She looked past the gates to see the school off in the distance. Oh my goodness! It's so big. I don't think I can do this. I really don't think that I can do this. Niki began to look around the car franticly wringing her hands together, shock clearly written on features. "I can't do this Pietro. I want to go home. I want to stay with you and Crystal. I can't do this." Niki now began to sob uncontrollably. Pietro put the car in park and pulled Niki into a hug. "It's alright Niki. You can do this. We aren't going to be that far apart and anytime that you want to see us we can still visit. It's going to be ok dearest. You will see." Pietro began to stroke her hair and to whisper soothing words in her ear. It was taking all he had in him not to turn the car around and speed back home, or to break down in tears himself.

The sudden sound of the large black gates creaking open brought Pietro out of his thoughts and he knew that it was now or never. He pulled Niki gently out of the hug and held her by her shoulders.

"Niki, we have to go now. I know that you don't want to. And I know that you're afraid. But things will be okay. You have to be strong now and do what you know has to be done." Pietro was now trying to convince himself as much as he was his little sister. "I know. I've just never been away from you and Crystal in all the time that we've known each other. It's almost like I'm leaving part of myself behind." Niki sniffled and wiped the tears from her tear filled eyes. "It will be okay. I promise. And you are not losing us. You know we would never allow something like that to happen. We will always be here for you little one. Always." Pietro gave Niki's shoulders a reassuring squeeze. "Now! Are you ready?" Pietro put the car into drive not giving her time to think it through. He knew if she thought about it too much she really would back out, and he couldn't let her do that.

It was a very short drive of silence to the large wooden front doors of the mansion. Too short in Niki's opinion. Pietro looked over at Niki as he put the car into park once again, with a look in his eyes that Niki had never seen before. A look that she couldn't quite place. "You can do this. I believe in you." Pietro said this while leaning over to give Niki a quick kiss on the forehead. But that's all that he could do, and all that he could say, for if he said anything else he knew that his resolve would break and soon she would have to console him. "Okay! Let's go." Niki gave him a quick smile before exiting the car and making her way to the trunk to retrieve her luggage. Making sure to pull her coat tighter around her to protect her from the cool winter breeze. She opened the trunk of the car but just stood there staring at her old worn out dark green suitcases lost in thought.

I can't believe the size of this place. I wonder if they give out maps that way you can always find your room. Ha, listen to yourself. You can do this, you're stronger than that. Now quit acting like a baby and get your stuff before you lose your nerve.

"Which one do you want me to carry?" Pietro asked while coming up to the back of the car to help his sister unload her stuff. "The big one." Niki stated, not quite pulled back to the present. "Which big one? They're all big!" Pietro couldn't help but to laugh at this statement. "Oh! I'm sorry Pietro I wasn't paying attention." Niki began to laugh with her brother and for just a moment forgot all about being so nervous. "Hey! Wait just a bloody minute. What do you mean you weren't paying attention? You had better been paying attention to me, or else? After all I am Pietro Maximoff" Pietro tried to sound put out and angry but couldn't keep himself from laughing at how childish the statement had sounded. "Oh please! Like the world revolves around you Pietro Maximoff!" Niki began to laugh even harder and slapped her brother lovingly on the arm, neither one of them noticing the two figures standing on the cold stone steps of the mansion.

"Do they always act like this?" Scott asked the professor with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Always!" Charles couldn't help but to laugh at the statement he had just made. Remembering the exact same statement coming from Pietro's wife the first time he and Niki were to meet.

Niki and Pietro booth looked like a couple of children who had just been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Niki staring at both the professor and the gentleman standing next to him, and Pietro mid giggle with his face as red as could be.

OOOOOH MY GOD! I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST DID THAT! AND IN FRONT OF MR. GORGEOUS! I must look like an idiot. Niki mentally kicked herself for acting so childish in front of this beautiful new stranger standing next to the professor.

"I'm so sorry. Please forgive my childish older kid brother. He can't seem to control himself at times." Niki tried not to blush, or even more, laugh while making such an odd apology to the professor and the man next to him. "Hey wait a minute! You started it." Pietro retorted quite childishly. Scott tried to contain his laughter and clinched his jaw closed so as not to let it escape.

"Not at all my dear. It's good to see you both acting so youthful. I am very happy to see you again Niki dear." Charles then turned his attention to the now more composed Pietro. "It's good to see you again Pietro my friend. I am glad to see that the two of you made it safely." Charles said with a nod of the head in Pietro's direction.

"It's good to see you again too Charles. And it's good to see you again Scott. It's been awhile. How are you holding up?" Pietro now turned his full attention to Scott. It had been a year since Jean's second death, and Pietro was surprised to see him looking as well as he was. It had really hit Scott hard when Jean died the first time, but the second was almost unbearable for him. "I'm well. And you? I haven't seen you since….." Scott trailed off at the realization that he hadn't seen Pietro since Jean's funeral. "I'm good. It's good to see you again." Pietro knew that he shouldn't really push the subject any further, and so decided to change the subject. "By the way I would like for you to meet someone. Scott this is my darling little sister Niki Brantley." Pietro pulled Niki in front of him and rested a hand on her shoulder while grinning from ear to ear. "Niki this is Scott Summers."

"It's very nice to meet you Scott Summers. I've heard my brother talk a little about you. It's nice to finally meet you." Niki walked up the stairs and shook his hand giving him one of her brightest smiles. "It's very nice to meet you as well Niki." He shook her hand and returned the smile, although not quite as bright. And then quickly stepped back to stand by the professor once again.

"Now that we have all met, let us go inside shall we? I have called the teachers down to my office to meet you Niki. Afterwards we will discuss your position here at the school as well as the problem with which I need your assistance." Charles tried to sounds as calm and welcoming as possible so as not to overwhelm her. "Yes, I'm ready." Niki looked back at Pietro and nodded her head.

"Umm, just a moment Charles. Niki I'm going to say good bye here instead of inside. I know that this will make it easier for the both of us dearest." Pietro tried to make it sound as convincing as possible. "What? Wait a minute. You have to come inside with me, at least until I meet everyone and get settled in my room." Niki was trying not to sound quite as panicked as she was feeling. "I think that it would be best if we say good bye now. That way you will have more time to meet everyone. And besides if I stayed with you until you got settled in I'd be here for a month." Pietro tried to laugh at this statement and make this easier for the both of them but it wasn't working the way he had hoped. Niki looked as though she was about to shatter and break into a million pieces. It was killing him. But he knew it would be best this way. For the longer he stayed, the harder it would be for them to say good bye to each other. "Can you give us just a moment Charles? She'll be right in." Pietro turned to Charles with pain clearly written across his features.

Charles completely understood Pietro's reasons for asking and knew how hard this really was for him. Even if he wouldn't let his sister see that it was killing him to leave her behind. Charles knew it would be best if he gave them a little bit of time to say good bye. "Of course. I will arrange for someone to retrieve her luggage." And with that statement he and Scoot made they're way into the school. With Scott glancing back at Niki one last time, feeling very sorry for her and what she was losing. He knew this was killing them both to lose one another. But that was more feelings than he had it in him to go into. So he just settled for dropping it and following the professor inside.

That was it, once the professor and Scott were inside all since of calm was lost. Niki broke down into tears, while attempting to tell Pietro why he couldn't leave her here alone. Pietro pulled her into his warm embrace resting his chin on the top of her head while running his fingers through her hair. "Dearest you have to calm down. I can't understand anything that you are saying." Niki looked up at him with her tear filled eyes and tried to calm her self, but only succeeded in crying even harder. Pietro was at a loss. He had no idea what to do. Seeing her this way was killing him. Her gentle little body racked with sobs and her delicate little hands balled up into tight fists. He couldn't bare it anymore. So he did the only thing he could think of, the only thing that had ever been able to pull his little sister from the deepest depths of desperation. He began to sing.

When I lost faith

You believed in me

You were right there

For every act of love you've done

I owe you one…

She looked up at him, her heart wrenching sobs slowly becoming hiccups. He wiped away the remaining tears from her eyes but continued to sing.

There were hard times

I know we survived

Just because you stayed by my side

With all I have, with all I am

I promise you all my life…

"Pietro…." she began to speak but stopped as he continued to sing the song. The song that was their life.

Whenever the road is too long

Whenever the wind is too strong

Wherever the journey may lead to

I will be there for you

I will be there for you….

His voice reached into her heart and calmed it from the thundering of a raging storm, to that of soft ocean waves gently and ever so carefully caressing the shore.

Through sorrow

On the darkest night

When there's heartache

Deep down inside

Just like a prayer, you will be there

And I promise you all my life…

Pietro's eyes began to water, and soon the tears began to fall. He could no longer pull the big brother routine, and hide from her how much his heart was breaking. Niki reached up to wipe away the tears from his cheeks with her kind and gentle hands. Knowing in her heart that this was hurting him as much as it was her to leave. But still he continued to sing.

Whenever the road is too long

Whenever the wind is too strong

Wherever this journey may lead to

I will be there for you

I will be there for you...

I'll always be there

And with that the song was through, and they were both staring into one another's eyes. The silence seemed to last for an eternity, but finally Niki found the strength to speak. "I love you." she squared her shoulders and stood up as straight as she could, with her head held high. "I'm ready." and with that she gave him one last heartfelt hug and walked inside closing the heavy wooden doors behind her without turning to look back. That was all that was needed to be said between the two. Because the song had said everything and more about what was in their hearts. They both knew now that the other would be ok, for they know each other more than the sun knows to shine.

"I love you too." With one last look back, he drove off with a tear in his eye and a smile on his lips.

Song by Jessica Andrews. Not mine….. Lol…. I just borrowed it…. I really hope that yall like the second chapter. I will try to update soon. Thank you to everyone who read my story. Please feel free to leave reviews and let me know what ya think.