Author's note: Thank you to StarlitStar, NotMarge, awsomeness126, NicoleR85, partygirl98, chibi-no-baka, and shika93 for your reviews! I hope you continue to enjoy this story.

Just a head's up, I'm moving in a few days (thank you, military), so writing time might be a little tight for a while. I'll do my best to update as much as I can, but please bear with me. Don't worry though, I won't abandon this story!

Boyfriend?

Zoey smiled and linked our arms, holding onto my elbow with both hands. We trailed along behind the Professor and his new pupil. Since his commentary was completely telepathic and reserved for Olivia, I pointed things out to Zoey.

Sean was in the middle of teaching an English class when we popped in. Charles assured him we were just passing through- I think he wanted to show off the small class sizes of the Institute. As I turned to lead Zoey out the door Sean sent a smarmy grin my way and made a thumbs up signal. So apparently he approved.

Charles showed us which room would be Olivia's, on the second floor, and explained the system of dorm monitors to ensure that every young child was taken care of properly.

Finally, he led Olivia to one of the many play centers of the school, where children from the ages of six to nine did activities after classes were over for them under the supervision of an adult. Since by then it was only twenty minutes until dinner, there were perhaps sixteen children inside.

Olivia looked at the Professor and then her aunt with the question obvious in her eyes. Zoey nodded, smiling. The little girl ran over to hug her aunt and then turned and entered the room.

She immediately went over to a table where two girls were coloring with crayons. After shy introductions the other children welcomed her at their table.

Zoey let out a sigh of relief, watching her niece being accepted into the fold already. She looked up at me and smiled.

"Thank you, again," she whispered, looking a little teary-eyed.

Please tell me those are happy tears.

I shook my head. I wanted to tell her that it was all for her, but that smacked of a disregard for Olivia. And that's not how I felt about the situation. I already had a fondness for the precocious child, Zoey or not.

Charles turned his chair around and grinned at us both.

"Thank you so much, Professor," Zoey repeated.

"It's an honor," he replied, waving away her thanks. "Now, would you like to stay for supper?"

"I think that would be alright, if I could check with my sister first," Zoey said.

"Splendid. Hank can show you to a phone. And then, if you're comfortable leaving Olivia here, you could be free to explore a little more."

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you."

The nearest phone was only two rooms over, in a teacher's office. Zoey dialed her sister's number and waited. Chloe answered after three rings. I couldn't help eavesdropping- again.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Chloe. It's me."

"What do you want?"

"Is it ok if Livie and I stay at the school for dinner?" Zoey asked, ignoring the surliness in her sister's voice.

"Fine. Have her home before bedtime. Goodbye."

"Will do. And she loves it here. Thanks for asking. 'Bye, sister dear," she said icily.

Zoey shook her head as she set the phone down. She attempted a smile for me when her eyes found mine, but her heart wasn't in it.

"Ready?"

I nodded and held my arm out for her. I thought she would like to see the gardens, so I led her outside.

Zoey's discontent was obvious, a little happiness from the afternoon lost from her sister's rudeness. Even the dazzling June sunshine didn't brighten her mood.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked gently.

She sighed and looked at me with a cloudy expression. "Not right now. Could you tell me something happy?"

"I think Olivia is going to do wonderfully here. You're an amazing aunt for standing up and having the courage to do what's best for her," I told her, after a moment's thought. "And since I know you can't be here every day, I promise I'll look out for her the best I can."

Zoey smiled softly and leaned her head against my arm as we reached the greenhouses. I opened the door for her.

"That actually helps a lot. Thank you," she murmured.

"No problem. Now, these are Moira's treasures," I announced, standing in the doorway while Zoey went farther inside the greenhouse.

She stopped to sniff at some violets and smiled dreamily. She was surrounded by lovely blooms but all I could think of was that she was the prettiest one of them all.

And then I realized I was staring at her again and fumbled for something else to say.

"Back when the school first started, she was too busy helping us get everything running to be out here much. But now that everything mostly runs smoothly Moira spends hours out here."

"I admire her work. This is beautiful," Zoey remarked. "You said that this was Professor Xavier's family home?"

"Yes, the mansion belonged to his step-father. After Cuba we retro-fitted it into a school. It probably wouldn't surprise you, but Alex and Sean make a good wrecking crew," I commented dryly, leading her out of the greenhouse and into the cooler air outside.

I'd told her a few of our escapades the day before, at the cafe. She knew what a mess we X-Men could make.

"And you? How did you help?"

"I mostly helped Charles with the legal side of things and rebuilding the machines that were damaged in Cuba," I explained, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

I didn't like thinking about those dark days, when I was coming to terms with my second mutation and Charles was so broken after everything that happened to him.

"It sounds like all of you are very close to him," Zoey noted.

"I suppose that's because he's helped us so much. All of us were rather afraid of using our powers when we first met him," I explained. "But we helped him, too. He tried to be strong and move forward after everything that happened, but we all knew he was hurting."

"You mentioned his sister and friend?"

"Yes. He lost his legs that day in Cuba, along with Raven and Erik. And then soon after he wiped Moira's memories and sent her away."

I was still angry with Raven for leaving her brother bleeding on that beach. Sean and Alex had been upset with Charles for what he did to Moira, though they said nothing to his face. I disagreed with decision privately, but I also understood his motives. It wasn't something he'd done lightly.

"But Moira's here now. Did he change his mind?" Zoey asked curiously.

"No. Moira's a very smart woman. She pieced together where we were using travel receipts from her job at the CIA. After she quit and lost the tail the agency had on her, Moira showed up on the front doorstep one day. She gave Charles the choice of sending her away again, but he didn't. He'd missed her too much. And the rest is history."

Zoey nodded slowly, digesting my story. Then she looked at me steadily. "And you? Who helped you through your pain?"

"My pain?"

"Yes, your pain. Your second mutation happened, and you lost Raven that day, too."

I looked at her sharply- I hadn't mentioned my relationship with Raven to her at all. "How'd you-?"

"The way you say her name," Zoey replied, smiling sadly. "Like it's something secret."

I couldn't think of anything to say, so I just stared at my feet awkwardly. I didn't want to talk about Raven with Zoey, not in the slightest.

"Not today?" she asked gently.

"Not today," I agreed, relieved that Zoey wasn't going to press me further about my failed relationship and all the mistakes I'd made.

I love you so much, Zoey.

We walked in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again.

"I'm sorry if you felt put on the spot after what Livie said earlier."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I thought that maybe you felt like you had to answer 'yes' when she asked if you were my boyfriend now," Zoey explained, her cheeks flushing prettily.

I shook my head quickly. "I don't know how much of a boyfriend I'll be, but I want to try. If you'll have me, that is."

"I'll have you," she said firmly. She stopped walking and faced me. I turned and allowed her to slip each of her hands into mine. "You're very easy to talk to, now that you actually talk."

"You make it easy," I replied, grinning through my blush. "I feel like I've found a kindred spirit. Maybe I saw that from the very beginning, but I was too afraid to do more."

"Can I ask why you started to buy my mochas in the first place?"

"I overheard Olivia tell you that her father believed you'd never catch a man, if you kept trying for your degree. I wanted to show you, just in case you were having doubts, that that wasn't true. Any man would be lucky to have you. And..." I felt a little tongue-tied, but pressed on. "Everything I did- I just wanted to make you happy and see you smile. Even if you didn't know it was me."

Zoey smiled and reached up to slip her hands around my neck, standing on tiptoe. For a terrifying moment I didn't know where to put my own hands, but let them settle on her tiny waist.

Now our faces were only inches apart, and my heart rate accelerated accordingly. I was afraid that within a minute my hands would be clammy enough that the sweat would sink through Zoey's dress.

"I know you're scared," she whispered, green eyes boring into mine. "About what could happen. Maybe I am, too. But we can take this slow, ok?"

"I watched you for three and a half months before speaking to you, Zoey. I am the king of taking it slow," I muttered.

She pressed her forehead into my chest while she shook with giggles. But then her gaze trapped me when she looked back up once more.

I felt like the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only her. Zoey was enough to fill every lonely hole in my heart and make me complete again- and yet so much more, just by being herself.

This time it was me who started to lean in, taking it slow be damned. She closed her eyes, face upturned and lips slightly parted-