A SCARLET ENERGY sphere appeared above her palm, mesmerizing the students in front of her. She let her palms face each other, creating a large psionic energy that is the size of a tennis ball. The brunette used it to control the apple on her desk, splitting it in half.

"As you can see here in our presentation, the earth and its inside resemble an apple." She then lowered the other half of the apple to show to present her point to all of them. "Just like an apple has a thin outer layer, thick middle part and inside, so does the earth. The outer layer of the earth is the crust. Like the apple peel, it is very thin." She explained to all of them, gesturing to the projector screen. "Now, does anyone have any questions?"

One of the children raised their hand.

"Yes, Miss Danes?"

"Is there any possibility that the world may end sooner than we expect?"

Eleanor licked her lips and wrung her hands together as she considered what her student had just asked. "Well, everything comes to an end, Miss Danes. Every story has an ending. Every life ends with death. But to ask if it will be sooner, there's no guarantee to that. It can be anytime, like a thief in the night. Why'd you ask?"

"It's just that... humans always say that the end of the world will be brought by one of us mutants."

The brunette looked up at the ceiling, considering it. "Well, we indeed can, but will we? That is the question. I think it's quite unfair that it is already assumed that us mutants will bring the end of the world just because we are genetically enhanced." She shook her head, leaning her back on her desk. "Each and every one of us in here including humans have the ability to destroy earth."

"I mean, just give a person enough reason to do so and they will turn everything to dust. The past world wars are proof that humans can also bring the end. Look at their atomic bombs." She crossed her arms. "So, to blame mutantkind for something that is merely a thought? It's wrong and unfair."

Up until now, she and Charles worked hard to make humans and the governments around the world see that they are people too, but of course, they refused to listen. Even after ten years had passed, humans still think that mutants are threats to mankind.

In her peripheral vision, she noticed Hank's figure standing by the doorway and turned her head towards him. He didn't even need to say anything since Eleanor could read the plead in his eyes. "And that is the end of our lesson." She dismissed the class, moving around her desk to gather her things. "Please, see yourselves out and we will continue this discussion tomorrow."

As soon as the children started leaving the room, Eleanor walked over to Hank, concerned. "What is it?"

"Your mother's here."

The brunette's jaw fell. "Oh, my god." She exasperated. She then dashed down the stairs, apprehensive.

It had been almost four years since she last talked to her mother and their last conversation didn't quite go well.

"Mother!" greeted Eleanor as she saw her at the entrance of the mansion. "Oh, my god. What are you doing here?" She gave her mother a kiss to her cheek.

The woman returned the gesture and placed her hands on her hips. Helen Ridges was the perfect definition of the phrase, 'aging like fine wine'. With her brown hair and sparkling emerald eyes, one wouldn't think she was already in her sixties.

"What do you think? I'm visiting you and your family." Helen frowned. "What? You don't want me in here?"

Eleanor shook her head. "I'm sorry, you just came in here without notice. I was just surprised."

"Is that your husband?" Helen pointed to Charles who had just wheeled in. "I'm offended you didn't invite your mother to your wedding, darling. I -- "

"We're not yet married." blurted out Eleanor, swallowing. Charles then stirred his wheelchair over to her side, ready to diffuse the situation if needed.

"I'm Charles Xavier, your daughter's fiancé." He introduced himself, extending his hand for a shake.

Helen's eyes flicked towards Charles, narrowing into slits. She raised her eyebrow. "Call me Helen."

"If this man breaks my daughter's heart, I swear to whoever divine entity's out there, his body will be next on my dissection table."

Charles and Eleanor flinched and she felt him going for her hand for support. Her mother had just delivered the coldest threat she had just heard from her.

"Mom," the brunette gritted her teeth. "We can hear your thoughts!"

Helen furrowed her eyebrows before gasping in realization. "Oh, so he's a telepath too? Damn! I thought I could get away from you mind-readers."

"Can you please control your thoughts?"

"No, you should be the ones who should control your telepathy." She then tapped her temple. "This is my mind and I am allowed to think whatever I want. So as long as I don't act them, they aren't a crime."

Helen then placed her hands on her hips once again. "Now, when the hell are you two going to get married?"

Eleanor winced. This was exactly the reason why she was apprehensive of her mother's arrival. She knew she would nag her again to get married. Eleanor would push that it was her decision and Charles was alright with it. He didn't pressure her and instead waited until she was ready.

"Soon, but not now." She informed, squeezing his hand. Charles gently pressed his thumb over her engagement ring. "We can't find the time between managing the school and raising our kids."

Helen raised her hand. "Speaking of kids, where are my grandchildren?" She questioned, looking around for the presence.

As if on cue, two children levitated in the air, descending from the second floor. Their hands were lifted on their sides as if it carried them. Their eyes were narrowed and their lips were tightly pursed. "We're here." They simultaneously answered.

Eleanor ran her hand across her face to refrain herself from being stressed out. "Oh, my god." She uttered. Her twins have been practicing their entrances, wanting to be able to show-off. They deemed that every entrance should be grand, not dull. She had no idea where they inherited that kind of thinking.

Nathaniel and Anastasia Xavier were incredibly gifted children. Both intellectually smart and well-practiced with their abilities, all thanks to their in-depth training with Charles. While they had the same level of intelligence, her twins had contrasting powers. Their son had the ability to destroy things while their daughter repairs them. Whatever Nathaniel ripped apart, Anastasia puts them all back together.

Yet just lately, she and Charles discovered that they both harness large amounts of energy that is enough to knock the world off its axis and it only manifests itself when they combine their powers. She only hoped they wouldn't be forced to use them one day.

She strode over to her children and introduced them to Helen. "Mother, this is Nathan and Ana."

Two children with brown hair and wild blue eyes waved their hands, smiling brightly after their little show earlier. Eleanor swore her children could fool anyone with just their smile. They were just ten year olds, but they already knew so much.

"Oh, wow! Look at my grandchildren! I'm really getting old already!" Helen beckoned them both to come closer to her. Nathan and Ana shared a glance before craning their necks to stare at Eleanor and Charles as if to ask for permission.

The brunette gestured to her mother, nodding. "Go on." She urged.

Helen embraced the two children who walked over to her, giving them sweets. Soon, her mother had finally left the mansion with all smiles, but not before she turned around to her fiancé.

"Take care of my daughter, Charles Xavier." Helen reminded. "She's my treasure."

"Helen, I assure you, I will." Charles assured, staring right into Eleanor's eyes, never turning away he said his next words. "I value her as much as I value myself."

"Good." And with that, Helen nodded and left them all. Eleanor ran her fingers on her engagement ring and looked down, deep in thought. Ten years of being together and she was still unsure whether to take the next step. When will she ever be?

━━━━━━━━

THE DAY ROLLED by fairly quickly and soon, Eleanor was in their bed, busy preparing her lesson for tomorrow. She was so immersed in the current topic she was writing that she didn't notice Charles climbing up beside her.

"How did your classes go?" He asked, leaning his head back on the headboard, grabbing a book that was about Advanced Physics.

"Stressful, but alright." She responded. "You?"

"Great. Well, all of them were exceptional especially Jean."

Eleanor looked down, remembering how she and Charles brought in the young mutant. The visible melancholy in her eyes haunted her. Jean Grey had seen too much for her age at that time that Eleanor's heart broke immediately when she all saw it. She wanted to help her slowly overcome her trauma, but Charles assured that he could handle it on his own.

For years, Eleanor guided Jean to maintain control of her telepathy and telekinesis. She could even go as far as to say the girl was a natural. The woman always sensed her potential and knew she would do great things one day.

"She is." She gently put down her pen, removing her glasses. She turned to look at Charles, raising her eyebrow as she dragged her finger across his chin. "You need to shave again. Your stubble is growing."

"I don't know." Charles shrugged, teasing. "I think I'd like to grow them again."

"No, please! I wouldn't like to have a repeat of what happened a year ago. I had rashes all over my neck, it was horrendous! I had to wear turtle necks for weeks!" She complained, groaning.

At this, Charles suddenly tackled her in her side of their bed, tickling her using his lightly stubbed chin. Eleanor bursted into laughter, thrashing around as she tried avoid his fingers at her side too. "No! Charles!" She cackled. Suddenly, she blasted him using her energy and he was thrown over to the edge of their bed. "Oh, shit! Sorry!" She jumped up and helped him back to their bed. "I'm so sorry!"

"No, it's fine! It's warming to see your smile again." He said. "I've been waiting all day to see it."

Eleanor rolled her eyes and pushed him off of her as soon as she placed him back to his side. "How's Nathan and Ana?"

"They're actually now -- "

Four consecutive knocks interrupted their conversation and Eleanor shared a glance with Charles as she felt their children's presence behind the door. "Come in!" She declared and almost instantly, the twins barged in the door, grinning excitedly.

"Mommy, Daddy, can we sleep here?" Nathan instantly asked, jumping in front of them excited.

"Pretty please!" kindly begged her young daughter, lips pouting and her head tilted to the side. She clasped her hands, pleading with her eyes.

How could she ever resist that?

"Come in here," Charles patted the middle of the bed, moving aside to them space. The two children jumped up their bed, getting between them.

Eleanor ran her hand on her son's hair, slightly frowning. "Your hair is kind of long now. We need to cut it."

"No!" Nathan shook his head. "I want it long like dad's!"

The brunette gave her fiancé a look. "See? Your son idolizes you." She sighed. "Tomorrow, you're getting haircuts, both of you."

"No!" Nathan groaned and Charles joined him. The two whined, complaining together and then laughed afterwards.

Sometimes, she wondered why she even said yes when he proposed.

Eleanor rolled her eyes, just pulling Anastasia to her. She ran her hand across the brown curls of her little girl, kissing her head.

"Now, brain exercises before we sleep." Charles started. "Nathan, what does the Hooke's Law state?"

The brunette watched their son tap his chin twice before giving his answer. "It states that the extension of a spring is proportional to the tension stretching it. Doubling of the tension results in the doubling of the amount of stretch."

"Very good! Top marks, as always. Anastasia, what about the Bernoulli's Principle?"

The young girl leaning against her, raised her eyebrow. "It states that as the speed of a moving fluid, liquid or gas, increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases." She answered without even struggling.

"Yes, and also the aerodynamic lift on the wing of an aeroplane is also explained in part by this principle." Charles then grinned, curling his fist. "You two did exceptional and I'm very proud of you both!" He then placed a kiss on their forehead. "Mum, would you like a question as well?"

"No, thank you. I think the gears inside my head crashed with all the words you all have just spoken." She chuckled and adjusted herself to be comfortable.

Charles then gave her a smile and pecked her cheek before moving to lean back on the pillows. He brushed the Anastasia's hair back. "Now, always remember, me and your mum loves you both. Whatever you do in life, you have our complete support."

The twins grinned and gave him a kiss on his cheeks and did the same with Eleanor. "We love you!" Anastasia said before curling up on her side like her brother who was now fast asleep.

Eleanor and Charles shared a look before he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Good night, love." He said before wrapping his arms around the twins.

"Good night, Charles."

The brunette didn't sleep immediately though. She stayed awake, twisting the end of her shirt. At long last, she opened her drawer, pulling out a small metal bearing. Eleanor swallowed and bit her lip as she rolled it between her fingers. She didn't know where Erik was now. Maybe he had moved on. It would be clearly impossible if he didn't and if he really did, shouldn't she do the same as well? She turned her head to see Charles and their children, her heart falling as they all looked peaceful. She sighed and looked up, holding the ball tightly.

Ten years was enough for her to wait on someone who didn't have the intention to come back or even remain.

Eleanor already had everything in front of her and that was enough. That was enough.