Kurt slowly poked his head around the corner of the small room. "Kitty?" He asked quietly.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat and she sniffed loudly. Even from behind it was obvious that she was still crying. "What do you want?"

Kurt swallowed quickly. "Just to see if you're …" He was going to say 'okay' but she obviously wasn't. "Going to be okay."

She spun on him in an angry rage. "OKAY?" She shook with temper and tears. "How am I supposed to be okay?!?" She pointed an accusing finger at him. "Explain that one to me since you have all the answers!"

Kurt felt his stomach beginning to drop again. "You read my test answers, didn't you?" He asked quietly.

"YES!" She began to shake again but this time it was all she could do to hug her arms to herself and turn away. "Yes." She said again softly. "And you're…"

Kurt swallowed. "I'm … right. I know."

"How… " She sniffed. "How can you be my friend when you know…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "That I don't matter?"

He wasn't even thinking as he stepped up and laid his hands on her shoulders and slowly spun her around to face him. Behind her he could see that she had been packing her things roughly in to her suitcase.

"Kitty, it's not that you don't matter. I know I wrote that but … it's not what I meant." Kurt felt his own tears stinging his throat. "But … you felt that way, didn't you? And your parents kind of .. treated you that way, didn't they? It's why your power works the way it does. You felt immaterial so often and so strongly that one day…"

She met his eyes. "That one day I didn't matter any more."

He smiled despite her sorrow. Her red and swollen eyes seemed so atrociously wrong on her face that he couldn't help himself. He wiped hesitantly at her tears. "No Kitty. You still matter, you always will."

He sat down on the bed and pulled her down to face him.

"My thoughts on how mutancy works is that we translate pressure in to strength." He considered for a moment how to best explain it. "With you – you were made to feel as though you didn't matter and couldn't effect anything in your own life. But now, look at you – you have the ability to phase – to make your worst fear come true – and it's a gift that has helped you and me, and the rest of the team countless times."

He continued. "I know you felt bad, and that it still hurts to think like that. But that's what made your mutation take the form it did." He took a breath. "Like Scott. He's seen horrible things and so his mutation took the form it did – of doing horrible things with his eyes. Somehow, our emotional energy effects our development. I …"

She was listening intently and he knew now was the time. "I'm sorry Kitty. I shouldn't have written it that way – but there was only so much room on the page. I never would have written those words if I thought you would read it – it wasn't meant for you to see. If I were to say it to you – I would have been able to be more considerate of your feelings. I wrote it… Just so that Xavier would know what I meant." He sighed. "If it's any consolation… I think I look the way I do because…" His eyes dropped. "Because I was an unwanted pregnancy. A curse to my mother and I knew it even as I grew in the womb."

Kitty's throat stung and she choked on the words as it closed in sorrow at Kurt's confession.

"But… that doesn't matter now." He continued. "And it never will again. I was vilified for ruining her life and I wished desperately to be anywhere else or invisible – and now – I look like a demon and I can teleport and blend in to shadows." He sighed. "Our abilities… they are … scars. As much as anything else."

She nodded solemnly.

"I don't even think the X-gene has anything to do with mutation." He continued. "I think it has to do with our ability to understand emotions – to be more sensitive to things and respond to them." He explained.

"Really?" She squeaked softly.

"Ja."

She wiped her own eyes this time. "Then Xavier… probably feels things pretty deeply then, hunh?"

Kurt nodded almost absently not seeing where she was going.

"I might have really … hurt his feelings then." She sniffed. "I kind of … baited him in to expelling me… and I called him stupid."

Kurt sat back and considered. "Vhy…" But then he saw it. Kitty's never been in trouble at the mansion or at school. "Oh." He said softly. "I see." And he did. It wasn't enough for Xavier to know she was there or even know she was doing well. She needed him to validate her – to reinforce the idea that what she did – good or bad - really did matter.

"Do you know where I'm going Kitty?" He asked her quietly.

She shook her head to indicate that she did not.

"I'm going to England." He admitted. "They're giving me a position attached to the British government."

She looked stunned.

"I'm supposed to be running a team there. Aid and support them in dealing with mutant affairs." He looked deeply in to her eyes. "Come with me." He said softly. "I haven't asked anyone else, but I cant think of anyone who could make a better first member of my team. Choosing you will effect every decision I make from here on in – and I'm certain it will all be for the better."

Her eyes went wide and searched his for a long moment.

"I was packing anyway." She tried to sound offhanded and for a long moment they just stared at each other but then they both had to laugh out loud.

"I'll talk to Xavier." Kurt stood up smiling softly. "We leave a week from today – Next Saturday … I think."

She nodded. "What can I do to prepare?" She asked.

"Get a passport." He told her. "Xavier's putting together some information for me. It should be ready tonight. I'll let you know more when I know more, okay?"

Again she nodded and Kurt turned to leave.

"Kurt?" She asked softly.

"Ja?" He tossed a glance back over his shoulder.

"I'm glad you're around." She sniffed absently. "And I think I always have been."

A warm feeling swept through Kurt and he felt stronger suddenly, as though her words had empowered him.

"You always mattered to me Kitty." He said in reply. "Alvays."

And without another word he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Quickly he teleported to the back terrace, but he couldn't find what he was looking for. The front steps were no help either but the garage yielded results.

"Logan?" He asked, watching the older man jump with surprise at his sudden appearance.

Logan smiled. "Yeah Elf?"

"Ummm… I asked Kitty to join my team… But …"

"She and Xavier had words this morning." Logan told him.

"I know… that's why I'm here. I'm going to talk to him next, but I wanted to ask a favor."

"Oh?" Logan arched an eyebrow.

"Ja… If he's still upset… I might need to borrow a credit card… To rent her a room in town until it's time to leave."

Logan let loose a single laugh. "Yeah, sure." He agreed. "Just let me know." He turned back towards his motorcycle and snapped the ratchet in to place. "Sounds like leadership suits you." He cast a glance back and Kurt could see the mirth in his eyes.

Kurt smiled coyly. "Don't rub it in." He replied and vanished in a cloud of nasty purple smoke.

Logan winced and looked away. "He's getting air fresheners as a house warming gift." He commented off hand to no one but himself as he continued about his business.