Alright! This idea just kinda came to me one day when I was watching tv. This all takes place after Apocalypse. Humans still resent mutants, but it's not as bad as it used to be. As long as the mutants aren't harming them, they don't bother the mutants. Mystique is back with the Brotherhood, and Magneto's around. The Acolytes have gone their separate ways, and nobody knows where they areumm yeah, that about sums it up.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own X-men.

Beautiful Soul

Chapter 1: Alone

Dangerous.

That's what they thought she was.

An uncontrollable monster.

Ever since she had lost control, her so called family, the X-men, had been distant. Conversations had stopped mid sentence when she entered the room and eyes full of fear watched her every movement as she passed them in the halls. Even the Professor had begun to show distance. The weekly sessions she had with him soon turned to monthly and then vanished completely. She couldn't bare it.

Then it got worse.

Apocalypse began and a new chain of events began, proving that she was powerful and unstable. Once again she, the Rogue, was feared by all. Sure they called her a hero (she did after all defeat Apocalypse), but those were hallow words. She heard the words they called her, whispering behind her back when they thought she wasn't there. The X-men, her own friends, even the Professor, they were all scared. Scared that she, Rogue, would lose control and attack every one of them. Even Kitty and Kurt no longer wanted to be around her. It was heartbreaking.

The only things that kept her going now were Logan (with his constant support and understanding), gardening with Ororo (the only female who didn't shun her), Beast's latest scientific breakthrough (it was better than sulking in her room), and Danger Room sessions (the only place she could take out her frustrations on the other X-men). Oh yes, the only friends she had now where teachers. As pathetic as it sounded, they were all Rogue had.

Rogue slammed down the latest vampire novel she was reading, the scowl on her face growing worse with each passing moment. The girls were having some kind of get together and their laughter could be heard down the entire wing. Pop music blared, it's happy melody only agitating the growing headache that was beginning to form. Rogue stormed out of her room, ready to murder the occupants of the noisy room, and stopped. It was coming from Jean's room. Jean and Kitty's room. Rogue inched closer, trying to make out what they were saying.

"How horrid Amara!" Came Jean's high pitched squeal, "Alright Kitty, it's your turn. What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you?"
There was a pause.

"That's like tough Jean," Kitty finally said, "But I'd like have to like say it was this one time when Rogue like-"

There was a large gasp.

"Rogue! Oh, that's right, you had to share a room with her. Wow, every day must have been a nightmare."

"Yeah," came Kitty's voice, "Yeah, it like was."

Rogue couldn't take anymore. She turned, running down the empty hallway. Who cared about what Kitty said, even if it was a lie? If she wanted to be Miss Perfect's new pet cat, Rogue saw no problem letting her. Holding back the tears forming in her emerald eyes, Rogue headed down to the Med Lab. Hank would give her some aspirin.

The Med Lab had once been Rogue's least favorite place, but now she seemed to find it comforting for some reason. Perhaps it was because she knew that nobody would ever bother her here. Glancing in the mirror t make sure her expression looked neutral and that he eyes weren't red, Rogue stepped into the Med Lab hoping Hank was there.

"Hello?" she whispered into the still air.

She paused for a moment, listening for any sounds of movement, but heard none.

"Hank? " she said a bit louder, but got no reply.

Frowning, Rogue headed to the cabinet where she knew Hank kept the aspirin. It was locked.

"Now wha' am Ah supposed ta do?"

A few minutes passed as Rogue sat in the man's chair, twirling in circles waiting for him to show up. Bored out of her mind and concentrating on spinning, Rogue did not hear the Med Lab doors open.

"Stripes?"

Rogue stopped the chair immediately and glanced up to find Logan.

"What the Hell are you doing?"

Logan had come to the Med Lab to get some kind of Hybrid that Hank had made at the request of Ororo. He was surprised to find Rogue there, twirling around in a chair nonetheless.

"Stripes, what the hell are you doing?" he had yelled at her. She stopped suddenly, startled.

She shrugged, "Waitin' for Hank. Ya?"

"Picking somethin' up. Why do you need to see Hank?"

She pointed at her head, "Headache. An' before ya ask the cabinet's locked."

Another headache? Logan frowned. She had been getting them a lot lately. He took a good look at Rogue. Something wasn't right. She was hiding something.

"It's locked you say? Well, we'll just have to fix that."

Logan extended his claws on his right hand, placing one claw into the lock. He turned his hand a few times, Rogue watching him curiously. There was a click, and the cabinet opened up.

"There," he replied gruffly, "One unlocked cabinet."

"Ah wish Ah could do tha'."
Logan took out one of the bottles, opening it and handing Rogue two pills. She downed them without any water.

"Thanks."

Logan nodded, "Everything okay?"

He watched Rogue give him a quick smile, "Everythin's fahne. See ya later."

Something wasn't "fine". The little smile had proven it.

Logan sat down in the seat Rogue had previously occupied. He just wished he could help the poor girl. Nothing had gone right for her and all the other kids were too scared to help her. She was being tormented, Logan knew this much. He just couldn't figure out how to help her. He, along with Ororo and Hank, had already tried so many things to help Rogue out of her depression. Yet none of them had worked. She was getting worse too, Logan was sure of it. He had tried to bring it to Xavier's attention, but the man just didn't see it. He assured Logan that if Rogue needed help, he would gladly help her. Too bad Rogue would never go to the Professor now. When he had first come in here, Rogue had seemed out of it, as if her mind was trying to forget something. She had been upset.

Absentmindedly, Logan began to twirl himself in the chair. He just wished there was something, anything, he could do to help.

Rogue rushed as far away from Logan a she could. She knew he had seen through that little act. Why had she smiled? Why hadn't she told him the truth? 'Because there's nothin' anyone can do. He can' make them stop, it's somethin' Ah gotta do alone.'

Alone. Rogue let out a bitter laugh.

She already was alone.

It was her own fault though. She had kept everyone away. Even now she kept Logan, Ororo, and Hank at a distance. She considered herself a danger. Rogue just didn't want to harm the only friends she had left. No, it was better to be alone.

If only she knew it was hurting them all, including herself.

And that's the end of the first chapter! REVIEW! Come on, and let me know what you think! Please!

-Les723