I nearly fell out of the window.

"What?"

"Marry me."

This wasn't how I would have imagined it. I had always pictured the down-on-bended knee sort of proposal. I had always thought I would know when it would happen, like he would act suspiciously or something, but I wouldn't have seen this in a million years.

"Is, is this because I wouldn't--"

Angelo didn't let me finish, "Chica, no, it isn't and I think you know it isn't. What would you have expected? I wake up in the middle of the night to find my girlfriend in my bedroom, and I'm just supposed to let you walk out? I'm only human. But--I'm glad you stopped to leave, it made me see something. How much you do love me, and how much I need you. I--I have the ring, I've had it since October."

He went to his desk and flipped on a light. I squinted and shaded my eyes with a hand as he pulled open a drawer and took out a little black box. The typical one you see in all the movies, small, velvet looking. He walked back to me and opened it.

The ring inside glittered in the light. The diamond wasn't exceptionally large, but it was cut beautifully and caught the light, reflecting it on the lid of the box. The band seemed to be white-gold, he knew I had no taste for gold, and on closer inspection it seemed to be three small strands braided together.

He took it out and started to slip it on my finger.

I made a funny half sob half laugh noise and said, "It goes on the other hand, love."

He chuckled and whispered, "I'm nervous, ok?" and then said, "Summer Emily Ison, with all my heart I love you, I don't think I could live my life without you. Would you be my wife?"

"Your wife," I echoed. That sounded so adult. Could that be me? Summer Ison seventeen and three quarters going on thirty? "Yeah."

Now I really was crying and felt pretty stupid, I didn't ever imagine I'd cry. I mean, it happens in the movies and books, but not for real. I wrapped my arms around him, resting my chin on his shoulder. "It's beautiful," I said as I looked at the ring again. It fit perfectly.

At that point he murmured something in my ear, but it went straight through, I was in another world.

I had quite my rather pitiful sobbing and was laughing now. "Ya know, Kris might kill you in the morning. I don't think you could have chosen a worse time."

"Oh, caramba!" His reply was half joking. "Hey you think I could have that thing back until he's gone?"

"Not a chance! Kris'll cope...'oh caramba' is right Ange! One hug or kiss and he will know all about tonight! And Beth..Oh-mi-gosh! Beth! And J, an' M, an' Paige! I gotta get back!"

I kissed him again, and lingered for another moment before turning to my ice form and jumping out of the window. It seemed like the hardest thing I had ever done, I wanted nothing more than to stay there with him.

"Buenos noches," he called after me.

I ran back to the kitchen where everyone else was still seated around the floor, munching on things. I slipped back into my human form and skidded to a halt.

"Sorry I took so long," I said sheepishly.

"Where have you been?" Beth asked.

I knew I was blushing now, I could let them think what they want for a few minutes just for the fun of it. "You know where I was, I just took my time."

"You didn't...did you!?" Paige exclaimed.

At the same time, Jubilee stared at me with wide eyes, "I can't believe it, you and Angelo..."

Almost, I thought.

"No," I grinned, "he just woke up while I was stealing some stuff. He thought I was a burglar or something. It took some explaining."

"Well," Jubilee said getting right back to the game, "what did you bring back?"

I raised my left hand up and wiggled my ring finger. I could have gotten the same reaction if I had dropped a gernade.

"Oh my gawd!" Jubilee shrieked.

Suddenly everyone was speaking at once. I couldn't understand a word of it but could feel everyone holding my hand, looking at the ring, hugging me or saying something. Beth's astral form had vanished and she physically stood with the others mobbing around me.

"I can't believe it," Paige said, "Congratulations!"

The next few minutes were marked by the high-pitched noise girls inevitably make when they're excited and the continuous repetition of "Congratulations."

Of course now I had no chance of getting away without explaining something. And I knew I couldn't to give the entire story. In fact, I'd rather dodge the explanation entirely, but I knew that wouldn't happen.

"It's kinda complicated." I trailed off. I knew I had a huge lopey grin spread across my face but I couldn't help it. I was still realizing what was really happening. I was engaged. Engaged!

"Well, like, duh, but tell us already! Ohmigawd, I can't believe this!"

I told them a fairly well edited version, which seemed to satisfy all of them for the most part. From that point on, my mind basically stayed on auto pilot, their questions and everything seemed to go in one ear and out the other. I couldn't stop re-playing the nights events, and like in some cheesy movie, everything happened in a dreamy haze.

Well, I woke up for a moment when Jubilee wanted to try the ring on.

"Absolutely not, Lee! I love ya like a sister, but I am not taking this off! No way, not in a million years!"

She didn't push the issue further. For the rest of the night we were all smiles and the conversation didn't really move past the whole engagement thing. Even if it had, my mind would have still been glued there.

Eventually, everyone else grew tired and our group dissolved.

I walked Beth back to the cottage but I refused to go in. The last thing I needed was for Kris to wake up and see the ring, I was too tired to try and deal with him, whatever his reaction might be.

When I made it to my room, I quickly put my pajamas on, skipping all other before bed rituals. I was absolutely wired, and somehow I doubted the Mountain Dew really played a role in that fact. When I finally got around to climbing in my bed, I fell into a giggling fit and stared at the ring for an eternity. I could not believe how stupid I was acting I don't think I had actually giggled in years.

Amazingly enough I did fall asleep, though it only seemed like I turned over and it was six in the morning. Even though I got to bed at such a late hour I awoke completely refreshed. The last thing in the world I wanted to do was to get dressed and go to classes and training, but that's what would happen.

I think I took my shower in record time (though I did make sure my shower hadn't been rigged in any way). On my way back to my room, I ran into Husk, who grinned widely at me as she said, "Good mornin'."

"You're tellin' me," I said as I passed.

I took forever getting ready. I wanted to look perfect. The whole wearing an Xaviers uniform thing was kind of an unspoken request, not a rule. Jonothan never wore one, while the rest usually did, but Sean and Emma never protested when we didn't, so I decided against a uniform today. The pale blue leotard I chose to wear was long sleeved and the pants part ended in thick soled boots perfect for a training session. It had black cuffs and a black zipper up the front. It was one of my favorite outfits. I slipped it on then went back to the bathroom to fiddle with my hair. I clipped it up in a silver claw and let the rest hang over my shoulders.

I ran back to my room and grabbed my backpack before hurrying downstairs to the kitchen. When I arrived, the only people still eating were Everett, Mondo, Monet and Jubilee.

Ev was just rinsing his dishes off in the sink as I came in. He turned around when he saw me and gave me a big hug, "Congratulations, Summer. But do you think you could pull Angelo down from cloud nine anytime soon? He woke me up in the middle of the night to explain that he had just asked some cat burglar to marry him. Then this morning he poured orange juice on his Froot Loops and didn't seem to mind."

"Seriously?" I was kinda glad I had the same effect on him that he had on me.

"Well, not the Froot Loops thing."

"What Froot Loops thing?" Angelo asked as he came into the room.

"Nothin'," Ev said grinning at me.

"Ange!" I ran over to him and squeezed him tightly. While I would have gone through with a much bigger kiss, the rest of the guy were there and I didn't want this engagement thing to get old on the first day, so I quickly withdrew. ("I love you!")

At least that way the others wouldn't have to put up with my euphoria, which was probably sickening.

I didn't really feel like eating, but I poured a small bowl of cereal and took a seat beside Angelo. He casually looped one arm around my waist.

As I started to eat, Mondo spoke up. He sounded as cheerful as I felt. "Summer and Angelo, I am most happy for you two! What a wonderful thing, may your canoes always sail smoothly!"

I choked, nearly spewing my Grape Nuts and blushed fiercely. Ohhhhh my gosh...this is not the island, does he know how these kids will take that?

All talk immediately stopped. Everyone stood gaping at Mondo.

Jubilee started to giggle. "You're a sick puppy, dude! You're cooler than I thought!"

Mondo stared for a moment, not quite understanding, then apparently decided not to pursue the subject any further.

"Um-thanks, Mondo, that's sweet."

"Yeah," Jubilee said rather loudly, "this whole engagement thing is so sweet, right Everett?"

"Uh-uh, Jubilee, don't be getting any crazy ideas."

She flashed him a broad smile and put her dishes in the sink. "No crazy ideas outta me, buddy. Nope. Not from Jubilation Sense-n-Sensibility Lee."

I think I actually heard Monet giggle at that. I pushed my cereal around with my spoon for a while. Eventually, everyone else cleared out, leaving Angelo and myself together.

"I missed you," I said laughing.

He chuckled, "Yeah, we haven't seen each other for what, the better part of four hours?"

"And twenty minutes," I added sarcastically.

"Don't you two ever let up?" a voice said from behind me.

I bit my lip and raised my eyebrow to Angelo before reluctantly pulling away from Ange to face the biggest threat of the day...Kris.

"Good morning Kris."

I'm glad my hand was safely concealed under the table, I wanted to talk to Kris before telling him the "big news."

He walked toward us, and for the first time I noticed he was wearing his spy get up. Black leotard, boots, gloves, the whole bit. Sleek and muscular, ready for who knows what. Though I couldn't imagine why he was dressed like that, I knew he knew he looked intimidating. Before I could ask, he walked across the room, seated himself at the table across from me and spoke.

"What in the world have you two done that has my daughter avoiding contact with her dear ol' dad? What is so secret that I can't have a good morning kiss?" He looked directly at me, then turned to Ange. "Do you know?"

His eyes sparkled and he was smiling now, though I was still confidant he didn't have a real clue.

Ange cleared his throat, opened his mouth, shut it, looked at me, opened his mouth and then shut it again. He glanced at me again with one of those "C'mon, help me out here!" sort of looks.

"Um, yeah," I started trying to suppress a fit of giggles. "Uh-well...Ok, well, you know that Angelo and I have been dating for like, two years almost, and we um...decided to get married!"

Ok, I had done it. I had dropped the bomb. The letter was in the mailbox, no pulling it out now. There was an awkward silence for a few moments and I watched Kris' expression closely. First his eyebrows shot up in pure surprise and his eyes widened, pupils flaring wide. That wasn't a good thing, I don't know if it was a power or not, but Kris could control his pupil dilation...and he usually did so before a break in or something big. Then he narrowed his eyes and leaned forward a little bit, looking from me to Angelo and back.

"Married," he said. "Married. As in 'engaged'." It wasn't a question.

"Well, yeah, that's usually what it means."

"Married to him?" He gestured toward Angelo.

I rubbed a hand across my forehead. "Yes, Kris, him." He was really taking the magic out of this moment.

"Ok." He nodded his head. "When did this happen?"

"About," I bit my lip, "four hours ago."

"And where were you?"

I rolled my eyes. I couldn't lie to him, he'd know for sure and then think even worse or the situation. "Um, in Angelo's room."

"Doing..." He waved his hand in a small circle.

"Kris!" I exclaimed. "Absolutely nothing!"

"Want to shake on that?" He quipped.

"Not funny, Kris." At this point I was really mad. I knew Angelo must be feelin' really awkward right about now. I didn't think he'd be overly excited, but I didn't think he'd act like this. I changed to my ice form to hold back the tears, this was all going so wrong, then turned back again because Ange still had an arm wrapped around me.

"Why are you being like this?" I asked, now I really did cry. Wonderful, just wonderful. Here I am trying to come off as mature and responsible and I'm probably blubbering like a baby.

Kris stood up and walked over where I sat and put his arms around me. "Summer, Summer, Shhhhh--don't cry. I didn't mean to come across that way. It's just..." He paused, trying to think of the right words, I guess. "Are you positive..."

"Yes! I've been dating Angelo for almost two years now, Kris," I told him, wiping my eyes with the back of my sleeve. "It's true I'm young, but I know that I love him with my whole heart and soul, and he loves me, too. I can't imagine being with anyone else. I wouldn't want to! So please...I'm not asking for your permission. I just want your blessing. okay?" I looked up at him with pleading eyes.

("Angelo would never hurt me,") I sent. ("You 'read' him; you know that.")

("Yeah, I do, kiddo. I do. I guess I'm just freaked out about my little girls becoming young women, that's all.") He smiled tenderly. ("So, yeah. You have my blessing.")

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "Thanks, Kris," I whispered. "This really means a lot to me."

"Me too, babe." His voice sounded shaky.

"Um, Kris. Why are you wearing that?" I asked, looking him over skeptically.

"Didn't you hear? You have a guest instructor for your training session." He grinned devilishly.

"Shades of Gray" 10/? this special pretty darned long chapter was brought to you by Me monet@uky.campus.mci.net and my secret-psychic-sister Krista kjscjs@ix.netcom.com.

You know it's going to be a rotten day when...You put your bra on backwards and it fits better.