Galatea

Galatea Chapter Twenty Six (NC-17)
Disclaimers Apply

A/N Goddess Foxfeather, Queen of Mad Plotbunnies, BUSIEST WOMAN ALIVE (tm), Prophetic Muse, Hamster Witch and Uberbeta... For some reason, out of nowhere, the phrase "Hobbitgasm" burst into my mind again.*sigh * I blame too much LOTR and Frodo's pained expression... InterNutter, TC, Maxwell Pink and Dracena are yummy goodness for archiving/hosting. * G* And ProPhile gets more naked muses and Morgan gets a naked Remy muse, just because. Readers/Reviewers: I was wondering who was going to catch it... T.C. noticed the Katja/Anja switch and all I have to say is shhhhh! Plot point coming up! And *dances around * Thank you for reading/reviewing/existing!

Cecilia felt her face strain in a smile even as she realized Beast could not see her over the phone. Tabby rummaged around in a file cabinet behind her and Lucas mewled softly in his baby carrier nearby as Beast carried on. "Hank," she interrupted, "it's okay. You didn't know I was allergic to soy."
"Well, I should have."
"Why? I never said it and I have never had occasion to in front of you."
"Well, I should have asked before I ordered Thai."
"I should have said something."
"Cecilia..."
She cringed, knowing what was coming. "Yes, Hank?"
"I'd like for you to join me for dinner this evening."
"Um, I think dinner might be our Waterloo, given our recent experiences. How about lunch tomorrow?"
"Ah, I have a pressing matter to attend to until about three...I have an idea."
She sighed and hoped he could not hear her. "What's that?" Cecilia became acutely aware that Tabby had stopped shuffling papers and was apparently listening. Even Lucas seemed to be intent on her conversation. The doctor made a "go away" gesture over her head without turning around and bit her lip as Beast laid out his idea.
"How about we skip dinner entirely."
"So...what does that mean?"
"I mean...we've been seeing each other for some time now and I think we're mature enough to do away with the dating nonsense and pursue this relationship in a more adult manner."
"Henry McCoy, are you asking me to...are you asking what I think you're asking?"
"Depends on what you think I'm asking."
"It sure as Hell isn't help on your taxes..."
Beast's silence was heavy in the ensuing pause. Finally, he said, "I apologize if I spoke too soon..."
"No, no, it's okay." She turned in her chair and glared at Tabby, who grabbed for the stapler and began stapling papers randomly to appear busy.
"No, it isn't. I was too forward..."
"I'll be there at eight," she said, hanging up before he could speak. "Tabby, don't you have work to do?"
"Nope," she grinned. "Files are all done and it's Sunday so this is pure overtime for me, Doc. Time and half, thankyouverymuch."
"Go home."
"You sure?" she asked slyly.
"Tabby, if I wanted to spill my guts to someone it would not be my office manager."
"Okay, see ya later." She dropped the stapler back on the desk and headed towards Lucas. "But if Big Blue and Hairy asked you to sleep with him, you're going to have to do better than flannel jammies."
Cecilia dropped her pen. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. You just seem like the flannel jammies sort." She grinned as she bent over her son. "And I'm thinkin' you've done this before and the situation called for better than flannel jammies."
"Anyone ever tell you to mind your own business?"
"Yeah, but what makes you think I listened to 'em?" She lifted the carrier and fixed Cecilia with an honest gaze. "Look, I'm in no hurry to go home. You want to grab some lunch and we can not talk about your booty call?"
"Tabby!"
"Sorry, but until they come up with a classier term for it, that's what it is, Doc."
"Let me get my purse," she sighed. "No Thai!"
"No problem!"

Lance eyed Logan's beer with longing but grabbed a soda instead. "Girls are seriously fucked up, man. Amara won't fucking leave me alone! I mean," he popped the tab and shook his head. "I thought she was gonna follow me in when I had to take a piss!"
Todd snorted and rocked back against the car. "Rogue's gone weird, too. First she's all over me about why I'm not upset 'bout Ma dying and then she acts like she couldn't care less." He rolled the can of soda between his hands and sighed, deciding not to admit she seemed to be pulling away from him sexually, as well. "She don't even ask me nothin'."
"Was?" Kurt, who had remained silent until that point asked suddenly, as if snapping out of a stupor.
"Rogue...she usually asks me what's wrong an' stuff or offers to help me on homework an' stuff..." He sighed. "But she ain't done that for a few days."
"Maybe she's got things on her mind," Kurt pointed out, twisting his tail between his hands.
Lance drained half his soda in one draught. "Maybe she's tired of the slime..."
"Shut up, yo!" Todd slapped Lance's can out of his hand with a flick of his tongue, sending the soda sailing to splash against the wall of the garage.
"Fucking Hell," Lance snapped. "I was fuckin' with ya!"
"Klappe," Kurt snarled. "I think we have a problem..."
"Yeah, crazy girlfriends."
He rolled his eyes at Todd and slid to his feet, his tail lashing as he paced. "Nein, not quite... Think about it. They start acting different all at the same time, they're acting opposite of how they normally act..."
"So it's opposite day and no one told us?" Lance snorted.1
"Shut up, yo, he's onto something..."
Kurt's pacing took him up one wall and across to end up on the opposite end of the garage before he spoke again. "I think they're in this together."
"Why?" Lance demanded. "Just for the Hell of it? I don 't understand chicks but I know Amara's not that stupid."
"Nein," Kurt sighed patiently, "because we're taking them for granted!"
"Huh?" the other two chorused.
"That must be it...It's almost Valentine's day and we've all been with our girlfriends for a while...except Sam and Theresa and Jono and Paige, but who knows what they are...We've been getting lazy, treating them like friends instead of girlfriends..."
Lance brightened. "Fuzzball might be right!"
Todd nodded furiously. "I think I have been getting sloppy 'round Rogue lately..."
Kurt let the potential hygiene comment slide. "We need to start acting more...more!"
"Uh, this ain't gonna involve poetry is it?" Lance asked nervously. "Cause that crap..."
"Nein, no poetry, but..." He paused and frowned. "Romance. It involves romance."
"Kurt, much as I hate to say this cause it sounds kind of...um...yeah...you're the only romantic one here other than Bobby and St John...And I ain't about to ask a gay guy for tips on how to be all mushy," Todd added hastily.
"Okay, at the risk of being a Scooby,"2 Lance sighed, "I'm gonna say it... We should all get together and come up with some ideas. I mean, maybe Scott has some weird nerd moves we don't an' maybe Kurt here can explain some of that weirdo crap he's into..."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "You may call it weirdo crap, but Kitty doesn't complain."
"Whatever," Lance waved it off. "Okay, after lights out. Me an' Todd's room. Spread the word."


A/N Next up, Emma has a moment, Storm's problem, and Rogue's new hair color...
1 The most annoying thing in elementary school was when some prick of a kid declared opposite day. Grrrr.
2 Taken from BtVS which got it from Scooby Doo. A joiner, a do-gooder.