Chapter Text
It was just a little after five pm on a snowy December evening; Magneto touched down outside the Xavier Institute in Washington D.C. He sported his classic red uniform and a small smile. He was returning home from a press conference at the White House with President Kelly regarding mutant and human affairs. The press conference went well, but the real reason for his good mood was that he was eager to see his family. It has been almost a year since they defeated apocalypse and everyday since, Erik is thankful and grateful his friends and family have lived to see the day. He still mourns the loss of his daughter Wanda and his dear friend Charles Xavier. Wishing they could be here to see their cause; of humans and mutants coexisting, come to fruition.
Erik made his way up to the front door, freshly fallen snow crunching beneath his boots. He arrived at the front step, turned the metal handle of the large wooden door, and pushed it open with his powers. He walked into the grand foyer and was immediately greeted. "Daddy!" a small boy wearing khaki shorts and a red t-shirt shouted to him. The boy raced up to him and embraced him tightly. Erik closed the front door with his powers and knelt to return the greeting to his son. "There's my boy" Erik said as he hugged Charles back.
"Daddy, daddy, I saw you on the t.v! And uncle Remy, and Aunt 'Roro, and uncle Kurt!" young Charles exclaimed as he looked up at his father. "That's right son! The X-men were on t.v. Protecting humans from bad mutants, just like we protect mutants from bad humans." Erik explained. "Oh wow daddy! I wanna be a X-man when I grow up, just like you and momma."
Charles broke the hug took his father's helmet from his hands. Erik patted his son's blond hair upon his head and chuckled "That's my boy". Charles put on his dad's helmet and proceeded to run around, sticking his arms out, pretending to fly, he ran into the adjacent room. After watching his son "fly" out of the room, he noticed a slim, auburn haired figure standing in the doorway that joined the foyer to the kitchen. His breath hitched in his throat as he noticed her. She was breath-taking in a short festive, red and green dress. It was his beautiful wife, she was leaning against the door frame, taking him all in. "Well hello" Erik greeted her suavely, lifting his eyebrows. He kept his eyes on her while he materialized the rest of his uniform with his powers, revealing a dark forrest green knit sweater and brown slacks with a matching brown belt.
"Hi there" Rogue responded, keeping her eyes on him as she stood up straight off the doorframe and struted over to where he was standing in the middle of the foyer. "Oh how i've missed you, my beautiful wife". Erik smiled at her as he looked into those gorgeous green eyes. "nd how ah've missed mah handsome husband" Rogue said returning his gaze into his cool blue. She grabbed him by the neck of his sweater and pulled him in to a passionate kiss. Erik wrapped his arms around his wife's slim waste and pulled her body up to his, she moved her arms to around his neck. Blown away by the intimate greeting, he broke the kiss and put his mouth to her ear "Mmm am I glad to be home, I take it the feeling is mutual?" Rogue giggled and responded seductivly "What gave you that impression?" Erik pulled her body harder into his " Oh I don't know, just a feeling".
Erik chuckled, pulled away from the embrace, and moved his hands from Rogue's waist to her shoulders. "And how about the others? Did they all arrive home safely as well?" he asked her. Rogue nodded "They sure did, as a matter of fact, everyone is in the dining room, we were all just sitting down for dinner. You have impeccable timing dear". Erik moved one of his hands from her shoulder to her face where he stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Wonderful" was where he left the conversation, before they turned to head into the dining room.
In the adjacent room, everyone was either sitting or standing around the table. Young Charles had ran into the room playing hero, still wearing his father's helmet. The room was full; not just of people, but of conversation, laughter, twinkling lights, and christmas music. Rogue and Magneto entered the room and it fell silent besides the low festive music. "Hello, my X-men" Erik greeted with a smile, looking around the table. Storm, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Wolfsbane, just to name a few; these weren't just his X-men, this was his family. "Hi Mags" a few of them responded in unison. "Home early for once, huh dad?" Quicksilver asked. "Yes, well the press conference went fairly well. Naturally, some of the reporters were tentative to accept my claims; but with your honorable display on tv, and the assistance of President Kelly; the current state of mutant and human relations is in fine shape; considering everything that happened only a year ago." Erik explained.
Erik continued his speech "Look around the room. I want to remind you that the reason we fight the good fight against those like Apocalypse and his followers; isn't just to protect and coexist with humans and other mutants. More importantly, it's for the people around us, in this very room, each other, our family. Everything we fight for is for them. Tis the season mind you, to be greatful and thankful for one another, that we're all still here, together". Erik took another look around the room, he had all eyes on him now. "With that being said I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to bringing those traitorous mutants to justice. If you ever question or doubt your motives, just remember my words. And with that, for the rest of the holiday season, I want no more talk of politics. I've come home to spend time with my family for the holidays, and that is what I intend to focus on, nothing else. Are we all in agreement?"
"Yes sir, i'll toast to that!" Quicksilver agreed, lifting his glass. "Oui" nodded Gambit sitting next to him, also lifting his drink in cheers. The rest were in agreement as well. There were nods throughout the room. After everything they'd been through the past year, even up until this day had been struggle and a fight. Sometimes, it was hard to remember what they were fighting for since they never got to enjoy themselves. It seemed as though they were always fighting to survive, fighting for their lives; so much so, that they never got to live their lives.
"I'm glad we're all in agreement." Erik nodded "Now let's enjoy." Erik said, taking his place at the head of the table. Those who were standing began to take their place at the table as well. Rogue sat at the opposite end from Erik. They both had a great view of each other and their X-men; their family. Charles finally took his place at the table, sitting in the middle next to Gambit. "Charles, take your father's helmet off at the dinner table, you're not eating with that on." Rogue told her son. "Don' know chere Gambit tinks you should let em wear it. Kina suits em, no?" Gambit snickered. "Yeah momma, it suits me. Cause I'm gonna be just like Daddy one day." Rogue gave Gambit a stern, yet playful glare. Letting him know she was amused but didn't appreciate that.
Erik looked to his wife, and then his son. In a calm, cool manner he instructed his son "Charles, do not talk back to your mother. When she tells you to do something, you do it. She has her reasons. Did you know that it is rude to wear a helmet or a hat at the dinner table? You are to remove it when you enter the room, that is proper etiquette." Erik looked at his son inquisitively, using this as a teaching moment. "Oh......no daddy, I didn't know that, I'm sorry. I'm sorry momma." Charles looked genuinely apologetic. Erik smiled at Charles, having a soft spot for his boy he informed him "however, as your father and your hero, I'm flattered. If you'd like to maintain your facade, you can continue to wear it, even throughout dinner." Erik smirked at his wife, she looked at him, then rolled her eyes and smiled.
Dinner continued as usual with the passing of entrees, sides, and small talk. They talked about their days and how the mission went. It was a fairly easy mission and no one was injured. Then they reminisced about previous missions; but always kept the subject matter light. Teasing and joking with one another as they remembered old times.
It was around seven when dinner was coming to an end. Everyone had finished eating; their plates picked clean. Rogue stood and began to clear the table while the others sat and continued to converse and digest their dinners. She made her way around the table, creating a small stack of dishes and placing the utensils on top of the stack. Rogue came around to grab Ororo's plate when she stopped her. "Rogue don't, please let me help you" Ororo insisted. "It's ok Ro, don't worry about it. Ah want to do it. Besides ah need to speak to Erik privately in the kitchen for a moment" Rogue explained. "Alright, if you insist, but please let me know if I can help in any way" Ororo said. "Actually yeah, what do you think about getting everyone together to decorate the tree now?" Rogue asked her. "That's a splendid idea" Ro smiled. "Great, Erik and ah will join you all when we're finished. Thank you so much Ro" Rogue expressed. She held the stack of dishes with one gloved hand and gave Ororo a squeeze with the other.
Rogue made her way to the end of the table grabbing a few more plates along the way. When she got to Erik she came around the back of him and whispered in his ear "darling husband, do ya think you could help me out with the rest of these dishes? Ah'd really like to speak with you privately in the kitchen". "Of course darling" Erik grinned. "Thank you sugah" Rogue purred in his ear before backing away from him and exciting the dining room.
Rogue was in the kitchen washing dishes when Erik walked in carrying another stack. He set them down next to the sink with the rest of the dirty dishes and came up behind Rogue and put his hands on her hips. He pressed his body up against hers, pinning her between him and the sink. Erik put his mouth up to her ear and said "You needed to speak to me?" Rogue let out a little gasp at both his embrace, and his breath in her ear; it sent sensual chills down her spine. "Yes dear, ah just..." Trying to catch her breath she stopped speaking for a second, removed the large, yellow rubber gloves, and turned around to face him. Rogue wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his beautiful blue eyes. "Ah just wanted to double check that you've got everything you need for Christmas eve."
Erik let out a little chuckle at the realization to which she was referring. "Ah, yes, I do" he assured her nodding his head, maintaining their eye contact. "Your suit and all?" Rogue asked him. "Yes dear, don't fret" He told her as he brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Alright just making sure. What.....What are you going to tell Charles?" She asked him nervously. "I'm..... just going to tell him that some very important business came up." Erik informed her. "He's going to be sad that his-" Rogue started to say, then she removed her arms from around his neck and did air quotations with her hands "father won't be home for Christmas eve."
Erik backed up, giving Rogue some space; preparing for her incoming reaction. "Yes dear, I'm well aware. That's precisely why I was going to depart without informing him." Erik revealed. Rogue's face immediately changed expressions; a scowl forming. She went to swat at him but he backed away even further, dodging it. "You want me to break the news? Absolutely not, yer outta yer mind! You've finally gone senile old man!" Erik just laughed at her "You're so adorable when you're angry" he teased her.
But having a soft spot for his wife, he gave in. "Alright, fine, I'll be the one to tell him, it's alright" he said trying to calm that quick temper of hers. He moved back in for an embrace, she didn't resist; essentially giving him permission. Eventually she gave in and returned the embrace. She was unable to be mad at him for very long when he so easily gave in to her, and only her. "I'll handle it my darling wife, don't you worry" Erik assure her. "Alright, thank you Erik." She gave him a small kiss on the lips before they released their hold on each other. "Will you help me finish these dishes so we can get in there and help decorate the tree with our family?" Rogue asked him. "Of course darling". Erik picked up a rag and began to dry the already washed dishes. Rogue put the gloves back on and continued washing.
After a few minutes Rogue and Erik finished washing the dishes and had dried, and put them away. They made their way into the living room to join the rest of the X-men around the tree. The others had brought the speaker playing the festive music from the dining room into the living room, and they had already gotten the storage boxes of ornaments opened up by the time Rogue and Erik joined them. The fireplace was lit and crackling, emitting a warm, cozy glow. And the white lights already donned on the gorgeous 8 foot evergreen, twinkled.
"Alright everyone, let's begin" Ororo said. Some of the others made their way over while she selected the first ornament. Storm picked out a medium size, silver bauble. Their ornaments this year were a range of different sized, shiny bulbs, coming in red, green, silver, and gold. Some years they used more personalized ornaments that they collected over the years, along with multi-colored lights on the tree; but this year Rogue wanted to go for more of a classic Christmas look. You're typical Hallmark Christmas, that you see in movies and magazines. She had white lights, and red and green garland strung all around the house, in every room.
Storm moved away from the box of ornaments to go and hang hers on the tree, Rogue moved in and took Storm's spot next to the box to get a better look at her selection. Rogue's eyes had picked out a small red bulb tucked in the corner of the box. Just as her hand reached it and she was going to grasp it, she felt a gloved hand brush against the top of hers. She pulled her hand back. "Sorry chere, din't mean ta, honest" Gambit genuinely apologized as he quickly snapped his hand back as well. "It's alright Remy" Rogue looked him in the eyes. Those ruby red irises reminding her of the ornament she was currently reaching for again. She picked it up, and with her other hand grabbed his, careful to avoid his bare fingers; she turned it over so his palm was facing upwards, and placed the bulb in his hand. "Here" she said, the she pulled her hand away "Merry Christmas" she teased. For once Gambit was left speechless. Before he could think of a response, Rogue selected another ornament, a large green one this time, and made her way over to the tree.
Kurt appeared next to Gambit. He looked over the choices before selecting a small silver one. "Look mein freund, vee can see ourselves in ze reflection!" Kurt held out the ornament at arms length like it was a camera. "Zay cheese!"Kurt teased as he laughed and pretended to take their picture with it. Gambit laughed, trying to imagine what he would look like in their pretend picture; probably all flustered. "Gambit want a copy o dat picture, got it mon ami?" He said teasingly. Kurt nodded and chuckled.
Just then Pietro and Charles walked up to the two X-men. "Oooh, I wanna pick one!" Charles exclaimed; looking into the box of baubles. He picked out a big gold one. "Watch zis, neffe" Kurt told his nephew. Just then he ported over to the Christmas tree, near the top and placed the ornament upon the tree, the ported back to the ground. "Oh yeah, well watch this little bro" Quicksilver said as he grabbed a bunch of ornaments all different colors and sizes in his arms and zoomed around the tree, placing the ornaments sporadically around. "Oh wow! I can't wait till I get my powers!" Charles said.
Erik walked over to the box of ornaments where his son and Gambit were still standing. "I can hardly wait either my boy, but remember what we said? Since you don't have powers to train yet, what do we spend time training instead?" He asked him. "My mind and my body" Charles said as he flexed his arms like he had muscles. Erik laughed "That's exactly right". "Thas right mon ami, if ya exercise ya body, den ya will grow up ta be big'n strong jus like yo uncle Gambit." He flexed his muscles just like Charles was pretending too. Rogue and Storm rolled their eyes at the display.
Charles ran over to the tree. "Where should I hang this one momma?" "You can hang it wherever you'd like baby, anywhere there's an empty spot." Charles picked a spot that was bear, and hung it by the hook. "Daddy pick one and we'll hang it together" he said as he ran back over to the box. Gambit walked over to the tree with the small ornament Rogue had placed in his hand, set on finding a spot to hang it. "So 'Ro, Gambit heard you grew dis tree dis year, is dat true?" He said as he picked a spot and hung the ornament. Storm nodded "Yes Gambit, that is true, I did raise it before it was horrifically slashed down by Logan before he left on his mission." Gambit let out a small gasp and put his hand behind his neck "Oooh, sorry 'Ro". "It's alright Gambit, death is a way of life, just like with people. We're born, we live, and we die. Death is a universal experience no matter how it may happen, whether it be by natural causes or by someone's hand. Death comes to us all."
"Wow 'Ro, thas pretty dark..... Ona lighter note, who wanna help Gambit cook on Christmas nd Christmas eve?" Gambit joked switching the subject. Rogue chuckled "Ah'll help you Gambit. After all ah did make dinner tonight while y'all were on yer mission and Erik was at the White House". "And it came out wonderfully" Erik said appearing behind her, and Charles next to her. They each had an ornament in their hand "Sure did chere. There isn't anyone else in dis place dat Gambit would trust more ta be next ta him in da kitchen, den you." Gambit looked Rogue in the eyes. She met his gaze and blushed.
"Alright my boy, where are we going to hang these?" Erik asked his son, holding up his large red bauble. Charles held up his medium silver one. "Hmmm how bout this daddy, I pick a place for yours, and you pick a place for mine?" Charles asked. "That's a wonderful idea Charles". Erik found a spot for Charles' first. "Here, son" he pointed to an empty spot on the tree, about eye level to him. Charles tried to reach but his arms were just too short to reach the branch and hook the ornament. "I can't reach daddy". "Don't worry, I'll help you" Erik said scooping Charles up and holding him so he could hang the ornament. Hooking his own ornament onto his finger temporarily so he could hold his son. Once he'd hung it, Erik put him down.
"Alright now it's my turn to find a spot for yours". Charles ran over to the other side of the tree. "Oh, over here's a good spot daddy!" Charles exclaimed. Erik couldn't see him so he went to go around the tree to see the spot he had picked out, but at the same time Charles moved as well. "No, over here daddy" Charles said as he continued to move around the tree, matching his father's movements. Erik laughed, realizing his son was doing this on purpose. "Get back here!" He teased as he began to chase his son around the other X-men and the tree.
Erik quickly stopped chasing him; to go around the tree the other way and meet him, but Charles had already taken off into the rest of the room. "I got him dad!" Quicksilver shouted before he dashed and grabbed his brother. Erik tossed his ornament to Rahne and she caught it. Then he asked her "Would you hang that for me dear? I'm going to need both hands for this." Quicksilver brought his brother over to their dad where Erik proceeded to tickle him in his arm pits. Charles began laughing and kicking, trying to fight the tickle monster. "Ok, ok, I concede, I concede." Charles said, barely being able to make it out because of his laughter.
The fire place was out, and most of the other X-men had retired to their rooms. Leaving only young Charles, Erik, Rogue, Gambit, and Storm. Ten pm was fast approaching, and they had nearly finished the tree. They had hung everything in the box, every ornament on the tree, every stocking on the fireplace; leaving one thing left in the box, the star. "Can I put in on top?" Charles asked sleepily, barely able to keep his eyes open Rogue let out a laugh "Sure thing sugah, momma will help you. She grabbed the star and a plush blanket from the sofa and walked over to her son. She handed him the star and he took it. She wrapped him in the blanket and carried him as she slowly flew up to the top of the tall tree. She stopped and floated there as he placed the star on the tallest branch and made sure it was straight. "Good job baby." Rogue said as she looked down at her son in her arms, his eyes twinkled from the reflection of the lights on the tree.
Rogue floated back down to the ground but didn't land, "ah'm going to take him upstairs to bed, he's falling asleep" Rogue quietly explained to the others. Storm and Gambit silently nodded their heads, while Erik kissed his son's forehead and then his wife's lips goodnight, as they passed him on their way upstairs. She floated up the stairs towards their rooms.
"Let's turn off the lights. I would like to see how it will look at night, when all the lights are off." Storm said as she walked over to the main light switch for their large living area. She flipped two switches and the room went dark but simultaneously lit up by the light of the tree. Light and dark happening at the same time; Ying and Yang. After a few moments, "Stunning" was the first thing that was spoken, it was Storm who had said it. "I agree, absolutely breathtaking." Erik said to Storm.
"Mon dieu" Gambit said under his breath. The tree was beautiful. The strings of lights within the tree lit up the dark room just enough, and there were touches of green, red, silver, and gold that shined throughout; The beautiful bulbs reflecting the white lights all the way up the tree. At the top, the star appeared as of it was twinkling. Rogue had done a fabulous job picturing what she wanted the tree to look like. It was magnificent, it was probably even more beautiful than she had imagined It would look. "S'too bad Charles nd Rogue missed dis" Gambit thought out loud. "You're right about that Lebeau, but they'll see it sometime within the next few nights, I'll make sure of it." Erik stated. "Along with the others" he continued.
"I'm going to head to bed guys, have a good night you two. See you tomorrow." Storm said as she made her way over to the stairs. "Good night Ororo" Erik said. "Night 'Ro" Gambit said waving to her as she headed up the flight of stairs. The two men stood there in silence for a few moments, the dark room lit by nothing but the glow of the tree. "She really out did herself with the tree" Erik said breaking the silence. "Oui" Gambit agreed nodding his head.
"She's something special isn't she? Rogue." Erik asked him. Remy just nodded his head. "I know you care about her, and our son." Erik said looking him in the eyes. "O course Gambit care bout dem, we family" Gambit explained. Erik nodded his head, moving closer to Remy. "I know how much you care about them, and I wanted to make this Christmas special for them.....Rogue has been expressing some.... doubts lately about not being able to touch; specifically her own son. She can't even carry him upstairs to bed, or kiss him goodnight." Erik came right up next to Remy and put his left hand on his shoulder. "So I had this made for her" he pulled out a ring box from his pants pocket with his right hand. Erik removed his other hand from Remy's shoulder and opened the small gray box.
Inside was a small shiny stainless steel ring. It was a plain looking metal ring, the only design was a horizontal line down the middle, segmenting the ring in two halves. "It may look like an ordinary ring, but it's actually a power inhibitor." Erik removed the ring from the box, closed the box, and put it back in his pocket. He held the ring between his thumb, index, and middle fingers between both hands. "It can easily be switched on by slightly turning both sides of the ring in opposite directions" he gave a quick demonstration; turning each side in their respective directions at the same time, powering the ring on, but then turning them back again, turning the ring back off. "It can be worn on any finger and still work but I got it sized the same as her wedding ring so I'm assuming she'll wear it on her right ring finger" Erik explained further.
Remy nodded. Trying to fully comprehend the entire implication of this. He could finally touch her, grab her arm, hug her; any of the things he could do with the rest of the team that he always had to be careful doing around Rogue. "So what you're sayin is, she could walk round here not havin to worry bout bumpin into nobody or nothin?" Remy asked. "Yes, of course I hadn't really considered how it would affect the rest of the team. I suppose that's an additional benefit. I really only considered her relationship with Charles because that's the one she expressed her feelings about" Erik explained.
"Das wonderful" Gambit expressed. "I'm glad you think so. As I said, my goal was to make this Christmas special, I plan to give it to her on Christmas eve, I have some additional things planned for that evening as well" Erik said eyeing Gambit. He pulled the box back out of his pocket, put the ring back inside, and tucked it back into his slacks. "I trust you'll do your part; you and Rogue will pull off a splendid dinner no doubt." Gambit smiled and nodded "O course Mon ami". "Happy holidays my friend" Erik said as he gave Gambit a hug, Gambit reciprocated. "Merry Christmas Erik."
They both turned to walk up the stairs towards their rooms. "I should get to bed, Rogue is probably wondering where I am. Goodnight Lebeau." Erik gave him a salute as he continued down the hallway. Gambit had stopped at his bedroom door and gave Erik a nod "Night Erik."