"It won't be long." Hank's voice was gruff, but Piotr recognized it as repressed emotion. He was trying to be strong. His furry blue hand clasped the boy's shoulder before he left him alone.

He remembered the first time she demonstrated her powers for him. He'd been outside, it had been summer, the heat had been ungodly, even that far north. Shirtless, relaxing in the shade of a tree for a short break, he'd watched Illyana approaching.

"Piotr! Piotr, watch what I can do!"

She'd been so young, so blessedly naive, as she began to walk up the air, as if there were steps. For her, there were. Then, she vanished, only to reappear beside him. "I have been practicing while you were at school." She rested her hands on his shoulders and laughed. "I am like you, Piotr! A mutant! I can go to school with you."

She'd been so excited, and so proud to be like her big brother, to be able to go with him to school.

He had smiled for her, but inside, he was not as happy. He'd be hoping, oh God how he'd been hoping, she'd be just human, and not have to deal with the life of a mutant.

But it was not to be.

He'd vowed then, whatever may come, he would protect her with his life.

But this...he could not save her from this. He sat beside her bed, holding her hand, feeling her life slip away. Briefly, he felt her fingers tighten around his. He saw her body shudder, a last gasp of air escaping her, and everything was still.

He held her hand, until someone was there, gently pulling him away. There were words, but he didn't hear them. Someone spoke of a funeral, of services, memorials, but he heard none of it. He drew away from comforting hands.

He had failed her.