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Chapter 13

As the month dragged on, Kitty and Kurt were with each other constantly. The professor had assured them that he had taken care of Lance Alvers and they wouldn't have to see him anymore. Kitty wondered what exactly the professor had done but Kurt had assure her that it didn't matter, as long as he was gone.

Bit by bit Kitty was becoming more and more like herself, coming out of the shell she had hidden in. She didn't flinch anymore when someone touched her and she was spending more time with her other friends in the mansion. Although Kurt was never far from her side.

Kitty dressed in her nightclothes and waited for Rogue to fall asleep before she stuck her head through the door and scanned the hallway. She smiled and quickly made her way to Kurt's room, not bothering to knock. It had become almost a nightly thing for the two, taking comfort in each others arms while they slept.

Most of the teachers and their closest friends had quickly become aware of the sleeping arrangements but after they noticed how Kitty stopped waking with nightmares and Kurt seemed to rely on the sleeping arrangements just as much as she did, they decided to let it go.

Another thing the residents had noticed was how Kurt had become almost possessively protective of the girl. He had always been the one to take care of her and had always been the one that was closest to her but lately the students were sure that any day now the best friends would become lovers.

Half the mansion had even begun taking bets about when they would officially become boyfriend and girlfriend, when in their relationship they would finally sleep with each other and who would be the one to initiate it.

None of the residents had forgotten what had happened to Kitty and many of them were wishing that instead of getting Lance sent away the professor had just dropped him in to their clutches. But Kitty seemed to be making strides in getting better.

She had seen Hank again and he had assured her that she had healed up nicely and it seemed she didn't have to worry about pregnancy and she had been having sessions with Xavier. Kitty kept up with the sessions once a week even though it had been about two months since the ordeal and she was learning to love herself again, assured daily that her friends thought no less of her.

Finally it seemed that summer had come upon them all of the older students were relieved to be able to take a break from the hardships of being mutants in a public high school and to be able to relax at home.

It took no longer than the first day of their break for Kitty to shop for a new suit with Jean, Rogue and some of the younger students and then hit the pool. And that was were Kurt found her, floating lazily on an inflatable chair, large sunglasses covering her eyes and a small grin on her face as her skin soaked in the sun's rays.

Kitty's eyes popped open and she stared at her friends mischievous grin. "Kurt don't you even dare." Her voice was filled with warning letting him know how much trouble he was going to be in. She felt his smooth tail wrap around her ankle and had just enough time to gulp in some air before she was dragged off the floating chair and in to the cool water.

When the wet brunette surfaced her eyes sought out Kurt who was attempting to swim as far away from him as he could. She grinned and made it quickly to him, pushing down on his shoulders and dunking him under. She grinned triumphantly when he emerged and stuck her tongue out at him. "did you really like think you could get away with that?"

She was laughing and swimming backwards, keeping her eyes on Kurt who was trying to grab her around the waist. "Ahh but Katzchen eet's so much more fun in ze water than floating on zat thing." Kitty rolled her eyes and dunked him again, not expecting him to resurface behind her and grab her around the waist. He ported to about an inch over the water and dropped Kitty back in before porting to the other end of the pool.

X

Rogue and Remy stood in the back door watching the two wrestle and play in the water. "Maybe we should come back later." Rogue smiled up at him and Remy sighed. "Alright ma cheri, but you will get in that pool wit me, no matter how much ya try t' avoid it."

X

Hours after their little pool war Kitty and Kurt were roaming the mansion in search of their friends. One by one they recruited Rogue, Remy, Rahne, Bobby and Evan and the group headed out to the ice cream parlor.

The owner of the shop had a nephew that was a mutant and was against closing his doors to any paying customer, mutant or not. So for once the kids were able to buy their treats with out the hostility or down right refusal they were use to.

The teens were all chatting and laughing voices raised as they tried to talk over one another. They were crammed in to a booth with their various dairy treats and were feeling incredibly relaxed for the first time in a while.

So of course it only makes sense that that relaxation was interrupted. Bobby was the first to notice the group of high school jocks heading over to their table. His back straightened and the silence from the normally rowdy teen had caught the others watched the group slowly approach their table and the biggest stepped forward, looking at them in disgust.

"You freaks shouldn't be here, you're ruining it for all of us normal people trying to enjoy our ice cream." Bobby stood, standing toe to toe with the jock. "We have just as much right to be here as you do. You don't own the place so you can't kick us out." The jock bristled and his friends all moved a bit closer. His voice lowered and he cracked his knuckles. "Do you wanna take this outside mutant?"

Bobby straightened ready to take the challenge but felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced back to see Remy standing behind him, Kurt sitting with the girls, his arm protectively around Kitty's shoulders. "Now now Mon Ami, no need to fight, t'is a family friendly place." His eyes moved pointedly to a few tables that had kids with their parents, watching the scene.

The four at the table all stood up, Rahne moving a few feet away to throw out their garbage, the jocks eying her as she scurried back over to Kurt's side, a protective arm being wrapped around the young girls shoulders. "We are done here Oui?" He glanced back at the others, an eyebrow raised.

Kitty nodded. "Ya we were like totally ready to go." The jocks backed off a bit, leaving room for the mutants to pass to get to the door. One of the jocks in the group ran his eyes over Kitty and Rogue. "Shame they're mutants, bet they'd be such pretty little things otherwise, wouldn't mind takin one of them for a spin."

There was a resounding crack as Kurt flashed in front of the guy and his fist flew in to his face. The jock stumbled back, clutching his nose and the lead jock grabbed Kurt's wrist, dangerously close to his holo watch. The jock was just about to throw his own punch when Kitty grabbed Kurt's shoulder, phasing him out of the jocks grasp." Come on Kurt. Let's go."

The group left the shop, the clerk shooting them an apologetic look. Once outside Bobby was bristling, his hands balled in to fists. "You should have let me beat the crap out of the guy!" Rogue shook her head and held Remy's hand gently. She glanced at the young morpher girl who was shaking before giving a pointed look to Bobby. "Maybeh next time Ice boy." Bobby sighed and slung his arm over Rahnes shoulder, "I could have taken him." Rahne smiled up at him. "I know." She mutttered before they all took off for the mansion.

Hey! soo sorry this one took so long! I got called in to an emergency and had to watch my moms dogs for a few days :( In other news, I feel like this story may be coming to a close. But this won't be the end of my writing career ;) Hopefully the wait hasn't scared you all away, I love my reviewers and you'll have another chapter soon!