The next morning, Kitty awoke to Logan's stomp out in the hallway as he shouted, "Stripes! Half-Pint! Get down in the DR. Now!" As soon as they dressed in their uniforms Rogue took hold of Kitty's hand as they then phased through the floors until landing within the danger room. The others within the room included Bobby, Jamie, Remy, Piotr, Jean, Scott, Wanda, and John. The latter two had recently joined the team as Wanda's anger for her father grew and knew he would not be happy if she joined, causing it to be to her enjoyment; John, on the other hand, had merely followed in the ways of his two closest friends, his girlfriend joining as well merely helped his choice.

"Alright, children," a motherly voice stated as Ororo entered the room. "I've recently talked with the professor, due to being unable to locate Magneto, he suspects something lager than what we may be ready for to happen at any moment. Therefore, he requested that your training immediately be raised from level seven to level nine."

"Wheels said what?" Logan rhetorically asked, somewhat shocked to have the X's training at only two levels below himself. "I'll tell him that you've begun," Storm added as she made an about-face and exited the room merely as quickly as she entered.

"But Remy not used to wakn' up at five in da morning yet," Remy mumbled, still wishing that he was in bed.

Logan, though still midly shocked at the Professor's wishes, stated, "You heard her, now get into your posit-. Hey, half-pint, where's the elf?" "I dunno, Logan, it's not like I baby-sit him," Kitty stated, slightly upset about the nick-name, which only made her feel as if she was to stay young forever. Just as she finished the sentence the scent of sulfur and brimstone was easily detected and Kurt was suddenly visible along with the others, attempting to seem as if he had been there the entire time.

"Elf, you're late. Don't do it again; have fun with the new level," Logan stated, a smug look upon his face. He then turned about and left the room, preparing to set up the simulation from the adjoined one.

"Vhat new leevel?" Kurt asked with his thick German accent clinging to each syllable spoke. Yet, no one responded to his question as the lighting in the room was shut off and returned only to show a new environment, visually anyhow surrounding them. "Vhy do I boder asking?"


After the session, which thankfully lasted merely three hours, the X-team filled off to the bathrooms in order to shower and returned, not long after, to their respective rooms to change. One ready they each headed downstairs once again, yet this time, stopping in the kitchen to retrieve their breakfast, noting the other occupants of the institute either finishing their own meals, in mid-bite, or seating themselves wherever able in order begin eating as well.

Most of the men had arrived before the women had, and thus Piotr was suckered into, by Remy and John's persuasion no doubt, to cook Belgium waffles for those who had not yet eaten. By the time the girls came down the stair way, exhausted even still from the work-out, they were now aware of being slightly bruised, all except for Kitty (due to her ability to phase). Yet, as they continued to make their way down the stairs, the aroma from the waffles soon made them forget most of the pain.

"They better leave some for us, otherwise..." Wanda stated as she, along with the rest of the girls, ran from the last step over to the kitchen and looked down at her glowing hands in reference to a threat.

Jean laughed at the looks the boys gave off as Wanda ended her statement, now all in the kitchen. "Did you guys get Ro to cook for you...again?" She questioned, the aroma even sweeter now that they were within the same room.

"Katya!" The six-year-old sister of Piotr, Illyana, shouted as she noted the X-women walk into the kitchen. She immediately ran over, noting her favorite person within the mansion, other than her brother. Jumping straight into Kitty's arms she grew a broad smile and stated, "Piotr's making waffles today!"

"Really?" Kitty stated with over-enthusiasm, which only made the young girl even more excited.

"Yep, he made special straw berries ones for you and me, but they're a surprise. Shhh." Illyana's statement was whispered into Kitty's ear and then ended by pulling back with a giggle and placing her index finger to her lips.

Unfortunate for Piotr, Jean overheard the whisper, which was a bit louder than expected, and stated, "So, Piotr, you're making special waffles for Kitty?" It was due to this comment that not only did Piotr's cheeks gain a tint of pink to them, yet Katherine's also.

"Yana," Piotr stated with a low voice as his sister squirmed down from Kitty's grasp and stood behind her. She wrapped her tiny arms around Kitty's slender legs, attempting to hide herself from her brother.

Finishing up with the last of the waffles, he placed the mounds upon the table to allow those who had yet to eat, to be able to. The mutants, even though many were in their early twenties, were whispering amongst themselves as if they were in high school of the color that flowed to their friend's cheeks.

"Snowflake," Piotr began as he walked over to Kitty, doing his best to keep a straight face despite his sister's adorable ways.

Kitty was easily able to tell that Illyana thought herself to be in much trouble. She smiled at Piotr, knowing that her blush was growing a deeper red and said, then turned, bending down, to face his sister. "Hey, cutie, how about you and I go upstairs and play after I come back from the mall with Rogue today, alright?"

"Really?" Illyana's eyes seemed to radiate with the happiness that she felt once she heard Kitty's words.

"Would I, like, ever lie to you, sweetheart?" Kitty asked as she tucked a bit of loose hair behind her ear.

"No. Piotr says that you always tell the truth and that's why he l-" At that moment Piotr's hand covered his little sister's mouth and picked her up from the floor into his large, muscular arms. "Snowflake," he stated in a low whisper then added a few words in Russian so that no one else would understand.

"Alright, Piotr. Katya, can we eat now?" Illyana's question was full of innocence, unaware that her words so far had caused much excitement in the mind of the brunette before her. As she requested this, she turned to face Kitty, though still in her brother's firm grasp.

"Totally, cutie. Now, where'd your brother place though strawberry waffles?" As the words floated from Kitty's mouth, her gaze drifted from the adorable child to the man in question. Unconsciously, her smile had grown a bit larger as she looked into his eyes, and he within her own.

"They are on the island," Piotr responded, his accent thick. Then, bending slightly to whisper in Kitty's ear he added, "I hope you do not mind, I merely knew that you and Illyana both enjoyed srawberries so I thought that you might li-"

With a gentle touch of her hand upon his bicep Kitty managed to stop his words and state, "Thank you for thinking of me, Peter."


As promised the night before, Rogue had left to whatever place Kitty desired in order to begin her 'transformation' and begin forgetting about Lance. Even still, Rogue had a few topics on her mind that made her believe it would not be a difficult task, the main being a Russian farm-boy.

As they walked about the mall, both holding a medium sized smoothie from the juice-bar, Rogue began her interrogation. "Hey, Kitty, yah mahnd if Ah ask yah something?"

"Sure, Rogue, what's up?" Was the reply she received by the petite woman next to her, who now held two miniature bags of clothing and was now forty-three dollars lighter than when they first arrived.

"When we were on the bed, talkn' last naght...yah, well, yah said Lance was raight about somethn'. What did yah mean?" An inquisitive eyebrow was shot up, though it contained a bit of playful Kitty psyche, to it (or so Rogue would refer to it if the subject was ever to come up.)

"Oh, um..." Kitty's cheeks now went from a fair tone to a shade of red which the Crayola (R) company had yet to create. "It's just that, well...IkindalikePiotr," she meshed the sentence quickly together so that Rogue would not be able to understand.

"Kit, c'mon! Just sah it, it's not like Ah'm gunna go blab it out like yah or Bobby would." Rogue deadpanned in reply. "Hey! I take offense to that comment!" The previously blushing mutant commented.

"Good, yah shouldn't make the lahves ((lives)) of us known ta everyone in tha mansion," Rogue snapped, with a gleam in her eye, trying to make a point.

"Alright, I get it. No more talking about you and Remy." "Ah wasn't talkn' about Rem-" Rogue's shouting was cut off as she realized now why Kitty had recently started doing a subtle victory dance by bobbing her head and lifting her index fingers at her side, hoping Rogue wouldn't notice. "Stop changn' the subject, Kit! Nah, tell meh what ya said." Rogue had halted in mid-stride, causing Kitty to turn about on her heels and walk over to Rogue.

Kitty lowered her head, feeling as if she could not look into Rogue's soon-to-be-glistening eyes and speak what she was requested to. "I.." Completely changing her mood, she now could not help but look up at Rogue, knowing she already knew the words that were about to be said. "Rogue, like, do I really have to say it?" Kitty questioned with the blush spreading across her cheeks again.

Though Rogue would never admit it to anyone but Kitty, she was over-joyed to know the truth. Rogue, herself, had found love within Remy, though he was still referred to as 'Swamp Rat' most of the time, and she knew that her friend deserved the same, especially after her last boy-friend. She nodded her head fervently, "Yah have ta, Kit. Ah mean, after all that mah Rat and Ah have been through thanks ta yah; yah owe it ta meh."

"Fine." Kitty then began with her words, attempting to form them at first, but as they came out she had a smile on her face that Rogue seemed to think was the brightest she had seen since Illyana had first arrived and asked if Kitty was dating Piotr, solely for the fact that he had spoken to his sister that he thought the brunette to be 'pretty'. "I think...no, that's not it. Rogue, I, I know that I like, and I mean really, really, really, like...Piotr!"

Rogue smiled back at the short-sized, or at least compared to herself, girl beside her and gave her a hug. "Ah'm happy for yah Kit...not that Ah didn't know. The Remy and Ah talked about it when you and Petah were putn' Illyana ta sleep a couple nights ago." She then released herself from the embrace and continued walking with Kitty as they talked, realizing she had just started the girl on a rampage. "Still," Rogue admitted within her mind, "Anything's better than having Kitty cry or even talk about Lance...the jack a-" Her thoughts were interrupted as Kitty exploded with delight again.

"Honestly Rogue, he's perfect. Do you see the way he acts with kids? Illyana's like a daughter to him, almost, they have a pretty big age difference after all, and with their parents dead... But, oh! He's gentle, and kind, a complete gentleman...he's perfect Rogue!" Kitty was swooning over him, yet keeping herself far more level-headed than the teenager-self, for she was far past that stage of life now, or at the least, she was trying to release herself from it. She blushed, showing that she wished to keep some of this information private, even still, Rogue was her best friend, and would most-likely hear many details.

"Well, in case yah can't see it, Petah's definitely got a crush on mah best friend," Rogue replied, taking yet another sip from her straw.

To this comment Kitty merely blushed, and looked around at the floor they were on. Surprisingly enough, Kitty had purchased nothing for herself, spare a colored lip-gloss which she explained she simply had to have. As she looked down at the brightly colored bags within her hands she looked up to Rogue and questioned, "Do you think Illyana will like the toys and clothing?"

Rogue laughed slightly at the question and replied, "Have yah seen the way she looks at yah? The kid would love a piece a string if yah gave it ta her, Kit. Besides, yah'll be hanging around her evahn more once yah and Petah start datn'."

Kitty smiled at the thought that Piotr, her Peter, would actually carry the same type of feelings for her that she held for him. "Hey, Rogue?"

"Yeah, Kit?"

"He told Remy he likes me?"

"Nah, it's obvious he doesn't like yah," Rogue replied coldly.

"Oh..." With that Kitty's head hung slightly lower and her body drooped only barely enough to be visible.

Rogue merely smiled as she commented, "He's told both mah Rat and tha kid that he loves yah. An' everybody knows it's notn' less."