Disclaimer:The owning of the X-men and such related things is a privilege that I do not have.
An apology must go out to InterNutter. I accidentally borrowed the idea of suit brushes from her, and was informed that the idea was solely hers… I apologize abundantly.
Note: This is the final installment of my little miniseries that began with "Is it finally going to happen on Christmas?" and continued with "When Christmas comes". I'm pretty sure that reading the other two isn't QUITE necessary, but there will be allusions to events from those other stories, so reading the other two is recommended. Enjoy! ^_^
The timeline is about two and a half years after "When Christmas Comes"; about August. Kurt just graduated and will be teaching at the Institute that coming year, and Kitty is going to be a junior in college.
Dedication: I would like to dedicate the entire story to those who have been kind enough to review for me. I really appreciate and am sorry if you feel I haven't been nice enough to you.
"Can you believe it's vacation already, sugah? We're all glad that you're back. And that ya'll'll be livin' here at the Institute. Did mah brothah tell ya where ya'll are goin' for ya'lls honeymoon?" Rogue LeBeau looked at her soon to be sister-in-law; her completely matured sister-in-law. Finally giving up the fight against Kurt, she had started eating meat again, letting her curves show through and the child-like quality of her features had slowly melted away to reveal a hardened, beautiful woman. No big surprise considering all of the battles and all the training those at the Institute had to go through, leaving them toned into all that their potential would allow them to be.
"Of course not! If he told me, then somehow his fun would be ruined. Can you believe that boy?" She giggled as Jean hemmed the front of the flowing, off-white dress. "And can you believe I'm totally about to become Mrs. Kurt Wagner? Or as my dear fiance would say, 'Vagner'? Jean, isn't that still a little to low? I mean, I may have gotten taller in the five years I've known you guys, but seriously! I'm not that tall!" Shooing the red head back, the college junior smiled brilliantly as she twirled slowly, reveling in the heady swish the lace made. Jubilation Lee chuckled at her friend, allowing the spinning to continue for about another minute before stepping over and wrapping her arms gingerly about the silk and lace covered bride in an attempt to keep her from tearing the delicate dress.
"Kitty, if you tear that thing, Jean'll end up having even more to sew, and then how will she get around to fixing OUR dresses up?" Jubilee looked patronizingly at the Shadowcat, while Rogue nodded seriously. "We just want our 'sister's' wedding to go perfectly. Like Jean and Evan's did; like Rogue and Remy's did. Hell, if your's goes well, maybe mine will be lucked out and just end up going perfectly. Of course, for that to occur, Bobby has to propose… But, this is your week, Kitty. Your wedding." When Jubilee could tell the room had stopped spinning for her friend, she released her hold and went back to her seat.
As Jean returned to hemming, the luminescent girl looked down at her, "But back to the subject of our honeymoon… Jean-" drawing the syllables out to indicate suspicion, "-has Kurt told you anything about where we're going? Or, have you caught anything that he's let float around?" When Jean didn't answer, her voice turned pleading, "C'mon Jean, you've gotta tell me! I deserve to know where I'm going to be for the two weeks before college starts up again! You know! That is just plain cruel, knowing and not telling."
Rogue coughed, "Ah know too, Kit. He needed mah help to arrange the plans. Ah'll tell ya nothin' 'cept that ya will adore it!" Her head snapped up as echoes of, "Ma chere! Et vous femmes, je suis comin' up. De homme bleu wants to know dat his fille is not bein' tortured by…" The words faded away as Rogue sidled up to the door, nudging it shut and Jean gave it a Look. All could hear the lock click into place. "No guys can see ya until tha weddin', kay? At least, in yore dress, they can't. Of course, they can see us in our mint green dresses. Ah'm so glad ya chose not to make us ware those pink ones ya had picked out two years ago. Especially w' Jeanie's hare."
The telepath made a face at the image she picked up coming from Rogue, causing an eruption of giggles to flow about the room, reminiscent of what a group of girls' childhoods should be like. Unlike the ages that had passed in the past five years during which battle after pointless battle against other mutants and humans who apparentally hated mutants occurred, leaving small, almost-invisble scars that only love could help to heal. Fortunately, all who lived at the mansion had found someone to at least be a close friend to them, while others had found the love of their lives in the one place they ever could have found them. Had all those who had been frightened children not arrived alone and scared at the Institute, the lives of Jean and Evan's twins would never been realized as the love that had blossomed throughout would be an unknown memory.
While the girls had holed themselves up in the attic, the males of the x-team had taken over the rest of the mansion; a situation rather the opposite of the way things usually were as had to do with weddings. Of course, many things the X-Men did were done slightly off; the other two weddings that had taken place had also gone through this pattern. At this point in the procedings, Kurt and his four best men had taken over the library, which was right under the attic. All five could hear the giggling and churned words of those above them, and noticed how they had rejected Remy's false advances up the stairs. An advance which had been an obvious attempt to get Kurt in to see his beautiful Katzchen before the wedding. The fact that the wedding was only the next day was no help in lessening his need to at least see the still slight woman a minimum of once a day. Remembering how she had been when he first met her also made him remember how much she had changed, and how much he still loved her.
A moment after the red beam had almost hit one of his overlarge feet, Kurt snapped out of his daydream about the past and present Kitty Prydes. "Hell! Vhat vas zhat for, Scott? I'm allowed to zhink about her bevore zhe vedding! Even I know zhat!"
The red glasses of his friend flashed at him as the lips of Scott Summers drew into a smile. "Well, I was kind of wondering why you didn't just, you know, 'port up there… I mean, it's not like they could stop you. Could they?" At this point, Evan and Remy's snorting/laughter in the background came through even to him. "WHAT?"
Evan couldn't hold it in anymore, bursting into hysterical laughter. "Man, you realize that in that attic there is a telepath, on her period, might I add, a phaser, an electricity conducting person, and Rogue. Now, their state of menstration, I couldn't tell you, though maybe Remy could tell you about Rogue's. You can go up there if you really want to, but, man, I wouln't if I were you." The Cajun standing right behind him nodded his assent.
"Remy be agreein' wi' son ami. Evan be knowin' what he's talkin' about. Remy once tried to marche into de attic quand elles etaient putting ma Rogue's dress together et Remy almost got his head phased into a wall. Kurt, votre femme be one mean-minded fille quand elle wants." When Kurt nodded, the others burst into laughter. "Gambit do be suggestin' dat you don' be goin' to visit les filles. Mais, if you t'ink a look at your femme is worth havin' one of those maniacs nous adorons beaucoup use her powers on ya, den feel free." Kurt looked satisfyingly nervous, which Kitty noticed when she poked her head through the ceiling to check up on the boys below. Luckily for her, none noticed the flick of bark brown hair that appeared as she lifted herself up.
Long tired of wearing the itchy suit that rubbed his fur wrong, the blue mutant turned around. "You guys vant to get dressed? Zhis suit isz itchy! I don't know how you deal wizh zhem all zhe time! Eet's a good zhing none of you haf fur, eh?" When Bobby smiled mischevously, Kurt jumped back, slightly nervous, yet again… The Iceman had been one of the better ones to play pranks on when he'd been younger. Because of that, the need to become equally adept at dealing out pranks had gone to the top of Bobby's list of priorities. And so he had found himself second only to Kurt, who's ability to 'port gave him an advantage. "Nein, Bobby. No pranks zhe day bevore mein vedding. Please?" Sighing, the younger boy consented, though the glint he allowed to stay did not bode well for when the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon.
"Talking of the wedding, where are you going to take her afterwards?" Evan's chocolate eyes spoke volumes… Of course, so did his tone.
"I vill take you to mein room so I can tell you. I haf not told Katzchen vhere ve are going. Yet. Vhen ve get zhere, she vill know." After all five had placed a hand on his shoulder, Kurt bamfed them into his room, the perfect place for privacy… About three years ago, the Professor had grown tired of hearing complaints from random students concerning Kurt's late-night habits- those of staying up late and wandering about. And so he had given the furry one an extra room and bathroom, connected them actually, so he could wander around in freedom. As a last gift, the Professor had also sound-proofed the little mini-compound. {A handy thing for when Kitty and Kurt came home from college the same weekend.} After all had gotten their bearings back, and Scott had lost his lunch in Kurt's toilet, the elf quietly whispered the location he would be taking them to after the ceremony and reception. All of the guys smiled, nodded, and knew he really did love the small Shadowcat.
Well you guys, it's getting kinda late, and I want to get this posted, so, here it is! The first chapter of the last part of my little 3-book saga. If anyone has a name for it, let me know. I am reinstating the author's bribe as well, since my poor "When Christmas Comes" took forever to get as many as it did. AND, I refuse to update until there are at least three reviews. That's not too much to ask, really… Also, if you feel this story is pathetic, please tell me. Though not too meanly. Happy New Year to come. ^_^
~The Alciontae Shadow~