Cowardice
Peter was uncharacteristically quiet during the car ride back towards DC. His young body filled with anxiety. His Vati may have been upset that he had placed himself in danger breaking into the pentagon. That disappointment and anger had been overshadowed by the joy of seeing his child after so long and the taste of freedom. His mother however got to see him every day and would have no qualms about showing the full force of her anger.
“You’re quiet Pietro,” Erik observed his teenager.
“I’m a little nervous” Peter admitted and Erik could help but chuckle at Pietro’s nervousness.
“You never did think about the consequences,” Erik’s lips quirked up into a smirk.
“Yeah no. Mama says I get it from you,” Peter agreed. Erik’s expression turned a bit indignant.
“You do not,” Erik frowned and Pietro’s mood lightened and he broke into peels of laughter.
“I kinda do if you think about it,” Peter snorted and Erik rolled his eyes pulling onto the street where Magda and his children lived.
Erik wanted to argue with the petulant child but if he knew Peter the argument would turn into a childish battle of yes and no, forever repeating in an endless loop. Peter’s personality hadn’t changed that drastically from when he was five. He suspected it would be a long while yet before the boy matured, and Erik having missed out on so much of his childhood was perfectly okay with that.
It wasn’t long before he pulled into the drive of the little yellow house. He could feel his breath catch in his throat. It was real he was back with his family. They got out of the car and the sound of the car doors shutting alerted the occupants of the house. He was half way to the door when a teenage girl tore out running full speed. The weight of her hitting his chest at a full run left him breathless.
“Vati!” She yelled and tackled him in a warm embrace. Erik’s arms wrapped around his oldest daughter holding her tight to his chest. He buried his face in her red curls holding her tighter. He never wanted to let go of his children.
“Oh Wanda I’ve missed you,” His voice broke slightly and he pulled away far enough to get a better look at her. She was beautiful like her mother with a similar facial structure. She had his eyes though and he could feel the tears coming. He grinned at her showing all of his teeth as the tears rolled down his cheeks leaving salty tracks in their way.
“I’ve missed you too, Vati,” She smiled, her eyes watery.
“Let’s go inside,” He suggested, anxious to meet Lorna.
“Are we sure we want to go inside, I mean the weather is great and you two were having a moment,” Pietro said, eyeing the front door anxiously. He was anxiously twisting his hands at speeds too fast for the human eye to see.
“Be brave son,” Erik snorted.
“Yeah Pete, I can’t wait to watch mama eviscerate you,” Wanda smirked.
“Hey! Also I thought we went over this, I don’t mind being a coward. I like it even,” Pietro rambled while glaring at his amused twin. Erik looked on amusedly at the twins. He had missed their dynamic, and it felt like a cool drink of water after being in a desert for ten years. He had missed their normalcy.
“I suppose we can't all be the perfect child can we Pete,” She smirked at him, giving a false look of superiority.
After a bit more bickering he finally corralled the children to the front door. They stepped through the threshold and he was immediately assaulted with a glass paperweight hurling towards his head. Magda had always had a talent of finding things to throw at him that didn't contain metal when they had been married. She had a vicious temper and she had been nearly as volatile as him when angry.
“Lovely to see you too Magda,” Erik replied, as his ex-wife glared at him her dark curls almost crackling with her fury. Her eyes were narrowed quite dangerously at him.
“Pietro Django Maximoff! What were you thinking!!! Oh wait you weren’t thinking!!! Of all the stupid, dangerous, and lethal stunts you could have pulled!” Magda was furious, glaring at both her ex-husband and son. Erik couldn’t help but notice the wide eyed green haired nine year old peeking out from behind Magda. She looked more curious than scared of him, it was likely Magda had already informed her what was going on after he had called her in Paris.
“I’m sorry Mama, but look I brought Vati back,” Pietro started explaining and it was then that he noticed the red energy around his ankles keeping him in place. He looked up at a smug and smirking Wanda. It took everything he had not to bite back a chuckle. He couldn't help but be proud of his daughter’s control of her powers. It wasn't so long ago for him that she was an overwhelmed and frightened five year old.
“You’re still grounded! Erik Lehnsherr, what were you thinking of dragging him off to Paris? Are you insane you should have brought him home immediately after he pulled his stupid stunt. I’m also going to kill those men who talked him into this nonsense,” she was spitting fire and raging at this point. So Erik did the only thing he knew would work when she got this angry. He walked slowly over to her letting her rant and call him names. He then wrapped his arms around her tugging her into his chest. Her screaming and ranting turned into a strangled sob as they clutched at each other. Things hadn't been easy raising three mutant children on her own without anyone she could call for help. They may not have romantic feelings for one another anymore but they would always be bestfriends. She felt like she was seventeen years old again fresh out of the camps sobbing into Erik’s chest overwhelmed with too many emotions.
“I’m sorry Magda, I regret ever stepping foot into Texas. We have one thing left to do and I’m giving it up, I’m just going to be a proper father. No more fighting, I promise,” Erik said sincerely as he felt the woman break apart in his arms.
“One more thing?! Why do you need to do anything more than you already have?” Her voice wavered with incredulity, and Erik honestly could not blame her.
“It's a long story that I will fully explain in a minute when emotions aren't as high. I will tell you it has everything to do with our children’s continued safety. I mean that in more than just a metaphorical sense,” Erik told her, looking into her eyes and trying to convey his seriousness without alarming the children. Peter was already somewhat aware but he had not processed it the same way Erik had. Erik had lived through one genocide and he didnt want to even fathom another one. There was too much at risk.
“Okay we will talk later.” Her tone left no room for argument and there was another long pause before she looked towards the child hiding behind her.
“I assume Peter told you about Lorna,” She smiled softly “Lorna do you want to meet your Vati?” She asked the girl who was still hanging off Magda’s leg.
“You’re my Vati?” The little girl stepped out from behind her mother gazing at him with big green eyes that she inherited from Magda. Erik dropped down to her level and gave her a wide smile.
“Yes I am and you're my Lorna,” Erik smiled as he took in the green haired child. He was able to see her better now as she looked up through her lashes at him in a way that was reminiscent of Wanda as a child. She studied him just as he studied her before she broke into giggles.
“What’s so funny liebling,”Lorna’s childish laughter had only made his smile wider.
“You smile like a shark,” She giggled, doing her best impression of her father’s smile. This caused everyone in the room to laugh.
“I promise I won't stay gone again liebling,” He promised her and the little girl finally deciding he was to be trusted accepted his embrace. He lifted her into the air, settling the child on his hip.
“Did Pietro tell you what Lorna’s gift was?” Magda asked, looking at him with a suspicious smile.
“No it never came up,” Erik answered looking at Pietro curiously.
“Wanda show Vati,” Wanda encouraged excitedly. Erik was also curious to see the green haired childs mutation. Lorna grinned genuinely now and held out her little hand and he couldn't help but notice that her tiny finger nails were painted an obnoxiously bright shade of pink. HE smiled when her little hand started to glow a shade of green similar to the hair on her head. None of that surprised him though, what surprised him was the magnetism he felt coming from her fingers and before he knew it a metal paperweight was sailing through the air and into her hand.
“See Vati we’re twinkies,” She grinned. Eric wasn't sure what a twinkie was but he suspected the girl had picked up the reference from her older brother. Surely she couldn't mean the snack cakes that Pietro was so fond of as a child.
“I suppose we are,” He chuckled and pressed a kiss onto her forehead before setting the girl back on the ground.
“They’ve missed you terribly,” Magda whispered as he watched in awe as Lorna made several metal objects dance around each other with childish enthusiasm.
“I've missed them,I am sorry about Pietro I wouldn't have taken him out of the country had it not been the safest option at the time,” his ex-wife studied him with perceptive green eyes.
“You're lucky that I actually believe you, were the ones who broke you out of the pentagon part of your freedom fighters?” Magda asked curiously, she was more cross with Pietro and the men who convinced him to run off than with Erik himself. He may not make the best decisions most of the time but he would never purposely put their children into harm's way.
“It was Charles actually, I was surprised as well,” He answered her as they continued to watch their children goof off.
“Charles!?” She was surprised that much was evident “Which one was he?”
“The one that looks like a dirty old hippie, can you believe that dude is a professor” Pietro interjected and Erik let out a frustrated sigh glaring at the silver haired teen eavesdropping on their conversation.
“Pietro, butt out, go play with your sisters before I remember how mad I am at you” Magda’s voice had the firmness of an experienced disciplinarian.
“Yes something is wrong with Charles, this isn't like him.” Erik told Magda when Pietro ran off, afraid of his mother’s wrath.
“Are you going to tell me what's going on?” She asked though it came across as more of a demand.
“Yes I am though it's going to be after the children are actually asleep they don't need to worry about the things that I have recently learned,” Erik told her seriously and she nodded in understanding.
“I have dinner in the oven let's eat something” She announced for the children to hear and Peter grinned his appetite was always in need of sustenance. The family sat down to dinner and got to know each other again. Erik felt like he had been transported back to happier times. He had missed his family and he would do anything to keep them safe. He wasn't looking forward to the dark conversation he would have to have with Magda later, but for now he was going to soak in all the time he could with his children.