7pm

Normal POV

"Brokeback Mountain….Really, Drake?" John says sceptically eyeing the dvd case.

"It's a classic, got very good write-ups." Bobby reasons taking the case off John and inserting the dvd into the Xbox in the common room.

"Yeah…great write-ups." John snickers, "You just want to see Jake Gyllenhall and Heath Ledger get gay and horny!"

"Johnny…"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

The movie comes on and both boys settle down on the sofa in the darkened room, all doors and curtains closed for effect.

About half an hour into the movie Bobby breaks the silence.

"I need ice cream, you want anything?" He asks the other boy.

"Beer?" John looks hopefully at Bobby. "From Logan's stash?"

"Beer from Logan's stash? Are you suicidal?!" Bobby exclaims, John appears to consider the question for a moment.

"Only in the morning." He replies, "Fine I'll get it myself." He pauses the movie and goes into the kitchen and lifts 4 tiles from the wall just above the worktop. "He's pretty smart considering he's like, half wolf." John remarks pulling 2 bottles of Coors out from the wall cavity and replacing the tiles.

Iceman rolls his eyes and ferrets around in the freezer for his Neapolitan ice cream. Putting 4 large scoops….eventually, into a bowl and getting a spoon he rejoins Pyro in the common room.

"About time, Ice Queen" The smaller mutant chides

"It wouldn't scoop properly, and DON'T call me Ice Queen!" Bobby hits John in the crotch with the remote control.

John yelps loudly and after momentary recovery whines "You could have done serious damage to things that can't afford to be damaged!" he whines, "You'll be sorry when we come to have sex!"

"Yeah well, you don't have to worry. Anything important in that area has actually lived on your forehead for years." Bobby shoots back with a cocky smile and they resume watching the movie, John sulking slurping his beer as loudly as possible just to piss Bobby off. It works, and the ice mutant decides enough is enough. He gets a spoonful of vanilla ice cream and flicks it at the other mutant.

John shrieks in surprise causing Bobby to laugh so hard he cries.

"That was cold jack ass!" John yells as Bobby continues to laugh. "It's not funny!" Humiliated he scoops up some ice cream with his hand, Bobby stops laughing.

"Johnny, wait a sec, I was only--" Bobby is cut off by the other mutant grabbing his shirt collar and stuffing ice cream down the neck, trickling onto his chest. "JOHN! That's so gonna stain my shirt!"

"Stop being such a girl! It was only a bit of fun Drake." John laughs, "After all, you did start it."

"That's it!" Bobby yells, jumping the brown haired boy and tickling him.

"Noooo! No! I swear Bobby, I'm gonna…have…your…ass…you…fuck--fucker!" John is now nearly incomprehensible and his eyes begin to run from laughing so hard.

"Say sorry and I might stop." Bobby grins down at the boy beneath him.

"S--S…Sorry!!" John manages and Bobby's tickling slowly ends. For a few moments John just lays there, breathing heavy, Bobby straddling him. "You think there's any chance we could end up in this position only naked?" the fiery boy asks, wiping his eyes and sitting up slightly.

Bobby just laughs and leans down for a kiss. Soft at first then more passionate, after a couple of minutes John pulls Bobby down and pushes himself up, switching their positions. He begins to undo Bobby's shirt. His mouth leaves the other mutant's, kissing along his jaw and down the side of his neck. Bobby moans quietly and shifts underneath John, who then proceeds to nibble and suck on Bobby's collarbone, then starts to lick away the ice cream that he'd flicked at the other boy.

"Mmmh, Johnny…" Bobby murmurs, his hands roaming John's body.

All the ice cream gone he kisses and licks back up Bobby's throat to his mouth, kissing him hard, hands running over the exposed pale skin of Bobby's chest.

Just as Bobby takes off John's t-shirt they hear the front door go.

"Fuckin typical…" John moans and pulls his shirt back on, Bobby doing up his shirt quicker than he thought possible. Just as he's done up the last button Rogue enters looking a bit pissed off.

"Oh…hey. I thought you were gonna be doin' homework?" She eye's the dishevelled pair suspiciously.

"We finished quicker than I thought." Bobby offers.

"Thanks to you." John mutters toward Rogue.

"Okay, well I guess we can hang out for the rest of the night?" She continues, sitting next to Bobby. "You got ice cream on your neck, sugar." She observes, getting a tissue from the box on the table and wiping it away, missing the embarrassed and slightly guilty look on Bobby's face and the satisfied smile on John's.

"How come you didn't stay at the movies?" Bobby wonders aloud.

"I didn't fancy it so me n' Jubes just went to get pizza instead. Then Kitty turns up." She sighs," They went to some bar but I didn't bother. I thought I'd come spend some quality time with my boyfriend." She smiles at Bobby and takes his hand in her gloved one. "So what you guys watchin'?"

"It's about gay cowboys." John supplies, "Not really something you'd find interesting. Bobby can meet you later?"

"No, it's fine. I can handle gay John." She laughs lightly, missing the subliminal 'You've interrupted something and can you please get the fuck out' message in John's question.

"It's a good job." John says under his breath.

A few minutes later Bobby and Marie are giggling like drunk 15 year-olds and playing thumb-wars.

John sighs. They continue obliviously. Why should he be the one who's always feeling left out? Sitting here like a fucking spare part? "Fuck this…" he murmurs. "I'll see you later." He says, standing and making for the door.

"Johnny, wait--" Bobby starts, but is cut off by a painful squeeze to the hand. Taking the hint John continues to the door.

"I'll see you later. We'll watch the movie another time." He smiles a little sadly and leaves the couple alone.

Bobby stares at the closed door for a few seconds. Why does he have to be so touchy!? He knows she's my girlfriend, he knows I love her! I'm not exactly gonna ignore her! He thinks to himself.

"Glad he can take a hint." Rogue says cheerfully, "I've been wanting to show you something!"

"Huh? What's that?" He asks, still thinking.

"Don't get too excited will'ya, Hun?" She carries on a little sarcastically.

"Sorry." Bobby apologises coming back to the present. "What did you wanna show me?"

Rogue smiles, then removes her glove. Taking a deep breath she places her hand on Bobby's. He flinches away but she grabs his hand tightly.

"Trust me." She murmurs, and he does so he lets her hold his hand. A few seconds go by and nothing happens. Her absorption power doesn't kick in. Bobby looks from their joined hands to Rogue's smiling face and back again.

"How?" He asks, amazed.

"I've been working with the professor and Dr. Grey. They've helped me a lot. I didn't tell you cos I wanted it to be a surprise. I can't control it for long but I'm getting better every week. They say in as soon as 6 months I could have complete control over it!" She explains, her excitement evident. "At the moment I can only annul it for a couple of minutes at a time, but it's a start."

"That's fantastic!" He hugs her to him, their first real close hug without any fear of her killing him in the process. He pulls back and they look at each other for a moment. Then slowly she moves forward and he leans in to meet her lips with his own. Their first kiss. Slow and soft. She pulls back and when she exhales her breath is cloudy.

"I love you Bobby." She whispers.

"I love you too." He replies softly, happier than he's felt in a long time. Even more so than when he's with John.

I love Rogue. With John it's exciting and dangerous. With her, it's so much more. I don't ever want to hurt her, and now she's learning to control her power! The one thing that was wrong with our relationship is being put right! I care about Johnny but… Not enough to leave her. He thinks, watching his girlfriend put her glove back on and tuck her hair behind her ears. She smiles and takes his hand again.

"Do you think John's okay?" She asks after a moment.

"What? Why?" Bobby asks quickly

Rogue looks at him, a bit bemused. "Well, didn't you notice he seemed a bit upset, Sugar?"

Bobby lets out a sigh of relief and answers "When doesn't he look angry or upset? There's always something pissing him off…"

Bobby feels a twist of guilt even as he says the words but can't help feeling that they're true anyway. Rogue just nods in agreement and turns back to the movie.

A/N - Please review!! Any criticism (though constructive would be nicer) is welcome!! Thank you to those who already have reviewed!!! xxx