A little Rogue/Lance, I think, is just the ticket for this chapter.

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Rogue walked out of the cinema, wiping her eyes. Lance was still grinning.

"Ah love the bit where her head spins. It's so funny!" Giggled Rogue.

"The best bit is where she pukes spilt pea soup all over the priest." Replied Lance.

Rogue smiled at Lance, then grew slightly shy, "So, what d'ya wanna do now?" She asked. She hoped he didn't want to leave. She was having fun.

"Want to get some dinner? I'm starving." Asked Lance. Rogue raised an eyebrow.

"Ya had a large popcorn, a hot dog, a super sized coke and ya still hungry?" She asked in disbelief.

Lance nodded, "I'm a growing boy."

"Are ya sure ya not Freddie in disguise?" She teased. Lance laughed as the approached the dining room.

"Pretty sure, maybe he's rubbing off on me."

They sat down and looked at the menus. Dinner was a formal affair where people placed orders with a waitress rather than served themselves.

Lance ordered spaghetti and Rogue chose stir fry chicken. The waitress took the menus and left them.

Rogue looked around trying to find a topic to start a conversation with. She felt uncomfortable.

Lance looked at Rogue, who was staring around the room. He desperately tried to think of something to talk about. The silence was unnerving. Lance suddenly thought of something.

"Drink?" he asked.

"Yes, please. Said Rogue, quickly. 'It'll help me relax.' She thought.

Lance disappeared to the bar and returned minutes later with two beers.

"Didn't know what you liked." He apologised.

"No, no. That's OK." Rogue said quickly, grabbing the glass. She had never really drunk beer before, but she wasn't about to let on to Lance. She took a large gulp of the drink, and then another.

'It's not workin'.' She thought, panicking. She took another large swallow.

"Hey, steady on. I don't want to have to carry you back." Said Lance, putting his hand on her glass. Rogue lowered it.

"Sorry. Ah was just thirsty." She murmured.

"Well, be careful about using beer to quench it. You'll end up flat on your back. Any bloke could take advantage of you." Lance advised.

Rogue laughed, the effects of the beer kicking in, "He'd have a nasty shock." She giggled and took another drink.

By the time their food arrived, Rogue's glass was empty and she was halfway through another.

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After dinner, Rogue had dragged Lance into the bar. She was a little more than tipsy, and was feeling wonderfully confident.

"Um, ah'll have a . a ... JD and coke." She smiled at the barman. He handed her a drink and swiped her all-inclusive card.

Before Lance could order, Rogue had downed her drink and was eyeing up the liqueur bottles. She leaned over to see what the ones at the far end of the bar were and almost came off of her chair.

"Rogue!" Cried Lance, catching her. He pushed her back onto her seat. Sure, he was a little drunk, but nothing compared to Rogue.

"Little firecracker you've got there, mate! Bet she's a real goer .. you know!" Said the barman, winking. Lance knew what he was getting at. He glared at him and snapped, "We're just friends, OK."

The barman grinned wider, "Well, if you're just friends, you wouldn't mind if I.."

Before he could finish his sentence Lance had reached over the bar and grabbed his shirt collar.

"Yes, I would. Touch her and you die, got it?" He snarled. Lance let go, pulled Rogue from her chair and dragged her out.

"No more drinking! I'm taking you back to your room." He said. Rogue was weaving all over the place and Lance was terrified that she would go over the side of the ship. He grabbed her shoulders and tried to push her to the cabins.

"You need to go to bed." He lectured, "Sleep it off."

Rogue laughed, "I'm not tired. I wanna do something fun." She dodged out of Lance's arms and ran up the steps to the pool deck.

She walked backwards as Lance followed her, "Rogue! Come on." He shouted, he dashed at her, but she dodged him again and ran towards the other side of the boat.

She glanced back and bumped straight into someone. Rogue fell onto her backside.

"OW! My ass!" She cried, laughing. Lance caught up with her and pulled her up.

Rogue finally took in who she had bumped into.

"Pietro? What are you doing here? Where's Kitty?" She asked, still swaying, as Lance attempted to keep her standing, she caught sight of a blonde standing next to him, "Who the hell is she?"

Pietro looked at Rogue like she was speaking pure Latin, "What on earth are you talking about? Why would I know where Pryde is?"

Lance raised an eyebrow, "You seemed pretty cosy with her at lunch, and when you heard she was alone in her room, you raced out. What are you up to?"

Pietro shook his head and looked at the blond, "Crazy, the lot of them. Her room mate's infatuated with me. Can't blame her though." He ran a hand through his hair and the blonde laughed.

Rogue glared at him, "If ya've upset her, ah'll kill ya. Understand?"

Pietro looked mildly amused, "I haven't been near her." He looked at Lance, "Has she been drinking?"

"Don't get me started." Snapped Lance. He knew Pietro was up to something, but at that moment his concern was Rogue.

"Come on." He dragged her down the steps and to her cabin. Rogue fought him all the way. But he was stronger.

"Ah'm not tired. Let's hang out some more." Cried Rogue, but then she yawned.

"Bed!" Ordered Lance.

Rogue grinned at him coyly, "Wanna come with me?" She started to twirl her finger around her hair.

"Oh, for the love of Pete! Rogue! You are drunk. I'm going to forget you said that, and I'm sure when, IF, you remember in the morning, you'll be mortified." Cried Lance, shocked.

Rogue glared at him, and snapped, "Fine, be like that." She pulled her key out and put it in the lock. Before Lance could say anything, she entered the room and slammed the door.

Lance shook his head and walked back to his room. 'She was only doing it because she was drunk.' He told himself, 'She'll be really embarrassed tomorrow.'

He smiled at the thought of teasing Rogue in the morning.

He went into his room and started getting ready to go to bed. As he lay in the dark, he wondered why he had reacted so badly to the barman.

'Why shouldn't he like her? She's really good looking.' He thought, staring at the ceiling. An alarm bell went off in his head, 'I can think that. She IS good looking. It doesn't mean I like her in THAT way or anything.' He added defensively.

He turned onto his side, 'Besides, I was just looking out for her. She's really vunerable, whether she admits it or not. I'm her friend, it's my job to protect her. I wasn't jealous or anything.'

Lance pulled the pillow over his head, "Oh God!" He groaned.

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Just a quick one. Some fun coming up. A day trip to an island, and Kitty sees Pietro and his new 'friend'.