Carrying Pietro in his arms Lance approached the gates of the Institute and avalanched them open. Shifting Pietro to a more comfortable position he smiled involuntarily as Pietro unconsciously snuggled into Lance's shoulder. There was no way Lance was going to risk Pietro getting hurt by the mansion's defenses so he elected to stand and wait for the welcoming committee. He didn't have to wait long; a few minuets after his arrival the X-Geeks poured out of the Mansion, all dressed in their pretty matching uniforms. Lance noticed that they were being led by Jean, not Scott, and blue boy was no where to be found either. Maybe they were in a closet somewhere having a good grope and hadn't heard the alarm. Not that Lance cared, though the thought that stick up his ass Summers would get his man before Lance did was irking. Maybe after Pietro got better they'd have 'the talk' only Lance wasn't much for talking. So maybe he'd shove Pietro against the wall and kiss him senseless. Yes, perfect plan. Now, to make sure Pietro got better so he could carry out his plan.

He gave Jean his best smirk, "Hello Red, where's shades?"

"That's none of your business, why are you here?" She did a double take, "And why are you carrying Pietro?"

"Well since he couldn't walk this is the only way to get him anywhere." Lance drawled sarcastically.

"Why'd you bring him here?" Evan challenged arrogantly.

"Because he asked me to, though I'll be damned if I know why."

"Perhaps I do." Professor Xavier interrupted. The X-Geeks, like the good little sheep they were parted for the Professor to roll through. "If you'll follow me Lance, Hank will have a look at Pietro."

Lance heard Kitty's strident voice protest, "Professor!" and winced, to think he'd o0nce had a crush on her. He must've been out of his mind.

The Professor paused, "Yes Kitty."

"You're not going to go with him alone!"

"He's one person burdened by his ill companion, if he attacks me I'm sure I'll manage, but I want Hank to look at Pietro at once."

Lance felt rather out of the loop, and he was sure the X-Geeks shared the sentiment. What did the professor know about Pietro's illness? And why had Pietro asked to be brought here in the first place? It didn't add up, but questions could wait until Pietro had been treated

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pietro: Wow, you realize I spent that whole chapter unconscious

Darkdancer: You're gonna spend most of the fic unconscious luv

Pietro: Still, what was accomplished by that little blip of a chapter

Darkdancer: I got you to the Institute

Pietro: And?

Darkdancer: That's as far as I've planned

Pietro: So what are you going to do? Just wing it?

Darkdancer: That's the plan speedy.

Pietro: Gah, I hate that name, so unoriginal

Darkdancer: You're right Cherry Pie, I'll avoid it from now on

Pietro: Cherry Pie?

Darkdancer: Yes, that's my personal name for you

Pietro: Why Cherry Pie?

Darkdancer: Well, a lot of people call you Pie don't they?

Pietro: Yeah

Darkdancer : Well I wanted to call you a specific kind of pie. You know, blueberry, lemon meringue. Anyway then I remembered that song, My My Cherry Pie. So I decided to call you Cherry Pie.

Pietro: You're weird.