jean?” Charles asked.
“I … I’ve been learning to control it,” she said quietly. “I would never want to … hurt … anyone again. But, I know, I can never give back … what I took away,” she added, glancing at both Hank and an injured Eric, then turning back to face Charles. “I’ll go.”
“Jean, wait,” said Charles, staring at her intently from the co-pilot’s seat. “Despite what’s happened, this is still your home. And, we need you now more than ever.”
“I shouldn’t be here,” Jean told him. “I don’t deserve it. I …”
“It’s not about what we deserve, Jean,” Eric said quietly but firmly, turning from his seat behind Charles. “It’s about forgiveness. “Charles reminded me … there was One that forgave all of us … Christ … and we should forgive. I shouldn’t have turned you away when you came to me, no matter what you had done.”
“All of us have made mistakes, Jean,” followed Hank. “Some terrible. When we do, we admit that we’re wrong, and we get right. I was wrong about you. Scott was right.”
“Take your seat, Jean,” Charles said quietly.
Stepping forward, Jean slowly sat down in the chair she used for most of their missions. Scott took his seat in the chair behind her.
As the jet roared into motion, Scott reached a hand forward, touching Jean’s shoulder lightly, giving her the comfort of his heart. Leaning back toward him, Jean placed her hand over his own, holding him to her.
Then, both of them gazed forward, knowing that whatever adventures lay ahead, they would face them together …
