Disclaimer: I own nobody here. All characters belong to Marvel or Red Witch, the creator of the Misfitverse.
Author's note: Here it is: chapter 2! Hannukah starts, and the plot really gets going.

The First Night of Hannukah

Kitty smiled as she recited the words of her Hannukah text and lit the first light in the menorah. She sang quietly to herself the songs of the holiday - Ma-oz Tzur, in English Rock of Ages, Not by Might, Not by Power, and Light One Candle, all of them her favorites.

With that complete, she began by opening the first gift her parents had sent her - one of her books she'd been wanting for months, but had been sold out at almost every place she looked. A little dragon pendant was in another box - the handwriting on it showed it was from Kurt. And she knew the next present was the one downstairs... the gigantic one in the corner of the living room where she'd seen it the night before.

Exiting her room, Lockheed following his mistress almost lazily, she quickly made her way downstairs to the living room, which, amazingly, was almost empty. Kurt, Forge, and Jamie were the only ones in the room.

called Kurt as she came in.

she called back.

Where were you?

In my room, celebrating Hannukah, she replied. Where's everyone else?

Forge answered. Scott and Jean went off to do something somewhere. I think he mentioned Lookout Point. Tabby decided to take the other New Mutants on a tour of the old Brotherhood Boarding House and maybe find some Christmas gifts to sent to the Misfits. Ororo left earlier today, Beast's down in the lab, Logan's... who knows where. And Warren and the Professor are in the study.

What about Remy, Rogue, and Peter?

They went with the other New Mutants, replied Jamie. I decided to stay here and hang out with Forge and Kurt, and you of course.

Kitty smiled. Well then, time to find out just what this thing is. She pointed to the box in the corner, which Lockheed was busy sniffing. The little dragon finished his inspection of the box and flew back up onto Kitty's shoulder.

He's behaving better than usual, Forge noted. Did you have Jean rearrange his memories or something?

I had a little heart-to-heart with him after a few weeks ago, Kitty replied. And he listened.

On her shoulder, Lockheed snuffled. I only listened because you promised me presents if I stopped setting fires and keeping the other humans in line!

 Jamie looked up at the little dragon. He looks so cute up there, he remarked.

Kitty smiled. Yes, he does. She walked over to the box in the corner. Care to give me a hand with this? I can't exactly fly, and it's a little high for me to reach.

Lockheed, hearing the word promptly sat up, and flew up to the top of the box.

Good boy! Untie that ribbon now, Lockheed! Kitty called up to her pet.

Lockheed promptly set to work. Moments later, the ribbon was open, and he was helping Kitty remove the wrapping paper. When that was done, the dragon flew up again, and opened the top of the box, and the sides.

When all the wrapping had been cleared away, the four mutants and one dragon looked at what it was. It appeared to be a large machine of some kind. Kurt groaned.

I recognize that thing! It looks like a scaled-down version of Mojo's cloning machine!

I think you're right, replied Kitty. I wonder why he sent it to me.

Lockheed snuffled at her ear. Does it matter? the little dragon thought.

Kitty looked at Kurt. Can you port this thing up to my room for me?

The blue furry mutant nodded.

With Kitty's directions, the machine was soon in place along one wall of her room. She thanked the others for their help, then sat with Lockheed for a while, watching the candles in her Menorah burn out. When they had gone out, she turned out the lights, and went to bed, Lockheed cuddled up in his own bed next to hers.

None of the mansion's inhabitants were awake a few hours later, when the cloning machine came to life. It whirred a little, and moments later, a single clone popped out.

the little girl moaned. Where am I?

She looked around the room, which was in near-total darkness. Only the sliver of the waning moon provided enough light for her to see.

Kitty moaned in her sleep, turning over. This startled the little girl, who took a step backward and fell down.

The noise woke Kitty up. Looking into the darkness, she saw something. Who's there? she asked.

The only answer was the sound of a frightened little girl, almost a whimper.

Kitty reached over and turned on her light. And what she saw shocked her.

It was a Mini-Kitty, like the ones Mojo had made during their experience in his universe. But this one was different - she was a little larger than the previous ones. And she was very frightened.

Kitty pulled the covers off and sat on the edge of the bed. It's okay, she said to the little girl in a soothing tone. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you.

Mini-Kitty looked at her, and smiled. She got to her feet, walked over to Kitty, and jumped up into her arms, wrapping her own around Kitty's neck.

Kitty smiled at the little girl she now held. And she continued to hold her, until the little girl fell asleep in her arms.

Pulling the sheets over the two of them, as she turned out the light and drifted off into sleep, Kitty smiled. This must be what it feels like, to have a little sister or daughter.

They slept peacefully, for the rest of the night.

Well, there you have it! And here's some notes... first, the three songs I mentioned are real - they're in my own Hannukah book (I'm Jewish, like Kitty). They happen to be my favorite songs, so I used them for Kitty. Second, this isn't as long as the first chapter... but it's as long as it has to be. I needed a cute little chapter to introduce Mini-Kitty, and Kitty's reaction to her, and this seemed the perfect time to stop. Next chapter: Kitty and her Mini-clone come down for breakfast... what kind of reaction will they get?