Author's Note- I hereby apologize for any mistakes along the top, I haven't been updating lately because of the fact that my computer is really messed up. It really screwed with the document when I tried to upload it earlier. This one is going to overlap a little bit on the first chapter. I hope no one minds. It's also the same flashback in the other version, no point in changing that.

Kietro lover- I know, I'm a terrible writer for abandoning my post like that. My apologies, but thank you.

deathrosekitty, waytoevil- I've thought about it, believe me, and I still am. If I ever finish Excalibur and Gaining Wisdom I might.

Arikitten- Is now a good time?

Kitty Pryde2- Me too. I figure that everyone always makes Pietro out to be the dirty-minded one, a little role-reversal on occasion is a good thing.

angel1844, Youko-obsessed, just-me-the-cool-girl, kitty got claws, DazzlinShorty, Kigono- Thank you.


Mistaking Lust for Love
And that's all that I need
Someone else to cling to
And someone I can lean on until
I don't need to
Just stay all through the night
And in the morning let me down
Cuz that's all that I need right now
-
Matchbox Twenty
Kitty chewed on her bottom lip for a few seconds. "Okay," she said.

His eyebrows shot up. "Come again?"

"Okay, we can try this."

"I honestly did not expect you to agree," he admitted.

"Now what?"

"Now... I guess I take you home. We'll talk tomorrow morning."

She stared up at him clearly surprised. "What?"

"I don't want you to make this decision now, talk to me in the morning."

"You can be, like, surprisingly thoughtful. It doesn't happen often but you can be."

"There was an insult in there but I'll ignore it and say thank you." He lifted her into his arms and carried her back out to the car.

Later

Kitty rolled over. Every time her eyes closed she saw Lance. Sleep wasn't even an option. She stood and left her room walking to the bathroom down the hall. Not bothering to shut the door she stared at her reflection in the full length mirror.

Lance had his arm around Kitty as the movie wore on. He turned to her and gently tilted her head up. Their lips met gently at first but then the kiss grew. Lance ran his hand over her hip before reaching up and cupping her breast firmly in one hand. "Wait," Kitty whispered pulling away.

His lips cut off further words. She tried to move away but he was too strong and she knew how angry he got when she phased. "Lance, stop." He ignored her as he ran one hand lower stroking her hard. She began struggling again, all thoughts of her mutant ability gone in her fear.

Annoyed, Lance grabbed her by the throat, not too hard but enough to make her stop trying to get away. He used his hold to push her down onto the couch. He climbed up over her and began to unbutton her shirt. "Don't, please don't," Kitty whimpered.

"Shut up," he hissed. "You've been asking for this for months." His hips pinned hers completely to the couch. She tried to knee him in the groin but he backslapped her. "You do that again and I will hurt you."

"Just let me go," Kitty whispered.

"Ain't happenin', pretty Kitty," Lance said. "This would go a lot better for you if you'd just relax." She still struggled. He began to undo his jeans. "I've wanted this since I first saw you..." He reached up grabbing her breasts roughly in his hands.

"Stop!" Kitty said a little louder. She saw a silver blur then Lance was torn off of her and pushed away and Pietro stood blocking Lance from getting to her.

"Are you alright?" Pietro asked glancing at Kitty. She was now sobbing so all she could do was nod.

"Go upstairs," Lance said glaring at the white-haired teen.

"What in the Hell do you think you were doing!" Pietro demanded.

"Get out of here, this is between Kitty and me."

"I'm-not-going-anywhere," Pietro growled. "You need to leave, before I call Logan."

"Fine," Lance said. "Kitty?"

"I'm... I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Are you saying you want to stay with him?" Lance demanded. "Fine, slut, if you want Pietro you're welcome to him." He stormed out as the house began shaking.

Kitty stared up at Pietro her eyes wide as Lance stormed out. "You-okay-Kitty-Cat?" he asked gently.

"He... he was going to..." Kitty trailed off tears filling her big blue eyes.

"I know, sweetheart," Pietro said softly. Kitty looked at him surprised that the cold, cocky speedster had called her that. In the background she could hear the sound of Lance's Jeep pulling away.

"I have to, like, go home."

"Do you want a ride?"

"I want to walk," Kitty whispered. "Thanks, for stopping him."

"Hell, Kitty, I may not like you all that much but I wouldn't let him, or anyone do that to you."

"I know, but still, thanks." She buttoned her shirt hurriedly before walking out.

Kitty closed her eyes against the memory. Why couldn't she stop thinking about it? Nothing happened, Pietro had stopped Lance before anything could. She looked at her reflection again. "You've been asking for this for months." Was she? Did she do something to trigger what had happened?

She closed her eyes feeling tears burning in them. Why couldn't she phase? Was Lance telling the truth? Did she really secretly want him to do what he was trying to do to her? Was that why she didn't use her powers? "Slut." She slid down against the wall still staring at her image in the mirror. A tear rolled down her cheek, she didn't even notice it.

No wonder Pietro wanted to be with her. He was notorious for dating a new girl, bedding her, and moving on. He probably thought the same thing as Lance "Slut." Kitty shook her head lightly. Why would he be so nice then? Then again, Lance had been nothing but nice to her before... but they were two different people, right?

"Kitty?" she looked up and cursed mentally.

"What?" she asked her voice hoarse with uncried tears.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

Pietro sat down next to her casually kicking the door mostly shut. "Now I can see that's not true. Want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Okay, that's fine." To her surprise he didn't say anything else. He simply wrapped one arm around her shoulders and let her lean against him. They sat in silence for almost thirty minutes.

"Am I a slut?"

Pietro almost started laughing before recognizing the scared, small tone in her voice. "No, why?"

"I... it's not important."

"Kitty, look at me." She raised her slightly bloodshot eyes to meet his. "You aren't a slut, and you didn't do anything wrong." Kitty's eyes widened and she wondered, briefly, if Pietro had gotten a new, mind-reading power. "Lance... he's got some serious issues. To be honest, you're lucky I was the one who was home."

"What do you mean?"

"The other guys were scared to death of Lance. I never was."

"Why?"

"He's a bastard sure but I'm a Maximoff, if I can't take a guy like Lance I don't even deserve the name."

She almost smiled. "Right."

"Kitty, is that why you were so upset?"

"We were fine for so long, I keep thinking: what did I do to set him off?"

"Nothing, and don't think like that. I was around you two longer than anyone, remember? I saw you, you never did anything that gave him a reason to do what he did, if there were ever a reason to do that."

"You're sure?"

"You're talking to Pietro here, I wouldn't tell you pretty lies to make you smile. That's not in my nature."

"Thank you."

"No problem. Now, no offense, Pryde but could you leave? I came here because I actually had to use the bathroom."

She laughed. "Sorry. Goodnight, Maximoff."

"Goodnight." She left, walking back to her room. She climbed back into bed, she was asleep in minutes.