I decided it was time I stopped reading X-Men fics and started writing one. So here's the first part to a piece that's been cooking for awhile. Now, I am not very good at keeping up with a multi-chapter work. So please, review! Keep my muse alive! -Flo

Disclaimer: I own none of the people, places, or things that you recognize from hereafter!


It was raining the night of October 15. Seven of the younger teachers sat playing a friendly game of poker in the television room while most of the students got ready for bed. No one paid any mind to the ringing buzzer that signaled an arrival at the outer gate. It was most probably USPS.

In her office, Ororo Munroe looked in shock at the screen playing the live camera feed from the front gate.

"Logan!" she called, her voice a bit more shrill than usual. She was surprised he wasn't already at the front door.

"What is it? Another hate group found the address?" the Canadian was confused by the apprehensive look on her face, and moved around her desk to see what she was staring at. As soon as his eyes found the screen, he was bolting down the main hallway.

Logan slammed open the front door, leaving it open as he sprinted through the rain down the long driveway. Outside of the locked gate stood a young woman that had not been on the grounds in three years. A faded green hooded sweatshirt covered the telltale white stripe running through her long brown hair, but Logan would know her anywhere. Charles had told him an ancient Greek legend about soulmates: one soul within two people, so close that they could sense each other inexplicably.

"Marie." Her name from his lips made her look up from her feet. She stayed silent while he opened the gate for her, hugging herself tightly to protect against the chill of the rain.

The dull ache in her eyes was a physical pain in Logan's chest. He let his tough exterior fade behind his concern and wrapped his arms around the small woman. He gently led her back down the driveway towards the mansion. She seemed like she was on autopilot; her legs moved on instinct and her eyes were focused on something entirely separate from reality. At that moment, Logan could feel only despair from the Southern girl.

There was no one in the hallways as Logan walked Marie towards the Professor's old office. He led her past the open TV room, ignoring the wide, blue-eyed stare that followed them. Kitty Pryde dropped her cards to the table, craning her neck to watch the pair turn the corner.

He had respected her wish to be alone when she left. Or rather, he had listened to Ororo when she ordered him not to follow the cured Rogue. He looked back on this order with rage as he observed Marie's complete mental detachment, but seeing the tears in Ororo's eyes he decided not to let the anger loose yet. The now-seasoned principal hurried around her desk to embrace Rogue.

"Oh, Marie," she gently pushed the hood back from Rogue's head.

"Storm?" her voice was tiny and weak. Logan blinked. His voice had had no effect on her, but she woke from her stupor at Ororo's gentle words. "I'm so sorry." She broke down, falling to her knees. The weather witch dropped with her, holding Rogue in a close hug as the younger woman sobbed.

"Tell me what happened, Marie." Ororo saw Logan back into a corner with her peripheral vision, his arms crossed over his chest and a cantankerous look on his face.

"Can I—" she hesitated. "I haven't eaten in two days."

"Of course. Let's get you something to eat."

Rogue ate as daintily as she ever had, taking tiny bites from her meat-loaded sandwich. But she was completely silent otherwise despite the two older mutants staring intently at her. Logan hovered by the door, out of her sight but protecting her nonetheless. He knew she wouldn't want any of her old classmates to see her like this, so he turned anyone he saw away from the door as soon as they approached for a late night snack.

After she had eaten enough to satisfy her appetite, she followed readily enough back to Ororo's office. She sat on the comfortable sofa chair before the fireplace.

"I know it must be difficult for you," Ororo said slowly. "But, I do not have the Professor's power. I cannot tell what is bothering you or why you've come back. You need to tell me what happened so that I can help you."

Rogue stared blankly at the empty fireplace before glancing over the other two occupants of the room.

"On August 20 three years ago, I took the cure…"