This is just a little fluff I'm writing to help me get my mind back on track to start Emotions again (Which I currently hate and lose my temper when I try to write!)

It's a little AU, most of mine usually are, Pietro and the brotherhood getting the holiday et al, but it won't twist the universe too much!!!

As usual, I don't own X-men Evo, wish I did!

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Chapter 1

Kitty Pryde ran down the empty corridor, trying to keep hold of the large pile of books her teacher had just dumped on her. She had just come from a meeting with her English teacher about some extra credit work, to do over the summer holidays and she had somehow ended up agreeing to do a report on Jane Austen's novels. All of them!

She had also managed to run late. She had promised Scott that she would be finished by 3:20, and he'd agreed to wait for her. But Mr. Angelino had waffled on until Kitty had had to stand and excuse herself. She glanced at the clock on the wall and saw to her horror that it was twenty-five past three. The last thing she needed was to have to walk home on the last day of school, with all those books.

"Hell! Please, Scott. Don't have left me." She muttered to herself as she rounded the last corner. She smacked into something solid and went flying backwards. She landed smartly on her backside, her books scattered around her. Dazed, she looked around her and was about to get up when she heard a voice that made her blood run, first, cold, then red hot with rage.

"So, Pryde, not only are you apparently as blind as a bat, but you have decided to become a public menace as well."

She looked up and scowled. "Pietro. I should have known it would be you lurking around corners. And what do you mean public menace? You were the one just stood in the hallway. These are for walking down you know." Kitty climbed to her feet and gathered her books. She straightened herself and glared at him once more.

Pietro Maximoff seemed more amused by her outburst than aggrieved. "Me? Lurking? You were the one who came around the corner like a bat out of hell. I could have gotten injuries."

"If you want injuries, Maximoff, you came to the right girl." Spat Kitty.

Pietro merely looked preoccupied, "Really? Look, Pryde, I'd love to stand here and have a battle of *ahem* wits with you, but I have a life. Have a good summer, if you can call X-Geeks and your extra credit assignment good."

Before Kitty could reply he walked off and disappeared out of the main doors. She glanced at her watch and found that it was now 3:40. Scott would be long gone. Which meant a nice three mile walk back to the institute.

"Great! This is all because of that stupid prat, Pietro." She thought walking out of the school gates. Her day had been bad enough as it was. She woke late and missed breakfast, she tripped in the hall in front of the cheerleading squad who had, of course, started laughing like hyena's with bronchitis, found out she had forgotten the report she had spent half the night writing (also the reason she overlaid) and now her ass hurt like hell and she had to walk home.

"Could it get any worse?" She wondered, as she idly kicked a stone. A sudden clap of thunder caused her to look up at the gathering black clouds she hadn't noticed before. A summer storm was on it's way.

Kitty glanced round for somewhere to get out of the rain or a phone, but saw neither. Then the rain started. Within seconds she was soaked. Kitty looked upwards and screamed, "You just couldn't give me a break, could you?" Have no alternative she put her head down and walked on.

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Nearly an hour later, Kitty walked through the door of the Xavier institute. She was soaked to the skin and shivering. Her books and backpack were drenched. Scott and Jean were walking downstairs as Kitty started to walk up. She threw Scott a very dirty look and disappeared into her bedroom, slamming the door.

Rogue was sat on her bed, reading. She jumped as Kitty banged about and eventually said, "Are you plannin' to break everythin' in the room? Cause if yah are, I'll move my stuff out right now."

Kitty looked apologetically at her room mate, and sat down heavily on the bed.

"I'm sorry, Rogue. I'm just really PO'ed. I can't believe that I had to walk home .. In the rain."

Rogue watched as Kitty flopped backwards and stared at the ceiling. Rogue felt for her room mate.

"Well, Scott did wait until 3:30, you know." She tried helpfully.

Kitty raised her head and looked at Rogue. Her expression was unreadable, suddenly she sat upright and cried, "So it was his fault! Oh, God! I hate him."

She stood up and kicked her bed Rogue sat watching in mild amusement. Deciding not to ask who "he" was, she tried to distract Kitty with the mail.

"Look, there's a letter for you." She pointed to a small white envelope, addressed to K Pryde, in small neat handwriting.

Kitty picked it up and smiled immediately, as if she already knew what it was. Rogue took this to mean it was from a crush and started to tease Kitty.

"So, Ya got a secret admirer? Has he written about how your eyes are like limpet pools?"

Kitty frowned at her, confused, "Do you mean limpeD?"

"Ah stand by what ah said." Said Rogue drily.

"Funny! It's from my aunt, Amy. She's really cool. She hates being called "Auntie", so we all call her Aims. She's my mum's sister."

"So, what's up?"

Kitty shrugged and started to open her letter. She pulled out an A4 sheet and began to read. She gasped a few times and by the time she had finished she was beaming from ear to ear.

"Oh, my God! She asked me to come with her on holiday!!! She's going on a three week cruise round the Med. And I can come and bring a friend."

"What? Oh man, you are so lucky. Who ya gonna take with ya?" Said Rogue, secretly hoping that Kitty would pick her.

"Well, I was going to ask Scott. You know I thought I could spend three glorious weeks in the sun training with him, but I guess you can come." Kitty said the last part smiling.

Rogue jumped up and stared hugging her room mate, "Oh, mah God! Ah could kiss ya, if it wouldn't kill ya!!!!! So how come she's invited us? Not that I'm complain' or anythin'..."

"She's a travel manager or tourist researcher or something, and she has to go on these holidays to see if they are good enough for her company to sell. And some of the holiday companies will give anything to get her to agree to sell them. I only really see her at Christmas, so she probably wanted to see me. I'm her only niece." Replied Kitty, still scanning the letter.

Rogue opened her mouth to ask when she was coming, when Kitty suddenly stood up and cried loudly, "Oh my God!!!! She says she's already spoken to my parents and they've sent the all clear to the Professor. She's coming in three days!!!"

Rogue paused, registered what Kitty had said, and went to ask a question again, before Kitty cut her off again, "Well, c'mon! Let's go tell him that you're coming and then we've got to start packing, and shopping. Oh my god! This is going to be so much fun." She paused and frowned at Rogue, "You're not very excited. You do want to come, right?"

Rogue finally managed to speak, "Of course. I'm expressing quiet exhilaration."

Kitty blinked, "Well, .. Good. Now let's go!!"

She grabbed Rogue's hand and phased the two of them through the door and down to the Professor's study.

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MEANWHILE

Mystique handed Lance an envelope and said simply, "Everything is in here. I've arranged passports for all of you, using your school photographs."

Lance took the envelope and stared at it dumbly. The whole brotherhood looked confused.

"Um, thanks, I guess..." Lance trailed off.

Mystique walked to the door, she paused before opening it to say, "Thank Pietro's father. After all, it was his decision to give you all some time off from the pressures you have."

And with that she walked out and slammed the door behind her.

Once outside she banged the side of her car in frustration. That stupid idiot Magneto. What did he know about pressure? And those stupid kids? She was the one, after all, who was trying to organize them into a capable fighting team, as well as run a whole high school. But what did she know about pressure?

She started the engine and sped out of the drive.

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Back in the house, the boys waited until Mystique's car had gone before screaming out in joy.

"Oh, my god! Three whole weeks of first class bliss. Your old man is brilliant." Smiled Lance, playfully punching Pietro on the arm. He pulled out the passports and began to look at the pictures.

Pietro grinned back, and pulled a small black book from his pocket, he walked to the hall phone and began making calls.

The other members grew silent as they attempted to listen to Pietro's 'private' phone call.

"Look, I'm sorry, Allison, but, I can't go. Family holiday. My dad wanted it to be a surprise... No I can't cancel. ... What? Oh, three weeks.... No I am not making this up... Hello?.. Hello?... Allison?"

Pietro slammed down the phone and then proceeded to make several similar calls, all ending with him speaking to an empty line.

Fifteen minutes later he walked back into the living room and sat down scowling.

Toad couldn't resist, "You've gone a funny shade of red, Pietro. Excited about the holiday, Yo?"

Pietro replied by throwing his book at Toad and storming to his room.

Lance shook his head, "Great! I hope he cheers up before Monday!"

Eventually, each of them drifted to their room's and began dragging out suitcases, searching for clothes and day dreaming about exotic girls.

All except Pietro. He was staring out of his window. His thoughts were too on the holiday, but in a different way. He knew the true nature behind is father "wonderful gesture".

'Too little, too late, Old man.' He thought. As he sat on his bed, his thought brightened, 'Still if the old Prat thinks a three week, Med cruise will sweeten me, then more fool him.'

Pietro lay on his bed and fell sleep imagining the gentle waves and red sunsets. Not to mention alcohol, girls and swimsuits.

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So? What d'ya think?