1

Sometimes, Erik would vanish for months. It was something Peter had got used to by now, rationalised that he had lived a good long while without his Dad so far and could cope with a little longer, but it was still hard on him. He'd mope around for a few days at first, settle down after a while, and when Erik finally did return would immediately fling himself on him for an I-Missed-You-So-Much hug that would inevitably leave his father with a couple of small bruises.

This time had been no different. Spotting Erik's car turning into the driveway from the balcony where he was perched, racing down the stairs in a blaze of silver lightning, meeting his father as he pulled up, and as soon as he had opened the door of the car smothering him with affection. Erik often thought that having Peter around was a lot like having a very strong, very fast and very loyal dog. Would not have been entirely shocked if his son had taken to licking his face to show his love. This time he had almost knocked Erik over the hood of the car, grinning from ear to ear with delight.

"Dadneto, dude, where have you BEEN?!" he crowed, "Are you good? You look good. I'm good too, well tell the truth I got a 'flu from one of the littles and I had to be in the sick bay for a week 'cos I couldn't keep anything down and Kurt broke the chandelier in the rec room and the Prof had him on cleaning duty and I passed my math exam actually I got the highest mark in the class and Jean was crazy jealous and - "

"Peter" he said patiently, scooped his son into a hug, patted his back comfortingly. He was trembling with excitement, "Calm down boy, I've only been away two months"

"That's a long time man! But you're here now, and –"

"Do try to keep your cool a moment. I know you're happy to see me, but there's somebody I'd like you to meet"

He stepped around to open the back door of the car. A girl of around nine, with long dark-blonde hair to her waist stepped shyly out, gazing up at the Academy with bright attentive blue eyes as if she had never seen anything so big. She reached up for Erik's hand, slipped her fingers into his palm, and he smiled fondly down at her for a moment before looking back up at his son.

"This is Nina Gurzsky" he said, "She's enrolling here at the Academy. Nina, this is Peter Maximoff – he'll take good care of you here my darling"

That was his first clue that something wasn't quite right. Erik wasn't a big fan of children, would rarely show much affection to the littles and didn't seem to really like being around them. This girl, however, he already seemed very fond of. Nina looked shyly up at Peter. She was small, and had to tip her head way back to see his face – usually he would have immediately got down to her level so she didn't have to crane her neck, but for some reason he felt a little distrustful of the girl, gave his father a strange look.

"Where'd you find her?" he asked, "Is that why you've been away? Picking up a stray Mutant?"

"I collected her from Poland, yes. Why don't we all go inside? I imagine Nina is hungry, it's been a long drive from the airport. Come on"

He patted his son's shoulder, urging him to come with them. He followed, strangely bothered by the free and affectionate way that Nina trotted along with his father's hand grasping hers gently. He kept pace with them, chattering away to Erik

"So where else have you been, huh? Huh? Anyplace fun? What's Poland like? Mom has family in Poland, she says it's cool but not so friendly to Mutants, did you get into trouble? Can we go out later? Do you want some help with your bags? Can I –"

"Let's just go and sit down for a little while first" Erik said soothingly. Reached with his free hand to squeeze Peter's arm. Looking up at him, he could see an odd look of worry in his eyes. Finally managed to get them all seated up in his study comfortably and sent one of the students to fetch some sandwiches before he had fixed Peter with a firm look and said

"I want you to be very calm and relaxed, Peter. I have something to tell you, and you may find it quite surprising"

"Calm? I don't do calm, and I certainly don't –"

"Try" Erik said. Peter shut up. His father took a deep breath, and went on "I want you to take extremely good care of Nina. This is a big move for her, and she will need you to help her settle in"

"Why me though?" he glanced at the kid, who gave him a shy little smile, smiled back but felt like it came off fake, "The littles are Storm's bag"

"Yes, and she does a magnificent job. You know how you seem to be all of the younger one's big brother though? How they all come to you?"

"Yeah…." He said dubiously, "And?"

"It's particularly important that you do that for Nina"

"Why?" he asked, looked over at the girl again, "No offense, kid"

"Because" Erik said very patiently, "She is your half-sister"

After a small pause, Nina slipped off her chair. Had taken one step toward Peter before her hair was blown back and the chair he had been seated in overturned as he materialised by the bookshelf on the far end of the study. She stopped, puzzled.

"What's the matter?" Erik asked, rose from his chair. Nina looked upset, and he immediately went to scoop her into a hug, stroked her hair softly, "Peter?"

The boy didn't answer him, only stared at the little girl in his father's arms. Shook his head. Erik didn't much like the pale greenish colour he'd gone.

"Peter?" he repeated, "Are you alright?"

A moment later, the door was banging behind him as Peter had bolted from the room to the nearest bathroom.

"He'll be alright" Erik said softly to his daughter, "He's just highly strung"

Even as he said so, however, he wondered if that was really true, and if he hadn't made a terrible mistake.