Kitty stood in front of the plexiglass wall of the infirmary, fingering the canvas of her ballet shoes. Aimee was still in there, it had been over two days, Gambit said it would be three days but still...

All the mansion seemed to be in a sober mood, making excuses to walk by the infirmary to check on Aimee, even the new recruits seemed to be less obnoxious then usual.

Kitty should be practicing, her mom had sent over Shadowcat's ballet shoes over a month ago because the mutant missed dancing so much. But every time Kitty thought about slipping them on the memory of there arrival made Kitty want to cry.

Kitty had just finished her English paper when Storm's voice came over the intercom. "Roberto, Jean, Kitty, you have mail."

Kitty was so excited that she ran from her room not bothering to turn off her laptop, wondering what her parents had sent her. Kitty was so distracted she didn't notice the Canadian coming up the hallway until it was too late.

She tried to dodge but Kitty still had to phase thought Amy's arm. "Sorry!" Kitty called over her shoulder but kept running; partly from the momentum and partly from the disgruntled look on Amy's face.

Hurrying down the main stairs the Shadowcat saw Jean picking up her seventeen magazine from Storm, who had a small package under her arm. Storm couldn't help but smile at Kitty's overjoyed face as she handed over the box. Quickly phasing a hand into the package Shadowcat pulled out a ballet slipper and a couple dozen packing peanuts.

"Try not to make a mess!" Ororo warned as she left the room, going over the head of the exited girl. Digging out the other shoe (and some more packing peanuts) Kitty quickly put the slippers on and gleefully attempted a pirouette. But, because of her hast and lack of experience, Kitty found herself landing on her rear.

"Ouch" The Shadowcat said, thinking to herself, but looking up saw a mass of Canadian curls smiling down at her from the second floor landing. "Have you been like watching me?" "Pretty much" Aimee admitted, taking the handrail and gracefully descended the stairs.

"Would you like some instruction?" Aimee asked, a coy smile playing on her pale lips. "Thanks but I'm just-" Kitty began surveying Aimee's oversized clothes and dirty sneakers, that stood on they're toes as if they were toe shoes. "If you are sure" Aimee dropped from her releve and turned to go.

"But..." before the Shadowcat could find another word the Canadian had turned back and held out her hand. "May I see a shoe?"

Aimee examined the slipper nodding approvingly and went to hand the shoe back to Kitty. Just as Kitty felt the canvas under her tips it was gone. Looking up she saw Aimee still holding out her slipper- just out of reach. "You want your slipper, non?" Kitty took a step, reaching out again. Aimee shadowed back again, just enough to be out of Kitty's reach. Shadowcat gave the Canadian a puzzled look but continued the game which led outside and around the yard. The cat became the mouse as Kitty chased Aimee around, shadowing or jogging backwards when the sun was against her keeping just out of Kitty's reach.

Storm raised an eyebrow as the girls weaved though out her greenhouse but said nothing as the girls made their way back to the foyer. "Good enough." Aimee said finally handing over the slipper. "...what was that?" "Just pirouette." And Kitty did, not perfectly but there was much in improvement. Kitty yelled for joy hugging Aimee. "That was amazing! How did you know that would work? Sorry!" Kitty let go of the Canadian who was clearly uncomfortable.

"My maman...used to dance."

"OMG! I'm so-"

Kitty was interrupted by yells from the second floor. "I didn't do nothing!" Called Bobby as he ran across the landing chucks of ice and Rogue fallowed close behind. "Stay out ah mah room you ice cube! Kitty, Bobby was on your computer."

"Crap my paper!" Shadowcat ran up the stairs but was stopped by Wolverine who was coming to see what was the commotion. "Where do you think your going Half Pint? Logan asked staring at the packing peanuts that littered the foyer floor.

"I've got the mess" Aimee said, already cleaning up the mess. "Go save your paper." With a quick thank you Kitty was dodging Logan and the chucks of ice back to her room.

Piotr watched Kitty glaze into the infirmary hoping Aimee would soon wake up and banish the little sprite's sadness; and Aimee would not remember the incident that had happened a few days before:

On a lazy afternoon Colossus sat on his bed, sketchbook in hand; when he noticed a shadow move near the door. "Who's there?" The Russian asked turning a fist to metal. "Sorry, I meant to play a prank on Gambit." Said Aimee as she mesmerized before the door. "Gambit's room is across the hall." Piotr explained. "I know, I often get left and right confused" As Aimee turned to go she noticed an etching of all the mutants playing in the yard, one mutant was done in great detail.

Hand still on the doorknob Aimee turned to face Piotr. "You are very good." Colossus blushed covering his sketchbook. "If you could not tell her." "I won't" Aimee said flashing him a knowing smile "But you should, girls like her often forget how beautiful they are." and with that she left.

Kitty moved, breaking Piotr's trance. With it came Gambit walking up the hallway. The Russian followed the two into the infirmary where Aimee was stirring.

"OMG Aimee are you alright?"

"I'm Fine Kitty" Aimee said gesturing for her bag that set on the night stand. Kitty handed it over and Aimee took out her flask and took a swig. Recapping the flask Aimee noticed Gambit and glared at him. "Yeah, I think you should read for the good of the team." Clear cigar smoke filled the room making Kitty gag.

"Alot good that does me without a book" Aimee scrawled. So Gambit got up and got one of Beast's medical books and Aimee began reading it. And she kept reading it until she finished it in two days, and got another one and another one.

She read all week, book after book until The Professor had to call a meeting with Gambit concerned what on one had seen Aimee eat or sleep.

The next morning without any reason Aimee appeared in kitchen for breakfast clearly disgruntled. Every greeting of "Good Morning" was met with a "Damn Remy" so most the mutants avoided her. Soon the only two at the table was Aimee and Rogue. "I could help you prank Gambit" Rogue offered trying to lighten Aimee's mood. Rogue couldn't put her finger on why but she liked the girl.

"Nah" Amiee explained. "He's like mah family, he's watching out fir me, like I am fir him." And with that Amiee gave Rogue the death stare and disappeared.