Title: Permission
Author: Malana
Email: Malana@mac.com
Pairing: Dawn/Bobby
Disclaimer: Oh, that I could own any of these wonderful character. But, alas, I don't.
Distribution: Want it? Take it. Just let me know. Spoilers: Post season 5 for Buffy. Pre-movie two for X-men (Both are AU)
A/N: This is a double first for me. My first x-men fic. And my first fic where Willow isn't the main character.
Feedback: Please
For Jinni.

"Hey, Water-girl."

Dawn Summers groaned. "You know Bobby, I really need a cooler nickname than that."

Bobby smiled, "Oh, come on. It's not that different than Iceman."

Dawn shook her head. "No, Iceman is really cool. Water-girl sounds like I should be fetching drinks for a sport's team."

Bobby laughed. "I guess you're right. You better come up with something better soon though. Because it's hard to change a nickname once everyone starts using it. Anyway, have you seen your uncle around?"

Dawn had come to live with her uncle after Buffy had been killed. She had wanted to stay in Sunnydale, but Willow and the rest of the gang had insisted that she leave until they got a new slayer in town. They said the Hellmouth would be too dangerous for her. It was supposed to just be temporary. But then something had happened. Dawn had discovered she had the ability to control the movement of water. Luckily, she had been in exactly the right place to practice her new found skill: Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the very place her uncle worked.

"Uncle Scott? I think he and Aunt Jean went out for dinner. Why, is there something wrong?" Dawn asked.

Bobby couldn't help but feel touched when he saw the concern in his friend's eyes. He knew that Dawn hadn't been very happy when she first came her. And she had been more than a little freaked out when she discovered she was a mutant. But slowly she had adjusted to life here, and Bobby had been a big help with that. So had Rogue and Jubilee. The Professors here were wonderful to. She had grown close to Gambit and her aunt Jean. She also worshiped Professor Xavier. Dawn had confiding in Bobby a few weeks ago that she was really starting to think of the school as home. Bobby was thrilled at the news.

"Nothing's wrong, I just wanted to ask him something."

"Oh, was it anything important?"

Bobby looked at the ground, "Sort of, well I mean...yeah, but it's not an emergency or anything."

Dawn looked at him questioningly, "Can you tell me?"

Bobby could feel himself blush. "I should really talk to your Uncle first, but depending on how that goes, you might find out what it is."

Dawn bounced up and down a little in excitement. Her curiosity had definitely been piqued. "Oh, oh, oh. Now you have to tell me. You can't just say something like that and not tell me."

Bobby shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Dawn took a step closer to him. "Oh, come on. Tell me. If you don't I'll just keep bugging you until you do."

"Nope."

"Does it have anything to do with me?"

"Maybe."

"Oh, come on." Dawn whined playfully. "Just tell me."

Bobby let out a sigh. "All right. If you really want to know." He reached out and gently pulled Dawn closer to him. He leaned down and softly brushed his lips across hers. "I'm going to ask his permission to date you," he whispered into her ear.

Dawn was silent for a moment. Then she swatted him on the back of the head. "What, I can't make the decision on my own?"

Bobby laughed gently, and looked down at the girl he held in his arms. "Dawn, your uncle kill me just by taking off his glasses, I don't think I want to piss him off."

"Well...I guess you're right." Dawn smiled, "But does that mean we don't get to kiss again until you ask him?"

Bobby thought about that for a second. "Hmmm....well I guess what he doesn't know won't hurt him." He smiled pulled Dawn to him again, meeting her smiling mouth with his own.