AN: I don't own x men evolution. Darn. I do own this story and the plot, but that's it. I own none of the songs either. Except the copies on my iPod cause I own my iPod. So there.

(This is what was going on while Kitty and Kurt were on the roof) The popcorn makings used in this story is my own recipe, you can use it, but no one can do it exactly how I do. You want the recipe, PM me.

Track Eight. Am I Ready for Love by Taylor Swift

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes I wonder how its gonna feel

Will my first love be true and real?

Will I be ready when my heart starts to fall?

What will I do when my love comes to call?

Marie and Evan watched as Kitty left the RV and the smell of sulfur filled said RV as Kurt beat her up there. There were two small thuds as the pair laid back on the roof. Evan shook his head and flashed Marie a grin.

"It's about time, don't you think?" He asked her, breaking the silence. She simply nodded, not knowing what to do. She figured that Kitty and Kurt would be up there for a while; they had some thigns to talk about. Meanwhile, she was alone with Evan. And she wasn't sure what would happen. Or if she would be ready for it. She was sitting on the edge of the top bunk that she and Kitty shared, long pale legs dangling over the edge. Her combat boots were off, legs and feet bare. Evan was careful as he hoisted himself up next to her.

"Listen, Marie, I, I need to talk to you," Evan started, looking at his hand in his lap. Marie didn't look at him, anywhere but at him.

"Ya wanna watch a movie?" She asked suddenly, jumping down from the bed. She was nervous. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Evan like she had hurt Cody.

And my daddy tells me I light up his world

Everyday he says, "Darlin' you're my best girl".

He tried to teach me from the very start

The meaning of love so no one breaks my heart

Evan nodded and jumped down and joined her on a couch next to the table. He sat as far away from her as possible, thinking that this was what she wanted. She popped a movie in and sat down next to him. As in, right next to him. She pulled a blanket that was draped over the couch and wrapped it around herself, so she was covered in fabric. Before the movie started, Evan popped some popcorn, making it special by melting butter and putting in some seasonings. He dimmed the lights as the menu came up. It was a DVD adaptation of "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Evan looked at Marie and raised his eyebrows.

"Tiffany's? Really? You struck me as a more independent/indie film kind of girl," he commented as Marie pressed play.

"You can't go wrong with a classic. Especially Audrey Hepburn. Now shut up an pass the corn," Marie retorted playfully and took the bowl with gloved hands. They sat in comfortable dark silence and watched the plot lay itself out.

Will my love come in a ball of fire?

Will it be filled with hope and desire?

Will my love come in the pouring rain?

Am I ready for the joy?

Am I ready for the pain?

Am I ready for the boy?

Am I ready for love?

The movie had come to the part where Holly was sitting in her apartment window singing "Moon River". Evan turned to face Marie and studied her profile. Her face was clear of makeup, and her perfect natural pink lips were mouthing the words along with the actress. He looked away as Marie looked up at him. A corner of her lip twitched up and she studied his profile in turn. He really had grown into a handsome young man. As Holly and the man who loved her bid her goodnight, Marie sighed and rested her head against Evan's shoulder. He looked down at her and wrapped an arm around her. They watched the rest of the movie in silence. Evan, having never seen the movie before, was practically on the edge of the couch, cheering for the characters who so obviously loved each other.

I know I'm not a little girl anymore

Cause I'm feeling things I've never felt before

Sweet sensations and anticipations

Causing commotion to my emotions

And I hear the words Daddy used to say to me

He said be true to yourself and let your spirit be free

And love will find you one way or another

Be good to yourself and be good to each other

The credits rolled, but rather than turn the lights back on and turn the TV off, Evan got up and put in another movie. Without letting Marie see the screen, he put in "Love, Actually". He grinned at Marie, her eyebrows raised.

"Really? I never would have guessed you have a thing for romance movies," she said as he took his spot next to her, a fresh bowl of popcorn in his hands.

"Nah, it's more Aunty O. But I do want to talk to you about something, and I never really pay attention to this movie anyway, so I figured why not," Evan said, shrugging. He shoved a handful of his special popcorn into his mouth.

"Okay than, Ah'm listening. What do ya want ta talk ta meh about?" Marie asked, pausing the barely begun movie and turning to face him, adjusting the blanket carefully.

"I just want you to know that, I really like you," Evan told her. Marie thought over this carefully.

"Well, thanks Ah like you too. You're a good friend," Marie replied.

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Well what do ya mean than?"

"I mean that I like you. More than a friend."

"You mean like, like."

"Love, actually." Evan said before pulling Marie into an embrace. Marie tensed, but remembered the blanket draped around her. She gently wrapped her long arms around his back. She relaxed as he gave her a gentle squeeze and held her closer. She squeezed him back and curled into him.

Will my love come in a ball of fire?

Will it be filled with hope and desire?

Will my love come in the pouring rain?

Am I ready for the joy?

Am I ready for the pain?

Am I ready for the boy?

Am I ready for love?

"Ah love you too Evan. But Ah don't know how this would work. You an meh Ah mean. With mah power getting in the way an all," Marie trailed off as she pulled back from him. Evan gave her a sad smile.

"I know that it will be difficult. I know that it will be hard. But knowing that you know I love you-knowing that you love me back-is more than I could ask for." Marie almost burst into tears. He loved her. Too much. This was too hard. She wasn't ready for love. She never would be. The innocence of it all, the pureness of their emotions and the realization that it would never work built up inside of her. A tear made its way down her cheek. She wasn't ready for this. She couldn't handle it.

It's a run around the world and it's movin so fast

Though I wanna find a love that's gonna last

A love so strong that it can withstand

The weight of the world in the palm of it's hand

"Marie? Marie what's wrong?" Evan asked, wiping the traitorous tear away with a covered thumb. She shook her head and more tears came. They were relentless. Evan pulled her into him and she sobbed openly into his strong chest. He stroked her back and rocked her, soothing her with his gentle low voice.

"It's okay Marie. We'll make it work. Everything's gonna be fine. You can't hurt me. I'm not going anywhere," he said softly. Her sobs reduced to sniffles and soon she lay still in his arms.

"Ah, ah don't wanna lose you Evan," she whispered fearfully. She was terrified. Of herself. Of what she could do to him. To anyone who got to close to her. Tears began to reform behind her wet emerald eyes and she banished them with a single thought. She wouldn't cry again.

"I'm not going anywhere Marie. You can always find me." Evan bent down and kissed the top of her head gently. Nothing happened. Marie blinked and looked up at Evan. He looked surprised. He bent down again and kissed her forehead. Nothing.

"Marie? Why aren't your powers affecting me?" He asked curiously. Marie shrugged. He bent down again and raised her chin with his hand. Uncovered. He kissed her lips gently and she opened her eyes wide, watching him, waiting for him to begin to lose his strength. But he remained unchanged. She kissed him back, leaning into him, rising onto her knees to meet him.

Will my love come in a ball of fire?

Will it be filled with hope and desire?

Will my love come in the pouring rain?

Am I ready for the joy? Am I ready for the pain?

Am I ready for the boy?

Am I ready for love? Later that night, as Kitty and Marie lay in bed, the boys snoring away under them, Kitty rolled on her side and faced Marie.

"Did you talk to Evan?" She asked curiously. The ex-Goth blushed and nodded, the image of her kissing Evan filling her head. She would tell her in the morning. Kitty sighed and smiled into the darkness where she could see the outline of her best friend.

"That's good."