"WELCOME TO Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters! May you all enjoy this year's semester!"

The brunette grinned as Charles finished his welcome speech to the fourth batch of mutant students they invited to study in their school. She stood beside Charles, her hands joined together in front of her as waved at them. Her heart warmed as she peeked at each of them.

Being a teacher did indeed felt rewarding. Just seeing the students' joyful smiles and bright eyes made Eleanor felt that this was where she truly belonged. Motivating children to who they want to be.

Months have passed since Washington and many things -- both wonderful and heartbreaking have happened since then. After Erik had left her, she was immediately arrested and interrogated for her brief association with him, yet thankfully all were quickly dismissed when Charles vouched for her innocence.

He made them all believe that she wasn't completely aware of her actions and what she had done was purely defensive. She was defiantly against what he had done, but it was the only way to clear her name.

The new students erupted into cheers and they were all led by Hank to their quarters, each of them receiving a candy bar from him. "Alright, children! There's no need to rush!" She advised. "Slow down! Slow down!"

She was guiding them kindly to Hank when she heard one student's voice among them.

"I don't think I will fit in."

Eleanor instantly perked up, searching for the source of the voice. She peered across the group and sensed that it came from a young girl who looked no older than twelve. She then approached the child with a kind smile.

"Hello there!" She greeted. "What's the matter, sweetie?" Eleanor bent a little forward in an attempt to comfort the little girl. With her current state, it was impossible for her to fully kneel or even bend down.

The pretty light-haired girl looked up at her with uncertainty in her green eyes. "I, uh, nothing... nothing." She shook her head, but Eleanor smiled kindly. She could hear the doubts inside her head.

"Tell you what, my darling. You don't have to worry about fitting in. We are all just like you here." She patted the girl's head and brushed her hair back. "You were always meant not to fit in, so why even try right? Stand out the way you wish to be. Just be you, Lily."

Lily's eyes widened in surprise when she heard her name. Eleanor then twirled her hands and a red mist appeared, hoping to pique the girl's interest. The child gasped and grinned when she realized who she was talking to. "I knew I saw you somewhere! I saw you on television! You fought that bad guy. Oh, I want to be like you!"

The brunette looked down for a moment, swallowing as she remembered Erik. "Well, you can. But I want you to be better." She smiled. "You'll do so much more than me, I know it. Now, go to Professor McCoy and he'll assist you to your room."

The child still looked up to her in wonder as she walked over to Hank, taking the candy bar from him. She waved her hand and finally went up the stairs.

"So, how does it feel to be a teacher again?" Charles asked behind her, startling her a little.

Eleanor paused, sighing. "Fulfilling." She answered. "Though at my state right now, it's tiring me a lot."

The man smiled and reached out to rub her swollen stomach. "How are they?"

"They're behaved today, actually." She placed her hand above his and guided them to the area where one of her twins was situated. "And thank god they are. I didn't get enough sleep this week because of them."

Charles chuckled and drew closer to her, leaning his ear against her stomach. "Do they need to hear my voice again?"

Eleanor swatted him lightly, causing him to recoil and laugh. "Please no! Whenever they hear you, they would get excited and move around. It hurts."

"Oh, it'll only be a week from now before we meet them." He mused. The head of the school then wheeled himself inside his office. The woman followed him, resting a hand on his shoulder and the other on her swollen belly. "I have a lot of plans for our school." Charles began to explain. Eleanor felt a kick on her side and she smiled for one of the twins must've agreed with him. "I've been planning to expand the gardens..."

Another kick occurred, but this time it was harder and she grimaced from the pain. She put both of her hands above it, trying to figure out what was going on. Charles winced too and he spun around to meet her. "Are you alright?"

Just then, she felt a liquid ooze out from her and down her legs. She was due. Pain emerged from her lower back and she gasped.

"Charles!" Eleanor grabbed his shoulder, squeezing it tight. "My water just broke."

His eyes widened and he immediately pressed his fingers to his temple to call Hank. "Alright, Ellie. Just breathe and hang on. We're going to the hospital. Hank! For god's sake!"

Her mother once told her that childbirth would feel like bad menstrual cramps, but it wasn't. It was much more intense. She could feel her muscles inside slowly twisting harder and harder. "I don't think I'll be able to reach the -- " She gasped. "the hospital! These children are coming out now! Bring the hospital to me!" She demanded.

"But -- "

"I don't care if you and I have to pay thousands of dollars to -- just get me a fucking doctor right now!"

"Yes! Yes!"

Eleanor stumbled over to Charles' desk, bending over. There was a searing pain on her lower back that she felt like she was being stabbed several times. It only subsided when Charles applied pressure on it. "Come on, breathe, darling. You can do it."

"I'm here! I'm here! I've already called an ambulance! They're on their way! They're sending a full medical staff to help her." Hank rapidly gave out information once he barged in the office. He stared right over to Eleanor who reached out to him.

"Get me to the fucking lab before I burn this place down, Hank. Thank you." She croaked.

Hank nodded and immediately carried her to the sub-basement, laying her gently down on one of the beds in the lab. Charles was beside her, wiping the sweat off her forehead with a towel. "It's going to be alright, love. Just calm your mind."

The woman knew what he was implying. Lately, Eleanor had no control over her psychic abilities because of the sudden pain she was feeling. She would literally send telepathic shockwaves that would render everyone unconscious. Charles was worried that she might send another one if she didn't calm down. That was why she requested to be brought in the lab where she knew it would be safer for everyone.

"Ow!" She yelped as she another stabbing pain in her stomach. "Why can't men just give birth? Why can't you be seahorses, goddammit!" She screamed as she rolled to her side, trying to find comfort.

Eleanor's eyes blurred with tears, but she could feel Charles' support beside her. "Soon, we'll be seeing them. Just hold on." He soothed then shouted. "Where are the doctors, Hank?"

"They're almost here!"

"They better be here or I swear I'll... Shit!" She swore, pinching the bridge of her nose. Childbirth was confusing. The pain would subside then come back like a slap across the face. Eleanor hoped she could survive such pain or else she'll bring the mansion down with her.

━━━━━━━━

SOON, THE sub-basement was filled by her screams. There was a red glow coming from the laboratory, an action done by Eleanor. All of the paraphernalia around was trembling and she had already shattered several beakers around.

"Alright, Mrs. Xavier, just push!"

She frowned at the doctor helping her deliver her twins. "I'm not his wife -- oh fucking hell!" She cried as she felt the contraction once again and pushed. She screamed that she felt her throat had dried already.

Charles held her hand in his and Eleanor swore she must've already broken several of his bones because of the squeezes she gave. The contraction was gone again and that meant she had to wait before it came back. She was in labor for six hours, but she felt like a month had passed already. She breathed and heard Charles' voice beside her. "You're doing a great job, darling! I'm here for you."

"Come on, push! Wait for the contraction!"

"I feel the fucking contraction!"

"There! There! Push!"

Eleanor screamed and pushed with all her might. She could hear Charles screaming together with her and she laughed for a moment before she cried once again. Everything hurt, but hearing him scream was just enough to pull her out of it.

She breathed. "I hate you."

Charles shook his head, catching his breath. He was sweating. "No, you don't."

"Fuck no, I don't." She pushed once again and finally, she felt her baby come out of her. It would only be twelve minutes later before the other twin was out too. Her head collapsed on her pillow and she stared at Charles.

"You did it!" He praised. "You did wonderful! Look!" He said, pointing his finger to the two babies that were being held by the nurses. "You see that? Those are our children."

Eleanor craned her neck and almost cried when she caught sight of them.

It was a boy and a girl.

The nurses then walked away and she felt herself panic. Her heart raced and almost got up from her bed. "Wh-where are they taking them?"

She was confused. No, she had to hold them first. She should be able to feel them first. "We have to clean them up, Mrs. Xavier."

"No, no, you give them to me first and no, I'm not his wife. Thank you." She snapped and the nurses handed her and Charles the little babies, waiting patiently beside her. Hank adjusted the bed a little in order for her to be able to sit up and turned his head to have a look at the twins.

"They're beautiful." Eleanor muttered as she touched her baby boy's cheeks and moved over to see the other twin in Charles' arms. "They're so beautiful." She felt another tear escape her eye as she looked at both of them.

Because finally, she got what she always dreamed of. A family of her own.

"What are you going to name them?" Hank asked, cooing at the sight of the little baby girl.

Eleanor looked away to the side before tilting her head back to Charles. They had this conversation three months ago when they discovered she was having twins. She took one more look at her twins as she breathed out their names, squeezing Charles' hands as she did so.

She felt a warm feeling bloom in her chest and smiled. Maybe this was it. This was where she truly belonged. Maybe, this was indeed her home.

"Nathaniel and Anastasia."