Disclaimer; I do not own the X-men.

Sory I haven't updated for so long. Deaths in the family led to a loss of inspiration for me. But it's back now, hopefully. R&R

Chapter 10;

Birthday Tails

Kurt stretched out, wincing at, but enjoying, the ripples of pain that echoed from the scratches and cuts Cat had given him. The pain reminded him of the hour of pleasure the two of them had given each other. He rolled onto one side and stared at the vision beside him. Cat had fallen asleep quickly, exhausted from their love-making, but Kurt still fought sleep, as he had every night since Logan's poisoning, afraid that when he awoke Cat would be gone, or worse. He always somehow fell asleep in the end, but he stayed awake as long as he could, admiring his lover's body or nursing the cuts on his own.

He smiled and ran a hand down Cat's back. She shuddered and curled into a ball with a sigh of contentment. Kurt laughed under his breath.

Cat? Kitten more like! He thought.

He repeated the gesture, going slightly further down this time, and stopped. He hand gently ran over the lump he had just discovered again. It was just nestled at the small of her back, around about where his tail was on his.

Cancer? He thought fighting panic. No, that would be too cruel after the life she's had!

"You and I had best have a talk tomorrow." He muttered. Then he remembered.

"Okay, maybe not tomorrow, the day after."

He dropped a kiss onto her shoulder, and set about nursing his cuts.

Cat awoke to find Kurt half out of bed. She sighed.

"You've been watching over me instead of sleeping again, haven't you?" She muttered pulling him gently back into bed and resting her head on his chest.

She suddenly winced and reached behind her to feel the small lump on her back.

Not as small as it was a few weeks ago. She thought. She had her own suspicions about what it was, and she certainly didn't think it was dangerous.

"Well, I don't think I'll have to wait much longer to find out what you are." She whispered.

Then she noticed the time on the clock.

12:15! Jesus!

She bit her lip and realised she'd have to wake Kurt up. She got up and put on a nightshirt and went to get washed wondering how to wake him up gently.

A sudden knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts.

She threw a dressing-gown on and opened it to see the Professor smiling up at her.

"Good…afternoon Cat." He said.

Cat scratched her head.

"Hey Professor. How come you left me and Kurt to sleep so long. Usually if we sleep later than ten you wake us up.

The Professor looked puzzled.

"Well today I thought you might appreciate a lie-in. I did, however realise that if I didn't wake you up now you'd miss all the excitement."

Cat blinked, a clear sign that she was confused. "Huh?"

"Don't you know what day it is?" The Professor asked grinning.

"Friday?"

The Professor shook his head. "Let me give you a clue. Happy 23rd!"

Cat glanced at the calendar above her desk.

"But it's the 25th…OH!" Comprehension dawned.

"Yep!" Kurt said wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek. "Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks love." She said squeezing his arms. "Are you decent?"

Kurt grinned. "Not usually!"

Cat shook her head. "Well, I best get dressed."

"Ah, yes." The Professor handed her a parcel and card. "Kitty asked me to give you these first. I'll see you downstairs." He rolled off towards the lift.

"Thank-you." Cat called and closed the door. Kurt collapsed onto the bed. She sat down next to him, noticing that he was fully dressed.

"How'd you get dressed so fast and without the Professor noticing?" She asked.

"Teleporter."

"Good point." She opened the card.

"'Dear Cat, Happy Birthday! Hope you have a purrrfect day! Love Kitty.' Well that original." Cat laughed. So did Kurt.

"I wonder how many cat references you'll get?" He said nuzzling her neck.

She shook her head and opened the present. A pink tee-shirt fell out. On the front there was a small kitten in a birdbath, soaking wet with the words 'You know you're having a bad day when a sparrow gets the better of you!' The sparrow was on the back, laughing.

Cat laughed.

Kurt smiled. "Cute."

"Yeah." She stood up. "Well, lets go try it on."

"I don't think pink's my colour. Clashes with my fur." Kurt yawned. Cat gave him a light slap. Then she noticed the scratching coming from the bathroom.

"What's that?"

Kurt rolled onto his back. "I think your present's getting impatient."

Cat frowned and wandered over to the bathroom and pulled open the door; and gasped in delight.

A tiny white kitten, only a few weeks old stumbled out, mewing for all it was worth. An amethyst hung from her collar around her neck. Cat squealed and picked it up.

"You like her then?" Kurt asked grinning. "At first I thought it was too obvious and ironic, but then I realised you might need something cute and furry to cuddle when I'm not here."

"Oh Kurt! She's beautiful." Cat whispered wandering back to the bed.

"So," Kurt said stroking the kitten "what are you gonna call her?"

"I dunno. You think of something. You got her."

"Well, I've been calling her Amethyst for the past week, how's that?"

Cat kissed him. "Perfect. And we can always shorten it to Ami. We'd best go down now. Thank-you, she's the most amazing present I've ever had!"

Kurt gave her a hug. "Good. Let's go and introduce her to her extended family."

Cat stood up, then turned. "Hey. I've thought of something else."

"What?"

She grinned. "She doesn't clash with your fur!"

"Oh be quiet!"

Cat couldn't ever remember being so utterly happy! Everyone was hugging her and handing her gifts or fussing over Ami. Even Logan had brought her a suede bag ("Chicks like bags, right?").

Most of the kids had got her something and those that couldn't had made her beautiful cards.

Ororo had got her the most gorgeous necklace of shells and beads. Scott had got her a collection of Jacqueline Wilson books ("Since you didn't have much of a teenage childhood I thought you could have it now.") and the Professor had got her a laptop.

Bobby, Rogue and Piotr, a quiet Russian boy in her class, had got her the biggest present of the kids as they had banded together and had got her a adult-sized rocking horse.

"We couldn't afford a pony." Bobby explained.

Cat was just about to make a thank-you speech when Kurt came up to her and pulled her away from the others.

"Having fun?" He asked but by the look on his face that was not why he had pulled her away.

She nodded.

"Good. Look, Cat, I was going to ask you about this tomorrow, but if it's serious then the sooner we sort it the better."

"Huh?"

"Last night, I found a…lump."

"Oh!" Cat smiled. "Is that it?"

"Umm, yeah. You know?"

"Yep. Had it checked out when it first appeared, about three weeks before you turned up. Not bad. Just extra skin and muscle. Dunno what it is but I have my suspicions and…" She stopped dead and gasped in pain.

"Cat?" Kurt grabbed her hand. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She said through gritted teeth. "I think my suspicions are about to be confirmed."

By now most of the party had realised something was up. Ororo wandered over to them.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, just help me to the bathroom, and bring a pair of scissors."

"A pair of…"

Cat stared at her. "Trust me, I'm gonna need 'em."

Kurt stared after Cat as Ororo led her into the bathroom. For a few moments there was nothing. Then;

"JEEEEEEEEESUS CHRIST!"

"Cat!" Kurt started towards the door, but Ororo stepped out first.

"Kurt, she's fine. But, this might come as a bit of a shock…"

"Ororo, it's cool." Cat stepped out of the bathroom grinning.

Reactions to the one meter, black, fur-covered appendix growing out of her back were mixed.

Ororo gestured helplessly. Logan burst out laughing. Scott's mouth opened and closed, as if trying to form words, but not succeeding. Most of the kids gasped, although Rogue raised an eyebrow and said "Wow."

Kurt scratched his head. "Umm, did I do that?" He asked the Professor.

The Professor himself rested his head on his fist. "No Kurt, but I would be rather interested to know what did."

Cat's grin grew.

"What? Don't you like my new tail?"