Raven leaned against the door frame, watching him. He seemed more comfortable in his skin than he had, though maybe he was doing it because she'd asked. If the children were going to learn not to hate or even fear their gifts, the adults at the school had to provide the example. So for all she knew, he wasn't easy at all.

A soft smile played on her lips. She wished that things could have been different between them, but all of them had been so damn young back then. Even Charles for all that he played the old man. The only one who'd acted sober and mature all the time was Erik and he'd been more broken than anything.

"Penny for your thoughts," she said after a while.