Oh, thank you all for being so sweet!!!

Hjh-31 - *grabs your hands to stop the slapping* Don't worry about the Lance/Rogue problem, I'll think of something, no matter how bizarre! And don't you dare stop writing *wags finger at you* I love your stuff. I'm naughty when it comes to reviews, I keep meaning to comment, but I end up forgetting!! I'll be good from now on, Thanks for the wake up call!!! And thanks for the wonderful comments on my writing!

Storm-pietro, your worshipfulness and dark whispers - I aim to please. Don't be afraid to tell me if something if something just doesn't fit, I can always change it. I do try to edit it as much as possible to get it right and usually end up re-writing whole passages.

Girlonthem00n - I had to let Rogue get drunk! She's not all bad, Jackie Collins and beer? Great combo!!! LOL.

**Unfortunately, I wont be updating for a week *ducks to avoid rocks and sticks* I'm really sorry, this is killing me, but I'm in hospital on Monday for an op and have to take a week off from work, which is where I do nearly all of my writing and updating (I seriously have nothing else to do, I'm on a reception desk, in a building nobody visits. It's all IT people here.) I'm supposed to be off longer, but I hate being off sick. My computer at home came off the ark and barely has a modem. I will write the story, but I'll have to update a week from Monday. I am so sorry!**

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Kitty was woken, not by the gentle splashing of the waves against the ship's hull, but by her best friend doing a very good impression of a walrus mating call.

"Rogue? What are you doing?" She croaked. Bleary eyed, she staggered out of bed and over to the bathroom. The door was open and Rogue was lying on the floor beside the toilet.

"Are you OK?" She asked. It seemed a little late into the trip to develop sea sickness.

"Ah think ah'm dying. Oh, mah head." Groaned Rogue. She was still wearing the same clothes she went out in the day before.

"Are .. are you hungover?" Asked Kitty, shocked. Rogue merely groaned some more and then clutched her mouth and put her head over the bowl again. When she had finished she collapsed back onto the floor, shaking.

Kitty kneeled over and tried to figure out a way to feel Rogue's forehead. She looked awful.

Turning away, she hastily dressed and ran a brush through her hair. "I'll be back soon!" She said, rushing out of the room.

She ran down the corridor and stopped outside Lance's room. She banged on the door with both fists.

"Open this door now!" She yelled angrily. She was about to phase through it when Pietro opened it, looked decidedly pissed off.

"Oh, God! It's seven am. What do you want?" He cried. Kitty merely pushed past him and stormed up to the Lance shaped lump in the other bed.

"Well?" She shouted, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. Lance's head emerged in stages.

"Wha..?" He managed. Kitty shot him a disgusted looked and said, "Rogue, that's what. She's laid on the bathroom floor, puking her guts up. What the hell did you two do last night? How much did you let her drink?"

Lance was still trying to come around, "I .. She .. I mean, that is, we." he trailed off. "I'm sorry?" He tried.

"Not as sorry as you will be! I can't believe you would be so stupid. You're more irresponsible than Pietro!" She yelled.

"Hey!" Cried Pietro. Kitty ignored him.

"Stay away from us for the rest of the holiday. She's really sick. And it's all your fault."

Feeling slightly less upset, Kitty turned to leave only to be blocked by Pietro, "I'm irresponsible?" He asked, scowling.

"Oh, not now, Pietro." Replied Kitty, she shoved him to the side and marched out.

Lance looked at Pietro, "Man, she's really mad. Do you think I ought to go and see Rogue?"

"Oh, yeah! That's a good idea, you moron! Kitty'd have your balls for breakfast." Smirked Pietro.

"Speaking of meals, I meant to ask. Why were you and Kitty having lunch together yesterday?" Asked Lance, smile playing on his lips.

Pietro replied smoothly, "I don't know what you're talking about. Why, on earth, would I hang around with an X-geek?"

Lance shook his head, "Whatever. But denial isn't just a river in Egypt, you know."

Pietro went into the bathroom.

Once inside he turned on the shower angrily. His stomach had jolted when he saw Kitty at the door, and when she ignored him he felt like hitting something.

"Stupid X-Geek." He muttered, "Turning up at people's room at unreasonable hours, making a racket."

He was still scowling when he emerged, fully dressed, and headed to the door.

"I'm going out." He snapped.

Lance watched him go to the door and then called, "Remember we're docking at Portugal today. Are you going down?"

Pietro just slammed the door behind him.

"Guess not then." Said Lance.

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Pietro walked angrily along the halls, he stopped outside a room and went to knock before realising it was Kitty's.

'Damn it! How did I end up here?' He thought, he had been aiming to get to Melissa's. She was the only other girl on the ship that would talk to him and, Pietro realised after meeting her the night before, the only person on board with a bra size bigger than her IQ.

He turned to leave, when Kitty opened the door. She registered him for a minute and then asked, "What are you doing here?"

She had no malice in her voice, just surprise, "I'm going somewhere. Is that OK with Madame?" Pietro snapped.

Kitty's eyes flew open in shock. Pietro felt bad instantly, but he couldn't say anything.

"Are you OK?" She asked, "I'm sorry I woke you, but.."

"Why would my feelings be any concern to you? You, obviously, don't give a toss about anyone, but yourself. You made that perfectly clear yesterday when you just left. What had I done to merit that?" Pietro managed to stop himself. But the damage was already done.

Kitty's face grew angry, "Me? You jerk! You've been following me around, while I know you've had some secret agenda. Do you think I liked that? Knowing the only reason you were paying attention to me was because of some ulterior motive." She took a breath, "I'm not stupid, you know!"

Pietro's brain tried to stop him, 'Don't say anything, just don't say anything.' But his mouth was too fast, "Then why the hell didn't you put up more of a fight? Oh, yes, you hated being around me. I could tell. Come on, Pryde, why?"

"Because I was lonely!" Screeched Kitty, "I was alone and humiliated. And that was all down to you too. You and your funny "I'm your boyfriend act."

Before Pietro could say anything, she continued, "You know I was beginning to think that you were OK. I was having fun with you, and I figured I hadn't given you a chance. I guess I was wrong."

She slammed the door. Pietro stared at it mutely

"FUCK!" He yelled and walked away.

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Kitty leaned against the door, fighting back tears.

'Don't cry.' She told herself. She flopped onto her bed sighing.

'Why do I even want to cry?' She thought, 'I knew he was up to something. How could I have allowed myself to trust him?'

Rogue came out of the bathroom, she was still paler than usual, but at least she wasn't green anymore.

"Feeling better?" Asked Kitty, Rogue nodded. She looked around.

"Who were ya yellin' at? She asked.

Kitty went pink, "Nobody. It doesn't matter."

Rogue raised an eyebrow, "OK. Are we still goin' tah on the trip?'

Kitty nodded. Rogue disappeared for a shower.

Looking through her clothes, Kitty's eye fell on the hated red bikini.

'What the hell. I look good in it.' She thought snatching it up. When Rogue came out dressed Kitty dashed inside for a quick shower.

She came out with the bikini on and a pair of black shorts.

"Somebody's feeling fun today." Commented Rogue. Kitty shrugged and the older girl let it drop.

'I can have fun without Maximoff's assistance.' Kitty thought, pulling on her trainers. She hadn't realised that she was calling him by his last name again.

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Portugal was great, the girls visited the market and bought gifts for everyone back at the institute. They were just heading towards the beach when Kitty saw something that made her jaw drop.

In the window of one of the shops, lining the market street, was a beautiful dress. She pulled Rogue in and looked at it.

"It's gorgeous." She whispered. Rogue shrugged. It was nice enough, a long plain black dress with a halter neck.

Kitty asked the shop attendant and she went to try it on.

While Kitty was changing, Pietro walked in with Melissa. He saw Rogue and stopped. Melissa didn't seem to notice and headed straight to the rails. Rogue raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. What Pietro did wasn't her business, and she knew it had been him arguing with Kitty that morning.

Pietro was making a big show of helping Melissa pick out clothes, who was giggling like a demented five year old.

Kitty came out of the changing room, and twirled. She didn't notice Pietro.

"Well? Isn't it wonderful?" She smiled. The dress fit her perfectly, almost like it had been made for Kitty. It made her look elegant and a lot older.

"Ya look great." Agreed Rogue. Kitty span round again.

"I've got to have it." She cried, grinning. She dashed back into the changing room.

Rogue looked at Pietro out of the corner of her eye. He was looking at the changing room door.

Kitty came back out, carrying the dress. Rogue asked, "How much is it?"

"I don't know. I didn't check. I was too desperate to try it on." Kitty shrugged.

She turned the dress over and found the tag.

"Oh, my God! It's $250!" She gasped.

Rogue grabbed it, "Oh man," She said after confirming it, "Ah'm so sorry, Kitty."

Kitty tried not to look too disappointed, "It's OK. Just not meant to be, I guess." She gave the dress back to the attendant and turned to leave. Her eyes met with a familiar pair of azure blue ones across the shop.

'Why is he always around when I feel at my lowest?' She thought. Looking away, they left.

Rogue bought her an ice cream to try and cheer her up. It helped slightly.

They laid out their towels and sat down.

"Are ya sure ya OK?" Asked Rogue.

Kitty sighed, but nodded, "I suppose so. I'm just having a bad day." She stood up again, "I'm going for a swim."

She removed her shorts and trainers and ran into the ocean.

Rogue watched her go. She knew Kitty was upset about something, and that it involved Pietro, but she wasn't going to pry.

She heard a familiar, annoying giggle and looked around. Pietro was laid, with Melissa, further down the beach. Far enough so she couldn't hear what they were talking about, but close enough to see his gaze following Kitty.

She laid down and closed her eyes, soaking up the warm sun. She felt someone sit down next to her, and assumed it was Kitty.

"The water too cold for ya?" She asked, without moving.

"Dunno, haven't been in." Came the reply.

Rogue opened her eyes to see Lance. He looked sheepish.

"I know I'm not supposed to go near you, but I just wanted to apologise for last night."

"What do you mean? Why aren't you allowed to see me?" Asked Rogue, frowning.

"Kitty screamed at me this me this morning. She's really scary at times." He grinned.

Rogue just smiled, despite her size Kitty could be very loud when angry.

"An' ya've nothin' tah be sorry about. Ah got mahself drunk. Anyway, Ah hafta apologise tah ya for sayin' what ah said."

"Let's just forget it and say it never happened." Said Lance. He didn't want to discuss Rogues 'invitation'

"Friends again?" She asked, offering her hand.

"Never though we weren't." Smiled Lance, shaking it.

"So, what're ya doin' down here?" Rogue asked lying back down.

Lance sighed, "Keeping an eye on Pietro. He's up to something." He glanced at the silver haired boy, who had stood up and was looking out to the ocean.

"What's he doing?" Lance frowned. Rogue sat up. She looked at Pietro and followed his gaze. She couldn't see anything.

"There's nothing there." She said, "Unless he's hopin' tah see a merma...." She broke off looking horrified, "Kitty!"

"What?" Said Lance.

"Kitty went swimmin'. An' now ah can't see her." Rogue shot up and ran to the edge of the water, "Oh mah god. Where is she?"

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Hehehehe!! Aren't I evil??!!!