Disclaimer: I don't own I Go To Extremes, That be the Joel man's.  I don't own X-men, that be Marvel's, man!

AN: I had to move the plot along with that last part of Chapter 8.  However, since I don't want to ruin certain character's Christmas… *Chuckles nervously at the growling wolf standing on his chest* Let's just say that the British authorities don't tell anyone outside the UK until AFTER the holiday season.

Also, there will be times I add song lyrics in to heighten the impact of a scene, or because I just think it fits.  This chapter will be the first of them.

blahblahblah denotes song lyrics

Chapter 9: Christmas Eve at the Xavier Institute = Major Hangover for Wolverine

Time passed quickly in the institute, and finally, it was the day before Christmas.  However, as any student can tell you, Christmas at the institute is far from being in tune with the old line 'not a creature was stirring.'

In fact, it was a tradition to prove that line wrong.  From the moment that Scott and Jean woke everyone up with a purposely off-key rendition of the institute classic 'jungle balls,' the day was one of amusement.

Kyle walked into the dinning room, shaking his head at the memory of Scott and Jean's song.  However, the memory was pushed from his mind by the smells emanating from the table.  He stopped in the doorway, the smells having put his brain into a state of shock.  Evan walked up behind the younger mutant, "Yo, man, what's up?" Then his sleep befuddled registered the heavenly smells from the room before him.  "OHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GOD. Aunt Ororo cooked breakfast!  Move it man! Food this good should not be allowed to go cold!"  As Kyle and Evan made their way to the table, Kyle could begin to make out the smells. Omelets and waffles and pancakes. Maple Syrup, Fresh Orange juice, hash browns, croissants, and French toast, and other scents.  Soon, the other New Mutants had arrived.  Kyle smiled, "Come my friends. Come join us in the bounty of Storm's cooking."

At that pronouncement, Nightcrawler appeared in the chair next to Evan. "OOOOOHHHH!!!! Storm made breakfast!" Were the last words heard from the blue fuzz-ed one.

After breakfast, the students found that Storm had left them another gift before she, like the rest of the teachers, had left the institute, not to return until well past midnight.  When the students went out the front door, they found that, wonder of wonders… STORM HAD REPLENISHED THEIR SNOW SUPPLY!!!!

(AN: There might be a few scenes of fluffiness beyond this point that do not involve snow alone.  KURMANDA begins in the coming portion of the chapter.

When Scott began to organize teams for the snowball fight, Kyle shook his head at the older mutant.  He reached down, grabbed some snow, and…

PLOP!!

Everyone laughed, as the snow slowly slid off of Scott's face.  When Scott opened his mouth, only to spit out the snow that had filled it, everyone's laughter redoubled.  Kyle looked at the older mutant, and said, "What fun are teams? As long as you show a little bit of compassion, and a lot of good humor, a free-for-all is much better!"

With that the snowball fight began in earnest.  Jamie proved to be very effective, as every time he got hit, there were more of him.  Kitty fell on her butt laughing at the sight of thirty Jamie's pelting Bobby with snowballs.  Of course, she found that participating was funnier than watching.  Especially when Jubilee deposited a snowball down the back of her shirt.

Kyle smirked as he quietly snuck up on Kurt, a snowball in his hand.  He finally got right up behind him, and…

PLOP-PLOP.

He deposited a snowball right on Kurt's head, as one caught him in the side.  The source of the attack on his person was identified by a giggling voice to his right.  He smirked… Amara was going to regret that.

Kurt had other things he was worried about than the snow in his fur.  Amanda had, after much deliberation with her parents, and the professor, been allowed to stay the evening, and was going to be there in a few minutes.  As he watched the gate anxiously, a million 'what if's' built in his mind.

Scott and Jean had long since withdrawn from the snowball fight, and were now walking along, his arm around her shoulders.  Even though they told the rest of the students they were just 'good friends', they knew that no one, not even the two of them, bought into it.  But in all honesty the two were not sure if they truly felt for each other the way everyone else thought they did. (AN: *COUGHBULLSHITCOUGH* Just wait until I get to my version of Blind Alley, in about two chapters.)  However, for the moment, they just walked peacefully together, unaware of the ambush that lay ahead of them.  Or so thought the ambushers.  As Roberto, Ray, Rogue, Rahne, and Sam began to pelt the two with snowballs, Jean simply smirked, as she raised a TK shield.

Eventually the teenagers were brought out of their games by a honking horn at the gate to the institute.  Kyle and Amara turned to the gate, and Amara squealed. "AMANDA'S HERE!" Even though the girl wasn't a mutant, she, like Kyle, stood up for them at school, and she and Kurt truly were good for one another.  As Kurt went to help his girlfriend from the car, her father stepped out of the car. Amara's entire attitude changed almost instantly.  Kyle, sensing the change in the girl's attitude, raised his eyebrows at her, "What's wrong?"

Amara, however, wasn't paying attention. "Why did it have to be her father, he is such a bigot!"

Kyle nodded, understanding her sentiments.  Much to her surprise, he headed towards the gate.  Amara watched him, and then, realizing his intent, smiled and jogged to catch up.

Upon arriving at the gate, Amara found that many of the other New Mutants, along with the X-Men, had had the same idea.  As they watched, Mr. Sefton stood towering over Kurt, who had activated his image-inducer.  Kurt figured that Mr. Sefton already didn't like him… if he knew what Kurt looked like; he would be as good as dead.

Mr. Sefton was presently flinging words at Kurt that Kyle would not use on his worst enemy. He figured that, even though he couldn't stop his daughter from dating this… freak, and he had tried, several times, she could make his life miserable.  It didn't help any that the girl's mother liked the young man.  He knew that his little girl would eventually find that this boy was just what people called him, freak.

Becoming more annoyed by the second with Mr. Sefton chewing out his friend, Kyle decided to intervene.  He did so by walking over to one side of the gate, and pushing a button.

With the push of that Button, the gate to the institute opened up.  Amanda, not wanting to listen to her father chew out her boyfriend any more than he already was, grabbed Kurt's arm, and pulled him through the gates.  As she did that, thirty Jamie clones swarmed out of the gate, and quickly returned, carrying the wrapped packages Amanda had brought with her.  Her father's face turned a putrid, purplish color.  He had told her not to bring any gifts for those freaks.

As he began to walk towards the gate, Bobby smiled over at Kyle.  "Kyle, show Mr. Sefton the gate."  Kyle nodded, and, smirking, pushed the button.  With that, the gate slammed closed, leaving Mr. Sefton to helplessly cuss them out from outside the institute.

Kyle, figuring that the man deserved it for his attitude, reached down, grabbed a hand full of snow, and tossed it at him.  Even though the gate broke it up some; that only served to cover him head to knee in snow.

The rest of them laughed at Mr. Sefton as, incapable to express his fury, slammed the car door and drove away.  There was a furious round of applause for Kyle, whose joking bow simply increased the laughter.  By unspoken agreement, they decided that it was time to go inside.

Upon entering the mansion, Amanda asked Kurt a question. "Who was that that opened the gate?"

Kurt looked over at her, and then realized that they hadn't ever introduced her to Kyle.  He smiled at her, "Oh. Zat iz Kyle.  He'z a nev ztudent. Ere, let mez introduze you."  He lead her over to the young martial artist, his tail wrapped around her wrist. When they reached the chair where he was sitting, they found he was running a finger along the page of a book, yet his eyes seemed focused on a distant object in front of him.

Amanda did a double take at his eyes, and took in a breath quickly. No, she hadn't been seeing things, his eyes didn't have any pupils.

Kyle's head snapped towards them.  Kurt quickly spoke up, knowing that, while was normally a cool guy, spooking him was bad.  "Kyle, I vould like you to meet mein girlfriend, Amanda."

Kyle took a deep breath, and smiled.  He stood up, closing his book in the process.  He turned to face them, and then gave a polite bow to Amanda.

She watched as he moved across the room, towards the door to the kitchen, intent on a snack.  "He doesn't move like he's blind."

Kurt's head turned to look at her, she smiled, and said, by way of explanation "I saw his eyes."

Kyle said from the door to the kitchen, which he had just reached, "I may be blind, but that does not make me any less capable of finding my way.  Does anyone else want a snack, I'm making Cheese'n'Crackers." The last part was directed towards the Rec Room, where everyone else was gathered.

There were instant affirmatives from all over the rec room. "Would you two please help me, that's a lot of food to make."  Kurt nodded, and by the time he and Amanda had reached the kitchen, the cheese was already out, and Kyle was already cutting.  Kurt grabbed the crackers, and had begun to set them on the tray.

The three of them quickly finished making the snack for the entire institute, and they carried it into the Rec Room.

Upon arrival there, Kurt was slightly shocked by the level of activity in the room.  A pool tournament was underway, and Rogue was presently dominating her game against Scott, who couldn't keep his eyes on the balls long enough to shoot straight.   Looking around for the source of his distraction, Kurt saw Jean sitting in a chair nearby, chatting with Kitty and Jubilee.

Bobby, Rahne, Sam, Tabby and Jamie had gotten a game of Monopoly going, and Jamie was winning, although the others were quickly catching up.

Roberto and Ray were presently in a heated argument over something that probably held no point, and the remaining students were all watching Rogue handily pocket the 8 ball; and the win.

The three of them set the trays and plates down, then Kyle turned to the room at large, "The strangest looking soup yet is ON THE SNACK TABLE!"

Kyle then quickly got out of the way, as a mob of hungry students came towards the snack.

Jubilee had stayed seated for once, knowing from experience that charging in there would only get her a few bruises.  Bobby had also stayed clear, and, seeing Jubilee by herself, gathered his courage, and walked over towards her.

He sat down by the Asian-esq girl, and said, "Don't have any desire to be run over by the mobs?"  Mentally he hit himself, is that the best you can come up with?

Call me a joker, call me a fool,

Right at this moment I'm totally cool,

Clear as a crystal, Sharp as a Knife

Jubilee smiled over at him, "Nah, I've gotten to many bruises that way."

I feel like I'm in the prime of my life.

Some times I feel like I'm going to fast

Bobby chuckled, "Wolverine could make a killer Danger Room session from that." Maybe she doesn't like me back, after all.

I don't know how long this feeling will last,

Jubilee laughed, "God help us all if he did."  Why would he like me?

Maybe it's only tonight.

The two of them sighed.

I don't know why it go to extremes.

Too high or too low, there ain't no in-betweens.

And if I stand or I fall,

It's all or nothing at all

Darling I don't know why I go to extremes.

Bobby, shook his head, she would never like a prankster like me. I mean, how many times have I gotten her with one prank or another?

Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I'm shot,

Sometimes I don't know how much more I've got

Jubilee's eyes fell to the ground, Why would he like me? I mean, how many times have I chewed him out?

Maybe I'm headed, over the hill

Maybe I've set myself up for the kill

Bobby started to stand, when Jubilee placed a hand on his arm.

Tell me how much do you think you can take,

Until the heart in you is starting to break.

Sometimes it feels like it will.

He turned to look at her, his eyes questioning, she blushed, and shook her head.

Darling I don't know why I go to extremes.

Too high or too low there ain't no in-between's

You can be sure when I'm gone,

I won't be out there too long,

Darling I don't know why I go to extremes.

The crowd was breaking up, and Bobby began to slouch, taking her shake of the head as a rejection.

Out of the darkness, into the light,

Leaving the scene of the crime.

Bobby then quickly moved back towards the Monopoly game, not wanting anyone to wonder where he went.

Either I'm wrong or I'm perfectly right every time.

Sometime's I lie awake, Night after night

Falling apart at the seams

"I'm going to go get something to snack on, guys." Bobby said to the group at large, when they returned. They nodded, continuing from where they left off.  Jubilee also had the same idea, approaching the table herself

Eager to please, ready to fight,

Why do I go to extremes.

And if I stand, or I fall,

It's all or nothing at all.

They arrived at the table, and looked away from each other slightly, neither able to bring their eyes to the other's face.

Darling I don't know why I go to extremes.

Too high or too low, there ain't no in-between's

And if I stand, or I fall

Its all or nothing at all

Darling I don't know why I go to extremes.

Later, Bobby caught Jubilee's eye from his game, and his eyes fell to the ground. At that sight, she sighed.

No I don't know why I go to extremes.

Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens.

You can be sure when I'm gone,

I won't be out there to long.

Darling I don't know why I go to extremes.

Jean decided not to comment on her younger friend's sigh.

Kitty however, did not have such discretion. "So, like, why are you sighing. Do you like someone?"

Jubilee looked over at the other girl. "None of your business."

Kitty drew back, and made a hissing noise.  Jean simply shook her head.

At the Monopoly game, Rahne had caught on to her teammate and friend's downtrodden attitude. "What's whrong laddie. Yeh look laeke ya' dog just up'n daied."

Bobby shook himself.  "Nope, last I checked, you were still alive Rahne."

Rahne's face took on a look of mock-outrage, as everyone at the game broke into laughter.

All too soon, the teens found that the cheese and crackers were gone, and by the time 1 p.m. rolled around, even the best of them were hungry.

Scott, finding the money left by the professor, ordered pizza.  While he went about the ordering, Bobby was having fun with the plant everyone either hates or loves… Mistletoe.  He had hung it over the main entrance to the Rec room, which caused some hilarious scenes.  He had particularly liked seeing Scott's face go as red as Jean's hair when he and said telepath/telekinetic got caught under the mistletoe.

*Meanwhile, with the teachers.*

Wolverine was slowly getting himself smashed, as was Sensei, Dr. McCoy was, surprise, surprise, looking at microscopes.  Storm was wandering in the park, and the professor was popping wheelies in his wheelchair.

*11 p.m. back at the mansion*

The students of the Xavier institute had all enjoyed a dinner of… you guessed it, take out Chinese.  Now they were curled up in a massive sleeping pile in the foyer, with pillows consisting of their fellow students, and actual pillows. The combined body warmth of the student body's bodies was added to by many, many blankets.  Or at least, that was the eventual plan, getting to it would most likely not happen until somewhere past midnight.

The student's of the institute were trading stories of the past year, and all that they had done together.  Kyle and Amanda felt a little left out on this. Kyle because he was new, Amanda because she was the only non-mutant.  However, while Kyle could take comfort in the knowledge that next year, he would have his own stories to trade, Amanda could take no such comfort.

When the teachers finally returned, they found that their charges had fallen asleep in the massive pile that was their original plan.  They smiled, then headed off towards their rooms.  Wolverine, upon reaching his door, found that he had to try three times to grab the door.

I'm going to have a major hangover tomorrow.