The gifts began to arrive about a week ago. Small things - a rose, a thin green and black beaded scarf, a box of candy - that would not have aroused much interest in the other students at the Xavier institute were it not for the identity of the recipient.

Rogue.

Kitty looked at Rogue, hardly able to repress a smile as she sorted through the box of candy for chocolate covered cherries. "Check it our Rogue, you, like, have a secret admirer!"

Rogue huffed, "Whatever. Must have some sort of death wish if the're interested in me." She shoved the candy at Kitty and said "Here, you can have 'em. Ah don't like candy that much anyway."

Kitty grinned and popped a caramel in her mouth. "Who do you think it is? Anyone I know?" Rogue groaned inwardly. Kitty was like a dog with a bone. "Ah'm not sure," Rogue said, annoyed, "an Ah don't care either. Ah'm the wrong girl to play games with."

Kitty frowned, "It couldn't be any of the boys from here. None of them could be this romantic." She selected a round candy and took a bite. "Ughhh, gross!" Rogue smiled slightly as Kitty ran to the bathroom to spit out the offending orange crème.

Her secret admirer had been the main topic discussion lately, and she was annoyed that the series of gifts was drawing attention her way. Wolverine and the Professor were puzzled by the ability of this secret admirer to bypass the schools tight security when delivering the gifts. Storm had not said much about the gifts other than a comment that the brand of candy she received was expensive and French. Most of the female students were jealous and the boys were all amazed that someone would want Rogue.

Rogues' mutant ability made it impossible for her to make skin-to-skin contact with anyone. She could never touch, never kiss, and never have a normal relationship. Though with the best of intentions, was bringing even more attention to her sad situation. Who would want the girl with toxic skin?

He looked at a line of cuddly stuffed animals and frowned. None of these would do. She wasn't the kind of girl that would want 'cute'. He could see that the first time he saw her. It had to be something different. She had been at this store a few days ago, on this aisle looking at something, but what?

The aisle was packed with dolls and toys for girls of all ages. Just as he was about to give up he noticed, tucked in the back corner of the aisle, a row of black boxes. Jackpot!

The box said 'Living Dead Dolls'. He looked them over, picking up one after the other to find the perfect doll for her. It had to one that spoke to him. Then he saw it. 'Jezebel'. He scanned the poem on the box flap and smirked. Perfect.

Kurt teleported into Rogue's her room and held out a box wrapped in black tissue paper with a red ribbon. "Rogue, your Secret Admirer has struck again!"

"Go on, Rogue, open it!! I am dying to see vat it is!" Kurt thrust the box into her lap and sat on the end of her bed. She shook her head and looked at the fuzzy blue boy. "Why do you care, Kurt? This is just some stupid joke."

Kurt smiled, "Sister dear, zis is huge!! Someone out zhere is interested in you and each gift is another clue to solve the mystery of your secret admirer." He grinned and pointed to the box. "Open it now, Rogue. I'm dying!"

With a deep sigh Rogue started to tear the paper. "All right. But Ah'm only doing this for you. Not because I want to or because I care." That was a lie. She was excited that another gift had been delivered, but that joy was tinged with her own self-loathing. How could she enjoy this moment knowing that when her secret admirer was at best ignorant of her power, or at worst playing a cruel joke on her? Frustrated and growing madder by the second she tossed some of the paper on the floor and was about to do the same with the gift when she saw what it was.

"Oh mah God!" She shook her head and opened the front flap. "It is a Living Dead Doll!" She whispered. Her collection of Living Dead Dolls was famous. Among the preppy students in the school they were the creepy collection of weird dolls that Rogue kept and it was all the more reason to stay away from her room. "How in the world would they know Ah wanted this one? Ah don't understand," Rogue said more to herself than to Kurt with a small smile, "this is the one Ah was lookin' at last week!"

"Jezebel, hummmm." Kurt said. "They seem to know you vell, ja?"

Rogue scowled at Kurt. "Not funny fuzzy man!"

Kurt grinned, 'Vait till the others find out!" He teleported off her bed and into the common room to tell the others about her latest gift.

This was getting strange. It was almost as if the person knew her. She stood and started to pick up the discarded wrapping when she noticed something fall on the floor.

A playing card. Rogue gasped and was instantly reminded of the mysterious Acolyte. He was good looking, but she did not fully trust her memory of him. He had used some sort of power on her and turned her to an instant bowl of mush. She never flirted, but she did with him. It was hard to forget his smile, the way he looked at her, those eyes.

Her pulse raced as she flipped the card.

The Queen of Hearts.