Disclaimer: X-Men is owned by Disney, Marvel and I think Fox. I am just writing this for fun.

Author's Note: A Victorian AU had to happen. This is it. LOL

Kitty x Erik : Mistletoe Kiss

The party at the Xavier estate was in full swing, all the best and brightest rejoicing in each other's company and the holiday spirit.

Well, all that is but two. Not that either of them knew that about the other at this moment in time.

Kitty Pryde sneaked around the edges of the ballroom, desperate to make an escape.

It wasn't that she disliked the people there or even that she had a huge problem with being at a party for a holiday she didn't even celebrate.

No, the problem was she had been in a foul mood ever since the battle last night and being stuck in a lacy ballgown and a corset determined to crush her ribs was not helping.

And don't even get her started on the two inch heels Clarice had stuck her in.

This was not to say she disliked getting dressed up. She didn't for the most part. But today she was just done with everything.

Finally getting free of the ballroom, Kitty snuck her way down to a little library where the Professor kept his more controversial reading material.

If she was going to be in a foul mood she might as well indulge in a bit of reading on things that she disagreed with and hated.

Turning up the flame on one of the oil lamps,Kitty walked swiftly through the room, eyes focused on the high shelves before her.

Thus the reason she almost burnt the house down when a voice spoke behind her.

"Well, if it isn't the kitten."

Letting out a shriek, Kitty spun around the lamp flying from her hand as she did so.

Just as it was about to hit one of the walls of books, it stopped in mid air and floated gracefully through the air to land on one of the tables scattered around the room.

Her eyes spitting fire, Kitty sneered. "Mr. Lehnsherr. What on earth are you doing here?"

The handsome young man standing mere feet away from her, grinned a knife like grin at her and replied, "Why, dear Charles invited me, of course."

Grumbling under her breath about the Professor's endless amount of stupidity, Kitty straightened her shoulders and said. "Ah, well, good bye."

And with that she turned to leave. But then he opened his mouth. Again.

"I'm rather disappointed,Kitten. I didn't take you for a coward. Or are you only brave when surrounded by your friends."

"Exactly what do you mean by that? I assure you, my not wanting to be in your presence is not a sign of cowardice but of disgust."

Erik's eyes flashed hot for a second but then his smug look returned full force. "So you do have claws. Albeit, dull ones."

Crossing her arms over her chest and dropping all pretenses of politeness, Kitty growled out, "What do you want, Magneto?"

"Not to be bored."

Dropping her arms down to her sides, Kitty said in a exasperated tone, "You mean you want to use me as entertainment?!"

"Well, yes."

Letting out a sigh, Kitty turned away and started to head back to the door.

This time before she could get through it, a hand on her elbow stopped her.

"Don't try to pretend that you are not finding our little tit for tat much more enjoyable than that ball out there."

Making a face, Kitty jerked her arm out of his grip and turning to face him said "Fine, what do you want to talk about?"

The smile he gave her was still a little smug but there was, under it, a hint of real gratefulness that caused an odd feeling in her chest, one that she swiftly pushed away and ignored.

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Two hours and they had shared more, arguments both playful and otherwise between them, along with serious conversations on a variety of things she was sure she was going to regret speaking to him about come morning. Now, the odd feeling in her chest was not letting her ignore it any longer.

A clear sign she needed to get out of his presence.

Thankfully, the hall clock rung out the midnight hour just as she thought this, giving her an escape.

"It's midnight, which means we are all expected to go and ring in the day. And I know that neither of us actually celebrate Christmas but we did come to the party so I don't think we should be so rude as to miss the main event."

Raising a brow, Erik gave her a slight nod of acknowledgement and standing, held out a hand to help her up.

Against the advice of the part of her that said touching him was not going to help her growing problem at all, Kitty placed her gloved hand in his.

Once she was standing before him, he laced her hand through the crook of his arm and led the way to the door she had entered through. But then, just as they were about to pass through, he bizarrely stopped.

Rolling her eyes, Kitty remarked dryly."I'm not going to change my mind about rejoining the party, Erik, so you can keep your arguments against it to yourself."

Erik merely let out a chuckle before ducking his head and stealing her lips, breath and, much to her regret, heart, in one swift motion.

The kiss was gentle and sweet with just a hint of the fire that could easily rage between them.

As he drew away, Kitty could see in his eyes that the promise of that fire had burned him as well but before her tangled thoughts could form into words, he smiled that same razor edge grin cockily saying."Tradition. Wouldn't want to stomp on them in our host's home would we?"

Lifting her eyes, Kitty noticed what she had not before. A sprig of mistletoe hung above them, its red berries shining sweetly in the candlelight.

Giving him a equally false smile in return, Kitty replied.

"No, we wouldn't."

When the Professor invited her to a Boxing Day brunch she discreetly checked who else would be on the guest list.

Upon seeing his name, she politely declined.

Brave she might be but she still knew better than to tangle with an unquenchable fire.

Of course when he appeared on her doorstep on New Year's it simply proved that some fires would not be denied.

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Author's Note: Thank you to all of you who have read and reviewed. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Thank you again Setsunakou!