So. Good evening, everyone. I know I have another story I need to work on, but if I don't publish this first chapter, which is more like a prelude, soon I will go crazy. er.

I would like to thank road trips in Canada and the Red Hot Chili Peppers that inspired me to write this. That and a cold night I spent riding in the bed of a pickup, but we will come to that later in this story. :P

Since Control is still my main priority I don't know how often I will get around to update this, but I already love the ideas invading my head and this will definitely be a longer one. So if you feel like being patient, come along for the ride. The truck will be cramped but we will make do^^

I do not own any of the X-Men, though... Santa, baby, if you're reading this, I'd like to find a Logan under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Or in my stocking on Christmas Morning. Either way, a Logan, puhlease.

Uh, yes. I do not own any of the main characters in this story, Stan Lee and Marvel/Disney own them I guess. Lucky people. The lyrics at the beginning for this chapter are from the song "Road Trippin'" by RHCP, as is the title. Any other lyrics that might appear in this story will be credited in the authors notes of the chapters.

This is not written for monetary gain, all I'm asking for is a review. Or you can favorite or put me on your alert list, that's fine, too.^^

One more thing about the lyrics-They do give hints as to where this story is headed-word for word. Except for the last one but those are the original lyrics and Canada doesn't rhyme.



Road trippin' with my two favorite allies
Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies
It's time to leave this town
It's time to steal away
Let's go get lost
Anywhere in the U.S.A.



Rogue sighs. She has finished all of her classes for today, there isn't much they're doing these days anyway, and there isn't any homework to be done now that they have taken their finals. Boredom is an integral part of her day, has been for the past weeks, really. She still doesn't know what to do once she has officially graduated, since after taking the cure she can hardly stay and become an X-Men. Mutants in general aren't really impressed when a human with weapons tries to stop them. Not that she would want to carry, or even use, guns. She shudders at the thought.

There is nothing on TV, she doesn't feel like reading a book either. Even though she could do both in her room-before Logan left he had smuggled his TV in, telling her to look after it with a smirk. He never liked sitting in the common room to watch whatever sports event perked his interest, nor did he care for movie nights with half of the mansion.

After staring at the black TV screen for a little longer she sighs, gets up and grabs a wool coat and her camera. A walk could just be the right thing, maybe she could find something to photograph. But she doubts it, boredom has seeped into every fiber of her being it seems, so it will take a lot to get rid of it. She sighs again as she steps out of the mansion and heads for the woods, deep in thought. Without noticing it she walks in deeper and deeper, not bothering with the numerous paths, keeping almost parallel to the driveway up to the mansion.

Not even a squirrel keeping her company a good stretch of her way can stop her brooding. In fact, she doesn't even notice it. It sits down on a tree trunk, brushes it's coat and stares at her, probably marveling at the sight of a human this close and wondering why it looks so sad.

She keeps walking, not noticing the low rumble of a motorcycle passing by. She steps over a mossy log as the rumble dies down and she doesn't stop when the motorcycle traces it's way back just to stop at about her height. There is some rustling, a few branches crack and the squirrel finally gives up and flees, panicked at the sound of boots crushing a few twigs, maybe fearing it would meet the same fate.

"What does a guy have to do to get your attention? Burn some trees?"

She whirls around and thrusts herself toward the voice, a little squeal escaping as her mouth pulls into the widest smile she is capable of. Lucky for her nose she manages to slow down a little before she crashes into him, face on his chest. She doesn't want to find out just how hard that adamantium makes him. He grunts as her body slams into his, but he grins nonetheless.

"Easy there kid."

She pulls back, face flushed, smiling up at him.

"You have no idea how horrible it's been around here lately."

"Did they open the torture chamber again to get you lazy kids to do your homework?"

With a snort she puts her hands on her hips, realizing how relieved she feels now that he is here. He has come back, like he has always done, but she had worked herself up about it good nonetheless. It has been a long while this time, after all.

"I have graduated Logan. It's just not official yet, they are still going over the test results."

"Yeah about that, I've heard that you flunked. So it's another year at the mansion for you."

He grins as she shakes her head and huffs. She has been a good student and they both know it.

"Even if I didn't make it I would still leave."

He lifts an eyebrow at that and she fights the urge to grin stupidly. She thought the effect he had on her would wear down with time, but it never had. Quite the opposite, actually.

"So you got plans for after?"

"Not really." she admits sheepishly.

"Don't worry. Smart kid like you will figure something out."

She feels herself blush at this and bites her lip, angry with herself. He just called her kid again, she should be angry. But instead she finds herself thrilled, heartbeat picking up-because he thinks she is smart. Taking a deep breath she tries to calm down, knowing that he can smell the changes in her scent and hear her accelerated heartbeat doesn't help matters much. Thankfully he seems to have been oblivious to her crush so far and she hopes it will stay that way until she somehow finds a way to get over it.

"You comin' back to the mansion or aren't you done practicing the Disney number?"

Confused she looks at him and he smirks.

"That squirrel that followed you around, I was waiting for some cheesy song to start and some birds to flutter over your head."

She laughs.

"With my luck they would have dropped a load on my head and left."

"Your singing can't be that bad."

"Yeah, good to have you back."

"So, are you comin' or are you headed somewhere?"

"Uhm.. I was actually going to take some pictures because I was afraid of dying of boredom, so... I'll come with you."

She sits down on the bike carefully and reaches behind herself to look for something she can hold on to. It takes a moment or two for Logan to realize this and instead of turning the key in the ignition he puts his foot back down and tried to look over his shoulder.

"What exactly are you tryin' to do back there?"

"Holdin' on to something so I won't fall off."

Logan either laughs or chokes and she isn't so sure which she would prefer.

"If you try to hold on to the seat you'll fall off as soon as we start movin'. Here, do it like this."

He reaches back and finds her hands, she bites back a shocked gasp as he roughly tugs at her arms and puts them around his waist.

"For once it'll be nice to come here without one of us in the infirmary." he grumbles and revs up the engine. Now Rogue does gasp as she feels the machine vibrate underneath her threateningly. With anyone else she would have started to scream in panic right about now, but she trusts him. That and she can't believe she has her arms wrapped around him. It is only a short ride up the road to the mansion, but as Logan pulls onto the road she feels the wind on her face, it is pretty cold in spite of the temperatures, so she leans her face against his back, taking in his scent mingled with that of his beat up leather jacket and she smiles.

It is hard to believe that minutes ago she had been so desperately bored and unhappy-now all she can do is smile.

As the engine slows down a few minutes later she looks up just in time to see the mansion towering over them and she feels like protesting-riding a bike isn't quite as bad as she has thought, which might be because of the driver, just might. Quite a few students are outside, enjoying the warmer weather and the sunshine-and right now the picture in front of them.

Flustered she struggles to get off the bike, painfully aware of the way everyone stares at them, but she almost gets her foot caught-she would have fallen face first onto the gravel if it hadn't been for Logan. He grabs her arm just in time and helps her get off without any head injury.

"Are you that determined to make it downstairs?"

"I kinda like the smell of disinfectant in the morning and waking up to bright lights."

"Unless they found a new doctor you are interested in I'd say you should see a shrink."

She feels herself blush at the thoughts invading her head, though the scenery isn't a very realistic one. Logan isn't the type of guy ou can easily picture as doctor. The injured guy checking out the naughty nurse, yes. Her blush deepens a few shades.

His eyebrow shoots up but before he can say anything Storm walks up to them, smiling brightly.

"You two must have a sixth sense. Or you cheat and call her before you show up, Logan!"

Storm laughs, Logan smirks and Rogue blushes again.

Later that night, much later, Logan finds himself wandering the mansion, trying to figure out what to do. It is barely ten and he feels like a cold beer and a cigar. He heads for the kitchen in hopes of finding a cooled refreshment, though he knows it will be in vain.

On his way he passes the common room and isn't at all surprised to find the TV is running-there is only one person in the room. He readjusts his plans and walks in, throwing himself on the couch next to her just in time to see a man walking into a hotel lobby. With a quick glance to his side he sees her eyes are open wide.

"What's on?"

"The Shining. The one with Jack Nicholson."

"Thought you didn't like horror movies?"

"I didn't. I found a new appreciation for them since all those crazy people stopped yelling in my head."

Logan snorts, after all he is one of those crazy people.

"There's some beer in the fridge, the bottom drawer underneath the cauliflower."

"Cauliflower?"

"Nobody touches that."

He walks to the kitchen and really does find a few bottles. After a moment of thought he takes out two bottles and reaches up to get into the cupboard he knows has always been reserved for the unhealthy stuff. She likes chocolate so he grabs a few different bars and a bag of chips. He does find a moment to shake his head at himself. Usually he wouldn't do anything like this. But he hasn't been around in a while and they used to watch TV together a few times before. And he likes spending time with her, it somehow grounds him a little. Makes him relax and not think about the things he doesn't want to think about.

Half an hour later he tries to drown out the movie completely, as well as the other sounds he is painfully aware of. Because he is talking to Marie, their version of a talk. She talks, he hums, grumbles and huffs in the right places. From time to time he adds a word or two here, asks a question there. She gets the chance to talk to someone who understands her, he... Well. He is satisfied with things as they are. The fact that she needs talks like this is all he needs to know.

And he really was curious about her future plans.

"...well and I love camping. I love being outdoors. And I'll be damned if I don't make it to Alaska."

She blushes and he directs his attention towards the TV, giving her a moment to compose herself. He never understands why she blushes in the first place. Every time she does it he wants to shake her. Gently, but still. Just because it is something she wants to do doesn't mean it's stupid.

Well, there are some situations where he doesn't mind her blushing. At least not much.

"I mean, I won't make it but... I still like to think about it, you know? At least I almost made it to the Alaska Highway."

True. It starts about a three day ride from Laughlin City-at least if you're hitchhiking. Under good conditions and if you're a good driver with a decent vehicle... Well, unless you have to stop in places like Edmonton because she will want to see the West Edmonton Mall, that large thing takes up two days on it's own if you want to do it properly...

And thus he starts to plan his very own, special graduation surprise.