Kurt had run over what he wanted to say repeatedly before approaching Xavier's study. He knocked gently.
"Professor?" He ventured, opening the door slowly.
"Yes, Kurt. Do come in." Xavier was sitting back in his chair behind his desk.
"I vanted to talk to you about Kitty." Kurt began.
Xavier set his small smile in to a grim one. "Yes, Kitty…" He paused. "Did she ask you to come here?" He ventured hopefully.
"No." Kurt shook his head and approached slowly. "I took it upon myself."
"I had no idea things would go that badly between us." Xavier began. "I knew that she has always found me to be … for the lack of a better word, uptight. But this morning…" He shook his head. "I still don't know how things went so wrong…"
"You expelled her because she wanted you too, didn't you?" Kurt asked, lowering himself in to a chair.
Xavier paused in mid-motion and eyed Kurt. "How on Earth did you know that?" He asked.
"She wanted to matter – to know that her actions had effects… If I could figure that out I'm certain it was obvious to you as well. But…" Kurt eyed Xavier warily. "Sending her home, to a place where she matters less… is a mistake."
Xavier sat back. "I can't keep her here if it's not what she wants."
"No, you couldn't." Kurt agreed. "And I wouldn't try." Kurt smiled slightly. "After all, you vouldnt want to dismantle my team just as soon as I was allowed to form one."
Xavier felt the mirth in the room as the tension of the secret dissolved between them." Oh!" He said. "I see now. You're here in a leadership capacity, aren't you?"
"What do you think of my first decision as the leader of Excalibur?" Kurt asked, leaning back in his seat.
"I think Logan was right. You're an excellent battlefield commander. Not as rigid as Scott, obviously, but quite capable. You've made quite an addition… And I must say, you've done her quite a favor. You're right of course. She needs to be making a difference to be happy and she would have a lesser chance of that at home with her parents."
"Have you called them about her expulsion yet?"
"No." Xavier paused. "I was hoping that she would change her mind or that we could reconcile." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "But this is a novel solution as well."
"Then perhaps you could back her up – when it comes to dealing with parents… maybe explain the benefits of studying overseas or something."
Xavier nodded absently. "Of course." He paused. "You know… Your position, as I said, will be largely ceremonial at first. Something like a consultant who makes public appearances. But I do expect you to push to evolve that position once you're installed. Perhaps take on some local mutant members and make yourself available for emergencies and law enforcement. I can see how Kitty would be quite an asset under these conditions."
"But?" Kurt ventured.
"But it wont be easy." Xavier exhaled. "Making a difference never is."
Kurt stood up slowly and smiled. "I'm not worried." He extended his hand and Xavier shook it. "I've had the best of teachers." Kurt finished.
Then he slipped out in to the hallway and exhaled a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding.
"Congratulations Kurt."
The voice sounded from behind him and he turned quickly.
"Oh, Jean. Thanks." He paused. "You've heard then?" He ventured.
"Sure." She smiled "And so has Scott."
Kurt winced. "I was vondering about that. I thought he might be mad."
She giggled. "I don't think mad is the right word. More like embarrassed. Not so much about missing a leadership position as about the way he was strutting about acing the test." She smiled. "I think you surprised a lot of people."
"I surprised myself this time." He admitted.
"Have you written to Amanda yet?" Jean asked. "I know she'll be proud of you."
"I thought I'd just put it in my next letter. There's still so much to do, I guess I'd like to know more before I go mouthing off about it. Besides, it's not like it would make a whole lot of difference now. A letter from Bayville, a letter from England, you know?" He shrugged.
"I know you miss her." Jean exhaled slowly. "But maybe you could arrange something, a visit before you go or maybe she could come see you once you're settled in. do you think her father would allow that?"
Kurt shrugged. "Ve planned to get together for her eighteenth birthday, you know, once he couldn't interfere anymore. So, I suppose anything's possible. Honestly though I half expect her to find some California guy and forget me entirely." He shrugged. "It's vhat her father wanted and why he moved her dere in the first place."
Jean took a long moment and flashed her famous smile at Kurt. "I don't think she'll be forgetting you Kurt. Not even if she tried."
Kurt beamed. "Vell, maybe a quick letter is in order." He blushed slightly too.
Jean winked. "I think that's best." She waved slightly and continued down the hall.
Hey… Kurt reasoned. Dis means I'll have my own place… Doesn't it?
And a wide smile broke over his face as he rushed off to pen a letter.
Meanwhile, out behind the mansion, Logan slipped out across the back lawn to meet a mysterious figure at the edge of the tree line.
"Kurt's leaving in a week. And Kitty will be going with him, just as I promised. You'll be all set to follow them right after, wont you?"
"I'm all set now." The figure growled back, shifting in the shadows. "I hate waiting."
"I know." He lamented. "But, please believe me, especially after what happened in New York, this is the right thing for us to do."
He produced a rolled up paper bag. "I brought you… some things. Just in case…" He went to present the bundle to the figure but paused and decided against it, instead setting the bag on the ground between them.
"Shouldn't you get back to your precious school?" The figure demanded.
"Wont you come with me?" He ventured, tired of having this conversation.
"You know the answer." The figure retreated slightly in to the shadows at the mere mention of approaching the school.
"Fine." Logan dropped his head, and took a long, deep breath. "But you're going to have to trust someone sometime."
"I trust you…" Came the reply. "More than most, anyway."
Logan searched the shadows in an attempt at eye contact but failed. "Well, that's a start." And he turned away and began slowly stalking back to the mansion.
He was only a handful of steps along when he heard the bag rustle. And it made him smile.
Let's hope I'm not the only one who can come to trust the Elf. He ventured. For all our sakes.
"Kitty! Phone!" Jubilee called down the upstairs hall.
Kitty swallowed hard. "Thanks!" She called back, slipping up to the nearest extension and picking it up.
"Hello?" She ventured.
"Princess!" Her dad called out as a click in the line signified that Jubilee had hung up. "Your professor just gave us the news!"
"Well, Daddy…" She wasn't sure how to begin and she bit her lip nervously.
"Are you excited sweetheart?"
She paused. This wasn't what she expected at all. "Ummm… I think so."
"Well I would be!" He beamed. "A chance to see Europe at your age? I'd have been off like a shot!"
She laughed slightly despite herself. "Daddy!"
"I just wanted you to know that your mother and I are proud of you. We're thinking of taking our summer vacation to England to visit. If you wont be too busy to make time for us."
"Daddy, please!" She giggled again.
"Hold on sweety. Your mother wants to say hello." There was a rustling on the phone.
"Hello, honey?" Came the woman's voice. "I know you've probably got a million things to do so I wont keep you, but I just wanted to tell you how happy I was to hear the news. It's not every child who gets an opportunity like this – and I want you to make the most of it."
"I will mom. I promise!" She felt absolutely giddy.
"I love you honey. Take care!"
"I will mom! Bye!" She paused as the phone clicked in to silence. She was shocked to find tears welling up in her eyes. Kurt… She thought to herself. How did you manage this???
