Crystal was sure she was in a nightmare. Something was off, it couldn't be the reality she had come accustomed to. It was too empty, too quiet to be real. Still, it terrified her that she might really be awake. Her footsteps echoed across the cold hallway. Her breathe formed in front of her face as she shivered. She couldn't remember how she got here, but somehow knew where she was going. Pushing the oak door to her father's office open, she found herself standing back in the X-facility. The door slammed shut behind her, forcing her to go forward. An invisible focus was leading her back to the cell that had kept her contained throughout her life. Shock hit her like a freight train when she realised the cell was already occupied. Peter was sat broken and battered, trapped in the inescapable room. A deep voice came from behind her, 'welcome home Crystal'.

She shot up, dripping in a cold sweat. Her eyes flickered around the room, unnerved by the fact she couldn't see Peter. Restless and nervous, Crystal decided she wasn't going to get to sleep again this evening. Breathless, she headed off to the kitchen to get a glass of water. It shocked her to find the light was already on when she reached the doorway. 'Mr Lensherr, I'm sorry...I didn't realise anyone would be downstairs at this time of night'.

'I couldn't sleep. I gather that is the reason for your presence also.' Erik spoke so coldly, Crystal could not comprehend how he and Peter could be related. Peter was so warm and generous, full of life. His father seemed nothing like that.

'Nightmares. It's an everlasting side effect for years of torture I'm afraid. My father thought he'd created a mental block stopping them, but it seems that some are creeping through. It'll break his heart to find out.' She didn't know why she gave him this information. Still, he was Peter's father, and she suspected that eventually, there would be some sort of relationship.

'Yes, the young Xavier. I must admit the idea of Charles as a father is amusing. He finally has a reason to aim to exert complete control over someone.' There was an uneasy smirk from the brooding mutant sat across from her that made her feel slightly uncomfortable. She didn't know how to continue the conversation, and luckily she didn't have to.

'Chrissy, there you are. I thought I'd get back before you woke up. You alright?' Peter slouched into one of the chairs, grabbing bits of food out of the cupboard at random moments.

'Nightmare.' She smiled softly at him, hoping he wouldn't press her further on the content for what was keeping her up this evening. 'Where did you go?'

Peter eyed Erik, clearly uncomfortable being in the same room, 'I ran down to D.C, just to catch my mum. It's still Christmas after all. I thought you'd stopped having nightmares.' In his concern, he fleeted to her side to comfort her. Pulling her close, he nuzzled in her hair, breathing in her honey-like scent. He wanted to whisper words of comfort to her but remembered they weren't alone.

'Well, you two are quite intense. Being in the same room as you should come with a health warning.' Though the words were a little harsh, Crystal caught the smirk that accompanied this retort to their affections, and it made her smile.

'Well, it is quite the gathering in here. Can I ask why we are all awake during the early hours of the morning?' Charles appeared at the door, completing the family unit.

'You could ask Charles, it doesn't mean we will tell you.' Erik seemed to take delight in making others feel uncomfortable. Still, Crystal wasn't going to let him make her father uncomfortable in his own house.

'Peter wanted to see his mum, and I woke up thirsty.' Crystal pulled away and went to sit down at the seat Peter vacated, though he got there first and pulled her onto his lap. Resting her head upon his shoulder, she attempted to stifle a yawn but failed miserably.

'Go back to bed Crystal, you're clearly still tired.' Her father urged her.

'I am, but I don't think that I'll be able to sleep again tonight. And to be honest, I don't want to.'

'I think I can fix that'. With those words, Crystal slouched further into Peter, whose reflexes allowed him to catch her before she fell. 'Take her up to bed please Peter. Then return to your own room.'

'Professor, I'm not sure that was wise. She didn't tell me what it was, but something clearly spooked her. And waking up alone will freak her out. I think you should wake her up.' Peter hoped his concern didn't appear to be overstepping but part of him understood that he knew Crystal better than her father did. Even is he was a mind reader.

'She'll be fine. She'll have a dreamless sleep tonight and wake up fully refreshed. Now off to bed'. The conversation was clearly over, with no room for debate, so Peter did as he was asked.

'Really Charles, trancing your own daughter, that has to be a low even for you.' Erik's voice was tinted with frustration.

'She has trouble sleeping. A little help is nothing to be concerned about Erik'.

'It's seemed that she had all the help she needed without anyone getting inside her head. The boy clearly has a positive effect on her, she relaxed just from his presence. Leave them be. If you try to pull them apart, you'll only succeed in pushing them closer together.'

With his closest friend in front of him, Charles was able to verbalise the thought he'd been unable to admit before now. 'I lost her before I even had her Erik. I never expected I'd be a father and the moment I realised I was, her heart was being captured by someone else'.