Disclaimer: X-men + Evolution not mine - original characters

Here it is, the moment of truth; WILL TODDIE MAKE A MOVE!

NOTES

Leecheecopae: Yeah, I'm 'bout willing to kick Pietro's silver arse at this point too.

Thriller: Hmm, you're getting warm thinking Fiona...but there's a bit more to it than that .

Chapter 7: Golden Slumbers

Again, Todd couldn't sleep. Thoughts of Nadia were strong and persistent, unyielding in their sweetness like love tends to be. He thought of holding her, caressing her, asking her why she so obediently followed all of Pietro's cruel orders. But of course, Todd knew he would never have the chance to fulfill any of these romantic dreams. There was such a tight leash kept on Pietro's little maid that Todd physically shuddered to think what Pietro would do to him if Nadia were to reject his advances. And still there was that tantalizing and impossible dream – what if she accepted...if she were to give him a chance; to allow him only once to touch her, kiss her, hold her close...

Unable to restrain himself, he pulled back the covers on his bed, sneaking like he'd done so many times before into the hallway and down the stairs. He peered over the rail, looking beyond the railing to where her cell lay, with the small slit of a window that allowed light in. She lay curled on a scratchy army blanket, arm tucked under her head, body stretched out. In the faded pajamas Wanda had given her, she looked much more young and innocent. Todd's gaze traveled to her hips and where her shirt was pulled up due to her raised arms, sighing lustfully. It was hopeless to watch her; she had no freedom of choice. And even if she did, why would this girl who while daylight shone looked like she the star of several porn flicks waste time even talking to a toad like himself?

Todd jerked suddenly, realizing that he'd been taking quiet steps toward her cell while he thought. He now stood inches from her window, peering inside, eyes full of compassion. His nose almost touched the glass, and he sighed a little more loudly than he'd intended.

Nadine's eyes shot open. Brown and brimming with tears, they stared into Todd, somehow connecting with the gravitational pull of the earth and rooting the lovestruck teen to his spot. With a painful slowness she sat up, still holding eyecontact, and moved forward on her knees, until she was as close to the window as he was. Her full lips opened and mouthed two words, plain and clear to Todd.

'Help me.'

The frog mutant almost screamed, recoiling in fear. His body tensed and made an instinctive leap, and the boy found himself standing at the top of the staircase. Though his takeoff had been quiet enough, the landing on the first step was rough and created a creaking rattle that echoed through the house. Todd froze, waiting for a response, hoping no one had awoken. He waited, eyes wide, body taut.

And he waited.

And waited.

Then, the horrifying happened. There was a grumpy moan from Wanda's room. Todd felt adrenyline rush from head to toe, and in a panic he raced back toward his own room, stealthily as he could make his oversized feet go. He reached for the door, fingers extending to grab the knob, and was zapped by a small bolt of static that had taken up residence in the metal. The tiny sting was enough to ground him mentally, and he paused again, listening hard.

For another five minutes Todd crouched there by the door, head cocked to the side, listening. Waiting. His ears stretched and wiggled to hear any noise at all. Finally, at hearing nothing but heavy snoring from Pietro, he dropped his hand away from the knob. Now to decide how worth it going back downstairs would be.

First of all, no matter what happened, he couldn't get to sweet Nadine. There was a fat lock on the door to her cell.A little voice protested that, but he brushed it aside. He couldn't get past that lock. Second of all, he didn't know what he was getting into. Todd didn't know what 'help me' had meant, but it didn't sound easy. The little voice returned, protesting harder, but he ignored it and came up with a third reason. The nasty speed demon himself, Pietro. If Quicksilver found out Todd had been tampering with Nadine, there would be no end to his wrath. Not to mention the wrath of Magneto. Too dangerous, definitely.

The little voice protesting in Todd's head suddenly became very loud. He felt cowardly and lame, giving up for such silly reasons. The lock was easily pickable; he'd known how to pick them since childhood. And the fear of Magneto, Pietro and the unknown was a flimsy sheet to keep a lovestruck teenager away from his desired one.

Todd took a deep breath for courage and made his decision. He would go back downstairs, regardless of consequence.

Ha Ha! Bet you thought something would actually happen this chapter!

Well, next chappy's almost done, might be up by the end of today, even...something definitely happens in chapter 8...

But the question is: is the author going to let Todd be happy? Or will he get shot down by his so-called soulmate?

R+R Per Pia Chere!