Author's Notes: I saw X3 yesterday, and then I just had to get this idea written down! It's set after X3, and based completely off the movies, which have made me a pretty big Wolverine/Rogue fan. Comic based, I'm also a fan of Gambit/Rogue, but you know, whatever. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men.

To Hold You Close

Chapter One

It had been a week, one beautiful, glorious week. Despite the pain of unnecessary deaths, the School for Gifted Youngsters had gone on, and Marie kissed her boyfriend more than she ever thought possible. Each time she pulled away she was always half afraid at what she might see. Yet each time Bobby smiled at her, that sweet smile where his whole face lit up. The once strained relationship was now completely physical, and Marie had to seriously consider taking the next step. She was certain Bobby wouldn't argue; he was a male after all, and she felt ready.

All in all, Marie was completely wrapped up in her happiness and thus was taken completely aback that fateful Monday morning.

Storm approached her in the hall, catching her before class. The dark skinned woman had taken her passion in the healing of the school, which meant things went on as normal. At least, as normal as possible.

"Marie." Storm inclined her head gracefully as the girl smiled brightly. With some pressure, she had gotten almost everyone to call her by her real name, not the name of the thief she once was. The exception was Bobby, who told her she was a rogue for stealing his heart. The line was cheesy, yes, but it completely melted Marie's own heart.

"Yes?" she asked politely. She was always a little intimidated by Storm, but did her best to hide this.

"You know that we always welcome you here, with open arms but..." Storm sighed and pushed her hair out of her face. "This is a school for mutants. We are going to have to talk about your future, which probably will not take place here." Dark eyes rested on Marie's stricken face. Though kind, Storm could barely suppress the unspeakable amount of pain she was going through, unnoticed by the shocked girl in front of her.

"What?" Marie finally managed to get out. First she hadn't been able to touch Bobby because of her powers, and now she might be forced to leave him because she lacked those same cursed powers. Storm knew now was not the time to continue the conversation.

"Tomorrow perhaps, we will finish this. Take the day off from classes though, I want you to think about your future." Storm sighed as the girl nodded and continued down the hallway.

Marie was sitting outside. It was strange, to be doing so in the middle of the morning, while classes were in session. Bobby would be looking for her, she knew. Leaving the stone bench in favor for the warm grass, Marie curled up, hugging her knees to her chest. It seemed no matter what she did in order to be with Bobby, every step towards him was actually a step away from him.

"What am I gonna do?" she whispered to herself. Throwing herself flat on her back, she closed her eyes against the sun, imagining Bobby was beside her. Something nagged inside her mind, but she ignored it. As soon as she saw Bobby, she would tell him that tonight was the night. He was ready, she was certain this was what she wanted. It wouldn't backfire on her.

Besides, it would keep her one up on Kitty. Marie wouldn't admit it, but she noticed that Bobby's eyes still followed the girl when she walked into a room.

"So it's settled then," Marie said, still ignoring the nagging thought in her mind.

"What's settled then?" The familiar gruff voice interrupted her thoughts, and Marie sat up, opening her eyes to see Logan sitting on the bench she had emptied not too long ago. Startled at being interrupted out of her amorous thoughts, Marie felt a blush rising.

"Nothing really," she managed to get out. Logan was looking straight ahead, examining a patch of daisies blooming. Marie only saw the side of his face. He hadn't spoken to her since she had gotten back. Actually, he hadn't spoken to anyone, other than Storm, once. Everyone knew what he had done though, and Marie felt his pain acutely. It didn't matter whether she had powers or not, she could always sense his subconscious feelings somehow. And right now, he was really moody.

"So, how does it feel?" It wasn't exactly a question she had been expecting, but wasn't surprising either.

"It's nice...to not have to worry about accidently touching someone and killing them," she said softly. "But Storm said I might not get to stay here, because I'm not a mutant anymore. It seems that no matter what I do, nothing ends up going the way I want it too." Marie paused. "I don't know though, I don't feel so complete. Something's missing. I can't figure out why though, because this is what I wanted."

"Because you changed yourself," Logan replied. "You're a mutant, your body's telling you that, is all. I wouldn't worry about it." Throughout the entire conversation he hadn't looked at her, and Marie felt a slight twinge of annoyance.

"I didn't expect to see you here anymore. You always go away when bad things happen," she said, a bit more cruelly than she intended. In order to make up for it, she tried again. "How are you doing, anyway?"

"Fine." The short word was the only answer she got. After a few moments of silence, Marie couldn't take it anymore. Staring at Logan's profile only got that nagging thought in her mind to worsen, and the quiet was too much.

"Are you sure?" At her soft question, Logan finally snapped his head around, looking straight at her. Pain filled his eyes, but his gaze was a puzzled one, as though he thought he was missing a piece to a very important puzzle.

"As sure as I always am," he replied. An odd looked crossed over his face, and then he shook his head. "Thanks Marie."

"For what?"

"Nothing." The man got up to leave, before turning once more. "Despite whatever pain you're feeling, don't try anything stupid. Whatever life throws at you, just remember you can deal with it. I know better than anyone how strong you are." And with that, Logan strode away, leaving a very puzzled Marie behind.

It was a few moments later that Marie realized he had called her by name, and she had actually shivered when those two syllables had crossed his lips. Just like she did every time he called her by name – either name.

"So where were you today?" Bobby asked after kissing her. Marie smiled and led the way to the kitchen. It was a little early for dinner, but she was hungry.

"I just had some thinking to do, that's all."

"Enough thinking it took all day?" Bobby kissed her again, and Marie kissed him back. After pulling apart, breathless, Bobby looked a little pale, and Marie felt something strange inside her, but the two smiled.

"Yeah. I was thinking, we should go to the next level." Marie looked coyly at Bobby, whose eyes widened.

"You sure you're ready?"

"Definitely." Marie leaned into his side as he wrapped his arms around her. They passed Kitty in the hall, who gave them a weak smile. Marie didn't see the brilliant smile Bobby gave to Kitty though.

"If you're really sure, I can't say I'll stop you. You know me, I'm only a guy after all. And I think we know each other quite well enough." Marie smiled into his chest.

"I'll come up tonight then," she whispered. "Wait for me."

Much later that evening, Marie crept towards Bobby's room, her clinging pink nightie only covered by a shortie white terrycloth robe. The dark halls didn't frighten Marie, although her heart was thumping. She had to work extra hard at ignoring the nagging thought still in her mind. Upon reaching Bobby's room, she turned the knob. He had been dozing in his bed, but woke upon her soft entrance.

"Hey," he whispered, his bare chest visible in the moonlight through his window.

"Hey," she whispered back, dropping her robe. Bobby took in her scantily clad figure appreciatively, before patting a spot on the bed next to him. Marie complied, reaching out her hands to his face as he leaned in for a kiss.

And then things went terribly wrong.

The minute Marie touched Bobby's face, two things happened. He gasped, went completely white, and started having convulsions, and she felt ice rip through her insides. Whipping her hands back and jumping off the bed, Marie looked in horror at her hand. A brief concentration allowed that hand to coat itself in ice. A favorite trick of Bobby's. A stolen power of Bobby's. Who was, she gasped, still convulsing on the bed.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no," Marie cried, grabbing her robe and running out of this room. Looking left and right, she noted the sky flashing with lighting. A lone figure stood just beyond the window, and Marie dashed towards it.

"Storm!" she shrieked, pounding on the window. The woman turned, surprised at the panic stricken girl. She hurried to the side door and entered the mansion. Reaching an hand out to Marie, further surprise etched on her face when the girl shrunk from her.

"What's the matter?" she asked, urgency now in her voice.

"It's Bobby, I touched him, and now he's..." Unable to finish, Marie pointed. Storm ran to the room, and looked in shock. The convulsions were fading, leaving Bobby cold and ashen, breathing shallowly. Storm raced to his side, felt for his pulse which was normal, thankfully. She turned to talk to Marie, but the girl was gone.

Marie ran to her room once she saw Storm with Bobby. She pulled on her black tights, and black skirt, her long sleeved green top and the first pair of gloves she could find. They were really woolen mittens, but there wasn't much else. Once layered, Marie ran back to Bobby's room.

"Where is he?" she cried out, upon seeing the room empty. The only logical place filled her mind, and she ran towards the sick wing. She passed a sleepy Kitty, just opening her door. Her hunch was right, and she saw Storm with Bobby on one of those white hospital looking beds. Fear laced through Marie and she entered the room.

"Please tell me he is alive," she whispered as Storm looked up.

"He is," she replied. "What happened between you too?"

"I don't know, I was just going to kiss him and then...I touched his face and I took his powers!" Storm's eyes widened.

"You took his powers? As Rogue?" She looked at the girl's layered body once again. "Touch his hand with the glove on." she commanded.

"Are you sure?" At Storm's nod, Marie approached Bobby. Hesitantly she reached out and lightly touched his hand. He paled even more, though he didn't convulse. Ripping the glove off, Marie stared at her hand, which once again coated in ice with Bobby's powers. She turned wide-eyed to Storm, who looked just as shocked.

"Touch his leg," she said, indicating the sweat pants. Rogue did, and Bobby paled just a little bit. She hadn't actually taken any powers that time, but he had been affected a little bit.

"Suit up," Storm commanded. "We'll see if that offers you protection still." Marie left silently, as Storm continued to check over Bobby.

Through the hallways, Marie stared at her hands, shock still riding high throughout her system. To her further aggravation, she saw Kitty approaching.

"What's going on?" Kitty asked, concern lacing through her voice.

"None of your damn business!" Marie hissed. Anger and frustration slid through her, as did jealousy. She shot her hand out, intending to grab Kitty's arm, but her hand went right through.

"Something happened with Bobby," Kitty whispered. "What happened? Why are you trying to grab me if your powers don't work?" Realization dawned in her eyes. "They came back? Is he ok?" Running straight through Marie, Kitty ran towards to sick wing, leaving a very frustrated Marie behind.

"I've gotta get changed," she said angrily, ignoring the nagging feeling still in her mind. She hurried off.

Marie entered the pristine white room once again, taking in Kitty by Bobby's side, Storm looking at some monitors.

"I'm here," she announced in a quiet voice.

"Try touching his hand again," Storm said while turning around. Kitty looked pale as Marie approached Bobby. Afraid, she reached out once more, but when she touched his hand, nothing happened.

"So you're safe with your gear on," Storm said, relief on her face. "He's stable as well, thank goodness." Marie burst into tears and ran from the room.

"It's not fair!" she cried out as she ran through the hallways. So much for a cure. Rogue was back, stronger than ever, and the very frightened girl did not know what to do. That nagging feeling, still persistent in her mind, seemed to lead her feet where Rogue couldn't see. Twisting through dark corridors of the mansion, she noticed she was in the vicinity of the training rooms. Before she could register the dark figure moving towards her, she stumbled straight into it.

"It's not fair," she whispered. The figure looked down at the sobbing girl in front of him.

"It didn't work," he guessed, and Rogue looked up at him, recognizing the gruff voice. She shook her head, tears still streaming from her eyes.

"They came back," she whispered. Logan reached out his arms and clasped her to his chest.

"Just when you think the mourning might end," he muttered, "there's another thing to mourn." Rouge was still sobbing against his chest, already a bit damp from his workout. He finally noticed what she was wearing. "Why are you wearing your gear?"

"It's the only thing that stops it against bare skin," Rogue replied, the tears starting to abate. "With just regular gloves on, if I touch bare skin they work. They're stronger now. It's like, rather than being a cure, it's actually amplified my powers." Rogue leaned into Logan's firm grip, aware that he had just squeezed her a bit tighter to him. The nagging feeling seemed to abate in her mind as she allowed herself to find comfort within Logan's arms.

Logan meanwhile, was feeling many things, but unease was one of them. What have we done to Magneto? he wondered. Looking down at the girl he held, And what will you do now?

"You'll be ok, Rogue," he said, softer than he thought possible. She leaned in closer to him, careful to keep her hair between them as a bit of protection. Rogue felt oddly at home, more complete within those arms, and Logan felt she fit next to him more than he every really thought possible. Both noticed how Rogue had shivered slightly when Logan spoke that syllable that was her name.

Logan looked down at her, and the urge to touch that streak of white hair was overwhelming. For that peaceful moment, Rogue forgot her troubles and Logan forgot Jean as he held Rogue close in the darkened hallway.