Marvel owns the X-men, no profit is to be made from this work.

They had slipped away once they arrived at the mall, staying just long enough for Alison to take a quick attendance and count everyone again. Neither needed anything from this trip, but on the way down Alison had promised to take them out after, something about cheesecake and thrift shopping Marie remembered. Spotting a flash of yellow dashing to the mall ahead of the rest, she smiled and wondered just how Jubilee had managed to score a ride but it didn't matter thinking how eager she looked.

Left alone with Jono as they walked down the streets together she was glad to be away from the crowds. Feeling his hand at her back gently guiding her, she looked up to see him nod down the road, an empty playground standing there next to a busy skate park. Dodging the light traffic, she ran to the swings and took one for herself with Jono joining her after a time. Pumping her legs, Marie found something soothing about the gentle swaying too and fro, looking to her left to see Jono just sitting there.

"Thanks." Marie said after a time, digging her feet in the dirt to halt herself.

'For?' Jono voiced quietly, looking over to her.

"This, helping. I love Jubes, but..." Marie began.

'Sometimes you just need some company...' Jono finished.

Nodding to him and feeling the truth of his words, she remembered just where they were and swore that she wasn't going to let everything that had happened get her down. Bobby was the past, both him and Kitty alike. Kicking her feet as she had done as a child she started spinning the swing and wrapping the chain tighter and tighter until it could go no further. Letting go of her foot she leaned back and kicked forward as she spun dizzily with the world a blur around her. Squealing, time and again she saw him sitting there looking at her from his perch, knowing he was smiling just by the look in his eyes alone.

With her stomach ready to rebel and her feet shaky she looked up to see him standing there with a hand held out. Taking it, Marie stumbled to her feet and fell against him as he caught her, taking a moment to find her wits as she took a few deep breaths trying to calm her queasy belly. Just like that day he smelt of leather and cigarettes, a warmth rising from his chest that reached into her. Looking up she saw a sadness in his eyes, gone in a flash but she knew she would never forget it. Helped to a bench she sat with him and looked off to the kids at the skate park and felt a moment of envy for the simply life they'd been blessed with.

'Lucky buggers, eh?' Jono voiced quietly with as much of the longing she herself knew.

"Yeah..." Marie replied in a hushed voice.

Ever since meeting him she felt a kindred spirit in him, first thinking it just might have been his telepathy but knowing now it was something much deeper. She had seen the way Alison looked at him when she surely thought none saw her, she had seen that look countless times before. Logan looked at her that way, unconditionally accepting her and longing to protect her but knowing she had to find her own way. Feeling his hand take hers, brushing a thumb over her knuckles and squeezing gently, she realized she had never been afraid to feel his touch. Squeezing his hand tight, she sat with him and said nothing, just taking comfort in his presence and the sheer normality of it all.

'We should get back...in a bit...' Jono voiced.

"Yeah, in a bit..." Marie agreed.

Sitting there with their hands clasped, they watched from afar as families came to the park to play, couples young and old alike walking about the field beyond in tender embraces with the leaves blown around them. Looking at them Marie didn't feel the jealousy that normally piqued, the envy that filled her emerald eyes, just a sad longing to be that close to another and feel a soft touch against her cheek. Feeling a reassuring squeeze of her hand, she looked to see Jono meet her gaze, seeing just the same longing in his eyes.

Lost to the moment she leaned closer as she had that night, pressing her lips against the bindings about his face and feeling the curious warmth that filled her. Staring into his eyes as she broke the embrace she saw another look she was well familiar with, confusion mixed with fear and an aching longing. Her blood ran hot and her cheeks burned, embarrassed she had been so bold. Standing up she took a step from the bench resolute to head back to the mall only to find her hand still held in his.

'Sorry luv...I...' Jono voiced and Marie could feel the weight of the emotions that pressed down on him.

"No, don't be...I, I shouldn't have..." Marie cut him off and felt a twist in her stomach as he let go.

In silence they walked back to the mall, saved any awkward conversation as they met their peers. Jubilee found them both and Marie could see the wheels in her friends mind working as she took one look to them. Gestures where cast rapidly, Jono answering after a long moment with but a few. Looking between them Jubilee threw her hands in the air in defeat and walked off in huff muttering in what Marie thought sounded like German. In the distance she could see Alison stealing a glance at them between calling attendance and shouting for order, Marie suddenly dreading the rest of the day.

-=+=–=+=–=+=-=-+=–=+=-

She had seen the coffee shop a dozen times in her trips to town but never had stopped once, stepping through the doors she could smell the rich aroma of coffee that filled it mingling with the fresh baked pastries and cakes and other treats. Alison had surprised her when she came to gather them with a set of keys in hand, knowing they were to Logan's Jeep. By the time they got to it they saw Jubilee already in the back seat with her shopping bags in the very back.

"Oh cool! They got Mortal Kombat! Dude, you're mine!" Jubilee cried out as she stepped in to spot the old arcade game in the corner.

Dragged off by the girl he had a full foot on, Jono looked resigned to his fate. Left alone with Alison she felt herself guided off to a table by the window looking out on the quiet small town main drag. Still feeling foolish, she sat there quietly as a waitress came up to take their order.

"Chai tea for me, what did you want Marie?" Alison asked.

"Uh...a caramel latte?" Marie asked finding herself needing something sweet.

"What does Jubilee drink?" Alison asked looking to the girl at the arcade and her reluctant partner.

"Straight liquid sugah if she could get it, but she never turns down a hot chocolate." Marie added thinking of her friend.

"Will that be all?" The waitress asked, Alison about to nod.

"A black coffee..." Marie added as she cut her off.

"Oh and two pieces of cheesecake please." Alison said in finishing.

Sitting there waiting for their orders, Marie couldn't help but look at him off at the arcade with Jubilee, the game getting lively if the clatter of buttons was any indication.

"If it's any consolation, I would have Drake in detention if I could." Alison said, Marie drawn back to catch her throw a wink.

The sudden sputter of giggles surprised her more because she realized she was the one laughing, Alison smiling broadly at her.

"That's better, today isn't about being gloomy. Leave that to us professionals, the gloomy rocker image is our shtick." Alison remarked with a glance to Jono, Marie catching that familiar look again in her eyes.

With their orders brought to their table they went quiet for a moment, letting the waitress know where the rest was to go. Taking her cup in her hands Marie let the warmth slip through her gloves and took a sip. Across from her Alison sipped her tea and looked thoughtful, both nibbling at bites of their cheesecake between sips.

"So, how are you feeling?" Alison asked.

Marie looked up and could see the honest concern in her eyes and let the question sink in, thinking it over and looking for a truthful answer. She felt betrayed by Bobby and Kitty alike but guilty that hadn't seen how they were growing apart long before. As much as it still hurt, she felt relieved that it was over, no longer dreading the moment the awful through would come out. Then of course there was what had just happened in the park, so very confused over it all and hoping she hadn't done the wrong thing.

"Flustered." Marie said realizing it was the truest answer she could come up with.

With a knowing smile Alison took a sip of her tea, giving a playful kick under the table. It was enough Marie felt, returning it in kind and leaning back in her chair to savour her latte.

"It's good to see him making friends." Alison said, craning her neck to spy him at the arcade game.

"I should warn him about her..." Marie added as she joined in looking at him.

Things must be getting serious she thought seeing him take his jacket off and fish for change. Jubilee stood there sipping her hot chocolate with a line of whipped cream running her lip.

"He's a big boy." Alison chuckled.

"You don't know Jubilee that well then." Marie added thinking how her friend was finding her own way with Logan.

"I don't know, she seems to have good taste in friends, that speaks volumes in my book." Alison said softly looking from Jono to Marie herself.

Still staring at the two, Marie had to agree and felt herself coming to accept everything that had happened in the park. Even if she couldn't understand it, everything just feeling so right in that moment, she knew she could live with calling him just a friend. Taking another nibble of her cheesecake she pushed the thought aside, finally noticing just how really good it was. Across from her Alison joined in, the two just sitting there with their spoons between their lips savouring every last crumb.

-=+=–=+=–=+=–=+=–=+=-

He didn't need his telepathy to know something was on her mind as he rifled through the boxes of records in the thrift shop. She had only been in London for a month or so for her shows, but in that time he had come to know her as well as she had him. He'd even taken her to a few of his favourite places to hunt for albums and find some clothes for the few gigs Gayle always seemed to find. It brought back a sense of nostalgia to be doing it again, hunting for cast off finds.

"This one has you all over it, Chipmunk Christmas." Alison teased showing the record.

With his eyes smiling he shook his head, flipping past so much chaff from bands he had never heard of to classical that just never had really been his thing. Flipping over another one of those failed bands dressed in matching pantsuits, he found an Aerosmith album and pulled it out. It was the very same one Marie had bought on CD, adding it to his pile. Staring unseeing as he flipped through the records he thought back to that day in the mall and just how right it had all felt, right down to them sipping coffee in the food court.

Throwing a look over his shoulder he caught her over looking at jackets with no sign of Jubilee around, something about her just looking as confused as he felt. Realizing he had run out of records he looked down and started anew.

"So, you gonna tell me what happened or do I have to give you detention?" Alison asked.

Pausing in his search, Jono stood there just trying to figure out what to say, that Marie had kissed him not once but twice and each time he felt some part of him soar as it hadn't since before that awful day when he'd lost everything. That he knew deep down that she could understand him even if it scared him. That she should find someone else because he didn't deserve it, because she deserved so much better than him. Wishing he could just voice his frustration with a sigh and go for a smoke, he looked to Alison and froze.

"I don't care what you think, you're still that skinny boy I met years ago. Trust me on this...if you mess this up, I'll go make friends with that pixie powder keg and tag team kicking your butt." Alison said in a low, level voice that brook no argument.

He knew as he looked into her eyes that she wasn't lying, not about kicking his butt as that was a given knowing her, but that she still saw him as a skinny thirteen year old punk playing with the big kids. Looking away, overcome with the weight of her concern and care, he felt her hand in his shoulder as she took him into her embrace, resting her chin to stare out at the parking lot with him.

"When I heard about it, it hurt that you didn't call, I thought we were mates. But seeing you do this to yourself hurts more. Please, take a bit of advice from her, don't lie to yourself." Alison whispered in his ear.

Turning about he took her into his arms, hugging her and looking past to see Marie off trying hats, so many of them looking ridiculous. Pushed back suddenly he yelped in surprise at the sudden punch to his shoulder. Looking back to Alison he saw her looking up at him defiant.

"Just to show ya its not an idle threat, now get, these are on me." Alison said between shooing him off and gathering up their finds.

He found her now looking at the shoes, so many hideous examples of fashion lined up that he had to wonder who had ever bought them in the first place. In her basket he saw some gloves, a scarf and some turtle necks, the words Bad Touch coming back to him in that moment.

'I'm sorry...' Jono voiced and couldn't keep the regret that found it's way into his projected voice.

Marie looked up surprised, a pair of leather boots fit for the seventies in her hands, looking down to them as she hid her eyes.

"No, I, it was me. I'm sorry...I shouldn't have..." Marie sputtered.

'No, I'm glad you did...' Jono found that feeling he felt when she had kissed him and let it linger in his voice.

Taking her hands in his, he fumbled for the words to ask her for another day at the park when a fist found his side. Wincing in pain and turning to where the attack came from he found Jubilee standing there with a cart covered by some gaudy jacket.

"Jubilee!" Marie shrieked.

"Sorry to break it up, seriously. But dude, lock it down. You're projecting across the store..." Jubilee hissed, pushing her cart off acting as if nothing had happened.

Fighting the urge to look around he caught the reflection cast from one of the numerous mirrors meant to deter shop lifting and saw how many of the patrons looked about confused. Helping Marie with her things, they sped off to the cash to pay and ran out to the Jeep to wait for their friends.

"Oh my god I can't believe that..." Marie said low between her gasps for breath.

'Sorry...' Jono voiced feeling a stab of embarrassment.

"No...don't be. Look, they're hitting up the harlequins!" Marie pointed as so many of the stores lady patrons wandered over to the second hand books, herself having spent more than one trip looking through the smutty novels for sale.

Wondering how the day had flipped and flopped back and forth so much he turned away only to feel her hand reaching for his own. Squeezing it gently he looked to her and felt just as when she had kissed him in the park, letting that feeling fill his eyes as they waited there alone for their friends to meet them.

"I still haven't listened to that one record, did you want to listen to it with me?" Marie asked softly.

'I'd love to...what about Sparkles though?' Jono asked, an eye to the very girl now at the check out.

"She only listens to the Top Ten, I'm sure the moment we start playin' it she'll vanish." Marie explained with a chuckle.

With Alison and Jubilee coming out together, Jono watched amazed as Jubilee carried what looked like some mountaineering backpack full of whatever she had found. Marie looked just as surprised, running off to help her friend when she stumbled.

"Ya didn't have ta buy the whole store, what do ya got in here Jubes?" Marie asked as she helped Jubilee with her backpack.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." Jubilee replied enigmatically.

Adding her box of records to the pile Alison jumped into the Jeep and started it up, the rest piling in. With Jubilee in the front, Jono found himself in good company in the back. Just as before they found nothing to say, just enjoying another's company with the promise of an evening alone listening to records. The trip back to school was made with every moment making up for his earlier mistake.

-=+=–=+=–=+=–=+=–=+=-

She had lost count of how many songs in they were on the first side of the record, curled up on her bed just lost to the music and hardly believing that it was really Alison. Sitting at her desk, Jono looked lost to memories of the story she'd been told of everything that had gone into the inspiration for the music they enjoyed. Jubilee hadn't even stayed for the first song, vanishing with that stuffed backpack of hers. Finding herself singing along, Marie didn't care if she was off key, the music spoke to her.

'I've missed this...' Jono voiced with a touch of sadness.

Looking up Marie saw him leaning the chair back dangerously with his eyes closed, his feet kicked up on the one speaker and his hands behind his head.

"What?" Marie asked quietly, the hour too late for them to crank the dial up.

'Just sittin', listening to music in the dark with a mate. Lets ya really appreciate it, listen close to the lyrics and just hear them playin'. Jono answered softly.

Laying on her bed with her feet kicked up, she closed her eyes and listened, catching the odd snap and crackle of the record playing and swearing she could almost hear the sound of fingers drawn along the strings. The passion in Alison's voice left her without a doubt of everything she had come to know of the woman. Opening her eyes she saw Jono there playing a ghostly guitar in time to the song, his fingers moving against phantom strings with a longing to join in. It reminded her of his first day when he had drawn a crowd to his door and looked apologetic for the distraction he had caused.

"I'd like to listen to you play again." Marie whispered.

Cracking an eye open to look to her, he just nodded and fell back to the music, it was all that really need be said between them then. Together they both joined the music in their own way, Marie singing with Jono longing to play. The songs played on until silence fell with just the skipping of the needled at the very end. Staring up to the ceiling she lay on her bed remembering the last song played and thinking it might be her favourite of them all. Hearing the creak of the floorboards she looked to see Jono standing over her with a hand in offer.

'Like to join me for a walk?' Jono asked.

Looking out her window to the clear night and the starry sky, it felt so right as she took his hand and got to her feet. Finding her jacket and her trapper hat, she bundled up knowing it to be cold. Quietly wandering down the halls they stopped by his room for him to grab his jacket, shrugging off any idea of a hat. Stepping out into the chill eve it had that crispness she always found before a frost and delighted in the scent of smoke that filled the air, someone surely enjoying a fire in the den.

Wandering at the edge of the woods, looking back on the school it looked something out of a story, amber lights lending a warmth to the old stonework with some windows sparkling as the breeze shook them. Holding his hand she felt no fear looking into the shadowy trees filled with the nightly visitors.

"I, I never did tell you about myself...my..." Marie started, struggling to think of it as a gift as Xavier always called it.

'Ya didn't have to, ya had a friend who cared enough...' Jono's voice carried the warmth he felt thinking back to that conversation with Jubilee.

"I can't touch, not in the way it matters. That's why I always gotta be careful, right down to who I kiss..." Marie explained in a quiet tone, sad but resolute.

Closing her eyes and thinking back to her first kiss that should have been a special memory, it served as a painful reminder of everything that it had cost her. Family, home and more destroyed in a moment. Feeling the first unbidden tear, she raised a hand to brush it only to feel it gently held still. Looking up she saw him there, slipping his hand over hers and brushing aside the tear that had fallen. The blush that came then couldn't be blamed on the cold, their hands finding another as they stood there alone against the night.

'I never did tell you about m'self either...' Jono voiced.

Standing there she felt her hands taken in his again to find the buckles that littered the bindings around his chest. One by one together they loosened them, light and warmth spilling from the slack leather. She felt her breath catch as she looked to it transfixed, finally the last loosened for them to fall free. Staring at him she felt that sense of kindred spirits as she never had before, reaching a hand out to run along his cheek until she found it's end. The flames that licked her hands didn't sear nor burn, just felt warm to the touch and carried a sadness to them she couldn't explain.

'It happened one night...Gayle and me at my flat waiting out a storm...' Jono began.

'Felt a pain in my chest and I thought it was just her, we were foolin' around and kissin'...thought it was one of those moments ya hear people singin' about, love makin' ya hurt.' Jono stopped after a time to squeeze her hands.

Marie knew she was crying and she couldn't help it, taking his hands in her own and holding them tight. She felt her stomach twist in sympathy so tight she couldn't have said a word if she tried. Staring into his dark brown eyes with the light from his chest lighting his face, she saw the pain that filled them in remembering it, knew that pain too well her self. Fighting the pain that stole her breath she sputtered a gasp and filled the silence.

"It...happened when I was in my room, messin' around with Cody, guess he was my boyfriend even if I still remember him pickin' on me when we were kids. I kissed him...had my eyes closed expectin' to open them to see him just like in the movies. He..." Marie stopped finding her voice lost, closing her eyes tight against the tears.

She felt his arms wrap around her and the warmth fill her, guided down until they sat together under the boughs of an old tree. Settled in his lap with her hands held tenderly, she opened her eyes and looked to the pool of light that surrounded them. In that moment she understood just why she had felt so close to him, seen it in his eyes countless times for the realization to strike her now. Sitting there with him standing against the darkness she found the words to that last song she had heard, singing it now again having found her voice, soulful and full of longing desire.

-=+=–=+=–=+=–=+=–=+=-