Heating Up

Those little things you say
When words mean so much
You never back down
And they all shy away
You always listen to me

And what do I care to get me through these sleepless nights
And what do I have to hold when no one's there to hold me tight
And what do I see the only thing that gets me through this is I feel and I feel you
-3 Doors Down
Upstairs

"What's yer real name?" Remy asked as the two laid together, staring at the ceiling.

"Why?" Rogue asked.

"Just curious."

"Um... Marie," Rogue whispered.

"Ah like dat much better den Rogue," he admitted. "Why don' y' want anyone ta know it?"

Rogue chewed on her lip for a few seconds before attempting to answer. "Mah powers developed when Ah kissed this boy. Ah ran away that night... for days Ah couldn't remember anything. Everything was so confused. Ah didn't know if Ah was Marie or Cody... It was so scary. When Ah finally got mahself under control Ah called the hospital. Cody's still in a coma. Ah guess Ah call mahself what Ah do because Ah'm scared."

"Scared?" Remy asked.

"Yeah, keepin' mah name secret has always been another way of keepin' people away."

"Did it work?"

"With some people. Most of the residents stayed away from meh, but Kitty, Jubes, and Bobby just wouldn't listen. They just kept on tryin' ta get close, finally, Ah just gave up tryin' to push them away."

"Good," Remy nodded. "So do y' mind if Ah call y' dat?"

"Ah guess not."

"Bon. Marie..." he drawled it out. Rogue smiled, her name coming from his mouth was like a caress. He moved so he was poised over her. His lips then covered hers. Rogue opened her mouth to his and his tongue invaded her mouth. She sighed softly.

His hand ran over her stomach slowly, gauging her reaction. When she didn't try to move away he moved his hand higher resting it over her breast. There was no outward reaction, save for a soft sigh. He cupped the breast firmly in one hand, running his thumb over her nipple.

Rogue shifted under him unconsciously bringing her body in close contact to his. He carefully maneuvered his lower body in between her legs. She unconsciously wrapped her legs around his drawing him even closer to her. "Chére," he murmured against her lips. "Marie." Rogue pulled away looking into his eyes. He frowned, worried. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin'," she smiled shyly. "Mah name just sounds really good when you say it." He smiled back at her and they kissed again.

The kitchen

"I think I've figured out what's wrong," Bobby said. "I've been taking you for granted. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Jubilee said smiling. "I've just been around Rogue and Kitty so much and Remy and Pete are different. But I've realized something. I'd be too bored with them."

"Yeah?" Bobby asked raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"Sure, who else would help me with all the jokes we pull? And who else would watch Monty Python with me, or bad 'B' movies? Let's face it, you're the only guy who has my... interesting sense of humor, and my different way of having fun."

Bobby smiled. "That's good to know."

In another part of the Institute

"Where are we going?" Pete asked as Kitty took his hand leading him through a passageway.

"To the study," Kitty told him.

"And we're goin' this way because..."

"Well, this isn't, technically, open to students. The professor's study/library is what we usually use."

"Uh-huh."

"Actually, the professor doesn't use this one either. He knows that I come here, though. In this place you need somewhere to be alone."

"I guess alone time is hard t' come by," Pete admitted. Kitty phased them inside and lit the candles she had set up inside. "Nice, a little dusty though."

Kitty giggled. "Of course it is. What do you think? That I clean when I come here?"

"Hey, ow am I supposed t' know what you do?" Pete protested. "For all I know you've taken me here to take advantage of me." He grinned. "In which case I won't argue."

She rolled her eyes even as a small smile tugged at the edge of her lips. "Do you ever not think about sex?"

"Why would I?" he asked raising his eyebrows. Kitty rolled her eyes.

"Pete, can I talk to you?"

"Of course." She led him to an old beat up couch. "Lovely."

"If you want to leave..." Kitty let that trail off. He smirked stepping so close she could feel the heat of his body.

"No way, luv, yer not getting rid of me." They sat down together. "So, wot's on yer mind?"

"I just needed to talk... my mom just wrote me a letter. She and my dad got divorced."

"I'm sorry, luv."

"She said the usual crap. 'It's not your fault', 'we still love you'. But... that doesn't really help."

"I know."

"I called them and mom told me that he had an affair." She shook her head. "I tried to call my dad. He won't return any of my phone calls." Pete didn't say anything to that, he merely pulled her into his arms, hugged her gently, and pulled her onto his lap. He linked his arms around her waist as she turned on his lap, her legs on either side of his. She surprised him taking the initiative and pressing her lips to his. Pete was content to let her have the lead.

"Kit, luv, are you sure you want to do this right now. We can just talk."

"I know," Kitty said. "But I need to be held right now, and I need to be with you."

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yes," she smiled. "This happened a week ago. I mean it, yeah, hurts but I'm dealing."

"Okay, grasshopper."

She playfully nipped his lower lip before running her tongue gently over his lip as though soothing the pain. Pete groaned softly tightening his grip on her. She pulled away with a pleased smile. Pete reached out and cupped her cheek before running a finger over her lips. He was even more surprised when she took his finger into her mouth softly sucking it and twirling her tongue around it.

Pete's eyes darkened and he pulled his hand away lacing his fingers through her hair and pulling her head to his, his lips were hard and demanding. Kitty's soft gasp was lost when his tongue invaded her mouth. Her tongue met his swirling around it in a dance that left him breathless and panting. "Damn," he muttered. She smiled shyly. "Yer a tease," he growled playfully. Her smile merely grew. "Trust me?"

"If I didn't I wouldn't be here," she said. He smiled at that. Pete moved so he was laying on his back.

"C'm ere, luv," he said crooking a finger to her. She smiled leaning down and kissing him. Pete's hands rested around her waist and her hands rested on his chest giving herself a little leverage. Pete looked into her big brown eyes. "I don't deserve you."

"Of course not," Kitty smiled. "But I'm here. And I'm not leaving."

Pete couldn't tell her how much those simple words meant so he did the next best thing. He pulled her down for another long thorough kiss.