"This would be so much easier if Ah could knock him out," Rogue muttered to Remy.

He tugged at her glove. "If dey don' see, den it didn' happen," he smirked. Gently, he tugged the glove off and she placed her fingers on a small exposed portion of Pietro's arm.

"What?!Youguyscan'tdothat!"

"Watch me," Rogue grinned as he convulsed slightly and passed out.

Courtney glanced back at them and her eyes widened at the unconscious Pietro. "What happened to him?"

Remy shrugged. "Guess he freaked out too much, eh? It happens."

She nodded. "Oh well. Maybe this'll be easier."

"Mah thoughts exactly."

"This should be fine," Lilith pronounced a minute or so later. They were standing in an alley that was cleaner than most but nonetheless dark and seemingly a good place for junkies and homeless people... though none were apparent at the moment. "Who wants the honor?"

Remy vehemently shook his head. "No way in hell I'm goin' near dat."

"Ah think it would be better if Ah didn't," Rogue said, biting her lip. She had slipped her glove back on after she propped Pietro against the wall.

"I think Lil is just waiting for us to all decline so she can do it." She grinned at the gothic girl. "Aren't you?"

"Oh, yes. I'm just so excited," she said, deadpan and rolled her eyes. She walked up to white-haired boy, eyed him clinically, and managed to pull his shirt over his head by letting the majority of his weight stay leaned against the wall. "I have to admit though, he's a lot less annoying when he's unconscious."

"Ah've noticed that in the past," Rogue mentioned with a smirk. She had a bit of Pietro's thoughts going through his head, and to say the least, it was quite amusing.

"Well, I guess it's now or never." Lilith sighed loudly and extended her hand to Remy.

As he handed over the bottle, he asked, "Now what is in dis stuff exactly?"

Courtney giggled. "Now, Remy. Lil couldn't tell you what was in the Sapphire Lightning, what makes this any different?"

"You don' know eit'er, do y'?"

She dropped her head. "No."

"Alright, I'm gonna need a little help with this part. Someone has to hold him upright so I can get his back and arms too," Lilith said as she carefully applied small amounts of the glue at intervals on his chest. "It will be harder for him to get off that way." She smirked, then her face turning serious, added, "Be careful NOT to touch the glue. It will come off... but only after about five hours soaking in olive oil."

"Hold his arms up," Courtney said, readying the nice, fluffy pink sweater that Pietro would be adorning for quite awhile. Rogue did assist in this and helped Courtney slide the sweater on. She grinned as it fit perfectly over his slim body.

"Dat is a real good color on him," Remy commented, rubbing his chin.

"He should be wakin' up soon, too." Pietro's thoughts were distant in her mind now, a clear indication that he would be conscious again. "Should we get him inside?"

Lilith nodded. Rogue took the liberty of lugging him again while Lilith led the group back inside. "Y' know, chere," Remy chuckled from next to Rogue. "Dis is de second time in twenty four hours y' cross dressed a guy."

"It's quickly becomin' a habit foh me, Ah guess." She batted her eyes at him. "You should be worried now, ya know."

"If dere is anyone dat would look sexier in y' clothes dan you, it'd be me."

Rogue's face wrinkled up in attempt to keep herself from laughing. "Funny how Ah knew you would say that exactly."

Lilith, having overheard their conversation, raised an eyebrow and shot a glance at the couple trailing behind her, then looked at Courtney. "I think we may have finally found a group of people weirder than us."

"And to think I thought nothing could surprise me anymore."

Pietro groggily woke up in her arms, not really assessing the situation yet. "Ungh... What the hell did you do that for, Rogue?"

"It was foh yoah own good, trust me."

"You knocked him out? I thought you said he passed out?" Courtney asked, her eyebrows quirked.

Rogue ignored the specific question and quickly replied "Ah know this special trick. It's really effective when it comes ta annoyin' li'l shits like mah buddy here."

Courtney opened her mouth to say something, but then decided against it. "Okay, then."

Pietro unwittingly provided a distraction as he let out a piercing shriek at the sight of his new wardrobe. Everyone winced.

"Ow..." Lilith muttered, putting a hand against the ear that was closest to the horrified boy.

Rogue hit him upside the head. "Screamin'll get ya nowhere."

"I'm still trying to decide who's more of a sadist; you or her," Pietro said surprisingly slow as he pointed at Lilith. "Nowwhatthehellisthisthingdoingonme!?"

"Your punishment?" Courtney rolled her eyes. "Big giant duh. Lilith can be very creative if she wants." Lilith grinned at the compliment.

"No matter," Pietro said, pulling himself out of Rogue's grasp. He tried tugging it off, but seeing as how it was futile, he looked at the others with wide eyes for an explanation. Remy's body racked with laughter as he tried to contain himself. "Whatthehellnow?!"

"Bet'er get used t' de color pink, homme," Remy advised. Pietro began frantically pulling at the sweater.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. It'll take skin with it," Lilith told him. "Maybe if you're really nice to me I'll tell you how to get the glue off..." She grinned and nodded toward the others. "Or you can ask them... Maybe if you begged..."

He glared at her with hate in his usual clear blue eyes. "You will suffer for this," he said painstakingly slow through gritted teeth.

"Hush, now," she waved him off and began leading them again. Pietro walked on his own, face set in a semi-permanent scowl with his arms crossed over his chest.

He looked back at Rogue, the scowl still present, but there was a hint of 'how could you do this?'

Rogue shook her head, unsympathetic. "Pietro, Pietro, Pietro... When will ya learn that ya just shouldn't mess with us? Women have a capacity foh vengeance that is far greater than anythin' yoah gender can conceive of. Ah would advise ya ta take yoah punishment like a man and let it go... If not..." She shrugged. "Well, then it's yoah funeral..."

He could only stare at her after a statement like that. He was betrayed. He mustered as much hurt into his eyes as he could, knowing outright that Rogue would melt at some point. Key words being 'some point.'

Lilith led them all back to the table, where Fred was sitting with Lance, Tabitha and Todd gone completely. "She's still taking the desserts around," Fred explained.

"Where's Todd?" Rogue asked.

"Damned if we know," Lance sighed. "If we're really lucky we won't find out... ever. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss..."

As if on cue, Tabitha and Todd strolled back to the table, goofy grins on their faces. "Lemme tell ya," Tabitha giggled. "That James guy kicks ass."

Todd kind of wavered before sitting down in his seat. "I have to second that, yo." Then he hiccupped.

"Merde... he gave y' drinks, didn' he?"

Tabitha twirled a blonde strand vacantly. "I don't know whatcha mean, hot stuff. I mean, I asked him to get me something good, and he was really happy that we brought him dessert... so Todd got something, too." She looked at him. "What did you get?"

He shrugged, laughing. "Like I know. It was damn good though. I hope he enjoyed his tip."

Courtney glanced around. "That's why I hear some more yelling..."

"Oookay, I think that's our exit cue," Lance muttered.

"Suuure, leave us to deal with the chaos you people seem to leave in your wake..." Courtney said, rolling her eyes, then grinned to show she was kidding.

Remy grinned angelically. "Who us?"

The mutants all stood (or swayed in the case of Todd and Tabitha) to leave.

"Oh, wait!" Lilith tugged on Lance's arm and he leaned down slightly so she could whisper something in his ear. He shot a glance at Pietro, smirked, and nodded.

"Got it."

Courtney pulled the check out of her apron. "I just need someone to sign this so we can bill that Xavier guy."

Rogue looked at Remy, automatically nominating him for the signature. "Y' don' feel comfortable wit' signin', chere?" He whispered.

"'Rogue' is gonna look pretty strange if ya ask me. Jus' do it, Swamp Rat." He smirked and signed the paper, sad that he was leaving the restaurant. It really was fun.

Courtney looked tearful herself. "Well, this ends my Christmas fun," she sniffled. Todd wobbled up to her and threw himself on her in the form of a hug. She tried her best not to let her nose wrinkle at his body odor.

"I'm gonna miss ya! An' you, too!" He giggled, looking at Lilith. She smiled and ruffled his hair, instantly regretting it. As he continued to hang on Courtney, Lilith wiped her hand inconspicuously on her apron. When she was certain it was clean, she looked up to them all, although now she was face-to-face with Pietro.

"I can't say that I'm disappointed I'm leaving," he said, uncharacteristically slow... and dark.

"I would tell you I'm sorry but that would be a lie," she gave him a sugary sweet smile. "I can't say it's flattering to be asked out on a dare."

His mouth dropped open. "How did you...?"

"A lucky guess. I think it had something to do with the terrified look on your face when you were trying to work up the nerve to go through with it... Now what were you about to say?"

"Nothing," he muttered, deflating slightly and even feeling a twinge of guilt. He frowned at that. He didn't WANT to feel guilty. He wanted his anger and plans of revenge back. The frown turned to a pout.

"Sorry? Didn't quite catch that."

"I said nothin'. See ya around." Then he stomped ahead of everyone else.

"Whoa..." Tabitha said in astonishment. "How did you do that? You just completely made him do a 180 with... nothing!"

"Some girls got it, some girls don't."

"... You're not going to tell me are you?"

"Nope." Lilith flashed her a smile. Then there was the sound of shattering glass followed by an irate male voice bellowing in French. Lilith and Courtney winced.

"Uh-oh. Pierre's in one of his moods again."

Lilith tilted her head to the side, listening. "And he's using some of the few words I know in French... That's never a good sign..."

Courtney pulled out a quarter. "I'll flip you for it. Winner gets 'farewell duties,' loser gets to talk him down."

"Normally I wouldn't really care..." She glanced to the mutants still standing there. "But these guys have been so great."

"Call it in the air," Courtney said, readying her 'flipping thumb'. Lilith nodded and Courtney flicked it up.

"Tails."

The coin dropped on the ground. Everyone leaned down to see who would be leaving them prematurely to go deal with the furious chef.

"I win." Courney grinned.

"Dammit. Why do I get to handle all the temperamental ones?"

"Because you put the 'mental' in temperamental."

"Cute. Real cute." Lilith turned to the mutants. "I hate to cut this short, but duty calls..." she sighed.

Since Pietro had already gone outside, everyone left was sad to see Lilith leave. "Ah've never seen Pietro scared of anyone like he was of you," Rogue commented.

"Yeah, an' for that, we'll never let him forget about you," Todd grinned.

Lilith smiled. "You guys are great. Come back next Christmas and maybe I'll have had the patience to keep this godforsaken job and still be here."

"I wouldn't count on that," Courtney giggled quietly.

Lilith narrowed her eyes at her. "Ah, but if I don't then you'll have to deal with the insane ones all by yourself."

"You're not THAT cruel."

Lilith smirked. "No?" She looked to the mutants again. "Alright, I better go. Bye, everyone."

There was a chorus of 'bye's and 'see ya's and she walked away. Courtney turned to the others and pasted a fake, overly bright smile on her face. "Goodbye. We hope you've enjoyed your meal at La Rose Cristal. Please come again soon." The group looked at her like she'd just grown two heads. She dropped the overly perky tone and the plastic smile. "We're required to say that."

A collective 'ahh' of realization came over the group. "Well don't just stand there," Courtney laughed. She opened her arms. "I want hugs!" Tabitha and Todd gladly obliged, the alcohol in their systems just about finished controlling them. Lance and Fred took their turns as well. Then it came to Rogue and Remy. Courtney looked to Rogue. "Hey... I hope there's no hard feelings about earlier..."

Rogue glanced to Remy and then back to the waitress. "Don't mention it," she smiled lightly. "Ah, um, don't hug though."

Courtney smirked back. "Fair enough."

"I do, dough." Remy laughed as he pulled Courtney into a big hug. Courtney just about melted with joy, but kept her face as neutral as possible. No need for the couple to be fighting again over his impulses.

After Remy let her go, Courtney sighed. "Wow, this really is goodbye. I think I should just walk away and not keep prolonging this 'cause it'll just get harder."

Rogue surprisingly didn't look mad. "Ah'll tell Pietro you said goodbye."

"An' I'll give him a hug for you!" Todd suggested happily.

"Thanks," the waitress laughed. "See ya," she waved as she walked away.

TBC...