Author's Note- today's song is (of course) by Bon Jovi. It's "Always."

~*~

Always

~*~

This Romeo is bleeding

But you can see his blood

It's nothing that some feelings

That this old dog kicked up

~*~

Kitty sat staring at the phone for several minutes before picking it up and dialed the Brotherhood's house. "Hello," a male voice said. Kitty winced inwardly.

"Hi, Pietro, could you, um, get Lance?" she asked.

"Kitty-Cat?" Pietro asked surprised. "Why should I?"

"Give me the phone now!" Kitty heard Lance yell. A few seconds later his voice came over the line. "Kitty?"

"Like, hi, Lance," Kitty said.

"Hey, uh, what's up?"

~*~

Its been raining since you left me

Now I'm drowning in the flood

See I've always been a fighter

But without you, I'd give up

~*~

"I was thinking about what you said," she told him nervously.

"And?" he asked.

"What time can you pick me up?"

"What time's good for you?"

"Six tonight?"

"Sound's great. I'll see you then."

"Okay." She paused. "I missed you."

"I know, Kit-Cat. I missed you too."

~*~

Now I can't sing a love song

Like the way it's meant to be

Well I guess I'm not that good anymore

But baby that's just me

~*~

Kitty stood in front of the mirror looking at herself. "I don't like this one either," she announced.

"Kit," Rogue said. "Sugah, he's gonna be here in fifteen minutes. Fahnd somethin' already!"

"What about this?" she asked. She was holding up a skirt that ended just above her knees and a light pink button up blouse.

"It's perfect," Rogue said. Smiling the younger girl got dressed. She then let her hair down brushing it until it shone. After that she applied a little make-up. Just enough so her eyes stood out and her lips looked shiny and rosy.

"Half-Pint!" Logan called.

"Thanks for your help, Rogue," Kitty smiled.

"No problem," the Southerner drawled. "Have fun."

"I will." She walked down the stairs and saw the Lance had actually found a pair of jeans that weren't torn. He had on his usual black shirt but no vest. Instead he was wearing a pretty nice leather jacket. He looked up and saw her, his face lit up.

"Hey, Kitten," he smiled. "You look great." She smiled blushing. "Are you ready?"

~*~

Now the pictures that you left behind

Are just memories of a different life

Some of them made us laugh

Some of them made us cry

Why they made have to say goodbye

~*~

They stood on the porch for a few seconds. "Kit, are you going to be okay with this?" he asked.

"I was thinking about that," Kitty said. "And I came up with this: we put each other through hell, but I've never been as happy as I was with you."

He smiled down at her. "Ditto. Um, one problem with tonight."

"What?"

"I promised to drive the guys into town."

"That's fine," Kitty said shrugging. They walked down to the Jeep where Lance opened her door for her. Todd and Fred made exaggerated 'awwe' sounds. Pietro merely rolled his eyes. Lance jumped in on the other side and they took off.

"Lookin' good, Kitty-Cat," he said going into flirt mode knowing that it would bug the hell out of Lance.

"Do you losers want to walk?" Lance asked whirling around.

"Lance," Kitty said gently. "Watch the road." He turned back to the road straightening the car out. Kitty reached out taking the hand that wasn't gripping the wheel in a deathgrip, and squeezed it gently. He smiled glancing at her.

~*~

What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair

Touch your lips, to hold you near

When you say your prayers, try to understand

I've made mistakes, I'm just a man

~*~

Lance stopped in front of a buffet.

"You know you're going to get kicked out," he asked as Fred and Todd hopped out.

"They shouldn't have 'all you can eat' places in this town," Pietro shrugged as the other two walked away.

"And where am I taking you?" Lance asked glancing at the white-haired teen.

"Hang on," Pietro pulled out a date book. "Let's see, tonight's Friday... that means... to Shelly's house, James."

"How many times to I have to tell you not to call me that?" Lance snapped. Pietro merely grinned. "Shelly? Didn't you break up with her?"

"She got a new sports car."

"Right." Rolling his eyes Lance drove to the other side of town. "Okay, out." Sighing, Pietro hopped out walking up the walk.

"Alone at last," Kitty smiled leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. He returned her smile pulling back out and driving to a restaurant. The two walked in and were seated. After they ordered Lance watched Kitty and thought about how truly lucky he was that she had given him another chance.

~*~

If you told me to cry for you, I could

If you told me to die for you, I would

Take a look at my face, there's no price I won't pay

To say these words to you

~*~

After dinner they went to the park and just walked for a while under the soft lamplights. They sat on a bench in silence for a few minutes. Finally gathering up his courage Lance leaned in and caught her lips with his. She gasped at the sudden contact, which gave him the opening he needed to invade her mouth. Kitty wrapped her arms around his neck holding onto him tightly. He sighed with contentment pulling away. "Wow," she murmured.

He chuckled. "It's getting late. I better take you home." She stood reluctantly. The two walked back to his jeep and started the drive home.

~*~

And I'll be there forever and a day

I'll be there til stars don't shine

Til the heavens burst

And the words don't rhyme

I know when I die; you'll be on my mind

~*~

They pulled up to the Institute. He got out and opened her door for her. "I, like, had a great time tonight," Kitty whispered.

"Me too," Lance smiled. "Kit-Cat, I want to tell you something. It may sound strange since we haven't been dating that long but it's still true." He took a deep breath. "I love you, Kitty."

"I love you too," she smiled standing on her tip-toes to kiss him. He bent down deepening the kiss. She pulled away. "Goodnight."

"Sweet dreams, Kitten," he whispered. She walked inside as he went back to his Jeep driving home still smiling.

~*~

And I love you, always

Always

~*~