"You know what you have to do, Rogue." His eyes were unrelenting and she knew that there would be no convincing him otherwise.

Rogue looked up from her hands. She had been in this position so many times before. She'd sat in the same chair a dozen times as her only father figure lectured her on so many topics. And each time, she felt the same shame. She did not know how he made her feel so guilty about everything.

"I know." Her voice was soft and childlike. Though she would hate to hear that because she hated being looked at as a child. Perhaps it was because the man she loved looked at her as a child, as an innocent little girl that he had to protect.

"Than why haven't you done it yet?" His voice was tender. He could never yell at her. He loved her too much.

"I'm afraid." 'Of so many things'. She thought. But, she had too much pride to let him know just how afraid she was.

"You have every reason to be. But it is something that you know you need to live."

"I can live without it." Her voice grew more confident. She dropped his gaze and stared out of the window and into the gardens.

"No one can live without it. Not even you. Not even Wolverine."

At the mention of his name, her eyes darted towards his again. She knew that the words he spoke were true. But, she was petrified and the man she longed for and the only man that could comfort her was gone. He had left two months ago. Tears threatened to fall as she thought of his retreating frame walking out of the mansion and away from her.

It's okay to be afraid. It's okay to feel the pain of loss. Just let go, RogueShe heard the Professor's voice in her head. He tried all morning not to invade her mind, but he knew of the battle going on inside, and he had to help.

And let go, she did. Rogue cried, for the first time in front of anyone but Logan.

"You can't hold it in anymore, Rogue. You can't deny what you need to live a happy life. Promise me you'll go through with this."

"I don't want to without him."

The Professor sat quiet. He stared at the beautiful woman before him. The one that was like a daughter to him. The one that helped him through the death of Jean, his other daughter. He would do it one last time for her.

"I will use Cerebro for you, but only once. If we cannot locate him, than you must go through it without him."

Rogue looked up at her father with appreciation. "Thank you so much." She stood up and hugged him. She loved this man with every fiber. She walked across the room and to the door. Suddenly, things didn't seem so hard anymore.

"Oh and Rogue," he called as she placed a gloved hand on the door knob.

She looked back at him. Happy birthday.He smiled. And for the first time in two months, she smiled too.

"Thank you." She closed the door behind her.