Finally...our ferals get to have a bit of fun. And speaking of fun (and a warning of obvious but still SPOILERS), you must check out Canucklehead Cowgirl's newest chapter in Lost Memories. Trust me, it's a side of Greer and Colton you have yet to expierence. Hell...it was a side I had yet to experience.

Cheshire - thanks for Greer insights. As much credit as you give me, there are still some mysteries I just can't write alone. And good luck at university!

Retro -yea...I just write to slow for my own good. Hopefully that doesn't ruin anything for you but I'm sure you saw all of that a mile away. Glad you liked that last chapter (: 3...?).

Apex stood tense on the roof as he kept watch over the Mansion. Forge had come by that afternoon and had gone over the new security protocols. Despite all of his assurances and Scott's confidence, standing up here still felt like something he needed to do.

He rolled his head towards his left shoulder until he felt a crack and repeated the other side. He knew he was getting worn down. What with now splitting his nights working with Katherine or keeping watch over the Mansion. Between that and spending his days with Greer, trying to 'fix' whatever was bothering her...Apex braced himself on the edge of the barrier that surrounded roof.

Since when had his life suddenly been filled with so many...complications.

Apex quickly stood up and felt slightly irritated for a moment when the door swung open and the acrid scent of cigar smoke floated over to him. He crinkled his nose as Logan made his way over and leaned next to him, surveying the grounds with him for a moment. He could never understand how someone with enhanced senses could ever stand to smoke those things.

"You think they're comin'. Don't you?" Logan didn't look up. He didn't have to register the look Apex gave the darkened grounds and forest. He also didn't have to specify who it was he was talking about.

"They'll never let us go. Your proof of that." Logan sighed a little.

It was true...Weapon X never seemed to want to release what it considered their property.

Logan glanced up at the grim feral. He had been out here almost every night since he'd arrived. But if he wanted to solve whatever was eatin' at Tigger...he was going about it in all the wrongs ways.

"Hey kid. I got it tonight. Go on, take Tigger out. She could use a drive." Logan growled out before taking a pull of that damned cigar.

"What are you talking about?" Apex looked down at Logan but he just kept staring out into the dark.

"I said I got it. I'll keep an eye out tonight. Go. They'll be safe," he says as he locked eyes with him. "I mean it. My shift." Apex studied Logan for a moment before he looked back out over the grounds.

"Listen, I ain' saying it again. You -"

"Tomorrow night ... can you give me tomorrow?" Apex looked back at Logan who smirked as he tipped his head in confirmation before taking another good pull off the cigar.

"You got it, kid." Logan growled out, the smoke curling around him as he finally snuffed the cigar out and headed toward the door leading inside. "Keys'll be in the ignition of my jeep when you're ready."

Apex just nodded his head, as his mind was already plotting out the next 24 hours. Logan might have provided the cover and transportation...but there were some things he was going to have to do.

And he knew he was going to need some help.

"Kitty...what has been going on with you."

It hadn't taken Amara long to pick up on something being off with Kitty. Obviously anyone that had detention with Professor Logan would be ground down, but Kitty had taken it to a totally different level. The only reason she didn't have detention with Professor Grey as well was because Illyana had been able to kick her in time to wake her up before she had started snoring.

Amara had assumed once the next week had started and Kitty didn't have to contend with detention she would be back to her perky self. But all she did was get grouchier.

"What are you talking about?" Kitty asked distracted as the two hurried through the halls towards Professor Braddock's class. She was silently trying to figure out how she was going to slip out of her room again. She had woken up Amara a few nights ago and was now convinced she was waiting up to catch her.

"C'mon Kitty. Just tell me who it is." Kitty slowed down and looked over at Amara.

"Who what now?"

"Phasing or not, you didn't think I'd notice you slipping out of our room? So c'mon tell me. Who have you been sneaking off to go see?" Kitty now just stopped walking entirely and stared at Amara. Of course Amara took all of this as confirmation...sending her into gossip overdrive.

"Come on...tell me! Pleeeeeaaasee!"

"Amara, drop it." Kitty turned to keep walking and silently hoping Amara wasn't going around openly wondering who Kitty Pride was sneaking around with. Logan would probably end up sitting in front of her door for a month...

"Ohmigod...is it Peter?!" Kitty almost fell on her face as Amara had practically yelled she was so confident she had finally figured it out.

"What! No..." Kitty quickly scanned the hall to see if either the large Russian or his blond sister had heard but mercifully only a few passing students had bothered to turn at the outburst.

'Well if you don't tell me I'm gonna just have to figure it out for myself. And if you think that...ummm...hey Colton." Kitty looked up to see Colton waiting by the door to Professor Braddock's classroom.

"Katherine, can I talk with you?"

"Yea - sure." Kitty smiled a little at hearing Colton call her that. She loved that he called her that.

"What are you two..." She turned to see Amara looking between the two with a smile slowly appearing. "Amara, go ahead. I'll meet you inside." Amara gave Kitty a meaningful, 'I'm on to you.' look before finally obeying Kitty.

Kitty followed Colton around a corner so that they could talk in at least semi-privacy as the rest of the students rushed to class.

"So what's up? This about tonight?" The excitement in her voice was apparent. Kitty had only been working with Colton for a little over a week. But she could already see improvements...not to mention Peter seemed to be taking slightly more interest in her now that she was working on his side of the gym. He had commented on it being nice to finally see a girl taking an interest...but I mean that was just like once or twice so...

"Katherine, I'm going to have to cancel our session." Colton noticed the smile quickly drop from Katherine's face as her shoulders slumped.

"Does that mean - are we done?" Kitty asked sullenly. Colton certainly was not the easiest teacher to handle. He was demanding and she quickly learned that excuses or 'try' wasn't something she even thought he understood. But he was precise and great at explaining everything and...she kind of liked the torture he was putting her through.

But now it was all over.

"No...actually...I need to ask you for a favor." Kitty quickly straightened up and looked at Colton a bit more carefully. He was looking around and scratching the back of his neck. If she didn't know any better...she'd swear he actually looked...can giant-lethal-fur covered-ferals even do awkward?

"Sure, what is it?" Kitty stood amused as Colton took in a settling breath.

"Greer needs to get out of the Mansion. But for me to ensure that happens...I need clothes." Kitty stared for a moment as the words that Colton had said slowly sank in. 'Greer...out...clothes...'

"Hold on...you want me to take you shopping so you can take Greer out?" Kitty pointed between the two of them as if that wasn't obvious.

"Is that a problem?" Kitty let one final moment pass before exploding in whispered hysterics.

"What? No! Oh I know exactly where we need to go." Colton knew Katherine would be the right person to ask. Aside from Greer, she was the most notorious procurer of clothing in the Mansion.

"Alright. I'll meet you in the garage when you finish classes at 4. Oh and Katherine, don't -"

"Don't tell anyone. Come alone. Yea yea I know." Kitty finished impatiently. "Ummm, Colton...you do have something that'll...you know..." Kitty tried to gesture at Colton's appearance as tactfully as possible.

"Yes...I have something." But Kitty was too distracted to notice Colton's discomfited tone.

"Perfect. OK I'll see you at 4." Kitty whispered in an excited, conspiratorial tone as she rushed to class.

...

A few hours later Apex was standing in the garage that held a number of cars the Mansion had for students that had passed their drivers test. But his attention was on a discarded mirror that was standing in a far corner. He kept staring at his own reflection, his hand clenched around the claw pendant and its leather string. Katherine would be out any second. He should be ready. But there he was. Looking in the mirror. Holding on to that pendant.

'This is stupid. I know what I am. This won't change anything.'

Taking a deep breath, Apex slipped the pendant around his neck and pressed it. He caught the shift in his reflection in the mirror. He slowly raised his head and took a look in the mirror.

"Hey I thought I heard something breaking in here, is everything...all..right..." Kitty could be forgiven for being distracted from finishing that thought, which was a rare thing to see. She was taking in the dark skinned man before her and she was having trouble fitting who stood before her for who she knew it was. The muscles usually covered with fur now stood out against a white t-shirt and his usual school sweatpants. No shoes fit so sandals were the best he could find.

"It was nothing. An animal knocked something over." Apex would rather no one see the broken mirror until he had time to replace it with a new one.

"So are we going?" Amara asked, also now silently staring at the mountain standing before her. Apex however had turned his focus to Kitty and even without his feline appearance, Kitty felt herself wither under that glare.

"Ummm-Yea. So Amara wanted to tag along."

"For the shopping?" Apex had a feeling Kitty was holding something back.

"Yea for that...and for the training too." Kitty braced herself as she waited for the hammer to drop. She had burst into her room after her last class, barely able to contain her excitement and after a quick outfit change had just stuffed everything that she needed into her purse when Amara had slipped into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Katherine..."

"It was either tell her what was going on or explain to Greer what we were doing together." Kitty rushed out, causing Amara to quickly snap back to her senses to recover as Apex turned his attention to her.

"Hey, everything you two are doing? I want in too. Kitty already explained all the rules and I swear, mouth closed. Besides, between the two of us, you are in the best hands." Each girl held their breath as Apex just held his hand to his forehead. He had seen a number of the staff make that motion and suddenly understood why.

But he also knew that if he had any chance with his mission, he would need their expertise.

"Let's just get in the car and get this over with."

"So is that a yes to the training or..." Amara said tentatively.

"Car...now."

Both girls swallowed a squeal of excitement and quickly headed down the line of cars with Katherine going as far as to grab his hand and drag him. He was surprised by their closeness, realizing how comforted they were to see him...like this. But before he could give it too much more thought Katherine turned back to him with a gleam in her eye as she held up a set of keys.

"Do you mind if I drive?"

...

Greer sat in the corner of the game room, her body curled on the seat and her head resting on the arm of the chair, as she moodily watched the groups of students and couples enjoying their evening. The shadow of midterms had passed and the only thing on the calendar was Thanksgiving a few weeks away so everyone was in pretty good moods.

'Yay for them...' Colton had missed her last two classes and he wasn't in the gym or the Danger Room. It wasn't that Greer needed him 24/7 but with him always being there these last two week or so and suddenly for him not to be there was...lonely. With no gymnastics class that afternoon, Greer sullenly was considering how early was too early for her to just slip to her room without raising any protests from Jean.

"Greer, we're going out." Greer jerked her head at the sound of Colton's voice suddenly appearing next to her.

"Colton! Where have - where have you been..." Greer found herself at a slight loss for words as she took in Colton's drastic change in appearance. Instead of sweatpants and at best a whitebeater, Colton was actually wearing clothes. The outfit was simple enough with tan jeans, and a black leather belt peaking out beneath a grey t-shirt. But the result was a strong one - at least to Greer and the other female students watching.

"I had to get some things. Now I know you have nothing scheduled tonight, so we're going for a drive." Greer was still taking Colton in when the next shock of the day struck her.

"Wait - we - you want to take me out?" Colton almost hesitated at her tone. He had thought giving Greer no other option was what was necessary but maybe he had pushed her too far.

Colton was prepared to try a different tack but it seemed Greer had finally caught up.

"Yeah! That's great, I mean I'd love that. Cool!" Greer replied excitedly before practically springing out of the armchair and running out of the game room towards the stairs. Apex watched in amusement as she suddenly ran back to him.

She was smiling…

"Just give me five minutes! No wait, Ten minutes! I'll be right back." She pleaded before dashing back out of the room once again. He watched her go, before slowly lowering his head to conceal his smirk from the students sitting at the opposite table. Greer never failed to amuse him.

Jean was in the process of walking down the stairs when something furry and orange whipped past her.
"Greer?" she asked in confusion as she realized who it was. "Are you ok?" she asked again when she realized her roommate… was… smiling… And looking much happier than Jean ever remembered her looking in the past few weeks… Did she hit her head somewhere?

"Colton." Greer almost sounded out of breath.

Jean blinked.

"Who?"

"Colton. You know, new mutate, lives across the hall from Peter. Loves to keep to himself…Well he just asked me if I wanted to go for a drive with him!"

It took a second for Jean to compute that properly.

"That's great…" she finally managed, not entirely liking the idea but if this was what it took for Greer to act like herself…She'd go along with it.

"I know… I mean its been so long since…" Greer paused before her smile faded a little.

"Since?"

"Nothing… Just come help me out!" and Jean tried to keep up as Greer pulled her back to their room.

"Ok… So what should I wear? I mean I don't want to…you know, be too overly fancy or underdressed…How about this? No… I'll look awful… aghhh this is so hard…"

Jean smirked as Greer worked herself into a frenzy. So her old roommate wasn't completely lost. The scene unfolding in front of her was evidence enough…

"Greer, its just a drive. Relax." She pointed out before frowning at the amount of clothes that now littered the floor.

"You are going to clean this up… Right?" she asked sarcastically knowing very well that Greer wouldn't.

"Hmmm yeah of course but… I don't have any clothes meant for this kind of thing…How's this?" Greer held up a green shirt. Jean grimaced. That would clash horribly.

"Why the sudden…you know, incentive to dress better? I mean… I've been begging for you to do it for the last few days…"Jean asked cautiously. She knew she was pushing her luck with Greer as it is… But then again… She was genuinely curious.

Greer frowned at Jean's question.

"I don't know but… Its been so long since a guy… you know… and I want to look nice." She said softly before bowing her head. Jean, noticing the sudden silence, realized what her roommate was thinking about and quickly got up and wrapped her arm around Greer.

"Well then that's what we're gonna do." she said comfortingly before reaching into the closet and doing her best to help. "But, my guess if you dress too differently, you'll make Colton uncomfortable."

Greer thought about that carefully before grinning. The image of Colton nervously eying her from head to toe and trying to analyze her sudden change in wardrobe was actually pretty funny.

"Alright I follow you… So what did you have in mind?" Jean smirked as Greer's exuberance reemerged. This had been something they had done all the time when Greer had first came to the Mansion.

"Jeans could work...but how about we go with a pair without all the holes?" Jean passed a dark pair of skinny jeans over her shoulder which Greer quickly pulled on. "And lets just lose the hoodie… I've got something right… Aha!" Jean announced before pulling out an elegant looking black shirt from her own closet.

"Try it on." She instructed before turning around to give Greer the privacy to change. When she turned back around, she couldn't help but admire how… good Greer looked. The shirt was form fitting, showing off Greer's willowy frame perfectly and it was a vast improvement from the shapeless grey hoodie. If only Greer would stop looking so nervous…

Greer meanwhile couldn't help but fidget a little in her shirt. It was definitely tighter than she would have liked, hugging her across her chest and stomach. And it seemed…so unprotective somehow…compared to the hoodie anyway. Also, how low the bust line was…bothered her…Tremendously.

"I dunno Jean… I think…"

"You look great." Jean interrupted with a smile before shoving Greer in front of the mirror.

"See?" and Greer carefully surveyed herself…albeit very reluctantly. She hated mirrors.

Greer bit her lip as she took in her reflection. Ok…She did look… Pretty good… and mercifully the mirror reflected that. Turning 360 degrees, Greer started to smile a little. The black shirt hid enough but also showed enough for her to start feeling…a little more confident in her own skin… or fur…

"Oh and one more thing." Jean said quickly before rubbing something into her hands and skillfully gathering Greer's long mane hair and gently fixing it so that it fell into two large waves around her face.

"There you go." Jean sounded clearly pleased with her work. "This makes you look so much better. You need to stop hiding that face." the red head suggested before giving an encouraging smile.

'I would if I could.' Greer thought a little bitterly before she stole another reluctant peek at her reflection. She raised an eyebrow. With her hair like that she looked… different. Younger…less tired…a bit like her old cheer captain self. Remembering what Colton had been wearing, Greer quickly zipped up a pair of fashionable combat boots Jean had grabbed for her and her leather jacket.

"Thanks Jean." Greer turned back to her best friend.

"No problem. Now have fun and be sure to be back by ten." Jean teased before leading Greer to the door.

"Ha ha. Very funny." But the smile Greer wore was evidence enough she loved hearing it.

Greer started to clench her fists as she slowly made her way down the stairs…Somebody actually asked her out… God… She never thought it would ever happen again after… all this…

'Stop it.' She scolded herself, determined not to let her thought drift back to Billy or Damien or another jerk or anything else that might have happened these last few months.

'Its happening. So don't question it and stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're going to have fun tonight.' And with that, Greer tried to pacify her accelerating heartbeat before gleefully running down the rest of the steps.