This story is in progress.

Okay, I admit it -- this has turned into a Really Long Story. The purpose of these notes is to give potential new readers an idea of whether or not they might like this story, without having to commit a whole lot of downloading/reading time up front. (Efforts have been made to be non-explicit, to avoid ruining the story for those who hate spoilers.) I'll try to send it out often enough to be helpful, but not so often as to be annoying! Deal?

Part 1 -- The Ticket
They meet.... (This would be Hank McCoy and a romance novelist named Cassie, in New York on business.)

Part 2 -- Talking to Strangers
...and get acquainted.

Part 3 -- Inching Up to the Brink
Hank asks Cassie out for dinner and dancing, and reads a puzzling fragment from her latest book.

Part 4 -- Falling In Slow Motion
More conversation, on a slightly more personal level. What do Hank and Steven Wright have in common?

Part 5 -- At Silver's
Their evening of fun is cut short because of an attempted assault by a mutant-phobic punk.

Part 6 -- Specters of the Past (explicit)
The blossoming relationship is threatened by Cassie's fear of physical intimacy.

Part 7 -- The Morning After (explicit)
Unwilling to end their time together any sooner than he has to, Hank invites Cassie home for lunch. Speculation from his teammates begins.

Part 8 -- Public Appearances
Hank shows Cassie his image inducer, and they discuss the pros and cons of his wearing it.

Part 9 -- First Impressions
The professor's reaction to Hank's new friend is somewhat less than enthusiastic.

Part 10 -- Dangerous Dreams
The X-men deal with an anti-mutant riot in the Danger Room, and Cassie has to deal with what this tells her about Hank's life.

Part 11 -- Picking Winners
Attending an awards ceremony with Cassie, Hank finds more evidence that the Friends of Humanity are still a minority.

Part 12 -- Hank's Bad Day
One of Those Days for poor Hank. It includes kitchen fires, uncooperative machinery, and a highly personal chat with Professor Xavier.

Part 13 -- Happy Landings
Cassie gets to see the image inducer in action. Hank gets to see the infamous Denver International Airport.

Part 14 -- Meeting the Folks
Dinner with Cassie's parents at Casa Bonita, a Unique Dining Experience in more ways than one.

Part 15 -- Beware of the Cat
Hank meets Cassie's pet -- 'nuff said!

Part 16 -- Plans and Possibilities
Hank learns more details about Cassie's past, which leads to tentative discussions of their future.

Part 17 -- Taking Chances
A near tragedy causes Cassie to reassess her concerns about getting serious.

Part 18 -- Room Service and Other Comforts
Postponing their camping trip for a day, Hank and Cassie try to relax at a nice motel.

Part 19 -- The Road Less Traveled By
Hank muses on his muddled feelings, after a call back to the mansion.

Part 20 -- Shadows in the Starlight
A little communing with Nature puts things in perspective.

Part 21 -- Grand Lake
You can't go home from vacation without presents! But the fun is cut short by unpleasant news when Cassie calls home.

Part 22 -- Life in the Breakdown Lane
Hank and Cassie are stuck with a flat and no jack, until a carload of strange folk stop to help.

Part 23 -- Family Matters
Hank meets Cassie's grandmother, cousin and oldest friend, and sees a new side of his Western gal.

Part 24 -- Homeward Bound
One last, strange shopping event, which segues into Rogue and Bobby meeting the returning couple at the airport. Bobby receives a traditional squelching.

Part 25 -- Simple Gifts
Finding a present to suit someone's personality is often tough. When it's the whole X-team....

Part 26 -- Girl Talk
In which Hank is compared with Fabio, and general female bonding occurs.

Part 27 -- Comforts of Home
Hank settles back into his lab routine. Bishop gets clued in on the facts about PMS.

Part 28 -- Initiation
To try to settle some of his doubts, Xavier has an after-dinner chat with Hank and Cassie.

Part 29 -- Open Secrets
Rogue takes Cassie for a little aerial spin, and Bobby and Sam help Cassie get her feet on the ground.

Part 30 -- Good Intentions
Bobby tells Storm and Jean his guess about why Cassie's so shy around strangers.

Part 31 -- Confrontations
Hank, Cassie and several of the X-men go to Silver's for fun, but instead encounter difficulties.

Part 32 -- Every Stop is a Place to Start
Cassie decides she needs to try harder to fit in. Hank tries to help with a new Danger Room workout. Gambit confronts Rogue about her hostile attitude.

Part 33 -- Whispers Out of the Past
An unexpected visitor named Joseph shows up, creating quite a stir.

Part 34 -- Judgement Calls
Bishop doesn't trust Cassie. Cassie's worried she's embarrassing Hank. Joseph worries everyone.

Part 35 -- Crosscurrents and Riptides
Hank argues with Xavier about Cassie. Hank calls his folks and Cassie hears from her agent.

Part 36 -- Past Tensions, Future Trials
All from Joseph's POV, ending in his learning the truth about his amnesia.

Part 37 -- High Spirits at Muir Island
Hank takes Cassie along when he's asked to help repair the damage Nate did, only to find a mystery in progress. Could it really be a poltergeist?

Part 38 -- Growing Things
The Gen X students come for check-ups, and Xavier has a brilliant idea about a useful job for Cassie.

Part 39 -- The Best Defense
An innocent visit to the Danger Room turns into a nightmare for Cassie.

Part 40 -- Prelude
Uh-oh! X-Force is dropping by for a visit! Three teams at once strains even the X-mansion's resources