Kree, Shi'ar, and Skrulls, Oh My!

Summers Family Invasion

"He'll be here Saturday," Kurt assured Kate as he hung up his cell phone and kissed her cheek. "He's bringing Annie with him, and they'll be staying for nearly a week."

Kate beamed at Kurt and kissed his cheek. "That's great. That's really good." She readjusted her headband for the third time. "And you really think he'll okay it? I mean — I've read the whole thing and I've had it edited and proofread, and... we just need his signature...." She ran a hand through her hair again nervously.

"I'm sure he'll be perfectly cooperative," Kurt tried to reassure her again as he pulled her a little closer and kissed her cheek. "Once he hears what you'd like to do, it will be a done deal."

She nodded and wrapped her arms around him with a long sigh. "I've never run anything like this," she told him as she hugged him tighter. "I guess I'm just nervous. Before I was an archery teacher? I had, like, one real job. In my life. Prep school aside, this is... way harder than I thought it would be."

"You'll do fine," he promised. "But it would help if you relax a bit."

She stood on her toes to kiss him. "What, the bundle of nerves isn't a cute look on me?" she teased.

"As you've pointed out before — every look is cute on you," he replied with a grin. "I just prefer you relaxed and teasing, not tense and anxious."

"I'm sure I'll be back to normal come Sunday," she assured him. "If all goes well." She grinned at him sideways. "And I've even got an author coming Monday. I think..." She took a breath. "I almost don't want to say it out loud, but I think this is starting to come together. Finally."

"Of course it is," he agreed with a nod. "Now you just need to try and not give yourself a heart attack before Saturday and your self imposed torture fest."

She had to smile the slightest bit. "I'm an X-Man now. I'd come back from something as simple as a heart attack," she teased lightly.

"I'd still rather not risk it," Kurt told her as he took to kissing her neck.

She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her. "And I suppose you have a few ideas for preventing heart attacks," she whispered with a grin.

"Regular exercise?" he asked.

"And drinking water," she said, giggling, before she just hooked her hands around his neck and pulled him into a deeper kiss.

When Scott and Annie arrived at the mansion, Annie looked a bit wide-eyed as she simply took in the vast grounds and the large school on the outskirts of the town, seemingly unable to see it all fast enough as she just tried to soak it in by the time they arrived at the front door.

Once they arrived, the door was all but flung open by Storm and Kurt, who were waiting to greet them with wide smiles.

"It's been too long," Storm said as she took two long steps forward and simply wrapped Scott up in a long hug. "Welcome Home."

Scott was grinning as he returned the hug. "It's nice to be back," he told her before he grabbed Annie by the hand and gestured between the two women. "Ororo, I'd like you to meet my fiance, Annie. Annie — meet Storm."

"I'm very pleased to meet you," Storm said with a warm smile as she shifted her focus to Annie and giving her a similar — though not quite as familiar — hug. "Welcome."

Annie broke into a smile as she gently returned the hug, still looking a bit overwhelmed. "I guess living in a small town my whole life didn't quite prepare me for how... " She turned to Scott and lightly smacked his arm. "You didn't tell me it was this gorgeous."