「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(288) Golden Boy

Xavier's School, 14th February 2004

Charles' POV

Lynn clung tightly onto my hand, an utterly jittery disposition probably even the blind could not neglect. I clinched hers securely, wrapping an arm around her, and dedicatedly rubbed her back straightened by anxiety too immense.

"Relax, my love. She's going to be just fine," I coaxed sincerely but the unceasing and distressed howls emanating from Jean's room were unfortunately nullifying all my industrious efforts.

"She must be in so much pain," Lynn commented worriedly, cringing at the agonising sounds that tortured her eardrums.

"You don't know that," I consoled, mustering an optimistic tone in hope to bolster her unnerved soul but instead, it triggered something I did not quite anticipate.

"I wish I did," Lynn mumbled, leaning her head dejectedly against my shoulder.

I rested my chin to the top of her skull, spontaneously incapacitated by her sad words. Failing horribly to ignore the inherent disappointment laced in her tone, my mind involuntarily floated back to that dreadful night I coerced her into making one of the most crucial, yet simultaneously cruel, decisions of her life.

My heart shivered, like it had been drowned in a sea of ice, recalling the wretched way she cried. Haunted by the memories of her eager and pleading eyes, I could only hug her in silence, unable to formulate anything that would suffice.

Gradually, the restless fidgeting of her legs discontinued and a layer of white noise progressively penetrated our minds. The thoughts that barged into mine were boisterously shameful, an accurate mirror of the repulsive emotions churning within the chambers of my heart.

Banging from behind those closed doors were overpowering notions of guilt and a colossal amount of disgrace. Attempting desperately to hold them in place, however, my distracted self allowed other things to spill and most undesirably, they rolled down my cheeks as tears.

Charles? Lynn prodded, promptly noticing the first drop that accidentally landed on her hair.

I'm sorry, I conveyed quietly, hastily wiping my face and adamantly avoided her gaze.

Lynn sat herself up anxiously and her worried gape was obvious even when I could not actually see her face. Again denied a view of me despite continuously tugging on my elbow and strenuously craning her neck around, Lynn shakily lifted her compromised arm, tenderly cupping my face in her hand.

"What?" Lynn blurted, staring bewilderedly at her moist palm.

I'm sorry I took away your chance of ever becoming a mother, I admitted with ultimate remorse, reluctantly shifting my watery eyes to her, only to witness her jaw drop in horror.

Her face was plagued with unadulterated dismay, almost reminiscent to the moment I made her the abominable announcement. Regardless that three decades had past, she was still clearly disturbed by the awful confession, and when her brain finally processed to react, it only spiraled into an expression dominated by dishonor.

Oh, my dear... Lynn sputtered in an upset tone, gently caressing my face.

I... I didn't mean it that way... I never blamed you, Charles... I promise... I... Lynn frantically asserted and despite her unusual stammering that resulted from her largely flustered mind infinitely keen to appease mine, it was evident from her faithful eyes that she only spoke the truth.

I know you don't. And I swear, I haven't thought about it in a long time, but... I confided sheepishly, pathetically hesitant to share my hurt with her, but just as I was about to break out of the dilemma and be honest, my head unexpectedly throbbed.

The inexplicable twinge, erupting like an aberrant spasm, palpitated just once but the discomfort it brought was whopping and prominent. Instinctively pressing her skull against mine, Lynn gritted her teeth, aiding to muffle her excruciated grunt that was further masked under Jean's undying screams.

Was that her? Lynn enquired innocently, seemingly unaware that we were the only ones affected, and I merely cradled her head as I carefully stroked it, unable to present her any definite answer.

Suddenly, a piercing sensation stabbed our minds, accompanying the powerful screech that completely shattered the night. The unprecedented intensity of Jean's yelp was perhaps comparable to the legendarily unbearable level of suffering brought about by labor and the correspondingly harrowing psychic feedback tormented not just the ones concernedly gathered outside Jean's private abode but the entire mansion without exception.

Violent brainwaves brutally clobbered everyone who resided in the premises and amidst the torrents of vexatious clamor, it was certainly Lynn's unsettled discomposure that rang the loudest. Thoroughly ached by the sight, I quickly erected a telepathic shield around Lynn, tediously extending it around the house, and decisively absorbed the biting signals reflected from Jean's mind.

Gladdened by the apparent recovery of everyone, I determinedly persisted to endure the heightened mental battering myself but Lynn grabbed my hand in a fretful manner, conscientiously recognizing I could not tolerate the taxing battle much longer. Thankfully, Jean's arduous shouts soon faded, as with the tribulation she unintentionally imposed, and replaced by the wondrous sound of a baby's wail.

Tiredly buckling, my body slumped forwards and Lynn hurriedly steadied me as she surrounded my torso in her warm embrace. She looked at me, tremendously troubled, as my heavy eyelids strained to stay open and I took her hand into my weak grasp, smiling at her with almost all my strength.

"Do you hear that, Lynn? It's amazing," I remarked faintly and Lynn automatically peered towards the door that all the youngsters literally had their ears on.

Radiating from the inquisitive adults was pure excitement that quickly spread to Lynn and her perturbed expression eventually melted into a contented smile, one beaming so bright it could even outshine the invigorating melody of life.

"It truly is," Lynn concurred in a mesmerized tone, yet the untainted quality of her genuine grin slit my heart as distinctly as a clean cut, and I gripped her waist solidly, burying my face into the crook of her neck.

"I'm really sorry to have deprived you from personally experiencing all of this," I whispered, just audible enough for her, and she flipped her head back, looking at me with an compassionate stare.

"Please, don't say that. Both of us agreed," Lynn persuaded, gazing into my eyes graciously.

"But I never realized I was robbing you of this much joy," I admitted dolefully.

"That's nonsense, my dear," she refuted in a positive tone.

"You, Charles Xavier, are the greatest source of my joy," she reiterated, smiling confidently, as she lightly skimmed her fingers over my bald skull.

"And I really don't need anything else besides my golden boy," Lynn stressed lovingly, pecking a sweet kiss to my temple, when the doors concealing Jean's dorm finally clicked open.

The gang of edgy adults pacing back and forth outside Jean's room anxiously swamped towards the gynae once she stepped out of the door she quickly closed behind her. Emerging tiredly, the tall lady clad under baggy scrubs merely smiled as she whipped off her helmet, specially designed to withstand telepathic abuse, and happily fluffed her luscious red mane with an exhausted laugh.

"It's a girl," she gladly announced.