Last chapter, hope you've enjoyed it. This chapter I'm thinking "The Only Exception" by Paramore. It feels right.

Once more, I hope this is in character. Any constructive criticism and feedback is appreciated! I hope you like this chapter and I was a bit iffy about the ending. Thanks for reading!

***

A few days later and Mr. McCoy was satisfied with Kitty's progress.

"You can return to your own room- but no physical exertion for the next week and especially no phasing, if you can help it."

Kitty sat in her room when there was a sharp knock on her door.

"Come in," she called, setting aside her ethics homework. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, her hair out and messy and her in inconspicuous slacks and a comfy hoodie.

"So it's true, you're out of the labs," said Piotr, entering the room.

"Yes," she smiled a smile that gave Piotr goosebumps involuntarily, " 'tis true. But no physical stuff, including phasing, for about a week."

"I see, Shadowcat," grinned Piotr, sitting on the edge of her bed. She moved a little, wanting to make a bit more room for him.

"You've been so wonderful lately," Kitty said. She pulled him so he actually did move to have more room.

"No problem," Piotr replied.

Slowly Kitty moved closer and hugged him. She was letting him into her vulnerableness and he appreciated it, hugging her back. He could feel her little heartbeat. The hold she had over him was taking effect. He could smell that beautiful scent.

"I don't think I'd be here, sitting so sanely on my bed if it werent for you, so thanks."

"It's okay," Piotr whispered and wanting to break the mood, to change the feelings he began tickling her.

"Hey!" she protested, squirming uncontrollably. When she'd stopped, pieces of her hair had fallen out from where they'd been tucked behind her ears. Gently Piotr removed them and tucked them back where they'd been. But he was so careful with her, as if because he was large he could just crush her by touching her. Unable to stop herself she leaned forward and kissed him, catching him by surprise. It was the most passionate, heartfelt kiss Piotr had ever been given and uncontrollably he returned it, ignoring the many voices in his mind telling him it was wrong.

The kiss slowly finished, her hands around his face.

"I shouldn't have done that," he said, he didn't want to believe what had just happened. He'd had the best kiss of his life with a fifteen year old. He was falling in love with a fifteen year old. She couldn't even drive!

"Why not?" Kitty asked.

"Because, because I'm bad for you. I'm too old for you. It's wrong Kitty, I shouldn't have done it."

"It's not wrong. It's okay. You're not bad for me, and ages can change," Kitty said, slipping her small hands into his bigger ones. He found he liked holding her tiny hands but he pulled his away.

"It IS wrong Kitty. I'm twenty, you're fifteen," he said, standing up.

"And don't you care about me?" she asked confused.

"Of course I care about you. What kind of question is that?!" Piotr demanded turning around to face her.

"Piotr, please, don't leave. I don't want to be alone, without you. The people I used to turn to are gone. They're dead, or missing, or caught up in some deep emotional pain. The only person left is you. I don't care what anyone says, but I know that I need you. If you walk through that door then I'm lost and stuck in the same place that you found me in."

Piotr had frozen, one step away from the door. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't do it. He turned around.

"I'm bad for you," he said.

She slowly got up, and slid off the bed, shortening the distance between them in a few of her short steps and from her spot, her head only reaching the end of his lungs, she said,

"I think I'm falling in love with you."

She said it simply, but with such an emotional charge in her voice that Piotr's breath froze too.

"I would do anything for you Kitty. I know I'm falling in love with you. But I'm not going to kid either of us, you're fifteen. That complicates things," he said.

"I told you, I don't care what anyone says. I need you in my life. Don't walk out of it."

He knew then and there he wouldn't be able to resist her,

"I'll never leave you if you don't want me to," he whispered, his arms sliding around her waist and effortlessly lifted her up, a gorgeous smile gracing her face. Then her hands touched his face and they kissed once more.

Kitty had her Man of Steel who would never leave her and wait for eternity. The one that made her feel in ways she had never felt before. The one she would follow to the ends of the earth, or up into the greatest stars of heaven. Piotr had his Cat of the Shadows who would brighten his day and make his heart pound inside the steel chest. The girl he couldn't help but smile when he was around, the one he'd vowed he'd protect forevermore. The one he would wait for as long as it took.

And they were X-tra Special. No matter what happened in their X-Men team, or the different people that would surround them they would never give up their hope, or the love deep inside. They could bury it or pretend it didn't exist. But it was always there.

For a Cat of the Shadows and a Man of Steel would forever belong to the other.