XMFC/We'll meet again

[diecastking]

In the end, they hardly needed persuading.

Erik strolled onto the base, broke into Stryker's office and greeted him as he returned from lunch. He explained that the school was under his protection and he was prepared to come to an agreement to avoid more of Stryker's men ending up in the infirmary - or worse.

There would be no more incursions. There would be no experiments. But Erik was prepared to eliminate the last of the Nazi threat from the planet in exchange for Stryker staying the Hell away from his family and the school.

The unspoken threat that Erik could reach Stryker and his son at any time of the day or night helped his cause, no doubt, but Stryker signed the deal without more than a phone call.

Erik would leave for Europe the next day. But, first, he had to say goodbye.

Comments

[guideshapelead]

"Laying table's boring," Scott grumbles, but dutifully goes to the cutlery drawer and starts to lay out the table, pausing to think hard about where everything goes. Sometimes, when he gets really confused, he hears his Daddy whisper help into his head. He likes it when he does that.

Within a couple of minutes, the little family are sat around the table in front of full plates. Charles tries hard not to think about how this will be the last time this happens, for a long while. There will be an empty chair where Erik sits, for the foreseeable future.

[diecastking]

Erik is in the moment, laughing with the children - teasing Alex about the food, nudging Scott's cutlery, making inappropriate comments to Raven and Hank, and trying to push Sean into the exact giggle that makes the glasses sing.

But he feels the bittersweet edge of Charles' thoughts and presses his mind close. //I will carry you all with me//

[guideshapelead]

//I know// Charles smiles at Erik across the table, trying to push the sadness down and keep it hidden away somewhere private.

"Stop it Papa!" Scott squeals as his fork goes spinning in the air the moment he puts it down.

[diecastking]

"Me?" Erik affects an innocent expression. "No, it must be Alex."

Scott giggles. "Don't be silly, Papa - the fork isn't on fire!"

[guideshapelead]

"It's flying - perhaps it's Sean?" Alex joins in, grinning, completely unaware of the momentous nature of this dinner. "Give my brother back his fork, Banshee."

"It's not me!" Sean protests.

[diecastking]

"I think Raven turned into the fork," Hank says solemnly. "And Cha- uh, your Daddy is just making you think she's here."

"You're all silly!" Scott declares. "Raven wouldn't fit in a fork."

[guideshapelead]

"Maybe, whoever the culprit is, they should give Scott back his fork before his dinner goes cold," Charles suggests, diplomatically. He knows Scott tends to fuss over his food once it goes cold.

[diecastking]

The dancing fork slides neatly into Scott's hand and waits patiently for the little boy to grasp it.

"Feels like a fork," Scott declares. "S'not Raven."

[guideshapelead]

"I should think not," Raven grins from her own seat, amused that Scott had ever considered the idea when she was sat right opposite him.

"Is there pudding?" Scott demands, with half a plate of his meal still to be eaten. Daddy's eating habits were definitely rubbing off on him.

[diecastking]

"If the plate is clean," Erik says quickly, before Charles can open his mouth. "You know that."

Scott sulkily puts his magic fork to good use.

[guideshapelead]

Charles, as always, would have been more lenient, but he doesn't fight Erik now that he has laid down the law. His ruling is, after all, the healthier one. So, keeping quiet, he makes quick work of clearing his own plate.

He does not want to be denied dessert, after all.

[diecastking]

Erik watches everyone industrially clear their plates. Food is never wasted in this house - Erik knows hunger too well to allow that.

Only when the main meal is over does Erik nod to Alex to fetch the crowning glory of the meal. The boy's talent in the kitchen is exceptional.

[guideshapelead]

Scott is up on his seat by the time the adults have all cleared their plates, clapping and stamping for his dessert. Charles, for once, lets him cause his ruckus - he does not want the night ended with an argument and a crying son.

"You wait your turn, kiddo," Alex grins at his little brother as he finally brings pudding to the table; a large dish of fruit crumble and a jug of hot custard.

[diecastking]

Erik has never had a sweet tooth - bad memories - but he loves to watch his family indulge.

Alex offers him a small token helping and Erik smiles gratefully. His heart aches with how much he will miss this - being known.

[guideshapelead]

Charles' helping is, as normal, at least twice the size of Erik's, but for once the Professor has no stomach for it. He manages a few spoonfuls before pushing it away, claiming an overindulgence on the previous course.

[diecastking]

Erik frowns at Charles pushing his bowl away.

//Are you well?//

[guideshapelead]

//Fine// Charles promises.

//But you cannot expect me to have my normal appetite, not tonight//

[diecastking]

Erik also pushes aside his bowl and takes his lover's hand.

//We must tell them//

[guideshapelead]

//I cannot, Erik...// Charles resists. //They will be heartbroken//

"Hey," Raven calls out down the table, seeing the clasped hands and guessing, incorrectly, what must be going on between her brother and his partner.

"Out loud voices at the table."

[diecastking]

Erik relinquishes Charles' hand.

"I am afraid I must go away for a while."

His words are met with shocked silence and all eyes turned towards him.

[guideshapelead]

"A while?" Alex is the first to speak, voice somewhere between sad and angry, arms crossed stubbornly over his chest.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

[diecastking]

"The United States Government has asked me to complete a task in exchange for all our continued freedom."

The words taste like ashes, a reminder of the devil's deal he has signed.

"I don't know how long it will take. No more than a year."

[guideshapelead]

"A year?!" Raven is on her feet, looking stunned, aghast.

"You can't just walk out for a year!"

In his chair, Scott starts to wail.

[diecastking]

Erik reaches for his son instinctively, though he knows someone else should comfort him, prepare him for Erik's long absence.

He struggles to talk over the sobbing and the tiny fists beating at his chest.

"It was the only way to keep us safe," he says to Raven. He has to believe that.

[guideshapelead]

Charles doesn't know what to say, the heartache around the table the same as his own. He wants Erik to leave no more than anybody else does.

"It has to be this way," he forces himself to be the voice of reason, the leader he's expected to be. "We have to keep this school a sanctuary."