X-Men Evolution is a trademarked product from Marvel, all the characters are owned by Marvel and not me. This is a work of fiction based off of said series. I make no money off this, yadda yadda yah.

"In The Garage" - by Val Shrum (kiyonekatz at yahoo dot com)

To: Steven P. P: Sure, those are valid Amanda appearances, but those also happened during third season. Fourth season already has played and ended, and we have yet to see her really making an impact in his life since then. And, strictly between me and you, it's all hearsay. Kitty doesn't *really* know what's going on Kurt's life, only Kurt does. He hasn't said anything. So her telling Lance this is just her observation of the situation, but not the *real* situation ^_^; The story takes place where fifth season would be happening. I've dropped hints as to where everyone is, but just to mention: Kurt & Rogue as Seniors, Kitty's a Junior, Danielle exists, Pooky has been banished, and the teams are sort of... not fighting. At least it's the magical universe where this fic takes place in an ideal concept of where fifth season could have headed. Kurt and Wanda are just friends, they're technically not paired up in that way (Unless you SEE it as that way). I hope that clears up a little bit of it all.

Chapter 19

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

Lance looked at his watch. Still pretty early. He rubbed his eyes in an effort to wake himself up a little more before pushing the button on the call box at the gates to the Xavier Institute.

"What kind of person comes to a house on a saturday at this hour?" Said the male voice over the box.

"Uh..." Lance pushed the button, "Lance Alvers? I'm here to pick up Kitty. We have a... date."

"At this hour? Are you CRAZY?" Said the voice.

"Whoever this is, just let me in okay? She's expecting me."

"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Lance." The voice said, before there was a buzzing noise and the gates opened up.

Lance grumbled to himself, "Bratty X-Geeks." He pulled his jeep around to the front, turned off the engine and got out. He walked over to the door and gave it a knock.

The door was answered by a rather tired looking Bobby Drake. He walked away from the door, leaving it open for Lance, "She's in a training session with Logan. She'll be out soon."

Lance looked at the door. He rolled his eyes and closed it. 'What am I supposed to do... find a couch and wait? Thanks for the help.' His eyes shifted around, looking for a chair or couch. "Maybe I should wait in her room and surprise her!" He yelled after Bobby.

"Dude, I care enough not to have you eighty-sixed from the house. Just sit down. I'll let them know you're here." Bobby left the foyer to a hallway.

The couch beckoned Lance. He sat down on it and waited.

***

"Not bad, Half-Pint. Not bad at all." Logan admired the destruction of a few training dummys.

"... are we done? I'm going to the city today." Kitty reached for a towel.

"Your shruggin' off your trainin' for a day trip? With who, the Alvers kid?" Logan looked suspiciously at her.

"Yes, 'The Alvers kid'." She used her fingers to quote what Logan had said, "I feel like I've done more training in the last two weeks than I have in my entire time at this place."

"You probably have."

"I deserve a break. No more ninja Kitty for today." She waved, crossing her arms to emphasis that.

"Sure ya do, kiddo. You've been through a lot." He reached over and put a hand on Kitty's shoulder. "And you've earned it."

"Sorry to interrupt." A voice came over the loud system, "But Lance is here for Kitty. Should I kick him out or is he actually supposed to be here?"

"Yes, he is. You know, it's not funny anymore..." Kitty yelled up at the voice, "Can't I like... have some kind of life?" She tightened her fists.

"Easy there. Hit the showers and go have your day. I'll deal with the 'Iceman' later in HIS training session." Logan smirked.

Kitty relaxed, "Nothing I could do would be as bad as what YOU could do. Have fun." She turned and left the Danger Room.

"Oh believe me, I will."

***

Lance yawned. He looked at his watch again. Probably the fourth time in the last twenty minutes. He sighed, 'I wonder if he actually told them, or if I'm just waiting here for nothing. Maybe I should look around for her anyway. I kinda remember my way around...' He stood up, stretched, and went up the main large staircase. He made a turn, and proceeded to walk down the main hall for the girls rooms. 'Now, if only I can remember what door...' He looked around.

***

Meanwhile, Kitty stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom putting the final touches to her hairstyle. Already dressed in a casual longsleeved blue sweater and a pair of jeans. She looked at herself in the mirror one final time, not entirely pleased with herself, as she stepped out of the bathroom. She turned the corner and saw Lance standing in the hall, alone. His back to her. She smiled and stepped stealthfully up behind him. She wrapped her arms quickly around him from behind, then partially phased him with her so that he couldn't move. Kitty pressed herself against him and whispered into his ear, "Looking for someone?" She quickly let go and stepped back.

Lance whipped around, "Where the hell did you come from!? I didn't even hear you!"

"The advantage of being lighter than air sometimes. Been waiting long?" She asked.

"A little under a half hour. We could still make the next train if we leave now." Lance looked at his watch again.

"I'm ready, lemme grab my bag and we're off. Wait here." Kitty walked on by to her room. "Oh, and Lance? It's this one." She phased through the door. She returned only moments later with a small backpack-like bag, and wearing a jacket. She smiled warmly and tiptoed up to kiss Lance on the lips.

Lance was surprised at the sudden affection, but he didn't seem to mind. He wrapped his arms around her in return, enjoying the kiss. A voice called out from behind them with "Ahem!". The two pulled away from each other to see Ororo happen upon them.

"Should I be concerned about this?" Ororo teased.

"...No, Ororo. We were just... leaving." Kitty blushed and grabbed Lance's hand "Let's go." They headed downstairs to the Jeep.

Lance drove to the train station, with them just barely catching the train into the city by a few short minutes. It was a quick rush. They settled into their seats on the train. Kitty sat by the window, Lance beside her.

Kitty gazed out the window as the train pulled off from the Bayville station. She let out a sigh of relief. "That was close."

"Tell me about it." Lance slipped an arm around behind her. His other hand reached and touched her left hand that was between them. He said softly. "So... how're things? I haven't talked to you in a day or two."

"I'm almost caught up on school. Almost. All I really need to do is throw in an extra credit assignment with a killer essay and maybe a graph and I should be good." Kitty sounded confident. "My own fault, though."

"How is it your fault? Wasn't it some sort of mission they sent you on?" Lance asked.

"...no." Kitty corrected. "No, it was my fault."

"How? I don't even know where you went. They wouldn't tell me." Lance seemed annoyed.

"Well... to be fair 'they' didn't even know." She started, "I kinda ended up in Japan. And then I sorta found myself being tracked by police for trying to steal from an ATM. And I kinda got a little... confused in the head. I think I even tried to kill Logan at some point." She shook her head, "Plus sides: I learned Japanese, I learned how to fight better, and the theft charges were dropped. So yeah, my own fault."

"What?!" Lance looked at her, dumbfounded. "You WHAT?"

"Lower your voice, geez." She looked embarassed. "I followed my Dad there. Logan caught up to me, after I left behind a way obvious trail. Either way, it's over with. And I'm glad. Don't act so surprised."

"A thief, though? What, did you take lessons from Tabitha on how to beat up machines for ultimate profit or something?" Lance asked.

"I needed money. I wasn't in the right train of thought. I wouldn't make the same mistakes if I had to do it over again, but that's neither here nor there." She paused, then looked at Lance, "I'm not going to justify what happened to me for you. I'm already living with the consequences." Kitty's tone was serious.

Lance noticed the tone and the way she acted. He gave her a gentle squeeze, "No, you don't. I'm just surprised. I actually find it kind of endearing. Maybe a bit exciting."

"You would." She lightened up her tone, but only by a little. "I know you'd rather I be a bad girl." Kitty now teased.

"What's THAT supposed to mean?" He returned the tone, "I'm happy with you as you. Not some stereotype. I just happened to... crap, I know I'm going to say the wrong thing here."

Kitty couldn't help but laugh at that. "I won't get mad."

"It's just..." Lance searched for the words, "It's nice to know that you aren't perfect. Not that I thought you WERE perfect... you are perfect... just in the... aw man..."

"I'm flawed, I'm not perfect, and I know what you mean." Kitty playfully nudged Lance. "Despite what my grades are."

"I just can't see you knocking over an ATM machine." He tried to backpedal just a little bit.

"Yeah, well, it happened." She shrugged. "Hey... we're almost into the city."

"You're right. Then we catch the connection to drop us off near the theater." Lance pulled out a small piece of paper with instructions.

"Are you sure you know where you're going, or what you're doing?" Kitty raised an eyebrow.

"Do we have much of a choice? Besides, this is New York. Even if YOU don't know where you're going, someone is bound to." He shrugged.

"And what if they give us the wrong directions? You haven't exactly thought this through." Kitty teased.

"Hey, shut up, alright? It'll work out." Lance looked annoyed.

"Make me!" She stuck her tongue out at him.

Lance smirked. Taunting him usually wasn't the best way to handle things. He never backed down from a challenge. His left hand slid over to Kitty's stomach, tickling her now.

Kitty shrieked and struggled playfully, "Lance!" She tried to grip his hand with hers to stop the tickle-assault. "Cut it out!"

"Make me." He returned the challenge, in the same tone as she had given him. Kitty lifted his hand so it didn't touch her, she slid in closer and bridged the gap with a playful kiss. This was her way of stopping him. He stopped tickling. He repositioned his hand in hers, clasping her fingers gently.

Kitty broke the kiss first. She blushed and whispered, "You never know how much you miss the little things, until you take them for granted." Kitty put her head on his shoulder, hugging softly against him.

"I know I missed you." He kissed her on the top of her head.

The train pulled into the station and stopped. Kitty and Lance got up from their chair and headed to the exit. He took her hand, and lead her down a staircase, to another level, "We need to get fare for the buses." The crowd was pretty dense. They stood in line as he fished around for a few dollars in his pocket.

"Wow, it's busy."

"It's like eleven twenty on a saturday, you expect it to be slow?" Lance asked. "I hope we get to the theatre in enough time to rush."

"That'd be nice. Save you some money."

"I don't care about the money. It's the seating that's killer." They got up to the machine. He put in money for his fare, pushing a few buttons and getting a ticket. Then did the same for Kitty. He handed her the ticket, "Let's hurry." Lance reached down and grabbed her free hand again, following signs to the bus they needed to board. He stepped through the doors, then pulled her close to him in the bus full of people.

"Welcome to New York, huh?" Kitty commented. She looked around at the different people.

"A little busier than we're used to, like back in Illinois." Lance hugged Kitty to him.

Kitty smiled at that. That's one of the things they had in common that she sometimes forgot about. "Chicago has it's moments." She relaxed against him then said, "Do you know what stop we're supposed to get off on? I'll admit, manuevering any bus system isn't part of my vast array of skills."

"That's a funny way of putting it." He laughed, "Don't worry, I've got it. Next stop." He moved away from her and took her hand. They filed out of the bus as it made the stop.

The two walked along the city street and across the crosswalk to the theatre. It had a big display marquee for the musical, RENT. In the front there was a table with a few index cards on it, pens, and two men behind it with a barrel.

"So what do we do?" She murmured to Lance.

"We both write our names on a card each, and put 'two' for the amount of tickets." Lance gestured, going up to the table.

"What if, in an unlikely circumstance that we both win?" Kitty wrote down her name and put the number two. She handed it to the guy behind the desk who tossed it in the barrel.

"Oh, then one of us just says we don't want it anymore, and they pick another card. That's all." He finished writing his out, handing it to the guy and stepping back. "Now we just wait until noon for them to draw the cards."

"Exciting." Kitty leaned back against a pole. Lance moved in next to her. Her phone rang from inside her bag. She pulled the bag around to her front, fishing out the cell phone.

"Hello?" Kitty talked to the phone. "What, no. Can't. I'm not even remotely close to there right now. I'm in New York City." She made a face, "Yes, Logan and Ororo know I'm here. Then you'll just have to figure out how to fix your own computer, or wait until I get back tonight. Try Mr. McCoy. Oh well, then I guess you're screwed. No, I won't walk you through it over the phone." She smiled at Lance and snuggled up against him, "I'll be back later tonight. No, I don't know when. I'm with someone right now, okay? It's a little rude to be on the phone, y'know. Yes. Why, you got a problem with that? Oog. Whatever. I'm hanging up now." She pressed the 'end call' button on the phone. "Some of those kids, I swear." She put the phone away.

"One of the 'new recruits'?" Lance asked.

"Yeah, Roberto. I swear, I went through and gave them tutorials and strict explanations and they still manage to mess up things." Kitty seemed annoyed. "Freaking X-Babies."

"And yet, they're not much younger than you are. In fact, some are older. Don't be so harsh, Kitty. Not everyone is a super-genius like you." Lance commented.

"Hey... wait a sec. Does that make you uncomfortable? That I'm smart?" Kitty looked up at Lance, unsure his tone.

"Not in the least. I'm just saying you should be nicer to the new recruits, that's all. I was one, once."

"Oh yeah, and we saw how THAT turned out." She laughed.

The men behind the table announced that they'd start calling off names. Six names had been called, until finally, "Katherine Pryde?"

"They called you! Get up there!" Lance pushed her.

Kitty blinked and stumbled. She got in the line. Lance walked over and gave her the fourty dollars for the tickets. She got approached again to confirm that she wanted two tickets still. Lance hung back at the pole and waited for the remaining names to be called, which he wasn't one.

"Like, wow. Only been in New York for a half hour and I actually won something!" She commented to no one in particular. The line moved and she paid for the tickets, then rejoined Lance. "Looks like we have our show tickets. Two hours to kill... up for a bite to eat?"

"Good idea." He took her hand and started down the street, away from the theatre.

***