Kate glanced over at the clock hanging in her closet. Gawain should be here any minute to take her out on the town. Well out to the Christmas Charity Gala at the Met. She hated going to these things alone so when he had offered the last time they went out for coffee she had jumped at the chance. She just hoped to god that he didn’t hate it. These things had a way of being boring. It really was the person that you are with that made if fun. Whenever she went with Albert he would whisper jokes in her ears and tell her funny things about the other patrons that would make her smile and laugh all night long. But he knew her well enough and knew this world well enough to do so. Gawain didn’t.

She took a deep breath as she put the finishing touches on her makeup and checked her hair for any fly aways. For some reason whenever she went out without Albert perfection was a must. It was as if him being there made her only need to be just right. His presence had this way of calming her every time. As she put on her lipstick she heard the doorbell chime and the voice of her roommate calling to tell her she would get it. As if the bells were a queue, Kate’s expression turned to a smile in an instant. Yes Albert calmed her down and she loved him, but Gawain was one of her favorite people in the world. He and she had been friends for years and in many ways he was her best friend. Her family. Yes they didn’t share everything the way her and Hanna did, but she knew he would always be there to make her laugh and make her smile. So, she couldn’t’ help but be made happy by even the thought of his presence.

The last time Mirror had been at a formal event, it was a wedding and she managed to piss off Evelyn's parents with some PDA. The time before that, it was a mission with Sam, and she decided she hated heels forever.

But this time, Princess was back in town, and there was really no way of saying no to her.

Gawain rang the doorbell and adjusted his tie. He cleaned up well for a former street rat, even though the suit was borrowed from Sam's pre-buff phase. It was cold outside, even for New York in winter, and he could only hope the gala would be somewhere warm.

"Hello Princess" he grinned when Kate opened the door, and kissed her knuckles with a flourish "The pumpkin carriage is stuck in traffic, but I managed to salvage the mice. Ready to go?"

It was only half a joke. Except, it wasn't the princess that had to get out before midnight.

>>>>>Hello Princess. The pumpkin carriage is stuck in traffic, but I managed to salvage the mice. Ready to go?

Kate giggled as he kissed her hand, “I just need to put on my dress and then we can go.” She moved to let him come in as a squeal was heard from the kitchen area.

Unlike Kate, her roommate Hanna had no plans to go anywhere so she was dressed in just yoga pants and a tank top that was cut a little too low. Her wavy blonde hair was chucked up on her head in a messy bun and her face was bare of makeup (not that it really needed it to begin with). It was obvious to anyone that Hanna really didn’t care about trying. She was a free spirit after all. She literally slid across the hardwood floor and landed right next to Gawain. “Well aren’t you handsome.” Hanna took Gawain by the arm and lead him to the couch forcing him to sit, “Kate, honey I got this. Go get dressed.”

Kate looked at the pair with a combination of worry and amusement, “Hanna be nice.” She turned to leave without another word. Leaving Gawain to the wolf.

“Soooooooo. I am Kate’s other bestie Hanna.” Hanna sat next to the man so close that she was practically sitting in his lap, “You’re cute. I mean not prince charming but still cute.” She looked Gawain up and down as she judged every morsel of him, “I do not know how Kate has resisted getting with all this for so long. Hmmm”

Kate could hear the conversation echoing through the open floor plan that was her apartment and into her room as she put on the last of her jewelry and checked herself in the mirror one more time. She was happy that Gawain had gone with all black so it didn’t matter what color she wore. Today she had chosen a beautiful yellow dress. Her hair was pulled up into a loose updo and her jewelry was understated at best. The entire ensemble was all very elegant and fun, just like Kate. She picked up her diamond clutch and marched out of her room looking down at the pair on the couch with a laugh before descending to the first floor of the penthouse apartment. “Are you ready to go?”

>>“I just need to put on my dress and then we can go.”

"Yeah s--- ure?" before he could react properly, Gawain was ushered into the apartment by a blonde force of nature who looked like she was equally likely to eat him or to jump him.

>>“Well aren’t you handsome. Kate, honey I got this. Go get dressed.”

"You got wh..."

>>“Soooooooo. I am Kate’s other bestie Hanna. You’re cute. I mean not prince charming but still cute. I do not know how Kate has resisted getting with all this for so long. Hmmm”

They young knight's eyes went wide as saucers, part indignation (not prince?) and part worry. Seriously where did Kate even pick up this chick?

"I have a girlf..." he started feebly, squirming under the appreciative gaze, when Kate showed again, dressed like a movie star.

>>“Are you ready to go?”

"Yes please." he practically catapulted out of the chair, dodging around Hanna and joining Kate at the door to help her coat on. "We don't wanna be late do we..."

>>>Yes please. We don't wanna be late do we...

Kate smiled, chuckling as he helped her into her cape like coat. “No we don’t.” She had already called David and he should already be downstairs to take them to the Met. Tonight’s Charity gala was for starving children and Kate had plans on making a very large donation as soon as they walked through the door.

With the door closed behind them Kate turned to look at her knight in shining armor. It was funny how Gawain had always been that for her, even going as far as to actually save her life. “Don’t mind Hanna. She is a little crazy yes but she saved me in Rome. She is the one that found me falling apart in that hotel room and picked me up and showed me things could get better.” Kate sighed fondly, “She is really the kindest soul you will ever find. All be it a little eccentric.”

As they came downstairs David pulled open the door and tipped his hat to the familiar face of Gawain Morris. “Nice to see you sir. It’s been a while.” He offered his hand as always to help Kate into the car before jogging around it and driving off.

>>“Don’t mind Hanna. She is a little crazy yes but she saved me in Rome. She is the one that found me falling apart in that hotel room and picked me up and showed me things could get better. She is really the kindest soul you will ever find. All be it a little eccentric.”

"Nothin' wrong with that" Gawain smirked as the door closed behind them. Hanna seemed like a nice girl. Slightly scary, but ultimately nice. And the gender-shifter was really in no place to judge.

>>"Nice to see you sir. It’s been a while.”

"Nice to see you too. And please don't call me sir when I am not carrying a sword" he grinned at Daniel as he helped Kate into the car and climbed in after her.

"I'm just glad it's a Gawain day. Wouldn't want to make too big of an impression on your return to high society" he chuckled.

>>>>>I'm just glad it's a Gawain day. Wouldn't want to make too big of an impression on your return to high society.

Kate chuckled as the car started and they began to navigate the streets of Manhattan. “About that. I have been back in society for a bit. Over the Summer Albert pulled me into quite a few events throughout Europe. It wouldn’t surprise me if people asked about him.” Kate took Gawain’s hand in hers. “Someday you must meet him. It’s been two years and neither you or Sam has ever seen his face.”

>>“About that. I have been back in society for a bit. Over the Summer Albert pulled me into quite a few events throughout Europe. It wouldn’t surprise me if people asked about him. Someday you must meet him. It’s been two years and neither you or Sam has ever seen his face.”

"Oh I definitely wanna see his face" Gawain smirked the way an older brother would. That face was an important part. Especially if it needed punching later on.

"So, I should be prepared that people will assume I'm him?" he chuckled "Talkin' about that, why is he not your date tonight? Not that I'm complaining."

>>>>>Oh I definitely wanna see his face

Kate rolled her eyes knowing that tone. Gawain wanted the opportunity to judge her boyfriend and find out what he was worth. However, Kate was far from worried. Albie was kind and good and sweet and caring and handsome and so many other things that would make anyone love him.


>>>>>So, I should be prepared that people will assume I'm him? Talkin' about that, why is he not your date tonight? Not that I'm complaining.

Kate sighed and looked out the window. “No you aren’t going to be mistaken for him. And he is a bit busy. He has to spend the month in Monaco with his family and making appearances in Europe. He is hoping that he can come back to New York for New Years. So, we may spend it together. No promises though.”

>>“No you aren’t going to be mistaken for him. And he is a bit busy. He has to spend the month in Monaco with his family and making appearances in Europe. He is hoping that he can come back to New York for New Years. So, we may spend it together. No promises though.”

"All right then" Gawain smiled. He sat back and enjoyed not being on a mission for once, or not being the driver for that matter. Formal events made him nervous, but Kate was a friend, and he was assured there would be free food.

He blinked in surprise though when they pulled up to the Met.

"Oh" he said as he helped Kate out "Didn't realize we were coming here. My girlfriend Evelyn works at the Met."

>>>>>Oh. Didn't realize we were coming here. My girlfriend Evelyn works at the Met.

Kate took his hand as they got out of the car and she was met with flash bulbs. “Oh that is wonderful. What does she do? Maybe she will be here?” Kate wasn’t sure if she was a member of the guest services staff or if she worked for the actual museum. It was after all the Met and they did invite their employees to events.

Kate kissed Gawain’s cheek as she took his arm and they started walking into the building. Only stopping for a second to stand for the photo op and smile for the cameras.

The entire museum was decked out for Christmas as they walked in and were escorted to the hall where the actual gala was being helped. A few people stopped the pair as they walked past and Kate gave them a quick hello as they moved further and further into the room.

“Katherine.”

Kate turned to see the face of the museum’s curator and smiled kindly at the older woman. “Madam Curator it is so lovely to see you.”

“No Prince Albert tonight?” She said taking in Gawain.

“No he is away on business so my very good friend Gawain game in for the rescue.”

“Wonderful.” She seemed to look past them and wave at someone else, “If you will excuse me.”

Kate looked at Gawain as the curator left. “I’m sorry if this is boring. Albie always has a way of making it fun. It is going to be a lot of hello how are yous. Are you okay with that?” She felt bad not really telling Gawain what he was getting into but she was just so relived to not be going alone it hadn’t occurred to her to say anything.

>>“Oh that is wonderful. What does she do? Maybe she will be here?”

Gawain realized that he had not even thought about that possibility. Granted, he didn't know the ball was going to happen at the Met, but still, he felt like he should have known if Evelyn was going to an event like this.

He introduced himself politely to the Curator before they mingled on. Kate was much more in her element than him. Glancing around he could tell that some guests were looking at him with mild curiosity, or even recognition.

Damn Maxine and Wolf News.

>>“I’m sorry if this is boring. Albie always has a way of making it fun. It is going to be a lot of hello how are yous. Are you okay with that?”

"Totally" he smirked, lifting two champagne glasses off a nearby tray with one smooth movement, and handing one to her "I'm not sure about fun, but I think we are well on our way to making it scandalous. Lead the way, Princess."

>>>>>Totally. I'm not sure about fun, but I think we are well on our way to making it scandalous. Lead the way, Princess.

Kate looked at Gawain with a laugh. She released his arm to stand in front of him which still having his right hand in hers. “What do you mean scandalous? What would be so scandalous?” She looked up at him knowing that there were quite a few things that could be scandalous around. Like the fact that the girlfriend of one of Alfred Grimaldi was at a party with another man. However she wasn’t’ going to let them just infer and she was going to do all she could to introduce Gawain around. Show him her world for once.

>>“What do you mean scandalous? What would be so scandalous?”

"Well, you being here without your fancy boyfriend escorted by an X-man who's been on the tabloids for... various reasons." he chuckled, sipping champagne. They were definitely getting some looks. And he definitely did not care.

"So, what is this event about anyway? Should I be BSing my way through a specific topic, or is it okay if I am just charming in general?"

>>>>> So, what is this event about anyway? Should I be BSing my way through a specific topic, or is it okay if I am just charming in general?

“You can just be your normal charming self. And honestly I usually get looks for my own high profile mutantness.” Kate sipped her own champagne still holding his hand and looking around the room. “However I think it will be my job tonight to be Albert. He is the one that always makes me laugh by making funny comments about the people around us.” She pointed with the hand that was holding her glass at a woman behind Gawain, “Like that is Lady Gray. She’s English like me and moved to the city when she got divorced. She has a puppy named Fredrick, whom she treats like a son. More so then she does her only son.” Kate smiled at Gawain hoping he would find it funny. She remembered when Albert had told her that one in London and she had to try not to burst out in giggles because they had been talking to the woman at the time. She had actually seen Kate’s distress and asked her if she was alright.