FOREWORD: OH BOY OHHHH BOYYYYYYYYY THIS CHAPTER

why does it take us by surprise?

~

November 29, 1972

Dear Alex,

Something scares me.

I've stopped missing you as much.

Oh god, writing that down makes my head spin. I guess...I don't even know why I'm feeling this way. I mean, I do still really miss you. A lot. But now instead of a stab to my heart, it's more of a dull ache. Still hurts, but just a little less.

Hank took down all the pictures of you and Sean in October. We put them in a box, and now they're in the back of my closet. I sometimes stare at the box, wanting to look at the pictures. But I don't because then the ache will turn into the stab again.

I see Charles lingering around my room or his office. I'm still worried about him. River helps keep my panic away by being a distraction, but I still worry. He's very unstable these days. His hair is all outgrown, and he drinks more and more everyday. He also takes more and more serum everyday. I don't think that Hank can stop making the stuff because he is just too guilty and wants to help Charles.

Sometimes I wonder why I couldn't anticipate you leaving. Not that it's a good thing, but we were bound to have an odd and maybe sad relationship. Why did it take us by surprise? We're mutants, and plus, I looked into your future and I wasn't in it. I want to change that. I want to change destiny. Ha.

Are you still alive? I really hope so. Hank says you are, he always says you are. But then again, we said Sean would survive and we still don't know. I'm pretty sure the government won't let us know you are MIA or anything until we as because we are mutants, and we are less priority. That's what one secretary told me. I almost knocked her teeth out. Hank said you would've loved to see that.

We miss you. Come home soon.

Love, Neva Liu

~

December 3, 1972

Neva heard a doorbell and practically sprinted down the wooden steps, Hank a couple steps behind her. She opened the door excitedly to see a stern military officer. Her smile disappeared.

"Good afternoon, sir," Hank said. Neva waited, holding her breath. This could be good news! Or horribly bad news. Her heart was beating faster and faster as the moments continued.

"I have a paper for this house," the soldier said. Hank nodded and reached out to take the white envelope.

"Thank you." The soldier nodded curtly and then turned to walk towards the camouflage-print car outside of the gate. Neva closed the big door as Hank ripped the paper open. His eyes scanned the paper. Suddenly, he leaned on the wall with a sob. Neva ran over and hugged him.

"What...what's wrong?" she said softly. She almost didn't want to hear his answer.

"S-sean's gone," he whispered. Neva felt herself weaken, and the two held each other and cried. The paper fell to the ground with a soft rustle.

~

January 27, 1973

Neva was watching River climb up a tree nimbly with a smile on her face. River had grown up fast. With her mutant abilities only growing stronger, the little girl was a handful. But quite a happy handful.

"Be careful!" Neva called, shading her eyes with her hand.

"I am!" River replied with a grin. She latched herself onto another branch.

When River was halfway up the tall tree, Neva heard a doorbell in the distance. She turned and saw Hank going towards the door. Her mind whirled with all the difference possibilities. The last time someone rang their doorbell, only bad news came. What if this time was the same?

"I'll be right back!" she shouted to River. River nodded and continued to climb with giggles.

Neva ran into the house and met Hank by the front door. The man pushed up his glasses with a deep breath. She put a hand on his arm for comfort, and he nodded.

Hank opened the door narrowly.

"Can I help you?" he asked, looking a little surprised. Neva peered over his shoulder and was surprised as well. The person outside the door was not a soldier but a normal-looking man. He was wearing a brown leather jacket, jeans with a wide belt, and a dark patterned shirt. His brown hair was slicked back but also stuck up in a bit of a curious hairstyle, and he had some big sideburns. Sunglasses hid part of his face.

The strange man tried to look past Hank, but he met Neva's eyes.

"Uh...yeah, what happened to the school?" he asked, looking around the door at the overgrown ivy. Neva and Hank exchanged expressions. Hank looked back out the door.

"The school's been shut for years," he said. "Are you a parent?" The man scoffed.

"I sure as hell hope not," he replied. Neva raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

"Neveah Liu. I'm a teacher." Who is this guy?! A fancy sunglasses salesman?

"And who are you?" Fancy Sunglasses turned back to Hank.

"I'm Hank. Hank McCoy. I look after the house now." Neva elbowed him. "Sorry, we take care of the house now." The man laughed.

"You're Beast?" He looked at Hank with a smirk. "Look at you. I guess you're a late bloomer."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about, sir, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Hank said, a little frustrated. He started to close the door, but the man pushed against it, ignoring the other man with the normal glasses.

"So where's the professor?" he said. Neva widened her eyes. How does he know Charles?!

"There's no professor here," Hank almost shouted.

"You're pretty strong for a scrawny kid," the man commented. "You sure there's not a little Beast in there?" Neva tried to hold the door closed with Hank, but the strange man was very strong.

"N-no he's not here," stammered Hank. The door started to creak open more, and Neva wondered what the man would do once he got in.

"Come on, Beastie," the man grunted. Neva tried not to grin at the nickname. "C'mon Beast." She saw Hank get more and more angry and debated if she should tell him to relax.

"No-" Hank was cut off by the man finally pushing through the door. Hank and Neva both fell to the ground, and Neva groaned as her arm hit the floor.

"Ok ouch," she muttered. She stood up slowly and rubbed her elbow. She watched the man look around the mansion in curiosity.

"Hey!" Hank said after him, standing up also. "I said the school is closed! You need to leave!"

"Not until I see the professor," the other man said. He took off the sunglasses and looked up the staircase. Neva put a hand on his arm, and he turned around.

"Sorry, sir, but we need you to leave," she said as friendly as possible. He narrowed his eyes.

"Who are you again?"

"Neva Liu."

"Don't know you. Some advice, kid," he pushed her hand off, "stay out of my business. Where's the professor?" Neva stepped back in disbelief. What is he talking about? Suddenly, Hank grabbed the man by his shoulder and turned him around.

"There's no professor here, I told you that," he said, getting mad. The leather-clad man looked at him with a small smile.

"Look kid, you and I are going to be good friends," he said. Before Hank could respond, the man punched him in the face, making him fall again. Neva ran over to see if he was ok. "You just don't know it yet." He looked up. "Professor? Professor!" The man walked up the stairs, and Hank growled.

"Hank? Hank, listen to me. Focus, focus," she said. He shook his head, and his glasses fell off. Hank's skin was slowly turning blue, and Neva sighed. "Fine, be that way." She stepped back and ran over to a nearby drawer. She opened it and grabbed the small emergency handgun inside. Taking a deep breath, she clicked off the safety and put in some bullets. She hadn't shot a gun in years. Old instincts and memories began pouring into her mind. She shut them out. Hank growled more and then raced up the stairs in his full blue form.

"Auntie Neva?" Neva quickly hid the gun behind her back and saw River halfway through the door, looking scared. "Is Hank ok?" Neva nodded and slipped the gun into her back pocket. She went over and grabbed River's hand.

"Yeah, he's fine." There were loud noises of things breaking and growls upstairs. Neva gulped. "He's ok. Just go to your room ok? I'll get you in a couple minutes." River nodded and skipped off into her room. Neva gave a quick smile and closed the door, pulling the gun out again. She aimed it upwards and walked around in a circle, still looking upwards. There was a loud roar. "Geez, Hank."

Before she walked upwards, the strange man was suddenly thrown down the stairs and landed on the table. Neva yelled out in surprise and pointed the gun towards his leg. Then, Hank came with an almost battle cry and flipped midair to finally land in the chandelier, scaring Neva. She shot in the air, narrowly missing the chandelier and a blue arm. Hank was about to claw at the visitor, but then a voice interrupted them.

"Hank? Neva? What's going on here?" Charles walked downstairs slowly in his now-normal bathrobe and pajamas, a drink in his hand.

"Professor?" Fancy Sunglasses said, confused. Charles waved his hand and sat on a step.

"Please don't call me that," he said, taking a sip of the beer. Neva lowered her gun but wanted to shoot near Charles' foot and remind him that he really was a professor. She shook her head. Having a gun in her hand really did make her more aggressive. A memory in California rose up, but she put it down. Now was not the time for reminiscing.

"Why? You know this guy?" Hank asked upside down. Charles wiped his red eyes.

"Yeah, he looks slightly familiar," he said. "Hank, get off the bloody chandelier." Hank flipped off the glass and landed on the floor.

"You can walk?" the visitor said. Neva slipped the gun into her waistband.

"Yeah, he can," she replied, crossing her arms.

"You're a perceptive one," Charles muttered towards him.

"I thought Erik-" the other man started.

"Which makes it slightly perplexing that you missed our sign on the way in," Charles cut him off. "This is private property, my friend. I'm going to have to ask him," he pointed to Hank, "to ask you to leave." Neva watched the visitor stand up and look into the professor's eyes.

"Well, I'm afraid I can't do that...because I was sent here for you." She and Hank exchanged expressions again.

"Well, tell whoever sent you that I'm uh busy," Charles said and waved the glass bottle in his hand. Neva cringed slightly at the excuse.

"That's gonna be a little tricky," the man said, dusting off his pants. "Because the person who sent me...was you." There was a silence so quiet that Neva could hear the slight rustle of Hank's shirt on his fur.

"What?" Charles said, confused. Fancy Sunglasses nodded.

"Yep. About 50 years from now," he said. Neva narrowed her eyes. He was from the future? The tips of her fingers tingled at the mention of the word. She tightened the gloves around her arms.

"I sent you from the future?" the Brit asked. He still looked very confused. The man nodded.

"Yeah."

"Piss off," Charles scoffed, taking another sip. He started to stand up and walk back to his room.

"If you had your powers, you'd know I was telling the truth." With that statement, all three mutants eyed him dangerously. Neva was ready to shoot if he proved to be from the government or some other agency.

"How do you know we have powers?" she asked.

"And how do you know I don't have my pow-" Charles stopped and shook his head. "Who are you?"

"I told you," the man said simply.

"Are you CIA?" Charles questioned.

"No."

"You've been watching me?" the professor asked again. The visitor walked closer to Charles. Hank looked ready to pounce.

"I know you, Charles," said the man. "We've been friends for years. I know your powers came when you were 9. I know you thought you were going crazy when it started, all the voices in your head." Charles looked more and more shocked at every word. "And it wasn't until you were 12 that you realized all the voices were in everyone else's head." He took a pause. "Do you want me to go on?" Neva and Hank were beyond surprised - this man must be a telepath or perhaps he really was from the future. They looked at each other then back at the two by the staircase.

"I-I never told anyone that," Charles said His eyes were wide. It was true; Neva hadn't known about Charles childhood at all other than how he took in Raven and became a professor at Oxford. Now that she thought about it, she honestly didn't know much about the professor. That was a surprise.

The man in leather shook his head.

"Not yet, no, but you will."

"Alright," Charles said, a bit bitter. "You've piqued my interest. What do you want?"

"We have to stop Raven," the man said. Hank took in a breath. "I need your help." He looked around the mansion. "We need your help." Charles began to breathe quicker. Neva saw his eyes become damp.

"I think I'd like to wake up now," he said, voice cracking under emotion. Without another word, he walked into his office. Neva sighed. Hank walked up to the man who seemed shocked at Charles' behavior.

"What does Raven have to do with this?"

A few minutes later, Hank had injected some of his own serum into his arm and the four mutants were in the professor's old office. It used to be the cleanest room in the house, full of laughing students and Charles' smile. Now, it was unkempt and lonely. Books were thrown around, and clothing was on the couch by the window. The old chess board had lost its gleam and was covered in a layer of dust.

Neva sat on the edge of the coffee table, legs crossed and gun next to her hand. She put her elbow on her knee, thinking about what had just happened. Hank was behind the desk, and Charles lounged behind Neva on the messy couch. The visitor watched in slight awe as Hank's blue fur disappeared. He had just explained why he needed to stop Raven from murdering someone, and also that his name was Logan. Neva wondered if he had a last name.

"So you're saying..." she summarized. "They took Raven's power and what? They weaponized it?" Hank put down the syringe and started filing away some of papers on the desk. It was a nervous habit he had. Logan nodded. Charles drank some Scotch thoughtfully.

"Yes."

"She is unique," Hank said softly.

Neva had only met Raven, better known as Mystique, once. Raven never came and visited except that one day a few years back, before the war. She and the blond girl talked for a few minutes before Raven went to talk to Charles. She left after that, leaving Charles frustrated for a few hours. The mutant seemed slightly dangerous and cold, but Neva knew it was because she had been through a lot. Charles and Hank really seemed to miss her though. Alex talked about her sometimes but not often. Raven was a sore topic for the X-Men.

"Yeah, she is, Hank," Charles almost whispered.

"In the beginning," Logan explained, "the Sentinels were just targeting mutants. Then they began to identify the genetics in non-mutants who'd eventually have mutant children or grandchildren. Then they started targeting everybody. Many of the humans tried to help us. It was a slaughter, leaving only the worst of humanity in charge."

"That's horrible," Neva murmured. Logan nodded. Her fingers kept wanting to reach out towards his uncovered hands to see into the future. She clenched onto the desk tightly to control herself. Being so close to the future was tempting (maybe she could see herself or Alex or even River), but it wasn't the time.

"I've been in a lot of wars, I've never seen anything like this." Logan sighed, and Neva could see the hurt flash in his eyes. She thought of Alex in the war and almost started to cry. She restrained herself and took in a shaky but quiet breath. "And it all starts with her."

"Let's just say for the sake of..." Charles started, "the sake that I choose to believe you, that I choose to help you. Raven won't listen to me. Her heart and soul belong to someone else now." He looked into the distance, becoming emotional again. Logan nodded again.

"I know. That's why we're gonna need Magneto too." Neva raised her eyebrows. Magneto? The criminal Magneto? She heard stories from when he was once an X-Men, but she never wanted to meet him. He seemed cruel and not friendly at all. Hank looked at Logan with the same expression.

"Erik?" Charles said in disbelief.

"Yeah."

"You do know where Erik is?" Hank said.

"Yeah," Logan said, uncertain.

"You sure?" muttered Neva. Charles began to laugh uncontrollably. Neva turned to look behind her. She saw him stand up and start walking out.

"He's where he belongs," he said harshly.

"Charles," Neva said. He waved her away.

"You're just going to walk out?" Logan followed him out of the room. Hank and Neva did the same.

"Oo top marks," Charles said sarcastically. "Like I said, you are perceptive."

"The professor I knew would never turn his back on someone who'd lost their path. Especially someone he loved," Logan said. Charles turned and narrowed his eyes.

"You know, I think I do remember you now," he said. "Yeah, we came to you a long time ago seeking help. And I'm going to say to you what you said to us then: fck off!" Suddenly, Logan grabbed Charles' collar. Neva had to pull Hank back.

"Listen here, you little shit," Logan seethed, "I've come a long way, and I've watched a lot of people die. Good people. Friends." He shook the profesor. "If you're gonna wallow in self-pity and do nothing, then you're gonna watch the same thing! You understand?" With that, he dropped Charles who shakily straightened up. He glared at Logan.

"We all have to die sometime." Charles took another gulp of alcohol and walked off. Neva sighed again.

"You know," she commented, "I thought you were really going to turn him. Maybe make him stop drinking too." Hank put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"Told you there's no professor here," Hank muttered. Logan turned to them.

"What the hell happened to him?" he asked. Neva wanted to cry again. She gulped down the feeling.

"We lost everything," she said softly.

"Erik, Raven, his legs," Hank added. "We built this school, the lab, this whole place." Neva smiled at the fond memories of the school. "Then, just after the first semester, the war in Vietnam got worse." Neva bit the inside of her cheek.

"M-many of the older students were drafted," she explained. "And...and the teachers."

"Someone close to you?" Logan asked. She took a deep breath.

"Sean a-and Alex..." Neva whispered to herself. Hank rubbed her arm.

"The whole ordeal broke him, and he retreated into himself," he said. "I wanted to help, to do something. So I made a serum to help his spine. It's derived from the same formula that helps me control my mutation." The two were silent at the thought of Charles and his serum. "I-I take enough to keep myself balanced, but he takes too much."

"We tried easing him back, but he just couldn't bear the pain and the voices," Neva said.

"The treatment gives him his legs," said Hank. "But it's not enough. He's...he's just lost too much."

"We all have," Neva sighed.

They went back into the office, all dejected, and there was a thick silence. Neva thought about River, but she just thought of Alex. Alex as the cocky, black leather mutant she first knew. Alex as the kind hearted boyfriend. Alex as the kiss stealer under the mistletoe. Alex as the fun and caring brother to River. And now, Alex as the soldier. She missed him. So much.

The door cracked open, and Neva looked up to see River's small head. The little girl looked up curiously at Logan. Neva rushed over to her.

"Riv! I said to stay in your room!" Neva said quickly.

"What are you doing?" River asked quietly. Logan looked down at her, a little shocked.

"Some adult stuff, ok? I promise I'll come and get you soon," Neva said.

"I'm bored!" River complained. "You promise?"

"Yes, I promise. Now go back into your room. You can go in mine if you want," Neva offered. River broke into a grin.

"Oh ok!" She sprinted up the stairs, and Neva stood up.

"Who's the girl?" Logan asked. "I thought there were no more students."

"We found her after the school closed," Hank said.

"Her name is River," Neva smiled. "She's the only bright spot in our lives, honestly." Logan's face had changed.

"River...Rivera Lee?" he asked. Neva and Hank stared at him.

"Is...is she in the future? Do you know her?" Neva asked, almost running into her own words. Logan looked at the ground, thinking.

"Maybe."

A couple minutes passed, and they heard a rustle outside the door. Neva, mind racing still from thinking about River, stood up and peered out the door. She was surprised to see Charles. Hank pushed open the door.

"I'll help you get her," he said. "Not for any of your future shite, but for her." Neva released a breath she did not realize she had been holding. Her heart soared with newfound hope.

"Fair enough," Logan said, a smile beginning onto his lips.

"But I'll tell you this," Charles warned. "You don't know Erik. That man is a monster. A murderer." He almost spat the words. "You think you can convince Raven to change? To come home? That's splendid. But what makes you think you can change him?" Logan smiled.

"Because you and Erik sent me back. Together."