Chapter 9: It's a Wonderful Life, Right?
Disclaimer: I own the X Men about as much as I own the world. I don't even own a freakin' car!
A/N: Okay enough angsty depressing crap, time for fluff tasticalness! (oh and the song is Gotta Be Somebody by Nickelback)
The first thing Kitty heard when she stepped into Evan's house out of the snow was a guitar rift accompanied by a decent beat. Following the music she found herself outside the garage and listening into Evan and Kurt.
This time…I wonder what it feels like.
To find the one in this life.
The one we all dream of, but dreams just aren't enough so I'll be waiting for the real thing.
I'll know it by the feeling.
The moment when we're meeting,
Will play out like a scene, straight off the silver screen so I'll be holding my breath.
Right up 'til the end.
Until that moment when I find the one that I'll spend forever with…
Cause nobody wants to the last one there.
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Someone to love with my life in their ends.
There's gotta be somebody for me like that.
Cause nobody wants to go it on their own.
And everyone wants to know they're not alone.
Somebody else that feels the same someway.
There's gotta be somebody for me out there.
It continued and Kitty found herself blushing at the lyrics and what they suggested.
~ What's got Kurt feeling so sentimental? ~
As the music died she knocked on the garage door and stuck her head in.
"Hey guys. This a male bonding session or can girls hang out?"
Kurt gave her a bright smile and that was all the encouragement she needed to bound to his side and kiss him quickly.
They were cut off by gagging noises coming from behind the drums. They sent dual glares to Evan who completely ignored them.
"Can we keep the PDA to a minimum when I'm around please? I do not need to be seeing that."
Kurt smirked, "Then I'm going too have to ask you to keep the flirting to a minimum when we're around Jubilee."
Kitty had no idea someone with Evan's skin colour could blush bright red but apparently they could as Evan blushed from the tips of his roots quite spectacularly.
"There you are!" Marie entered the garage, her arms full of bags and a very large, overstuffed binder. The seems were ripping, several papers stuck out and the zipper that was supposed to keep it closed had broken long ago and was now stuck in the center were part of the torn fabric was stuck in its teeth.
Kurt raised an eyebrow at her appearance, "You look like you've been having fun Rogue."
Kitty and Evan gave him odd looks at the name but Marie didn't even blink.
"Yeah, well, I ran into Remy."
"LeBeau?" Evan completed.
Marie's glare could have set him on fire, "No Remy Taylor…of course LeBeau you moron!" she snapped.
Evan raised his hands in surrender and got a startled expression on his face. "Okay, okay, sheesh. Don't bite my head off." He muttered as he got up from his seat.
"You okay?" Kurt asked worriedly, holding Kitty to him with one arm wrapped around her waist, his hand resting on his hip comfortably.
She let out a breath, "Ugh, I just can't stand that boy! He keeps asking me out and-"
"Why don't you just say yes? You obviously like him." Kitty interrupted in a matter-of-fact voice.
Marie's jaw went slack and she stared at her friends, none of which looked at all surprised by Kitty's revelation. It was rather obvious.
"B-because…because…"
They smiled at her kindly –or in Evan's case a little teasing- and shared looks.
She huffed and put her hands on her hips, "I do not like Remy LeBeau!" she snipped.
"Sure you don't." Kurt drew it out in a placating voice, his eyes danced merrily.
While Marie ground her teeth Kurt glanced to the beat up clock hanging above the work bench that sat off to the side in the Monroe garage. The bench –instead of being covered in tools and pieces of plywood as it was built for- was stacked high with cords and speakers they often used while they played.
"Crap, I need to get home." Kurt let go of his girlfriend and started packing up his guitar.
"Why? It's only three."
Kurt nodded, not looking up, "Yep, and we're having a few people over from Mom's work at five. I need to help clean and sterilize the house."
"And that's code for?" Evan asked hesitantly.
"Basically eliminate any evidence of actual residence and take every poster down I have on my door, in my room and scrub the tables, chairs, sinks and anything else you can clean with glass and tile spray in the house. I'm going to smell like lemon cleaner for days."
Marie snorted, "Have fun with that Blue."
Kurt looked up and smiled, "No flowers at the funeral if you please."
That got the three laughing as Kurt kissed Kitty good bye and left his friend's house to enter his own and attack anything that could be called dust or a speck.
oOo
The morning of November 25 dawned bright and chilly. A thick blanket of snow covered the lawns and vehicles that weren't blessed enough to have be parked in the garage the night before. Later their owners would spend several cold minutes scraping the ice off and even pushing them through snow drifts as they proceeded to leave for work or shopping. As it was a Saturday this did not include Kitty, but the small brunette still woke up at six thirty and dressed before running downstairs.
Woken by the sounds of her sister moving around in the room across the hall, a messy haired Marie stuck her head out of her own room and gave her sibling a confused and slightly annoyed look.
"What in God's name are you doing waking people up this early on a Saturday?" she growled. Okay, so maybe she was more annoyed than confused.
Kitty smiled, "It's Kurt's birthday, I'm headed over to his place to help make breakfast."
Marie rolled her eyes, "You and his mom fixed this up ages ago didn't ya?"
Kitty shrugged in a noncommittal gesture and continued downstairs. Marie groaned, "Just wear a jacket!" she called before going back into the dark abyss that was her bedroom.
Kitty smiled fondly to herself as she pulled on her thick purple winter jacket and snow boots. She was just going down the street, but the slight wind made it several degrees colder. Tugging on her mitts after she closed and locked the front door Kitty shivered slightly and hugged herself as she crunched through the thick snow on her slow trek to Kurt's house.
The living room lights were on when she reached it and she knocked on the door only to have Raven open it several seconds later and shuffle her inside. Kitty happily welcomed the warm wall of air that greeted her as she pulled off her coat and shoes.
"Thank you so much for offering to help." Raven smiled as they walked into the kitchen. Bacon was already sizzling in a pan on the stove and a loaf of bread was open and sitting by the toaster waiting to be browned.
Kitty grinned at her boyfriend's mother, "No problem, I'm glad I could help."
Together the two females put together a meal of truly epic proportions, even if it was only for three people. Kitty was just finishing plating the bacon when Kurt was heard coming down the stairs. Raven got a soft smile on her face. Earlier she'd told Kitty that it was rare for Kurt to remember his own birthday, so breakfast would be a pleasant surprise.
So Kitty was waiting with an excited smile on her face and her hands clasped behind her back when Kurt came into the Kitchen looking confused.
"Surprise!" she exclaimed when he saw her.
Kurt quickly found himself with his arms full of Kitty as his mother smiled brightly, "Happy birthday darling."
Kurt blinked before chuckling embarrassedly and hugging Kitty back.
"Well this is a nice surprise to wake up to."
"I thought so." Kitty pulled away and tugged him to the table where the food was waiting, hot and delicious smelling.
oOo
Kurt watched Kitty walk back to her house as he paused at the walk up to Evan's front door. Smiling to himself he walked up the slippery path to the Monroe's front porch and knocked on the door. Not unexpectedly, it was Evan's mother who opened the door.
"Good morning Kurt, this is a surprise." He grinned at the woman as she let him in.
"Eh, I thought I'd come wake up Evan so he wouldn't be in his underwear when we went out today. Kitty already went to go get Marie." He informed his best friend's mother.
She smiled, "Well good luck, you know where his room is." She turned and went back in to her small office; it was quite nice for her to work from home.
Hanging his jacket on the hook near the door and leaving his damp boots to dry some he went up the light hardwood stairs to the top floor, containing two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The top floor of Evan's house was much smaller than the main floor, and in an 'L' shape. Directly across from the stairs was Evan's room, and at the end of the 'L' turn was his mother's.
Grinning slightly, Kurt entered Evan's room/disaster area. It was the same as always dark blue walls plastered with skateboarding and rock band posters. The desk under the window piled high with magazines, empty energy drink cans, the stray shirt or sock and millions of CDs. Evan's bed was barely a foot and a half from the floor, dark grey sheets were tossed astray, barely covering the snoring boy lying among them.
Kurt carefully picked his way across the room, being careful not to step on even more CDs, homework, the random book, underwear that was never put away and a strangely large amount of socks. Finally reaching Evan's bedside he tilted his head to the side and contemplated a few ideas before smirking devilishly.
Using his foot he cleared a small area by the bed, it wouldn't be funny if Evan got seriously injured. Once done he grabbed the blanket the Evan had gotten rolled up in during the night. It was securely around his friend and all Kurt would have to do would pull the blanket to send Evan tumbling to the floor.
Which he did.
"Hey!" Evan glared up at his laughing friend while rubbing his sore head.
Kurt couldn't even take his friend seriously, every time he calmed down even a little bit the memory of the sound Evan made as he fell –cross between a baby yorkie's bark and a rabid squirrel- made him laugh even harder.
"Dude, so not funny."
Kurt finally calmed down, but his eyes still shone with mirth, "On the contrary, absolutely hilarious!"
Evan rolled his eyes and stood, elbowing his friend before he headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Kurt chuckled and grabbed the tussled blankets from the floor and quickly made his friend's bed. Oddly enough he cleaned when he was bored so he spent the next ten minutes picking up CDs and putting them in the CD binder that was never used.
Evan stared at him when he came out, pulling a green t-shirt over his head.
"You're an odd one, Kurt."
The newly seventeen year old could only laugh.
oOo
"Where are you two girls off to?" Ororo asked as her daughters stumbled down the stairs, fully dressed and with an expression similar to the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland 'I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!'[1]
Marie ran a comb through her short auburn hair, her streaked white bangs being pulled back from her face for a few seconds before falling back into place, "Kurt's birthday, so we're all gonna hang out for the day."
Ororo smiled, but she caught Logan frown as he read the paper.
"Alright, have fun, be safe!"
"We will!" they chorused in unison just before the front door slammed behind them.
Ororo lost her smile and turned to her husband, a frown firmly in place on her face, "Alright, what's going on?"
Logan grumbled and folded up the paper, "I'm not happy with the girls going out."
Ororo rolled her eyes, "Logan, just a few months ago you were saying how much you like Kurt."
His frown deepened, "Yeah, but that was before my little girl didn't come home looking like her world just collapsed around her."
Ororo sighed, "Baby, you know it was all a misunderstanding. And Marie told me that Kurt did everything possible to try and explain to Kitty." She cupped his cheek, "She has your stubbornness, remember?"
His sigh was crossed with a growl, "I don't want that boy hurting her again."
Ororo shook her head, "You hurt him and you'll be on the couch for a week." She promised before going back to the stove. Hopefully he would listen to her. She'd thought that Logan had spoken to Kitty and everything had been cleared up, apparently she had been too hopeful that her husband had –for once- not held a grudge.
oOo
Kurt was not proud of himself. While Evan was having a quick breakfast –code for: he took longer to eat than himself- he went to go see if the girls were ready. Being him, he travelled down the alley and hopped the back gate to enter the Howlett's backyard. He'd been about to knock on the back door when he heard his girlfriend's parents say his name. Curiosity getting the better of him, he'd continued listening and was now regretting it. Logan hated him. Kurt couldn't even say it was unfair because he knew that he'd be reacting the same way if he was in Logan's place.
~Great going Darkholme. ~
He shook his head and quickly ran to the back fence. Grabbing the top with two hands he vaulted over in a single fluid motion, missing the bright blue eyes watching him from the kitchen window.
oOo
Ororo found herself biting her lip in an act strangely reminiscent of her youngest daughter. Putting down the pan she had been washing she peeled off her rubber gloves and quickly went out the back door.
"Kurt!" she called, hoping the boy hadn't gotten too far.
He hadn't.
Kurt jumped and reeled around, terrified by the thought of being caught. He couldn't even think straight enough to have a series of expletives going through his mind.
Ororo unlocked the back gate and gave him a smile, "Ah, good, I was hoping you hadn't run off. Come here."
He watched her hesitantly before coming closer, his body language displaying the fact that he was ready to bolt at the first sight of Logan...and his bat. Kurt inwardly shuddered at the thought.
Ororo's smile was warm and mothering, and expression that seemed to fit her perfectly.
"I'm not going to bite hun."
He gained a slight bit of healthy color and entered the backyard, now using more traditional means.
"You heard what Logan said." It wasn't a question.
Kurt nodded, looking down at his feet and stuffing his hands on the pockets of his back jacket, "I'm really sorry about that, I didn't mean to."
Ororo couldn't help but giggle silently; Kurt really was a sweet boy and she could see what attracted her daughter to him. Placing a warm hand on his shoulder she squeezed gently, "I'm not mad, Kurt. And don't mind Logan."
Kurt shook his head and sighed softly, "I understand where he's coming from. If I was in his position I'd be acting the same."
Ororo put a finger under his chin and tilted his face up so he would look at her.
"Kurt, Logan holds grudges for the dumbest things. It's one of his less...redeeming qualities."
"The protectiveness comes in handy though some times." Kurt grinned slightly and Ororo's smile broadened.
"That's true, but he still has no right to say what he did about you."
Kurt shrugged and Ororo removed her hand from his shoulder, "Kurt...he'll come around."
He's returning smile was slightly forced, "After he's chased me around the block?"
She rolled her eyes, "Kitty wouldn't let him."
His smile became slightly less acted, "So...you aren't mad at me?" his voice was hesitant.
She appeared shocked before she smiled again, "No hun, not one bit." She squeezed his shoulder again before nudging him back to the gate, "Now go, the others are probably wondering where you've gotten to."
He smiled at her and left, "Right thanks Mrs. Howlett."
He got to the gate before Ororo called him again, "Kurt!" he turned, a quizzical expression on his face.
"Happy birthday." He gave her one of his megawatt grins before leaving, closing the gate behind him.
Ororo smiled to herself and went back in to the house, feeling much better than she had going out.
oOo
The rest of the day passed in an enjoyable blur. The four friends were actually joined later on in the day by Wanda and Jubilee and they spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around the city. By the time Kurt dropped Kitty and Marie off and waved to Evan as he crossed the street, he was sufficiently exhausted.
Entering his house he was met with his mother who was smiling, and seemingly waiting for him.
"And how was your day?"
"Great." He yawned, "I'm exhausted though. Think I have time for a nap before dinner?"
She nodded, "I'll wake you up in an hour or so."
"Deal." he grinned at his mom and went upstairs where he showered, changed into a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt and curled up on his bed, falling asleep in seconds.
Downstairs, Raven relaxed, she'd been worried Kurt's surprise would be spoiled before she was finished getting it ready. She finished bustling around the house, tidying things up and setting the table in the dining room for five.
oOo
Kurt actually woke up as his mother entered his room. He greeted her with a sleepy smile.
"Hey mom."
She smiled happily, "You ready?"
He got a confused expression on his face, "For what?"
She smiled happily, "Come downstairs."
Still confused, Kurt followed her downstairs and froze just before he entered the living room.
Sitting on the couch were two people he hadn't seen in years, yet they hadn't changed at all.
The man was tall, had dark hair shot through with silver and bright green eyes that held cunning and shone with laughter. Deep wrinkles lined his face and still, despite his obvious aging, he seemed to be in the prime of his life. The woman at his side was smaller, but still thin and had obviously been quite beautiful when she was younger. She was still quite lovely, having aged naturally with laugh lines crinkling the sides of her eyes along with a few wrinkles here and there. Her silver grey hair had once been blonde, but now that it was cut in a short, old-style bob, she looked gentle and wise. Her eyes were a bright hazel-gold and shone in her weather-worn face.
Kurt looked to his mother, obvious shock and joy on his face.
She smiled, "I called and, well, here they are."
His smile could've split his face in two as he hugged her tightly for a second before rushing into the room, much to the obvious surprise and delight of the two people there who hadn't seen him come down.
"Kurt!" his grandmother enveloped him in a hug, her familiar scent of honeysuckle and incense seeming to welcome him home.
"No, this isn't Kurt." The man denied, "Kurt is small and barely reaches my hip."
Kurt laughed and hugged his grandfather, "Sorry I grew up a bit."
"Well look at you, eh? Just look at you!" his grandmother seemed ecstatic, "You grew up into such a handsome boy. The girls must flock over you."
Kurt couldn't get the smile off his face as he sighed and hugged his long missed grandparents, "I personally only have my eyes on one girl Gran."
His grandfather chuckled, "Of course he's got a girlfriend, Lil. Would you expect anything else?"
Lily smiled, "Well it's been so long. Last time we saw him he still thought girls had cooties."
Kurt laughed and kissed her wrinkled cheek, "Aw I missed you guys."
"See, I told you Sam! You owe me twenty dollars."
His grandfather shook his head in dismay, "For once I'd like to win a bet against your old grandma."
Kurt wondered if his smile would ever leave, but then again if he had a reason to smile, did he really want to lose the expression?
Nope. And he was plenty fine with that.
oOo
Raven watched the reunion with sad eyes. Her parents had missed so much of Kurt growing up because of her own selfishness and stupidity. She hoped this was a step toward making up for it, for all involved.
oOo
Kurt could've sworn the entire day had been a dream. Seeing his grandparents for the first time in years, having a birthday where he and his mom were getting along, spending the entire day with his best friends and girlfriend, it was more than he thought possible.
His hands behind his head and a relaxed smile on his face he stared up at his dark ceiling. His grandfather's snores could be heard from down the hall and he stifled a chuckle. He'd forgotten how similar he and his grandpa actually were, his mom hadn't been kidding when she said Kurt was more like her own father, than Azazel.
Even the thought of his imprisoned father couldn't ruin his good mood, and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
oOo
A/N: Writing the interaction between Kurt and Ororo was something I've wanted to do for a long time, so I was glad to finally get that into one of my stories.
[1] Oddly enough, I wrote this part before Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' came out. (speaking of which, I'm going to see it this weekend, I'm so excited!)
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