Dancing Holidays, part 1

by ALC Punk!

Kat giggled as she listened to the boys murder the Weird Al song in the living room.

Rahne looked up from wrapping her presents and quirked an eyebrow, "Think they're Bolton, do they?"

Yana wrinkled her nose at Rahne and chuckled, "I wouldn't even go that far. They don't even like Bolton."

"Well, they are men, child."

Kat glanced over at her mother, Ororo Pryde was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, meticulously wrapping her gifts. They'd started a tradition this year, the band and her. Every year they'd go to a different parent's house and celebrate. Invite ALL the relatives. The women had divvied up getting presents, and were now wrapping theirs. The men had done likewise and were using the living room for their task. ~And singing. Badly~ She smiled again, thinking of the night they'd all decided on this course of action. ~I think we were all a bit gone at that point. It was Pete's fault, though!~

They'd been on tour for over five months. The debacle with that ratbastard of a manager had left them worn out and they were all sitting around one night drinking, when Kurt pointed out that it was nearly Christmas and, "Are we getting any time off?"

"Time off?" Kat stopped sipping in mid-motion, "Grief, I hadn't even thought of that!"

Pete shifted his hold on her, wrapping his arm tighter, "Why would ya, love? I know I haven't thought of it."

No one else had, either. Kat called the office the next day (she'd taken over as manager until they found someone they trusted. Doing a damn fine job of it, too, if she didn't say so her self.) She'd had to make a few concessions to the Company, but she'd gotten them three weeks of vacation over Christmas holidays.

The next obstacle had been where to go?

"Me mum wants to see ya," Pete informed her.

She stared at him, "But I wanted to go home this year!"

They'd stood there in the main room of the suite and argued about it for the next twenty minutes. Rahne was the one that finally broke in, "All right you two! I've bloody well had enough! You will go to one parents' house this year and the other's next year. Got it!?"

Kat had looked at Pete a little sheepishly, "I guess we can do that. Sorry. Truce?"

The kiss he gave her was all the answer she needed. They still had one little problem, though. Whose parents to go to? They'd flipped a coin. Kat's parents had won out. They'd gotten together the money to have Pete's mum over, though. And then Rahne and Yana had tried to decide whether they wanted to go home or not. It had really been inevitable after that. Kat could remember the dead silence on the other side of the line after her statement, "Um.. Mom? I'm coming home for Christmas and bringing the band and their families, too."

It had taken the next three days and a LOT of persuasion to convince both parents that it was for the best. So, plane fare and accommodations were arranged for everyone, allowing a rock band and their folks to invade the little town of Deerfield.

All had gone well so far. Pete's mum was due tomorrow. Rahne's adopted mother, Lady Moira MacTaggert was already there with her husband, Sean Cassidy. Piotr and the rest of Yana's family were, also, due tomorrow. Doug's family was there, staying in a nearby hotel. Kurt's sister, Amanda was there, along with their adopted mother, Margali and had that been an interesting introduction, Kat thought, remembering.

Her mother had beaten her to the door. "Yes?"

The woman on the stoop looked at Kat's mother, then looked back over her shoulder out to the cab, uncertainly, "I think I may--"

"Mrs. Szardos?" Kat asked as she came up, smiling.

The scarlet clad woman studied her for a moment. Skirt, blouse, stockings, boots. All were as bright a red as you can get without bleeding. Her brunette hair was pulled back by scarlet ribbons and a gold pendant in the shape of a cat hung from her neck. Kat grinned as Kurt came bounding out of the living room, "Maman!"

Kurt swept passed Kat's mother and grabbed her, hugging her tightly. The woman laughed at him, "Kurt! Put me down, you numbksull!"

He did so, grinning wildly, "Mom, I'd like you to meet my favorite keyboardist, Kat Pryde. Kat, this is my mother, Margali Szardos."

Kat held out her hand to Margali, "Hello. Your son is the worst violinist I know, but we all still love him." She winked.

Margali laughed again, "I already like you, dear." She pulled Kat into an embrace, "Keep my son on his toes, do you?" She whispered.

"No, that's Yana's job," Kat whispered back.

As she stepped back, she noticed the slightly bewildered look on her mother's face, "Mom, this is Kurt's mother, Margali. Margali, this is my mother Ororo Pryde."

Both women looked at each other, then shook. 'Nice to meet yous' floated on the still air. Then Kat's mother turned to go back in, "Please, bring your belongings in, I'm sure Kat can show you to your room."

Kat had. She also didn't apologise for her mother's abruptness. ~I'm not sure why mother was, so.. Tetchy? Although, if *I* had a large group of unknown people foisted on me at Christmas, I might be a little upset too.~ She smiled as she finished wrapping the cufflinks she'd gotten for her father.

"Kat, you almost done? I wanna go out again tonight, so.."

"Yep." Kat grinned at Yana, "You, me and Rahne are hitting the Have A Nice Day Cafe tonight. They have a Ladies Night, we get in free and drinks specials!"

"Peachy." Rahne cracked, "I was *Sooo* wanting a Ladies Night." She grinned. "We can ditch the boys, right?"

"Right!" Kat and Yana replied. All three looked at each other and chorused, "Girl's night out!"

She began gathering the ingredients, wondering what her husband would cook for dinner the next night, ~Probably something vegetarian,~ she thought fondly. The doorbell rang. ~Kitty?~ She tossed the package of spaghetti on the counter and yelped in horror as it burst open, scattering across the counter and floor. She quickly scrabbled to get it all picked up. the doorbell rang again, ~Damn.~ most of it was on the counter, luckily. She quickly grabbed the broom and swept the rest into a pile in the corner, ~I'll finish this in a minute.~

Ororo opened the door to her daughter and... A young man. Thick dark hair curled wildly, deep blue eyes met hers unflinchingly as she gaped.

"Mom?" Kitty smiled, "I'm home."

Those simple words. And Ororo Pryde felt tears well in her eyes as she and her daughter embraced tightly. She stood back, looking at her, "Kitty you've--you look--You're so grownup!"

Kitty smiled, "I've... Thank you." She turned to the man behind her, gesturing him forward, "Mom, I'd like you to meet Pete Wisdom. Pete, this is Ororo Pryde, my mother."

"'Allo." Pete held out a hand. Ororo stared at it, feeling as if it was a snake, ~He's the one.. He and my daughter..~ She carefully shook it. "Hello."

"Um. Mom? Can we come in? It's a little cold out here."

Ororo blinked, "Oh. Yes, please come in. When are the rest of the band arriving?"

"Tomorrow. They all were getting some stuff finished at the studio. Pete and I skipped out early, so I could prepare you for the presence of an entire rock band." She smiled, "And, well.. I thought you and Dad should meet Pete first. Before the entire hoarde was here."

Pete wrapped an arm around her Kitty, and looked at her a little balefully. As if he expected her to try and shove him back outside as she began to close the door. ~As if I'd succeed,~ She thought, wryly, ~Though it did cross my mind.~

As she and Garret had discussed it beforehand, they put Kitty and Pete in separate, but adjoining, rooms. Kitty had looked like she was going to object at first, then had shrugged and disappeared into her room. Pete went into his, and both doors shut. ~Ten seconds, and they'll be opening the adjoining doors.~ Ororo bet herself.

She didn't wait to hear whether she was right, instead she walked back down to the kitchen to pick up the noodles, and continue dinner preparations.

The Prydes owned a rather large house. It was the reason Kat had won out on that argument in the first place. Four stories, 12 bedrooms, five baths, and a large kitchen, dining room and living room. The basement contained game equipment and a computer. The two upper floors were rarely used, and contained six of the bedrooms. Kat, Pete and Doug had the three on the fourth, with Yana, Kurt and Rahne getting the next floor. Of course, during the first day, Kurt and Yana had taken Doug's and Rahne gave hers over to her parents. Rahne now had a room on the second floor, which she ended up sharing with Kurt's sister Amanda. Luckily, they liked each other. All of the bedrooms were now in use--or, nearly all...