Chapter 29: End Beginnings

Disclaimer: I don't own the X Men, sadly.

A/N: This is the final chapter of 'Tortured Shadows' and I'm really sad it's over. Thankfully, I have a sequel planned, so look out for 'Eclipsed Sunlight' the second story in my 'Shadows' series.

oOo

Kitty sighed as she watched Marie pack her suitcase; the Professor was giving everyone a week of vacation. Marie and Logan were going back up to Canada, Evan and Ororo were heading back to Africa Jean and Scott were leaving for Hawaii and Kurt was catching a plane back to Germany in a few days. Of course before that, everyone's families would be coming for one night, then taking their respective children and guests back home with them.

Kitty was being left back at the mansion.

She sighed again before phasing down through her bed and into the hall beneath her room. Hugging herself, she started walking down the halls aimlessly.

She could feel the frown on her face, but made no attempts to rid herself of it. She was going to be without her friends and boyfriend for an entire week, she was allowed to be upset.

'Bamf!' "Hey Katzchen, there you are!" she looked up to see Kurt smiling at her happily before he noticed her expression.

"Hey, vhat's vrong?" he tilted her head up to meet his gaze.

She sighed, "It's stupid." She mumbled.

He dropped a kiss on her forehead, "I could never think anything vas stupid if it made you sad Katze."

She blushed at the revelation, but spoke anyway, "I'm just a little sad you guys are all leaving."

She was startled when Kurt chuckled. Kitty looked up to see him struggling to keep his laughter at bay.

Angry, she placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, "Okay, now how is that funny?" she hissed.

Kurt continued to try and keep his laughter at bay, but found he was unable to and held up one finger because bending over, clutching his stomach and laughing loudly.

Kitty stared incredulously and waited for him to control himself again.

Once he did, he gave her a huge grin, "Keety, that's vhy I vas coming to find you! Mein parents invited you to spend the veek vith us if you vanted!"

Her jaw became loose and Kurt kept explaining, "I told them about your parents in passing, and vhen I told them about the vacation veek, they immediately vondered if I vould ask you to come." He chuckled again, "I'm pretty sure they vant to find different vays to embarrass their now teenage son, but I know they also vant to know more about you. So vhat do you say, vant to come?"

Kitty stared a few seconds longer; Kurt had barely taken a breath throughout the entire explanation.

"Keety?"

"Yes!" she cheered and jumped on him, hugging him tightly.

Kurt laughed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her several inches off the ground.

"Good, cause I already bought the tickets."

oOo

"You excited to go to Hawaii?" Jean nodded to Rogue's question as they cleaned up from dinner.

"Yeah, I've never been for a real vacation, so this is going to be fun!"

Marie smirked and gave the red head a sly look, "Get me a video of Scott wiping out on a surfboard?"

Jean laughed, "Of course!"

oOo

"I hate packing." Evan muttered, glaring at his half full and messily packed suitcase.

Ororo knocked on the doorframe, "Get to work my Sun." she smiled slightly as the word now had two meanings, "Our guests are going to be here soon, and you need to be packed to get dinner."

He turned a glare to his mother and she smiled, "I'll send Logan up in that case."

Evan's eyes widened in panic and he jumped from is seat, sending the rolling chair across the room but not caring as he sped around his room, throwing his belongings into his bag. There was no way he was tempting his mother's boyfriend.

He shuddered, ~Now there's a scary thought. ~

oOo

Kurt growled at his suitcase.

"Kurt, yer folks just called, their plane landed a few minutes ago and they're on their way." Rogue poked her head into the room.

"Danke Rogue." Kurt said, still glaring.

Marie looked from the partially closed suitcase on the bed, to Kurt and back again.

"Okay, Ah'll bite, what's goin' on?"

Kurt looked to her, his face now expressionless, "I'll show you."

He went to the suitcase and started to press down on the top while attempting to zip it up with his tail, but the zipper didn't budge. He dropped his hands and tail, stood back and gave Rogue a 'get the point?' look.

Marie bit her lip, "So," she cleared her throat as she held in a laugh, "Ya'll can take down the devil, but ya can't…close yer…suitcase?" she struggled not to laugh.

Kurt grinned, "Yep."

That did it; Marie fell back against the wall and started laughing. Once she'd calmed down, Kurt gave her a small grin.

"You done?"

She nodded, "Yep."

He nodded, "Good, now, are you going to help your poor older brozzer who is unable to best the suitcase of pure evil?"

She rolled her eyes, "Ya, ya, hush up Creature." She strode over to the bed and hopped up onto the suitcase. With a smile, she lifted her legs up and waited for Kurt to zip up his bag with ease.

"Does this mean Ah'm fat?" Marie questioned as Kurt helped her down.

He glared at her, "Say zat again and I hang you from ze rain gutter."

oOo

Everyone sat around the table, plates and glasses full as they waited for the adults to be seated.

Charles smiled at them, "Well, while it hasn't gone exactly as I would have thought…" everyone exchanged looks, Kurt placing a kiss on Kitty's head even as Anna and Arnold gave each other conspiratorial grins.

"I am very proud of you all." The Professor concluded.

Ororo nudged Hank who was on her left and picked up her wine glass. Everyone followed her cue and picked up their own drinks.

"To the Professor." Hank raised his glass and everyone clinked their glasses together, pretending not to notice the few happy tears that fell from their mentor's eyes.

"To the X Men." He smiled as everyone cheered.

"Now let's eat before Fuzzy decides he wants to eat us!" Kitty laughed and Kurt gave her a playful glare.

"And people call me dramatic."

oOo

A/N: Finito! It is done! My very first X Men fanfiction ever is over.

I want to thank you guys for sticking with me so long, both reading and reviewing from the first chapter! I hope to see some familiar names for the sequel as well!

And so, for the last time before I push the 'Complete' button:

REVIEW!

Love Shadow