"No, don't! You don't know what you're doing!" The shouts echoed in the alley. For the first time in her life, she was truly scared for herself, rather than those around her.

Ignoring the warnings, he went through with his plan. He paid the price, though, and so did she. Test after test, they all turned out the same.

~*~*~*~The next morning~*~*~*~

Rogue was reduced to tears, thankful of the privacy of her room.

"If it was that Bobby kid…" Logan growled. He had heard the crying and ran over as quick as he could.

"No!" Rogue interrupted him. "I killed the guy who did this. Well, my power did."

Logan retracted his claws as Rogue fell into him, crying even harder now. He gave her a reassuring hug, lowering her so that she could sit on her bed.

"Want me to get anyone for you?" Logan offered. "One of your other friends or Jean, maybe?"

"Bobby and Kitty," she told him. After she got over her jealousy, Rogue and Kitty had become great friends.

~*~*~*~Four months later~*~*~*~

"So, what are you going to name him?" Bobby asked, trying to make light of the situation. Rogue has pretty much accepted the fact she was pregnant, but she still worried about how the birth would go.

"I don't know," she replied, thoughtful. "I have a couple name ideas."

"It'd be cool if he has your white streak!" he pointed out, running a finger through her white streak of hair.

Rogue gave a little smile. "Oh, I hope he does," she half-joked. "It's always good to be a little unique."

~*~*~*~Five months later~*~*~*~

After all the strain and worrying, the birth was successful. No ill effects to the baby due to Rogue's powers, which was the main worry.

"So, have you thought of a name?" Kitty asked, smiling at the newborn.

"I've decided on Tobey," Rogue stated, fingering the baby's hair, especially the white bit in the front.

"Tobey it is," Jean said, nodding. She scribbled down notes on a piece of paper before turning to the new mother.

"I do have one worry, though." Bobby pointed out. "The Xavier Institute isn't exactly the safest place for a baby, what with people breaking through every couple of months. Plus, it's not like we have a daycare for when you're in classes or off on a mission."

Rogue's smile fell. "I hadn't thought of that," she sighed. "But, I don't have a family to help look after him."

"Putting him up for adoption might be the only option," Jean said, sympathy dulling her eyes.

"I'll have Warren drive me there in the morning." Rogue wiped a tear from her cheek.

~*~*~*~The next few months~*~*~*~

Tobey was taken to the nearest adoption facility. Unfortunately, his mother was a bit too well known in the area. The staff and the kids feared him, feared he might be a mutant, and feared what might happen if they get too close to him.

Tobey traveled from facility to facility, across the U.S. Eventually, less people feared him, although more of the kids teased him and made fun of him because of the white streak in his hair, or because of his large appetite.

It seemed that after each new adoption facility, the teasing got worse and worse, sometimes escalating into full-on fistfights. These, however, got Tobey into even more trouble, as he always ended up getting blamed for these fights.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It wasn't very long before he ended up in Chinatown Adoptions all the way in California.

"You're the new kid, aren't you?" Tobey looked up, wondering who was there to tease him this time. He saw another boy about his age.

"Yeah…" Tobey replied

"I'm Sid and this is my sister, Sue," he introduced, pulling a slightly younger girl to stand by him.

"Aren't you going to tease me, like the other kids?" Tobey snapped, though Sue and Sid didn't flinch.

"We want to play!" This time, Sue was the one to speak up.

Tobey was clearly surprised at this statement, but he didn't argue. He was just happy to finally have some friends.