AN: I don't own any of the X-Men Characters. I do own Kelpie, however, Gerri, Aunt Erika, Kelpie's foster family, the story-line, and all animal characters she converses with, including the gang members :P. Vixen belongs to one Melody S. (an ex-friend of mine), Aquifer belongs to Rob G. (soon-to-be famous fantasy writer!), Sensherak (aka Alan) belongs to an ex-online/rpg-bf whom no longer speaks to me, Jonny LeBeau belongs to an ex-online/rpg-acquaintance. Phew! If I've missed anyone, let me know :P

If any of you have read my bio, you'll know that I'm not fluent at Gaelic at all, I only know a few words and phrases. If any of you happen to know Gaelic, and I make a mistake, please, let me know, it's the only way I'm gonna learn! There are some Gaelic words in here that I've acquired through reading and such. Diolain means bastard; Mionnaich is just a curse word, with no real specific meaning; mathair means mother; and truaill means pervert. Tha thu cho duaichnidh ri èarr àirde de a' coisich deas damhmeans you're as ugly as the northward end of a southward traveling ox. Thalla gu taigh na galla means go to hell (actually, strictly translated, it means go to the house of the bitch). Again for this chapter, I've added a few French/Cajun words for Jonny LeBeau: mon amí means my friend; Bon means good, Ouí means yes, and cherè means dear.

Please review, guys, as it keeps me in good spirits and in the writing mood. At the moment, I'm merely doing this as a pastime because I'm bored outta my mind, but next week I'll be going back to school and I'm going to need some motivation to keep posting :P

CHAPTER 9

It was 6:30 when there was a knock on Kelpie's door. She frowned. Jonny already? she thought.

He must be very anxious, said Ra, laughing.

Giving the bird the finger, she went to the door and opened it. Vixen stepped in.

"Hey, how was your first day at school?"

Kelpie shrugged. "Twas ok," she said sitting down on her bed and pulling her hair over her shoulder to braid it.

Vixen took in Kelpie's freshly painted silver fingernails and buffed boots. "What ya getting' so dressed up for?" she asked skeptically.

"Can ye 'and me that pony-tail band?" Kelpie asked, pointing to the blue cloth band shot with silver thread that lay on her bedside table.

Vixen handed it to her. "Ya gonna tell me or do I have to go get Wolverine to ask Ra?"

"I'm goin' out," Kelpie said, tying off her hair and flipping it over her shoulder so the braid would hang down her back.

"Where?"

"For pizza."

Vixen surveyed the girl's apparel. Her clothes had been washed and ironed; she had showered and braided her hair. Something was up.

"Who ya goin' with?"

Kelpie smiled secretively. "Who said I was goin' with anyone?"

Vixen frowned and growled, "Tell me who ya goin' with, kid."

Kelpie sighed but didn't lose her smile. "D'ye ken Jonny LeBeau?"

"LeBeau!? Ya goin' out with him!?" Vixen asked outraged. "Ya can't go out with him!"

Kelpie frowned. "And why not?"

"Cuz he's a playa, that's why."

"Hank said the same thing, but I dunna ken the meanin'."

"He dates numerous girls at once. And if Hank told ya no, why ya still goin'?"

Kelpie crossed her arms over her chest. "He didna say no. He just told me tae be careful." And he had frowned a lot.

"Be careful? Ya shouldn't be goin' at all! The LeBeau men are known for their ability to charm their way into women's hearts and then into their beds. And they rarely stay with one woman for long."

"But, Rogue and Remy--"

"That's an exception. Look, ya can't go out with him, Kelpie, trust me. Yer gonna get yerself hurt."

"I'll take my chances," Kelpie said harshly. "In the meanwhile, keep yer nose outta my love life."

"Love life? Love life? Yer fourteen! Ya don't have a love life. What ya have is a crush on a boy who's gonna steal yer heart and send give it back to ya in pieces."

Kelpie opened her mouth to protest when there was another knock on her door. Vixen opened it before Kelpie could move.

Jonny LeBeau stood in the doorway. He looked shocked at Vixen then looked over his shoulder. "Am ah in the wrong barn?" he asked.

Kelpie smiled as she slipped on her newly polished leather boots. Vixen kept her frown as she said, "No, ya ain't." She glanced back at Kelpie and said, "I wanna have a talk with lover boy here."

Before Kelpie could protest, Vixen grabbed Jonny's arm and pulled him out, shutting the door behind her. "Listen up, kid," she said callously. "I know how ya and yer brother, Remy, work. Ya end up hurtin' the girl and I swear I'll make ya wish ya were neva born. Got it?"

"Mah intentions are purely--"

"For yer own pleasure. Don't try to pull the wool ova on me, kid, it ain't gonna work. Now, I asked you a question. It's a yes or no answer."

Jonny nodded his head.

"Good."

Jonny looked over Vixen's shoulder as Kelpie opened the door. Vixen grabbed it and slammed it shut, keeping Kelpie inside. "Oh, and Jonny?"

"Ouí?"

"Have her back before ten. Or I'll hunt ya both down and end the date and it won't be pretty. Understand?" she asked, flashing her unusually sharp teeth.

Jonny nodded again.

"Good." Vixen opened the door and let Kelpie out. "Have fun, but not too much fun." She looked at Jonny meaningfully. "Remember what I said."

Kelpie and Jonny hurried from the barn before Vixen could change her mind. Outside sat a red convertible with it's top down, despite the chill evening. Jonny opened the passenger-side door for her then once she was settled, he went around to the driver's side and jumped in without using the door. Winking at her, he started the car up and did a donut. Grass and dirt went flying as they sped off past the mansion and through the front gates.

Kelpie laughed as the car raced down the street toward downtown Westchester. "Xavier's gonna kill ye for ruinin' the yard like that."

Grinning, he shrugged. "Anything to make ya laugh, cherè."

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Jonny parked out front of a pizza place called 'Franky's Pizza Palace'. As he jumped out and opened the door for her, he said, "This is the local hang out 'round here. It's Friday night, so it might be a bit crowded." Grinning again, he took her hand. "Come on," he said and led her into the building.

They were immediately hit with the sounds of talking and music as soon as they walked in. All sorts of smells assaulted them and Kelpie guessed it was the smell of pizza mixed with that of people.

A group of boys and girls looked up as they walked in and waved at them, some shouting greetings. One broke loose from the cluster of people and jogged over to them, dodging the many bodies that filled the pizzeria.

"Hey, Jonny!" the boy shouted over the music and people, lifting his hand as he came near. Jonny raised the hand that wasn't holding Kelpie's and gave the boy a high-five. "Hey, Mitch!" Jonny shouted in turn over the clamor. "What's up?"

The boy shrugged. "Same ol', same ol'." He glanced at Kelpie and grinned.

Kelpie backed away a step and her welcoming smile faded somewhat. She didn't like that grin, especially coming from this boy. He was about Jonny's height with short blonde hair and black eyes. He was skinny and rather lanky. He wore a tight black shirt revealing his muscle-less form and baggy dark blue-jeans that covered black leather biker boots. He reminded her of Kyle and she shuddered slightly.

"And who's this?" he asked, looking at Kelpie from head to toe.

Jonny smiled. "This is Kelpie, she's new at my school. She's my date," he added meaningfully.

Mitch, still grinning, put up his hands in mock surrender. Then he held one out to her in greeting, "Nice to meet you, Kelpie. My name's Mitch." He winked. "But you can call me whatever you like."

Kelpie forced a smile but didn't say anything as she took his hand and shook it.

"So what can you do?"

Kelpie frowned and looked at Jonny, but Mitch continued at the confused look on her face. "You know, you go to the school for the gifted, so what ya there for?" He held up a palm as Jonny started to speak. "Yes, Jonny, I know. You're there for mathematics, but I wasn't asking you." He looked back at Kelpie. "So?"

She looked back up at Jonny. This boy was obviously not from their school if he thought Jonny was there because he was good at mathematics. She couldn't say she was there for academics. She'd never been to school before in her life. Any idiot would be able to tell that just by her speech. But she hadn't opened her mouth yet, so she could play dumb…

She turned her gaze back on Mitch and smiled engagingly, "Tha thu cho duaichnidh ri èarr àirde de a' coisich deas damh."

Mitch looked from her to Jonny. "What d'she just say?"

Jonny shrugged, laughing, "Ah've no idea. She doesn't speak a word of English."

Mitch frowned. "How does she understand what's going on in class then?"

"Translator," Jonny said, "But Ah didn't wanna bring her along. Third wheel thing, ya know."

"Okay, but how do you understand what she's sayin'?"

Jonny tsked. "Jonny LeBeau needs only the language of love, mon amí."

"Right, well, you keep thinkin' that 'til she decides she wants to dump ya."

Kelpie had to fight hard to keep a blank look on her face.

"Hey, least I've gotta date."

"Aha ha!" Mitch said sarcastically. "Very funny." He took Kelpie's hand and kissed the back, giving her a wink. "You come to me when he's through, honey, and I'll show you what a real man is."

Keeping the disgust from her face, Kelpie pasted on a smile and said, "Thalla gu taigh na galla."

After Mitch had left, Jonny led her to a booth and sat her down, sliding in next to her, his arm around her shoulders. "Now, Ah've gotta know. What d'ya say to him?"

Kelpie laughed. "The first time I told 'im he was as ugly as the northward end of a southward travelin' ox."

Jonny threw his head back and laughed. "And the second?" he asked.

Kelpie frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "I told 'im tae go tae 'ell. Mionnaich, just because 'e thinks I canna ken 'is words dunna mean 'e could tell me that."

Jonny chuckled. "Ouí, but ya must understand, cherè, he said it to annoy me, not ya."

"Aye, well, 'tis an insult tae me if that truaill thinks for one minute I'd ever pick 'im over ye."

Jonny laughed. "That makes me feel much betta, cherè."

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Jonny ordered a pizza and she got her first taste of the wondrous food. She understood why Aquifer and so many others fancied the food so much. As they ate, they talked, joked, and laughed. After they were full and the pizza had been packed away, they sat there, drinking their beverages. His arm was around her shoulders and her head rested on his shoulder as they conversed.

Just as they were about to leave, Mitch came back to their booth and said, "Hey, there's a party goin on at Joel's tonight. Ya comin'?"

Jonny grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Great, see ya there." Giving Kelpie a wink, he left.

"But, Jonny, I gotta be 'ome by ten. 'Tis nine now."

Jonny shrugged. "So we'll stay for an hour and then Ah'll take ya home." Kelpie felt uneasy about that, but relented and they left the pizza place, driving to the other side of Westchester until they could hear music a full block away from the party. They parked as close as they could get--a half a block away--and walked with the crowd up and into the house.

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Finally the party ended after a night of dancing, drinking and a million other things that would have disgusted Kelpie had she but known. As it was, she was too distracted by Jonny, who didn't let go of her all night, claiming her for every dance and when she got too tired, sat with her on a couch while she rested. Never once did his arm leave her shoulders, yet never once did he try to kiss her, for which Kelpie was disappointed.

As she and Jonny left the house, talking and laughing, she glanced to the east and swore. "Jonny, what time is it?"

Still grinning, he looked down at his watch. "Bout five."

"Mionnaich! Jonny, we were s'posed tae be back hours ago! Vixen's gonna kill us." She tugged on his hand trying to hurry to the car.

"Hey, hey, cherè," he said, pulling her back to his side and tucking her under his arm once more. "Calm down. We're late already. What are a few more minutes goin' to help?"

Kelpie smiled somewhat sheepishly as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Guess yer right."

"Course Ah'm right," he said, grinning down at her. "Ah'm Jonny LeBeau. Ah'm always right." He opened the car door for her and she slid in, laughing.

Once they reached the mansion, he drove up quietly with the lights off and parked in the garage. Then they snuck out and walked leisurely and silently to the barn, his arm yet again on her shoulders and hers around his waist.

As soon as their feet stepped into the barn, a black shape hurled itself at them. "Where the bloody hell have you been!?" shouted Vixen. "It's five thirty! I looked everywhere for you two!"

"Shh, Vixen," said Kelpie, "People are sleeping."

"I don't give a rancid rat's ass! Where the fuck have you two been?"

Kelpie shrugged. "We went tae a party and lost track o' time."

"Bullshit ya did," she said glaring at Jonny. "Get yer sorry ass back into the dormitory. Wolverine's there waitin' for ya. And I believe Xavier's lookin' for the one who tore up the lawn."

Smiling in spit of Vixen's wrath, Jonny turned to Kelpie and bent his head to give her a goodnight kiss.

"Oh, no ya don't," said Vixen. Grabbing her arm, she pulled Kelpie away. "You two have had way too much fun already. Get up to the dormitory. Now." She turned to Kelpie as Jonny walked away. "And as for you--"

Kelpie rolled her eyes. "Oh, give it a rest, Vixen. Ye ain't me mathair." She started toward her room.

"Don't ya walk away from me--"

Kelpie slammed the door shut.