ELEANOR REGRETTED a lot of decisions in her life.

She regretted that she worked at her former company that did nothing but bring her down.

She regretted that she moved in the city with no one to accompany her.

She regretted driving the day she lost her child.

But, never will Eleanor regret that she chose to love Erik Lehnsherr.

The brunette stood in front of her window, her eyes scanning the scenery below. It was traffic, as usual. Nothing was new. She was amused at the one human who shouted profanities at the driver in front of him. Humans and their frustrations. She mused. She gingerly set down the cup of coffee in her hands and let her mind wander again.

It had been a month ever since Washington. A month since she had last seen Erik.

Eleanor wondered where the man was or if ever he was going to come back. She rolled her eyes at the last part. The possibility of it happening was too bleak to even be considered. Erik was now a very wanted man after what he did, it was less likely that he'd show up unless he had a death wish.

She took another sip of her coffee as she remembered why she was alone in her apartment. Just two days ago, Eleanor informed Charles that she will be going back home to gather her belongings. She figured it would be better for her to move in the mansion as they reopen the school once again. Another reason was that she needed some time alone to think and staying inside the mansion wasn't giving her any peace. The more she saw Charles, the more she understood why she married the man and that scared her.

Charles Xavier was charming, witty, intelligent, and so much more. She could even go far as to say he was husband material. Eleanor would heavily consider him if she wasn't in love with someone else.

The telephone in the kitchen rang loudly, alerting her to answer it. With a loud sigh, she walked over and picked it up, frowning as she immediately recognized who was at the other line.

"Mother, good morning."

"Where are you?" Helen, her mother, bluntly demanded.

The brunette pinched her nose, guessing where the conversation would go. "I'm at home, why?"

"Were you ever going to tell me you were in national television using your powers?" Her mother exasperated.

"Mom, it's been a month. You only heard the news now?"

"The signal here sucks." Helen complained. "I swear I'm already thinking whether to buy a satellite and reconfigure it myself so I can call you everyday, honey."

After Eleanor graduated from university, her mother pursued her dream of working in places where medical help was needed and so here she was, working in Sri Lanka. It had been a long time since she heard her mother's voice and felt she was home again.

Eleanor hummed. "I missed you, mom."

She then heard her mother yell a command at her co-worker. "Hm? Sorry. Yeah, yeah. I missed you too, Lea. But let's go back to that news. You just exposed yourself to the world, dear. You're fortunate no one has taken you in yet or even spied at you for that."

The brunette leant against the wall, sighing. "They might be already spying me and I just don't know it."

"Will you not sense it with your telepathy?"

"I will, but you know people, mother. They will always find ways."

At this, her mother sighed. "They will always perceive you and your people as threats. So, you better be careful. In their eyes, they are the heroes, thinking they need to protect humanity from you guys when in reality, they are the enemies."

"I think you're forgetting that you're part of humanity as well."

Helen snorted. "What humanity are you talking about? I gave birth to a mutant, so I'm a mutant gene carrier. I belong to the group of humans slash mutants if there is one." She rambled. "I will never be them, Lea. Humans who torture mutants because of their gifts should rot in hell."

Eleanor smiled. Her mother was an ally of mutants. She had been secretly helping those mutants who were brought in hospitals because of their abilities. She would risk her job to hide the medical records or even fake it just to prevent them from being taken away.

Eleanor was only six years old when she first displayed her mutation and her parents accepted it wholeheartedly, a rare occurrence. She was aware that not many mutant children were blessed with a family like hers. The first time her mother saw her abilities, she immediately took it upon herself to protect her daughter.

Never did Helen Ridges or Matthew Ridges, her father, saw her as abnormal or sick. It was just Eleanor who hated what she had, seeing them as an aberration. Before her father died, he encouraged her to embrace who she is. Indeed, it was Erik and her parents who helped her overcome her hate for her abilities. 

"I am thankful to have you as my mom."

"You really should be. I endured your attitude for years, lady. That was no joke." Her mother said, earning a chuckle from Eleanor. "So, how's my daughter's love life?"

"Nonexistent." The brunette rolled her eyes, shifting her legs.

"Come on, there must be someone -- "

"Change the topic. Now."

Helen cackled, clearly amused with her. "Hey, honey. I have to go. I have few patients to check up on. Make sure you're safe, alright? Or it will rain hell on earth if they even so as much touch a strand of your hair." She told. Eleanor could feel her mother's care and love through the telephone that she could even imagine her smile.

"I will. You take care also, mom."

With that, the call ended and Eleanor ambled to her kitchen, grabbing a knife to slice some cake for herself. She brought the box to her living room and ate moderately as she gazed once again outside her window. She watched the several cars pass by and the group of humans tittle-tattle.

Today was a good day.

She knew it. She felt it.

A soft click by her main door caught her attention. Not wasting any second, she searched for the intruder's mind, but she couldn't sense anything. Once she heard the first creak in her living room, Eleanor telekinetically flew the knife directly at the intruder, letting it stop mere inches by its forehead.

Her heart stopped beating for a moment when she saw who it was.

Right there, standing at the entrance of her living room, was Erik. His hand was raised as well, stopping the knife from reaching his head. He grabbed it and set it aside the table near him.

Eleanor's fists clenched as she narrowed her eyes af him. "You should've knocked like any decent human being would. I almost killed you for your idiocy."

He shrugged. "I don't knock, you know that."

The brunette rolled her eyes, remembering the times he wouldn't knock on her door when they were already together. The man would just barge into her room like he owned her house or something.

"How did you find me?" She walked over to her box of cake and used her powers to let the handle of the knife fly to her hand. She grabbed it and sliced a portion for herself.

"I have my ways."

"You followed me." She concluded. There was no other way Erik would've known where she was. Even with all his connections, he wouldn't be able to track her down easily. "The whole world's searching for you, you know. "

"I missed you." He uttered, stepping forward towards her. Erik reached her within a couple of steps and she knew how close he was since she could feel the heat radiating from his body. He was behind her as if he wanted to engulf her.

Eleanor crossed her arms and faced him, raising an eyebrow. "What do you want, you metal bastard?"

He smirked, placing a finger under her chin to level their gaze together. "This mouth of yours didn't utter so much profanity before."

"Erik..."

He stared at her for a moment. His eyes were soft, gentle. She could say he was becoming emotional, but chose not to display it fully. "I came here to say goodbye."

She swallowed. What did she expect? That he'd stay with her? Oh, how gullible of her to believe in such a fantasy.

"Where are you going then?" She asked, meekly.

He didn't answer her question and she knew then he didn't want to be found. Eleanor gently placed her hands on the sides of his face, staring right in his eyes. They were a spring storm when the sun was just coming out, the greys and blues mixed beautifully. She let her thumbs graze his cheek and his lightly stubbled jaw. She leant forward, letting her lips brush his, softly, delicately, like butterfly wings. She could see him internally struggle whether to fight it or not.

And then Eleanor knew it herself.

She'd follow this man to the ends of the earth.

"I'll come with you." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Let's leave this all behind and go somewhere far."

Erik brushed her hair back and continued staring at her as if he was picturing her in his mind, memorizing every little detail. He smiled and with a heavy heart, he said, "You don't belong in my world, little bird."

Eleanor's eyes watered. "So, you're going to leave me again? Again? Why, Erik?"

Again, he was silent and he looked away, swallowing. She couldn't hear his thoughts for he was pushing her away with all his might.

"What do you want, Erik?"

He removed her hands from his face. "I want -- " He stopped, tore his fingers through his hair. "Never mind what I want." His voice was quieter, now. "What do you want?"

Eleanor smiled, knowing the answer to his question. "You. Always you."

"Why are you making this hard for me?" He breathed.

"Do you really want to leave me?"

He shook his head. "No, no, I don't." He admitted. "I am selfish, Eleanor, but I can't be selfish with you. Your happiness means the world to me. I don't want to corrupt you."

"You won't corrupt me." She muttered. "I've fought against you in Washington. I won't tolerate you."

"Eleanor -- "

"I want to be with you."

"I will only put you in danger."

She punched his chest once. "Let me decide for myself, Erik. I want to stay with you so please let me."

He shut his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, they were different. They held so much emotion than before. "I think I know now why my older self insisted you to go in that mission."

"Why?"

"So, I can do this."

And with that, he grabbed the sides of her face, crashing his lips to hers. Eleanor wasted no time in wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. The kiss was desperate, needy. Ten years, ten years since she last felt his lips against hers. They were soft as before. She felt light-headed like she couldn't believe this was all happening. Their kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment.

In his kiss, she was home.

They both pulled away, trying to regain their breath. Erik stared into her eyes and smiled. His two hands grabbed her left hand and he placed her open palm on his heart, and he holds it there. His eyes -- oh his eyes exuded love, security, respect and so much more. They fluttered close as he brushed his lips to hers once again.

"I love you, Eleanor."

She smiled. "I know. I love you too."

Erik shut his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, they held all the emotions he was feeling. They burned bright and Eleanor didn't mind getting scorched. With her own eyes clouded with passion, she captured his lips. This time, pouring all her feelings into the kiss.

Erik lifted her up to his waist and carried her to her bedroom where they spent the next few hours in utter bliss.

━━━━━━━━

ELEANOR HAD NEVER felt so much peace in her life.

She was contented, satisfied. It was like she had everything in the world and she need not anything else. It had been a month since she and Erik moved back to her cabin where they first met. A month since he stayed. She insisted that they stay for a while before they finally move permanently to the next location they'll be staying in. He didn't tell her where he was taking her, but she trusted him.

Little did she know, something was about to go wrong.

Just two days ago, they battled several government agents that attempted to arrest Erik. In an attempt to protect him from their tasers, she electrocuted all of them and almost killed them all. She was grazed by a bullet that came from a plastic gun as she led them away from her and Erik.

Erik was deeply perturbed ever since that incident. He was constantly asking her if she was alright and he couldn't be stayed put. She worried for him.

She wasn't going to lie. Living a fugitive life was hard, but she wanted it. They always had to run and hide. Eleanor worried for the life their child would have if they ever had one.

The first thing she felt was the empty space beside her. She yawned, stretching. Erik was a morning person and he always cooked breakfast for them despite her insisting that she can do it herself.

Yet, she didn't smell anything around the house.

Usually, she would wake up to the smell of a delicious breakfast, but today there was none. She furrowed her eyebrows, confused. "Erik?" She mentioned. "Erik?"

Eleanor picked up her robe from her chair, wearing it around her. She walked out of their bedroom, wincing as she felt the graze on her arm act up again. She pressed the gauze against her skin, hoping that the pain would subside. "Erik?" She called once again. No one answered.

The house was eerily quiet that she knew it was unusual. She tried to sense his presence, but he wasn't around. Something was definitely wrong. This wasn't Erik, he wasn't going to leave without any notice.

Her eyes then caught a piece of paper in the dining table, instantly recognizing his handwriting. Of course, he would leave a note. The man must've decided to go grocery shopping since they were already low on supplies, but then that was still odd since she was always the one who entered the stores.

She took the letter from the table and read it. That's when she felt the world caving in around her. It wasn't a note.

To my dearest Eleanor,

I will start my letter by saying I am sorry. I am sorry for what I have done, for even dragging you into this kind of life. As I watched you peacefully sleep last night, I came to the conclusion that I can't take your life away from you, El. This isn't you. You don't hurt people, you help them. I knew then that you belong in the mansion. You're meant to inspire children and spark hope just like how Logan described you did. I don't want to take that away from you. I want those children to know you. God knows I love you so much that it hurts for me to leave you. Live your life, my love, my little bird. Please understand that I am doing this for your own good. It's better this way. I'm protecting you.

I will see you again, Eleanor. If not in this lifetime, then maybe in another.

Yours,
Erik

"No, no," Her breathing grew rapid and her chest tightened. "No, no!" Taking the letter with her, she ran outside of her house, bare-footed and crying. She reached the highway and looked around for any sign of Erik. It was raining heavily, but she didn't care. The letter was still fresh in her hands, he just left. She may still be able to reach him. Just where was he?

"Erik!" She screamed, her voice echoing. She still couldn't sense his presence. He was gone.

He left... to protect her.

Realizing that, she fell on her knees with her tears freely streaming down her face. The rain poured down on her, soaking her wet. She held the letter close to her heart, continuing to cry. It was as if the sky was grieving for her broken heart.

Indeed, it was.

If not in this lifetime, then maybe in another.