The Hospital. The place that was very much hated by Katherine "Kitty" Pryde. This place was the gateway to Hell, but also the path to a new beginning of life. Doctors, nurses and many others have walked these halls before. It was filled with a weird smell. A smell of fluids, medicines and a million others.

Why am I here?

Why?

Kitty stared at the door. That door. Lance. He's behind that very door.

Kitty clung onto her mother. She never felt so frightened before. She never felt how much her parents really mattered that much. She was scared. She wanted to know.

To know what was really going on. Going on behind that door.

"Are you sure he'll be Ok? He's…he's been in there for more than an hour and a half." Kitty chocked.

"Yes, darling. He'll…he'll be just fine." Teri answered. She wasn't even sure herself. What if something did happen? What if Lance…oh, crap. Why did she go promise Kitty in the first place?

Kitty got up from her seat in between her parents. Lance fell on the ground so hard then. And worse of all, the ground was full of rocks. Uneven ones too.

"Lance…" Kitty prayed that he'd be alright. She just couldn't. She couldn't lose him. He's too important in her.

"Please, God…"

Just then, the door was pushed open and a doctor with two other nurses made their way out.

Kitty turned around. "Doctor…is…is Lance alright?"

Please. Kitty begged hard. Let him be fine.

"Are you Mr.Alvers'…family?"

Kitty swallowed hard. "I'm…I'm his…girlfriend…"

"Well, Mr.Alvers…he will be just fine. His condition has already stabilized and he is healing. The knife made a very deep cut but strangely, it was…removed very neatly, I must say. And you got him in here just in time…except, for one problem."

Kitty's eyes widened, "What…problem?"

The doctor said, "His head had a collusion. It had affected some of his…nerves and up until now, he hasn't woke up yet."

"Then…when will he wake up?"

"Maybe a moment later. Maybe tomorrow or the day after. Or maybe…he never will."

The doctor made his way off, clutching the clipboard in his hand.

Kitty's parents watched him go and then, they turned to look at Kitty.

She was quiet. They had expected a huge outbreak. Tears and anger plus mixed emotions to fire at them. Instead, she remained quiet. Very quiet.

Kitty pushed the door to Lance's ward slowly as her parents watched on. For once, not even Carmen Pryde had something to say or to protest. He, too, remained very quiet.

Kitty sat down next to Lance. He was simply sleeping there. He wasn't moving. He wasn't even doing anything.

"Lance?" Kitty breathed hard.

No response…

"Lance! Wake up! Lance…" Kitty screamed. She had tears blocking her vision and yes, her eyes stung so hard that it was impossible to see clearly.

Kitty simply broke down and cried. Just a good 4 hours earlier, they were enjoying their ice cream. How can one night, which was meant to be beautiful turn like a living nightmare for her so fast? What the heck was going on?

Kitty looked up at Lance. He seemed so calm about the whole darn thing.

"Lance…I really don't want you like this. I want you to please wake up."

Kitty wanted Lance to look at her. She wanted to love him, to feel his warmth. But is that still possible?

"Kitty…we…we're sorry." Teri said from behind.

Carmen said, "Dear, come home with us and get some rest. You can come back tomor…"

"No…I want to stay here…with Lance." Kitty said softly. She didn't know what else to do. She loved him.

"Lance…"

The phone of Scott Summers rang away on his table that very night.

Scott picked it up and looked at the number with a smile.

"Hi!"

"Oh, hi, Scott. How are you holding up, huh?" came the voice of Jean Grey.

"Ok. Everyone's really excited in the institute cos' Christmas is coming." Said Scott.

Jean leaned against the wall, "Yea…yes. Of course. So, what have you been doing lately? I'm just…you know…holiday-ing…just like many others too."

"Yeah. I went shopping for more decorations for the institute this morning. With Rogue. Same thing every year."

Jean frowned. Why was it every conversation have got to have Rogue in it? Would it kill not to?

"Oh, sounds…good…"Jean's voice went pretty soft…and upset.

"Um…Jean? You Ok?" Scott asked with concern.

"Yeah. Look…uh…I wasn't jealous Ok?" said Jean.

"Woah! Who even said anything about being…wait a second. You are jealous, aren't you?"

Jean instantly said, "What? Oh great! I happen to just want to wish you Merry Christmas. Me, jealous? The nerve of some people…"

Jean hung up immediately. Was she really jealous?

Scott hung up with another smile. Was she really jealous?

Who really knows?

Kitty peeled her eyes open. The sunrays were speeding in and the dust particles could be seen floating in midair.

Oh, wonderful. The day before Christmas already. Boy, that was new.

Kitty rubbed her eyes. After sleeping with her back bend down, it was aching like anything. Kitty couldn't believe it. It wasn't a dream after all.

Before she closed her eyes last night, Kitty had wished so much that this was not real. Sadly, it really was.

Kitty bend her head down. All that was on her mind was Lance. His laugh, his smile, every little bit of him.

She remembered back in Bayville. She sometimes stole peeks at him. She even walked the long way to her next lesson, just to pass his locker. To see him. Lance was always pretty pissed by Toad. He told her before that she thought he sucked big time. And even when she bashed him up, she found it amusing.

Kitty giggled a little at the memory. Then, she turned to look at Lance. If this were a big holiday joke, it'd be really funny. However, it wasn't. How Kitty wished it really were.

Kitty remembered what the doctor with the funny looking mustache said last night. He may wake up now. He may wake up tomorrow. Sure, there were patients just like this. In fact, a bunch too.

She glanced at Lance. He was strong. For her, he'd make that happen.

"Kitty. Have some warm porridge, dear, before it turns cold." Teri Pryde said. She was there alone. It was a beautiful evening. There was Kitty, simply standing at the window, staring out of it.

"Nah…I'm not in the mood."

"I understand. I'll still save some for you."

Theresa Pryde walked over to Kitty and placed a hand on her only daughter's shoulder.

"Isn't tonight just stunning? Colorful lights, children having fun, people just enjoying Christmas…it's all wonderful."

"Yeah. To bad Lance isn't awaked to see all this happen now." It struck a cord in her heart and Kitty cupped her hand over her mouth. Her mom watched her tears fall like rain.

"Darling, what's happened has happened already. You and I can't change the fact that Lance is hurt. We still have a life to lead, to enjoy and to go on. We can't live if we keep on hanging with unhappy moments dear. And you know it too." Teri said.

"No, but why can't the person that's hurt be me? I don't want Lance to be in this mess. I…I really care for him, mom. I really do." Kitty cried on her mother's shoulders.

Teri stroked Kitty hair softly, "None of us wants it. We just have to…we have to accept the fact. I know it's hard. But we have to try. We have to."

The very end of the Christmas day came so fast. Soon, everybody was enjoying Christmas. Families gathered around for dinner, children danced about with happiness and even the poorest of all families made Christmas a living heaven.

Why don't I feel for Christmas?

Kitty Pryde stayed in the very ward Lance Alvers was submitted to. She tried her best to lighten the atmosphere up. Kitty decorated the room with flowers, food and soft music.

Worse…just 5 minutes to Christmas.

"Lance. I know you can hear me." Kitty clutched the present for Lance in her hand. For once, Kitty didn't cry. She couldn't find a reason to. After all, it was Christmas.

Kitty took a deep breath. "Lance? I made this place terrific. I know that you'll love it. And, I bought you a gift too. I know you need it since you hate doing your own laundry. And I have a little something to say to you too."

Kitty leaned closer to Lance, "Lance…I love you. Please…tell me the same as well. Please."

Kitty leaned up and kissed Lance on his forehead. She had just one single tear running down the side of her face. It dropped and came falling down.

It fell onto Lance's eye.

Kitty dropped the present on her lap and started to cry all over again. She closed her eyes and cried herself out. She just couldn't stop it.

Lance felt his world coming out all over again. It was getting brighter and brighter.

Lance's fingers started to move as he opened his eyes. His vision came back to him once more and what met him was a decorated room. Not entirely, just parts of it. There was a beautiful cake on the table in front of him and soft music played at the back.

What was that anyway? Someone crying?

Lance looked harder. It wasn't just anyone.

It was Kitty.

"Ki…Kitty?" Lance whispered as he struggled to sit upright.

Strange…for a moment there, I thought I heard Lance talk to me. Kitty dropped her hand down and stared. There was a figure there. It looked so much like…like Lance.

Lance?

Kitty rubbed her eyes quickly. No way. It can't be. One minute till official Christmas over and Lance…he…woke up?

"Lance…is that…?"

"Look, maybe you'll do me a favor and tell me what I'm doing here…" Lance started.

"Lance!" Kitty threw her weight onto Lance with joy.

"Hey, hey! Kitty…it's painful!" Lance yelled.

"Oh, sorry…but…are you sure you're…" Kitty couldn't help but grin.

"Looks like you knocked your head Kitty. How could you even forget me?" Lance coughed.

"Lance…uh…Merry Christmas." Kitty wanted to make things quick. Only twenty-five seconds left on the clock.

"What? Christmas already?" Lance asked. Twenty good seconds left.

"Uh-huh…" Kitty pressed her gift towards Lance. "Go on, open it." Fifteen seconds left only.

Lance tore the wrapping paper apart and opened up the box. What met him was a pair of really new jeans…one without any holes too. Eleven seconds.

"But, Kitty…I…I love it…"Lance said, placing the cover back on.

"Here's part two, Lance." Said Kitty. Five seconds left.

Kitty said, "Lance…I love you." She pressed her lip onto Lance's and the time was up. Christmas was over. But they got to spend it together.

"Kitty…"Lance said, when Kitty pulled back, blushing.

"Have you seen a white box somewhere?"

"You mean this one?" Kitty opened the drawer and took out the white box. It was in Lance's pocket. When they changed his clothes into the hospital ones, they found all his belongings and dumped them in that drawer.

"Yeah. Uh…Merry Belated Christmas, Kitty."

"For me?" Kitty was stunned. Lance wasn't the type that shopped for Christmas gifts, let alone give them to someone.

Kitty opened the gift slowly and a beautifully beautiful Star of David necklace met her eyes. This time, the tears that fell were truly of happiness.

Kitty put it on. It matched with her pink jacket and blue Bermudas. It was awesome.

"Lance…I…I don't know what to say." Kitty said.

"Hey, I worked for that. Thank god none of you X-gee…guys or anybody else in Bayville High saw me work in the local gas station."

"You really…?"

"Hey, of course! I saved up for that! Turns out it wasn't so bad. I got some free petrol for my Jeep and Toad and Pietro didn't say a word about it. It was tough but it ain't that bad. It was Ok."

Kitty leaned forward and kissed Lance again.

"What was that for?" Lance asked, smiling.

"That was for being you."