Canuckle - yea, whoever thought up that entire Logan scene is pure genius. No debating that. Glad you think I nailed Kitty, I'm really just pulling for XME and well...just pick your preferred preppy girl from high school (except this one is a ninja!).

Cheshire - you're too kind. Hopefully you like what's coming next.

Greer raced from her room to the stairs and stopped, taking a deep breath to collect herself. She glance at the windows, just to check that what she had seen in the mirror in her room wasn't a one time thing. Doing a subtle 360, she grinned before making her way down to find Colton leaning against the large grandfather clock patiently waiting for her. She slowed herself down, taking great care to travel the last few steps a little more...gracefully.

As she reached the bottom, Colton finally caught sight of her and gently pushed off the wall at her approach.

As Greer started over, she noted a number of students that had been waiting on either rides or dates stop to take her in. The whole thing gave her a brief deja vue from high school and Greer felt a bit of her old confidence return. 'God...this was just like prom all over again.'

While usually the weight of all those stares would have weighed Greer down...what she did next was almost instinctual. Keeping her eyes on Colton, Greer swayed her hips subconsciously as she strode up to him, her tail gently trailing behind her as her heels never quite touched the ground. Once she was a few steps away, she smiled up at him - something she hadn't done in weeks.

"Ready to go?" she asked, brushing a loose tendril from in front of her eyes.

At first Apex didn't even register her question. There had been something about the way she moved...

"Let's get out of here." Colton's own half-smile was enough for Greer, giving the entire foyer a quick backwards smirk as the two walked out the main doors and into the chill November evening.

When they entered the garage, Greer considered what car was the best option for the evening.

"Colton what car do you want to take?" Greer was considering the grey Accord she had driven home a few months ago, but then again...how was Colton supposed to sit in there...She didn't want to put him in an uncomfortable spot. He was so far out of his comfort zone already and she appreciated that…and the last thing she wanted was to be the source of more discomfort…the van maybe? No that'd be to…

"We're taking this one."

"That one?" Greer followed at a more cautious pace as Colton headed straight for Logan's jeep."Colton, I don't think we're allowed..."

But without any hesitation Colton simply jumped into the drivers side and turned the keys waiting in the ignition. As far as Greer could recall, no one was even allowed to touch Logan's jeep.

But there was Colton adjusting the seat and checking the gauges behind the wheel. Greer doubted Colton would ever steal Logan's ride but that could only mean...

'That sneaky old man...' Greer tried being angry but just couldn't stop the grin that plastered her face as she quickly jumped into the passenger side and fastened her seatbelt. Although…she knew someone else would have done the exact same thing for her…Someone with sandy blonde hair and the brightest blue eyes ever, a man who always watched out for her…just like Logan. Greer allowed herself a small nostalgic smile and she gripped the seat belt a little tighter before turning to Colton.

"You can drive right?" she asked with a smirk, enjoying how he raised an eyebrow at her. 'Oh this was going to be a good night…'

She could practically feel it in her body as Colton revved the engine and looking over she saw what might have been the first look of fun on his face.

With a quick glance to make sure Greer was ready, Colton stepped on the gas and for the first time in over two months made her way down the gravel driveway and onto the road leaving the safety of the Mansion in the rearview mirror.

...

Jean watched Logan's jeep until she lost sight of it as it cleared the gates and headed towards the highway. She was able to still get a sense of Greer's excitement and nervousness for a few more minutes before finally that too was gone.

'Well there she goes...' As much as Jean wanted to just be happy for her friend, she couldn't help but have a sense of unease weigh on her. Jean had practically begged Greer to go out with her to the movies, for dinner, for shopping...anything. But Greer would just mention some excuse and slip away.

Now Colton of all people had her dressing up and going out and acting as if these last few months had never even happened. And really...what did she know about him anyway?

Speaking of which, where had Colton gotten the sudden upgrade in clothing? And what was he doing driving Logan's jeep?

Jean was determined to solve at least one of these mysteries.

Reaching out and locating Logan, the tall red head marched back upstairs towards the teachers wing.

She found him in his room with the windows wide open to the November chill, watching hockey, cigar and beer in hand. Xavier had forbade Logan from smoking indoors but Jean was fairly certain that Logan didn't know how to watch hockey without the two...so a compromise was struck.

"Better be good Red." Logan kept his attention on the game as he blew the cigar smoke out the open window. Being so far north, the Institute actually picked up local Canadian channels and he preferred listening to announcers who actually knew something.

"You have anything to do with it?" It was only Jean's respect for Logan that stopped her from simply picking it straight out of his head. Instead she settled for standing in his doorway.

"You'll need t'be lil' more specific."

"So that wasn't your jeep headed down the driveway with Colton behind the wheel?" Logan put down his beer to get a look at just how pissed Jeannie was.

"I told ya' I was gonna take care of Tigger. This is what the girl needed. You gotta a problem with that, don't come askin' me for help."

"And what? You thought having her go out on a date with our newest Weapon X recluse was the best solution?"

"First, it's a drive. Second, if you think it'sa date that Tigger needs, it's lucky for her you came askin' me soon as ya did." Logan tipped back in his chair and took a long pull of his beer. Giving him a frustrated look, Jean was clear of the door when the chair slipped out from beneath Logan causing him to fall ass first onto the floor and spill his beer all over himself.

"Freakin' women..."

Colton shifted gears as Logan's jeep barreled down the two lane road.

The sun was still setting, its light filtered through the branches and few remaining leaves still clinging to them as they rushed by. Colton had rarely had the chance to drive while at Weapon X. But that didn't mean he wasn't trained for it. And as fast as he could run...there was nothing faster than this.

But if his eyes weren't on the road, they weren't taking in the bucolic scenery...they were shifting over to Greer.

Arms out, eyes closed and head tilted toward the sky with her red mane blowing around her, Colton had never seen Greer so peaceful.

When Colton had taken the top down Greer had immediately wrapped herself tighter in her jacket. Suddenly anxious if someone saw them.

"Take it off." Greer whipped her head over to Colton.

"Excuse me!" she felt the need to yell over the roar of the engine and wind. Did Colton just -

"The jacket. Take it off." Greer glanced down at the leather jacket she was grasping around herself like a protective shell.

"But what if someone sees us?"

"Just do it...Trust me." Greer met Colton's eyes and with a nervous breath slowly peeled off the jacket.

She had been prepared to brace herself against the cold but as the jeep picked up speed, Greer just felt the cool air washing over her fur and whipping around her hair. It was as if the wind was just rushing over her...everything that had been bothering her washing away with it. Soon she had taken up the position Colton was currently appreciating.

Honestly, he had never taken much notice of clothes. He found even the bare minimum he was wearing itchy and unnecessary. Although, glancing over again to take Greer's in...he was grudgingly reconsidering the benefits as he slowly took in Greer's choice in attire.

"What?" Colton shifted his gaze back upwards and saw Greer had popped one eye open.

"Nothing." Colton quickly returned his focus to the road but saw Greer slowly lower her arms, placing one along the side of the car and the other behind her seat as she leaned into the corner of the jeep so that she was more facing him then the road.

"What is it? Saw something you liked?" Colton could hear an unfamiliar tease in Greer's voice and instead of responding just shifted the jeep into a yet another gear. Greer pouted a little. 'Ok...so that failed...' and she should probably be feeling horribly embarrassed…but then again…it was Colton. She had kind of expected that reaction… In fact, it was quite… she wouldn't say cute… but… God she couldn't find a word for it… but it was ok… She didn't mind it...she kinda liked the feeling of making him just a little uncomfortable.

Greer smiled before tilting her head back and laughing over the wind and roar, before more leisurely placing her head on the door and watching her arm dance on the wind as night quickly descended.

"Wait a second..." Greer picked her head up and gave her surroundings a bit more of her attention. They had been driving around for almost an hour before Greer recognized that they were headed back towards the direction of the Mansion on a familiar road.

"What is it?" Colton's usual intense gaze was now eying her and not the road. Greer blinked, wondering if that was safe before replying.

"There's a great bar just off this road. Jean never shuts up about it..." Greer turned back around with obvious excitement in her voice in an attempt to gauge Colton's interest. But after a moment the smile faded as Greer had gone from looking to Colton to taking a quick look in the mirror.

Greer slowly slid back into her seat. "I mean, what's so great about a bar? Drunk people, a crowd… Heck I don't even like beer…" Greer muttered softly . To Colton or herself she wasn't sure.

Colton of course had seen all of this and only took a moment to reconsider what he had planned.

"Do you still have your inducer on you?" Greer slowly glanced over at Colton and nodded her head affirmatively. 'Of course she does.' Colton knew that Greer never traveled anyplace without it.

"Yea..." Greer only felt a little guilty. She had kept the cat pendant in her back pocket ever since she had agreed to stop wearing it. She told herself it was just in case of emergencies. There was nothing wrong with that...right?

Greer just kept staring at Colton as he turned off of the main road and deftly maneuvered the car through some turns until the bar she had been talking about came into view. 'Wait, is he really? Are they actually?'

"Colton what are you doing! We can't go in there!" she protested, albeit a little weakly. Logan and other senior staff along with some more knowledgeable students would frequent the bar that also served food and had a few pool tables.

Without saying a word Colton reached into his shirt and pulled out his claw pendant while giving Greer a meaningful look. Greer just stared opened mouthed for a moment. She couldn't believe it. Were they really? He would do this…Really? No, Colton hated people and he hated public places. A bar was a literal combination of both… He wouldn't… But Greer couldn't explain the strange surge of heat that rushed from her gut to her face...and spread everyplace else.

"Are you - can we..."

"This is the place you were talking about?"

"Yes!" Greer practically squealed when she realized what Colton was planning. Quickly clasping the pendant around her neck, Greer clicked on her image inducer as Greer Nelson suddenly appeared in the passenger seat, smiling excitedly. Colton meanwhile had drawn the hood back onto the jeep as he parked in a dark corner of the lot.

Greer didn't speak, simply stared expectantly as Colton took a single breath and pressed on his own inducer.

"Let's go." Greer heard the tinge of anxiety in his voice and for the first time…really considered how much Colton didn't like being around people. It was obvious he didn't from the start but at that time she thought it was because he was new to all of it…but now she wasn't so sure. And to think he...he was doing all of this for her…Greer bit her lip and rubbed her shoulders. OK now she felt a little selfish…Colton was practically leaping out of his comfort zone for her…but now that she was here...with him...she hadn't realized how badly she wanted it.

The two now very human looking ferals got out and Greer waited as Colton came around to her side. As the two started walking over the gravel lot Greer stepped closer to Colton and wrapped both of her arms around his, leaning against him gently. Greer found that she liked the warmth of having her fingers wrapped in Colton's fur and rubbed her cheek against his arm, subtly taking in his scent. It smelt like the forest and some deep spice...and she loved it.

Greer felt Colton only break stride for a moment as he glanced down at her before continuing on. She smiled…he noticed. She knew he did and that made her grip him a little tighter. Colton had seen others at the Mansion walk like this...although it was usually reserved for more intimate pairs. He honestly had no idea what to make of it. But the feel of her against him, her familiar scent of cinnamon, cotton and lemon grass, so close was...assuring.

And as they approached the noise of the diner, having her close seemed like a good idea.