Erik pressed his fingers to his lips as pure concentration overcame him. The chess board looked like a battlefield with scattered chess players around and on the side of the board. Most of Charles' players were gone from the panel, but his friend had him where he wanted him. If Erik makes one small move, he could lose the game but if he moves his queen, he could lose her as well. Erik sighed as he hoped for the best as the queen moved four spaces up.

Charles beamed as he took one of his chess players over Erik's, "Check mate"

"Damn it!" Erik hissed.

"You always have that tell about you, old friend" Charles shook his head.

Erik glanced up to Charles, "And what is that?"

"You always love to play your strongest player" Charles answered, "Gets the job done but it also leaves you with a losing streak"

"Losing streak?" Erik commented, "I lost just once"

"And I would love to have you lose a second time" Charles smiled, "Care for a round two?"

Erik glanced over to the clock as it read 10:37 at night, normally he would try to leave before then but he could tell Charles didn't want to get back to working on papers, even people who enjoy academics want some break time every once in a while. With a wave of his hand, the players all moved back into their corrective place. Charles smiled and scooted up and started to ponder his first move. It has been like this for four years now, Erik would come down at least once a month to catch up and play a good game with Charles before going back to Providence, still living in Clara's childhood home preferring to use the terms "keeping an eye on the house until she returns".

"So I guess this means I'm going to be sleeping in a guest room tonight" Erik stated.

Charles shook his head, "Like as if you don't enjoy it, just admit it already"

Erik rolled his eyes, "And if I do, are you going to make me a teacher at this facility?"

"Oh God, no" Charles immediately shook his head, "This mansion will turn into utter chaos before the day would end"

Erik couldn't help but let out a chuckle, "Thank you, my friend, I love the support you give off. Are you ever going to make your move?"

"Unlike you, I don't use the first play that comes to mind" Charles cracked.

Charles reached out his hand to pick up a player when an intense headache suddenly came from the core making him recoil and grab onto his head. He let out a loud groan as he could tell Erik was already by his side, asking him what was wrong. The sense of panic overwhelmed him as panic attack-like breathing labored within his chest before his mind reached the individual with this much stress.

His eyes shot open as he realized who it was and why, "Oh, God"

"What is it, Charles?" Erik asked calmly for the fourth time.

"I highly suggest that you-"

The doorbell suddenly echoed rapidly throughout the first floor, making Erik look up at the open door. He glanced back at his friend who barely seemed to be taking control of his own emotions and thoughts before Erik got up and moved a letter opener into his hand.

"Erik… no!"

"Charles!"

The sound of the voice echoing throughout the house made Erik's feet stop on the floor and his blood run cold.

Before he could have time to process if he heard the right voice or not, Clara ran into the room and stopped in her tracks as well. They both seemed stunned to see each other there as they each took the other one in. Not much has changed from Clara, her blond hair was longer but he noticed and remembered that whenever Clara was planning on visiting someone, she would dress to impress. He couldn't help but look over her clothes as he noticed a few holes where the shirt should be, there was dark soot on the corners of her face and her hair looked beyond wild. Erik turned back to his friend as he noticed that even Charles seemed just as stunned to see Clara run into the mansion like this.

"What happened to you?" Charles asked.

This seemed to snap Clara out of her daze as she turned to him, "I was attacked"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah… he should've just left with the bullets in my stomach" Clara commented before she said, "Then he made the mistake of setting the house on fire"

"I'm glad to know you healed yourself" Charles said slowly, "But it sounds like you knew your attacker, what happened?"

A pair of feet was heard from behind Clara as she turned and saw Hank and Mystique walk into the room before Mystique stopped, "Clara?"

"Hank!" Clara yelled out as she ran to her friend and hugged him, "They took her!"

"What?!" Hank broke the hug and held Clara at arm's length, "Who did?"

"Nathan" Clara said with her voice as cold as metal.

Hank blinked before he said, "Nathan, are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Clara yelled out, "He pulled out a gun and shot me in front of her! He left me to die there, Hank!"

Hank nodded as he gave her a comforting grip, "Alright, alright, we'll find her, I swear it"

"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Erik yelled out, "Who has got her? And who is this person anyways?"

Clara stiffened up as she stared into Hank's purple eyes, he gave her a looked that she knew too well. She slowly sighed and looked over to Mystique who already seemed to figure it out as she gave a worried glance over to Erik. Clara licked her lips and turned back around to face Erik as he realized she was the only one with the answers. All eyes were drilled into her as she inhaled, held it for a minute before exhaling, thinking that would make it better.

"Nathan is a man I was dating for a little over two years now" Clara let out, "This morning, I heard screaming and ran to the voice but once I got into the room… Nathan shot me. That's the only way he could take my daughter away from me"

Erik felt air lodged in his throat, he swallowed as he could see the panic and fear that was in Clara's eyes. He couldn't blame her, she loved and opened up her heart to this man and not even 12 hours ago, he took the one thing she could possibly loved in this world. His mind replayed flashbacks of the stray arrow piercing Nina in her back, knowing Clara wanted revenge.

Erik slowly asked, "Why would he take your daughter away from you?"

Clara opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words, she looked over to Charles who already read her mind as tears formed in his eyes. He gave her a solemn nod before she looked back at Erik who was patiently waiting for her answer.

"Because she is yours also, Erik"