I don't own the X-Men. They, and any major characters in this story, belong to Marvel.  "Hold Me Now" is by the Thompson Twins, who I assume own the rights to it.  I'm making no money off of this, either - blah, blah, blah, standard disclaimer stuff.
Thanks go out to Luba for the beta read and encouragement, and to everyone who's been so great about providing feedback!

Just a Couple of Kids, After All...
by Sue Penkivech

Chapter 27

"I just don't understand why you kept this whole thing a secret?" Jean asked, and Kurt sighed.

What he was beginning to think of as the "Leadership Team" - Jean, Ororo, and Logan - was assembled in Jean's office, reviewing the events of the previous evening. Or, in other words, grilling Kurt, who wasn't enjoying it in the least, although he truly felt he deserved it.

"I've already told you, mein freunds. While I admit it proved to be an error in judgment, it seemed the best idea at the time. Piotr needed help, and wouldn't stay for it unless we promised to keep it a secret from the X-Men."

"It would seem that he did not get the help he needed," Ororo commented wryly, and Kurt shrugged his shoulders.

"He was. He was having daily sessions with Rory Campbell at first. They tapered off to one per week, eventually, then stopped when Rory left. Moira offered to continue them, but Piotr declined."

"Can't say I blame him, Elf," Logan said. "Would be kinda tough to get counseling from someone whose son you killed."

"We realized that, but there was no one else," Kurt contested. "Muir Island is fairly remote, after all. In any case, Piotr seemed much improved; he was painting again, had formed a friendship with Meggan, and seemed to have accepted Katzchen's relationship with Herr Wisdom. We thought he had found some peace; why then bring up an issue that had lain dormant so long?" He knew it was true, but realized how feeble an excuse it seemed now that Kitty was in the infirmary and Piotr was in a holding cell.

"But you admit you've known things weren't, well, right for some time now?" Jean asked impatiently.

Kurt sighed. "Ja. I noticed that he was behaving oddly at the meeting the other night; he seemed rather obsessive regarding Katzchen's safety, and far too ready to condemn Bobby for endangering her. The next morning, Katzchen noticed that Piotr seemed rather - obsessive, and asked me to speak to Bobby on her behalf. I'm afraid she was rather concerned, given Piotr's previous attack on Pete Wisdom," he added, shrugging. "I spoke with Bobby and warned him to be careful around Piotr until such time as I could speak with you about it, Jean."

"Explains some things I've been noticing too," Logan said, scratching the backs of his hands. "Saw Piotr glarin' at Kat's room the other day when Bobby slept over. Didn't think much about it at the time. Seems now like I should have."

"It is not your fault, Logan," Ororo said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "It is not truly anyone's fault, though I do believe," she added, addressing Kurt, "that we should have been told from the start. This was not even addressed in Excalibur's logs, other than that Pete Wisdom had sustained some unexplained injuries. We are Piotr's family, Kurt - we should have been informed."

"We were not then part of the X-Men, Ororo," Kurt challenged. "I feel certain that things occurred on your team you didn't see fit to inform us of; your survival of the events in Dallas comes to mind."

"Need we bring that up?" Ororo asked, exasperated. "I should think it qualifies as ancient history by this time. I will concede that we made a mistake, but it was with the best of intentions."

Instead of replying, Kurt simply cocked an eyebrow at her. She threw up her hands, sighing dramatically.

"Ahem," Jean said, clearing her throat to get everyone's attention. "Whoever may have been at fault or not, we clearly have a situation here to deal with. In summary: Kitty is injured. Hank informed me earlier that the head injury is not exceptionally serious, but he's still waiting for the results of the tests he and Moira ran to determine whether or not Kitty was infected with the Legacy cure. Piotr is still in the holding cell, and has definitely been infected with the cure - Moira and Hank are brainstorming ways to nullify it, but haven't had any likely prospects. The Neo are waiting for the meeting we were supposed to have had yesterday and making general nuisances of themselves, and -"

"And according to the kid, Kat's not talkin' to anyone, or at least not to him." Logan concluded.

"Vat?" Kurt asked, shocked. He hadn't gotten in to see Kitty yet; he'd stopped by a few times in the evening, but Hank had been performing tests and had asked him to hold off until morning. When he'd popped in before the meeting, Kitty had been asleep. "Why not? Does she hold him responsible for her injuries?"

Logan shrugged. "Survivor guilt, I'd guess. Bobby came by to talk to me last night after he left the medlab - says she was talkin' to him until he told her about Piotr infecting himself with the Legacy cure. He thinks it's because she's convinced anyone she ever cares about dies. Kid's got a point - she's probably lost more close friends to this business than the rest of us put together."

"But surely it's been quite some time since she and Piotr were involved," Ororo objected, but Kurt shook his head, sighing.

"Nein - or rather, it has, but they had settled back into friendship. In addition and probably far more importantly to Katzchen, he is Illyana's brother. She will be thinking she's responsible; I know her. Oh, she'll be angry with Piotr, certainly; he did try to kill Bobby after all. But she'll still think it's somehow her fault." Instead of mine, he added mentally, which he knew was far more accurate. As Excalibur's team leader, the decision regarding Piotr had been his, and he'd made the wrong one.

"Is there anything we can do?" Jean asked.

"Don't know," Logan replied. "I stopped by to talk to her this morning, but she was asleep. I'll stop by again, but somehow I don't think seein' me is gonna help much, under the circumstances. You or the elf might have better luck," he said, addressing Ororo.

"Not I," Ororo said sadly. "I'm afraid Kitty is yet another who has never truly forgiven me for hiding the truth after Dallas. Kurt?"

"Ja, I'll talk with her," he said, a bit annoyed with Ororo's assumption that he would even need to be asked. "But I think that there is someone she's more likely to listen to, provided he keeps trying."

Jean nodded. "Bobby." She looked at Kurt questioningly, raising her eyebrows.

"Ja," he added, sighing. "I'll talk to him as well." Given that this whole scenario was ultimately his fault, it was the least he could do. He only hoped that a simple 'talk' would do the trick.

***********************************

Kurt found Bobby in the kitchen, and would have chuckled to himself at his appearance had he not been so concerned. Bobby had obviously thrown himself together quickly; he was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants that looked as if they'd been stuffed in the bottom of a suitcase for a few months with an faded orange t-shirt, equally wrinkled, which bore a faded picture of Howard the Duck. Had he not also been sporting wet hair as evidence of a recent shower and been wearing socks and shoes, Kurt would have assumed that Bobby had just crawled out of bed. The circles under his eyes as he turned to see who'd entered belied that, though - it appeared instead that Bobby still hadn't gone to sleep.

"Hey Kurt," Bobby said, turning back to the counter where he resumed pouring a bowl of cereal.

"Herr Drake," Kurt acknowledged casually, walking across the room and getting a mug out of the cabinet, then pouring himself a cup of coffee. "You look tired."

Bobby glared at him in response, then carried his cereal to the table and sat down.

"Talkative this morning, nein?" Kurt said, sitting down across from him. "Have you seen Kitty? How is she feeling?"

"Why don't you ask Hank?" Bobby countered. "She's not talking to me."

Kurt pretended to not understand, hoping that Bobby would elaborate. "Why not, Bobby? Did you two have an argument?"

"No Kurt, we did *not* have an argument. An argument would require that both people are talking," Bobby replied, slamming his spoon down so hard on the ancient table that the coffee in Kurt's mug sloshed. "Thanks to that idiot Russian sticking himself with a needle, Kitty's decided to write me off. Or at least, I'd guess that's why - I don't know for sure, she won't tell me. Not that I get much chance to ask her - that battleaxe Moira keeps chasing me out of the lab, telling me Kitty needs rest, but she won't tell me a damn thing either, just grumbles about patient confidentiality."

"Surely Hank has some information he was willing to share?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah," Bobby sighed. "At least he and Cecelia had some good news - there's no brain damage and no sign in the blood work they've done so far of the Legacy cure in her system, but they've got more tests to run. Apparently the slightest bit will multiply over time, so they're running tests every few hours to see if they can detect anything. Hank says they should know for sure by noon today," Bobby finished, staring dejectedly into his cereal bowl.

"Well, that's welcome news," Kurt said, playing with his coffee while he tried to decide how best to approach the next topic. "Perhaps I could speak with Moira about allowing you access to the lab? She's usually not completely unreasonable."

"Don't bother," Bobby said dejectedly. "Hank said Kitty said she doesn't want to see me. I don't know, Kurt - I mean, I know it's my fault she got hurt, but I just want to talk to her..."

"Your fault?" Kurt laughed. "Oh Bobby, it seems everyone thinks it's their fault; you think it's your fault, Logan thinks it's his, I know it's at least partially mine, Piotr - well, Piotr thinks it's your fault. I suppose that's two votes for you; maybe you do win."

Bobby just stared at him.
"What, Herr Drake? Did you expect me to disagree with you?" Kurt said, watching Bobby's shocked expression. "Actually, I DO disagree - what could you have done? It's not as if you stepped back and invited him to attack her."

"Yeah, I know," Bobby said. "But what do I do now, oh wise one? She's not talking to me."

Kurt shrugged. "That's up to you, Bobby. But it seems to me that someone with a sense of humor like yours should be able to cheer her up, if he were persistent enough."

Bobby chuckled, then sobered again. "I don't think anything's going to make much of a difference unless that idiot pulls through, Kurt. She's really upset about Piotr - I think she figures it's all HER fault."

"No doubt," Kurt sighed. "She always does. But if you do care about Katzchen -"

"Do you think I don't?"

"Nein, I think you do. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here talking to you now. But she needs you, Bobby. She doesn't want you right now, but she needs you. What you do about it is entirely up to you," he added, standing up and taking his coffee cup over to the sink. He could see the other man considering his words, and he had just opened his mouth to say goodbye when the door opened and one of the Neo children - Cailin, he thought, ran in.

"Bobby? Hey cool, you're here! I've been looking all over for you."

"What's up, munchkin?" Bobby asked.

"I was wondering if you could talk to Dr. Hank for me," she asked.

"Is something wrong?" he replied, and Kurt could hear the concern in his voice.

"Yeah - well, no, not how you mean. But I need to talk to him, and that lady keeps chasing me out of the medlab," Cailin replied in disgust. "I don't know what her problem is; it's not like I've gotten in the way."

"Seems to be a common phenomenon," Bobby replied, glancing over at Kurt and rolling his eyes. "She won't let me in either, but I'm guessing I could catch Hank when he comes out if I lurk around there long enough. What'dya need?"

"Nothing," Cailin said. "It's about what he needs."

"Vat do you mean?" Kurt asked, trying to think of something Hank needed that Cailin could do something about.

Cailin turned to look at him. "The Legacy cure thing. I can help - or I think I can, anyway," she said, shrugging her thin shoulders. "But I need more information on how it works before I can be sure. Do you know anything about it?" she asked hopefully.

"You probably know more than I do," he admitted ruefully. "But what could you do, liebchen? I'm afraid Hank's is rather busy; I don't know if he'll have much time to talk right now."

"I'm a biological," she answered as if that explained everything. Kurt ran that threw his mind for a moment and drew a blank, though he noticed that Bobby perked up visibly. Perhaps in his study of the Neo's databases he'd encountered something that explained exactly what she meant. Cailin sighed in exasperation. "Don't you spikes know ANYTHING? I can control metabolic processes. Depending on how the virus works, and how the cure works..."

"You might be able to nullify it?" Bobby finished. When Cailin nodded, he picked her up and swung her around. "Cailin, you're a lifesaver!"

"Hey, stop that!" she yelled in between laughing. "What're you so happy about, anyway? I wasn't sure you'd want me to help - the guy did try to kill you and Kitty, after all. But I hate to see people die who don't need to..."

"Actually, Cailin, he very much needs to not die. Or something like that," Kurt continued, waving aside Cailin's quizzical look and catching Bobby's eye. Apparently Bobby had had the same though, because he took Cailin's hand and began leading her out of the kitchen.

"Come on, I may not know anything useful, but I've got the ear of the man who does. Let's go see him. And hey, Kurt?"

"Vat?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime," Kurt replied as the door closed behind them. He poured himself another cup of coffee, while he said a silent prayer of thanks. Despite Jean's irritation with the Neo, their presence in the mansion might be a blessing after all.

******************************

Bobby was only vaguely aware of Cailin's confused expression as he pulled her out the door and down the hallway to the medlab.

"You again?" Moira demanded when he pounded on the door. "Don't ye have anyone else to go pester, Bobby? I told ye, Kitty does nae want to see you right now. I'm sorry about that," she admitted grudgingly, "an' I know ye only want tae work things out wi' her, but she needs rest now more than she does an argument. Now, gae on, get out of here."

"Actually, Moira, I'm not here to see Kitty," he said, only partially lying. He DID want to see Kitty, and he seriously hoped she'd overhear what Cailin had to say to Hank, assuming the outcome was positive. "Jean wanted us to see Hank about something unrelated."

Moira glared at him suspiciously, then opened the door further to allow them to enter. "If this is one of your tricks, Bobby Drake, I -"

"No trick," he said with as sincere an expression as he could muster. "I promise - we'll go straight into Hank's lab and follow his instructions from then on, ok?"

"All right then," she conceded, but her eyes followed them all the way to Hank's door. He spared Kitty a glance and saw she was more or less sitting up in bed talking with a young red-head who he identified after only a moment's thought as Rahne. He also noticed she was watching them, but true to his word he didn't stop to speak to her.

"Jean didn't send us," Cailin whispered as the got to Hank's lab door.

"I know that, and you know that, but I also know she would have if she'd thought known why we're here, so it's ok," he reasoned. Cailin just looked at him and rolled his eyes, and he laughed as he knocked on Hank's door.

"Come in - ah, Robert? And - I'm sorry, Kaitlin?" he said, extending his hand to the girl.

"Cailin," she corrected, taking his hand and shaking it.

"I'm sorry, I fear I have an appalling propensity for failing to remember names," he admitted with a wry smile. "I DO recall that you are the young lady interested in pursuing a medical career when you grow to adulthood, correct?"

"Partially," Cailin replied shrugging. "I am a young lady who has already embarked upon a medical career, though how far I'll advance in view of the death of my primary instructor is somewhat questionable." Bobby began laughing as Hank's eyebrows rose higher and higher as the girl spoke, taken aback by her statement.

"I do apologize, Cailin, for having underestimated you. Come, have a seat," Hank said, gesturing to a stood at one of the lab tables, and sitting down on one himself. "What brings you two to my humble lab? If you're here to request access to Kitty, Bobby, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you; while I personally believe that it would be mutually beneficial for the two of you to have the opportunity to discuss your respective feelings about the current situation, Moira disagrees, and I'm far too exhausted at this time to debate the issue with her. Perhaps later when she absents herself from the lab?" he offered.

"Yeah, let me know," Bobby said hopefully. "But that isn't why we're here. Cailin needs to talk to you about something."

"Oh?" Hank inquired, turning to face the girl. "About what would you like to converse, Cailin?"

"I think I can help you with the Legacy cure," she replied calmly, and Bobby could see that Hank was forcing himself to give her statement all due attention.

"Oh? What do you propose?"

"Well, given what I've heard about the vector by which the virus is transmitted, I assume ..." she kept going in this vein while Bobby did what he always did when Hank started babbling in medical-ese - he zoned out. He wandered around the lab for a bit, looking at this and that and peering through Hank's much maligned microscope, even though he had no idea what he was looking at, before making his way over to the door and peering through the glass window in the top.

With a little maneuvering to get the right angle, he could see Kitty talking with Rahne. Despite animation on Rahne's part - apparently she was telling some story she found humorous - Kitty wasn't really smiling. Oh, her mouth was turned up, but her eyes still looked pained, and Bobby felt a pang. If he hadn't come here on vacation, Kitty wouldn't be lying there now, hurting. For that matter, he wouldn't be standing in here hurting either.

"Of course," a small voice inside him reminded him, "you wouldn't have fallen in love either. Would you really want to undo that?"

He looked out the window again at Kitty.

"No," he said to himself, and smiled. That was the last thing he wanted. But he needed to talk to her, and soon. He saw Moira join the two girls, carrying a basket of vials, and saw Kitty roll her eyes as she pulled up the sleeve of her hospital gown. Moira briskly poked a needle into her arm, and he realized this was the blood test that would determine whether or not Kitty had been injected with the Legacy cure.

"Robert?" Hank's voice finally penetrated his mind.

"Uh, yeah?" Bobby asked, turning toward Hank and Cailin.

"Have you heard from Jean when they plan on launching the mission against the High Evolutionary?"

"No, why?"

"Well, this remarkable young lady has related quite a revolutionary proposal with regards to mitigating the effects of the Legacy cure in our admittedly disturbed teammate. However, to initiate the process she will first need to be in possession of her remarkable abilities, so I was inquiring as to whether or not you had any idea when they might potentially be restored."

"Sorry Hank," Bobby said, brushing back his hair with his hand. "For once I've had even less sleep than you. Can you say that again in English?"

Hank sighed, and Bobby glared at him. For once he wasn't just trying to mess with Hank; he really was exhausted, and couldn't figure out what his friend was saying. "Cailin thinks she can slow down the progression of the Legacy cure enough so that it won't kill Piotr, but will still spread. Do you have any idea when Jean plans to launch the assault? We won't be able to attempt it until Cailin's abilities are restored."

"No clue," Bobby replied, but he felt a surge of hope. "You think it'll work, then?"

"In theory, it seems very likely," Hank said. "If nothing else, the worst likely to happen is that the cure won't spread - Cailin seems confident that at a minimum she can counteract the process completely."

"That's great!" Bobby said, smiling broadly at Cailin, who was grinning with pride. "Can I go tell Kitty?" he asked hopefully.

"No, you may not. What you may do is go and inquire of Jean when she plans on undertaking the assault, and whether or not Katherine's assistance will be necessary. While I'd prefer to keep her under observation for a few more days," he admitted, "I know with certainty that she will wish to be out and about as soon as possible. She's nearly as cantankerous a patient as Logan. If she wishes to leave after the blood test results are read, I will be hard pressed to stop her, though I will insist she get sufficient rest. After you have obtained Jean's reply, you may return here, by which time I will not only have convinced Moira that she needs to go and get some rest herself but should also have the results of Katherine's blood work. And THEN you may tell her both sets of news. Is that acceptable?"

"Definitely," Bobby said grinning, and had to keep himself from running out of the lab. "See you in a bit, then," he said as he closed the door behind him, rushed past a curious looking Kitty, an amused Rahne, and a complaining Moira, and exited through the medlab's door as well. He had had an idea, but he would have to track down Jubilee after he spoke with Jean. Kurt was right - if anyone could cheer up Kit, it was him. A stupid, pointless gesture was called for, and if there was one thing he excelled at, it was stupid, pointless gestures.

**********************************

Kitty watched Bobby rush out of the medlab, wondering why he was in such a hurry. Despite herself, she was a little upset that he hadn't stopped to see her, though she told herself firmly that it was for the best, and that at least she hadn't hurt him as badly as she'd feared if he was so intent on being elsewhere. Still, the back of her mind insisted, it would have been nice if he'd at least asked how she was feeling. She pushed the thought away and tried to concentrate on the story Rahne was telling, but it kept returning. Finally, she sighed.

"What's wrong, Kitty? Should I go get me mum?"

"No Rahne, I'm fine," she insisted before Rahne could get up and go fetch Moira. "I just -"

"Ye miss Bobby, don't ye?" Rahne asked quietly. "Why won't ye talk to him? He was in and out all night, ye know, making a real pest of himself."

"He was?" Kitty asked, surprised. She didn't remember much of the night before except Hank, Cecelia and Moira subjecting her to another CAT scan and a number of lab tests before she'd succumbed to a night of restless sleep, broken by frequent blood draws and even more frequent nightmares.

"Aye," Rahne replied. "Me mum chased him out, said you needed rest. And ye did say ye dinnae want to see him, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Kitty mumbled. If Moira had told Bobby that, and there was no reason to believe she hadn't, it was small wonder he didn't even stop to see her. Yet another relationship she'd screwed up by lack of thought...she reminded herself that she HAD given it thought, and had decided that it would be best for everyone if she just broke up with him now. But she had trouble convincing herself. Her decision, which had seemed so logical the night before, wasn't tracking as well this morning.

"Did ye want me to fetch him?" Rahne asked hopefully, and Kitty smiled a little despite herself. If there was one thing she'd learned about Rahne in their joint time with Excalibur, it was that the younger girl dearly loved to 'help' others with their relationship problems. She'd played intermediary any number of times between Brian and Meggan, between Kurt and Amanda, and had even offered to help Kitty patch things up with Pete, if that was what she wanted. "One of these days," Kitty thought, "we are going to find Rahne a boyfriend of her own." But she shook her head firmly.

Rahne rolled her eyes. "Kitty, ye're too stubborn for your own good." She stood up, touched Kitty's shoulder, turned and walked away, pausing for a moment to speak with Moira before waving and walking out the door.

Kitty pressed the button to recline her bed, sat up long enough to rearrange her pillows and fold one in half the way she liked it, then lay back down, Rahne's words echoing around in her mind.

"You're right," she finally mumbled, but no one was there to hear her.

********************************

Bobby arrived at Jean's office door, and paused to catch his breath before knocking. He could hear voices inside, and thought briefly about waiting until Jean's business was complete before interrupting, but was too excited to wait. He tapped on the door and it swung open, revealing Jean, Storm, and Logan sitting with Domina, Jaeger, and Arakasi.

"I'm sorry - the door wasn't closed all the way. I can come back later," he stammered as everyone turned to look at him.

"No, come in Robert," Ororo said, and Jean nodded. "We were just going to call you anyway."

"Oh, ok," he said, walking into the rather crowded office and choosing a chair next to Logan, which he turned around and sat down on backwards, his elbows resting on it's back. "What's up?" he asked nervously, uncomfortable with all the eyes now focused on him.

"Given the - upset at yesterday's meeting, we thought it best to keep this one small, but we would like your input," Jean said smiling, and Bobby relaxed. "But first, how is Kitty doing?"

"Moira just played mosquito again, and Hank says he should have the results soon," Bobby answered, shrugging. "He also said that he probably won't be able to keep her in the medlab much longer if they're negative; she's anxious to get out.

Logan snickered knowingly. "She talkin' yet?" he asked, and Bobby nodded.

"She was talking with Rahne when I left."

Logan looked at him searchingly, and Bobby shrugged. "Hey, it's better than nothing."

"While I'm relieved to hear that Katherine is feeling better, perhaps we could return to the topic?" Domina requested. Bobby had to stifle a laugh at the look on Jean's face, and suspected that if she was able to use her telepathy Domina would be getting quite a headache by now, telepathic ethics be damned.

"Of course. I've been unable to discuss it with Kitty, for obvious reasons, but Douglock and Seth assure me that they are ready to take down the satellite's systems whenever we wish. I would like Kitty to be present," and as Domina began to object, Jean raised her hand to stop her, "if only because she has experience dealing with Douglock. He can be something of a challenge. While I don't doubt that Seth is quite capable of implementing whatever they've planned, I would like Kitty there to..." her voice trailed off, as if trying to choose her words carefully.

"Interpret?" Bobby guessed, having met Douglock briefly the day before, and was rewarded by Jean's nod.

"I have no objection," Domina said, and turned to Bobby. "Will she be released to work immediately?"

"I got that impression from Hank, assuming the lab work's negative. He wants her to get some rest, though," he qualified.

"Certainly reasonable," Arakasi said quietly, and Bobby was startled. The man was always so quiet it was easy to forget he was there. "In view of current occurrences, are you still willing to serve on the mission?"

Bobby considered it a moment before replying. If things went well this afternoon with Kitty, he'd really hate to leave; on the other hand, it was the first time anyone had asked him to take on such a serious role in a mission, and he was torn between a desire to prove himself and an equally strong desire to run for the nearest exit. He reminded himself that Kitty had been thrilled when he'd told her, and that she at least was certain that he could do a good job at it.

"I'll go," he said finally, and Arakasi nodded.

"Good," Jaeger said. "Obviously, the negotiation team will need to leave before the cyber-attack occurs, so that their rendezvous with the satellite can be nearly simultaneous with the capture of its systems. Shall we plan on them leaving tomorrow morning, then? That should give everyone adequate time to prepare," he added. "Have you decided who among the X-Men will be taking part, other than Robert?"

"We've discussed it," Jean replied, glancing at Ororo who nodded. "Storm will lead the team, with Iceman, Rogue, Psylocke, and Nightcrawler as team members. And the Neo?"

"We have also decided," Domina said. "Jaeger will lead, and with him Moran, Amarantha, Salvo, and Static. We had planned to send Junction," she explained as Jaeger looked at her questioningly, "but her abilities would be redundant if your Nightcrawler is a team member. Jaeger is our warleader, and a hunter like your own Wolverine," she acknowledged, nodding her head in Logan's direction. Moran is my successor, and can channel the abilities of the others as well as her own. Salvo can manifest living projective weaponry, Amarantha casts plasma beams, and Static can reverse or scramble the abilities of meta-humans. Is this acceptable to you?"

"It is," Ororo answered. "Though it would appear that you are preparing for combat?" she added, just a hint of a question in her voice.

"The Neo are always prepared for combat," Domina stated. "However, we have accepted your ways for the duration of the alliance. We will not seek revenge," she added grudgingly, then straightened. "We will, however, defend ourselves if necessary."

"We would hardly expect otherwise," Ororo granted, a hint of threat in her voice. "Those joining you will accept the presence of spikes, and honor the alliance you have proposed?"

"Of course," Domina said, looking shocked. "I am Domina. I have spoken. The alliance is offered."

Bobby looked on as the two formidable women locked eyes, each taking the other's measure. Finally, Storm said, "Alliance is accepted. We depart tomorrow at 7:00 a.m."

Bobby saw Arakasi prod Domina, who took a breath before speaking again. "Since that is settled, I wondered if I might ask some questions about your teammate, Rogue?"

Bobby took that as his cue and stood up. "Well then, if you'll excuse me, I promised Hank an update," he said and left the room, wondering absently what about Rogue the Neo could possibly find so interesting. He didn't give it much thought, though, as he was trying to figure out where he might be able to find Jubilee at this time of day. He decided to try her room first, and headed into the women's wing of the mansion. When he reached Jubilee's door, he heard giggling from within. Unable to resist, he pushed the door open a little and peered inside.

Jubilee was sitting cross-legged on the bed wearing an over-sized t-shirt and, he hoped, shorts, talking on the phone.

"Yeah Paige, you wouldn't believe it! I mean, you should SEE this guy! I can't believe Kitty passed him over for Bobby - yeah, the rumors true, they're like joined at the hip lately. Nah, I don't understand it either - I mean, the Bobster's kinda cute, but who'd have thought? No, that was just an ugly rumor Monet started - we're just buds. Anyway - yeah, I'll send you a picture - you get internet out there? Well duh, I know Kentucky isn't a third world country, but that doesn't mean you get high speed either. Yeah, ok fine, I'll hook up with you on IM later and send it then. No I am NOT going to have someone else call you to tell you I'm not pulling your leg, I'm sooo sure! Hey - BOBBY! What're you doing there! Damn Paige, I've got an eavesdropper - no privacy here, ya know? I'll catch you later!" Bobby laughed at the furious expression on Jubilee's face as she hopped off the bed, dropping the phone on the floor, and confronted him.

"What's the deal, Icecube?" she asked, her hands on her hips. "You ever hear of knocking?"

"Sorry Jubes, couldn't resist. Need a favor," he said, giving her the wide-eyed puppy dog look he knew from experience usually worked on her.

"Forget it, Drake - that's not going to work," she stated, still glaring at him.

"C'mon Jubes," he begged. "I just need to borrow something..."

"I said forget it! I'm SOO not talking to you," she added, turning her back on him.

"It's for Kitty..."

"Oh. Ok, what d'you need?"

Bobby told her, and Jubilee began laughing. When he walked out of the room, a duffel bag over his shoulder, he was humming. If this didn't cheer Kit up, he didn't know what would.

****************************

Kitty heard the door of the medlab open, and opened her eyes just in time to see Bobby rush by and into Hank's lab, carrying a duffel bag that looked an awful lot like Jubilee's.

"What's going on?" she wondered, staring at the door of the lab. She'd slept a little more since Bobby had left; she'd been worried about the amount she was sleeping, but Hank had assured her it was a completely normal physical response to a concussion. It was strange, she thought, that Hank hadn't come out and told her the results of the lab work - he was usually good about that sort of thing. Sitting up a little, she looked around and noticed that Moira was absent. "Good," she thought, though she instantly felt guilty about it. She loved Moira, really she did, but the woman was just too...obsessive came to mind, but she dismissed it. "Overprotective would be more like it," she told herself firmly, and sighed. Hank understood her much better; despite being nervous about the results of the lab work and intermittently light-headed and nauseous as a result of the concussion, she wanted to get out of here. Badly. And she knew Hank would've let her, if not for Moira.

And she wanted to see Bobby. Badly. Rahne's words had hit home; while she was still upset about Piotr, she knew it was his own fault, not hers, and certainly not Bobby's. And for once, she HAD managed to save someone she cared about. She only hoped the realization hadn't come too late.

She wondered again why the lab work was taking so long, and braced herself for the worst when the door of Hank's lab opened. But instead of a seriously looking Hank, a grinning Bobby emerged, microphone in hand, and she could hear music start playing in Hank's lab while Bobby walked toward her.

Despite herself, she had to smile as Bobby raised his eyebrows and started singing, only slightly off key:

"I have a picture pinned to my wall
an image of you and of me and we're laughing
with love at it all
But look at our life now, we're tattered and torn
We fuss and we fight and delight in the tears
that we cry until dawn

Ooh, hold me now
Warm my heart
Stay with me
Let lovin' start, let lovin' start

You say I'm a dreamer, we're two of a kind
Both of us searching for some perfect world we know we'll never find
So perhaps I should leave here, yeah yeah, go far away
But you know that there's nowhere that I'd rather be
than with you here today.

Ooh, hold me now
Warm my heart
Stay with me
Let lovin' start, let lovin' start."

While he was singing, Bobby had kept walking toward her until he reached the side of her bed. Kneeling down, he took her hand and started the next verse.

You ask if I love you, well, what can I say?
You know that I do and that this is just one of those games that we play
So I'll sing you a new song, please don't cry any more
And I'll ask your forgiveness though I don't know just what I'm asking it for

Oh, oh, hold me now (hold me in your lovin' arms)
Oh warm my heart (warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me (Come on and stay with me)
Let lovin' start, let lovin' start."

"Well?" Bobby asked as the music faded out.

"Well what?" she replied, smiling.

"Want to get out of here? I mean, I know the décor is spectacular," he said, glancing around at the bare walls and exotic looking machinery, "but I figured you'd be more comfortable in your own room. Or mine," he added hopefully. "Hank says there's no reason for you to stay here; all the lab results came back negative, and you can rest just was well there as you can here."

Kitty felt as if a weight had been taken off her chest, and sat up. "No Legacy cure?" she repeated, just to make sure she'd heard Bobby correctly.

"None," Hank said, walking up. "It would appear that possess the fabled seven lives of your namesake, or at least a great deal of good fortune. Though it would appear that thanks to the proposed assistance of my young friend, here," he gestured at Cailin, who was standing behind him, and she waved, "the Legacy cure will not carry the death sentence we originally envisioned."

Kitty stared at him. "You mean Piotr...?" She didn't even dare finish the thought.

"Will most likely be somewhat the worse for the experience, but certainly need not perish," Hank clarified, his face beaming.

"Sooo???" Bobby asked, with such a hopeful look on his face that her remaining reluctance melted away.

"Let's get out of here," she said, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Her head spun, and Bobby reached out to steady her.

"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked, a concerned look on his face.

"I'm fine," she assured him. And she meant it.