Going Home

~*~

Sweeten my coffee with a morning kiss

Soften my dreams with your sighs

Tell me you love me for a million years,

Then if it don't work out

Then if it don't work out

Then you can tell me goodbye.

-The Casinos

~*~

"Avalanche!" a woman's voice yelled as she pounded on the door. Lance groaned hiding his head in his pillow. "Get up and pack. We're leaving now!" Lance opened his eyes and saw Kitty looking at him sadly.

"Mystique," he whispered. She nodded. The two sat looking at each other. Lance sighed and stood slipping his boxers on before opening the door. "Hey, boss-lady, what's the hurry?"

The blue-skinned woman crossed her arms glaring at him. "I want to be out of here," Mystique snapped. "Get ready, I expect to be out of here in thirty minutes. That should give you plenty of time to say goodbye to your friends." With that she left. Lance shut the door, walked back to the bed and saw that Kitty's eyes were brimming with tears.

"Don't cry, Kit-Cat," he whispered gathering her into his arms. This made her lose the composure she had been attempting to have she laid her head on his chest sobbing. "This isn't over," he promised nuzzling his face in her hair. "Remember that I love you, always."

She smiled trying to compose herself. "I love you too."

"Now, um, you should probably get dressed, or else I'm never going to leave this bed."

"Then I'm never getting dressed," she said in a weak attempt to lighten the mood. She stood and slipped into her clothes, except her shirt. She smiled wanly looking up at the dark haired senior as he packed. "Only one problem."

"What's that?"

"You killed my shirt." He looked down at the shredded piece of fabric and smiled sheepishly before handing her one of his shirts. She slipped it on loving the worn quality of the fabric, and the fact that, although it was clean, his scent was instilled in it. The couple slowly made their way towards the door. Rogue and Remy were waiting out side for them.

"Wanda just told us," Rogue said. "It's really all over."

Lance shook his head at this. "Jeez, everyone lighten up!" he exclaimed. "I'm going back to the Brotherhood house, not to Alaska!" He turned looking at Kitty and softly caressing her cheek. "I'm not going to be that far away." Kitty nodded, trying desperately to not cry. The new recruits were waiting down the stairs. They all said their goodbyes to Lance and the others. As the minutes ticked by Lance and Kitty drifted away from the others.

"Why does this, like, feel like the end?" Kitty asked looking into his soft brown eyes.

"Because we now go back to our 'normal' lives," he whispered pulling her into his arms and resting his head on top of hers. "And we're afraid that now it all goes back to the way it was." Kitty pulled away looking into his eyes.

"Will it?"

Lance shrugged softly running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. I look at it this way: it can't if we don't let it."

She smiled up at him. "'When did you get so smart?'"

He grinned before repeating his earlier words. "'When I had to.'"

"Let's go!" Mystique called at the door.

"I love you," Lance whispered holding Kitty tightly to his chest.

"I love you too," Kitty whispered. The two kissed tenderly.

"Remember, kitten. This isn't the end. We *will* see each other again."

"Avalanche!" Mystique yelled. Lance glanced at his leader before catching Kitty's lips against his in a deep, long kiss. "Will you stop making out with your girlfriend and get your ass over here!" Lance merely smiled grabbing his bag. He turned back at the door winking at Kitty.

"Until next time," he called. She blew him a kiss as he walked away. Kitty sat on the steps trying her hardest to not cry. Everyone else drifted to the rec. room or living room. Ororo came over to Kitty sitting next to her.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Miss Munroe," Kitty said. "I just hate this! Why does it have to change?"

"Kitty, please remember that this is Magneto," Ororo said. "He let us stay here simply because he knew that the Acolytes couldn't fight this battle on their own."

"I, like, know that," Kitty said. "We were all getting along though. I mean, Rogue has a boyfriend. I. . . had Lance."

"It will all work out, Kitty," Ororo said.

"Miss Munroe," Magneto said. "We received a phone call you should know about." Ororo placed a hand on Kitty's shoulder.

"Don't worry," Ororo said before following Magneto into the living room. Kitty felt the tears come to her eyes and blindly stood going back into Lance's room. She curled up on her bed. She drifted off to sleep.

Later

"Kitty!" Rogue called. Kitty awoke opening the door. "The professor was released."

"They found him?!" Kitty asked happily.

"We're going to meet him at the airport," Rogue said. "And from there we're going to a hotel, Sabertooth is coming home on the same flight, and we know how well he and Logan get along."

"Then I guess I should get packed." Kitty went into her own room and packed her things.

"Chere?" Rogue turned seeing Remy behind her.

"Hey, sugah," Rogue said walking over to him. Remy smiled softly lowering his head and kissing her forehead.

"You ready?"

"All packed." The two stood simply looking into each other's eyes. Sighing Rogue stood on her tip-toes kissing him. "Ah'm gonna miss ya, swamp rat."

"Toi aussi, river mouse," Remy grinned. "Remy t'aime."

"Ah love ya too," Rogue whispered. She buried her head in his shirt. The two kissed thoroughly. He took her bag for her and the two started walking down the stairs. Soon the X-Men were in two of Magneto's buses on their way out. Sighing Remy headed back inside. John was standing at the door watching the busses drive away.

"This sucks, mate," John said.

"Oui," Remy agreed. "Mais, we'll see des femmes again."

"I never thought I'd see the day that Remy LeBeau fell for a Sheila." Remy shrugged smiling. The two walked into the suddenly empty mansion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Toi aussi- you too

Remy t'aime- Remy loves you