The Xavier House

Getting the Ball Rolling

"Hi Moira it's Charles here."

"Oh hey Charles I'm glad you called, I've been meaning to pop round again soon."

"Yes your annual visit, I haven't forgotten."  

"Um no actually I was coming to see you about a different reason."

"Well you can tell me now if you like, but I do need to speak to you about something."

"It's fine, I'll come round sometime next week, how's that?"

"Sure that's fine, any-when after three thirty, yes?"

"That's fine I know what time you get back. Now what was it you wanted to discuss?"

"It's about Erik. I know you're aware that we've been together for a long while now..."

"Hang on Charles, he hasn't done anything has he?"

"No, no of course not he would never do anything like that Moira I thought you knew that."

"Yes of course I'm sorry Charles, continue with what you were saying, please."

"Well Erik and I have been thinking recently that maybe it might be time for him to move into the house permanently. He spends the majority of his time here anyway."

"Charles, have you talked to the kids about Erik moving in?"

"Yes we had a bit of a discussion about the possibility this morning, we wanted to ask what they thought before we brought it up with you."

"Well first of all before we even think about this we have to make sure that everyone in the house wants him there. Even if one child is uncomfortable, Erik cannot move in."

"We discussed all this, everyone wants him there and a few have even wondered why he isn't living with us already."

"Right well, if the kids are sure, if Erik's sure and if you're sure I can get you an appointment with Logan."

"Right, thank you Moira that's all I wanted."

"That's okay Charles. I'll have a meeting with Logan and then I'll tell you the outcome when I come round to see you and the kids next week. If he says he'll consider it then you and Erik will have to come in here and have another meeting with him to discuss everything, I trust you know the procedure involved?"

"Yeah I know and that should be fine, anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"Nope everything can wait until next week, I'll see you then Charles."

"Right, bye then Moira."

"Bye"

Once Charles had put the phone down he leant back in his chair and sighed. He knew this would be a long process but it was made a bit shorter by the fact that a few years ago Erik went through the required training and got qualifications he needed in order to be a foster carer. Though Charles knew that Logan would not rush this, the children's safety and happiness were his top priority.

He figured he couldn't sit there all day and think, somebody had to make lunch for when everyone came back. Erik had volunteered that morning to take Alex, Scott and Pietro to the park so that Charles could stay home and sort out a few things, including calling Moira to see if Erik moving in would be possible. The twins had been very pleased with Erik's decision as it meant that they could play football with him. Charles couldn't play football as well as Erik could, or that's what they frequently told him.

He made his way to the kitchen and found Wanda sat at the dining table with three textbooks laid out in front of her.

"Studying hard love?" Charles asked as he flicked the kettle on for some tea. Wanda hummed before looking up from her book,

"Yeah, history's been a nightmare this year." She said before looking down again.

"I thought you liked history?" Charles said as he sat down next to her. He glanced at the first book and noticed it was on German history, he wouldn't have a clue if she needed help.

"Well I do enjoy it, it's just that it's a lot more difficult than it was last year. I can't understand any of this on Stresemann." She complained, she got up to get some lemonade that Erik had made from the fridge.

"Well I'm afraid my dear that German history isn't really my forte. When Erik gets back ask him, he'll definitely know." Charles got back up to sort out his tea while Wanda started to scribble notes from another one of the textbooks.

Charles sat there in the kitchen drinking his tea while Wanda worked. After a while it was clear that she was getting fed up and she finally gave up on everything after twenty minutes. She turned to Charles,

"So did you speak to Moira?" She asked as she was packing books and pens away.

"Yes I gave her a call a little while ago. She said she'd talk to Logan about Erik and she'd tell us any news when she comes for her visit next week." He replied, then he suddenly thought of something, "You do want Erik to live with us full time, don't you? Because it'll be okay if you don't." Now that it was just the two of them he thought that the teenager might open up a bit more.

"Of course I do, I was telling the truth at breakfast you know. He's been around for so long that some of us don't know what its like when he isn't here. I'm telling you, there is not one person in this house who doesn't want Erik here." Charles looked at his second eldest charge and felt a wave of pride. She was growing into such a loyal and wonderful young woman.

"Well we need to make sure, Moira says that everybody has to be comfortable with Erik being here. And I know that if Logan does look into what we've asked he'll want to triple check that fact." Charles explained, he would tell the same to the rest of the children and Erik at dinner tonight, but first he had to figure out lunch.

"Now I've got to see what we can do for lunch, is there anything in particular that you wanted?" Wanda said that she didn't mind and then she went upstairs to put away all her school things.
Charles decided just to make an assortment of sandwiches for when the others got back.