Chapter 3

"Okay Peter, the people at the mansion may be a little questioning, but don't worry, they're harmless." Kitty informed when they both stepped inside.

"Whoa, watch out Kit," Bobby screamed by as he and Jubilee rode passed them on his skateboard.

Peter took in his new surroundings very quickly. "It is so big," he exclaimed. "Our house is not nearly as big as this." He said aloud, but not realizing what he was revealing.

"Oh, do you share a house with other people too?" Kitty asked while showing him around.

"Well yes, but we don't talk much with each other. Sort of . . . how do you say?" Peter thought of the word he was searching for. "Mutual acquaintance?"

"Oh, I know what you mean." Kitty wrapped her arm around his, kind of making him squirm a little bit, and continued to give him the grand tour.

After touring the greenhouse, recreation room, and the kitchen, to get a few things, they decided to take a break for a while. Kitty packed up a small picnic, you know: sandwiches, drinks, blankets, napkins all those supplies. The sun was starting to set and the sky looked so beautiful from where they stood, or rather sat. Kitty laid the blanket out smooth on the short cut lawn.

"This has really been fun, seeing where you live at Katya. You've shown me how wonderful America is," he finished his egg salad sandwich and gazed off into the red and orange, brilliant sunset.

"You're welcome Peter, but I don't think all of America is beautiful." Kitty said, and looked away for a moment as Peter stared at her.

"I think it is beautiful." Kitty smiled weakly and looked up at him, taking this moment to sit closer to him. It was a little odd that he looked at her, and politely rejected her action. Peter was sweet and would never want to hurt a beautiful flower like her, no matter what anyone said.

When the sun gracefully rested over the clearing, the air began to grow cold. Kitty shivered trying to warm herself up, because she had forgotten to bring out her sweater. Then by instinct, Peter pulled her close to his body to keep her warm. This was the first gesture that he made toward her to show his feelings. Neither of them wanted to be pulled apart.

"Look at them," Logan spied from the house and Ororo was in the same room with him. "Snuggled up together. Basking in the evening's glow. Makes ya want to puke."

"Now come on Logan, as if you weren't young and in love once upon a time." Ororo stood behind him, making a point. "To be young and in love, not caring what others think, just as long as you follow your heart."

Logan made a gagging noise at her speech, making her angry. "Please Storm, you sound like a Hallmark Greeting card. Love like this doesn't last long, I've been there." Ororo was a little taken aback. Old tough as nails had a sweet side?

"Why Logan, I never knew." She said hoping he would get into a long conversation and tell her about it. Unfortunately, he was in no mood to spill the beans.

"Maybe next time," he told her and got away from the window, ready to rally up his students for a little evening training.

Peter had to leave by this time, and Kitty was disappointed to see him go, but even more that she had to continue with training. Being an X-Man--er X-Woman, was a real burden to her. Beside the fear of the public one day knowing what she truly was, a mutant, and hating her for it, it just drove her insane. But people like Jean, Scott, Evan, Kurt, Rogue, and all her friends at Bayville, and now Peter, brought her back to sanity.

"I saw you outside with Peter earlier," Rogue said after their training and they were walking to their rooms together. "You two looked like quite the snuggle couple, am ah right?" Kitty blushed enthusiastically.

"He was just keeping me warm, it was cold out." She explained.

"If it was so cold out, why didn't you just run back inside and get a sweater? Face it, you like him and he likes you. There is no age boundary." Rogue opened the door to her room. "Though you might want to keep it a secret for a little while, Kurt still has feelings for you, and doesn't trust that big guy." She warned and locked herself in her room.

Kitty paused for a minute, letting Rogue's comment sink in. Why couldn't people just trust her judgement? As if one time being in a relationship with the enemy, meant that she would always fall for the wrong guy. Actually if her and Peter got together, wouldn't that be good, having more allies, human or mutant. She thought about it. If that did happen, she would need to figure a way to tell Peter that she was a mutant.

When Kitty walked into her room she pulled out her covers and climbed into bed, dreaming of all things Russian and especially of Piotr.