Memories

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Remember, they have to have dinner by 6:30. The casserole is in the fridge, and you just have to put it in the oven for thirty minutes at 450 degrees so it will be ready to be eaten. Have them in bed by 7:30. Don't let them convince you to let them stay up any later. No TV after 5 o'clock, either. Make sure they go outside at some point, as well," Charles instructed the three oldest children he was a leaving at home, praying this wasn't a terrible idea.

The casserole had been made by Erik earlier in the day for this, so everything would be ready for the children and they would get an actual meal. Charles would have, but he's rubbish at cooking. No, that was Erik's strong-suit.

"Calm down, Charles. They know what to do," Erik said soothingly, almost teasing. He found it amusing how structured Charles made the children's lives. Charles was an adorable mother hen.

Raven was getting flashbacks to her own childhood- Charles had given her young life the exact same structure as he was giving these new children. She might have found it amusing, too, if she didn't know that he gave them that structure because he'd never received the same structure.

"I know," Ororo mumbled, blushing. It was the third time Charles was telling Ororo, Scott, and Jean what to do.

"If you need anything, just reach out to me or use the phone. I'll have my cell on me," Charles reminded them, horrible thoughts running through his head if he let his babies stay home alone. He'd gotten himself one of those mobile telephones not too long ago- they'd cost a lot of money and were bulky as hell, but might be useful if the children needed him. They could call him on the house phone, and he'd be able to answer.

The three nodded dutifully, not muttering a word about how Charles was repeating himself. Charles quickly hugged all of his children, Erik watching. Kitty, Wanda, Pietro, Bobby, Jean, and Ororo all came over and hugged Erik; Erik, not sure what to do, awkwardly hugged the children back.

Marie came over, standing before him, shuffling her feet as she stared down at them as if she would develop a secondary mutation that might make her feet disappear. Erik slowly moved a step forward, enclosing his arms around her and hugged her tightly. She hugged him back, burying her face in his stomach, not worried about touching his skin due to his suit.

Scott came up next, standing in front of him stiffly, his back ramrod straight and his arms at his side like a little soldier. Erik didn't like the look on a boy so young. Scott hadn't even reached the age he had when Shaw took everything away from him. Erik wrapped his arms around the boy, startling Scott. Scott warily hugged back, soon clutching the man his brother hated, but Scott had come to admire.

When they'd all hugged, Alex hugging Scott tightly while all the others shared hugs, Marie hugging only Logan and Mystique, the team left on the jet, racing away from Charles's childhood home and the prison of his memories.

Emma and Charles could feel all of their worries and fears, every single emotion that passed through their teammates, their family, but they tried their best to stay out. Some were thinking as if this was their last day on earth, going through everything they regretted or their favorite moments in life. Others were praying to a God they weren't sure they believed in. Others just wanted to finish the mission and rush back home.

Charles and Emma shared a glance that said exactly the same thing: wouldn't it be great if everyone didn't think so loudly?