A/N: Dear reader, Rogue is currently unavailable for another two chapters. But there is a lot of good ryro memories. Really cushy cute ones. And I've never been to America so I had to get information from google maps.
The miles just keep rollin
as the people either way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated
but I hope that it gets better as we go
Pyro sighed as he impatiently tapped his steering wheel. They'd been on the road for exactly six hours. Four hours of fun, two hours of torture. Who knew girls could get bored so easily. He glanced over to the passenger seat. Malina had fallen asleep in her seat. She was snoring lightly. He didn't want to wake her but he really wanted to press on. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
'Malina?'
She moaned then opened her eyes. She took in her surrounding, trying to remember why she was in the jeep. Then she looked at him and frowned.
'Wha'?'
'I going to find your sister. Stay alert.'
She nodded and rubbed her eyes. He climbed out and closed the door. He smiled as he looked over his shoulder watching her switch between radio stations. He headed into the small diner and took a look around. He headed over to the counter calling over to one of the blonde waitresses.
'Um…excuse me. I'm looking for a girl. She's ten years old, short black hair, silver eyes and bronze skin. Seen her?'
'She related to you.' asked the woman while sizing him up.
'She's my little sister.'
The woman gave him a look of distrust. He felt irritated and his hands started to itch. What he wouldn't do to burn this old witch. He took a deep breath.
'My father adopted her when she was three. Please, I'm all she and my other sister have.'
He gestured to the car outside. The woman looked over his shoulder and her face softened.
'I used to have twin boys. She's at the swings behind the diner. She looked a little upset.'
'Thank you.'
With a quick smile he walked out to the diner and headed to the back. He smiled as he saw her. She sat with her head down, short hair doing little to cover her face. Her eyes watered but he could see the internal debate she was having with herself. He sat on the spare seat next to her, watching her stiffen and relax.
'I'm sorry, I know I said five minutes.' she whispered.
'It's okay. Take your time.'
'I just don't want her to see me like this.'
'Malina?'
Eris nodded.
'Why?'
'She looks up to me. When we were on the streets, I was the one who had to come up with plans and look after both of us. I just don't want to show her I'm weak.'
'You're not weak. Even the strongest break down sometime.'
'Can I ask you a question?'
'Anything.'
'Don't get mad.'
'I won't.'
'Is it true? You left Rogue.'
'Yeah.'
'How?'
'What?'
'How were you able to leave someone you cared about so much? I could never just leave Malina. She means the world to me. How can people just leave the person they love the most!'
'Shut-up, Eris. You're just a girl. You don't know what you're talking about!'
Eris gasped and stood up. Pyro closed his eyes and grabbed her wrist before she could run.
'She trusts you. I want to trust you.' she whispered.
'I'm sorry. I'm a hot-head. I don't have all the answers. But I'm not going to abandon you. Or Malina. I've learnt from my mistakes.'
'You promise?'
'Don't ever leave me.' whispered Rogue.
'I won't.' he whispered back.
'Yeah, and I intend to keep this promise.'
-xXx-
'Morning Roguey.'
'Five seconds to back away Allerdyce.'
'I think not.'
'John, baby, it's six am. FUCKING SIX AM.'
'I have chocolate.'
He waited patiently has her head emerged from the fortress of pillows and blankets she was surrounded in. He tried not to chuckle while looking at her hair splayed all over the place. He closed the door behind him. Then he brought forward the little box tied with a red ribbon and held it out. She smiled, took the box and returned to her fortress. He sighed and climbed over finding a good place to sit. He leaned his head against the wall. He heard muffled words coming from under the blanket.
'Happy Valentines Day.'
The mumbling stopped and a hand shot out from the opening, a hand that held a black box. He leaned over and picked up the black box. He surveyed it carefully not sure if it was safe to open now or not. As the mumbling resumed he carefully took off the lid and looked inside. He gasped as he looked at the lighter. It was black with orange and red flames etched all over.
'It's beautiful.' he whispered.
The mumbling stopped again. This time she shifted and moved out, tumbling onto the floor in a tangle of limbs. She wore a long-sleeved t-shirt and pink pajama bottoms. She had no socks and no gloves. She stood up and brushed herself off. Then she turned to face him and smiled.
'You're welcome.'
'So, why so cranky?'
'Migraine.'
'Oh, my poor angel.'
He watched as she stalked into her bathroom, mumbled some more things and came out with a pair of gloves in her hands. It was the red one's he'd bought her on there first date. With Bobby's credit card. He smiled as she came up to him and sat next to him on the bed. She leaned her head on his shoulder and slipped her gloves on. He bought his arm around her and brought her closer.
'You wanna go back to sleep babe?' he whispered.
She nodded and he chuckled, climbing into the fort with her. It smelled like lilacs and chocolate. He wrapped his arms around and pulled her to him. He saw half the chocolates were gone.
'You're a fast eater.'
'It's chocolate.'
'So?'
'You're such a guy.'
'You going to the dance tonight.'
'No. That involves crowds and…'
'Touching. Okay, so do you want to watch a movie?'
'Jean and Scott are watching a romantic movie tonight. So, I'll pass.'
'Okay, grumpy. What shall we do?'
'Stay here.'
'All day.'
'Yep.'
'Tell you what, we'll stay here for a few hours now and then we can go hang out in Storm's garden. Me,, you, lilies, music, candlelight.'
'Let me guess, you actually did your homework and your chores so Storm agreed.'
'Pretty much.'
He watched and her nose scrunched up, then she nodded. She turned to face him and smiled. Then she leant foreward to kiss him. He complied waiting for the pull of her powers. Which didn't come for five minutes. Pulling away he gave a puzzled look.
'I was going to give you this for your birthday but it's so far away. I learnt a little control. About seven minutes. That's why I have migraines.'
He opened his mouth to argue but couldn't. So he simply smiled and kissed her hair, before pulling her closer.
-xXx-
A/N: See Ryro fluff at the end! BTW it takes nineteen days to walk to Tulsa. From Westchester N.Y. Hilarious, right? Review please! Reviews shows friendship and love, and leads to COOKIES!
