(11) Dixion remained in her room, within the dark, crying for almost an hour. She couldn't remember a time when she had been so emotional or weak against her dreams. She had dreams about her parents before but they weren't usually so vivid. None had been about her parents last moments. Dixion felt herself start of tremble again and pushed away the thoughts of the dream.

She shakily got to her feet. She shakily got to her feet. This is even she noticed she wasn't in the clothes she had taken from Pietro anymore. Someone had changed her into her pajamas consisting of a pair of faded green plaid pants, and a blue t-shirt. Dixion shrugged. It wasn't important now. Still she rooted around her room until she found Pietro's sweatshirt and put it on again. It was a comfort to her in the dark. She had no idea how long she'd been out. She moved over to her windows and opened the curtains a crack. The sun was just starting to set.

"No more sleep for me for a while." she mumbled padding over to her door.

She opened it and gave a confused look. It was excessively quiet in the mansion. There was always some sound in it. Music, arguing, always something, even when it was supposed to be quiet. Dixion moved down the hall the little way to Rogue's door and knocked quietly. When no one answered, she opened it a crack.

Rogue was there lying on her bed, her eyes closed, listening to her headphones. Nine Inch Nails by the sound of it. She always cranked the volume too loud.

Dixion rolling her eyes, picking up a jet-black teddy bear she'd given Rogue, off the dresser and chucked it at Rogue's head.

The girl jumped up, earphones flying off, eyes flashing with anger. "What the hell do yah think-" Rogue broke off when she saw who it was. "Dixion? Oh mah God, Dixion! Yah all right." She all but jumped her friend, eyes filling with tears.

"Rogue are you insane? Of course, I'm all right. What are you taking about?"

Rogue looked shocked. "Yah don't remember? The fight? Yah changing? Yah passed out after that."

Then it all came back to Dixion then. "Oh God, yeah. Are you all right? What about everyone else? What about Pietro and the other guys?"

"Yeah we're all fine. We've been worried about yah. Thought yah was gonna die." Rogue moved closer to Dixion, afraid she would pass out again. "Dixion, yah sure yah all right?"

"Yeah Rogue, I'm fine. Where are the others?"

"Logan and Professor Xavier are probably in his office. Ms. Munroe is either outside or somewhere in the mansion. Pietro and Lance are sharing a room across the hall, Freddy and Todd down the hall. Iah dunno if they're there or where the others are, but-"

Before Rogue could finish, Dixion stared out the door again.

"Thanks Rogue. I'll be back in a sec. You think you can keep it quiet that I'm up for a while, I'm still a little out of it."

Rogue sighed, picking up the fallen teddy but she was smiling after her friend. "Yeah, sure." ************************************************************************ Pietro hadn't left his room since Ms. Munroe had showed it to him and Lance. In fact, he hadn't moved from his spot lying on his bed since Ms. Munroe had closed the door to the room. He stomach protested for food, but he ignored it. He didn't feel the strength to get up. He didn't feel like talking to anybody.

Main thing was he felt like crap. It was his fault all of this had happened. He had kept repeating that to himself since he saw Dixion collapse on the ground during the fight. He finally understood those weird feelings he kept getting when he saw Dixion. He cared for her... No, he loved her, and now he didn't think he would get the chance to tell her.

By an amazing force of will, Pietro got up from his bed. He would go see Dixion now and tell her how he felt, if she could hear him or not. When he opened the door, he felt his breath catch, and his heart stop. ************************************************************************ Dixion stood there, face to face with Pietro, in her faded green plaid pants and his sweatshirt and all she could do was look back at him in disbelief.

Images of him and Kurt lying in their rooms, dying, had flickered through her mind as she had stood there, watching the closed door. Then Pietro had opened the door and her mind went blank.

He didn't look so good. He looked kinda run down, black smudges under his eyes and there was a bandage wrapped around his left arm. She left a pang of pain, knowing it was her fault he had it. His eyes looked clouded instead of their usual clear icy blue. His silvery blonde hair wasn't its usual neatness, strains standing out awkwardly. His face held a look of complete astonishment and shock.

Dixion still stood there, gazing blankly as tears began to fall down her cheeks. They fell silently. Pietro just stared back.

Pietro was at a loss for words. He couldn't accept Dixion was standing there, and was confused and distressed by her silent tears. He felt a great ease of weight from his heart that she was ok but couldn't say anything to express it. Feeling awkward, he looked down at his feet.

Dixion finally spoke. Her voice was no more then a whisper. "Can I come in?"

Pietro had lost control of his body. It moved by itself more in automatic response then anything. Dixion moved passed him slowly, stopping at the foot of his bed, and turned laying her eyes on him again.

She stood there, in the middle of the room, full of joy that he wasn't dead and still the tears fell. Pietro came closer; wanting to touch her to make himself believe it was real. He reached out slowly with a shaky hand, but before he could touch her, she moved willingly into his arms. Pietro could control his arms again and pulled her to him, hugging her small frame gently.

Dixion looked up at him. Her clear sapphire eyes were clouded but she didn't look so lost anymore.

"You're ok? I mean really." she put her hand gently to his bandaged left arm.

Pietro shrugged slightly. "Stings a little, but its ok. I was-, I mean we were all really worried about you."

Dixion didn't answer. She just put her head back down on Pietro's chest, thanking God, he was ok. She felt greatly for Pietro and was afraid she would have to live without him.

'Now is as much a good time as any, Pietro thought, gaining some courage. '

"Dixion there's something I want to tell you." Pietro felt twice as awkward now, still holding Dixion but didn't move at all.

"Yes?" she looked up, eyes clear, and unconvicting.

He hesitated only a moment. "I just- I wanted to tell to- I love you and I was afraid I was going to lose you this afternoon." He felt little relief now that he'd said it. He was afraid Dixion didn't feel the same way.

Dixion's face didn't change at all. It stayed calm and unemotional. The tears had dried from her eyes, and face. "Pietro, you don't know the pain I went through, worrying about you and everybody else." She moved arm's length from Pietro, studying his face. 'He's dead serious she thought, I can't believe it. ' Her heart leaped up into her throat. "Is this why you all stayed here? I know you and the guys aren't comfortable here, but you stayed anyway, just to make sure I was ok?" Dixion closed her eyes in thought, hugging herself.

Pietro didn't move. He didn't speak. He found himself holding his breath. He forced himself to let it out slowly. He was afraid he'd upset Dixion by telling her his feelings, and didn't want to make it worse. 'Way to go Pietro, called a voice in his head. You screw up every chance you get with a girl you really like.' Pietro hung his head. His self-anger grew, smoldering under the surface.

Dixion looked over at Pietro. His eyes were unfocused, and fiery. She wanted to console him, comfort him. When she laid a hand on his arm, he started, turning his fiery glare on her. She flinched inwardly but won't back down. Before she could stop herself, she pulled him closer and kissed him.

The strain, anger and fear melted away from the two teens in the one embrace. Slowly Pietro wrapped his arms around Dixion, pulling her closer. Both took comfort from the warmth coming from each other. Dixion pulled only a breath away to look at Pietro. His eyes were now clear but held uncertainty and worry.

"Pietro, I love you and I'm glad you feel the same. I was afraid I was going to have to love you from afar forever." Dixion consoled, as if reading his mind.

Pietro smiled slightly, his eyes cleared and he closed the small gap between them for another heated kiss. ************************************************************************ Same as before.