A Nice Walk in the Garden

[Shadowkat]

Kitty sighed contently as she wrapped one arm through Piotr's as they enjoyed their walk in the garden he worked so hard to maintain. It had yet to reach its peak beauty as flowers were only starting to bloom now that spring was moving in. When she had free time she loved to help him a little with the gardening as she knew he cared about it and she too cared. She appreciated being able to have access to a beautiful garden that was suitable for taking walks like these.

"You take such good care of these flowers, Piotr. They're beautiful and they're not even in full bloom yet," she said to him, looking up at him with a warm smile as they strolled by one row of flowers. The past two months had been kind- she had worked through losing Elixir and became closer with her whole team. She worked with those who asked for extra training, glad they took the initiative to get better at what they wanted to do, and she spent time with Piotr whenever she could steal time in between team practices and classes. For Kitty, life was good, and she was thankful for every minute of it.

[Colossus]

Piotr reached an arm out to inspect one of the buds that have already sprouted on the Bleeding Heart flower bush he planted. His large fingers looked them over gently and he smiled in satisfaction. It appeared that these flowers would survive another year. "With these, the section of Cardinal flowers over there and the Pink Punch Delphinium's I planted earlier this month, I think I can say for sure that we will have a lot of butterflies this year," he said with a smile and brought Kitty closer to him. Their walks in the afternoon through the garden that Piotr lovingly tended with the help of Stoney and the little ones was a time that he enjoyed greatly.

"Jenny and Lily are quite excited to see the butterflies in the spring. Jenny especially. She planted all those right over there," Piotr said pointing to the whole mass of flowers that were already in early bloom. It was filled with a variety of flowers that Jenny picked out, from daylilies to honeysuckles to a variety of different flowers from the same families, like the Delphiniums and the Japanese Irises. That tiny little girl was a natural with gardening, the 'Green Thumb' as they called it.

With his arm still wrapped around Kitty, Piotr brought her under the Yoshino Cherry tree that was in the early stages of blooming. "Just think Kitty, in only a couple of weeks, this garden will be in full bloom, this tree will be covered in those white blossoms you like so much," he said with a big smile as he pointed out the little bulbs that were just waiting to burst.

[Shadowkat]

Kitty smiled as she watched Piotr inspect the flowers so gently, and looked at them as she cuddled into his side. As he pointed out more that Jenny had planted, she could only smile more. "She has quite a talent. I can't wait to see how it will develop seeing how well those flowers look already. I bet Jenny and Lily will look absolutely adorable trying to chase the butterflies around and catch them," she said with a laugh as she pictured it in her head.

The smile that had been on her face the whole time only grew as they moved to the Yoshino tree and stood under it. "I know, I can't wait. It always comes out so pretty," she said as she reached up to touch one of the bulbs lightly. The sakura tree was one of her favorite kinds of trees, and when she had been in Japan she had loved it instantly. When the Academy had gotten a couple of their own she was thrilled, and she was glad they were taken care of so well. Kitty just couldn't help herself, the hand that held a bulb moved to Piotr's face as she leaned up to kiss him. "I love this garden- and you," she said with a little giggle after pulling away gently.

[Colossus]

Piotr smiled and cupped Kitty's face with his large hand brushing his thumb across her soft cheek gently. "Ah my Katya, my heart only feels complete when you are near," he said with a soft smile as he looked down at her. The two of them had been through so much, been together and apart many times, but their paths always came back to each other. Piotr for one was ready to stay on the set path they had together.

His hand dropped from her cheek, bringing her closer so they could continue their pleasant walk throughout the garden. Piotr walked with her under the various trees that he cared for on the ground, the Chinese Dogwood trees and the Japanese Magnolia that he planted just for Kitty, as well at the English Rose Garden that he tended just for Emma. The day had been nice all around, a light breeze and the sun shining with the temperature in the mid 50s. A perfect day to spend outdoors.

"Look Katya, you're magnolias are going to be even more magnificent than last year," Piotr said pointing at the already blooming buds. "I gave the children strict instructions to stay out of the gardens this year unless they were given permission. I trust they'll be safe this year," he said with a light laugh and gently fingered one of the blossoms. "Tell me Katya, I have not asked you yet, has Chupacabra's adjustment in the team improved?" he asked her while still inspecting the flowers.

[Shadowkat]

Even though she knew how sweet Piotr was and could be, Kitty still couldn't help but blush a little. She liked that after everything that had gone through that he could still bring a blush to her face, and she was glad that things were good again. She planned for them to stay that way, too. As they started walking again and passed under the different kinds of planted trees the pretty scents of them all mixed with the spring breeze. It really was a nice day out, and it maid their walk all that much better.

"Oh, I see! They really are, and so soon," she mused happily as she looked at them, some still budding while otheres were half way open. This garden was almost magical because of the variety of all flowers and trees that had been planted there. "Thanks Petey, cause if my magnolias look anything aside from this, I'm hunting somebody down," she laughed, joking although she would be bothered if their beauty were disturbed.

When Piotr asked about her newest team member, Kitty thought for a moment and then spoke. "He's doing alright, I think. He has asserted himself a bit, and as you know you can't really do that here, you have to work your way into this big ol' family we got here. Some of the others aren't as fond of him as I would've hoped, but I think he can fix that," she said thoughtfully, thinking of previous team practices and bits of gossip she had overheard in passing from her team. "I'd been working on helping him to adjust to the way things are here and I think he's a good kid," she continued, and then looked up at Piotr. "And what about StormHawk and Taffy? How are they doing with the rest of the Acolytes?" she asked, interested about his two newest students as well.

[Colossus]

Leading Kitty to sit with him on the marble bench in memorial to their dear friend Jean Grey, Piotr listened to her intently as she spoke of the New Mutants' newest addition. He himself had heard a few things in passing from the kids in regards to the new students, so he was interested to hear Kitty's point of view. "It will take time Katya. He will learn how to assimilate within the group soon enough. Until then it will be a bit of a struggle," Piotr said bringing her closer and allowing her head to rest on his chest.

He heaved a large sigh as he thought of his own team, which contrary to what most people thought had it's own set of problems. "StormHawk and Taffy are fitting in fairly well within the group. So well that they are the least of the problems within my team. It seems to me that there is a rift between my team that I cannot help repair. The rift exists mainly between Haven, Diesel and Frostbite. Well... you know the story as well as I do, but it seems to be affecting the team as well. Haven is not as troublesome as I anticipated to be quite honest. She has her moments as does everyone else, but I do see a heart shining through in that girl. Whenever it comes to Diesel or Ember, it shows the most. I am quite proud of the honest effort she is making to get along with her team. Unfortunately that animosity between the three I feel effects the team as a whole. Little Hardlight seems to be torn between his loyalty to Diesel and his friendship with Frostbite. The rest of the team is unsure as where to stand and I feel Shimmer is still a little wary of Haven so she's more than likely on Frostbite's side in this rift," Piotr said with another sigh and rested his chin on top of Kitty's head.

"It is not fun to feel so helpless when it comes to the team, but I do not know how to solve it short of an intervention. Those don't work like they used to unfortunately," he said and placed a kiss on her head as he looked up at Crapapple tree that was also in the early stages of bloom. "I guess we can both be grateful that we just have our teams problems than be in Emma and Scott's place," Piotr added with a small laugh.

[Katana]

Infused with new energy from her meeting in the library with Nightcrawler, Katana marched on down to the garden. She had never spent much time there both because she arrived at the school in the dead of winter and because the idea of hanging around a bunch of plants struck her as weak and, well, feminine. Katana had worked hard not to be feminine because the feminine girls got preyed upon the most both in the foster homes and on the streets. The key to survival was to look rough, tough, and admittedly kind of butch. Yet here she was thinking as she passed some new spring blooms, These are really pretty. I didn't know a flower could be so vibrant. I wonder what it is? Never seen anything like it...Well, maybe there's a book in the library on it.

After turning a few more corners she saw Colossus standing near a tree and next to him was the NuMutant leader, Kitty Pryde. Katana instantly felt a tinge of sadness on seeing her as she was reminded of Elixir. Yet, she continued and walked up to the pair and politely said, "Please excuse me, Ms. Frost said to come talk to you Colossus sir as she is, if she has not already told you, putting me on your team in place of Frostbite, who is going over to the Paragons. I know I have a terrible reputation, but if you could please look past that and give me a chance, I will work really hard to show that things can be different and I can be a good team player." She said the last part of her little introduction in an almost pleading tone, rebuking herself internally for sounding so weak.

[Frostbite]

Lorelai had jogged back to her room and quickly grabbed the folded up Acolyte uniform she had put away after the last team practice she had to deal with. Now it was time to get rid of it, and get a new one. She already knew what it would look like as she had worn Aideen's uniform in Limbo, and smirked at knowing she was getting one of her own. With that, she headed out to the garden where she knew Colossus was probably tending to the garden like he normally did.

When she got to the garden she smirked at the flowers, passing by her favorite- the roses as she looked for where he was. After a minute of walking quickly with the folded uniform clenched in one hand, she found where he was, sitting with Kitty and Katana already there. So she was more eager for this switch than I was. Imagine that, Lorelai thought still smirking as she too approached just as Katana finished speaking. "Hey Colossus. As I overheard, you know what's happening. So here's my uniform. It was fun," she said with a half fake laugh. In truth, in the beginning it was fun, and she had enjoyed it while it was like that. Now it wasn't anymore, and so she was done with it. Colossus was still cool in her eyes, but things were just overall different.

"Hey Kitty," she added with a small half laugh, and looked back to her now former team leader. She held out the hand that held the uniform up to him and when he took it back, she took a step back and waited to hear some sort of heartfelt goodbye. She didn't want to stay around for it, but she still had respect for the man. It was just a select few of her former teammates that she had none for.

[Shadowkat]

Kitty nodded silently in agreement as her head rested against Piotr's chest while they sat on the cool marble bench. Her eyes wandered slowly around the scenery in front of him while she listened to him talk about his team and their problems. Her face twisted up a little into a concerned face as she heard him talk about the seeming break of his team. She knew the story well by now since she had heard it from both students and Piotr. She had only hoped it would work out for the best, since seeing how Piotr wasn't able to help fix the problem made it a little harder to help. The team had a reputation for being good, but in truth it seemed it was starting to split up, which wasn't so good.

"It'll work out Petey. Everything does in the end," she said softly as she placed a hand on his thigh and looking at it, letting out a small laugh of her own when he mentioned Emma and Scott. "I know," she agreed, laughing again, only to look away from where her hand rested when she heard someone approaching. She saw it was Leah, and what she said next surprised her.

Kitty sat up straight and looked at Piotr, biting her lip a little as she looked again to Leah with her eyebrows slightly raised. Leah and Lorelai were switching teams? Wow. As much as this is a surprise, I think this may help Petey's team with the rift. I just hope it's the best thing that can be done, and I hope he'll be alright with this, she thought as then Lorelai came up with her uniform in hand. And the surprises keep on coming...Lorelai doesn't look like her normal self and she doesn't seem as nice as I know her to be. Dear me, she continued thinking as her eyebrows inched up a little more. "Hello Lorelai," she replied to her as she could only look up at Piotr again to see how he was going to take this. The way the now former Acolyte was acting seemed rather topsy turvy from what Kitty was used to, and as much as she was surprised she only hoped Piotr would be okay in dealing with it, although she would be there for him regardless.

[Colossus]

It was like as soon as Piotr finished telling Kitty about the problems with his team when Katana came up to him followed by Frostbite, one with uniform in hand and the other looking extremely timid about approaching him in general. Piotr shook his head to get it straight and looked at Frostbite with a small smile. "I hope that you will find your place with the Paragons then Lorelai. It was a joy working with you and getting to know you, and I can only hope that Kurt has the same pleasure I did," he said with a small smile and took the uniform from her, resting a hand on her shoulder for a moment truly wishing her luck in the new journey she was about to go on.

Piotr smiled at his former team member and waited for her to leave before he turned to Katana with a warm and comforting smile. "We all get second chances in life Katana, and you will find that the Acolytes are a team of second chances. You'll find that everyone on that team got a second chance. Shimmer got a second chance to come out of her shell, Hardlight got a second chance to find himself, Diesel got a second chance to prove himself as a great leader, StormHawk got a second chance to make up for his past, and Haven most of all received a second chance for straying on the wrong path and was accepted back with open arms. Now this is your second chance, Katana and I welcome you to the Acolytes," Piotr said to her with a warm smile at her, promising himself to help her as much as he could to make the most of that second chance that Emma was wise enough to give her.

"I will get your size from Nightcrawler and by next practice you will have your new uniform," he said with a smile and patted her shoulder warmly. Piotr sat back down next to Kitty so now he was more eye level with the new Acolyte. He waited patiently for any questions, wondering how his team would take the news.

[Katana]

At the end of Leah's little speech, her heart was beating so loudly in her ears that it made her light headed. As a result, it seemed like ages passed as she watched Colossus's expressionless face and turning a little caught the site of Kitty Pryde's arched eyebrows, letting her know that the NuMutant leader was surprised. Quivering slightly, Leah stood there and just as it looked like Colossus would speak, Frostbite walked up. Perfect timing, bitch, Leah thought angrily. Why can't she wait. She obviously can see I'm having a private conversation here., she thought as a slight scowl showed on her face. When Frostbite finally left she shouted after her, "Nightcrawler's in the back of the library; he's in the drama stacks."

Yet the scowl disappeared when Colossus not only assured her that she would have a second chance but pointed out that everybody else on the team had screwed up and needed one too. ThankGod, I'm not the only one. No more of this holier than thou crap I'm getting from Allure and her oh so perfect friends. I could learn to like this new team after all. Smiling now she said to Colossus, "Thank you so much. You will be able to count on me, sir." She also flashed a quick smile to Kitty Pryde so as not to leave the other teacher feeling left out.

Then turning back to Colossus she asked, "So I know this is a pretty broad question but what are the basic operating rules and hierarchy of the Acolytes?...don't want to step on anybody's toes."

[Frostbite]

As Colossus took the uniform and gave his parting words to her, Lorelai gave a curt nod and saw that it was time for her to leave. She left gladly since she was now done being part of the Acolytes and no reason to linger any longer. It was both a relief and a release, and as she thought earlier she was rather sure things wouldn't change so much in the way of her dealing with the friends she had made on the team as well as dealing with Colossus. They would just have to deal with her not being around for team practices and team-y things anymore. As she turned and began walking away she gave a short wave. "Bye guys," she said, smirking again as she went to head to the library to finish what she started when she walked into Emma's office not very long ago.

[Colossus]

Piotr smiled at her reassuringly, happy that she was excited to join the new team and he could only hope that his team would take to her alright, mainly because all of them had a hard time trusting others. "The Acolytes, Katana, are a very strong team but not as organized as the New Mutants. Diesel has in a way been appointed the team Captain and everyone on the team looks to him. He is a very fair and wise, and I'm sure through him you will learn your role in the team. In practice I prefer to take a step back and serve only for guidance and several exercises I like them to do. I monitor all danger room sessions, rarely participating. I like to see how you all as a team work out in there," he stated, giving her the basics on what the team was like structure wise.

"I will not lie to you Katana, it will be difficult at first. Many of your new teammates have high trust issues and it will be some time before you prove yourself trustworthy in their eyes. It will be a test of strength on your part, but I am confident you'll do fine," he said with a warm smile. Piotr squeezed Kitty's waist gently, waiting for Katana patiently to finish her questioning. He was always a very patient man, and would show her the same patience he showed his team. Many of his team members required a firm and gentle hand when it came to getting through to them, which was one reason he handled many of the kids with trust issues.

[Katana]

Listening to her new leader speak, Katana's heart fell in her chest as she learned that the large, gentle man would not lead practices himself but mostly left things to the team and to Diesel, who was a sort of quasi-Captain. Great. Ember being in charge of the Paragons was pretty bad because she was a cold bitch but at least she was sane. Diesel just tried to murder Rumble on the field today, and he's pretty much in charge?, she thought incredulously. Still Colossus was smiling and his description of Diesel as kind and wise suggested that there might be more to the boy than Leah had seen today...after all she did not know him well and Rumble had been making pretty open threats of violence, so perhaps she was judging too harshly.

Any confidence, she momentarily regained in her new team was lost again when Colossus told her how difficult the road would be and how hard it would be to gain the trust of her teammates, who had "high trust issues," by the teacher's own admission. So from the team of snobs to the team of freaked up losers, said a bitter voice in the back of her head. Iguess I'll fit in. Still the sincerity in Colossus's voice when he told her that he was confident that she would do fine was enough to make another voice in her head pipe up and say, Hey, stop trying to argue yourself into failure. At least give it a chance and try for once.

So half frowning and half smiling she said slowly to her teacher, "Thank you, sir. I'll try to take it slow and show them they can count on me. Now if you will excuse me I have some make up work to do for Ms. Frost...she's giving me a chance to not fail English and I better take it." Then turning from Colossus to the other teacher, whom she noticed he had by the waist in an almost romantic fashion, she said, "Goodbye Ms. Pryde," politely before turning back to Colossus in order to be dismissed.

[Colossus]

"Goodbye Katana, practice is tomorrow right after Iceman's class," Piotr said dismissing her and watching her leave. When she was gone and out of sight, he sighed and looked down at Kitty who was still nestled comfortable at his side. Piotr leaned his head on top of hers and sighed, rubbing her waist gently. "It appears some things solve themselves. It is unfortunate to lose Frostbite though, but I suppose all will work out for the best," he said with a small smile.

Now it was back to him enjoying the time he had with his beloved in their own little Eden. He had a strange feeling that he should perhaps be a bit more involved for the next practice. He knew his team and when he knew that he may need to sit them down for a team meeting for the time to have them all get comfortable.