The Kiss & The Arrival

~*~

Tap on my window knock on my door

I want to make you feel beautiful

I know I tend to get insecure

It doesn't matter anymore

It's not always rainbows and butterflies

It's compromise that moves us along

My heart is full and my door's always open

You can come anytime you want

I don't mind spending everyday

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved

-Maroon 5

~*~

When they awoke the next morning the power was still out.

"Bloody wonderful," Pete growled.

"Look on the bright side," Kitty told him optimistically. "At least we have the fireplace."

"And body warmth," he grinned.

She blushed as he pulled her even closer. "Yeah."

"Hungry?"

"A little." He stood and went into the kitchen.

"The only good thing about a wood stove," Pete said as he started a fire. "An' it keeps the place kind of warm." He made pancakes. They finished breakfast when there was a knock on the door. Pete tensed slightly. "Stay here, Pryde." He went to the door and looked outside not seeing anyone. He then opened the door his hotknives fully prepared.

"Hey, runt," Logan said.

Pete blinked fully nonplussed for an instant. "`Ow in the bloody hell did you get here?"

"Well, I flew into the small airport outside of town," Logan explained. "Then drove as far as I could. After that I hiked."

"Great, well get inside but it ain't much warmer." Kitty walked out hearing the familiar voice. When she saw Logan she gasped and ran to him launching herself into the older mutant's arms, nearly knocking him backwards.

"I thought you were dead," she whispered against his shoulder. Pete winced remembering that he hadn't told her that Logan was alive and well.

"Jesus, half-pint," he murmured touching her bruised cheek. She stepped away.

"What happened? Why weren't you there?"

"They drugged me," Logan growled his eyes narrowing at that. "It only knocked me out for a couple minutes but that was enough. They didn't hurt you that much did they?"

Kitty smiled sadly. "Just what you see." She turned to Pete and her smile was real. "He saved me." Logan also turned to Pete raising an eyebrow at that news.

"Wot?" Pete asked his eyes wide.

Kitty hugged Logan again. "I'm so happy to see you." Logan took this chance to check her scent. She was covered Pete's scent but he could tell that it was just their close proximity. "Have a seat," Kitty said motioning to the couch. Logan sat down and Kitty sat next to him leaving the other spot next to her for Pete who was restarting the fire.

Pete sat down on her other side once again drawing the blanket around the two of them. Kitty leaned into his arms. Logan looked hard at Pete who, despite every survival urge, didn't move away from her or look away from the older man. "This is going to be a boring day," Kitty sighed.

"Poker anyone?" Pete asked.

"Actually I was going to go sleep," Logan said. "After the trip, I'm exhausted. Guest room open?"

"Go ahead," Pete nodded. Logan left and Pete turned to Kitty with a smile. "Wot about you?"

"No money."

"Who said anythin' about playin' for money?" he grinned. Kitty raised an eyebrow.

She crossed her arms. "I'm totally not playing strip poker with you. I, like, made that mistake once."

He laughed. "That wasn't wot I meant." He paused thinking about what she had just said. "An' who'd you play with before?"

"None of your business," Kitty said.

"Right, this is what we're playin' for," Pete said. "The winner of each hand gets t' ask anything of the loser."

Kitty raised an eyebrow. "Anything."

"Within reason."

"Okay, Wisdom, you're on." He left and came back with some cards. They moved to the floor and he dealt. He won the first game.

"Who'd ya play with before?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes. "It was at the Brotherhood house," Kitty asked dealing. "Remy's idea, of course. By the way, never play poker with Gambit." She blushed. "So I ended up in my underwear in front of the entire Brotherhood and half of the X-Men." He won the next game too.

"Simple question here, you have a guy?"

Kitty smiled blushing a little at his intent gaze. "No, I was dating Lance for a while but we broke up."

"Lance?"

"Lance Alvers," Kitty said. "Avalanche."

"Ah," Pete said with a nod. He dealt. Much to Kitty's relief she won the game.

"I've been kind of curious about something. Why does Scratch hate you so much?"

Pete smiled wryly. "That's a loaded question, luv."

"You, like, still have to answer."

"Right. I have a habit of ignoring certain orders if I find them wrong. Scratch... You saw him; he's Black Air incarnate. I was always the one Scicluna favored, I had a mind of my own, I was... creative, and she thought I had great potential." He spat out the last word as if it was dirty. She dealt. Pete won again.

"You're good."

He leered at her. "You have no idea."

She blushed deeply. "Ask your question, Mr. Wisdom."

"I have a question, and a request."

"Okay, but you forfeit one if you win again."

He smiled. "O' course. The question is, the night of the mission, on the plane, did what I was doin' really bother you?"

"Yes," she responded. His face fell slightly. "But not for the reasons that you're, like, thinking. I didn't want you to, like, do that in front of all of them."

"`At leads me to my request." He met her eyes and she could once again see the heat there. "Kiss me." Kitty's eyes widened but she only hesitated for a moment before moving over to him. He pulled her so her legs were astride his.

She tentatively touched her lips to his. He reached up softly caressing her cheek before tilting her face to the side slightly for another kiss. Kitty leaned into him running her hands up his arms before letting them rest around his neck. Pete ran his tongue over the outline of her lips twice before he realized that she didn't know what to do. This brought on the realization that the girl in his arms was a virgin.

He gently nipped her bottom lip causing a small gasp from her. He deepened the kiss sliding his tongue into her mouth. Kitty moaned softly bringing her own tongue up to move with his gently at first then a little more confidently at his muffled groan. Pete ran his hand down her back before cupping her buttocks, pulling her body closer to his. Kitty pulled away feeling his arousal. Her eyes were wide as she stared into his.

"Sorry," he said knowing what had her looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

"No, it's totally okay," Kitty said flushing and looking down. "I was... just surprised."

"Ah," he said. "Keep playin'?" At her look of total incomprehension he smiled. "The game, luv. Remember?"

She blushed slightly. "Right." She moved so her legs were wrapped around his waist and rested her head comfortably against his chest. Pete wrapped his arms around her waist. She pulled away to look into his eyes. "Pete?"

"Yeah, luv?"

"Is this weird?"

He frowned in confusion. "Wot?"

"Us," she said, he looked even more confused, you know, being together, after how we met and everything, is it weird?"

He kissed her on the top of her nose causing a soft giggle from her. "We may `ave had a weird meetin' but weird? Nah." He leered down at her, meeting her eyes. "Why, you want t' be t'gether?"

She blushed looking away again. "You, sir, totally need to get your mind out of the guter."

"I do, I'm a dirty ol' git, I am!" he smiled cheerily. "Can't help it though, yer just so bloody beautiful." Her blush went even deeper. He could see though, the doubt in her eyes of his proclamation. He realized quickly that she didn't believe him.

In pure Pete fashion he decided to convince her that he meant what he said. He pulled her closer and kissed her deeply. He felt Kitty tremble in his arms as his hands roamed slowly over her back. He pulled away and looked into her passion-glazed eyes. She blinked a few times before offering him a shy smile.

"God, I wish you could see yourself right now," he whispered huskily. "Ya look amazin' like that."

"Like what?"

"Your hair down and slightly disheveled. Your face flushed and your eyes a little glazed over. Most of all your lips." He leaned down and kissed her again. "Your lips are slightly swollen and have never looked better." Her blue eyes sparkled in the firelight as she looked at him.

"You know, you can be really sweet when you try."

"Thanks."

She cuddled close again laying her head on his chest. "This is nice."

"Couldn't agree more."