14. Warren's Story

Peter was gonna kill that bird-boy.

He had slipped away while Kath and Wanda were tending to Daniela in the kitchen, making her some tea and trying to calm her down.

No one just abandoned his sister like that. No one. Especially not the boy she loved.

It didn't take Peter long to track Warren down - he just followed the confused people to where the leather-clad, angel-winged mutant was wandering the streets of New York, pacing, one hand jammed in his pocket, the other tearing through his hair. He looked conflicted, to say the least.

Peter knew Daniela would in turn kill him if she knew he was currently stalking her boyfriend, stalking his prey, but the devastated look she had given him, Wanda, and Kath after Warren left - after he fled, ran away - said everything.

Peter had by now followed Warren undetected to Central Park. He watched the other boy dig in his pocket for some coins and then approach a flower stand.

Huh, perhaps this was promising...

Warren picked out a lovely bouquet of pink and orange flowers. Well, he knew Daniela's favourite colour obviously, not that it was much of a mystery, as she always wore at least something orange.

But Peter became puzzled when Warren continued on, now walking with purpose, in the opposite direction of the way to the mansion, fresh bouquet in-hand. Peter continued to follow close behind, curious now and wanting to get to the bottom of this.

He followed Warren all the way to the Central Cemetery. What the hell was he doing here?

Warren waltzed right through the gates and through the lines of graves - he seemed to know where he was going.

He stopped before a grave. Peter squinted to read the name. The letters were bold - the gravestone didn't appear to be very old.

Kathryn Worthington

Warren bowed his head, curls falling into his face. "Hi, Mom."

Now Peter felt awful - what was he doing? He had to get out of here.

Warren knelt before the grave, brushing some grass aside. The gravesite looked well-kept, which probably meant his father had been here recently. Warren cringed at the thought but then turned back to thoughts of his mother. "I'm sorry, I know it's been way too long since I visited last. Lots has happened lately, lots has changed..." He sat down cross-legged before the gravestone, laying the flowers down before it and brushing the hair out of his eyes - if his mother were here now, she would have brushed it away for him. They had shared the same golden curls.

He launched into telling her everything: Daniela always coming to support him during the cage-fights, him starting school at the mansion, his new friends, his new life. And Daniela, he told her all about his fiery - no pun intended - girl.

And, of course, about the major news she had just given him.

"And now I'm gonna the a dad and I'm so nervous - but an excited nervous... I really wish you were here, you'd know exactly what to do." This would all be easier if she were here now. "You'd love Daniela, Mom. She's so confident and sure of herself, and kind and caring and supportive, to everyone, just like you always were. You two would get along well, I know it. I love her. I love her. I love her... God, it's been so long since I've said that. I love her..." He found himself beaming.

He paused before wrapping his arms around the gravestone. "Thanks, Mom. I love you."

He grabbed an orange flower from the bunch before flying off - he had to get back to the mansion.

"The look on his face..." Daniela hadn't touched her tea. It was cold when Peter got back.

She buried her face in her hands, looking as though she may burst into tears again. Her siblings didn't blame her. "I don't want to do this alone."

"Hey-" Kath placed her hand on her sister's arm in a supportive gesture. "You are not alone in this. You've got me, Peter, Wanda-"

"And me."

The siblings turned to see Warren standing in the doorway.

"Warren-" Daniela jumped to her feet.

"Careful," urged her sisters.

The usually so-confident Warren appeared sheepish. "Can I talk to you, please?"

Daniela nodded and they left the kitchen together.

"We'll be here if you need us," Kath called after her.

"Where did you disappear to?" Wanda whispered to Peter.

"Nowhere."

Daniela let Warren lead the way. Soon the couple were walking around the school grounds.

"Are you okay?" he finally asked after a few minutes of silence between them.

"Okay, yeah... How about you?"

"Better."

"Oh, good..."

"Yeah. I was visiting my mom."

"Oh." She had never heard him speak of either of his parents. She had always thought he was an orphan living on the streets. "Where is she?"

She had been expecting an address, or even simply, 'at her house'. She was not expecting it when he said, "the Central Cemetery."

Her heart wrenched. "Oh, Warren - I'm so sorry-"

"You didn't know, I never said."

"Still, I'm sorry. I know how that is."

"Yeah, thanks. Her name was Kathryn, she was wonderful." He was smiling fondly now. That smile dropped, however, with his next words. "My father - he isn't a good man. He hates mutants - hates them. My mom always called me 'Angel' even before I got my wings - almost like she knew. She died when I was ten, and they started growing when I was in my early teens, and knowing my father and how he would react, I tried cutting them off-" He flinched at the memory.

"Oh, Warren-" She reached out and took his hand, holding it tightly in both of her own.

"I know. He found out, of course. These things aren't exactly easy to hide. He cut me off, kicked me out, and I've been on my own ever since. Well, until I met you." He suddenly remembered the flower in his hand - the gift from him and his mother. "This is for you. I got a bouquet to take to Mom. She would want you to have it."

"Thank you." She accepted the offering. "It's my colour."

"Yeah, exactly." Now he took both of her hands in his. "I'm sorry I ran off, so sorry. I panicked, didn't know what to do. I didn't mean to scare you, and you have every reason to be upset with me. But I want you to know, I had nothing and no one until I met you. And now we're having a baby - Daniela, I've never been so happy."

"Really?"

"Really. I've faced very little love in my lifetime, and the love I did have I always lost."

"I was so worried I was going to lose you!"

"I know, and I'm sorry I freaked out."

"Don't be! I'm freaking out too!"

"Well then I'm sorry for scaring you. I'm here for you, always. I love you." He'd said them, the words he'd realized, worrying he was too late.

Her eyes grew wide. "You do?"

"Yes. And I should have said it so much sooner. I love you." He loved it the more and more he said it. I love you. I love you...

She grinned. "Well, you'll have lots of time to make up for it."

He chuckled. "Good."

"So, does this mean you want to have the baby?"

"Yes, as long as you do."

"Yes, I've been thinking about it a lot, and I do, want this, with you. And by the sounds of it, we both have broken families, and now we have the chance to have our own whole family."

"Yes, and that sounds wonderful."

"Yeah, it does." Both were smiling now. "I love you, Warren."

"I love you too, Yela. And, I also love you, too." He knelt down so that he was eye-level with her stomach. "Our little one. You're not going to be too embarrassed if Mummy and Daddy start kissing now, are you?"

Daniela giggled - he was so adorable.

Even if their child was embarrassed by it, they shared a long, passionate kiss, whispering 'I love yous' in between kisses and breaths.

They would never stop saying it, nor would they ever stop believing it.

Yay, happy moment for two of our lovers! ;) Aww, Warren's story though :.( His story will play into the overall plot a lot more later on!

Thank you so much for supporting this story! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)