Some of these chapters will be somewhat short, just to make a point in each.

Chapter 2

Night Terrors

The days went by and it seemed like Wanda's memory problems had fixed themselves, she hadn't asked anymore questions as well. Pietro dismissed the whole thing completely, but Todd wasn't that confident. He'd long stopped his stalking of Wanda, but it seemed old habits were easier to get into than new ones. In fact, it was even worse than before and he'd noticed something. Each night around the same time, her sleep became restless, and slowly it began to increase.

Wanda's mind rushed, it was dark, like always. She was running, laughing, the sound of a familiar childish voice in front of her, fading fast. The retreating figure of a small silver blur returned and seemed to mock her, in a childish giggle, she let out a blue light and he fell, red taking over, it faded to a dark room, she couldn't move, it was cold, she shot up as a breeze ran across her. She shivered and closed her window, she hated those stupid nightmares.... but every time she woke up from one, the pit of her stomach twisted.

She heard a sound outside her room, but when she opened it she saw nothing, but a light downstairs caught her eye. She headed down the stairs, her body too awake to attempt sleep. Todd sat in the kitchen, idly looking at Lance's laptop.

"What are you doing up?" asked Wanda, as she got something to drink from the fridge.

"Couldn't sleep... you?" asked Todd, trying to be casual.

"Bad dreams...." she shrugged and sat down.

"Uh... what about?" asked Todd, hoping it was something silly like clowns.

"I don't know yet," said Wanda, with a grumble.

Every night seemed to end the same way, and Todd was starting to think Wanda knew he was waiting for her... but if she did, she hadn't said anything. Todd waited for the same thing, but it was different. They'd started getting better detailed, less dark, and more focused. Wanda tossed in her bed, her head pounding. An image in the day of the park with her father and brother seemed to fade, as if it's had never been real, instead she was lying strapped to a bed, kicking and screaming.

A man in white held up a syringe as a few women held her down. She tried to block herself, but she could feel the sting in her arm, and her screaming seemed to ware off of their hearing, they proceeded in their plans for her as her yells were cut off and something was shaking her, or someone. Her eyes shot open to see Todd and Pietro hanging over her, Fred and Lance standing at the end of her bed. All held the same wide eyes expression.

"Wanda, are you okay?" asked Pietro.

"Uh... w-what happened?" asked Wanda, as her vision became less blurry.

"Your screaming woke us up," said Fred.

"Yeah, are you okay?" asked Lance.

"I did?" asked Wanda, absently rubbing her arm, "It.. feels so real... I'm fine, you can leave.."

"Are..." Fred was cut off.

"You heard my sister, come on lets leave her. Just a nightmare people, nothing to see here," said Pietro, pushing them out the door.

"What was it about?" asked Todd before Pietro noticed he was still in there.

"Some sort of hospital.... not that I'm ungrateful for everyone's concern, but its nothing important, just bad dreams..." said Wanda, with a slight grumble of annoyance.

"Toad!" yelled Pietro, leaning his head back into Wanda's room.

"Yeah, I'm coming Pietro..." sighed Todd, heading out the door where Pietro was headed to return to his room.

"Night Toad...." Pietro trailed off as Todd shoved him into his room and closed the door, "Uh... Toad?"

"Pietro, her nightmares are about the Asylum," said Todd in quick low, chatter.

"... so?" asked Pietro calmly, though his shifting eyes showed his actual concern.

"I know it sound weird, yo... but maybe..." Todd was cut off.

"Listen, she just thinks there dreams, so lets leave it at that," said Pietro, going to open his door.

"I think we should tell her," said Todd, biting his lip nervously, Pietro slammed the door closed.

"Are you NUTS!" yelled Pietro, grabbing his shoulders, "If we do that she'll go ballistic on us."

"But at least she'll know she aint crazy," said Todd.

"No, she'll think we are and when she figures it out, she'll be worse than before. Think about it Toad, if someone told you your worst nightmares were real.. and the people who are your friends and family hid it from..."

"Pietro, the main part is the friends and family part, she may not want to know it now, but at least we wouldn't be keepin' it from her..." said Todd.

"No," said Pietro, "Because she would go back to the way she was before and I'll be damned if you take my sister away from me again."

"Pietro.." Todd was taken aback by Pietro's stricter than normal tone.

"You will say nothing!" growled Pietro.

"I... fine, but if it gets worse and she asks, I aint denying anything, yo," glared Todd, walked by Pietro.

"I'm going to have to make sure he keeps his mouth shut," sighed Pietro.

The next night Todd couldn't sleep, and neither could a certain speed demon. They were both waiting, hoping there was nothing to wait for, and then as the night grew longer, a yell came from the Scarlet Witch's room. Todd was there before Pietro was, followed by a sleepy Lance and Fred. Wanda was already up and her expression of panic didn't change even after the boys came running into her room.

"You okay?" asked Todd and Pietro at the same time.

"Uh... I'm fine... just.. Sorry," her eyes narrowed and Fred and Lance quickly retreated, muttering to themselves.

"Just another nightmare, come on Toad," said Pietro quickly, grabbing Todd's arm quickly.

"Okay!" snapped Todd, before looking back at Wanda, "Are you sure your okay?"

"I'm fine...." she grumbled waving her hand for them to leave as she pulled her blankets back around her.

"Pietro, what's your problem, yo?" asked Todd once they were outside the room.

"Just stay away from my sister, and I mean it this time," Pietro quietly yelled before turning to his room.

"What's wrong with him?" came Wanda's voice behind him, he turned around, with a half smile.

"He's just a little cranky I guess. You know, missin' his precious beauty sleep," chuckled Todd, Wanda's face flickered a somewhat amused tiny smile.

"You guys don't have to check on me when I have nightmares. I'm fully capable of dealing with them myself," said Wanda with a deep sigh as she headed downstairs, she froze, "... Do we have any coca mix left?"

"Uh no... but I can make some," smiled Todd, following her to the kitchen.

"How'd you beat Pietro into my room?" she asked sceptically.

"I tripped him," said Todd, looking the other way.

"..." Wanda's brow rose.

"Just kiddin' …. I.. I was waiting for you to yell," sighed Todd as he turned on the kitchen light, only for it not to come on.

"Must of not paid the light bill," said Wanda, trying a different light, "Do we have candles or anything?"

"Yeah, I'll get 'em," said Todd, his amber eyes disappearing.

"Do you need any light?" asked Wanda, ready to fire up a hex.

"Nah, I can see in the dark," his voice came from the far right, and then a flame caught her eye as he lit a large scented candle.

"Toad... how did I get here?" asked Wanda, she didn't fail to see him almost drop the candle, causing its light to go out.

"Uh, you walked in," he said with a sigh, as he took his time re-lighting the candle and then starting to make coca, "Wanda, did you wanna talk about your nightmares...."

"I... it's always the same..." her sudden start, caused him to look back at her, she had a vacant look in her eyes, something he'd never seen before.

Before either knew it, the light from the sun rising was starting peak into the windows, the nightmares long finished and now Todd was trying to make her laugh. So far all he'd got was a half smirk and a few eye rolls. When he gave a sigh that meant he gave up and he grabbed the long empty glasses, she chuckled causing him to stop.

"I didn't even do anything," said Todd looking slightly annoyed.

"I know, and... thanks," she smiled, standing up, "I'm going to go get some sleep."

"Good idea," smiled Todd dropping the cups in the sink, a clank made it known one if not both had broken.

"You know Toad, when your not trying to be charming, you can be... your a good friend, Todd," she smiled as she left the kitchen.

".... No I aint," Todd glared at the broken cup in the sink before heading to the hall and grabbing his coat to go for a walk.

"Toad, where are you going?" asked Lance, with a yawn as he came down the stairs.

"Walk.... powers off," said Todd quickly leaving.

It wasn't much of a walk as he stopped at the end of the block and sat at a bench in thought. His head was spinning, he wanted to tell her the truth, but then there was a lot at risk. If he told her she'd be angry again, maybe leave. Not to mention he'd have Magneto and his goons breathing down his neck, if they didn't try it again. Then what? Would he try another rescue mission. Then on the up side, she'd know the truth and perhaps the nightmares wouldn't be as bad or confusing. But the worst part of this was the constant echo of her voice in his head, she'd called him a friend.... Not a flee, vermin, annoyance, but a friend. He felt guilty, how could he even think about excepting that title, when he knew he didn't deserve it. He glared at the ground, he would earn it. He started walking back to the Brotherhood house. He'd made his decision, he was going to tell her when he got back;

it was better to loose a friend with the truth then keep one with lies. There was only one problem as he rounded the bushes in front the house.

"Hello Toad," came Magneto's voice from in front of him, as he looked up.

TBC

Finally, were getting somewhere. Will Todd break? If so, what is Pietro willing to do to keep the truth hidden?