19. Big News

"Dad's coming to visit."

"Oh..."

"Yeah..."

"He says he's got a break from business, whatever the hell that means," said Wanda. "He wants to meet with us but apparently doesn't have time for a lunch outing."

"Well, thank goodness for that. But what about-" Daniela placed her hands on her belly.

"Yeah, what about that?" agreed Peter. "That's the big question."

The siblings shared a silent, concerned glance - no one knew the answer to the so-called 'big question'.

Looked like she would have to start thinking about how to break to news to him after all.


"Here, wear this-" Peter tossed an oversized hoodie at Daniela.

"I'm not even showing yet. It's too early for that."

"Still, good to take precaution."

"I would never wear this - he'll know something's up."

It was a couple of days later, and Dad was coming to the mansion for a visit. After a long discussion, Daniela and Warren had decided against telling Erik about the baby today - they had nine months, so lots of time.

A family tea at the school proved to be just as, if not more, awkward than their lunch outings. For one thing, no one knew what to say - especially when all but one knew the big secret that was not being addressed.

"Hey-" Kath smacked Peter's wrist when he reached for another chocolate biscuit. "There were two for each of us and now you've eaten more than half."

"No one else is eating any."

"Dad would you like one?" Kath held the plate out to Erik.

"No, thank you, Dear."

"See." Peter snatched another one.

After a painful near twenty minutes - that felt more like hours - filled with very little conversation, Daniela sighed and got to her feet. "This is ridiculous. I'll be right back."

She returned a few minutes later with Warren, the professor, and Piotr.

"You're sure about this?" Warren asked softly.

"We have to tell him sometime. And the longer we wait to tell him the more angry he'll be, I just know it."

"I'm sorry, has something happened?" asked the confused Erik.

Kath was eyeing her sister. You're sure? her gaze said. Daniela nodded.

Holding tightly onto Warren's hand, she turned to Erik. "Dad, this is Warren, my boyfriend, who I told you about. Everyone else in the room already knows this, but we're having a baby."

Dead silence followed her confession. No one dared look at Erik. However, his expression appeared rather neutral, strangely enough.

"How long have you known?" he asked, a near whisper.

"Not long, it's very new."

Silence again. That was, until the metal tea service began to tremble on the coffee table.

"Please tell me that's your doing," Peter said to Kath.

"It's not."

"Shit..."

With that, a teaspoon shot past them, embedding itself in the wall.

Erik was now on his feet, looking upon his daughter in anger. "How could you be so irresponsible?"

"Me, irresponsible? Oh you're really one to talk!"

"Daniela-" cautioned Kath.

But Daniela carried on. "At least I plan on being involved in my child's life, unlike you!"

"You're keeping the child?"

"Of course we are!"

"You are in no position to make such a decision."

"It's our child!"

"You know nothing about raising children."

She scoffed. "And you do?"

Everyone who had still been seated were now standing as well.

Erik gritted his teeth. "When I said I wanted to meet your boyfriend, this isn't what I meant."

Daniela only scoffed again.

"But now I don't want to. I know enough."

"What are you talking about?" Daniela demanded.

"I've been doing some research on this Warren-"

"You were spying on us?"

"I felt it my right to investigate my daughter's boyfriend."

"Unbelievable!"

"Especially since you were so against us meeting."

"This is ridiculous-"

"But you-" Now Erik turned to Warren. "I know exactly who you are. Warren Worthington III..."

Now all eyes were on Warren, who winced at Erik's words, though clearly tried to hide it.

"Worthington?" cried Daniela.

"Like, Worthington Worthington?" added Peter. "That Worthington?"

"That's right," continued Erik. "Yes, that Worthington. Son of a father and grandfather of the same name. Avid mutant haters, passed down generation to generation. Your boyfriend is nothing but a spoiled rotten rich playboy with all that wealth and hate to inherit-"

"Not anymore." Warren's hands were clenched into tight fists and his wings twitched. "I was cut off when my father found out I was a mutant."

But Erik ignored him. He was still speaking to his daughter. "Your child's father comes from a long line of avid mutant-haters-"

"I am not my father!" shouted Warren. "Or my grandfather. I'm not that kind of Worthington, trust me. I prefer to not even associate myself with them."

"No, I don't trust you. See Daniela, you didn't really know him."

"No, I do," Daniela spoke firmly. "And I love him, and he loves me, and we both love this child - our child."

"You won't be saying that when the filthy-rich boy abandons you like you're nothing-"

"I would never!"

"That is what you were like though, wasn't it? Such a ladies man and you knew it. You just lapped up all the attention you could get, especially from women. You thought you could have it all."

Warren's jaw tightened. "That was before. Before these." He gestured to his wings. "I was a different person then. And realizing I was a mutant was one of the best things to have happened to me. It changed me as a person, for the better. Got me away from all that."

"But old habits die hard. You're still nothing but an attention-seeking brat."

"Stop it!" cried Daniela. "Don't you dare speak to him like that!"

"Daniela, it's okay," Warren assured her.

"No, it's not. I'm not okay with it and you shouldn't be either."

"The past is in the past. I'm not who I was then. I've changed. And I love your daughter," Warren insisted.

"I can't believe this," sighed Erik.

"Erik," the professor said gently.

Erik turned to him. "How could you let this happen?"

Xavier looked taken aback. "How could I?"

"Yes, you're the headmaster around here. What are you allowing within the walls of your school, Charles?"

"Erik, that's enough. What my students do in their personal lives doesn't concern me, as long as they are not doing anything to cause harm to themselves or others."

"Is this not causing harm?!"

"They have my support. They and their child are welcome here under this roof, as I have already expressed to them."

"Yeah, everyone here supports us but you," Daniela told her father.

"I hope you know how disappointed I am."

"Well, disappointment runs strong in this family, then."

"Don't you dare speak to me that way, young lady-"

"Mr. Lehnsherr," Piotr stepped in then. "I think it would be best if you leave now."

"Yeah, get out, just get out. No one wants you here, I certainly don't," Daniela agreed. "I suppose that will be something we have in common, my child and I: life without Erik Lehnsherr."

Erik said nothing more. Instead, he stormed from the library without another glance.

The tense silence deflated like a balloon as soon as he was gone. Daniela collapsed onto the couch and everyone immediately began fussing over her.

"Daniela!"

"Oh my God-"

"Are you okay?"

"Maybe you should sit down."

"Yeah, I feel great." She nodded. "We'll prove him wrong."

Whew, that was intense! I've been waiting for this moment for a long time!

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