The last one before I go. Don't worry, I shall return!

*********************************************************************

Kitty struggled against the rip tide that was dragging her down. Her lungs were aching from the lack of oxygen.

'I'm going to die.' She though. She kicked harder and managed to break the surface. She gasped and took a deep breath, but before she could scream for help, the current pulled her under again.

She had been lying on her back, drifting on the waves. The water was warm and she wasn't out too far. She had turned to swim back, when she realised that she had gone further than she thought.

Mentally punishing herself for not paying attention, she started to swim to shore. But it was harder than she imagined.

'Oh God! I'm in a rip tide.' She thought, swimming harder. But it was futile, she was just tiring herself. She tried to shout and waved her arms, but as soon as she stopped swimming she was dragged under the water.

Kitty felt the exhaustion overtake her. Her arms grew heavy. She tried to push up, but it felt as though her limb were made from lead. She looked up, but her vision was fading.

Kitty lost consciousness and began to sink.

******************************

Pietro had, despite himself, been watching Kitty from the beach. He saw her drifting further out and frowned. He knew how easy it was to be swept out.

"Pietro? Are you even listening to me?" Asked Melissa.

"No." He said, standing up. She was really annoying him. Since he had seen Kitty in that black dress, he hadn't listened to a word Melissa said.

He looked out onto the water for Kitty. She had disappeared. 'Where's she gone?' He wondered to himself.

Suddenly, Kitty broke through the surface and waved her arms, and then went back under. Pietro frowned, and then saw Rogue stand up and run to the shallows.

He realised what had happened and ran into the ocean. He passed Lance swam out to where he saw Kitty surface. He took a deep breath and dived under. He looked around, and below him he saw Kitty sinking.

Struggling for breath, he dived further and managed to grab her arm. He began kicking to the surface. Once he broke through he pulled Kitty's head out. She wasn't breathing.

The tide was still strong, but thanks to Pietro's mutation, he was able to break through it and pull her to shore.

Lance waded in and helped him drag her out. They laid her on the sand.

Rogue was crying, "She's not breathin'" She stood there helplessly, as Pietro began to give her CPR. A crowd had gathered, and were murmuring. Aims broke through and saw her niece.

"Kitty." She screamed, she ran to her side. Pietro was still trying to pump the water out of her lungs.

"Breathe, damn it." He said. He was beginning to fear it wasn't going to work. 'Why didn't I go out sooner?' He thought.

Just then, Kitty coughed up a mouthful of water and took a breath. Her eyes opened and she looked around in panic.

"Oh, thank God!" Cried Aims, pulling Kitty into a hug, "I thought you'd gone."

Kitty coughed again, and began to cry. Aims let her fear overtake her and started too.

Rogue collapsed on the sand next to them, she was wearing a T-shirt, and her arms were exposed, so she couldn't risk hugging Kitty too. Tears rolled down her face.

Kitty pulled away. She was still terrified. She knew she was lucky to be alive. Aims stroked her hair, "Come on. Let's get you back to the ship."

Kitty was shaking so badly that she couldn't stand. Lance stepped forwards and picked her up. He carried her through the crowd, towards the harbour.

Rogue grabbed their things and raced after him. Aims stood up and wiped her eyes. She looked Pietro, who was lying on his back looking exhausted.

"Thank you." She said.

Pietro smiled weakly and sat up. Aims continued, "You must really love her to risk your own life like that."

Before he could reply or argue, she walked away. He watched her go. His mind was whirling. What had made him just rush out to save her like that?

'I'm just a good human being.' He thought, trying to persuade himself, that that was the real reason.

He climbed to his feet and slowly walked back towards the ship. Melissa gathered her things and trailed after him.

*****************************

Lance leaned on the wall outside the cabin and folded his arms, unable to process what had just happened. 'What on earth had possessed Pietro to do that?' He thought.

The door opened and the ship's doctor came out. Lance straightened up and looked at him.

"Is she OK?" he asked, concerned.

The doctor smiled, "She'll be fine. Just a little shocked. She was damned lucky that someone got to her in time."

Lance thanked him and went to the door. He knocked lightly and Aims answered it.

"Is it OK if I come in?" Asked the tall mutant.

Aims nodded, "Sure. I'm leaving anyway. I'll start crying again and Kitty needs to rest." She paused as she passed him in the doorway, "Don't let her get tired, OK."

She took one last look at Kitty and went into her room. Lance sat on Rogue's bed. He looked at the two girls. Kitty was wrapped up in a bathrobe and lay under the covers. Rogue was sitting on Kitty's bed.

Lance didn't know what to say, apart from the obvious 'How are you feeling' and he knew how stupid that question was.

Kitty spoke first, "I'm sorry about this morning."

"What?" he asked.

"About calling you irresponsible, telling you to stay away from us. I was really upset. And if you hadn't ignored me, I'd be dead." She explained.

"How do you work that out?" Said Lance, confused.

"You saved me! If you hadn't have come in after me, I would have drown." She replied, as if it were obvious.

Lance looked at Rogue and then back to Kitty, "I didn't. I wasn't fast enough. Pietro saved you."

Kitty blinked, "Pietro?"

"Yeah, it was only because he can move so fast that he managed to get back through the tide."

Kitty still couldn't get over the first point, "Pietro saved me?" She looked at Rogue.

Rogue nodded. She was about to reply, but a knock at the door interrupted her. She left the bed and opened it. Pietro stood outside, holding a bag.

"Can I come in?" he asked. Rogue looked at Kitty, who seemed to still be in shock, and nodded. She looked pointedly at Lance, who got the message and stood up.

They left the room, shutting the door after themselves.

Kitty looked at Pietro, "You saved me?" She asked.

Pietro just shrugged, and sat on Rogue's bed. He looked like he was struggling with some internal conflict. But what Kitty said next surprised him.

"Why?"

He looked at her, frowning, "Why what?"

"Why did you save me?" She asked. Pietro didn't know where she was going with this. It was hardly the thank you he had been expecting.

'Come off it.' A nagging voice said, inside his head, 'You were hoping she'd throw herself at you in gratitude and thank you by declaring her undying love.'

Pietro coloured up at his own thoughts, "What do you mean, Why did I save you? You were drowning. I was the only one fast enough."

"I thought that you wouldn't give a toss if I drowned or not." Kitty snapped, 'How dare he try and play the hero after being such a bastard to me.' She thought, 'He probably only did it so every woman on the ship would think he's wonderful.'

"That's not true!" Cried Pietro. He stood up, "Just because we can't stand one another is no reason to let you die."

"Well, thank you for caring. Did you come by hoping that I'd throw myself at you by way of saying thank you?" Kitty had no idea why she was getting so worked up, but she couldn't stop.

Her last comment was a little too close to the mark for Pietro. He walked to the door, "If that's how you feel, then, you're welcome!" He tossed the bag on Kitty's bed. "This is for you. Get well soon!" He slammed the door.

Kitty banged her fist down in frustration, 'Why does he go out of his way to get under my skin?' She thought. She glanced at the bag, and then pulled it towards her.

Opening it, she gasped. Inside was the black dress.

*********************************************************************

Sorry guys, but 'that's all folks' for a week. Hope you liked the latest chapters. I've really enjoyed writing them.

So, I'll be back soon with loads more updates! Keep your fingers crossed for me and hopefully, I'll be fighting fit and back on top in no time!!!