Another week of school, and with it came five reasons to celebrate the two days of the week that began with the letter 'S'.  The warm sun shone down onto the Xavier institute.  The sounds of laughter, the splashes of water floated into the blue sky.

It was too beautiful a Friday afternoon to spend inside, so the majority of Xavier's School for the Gifted flocked to the pool.  Jean, Kitty, and Jubilee worked on their tans, the other girls reclined in floats or mingled on the cool-decking.  Most of the boys were in the pool, conducting what they had titled the "Mother of All Chicken Fights".  Logan and Scott had brought the grill out to the poolside and were tending to an array of plumping hotdogs and charring hamburgers. 

Even the Acolytes had meandered in throughout the day after being sent on various assignments by their leader during the week.  Piotr reclined under the shade of a nearby tree with a book from the Professor's library.  Gambit lounged poolside, while keeping a sunglass-covered eye on Tabitha as she walked around in her bikini which left very little to the imagination, even Gambit's.  Pietro was nowhere to be found, preferring his authoritative position at the Brotherhood house.  And John kept in close proximity to the grill Logan was cooking on.

"I cannot believe how well they seem to be getting along."  Ororo allotted to herself, observing from the mansion's back porch.

"Keep your friends close…"

She turned to see Hank walking out of the kitchen with two glasses of lemonade.

Ororo took an offered glass and motioned for him to take the seat next to her.  "I do hope this friendship continues with Magneto even after we stop Mesmero from awakening Apocalypse."

"I'm afraid that will be the least of our problems."  The Beast remarked taking a sip of the drink and turning his blue face towards the warmth of the sum.  "How something as simple as a drink of a particularly bitter fruit such as the lemon on a summer's day can encompass so much pleasure and relaxation I'll never know."

Storm chuckled at Beast's overzealous thoughts.  "True." 

"And I do agree with you Ororo."  He flashed a genuine smile.  "It is nice to see them acting like normal kids." 

"Bobby!"  Amara screeched.

Both of the instructors looked to the pool, but more importantly the iceberg that took up the majority of the deep end.

"Check it out."  Bobby raised his hands over his head and stood on the very tip of the diving board.  "I'm King of the World!  Oh CRAP an Iceberg!"  He yelled before flinging himself into the water.

"Well, as normal as can be expected."  Hank finished.

Storm sighed.  "I had better get down there before Logan tries to handle it."

"I'll leave you to your work then."  Hank stood, picking up her now empty glass with his own.

"Back to the lab again?"  She questioned as he started on his way.  "I was beginning to get used to a conversation with another adult."

"Well, Mr. Worthington has been able to procure a vast amount of information regarding the guardian and the three rings."  McCoy beamed.  "Of course most of it is written in a language I have never seen so the decoding is quite time consuming."

"Go on."  Ororo waved her hand, knowing that Beast was enjoying his archeological work more than anything else.

~~~:*:~~~

Piotr looked up from his book at the person who just kicked his foot.

John stood in the sunlight, wearing black swim trunks with flames on them and that ridiculous white paste-like sun block covering his nose.  "Come on mate; let's show these X-Men how the Acolytes make a burger."

Piotr sighed.  "There is no way I can convince you otherwise?"

"Nope."  John grinned broadly.

Marking his place, Piotr stood and followed John to the nearby grills.

"Come one come all!"  John announced loudly to the group of kids.  "The amazing Mutant-tool Cooperation, a subsidiary of Fly-by-Night Industries has instructed who?  Me!  To show you the handiest and the dandiest cooking accessory since the invention of the spork!"

"Oh lord."  Remy groaned, and put a beach towel over his head to drown out the noise.

"Ready?"  John looked up to his towering assistant.

Piotr nodded, closing his fists and turning his hands and forearms into their metal form.

"Amara, how about giving me a light."  Amara turned around from her present job of melting the miniature iceberg Bobby had named the 'DeCaprio Destroyer'.  She smiled at John and allowed the flames radiating from her hair to grow.

"Getting the correct temperature is essential."  John explained as he hovered a flame over to Piotr's metal hands.  "Too cold or Too hot and you get just a regular burger."  The fire hovered there and increased in temperature as Pyro concentrated, and slowly the silver metal began glowing a dull, then bright red.

"Doesn't that hurt?"  Tabby asked, looking over Jamie at Piotr.

Piotr shrugged a 'no', apparently not sharing his companion's fascination for the trick.

"That should about do it."  John said as he extinguished the flame.  "Pam me."  He held an open hand out to Kurt.

"Vhat?"  Kurt, clad in his blue fir and yellow swim trunks, asked.

"Pam."  John pointed to the spray can on the grill next to Logan.  "Don't want the burgers sticking now do we?" 

Kurt complied, handing the spray can to John and watching as he thoroughly coated the glowing metal hands.

Once finished, John tossed the can haphazardly back over his shoulder where it struck Jamie in the forehead. 

"Ouch!"

"Ouch!"

"Ouch!"

"Ouch!"

John, as well as most of the others, ignored the Jamies' complaints.  "All right Scottie boy, toss one to him."

Scott shrugged and complied, tossing one of the raw patties at Piotr.  It was caught, sizzling as soon as it made contact between the glowing hands.

John hurriedly removed a hamburger bun from the package and quickly adorned it with every condiment that he could find.

"That should do it."  He held the bun under Piotr's hands and caught the patty when Colossus dropped it.  "Who wants the first try?"  He said as he topped the burger and held it up.

Silence.

"Aww… Come on, his hands were clean!"  John indicated back to Piotr who was walking back to the mansion.  "Hey Drake, come here."  He called over to Bobby.

"No way man."  Bobby held his hands up in defense and began backing away.

"Bobby…"  John cooed taking a step closer, and the Iceman broke out into a sprint.  "Come here you bloody ice machine!"  John yelled as he gave chase.

Logan looked on with a small smirk as fire chased ice around the pool and out into the grass surrounding the institute.  A passing Ray Crisp took advantage of the distracted Wolverine.

"Touch it Sparky and McCoy'll have you drinking all your food."  He growled, and Ray's hand jerked back from the small cooler of Logan's beer by the grill.

Logan looked over at a chuckling Scott.  "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing."  Scott stopped his chuckling and busied himself flipping the hotdogs.  "Seeing Ray run off like that reminded me of when I met you back when I was a freshman."

Logan frowned.  "What are you saying?"  He asked accusingly as he unsheathed a single claw and impaled a burger to flip it.

"Nothing!"  Scott gulped.  "I mean… well you are… You still scare the hell out of me."  Scott smiled weekly.

"I thought so."  Logan huffed.  "Got one week of school left, ready to graduate?"  He changed the subject.

"More than ready."

"Going to miss Bayville high?"

"I'm out of there as soon I get my diploma."  Scott said seriously as he took up a couple of hotdogs and placed them on a plate.  "And you can believe me; I won't be back for any reunions."

Logan took another gulp of his beer.  "What then?"

"I dunno.  Haven't really thought about it.  I mean I have thought of college but with everything that's going on in the world I think it would be best if I stayed here at the institute."  He shrugged.  "Maybe become an instructor or something."

"What if Jean goes off to college."  Logan cut an eye over to watch Scott's reaction.

He didn't respond at first, just looked poolside at his reclining girlfriend.  Her red hair fanned out behind her as she laid on the lounge chair, her skin slightly browning with the combined effects of the sun and the lotion she was spreading over herself.  "Well, maybe college shouldn't wait then."

~~~:*:~~~

*Yes Rogue?*

Her hand stopped short of completing the knock on the door of the Professor's office.  Sighing, and thanking God that the most powerful Telepath in the world was on her side, she entered through the elaborate wooden doors.

"I hate it when you do that."  She said as she approached the desk, taking a seat.

Xavier smiled.  "Just think of it like caller id."

"You mean you haven't answered the door for someone before?"  She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Charles looked slightly flustered.  "Umm…. What was it you wanted?"

"Well, I've been having these feelings lately."  Rogue explained leaning back in the seat across from the Professor's desk.  "When you feel like someone is standing behind you but when you turn around no one is there."

"Yes."  The Professor prompted for her to continue.

"But they feel familiar, like the feelings I get when I use someone else's powers or something."

Charles raised an eyebrow.  "Do you think they could be the people you have absorbed again?"

"No, it feels further away, like they are just watching."  Her voice faded.  "Like whoever it is cant get to me."

"Would you like me to enter your mind again?"

"Not really."  Rogue sighed.  "I'm probably just being paranoid."

"You went through quite an ordeal Rogue.  But I believe it was a progressive step in learning to control your powers.  You were able to quell the uprising and bring it under control."  Xavier explained, hoping that Rogue would see his hope.  "I would like us to start working together again."

"I do too, but can I get a little more time to get over all this?"  She asked, producing a weak smile.

"I understand.  School will be over after next week and I believe you should focus on your studies for the time remaining."  He decided to drop the subject; Rogue would come to him when she was ready.  "How are your classes?  You missed a good portion of last month.  I'm sure Hank and Ororo are more than willing to help in anything you may be behind in." 

"Nah, I think I got it under control."

"Good."  Charles smiled and maneuvered his wheelchair around the desk.  "Now, would you like to accompany me outside?  If we wait any longer I'm afraid Kurt may eat our share of the burgers."

"Sure."  Rogue got up and pushed the Professor's wheelchair down the hallway and out towards the back door.  "Professor?"

"Yes Rogue?" 

"So…"  She leaned down to him and spoke quietly in his ear.  "Who haven't you opened the door for?"

Xavier sighed.  "Remember when Kitty made those muffins?"

~~~:*:~~~

Piotr washed the hamburger grease off his hands in the kitchen sink.  Just as he was finishing up he heard laughter from outside.

Kitty walked through the glass door with the sack of hotdog wrappers and frozen hamburger boxes.  "I take it you guys do have some free time working for Magneto."  She laughed depositing the items in the trashcan and absently adjusted a strap on her bathing suit.

"A little."  Piotr responded, turning off the water and drying his hands with the dishtowel.  "And I wouldn't say that I am working for the man, I owe him, and am obliged to repay my debt."

She plucked an apple from the basket of fresh fruit on the table and rubbed it on the towel that was slung over her shoulder.  "Forgive me for saying this, but this is America, you're not 'obliged' to do anything you don't want to."  Kitty's eyes went wide when she realized what she had just said.  "I mean…"

"It is okay."  Piotr hung the dishtowel over the sink.  "You have grown up in a wonderful place, and while I see you as naive, I would not wish the things that I feel have educated me on you."

"What do you mean?"  She asked hopping up on the adjacent counter and taking a bite of the apple.  "Like, that is, if you don't mind me asking."

"I do not, I am not proud of it but I will not hide what I have done."  He leaned back on the counter and crossed his arms.  "I am not from Russia as you and the others intend when you speak of it, the USSR it was dissolved when I was little.  I come from Bosnia, somewhere the freedom that was supposed to rain on us after the fall of the Berlin Wall never seemed to reach."  He looked over his shoulder and out the window where John continued to chase Bobby.  "My family farmed in the rural countryside, tending the manageable land with what little equipment we could keep running."

"I will not go into the details and the politics, but the elections held in the early nineties seemed to be the general start of it.  At first we feared nothing, because we were not Muslims and it seemed that the Serbs were only targeting them.  But evidently that was not true."  He looked over to the girl sitting on the counter before continuing.

"The Serbs came through late one afternoon in the fall, shot my Mother, Father and Brother outside our home, and burned our house down around my hiding sister."  Kitty inhaled sharply.  "If I had only been there."  Piotr looked at his hands.  "I had discovered my mutation at least a year earlier but kept it a secret.  My father was a hardworking man, and I knew he would work me much harder if he knew I could increase my strength at will.  We were making a good living, and accidents seemed to happen to the farmers who were making too good of a living."

"After I buried them I just walked, following jets that crossed the sky and tailing any Serbian military equipment I saw.  Eventually I walked upon one of their bases."  He paused for a second.  "I did not hide it; I transformed, walked right up to the front gate, and killed everyone I saw."

"Piotr…"  Kitty exhaled but he continued.

"I had no pity for the soldiers, and I still do not.  But there were women and children there.  The wives and children of the soldiers.  They had done nothing; I do not think they even knew what their husbands were doing when they left the base."

"At the time I did not care.  The soldiers had taken my family and taking theirs from them seemed like fitting justice.  And I would have killed them, but I suddenly found myself lifted into the air and flown away from the base.  I landed at the feet of a man clad in red, who promised me passage out of the country, in exchange for my help in assuring that the ethnic cleansing that took my family would never happen again."

He paused for a moment, and seemed to be collecting himself.  Kitty looked at him, how could he speak so freely about something so terrible?  He had stood there and just told her how his entire family was murdered and his voice didn't even waver in the least.

"So you see, Magneto stopped me from killing those that had nothing to do with the death of my family.  And I will help him do whatever it takes to be sure it will not happen to anyone else again."  He looked over at the girl, and at the tears brimming in her eyes.

His brow wrinkled in confusion.  "Are you…" 

"Sorry, I just…"  Kitty sniffed and looked around the room, trying hard to suck the tears back in.

Piotr rose from leaning on the counter and approached her.  "It was a long time ago."

She hopped down from the counter and stamped her foot on the floor in anger.  "I know, it's just…"  She exclaimed trying to figure out what about his confession struck a chord so deep in her.  "Girls cry allot okay!"  She huffed.

Piotr smiled. 

The glass door swung open and john stepped in.  "I just don't get it."  He said taking a bite of the burger in his hand.  "It's just a burger, why won't anybody try it?"

"You know."  Kitty laughed, wiping a finger under each of her eyes.  "They do the same thing with me."

Well, I see most of you went ahead and translated what Remy said in French against my warnings, so this is the last chapter.

Just kidding.

Sorry for the complete lack of Romyness this time around, I promise to give you enough to choke a hoarse next chapter.

I guess you all know who the question mark in the summary is now don't you? (Rogue/Remy, Kitty/?)  But I think their relationship is going to be different than the Romy, although I'm not sure how yet.   As for all you Lance/Kitty and Kurt/Kitty fans, I don't dislike either one of them; I just think the Kitty/Piotr thing goes better with what I'm doing.  Besides Kurt's got a chick, and there will probably be some Kurt/Amanda later on.

Don't think I will be paring John with anyone romantically, that is unless I get a slew of reviews telling me they want him with a certain character…

No matter who I pair with who, this fic isn't going to bash anyone.  Lance as well as the rest of the Brotherhood will be coming into the story in a little bit.

Ahhh…  Two updates a week hasn't been as bad as I thought it would.

Later