Meeting the "Parents"

~*~

Earlier

"Luv, you ready?" Pete asked as she finished tying her shoes.

"Lead on," Kitty said. They walked down the street and caught a cab which drove them to a small apartment building.

"I spent a great deal of my life after my mum died here," Pete told her as they climbed the stairs. He knocked on a door on the third floor. It swung open and a woman hugged him. She was pale and wore a bandana, covering a head that Kitty realized was bare due to her cancer.

"Evan told me you might stop by today," she said smiling.

"Allo, Isabelle," Pete grinned hugging her. "This is Kitty, Kitty this is Isabelle Harmon."

"Hi, Mrs. Harmon," Kitty said shyly.

Isabelle hugged her. "Call me Isabelle. Lunch will be done soon, go ahead in the living room, Evan and Gabriel are already there."

"Thanks, Isabelle," Pete said taking Kitty's hand and leading her into the living room Gabe and Evan were playing Rock Band.

"Pete! Pull up a guitar," Evan called. Pete grabbed a guitar. "Kitty, do you sing?"

"Not real well," Kitty admitted as Evan handed her the microphone.

"Doesn't matter," Evan said waving a hand. She sat next to Pete and they played through a couple songs. "You liar," Evan scolded Kitty smilingly. "You were great."

Kitty blushed. "Thank you."

"Her color's better than it was," Pete said.

"The doctor's say she's in remission," Evan said. "She was really eager to meet you," he told Kitty.

"She was?"

"Pete has never had a girl friend," Gabe explained. Kitty arched a brow, clearly doubting that. "Oh, he's had girls, but none that could be considered girl friends."

Kitty turned to Pete. "Really?"

"I wish you wankers would find a better pass time then messing with me," Pete groaned.

"What fun would that be?" Gabe asked.

"Lunch is ready," Isabelle announced. They filed into the kitchen. The table was set and there was enough food for ten people.

"Mum," Evan groaned. "You said you were going to make lunch. This is crazy."

"Oh, hush," Isabelle grinned. "You're growing boys and girls. Eat up." Lunch was spent with the group laughing and teasing each other. Kitty was surprised at how they acted together. Despite all the talk about coexisting with humans Kitty hadn't really believed that it was possible until she met Pete's friends. They accepted Pete without even thinking of his mutation.

"What?" Pete asked as they left.

"Nothing," Kitty said.

"Clearly something is on your mind."

"I was just thinking about how easy things are with you and your friends," Kitty said.

"Don't you have any friends who were human?" Pete asked sliding an arm around her waist as they walked.

"I really didn't have any friends in high school," Kitty confessed.

"I find that hard to believe."

"Well, it's true," Kitty said sliding her own arm around his waist. "I always found it hard to make friends, until I moved to the Institute."

"I guess American's are just blind or stupid," he commented sliding his hand into her back pocket and squeezing her ass lightly. She jumped and slapped his shoulder lightly but laughed.

"Don't insult my country, Wisdom."

"What if they really, really deserve it?" he asked. She merely rolled her eyes at him.

"Kitty! Pete!" Pete winced hearing this voice calling them. He had hoped to have Kitty to himself for an evening. Betsy and Warren walked over to them.

"How's it going?" Kitty chirped.

"Great," Betsy said. "My mom just loves Warren."

"Of course she does," Kitty said.

"What are you two up to?"

"We were just walking around the city," Pete said.

"Sounds like fun," Betsy said. "I wanted to show Kitty one of my favorite shops.

"Oh, please join us," Pete said totally deadpan.

"We'd love to," Betsy grinned at him. "Thank you." Warren shrugged apologetically at Pete as Kitty and Betsy linked arms and walked a little a head of them.

"Sorry if we interrupted anything," Warren said.

"You interrupted nothing," Pete sighed. Betsy and Kitty drug the men all over the city, buying nothing but looking at everything. "This is how you tell if you're in love."

"How's that?" Warren said standing straight and glaring down at the purse he was forced to hold.

"If you'll endure this hell for a woman she must be pretty damn special," Pete sai wisely.

Warren chuckled. "I see your point. And the one store I would have liked to go in we were told to wait out side of." He gestured to the lingerie store they were in front of.

"It's just so wrong," Pete agreed.

"I have to ask, why do you wear those offensive things?" Warren asked.

Pete snickered looking down at his shirt which read 'My Dixie Wrecked.' "It annoys everyone."

"You really don't seem to like anyone."

Pete shrugged lazily. "I like Kitty."

"Of course," Warren said.

"You and Pete looked pretty cozy," Betsy commented holding a red teddy up to herself.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kitty said.

"He grabbed your ass," Betsy smirked.

"You, like, saw that?"

"Yes," Betsy said. She picked up a royal blue bra and panty set. "Oh, this would look so cute on you."

"You think?" Kitty asked looking at the skimpy material doubtfully.

"Definitely. The professor gave you money to spend, right?"

"Yeah, but I totally don't think underwear is what he had in mind," Kitty laughed.

"Psh," Betsy said. "You'd look so hot in it. Just imagine Pete's reaction. If the professor says anything I'll tell him I made you buy it." The thought of Pete's reaction had her sold.

"Okay," Kitty said.

"How's it going between you two?"

"Great," Kitty said. "He's so sweet."

"It's cute how he is with you," Betsy said. "I've known Pete for a while, he's not like that with anyone."

"What about Warren?"

"He's so... perfect!" Betsy sighed as they approached the cash register. "I mean, seriously, is there another man out there as perfect as he is?"

"You really like him?"

"I think I may love him," Betsy confessed. "Let's go get our men."

"Sounds good," Kitty smiled. They walked out. Warren immediately thrust Betsy's purse into her arms causing her to giggle.

"What'd you get?" Pete asked his eyes immediately drawn to her bag.

"None of your business," Kitty smiled.

"You guys want to join us for dinner?" Warren asked.

"Pete?" Kitty asked.

"If you want," Pete said still watching the bag.