Iris had grown very used to waking up in unfamiliar surroundings over the last few months, so waking up on the sofa wasn't particularly disorientating for her. She stretched out and winced – her back ached from only getting a few hours' sleep on the sofa.

She'd stayed up for a couple of hours writing in Hank's office, before making her way to the living room and crashing on the sofa. As she sat up, she frowned. She was sure she'd been too tired to grab a blanket, but now one was laid across her. She shook her head - she must have grabbed one without realising.

After a few more minutes of waking herself up, she grabbed some things from her bag and made her way to the bathroom to get washed and ready for the day. As she stood under the hot water of the shower, she couldn't help but think about last night, and the way things had been with Charles. She hadn't thought that it would be that hard to see him, but she'd been wrong. She couldn't look at his face without feeling like she'd ruined things.

But she'd been happy, before, when she was travelling and writing articles. She'd felt like it was something she was meant to do. She'd been working well on controlling her ability as well. Everything had felt right. Now she wasn't so sure.

With a sigh, she stepped out of the shower, dried off and got dressed into a clean set of clothes. As she made her way downstairs to get some breakfast, she realised she had missed the mansion. She'd missed having a base – somewhere that truly felt like home.

Iris made herself a cup of tea and some toast, and glanced at the clock. It wasn't long until classes were going to start for the day. She needed to go down to the lab to ask Hank which classes she was teaching.

As she walked down the corridor, she spotted a familiar face at the end of the hallway.

"Jessica!" She called out, and the young girl looked up and beamed.

"How are you finding things here?" Iris asked with a smile.

Jessica grinned, "It's amazing here! I love it so much, thank you for telling my family about it. And thank you for writing what you did about me in the news. My parents said it made them happy cry."

Iris squeezed the young girl's shoulder, "You're welcome. I'm glad you're happy, Jessica."

She thanked Iris again before running down the corridor after one of her friends.

Hank glanced up at her with a smile as she walked into the lab, "Morning, Iris."

Iris sat down on a spare chair and took a bite out of her toast, "Is Charles gone already with Alex?"

Hank nodded, "They left early this morning." He paused, "Hey, I'm sorry if I overstepped a line yesterday, calling you."

Iris shook her head slowly, "You did the right thing, Hank. Don't apologise."

"It's just..." Hank ran his hand over his face and groaned, "I shouldn't have left you alone with Charles, either. I didn't know what to do. I called you on an impulse, and then I didn't have the guts to tell Charles I'd done it. So when you appeared and I saw you two looking at each other I thought I should leave you to speak alone. Sorry."

"It's okay." Iris' voice was quiet, "Really. Please don't apologise, Hank."

"If you're sure..." He murmured.

"Did you see Charles this morning?" She asked carefully. Hank shrugged his shoulders.

"For a little bit. He said you looked well."

Iris nodded silently.

Hank cleared his throat and passed her a piece of paper, "I've written out what lessons you'll be teaching today. Sorry, I've kind of stolen some of your classes..."

She narrowed her eyes, "I hope they don't prefer your teaching to mine..."

"No comment."

She glanced down at the slip of paper, and Hank spoke again, "Charles put you in charge of Jean's session today."

Iris had to admit that while she was looking forward to seeing Jean again, she was also slightly nervous after what Hank and Charles had told her. She hoped the young girl was alright.

With a sigh, she brushed crumbs off of her lap and stood up, slipping the piece of paper into her pocket.

"Best get to my lessons then," She gave Hank a wave. As she started to walk away, he called out.

"We've missed you, Iris. Everyone has."

*

Iris had taught three lessons before she had her session with Jean. When she'd walked into each class, the students had erupted into whoops and cheers.

"We thought you weren't coming back!"

"Hank's been giving us homework – it's a nightmare."

"Our basketball team hasn't been the same without you!"

She was touched that they really had missed her. And when she launched into her lessons, she was reminded of how much she enjoyed teaching. It was enjoyable teaching students who enjoyed her company so much. Until, that was, she gave them homework. They seemed to like her company a lot less after that.

There was a knock at the door, and Jean walked in. She looked tired, but she still smiled when she saw Iris.

"I heard you were back. What's going on?" She asked as she sat down opposite Iris and put her books on the desk.

"I'm helping out the Professor while he runs an errand, so I'm just covering classes."

Jean raised a questioning eyebrow, "I thought you left, though. The Professor seemed really upset about it."

Iris had forgotten how forward Jean was.

"I had some things to figure out, Jean. I still do. But Hank called me, so I'm just helping out for a few days, that's all." She paused, "I'm sorry that I left without saying goodbye."

Jean shrugged, "It's okay."

Iris wasn't sure if she believed that Jean really thought it was alright, but she tried to move on.

"How have you been then, Jean?"

"I assume they told you about my nightmares."

Iris sighed, "Hank did tell me, yes. Are you alright?"

Jean was avoiding Iris' gaze, "I feel like I'm losing control of my abilities. I feel like there's something inside me, trying to get out, something much more powerful than me. I keep trying to tell the Professor, but he doesn't listen. He just says that things will get better. I don't think he believes it, though. He seemed pretty shaken up last night."

"The Professor is an optimist, Jean. He wants you to believe that things will get better. They will get better, it just might take some time. It's not an easy route to get to having control, I'm afraid."

Jean's eyes shone with tears, and she shook her head, "I just want it to go away. I want it to stop. I feel weak. And you left. I thought you understood me and then you left. I felt like I had no one else to talk to who understood how I felt. You just left so many people to fend for themselves. It was selfish."

Iris felt like she'd been slapped. She sat up straighter in her chair.

"Jean." Her tone made the young girl's head snap up in surprise, "I didn't just leave to go off on a holiday. I left to keep everyone here safe. I discovered something else I could do with my abilities, and it scared me. I hurt a friend because I couldn't control it, and I was worried about what else I could do, so I left. I made a sacrifice and left a life here that I loved. It wasn't selfish."

Jean opened her mouth to speak, but Iris held out a hand to silence her. After a moment, an apple appeared in her palm and she rolled it across the table to Jean. The young girl picked it up, and her mouth dropped open in shock.

"Being able to create things like this isn't all fun and games," Iris shook her head, and raised her hand again, willingly producing a flame, "When I can produce anything I like, or anything that even comes to my mind, it makes me dangerous. I had to leave. Otherwise someone was going to get hurt."

She closed her palm, and the flame disappeared. Jean's cheeks had flushed red with embarrassment. She took a deep breath, "I'm really sorry. That was unfair of me."

"It's alright. You were upset. You deserved to know why I left."

"Have you learnt to control it, then?"

Iris ran a hand through her hair and sighed, "Sort of. It's much better than it was a few months ago. Some days I feel more in control than others."

Jean nodded silently, and Iris leant forwards, "This is my point, Jean. You will gain control, but it will be a steady process. The more you fear your power, the less in control you will be."

The young girl met her gaze, "You're right."

"Now, before we get on with the session, will you promise not to tell the other students about why I left? I told you in confidence. Because I trust you."

A small smile. "Sure."

They didn't go through anything particularly strenuous in the session after Jean's tiring night, but it was enough to keep her busy for an hour or so. When Jean got up to leave the room, she paused by the door.

"I'm sorry for what I said, Miss. Miracle. I was just upset. Thanks for telling me why you left." She cleared her throat, "You might not think so, but everyone really missed you here. Not just the students. I could feel how much the Professor missed you, too."

Iris felt her heart contract. She smiled at the young girl, "You have no need to apologise. And I think we're past that now, Jean. You can call me Iris."

"Okay," Jean met her gaze, "Thanks, Iris. See you later."

She darted out of the room, and Iris sighed. It was strange, having so much in common with one of her students, but she was glad she'd opened up to Jean. She had a feeling that being honest was the best way to get through to the young girl.

She just hoped that Jean trusted her.

*

The sun was slowly setting over the horizon as Iris pushed away from the computer in her office with an exhausted sigh. She'd had to give Steven a ring around lunchtime to ask him for a few hours extension on her article deadline. She explained that she'd had to help out at the school and needed some time to finish off and edit her article. As always, he had mumbled and grumbled, but complied.

"You've always had me wrapped around that finger of yours, Iris," He'd muttered, "You were our best reporter, back when you worked here. It was a shame to see you go. I hate to say it, but I'm glad your back. Those articles are really important. I'm going to hang up now before you get all mushy on me."

She'd just finished writing the article and sent it off, and she was exhausted. She'd barely had any sleep the night before, and it had been a full-on day of teaching. She desperately needed some sleep.

The thought of sleeping on the sofa again made her wince. It had been so uncomfortable, and she didn't fancy another day of back pains.

Without thinking, she made her way to Charles' room.

When she opened the door, a small wistful sigh escaped her. The room looked the same as it had before she'd left. She had to admit as she sat down on the bed that she'd missed this room and the comfort and safety that had come with it.

After a pause, she kicked off her shoes and lay down, resting her head on one of the pillows. She inhaled deeply, and Charles' scent caused her eyes to sting with tears.

She closed her eyes to stop the tears from rolling onto the pillow, and took a few deep breaths to steady herself. She wasn't planning on sleeping in Charles' bed – she would get into her pyjamas and sleep in one of the spare rooms. It would be embarrassing if Charles got back before she woke up and found her asleep in there, or if someone else found her. She was going to get up. She just needed to rest her eyes for a bit longer...

Before she had a chance to get up, she fell asleep, enveloped in Charles' scent.