We're finally here! At the end of this journey...so to speak. For those who missed it. Last week (when I did not update this fic) I posted the first chapter of "Amity" which is a companion to "Hope". It begins with Charles's account of what happened with Cuba and will continue from there, each chapter either in his, or Erik's point of view.

Still, this is the last chapter of this fic. It's been a great pleasure writing it, hope you've enjoyed reading it. Here we go! The Finale!

Part Five. No Goodbyes

I almost expected to be interrogated and then have my mind wiped the moment we set foot back on the manor. Instead I end up getting a week long reprieve.

It is Azazel who gets us back to the mansion, he and the others are going to give it a try, at being part of our group, before deciding if they'd rather stay permanently or leave. Charles wants so much for it to work, so Raven and I try to set an example by renewing our friendship with Angel, and then try to make the others feel included as well. Azazel seems especially flabbergasted by the fact that a human would accept someone who, for all intents and purposes looks like a devil, to which I reply that I have seen actual devils who looked like humans (never actually clarified on that point, but he doesn't seem to need me to).

Tensions run high for the first few days, but eventually we all begin falling into a pattern. Well, all except for me. Unlike what happened during training week, the one after Cuba I barely spend time in the mansion at all. It is exhausting to leave every morning early to drive around at least half an hour, make sure I always arrive to HQs from a different spot, and then do the same in the evenings after I leave, to make sure no one will be able to follow me to Westchester.

During that week I make sure to erase any and all information that may have survived Shaw's attack on the Compound. I can't actually make anyone forget they know mutants exist, that knowledge will, regretfully, stay with them; but I can make sure they have no way of tracking Charles, Erik, or anyone else.

On the seventh day I go to Erik and Charles, both of whom seem quite surprised to see me.

"You've been very busy this week Moira." Erik comments, a mix of curiosity and doubt in his voice. "Mind telling us what you've been doing?"

"Why don't you see for yourself?" I offer.

I call them to a small study Charles allowed me to use, a couple of doors down from my own room. There, in a corner, sit all the boxes full of records, originals, copies, even notes, tapes, pictures, etc. Everything I could find related to mutants is there. As well as a few other things on CIA members, for safety reasons.

"What is the meaning of this?" Charles asks, obviously surprised by what he is seeing.

"I know my status as Agent may still make you uncomfortable, but trust me when I say I'm doing everything in my power to make sure you will all be safe, or as safe as you can possibly be." I state with complete honesty.

"You're honestly giving us…giving me, this?" He asks.

I don't need to ask what he's talking about, I recognize the files I put there: copies of the official files of everyone who I know had a say since the 'mutants' got involved with the CIA.

"I actually had some doubts about adding that." I admit. "But if things truly get as bad as your paranoia says they might…you might need that kind of information to protect yourselves."

"Is this really…did you really erase all record of us?" Charles asks, surprised.

"Yes." I answer. "If anyone has personal records at their homes…well, that I can do nothing about. Just like I cannot make them forget what they already know, records or not. Also…I added something else there. I imagine you will want to spring Frost out sooner rather than later?"

Yet again eyebrows are raised.

"I don't like her, that's a given." I state. "But personal feelings aside, she's more of a threat where she is than with you. I imagine with Azazel's help you can go, get her, and get out with no one being none the wiser before it's too late to do anything about it."

"What happens when they begin suspecting you have something to do with this?" Charles asked. "You'll be seen as a traitor!"

"I won't be staying with the CIA after tomorrow." I confide in him. "After what happened in Cuba…I just do not trust them anymore. I still believe the same things I did when I joined the Agency; I just do not think anymore that they truly want the peace they preach about."

"What will they do to you if you're found out?" Charles insists.

"Do not worry about me Charles, you already have more than enough to worry about, what with your school, the children here, the children who will be coming, Erik…" I giggle slightly.

The secret, if it ever was one, was out the very morning after our mission to Cuba, when we all went to breakfast still half-asleep, only to be abruptly woken by the sight of Erik and Charles playing out the most domestic scene I could have ever imagined. There had been nothing sexual about it, just a depth to the looks they directed at each other, to the ease with which they moved around each other as they arranged breakfast for all of us; it had shown all the younger mutants what I had known that night, the first I had spent in Westchester: that Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr were made for each other.

"We agreed you would be telling me the truth after Cuba…" Charles declares suddenly.

I do a double-take, I have been preparing so hard for the end…rushing to do in a week all that I had taken a month to do the first time around, and even more. I knew all along that the day would come when I would have to leave it, leave them all behind; yet I completely forgot my promise to Charles of explaining him what he saw in my mind in Cuba…and really, if there could have ever been a worse moment for such truths to have come out, incomplete as they ended up being!

"Look, Charles…" I begin, not quite knowing how to explain the feeling I'm getting right now.

"You promised." He reminds me, eyes narrowing.

"I know, I know, and before you begin to consider tearing into my mind to find out what it is I'm hiding, just hear me out please." I try to convince him to give me a little more time.

It's obvious Erik knows at least a part of it already, otherwise he would have attacked me the moment I talked about hiding something, especially hiding something from Charles, he's just overprotective like that…

I begin talking, and as I do I begin showing him brief flashes of the memories I've kept hidden until now, nothing too telling, and certainly nothing about him, or Erik, basically the last few days of my other life, though with no sound, so he can focus on my voice:

"My name is Moira MacTaggert, former CIA Agent, Doctor in Biochemistry and Genetics and recently redrafted into the CIA…" I state almost in a monotone. "Whether you may believe it or not, I'm actually seventy-seven years old, I came from the future."

"It's impossible." Erik states right away.

"Really?" I tease with a smirk. "As impossible as one man pulling a submarine out of the ocean with nothing but his will, or another erasing a week's worth of memories from one mind, or children doing things like flying, firing plasma rings, screaming at frequencies capable of shattering glass? Yep, time travel is impossible indeed."

"Why did you come back?" Charles focuses in the important part.

"I'm afraid the answer to that question is not one you will want to believe Charles." I tell him softly, knowing how much pain my answer is going to bring to him.

"Tell me." He insists.

"Ten years ago, in my time, war broke out." I state, projecting quick scenes, making sure I do not show him anyone he knows right now. "It began with the creation of the 'Cure', an actual 'cure' for mutants, which I'm regretful to admit I had a part in."

"I thought you claimed to accept us." Erik hisses bitterly.

"I do, but at that point in time I didn't know everything I should have." I try to explain. "Most of the mutants I had come in contact with saw their mutations as curses, or sicknesses."

"It's part of who we are!" Erik yells.

"I know!" I cannot help but yell back. "But what do you want me to tell a young girl who only wants to be able to touch someone again, after she has spent the last number of years having to keep all of her body constantly covered, because her mutation consists on absorbing the energy and power of anyone she touches, human or mutant? What should I tell a boy who has gills, like a merman, and as such cannot ever be out of the water, cannot be a part of society?"

I begin crying, remembering the very people who had those mutations: Marie, Joshua, I knew them, they were dear friends; now they're gone. I'm back to a point in time when they haven't even been born yet and I don't know if they ever will be, I do not know how much the changes I've pushed into place may affect the possibilities of them existing.

"So the 'Cure' was created, and some took it, yes?" Charles chose to move on, rather than think too much about what I was feeling right then.

"Yes. But there was a group…they saw the existence of the 'Cure' as the ultimate action against them, and those who may want it, as traitors to their own race." I go on, not wanting to give out too much. "War broke out. And in the following ten years it only kept getting progressively worse. The 'Cure' was used as a weapon, rather than just a way to help, until it was discovered that its effects weren't exactly permanent, at least not with mutants of high class; they began regaining their powers after a while, and then developed resistance to the drug."

Erik nods, he likes that part at least.

"You were hit with the 'Cure' during the first battle of the war." I tell him right then. "Began recovering your powers right as the craziness of that first battle began dying out, shortly before the war truly began. You were the second person I knew who recovered their powers after having been 'cured', and the definite proof that it wasn't as permanent as it was supposed to be."

"What about Charles?" Erik asks gruffly.

The metal-kinetic, while a bit put out knowing something like that could happen to him, and in a way already had, doesn't fail to notice that I have yet to talk about Charles and what became of him in that awful future when his dream prove to be quite impossible.

"Charles…you…you were dead. You died before the war actually broke out." I admit after what seems like forever.

"Killed?!" Erik practically screams in denial. "By whom?"

"An out of control telekinetic." I'm unwilling to say too much. "It wasn't her fault, not really. She was so powerful…from what I know, you sealed a part of her power when she was young; she did not know; she wasn't prepared when that part of her was unleashed when in danger…it took her over." My voice breaks a little. "I do not know more than that. Only one person bore witness to the tragedy, and he never said a word about what happened…"

I know I do not need to say anymore concerning that, they know perfectly well who it was that bore witness; however, there are some things they still do not understand…

"There's no way Charles could die without me doing something to stop it. Without even dying to stop it if it were necessary." Erik states with raw passion and honesty.

Charles reflexively moves to embrace his lover, quite obviously in denial about the mere idea of Erik dying, I know, I can see it; and I suddenly understand something else: the look in Magneto's eyes the day he went to the mansion to pay his respects…it was the same look: the same denial, coupled with the despair of a love that was never allowed to flourish.

"Things between you…they weren't quite what they are now, in the time I came from." I admit.

That leaves Erik in shocked silence, while Charles just nods his head, he'd obviously seen it coming, at least to a point.

"Erik left me, didn't he?" He asks quietly.

I can just nod.

"What?!" Erik screams his refusal at the mere possibility. "No! Never! I would never…" he spins Charles in his arms, holding his face. "How can you even believe I would ever…"

"I saw some things in Moira's mind that day, in Cuba." Charles explains quietly, turning to look at me. "They were just flashes, but I got the gist of it. I saw myself screaming in the wreckage of the blackbird, screaming at Erik not to do something; knowing what I know now of what went on with Shaw…I have an idea of how things went down the first time around."

When he refuses to say more Erik turns to me, his eyes demanding answers I cannot give.

"I actually do not know what happened, exactly." I admit. "I remember Charles screaming at you, telling you not to do something, then he screamed…oh Lord, that scream…then when you came out of the sub you were wearing that helmet."

Erik actually freezes at that, apparently beginning to understand.

"The other part I saw, I'm not exactly sure what it means." Charles admits. "I saw a flash of me falling, hurt, and you were screaming about not making the same mistake…"

I actually begin to cry at that, I had been so shocked at what I'd almost done in that moment, I didn't even register when that flash of memory slipped through my shields.

"Don't make me say it…" I whisper in a hoarse voice. "Please don't make me say it."

"Just tell me, how permanent was the damage?" He insists.

"Pretty permanent." I admit.

I flash him a scene of himself in the wheelchair, the last memory I have of him before he erased my memory back in that timeline. I just cannot bring myself to say it out loud.

"I see." Charles just nods.

"What did you see?" Erik demands.

"It doesn't matter." Charles replies simply. "It is the past. What matters is that it did not happen." He turns to me. "I imagine Erik chose to leave after that?"

"I…I…you couldn't conciliate your differences." I admit. "You believed too much in the good of humanity, Erik in the bad." I turn to the metal-kinetic with a nod. "Neither of you were willing to give in and compromise; and I think the tensions of what happened to Shaw and…everything else didn't help matters any. In the end, we split in two groups."

"Raven left too." Charles nods, not needing me to say a word.

"To be fair, I think your over protectiveness might have been misinterpreted by her." I try to salvage some of it. "She thinks that you do not want her in her natural form because you do not find her beautiful like that. In the end, she's a teenager, she has doubts and needs to know it's alright to have them, and that there are people who can help her grow."

"For so long I focused on protecting her: from our stepfather, from our stepbrother, then from the rest of the world…at some point I forgot I also needed to help her grow up." Charles admits with a depressed sigh.

"Look at it this way Charles." I tell him, trying to cheer him up. "She's still here, she loves you, and that's something I'm quite sure she never stopped doing, regardless of everything that happened in the future…the other future. You now have the chance of making things better between the two of you. What I saw then…it doesn't have to happen, ever." I sigh. "And that's the point I was trying to make. I know I promised you the truth, to tell you, and even show you if you wanted. But now, I don't think you should. Things are so different now…you shouldn't torture yourself with might-have-beens. The good, and especially the bad, those things are all gone now. You have a chance for another future, what I honestly believe will be a brighter future than the one I've lived through already." I smile melancholically. "I believe you and Erik together can achieve so much more than you ever did apart."

It takes several moments, but eventually he nods, and I smile, knowing I've convinced him. Now I won't have to torture him with things that will never be, neither the good, nor the bad. He and Erik both together will get the chance to write their own history, the way it should be, the way it was meant to be all along…

"Well, I guess this is it then." I say with a sigh and a sad smile. "The end has come…"

Yes it has, and what a bittersweet end it is, for I have achieved so much, and yet any minute now it will all be lost to me…however, I know this is how it's supposed to be, and I accept it. If it's the only way for all of them to be alright, to be safe, I'm willing to sacrifice myself, to give up all the wonderful memories I've made in the last months…

"The end?" Erik doesn't seem to like the sound of that.

"Yes, I've noticed several times now you've made reference to something like that." Charles agrees. "In the way you talk about protecting us, making us safe…a week ago we were all one team, now it would see we're not."

"It's just something I've known all along is coming." I tell him with a sad smile.

"That I'm going to wipe your mind." Charles finishes for her.

"Another erasing a week's worth of memories from one mind…" Erik quotes, understanding filling his expression. "You were talking from personal experience."

I do not know how to put it into words, so I end up projecting the memory into Charles's mind:

"Moira, for us anonymity will be the first line of defense." Charles is saying.

"I know." I try to make him realize that I am not naïve, I understand the risks. "They can threaten me all they want, Charles. I'll never tell them where you are. Ever!"

"I know you won't." He nods, a somewhat sad smile on his face. "I know."

When he moves to kiss me I think nothing of it, I'm attracted to him, have been almost from the day we met. And yet, when we finally kiss, it seems somewhat bittersweet…I do not actually get the chance to ponder on that, as that idea, along with everything else, is abruptly lost in a blank void in my mind…

"I am sorry." Charles whispers, closing his eyes in regret.

"It's alright." I assure him, trying to smile bravely at him.

I remember something else then, a line of thought I had recently, and project it into his mind as best I can…

Charles, if you happen to read my memories before you wipe my mind this time around, it's okay, I know why you're doing this, and I'm alright with it.

So I will enjoy my time this week with my dear friends, my second family…and then I will let go.

Charles raises his head then, a mix of surprise and awe in his expression.

"You would really do it, you would give up all those memories you cherish so much right now, your friendship with Raven, with all of us, to protect us?" He asks softly.

Erik's eyes widen, he's obviously not been made aware of my memories, but still, he gets the gist of it; and it's obvious he wasn't expecting it.

"Yes, I'm willing." I nod confidently. "It's alright Charles. I may not have understood the first time around. But now I do. You need to keep you, all of you safe, and I am a liability. At least there's the hope we'll meet again. I have all the intention of becoming a doctor this time around too. And since I did that before I know I won't forget. At least that way we'll get the chance to meet again someday. Even if I do not know we used to be friends." I try to play coy as I add. "Though, I really do think we could forego the kiss this time."

Erik's eyes widen even more and he practically splutters, I chuckle in mirth, though I do try to cover it up as best I can; it will be a pity to have to forget the sight of Erik Lehnsherr all flustered… but oh well, that's the way it has to be.

Charles moves his hand to touch my face and it looks like he might say something, but then I begin to feel light-headed, my sight is fading ever so slowly and I smile…so this is how it will go this time around…it's alright, I knew it was coming, and at least I can hope I…we all, will have a better life this time. We've all gotten a second chance, and that makes everything worth it… Goodbye my friends, my family…

xXx

As I move through the day…I almost feel like I am dreaming. Like it's all not quite real…I'm called to an official debriefing with Director McCone and a few others, mostly the same ones who were present when I introduced the Xaviers to the CIA. I can hear myself talking, though I'm not fully conscious of what it is I'm saying, like I'm doing it all in automatic…

"I remember the attack on HQs…" I am saying. "Leaving to go somewhere else…and then this morning…I woke up at home. And that's it."

"All that time wiped clean from your mind. Just gone." Director McCone seems more shocked than disbelieving. "He can do that? You don't remember anything?"

"Sometimes I get fragments." I murmur, still not fully in control of what I'm saying, like I'm following some kind of script, or a déjà vu. "Like...trees, sunlight…a kiss…"

A kiss…? Why did I just say that? There was no kiss was there? No…there wasn't. There couldn't have been a kiss because Charles is in love with Erik…and where did that even come from? How do I still know anything?

"Oh, Jesus!" The Director exclaims right then. "Gentlemen, this is exactly why the CIA is no place for a woman!"

I roll my eyes, as if I hadn't heard him, and pretty much everyone else, say similar things before; almost every day in fact.

Suddenly a loud alarm begins echoing all around, and a part of me knows what is happening before Agent Stryker even begins yelling questions into the phone. They've gotten Frost out… or at least, they've finally found out that they got Frost out.

Most of the men leave the room in a hurry, I honestly have no idea what for, it's not like they have a snowball's chance in hell of getting Frost back, or stopping whoever came to get here, in the unlikely case that they actually caught them leaving…

"MacTaggert."

It takes my name being said to realize that Director McCone is still in the room, looking at me.

"Yes sir?" I ask respectfully.

"Are you completely sure that you do not remember anything after the attack on HQs?" He asks.

"Absolutely sir." I reply instantly. "I…I think it might actually go back further than that. The memories of the summer are blurry. I remember the time I spent in the office, and some nights at my apartment, but not much of what I did the rest of the time, other than I was with them…I suppose, if it truly was one of them who did this to me, they just didn't want to take any chances that their safety might be compromised…"

"What about our safety?" McCone grumbles.

"Sir?" I'm not quite sure I like where this is going.

"People who can read minds, who can make themselves look like anyone they've seen, who can lift submarines from the ocean and disable every weapon created by man…" McCone enlists with growing tension. "What are we supposed to do if they decide to turn against us? How are we humans supposed to protect ourselves?"

"Sir, with all due respect, you turned against them first." I cannot help but say.

"What?" That actually seems to take him by surprised.

"In Cuba sir." I clarify.

"I thought you did not remember."

"I don't. But I read the reports filed by the Fleet Commanders before the meeting. The missiles that were fired at the beach… according to what I read, the beach was supposed to be secure by that point? Why fire then?"

"We had no confirmation that the threat had truly been neutralized."

"Did I not confirm it?"

"You did. We had no way of knowing if you had been compromised."

"If I…but only C…Mr. Xavier would have been capable of that, right? Wasn't he on our side?"

"Sides are relative MacTaggert. They are not human, we cannot hope for them to be with us. Especially not considering what Lehnsherr did with those missiles…he was supposed to be on our side too."

"But the missiles didn't kill anyone, did they?"

"No, thankfully they exploded before they hit any of the ships. Still, the unmistakable truth is that we cannot grow complacent, next time we might not be as lucky."

"Well, I still think that as long as we aren't the ones to throw the first punch, so to speak, we shouldn't have anything to worry about."

"You…you let us make these decisions, alright?"

And there he goes again, discriminating me because I am a woman…I am so happy I won't be staying around for much longer.

"In any case, I hope you realize that even if not exactly your fault, you're going to be getting an official reprimand for the way all this turned out." My superior goes on.

"But it's not my fault my memories were erased!" I cannot help the whining, really, why should I be punished for something not my fault?

"I'm sorry MacTaggert, there's nothing I can do about it, my hands are tied."

Yeah…sure…his hands may be tied, but mine certainly aren't. I consider going into a rant about discrimination, genders and feminism, but in the end I just do not see the point, it's not like my words are going to change anything. And considering the delicate position I'm already in I cannot risk going into a rant and ending up saying things I shouldn't. I'm already lucky enough that my last complaint didn't ruin everything. Erik would kill me…

"It's quite alright sir." I say out-loud, before handing him a sheet of paper.

"What is this?" He asked, not even reading it.

"My resignation sir." I answer promptly.

"Your what?" He certainly didn't see that one coming.

"I came to the CIA to help our country sir, not to be a glorified secretary, which I know is pretty much what will be happening after that meeting I was just in. I am not interested."

"MacTaggert, do you realize what you're doing?"

"Yes sir, I'm taking charge of my life." I actually smile. "I always knew it wouldn't be easy, being a woman in the CIA. But after this…it's going to be next to impossible! Maybe someone else will come, one day, prove to you that women can, in fact, be good Agents. I just don't care for it right now."

"What will you do then?"

"I don't know. Probably go back to school. I seem to have gained a certain interest in medicine recently…who knows? Maybe I'll end up doing something better of my life than I ever could have here at the CIA." I shake my head. "In any case sir, we both know I have more hope of making a life anywhere but the CIA right now."

He nods, he cannot deny that. So in the end he doesn't say anything else, just signing my resignation and handing it back to me.

"I will make sure you have the best retirement plan we can offer someone of your status, and a good pay for this last assignment." He assures me. "Regardless of how much we may dislike some of the end details; truth is we would be in a Nuclear War right now if it weren't for you."

"And them." I cannot help but add.

"And them." He nods, though reluctantly.

I say nothing more, it's not necessary really. He's made up his mind, and I've made mine; a line has been drawn in the sand and we're not on the same side. I just hope, if he ever decides to act on his thoughts, that it won't be until the others are ready, and that things won't end up somehow as bad, or worse, than they did the first time around…and what does that mean?

My head is beginning to hurt and I cannot understand my own thoughts. What first time? What things going bad? I'm beginning to sound like a science fiction novel. Ideas like Apocalyptic futures, alternative timelines, second chances? Yeah, right…as if such things are even possible.

xXx

It takes a week for my resignation to be fully official, then I'm able to cash in my last paycheck, it's not enough, but at least I will be able to pay for any tests I need to get back to college and tuition for the first semester. I'll have to see about getting a scholarship, or a part time job, or even a loan, for the rest of it. But it's alright, it's what I want now, and a part of me tells me I'll be happier as a doctor than I ever was as a CIA Agent.

After two more weeks I've sold my apartment and have decided to spend some time in my old home in Philadelphia, at least until I've made arrangements for my return to school and know for sure what I'll be doing about my living arrangements.

I'm quite surprised to receive a Thanksgiving invitation, with an address I know well, better than I expected to; though I'm not sure why exactly. In the end, and since I really have no family or friends to spend this day with, I decide to go. Some instinct insides me makes me leave much earlier than one would expect to be necessary when traveling from Philadelphia to Westchester, only to find myself driving around for at least half the time, making sure no one follows me (something I know in the back of my mind is very important).

When I finally step out of my car, they are waiting for me right outside the door: Charles and Erik; standing there, smiling at me. I'm embracing Charles before I'm fully conscious of it.

"You did not erase my memory…" I whisper as I hug him.

"I did not." He agrees.

"Why?" It's the question that's been bugging me all along.

"Because you're a very dear friend and I didn't want to lose you, didn't want all of us to lose you, if it wasn't absolutely necessary." He explains.

I nod, infinitely happy about it.

"You still told your superiors your memory had been erased." He comments, probably picking it from my mind, either that or someone's been spying on me.

"I did." I nod. "That whole day felt so strange, with me feeling like I shouldn't remember something, yet doing so…and I'm not even sure why I feel like my memory should have been erased! It's the strangest thing!"

"What do you mean you don't remember?"

"Exactly! It's like a part of me is convinced I shouldn't remember any of this, yet I do!"

"I did not erase anything from your mind." He makes a pause before adding. "Actually, you gave us quite a scare when you fainted all of a sudden, right after we finished talking about everything that happened in Cuba…"

"What happened in Cuba…right…" I shake my head, feeling slightly dizzy as I remember that day. "I have no idea what ever made me think I ought to point a gun at a metal-kinetic." I turn to Erik. "Really, I'm sorry about that, I do not know what came over me. It wouldn't have done any good, if anything I might have ended up hurting someone else!" I shudder. "At least I returned to my senses and dropped the gun in time."

Charles and Erik look at me in silence, and for a moment I get the feeling like I am missing something, like maybe I did forget something, though I have no idea what it might have been (which I suppose is the whole point).

In any case, I guess in the end it does not matter. I remember so much I have a feeling I could have forgotten, might have in a different time and place. I am thankful for that, it doesn't matter what it is I'm missing, because I still have the most important of all: my friends, my family…

"Moira!" I hear a voice call.

Suddenly I'm enveloped in a rather…blue embrace. Raven is there, in her natural form, except for the fact that she's actually wearing clothes, a small black dress which covers her modesty but not much else.

"Looking good Raven." I tell her, embracing her back.

"Thank you." She twirls around to show me. "It's a good compromise don't you think? My natural form, but wearing clothes. I get to be myself, without giving my brother a heart attack by being completely naked!"

I chuckle, so it seems Charles finally got around telling his sister what it was that really bothered him about her natural form. I'm not quite sure why it doesn't bother me, though I know it never has; maybe it's because I'm a woman, or I'm just that open minded. It's not really important.

xXx

Dinner is wonderful, and the talk on the table shows a tight group of friends I know, without a doubt, I'm incredibly lucky to be a part of.

Charles convinces me to stay the night, while Raven persuades me to go with her and the other girls on a shopping spree the next day (being Black Friday and all). I enjoy it, though I do end up beyond tired by the afternoon. I manage to convince her to let me catch a cab back to the mansion before she, Angel and Emma go to continue their trip.

The boys are there to greet me when I arrive, apparently Raven called ahead to let them know. Something importance since a considerable number of bags are in the trunk of the car (it's a very good thing the Xavier family is rich, and apparently so was Shaw, and Emma has turned the control of all his monies and assets to Erik, for whatever the reason).

After a relaxing bath I feel like breathing some fresh air and end up taking a walk around the estate where, for some reason or another, Charles and Erik end up both joining me.

"So, how many students do you think you'll have here, once you get the academy up and running?" I ask suddenly, not knowing what else to talk about.

"As many as I can manage." Charles declares with enthusiasm. "Possibly more."

"I cannot imagine the torture it's all going to be, with brats running all around." Erik pretends to shudder before chuckling.

It feels good to see him laughing, an instinct tells me he hasn't had a lot of laughter in his life and that, had things gone any different in Cuba, he might not be having much ever.

"Yes, and I'm sure you'll go all paternal on them." I say almost without thinking. "While Charles will be the mother-hen."

"Hey!" Charles tries to appear annoyed but ends up laughing. "I resent that."

"I'm sure you do." Erik chuckles, before pulling Charles to him, stealing a kiss.

I'm not sure why I'm so happy at the scene, I just am. I don't care if them being together is supposed to be illegal; at this point being a mutant seems to be almost illegal too, and since the second is perfectly natural why shouldn't the first be too? In the end, love is love.

That line of thought, or at least part of it, reminds me of my last conversation with my superior and it makes me tense.

"Moira?" Charles asks, worried.

"Charles, I need you to read my mind." I tell him before I can regret it.

He nods and I focus all I can in that particular conversation.

"Ah…" Charles nods, apparently understanding my unease.

"I really, truly hope I did not end up making things harder, saying too much, but he just made me so annoyed!" I hiss. "What he said about you all…"

Erik's face shows several conflicting emotions, though even when there is some anger, I know instinctively it's not at me; and the stronger emotion I can see in his eyes is protectiveness.

"No, you did not say anything bad Moira." Charles assures me. "In fact, I am honored, your defense of us…well, it gives me hope for the future."

"As long as you remember that not all people are like me Charles." I quip, with the barest hint of a smile. "There are some that will wish you harm, and you need to be ready."

"We will." Erik says, full of confidence. "I will let Charles try his diplomacy, but when it fails, and we know it will at some point…some people are too full of hatred and…evil to accept those of us who are different without trying to either control or destroy. We will defend ourselves."

"Good." I nod.

Charles opens his mouth several times as if to say something, but in the ends stays quiet.

"Look, things are…well, not too good right now." I say, trying to make things a bit better. "And we all know it might not get any better for some time. However, I truly believe that one day the government is gonna realize how lucky they were to have Professor X and Magneto on their side. And of course, the X-Men as well."

"X-Men…" Charles repeats. "I like that. And it includes you as well you know, you're a part of this team as well."

"Even if she certainly isn't your student, Professor." Erik quips.

"Well, I don't know about that…" I smirk before turning to look at the telepath through my lashes in my most seductive impression. "The Professor has certainly taught me a lot…"

In a second Charles is spluttering and looking at me with nothing but shock in his eyes. Erik and I cannot hold back our laughter.

"You would certainly fail if you ever were a student of mine!" Charles tries to defend himself.

"Well, I hope that's not a prediction of what's to come." I say with sudden nervousness. "After all, I am going back to school…"

"So you're going through with it then?" Erik asks.

"That's the plan." I nod. "Of course, I still have to pass the needed exams and find a university that is willing to accept me."

"You know, I can put a good word with Oxford if you wish, and I'm sure Hank would offer the same concerning Harvard." Charles offers me.

"Well, thank you, I certainly would be a fool not to accept your offer, I just hope to be worthy of it." I'm suddenly feeling quite humbled.

You're worth more than you'll ever know, Moira.

I hear those words, as if whispered by the wind, and I'm not sure if Charles said them, or Erik, or neither of them at all. In any case, they comfort me, putting me more at ease with myself, and with the path I've chosen to walk in my life. A path I feel is so right…like I've been meant to walk it all along. Maybe I was a doctor in another life, who knows? Maybe one day I'll find out.

And maybe one day I'll decide to write a sequel for this ("Amity" not withstanding, since most of the chapters I've written thus far take place at some point during the four weeks between Cuba and Thanksgiving...we'll see.

Once again, hope you all liked it. I would love it if you would leave reviews, telling me what you liked, and what you didn't of this fic. This is one of my first times (actually the second, I think) I write something in first person, the first time I write for this fandom, and the first time I use a yaoi pairing. Any constructive criticism you can give me will be very much appreciated.

So, coming up next week: second chapter of "Amity" (and from there the rest of that fic): what happened exactly that night after the group returned from Cuba, and the next morning, when Erik and Charles were 'outed'.

See ya around!