The black limo pulled up to the gate at Xavier's Sister School and came to a smooth stop right in front of the speaker box. The window rolled down and the driver held a quick conversation with whoever was monitoring the gate. In a matter of moments the gate slowly swung open, allowing the limo to enter.

Out on the lawn, various students watched with obvious curiosity as the impressive vehicle made its way up to the front door. They're minds were racing as they each came up with more and more fantastic tales about who it was that might be visiting the school. Perhaps the President? A foreign dignitary? Charles Xavier himself?

After parking in front of the mansion stairs, the chauffeur got out and walked around the vehicle to open the rear door. The man that stepped out of the rear of the vehicle was wearing black dress shoes, black dress socks, charcoal gray slacks, a black knit polo shirt, and white blazer. Over top of the white blazer he wore a black winter overcoat for warmth. As always the man's sunglasses were firmly over his eyes as he walked toward the front door of the mansion with a single, long-stem red rose held in his right hand.

"It's just Luke." One of the kids spoke up, obviously disappointed. No longer curious, the children returned to their various winter activities as the man made his way up to the front door and knocked. The chauffeur had said that they were here to pick up Miss Raina, so it was quite likely that she would have been told that someone was here to get her. A slight smile was on Luke's lips as he waited patiently for the door to open so that he could whisk Raina away for their special Paris trip.

Raina had anxiously been waiting by the door at the end of the long mirrored hall for nearly 45 minutes. It wasn't that her ride wait late rather that Raina got ready too earily and couldn't wait. Her long red hair had been cut the day before. She was excited to show it to Luke. Since the camps she hadn't cut her hair for fear of reminding herself of how she looked back then- like someone from a concentration camp. She had wearily allowed her hair to grow out past her shoulders. Now it was a beautiful short inverted bob style ending just below her chin. It was still a gleaming red but the style seemed to suit her better. It made her look healthier, framed her face nicely, and Raina knew it was a much better style to deal with when she got wet.

The hair was neatly combed and she wore a tiny green ribbon in a small folded bow on the left side just above her ear. In her ears she wore emerald green earings which complemented her emerald green dress. She was also wearing her pearls from Luke. Raina had arrived at the mansion as such a tomboy but as she grew up she enjoyed dressing up when she got the chance. She had a nice black dress jacket wrapped around her and wore black leather gloves. At her side with two small bags. One a carry on with emergency items for on the plane, the other her suitcase. She'd stuck her nice new digital camera in hoping to snap a few shots of Luke and Paris.

She packed lightly and instead saved a bit of money and asked for her vacation pay so she could buy Paris clothing. It would be fun to come home with a new wardrobe! So tucked inside her suitcase was a soft duffle bag to use the ride home.

Finally she saw the headlights of a car flashing on the snow in the driveway of the mansion. She leapt into her nice winter boots and before anyone could even tell her it was actually Luke who had arrived and not anyone else like the past 3 times she'd run out- Raina made a break for it.

Dashing outside she spotted Luke infront of a limo. A few students were chatting with the driver and checking out the vehicle and no one seemed that interested in Luke. When she got to Luke she dropped her bags in the snow and leapt with her arms oustretch. Upon impact she latched her arms around his neck and planted a kiss firmly on his lips. She broke away with a visable gasp of air and gave him a silly grin. Her cheeks were red from her feelings and the cold. Some of the children instantly made gagging sounds while others went "ohhh" Raina just gave Luke a big goofy grin.

"I missed you." she beamed. "I'm allll ready. I'm so excited!"

The moment had been all planned out in Luke's mind. He would be standing there as the door opened to Raina's beautiful face. He would offer her the rose and with a sweep of his arm invite the mademoiselle to join him on their trip to Paris. Luke had planned it out to every detail but as his arms wrapped around her waist, her warms wrapped around his neck, and their lips pressed together, he completely forgot the plan. All that mattered instead was the moment... here... in the snow... with Raina in his arms.

"I missed you. I'm allll ready. I'm so excited!" Raina said with a big smile on her face as she finally drew away from the kiss.

Luke chuckled softly and allowed his arms around her waist to loosen slightly while not actually releasing her. "I missed you to, Beautiful." Luke replied, his voice a touch more husky than usual after the kiss they had just shared, "I hope you're ready to ride in style. Since it's a business trip I get to travel in the fancy vehicles."

Leaning back down, Luke gave Raina a slow, lingering kiss before releasing his grasp around her waist and turning to toward where her bags were now sitting in the snow. "You're stuff is getting wet." Luke said with a grin as he walked over and picked up the bags, "Any other bags?"

Raina blushed even more when Luke said she was beautiful. 'I didn't expect a limo." she giggled. "I was expecting a security van!" she grinned even more as he leaned in for a lingering kiss

. "But I am ready and this is all i've got. I saved some money and I figure I'll buy a few Paris fashions while I'm down there. " she explained. "Working around my mutation clothing wise has started to give me an eye for fashion. Never thought I'd say that."

It was true that Raina hadn't been much for fashion... or dresses previously. But dresses stayed on and didn't rip generally when she went mermaid. If she bought expensives ones they usually lasted when they got wet too. She picked up her bags. "shoot." she didn't mean to drop them like that. The she turned and waved to the few mutants outside. "See ya later!" she called getting into the limo and looking to Luke. This was going to be one of the most exciting things she'd ever done. This time... she was prepared.

As soon as both adults were seated comfortably, the limo pulled away from the mansion doors and began to make it way back out to the gate, and the road beyond it.

"Want anything to drink on the way?" Luke asked as he relaxed against the well cushioned limo seats, "The fridge is stocked with bottled water, orange juice, and cranberry juice I do believe."

Normally a limo like this would be stocked with alcoholic beverages but he had purposely requested more casual and breakfasty drinks. He still had it made up in his mind that any decisions that were made would be made without a cloud of alcohol filling either his mind or Raina's. After getting a water for himself and whatever, if anything, that Raina wanted, Luke returned to his seat next to the beautiful woman.

"Even though you brought your own money, I hope you won't mind if I buy an item or two for you. It's not every day a guy gets to take his girlfriend to Paris and so I better make sure this is a memorable trip." Luke said with a slight smile on his face.

Part of Luke still couldn't believe that Raina had actually said yes. Sure he knew that they had officially declared themselves boyfriend and girlfriend, but that didn't mean she would be ready to take trips out of the country with him. The fact that she had said yes made him wonder what else she would say yes to, but that was a question for another time. For now he was going to focus on just enjoying this private time he had with Raina. To much of his time in Paris would be taken up with meetings, but he was going to make sure that he kept all of his evening clear for time with just her. Dinner parties just didn't hold a candle to Raina.

"Are you planning on doing a lot of site seeing along with your shopping?"

"Well..." started Raina doing her best to sound a little sultry in a teasing way. "if you're insisting on buying me something..." she said walking her fingers playfully up his arm to his face "Id just love some new Paris lingere." she curled her finger through his hair at the last part. This was the absolute best attempt that Raina could muster to send a signal to Luke. She wasn't exactly sure how consenting adults made plans for this type of thing.... but reading a few harlequin romance novels (though she'd never admit it) might have helped. She grinned playfully at him. "You didn't even say a thing about my hair." she took his hand and pulled it to her hair so he could feel how short it was. "though the fact you can't see might get you off the hook." she teased. "except your rather good at feelings things as I understand it." ok... that might have crossed the line into cheesiness and since she wasnt feeling great about how that last part hung in the air she jumped on the topic change trying to keep her cool.

"Are you planning on doing a lot of site seeing along with your shopping?"

"That depends how much time you're away." she said honestly. "There's a lot I'd like to see... and a lot I'd like to do... but a lot of it I'd like with you." Raina was much cuter when she was sending signals without even realizing it. She'd said that last part totally innocently meaning she'd like to shop and site see with Luke. But once she said it she realized how seductive it sounded and tried very hard to look like that was her plan all along.

That was Raina, just a little sex kitten. or something.

Luke could feel himself flushing slightly as the heat rose up his arm and into his neck at the exact same pace as Raina's fingers 'walked' their way up. "She wants me to buy her lingerie? Is she kidding or does she really want me to?" It was both a scary and exciting thought and Luke had to struggle to keep from just allowing his imagination to put her in all kinds of garments that she would probably yell at him for even thinking about.

"You didn't even say a thing about my hair." Raina teased, yanking him from his internal conversation as she took his hand and lifted it up to her now shorter hair, "Though the fact you can't see might get you off the hook. Except your rather good at feelings things as I understand it."

Luke's mind was still whirling as he tried to come up with the best response to his girlfriend's rather forward statements. "Your hair looks beautiful Raina... the style fits you."

"That depends how much time you're away. There's a lot I'd like to see... and a lot I'd like to do... but a lot of it I'd like with you."

Finally Luke's mind had caught up and he decided that it was best to respond in kind. Maybe he could catch this feisty young woman off guard just a touch and make her blush. Not that he'd be able to really tell if he was successful, but it was always fun to try.

"You're quite right." Luke spoke softly, his voice intentionally a little more husky than usual, "My sense of touch is quite good so I'll be glad to put it to use finding some of the finest silk lingerie to caress your beautiful skin." Allowing his hand to brush through her hair, without messing up the bow, he playfully twirled one strand around his finger as he looked into her face. He had to push it just a little farther to make sure that his own point was coming across. Slowly he lifted his free hand and gently placed it on Raina's leg... just a tad higher than was really proper. "And after I make those purchases there will be plenty of things for us to do... just the two of us... with no one else around... together."

"That's gotta earn a blush, right? Wish I could know for sure." Luke thought with an internal grin, "Let's see just how forward Miss Raina really wants to be."

Raina's face didn't just blush as Luke's hand caressed her leg just a little higher than expected. Her entire body blushed and stayed hot. He'd feel the heat from her legs and face instantly. Though she wasn't red she felt a little light headed for a moment. She hadnn't considere dhim fighting fire with fire and now her stomach was in knots of anticipation. She'd never really had feelings like this before and they were a little overhwelming and starting to take control. She considered suggesting they miss their flight and catch a later one for a chance to sneak back to his apartment.... but with the way things were headed they'd never get to Paris.

It was then that the Limo came to a stop at the airport. Momentarily knocked back into reality Raina realized she'd never even taken Luke up on his drink offer. She just sat there feeling the inestisty of the atmosphere in the car wanting to linger to it longer when the driver cleared his throat, tapped the privacy glass and announced they were here. She stared across at Luke with a million things going through her head.

"We're here." she mirrored in a slightly raspier tone then she was used to

(Continued In "Destination Paris: The Airport")