Authors Note: Yes, it's me again...I know I shouldn't be working on yet another story but the evil plot bunny just wouldn't leave me alone. So don't worry, I am still working on both of my other stories and they will be updated as soon as possible. But, more about what you have currently chosen to read. This is a teaser, or you should read it as such, and if you (my wonderful readers) have a positive response to the story then it will continue. I live off of reviews and they really do speed up the time between updates because I feel guilty so I write. Anyway...I will stop my mindless babbleing and let you read.

Disclaimer: I want it to be mine, I pray for it to be mine, but it's not. X-Men belongs to Marvel and bunches of other peole, I am just playing in the vast sandbox that is the Evolution universe...

She had been at Xaiver's Institute for Gifted Youngsters for a week. Seven days, it was a short amount of time and for that, the girl was glad. It wasn't hard to avoid everyone when they were still recovering from Apocalypse and the very unfortunate death of Remy LeBeau. Yes, Remy was dead, six feet in the ground, gone forever. Laura couldn't say she was upset about it, she had known him for a day. He fought in the battle and then had come back, Rogue had loved him (even Laura had seen that) and he returned that love, and then he went for a ride. Everyone had heard the fight him and Rogue had that morning, had heard him say "I love you Chere, I just need some time," and then the bike pulling away.

Remy had never come back. Rogue had cried most of that night and Laura knew she had only left her room three times since. Logan hovered near the girl's hall most the day and was the only one to see Laura sneaking around, today, he stopped her. "Laura, come here." He called.

The girl had to remember that was her name. She trotted over. "What?" she half growled.

Logan gave a low growl but said nothing about her tone. "Danger Room session at four. Be there and tell Rogue." He indicated the door and smirked before heading down the stairs.

Dark green eyes narrowed in anger. It was already 3:30 and Laura had no wish to try to talk to Rogue. If the hyper-active valley girl couldn't get the damned goth to open the door Laura knew it was a lost cause for her to even attempt. Deciding she better try anyway, the trained assassin stalked to the door with the Guns n Roses poster and banged three times. "Go ahway!" came the answer.

A moments pause before, BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Ah said, go ahway!" yelled the southern teen.

Laura rolled her eyes. "No." she answered.

There was a sniff and some rustling that might have been someone standing. Sure enough, footsteps followed and there was a thud from the other side of the door, a pillow hitting it. "Get ahway from mah door X23." Rogue's voice was cold and dangerous.

"Logan says you have to be at the Danger Room session at four." Laura growled and stalked back to her room, slammed the door as hard as she could and kicked the wall.

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In the main foyer Logan grinned. He heard Laura's foot go through the wall and the low snarl that followed. Using his clone had gotten the desired result, Rogue had spoken and interacted. A door was opening upstairs and Logan focused on the noise. Rogue was out of her room. It had to be her; the foot steps were heavier than Laura's and not as erratic as the pace of an assassin. Everything seemed to freeze as he waited to hear what she'd do. "Tell Logan ah ain't goin to any sessions rahght now." the venomous voice drifted to his ears.

Logan tensed. If he knew Laura, which he had no illusions about knowing her well, she'd lash out. Not a second later there was a thud. "Ah hate ya. Ya're the saddest, most worthless, second rhate…" Rogue's voice was yelling even as Logan bounded up the stairs.

Sknit! Grrr! CRASH! Logan barreled into Laura as she flew threw the air at Rogue. "Get ahold of yourself kid." He whispered in her noticeably small ears.

Laura had fury in her eyes and beneath that was the hurt. For a few seconds she struggled against the hold but calmed and turned her head away from Rogue. The southerner was standing against the opposite wall, eyes glued on Laura, pale hand on her heaving chest. "Get dressed and downstairs before I let her up Stripes." Logan said, trying to keep his voice even for Laura's sake.

Only Logan really knew what she had been threw. The Professor hadn't looked into her mind, the girl wouldn't let him. Instead, they had formed an agreement that if she ever got out of hand Logan could restrain her and if it happened repeatedly Xaiver would be able to look in her mind with force. Still, Logan didn't want Laura to go through what he knew she'd see as another betrayal, he didn't want to lose her again. So, he was careful around her and always knew where she was.

Rogue had scurried off to her room and Logan let his clone up. Laura stayed on the floor, unmoving. Her eyes were unfocused and glossy. "C'mon kid. Lets go downstairs." He said softly.

With obvious reluctance the girl stood. The two weapons silently walked through the halls and down into the main foyer.

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At four o'clock Rogue was standing in the Danger Room. In front of her were Scott, Kitty, Jean, and Kurt. Behind her were the new recruits and Peter aka Colossus. She was between the two groups, part of neither but not excluded, it felt like the story of her life. Even within the Mansion she didn't belong, not really. "Alright kids, it's our first day back to the DR. Looks like we're going to be taking it easy for awhile," Logan paused for the excited whispers, "so today we're doing no-powers hand to hand. I'm partnering, get over it. Scott and Amara, Kitty and Jamie, Bobby and Kurt, Jean and Raye, Pete and Rhane, Jubilee and Roberto, Tabby and Sam, Rogue and Laura, all of you pair up and get going. Those of you with partners, who need help, help them. Now we are all out in the open our biggest asset will be to defend ourselves without hurting anyone." Logan finished and let people pair off.

Laura, who had been standing by Logan, wandered over to Rogue and looked her opponent over. "Ah ain't fightin' her." The auburn haired teen said a hint of fear in her voice.

"I won't hurt you." Laura said, her voice low but not growling.

Off a look from Logan Rogue nodded. Without warning she lashed out at the younger girls head with a snap kick. Laura ducked it without blinking and danced back a few feet. Her face was set but her eyes didn't hold the stone Rogue had expected, the stone that over came the clone when she truly fought. This time Rogue struck out harder, putting her weight into a punch directed at Laura's chest. Another dance step back. "You have to do better." The voice was almost taunting.

Something inside Rogue broke. An image of Remy dancing around while fighting pierced her heart, it made tears jump to her eyes. He had loved her, wanted her, was willing to wait for her and now he was gone. She was vaguely aware of collapsing to her knees. Logan was there in her line of blurred sight, behind him was Laura. Confusing was written on both faces. "Remy, he, he's gone. Ah jus wanted mah chance Logan. He was willin ta wait 'til ah had control, and now there's no one. Who's really gonna wait for meh? Ah ain't nothin special, jus a river rat who lost her swamp rat." Rogue sobbed against Logan's chest.

"Laura, train with Ororo." Logan said before picking up Rogue and carrying her away from all of the prying eyes.

The rest of the session continued but something changed in Laura. She saw that Rogue really cared about Remy. In her mind it was impossible to care about another human like that, humans were tools, means to get from place to place. Seeing that emotion stirred something so deep in her chest it felt dead. Laura wanted to feel that, she wanted to love.