It took all of thirty minutes to get to the fair grounds-after stopping at an atm for money to withdraw. Pulling into a spot near the end of the parking, everyone poured out and chatted happily about what rides they were going first or games they were playing. "Ai'ight! Headcount!" Chrys called and everyone immediately broke into three single filed lines. Three adults, six teens and five children. "Don't move form this spot, be right back!" her voice boomed over their chatter, causing a few looks but disappeared into the crowd.

The lines to the ticket booths weren't really bad, so she slid into one and reached the front in a matter of minutes. 'Wished it was this quick usually.' she mused, feeling the eyes of strangers on her. Probably thought she was a mutant, she did show up with a whole van load. 'Bastards.' sending them dark looks, they diverted their eyes quickly shoot to a more 'interesting' sight.

Rolling her eyes, Chrys glanced to the large board that hung behind the ticket woman with all the prices. The sign was a dark blue, the writing in white and looked as a child wrote it. 'Kindof cute...ok, adults-$10, teens-$7.50, and kids-$5...a hundred, not to bad.' she mused as the person before her stepped aside.

"Can I help you ma'am?" the young woman asked, snapping the blonde from her reserve.

"Oh yea..." Chrys dug in her pocket for her money. "Can ah get three adult tickets, six teens and five children?"

"That'll be…" a calculator was used to add the total. "A even hundred." the money was slipped beneath the window and she accepted the tickets.

"Thanks hun." smiling, Chrys headed back to the group, handing out tickets and forty dollars to each student. Charles already promised to reimburse her, even when she declined. The man was as stubborn as Scott. 'Perhaps that's where he gets it?'

The mass of kids started to break apart and she jumped to remind them of their meeting place. After another moment, it was just her and Scott, alone. Turning, she studied the sullen man, frowning. He looked so lost and it made her want to cuddle him. 'Wow, where did that come from?' shaking off the thoughts, she waved a hand in front of her companions face. He was far gone. "Scott…?" nothing. "Scotty-boy?" still nothing and she knew he hated to be called that. "SCOTT!"

"Hmmm?" his head snapped up, staring at her then looked around. It was the first time he noticed the others gone. "Hey…where'd the others go?"

"C'mon, Shades." grabbing his arm, she dragged him into the fair, handing over his ticket then let her eyes take in the site. Last time she had come to one of these was almost ten years ago. Happiness swelled in her chest, she felt like she might burst. All the blink lights, whirling sounds, screams of laughter and fear at the same time and the smell of carny food. "Where ta first?" a clank from the side had her turning and her eyes lit up. "The Zipper!"

"The Zipper?" he turned with her, eyes going wide at the metal death trap that spun small cages. He was NOT getting on that.

"C'mon Scott." she whined, tugging on his arm but he didn't budge. Looking back, she was actually shocked to see wariness on his face. Over a carnival ride, the zipper no less! "Scott Summers! Ya march yaself over there right now!"

"No way." he looked about them, his eyes landed on the Ferris wheel. "How about the wheel. It's safe, slow-"

"Romantic?" a blonde brow cocked and he glared. "We can go on the nice, safe, slow, romantic wheel, AFTER the zipper." again she tugged but he still didn't move. "Oh my god….ya're scared, aren't ya?"

"What? No!" he shook his head fiercely then eyed the machine again. "Just cautious."

"Cautious?" she laughed outright, making him look back to her. "Ya fly uh jet, fight crazy ass mutants on uh daily basis and willin'ly go into uh place called, The Danger Room." sighing dramatically, she muttered the next sentence but loud enough for him to understand. "But you're ta scared ta go on uh little ole carny ride?"

"I'm not scared." grinding his teeth, he took her hand to drag her to the ride, her smiling all the way, for more then one reason.

Ok, Chrys could admit when she was wrong and she might have…probably…ok, she was wrong, oh so wrong this time around. It was never really known to this day why Scott hated the Zipper as much as he did. He just…always did. As soon as the ride started, his fingers locked in the cage holes as his eyes darted side to side. He was on extreme edge, like he expected some mutant to pop out and attack.

"Loosen up." Chrys tried to calm him, prying his finger lose of the steel rings and keeping his hands in her own. It seemed to do the trick for now but when the ride started moving, his grip tightened. The first flip, she was thrown into him with the unexpected move. Pushing herself back into her chair, both avoiding the other's eye, blushing.

By now, she had released his hands and wind her fingers into the metal cage. It wasn't long before she started laughing and whooping. Scott, on the other hand, spent the entire time trying not to scream like a little girl. This was most definitely not a ride for Scott Summers.

When it finally ended, both stumbled out but only one happy. Scott went straight for the closest trashcan to vomit. Chrys joy faded into concern as she trotted after him. "I'm sorry Scott. Ah won't ask ya ta go on anymore rides." she cooed, rubbing soothing circles in his back. Every couple seconds, his back would arch when he vomited and she nose wrinkled in disdain. 'Definitely, no more zipper rides.' she mused.

"No…no…it's just the Zipper. Not a good ride." he moaned, sounding miserable.

"Want me ta get some water, darlin'?" a nod was her answer and she scurried off to do that. A few minutes later, she was back with the small, white cup and held it out. Taking it, most was used to wash his mouth clean then swallowed the rest, tossing the cup. "C'mon, let's go sit down for a bit."

He let her lead him to a picnic table, plopping down on the bench and let his head smack the table with a groan. Laughing softly, she pat his head then started running her fingers through the soft brown locks and humming. "It'll be ok…just give it a second to pass and we can do anything ya wanna, ok?" he muttered in agreement, just lying there.

"Hey, like, what's wrong with Mr. Summers?" Kitty questioned as the two couple group walked toward the duo. She looked at Scott with concern and Chrys smiled, shaking her head. She gestured toward the zipper than made gagging gestures. The group grimaced in understanding and sat around them.

"Y'al havin' fun so far?" Chrys wondered, never stopping her administrations.

"Like yah!" Kitty exclaimed. Bobby rolled his eyes at her always hyper nature but smiled as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "See what Bobby won me?" she thrust a stuffed unicorn in the blonde woman's face.

"Cute, Kitty." Chrys muttered, pushing it back then glanced at the other couple. Marie and Kurt. They looked happy, holding hands and enjoying the cool night breeze and blinking lights. It was about that time she noticed all the dark looks they were getting as a whole either because they were with a blue skinned mutant or figured they were ones as well. Bobby turned to glare back, hating the fact there was nothing he could do about it. He just didn't understand why people hated mutants so much. Were they really that different?

"Ignore'em Bobby." he looked at the woman comforting the X-Man leader. "There's always gonna be someone that don't agree wit'cha. Don't let'em mess up ya perfect night." she gestured toward a frowning Kitty, who was trying to ignore the glaring and snickering group of teenagers.

"Get lost!" he snapped, making them bolt like the devil was on their heels. Kitty smiled halfheartedly at him and snuggled into his awaiting arms.

They just looked so cute together.

Chrys just sat there a moment, seething in silence at her friends treatment. She hated they were treated like scum. It was ridiculous! "Let's go have some fun guys…betcha ah can win the biggest teddy bear." she proclaimed with pride and pointing at herself.

"Nah uh!" Kitty and Marie jumped to their feet, pointing at her.

"Yah uh!" she shot back and the three darted off toward the game booths.

"Come on, let's go reel in the girls." Bobby sighed heavily, earning himself some chuckles from Kurt and Scott. The trio moved to follow and intent on winning some items for their counterparts.


It was almost midnight by the time the troops finally got back to the mansion, all worn out from all the night they had. Almost noiseless, the horde crawled up the stairs to their rooms, not even bothering to grouse out any goodbyes. Thankfully, it was Saturday night and they could sleep in tomorrow. If not, they were defiantly NOT learning anything in class.

Chrys and Scott were left alone, heading toward the third floor, where the adults and teachers slept. She was nibbling on the pink, yellow and blue cotton candy Scott had bought her before leaving. Under one arm was a lumberjack doll, very hard to find but she managed. He was named Man and she won him for Hank. She thought he might get a kick out of this one…since his X-Man name was 'Beast'.

Dawning her head was a crown of pink and yellow flowers with strings of ribbon that fell to her elbow in curls. Scott had worn it in the ring tossing game and she hadn't taken it off since he placed it on her head. She felt like a woodsy princess. But what had to be the most hilarious thing was the massive pink teddy bear under Scott's arm that Chrys had won for him. With it's white and red toto, large blue eyes, huge pink and red bow on the side of it's head and the name Scott engraved on it's chest.

It was to sweet to pass and, unknown to the tough guy, a perfect picture moment. Another bright side, she totally won that bet with the girls. Thinking on the nights events, Chrys let out a sigh, hands fiddling with Man's hair. To bad it all had to end. "Tonight was mostly good. Ah had a lot of fun, Scott."

"Me too." a comfortable silence fell over them again, stopping at her room first. "We should do this again." he suggested suddenly.

"Definitely." Chrys agreed then taped her chin in thought. "Maybe without all the kids next time?"

"Definitely." he mimicked and both chuckled.

"Thanks for takin' us." turning to him, she leaned forward to place a quick peck on his cheek. A dusty pink littered her own at her actions but seemed pleased. Same as him. "See ya at breakfast Scott." then she disappeared into her room, the darkness and behind the closing door.

Scott just there a moment, frozen in his spot before grinning like an idiot. He could fell himself soaring, the relationship between himself and Chrys was getting better and better everyday. Something told him everything would work out, between them and for now, he was all to happy to believe it.