Unspoken: The Third Time

The Third Time
by Beth

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Xavier gets a lecture, a cup of bad tea, and comfort

Timeline: Same continuity as Khaki's The Masks We Wear

Notes: Okay... I'm dipping my toes in the water, seeing if I can do it. Don't ask me why I went with this, it just preyed on my mind until I did it. Hopefully, I won't break anything. For the chicas, who know who they are, and especially Andy, Jenn, and Shana. They doth rock.

Date: October 31, 2001

Xavier was in his study, teaching the afternoon physics class when she returned. He felt an echo in his mind as she opened hers to him; a soft caress followed by a simple nod to the fact that she felt him in her head, just before she booted him out.

A wry smile curving his lips, he returned his attention to his students. "Turn to page 107, and we'll start the law of momentum conservation, shall we?"

An hour later, class dismissed, the students streaming from the room, Xavier asked Jubilee to remain.

She did her best not to snap her gum, which Xavier appreciated. "Yes, Professor?"

"Claudia has returned, I would appreciate it if you would… update her on what has been going on since she left, if you would."

The young woman blinked at him, dark eyes opening wide. "The Westchester Soap Opera?"

Xavier smiled at the name, knowing that it wasn't a misnomer at all. "Yes. You may leave out the pool, if you wish."

The gum stopped in mid-bubble, and he gave her a narrowed glance as she shifted uncomfortably.

"I know its intention is not malicious…" The raised eyebrow said the rest; he disapproved, but wasn't going to stop it.

"I'll just go talk to Claudia," Jubilee said, shifting the books she held in her arms to free a hand to push her sunglasses back up on top of her head.

"Thank you, Jubilee," Xavier said politely, watching her until she was out the door. Turning back to his desk, he took out the books for the younger children's science class.

***

She was angry.

Xavier sighed, knowing there was little he could do about it. Claudia took the tray and put it on the desk, taking the tea cozy off the bone china pot. She didn't say a word or look at him; she simply went about the ritual of making tea.

It began to steep and Xavier could smell it, Lapseng Souchong. Oh bloody hell. She was out to punish them both. The scent of old shoe leather masquerading as tea spread through the room.

Finally, the tea was brewed and she poured, bringing him a cup. She sat in the sofa next to where his wheelchair was parked, curling her feet under her. Her silver-grey hair reflected the lights.

They both winced at the taste of the tea, but both drank, a ritual atonement.

"Things have been changing," Claudia said, placing her cup and saucer on the low coffee table in front of her.

Sliding his cup next to hers, Xavier turned his wheelchair to face her. "You're angry."

"You have no idea how angry I am right now, Charles."

"I am psychic, you know."

"Yes, you are," Claudia shot back, staring at him intently. Shaking her head, she got up, starting to pace, avoiding the desk.

At least, he thought in relief, she wasn't willing to torture either of them with more tea.

Claudia stopped in front of the windows, staring out, her back to Xavier. "Thirty years," she muttered softly, "thirty years."

"This is nothing like what happened between us, Claudia."

"No, it isn't. There aren't any humans in this equation."

"That had nothing to do with anything…"

"It had nothing and everything to do with it. The children are on edge, Charles. All of this has disrupted their home."

"I know that, Claudia."

"You know it, but you don't understand it, Charles," she turned, facing him. "He sent his killers into this house."

"I am well aware who he sent into my house, Claudia."

"Our house, Charles. Yours, the childrens, the staff. Ours."

"Claudia, I understand you are angry at him, but it will solve nothing. What is done is done, we must move beyond it."

"I'm angry at him all over again, Charles. We wove a merry little tapestry, the three of us. But he tried to kill you, he could have killed Marie, Scott, Ororo… the children."

Charles lost the fight to keep the bitterness from his voice. "I know he betrayed me, Claudia. More than once." He looked up, his blue eyes meeting green ones that had been there the first betrayal; that had stood with him on the second, and had stayed until this, the third.

Charles, Erik, and Claudia.

They had been a trio, back at university. When Erik and Charles had found each other, Claudia had found her Robert, but had always been there for Erik and Charles. The first time, the first time Erik had stepped over the line, Charles found his way to Claudia's doorstep, Robert handing him a whiskey and soda, then going back to bed, leaving them to talk. A year later at Robert's funeral, Claudia had watched as Charles and Erik tried again. Sixteen months later, she had stood in the hall of the Xavier family mansion, helping Charles to set up the school, the creation of Cerebro.

A year after that, she watched as Erik stormed out, his anger unmanageable, his terror creating a juggernaut deep inside. Charles and Claudia moved slow throughout the years that followed, helping to move mutants who needed help, none of the students ever questioning the 'plain' human who made sure there were meals and bed linens.

Erik and Robert were always a presence in their lives, love and passion never die easily, and neither of them was willing to give that up. But they moved on, until one night, things didn't stop with tea, and the comfort of the morning was peaceful. It wasn't just sex, it was friendship and comfort, not love with rockets, but love that had a calm cadence, of friends who had complete trust in one another.

"What are you going to do, Charles?"

"I don't know yet, Claudia. I don't know."

She sighed, then returned to the desk, taking the teapot to the bathroom, and he heard her pour the remaining contents down the sink. Her voice echoed off the tiles as she returned to the room. "I sent Jubilee to apologize to Logan."

Blue eyes blinked in surprise. "Have you met Logan?"

"Only for a moment, at dinner."

"Do you think that was the best idea?"

"I think being as honest as you can with growling, metal-clawed men is the best policy."

He chuckled as he wheeled the chair to the bed, the automatic lifter helping him to move himself from chair to the bed. Claudia turned off lights, then removed her robe, sliding into the bed next to him.

Charles turned to her as she laughed softly, and sent a questioning touch into her mind.

"I never wanted to be Jane Eyre, you know."

He laughed against her temple. "Never particularly wanted to be Rochester, myself."

"We have to do something, Charles. He can't be allowed to put them in jeopardy again, no matter how much you love him."

"I know, Claudia. I know," he said softly as his lips touched hers, that feeling of comfort moving over them both, an easy passion growing in the silence.

~*~

Shatter Like Glass by jenn

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Disclaimer: All X-Men characters belong to Marvel and Fox; this piece of fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.