" PIETRO ! Where the hell are my car keys?" Lance said searching frantically through the house.
"I don't know" Pietro grumbled turning over on the couch where he had passes out drunk the night before.
"Come on help me look . You're a speed demon right ?"
"Nothing is open anyways, it's Christmas eve" Pietro said
"I know, I'm going to Pennsylvania to see Kitty . . . and give her her gift" he explained as he spotted a glint of metal under Pietro's pillow. He grabbed the keys and headed for the car, he backed out the driveway and took out his cell phone ,dialing Kitty.
"Hello ?" she said
"Hey Kitty it's me, you'll never guess where I am ?"
"Where ?" she said unexcited
"I'm on the road to Pennsylvania to see you !"
"Well, turn around I'm back in Bayville . . . at the mansion."
"What, really ?" he said making a sudden 360 in the middle of the abandoned road and headed for the mansion.
------Xavier Mansion----
Kitty clicked her phone shut and turned back to the Wanda who was making pancakes at the stove in front of her.
"Was that Lance ?" Wanda asked
"Um, yeah" Kitty said "I can't believe you made pancakes and coffee you are a genius"
"Well, when you live with the brotherhood you have to learn to cook."
At that moment the girls heard the front door jiggling.
"That must be Logan with Jean and everyone" Kitty said going for the door.
From the kitchen Wanda heard Kitty let out a squeal she peeked out of the kitchen and looked to the front door to see Kitty being hugged by 3 tired looking mutants.
"Rogue, Kurt what are you doing here so soon ?" she asked hugging Kurt one more time.
"It's a long story." Rogue said walking inside.
"Well, were home chѐre" Remy said looking lustfully at Rogue.
"Take it easy, Cajun" Rogue said heading upstairs, she turned around and caressed Remy's face with her gloved hand and then promptly ran upstairs to take a shower.
Wanda headed back to the kitchen while Remy went to get a deck of his cards, and Kitty and Kurt caught up on the couch. Suddenly they were interrupted again by the sounds of a jet flying over the mansion.
"Who's that ?" Kurt asked
"Logan, they decided to come home early" Kitty explained heading for the hanger. Kurt quickly bamfed them into the hanger just as the rest of the X-men were coming out of the jet. They bombarded each other with hugs and hellos as they made their way to the living room.
Jean and Scott held hands as they found space on the couch.
A freshly showered Rogue came downstairs to join the crowd.
Just as everyone was sitting around getting settled there was another knock at the door.
"Maybe it's Santa Claus." Kitty said opening the door. Standing there was Lance with a ridiculous grin on his face.
"Kitty" he said, " I came here to give you your gift, it's outside if you . . . ."
"Okay." She said. " But, let me get yours" she said running inside to get the wrapped package out of her suitcase.
Kitty walked outside and a curious Kurt, Scott and Jean followed. Kitty didn't see any bows or ribbons.
"Where is it ?" she asked
He led her to his Jeep where she saw in the backseat big chunks of metal
"You got me scrap metal ?"
"No, Kitty these are new bumpers, grills, a paint job and even an engine for your car. I bought the parts and I can paint it at the auto shop where I work , soon your car will be just as cute as you are . . . and safer."
"Oh.Wow" She said, "I think we should go inside for you to open your gift."
They went inside and she handed him the wrapped package gift, he smiled at her and opened it.
"Oh my god – Kitty is this what I think it is ?"
"Yeah, why don't you play it for me ?" she said
"I can't." he said, " I sold my guitar."
"Oh" she said, " good . . . because I sold my car."
"You sold your guitar to get me a Christmas gift !"
"You sold your car to get me a Christmas gift !"
"Are they going to make pork chops know?"Kurt whispered to Jean and Scott.
They two brunettes stood in silence and then they began to laugh.
"Wow, could this get any worse ?" Lance joked
"Yes," Kitty said, "Lance I have to be honest with you . . . I was on the bus and I was thinking . . . I don't think I . . . love you. Before I went to the bus station I kissed this really nice guy who sold me the sheet music and I didn't feel guilty about it"
"Kitty I –" he started " I know the feeling. I kind of got feelings for someone else too. I guess I always had this preconceived notion that we were supposed to be together-"
"Yeah, me too."
The two teens stared in silence
"Why don't I get you some hot chocolate and see if we can figure something out." Kitty said.
Jean and Scott had returned the couch watching the fireplace across from them Ororo who was cupping a mug of coffee and Logan who was playing self-consciously with a carton of cigarettes.
"Logan !" Laura shouted coming down the stairs oblivious to everyone else in the room.
"Whats up, kid ?" he asked
" I had this vision, this dream I guess and I was back at Hydra ! And it was horrible1 They-they- they threatened to kill you and I –"
"Relax , Laura . . . it was just a dream" he said, "Now, whats the damage ?" he asked.
"One window may be broken, are you upset do I have to leave . . . I uh, I'm sorry" she said
"I'm not going to make you leave."
"Why not ?"
"because I care about you, kid and when you care about people you don't just throw them out."
"How, how can you care about me ?"
"It's something called unconditional love"
Laura contemplated this and began to calm down.
"You have no idea what I'm talking about do you ?" he said.
"No, not really" she admitted, "But, I guess I will eventually"
"I'm sure you will."
Ororo sat watching the whole scene unfold with wide eyes and she exchanged knowing glances with Jean.
"Logan, um can we talk outside ? " Ororo asked
He gave her an uneasy glance "Okay." He said and followed her outside
"Hey look I'm going to-" Wanda said finally coming out of the seclusion of the kitchen , spotted Lance.
"Wanda ! Is this where you ran off to ?" Lance asked walking up to her and hugging her. Realizing what he was doing Lance quickly backed away, Kitty simply stared at them.
"Um, yeah pathetic I know." Wanda said, " Hey look, can you give me a ride back, when you leave ?"
"Where is your –"
"Don't ask
"You're leaving ?" Laura asked Wanda
"Yeah . . . I mean you've been great and all but, I'm no X-men." She said
"You aren't like the brotherhood either" Kitty pointed out.
"I know but, I can't really fit in here , I'm sure I'll find somewhere I belong" She said
"So you're going to leave ?" Lance asked
"Yeah, but I'll come back to see . . .you guys" she explained and ever so slightly grazed Lance's hand
"Oh – I - . . ." she started
"No it's –" Lance interrupted
"Your smiling" Laura whispered to Wanda who did have a hint of a smile.
"Yeah, well so are you." Wanda retorted.
Lance returned to sit next to Kitty, while Wanda sat on his other side blushing madly. Covered lightly in snow Ororo and Logan were seated next to each other not romantically but, closer thsn they had been previously ,sitting on the floor in front of them was Laura staring astonished at the snow outside. Jean was sitting beside Logan curled up with Scott. Rogue was sitting on the leather recliner and Gambit was sitting on the edge of the chair taking every opportunity to touch her.
Sitting by the window Bobby, Alex and Kurt were reciting their adventures. Right in the middle of things Professor X sat admiring the group. While it had been less than 10 days they all seemed to transformer so different from whatever things they had come in contact with over the holidays. Each of their experiences left an imprint on them it wasn't extensive but noticeable. While he knew it wasn't the end of their stories, it was a good beginning.
So, that's the end ! It was really hard to write an ending because I forgot where I was going with my story . I'm thinking of a sequel. I thought I might explain a few things that you may have missed but, if you don't want to know don't read any further.
Kitty and Lance was supposed to be a parody of The Gift of the Magi
Lavender Khomar Raven Darkholme
I called it Postcards because they are little pieces that we take with us to remember the places we have gone.
Thanks again for reading I hoped you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing this whole little world.