He didn't want to speak to anyone, but his body was rebelling against him. They had been home for four days, but he'd not been able to relax. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't eat. His brain just kept playing the event in his mind on repeat. Crystal was lying helpless in the medical room, and he didn't know what to do. His focus on this fact had sent his mind into overdrive, and his body had begun to shut down as a result.
At the moment, he just felt numb. He suspected the professor had something to do with this, but he couldn't care or fight it. Peter realised that he'd walked out into the gardens. He was drawn towards Crystal's roses, seeking comfort from the familiar sight. Sitting down, he felt the numbness in his mind grow until he was in a sleep-like trance.
As Peter slipped into sleep, Crystal was starting to rise.
As her eyelashes began to flutter, the medical equipment attached to her made the men in the room aware of her present state.
'Crystal, can you hear me?' the professor was at her ear, encouraging her to wake up.
She could hear him, but she didn't understand why he was with her. 'Dad? It's not your turn for duty. Why are you awake?' As her eyes peeled open, she realised where she was. 'How did I get down her?'
Hank, Eric and Charles all looked at each other in concern. Crystal was normally very coherent and quick to grasp reality. Her confusion was a little unnerving. 'Crystal, what's the last thing you remember?' Eric was gentle in sentiment but still pressing in his tone.
A smile grew on her face as she recalled her most recent memories, 'thirty seconds.' she whispered. Though her father was confused, he didn't push on her memories, assuming that it was a personal memory best not viewed by her father.
'You don't remember the X-facility, the mist? Nothing?' Hank's eyes darted between Crystal and his charts. It didn't make any sense.
The smile was struck off her face as fast as it came. 'I don't know what you're talking about.' Then she realised who was missing from the room. Her father caught the darting movement of her eyes. 'He's fine. I sent him upstairs for air. Until five minutes ago, he'd not left your side for four days.'
'I've been asleep for four days?'
Hank gave her a brief explanation, 'your body had to cope with large quantities for Terrigen Mist. It has taken a while for you to adjust to your new cellular structure. Though I don't know how that will affect your powers.'
Crystal began to pull the wires and tubes from her arm and pulled herself up from the bed. There was a strong of yells to prevent her. 'I'm getting up. I'm going to see Peter and let him know I'm ok.'
Eric put his hand on her arms to steady her. 'Crystal, I need to warn you about what you're about to see.'
She ignored everyone staring at her. Her feet were pulling her to Peter like an invisible force was guiding her to him. Her heart broke when she cast her eyes on him. He was visibly thinner, clearly having not eaten since they were taken. His face was gaunt and full of concern. She hoped that she could relieve him of some tension.
'Peter' she knelt down beside him and brushed her fingers against his cold skin. He was unresponsive to her touch as if it were merely the wind skimming the side of his face. 'Peter, look at me.' Her hand was cupped under his chin, trying to force him to view her.
'Chrissy?' The trance Peter was in was beginning to lift as he became aware of her presence. 'Chrissy, you're awake.' While relieved, Peter had a ton of questions. 'You lied to me. You took me in there to watch you die. why?'
It felt like Crystal had spoken for hours. She explained her reasoning, the message her mother had embedded in her memory. As she spoke, she was transfixed by his eyes. She could see him absorbing all the information she was giving. Slowly, he went from disappointment to understanding. 'Chrissy, I never want you to do that to me again. I want you to stay with me for as long as we can'. He wanted to move quickly and take her by surprise, but the lack of energy meant he didn't have the usual control of his powers. Instead, he fumbled to pull a small box out of his pocket and almost fell twisting his body to face her. 'Crystal' he spoke slowly and deliberately 'I love you. Marry me.'
She saw the ring and while she wanted to be excited, but Peter looked so exhausted, she wasn't sure if he meant what he'd said. Yet, he didn't look like he would take no for an answer. 'Yes, but you need to sleep first.' Her father had explained that Peter was more susceptible to trancing, but she didn't think it would be so easy to persuade him to follow her upstairs and into bed. Peter always looked so powerful to her, but now huddled in their bed, he looked vulnerable and weak. It didn't take long for Hank to swarm in to wire Peter up to an IV and fluids. Charles reinforced Crystal's trance to ensure Peter got the rest he needed. Crystal watched, her hands twirling the small box he had given her.
Eric's attention was drawn to her delicate movements. 'Where did you get that?'
'hmmm?' she was distracted by the beeping of the machines.
'That box. It looks like a ring box.'
'It is. Peter gave it to me but I'm not sure if he meant it. He was pretty out of it.'
'The day I found out he was my son, he told me he was going to marry you. I'm pretty sure he means it.'
Crystal considered Eric's words carefully then finally opened the box and slipped the ring onto her finger. Knowing Peter, he wouldn't tolerate or be patient enough for a long engagement. She had a wedding to plan.