ONCE INSIDE THEIR home, Eleanor let Jean sit down on the couch to prepare some hot beverages for them. She let her eyes focus on the redhead and the first thing she noticed was her visible apprehension.

Eleanor remembered the times she spent with her, helping her understand her abilities and maintain control. She would even look inside her mind and explore her memories whenever permitted to do so. The brunette frowned a little as she recalled noticing the mental scaffolding structures and barriers around some memories, preventing her from looking into them. Eleanor didn't bother breaking through the barricades as she found no purpose in doing so at that time. She respected the girl's boundaries.

She also remembered asking Charles about it and he just told her to not bother herself with it. Thinking that it might've been some kind of traumatizing event that Jean didn't want to recall, Eleanor let the concern go.

"Are you hurt?" Erik asked, gesturing his hand to her. Eleanor knew what he really meant. She was also aware of the blood stain on her shirt and was curious to know who it belonged to.

"No."

"You'll have to forgive them. They're not accustomed to uninvited guests." Erik then started, sitting down at the couch across from her. As always, he wasn't displaying any emotion. "Please, why don't you start at the beginning?"

Jean was quiet, only looking down at the floor. Eleanor could see her eyes exuded extreme guilt, but from what? Why was she feeling guilty? What had she done wrong? Did someone hurt her? Did she kill someone? Eleanor shook her head at the last part. Jean wasn't a murderer. She was far from one.

"Whose blood is that?"

"What?"

"On your shirt. Whose blood is it?" sternly probed Erik as he leant forward. "Look, I'm not Charles or Eleanor. I can't read your mind."

Eleanor sighed, serving the beverages to them. "I can't read your mind either, Jean. You're blocking me and I have no intention to invade it without your permission. You have to tell us everything so we can help you. You can trust us."

"You hurt people." stated Jean, directing it to Erik.

Her husband clenched his jaw, not liking her statement. "It's been a very long while."

"But, you once did."

"Yes! What did you come here to ask me and my wife?"

"How did you stop?"

At this, Erik stood up with a hardened expression. "I've lived with vengeance my whole life. Ever since I was a child, I... lost everyone I ever loved, so I hurt people." He explained. Eleanor stared at her cup as she looked down, sadly. Erik had been through so much. He lost a lot of people he cared and loved. Truthfully, all he wanted was to live in peace, but from time to time, life would find a way to disrupt it.

"Yes, killed people. Killed whatever I thought would make the pain go away. It didn't, no matter how many souls I sent under so I stopped. That... and my family helped me move on from that life. If it weren't for them, I would still be around killing people." he bluntly finished, exhaling.

Eleanor noticed the tears that started to form in Jean's eyes and she observed the girl, attentively. "I don't know how to stop." she whispered, her tone afraid. "I don't know what's happening to me. When I lose control..." Her lips trembled. "things happen, bad things... to people I love."

"Why? What happened, Jean? Come on, you can talk to us or me." consoled Eleanor, reaching out to hold her hand. The female shied away, nervous. "There's no need for you to be afraid. We're here for you. We will help you... whatever it is."

"I can't control it, Eleanor."

"What can't you control?"

Jean was again silent.

The woman sighed, gently setting down her cup of tea. She was extremely reticent and that meant they had to coax her first out of her shell before bombarding her with questions. A thought then occurred in her mind. "Remember when you first arrived at the school?"

Jean's head perked up and she slightly nodded. "You were the first to greet me."

"And what did I say?"

"That you saw potential and greatness in me." She answered in a heartbeat. "That I will do wondrous things in life. That you have looked into me and saw good."

"That's still what I see in you, Jean."

"I'm broken." she confessed, softly. "I need to be fixed, then I'll be okay." She wrung her hands together. "It's funny 'cause I asked Ana to fix me, but of course, she can't."

Eleanor smiled, almost motherly. "I once remember Ana talking about things that can't be fixed and I'll tell you what I told her before: there's beauty in brokenness." She said. "Jean, it is through that brokenness that we find courage and strength. You're not facing this alone."

"It's not just that, Eleanor. I... I feel this... things that I shouldn't."

"Okay..." she nodded. "Help us understand more about what you're going through. What happened? What can we do for you, Jean?"

This time, she refused to continue speaking and this must've exhausted Erik.

"Whose blood is that?" suddenly demanded her husband. "Isn't that why you came here? What do you think we can do for you, Jean?"

"I don't know!"

Marching towards her, he began pushing her to her limits. Eleanor placed her hand above his shoulder in an attempt to pull him out of whatever he was doing. "Yes, you do. Whose blood is that?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"Did you hurt someone?"

"Please, I..."

"Erik, stop it." Eleanor warned him, noticing how Jean was growing uncomfortable and edgy. But, of course, Erik wasn't going to stop.

"Answer the question, Jean."

"Stop, Erik, you're making me angry."

"Good!" He loudly expressed. "I want you to be angry. Show me what happens, Jean."

"Stop provoking her, Erik!"

"You're not going to get answers from her if you baby her, El." Erik argued with Eleanor, narrowing his eyes at the girl.

"She's confused, okay? She's scared. There's no need for you to push her. Let Jean talk to us about it!"

"What happens when you're angry, Jean? Show me. Show us what..."

"I just don't wanna hurt you both!" cried Jean, shaking her head.

"Go on, show it!"

"Stop!" yelled Jean, her voice echoing across the living room. She abruptly stood up as if she was going to attack him and Erik instantly tugged the back of Eleanor's shirt, pulling her close to him. He glared at Jean, ready to act in defense if necessary. Thankfully, they were cut off by another resident of the island, Selene.

"We've got military. Inbound."

"Stay here." Erik emphasized, leaving the house. He slammed the door shut, obviously frustrated with Jean.

"It's going to be okay, alright? I promise." The brunette offered, brushing her hair back again before following Erik outside. Two U.S. choppers landed in the middle of the open area and soldiers positioned themselves around, armed and ready to engage.

Eleanor furrowed her eyebrows, confused with their arrival. "We have a legal right to be here. This land was given to us by the U.S. government." asserted Erik, standing up to the leader of the military team.

She crossed her arms, raising her eyebrow at the several soldiers in front of her. Reading their minds, thoughts about Jean attacking a squad of police officers came rushing in. They were all ordered to apprehend her and use force if necessary. Eleanor frowned at this, disbelief coursing through her. Jean would never attack anyone. Perhaps, she did it in defense, but why?

"We have no intention of taking it back. We're not here for you." the captain replied. "We're looking for one of the X-Men. Jean Grey."

"I haven't seen her in a long time." Erik shrugged, nonchalant.

"Then, you won't mind if we look around."

At this, Erik raised his head higher as if challenging him. "Would you mind if I came to your home unannounced and uninvited?"

"Look, I know who you are -- "

Eleanor scoffed, finally choosing the time to barge into their conversation. "If you know who he is, then you know better to back off."

The soldier's eyes darted over to her and he gave a curt nod, acknowledging her presence. "Mrs. Lehnsherr."

"Captain Hall."

The brunette crossed her arms, smiling. She had already met him once in the Congress when the mutant rights were finally approved. She and Valerie were introduced to him during the signing. He was quite civil despite his uneasiness with mutants. "There's no need for you to exert hostility here in our territory." She voiced out. "Mind apprising us of the situation? Why are you looking for Jean Grey?"

"We don't wanna fight, ma'am."

"You're not answering my question, captain... and of course, you don't." she retorted, smiling coldly. "Why would you?"

"All you have to do is just step aside and let us check."

Erik reaffirmed his power as the leader of the island, displaying it fully. "We have the same rights as you and your family."

At this, the soldier took a step forward to assert his dominance. "We're here for a girl who gave up those rights when she attacked a squad of police officers." He informed. "They have families, too. Guess you didn't hear about that."

"We don't get the news out here, Captain."

"Erik, it's okay." Eleanor frowned, squinting her eyes. "They can check." She was confident she could just telepathically cloak Jean in order to deceive them.

"Mrs. Lehnsherr." The couple snapped their heads towards the direction of their firstborn son's voice, Nathaniel. He was in full uniform and he had a hardened expression on his face. It had only been a month since she and Erik last saw him. He visited them to celebrate his promotion to First Lieutenant. "I highly advise that you do not use your mutation. I would know firsthand if you do." He then glanced at his superior. "I sense her presence here, captain. Grey's somewhere nearby."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Xavier."

Eleanor's ears kind of tingled that her son didn't call her mom or mother, but then her son was on duty. It was only right to act formally so as to be fair. She then furrowed her eyebrows once she had registered that her son was around. Why was he brought in with the soldiers? "No, we will not step aside until you tell us the full story. No sane person would just attack anyone without a valid reason. So, tell us, what did she do exactly?"

"You don't know, do you, mother?" Nathaniel then stared at her with a mournful look.

"What do you mean -- no..." Eleanor suddenly paused as she read her son's mind. Raven's demise was the first thought she heard and her breath instantly hitched in her throat.

Jean killed Raven.

Her hand flew to her mouth in disbelief and she took a step back. She slowly shook her head. "No, there must be some explanation. It must've been an accident."

Nathaniel shook his head, forlorn. "No, mom. Jean killed her in a fit of rage."

"Who did Jean kill, Nathan?" Erik demanded.

"Raven..."

"No!" Eleanor shook her head, defiantly. She was rejecting the idea that the girl she raised was a murderer because she believed she indeed wasn't. "It must've been an accident! She must've been confused or maybe she just lost control! I know Jean. She isn't what you perceive her to be. She came earlier here looking for help."

"Yes, to hide. To escape imprisonment. To evade justice."

Nathaniel's accusing tone fumed Eleanor and she scowled. "Watch your tone, Nathaniel." She warned. "You act as if she's dangerous. You knew her since you were a kid!"

"I don't know if she's the same Jean as I once knew."

"How could you just change your perception of her all of a sudden?"

"Eleanor..." Erik mentioned, his tone seething and instantly, she was deluged with his grief about Raven's death. A friend of his died at the hands of the young girl and the fuel to avenge her death was building up. "If Jean didn't kill Raven, then why was she so afraid of telling us about the blood on her shirt? Why wouldn't she tell us what really happened?" He accentuated, fire brewing in his steel eyes. "Because... she intentionally killed Raven."

"Erik, it's too early to assume anything. I'm certain it was an accident -- "

They then noticed one of the helicopter's blades operate, spinning around quite a bit too fast. "Stop that." suddenly urged the captain. "I said stop that right now, you two!"

"It's not us."

"It's me." proclaimed Jean who now revealed herself to everyone. Her hands were raised and the sides of her face was streaked with white and orange lines like there was some fire ready to burst out of her. Her eyes were glowing gold and her hair billowed gracefully behind her. She was the one who was manipulating the helicopter.

"Jean?" Eleanor warily called. "Jean!"

The young woman then totaled one of the choppers, causing a loose propeller to almost hit Eleanor and Erik if they did not separate from each other. Alarmed by this, her husband immediately took hold of the other helicopter and they both fought for control over it. Eleanor, still quite confused and shocked by what Jean had done, pulled herself together and used her own telekinesis to battle the girl's intense pull.

"Jean! Stop this now!" Eleanor tried to call for her to no avail. A growl escaped her lips and her eyes began to glow red. Fiery mists of energy began to circle her whole body as she struggled stealing the helicopter from Jean's control. "Please!"

"Get in the chopper and go!" Erik yelled to the soldiers. "We can't hold it!"

"Fall back! Fall back!" ordered the leader. "Let's go, move, move! Let's go!"

"Go! Leave this place!"

It was then that Eleanor caught sight of her son's hand emitting a blue light and she knew what was going to happen next. Nathaniel slammed his fist to the ground, creating a fissure that crept up to where Jean was. Swiping both of his hands to the sides, he split open the crack beneath her feet, leading Jean to fall inside and lose her focus. This resulted in Eleanor and Erik finally gaining the control they needed and together, they sent the chopper away from their island.

"You shouldn't have done that."

And unexpectedly, Jean swiped her hand to the right, sending several powerful surges of telekinetic waves towards Nathaniel's direction, but he was quick to register her attack, immediately splitting the waves into two. He directed them to his sides and everyone who surrounded them was thrown away like rag dolls. Reacting to this, Eleanor curled her fingers to catch them all in mid-air, settling them down before turning her attention to Erik who sent large metal pieces towards Jean's direction, but she only hurled it back to him.

Her husband easily shielded himself with a magnetic forcefield to avoid them, but Jean was still able to telekinetically slam him to the ground, knocking him unconscious. Eleanor then hovered in the air, letting two spheres of psionic energy build above her palms. "Jean, what is happening with you? This is not who you are! Stop -- "

But, the young redhead only responded by lifting herself up in the air and attacking her with a blast of blazing fire. Eleanor raised her arm and a vermilion colored barrier covered her, shielding her from it. She gritted her teeth, feeling the searing fire threatening to overwhelm her. Screaming, Eleanor thrusted her hand up, directing the blast to the sky. She then launched two energy spheres towards her, hoping to be able to stop her.

Jean easily diverted Eleanor's attack to the other mutants around, injuring several of them. This distracted the brunette and she was blasted to the ground. "Mom!" Nathaniel shouted her name who had just helped the group of residents escape behind him.

"I'm okay! Help everyone evacuate the area and go check on your father!" Eleanor groaned. Jean's new power felt utterly familiar to her. She had felt it before. The pure rage, the intensity of it. She had seen it herself. The phoenix-shaped fiery blaze that had the colors of purple, red, orange, and yellow swirled around Jean uncontrollably. It was the same as the one she had dreamed about for the last three months. Panting, Eleanor then realized that her vision-like dreams were warning her of the incoming threat and they were now a little late in realizing that it was.

The brunette stood up and stared at Jean who was levitating in the air, head cocked to the side as if daring them to come for her. "Eleanor, let us help!" shouted Selene behind her.

"No! Go assist Nathan instead!" Eleanor was then about to step forward when she noticed a figure landing in the open area and it took her a moment to realize that it was her own daughter, Anastasia.

"Mom, are you okay?" Anastasia immediately asked as soon as she reached her.

"Yes, yes! And you?" Eleanor answered, relief covering her features that she saw Anastasia was more than well. However, she caught sight of how her daughter's eyes glowed gold and she knew then that her own daughter had a fragment of Jean's new power within her. Yet, it felt more calm and controlled compared to Jean.

"I'm more than fine." curtly replied her daughter, lifting herself up in the air. "Jean, you need to stop this instant!"

"You think you can stop me?" Jean incited, her voice booming. "Think again."

And with that, the two women clashed like flaming swords.

Wild clouds of purple, blue, orange, and yellow hue swirled around them as they tried to overwhelm the other. A frizzling fire in the form of a firebird suddenly bursted out of them and Eleanor's mouth hung open in shock and astonishment. It looked majestic, glorious... volatile. Soon, Jean subdued Anastasia and she crashed to one of the houses beside Eleanor.

"Ana!" the mother shouted, growing anxious and frantic about her daughter's state. Anastasia effortlessly rose from her crash site. "Mom, no!" She stated, looking up at Jean. "I will handle her! You need to get everyone off this island!"

"But, you -- "

"Everyone on this island will die if they don't get out of here, mom! This thing inside... me and Jean will destroy everything. I need you to listen to me. Go!" Anastasia shouted before engaging in another fight with Jean herself.

"Shit!" Eleanor cursed as she ran towards the forest, getting to the island citizens. Many of them were injured and bleeding. Her eyes roamed to search for her son and husband. "Erik! Nathan!" She called, frantic.

"Mom! We're here!" Her son answered as he gently laid down one of the wounded mutants. Running over to where he was, Eleanor gasped at the sight of the bleeding wound on his forehead. "Oh, my god! We need to get that wound closed, Nathan!" She uttered, worried for him. "Where's your father?"

"He went back for you and Ana."

At this, Eleanor's eyes widened. "Fucking shit!" She breathed, her heart hammering now against her chest. Erik wasn't just going to go back for her and Ana. He wanted to kill Jean to avenge Raven. She needed to stop him before he does it. "Okay, okay! Nathan, I need you to lead the people to the shore. There are a couple of boats there. Just get them out of this island." She swallowed. "Can-can you call for some reinforcements?"

"I will try now if I can, mom."

"Please do. We need them -- "

"Jack!" cried one of the female mutants, panic-stricken. "Jack, my son! He-he went back to our house! I-I-I have to go get him!" She tried to rush back to the area, but she was pulled back by the others. "No, let go of me!"

Eleanor approached her, placing her hand on her shoulder. "No, Kelly. You stay here. I will go back for him. I'll bring your son back to you, okay? Just-just stay here."

Kelly nodded, sobbing. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she pleaded. "Bring him back to me, Eleanor. Please."

The brunette gave the woman a pat on her shoulder as a sign of assurance. "I will."

Eleanor then wasted no more time to go back in the open field and her heart broke when she saw the ruined community in front of her. Their entire island home was completely destroyed. Shaking her head, she gathered herself together and used her telepathy to search for the boy.

Eleanor focused on looking for the young boy. Sensing his whereabouts, the mother ran towards a burning house. She conjured a shield to protect herself from the raging fire, walking over to a bedroom. There, she saw Kelly's young son, Jack, helplessly crying as he attempted to use his power to control plants to save himself. "Help! Auntie El! Please, help me!"

Five steps forward and Eleanor scooped up the child, bringing him inside of her shield. "It's going to be okay, Jack. I'm here, I'm here. Auntie El is here." She carried the kid in her arms as they exited the burning house. "Why did you go back here?"

"I left my father's gift to me."

Eleanor sighed, rubbing the child's back. Suddenly, an excruciating painful psychic wave shot through her head and she screamed, crashing to the ground. It came from Jean and paralyzed her entirely. The boy in her arms bawled as he held his head. It took a lot of Eleanor's strength to block the assault and she gasped once she had done so, projecting the same barrier to Jack's mind. "Auntie El... my head hurts." whimpered he.

Eleanor hissed and struggled to lift her body up from the ground. The little boy beside her wobbled as he stood up and tried to help her. Looking up, she saw Anastasia and Erik attempting to bring down Jean. With a loud cry, her husband directed all the metal shards he formed towards her former student. But with a flick of her wrist, Jean averted their directions.

And one of them was going to hit Jack.

"No!" Eleanor abruptly stood up and embraced the young boy in her arms, using her telekinesis to divert the incoming shard. She was about to build a psionic barricade around them when she felt something pierce her back twice.

Then, time stopped.

And blood was spilled.

Eleanor gasped, feeling the sharp sting of pain course through all her veins. Blood started to bubble up in her throat and pour out at the side of her lips. She stared at the horrified young boy in front of her and gripped his shoulder, breathing hard. With a strained voice, she pushed herself to say, "Close your eyes, Jack. Please. Don't... open them for... four minutes. Count it."

Fear-stricken, the boy closed his eyes and mumbled softly. It was then that Eleanor finally landed on her side. Her vision blurred and soon, she felt a pool of her thick, warm blood soak her clothes and skin.

Eleanor had been scared of many things before, but hearing the beat of her heart slow down terrified her greatly. It was likr a signal that she was losing her life. As the woman laid on the grass, she stared at the clouds in the sky, her eyes fluttering close again and she came to the realization that she was not ready to die.

"Eleanor!"

"Mom!"

The mother heard her husband and daughter cry out her name, their footsteps rushing across the field. "Eleanor! Stay with me! Stay with me! Dammit! Ana, close your mother's wounds!"

Eleanor felt her strength fading and she fought against the pain. She tried to use her power to save herself, but the light was calling her and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Knowing this, the mother parted her lips and looking straight into the eyes of the man she loved, she started to speak, "I love..."

However, she failed to finish her words for in exactly four minutes, Eleanor succumbed to her wounds.

And the last thing she heard was an agonizing scream coming from none other than her beloved husband.

━━━━━━━━

THE GLITTERING STARS were the first she noticed when her emerald eyes opened.

The vast, seemingly empty sky stretched out for infinity. She noticed that it had a smattering of low level flat clouds that were spread-out to the horizon. It looked peaceful.

But then, in came the white luminiscent figures hovering around.

Eleanor sat upright, bewildered, at the sight. Her eyebrows furrowed and she panicked, looking around at where she was. Her slim fingers dug deep the moist soil and she smelt an earthly, sweet scent. She was in some kind of dark forest with thousands of white floating figures around.

The brunette stood up and looked down, seeing the familiar golden translucent glow of her body. Her astral form. She was in her astral form. Shutting her eyes once, she remembered that she had recently... passed away. But, if she did, why was she in her astral form? Wasn't she supposed to be like those figures drifting in the air?

"What the fuck is this place?"

"You're not supposed to be in here."

Eleanor jumped at the sound of the voice behind her and screamed, stumbling a couple of steps backwards. The other person let out a shriek too in return and their screeches filled the whole forest.

"Who the fuck are you?" The brunette demanded, pointing her finger at her. The first thing she noticed about the woman was her pointed headpiece that seemed to look like a crown. She also had curly, auburn hair that matched her scarlet red dress and cape. If Eleanor was going to be honest, the woman in front of her looked like a sorceress. "And where am I? What is this place?"

"You're not the one supposed to be in here."

"You're not answering my question! Who the hell are you?"

She watched the woman swallow before answering, "I'm Wanda Maximoff and you are in the Realm In-Between or well... Purgatory."

Eleanor tilted her head to the side, confused. "Wait, Maximoff? You're Peter's sister?"

Wanda pursed her lips. "Yes, but in my universe, his name is Pietro. Pietro Maximoff." She explained.

Eleanor's eyebrows furrowed even further if possible. Universe? What universe? And who's Pietro Maximoff? Another thought then occurred in her mind as she stared once again at the woman. "Are you..." She paused. "Are you Erik's daughter?"

"It depends, but most of the time, I am." Wanda retorted, shrugging.

Eleanor blinked. So, Erik had another child with another woman? Again? Oh, she just hoped he did before they got married or she would whack his head if ever she... well, return from wherever she was. She then glanced around, quite unbelieving that Purgatory would look like a forest. "So, we're in, uh... Purgatory?"

"Yes." She briefly replied before conjuring two spheres above her palms. Eleanor slightly frowned as she noticed that her red orbs looked similar to hers. "This is really bad, like really bad. This was not how it was supposed to go."

"What are you talking about, Wanda?"

"Look, Eleanor Lehnsherr, you're not supposed to be in here." Wanda paused in her tracks as if she was about to reveal a very devastating truth. "You're not supposed to be dead. Erik is."