I still don't own the X-Men

Thanks to all those people who've been asking me to continue with this story.

Party Time

"This is just wrong." Paige said as Mattie held out yet another outfit for her approval. "I'm the one who is always trying to work on your look, not the other way around."

"What is wrong with my look?" Mattie asked, studying the top and then throwing it onto the steadily growing pile of clothes.

"Nothing. If you want your entire wardrobe to be denim."

"There is nothing wrong with denim. Jeans are the most practical item of clothing." Mattie replied; her voice slightly muffled as she rummaged around in the wardrobe.

"Jeans. Fine." Paige continued. "But jeans and jeans shorts, skits, tops, jackets, hats, bags, shoes! I think you're taking it a little far."

"I happen to like jeans." Mattie reappeared from the wardrobe and held up a new top with a flourish.

Paige shook her head and Mattie tossed it on the pile.

"And that's fine. But I think that you should maybe try something a little different."

"First we'll do you. Then we'll worry about my clothing issues."

"What's the point? He's not going to notice me. He's never noticed me before and he's not going to notice me now."

"You can say his name you know."

Paige shook her head. "No I can't, that would jinx it for sure."

Mattie rolled her eyes. "You didn't have me helping you before, did you?"

"I'm doomed." Paige threw herself on her bed and dropped her head into her hands.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Mattie handed Paige a top. "Try that one on."

"Why, Mats? Why bother? Why get excited? He doesn't think of me like that. He sees me as a mate. Or worse, Sam's baby sister."

Mattie grimaced. That was not the way that you wanted your perspective boyfriend to view you. As a general rule, baby sisters were to be ignored. "Well we're going to work on that. Now come on you blonde bombshell. Get with the program. You know we have to be ready or Bobby will leave without us."

"Typical. Do they not know how long it takes to get ready?"

"I think they do. And that's why they gave us the deadline."

Paige eyed the slip of fabric in her hands. "What about you?" She asked with a dangerous light in her eyes.

"What about me?" Mattie asked backing away from Paige.

"What are you going to wear? You've got me dressing up. What about you?"

"I already know what I'm going to wear. Thanks anyway."

"Matilda Drew you and not going to wear jeans to this party."

Mattie just grinned. "Wanna bet?"

"I forbid it!"

"But, as you kindly pointed out for me, I have nothing else in my wardrobe."

"I'll find you something." Paige leapt to her feet.

Mattie shoved her back down. "Try that on first. Then we'll worry about me."

Paige glowered at her, and then at the tube top that she held in her hands. "You want me to wear this?"

"Hey, it was in your wardrobe. When exactly were you planning to wear it?"

"Sometime."

"Sometime is now. Trust me; you'll look stunning in it."

X

Determined to catch a lift with Bobby, Paige and Mattie were ready on time. As predicted, Bobby was also giving a lift to Sam and Ray. Kitty had promised the drive the others there later. Jubilee was still searching her wardrobe when Mattie and Paige had knocked on her door to tell her they were going early.

Mattie gave up her usual position of shotgun to Sam, telling him that he had longer legs than her. Then she hustled Ray into the car so that he was sat between her and Paige. For the whole ride Mattie focused on chatting to Paige. Paige was forced to lean across Ray to talk back to Mattie. This brought Ray into close proximity to Paige's freshly washed hair, and bare shoulders. Ray for his part seemed to be quite happy to sit back and observe Paige. Mattie watched him like a hawk. Baby sister her foot. Ray was more likely to think of Paige as a babe.

They hardly needed the directions that Rich had provided to find his house. The music was pounding and there were people dancing in the front lawn.

"Are his parents going to kill him?" Mattie asked as Bobby parked the car.

Sam nodded. "Oh yeah. And he made it all the way to eighteen."

"Die young, look pretty." Ray offered.

They got out and headed towards the house. Being careful to step out of the way of the dancers.

Rich came bounding out of the house to greet them. "Hey guys! You made it! Great! Just make yourselves at home!" He shouted, beaming at them.

"Okay!" Ray replied putting as much enthusiasm into it as he could.

The others exchanged amused glances.

"I'm so glad you guys are here!" Rich told them, drawing them all into a huge hug.

"We couldn't be happier." Bobby told him, when Rich finally released them. The others raised their eyebrows at him.

"What? Be nice to the dead man walking." Bobby hissed as they followed Rich.

They made their way into the house, following Rich as he shouted out to various people how glad he was to see them there. Just inside the door Rich ran into one of his closest mates. Or a mate that he just had to hug anyway. Mattie and the others pushed past and into the house. They made their way through the throngs of people and found themselves in the living room. It was early, but there was barely any room to stand.

"I'll get the drinks." Sam said and plunged into the sea of people.

"And in the hour before he returns." Ray grabbed a bowl of chips off a nearby table. "I suggest that we stock up on food supplies. It doesn't look like they'll last long."

"Do you think that the others will get in?" Paige asked.

"Sure. No worries. We'll be standing on people's heads by then." Bobby told her with a grin.

Before to long Sam reappeared with the drinks.

"The intrepid explorer returns." Bobby cried.

"And how did you do on your brave quest?" Ray asked.

"Did you find the lost city?" Bobby asked. "Many have tried to find it and failed. It takes perseverance and strong survival skills to make it into the heart of danger and onto the most treasured of treasures. The lost city known only as… the kitchen."

"Where there is the great treasure chest, known to some as… the fridge." Ray added.

"For within it. Lies some of the greatest prizes know to man." Bobby said.

"Some say that once found it casts such a spell on you that you can never leave." Ray continued.

"That the sight of the wonders inside will keep you rooted to the spot… forever." Bobby added.

"So tell us. Brave, brave Sam. Did you indeed find… the fridge?" Ray asked.

"Better." Sam grinned. "I found the treasure within it."

"No!" Bobby cried

"Surely not!" Ray protested

"Could it be?" Bobby gasped. "The lost treasure of… drink."

Sam flourished the bottle of coke. "It was tough, but I managed it."

Mattie and Paige rolled their eyes at each other.

"Do you ever feel that you're missing something?" Mattie asked.

"No honey. We have what they are missing. It's called a brain." Paige replied.

As one the boys glared at them.

"And did you managed to find the cups?" Paige asked as her brother turned back to his two admirers.

"Got them." Mattie said, swiping them off a nearby table. "Getting cups and drink from the kitchen would have been to taxing."

"Never send a boy to do a job." Paige muttered.

"Because they'll expect a medal for something you could do in your sleep." Mattie said.

The boys glowered at them. Mattie and Paige smiled sweetly.

X

The other girls showed up eventually, and managed to find Mattie and the others.

"Kind of squashed." Amara commented.

"Poor Amara." Tabitha laughed. "Forced to mingle with the commoners."

Amara treated her to a haughty stare, which sent Tabby off into giggles. The crowd was too tight for them to stay as a group for to long and they split into ones and twos as the crowd ebbed and flowed around them.

Bobby grabbed hold of Mattie's hand and drew her away from the group. "Did I tell you that you looked stunning tonight?"

Blushing Mattie shook her head.

"Well you do."

Mattie kissed him.

"I like how you take compliments." Bobby told her. "Remind me to compliment you more often."

Mattie grinned at him. Then glanced past him to see what Paige was up to. She and Ray had been left alone together. Was that something that Ray had set up? She knew Paige well enough to know that it wasn't her doing. They both seemed fairly at easy with each other. It looked… friendly. Mattie sighed. Friendly wasn't going to cut it. Something needed to happen.

"What are you up to?" Bobby murmured in her ear.

Startled Mattie glanced up at him. "Up to?"

Bobby nodded. "I've seen that look on your face before. You're up to something. What is it?"

Mattie shook her head. "Why would I be up to anything?"

"Don't dodge the question."

Mattie bit her lip. She didn't want to lie to Bobby. But she couldn't tell him about Paige without betraying her confidence. "Nothing bad."

"So tell me."

Mattie bit her lip and glanced at Paige and Ray again. Bobby followed her gaze. "What is up with the watching Ray?"

"I'm not!" Mattie replied.

"Then why are you…." Bobby paused, and then grinned at her. "Are you trying to set them up?"

Mattie didn't reply, she just stood feeling guilt. Subtle Mattie!

"You are aren't you?"

"Maybe."

"Do they know?"

Mattie frowned. "How would they know?"

Bobby just grinned at her. He had his own thoughts about Ray's feelings for Paige.

"Never mind. I have something for you."

"For me?" Mattie looked puzzled.

"I know that you aren't a huge fan of your birthday. But…" He reached into his pocket. "I got you this."

He placed the box into Mattie's hands. She opened the lid and gazed at the bracelet inside. Created in silver was a delicate ring of icicles.

"I hope you like it." Bobby said as he slipped it out of the box and helped Mattie to fasten the bracelet round her wrist. It fitted perfectly.

"Bobby! I love it!" Mattie sprang into his arms and hugged him tightly.

X

"Bobby. I have to ask you something."

Bobby looked up to find Ray looking seriously at him.

"Shoot."

"What do you think Sam would say about me dating his sister?"

"I guess that would all depend on which sister it was." Bobby replied.

Ray looked totally confused. Then grinned as he remembered Sam and Paige's many brothers and sisters.

"You know who I mean." He said, looking all round before adding. "Paige."

Bobby shrugged. "I don't know. I guess he'd be pissed off if you upset her. But then I think we all would be."

Ray nodded thoughtfully. "I wonder what she'd say."

"Well I'm pretty sure that she'd be pissed off if you upset her too."

Ray glared at him. "I'm serious man. What do I do? Do you recon that she likes me?"

Considering Mattie's actions, Bobby was willing to lay money on it. But he could see that Ray was a bundle of nerves. It probably wasn't the best time to tell him that he'd been totally set up. He settled for shrugging instead. "Don't know. Go for it. The worst that can happen is that she shoots you down."

"Thanks!" Ray told him.

Bobby clapped him on the shoulder, and then headed off to find Mattie. He had to tell her about this development in her little plan.

He found her with Tabitha and Paige. They were admiring the bracelet he'd got her.

"Who knew you had it in you to be so sweet." Tabby said grinning at him.

"I do my best to hide it." Bobby grinned at Mattie. Seeing Ray heading over he turned back to Tabitha.

"Tabs, Amara was looking for you."

Tabitha frowned. "Where was she?"

Bobby shrugged. "Somewhere over there." He pointed in the general direction of the door.

Tabitha sighed and wandered off.

Bobby waited until Ray had engaged Paige in small talk before leading Mattie away.

"What now?" She asked. "More presents?"

Bobby shook his head. "I just thought that you'd like your little plan to work. It seems to be going quite well so far."

Mattie looked puzzled then her face lit up and she glanced behind her at Paige and Ray. They were deep in conversation.

"Really?"

Bobby nodded. "He asked me what I thought Sam would think of him dating Paige."

Mattie's smile broadened. She looked up at Bobby. "You're just a bit romantic at heart aren't you?"

Bobby smiled at her, he kissed her gently. "Shhhhhhh. No one else has figured it out yet."

Mattie put a finger over her lips. "I won't tell a soul."

"Good." Bobby leaned in and kissed her again. And out of the corner of his eye he could see Paige and Ray doing the same thing.