Please see part one this story for all disclaimers and notes that still apply. < > Indicates thoughts [ ] Indicates telepathy Heart of Frost By Rachel Part Eight The ride home -- correction, Kitty thought to herself -- the ride back to the academy from Snow Valley had a more comfortable feeling than this morning. This morning she'd been moody and stayed far from any contact. Now as she and Emma kept up a conversation on every topic from food to the ongoing debate about the Mutant Registration Act vote, Kitty felt pleasantly warm leaning against the White Queen, her head resting on Emma's shoulder while listening to an answer about music. [La Boheme, of course -- I don't listen to opera as much as I used to, I'm afraid that only Monet shares my enjoyment for that style of music. I must admit that I've never really seen you as an opera fan.] Keeping her eyes closed, Kitty could almost feel as if she was part of Emma while sharing the telepathic link. Since she'd been an X-Men and later in Excalibur she'd shared a number of telepathic links with teammates, but never one that seemed so... intimate. [I like some opera, and heavy metal, classical, pop, rap... whatever sounds good to me, I try not to limit myself.] Absentmindedly, Emma stroked the back of Kitty's hand that she was holding with her thumb. [You're feeling some of my emotions; your teammates only open a channel for the sharing of speech.] Jerking her head up Kitty stared at the woman beside her, who was also reacting to the sudden shock emulating from the young woman. [You're reading my inner-thoughts, not just speech!] Feeling like a child that been scolded for something that seems so natural, Emma promptly slammed their link shut. "I'm sorry Katherine, I just fell into a more... in-depth and personal sharing of our minds, I should've asked permission first." Dropping Kitty's hand she turned to look out the limo's window at the dark landscape whipping by the car. "It will not happen again." She stayed that way for a full minute until a small but strong hand touched her cheek and turned her head back towards her companion. "I was just surprised, that's all," Shadowcat said with a warm smile that seemed infectious. "It feels nice and you have my permission to stay there." Laying her head back on Emma's shoulder she added, "I never dated a telepath before, it's definitely different." [So today was a date in your opinion?] Emma asked while slowly opening back up the link she had established. [What would you have called it?] [A very special day,] then added with an almost heavy sigh, [We're home.] Almost as soon as she received the thought, Kitty heard the limo's car door open and the cold air invade the shared warmth. Groaning, Shadowcat followed the White Queen out as the chauffeur drove away to park the limousine, leaving them standing in the dark driveway with snow falling around them. [Shouldn't we go indoors?] Kitty asked with a grin as Emma wrapped her arms around her. [I don't know, you look so beautiful in the falling snow; I think snowfall is special for us.] Not sure how long they just stood there holding onto each other, Kitty just felt warm, while feeling a breathtaking sameness from Emma through their link. The White Queen moved first, causing Kitty to look upwards at the descending mouth. Just as their lips were about to meet Kitty pulled back, her face scrunched up in disgust. [WHAT IS THAT SMELL?!] Kitty shouted in her link with Emma. Letting loose of the younger woman, Emma turned around, placing her hand under her nose in an attempt to stop breathing in the foul odor. "Mr. Espinoza!" Emma said with a rigid tone as two figures came walking across the large lawn from the woods. [Evening, ladies,] Jonothan Starsmore broadcast while steering a frozen looking Angelo towards the house. [Excuse us, Ange ha' a bit of an accident with a pond.] "And what were you two doing out in the woods at this time of night?" Emma asked, her eyes set on an unresponsive Skin. "Emma," Kitty piped up, the front of her new jacket now pulled up over her nose making her look like some type of bandit, "Emma, I'm dying here, can he wash-up first and questions later?" Taking the opportunity to get away Jono nodded and pushed Skin, who was behaving like a zombie, towards the house. ['Es, I need ta get him inta a hot shower, don't wan' him catching cold, right?] Stepping between them and the mansion, Emma Frost folded her arms over her chest and shook her head. "Oh no, you're not going to circulate that stench throughout the house. Take him to the biosphere, use the showers there." Standing side-by-side, Kitty and Emma watched Jonothan herd Skin to the biosphere, a ray of light appearing when Jono opened the door and closed it behind him. Then about thirty seconds later the door once again opened and Penance, Artie and Leech came running out, slamming the door behind them. Even from a distance Kitty could see Artie's thought picture of Skin and a skunk. "Let me get this right," Kitty, said now looking at Emma with a smirk, "These are the students you want me to teach?" Still looking at the biosphere, Emma sighed, wondering for the millionth time just what kept her from going insane. [Did I mention the job paid very well?] Turning back to Kitty, the White Queen reached out, stroking the woman's cheek, [And it comes with a excellent fringe benefit that you can have tonight if you wish... whether you take the position or not.] Taking hold of Emma's hand, Kitty kissed the palm, then licked a few drops of snow off of the thumb. [It's very temping...] [But...] Emma replied, hiding her disappointment. [But I ran from Xavier's after making a mess of things, and I need to go back first and correct them before I can move forward.] Kitty thought, her brown eyes looking back at Emma full of hope that she'd understand. [You're heading back to Xavier's in the morning.] Emma stated with a nod of comprehension. Placing her arm around Kitty's waist, she led the way to the front door. [The car will be ready for you in the morning. Your purchases are still in the back, though I confess that shopping with you raises many questions -- just what are you planning on doing with those items?] Grinning, Kitty tilted her head forward, looking at Emma with a mischievous grin and raised eyebrows. Noticing the look, Emma dived deeper into Kitty's thoughts and burst out laughing, [Oh, you are a naughty woman, I wish I could see their faces when you arrive.] **************************** Just after breakfast, the students -- with the exception of Angelo who said he was too sick -- along with Sean and Emma were standing in the driveway saying their goodbyes. Though Jubilee did tell Kitty she'd have to get her back; since last night, after seeing the computer, both Artie and Leech thought she knew a certain purple dinosaur and kept asking her what he was like. Monet when she said her goodbyes curiously also said thank you, despite the fact that Kitty was not sure what M was thanking her for. And when Kitty looked at Paige, the girl turned red while looking at the ground. She wondered if it had to do with whatever she saw last night when she went to get a glass of milk. While walking pass the classroom she heard a noise and phased her head through the wall, seeing Paige at a computer looking at something on the internet and repeating "Ohmagosh ohmagosh..." Lastly Emma came up and hugged her tightly. Kitty returned the fierce embrace, then leaned back, looking up at Emma, [You know, I'm sorry we never got a chance to kiss. We kept getting interrupted.] Smiling Emma shook her head, thinking with a laugh, [You think a crowd would stop me from kissing you?] Then she leaned down bringing her lips to Kitty's. Ignoring the sudden 'Oooooooooo' from those around them, Kitty opened her mouth, accepting the tongue the White Queen was thrusting forth. Snaking her arm around Emma's back, the young woman pulled her closer while her other hand caressed the back of the taller woman's neck. "I think it's beautiful." "Ya would M, good thing Kitty can hold her breath." "Oh ma gosh!" [Ev, are yer all right, why yer bent like tha?] "It's nothing... I'm just going to take a shower right now... a nice cold shower." "Emma...Emma... the kids are watching, do yer think it's proper..." At last breaking the kiss, the two women just looked at each other smiling, [I'll see you soon, Emma.] Kitty thought, turning for the car only to be stopped as her companion kissed the tip of her nose, smiling but otherwise not saying a word. Joining Lockheed in the back of the limousine, turning with a last wave, Kitty looked at Emma, [By the way, how about thinking of another way for the kids to earn money? I remember hating doing cleaning chores myself.] Not trusting herself to speak, the White Queen nodded and shut the car door with a wave, watching it drive off. Thinking of what Kitty had said, with a sudden inspiration, "Students," Emma called out, stopping them as they turned back for the mansion. "Whomever can call Xavier's first with the latest gossip, earns a two hundred dollar shopping spree at the mall." The students paused, looking at the White Queen, then glanced at each other before all but Jubilee made a mad dash for the door. "Am first, I called it!" "Ev, thought you were going to take a shower!" [No fair, I can't speak.] Watching the crowd at the door, Jubilee glanced back at the White Queen and rolled her eyes while pulling her last birthday present from Wolverine out of her coat pocket, shaking her head as she hit the speed dial, "Amateurs." Looking out the window, Angelo let out a breath. At last they're gone, he thought, thankful now that he'd survived. Three days, in three damn days, he'd got M wanting to kill him, a month of kitchen duty, cleaning the biosphere, putting up with Leech and Artie calling him stinky, and the rat eating all of his smokes. He considered himself lucky that he was alive, but they were gone, and now he was safe. *BEEP* Blinking, Angelo looked around, wondering what the sound was. *BEEP* Following the beep to its source, Angelo opened his closet door. At eye level was a small box taped to the door with a counter on it. 4 3 2 "Ahhhhhhhh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" 1 Glancing out the back window of the limousine, Lockheed rumbled then tilted his head in confusion as green smoke started to pour out of a open window at the academy. Turning in her seat, Kitty joined her friend in watching the smoke billowing outwards. "Big bully," Shadowcat said with a smile as she petted Lockheed, "picking on a poor defenseless dragon." Epilogue Wearily, Professor Charles Xavier powered his wheelchair from the Blackbird landing bay, thankful that the group had their own jet -- right now he didn't think he could take the airport crowds. "Hey Chuck, how'd things go in D.C?" Wolverine asked as he came out of the danger room followed by Bobby and Marrow. "Well, Logan," he answered, coming to a halt, his eyes set on Bobby as he continued to talk to Logan, "I have high hopes for next week's Mutant Registration vote." Then he felt somewhat annoyed when Bobby only gave him a wave and a "Hi Professor" before continuing on down the hallway talking to the woman at his side, "I tell you, Sarah, you can't take Jubilee seriously. Just because she said that Kitty swallowed Emma Frost's tongue does not mean it really happened." He'd have to make a note, Xavier thought, and remind the X-Men as he kept his eyes on the woman Bobby called Sarah that all strangers should be introduced to him if he was on the grounds -- especially mutants. Fin