chapter 16 - 'Cinderella at Midnight'

After seeing the limo off, Logan made his way back into the living area to find ten or so Jamies complaining to each other about the unfairness of not getting to ride in a limo too. In the middle of the group sat a defeated looking Kurt. He had collapsed on the couch with his head laying back on the pillows, staring up at the ceiling high above.

"I don't want to hear any more complaining." Wolverine's gruff voice startled the Jamie nearest him. "Nor does anyone else for that matter. Now, go find something to do, or I'll find something for you."

All Jamies instantly shut their mouths, recognizing a threat when they heard one and began to one by one, siphon out of the large room.

Logan slumped down onto the other end of the couch. He heard Kurt mumble a soft 'thanks'.

"It was more fer MY sanity kid." He replied with a hint of a chuckle.

Both men sat for a moment in the new found silence, relaxing after their long afternoon of cleaning. Kurt was sure that Logan probably didn't even feel the least bit tired. Thanks to his own metabolism, his energy was still high, but he was definitely going to need a large snack to refuel.

Truthfully, Kurt had welcomed the distraction and knew that the older man had set it up that way on purpose. He wasn't entirely sure if his full intent had been to question him over what had been so obviously troubling him or if it had been to simply keep his mind off of it.

"You know." Kurt spoke up. "I vas thanking you for earlier." He knew that he didn't have to be any more specific.

"Yer welcome kid. Care to share what's got you so blue? No pun intended of course."

Kurt let out a small, "Harumph." but did not respond to the older man's questioning.

"I don't mean to pry kid, but what happened 'tween you and Half-pint? You two have been side by side all week, I would have thought that you'd have gone with her."

"She doesn't need me there." Kurt answered quietly, his focus never leaving the ceiling.

"Need you? No, I think you're right, she's got her powers all under control." Logan paused. "But I'd say that she definitely WANTS you there."

Kurt sat up and turned to look Logan in the eye questioningly.

"Look Elf, if you don't believe me, I ain't wasting my breath on you."

Silently Kurt nodded.

"You could still go, you know." Logan added.

He then gestured through the open door at the other end of the room, where they could clearly see a human pyramid of Jamies toppling over.

He turned back to Kurt, "Unless, you would rather stay and hang out with us." The sarcasm in his voice was not lost.

"Gee, these options..." Kurt smiled his first genuine smile Logan had seen in many days.

"Get outta here!" Logan made to push at Kurt, before he jumped up off the couch.

"I gotta go find somzhing to vear!" The young man was suddenly nervous with anticipation.

"You might wanna grab a quick shower too kid." Logan added, still feeling the need to take one himself after cleaning the jet.

"Oh Scheisse! You're right! And I've got to get dried off! And I have to eat somezhing before I starve!"

"And here I was giving the GIRLS a hard time about primping!" Logan ignored the young mans cursing and chose instead to antagonize him.

Kurt turned to glare at Logan.

"Relax Elf, they were going to dinner first, you've got plenty of time. Go shower and I'll find something for you to eat on the ride out there."

"Danke Herr Logan." Kurt stopped to look at his mentor, who up until a few hours ago, he had been sure was still wanting to dice him into little bits.

"Oh you owe me for this Fuzzball."

Kurt soon found himself being dropped off outside of the Bayville high school gymnasium, where prom was taking place.

"This is the point where you get out of the car and go into the dance, ya know."

Kurt looked over at Scott who had come home moments earlier and offered to give Kurt a lift to town so he could ride back in the limo with the others. He was pretty sure that his "big brother" was still feeling guilty for yelling at him so many days before and was still trying to make up for it.

"Do you zhink that I am doing the right thing?" He asked him.

"Kurt, if you're worried whether or not Kitty will be happy to see you - don't be!" Scott laughed, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Do you think it wise for ME to be here?" Kurt's question was full of honesty and fear and Scott didn't need him to clarify what he had meant by it. For the last few years, he himself had encouraged Kurt not to attend parties or dances, in fear that someone bumping into him, feeling his fur or his tail, would realize that he was a mutant. Now, of course, things were different. It was just that, it was the way Kurt had been raised to think all of his life and this last week had not exactly been the easiest for him.

"Kurt, you can't spend your whole life hiding. These kids know who you are, whether or not they really accept it. I'd say that it's as good as any place to start."

Kurt nodded in understanding and smiled at his friend. "Thanks Scott."

"Sure thing, have fun."

Kurt stepped out of the car and straightened his new charcoal suit. He silently thanked his foster mother for sending it to him well before graduation. He looked down at his flesh colored wrist, double checking that his holowatch was on and operational, took one big breath and made his way into the school.

The front entrance was filled with a handful of odd couples and groups of giggling girls making their way to the bathroom. He glanced around nervously, not really wanting anyone to notice him and at the same time wondering how he was going to find Kitty in the large music filled gymnasium beyond.

"Kurt?"

The voice startled him. He turned to see who it was and met a familiar face of one of his classmates.

"Janie?" As soon as he met her eyes, he remembered how he had ever so politely turned down her invitation to prom because he "wasn't going to go." He could feel the guilt swelling in his chest.

"Hey Janie... I... ah..." His goal was to offer some kind of an excuse, but instead he just found himself mumbling.

"It's okay Kurt, I came with someone else."

That information only helped a small amount in making him feel better, but the smile on her face told him that he shouldn't worry anymore.

"Sorry, this vas sort of last minute." He exhaled.

"You're looking for Pryde right?" Janie asked with a glint in her eyes.

Surprised, Kurt nodded.

"Well, you're in luck my friend. I just saw her go out into the courtyard." Janie gestured with a smile towards the double doors at the other end of the large lobby.

Kurt's face lit up with a smile and he turned to Janie and thanked her before heading towards the door.

He stopped just outside and peeked through the glass. He found her standing alone, seemingly lost in her thoughts as she stared up at the starry night sky. The moonlight played off the sequins in her dress, and he smiled at the sight if her.

Masterfully, Kurt quietly snuck up behind her. With his holowatch on, his ability to blend into shadows was gone, but he still had his soft paw-like feet and agility on his side. Before she even had a chance to realize that someone was there, he had reached from behind her and placed a gentle hand over her eyes. His other hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place as he quietly whispered into her ear, "guess who?"

Kitty started when she felt the presence behind her, but relaxed as soon as she heard his voice. She smiled to herself at his posed question. She wasn't sure what gave him away fastest, his two sueded fingers or his thick German accent.

"I'm glad that you're here." She replied quietly, without moving from his grasp.

He dropped his hands back down by his side, releasing her.

"Does zhat mean you forgive me?"

"That depends..."

She turned around to look him in the face and he raised one eyebrow questioningly.

"You are going to go IN there and dance with me, right?"

He nodded as a smile crossed his face.

"Then you're forgiven."

Kitty stood on her toes so that she could give him a proper hug. She stepped back to get a better look at him.

"Wow Fuzzy, nice suit. I thought that it was part of your hologram at first."

"Danke." He smiled, feeling a little self conscious. "My foster-mother sent it to me for graduation, and seeing as how you can't really rent them vith an opening for a tail, I'm very grateful."

Kitty smiled. "Yeah, I bet."

"I know I didn't actually say it before, but I wanted to tell you how amazing you look, mein Katzchen." Kurt said genuinely as he looked her in the eye.

"Thank you." She smiled.

She took his hand and began to lead him into the crowded gymnasium. The music was loud and Kurt couldn't wait any longer, he had to explain himself, and he knew now was his chance. He stopped dead in his tracks just at the edge of the crowd, causing Kitty to stop as well, when she realized that he wasn't going to allow her to guide him any further. He pulled her closer so that she could hear him over the music.

"Look, Kitty. I am so sorry about all of the misunderstandings these last few days. All of the reasons I didn't want to come here tonight had nothing to do with you. I just wanted to be able to go out as me, no hologram, just me. You know, be normal for once. And I vas willing to skip tonight all together if I couldn't have that." He looked into her eyes and saw comprehension.

"It's okay Kurt, I understand"

"No, it's not okay."

Kitty looked up at him questioningly.

"All the reasons not to come tonight vere selfish reasons. The reasons that mattered, that changed my mind, were about you. You vanted to be here," He looked into her eyes. "And as long as I'm with you, I'm happy. That's all that really matters."

The biggest smile that Kurt had seen on Kitty's face in weeks appeared and she pulled him into a tight hug.

"Kurt, why does it like, still amaze me how sweet you are?"

He just smiled back.

She released him from the hug and stood back to look at him, her hands on her hip and her head cocked to one side. Her pose screamed, 'I'm up to something'.

"You know Fuzzy...I don't think that we should do only what I want tonight."

"Vas do you mean?" He asked a little worried about what she had up her sleeve.

She reached out and took his hand, lifting up his wrist and pushing his sleeve back enough to expose his watch.

"You said that you wanted to be able to come as yourself right?" She smiled slyly.

"No Keety, eet's all right. I don't vant you to spend your prom night being stared at because you are zhe only one with a fuzzy blue date."

"Don't forget handsome." She added. He lifted an eyebrow in question.

"My HANDSOME, fuzzy blue date. And really, I don't mind."

Before he could protest again, she switched off his hologram. Like Cinderella at midnight, his disguise for the ball vanished. He no longer resembled the handsome prince that he wished he could be, but instead the monster that was usually slayed in such fairy tales.

Kurt froze in his place, silently praying that no one would notice him. he knew that it was a foolish thing to wish for, as he could already feel the eyes on him.

"Dance with me Kurt."

He looked at his best friend standing in front of him, completely non-phased by his appearance. She took one of his three digit hands in hers and placed the other at her waist.

It was a slow song and Kitty began rocking along to the soft beat, pulling Kurt in sync with her. He dipped his head down close to her ear, muttering a feeble, "I'm sorry."

She looked up at him, coaxing him to lift his gaze to hers. "Don't apologize for other people Kurt."

"Eets just that they are staring at us."

"Yeah, well then let's at least give them a good reason to stare." She mentioned with a sparkle in her eye.

Kurt's brows were knitted together in confusion.

"Vas do you mean 'good reason..."?

Bur before he could finish his question. Kitty had lifted herself up on her tip toes and and pressed her lips gently to his. Kurt was stunned, but only for a second. In an instant his eyes closed, his posture softened and he wrapped his arms around her delicate shoulders.

At that moment Kurt didn't care if the entire school was starring at him. All of his uneasiness was put to rest.

Kitty began to deepened the kiss, but he could tell that she was letting him take the lead, knowing that he worried about his inconveniently sharp canines.

Kurt had only ever kissed Amanda before, but he had never thought that it could be such a wonderful sensation. He knew that he should have realized that everything would be perfect and comfortable with Kitty.

Her hands slid up his back and into his hair as she glided her tongue along his lower lip. He granted her access as he pulled her tight against his chest. Time seemed to stand still as all other distractions around them seemed to disappear. It was as if that moment in time was intended for just the two of them.

Soon they found themselves pulling apart, both a little winded. They heard some hooting and catcalling from the nearby students around them.

"I know that you weren't wanting to draw attention to yourself, but I've been really wanting to do that!" She smiled up at him.

"Yeah?" Kurt couldn't help the ridiculous grin on his face as he concentrated his attention on Kitty's swollen red lips.

"Well it wasn't JUST to cause a scene" She winked. "When I asked you to come here with me, it was because I wanted to be your date. That's it, nothing else. Got it?"

She grabbed his hands and squeezed them reassuringly.

"I'm still not so sure that I'm clear on that. Maybe you should try again." Kurt's dopey smiled quickly turned into a mischievous grin.

"I'll try my best!" She replied before pulling his face down to hers for another kiss.

end chapter 16 - 'Cinderella at Midnight'

A.N. Hello my lovely readers! It's about time that these two finally got there act together:) And don't worry there's still some more to come, they may have gotten through the first half of prom without a hitch, but the night is young and they still have to make it to graduation!

Please let me know what you thought about this cahpter! I sorta suck at the lovey dovey scenes. :P