X-Men: The Gifted Ones

19. XAVIER MANSION, WEST CHESTER, NY

Charles was ecstatic and felt as if he was in a dream. Jane had married him. He was still in shock as the Justice of the Peace told him he could kiss his bride and they left the courthouse together as husband and wife. It had been a simple ceremony. There were no guests, yet he did not feel as if they had eloped. Quite the opposite. He felt it kept the focus on the two of them, of the promise they had made to each other. Jane didn't mind. She had told him she was never one to have a large wedding, she didn't wish to spend the time or the money on one. Charles had secured the blessings of her parents and she had told them they could always visit and celebrate then. He thought about how beautiful she looked in her dress. She wore a simple short white sheath dress that she had made herself (Charles wondered if her talents ever ceased), black pumps, and carried a small bouquet of roses from the gardens. She had insisted on the roses. They were from the same bush where they had shared their first kiss. Her dress went well with his grey suit.

He couldn't stop smiling. They were both giddy from excitement. He wondered when the last time was that he had ever let his guard down and laughed so cheerfully, without a care in the world. He felt intoxicated with glee. Even though he could push his chair himself, Jane had insisted on doing it for him. The elated feeling continued when they returned home and he opened the front door laughing.

He opened the door and stopped, motioning to his lap. "Well, Mrs. Xavier, may I carry you over the threshold to our home?"

Jane laughed and sat down, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Mr. Xavier!"

"Welcome home, my dear," Charles smiled as he wheeled them into the house.

"Thank you, my darling!" she beamed as she glanced at the foyer, looked along the halls, and contemplated the sound of resonating silence permeating the air. She sighed and stood up, "Oh, can't you imagine the sounds when we fill these halls with the laughter of children?"

He could only laugh, "Only married for two hours and you imagine filling our home with the pitter-patter of little feet!"

She put her hands on her hips and pretended to scowl.

He could only laugh, "Numerous little feet!"

"Just imagining our home and children being safe, that's all," she replied, tousling his hair.

"Even as a bride, you're still an angel, thinking of others."

"I can't help it, I'm a nurse. Just because I'm not in a hospital doesn't mean I stop being a nurse!"

"Care if I distract you for a bit?" he teased, his eyes twinkling. "It is, after all, our wedding day!"

She blushed as she took Charles' hand and he led her to his, now their, bedroom. Jane trembled in excitement as they entered the room. She remembered the last time she had been in here, the circumstances were far different. There were no boundaries now. There were no longer any doubts. The days of chaste kisses on the forehead were over.

She relished every single touch, every new experience. She never knew such passion could exist in her world. She tried not to be timid as they undressed. While she had seen many naked men over the course of her duties as a nurse, no man had ever seen her undressed, and she had never undressed any man in a romantic sense. She hoped her shyness wouldn't be interpreted wrong by Charles. He seemed to take it in stride and even enjoy it.

"You're my wife now," he would whisper to her, his voice teasing. Charles wondered why he kept his guard up so long. Ever since his injury he felt he had lived almost asexually. He had thought his days of being a full man were over. Jane was proving him wrong at every moment. He realized he could still feel love, feel lust, and he was still worthy to be loved by someone.

It still bothered him he couldn't complete the physical act, even undressed, even in bed with a beautiful woman he had married. Doctors had said there was a slight chance a reflexive action could take place, but nothing happened. She didn't seem to mind, she was clearly enjoying their time in their bed, but he felt as if he had let her down because he couldn't fully make love to her. He looked at her. "Are you sure I'm enough?"

Jane looked at him and kissed him. She pulled her to him. "I've told you, you're all I need."

"I wish..."

She put a finger on his lip. "Charles, I told you. I want your heart, I love your mind. I have those, I have everything."

"You are sure..."

She took his hand and placed it on her temple, "Come in, Charles. I want you to."

He gazed at her, stunned, realizing what she was requesting, the implications of it, realizing that, because of his gift, they could achieve an intimacy no couple ever could. He grasped the level of trust that Jane placed in him, allowing him to enter her mind, her thoughts, and touching her in a way no other man ever could. Physical intimacy was one thing, but this was a level of intimacy that would bring them closer than any physical act. He smiled and kissed his wife passionately, filling her mind with fantasies of lovemaking through the night, not even stopping when the sun began to rise and fill the room with light. He never thought such happiness was possible. She had shown him what he was capable of, and he didn't disappoint her. He would never feel insecure about himself and his abilities to please his wife again.

Jane was right: He would be enough for her.