Galatea

Galatea Chapter Three (NC-17)
Disclaimers Apply

A/N Goddess Foxfeather, Queen of Mad Plotbunnies, BUSIEST WOMAN ALIVE (tm), Prophetic Muse, Hamster Witch and Uberbeta... You get a day off, lol! Well, kind of... InterNutter, TC, Maxwell Pink and Dracena are supershinyhappy for archiving/hosting! :) ProPhile is smuterific. Readers/Reviewers: *swoon * Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kitty saw Amara upside down in the gym doorway. "Hello," she managed, sounding only slightly strangled.
"What," the Nova Roman asked after a long moment, "are you doing?"
"Yoga."
"Ah...that looks...wrong. And pornographic."
Kitty extricated herself from the standing backbend and sat on the mat to stretch out and cool off. "Much better. You're right side up now."
"Good," Amara replied dryly. She shut the door behind her and pushed the lock button, crossing to sit in front of Kitty, looking only slightly uncomfortable. "You're coming to town with me today."
"I am? I'm glad I found out before I went..."
Amara ignored her sarcasm and continued. "Lance's birthday is coming and I am going to buy him a gift."
"That's the usual protocol."
"And you have known him since he was a child so you are going to help me."
"Amara, do you ever ask people to do something or do you order."
"Order."
"Might want to do something about that."
"Not really."
Kitty laughed aloud at that. "At least you're honest... What were you thinking of getting him?"
"A gift."
"What sort of gift?"
"A birthday gift."
"Have you seen much vaudeville?"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind..." Kitty rose to her feet and stretched one more time. "Let me shower and change first and I'll be ready to go."
Amara looked momentarily worried as she rose to join her. "Don't tell anyone."
"No one? Why the conspiracy, Secret Squirrel?"1
The other teenager sighed. "I don't expect you to understand. Just do it. I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen. You have half an hour."
Kitty felt her expression become incredulous. "It takes me longer than that to pick out an outfit!"
"Not my problem!"
She gave in to temptation and stuck her tongue out at Amara's departing form. "Just for that, it'll take me an hour!"


"Do you believe in ghosts?"
"Huh?" Rogue looked up from her book and fixed her half brother with a quizzical expression.
"Ghosts...like that one..."
She followed his disbelieving expression and glanced out of the window to see Evan trudging up the driveway. "Fuck me!"
"Uh...nein."
"It's an expression," she muttered, dropping her book and heading towards the front door.
Kurt followed, not sure what to expect. Rogue had the door open before Evan even knocked, the two of them eyeing each other warily. "Morgen," Kurt said genially, though his face was neutral. "Did you forget something?"
"I...I want to talk to my Auntie Ro."
"You come back here after runnin' off like some rat?" Rogue pushed his chest, making him stagger back a few steps. "No way am I letting you in here!"
Kurt stepped up to fill the space beside her and stayed her temper with a hand to her shirt-clad shoulder. "Evan, why did you leave?"
"None of your business," he growled. "Let me talk to her!"
"Talk to who?"
Kurt and Rogue parted at the sound of Logan's voice. He had been drawn by the sound of arguing and expected to find his charges fighting over a game or what movie to watch. Evan was not expected in the least. "I want to talk to my aunt."
Logan fought hard to keep his voice in check. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"You can't keep me from her!"
Kurt licked his lips, unsure of how to phrase what Evan needed to know. "You hurt her badly, Evan. She was...is...very upset."
Evan jerked his chin agitatedly. "Let me see her!"
Logan frowned. "No."
Rogue edged back. She was mad at Evan, too, but she was starting to think that maybe keeping him from Storm was a little harsh. "Maybe a few minutes?"
Logan's voice was low and tense with a feral edge. "I said no."
Evan stepped off the porch onto the top step. "You can't keep me away from my family!"
Kurt turned to face Logan with a very accusatory look on his face as Rogue shut the door, leaning against it as if she were afraid Evan would push it open from the other side. "Why not?"
Logan shook his head. "Not my place to tell you."
"She's his only family anymore," Kurt added plaintively. "Logan..."
"Look, Elf, don't go meddlin' in anyone's business. If Storm wants you to know her reasons, she'll tell you." He turned to walk off but paused, turning back for a moment. "Have either of you seen Emma this morning?"
Kurt shook his head but Rogue replied, "Yeah. She said she had to go to the City for something. Didn't want no company."
"Lovely English skills," Kurt drawled. "You can take the girl out of Mississippi..."
"Oh, shut up," she growled.
Logan nodded, ignoring the jibes. "The City...right. Bout when'd she leave?"
"Uh...eight? I was coming down to eat so...about eight."
"Good, good...Thanks."
Kurt and Rogue stared after him for a moment then each other. "What was that about?"
Kurt shrugged. "Maybe she messed something up in the Danger Room. Remember last week?"
"Well, to be fair, she didn't know you couldn't do that..."
Kurt shuddered in memory of Logan's rant from the incident. "She does now..."
Rogue snorted. "Maybe that's why she went to the City. Ear plugs."


Kitty strolled down to the kitchen an hour to the minute after Amara left the gym. She was showered, changed and made up, clutching Kurt's hand happily. "Do you really think so?" she was asking.
Amara rolled her eyes. "Yes, he does. Now let's go."
Kitty scowled at the other girl. "Kurt, really?"
"I think so..." He kissed her quickly before popping her on the backside and dodging out of the way as she swatted at him.
"Masher!"
"Oh, for the love of Jove! Would it kill you two to be less affectionate? You're making the rest of us sick!"
Kurt laughed. "Oh, you're just weak!"
Amara sniffed haughtily. "I am no such thing. I am secure enough in my feelings that I do not need to slobber all over Lance to prove it. Come on, Kitty."
Kitty sighed. "Her majesty calls. Love you, sweetie."
"Not as much as I love you!"
"I love you more!"
"No I love you more!"
"No I love...yerk!"
Amara dragged Kitty from the kitchen with a backwards snarl, "Oh, grow up!"
Kurt laughed to himself all the way to the rec room.





1 Oh, come on! Someone other than me has to know Secret Squirrel!