Chapter 33

Birthday

At the Institute

Dean was sitting in the Professor's office as both he and Logan were staring holes in his head.

"You can't just leave in the middle of the night without saying anything" Charles said with worry in his voice

"Why not?" Dean asked.

"Because if you're going to be living under our roof then you must obey the rules I have set for you" Charles said.

"Yeah I remember what you told me when I first got here, I needed to go and handle it myself, it was my fight" Dean explained.

"That may be true but you could have been hurt or worse, you should have asked the team to accompany you" Charles said.

"I won't drag my friends into my own problems, I refuse to" Dean said meaning every word.

"That is very admirable of you" Charles admitted, "And I commend that, but that still doesn't make it right to leave after hours without notice" Charles could tell by Dean's face that this is something he did not want to hear, and for good reason.

Dean is used to doing things unannounced all the time back home, it's a part of who he is and the environment that he was used to. He might act like a regular teenager most of the time with the rest of the X-men but Charles has noticed something else. A sort of maturity that is hidden behind Dean's teenage behavior that he doesn't show very often. He showed it when Mystique kidnapped his mother and chose to act on his own and fight his own battle, and surprisingly he handled it perfectly, or at least it turned out perfect. Also from what Charles has seen and heard from Dean's training and battles he's a very tactical fighter and is wiser than his age would predict. But nonetheless a wild card that cannot be controlled as easily as the rest.

"I know what you're thinking, that this feels like I'm lecturing you like a child. Your mother told me of your behavior and that I shouldn't think of it as disobedience, which I do not" Charles said.

"So she told you of how many times I left the house unannounced?" Dean asked curiously.

"Yes she did, somewhat. So I understand why you tend to go off alone. But you must understand that I cannot bend the rules for one student, that wouldn't be fair. Don't you agree?"

"Yes" Dean admitted.

"So I must insist that you do not do this again" Charles said with a stern face.

"You mean leaving in general or not telling anybody about it?" Dean asked.

"Somehow I think that no matter what rule or punishment I give you, you would still leave the mansion in the middle of the night on some wild goose chase. So you must at least tell one person so I know in case you've been out for too long" Charles said.

Dean analyzed his situation, "I think that's fair. But just out of curiosity, what kind of punishment would you give me if I broke any more rules?" he asked trying his best not to sound eager to do so.

Charles smiled, "My tolerance for your behavior is not withstanding, continue to do so and you will spend the rest of your days under the belief you're a six year old girl"

Dean raised an eyebrow, "You'd do that?"

"I'd have Kitty braid your hair" Charles said with a smirk.

"Jeez" Dean turned around to leave.

"Oh and Dean" Charles said.

Dean looked back.

"Happy Birthday" Charles said with a smile.

Dean looked at his phone, it was after midnight so technically it was, "Thank you"

Dean opened his eyes to see it was morning. The bright rays of the sun peaked in his room right through his curtains.

Dean groggily got up and opened his curtains, 'Damn it's hot' he thought feeling the heat of the sun enter his room.

He looked at his phone to see what the weather was going to be like. 95 degrees and clear skies for the whole day.

'Thank you father' Dean prayed, he went back to sleep to enjoy his day off.

Hours later Jean knocked on his door and came inside.

Jean saw him still sleeping. She sat next to him on his bed and shook him, "Hey, wake up" she spoke softly.

Dean opened his eyes, "I'm up" he looked at her, Jean was dressed in her beach clothing.

"What happened? You're usually up before anyone else" Jean said.

"Since it's a special day I slept in" Dean said stretching.

"Well you better hurry, everyone else is ready to go" Jean said.

"I'll be ready in 5" Dean grabbed his towel and ran for the shower.

Dean went downstairs. Evan, Kitty, and Kurt were waiting by the door dressed for the beach.

"Look, it lives" Kitty said teasing him.

"Look it lives" Dean mimicked her voice.

Evan and Kurt laughed.

"Ha ha" Kitty pretended to laugh. She gave him a quick hug, "Happy birthday"

"Happy birthday dude" Kurt pat him on the back.

"Yeah happy birthday man" Evan gave him a fist bump.

"Thanks guys, where's everyone else?" Dean asked.

The adults walked in also wearing beach clothing.

"I believe Jean and Scott are waiting in the car" Charles said.

"And Rogue's being difficult so we're takin off without her" Logan said.

"What do you mean difficult?" Dean asked.

"Something about her outfit, I don't know. Let's just go" Logan said.

"You guys can go on without me. I'll catch up with you" Dean said going up to see Rogue.

Rogue stared at herself in the mirror with frustration.

She heard a knock on the door.

Rogue sighed, "What?"

Dean came inside, "Hey" he said with a smile.

Rogue's face lit up with joy, "Come here you" she embraced him in a tight hug, "Happy birthday"

"Thank you" Dean said genuinely, "Now why aren't you coming with us?"

"Because this isn't going to work. The beach is filled with people so I'm gonna have to cover my whole body and if I do that I'm gonna be dying from the heat. So I'm not going" Rogue said crossing her arms.

"Rogue you're making this harder than this has to be. Just come along" Dean said.

"But what if I—"

"Rogue" Dean gently put his hands on her arms and looked into her eyes, "Forget about everything you're worrying about. Just come with me and have fun instead of sulking"

"I don't know, I—"

"Please, for me" Dean said in a soft voice.

Rogue couldn't resist those blue eyes of his, "Fine, I'll go"

At the beach

"Ahh, you feel that sun?" Evan said as he took in the sun from where he was laying.

"It feels amazing" Jean said loving the heat.

Scott glanced at Jean. She wore a yellow 2-piece bathing suit that looked so good on her that Scott couldn't help but stare.

The three adults sat under an umbrella with recliner chairs.

"It is unusual that it's this hot in May" Charles said thinking on the matter.

Ororo looked to the sky, "Perhaps the boy's father gave him a gift"

Logan looked at Ororo. The African queen looked gorgeous in her bikini. From time to time he considered putting the moves on her but never went through with it. Ororo was a damn fine woman who deserved a man of equal stature.

"Speaking of Dean where is he?" Kurt asked.

Charles sensed him arrive with Rogue, "I believe he's here"

Rogue joined the others. She wore jeans that went down to her knees and a loose white T-shirt.

"Where's Dean?" Kitty asked.

Rogue opened her chair away from the others to have her space, "He went to change really quick" she sat down and opened her latest book.

Jean looked at the shirt Rogue was wearing. She'd never seen her wear it before and on top of that it was really big on her.

"Hey where'd you get that shirt?" Jean asked.

"Dean gave me it. All the clothes I had were too dark and tight" Rogue said.

Jean felt a little weird. It was just a shirt after all but the fact it was her boyfriend's bugged her a little.

"So what made you come along stripes?" Logan asked. She was giving him a hard time before so he was curious.

Kitty sat upright, "That must be some shirt he gave you" she said with a smirk.

Jean got up and glared at Kitty.

Rogue closed her book and looked at her, "Look it's his birthday and—" she paused when she noticed Kitty was staring intently at something.

"Kitty you ok?" Jean asked.

"Girls, I think you're gonna wanna see this" Kitty said with a smirk.

Rogue and Jean both looked in that direction where Dean was walking over dressed only in a pair of black swimming shorts which left the rest of him exposed and free to be ogled and admired.

"Jesus" Rogue whispered at the sight of the broad chested, chiseled muscled, dark haired teen.

After seeing Dean in his outfit she knew he was well built. It wasn't hard to miss but seeing him like this only further proved he was the son of a god.

"Come here birthday boy" Jean got up and hugged Dean.

"Ooh are you my present?" Dean asked playfully.

"No, you'll get your present later" Jean said with a smirk.

"I'll be waiting" Dean laid his towel between Rogue and Jean, "Anyone else ready to jump in the water?"

"Don't have to tell me twice" Evan got up and ran towards the water, "Last one in has to be Kitty's food taster!"

All the teens ran in the water except for Rogue, Kitty, and Dean.

"My cooking isn't that bad!" Kitty protested as she joined them.

Dean stood in front of the water hesitating. He remembered what Chiron said about intruding in other gods' territory.

"Dean what's wrong?" Jean asked.

"Just gimme a sec" Dean closed his eyes, 'Lord Poseidon, master of the oceans. Please allow me to enter your domain, and bathe in its beauty on this joyous day' he took a step into the water and nothing happened, 'I guess it's ok'

Later on Rogue was still reading her book while the others were in the water.

She wanted to go in for a dip but again the thought of accidentally draining someone convinced her not to.

Rogue watched as the others played around in the water.

Jean sat on Dean's shoulders while Kitty sat on Scott's and the two girls tried to out wrestle the other.

Then Kurt joined in who was on Evan's shoulders.

They looked like they were having fun, and Rogue wanted to be a part of it. You could see it on her face.

Logan, who took notice of this, walked over to her, "Why don't you join em?"

Jean managed to out wrestle Kitty who knocked over Kurt on her way down.

"Because I can't play" Rogue said looking back at her book.

Jean raised her arms in the air in triumph and then Dean dropped her in the water.

"There's more than one way to have fun" Logan said before joining the adults again.

Jean came out of the water and ran after Dean, "Get back here!" She said playfully.

Dean was too fast for her but she used her telekinesis to grab him and draw him towards her, "Hey no fair!"

Rogue still couldn't figure out why she had such strong feelings for Dean, it was mysteriously infuriating. She refused to believe it was just the pheromones affecting her.

Dean walked out of the water, "I'm gonna take a break guys"

Rogue raised her book to block her vision of the dripping wet demigod.

Dean walked over to her and grabbed his towel, "How's the book going?"

"Hasn't gotten to the interesting part yet" Rogue said without looking at him.

"Then take a break, come join us" Dean said.

"I'm not really in the mood" Rogue said.

Dean frowned, she was still avoiding everyone.

The others came out of the water as well.

Dean laid out his towel next to Rogue and tried to talk her out of her foolish way of thinking.

Jean stopped in front of Dean and squeezed the water out of her hair, "Well that was refreshing"

Dean seemed too busy with Rogue to notice her.

Jean heard the ice cream truck nearby.

"Hey Dean let's go get some ice cream" Jean tried to get his attention.

"No thanks, I'm good" Dean said without even looking at her.

"I'll go with you Jean" Scott said walking with her.

"Count us in" Evan said with Kurt.

Dean looked at the ocean, there weren't any people in the water anywhere near them.

"Here's your chance" Dean said.

"For what?" Rogue asked.

"Enjoy the water obviously. C'mon there's no one around" Dean said getting up.

Rogue got up reluctantly, "You never give up do you?" She said with a small smile.

"One of my best traits I'm sure" Dean said.

Rogue took off her top layer of clothes.

Dean looked away so he didn't stare. When she was done he laid eyes on her.

Rogue was wearing a thin dark green bikini.

Dean bit his lip and couldn't take his eyes off her.

"What is it?" Rogue could tell he wanted to say something.

"I...can't say" Dean said like he had to hold something back.

"Why not?" Rogue asked feeling curious.

Dean blushed and scratched the back of his head, "Because I'm afraid of what the goddess of love might do to me if I speak idly of her"

Rogue's cheeks turned rosy red as it lit up in a bright smile, "Shut up" she walked past him and stopped by the water.

Dean stepped in to the water, "C'mon"

Rogue dipped her toe in the water and jumped back, "Its damn cold!"

"What? Stop being a baby" Dean said.

Rogue shook her head, "I'm not going in"

Dean gave her a blank stare. He pushed the water with his augmented strength creating a small wave big enough to get Rogue soaking wet.

Rogue gasped from the cold water, "I'm gonna kill you!"

Dean smirked, "Only if you catch me" he swam into the water.

Rogue swam after him, "I don't care what happens I'm absorbing you!"

Dean went underwater and waited there.

Rogue went under as well, swam up to him, and grabbed his arm.

Dean had no visual effect. He removed her arm and smiled as he went up to the surface.

Rogue followed him up, "What the hell?!"

Dean chuckled, "I was curious whether that would work"

"Please explain" Rogue demanded.

"Your power requires direct skin contact. The water particles prevent that from happening underwater" Dean said swimming closer to her.

"How'd you come up with the idea?" Rogue asked.

"Let's just say I've been doing a lot of reading" Dean touched her hand.

The sensation of touch was almost exhilarating, it isn't often that she partakes in it.

"You have soft hands" Rogue noticed.

"I do?" Dean touched her other hand.

Rogue rubbed his palms with her thumbs tentatively, "For a Warrior you have a gentle touch" she said with a bright smile.

That smile made him feel like there were butterflies in his stomach.

Dean saw Jean coming back with the others so he let go of her.

"Well we're here, let's have some fun" Dean said before splashing her again.

Rogue started splashing him back, "You're gonna get it now bolt boy"

Jean saw the two of them playing around in the water and felt a hint of resentment towards Rogue.

At the Institute

After the beach they all returned home.

"So what's next on the birthday to do list?" Logan asked.

"Skydiving" Dean said.

"Nope" Scott said.

"You can count me out" Kitty said.

"Same here" Evan said.

"Eh I don't do heights" Evan said.

"You guys need to live more" Dean said before looking at Jean, "How bout it?"

"I fly all the time, it wouldn't be that special" Jean said.

"I believe that's my queue to prove how chicken everyone's being" Rogue said.

"I believe you mean we" Dean said with a smile.

Logan flew the both of them in the X-jet.

"Ready?" Logan asked as he lowered the ramp.

Dean and Rogue walked down the ramp with their parachutes strapped on.

Rogue looked down, the ground was miles down, "That's a long way down"

Dean turned around and fell backwards with a wide grin on his face.

Rogue sighed, "That boy" she jumped after him.

Dean felt the adrenaline rush as he fell through the sky. Now he knows why this feeling felt so right the first time, the sky is his true domain.

"Hey!" Rogue tried to get his attention.

Dean snapped out of his daze, "How awesome is this?!"

Rogue gave him a thumbs up.

Dean faced the sky and placed his hands behind his head like he was laying down on a bed.

Rogue held her arms close to her body and she fell even faster building up speed.

Dean closed his eyes for a moment, but it felt way longer than that. His mind drifted into a familiar place.

'You try to embrace the sky young one?' a dark voice said.

'The sky is my home' Dean thought.

'You know nothing of the sky or of its treachery' the dark voice said.

'How do you know?' Dean thought.

'I am of the sky, treachery runs deep in our blood' the dark voice said.

'Your words will not sway me, crooked one' Dean thought.

'You have yet to become one with your domain boy, how much faith will you put in it?' the dark voice asked.

Rogue felt like she was getting pretty close to the ground so she tried opening her parachute. When she did the parachute opened but the wind was so strong that it ripped it off her backpack.

Rogue started panicking, "DEAN!"

The dark voice laughed, 'The little peacock hasn't grown its wings yet'

Dean snapped out of his dream. He looked back and noticed Rogue was yelling his name.

"MY PARACHUTE BROKE!" Rogue yelled.

Dean eyes widened, 'Oh shit' he held his arms close to his body so he could fall faster. She was far ahead of him, enough to make him nervous.

Rogue took off her backpack so she didn't weigh as much, maybe that would slow her descent.

Dean got closer and reached with his arm, "Take my hand!"

Rogue reached to try and grab him but they were still a little too far apart.

Dean could see the ground coming towards them fast. He reached out with whatever he had, 'Dear father, lord of the heavens, please help me' he prayed.

Somehow Dean rushed forward and grabbed Rogue just in time to open his parachute.

The parachute opened but only slowed their descent at the last second. Dean moved underneath Rogue to break her fall.

They landed hard on the ground and the parachute fell on top of them.

Rogue came to her senses and found herself on top of Dean.

"Dean?" Rogue pushed away the parachute that was covering him and she saw he was unconscious, "Dean? Dean! Wake up!" she lightly smacked his face.

Dean's eyes opened slowly, "Ugh" he groaned.

"Are you ok?" Rogue asked full of concern.

"My head hurts a little" Dean said rubbing it.

"Let me see" Rogue said checking his head for injuries.

Dean stared into her emerald green eyes, he could see how much she cared.

"I think you should be fine" Rogue said looking back at him.

Logan took the parachute off of them and saw Rogue sitting on top of Dean in an awkward position, "Did I miss something?"

Rogue got up and rushed to leave out of embarrassment.

After a long day Dean finally entered his room and collapsed on his bed.

'Well today was fun...mostly. That voice is becoming a nuisance' Dean thought.

There was a knock on his door.

"Come in" Dean said burying his face in his pillow.

He heard someone walk in and close the door.

Dean smelled sweet scented perfume in the air.

He then felt tentative hands start massaging his shoulders, "Does that feel good?" Jean asked.

Dean moaned softly, "Yes"

Jean sat on top of him.

Dean turned over so he could face her, "What are you doing?" he said with a smirk.

Jean leaned down and kissed him, "I've been thinking, about us"

"Didn't you say you didn't want to go too fast?" Dean asked.

"Yeah and I don't, but…" Jean pursed her lips, "When I saw you at the beach I just.." she gave him a long passionate kiss.

Dean softly pushed her away, "Ok, you're gonna have to be clear on what you want cause I'm about 2 seconds away from ripping off your clothes" he said with a lustful look.

"I'm not ready to go all the way yet" Jean admitted.

Dean grabbed his pillow and covered his face, "Awesome!" he yelled into the pillow to lower his voice.

Jean took the pillow off his face, "But that doesn't mean we can't have fun, it is your birthday after all" she said deviously.

Dean nodded, "I can settle for fun"

Jean smiled, "Good" she began kissing him starting from his neck and slowly going lower.

Author's Note: Hey everyone, sorry I haven't updated in a while. Been having problems with my wifi and it took me a while to fix, but anyways updating schedule should be back to normal now. Hope you enjoyed the read!