"Ooo..." escaped Todd's mouth as he watched Hans and Sven pluck the man out of his seat and "escort" him out of the room.

Lilith dusted off her hands happily and walked over to the mutants' table. "I never did like him," she commented offhand. Then she saw Pietro's empty seat. "Where's my favorite customer at?"

Todd's hand sneaked towards the cash on the table, but was slapped away by Lance. "We're not sure. He went for a walk."

Lilith caught note of Todd's hand. "Aww, is the beginning of your tip for Courtney and me? You're too kind." Before either Todd or Lance could react, she swiped the cash away and tucked it in the front pocket of her apron. "I'd better go find that little weasel... See ya!" She sauntered away.

"Wait... what just happened to my money?" Lance asked.

"Aaaall gone, homme," Remy said, amused. Both shot him evil looks.

"Well, I suppose it's sort of a moot point whether she gets him now," Lance observed. They saw Courtney headed toward the table, with two trays in her hands and a blond waitress behind her carrying two more.

"Hi, guys. What did I miss? I heard yelling from the kitchen. Your fault again?"

Todd whistled innocently. Lance answered, "I am shocked and appalled that you're labeling us like that."

"So it was you!" She giggled, setting her trays on the table. "No biggie. What happened?"

"These two big body builders came out," Fred explained. "Very big and very Swedish."

"Ahh, that would be Hans and Sven." Courtney smiled. "Those two are the best. They help me and Lil shop sometimes."

"Shop?" Tabitha asked.

"That's what I said," she said nonchalantly as if two muscular men always help two girls with their clothing choices. "Anyway, some non-paying guy annoy Lilith, I'm assuming?"

"Yeah..." Todd answered nervously. "How'd you know?"

"Call it a hunch."

"What exactly do they do?" Tabitha asked.

The blonde waitress spoke up. "Well, first they start by making their victims strip completely down, which is so totally yummy, so they can search for any source of money and then-"

"Shuttup, Brittany!" Courtney growled venomously. "You know the rules of Hans and Sven, nothing leaves the room! And what are you doing looking at forty-year-old men like that anyway? God!" She looked at the teens at the table. "Can you believe they make me work with her!?"

"Hey, there's no need to be frontin'," Brittany snapped, acting all ''cool" and such.

"Just put the damn plates down and go back to putting your makeup on. Your line of paying men is growing so you better get that mouth ready," Courtney snapped in return.

Brittany glared at her but did as she was told. She turned to leave, sticking her nose up in the air. "God, I hate that bitch." Courtney slumped down into Pietro's seat unconsciously. "You have no idea how much restraint it takes me to keep from bringing a match up to her ear to see if the air inside catches on the heat. I'm trying to decide if her head is full of helium or hydrogen. I'm hoping hydrogen so it'll pop..." Courtney got a far away sadistic look in her eyes.

Rogue's eyes quirked. "You have thoughts like that, too?"

Courtney continued to glare in the direction of the kitchen. "About that girl? Definitely."

Rogue nodded, trying to avoid the "I told you she was cool" look from both Tabitha and Remy. "So, these two boys had a bet goin' on about Lilith finding Pietro..." she said, nodding her head towards Lance and Todd.

"Oooh! I want in! What's the wager?"

"Fifteen," Todd mumbled. "Until she took it away."

"Lilith took your money?" Both boys nodded sheepishly. "Oh, that girl is such a doll. She'd better be splitting it with me. So who said she would find him?" Todd raised his hand a bit. "Aww, that's my boy." She stood up and gave him another hug. "Do you think it would be cheating if I helped her find him?"

"I don't think it matters much since she has the money."

"Hmm, good point. Oh, well, it'll be fun. Be back soon!" She strolled away.

"That girl is wacked, yo."



Lilith stepped out of the kitchen, nearly colliding with Courtney. "Gimme some of the money," Courtney said instantly.

"Damn, how'd you know?" She sighed as she pulled out half of her takings and handed it over.

Courtney shrugged as she pocketed the cash. "They told me they bet on whether you'd find Pietro. You up for it?"

Lilith looked at her watch. "Was there a time limit?"

"Didn't ask," She cursed under her breath. "But then they said it doesn't matter since we actually have the money in our custody..."

"Let's go anyway. It'll be better than waiting on tables for a few minutes."

"Sounds good."

"Hmm... Where to start..."

"Security room?"

"Good idea." They walked though a nearly invisible door set in one of the walls marked "employees only." The blond twins were leaning back in their chairs, feet propped up on a desk, watching several monitors which were showing black and white shots of various parts of the restaurant. The man they had dragged away earlier was nowhere to be seen.

"I guess we shouldn't ask where that jerk-off is?" Courtney asked. Hans simply shook his head. "Gotcha."

"Hey, boys," Lilith started. "Have you seen a guy with white hair, about yay tall," she held her hand up a bit taller than herself, "extremely annoying?"

Hans and Sven looked at each other and nodded. They pointed mutely to the door beyond the security room. "Saw something go that way. Not sure of what. You girls want us to check it out?"

"No thanks, doll," Courtney said, tracing her finger along Sven's arm, keeping her squeaks to herself. Hot arms... weakness deluxe. "Nah, I think this is something we should handle on our own, right, Lil?"

"Damn straight."

"Suit yourselves. Just call us if you need anybody pounded on," Sven said.

Lilith gave them each a quick peck on the cheek. "Always."

Leaving Hans and Sven to their leisure, they went to check out the room that Pietro was allegedly hiding in, Courtney taking the lead. She paused with her hand on the doorknob, looked back, and nodded to the gothic girl, who in turn, smiled. "Go for it," she urged.

Courtney grinned and pushed the door open. "Oh cutie-pie? Are you in here?" Nothing.

Lilith gave it a try. "Aww, Pietro, you think we don't know you're in here, but there's no way out beyond this point..." Still nothing. "Well, I guess he's not here," she said in a loud, overly contrived voice, like you use on children when you know they're in the room and hiding but want to make a big production over pretending not to know. Courtney gave her a questioning look which the brunette answered with a quick smile. "I guess we'll just have to look somewhere else. After all, this door can't be opened from the inside and there's nothing worthwhile in here anyway."

A mumbled "oh shit" was faintly heard. Courtney grinned. "C'mon, let's try the employee lounge next. That's the next best place."

"Very true..." A small rustling was heard.

"We should get going. This place gives me the creeps sometimes." Courtney started walking back towards the door, making her footsteps slightly louder just for the hell of it.

"Girls!" Hans called from the other room.

"Yes?" They both answered simultaneously in sing-songy voices.

"He's in there."

They turned around again. "What are you talking about, silly?" Courtney giggled, acting quite ditzy. "I don't see him anywhere!"

Another rustle. Lilith gave a dramatic shudder. "Let's go. I've seen rats in here that could take on MY cat and win." There was a small "eep" and the white-haired boy made a break for it. Lilith caught him by the back of the shirt as he tried to pass her. "Why there you are, Pietro!" she exclaimed in a fake surprised tone.

He let out a shriek before trying to run again, but Courtney had grabbed hold of his arm. "Now, Pietro, whatever were you doing in the storage room?"

He shrugged. Why the hell WAS he in the storage room?

"Now, you have to come up with something better than that," Lilith chided as she pushed him into the monitor room. Hans and Sven cranked their heads towards them. "These are our buddies, Hans and Sven. Say 'hi' to the boys, Pietro."

He waved shyly with his free hand. "Hey. What's going on?"

"This is the guy that's been giving you two trouble?" Sven said, standing up. Pietro's view suddenly went from eye contact to muscular chest view. His eyes widened almost comically. Then he watched in disbelief as the tough girl who'd scared him earlier dissolved into a helpless little girl act.

"I've been trying to wait my tables and he's always THERE, doing SOMEthing. It's so hard for me not to break down in front of all those people, but it just gets to be so much... An-and then that man yelled at me..." She sniffled for effect.

Pietro gaped. "Wha? But she- she-" he stuttered.

Hans and Sven, though in no way taken in by her act, played along. Hans laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Lily. This little punk won't bother you anymore."

Lilith nodded, her bottom lip stuck out in a pout. Hans pulled her into a hug and she let him. His gigantic chest hid her smile.

"You're coming with me," Sven said, pointing at Pietro and then himself as he spoke.

"Not if you have to catch me first!" Pietro attempted again to run, but unfortunately for him, Courtney still had his arm in a solid lock. She grinned sardonically as she all but handed him over to Sven. Then she walked over to Lilith.

"C'mon, hun. We better see if his friends need anything else." Lilith nodded, and allowed Courtney to lead her out of the room, shutting the door behind them. Pietro swore he could hear them both giggling.



Lilith leaned against wall outside, clutching her stomach and laughing hysterically. "Oh, my God! Did you see the look on his face?!"

"I know! And that innocent act of yours is just too freaking much!" Courtney, next to her, could barely breathe she was cracking up so hard.

TBC...