Disclaimer: Once again, if I owned X-Men Evolution or even any of the characters mentioned in this chapter, I'd be a rich woman. But seeing as how I'm a poor college student who spend her time watching cartoons, I don't likely own them. I also don't own the song that's in this chapter, the people who sing it do. Damn, foiled again.
A/N: Well, there was a request for a longer chapter and I think I pulled it off, what do you think? Course I can't promise all my chapters are going to be long so we'll have to deal with what my muse tells me. But he's done a helpful job so far. I hope you all think so too. I want to thank all of you for the wonderful reviews! I hit 50! That's the most I've had on any fanfiction. I have 50 on my Original story but that's totally different. Thank you so much! I'm glad you are all enjoying reading this story. So, here's another chapter for you. Yes. It's lovey-dovey for a couple, Lancitty of course because that is my favorite pairing but this is for Rietro so don't worry. Rietro makes an appearance but Lancitty and Tonda (is that the word for it? Todd/Wanda) run this chapter mostly. Enjoy and as always, review please!
Todd smiled as he watched Wanda from the doorway. She had been sitting there for at least an hour, reading. He wasn't sure which was more interesting. Watching her get into a book so much that every emotion registered on her face, or just spending time with her. He figured it was both. Taking a deep breath in he pushed himself away from the doorway and walked towards the door going outside. For the past few months he'd been showering, making himself look good, talking normally at least around her and he'd done it all for her. All for her. There wasn't a thing in the world he wouldn't do for her and sometimes he wished he could get all of her memories back that Magneto had taken away from her. But then again, he wasn't so sure he wanted to give them back to her. She had been angry, hurt and unable to trust. Now, he was actually seeing himself having a chance with her. Sure. They had been hanging out. He'd managed to get a few kisses but that's as much as it amounted to. He looked around, sometimes he wished he could just take off. But Wanda wouldn't leave. Not without Pietro and Pietro wouldn't leave. All of his thoughts were jumbled inside his head and sometimes, Todd wasn't too sure he really wanted to be thinking about all this.
"Todd?" Wanda said softly from the doorway. He was standing on the porch, his lanky form leaning against the railing. Standing up straight, he turned towards her and smiled.
"Hey there sugarmuffin." Wanda's face showed the dislike for the nickname the second it left his lips, but her eyes gave her true feelings away. Todd smirked as he leaned against he wall, looking towards her, "Something on your mind?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"About?" Wanda bit her lower lip in hesitation and Todd began to worry. He'd never seen her like this before and it scared him just enough to make him move towards her, wrapping his arms around her. "What's wrong?" Wanda managed a half-smile his way. As the years had passed, making high school seem almost none existent, Todd had finally gotten the growth-spurt he'd needed and he now stood just a little over Wanda's height, when he stood straight anyway.
"Nothings wrong, I just wanted to ask you something." Todd pushed her chin up just a bit, making him look into his eyes.
"Ask me anything, I've got nothing to hide from you. Besides, you're my scarlet princess." He grinned as she rolled her eyes. He had gotten to her lighten up just enough, which is what she needed. "Now come on, what'd you want to ask me?"
"Do you love me?" Todd tried his hardest to show his shock from her question. He quickly smiled and touched his forehead to hers.
"Of course I do sugarmuffin. You're the reason I've cleaned up, began talkin' the right way. Why wouldn't you think that I love you?" Wanda sighed.
"It's not that I don't think that you don't love me. I know you do. I just needed a validation, that's all." Todd's brow furrowed and he held on tightly to her. When she tried moving away from him, he didn't let her, looking up to him she frowned and giving up she pushed the hair out of his eyes. "I just wanted to make sure, that if I wanted to do something, you'd stand by me."
"Well duh." He stopped himself, "You've gotta know that I would've been standin' by your side in whatever you wanted to do. Why? What do you wanna do?" He asked, maintaining constant eye contact with her.
"I want to go see Professor Xavier."
Lance laughed softly as Kitty stretched out on the blanket he'd laid out for them on the beach. Holding her close to him, he leaned forward, pressing his lips gently against the base of her neck where her shoulder began. She giggled as he began to kiss upward, towards her jaw. He only pulled her closer, and soon, his lips captured hers. When they finally pulled apart, her fingers wandered across his chest, as she looked up at him.
"Lance, what would you do if I asked you if I could stay at your house for a few days?" She asked quietly. Lance quickly pushed himself up, leaving her feeling slightly cold as a small breeze rushed across her body.
"Why would you want to do that?"
"Because I like, want to stay with you for a little while. Besides, I think I should be able to. What with me being your girlfriend." Lance shook his head.
"No, that's exactly why you can't be there. That's exactly why I want you to stay away from there. I don't want you anywhere near that house unless it's absolutely necessary that you have to talk to me. Promise me." Kitty frowned and pushed herself up, pulling her legs up to her body she glared towards him.
"Why does Rogue get to go then?" Lance's heart sunk and he shook his head.
"How did you know she was coming over?" Kitty rolled her eyes and turned them away from his. She didn't want to look at him right now, it hurt that he didn't want her to go to his house, and it hurt even more that they both knew Rogue was going over to the Brotherhood home at least every day and neither of them had said anything to one another.
"It's totally obvious Lance." Kitty bit the inside of her cheek, she didn't want to talk like a child anymore. She continued, "I see her hanging around all of you all the time at school and she's always with Pietro. They're not being too secretive about everything. They may be able to keep it from Scott but I am her roommate. Besides, she comes home late and she's taken on way too many Pietro traits for me to handle." The last part was supposed to be a joke, but neither of them took it as one as Lance groaned and ran his fingers through his long hair.
"Kitty." He started.
"No, just forget about it Lance. I understand. Yeah, it totally hurts right now but like, I can't be too jealous can I? I mean it's not like I don't get to see you anyway." She looked down, her eyes beginning to tear up. Lance frowned. This wasn't what he wanted. In fact, it was the last thing he wanted and expected. He reached forward but she moved away from him.
"Kitty, please don't do that." He cupped her chin, "Look at me, c'mon now pretty Kitty." He smiled as she looked up at him, his nickname always got her to look at him. He sighed and pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. "I don't want you over there because I'm afraid that something might happen to you."
"Like something won't now? Lance, it's not possible to keep anything bad from happening. I knew that when I first met you and I knew it even more when I fell in love with you. It's impossible for us to be completely safe."
"I just don't want to take the risk. Sure, Mystiques been off with Magneto doing God knows what and I really don't want to even think about it, but I don't want to take the chance that they come back and see, see that you're the only reason I get up of a morning." Lance ran his fingers down the side of her cheek. Kitty sighed and rested her cheek against his hand. "It's not that I don't want you there, I do. I just can't risk anything happening to you." Kitty looked up towards him.
"Why not?"
"Because if anything did happen to you, I can't guarantee what's going to happen. I don't know what I'd do if you were hurt or," Lance took a deep breath in, "Or worse. And I really don't want to think about it. I came out here to have a good time with you and I plan on having that." Kitty nodded and slowly looked out towards the ocean.
"It's calming out here." She waited until Lance leaned back and she crawled up between his legs, leaning her back against his chest. Taking his hand she kissed it softly. "I get that you want to protect me Lance, but the thing is, I'm not a little girl anymore." She quickly reached back and covered his mouth before he could talk. "I'm going to turn seventeen in a few months, which means I'm a teenager and I've like been one for five years. I'm sick of being called a kid, because I'm not. And even though you're totally being a great guy by trying to keep me safe, the thing is, I'm not going to be. I haven't been since I first found out I was a mutant. And the fact is, none of us are." She took his hand into hers again, matching them up. "So the more time we're together, the safer we are. Do you get what I mean?"
"Yeah. I get what you mean." Lance pushed himself up and locked his arms around Kitty quickly before she could do anything. She smirked and was about to phase through his arms to get up but he quickly captured her lips with his, his tongue pushing into her mouth as he let go with one hand to caress the side of her face. "But enough about that, I have a surprise for you Kitty." She raised a delicate brow and smiled towards him.
"And what exactly would that be Mr. Alvers?" Lance laughed, shaking his head.
"Well, Miss Pryde," Lance stood up and extended his hand to her, "You're going to have to wait and find out." He left the blanket and their things there. Knowing there was no chance of it being disturbed. He walked with her hand tightly enclosed in his, leading her towards the rocks where the waves crashed up against them. Kitty hesitated a moment as they got closer but he looked back to her, a reassuring smile convinced her to continue to follow him. They winded their way through the rocks, careful not to take a wrong turn and end up smashed by the waves. She bit her lower lip as they walked into a small opening in the rocks, then into a small cavern that was lit up.
"Candles! And," Kitty looked around, "Roses? Lance when did you do this? It's beautiful." Lance smiled as he drew her petite body against his. Gently laying his lips on the top of her head he spun her around so she looked up into his eyes.
"I'm glad you like it. There's nothing I wouldn't do for my girl." He smiled and leaned down, pressing a button on the radio Kitty noticed was resting on a protruding rock. Slowly, he pulled her into a dance as the beginning piano notes began to "I do" by one of Kitty's favorites when they met, 98 Degrees. As Lance pulled her close, he began to sing into her ear softly.
All I am,
All I'll be,
Everything in this world,
All that I'll ever need,
Is in your eyes,
Shining at me,
When you smile I can feel,
All my passion unfolding,
Your hand brushes mine,
And a thousand sensations,
Seduce me cuz I,
I do,
Cherish You.
For the rest of my life,
You don't have to think twice.
I will,
Love you still,
From the depths of my soul,
It's beyond my control,
I've waited so long to say this to you,
If you're askin' do I love you this much,
I do.
Oh baby,
In my world,
Before you,
Lived outside my emotions,
Didn't know where I was goin',
Till that day,
I found you,
How you opened my life,
To a new paradise,
In a world torn by change,
Still with all my heart,
Till my dying day,
I do,
Cherish You.
For the rest of my life,
You don't have to think twice.
I will,
Love you still,
From the depths of my soul,
It's beyond my control,
I've waited so long to say this to you,
If you're askin' do I love you this much,
Yes I do.
If you're askin' do I love you this much,
Baby, I do
Cherish you,
From the depths of my soul,
It's beyond my control
I've waited so long to say this to you.
If you're asking' do I love you this much,
Baby I do
Ooh, I do
When his song came to a slow end, Kitty smiled up at him and as she leaned up to kiss him he pulled away. She frowned, confused at what was going on. Her eyes widened as he pulled out a box for her, a ring box. Before she could say anything, Lance placed a finger against her lips, quieting her.
"Ssh, it's not what you're thinking. Believe me, when I do that it's going to be ten times more romantic." He laughed softly at the surprise in her eyes, "I wanted you to have this." When he opened the box, inside, resting on the black velvet was a silver ring with an emerald sparkling up at her. "It was my moms." He heard the gasp and smiled as she raised a hand up to her mouth.
"Lance, like, wow. I mean oh my god, I can't take this, I mean it's like your moms which means its like totally valuable. How'd you get it? I mean I thought you were on your own." Lance nodded.
"I was, but this was something I took after my mom died and my dad started drinking. I wanted to give it to someone who was worth it, and Kitty, you're worth it. Consider it, a promise of sorts."
"A promise for what?"
"To marry you someday, when I'm worthy of you." Kitty looked up, taking Lance's hand with hers she kissed his cheek softly and reaching out with her shaky hand, she smiled up at him.
"Aren't you like, going to put it on my finger then?"
"Rogue?" Jean said again as her teammate walked up from the forest. "Rogue, what's going on?" Rogue smiled as she glanced towards Pietro and then back towards Jean, taking a deep breath she sighed and crossed her arms.
"Alright, you caught me." She said, keeping her arms crossed as Pietro started moving towards her. She shook her head slightly, not looking back at him.
"Caught you? What are you talking about and what are you doing with Pietro Maximoff?" Rogue shrugged, looking up towards Jean she pushed the small strand of white hair away from her face.
"Well, I'm thinkin' of going back to the Brotherhood, that's what. I was talkin' with Pietro here seeing what I had to do in order to gain Mystique's trust back." Jean frowned, and she felt the sudden need to read Rogue's mind but she was always the strongest at keeping Jean from reading her thoughts. She opened her mouth to talk but Pietro quickly cut her off.
"Yeah-Roguey's-comin'-home. You-got-a-problem-with-that-Red?" He asked quickly, coming to a stance between Rogue and herself. Jean kept her frown but she quickly got an idea. She reached out towards Pietro's mind and was floored with a thousand images at once. His brain worked as fast as his super speed did. A slight whimper escaped before she had to let go, Pietro's mind being too much for her at the moment. She regained her composure.
"I do have a slight problem with it. Rogue, are you sure you want this? I mean, you can still be friends with Pietro and Lance and the rest of the guys, you don't have to join them."
"Why-don't-you-let-her-think-for-herself-before-you-go-confusing-her." Pietro cut in before Rogue could say anything. Jean crossed her arms.
"I think I'd like to talk to Rogue, alone." She replied, looking Pietro square in the eye. He smirked, and before she could blink he was in her face.
"You-want-to-talk-to-her-you're-going-to-have-to-go –through-me. See-that's- the-problem-with-you-X-geeks-you-want-everyone-to-think-for-themselves-and- not-for-the-betterment-of-the-team. Sorry-Grey-she's-ours-now." Pietro grinned and returned to Rogue's side. But the warm welcome he was expecting didn't exist. In fact, it was anger that he saw on Rogue's face. Biting the inside of his cheek he sighed, "I should've shut up." He said just soft enough for her to hear.
"Yep." Rogue turned to Jean. "You want to talk? Fine. We'll talk tonight but not a moment sooner. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got somewhere to be." She looked towards Pietro and stalked off, he shrugged and grinned towards Jean, taking off after her. Jean, shocked and not sure what to say sat down again, running her fingers through her hair. She needed to tell someone. But who? Kurt? Or maybe she should tell Scott? And what about the Professor? She needed to tell him of course but she wanted to make sure that Rogue was okay. She trusted her of course; but with the drastic change she wasn't sure what to expect. Biting her lip she stood up, just in time to see Scott walking up towards her.
"What was Pietro Maximoff doing here?"
Oooh, review?
