Logan quickly discovered that finding Kit was not going to be easy. She had doubled back on her trail twice, made two large circles, then her trail ended at the creek that ran through the grounds to a lake. Somewhat stumped, he stood for a minute on the bank of the stream until he heard a soft sob from a tree on the other side. Relieved, he started across the water.

"Go away, Logan," Kit called down, her voice full of tears. He leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. "You lied to me."

"You gonna come down an' talk t' me, or am I gonna hafta come up? 'Cause I'm not leavin'."

With a deep, if shaky sigh, Kit slipped out of the tree and, without looking at Logan, knelt beside the creek. She splashed her face with cold water, then held handfuls to her burning eyes and cheeks.

"Why did you follow me?"

"Judgin' by that trail ya laid down, ya expected me to." Kit gave a small snort of amusement and dropped her hand, letting the water trickle through her fingers. She sat back and wrapped her arms around her legs.

"I'm afraid that's in the genes as well. No fox would ever let the hounds find its den."

"I didn't lie t' you, Kit," he said softly, sitting on the ground at the base of the tree. "For some reason, Jubilee's always thought I was somethin' special. She's just jealous right now. She's a kid, she'll get over it." Kit turned her face away, resting her cheek on her knee.

"She's right, Logan. The only difference is I picked you up. I'm still just a floozy." Logan growled in his throat, but just pulled out a cigarillo and lit it.

"For yer information, beautiful, I don't generally spend almost a week talkin' t' floozies then bring 'em home with me. What I remember is meetin' a good-lookin' woman with great hair who knew what she wanted." He paused and blew out a cloud of smoke. "And who made me realize there was somethin' missin' in my life," he added quietly, making her turn to look at him again. Her sad eyes made him hurt for her and he opened his arms to her. With a small sound, she moved into them, settling between his legs as he held her.

"What could you possibly be missing? You have loyal friends who care about you. Some perhaps a bit over-zealously, but they care. And Jubilee loves you."

"It's been a long time since I had someone to hold onto like this, Kit. It's been too long since I let anyone matter t' me enough. I lost too many people I care about." She snuggled closer, her head and one hand resting against his chest. His arm tightened around her and he finished his cigarillo in silence. Crushing it out, he reached to unfasten her braid, sifting his fingers through her long hair and spreading it over them like a blanket.

"I didn't mean to fall in love with you, Logan," she whispered eventually. "I've never met anyone like you. I could let myself go with you. And you didn't leave me."

"Didn't mean t' fall in love with you either," he admitted and her head snapped up, her eyes searching his face. Her surprise made him smile and he chucked her under the chin. "Been a real long time since I said that t' anyone, y'know."

"I don't expect you to now," she told him. "You don't need to try to spare my feelings."

"Happens t' be true, Kit." He kissed her deeply till he was convinced she believed him. "If you're not ready for this, you better run now."

"I tried, but you tracked me down," she replied with a soft smile that made him laugh. "What do we do now?"

"Sit here till it's time for dinner, then go eat." She moaned and buried her face against his neck. She'd forgotten she was to meet the other X-men at dinner. "Talk t' Xavier a little, then in a few days, we'll take off, just you n' me."

"You just got back. Do you really want to leave already?" He sighed and got more comfortable, settling her across his lap, his hand resting on her hip.

"I think we deserve a chance, and we can't get it here with this much company. 'Sides, yer a screamer." She punched him on the shoulder but he just laughed and squeezed her till she stopped wiggling and sighed.

"I never used to be," she admitted, blushing. "Jubilee is really going to hate me if I take you away from her again."

"She'll get over it."

They settled into a comfortable silence, both of them drifting off to sleep until a voice calling Logan's name reached them. Kit stretched as he got to his feet, then held up her hand for him to pull her up as well.

"Y'all out here, Logan?" Rogue called in her thick Mississippi accent, about 100 yards away. They startled her as they stepped out of the trees.

"Yup."

"Scare me t' death, why doncha?" she demanded, then turned to Kit with a smile, offering her gloved hand. "Hiya, honey. You must be Kit. I'm Rogue." Unable to resist her obvious friendliness, Kit smiled and shook her hand.

"A pleasure, Rogue."

"Professor sent me t' find y'all, see if you're plannin' on eatin' t'night."

"Just on our way in," Logan lied.

"I should hope so. Y'all need t' keep up your strength. 'Cause of getting' hurt," she added quickly, seeing Kit's face turn pink.

"Ya can let Charlie know we're comin'," Logan told her, hinting that she go on ahead of them. Ignoring the hint, Rogue took Kit by the hand and, chattering away about going to the mall and taking her on a shopping spree, lead her back to the house, leaving Logan to follow, shaking his head.

Kit was laughing and relaxed by the time they reached the house, until they approached the dining room. She stopped in the doorway and stared at the table of X-men with wide eyes, frozen like a deer caught in the headlights. Seven pairs of eyes looked back at her—Cyclops, Jean, Storm, Hank McCoy, Jubilee, Gambit and Charles Xavier. Kit was suddenly conscious of the messy mane of hair that hung loose down her back and started to back away.

"I know they look kinda intimidatin', sugar, but no one's gonna bitecha," Rogue said softly, earning Logan's appreciation as she led Kit into the room.

"But, I...I'm a mess. My hair..."

"Ya got great hair, gal. Quit worryin'. C'mon, I'll introduce everyone."

Rogue made introductions as she led Kit to a chair and gently pushed her into it, Logan sitting on her other side.

"I know ya've met Jubilee and Hank, and this here's Professor Charles Xavier, founder of the X-men and the School for Gifted Students. He's helped all o' us adjust t' bein' mutants," she added softly and Kit, though still scared, gave her a thankful smile. Rogue squeezed her hand with a wink and moved to sit next to Gambit.

"Kit, I'm very glad you decided to join us," the professor said with a kind smile, and she nodded her head, her throat suddenly dry.

"Thank you. I appreciate you allowing me to stay here," she managed to say.

"All mutants are welcome here, Kit."

"Thank you," she replied, a bit overwhelmed and Logan reached under the table and held her cold hand in his warm one.

"Kit, how did you and Logan meet?" Jean asked later as everyone was eating, curious as Kit bit her lip, looking at Logan for help.

"She picked me up in a bar," Logan said, smiling as her nails dug into his hand under the table, her face flushing in mortification.

"Logan," Jean chastised, feeling badly for Kit—especially after what Jubilee had said earlier--but he chuckled.

"Actually, she just bought me a drink and we got talkin', found out we had a lot in common. In fact, we spent most o' the last week just talkin', till I finally convinced her she needed t' come here an' talk with you, Charlie."

"I...haven't spent much time with other mutants," Kit added, withdrawing her nails from his hand. "Logan was kind enough to spend time with me, to talk with me like no one ever has before. I..." Kit took a deep breath. "I've never had a friend before."

"Well, now you have several," Xavier told her, his smile paternal. "I'd like to spend some time with you tomorrow."

"Then we can go shoppin'," Rogue added, to general laughter and eye rolling.

Jubilee had been silent through the entire meal, a unique enough experience that she received a few concerned looks. As she started to clear the table later, she took a deep breath and approached Logan and Kit, who sat talking to Storm. He glanced at her, one eyebrow cocked in question, and she sighed.

"Kit?" Kit met her eyes, only to have Jubilee drop hers. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier," she whispered. "I guess...I guess I was just mad that I couldn't have Wolvie to myself. I'm glad you're feeling better."

Jubilee looked up as Kit reached for her hand and smiled gently.

"Hello, Jubilee, it's nice to meet you. I'm Kit," she said, indicating she was willing to start over. She received a tremulous smile.

"Hi. Can I go to the mall with you guys tomorrow?" she asked, sounding like the teenager she was, and Kit laughed.

"That's fine with me. I'll help clear the table, if you'd like."

"Thanks!" When Kit left with a handful of plates, Jubilee turned to Logan. "Are you still mad at me, Wolvie?" she asked pitifully.

"I ain't mad, kid. G'wan, get outta here. I'll help Kit clear the table."

"Oh, thank you!" she squealed, near strangling him as she threw her arms around his neck. She was about to scamper away when Storm called her name softly.

"I believe you and I are scheduled to do the dishes tonight, are we not?" she reminded her.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, Storm." Taking another handful of plates, Jubilee headed to the kitchen, Logan and Storm behind her. Just as the two X-men were about to enter the kitchen, they heard the sound of glass shattering and a howl of pain. They rushed inside to see Jubilee standing by the sink, tears in her eyes, while Kit reached for her hand.

"Come on, darling, let's rinse off the blood and see how bad it is," Kit murmured, putting Jubilee's hand under the running water, making the girl suck in her breath with a hiss. "Oh, there now, it's not so bad," Kit told her, as the other two approached. They could see Jubilee had a good gash in her palm, still leaking blood as her tears spilled over. "Accidents happen. There now, hush," Kit soothed, tracing her fingers over the cut gently.

To the surprise of everyone, the gash started to heal under Kit's fingers. Even she stared with wide eyes at Jubilee's unblemished palm.

"How'd you do that?" the girl asked, but Kit shook her head.

"I...I don't know," Kit whispered, dropping her hand and backing away. "I just...I just wanted to make it better."

"Easy, girl," Logan urged, reaching for her and holding her as Jean stepped inside the kitchen.

"I thought I heard...what's happened?" she demanded, seeing Storm and Jubilee staring at Kit, who huddled in Logan's arms, staring back.

"I dropped a glass," Jubilee stated. "I cut myself picking it up and Kit...She healed it."

"Excuse me?" Jean replied, coming over to them.

"She is correct, Jean. Kit took Jubilee's hand and touched the wound. When she did, it started to heal in front of our eyes."

"Look." Jubilee held out her hand, still smeared with blood, but uncut.

"I don't know how," Kit said so softly they barely heard her. "I just wanted to help." She was almost in shock, her teeth starting to chatter as she trembled violently and Logan scooped her up.

"Put her to bed, Logan. Keep her warm and I'll have Hank send up something to calm her down," Jean suggested. He just nodded and carried Kit back to his room, putting her into the bed and pulling up the covers.

When Hank heard what had happened, he could barely contain his excitement.

"Fascinating! An unknown ability that has just now manifested itself. I must do some tests."

"Later, Hank. She's not dealing with it very well right now. It's apparently scared her half to death." Jean shook her head and sighed. "Poor thing. She said she just wanted to help, but when she saw what she had done, she almost went into shock. Logan's taken her to his room and I told him you would give her something to help her calm down."

"Oh, certainly. And I swear I will not succumb to my scientific urges until she is feeling able to participate."

Jean smiled and thanked him before leaving the room.