Graduation and a Pool Party

Three months later

"I present to you the class of 2004!" The class threw their hats in the air. The X-Men waited outside until the group began filing out. Pete walked out still wearing his cap which said "fuck you" on the top in Japanese characters (A/N: I actually had a friend who did that).

"Did you have to wear that?" Kitty asked of his latest shirt "The Head Foundation: Give generously."

"Yes," Pete said.

"I'm going to take a flamethrower to your wardrobe."

"Go ahead, luv," Pete said. "And I'll do the same to that stuffed dragon of yours."

"Stay away from Lockheed," she said.

"I will if you stay away from me clothes," he said before smirking and stepping close and whispering in her ear. "Unless you were takin' them off in which case I won't argue."

"You're evil," she growled. "A-and a pig-"

He grinned bowing mockingly. "Thank you."

"Congratulations," Remy said patting Pete on the shoulder.

"Any chance of some booze t' celebrate?" Pete asked hopefully. Remy snorted in response.

Xavier smiled. "You know there is no drinking at the Institute."

Pete raised an eyebrow in Logan's direction. "Sure."

"He said at the Institute," Logan said. "I do my drinking off school grounds, runt."

"Why do you insist on callin' me that?" Pete groaned. Logan merely smirked before going to congratulate Rogue, Kurt, Brian, and Betsy.

"It means he likes you," Kitty assured Pete. "He calls me half-pint, he calls Rogue stripes, and Remy- Gumbo."

"This is a good thing?"

"Better than Logan not liking you."

"Good point." Kitty ran off to hug her two best friends.

"Such a beautiful picture, neh?" Remy asked.

"Didn't know yer tastes ran t' blue and fuzzy, mate."

"Cute," Remy said rolling his eyes. He walked over to the other graduates. "Congratulations, chére." Remy offered Rogue a banquet of roses.

"Thanks," Rogue said unable to keep the smile off her face. It was the first time that she had received flowers from a man, at least one who was romantically interested in her.

Let's head home," Xavier said. "There you can open your gifts." The group dispersed going to their various cars/vans/motorcycles. Rogue gave her flowers to Kitty since Remy had offered her a ride home.

"Want ta go straight home, chére?" Remy asked.

"Let's go for a ride," Rogue smiled. "Just a little one, Ah don't want the others to have to wait too long."

"Dat's fine." He started the bike and took off. Rogue laid her head on his back as the wind whipped by them. Remy drove for almost twenty minutes loving the feel of her arms wrapped around him and her body pressed tightly to his back. She ran her hands teasingly over his chest and he closed his eyes briefly, before realizing that that probably wasn't a good idea. He pulled up in front of the Institute and jumped off the motorcycle before helping her off. "Tu me condui sez fou," Remy sighed (You are driving me crazy). Rogue smiled happily to herself.

"Let's go," she said before striding past him well aware of his red-on- black eyes following her every move.

Inside, five minutes later

Finally everyone was seated. Most of the gifts were the usuals: money and stuffed animals holding money.

"I love me sister," Pete said after opening his card from home.

"What is it?" Kitty asked.

"Four tickets to go see Three Days Grace, front row." Pete paused looking at the tickets. "I love me sister."

Kitty giggled. "We've covered that."

"It's for next weekend, but it's a day away," Pete announced. "Remy?" He offered the Cajun two tickets.

"Remy'll go," Remy said knowing how much Rogue liked the band.

"Kit, ya want t' come?" Pete asked.

"Can I?" Kitty asked the professor. The professor looked torn.

"She'll just sneak out if ya say no," Logan warned.

"You may go," Xavier nodded.

"Thanks," Kitty smiled brightly.

"How 'bout you, Rogue?" Remy asked.

"Ah can't."

"Pourquoi?"

"Ah told ya what happened last time Ah was in a crowd like that. What if Ah lose control again?"

"About that," Xavier said. "Forge, Henry and I have a surprise." Hank pulled out what looked like a black choker.

"This is a stylish, updated, and improved version of the inhibition collar you... borrowed."

"Kitty did it," Rogue said. Kitty stuck her tongue out at her friend.

"Indeed," Hank said slowly. "The old version stopped operating after only an hour."

"That explains a lot."

"This version will work for nine hours straight, as long as the battery is fully charged. It can be fully submerged in water for hours without short- circuiting. Here is the charger." He handed Rogue both items. She had tears in her eyes as she threw herself into Hanks arms, then hugged the professor. "I'm pleased to see that you are happy with the invention."

"Happy ain't the word, Mr. McCoy," Rogue whispered. "Thank you, both of you."

"It will start beeping 15 minutes before it stops working," Xavier cautioned. "And you'll feel it vibrate slightly at five minutes."

"Thanks," Rogue said again.

"So, y' want ta go?" Remy asked.

"Definitely," Rogue said. She then met his eyes evenly. "This ain't a date though, Cajun."

"Of course not," Remy smiled. "Remy knows dat."

"It's fully charged if you would like to try it on," Hank offered. Rogue took a deep breath before slipping it on. She then took off her gloves and sat them on the table. She gave both Hank and the professor a kiss on the cheek.

"Let's go eat," Ororo said. They walked into the dining room. The New Recruits had gotten everything ready. They had decorated the room and even made two sheet cakes.

"That's a nice look," Kitty said in a teasing tone to Sam and Rahne. Rahne had chocolate sauce on her shirt and jeans and Sam had flour in his hair and dusted on his shirt and arms.

"It's all his fault," Rahne accused, although her hand never left his.

"Ah apologized," Sam protested. "It was an accident."

"The first time, mebbe," Rahne said.

"The second time was after you gave meh a flour bath," Sam pointed out pulling her closer.

"Ya know, in the right circumstance that chocolate-"

"Say it, Wisdom, and I'll hurt you," Kitty warned.

"Will you now?" Pete smirked.

"Can we sit down?" Ororo asked and a decided chill filled the room. The two obediently found a seat.

Two days later

The group was in the pool or lounging around it. Kitty walked over to Pete and patted him on the shoulder causing him to wince. She smiled sitting down next to him. Pete's eyes were drawn to her legs, left bare by the simple oversized shirt she was wearing.

"Still hurt?" she asked.

"Who knew it would hurt more to get a tattoo taken off than to get it put on?" Pete asked.

She smiled and sat down. "At least it's gone."

"True," Pete nodded. "I'll be able to go around shirtless."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Yay." She lifted her own shirt off. Pete's breath caught in his throat as his eyes swept over her form, exposed by the skimpy pink bikini she was wearing.

"Well... damn," was all he could get out. She smiled taking out her suntan lotion and applying it to her arms and stomach. She saw Pete's eyes following her movements and slowed down as she spread the lotion onto her legs.

"Could you, like, get my shoulders and back?" she asked in the perfect combination of shyness and coyness.

Pete swallowed. Okay, mate, you can do this. This ain't a big deal. It's just suntan lotion and she's just a girl. An incredibly hot girl... with a lot of skin showing, yes, but just a girl. "No problem." He squirted some onto his hands. "Lie down." She stretched out on her stomach on the lounge-chair. He spread the lotion over her shoulders loving the feel of her soft skin under his hands. She sighed softly moving her hair for him.

"Thanks," she said getting up and giving him a bright smile. He watched her walk away positioning himself so his arousal wasn't quite as obvious.

At the pool

Rogue was sitting on the edge of the pool with her legs hanging over the side, dangling in the water. Her choker was on so she was wearing a green bikini, only slightly more conservative than Kitty's.

She saw Remy walking out of the mansion in a pair of swimming trunks out of the corner of her eye. She yawned stretching languidly. "Afternoon, sugah," she said her accent thickening. Remy's eyes slid over her slowly.

"Bonjour, ma belle," he said sitting down beside her. "Remy likes de new suit."

"Thanks," Rogue said knowing by the way his eyes kept moving over her that he more than liked it.

"Y' haven't been in the water yet," Remy noticed.

"Neither have you," Rogue pointed out before smirking. "Let meh help." She pushed him into the pool. Remy surfaced quickly and grabbed both of her ankles before she could jump away. He pulled down pulling her into the water and trapping her between him and the wall, so her legs rested around his waist.

"Hello," he said huskily. She was forced to wrap her arms around his neck for balance.

"Swamp rat-" she warned.

"Somet'in' wrong?" Remy asked innocently.

"Don't give me that look, Cajun," Rogue said. "Let's do a little intelligence test, shall we? Let me go now." He deliberately pressed closer immobilizing her further. She narrowed her eyes at him and began struggling. Remy backed off quickly. She looked at him quizzically.

"De way y' were movin'," Remy explained unembarrassed. "It felt... a little too good."

She blushed at that. "By the way, ya failed."

"'Failed'?"

"A smart person would have let go." She tackled him, using the wall behind her as a push off point.

An hour later

The group, now dried off and in normal clothing, met in the kitchen. Most of them got some ice cream. Kitty grabbed a Popsicle and flopped down in front of Pete.

"So, did you get reservations?" she asked.

"Yeah, we'll be stayin' in..." he trailed off his eyes drawn to her mouth as she licked the Popsicle.

"Pete?"

"Huh?"

She smiled, quizzically. "Where are we staying?"

"Uh... I forget." She just looked at him. "Don't worry, grasshopper, it's written down." Damn, damn, damn! He thought as she licked it again before taking it into his mouth. Why me?

"Pete?"

"Yes, luv?"

"You, like, okay?"

"Fine." What did I do to deserve this? He thought as she shrugged and resumed eating the Popsicle, slowly. If not for the fact that he had gotten to know Kitty pretty well, he'd swear she was doing this on purpose. Her innocent actions were causing not so innocent thoughts from him.

Kitty frowned looking at Pete. All of his attention seemed to be riveted on her mouth. She flushed realizing why. She resisted the urge to kick him and gave him a small smile instead. She slowly down so that each movement was exact and sensual. Pete's eyes narrowed as they rose back up to meet hers. "What?" she asked innocently.

"There are days, virgin, that I hate you," he announced. She merely laughed tossing the rest of the Popsicle and cleaning her hands.

"Serves you right." She walked out of the room. "And stop calling me that!" she called over her shoulder. Pete watched her before standing and following.

"I get the feeling that I missed something," Bobby said. Remy was snickering knowing exactly what had happened.

In the hallway

"Hold it," Pete said catching up to her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"You."

"Me?"

"Yer... a tease!"

"I'm... sorry?" She laughed again at his raised eyebrow. "Hey, you're the one who keeps saying that I'm too much of a good girl." She sauntered away. Pete watched her go before smiling. He could learn to like this side of her.