"But we've only been here for a week!" Wanda cried to Eric.
The twins were not happy about the new developments. Mystique's Senator Kelly was needed at an emergency committee, and Magneto had to go with her. This left the twins and John alone until they came back.
John didn't mind, but the twins were understandably upset. No more than seven days after reuniting with their father, he had to leave again. Not that it was his fault or his choice; but this was a special occasion, it was THE occasion that they had been waiting for.
Because of the importance of the situation, Magneto had to be there to protect Mystique. Despite the abundant security, it was still too easy for some whacko to get in a lucky shot. However, all Eric had to do to protect her would be to warp the magnetic field around her: create a type of force field.
John understood that there was nothing more important to Magneto than the ensured survival and safety of mutants. That wasn't to say that he wouldn't do anything for his little group here in the house, but the man had his priorities straight as an arrow.
"I know, Wanda, but you must understand, we cannot miss out on this opportunity. It's too important that Mystique be there." Eric said, trying to reason with her.
Wanda was nearly a grown woman, but at times she could be as mature as a two-year old. She crossed her arms and glared at Eric, who was apologetic behind his desk.
John sat on the couch, flipping his Zippo. He didn't really care that much, he was used to his old parents leaving him alone, this would just be more of the same as far as he was concerned.
Idly, he wondered if he could convince Wanda to join him in the hot tub while Magneto and Mystique were gone.
'She'd probably try to drown me.' John thought, smiling at the idea.
"Come on, father! Is it really that important?" Pietro asked.
"Yes, Pietro, I'm sorry, but it is. Mystique is the highest ranking official there, if she were to be.disabled, there would be next to no support for us in this country's government."
Pietro rolled his ice blue eyes and sighed. "Fine, fine. But I'm not happy about this!" he declared. He didn't really mind that much, he understood the importance of the situation, but he didn't have to like it.
"I don't know why you're getting so upset, it will only be for a few days, and then we'll come right back."
The lights in the room flickered once, twice, and then went out completely. John heard Wanda say something in an angry tone, but it wasn't in English.
The door slammed, and when the lights came back on, Wanda was gone. John could hear her stomping down the stairs.
"That wasn't very ladylike." Eric grumbled.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Mystique drove them to the train station, and largely due to Wanda's bad mood, the car was relatively quiet.
Pietro was watching a BMW speed across the highway with unnatural interest, and John was reading a Sports Illustrated magazine. Wanda just scowled.
The train station came into view, and the party headed to the platform.
Eric and Mystique gave their luggage to the attendant.
All too soon, it was time for goodbyes.
Mystique gave each one of them a kiss on the cheek, "You three behave. No parties, no drinking," she looked at John when she said the next bit, "And no house fires."
John winked at her as she turned and got aboard the train.
That left Eric.
"Pietro, hold down the fort while I'm gone."
Pietro cried, "Yes, sir!"
Magneto smiled at him and patted his shoulder. "Good man."
John was next. "John, I trust you'll help the twins adjust to the American way of life while we're gone?"
"Sure, you got any beer?" he asked jokingly.
Magneto smiled and shook John's hand, patting his shoulder as well.
Wanda was still scowling. "Wanda, please. You don't want to misdirect your anger now, do you?"
Wanda's face relaxed and she rolled her eyes, "I still don't want you to leave."
"Don't worry, it's only for a few days. We'll be back before you know it," Magneto kissed her forehead, "Besides, it's for the most worthy of causes. If we succeed today, we'll be one step closer to mutant prosperity."
Wanda sighed, relenting. Immature at times, but even she could see the significance of the committee Mystique had to attend. She hugged him. "Have a good time, father." He smiled at her and boarded the train.
After a minute, the train left the station, and the platform was empty.
John pocketed his lighter and looked around. Wanda to his left, and Pietro to his right.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Do you think this is a good idea?"
"What?"
"Leaving them by themselves."
"Well, perhaps not the best idea. Wanda and Pietro have only been in the country for a week, but John will look after them."
"John's younger than both of them."
"Only by a few months, Mystique, and you know what I mean. John hasn't had the parental protection that the twins have had, he's more self-reliant."
"Well, he may be self-reliant, but that doesn't always go hand in hand with responsibility."
"I'm sure everything will be fine. If we get back and things are awry, they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions."
Mystique moved closer to Eric and kissed him. "I love it when you get all parental."
The twins were not happy about the new developments. Mystique's Senator Kelly was needed at an emergency committee, and Magneto had to go with her. This left the twins and John alone until they came back.
John didn't mind, but the twins were understandably upset. No more than seven days after reuniting with their father, he had to leave again. Not that it was his fault or his choice; but this was a special occasion, it was THE occasion that they had been waiting for.
Because of the importance of the situation, Magneto had to be there to protect Mystique. Despite the abundant security, it was still too easy for some whacko to get in a lucky shot. However, all Eric had to do to protect her would be to warp the magnetic field around her: create a type of force field.
John understood that there was nothing more important to Magneto than the ensured survival and safety of mutants. That wasn't to say that he wouldn't do anything for his little group here in the house, but the man had his priorities straight as an arrow.
"I know, Wanda, but you must understand, we cannot miss out on this opportunity. It's too important that Mystique be there." Eric said, trying to reason with her.
Wanda was nearly a grown woman, but at times she could be as mature as a two-year old. She crossed her arms and glared at Eric, who was apologetic behind his desk.
John sat on the couch, flipping his Zippo. He didn't really care that much, he was used to his old parents leaving him alone, this would just be more of the same as far as he was concerned.
Idly, he wondered if he could convince Wanda to join him in the hot tub while Magneto and Mystique were gone.
'She'd probably try to drown me.' John thought, smiling at the idea.
"Come on, father! Is it really that important?" Pietro asked.
"Yes, Pietro, I'm sorry, but it is. Mystique is the highest ranking official there, if she were to be.disabled, there would be next to no support for us in this country's government."
Pietro rolled his ice blue eyes and sighed. "Fine, fine. But I'm not happy about this!" he declared. He didn't really mind that much, he understood the importance of the situation, but he didn't have to like it.
"I don't know why you're getting so upset, it will only be for a few days, and then we'll come right back."
The lights in the room flickered once, twice, and then went out completely. John heard Wanda say something in an angry tone, but it wasn't in English.
The door slammed, and when the lights came back on, Wanda was gone. John could hear her stomping down the stairs.
"That wasn't very ladylike." Eric grumbled.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Mystique drove them to the train station, and largely due to Wanda's bad mood, the car was relatively quiet.
Pietro was watching a BMW speed across the highway with unnatural interest, and John was reading a Sports Illustrated magazine. Wanda just scowled.
The train station came into view, and the party headed to the platform.
Eric and Mystique gave their luggage to the attendant.
All too soon, it was time for goodbyes.
Mystique gave each one of them a kiss on the cheek, "You three behave. No parties, no drinking," she looked at John when she said the next bit, "And no house fires."
John winked at her as she turned and got aboard the train.
That left Eric.
"Pietro, hold down the fort while I'm gone."
Pietro cried, "Yes, sir!"
Magneto smiled at him and patted his shoulder. "Good man."
John was next. "John, I trust you'll help the twins adjust to the American way of life while we're gone?"
"Sure, you got any beer?" he asked jokingly.
Magneto smiled and shook John's hand, patting his shoulder as well.
Wanda was still scowling. "Wanda, please. You don't want to misdirect your anger now, do you?"
Wanda's face relaxed and she rolled her eyes, "I still don't want you to leave."
"Don't worry, it's only for a few days. We'll be back before you know it," Magneto kissed her forehead, "Besides, it's for the most worthy of causes. If we succeed today, we'll be one step closer to mutant prosperity."
Wanda sighed, relenting. Immature at times, but even she could see the significance of the committee Mystique had to attend. She hugged him. "Have a good time, father." He smiled at her and boarded the train.
After a minute, the train left the station, and the platform was empty.
John pocketed his lighter and looked around. Wanda to his left, and Pietro to his right.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Do you think this is a good idea?"
"What?"
"Leaving them by themselves."
"Well, perhaps not the best idea. Wanda and Pietro have only been in the country for a week, but John will look after them."
"John's younger than both of them."
"Only by a few months, Mystique, and you know what I mean. John hasn't had the parental protection that the twins have had, he's more self-reliant."
"Well, he may be self-reliant, but that doesn't always go hand in hand with responsibility."
"I'm sure everything will be fine. If we get back and things are awry, they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions."
Mystique moved closer to Eric and kissed him. "I love it when you get all parental."