Disclaimer: I'm lookin' around, and it looks like I'm still poor and thus don't own the X-Men, so please don't sue me, o Marv

Disclaimer:  I'm lookin' around, and it looks like I'm still poor and thus don't own the X-Men, so please don't sue me, o Marvel demigod corporate types. I promise I'll send them all back to their respective storylines relatively intact. Hell, you all can't seem to manage characters anyway (and when I say manage, I mean "keep them alive and vaguely in character"), so maybe I'll just keep them around. Send them through the revolving door of death if you need to explain the disappearances. Maybe we can work out a long-term loan plan.

Notes:

sound*thought*} telepathic conversation {

Setting: 3 days post wedding, in an exclusive Caribbean resort.

The resort Susana and Jono had selected for their honeymoon was exclusive, mutant-tolerant, beachy, warm, sandy, and came highly recommended by Jean and Scott. It was also, coincidentally, not either of the honeymooners' idea of an ideal and truly enjoyable vacation. After the 3rd consecutive day of lazing about on the beach doing nothing, interspersed with retreats to the "beachside bungalow", Susana snapped.

"Let's leave."

}Why'd we want to do that? S'nice here...{

"Bullshit. You hate the beach. I like it in small doses- two full weeks of this is too much. Let's go...take a suitcase each and be completely incommunicado. If something absolutely vital happens, they've got Cerebro...that should be fine for hunting us down in an emergency." She wrapped both arms around his waist and tipped her head back, resting her chin against his bandages. "Pleeease? Pretty pretty please?" He rolled his eyes slightly, then looked down, met her eyes, and nodded slowly.

}Where were you thinking of going?{ He crinkled at her resulting exuberant dance.

"Oh, I don't know...anywhere that's got something more than a beach for entertainment. We still haven't made it to London...want to go there? Or somewhere else in Europe? C'mon, you know you want to." She backed him up against the footboard of the hotel room bed, poking an index finger at his shoulder to hurry his progress. He willingly collapsed onto the bed, allowing her to kneel-climb over him until her position on the bed was secure. She sat back on her heels, straddling his hips with her toes hanging over the edge of the bed, and gave him her best sad-puppy face. With an inarticulate curse, he wrapped both arms around her and pulled her down to him.

}Ok, I give, London sounds fantastic...hell, why stop at London? Let's go for the full grand tour. When do you want to leave?{

"Now. Seriously, let's both repack so we only have to carry one suitcase, get the rest of the stuff sent back to the mansion...we can go be tourists in France. Just what you always wanted to be, I'm sure. Another annoying English-speaking idiot tramping through the gardens of Versailles, bitching about how all the food in the country is utter crap...cause it's not like McDonald's."

}Of course. Isn't that what everyone aspires to be? An idiot tourist?{ he commented dryly, rolling his eyes at the thought.

"Sarcasm does not become you, sir." She sniffed indignantly, then shrieked as he half-threw her over onto her back.

}Best get packing now...{

"Shove it, Mister Starsmore."

}I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you...Mrs. Starsmore.{ He watched as she stood and stalked into the bathroom hallway, giving him a rude hand gesture and a wide grin as she went.

Some 14 hours later, Susana and Jono were both sitting in first class on a transatlantic flight. Having successfully arranged for the majority of their luggage to be shipped back to New York, Susana had used her laptop to get them plane tickets and a suite reservation at a hotel in London. Susana squirmed uncomfortably under the nylon seatbelt, crossed and recrossed her legs, twisted around in her chair, and otherwise annoyed Jono with her fidgeting. The next time she turned to him, he gave her a light tap on the chin, accompanied with a slight headshake and what would have been a grin on anyone else. She responded by nipping the offending digit lightly, then flipping up the separating arm between the seats, pillowing her head against his shoulder, and giving him an impudent grin and a light pat on the cheek before fading into unconsciousness.

She woke slightly before arrival at Heathrow Airport, stretching catlike as she blinked herself back to wakefulness. She looked down at her impromptu pillow and made an embarrassed face at the small but noticeable drool mark on the Xavier logo of his sweatshirt, then shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry...didn't mean to do that. Hope the professor won't take it as a personal affront"

}I think yer safe...from him at least. I can't go lettin' you drool on all my clothes, though. I'll demand restitution later.{ He raised an eyebrow and waited for her response, indignant and as predictable as clockwork.

"Demand it, will you? Hmph...see if I share the bed after that comment. It's the sofa for you, mister." She lifted his hand and squeezed it, then pressed a kiss to his knuckles to make clear that she had no real intention of banishing him to a sofa, no matter how luxe. She rubbed the last remnants of sleep from her eyes and consulted her watch, startled to find that they were perhaps half an hour short of landing. "Were you awake the whole flight?" He nodded, then moved a hand to stop the light punch she was aiming at his side.

}Wasn't tired. Sides, you're cute when you're asleep.{

"As opposed to..? Watch what you say, mister." She grinned and leaned across his seat to peer out the window at the cloud cover. "How much longer?" She sat back and bounced lightly in her seat, then twisted to look at him. "Sooo...Where we gonna go? He shook his head and wagged a finger at her, causing her to growl softly at him. "Don't shush me...tell me where we're going and I'll shush myself!"

}Now, now. What would your mum say? She'd tell you t' have some patience, gel.{ His eyes twinkled with amusement as she scowled at him.

"That...is absolutely, without a doubt, the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. She'd say that you're an insufferable ass and that you ought not torment your new bride, and you know it." She stuck her tongue out at him and blew a raspberry.

}Perfect first-class passenger conduct there.{

"You want first class conduct? Tell me where we're going and you might get it. In the meantime, no more mocking me. It's not nice."

}'Ow bout this- I'll tell you about one of the places I want to go, if you'll start actin' like the reasonable woman everyone but me seems to think you are. Deal?{

She stared at the back of the seat in front of her, considering, then nodded. "Ok, I'll play grown-up. Now spill!"

}There's live music...and shopping. You should like it.{

"You're not answering the question I asked. Where are we going?"

}'At's not what I said I'd tell you. I said I'd tell you about where we're going.{

"Anyone ever tell you you shoulda been a lawyer? I mean, resorting to technicalities? Please." She huffed theatrically, then turned back to him. "Tell me more, please?"

Three hours of elapsed time found them relaxing in the loft suite of the Covent Garden hotel. Well, to put it more accurately, Jono was relaxing, stretched out on the bed with his hands under his head. Susana, on the other hand, was bouncing around, exploring the suite, and exclaiming over the view out the window.

"Canwegodownstairsnowpleasepleasepleeeease?!?"

}Slow down. Breathe.{

"ButIwannagoDOWNSTAIRSnow! It looks SO cool down there! I wanna go NOW!" She bounded up the stairs and pounced onto the bed where he was sitting, then twisted and leaned across him on the bed, making her best wide-eyed, pleading expression.

He looked away and gave an exaggerated stretch, then met her eyes. }I dunno, gel, I'm a bit tired. Sure you don't want to lie down for a while?{

"Jonothan Evan Starsmore. If you don't take me downstairs immediately, I'll..."

}You'll what?{ He smirked at her indignant scowl.

"I'll go myself, and leave your lazy ass here. Enjoy the room, honey!" With that, she hopped off the bed and crossed the room, then grabbed her purse, opened the envelope of bills she'd gotten changed at a bank on the way to the hotel, and pulled out a few to take with her. Jono remained where he was for a few minutes, then stood with a resigned shrug.

}Suppose I could show you around a bit...maybe we can go by the pub where my mates and I used to play, see how much it's changed.{ He turned back to face her and immediately fell onto the bed as she pounced on him.

"You. Are. Fantastic. Better than fantastic. Brilliant. You are, without a doubt, the most wonderful man I know. Buy me somethin cool and it'll be official." She grinned and jumped off the bed, leaving him to follow on his own.

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