Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men: Evolution, or any other Marvel or WB
property.
Notes: Okay, I have to apologize to Inuternutter. I stole the names of Kurt's parents from Internutter. So all credit goes to Internutter.
Wow. Once again, I have to shorten up the shout outs. There are so many. Thanks everyone. It means a lot.
Internutter: Internutter! THE Internutter! ::Parker runs to put on his best suit and tie:: Wow! I can't believe you read one of my stories and seem to like it so far. That's awesome! Thanks! By the way, is there something wrong with my computer, or with your server? Because I can't get onto Nutfiction or Realm of the Internutter.
Redlion2: Yeah, you're pretty much right. Wait until later. More torture coming.
Ice50: I always write Kurt as the swingingest guy around! Funny thing is, he always complains.
Coffee Connoisseur: Hope you like the Kurtty WAFF in this chapter, too.
Electric Russian: Franka is a feminine German name. I named her after Franka Potente (a German actress I'm in love with).
Mama Moosh: Yeah, she's trouble. Thanks for reading.
Tenzo: I'm sure the story of how I write would be very boring. Thanks for reading!
And a HUGE SHOUT OUT to everyone else who has read and reviewed. I've never received this many reviews so quickly. I'm so happy that you guys and dolls like the story (so far).
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Kitty squirmed on the mattress, trying desperately to get comfortable. Sighing softly, she looked at the clock on the wall. The clock read 3:42 a.m. Closing her eyes, she tried again to drift off to sleep, but there were too many thoughts running through her head. Opening her eyes again, she turned over on her side and stared at the sleeping form of Kurt. He had been telling the truth. The wagon was a little cramped. She guessed that the performers didn't mind, but she wasn't used to sleeping this close to two other people, especially Kurt. He didn't mind. He had gone to sleep as soon as his head had hit the pillow.
"But then again, he grew up like this." Kitty thought.
Her mind began to replay the events of that night over again, and she finally made it back to the event that had happened before they had gone to bed.
Franka. Kitty did not like Franka.
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"{Hello, Kurt.}" Franka said with a coy smile.
Kurt's eyes went as wide as saucers.
"{Hello, Franka.}" He said. "{What. . .what are you doing here?}"
"{Saying goodnight to you.}" She said with a smile.
Kitty and Tabby watched as Franka came closer to Kurt, her arms open. Kurt absentmindedly opened his own arms and embraced her. Kitty stared at the two, watching Franka as she. . .
"Is she breathing him in?" Kitty thought. "She. . .she is! She's smelling his neck!"
Tabby simply stood there, looking as if she didn't like the reunion at all.
"Vhat are you doing here?" Kurt asked, trying to break the embrace and finding he couldn't. "I zought you vere supposed to be in Prague, studying music."
"I vas." Franka said, breaking the hug and stepping back.
Tabby thought that she was still standing too close to Kurt.
"But vhen I heard you vould be coming back zis summer, I decided to come back as vell." Franka said.
She reached out and put her hand on one of Kurt's cheeks.
"You look great." Franka said.
"So do you." Kurt said, still shocked.
Franka smiled at him, and seemed to be leaning in for a kiss before Kurt shook his head, coming to his senses. Stepping back, he took Kitty's arm and pulled her forward, followed by Tabby. He seemed to be hiding behind the two girls.
"Franka, I vould like you to meet my friends." Kurt said from behind the girls. "Zis is Kitty, and zis it Tabby. Girls, zis is my old friend Franka."
"You're old "friend," Kurt?" Franka said coyly.
Both Kitty and Tabby noticed the emphasis on the word "friend."
Franka's demeanor seemed to change slightly, he smile becoming fake.
"Pleasure." She said curtly, before pushing past them, coming closer to Kurt.
"How haff you been?" Kurt asked, walking backwards slightly from the approaching young woman.
"I've been good." Franka said. "And you?"
"Good. Great." Kurt said, backing into a wagon.
Kitty looked at Tabby, and Tabby looked back at Kitty.
"Do you see this?" Kitty's eyes seemed to say.
"Yeah." Tabby's eyes replied. "Can you believe this girl?"
"I've. . .uh. . .I've been great. School is good, I'm learning more about mein powers." Kurt said. "And I've made some great. . .um. . .nein! Some vonderful friends."
Franka stopped in front of him, throwing back a condescending glance back at Tabby and Kitty.
"Really?" She asked.
"Jah." Kurt said, wishing he could have Kitty's power to phase through the wagon behind him. "So. . .vhat are you going to do here zis summer?"
"Kurt! I vas hoping ve could do our old act togezzer." Franka said with a pout.
"Oh. Oh, um, I don't zink zat's such a good idea." Kurt said, shaking his head. "I don't remember it very vell."
"I can remind you." Franka said with a smile, putting her arms around Kurt's neck.
"Franka! Hi! How rude of us not to say hello when we were introduced!" Tabby said, her voice louder than usual.
Franka turned back toward the girls.
"Jah. It vas." Franka said.
"Well, let me say hi now." Tabby said, putting her hand out to Franka.
Franka took her arms from around Kurt and put her hand in Tabby's. Tabby's grip tightened faster than lightning, squeezing Franka's hand tightly. . .painfully.
"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Tabby." Tabby said with a grin. "I'm one of Kurt's closest friends."
Franka's grin faltered from the pain of Tabby's handshake.
"How. . .how nice to meet you." Franka said through the pain, refusing to let Tabby know how much it hurt.
Finally, Tabby let her hand go. Franka's hand was red from the force Tabby had exerted on it.
"My. . .vhat a strong grip you haff." Franka said. "American vomen. . .you are all built just like your men."
Kurt closed his eyes.
"What?" Tabby demanded.
Kitty sighed and moved forward, pushing Tabby aside.
"Hello." Kitty said sweetly, extending her own hand, somewhat surprised when Franka took it. "I'm Kitty. I'm Kurt's best friend."
Franka's eyebrows raised.
"Oh? Vell, you're grip's not as strong as Tabby's." Franks said.
Unseen, she dug one of her nails into Kitty's hand.
"Doesn't need to be." Kitty said, phasing through Franka's hand.
"Ah. I see." Franka said, turning back to Kurt. "Vell, Kurt, I'm going to bed. Ve'll talk about our. . .act. . .later."
"Jah, Franka." Kurt said. "{Goodnight.}"
"Goodnight, liebe." Franka said, walking away.
"Liebe?" Kitty thought. "Uh-oh."
The three watched her walk off until she walked behind another wagon.
"So. . .she was nice." Kitty said sarcastically.
"Vell, ve should go to bed." Kurt said cheerfully.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Tabby said, stopping Kurt from walking by her by putting out her arms. "Who. . .no. . .what was that?"
"Her? She's just an old friend." Kurt said.
"An old, rude friend." Kitty said, turning around to face him.
"You zink she vas rude?" Kurt asked defensively. "She seemed fine to me."
"Yeah. Because she wants to get into your pants. Who was she, Kurt?" Tabby asked.
"I told you. Just an old friend." Kurt said, moving past Tabby, looking sheepishly back at Kitty. "Are you two coming?"
"Yeah. I guess we better." Tabby said angrily, marching past Kurt and into the wagon.
Kurt stood there, watching her leave. Then he felt Kitty standing next to him.
"Just an old friend, Fuzzy?" Kitty asked softly. "You've never told me about Franka."
Kurt looked down at the ground.
"She vas a girlfriend." Kurt said.
"How serious was it?" Kitty asked.
"Um. . .pretty serious. For a little vhile."
"How long is a little while?" Kitty asked.
Kurt stood there, kicking at the ground with one of his toes.
"Kurt?" Kitty asked.
"Since childhood?" Kurt ventured, looking back up at Kitty.
"Childhood?" Kitty asked, her gaze never leaving Kurt's eyes.
"Oh, you know how it is, Katzchen. Ve played togezzer as children. Our parents' vere all best friends. Ve vere raised togezzer. And zen ve hit puberty. I started liking girls. She started liking fuzzy elves. . ." Kurt tried to joke.
"Why did you never tell me?" Kitty asked. More than anything, she felt hurt that Kurt had kept a serious relationship from her.
"It didn't seem important." Kurt said softly. "I never zought it vould come up."
"What happened?" Kitty asked.
"She vent to school in Prague. End of story." Kurt said.
"You two broke up?" Kitty asked.
Kurt couldn't keep the gaze anymore, so instead he simply looked at the ground.
"You didn't break up." Kitty asked after a long silence.
"Not officially." Kurt said. "I simply left for America and ze Institute after she left for Prague."
Kitty shook her head sadly.
"And what was this act?" Kitty asked.
"It vas. . .vell. . ." Kurt stammered.
"Yes?" Kitty asked.
"It vas an acrobatic ballet. Set to violin music. It vas. . .it vas an act called "Ze Lovers."
"The Lovers?" Kitty breathed.
"Jah."
Kitty simply shook her head, and then walked off toward the wagon, leaving Kurt standing there.
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Kitty didn't even know what bothered her more. The fact that Kurt had never told her about this Franka, or the fact that Franka seemed intent on raping Kurt in front of her. Scowling, Kitty remembered how Franka held onto him and touched him as much as she could. It had taken some time, but Kitty had finally realized the depth of her feelings for Kurt, and she'd hate to lose her chance with him to an old flame of his. And that's certainly what Franka seemed to be trying to do.
Turning over to look at Kurt, Kitty wondered what had taken her so long to realize what she felt for him. As far as she could figure, it had always been there. It hadn't been overnight that this had happened. More than anything, she hated the fact that Tabby was right. It had taken the incident on the train to make her realize what Kurt meant to her, and how far he would go to keep her safe. And more than anything else, she felt safe with Kurt, as if nothing could hurt her. . .touch her even.
Reaching out with her hand, she brushed Kurt's bangs out of his sleeping face. Kurt stirred gently in his sleep and let out a long sigh. Kitty smiled, moving closer to him.
"Wake up now and you're bound to get kissed, Fuzzy." Kitty thought.
But Kurt did not wake up. So she did it anyway. She closed her eyes. As lightly and gently as she could, she pressed her lips slowly against his in a sweetly chaste kiss. It was almost silent. Opening her eyes, she saw the gentle smile on Kurt's face, and found herself wondering what he was dreaming about, and hoping that it was her.
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Tabby woke up early the next morning, her eyes opening in the sunlight seeping in through the window blinds. Sitting up, Tabby rubbed her head and looked around the brightening darkness of the wagon. Kurt was gone, but Kitty was still there. Tabby got up out of her sleeping bag, changing from her pajamas into a pair of jeans and a tank top. Being careful not to wake up Kitty, Tabby stepped over her sleeping body and walked out of the door.
The air outside was cool, and Tabby wrapped her arms around herself. The sun hadn't began to come up yet, and it seemed as if a good number of the gypsies were either still asleep or just beginning to wake up. She saw a woman feeding a group of dogs outside. She could hear a baby crying from one of the RV's. Walking through the camp, she came to the edge of it where Gunther had parked the VW Bus and found Kurt sitting on the ground, pulling at grass from the earth. She walked up and sat down next to him, smiling gently at him.
"Hey, Blue." Kurt said.
"{Good morning.}" Kurt said.
Tabby smiled.
"Oh no, Tabby! Repeat after me. {Good morning.}" Kurt said.
"{Good morning.}" Tabby said slowly.
"Zat's right. It is a good morning." Kurt said, staring into the woods surrounding the camp.
Tabby looked at Kurt, cocking her head in confusion.
"Are you okay, Kurt?" Tabby asked.
"Jah. It's just. . .I don't know. . .Kitty's mad at me." Kurt said.
"Aw. . .she'll get over it. You're talking about that Franka girl, right?" Tabby asked.
"Jah. She vasn't happy zat I had never told her about Franka." Kurt said.
"Well, I guess I can understand that." Tabby said.
Kurt nodded, while Tabby continued to look at him in silence.
"You like her don't you?" Tabby asked quietly.
"Vas? No, Franka is in ze past." Kurt said.
"Not Franka, Kurt." Tabby said.
Kurt looked at Tabby, surprised, seeing Tabby smile sadly at him.
"Tabby. . ." Kurt said.
"No, no, no. It's cool. I mean, I can't really lay a claim on ya, right? I had my chance." Tabby said.
"Vell, in all fairness, so did Kitty." Kurt said.
"Yeah, but I actually took the chance and then threw it away." Tabby said.
"Tabby. . ." Kurt said again.
"No, seriously, it's cool, Kurt. You don't owe me anything. I'm sorry that I've been fighting with her. I guess it's just jealousy." Tabby said.
"It's just a school boy crush." Kurt said.
Tabby shook her head.
"You know that's a lie, Blue." Tabby said.
"Vell. . ." Kurt said, hanging his head. ". . .even if zat's true, it's stupid. She doesn't feel ze same for me."
"Do you really believe that?" Tabby asked.
"Jah." Kurt said. "Jah, I do."
Tabby continued looking at him sadly until Kurt noticed. Standing up, he offered his three-fingered hand to her.
"Come on. Let's go vake up my parents and eat breakfast." Kurt said. "{Breakfast.}"
"{Breakfast.}" Tabby said, taking his hand.
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Eventually, Kitty woke up alone, and, getting dressed, joined Kurt and Tabby in Kurt's parents' RV. Breakfast was large, and to Kitty's delight, Astrid had fixed her a vegetarian breakfast. Kurt and Tabby were happy with their sausage. Every now and then, Tabby would watch Kitty watch Kurt, and felt the pang of jealousy hit her. Knowing that she couldn't change the course of things, she resigned herself to simply becoming better friends with Kurt.
"Besides. . ." Tabby thought with a smile. ". . .you never know what'll happen in the future."
"So we move today?" Kitty asked.
"Jah. Ve packed most of ze equipment yesterday, and so now it's a simple matter of packing our personal belongings and making our vay to ze train." Johannes said.
"Train?" Kitty asked, sounding somewhat disappointed.
She had been imagining the romantic idea of a caravan moving down country roads, children from small towns running alongside wagons, eyes wide with wonder. Astrid seemed to catch onto her thoughts, and chuckled.
"Ve are a razzer large performing group, and very famous in Europe. Ve perform in larger cities as vell as small towns, and ze train is how ve move about vhen be tour." Astrid said.
"Oh." Kitty said. "Are we going to tour Europe?"
"Jah. But for ze time zat you vill be viz us, ve are touring Germany." Johannes said.
"You vill see many sights in zis country, however." Astrid said. "Many beautiful places, and. . .Tabby vill learn more of ze language, jah?"
"Jah." Tabby said through a mouthful of sausage.
After breakfast, Kurt and the girls helped to pack the RV, breaking down clotheslines and packing up trunks of equipment. Every now and then, Kitty would look at Kurt, sweating from the heavy lifting, his tight T-shirt clinging to his body, until a cough from Tabby would bring her back to reality. She'd look at Tabby, embarrassed, and the other girl would simply shake her head. After everything was packed up, Kurt, Kitty and Tabby went to their wagon to pack what belongings they had. It didn't take long, and an hour afterwards, they were moving in a caravan down the road they had come in on.
The three teens rode with Kurt's parents. Kur ttook the free time to teach Tabby some of the easier phrases in German.
"Vhere is ze bathroom?" Kurt said. "{Where is the bathroom?}"
"{Where is the bathroom?}" Tabby said.
"Go down ze hall! It's on ze right!" Johannes shouted from the driver's seat, laughing.
"Now I see where you get your sense of humor from." Tabby said.
Kitty giggled.
"Kurti. . .I had a talk viz Nina last night." Astrid said.
Kurt closed his eyes and began to rub his temples. Nina was Franka's mother.
"Jah?" he asked.
"You know, zat act vas very popular." Astrid said.
"Jah. I know. But. . .I, uh, I don't feel comfortable doing it." Kurt said.
"You didn't used to mind." Johannes said.
"I know. I know. I just. . .I just don't vant to."
"{Why not?}" Astrid asked, looking over her shoulder.
"{Mama! I just don't want to.}" Kurt said.
Kitty and Tabby looked at Kurt, and then at each other. Both of them wondered why there was the sudden switch to the German language.
"{Is it the act? Or is it Franka?}" Astrid asked.
Both girls heard the name, and Kitty immediately knew what act they were arguing over.
"{The act. Franka. Both are reasons that I don't want to do the act anymore.}" Kurt said.
"{Why Franka? I thought that you'd be excited to see her. Has something changed?}" Astrid asked, looking over at Kitty and Tabby. "{Should your father and I change your sleeping arrangements?}"
Kurt sighed, trying his best not to look at Kitty.
"{You know what, Mama? That may be a good idea.}" Kurt said.
"{Oh my God in heaven. . .}" Astrid moaned. "{Last night. . .nothing. . .you didn't. . .?}"
"{MAMA! No!}" Kurt said.
"{Okay. Fine. But the act. . .}" Astrid said.
"Ve'll talk about it later." Kurt said with a air of finality.
Astrid simply nodded and put her hands up in a placating way.
"Okay, Kurti. Later." Astrid said.
"Something wrong?" Tabby whispered.
"No. Everyzing is fine." Kurt said, pouting.
Astrid looked over her shoulder again, smiling at the trio.
"And vhat about you, girls? Vhat act vould you like to be in?" Astrid asked sweetly.
Kitty and Tabby's eyes went as wide as dinner plates.
"Act?" Kitty breathed.
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Okay. So. There was definite story progression here, right? I hope so. I couldn't resist. I had to conclude the Kurtiha part of the story line here. Kitty's going to need all the help that she can get later on, and Tabby's a powerful ally. Anyhow, I really hope you guys and dolls liked the chapter, and I hope to get the new one up soon.
Later.
Notes: Okay, I have to apologize to Inuternutter. I stole the names of Kurt's parents from Internutter. So all credit goes to Internutter.
Wow. Once again, I have to shorten up the shout outs. There are so many. Thanks everyone. It means a lot.
Internutter: Internutter! THE Internutter! ::Parker runs to put on his best suit and tie:: Wow! I can't believe you read one of my stories and seem to like it so far. That's awesome! Thanks! By the way, is there something wrong with my computer, or with your server? Because I can't get onto Nutfiction or Realm of the Internutter.
Redlion2: Yeah, you're pretty much right. Wait until later. More torture coming.
Ice50: I always write Kurt as the swingingest guy around! Funny thing is, he always complains.
Coffee Connoisseur: Hope you like the Kurtty WAFF in this chapter, too.
Electric Russian: Franka is a feminine German name. I named her after Franka Potente (a German actress I'm in love with).
Mama Moosh: Yeah, she's trouble. Thanks for reading.
Tenzo: I'm sure the story of how I write would be very boring. Thanks for reading!
And a HUGE SHOUT OUT to everyone else who has read and reviewed. I've never received this many reviews so quickly. I'm so happy that you guys and dolls like the story (so far).
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Kitty squirmed on the mattress, trying desperately to get comfortable. Sighing softly, she looked at the clock on the wall. The clock read 3:42 a.m. Closing her eyes, she tried again to drift off to sleep, but there were too many thoughts running through her head. Opening her eyes again, she turned over on her side and stared at the sleeping form of Kurt. He had been telling the truth. The wagon was a little cramped. She guessed that the performers didn't mind, but she wasn't used to sleeping this close to two other people, especially Kurt. He didn't mind. He had gone to sleep as soon as his head had hit the pillow.
"But then again, he grew up like this." Kitty thought.
Her mind began to replay the events of that night over again, and she finally made it back to the event that had happened before they had gone to bed.
Franka. Kitty did not like Franka.
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"{Hello, Kurt.}" Franka said with a coy smile.
Kurt's eyes went as wide as saucers.
"{Hello, Franka.}" He said. "{What. . .what are you doing here?}"
"{Saying goodnight to you.}" She said with a smile.
Kitty and Tabby watched as Franka came closer to Kurt, her arms open. Kurt absentmindedly opened his own arms and embraced her. Kitty stared at the two, watching Franka as she. . .
"Is she breathing him in?" Kitty thought. "She. . .she is! She's smelling his neck!"
Tabby simply stood there, looking as if she didn't like the reunion at all.
"Vhat are you doing here?" Kurt asked, trying to break the embrace and finding he couldn't. "I zought you vere supposed to be in Prague, studying music."
"I vas." Franka said, breaking the hug and stepping back.
Tabby thought that she was still standing too close to Kurt.
"But vhen I heard you vould be coming back zis summer, I decided to come back as vell." Franka said.
She reached out and put her hand on one of Kurt's cheeks.
"You look great." Franka said.
"So do you." Kurt said, still shocked.
Franka smiled at him, and seemed to be leaning in for a kiss before Kurt shook his head, coming to his senses. Stepping back, he took Kitty's arm and pulled her forward, followed by Tabby. He seemed to be hiding behind the two girls.
"Franka, I vould like you to meet my friends." Kurt said from behind the girls. "Zis is Kitty, and zis it Tabby. Girls, zis is my old friend Franka."
"You're old "friend," Kurt?" Franka said coyly.
Both Kitty and Tabby noticed the emphasis on the word "friend."
Franka's demeanor seemed to change slightly, he smile becoming fake.
"Pleasure." She said curtly, before pushing past them, coming closer to Kurt.
"How haff you been?" Kurt asked, walking backwards slightly from the approaching young woman.
"I've been good." Franka said. "And you?"
"Good. Great." Kurt said, backing into a wagon.
Kitty looked at Tabby, and Tabby looked back at Kitty.
"Do you see this?" Kitty's eyes seemed to say.
"Yeah." Tabby's eyes replied. "Can you believe this girl?"
"I've. . .uh. . .I've been great. School is good, I'm learning more about mein powers." Kurt said. "And I've made some great. . .um. . .nein! Some vonderful friends."
Franka stopped in front of him, throwing back a condescending glance back at Tabby and Kitty.
"Really?" She asked.
"Jah." Kurt said, wishing he could have Kitty's power to phase through the wagon behind him. "So. . .vhat are you going to do here zis summer?"
"Kurt! I vas hoping ve could do our old act togezzer." Franka said with a pout.
"Oh. Oh, um, I don't zink zat's such a good idea." Kurt said, shaking his head. "I don't remember it very vell."
"I can remind you." Franka said with a smile, putting her arms around Kurt's neck.
"Franka! Hi! How rude of us not to say hello when we were introduced!" Tabby said, her voice louder than usual.
Franka turned back toward the girls.
"Jah. It vas." Franka said.
"Well, let me say hi now." Tabby said, putting her hand out to Franka.
Franka took her arms from around Kurt and put her hand in Tabby's. Tabby's grip tightened faster than lightning, squeezing Franka's hand tightly. . .painfully.
"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Tabby." Tabby said with a grin. "I'm one of Kurt's closest friends."
Franka's grin faltered from the pain of Tabby's handshake.
"How. . .how nice to meet you." Franka said through the pain, refusing to let Tabby know how much it hurt.
Finally, Tabby let her hand go. Franka's hand was red from the force Tabby had exerted on it.
"My. . .vhat a strong grip you haff." Franka said. "American vomen. . .you are all built just like your men."
Kurt closed his eyes.
"What?" Tabby demanded.
Kitty sighed and moved forward, pushing Tabby aside.
"Hello." Kitty said sweetly, extending her own hand, somewhat surprised when Franka took it. "I'm Kitty. I'm Kurt's best friend."
Franka's eyebrows raised.
"Oh? Vell, you're grip's not as strong as Tabby's." Franks said.
Unseen, she dug one of her nails into Kitty's hand.
"Doesn't need to be." Kitty said, phasing through Franka's hand.
"Ah. I see." Franka said, turning back to Kurt. "Vell, Kurt, I'm going to bed. Ve'll talk about our. . .act. . .later."
"Jah, Franka." Kurt said. "{Goodnight.}"
"Goodnight, liebe." Franka said, walking away.
"Liebe?" Kitty thought. "Uh-oh."
The three watched her walk off until she walked behind another wagon.
"So. . .she was nice." Kitty said sarcastically.
"Vell, ve should go to bed." Kurt said cheerfully.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Tabby said, stopping Kurt from walking by her by putting out her arms. "Who. . .no. . .what was that?"
"Her? She's just an old friend." Kurt said.
"An old, rude friend." Kitty said, turning around to face him.
"You zink she vas rude?" Kurt asked defensively. "She seemed fine to me."
"Yeah. Because she wants to get into your pants. Who was she, Kurt?" Tabby asked.
"I told you. Just an old friend." Kurt said, moving past Tabby, looking sheepishly back at Kitty. "Are you two coming?"
"Yeah. I guess we better." Tabby said angrily, marching past Kurt and into the wagon.
Kurt stood there, watching her leave. Then he felt Kitty standing next to him.
"Just an old friend, Fuzzy?" Kitty asked softly. "You've never told me about Franka."
Kurt looked down at the ground.
"She vas a girlfriend." Kurt said.
"How serious was it?" Kitty asked.
"Um. . .pretty serious. For a little vhile."
"How long is a little while?" Kitty asked.
Kurt stood there, kicking at the ground with one of his toes.
"Kurt?" Kitty asked.
"Since childhood?" Kurt ventured, looking back up at Kitty.
"Childhood?" Kitty asked, her gaze never leaving Kurt's eyes.
"Oh, you know how it is, Katzchen. Ve played togezzer as children. Our parents' vere all best friends. Ve vere raised togezzer. And zen ve hit puberty. I started liking girls. She started liking fuzzy elves. . ." Kurt tried to joke.
"Why did you never tell me?" Kitty asked. More than anything, she felt hurt that Kurt had kept a serious relationship from her.
"It didn't seem important." Kurt said softly. "I never zought it vould come up."
"What happened?" Kitty asked.
"She vent to school in Prague. End of story." Kurt said.
"You two broke up?" Kitty asked.
Kurt couldn't keep the gaze anymore, so instead he simply looked at the ground.
"You didn't break up." Kitty asked after a long silence.
"Not officially." Kurt said. "I simply left for America and ze Institute after she left for Prague."
Kitty shook her head sadly.
"And what was this act?" Kitty asked.
"It vas. . .vell. . ." Kurt stammered.
"Yes?" Kitty asked.
"It vas an acrobatic ballet. Set to violin music. It vas. . .it vas an act called "Ze Lovers."
"The Lovers?" Kitty breathed.
"Jah."
Kitty simply shook her head, and then walked off toward the wagon, leaving Kurt standing there.
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Kitty didn't even know what bothered her more. The fact that Kurt had never told her about this Franka, or the fact that Franka seemed intent on raping Kurt in front of her. Scowling, Kitty remembered how Franka held onto him and touched him as much as she could. It had taken some time, but Kitty had finally realized the depth of her feelings for Kurt, and she'd hate to lose her chance with him to an old flame of his. And that's certainly what Franka seemed to be trying to do.
Turning over to look at Kurt, Kitty wondered what had taken her so long to realize what she felt for him. As far as she could figure, it had always been there. It hadn't been overnight that this had happened. More than anything, she hated the fact that Tabby was right. It had taken the incident on the train to make her realize what Kurt meant to her, and how far he would go to keep her safe. And more than anything else, she felt safe with Kurt, as if nothing could hurt her. . .touch her even.
Reaching out with her hand, she brushed Kurt's bangs out of his sleeping face. Kurt stirred gently in his sleep and let out a long sigh. Kitty smiled, moving closer to him.
"Wake up now and you're bound to get kissed, Fuzzy." Kitty thought.
But Kurt did not wake up. So she did it anyway. She closed her eyes. As lightly and gently as she could, she pressed her lips slowly against his in a sweetly chaste kiss. It was almost silent. Opening her eyes, she saw the gentle smile on Kurt's face, and found herself wondering what he was dreaming about, and hoping that it was her.
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Tabby woke up early the next morning, her eyes opening in the sunlight seeping in through the window blinds. Sitting up, Tabby rubbed her head and looked around the brightening darkness of the wagon. Kurt was gone, but Kitty was still there. Tabby got up out of her sleeping bag, changing from her pajamas into a pair of jeans and a tank top. Being careful not to wake up Kitty, Tabby stepped over her sleeping body and walked out of the door.
The air outside was cool, and Tabby wrapped her arms around herself. The sun hadn't began to come up yet, and it seemed as if a good number of the gypsies were either still asleep or just beginning to wake up. She saw a woman feeding a group of dogs outside. She could hear a baby crying from one of the RV's. Walking through the camp, she came to the edge of it where Gunther had parked the VW Bus and found Kurt sitting on the ground, pulling at grass from the earth. She walked up and sat down next to him, smiling gently at him.
"Hey, Blue." Kurt said.
"{Good morning.}" Kurt said.
Tabby smiled.
"Oh no, Tabby! Repeat after me. {Good morning.}" Kurt said.
"{Good morning.}" Tabby said slowly.
"Zat's right. It is a good morning." Kurt said, staring into the woods surrounding the camp.
Tabby looked at Kurt, cocking her head in confusion.
"Are you okay, Kurt?" Tabby asked.
"Jah. It's just. . .I don't know. . .Kitty's mad at me." Kurt said.
"Aw. . .she'll get over it. You're talking about that Franka girl, right?" Tabby asked.
"Jah. She vasn't happy zat I had never told her about Franka." Kurt said.
"Well, I guess I can understand that." Tabby said.
Kurt nodded, while Tabby continued to look at him in silence.
"You like her don't you?" Tabby asked quietly.
"Vas? No, Franka is in ze past." Kurt said.
"Not Franka, Kurt." Tabby said.
Kurt looked at Tabby, surprised, seeing Tabby smile sadly at him.
"Tabby. . ." Kurt said.
"No, no, no. It's cool. I mean, I can't really lay a claim on ya, right? I had my chance." Tabby said.
"Vell, in all fairness, so did Kitty." Kurt said.
"Yeah, but I actually took the chance and then threw it away." Tabby said.
"Tabby. . ." Kurt said again.
"No, seriously, it's cool, Kurt. You don't owe me anything. I'm sorry that I've been fighting with her. I guess it's just jealousy." Tabby said.
"It's just a school boy crush." Kurt said.
Tabby shook her head.
"You know that's a lie, Blue." Tabby said.
"Vell. . ." Kurt said, hanging his head. ". . .even if zat's true, it's stupid. She doesn't feel ze same for me."
"Do you really believe that?" Tabby asked.
"Jah." Kurt said. "Jah, I do."
Tabby continued looking at him sadly until Kurt noticed. Standing up, he offered his three-fingered hand to her.
"Come on. Let's go vake up my parents and eat breakfast." Kurt said. "{Breakfast.}"
"{Breakfast.}" Tabby said, taking his hand.
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Eventually, Kitty woke up alone, and, getting dressed, joined Kurt and Tabby in Kurt's parents' RV. Breakfast was large, and to Kitty's delight, Astrid had fixed her a vegetarian breakfast. Kurt and Tabby were happy with their sausage. Every now and then, Tabby would watch Kitty watch Kurt, and felt the pang of jealousy hit her. Knowing that she couldn't change the course of things, she resigned herself to simply becoming better friends with Kurt.
"Besides. . ." Tabby thought with a smile. ". . .you never know what'll happen in the future."
"So we move today?" Kitty asked.
"Jah. Ve packed most of ze equipment yesterday, and so now it's a simple matter of packing our personal belongings and making our vay to ze train." Johannes said.
"Train?" Kitty asked, sounding somewhat disappointed.
She had been imagining the romantic idea of a caravan moving down country roads, children from small towns running alongside wagons, eyes wide with wonder. Astrid seemed to catch onto her thoughts, and chuckled.
"Ve are a razzer large performing group, and very famous in Europe. Ve perform in larger cities as vell as small towns, and ze train is how ve move about vhen be tour." Astrid said.
"Oh." Kitty said. "Are we going to tour Europe?"
"Jah. But for ze time zat you vill be viz us, ve are touring Germany." Johannes said.
"You vill see many sights in zis country, however." Astrid said. "Many beautiful places, and. . .Tabby vill learn more of ze language, jah?"
"Jah." Tabby said through a mouthful of sausage.
After breakfast, Kurt and the girls helped to pack the RV, breaking down clotheslines and packing up trunks of equipment. Every now and then, Kitty would look at Kurt, sweating from the heavy lifting, his tight T-shirt clinging to his body, until a cough from Tabby would bring her back to reality. She'd look at Tabby, embarrassed, and the other girl would simply shake her head. After everything was packed up, Kurt, Kitty and Tabby went to their wagon to pack what belongings they had. It didn't take long, and an hour afterwards, they were moving in a caravan down the road they had come in on.
The three teens rode with Kurt's parents. Kur ttook the free time to teach Tabby some of the easier phrases in German.
"Vhere is ze bathroom?" Kurt said. "{Where is the bathroom?}"
"{Where is the bathroom?}" Tabby said.
"Go down ze hall! It's on ze right!" Johannes shouted from the driver's seat, laughing.
"Now I see where you get your sense of humor from." Tabby said.
Kitty giggled.
"Kurti. . .I had a talk viz Nina last night." Astrid said.
Kurt closed his eyes and began to rub his temples. Nina was Franka's mother.
"Jah?" he asked.
"You know, zat act vas very popular." Astrid said.
"Jah. I know. But. . .I, uh, I don't feel comfortable doing it." Kurt said.
"You didn't used to mind." Johannes said.
"I know. I know. I just. . .I just don't vant to."
"{Why not?}" Astrid asked, looking over her shoulder.
"{Mama! I just don't want to.}" Kurt said.
Kitty and Tabby looked at Kurt, and then at each other. Both of them wondered why there was the sudden switch to the German language.
"{Is it the act? Or is it Franka?}" Astrid asked.
Both girls heard the name, and Kitty immediately knew what act they were arguing over.
"{The act. Franka. Both are reasons that I don't want to do the act anymore.}" Kurt said.
"{Why Franka? I thought that you'd be excited to see her. Has something changed?}" Astrid asked, looking over at Kitty and Tabby. "{Should your father and I change your sleeping arrangements?}"
Kurt sighed, trying his best not to look at Kitty.
"{You know what, Mama? That may be a good idea.}" Kurt said.
"{Oh my God in heaven. . .}" Astrid moaned. "{Last night. . .nothing. . .you didn't. . .?}"
"{MAMA! No!}" Kurt said.
"{Okay. Fine. But the act. . .}" Astrid said.
"Ve'll talk about it later." Kurt said with a air of finality.
Astrid simply nodded and put her hands up in a placating way.
"Okay, Kurti. Later." Astrid said.
"Something wrong?" Tabby whispered.
"No. Everyzing is fine." Kurt said, pouting.
Astrid looked over her shoulder again, smiling at the trio.
"And vhat about you, girls? Vhat act vould you like to be in?" Astrid asked sweetly.
Kitty and Tabby's eyes went as wide as dinner plates.
"Act?" Kitty breathed.
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Okay. So. There was definite story progression here, right? I hope so. I couldn't resist. I had to conclude the Kurtiha part of the story line here. Kitty's going to need all the help that she can get later on, and Tabby's a powerful ally. Anyhow, I really hope you guys and dolls liked the chapter, and I hope to get the new one up soon.
Later.