The mansion was silent.

It was oddly eerie, yet peaceful, hearing it in this state. The students that ran around after each other all day and created more noise than Charles could imagine were completely silent at night-time. He and Iris often felt as though they had to have whispered conversations or block the bottom of the door with blankets to prevent the students hearing any noise that they made.

Charles was facing Iris, watching her sleep softly. Her long dark hair had become tangled within the bed-sheets, but it still appeared as though it were a waterfall in the darkness. Her lips were pouting slightly, as she always did when she was sleeping. Charles often thought that she looked like she was thinking about something when she slept. She was always pondering or questioning something when she was awake, and it seemed that she carried this on as she slept.

Iris' eyebrows suddenly drew together, and her lips parted as if she was trying to say something. Charles frowned for only a moment before the dark room around them disappeared and was replaced with flames.

Charles pushed himself up quickly, glancing around him. Iris was still laying next to him on the bed, muttering something under her breath. She hadn't woken up yet though. She was asleep, and having a nightmare. Charles' breath caught in his throat – she hadn't done this for years. He'd thought her projecting her nightmares while she was sleeping was a thing of the past, but he was wrong.

A figure emerged from the flames around them, one that Charles had not expected to see at all.

It was Sebastian Shaw.

Behind him emerged another figure, dressed all in black. Her eyes were cold and unseeing, although there was a hint of a smirk at the edge of her lips.

It was Iris, but not quite Iris.

"Look at all that you've done," Shaw smiled at the dream-Iris, "The most beautiful weapon I have ever created."

The flames were starting to die away, and as Charles looked closer he saw something littered across the floor. Something that made him feel uneasy...

Bodies.

And Charles recognised all of them. He saw the students from the school, Hank, Raven, Erik...

Beside him, the real Iris cried out in horror.

"Iris," Charles tried to shake her awake, "Iris, wake up. You're only dreaming-"

"I have one last request for you, Miracle," Shaw smirked, "Kill Xavier. Kill Charles Xavier."

Charles felt his heart stop as Iris began to sob uncontrollably. She was still sleeping, and she wasn't waking up.

A dream version of Charles appeared in front of them, and the dream-Iris walked towards him, swinging a sword in his direction. The dream-Charles began to plead with her, but she said nothing as she swung the sword down and stabbed him in the chest.

Iris screamed. Charles began to shake her again, whispering, "Iris, please, it's only a dream. Please."

She jerked upwards, and the vision around them vanished, leaving the room in darkness. Iris turned to look for Charles frantically, and the moment her eyes fell on him, she burst into tears.

He watched her for a moment in shock before reaching out and pulling her towards him. He could feel her whole body shaking, and she was trying to say something to him.

He stroked her hair gently, "It wasn't real, Iris. It was just a dream."

"I- Shaw," She whispered, "I killed you."

"I know," Charles closed his eyes, "I saw it all. You... you projected it into the room."

Iris seemed to freeze, and she lifted her head slowly. Her eyes shone with tears, "I'm sorry. I would never do that. I want you to know that."

"Of course you wouldn't, Iris. I know that."

He held onto her face tenderly, and she nodded slowly. Her breathing became steadier and she gulped, "I haven't accidentally projected something in years, Charles. I thought I finally had it under control."

"We all have relapses- it happens," He muttered softly, "But that doesn't mean you're going to lose control again. You've taught yourself control."

Iris' bottom lip quivered, "I don't want to hurt anybody."

"You won't," Charles murmured, "You wouldn't let yourself do that. Even if somehow you lost complete control, I believe that there is still a part of you within that would fight back."

Iris nodded her head, shifting her weight so that she could sit up, "I don't want to sleep again. Not tonight."

Charles rested his head back down on the pillow and gestured for her lie down beside him. She nestled her head into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her, "You can sleep, Iris. I'll be right here if you need waking up." He kissed the top of her head gently, and the two of them lay there in silence in the darkness.

Neither of them managed to get any more sleep that night.

*

"Will you come and play basketball again today?" Jubilee asked Iris as the rest of the students trooped out of the classroom, "We need you on our team to keep up our winning streak."

Iris shook her head slowly, "I'm sorry Jubilee, not today. I have some work I need to complete with the Professor."

It wasn't a complete lie. Iris was meeting Charles after the lesson, but she was also far too tired to play basketball. She hadn't slept at all since the nightmare the night before. Neither had Charles - he had stayed true to his word, protecting her until the sun rose.

Jubilee nodded and left the classroom quickly, and Iris glanced at the back of the classroom. Jean was standing there with her books pulled against her chest, glancing down at the floor.

"Shall we go?" Iris asked gently, and Jean nodded. They walked out side by side, and Iris glanced at the student. Jean had been there for a few days now, and Iris got the impression that she wasn't settling in very well.

"Have you made any friends since you've got here?"

Jean hesitated, "Not really. I... It's difficult to approach people and have conversations with them when you already know what they're thinking. It defeats the purpose of even talking to people."

"Once we help you to control this, you won't have to worry about that any more Jean. People's thoughts will not be quite so prominent in your own brain," Iris smiled, "And everyone here tries to be as welcoming as possible. We all have something in common, so it's easier to make friends. You don't stand out here any more than the next student."

Jean smiled gratefully as they turned into an empty classroom next to Charles' study. Charles was already sitting by the window, his eyebrows knitted together in thought. When he heard them approach, he turned around and smiled, "Jean! How are you settling in?"

"Okay so far thanks, Professor."

Iris met Charles' gaze, and he didn't have to project his thoughts for her to know that he was checking up on her. She simply nodded quickly, moving to sit down beside Jean.

"So Jean," Charles asked, "Is it the mind-reading that you find the most difficult to control, or the telekinesis?"

She bit her lip, "Probably the mind reading. I- I can't stop the voices in my head. It's difficult to concentrate when I'm surrounded by people."

"Okay," Charles leant back, "So I can imagine that you can hear both mine and Miss. Miracle's thoughts right now?"

Jean nodded, "Sorry. It's difficult not to."

Charles laughed, "I know the feeling, Jean. Okay. I want you to focus on your own thoughts. Not mine or Miss. Miracle's- just your's. Think about yourself, and only yourself."

"Seems a bit conceited," Jean quipped, a smile playing at the edges of her lips, but she took a deep breath and began to focus.

Iris watched as Jean stared into the distance, trying to concentrate on only her own thoughts before shaking her head, "I- I can't-"

"Jean," Iris murmured softly, "Never say you can't do something. You can. That was only your first try. Try again. Perhaps, this time, try closing your eyes."

Jean's eyes closed, and she pouted her lips as she focused. After about a minute, she nodded, "Got it."

"Try to maintain that," Charles whispered, "Open your eyes and try to stay focused on your own thoughts."

After a moment's hesitation, Jean's eyes opened. There was a small crease between her eyebrows, implying how much focus she was having to put into this.

"Now, read my thoughts. And only my thoughts, mind. Don't delve into Miss. Miracle's at the same time," Charles smiled playfully, but Iris sensed the meaning behind his choice. He understood that she didn't necessarily want one of her students to dive into her thoughts and begin to piece together her worries and fears.

Jean turned to face Charles and frowned slightly as she allowed his thoughts to enter her mind as well. Her expression was unreadable, until she sat back.

"Who has mushroom omelettes for breakfast?" She asked, her nose crinkling faintly.

Iris and Charles began to laugh, and he shook his head, "I used to have them back at home when I lived in England."

Jean's expression darkened as she lost focus and Iris' thoughts filled her mind again.

"I didn't manage to maintain the focus..."

"It's okay," Charles spoke softly, "We can try again. We have plenty of time, Jean."

An hour later, Jean left the study with a headache, leaving the two teachers sitting by the window. Neither of them said anything for a moment, but Iris felt Charles' hand wrap around hers tightly.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

When Charles used that tone, it always caused Iris' eyes to sting with tears. His kindness was so wonderfully overwhelming.

"Yes," She gulped, "Tired, but of course so are you. Sorry for keeping you up all night."
"Don't be sorry. I wanted to help you," He reached out and turned her head so that she was facing him, "I didn't want to leave you alone with your own thoughts."

"I'm scared," Iris suddenly whispered, her eyes filling with tears, "I don't want to hurt any of the students. I'm scared that something could happen to one of them because of me. In my nightmare, I'd... I'd killed them all."

Charles' expression softened, "Iris, don't let this one nightmare change the confidence that you had developed in your powers. Don't allow part of yourself to resist against all the control that you have. You would never, ever let yourself hurt one of the children. I can tell you that much. And, it was only a nightmare. Shaw is dead, and you're safe here, with me."

Iris nodded, and a dark curl fell out of her ponytail. Charles reached out and tucked it behind her ear, causing her to smile.

"I've got you, Iris," He murmured softly, squeezing her hand, "I won't let any harm come to you. I've got you."