Christmas morning had been a flurry of activity. Presents were flying around the room (literally). The younger students were balls of energy, running between the adults with a deafening level of noise. Peter kept glancing at Crystal. She was sat with her father, opening a stunning pair of diamond earrings. He needed to explain his actions from last night. He'd lost control when they were alone and hadn't dared go to her room afterwards. He knew his girlfriend hadn't known what he was doing, and he'd just carried on regardless. She must hate him because she'd spent most of the morning at the opposite end of the room.
Charles caught Peter staring and knew he would have to release his hold on her daughter. He wanted to have some time with her before she let Peter monopolise her. And after what he'd interrupted last night, he knew they would probably disappear at some point. At the moment, for Crystal, it was like Peter wasn't there. Her thoughts of him were being pushed back so Charles could have a 'normal' Christmas morning with her. But seeing the pain and remorse in Peter's eyes, Charles withdrew his hold on Crystal slowly. As her mind sharpened, her eyes darted to Peter's direction, she beamed at him and with a slight nod of her head summoned him over to give him his present.
While the morning had gone well, suddenly the smile was struck from the professor's face. Instantaneously the younger students marched upstairs absentmindedly. Peter's mom gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
It had to be bad for the professor to move the little ones upstairs. Peter had half a mind to go check it out what had caused the commotion, but he knew the professor didn't want him to. As the X-men made their way to the hall, the professor spoke, 'Kurt, please take Ms Maximoff home and come straight back. Don't be alarmed everyone, but Eric is at the gate. Let's offer him an olive branch and see what he does with it.'
Well, if there ever were a way to ruin Christmas, Erik Lehnsherr would have to be involved. Instinctively, Peter pulled Crystal into his arms. He knew he loved her, even if he hadn't dared to verbalise it yet. He also knew Magneto has a nasty habit of destroying things you love; Peter wasn't about to let him get his hands on Crystal.
Assembled in the hall, they waited for the master of metal to barge in, tearing the place apart. They had trained for this precise moment; even though Charles saw the good in Erik, Raven wasn't as naive. She had always been worried one day he'd come back with a vengeance or he'd learn about Peter and try to forcefully remove him from the mansion. What they were not prepared for is what actually happened. Erik walked through the door, no helmet, no supervillain cape. It was just him, looking like he'd walked through a war zone.
The professor was the first to speak, 'I'm glad you felt you could turn to us in your hour of need, old friend.'
'I thought a warning was the least I could give you. I don't know if they will come, but they are looking for powerful mutants for their new experiments. After Cairo, it makes sense they would come here.'
Pete has noticed on the few occasions the two men had been in the same room, they spoke in this strange way. It was like listening to half a conversation that you'd missed the beginning of. It was always 'they' or 'him' or 'it'. Could they just use a couple of names? Would it kill them?
Erik surveyed the team assembled in front of him.
'I assure you, Erik, they are more than capable of protecting the school and its occupants.'
Peter watched as Erik made eye contact with every mutant stood in front of him. At last, he got to the end of the line, where he and Crystal stood. 'I see you've recruited a new one since my last visit.' Peter didn't like the way his father was looking at her. Like she needed to be tested by him before she could call herself an X-men. He felt his hold around Crystal's waist tightening, ready to pull her back if Erik took another step closer.
'How rude of me. Erik Lehnsherr, this is Crystal Xavier...my, daughter.' As the professor spoke, Peter enjoyed watching the smirk fall off Erik's face.
'It's been a while since my last visit Charles, but not long enough for you to have an adult daughter.' Erik was baffled, the tone of his voice didn't hide it.
'It's long and complicated. Why don't we go to my office, catch up and then discuss future plans? The rest of you may continue what you were doing.' Peter heard the younger mutants begin to move again, but the team did not move. The professor had noticed this, 'or you may continue to stand there with the perplexed looks upon your faces.'
'I've seen him before. Dad made me study mutant relations in the last two decades. He's the world's most wanted mutant. Why is he here?' Crystal felt she had every reason to be perplexed, as her father had said. Peter, however, just looked angry.
No one spoke, just stared at the door. Crystal was beginning to wonder if they were all trying to will it open, except half of them could not only open the door without a second thought, they could also destroy it easily. Peter was shaking. She had never seen him like this. He had lost control between time shifts. His arms were still around her waist, tightening with every vibration, making it difficult to breathe. 'Peter.' He was operating on a different frequency, unable to hear her anymore. She removed her hands from his and created a small force with the air around her. It was just enough to force his arms open, snapping him back to reality.
'Sorry, Chrissy. We need to talk.'
Suddenly, the harsh winter air hit Crystal's skin like a knife as she realised they were outside, sat under the pergola. There were still silver roses blooming around it even though it was the middle of winter. Hank theorised that Crystal had subconsciously connected herself to them. The roses were growing because she was happy. He couldn't explain the science behind it, but in the past six months, the roses had been growing every day. Crystal just thought it was romantic, while Peter enjoyed that the mystery kept Hank awake at night.
'Chrissy,' he spoke softly and interlocked his fingers with hers, 'Magneto, Erik...is my dad.'
She had to stop herself from pulling away. 'What!'
'He doesn't know. He left before my mum knew she was pregnant. I've met him a couple of times. The first was when I broke him out of the pentagon. The second was Cairo.'
'Why are you so angry if he doesn't know who you are?' She wanted to help him, she just needed to understand what he needed from her.
'I get mad that I don't know what to say to him. I just chicken out. I've never felt connected to the world, you know. I'm always out of step with it. Having him around is a reminder of that. He's the reason I've always felt so frustrated with the rest of the world. My mom and sister are great, but they didn't understand me. Literally sometimes. It took me a while to slow my speech down for them to know what I was saying'.
'Hey,' she moved her hand to his cheek and stroked her thumb forward and back, 'you aren't like that anymore. You have a whole life here, and you've got me. Tell him or don't tell him. Whatever you want to do. But know I'll support you.'
She leaned in and kissed him softly. He pulled her into his arms and held her against him. He needed this comfort right now.
'Dad wants us. It sounds important, you'd better take us.' Crystal closed her eyes ready for Peter to move her.
Crystal walked in before him. She went over to the professor and kissed him on the cheek. 'Is everything alright father?' Peter had seen how hard the professor had worked to create a strong relationship with his daughter. They had private lessons three times a week. Peter knew one of those 'lessons' was Crystal and the professor bonding. You could test Crystal on any member of the Xavier family, she'd never fail. You'd think she grew up in the mansion, which is how the professor wanted the world to see her. He'd even had Hank and Sage hack systems to get her a birth certificate, driving license and social security number. She was an American citizen. No one would know she'd spent her life in a cell.
'Everything is fine.' He smiled as she sat on the sofa next to Charles' chair and placed her hand on his. She must have sensed that Charles was worried about the current situation.
'Charles. What I have to say is strictly confidential. I understand why you must tell your daughter, but why must you invite the other?' Erik declared from the other side of the room.
Peter whizzed to sit by Crystal's side and placed a defensive hand upon her knee. He didn't want her in the same room as Erik. She was Peter's weakness, and Erik knew how to exploit a vulnerability to get what he wanted.
'I see' Erik nodded, realising Peter would not leave her side.
'Crystal, Erik has been researching the x-facility. It appears that, in your absence, they haven't completely forgotten about Inhumans. Currently, their scientists are trying to exploit the power source your mother brought with her. They have been able to extract some power from it to test on mutants, but it has adverse effects. Some have had their powers enhanced, but then they burn out quickly. Some are grossly mutated and some...' The professor was looking into Crystal's eyes and was clearly upset by the information he was sharing.
'Die instantly' finished Erik.
'How does this link to Crystal?' Peter was growing impatient. Crystal was pulling her hair back away from her face. She was getting upset. Stressed.
'All the mutants used in testing were low level. Stryker believes that he would have better luck if he tested on higher-level mutants, such as the X-men living in this mansion. I'm sure he'd have a field day if he were to become reacquainted with you.' Erik said coldly.
'So Stryker might come after me? Again?' There was apparent panic in her voice now.
'Yes and no. Stryker wants powerful mutants. I do not believe he will steal anyone from the mansion unless he can't find any in the general public. Though I would prefer he come here as opposed to attacking helpless mutants. We have time to ready ourselves.' Peter could tell the professor was trying to calm his daughter, but he understood her better and calm she was not.
'What's the plan?' he asked, knowing it would make her feel better. She needed control. She needed to keep busy.
'I will monitor Stryker from Cerebro to make sure he doesn't start kidnapping mutants. Raven will be running double training sessions readying you all for an attack on the school and a rescue mission from the x-facility. Crystal, Erik will be working with you to develop your elemental manipulation. Your mutations are similar, he'll be able to push you further. Our lessons will now focus on your hypnotic control. If Stryker were to remember what you are, I'm sure he'd come for you immediately. I need to know you're ready for that. In the meantime, we have to do all we can to make sure the president and the senate see why mutant registration would be harmful. The last thing we need is for Stryker to have such a document.
What! Charles was going to hand his daughter over to that madman. Had he lost his mind? Peter couldn't believe what he was hearing. Crystal just sat there, absorbing all the information she had been given. After a few seconds, she nodded and muttered an 'ok'. The professor dismissed her but asked Peter to stay.
'Peter, is there anything you wish to discuss?'
Really? They were doing this now? He needed to get to Chrissy. He needed to check on her, not play happy families. He knew the professor wasn't going to be able to read this mind while it was running this fast, so he shook his head.
'Very well' said the professor. Peter went to leave. 'Peter, one more thing, do not let her out of your sight. If someone comes for us and she's in danger she can't get out of, you take her, you run.'
'You're scared, professor.' It wasn't something Peter was used to seeing.
'It's taken time for Crystal and me to become a family. Now that might be taken away from me. Of course, I'm scared. Now, go find her and comfort her.'
He didn't need to be told twice.