Hey guys! I am back and very excited to say we are starting out with some great coupley scenes first off!

Disclaimer: I do not own marvel comics or the X Men. Please don't sue, we're just all lovers here, right?

And to start our day with some Tabietro!!

-x-

"Hi." He whispered softly from the door frame. When she saw him yesterday, she had run off and he hadn't seen her since. It seemed to take him forever just to walk up the stairs to her room today. Facing her seemed hard after so long.

She looked up from where she was, currently huddled in the windowsill. She murmured something, but he didn't hear it.

He was completely mesmerized. She had always been beautiful, but now. Oh man. She was absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Gone was the gold hair that stuck up and out from her pigtails, and it had been replaced with a new style of shoulder length waves that shined. Her worn blue jean coloured eyes sparkled with mischief even though a thick coat of sadness seemed mixed into them as well. Had it really been a year and a half since he'd seen her?

Pietro slowly moved towards the blonde mutant. His silver hair was a bit longer, but he felt the same as he had that day – like he forgot to bring his stomach with him.

"I was hoping we could talk for a few minutes." She numbly nodded and sat down on her bed. He was speaking slowly, it was easier for him when it was this important.

Minutes of tense silence passed. She seemed more comfortable with that. I'd rather be uncomfortable with the silence then be hurt by the words, was one of the few thoughts that went through her head. Her brain almost shut down the minute he walked into her room.

"Tabby…I wanted to explain about that night. I never really did." Tabby nodded.

"No, I suppose you didn't." That night had been so painful for both of them. She was supposed to meet him at a club. When she bounced down the steps into the sea of people, the first thing her eyes caught was the sight of her lover holding some woman who wasn't her.

"I don't know who that woman was." His gray eyes looked aside, focusing on the wall, the carpet, a poster, anything but to see the sadness in hers that he had caused. It made his heart sew itself together just so it could shatter again every time he saw her pain.

Tabby snorted, and he looked up. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" He sighed.

"No, I guess not. Tabby…"

"Look." His eyes looked to hers, and they were full of sadness, but something else too. "I'm not mad about that anymore. I'm over it. I was a long time ago."

"Why didn't you come back then, Tabby? It's not like I moved on, cause if you noticed, babe, I'm really not over you. In fact-" she held a slender finger to his lips, and he quieted swiftly. The brief touch, so innocent, but it drove him insane all the same.

"I'm still upset with you. Just not over that." Tabby hugged herself, wishing now for a blanket, or a fire she could throw herself into. It was so damn painful to have Pietro here, this close, and not be with him. She had missed him so much, but he didn't…

"Then, why?" His voice was so quiet she barely heard it. She could tell he was lost and confused. His happy exterior was gone. The fast talking know-it-all arrogant ass was for others. Tabby knew him. Tabby knew his love of life, everything about him. He usually managed to speak slowly around her. Or, he used to manage.

"You didn't come after me." Gray eyes found blue ones. Both of them staring into the other's soul, seeing the hurt they had gone through because of the other. "I thought for so long that you'd just come and see me and explain and apologize, and want me back…but you never came." Tears were filling her eyes, she could barely see the speed-demon in front of her.

"I wanted to…oh, god, Tabby, I wanted to. I tried. I really did. But they kept telling me when you were ready to talk you'd come see me, or that someone would come see me, or something crazy like that. But all I wanted was to come and beg forgiveness. I can't live without you."

She got up and moved to the window sill again, curling up, hugging herself. "You must've learned. Because as far as I know, you've been without me for a year and a half."

"Tabby…" Pietro slowly moved over to her and cautiously wrapped his arms around her shoulders. When she leaned into his embrace, he moved them to her waist and held her against him tightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" He whispered it into her ears, at least a million times, she thought. The blonde bomber buried her face into Pietro's chest, just crying against him while he held her. Tabitha silently thought a 'I forgive you' for every apology he whispered to her.

They sat like that for what felt like an hour to them both. An amazing hour, which he spent memorizing her all over again. The way her hair smelled, the way she fit into his arms so perfectly, the way her shoulders shifted around when she cried, and how she sniffled when she had been crying but didn't want to resume.

After a while, Tabby's tears had dried and she looked up into Pietro's eyes. He gave a small smile to her which she returned. She sat up slowly, her eyes never leaving his.

In a motion that seemed slow to one and fast to the other, she leaned forward and kissed him softly. It was just a peck, but it was the best kiss they'd shared yet, because of what it meant.

Pietro pulled her to a mirror and pulled something out of his pocket. When he told her she could open her eyes, Tabby had a gold chain around her neck. At the bottom of it was a little bomb, with the fuse lit. Tears spurted to her eyes as she touched it gingerly. She whirled around to look at him.

"It's beautiful."

"Like you."

"But…when?" Suddenly her eyes flashed. "Did you think you could buy me off?" He chuckled at her fiery nature, but hey, she was the queen of bombs after all.

"No, of course not." He backed up and sat down on her bed, his hands on her waist. Pietro prayed he'd never have to move them. "I bought it just before…that night. I saw it and thought of you and instantly knew it belonged around your neck." She smiled at him.

"Oh. Okay then."

Leaning down, Tabitha's lips met Pietro's. It started slow, and they just stayed like that for a while. But soon, it started to slowly escalate.

Memories were brought back to show their bodies really remembered each other perfectly-further proof they belonged together. She knew when to push and he knew when to pull and they were completely absorbed in each other.

I t was when he pulled her shirt off that she backed off and let go completely, a shocking realization hit her. Tabby pulled back.

"Pietro…we can't. Not now, it's too soon. I forgive you, but I'm not ready for us to go right back to where we were."

He nodded and tilted her chin up so their eyes met. "I understand. Take all the time you need." He kissed her forehead and she jumped off him, running down the stairs.

Nobody even bothered to ask why she was shirtless.

Pherma hit a button on her C.D. player and started dancing around the kitchen to the beat. It wasn't a particularly fast one, but it was a good one all the same. She hummed lightly, and opened the fridge, looking inside.

Pherma had met the brotherhood the day before. Well, the three of them who were the brotherhood anyway. Four men had stood in the door. A brunette, a silver-haired boy (who she was dying to ask about what shampoo he uses), a strange boy who started hopping like a frog, and a guy with dark hair who looked like he'd be severely beaten. Lance, Pietro, Todd and Pete Wisdom.

They were a unique bunch, certainly. She had shrugged. Frog boy was attracted to her, and wasn't that exciting. Pherma sighed, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder and putting random fruits on the counter.

"Do you always wiggle your ass when you stand at the fridge?" A gruff voice called out. She stood up straight and looked at him, giving him the once over.

He wasn't bad looking. His hair almost seemed to form two points on his head and he was certainly well muscled, almost like those scary men on steroids, only…it suited him more.

"Do you always stare at the ass of the woman who's in the kitchen at the present moment?" Pherma smiled and pulled out the blender, plugging it into the wall.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not half as amused as she was. He took a seat at the island in the middle of the gigantic kitchen and started reading the news paper.

After a few moments, he finally grumbled something at her. "Who the hell are you, anyway?"

She grinned. Pherma loved it when she got to play around with the ones who weren't attracted to her.

"I'm Pherma. And besides easy on the eyes, you are?" Flirting was like second nature to her, after breathing.

He nearly choked. On what, she didn't know. She just started casually chopping up the fruits she had pulled out –peaches, strawberries and bananas.

"Logan." He grumbled.

"Aw, how cute. Logan. It suits you. Is your mutant ability grumpy-ness?" Pherma leaned over the island, well aware of how low cut her shirt was and what this position did to her chest. But it was more fun to know he barely glanced at her breasts, but that he did glance.

"Because yours is so blatantly obvious. Is not being able to wear proper clothing part of it? It's a school, not a bleeding dance floor."

Pherma grinned. He was either taken, a telepath or a man who had met his soul mate. And her bet was on door number three.

"I give off pheromones that attract men and make them desire to do anything I want." The blonde mutant turned around, throwing her fruit into the blender and some ice. She hurt a faint grumble from behind her, and the sound of a newspaper page being turned.

"Oh really? That must be lots of fun for you." She grinned and pressed the blender button, blocking out whatever it was he said next. Probably some little quip he thought was clever.

When she finally turned around and poured her smoothie into a glass, Logan was glaring daggers at her. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Logan growled, his knuckles tightening around the paper. "I said, you must love all the attention you get around here if you just attract guys from everywhere."

She shrugged. "Not really. I mean, I only attract some of them. The ones who are coupled up, or strong telepaths, or if they've met their soul mates, my pheromones don't work on them. Other then that…guys'll chase anything in a short skirt. Gits." She rolled her eyes at the guys in question, who weren't really in the room.

"Oh, so now you're against guys?"

"Damn straight."

"You just seduce them."

"Not if I can help it."

"Excuse me?" She rolled her eyes at his ignorance and sighed. After a few moments, Pherma broke the silence, finishing off her smoothie and refilling her glass.

"So, who is she?" Logan raised an eyebrow. "Your soul mate. I can tell you and Ororo aren't getting it on every night, and you aren't going gaga over me. So fess up."

"My soul mate?" He grinned and got this faraway look in his eyes. "She's a beauty. Looks damn fine in leather. 'Long as I change the oil and keep her nice and clean, everything's smooth between me and her."

Pherma grinned. "What? You got a Ferrari in the garage?" Logan snorted and shook his head. "Oh…a bike man. My kinda ride." Straddling a stool, she tossed her hair behind her-it always gets in the freaking way- and grinned at him, propping her elbows up on the island and placing her chin in her hands. "What are you driving?"

At that moment, she had tried to lean forward but instead she stumbled and fell flat off the stool. For crying out loud…Climbing back up, she saw Logan smirk at her. "2005 Triumph Tiger. What are you driving, girly?" He asked.

"Harley. 883 Sportster. Did you really suspect a girl like me would be seen on anything else?"

-x-

Rogue sat in the middle of the Rec. room floor, flipping through channels. Nothing was on TV. Nothing was ever on TV on Sundays. It was just plain annoying.

Since she had come to the institute, Rogue had obtained and gone through exactly three pairs of pajamas. First the orange ones- well, they weren't very nice, but they covered everything. Then came cotton navy blue ones that were comfy, stylish and covering. But finally, she had found the right fit with these black pajamas.

Logan had gotten them for her at Christmas. It was a black silk nightgown that had a little bit of lace across the top. It came with a jacket that covered her arms too, and the whole thing drifted down to her ankles. Sleeping was so much more pleasurable when you had excellent pajamas.

She turned the TV off and tossed the remote control onto the coffee table and closed her eyes, sighing.

"Were you hoping to be alone, or would you mind a spot of company from a fine gentlemen and a crackpot?" A voice quipped. She opened her eyes to see Lance and Pietro in the door. Clearly it was Pietro who spoke, since Lance was now smacking him upside the head.

"Ah'd love some company from two such fine gentlemen as yourselves." Pietro speeded over and sat down next to her, and Lance hopped over the couch to sit on her other side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Rogue laughed. Since Apocalypse's defeat, she had started to go see the Brotherhood more and more. She had realized how much she missed them, and even though she loved everybody at the institute, she still had friends at the Boarding house.

The bridges had been repaired. It had hurt everybody when Rogue left –she missed the guys, but was too betrayed by Mystique. So it took many nights of ice cream and CSI reruns with a few poker games thrown in to fix their friendships.

Rogue hadn't seen the boys in a few months –Magneto had funded a trip to Paris for them all as a sort of apology for being, well, evil. They were there for about two months, and got back a few weeks ago, but she hadn't seen them since before they left.

"Well, we were walking down the street…"

"He put the celery WHERE?"

"What was Toad doing with that model?"

"And you had a thong because…"

"Sorry. He told Logan to take Ororo and…"

"So Pietro's walking down the street, and this model chick comes up to him and starts speaking French and he just gives her this look and says 'Je suis perverti. Si vous plais laissez-moi saisir votre bout.' Rogue spit out her juice at that.

"Pietro! I can't believe you said that to her!" He looked at her and shrugged.

"I was trying to say 'I'm lost, please let me use your map.'" Rogue snorted, and her pop shot out her nose, and then she resumed laughing.

"Do you even know what you said to her?" He looked at her, shaking his head. "You said 'I'm perverted. Please let me grab your ass.'" Lance fell over laughing.

"No wonder she slapped you!" They continued telling stories of how Pietro's French led him astray in Paris for another hour, Rogue smiling at their horrible luck.

They calmed down, finding a CSI rerun to watch for a little while. Finally, after a bowl of popcorn, Rogue asked.

"Where's Freddy?" Pietro and Lance's head dropped down. "He wasn't with you guys when you arrived…and he isn't in any of your Paris stories.."

"Blob…died." Pietro whispered. Rogue felt her eyes tear up slightly. She hadn't really liked Blob, but she didn't want him to die, and she still knew him.

No…

"No! Freddy can't die! He was invulnerable…even Logan couldn't hurt him…"

"Freddy had a heart-attack two weeks before we left for Paris. Magneto said we needed to get out the house and get away from the whole life for a little while to help recover. He uh…we couldn't have done anything. "

They sat in silence and finally Rogue stood up, putting the popcorn bowl back. "Ah'm gonna go to bed, guys. Ah'll see you in the morning. G'night.." She wandered upstairs slowly, thinking about what had happened.

It's not fair. Freddy shouldn't have died…he wasn't that old...why does the world have to hate mutants when we didn't do anything to them.

-x-

Pete walked into the library, seeking a bit of peace. I bloody well deserve it, after what I've put up with in the last week, he thought.

He was beaten, bruised, sore and generally blue –and that wasn't just his hair colour.

Wisdom had explored this mansion top to bottom and even the bleeding danger room had ticking hormone bombs in it.

So of course, the one place he figured no sane teenager would be –a room full of books – had a girl in it.

Her brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she was chewing on a pen in an absent minded fashion. Baby pink converse shoes were propped up on the table.

"Bloody hell. Is there anywhere in this place where they're aren't a lot of sodden teenagers?!" He yelled.

The brunette looked up. "Try the danger room at three am." Kitty resumed reading, but looked up again when he snorted.

"Why on earth am I here? No smoking, no drinking, hormone bombs everywhere…" Kitty laughed.

He raised a blue-ish eyebrow at her. "Mr. Logan said something like that once."

"Mr. Logan? Are you twelve?" he quipped.

"I'm nineteen, and you shouldn't be talking. You act like you're fifty – so grumpy about teenagers."

"I'm only twenty-six."

"So go hit on Pherma, like everybody else." He grabbed a chair and turned it backwards so he could sit on it.

"Got a name?"

"Kitty Pryde. You're Pete Wisdom." He grabbed the book she had been reading, glancing through it.

She reached for it, but it was beyond her reach. "Kitty? What kind of name is that?"

"It's a great name. Give me back my book, Mr. Wisdom."

"Just call me Wisdom, Pryde, screw the 'Mr.'. And what kind of book is this? It's all…romance and fluff. Relationships don't work like that."

"Of course they don't." Kitty glared at the man and snatched her book from him, settling back into her chair. "Because men are too stupid. They don't realize that women don't work the same as them and that women respond better to creativity then laziness. Not my fault your gender are a bunch of dumb asses."

"Hey!" He growled. "I'll have you know that our gender are not idiots, Pryde. We just like to be laid back, and you women always have to try and get us to work bloody harder. Not our fault you're so damn demanding."

"We're not demanding. Men are lazy and don't put an effort into seduction. So therefore we have to read about fake men and wish that real men were like this. Now, Wisdom, if you'll excuse me."

She picked up her book and walked out of the library, leaving him alone to think.

"Damn. Gotta love buggin' a girl who's got a fire."

He shook his head and looked around. "AHA!" He jumped in the air and gave a little whoop. A room of me and no teenagers…now that's my style.

-x-

A/N: Thanks for coming all, I'll see you next time! Don't forget to tip your waitress and review!

January 25, 2008: Hey guys, just updating this chapter. I changed Pete Wisdom's age, because as I was writing him in future chapters, I realized that he needed to be younger then I had originally listed him. Just changed a few details here and there, is all. Enjoy.

March 30, 2008: Just quick updates to spacing and indents and tabs.

Through Darkness and Light /x\