"Miss." A soft voice said. (Y/n)'s eyes flying open as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"This is the last stop. I'm afraid that you'll have to get off." The driver informed her. (Y/n) yawning and stretching as she looked out onto the small town.

(Y/n) didn't know that she could sleep so deeply. She hadn't heard a single thing since she had closed her eyes. But given the fact that she hadn't slept properly since Charles' accident. Given all the emotions that she had had bottled up inside her. Emotions that had finally been released as she sat in the rain and cried like she had never done before. She wasn't really surprised that her body had completely given in to its need to rest.

"Where....... where am I?" (Y/n) asked as she looked up at the driver. The elderly man smiling and offering her his hand as he helped her from the seat.

"You're in Huntersville, miss. Population one thousand souls. It ain't much, but they're good honest people round here. And there are worst places ta rest if someone needs ta get away from the world." The driver informed (Y/n) as he helped her down from the bus. (Y/n) having a feeling that this wasn't the first time that he had seen a young woman running away.

"Huntersville. Hmmmmm. Sounds good to me." (Y/n) replied with a smile, as the elderly man handed her, her old rucksack.

"I think you'll like it just fine, miss. There's a hotel down the main street. Ya can't miss it. If ya hungry, there's a diner just across the way. Nancy and Hank run it, and they are the nicest people ya could hope to meet. If ya find it's not the place for you, there will be another two buses in a week. One that can take you further, and one that can take ya home. Whatever ya decide. I wish ya all the best, miss." The driver said, shaking (Y/n)'s hand.

"Thank you. I appreciate it. And it's (Y/n)." (Y/n) replied, as she turned her attention to the town.

"Well, (Y/n). It's nice to meet you. I'm Frank. Now, take care." The old man replied, before returning to the bus and slowly pulling it away. Leaving (Y/n) on her own.

"So, are we going to do this or not?" (Y/n) asked, as she looked down at her legs. The two limbs not seeming to want to move.

It had been sometime since she had been out on her own. Sometime since she hadn't had the support of Raven, or one of the others. Sometime since she hadn't had Charles or Erik by her side. Sometime since she hadn't had other mutants around her. (Y/n) knew of people's opinions of her kind. Knew how many people hated and despised those that were different. But unlike others, (Y/n) was able to hide what she was. Able to disappear. And that's just what she had to do.

"Come on. It won't be that bad. Frank said that they are good people. That if we don't like it, we can leave in a week. But we won't know unless we move from this spot." (Y/n) reasoned, her legs finally moving as she made her way down the main road.

                                                             >>----------------------------<<

Charles looked down into his empty glass. He couldn't remember how many he'd had to drink. In fact, since the accident, he couldn't remember a lot about anything but making sure that his glass was filled. In his more lucid moments, he knew that he shouldn't be like this. That he shouldn't be trying to bury all his pain in the bottom of a bottle. But learning to deal with his new disability was harder than he had imagined. And he had become someone that he no longer recognised or liked.

He knew that he was drowning in self-pity. He knew that he had let himself go. That he was pushing everyone away, especially (Y/n). But he had tried to convince himself that he was doing it for her own good. That she deserved someone that could look after her, someone that could protect her. Not a man that was a shadow of his former self. Not a man that was unable to give her the love she truly deserved.

From the moment he had laid eyes on (Y/n) in the halls of Oxford, Charles knew that he didn't want anyone else. Even for a mutant, she had proved to be particularly gifted. As an intellect, she was certainly his match. And (Y/n) had proved to be more than he ever thought that he would find in a woman.

She had stood by his side through everything. Been the one he could turn to when he was at his lowest. And he loved her for it. But he hated the idea of dragging her down. And even though she had tried to tell him that she loved him no matter what. That she didn't care about him being in the wheelchair. That he was still, and would always be the same man, the man she loved. Charles hated the idea of chaining her to half a man. So, he had pushed her away. He had been cruel, vile. He had told her that he didn't love her, that he had never loved her. And even though it had killed him to watch her cry. To watch her run into Erik's arms. He believed that it was for the best, and that Erik could be the man that he wasn't anymore.

"Here, I got you something." Erik growled angrily, as he banged another bottle on the desk in front of Charles. Charles looking up through bleary eyes to see his angry looking friend that he hadn't even noticed come into the room.

"Why, thank you. It saves me standing up and walking over to get the bottle myself. Oh wait. I can't, can I? I can't do either of those things." Charles slurred bitterly. As he opened the bottle and poured himself another drink. The brown liquor spilling over the rim of the glass and onto the table.

"That's it. I've had it!" Erik exclaimed angrily, as he slapped the overflowing glass from Charles' shaky hands. Charles glaring as his friend as Erik leant over the table.

"I'm sick of you feeling sorry for yourself. Sick of you wallowing in self-pity. I can't even imagine what you are going through, Charles. But you are still alive, still here. You still have people around you that care for you, even if you no longer care about yourself. You have to snap out of this. Stop blaming yourself, me, the rest of them, or the damn universe for what happened." Erik barked. Growing angrier as Charles reached inside his desk draw and pulled out another glass and filled it to the brim.

"You're pathetic. You haven't even noticed that she's gone have you? (Y/n) left this house two days ago because of you. You made the woman you told me you loved, so miserable that she had to leave. You hurt her so much, that she even left me. And I will never forgive you for that, Charles. I've given (Y/n) the forty eight hours that Raven promised her, now I am going to find her and bring her back to where she belongs. And I don't care what you think, say, or do. I love (Y/n), and I am going to be with her. I'm never going to let you hurt her again." Erik declared. Glaring daggers at Charles one last time, before turning and storming out of the room.

Charles looked down at the glass in his hand. He had never meant for (Y/n) to leave. He knew that he had told her to get out. To get out and never come back. But he never thought for one minute that she would actually do it. And the worst part was that he hadn't even noticed that the woman he loved, was gone.

Slowly he picked up the glass, tilting it so that the liquor poured onto the floor. The liquid soaking into the rug that covered the highly polished floorboards. He had done what he had set out to do. And even though he hated it. Even though he wanted (Y/n) more than anything. He had pushed the love of his life into the arms of his best friend. And now he had to help him find her, so that they could be happy.

                                                               >>--------------------------<<

(Y/n) walked out of the hotel and down the main street. Winding her way to the diner that Frank had told her was just a short distance from the bus stop. Huntersville was fine so far. It was quaint and a little quiet, but that suited (Y/n) just fine. The hotel was basic but comfortable, and she had enough money stay for long enough to give her time to figure out what she wanted to do.

It had only been a couple of days, but she already missed Raven and the others. Missed Erik, and even Charles. But she needed room.

Quietly (Y/n) opened the door to the neat looking diner. Nodding respectfully to a couple of older customers as she took a seat at the counter. Her eyes dropping to the deep black Formica that cover the top.

"A man, huh?" A female voice asked. (Y/n) head flying up, her eyes meeting those of a friendly looking middle aged woman. Her light brown hair, which was tinged with strands of grey, pulled all the way back. Fashioned into a fancy beehive hairstyle.

"I.......I beg your pardon?" (Y/n) stumbled out. As the older woman placing a cup in front of her. And poured (Y/n) a coffee.

"A man. Whenever I see a pretty girl like you, looking so down. It's always because of a man. You ain't the first little thing that's come through Huntersville, looking to run away from something. And I doubt that you will be the last." The woman replied, as she pushed a slice of pumpkin pie before a hungry looking (Y/n).

"Here. Eat that. You look like ya need it. When was the last time you ate something?" The woman continued, as (Y/n) began to fork the delicious looking dessert into her mouth. Her belly grumbling as she savoured every bite.

"Its.....its been a few days. But.......but I have money to pay for all this. Honest." (Y/n) mumbled, as she reached into her pocket and placed a few dollar bills on the counter.

"Keep your money, honey. Put it back in your pocket. This is my good deed for tha day. What's your name? I'm Nancy, and the big man behind the grill is my husband Hank. This is our place." Nancy told (Y/n). As (Y/n) smiled at her with a full mouth.

"I'm.......I'm (Y/n). Please to meet you Nancy." (Y/n) said, as she wiped her mouth, and held out her hand for Nancy to shake.

"Frank the bus driver told me that this was your place. Thank you for the pie." (Y/n) continued, as she licked her finger, and picked up the few last crumbs from the plate, before placing them in her mouth.

"You planning on staying in Huntersville long, honey?" Nancy asked. As (Y/n) took a sip of the hot black coffee.

"I haven't decided yet. But long enough I suppose. Long enough to decide what to do next anyway." (Y/n) replied. A sad smile pulling at her lips, as she thought of everything, and everyone that she had left behind.

"Well, I tell you what. I pride myself on being a good judge of character. And you seem to me like a good girl that's fallen on a hard time. Hank and I could use some help around here. So, if you can make a decent jug of coffee. You can take orders, and don't mind dealing with some of the rougher characters that get off those buses. You can have a job." Nancy said. (Y/n) smiling broadly as she took the older woman's hand.

"I can do all those things, I promise. And I'd love a job here. Thank you so much." (Y/n) told Nancy cheerfully. Nancy chuckling, and shaking her head.

"Ok. Your hired. Be here at 7am tomorrow morning. We start early. No slacking, and don't be late." Nancy said. As (Y/n) jumped to her feet and headed for the door.

"Tomorrow. 7am. I won't be late. Thank you." (Y/n) called out, as she left the diner and ran back to the hotel. Determined to be ready for the start of her new life in Huntersville, in the morning.