Best of You

By: RogueBHS

Chapter 1, "Everything Changes"

Author Notes: THE ROGUE IS BACK! LOL. Sorry, had to do that. Its been ages since I last wrote X-men fan fic, be it comic or Evo, but I recently got my hands on some X-men Evo episodes thanks to a friend, and it definitely re-sparked my interest. This is an effort by myself and a good friend of mine who, unfortunately, doesn't have an account, much less want to get one it seems. There are OCs and Comic X-men involved in this, a few of which you're going to be going "What the hell?" over, but hey. I think outside the box, so what can I say? Hehe.

This is set after the final episodes of X-men Evolution, and will carry the X-men, their allies and their enemies for a good few years. There is no chapter-cap on this, but I will warn all that my updates run slow, as I have two other fics I post on a Harry Potter fan fic site. Though with the ideas I'm already having for this, who knows. wink

Disclaimer: I do not now nor will I ever own the X-men in any way, shape or form. They belong to Marvel...Naturally. Z belongs to my friend...not me!

Notice: Due to rules, I don't dare post song lyrics in my stories here any longer. There will be names of songs included, and I will be posting a link to my own site where the lyrics will be posted. For that matter, there may be alternate versions of chapters as well. Look for song information in Parenthesis as you read.

Full Summary: After the ordeal with Apocalypse, the X-men, Acolytes and Brotherhood try to find some sense of normal, but for Rogue, that's harder than it is for the others. Will she be able to find herself again in Bayville? Or will it take new friends and a new location to make her the woman she knows she's meant to be? For that matter, how will the others react to a new Rogue?

Main Characters: The X-men (Scott, Jean, Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, Storm, Wolverine, and Prof. X.), Acolytes (Gambit, Colossus, Pyro, Magneto), Brotherhood (Todd, Pietro, Lance, Wanda, Fred, Mystique), and my own unique Excalibur team...you'll find out who they are later.

X-men Mansion -

It was over. The fight for not only their lives, but the lives of every last person and mutant on earth was over. But where to go from here? Of course, given what he had seen in the mind of Apocalypse, Professor Charles Xavier had extended an invitation to the Brotherhood and Acolytes to join his X-men. Surprising thing was, all but Sabretooth accepted. Granted, the forth Acolyte, Remy LeBeau was still gone, presumably with his family in New Orleans. So now the mansion was even more packed than before, which had the original X-men on edge, namely Rogue. Given her powers, it shouldn't have come as a shock to others when she suddenly became reclusive, hiding in the room she now had to share with Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. Yet for some reason, it did shock them.

Given her willingness to use her powers against Apocalypse, some had hoped that perhaps this would be the end of the sullen Goth persona they'd come to expect from Rogue, but that just wasn't to be. Instead, she was often found stretched out on her bed, a portable CD player blaring hard rock and the like, just as she was doing when Scott entered to call her to dinner.

"Rogue?" he asked, looking around the darkened room curiously, only to find her in the same spot she'd been when he came asking to borrow her Foo Fighters CD two hours ago. Sighing, he shut the door quietly behind him, listening to the bass echoing from her CD player as he walked to her bed, sitting down on the edge, waiting patiently for her to take notice of him.

"What d'ya want, Scott?" Rogue drawled, opening her dulled green eyes to look at him, hitting pause on the CD player and sliding the headphones off.

"Its time for dinner," he said simply, taking in her depressed appearance, from the dulled eyes to her wrinkled clothes and lightly smeared makeup.

"Ah ain't hungry," Rogue informed him, and started to lift the headphones to her ears again when his hand gently wrapped around her wrist, keeping her from doing so. "What?" she asked him, a mild flare of annoyance in her eyes.

"Rogue, you've barely eaten since we got back. Its not right..."

"Lahke you're that worried 'bout me Scott..." Rogue retorted, evidence of her annoyance growing as she jerked her wrist from his grasp.

Before Rogue had a chance to stop him, Scott had lifted a hand to her face, keeping the auburn and white hair between his skin and hers, but cupping her face none the less. "Rogue, don't give me that. I thought we were friends..."

"Friends, right," Rogue answered sarcastically. "Some friendship we got goin' here...You've barely talked t' meh in months, other th'n when mah powers went so crazy...now ya wanna talk?"

"Listen, I know I may not be that great of a friend, ok?" Scott asked, keeping her face in his hand. "But I do care, Rogue. If you know me at all, you should know that much."

Sighing, Rogue leaned into the contact, craving it despite herself. "Ah know, Scott," she admitted finally. "Ah'm just not inta crowds, and this place is nothin' but crowded since that whole damn mess."

Realizing the problem, Scott smiled. "If that's the big problem, then wait here. Storm didn't feel like cooking tonight, so the Professor let us order pizza..."

"He ain't big on us eattin' in our rooms ya know," she reminded, but turned off and set her CD player aside anyway.

"He'll understand this once, I think, Rogue. I'll be right back," he promised, then exited her room, leaving the Goth girl with the barest trace of a smile on her painted purple lips.

For the first time in ages, Scott took the stairs two at a time, earning him a surprised look as he dodged Bobby and Ray on the stairs. "Yo, watch it!" Ray called, laughing.

"And you tell US to slow down, Cyke!" Bobby added, surprised when the leader of the X-men only waved them off as he headed into the kitchen at a hurried pace.

"Dude," Evan said as he came up behind Bobby and Ray, "Scott's in one hell of a hurry." He glanced at the two younger mutants. "Any idea why?"

"Na," Bobby answered. "He just rushed past without explanation."

"Weird," Evan said, taking a look at Scott as the three boys entered the kitchen. Most of the others were already present, munching happily on their pizza and guzzling down soda. The fearless leader was talking to Ororo for a moment, then, with a smile, he grabbed up an unopened box from the counter.

"Thanks, Ro," he told the weather witch, grabbing a few napkins and two paper plates, setting them on the pizza box. By now, the others were watching him, wondering what the hell he was doing, but he ignored them, taking two Dr. Peppers from the fridge, then heading back up the stairs just as quickly as he had come down them.

"What on earth was that about?" Kitty asked as she pulled two slices of Veggie pizza from another box on the counter, her blue eyes focused on Storm.

"Yeah," Kurt said, frowning around his mouthful of Meat Feast pizza. "I thought ve veren't allowed to eat in our rooms?"

"Under normal circumstances, no," the white haired woman agreed, glancing out the kitchen door and to the stairs. "However, Rogue decided to not join us yet again, so Scott is simply going to eat with her in her room."

"Why on earth is the girl being so damn anti-social?" Lance asked, leaning back in his chair and nearly hitting Jamie in the process.

"Too crowded," Ororo answered easily, and taking a look around the room, she easily understood Rogue's reluctance to join them. "She fears a repeat of what happened at the concert a few months ago, I'd imagine."

Kitty gave a sad smile. "Well its not like we couldn't, like, totally clear a spot for her or something. But I mean, its so totally sweet that she'd think of not hurting us."

"Who are you talking about?" Jean asked, tossing her flame-red hair over her shoulder and scanning the room for her boyfriend. "And where's Scott?"

"He's with Rogue," Kurt answered, swallowing another bite of pizza. "She vas being anti-social again."

"That's the seventh time in four days," Jean said, surprised. "Is something wrong with her?"

"That's like, totally what I was talking about when you came in, Jean," Kitty responded, gaining the red-heads attention. "Rogue doesn't want to accidentally absorb us, and she totally hates it being so crowded down here."

"Oh," Jean answered, then sighed. "Not much we can do about that, really. Unless we staggered mealtimes or something."

Ororo glanced at Jean. "That is an idea, actually." She smiled now, earning one in return from the redhead. "A very good idea, in fact."

Rogue and Wanda's room -

"Knock, knock," Scott teased as he pushed the door open, smiling when he saw that Rogue was actually off of her bed for a change.

Rogue turned from her larger stereo system, then hid a smile as she headed to him, taking the sodas, plates and napkins from him. "So the Professah actually agreed t' this eh?" she asked, setting things out on the floor between her bed and the stereo.

"No," Scott answered, sitting the pizza down easily. "But Storm did. I just told her you didn't want to be in a crowded room right now, and she understood."

"Ah reckon she's one of th' few who might," Rogue said, slipping off her gloves. "Ya don't mind meh eattin' bare handed do ya?"

"Why would I?" Scott asked, truly curious.

"Oh come on, Summers," Rogue responded, taking a seat on the floor. "Ah'm th' gal who can kill just by touchin' ya. Remembah?"

"Yeah, and I'm the guy who can kill you by looking at you. So what?"

Curious, Rogue tilted her head even as she watched Scott take a seat fairly close to her and open up the pizza box, allowing the aroma to fill the room. "Ya honestly don' mind?"

"Rogue, if anyone understands wanting to be free of the restrictions being a mutant can bring, its me," he reminded her easily, then gave her a kind smile...the same one that had caused her initial crush on him. "Besides, I trust you."

Blushing under the layers of white make-up, Rogue averted her gaze, letting her hair fall in her face. "Don' know why ya would ta be honest...trust meh Ah mean."

"You've saved not just my life, but those of the others how many times, Rogue? And at the risk to your own sanity at that..."

Rogue sighed, finally lifting her eyes to his again. "Alright, alright, Ah give already," she teased, a glimmer of life back in the emerald eyes that were so different from those of Scott's girlfriend.

"Good, cause the pizza's getting cold!"

Picking up a slice, Rogue grinned at him. "Sure glad Ah ain't th' only one 'round heah that likes everythin' on a pizza."

Surprised to see the grin, but pleased as well, Scott returned it. "Hey, it has onion, so it keeps Kurt and Jean away from it, and it has meat, so Kitty won't touch it. That means more for us, right?"

"Got that right," Rogue agreed, taking a hearty bite from the pizza, enjoying the company almost as much as the meal.

"Ya know," Scott began, tilting his head as he swallowed a bite from his own slice. "We should do this more often."

"Ah doubt Jean'd appreciate it much..."

"She'll understand," Scott assured Rogue, sending her the kind smile yet again. "A guy's gotta spend time with his friends after all."

After eyeing him critically for a moment, Rogue nodded. "Ah think Ah'd like that...ya and me spendin' a lil time t'gethah Ah mean."

There was something in the look that Rogue gave him that had Scott half tempted to blush, as if perhaps she meant the comment in a more than friendly way. But then he shrugged off the notion as easy as it had come. She's never hinted at a crush on me before that I've noticed...I seriously doubt she'd start now, Scott rationalized. He just didn't realize how wrong he was on both counts.

Two hours later found Rogue and Scott lounging on the floor of the room , Punk Rock music coming through the speakers while they talked. As "My Hero" (Foo Fighters, CD: The Colour And The Shape) played, Scott found himself the subject of a serious once-over from Rogue, much to his surprise.

"What?" he asked, not sure he liked being eyed in such a way.

"Just thinkin'..." Rogue said evasively, then stretched out, pulling her green mesh shirt tight over the front of her figure.

Trying to keep his eyes averted from the sight, Scott gave a short laugh. "Come on, tell me..."

"Tell you what?" a voice asked from the doorway, easily identified as none other than Scott's girlfriend, Jean.

"Oh," Scott turned his gaze to Jean as she leaned in the doorway, noticing just from her posture that she wasn't happy to find him in such a casual position with another girl. "Its nothing, Jean." he said, then glanced at Rogue, only to find her own gaze averted from both of them, a frown taking over her features again.

"Ah guess Ah'll see ya 'round, right?" Rogue asked, raising dulled green eyes to him now, the defeat in her tone obvious, and had Scott wanting to seriously scold Jean for just walking in like she did.

Scott gathered up the soda bottles and what not, then reached out, touching Rogue on the shoulder. "I'll be back," he murmured, then stood, taking the trash from their meal in one arm, then grabbing Jean with the other as he left, pulling her out of the doorway. "We need to have a talk," he informed his girlfriend, ignoring the sound of Rogue closing the bedroom door, followed shortly by the sound of heavy metal coming blaring through the halls from her room.

"Scott, what's with you?" Jean asked, pulling her arm from his grasp as she followed him into the now empty kitchen, watching him curiously.

"Never, ever just walk into her room like that, ok?" Scott began as he shoved the trash into the trashcan, then tossed the two soda bottles into a recycling container.

"What?"

Sighing, Scott turned to face Jean, crossing his arms over his chest. "I had Rogue opening up a little, Jean. Then you come in unannounced and she clams up again. I don't know if you noticed, but when she realized you were there, any signs of happiness she was showing before just died."

"Oh good grief, Scott," Jean admonished, surprised that he could be so blind. "She's had a crush on you since before she even joined the X-men! Then she gets to spend some time alone with you? Of course she'd be thrilled!"

"She what?" Scott asked, his arms dropping to his sides at once. "Jean, don't kid like that. Rogue's never been anything other than friendly to me. I think I'd notice if she had a crush on me or something."

"You may think you would, but you didn't. Ask anyone here...I think even Fred knew, and that's saying something."

Unnerved by her words, Scott shook his head. "Look, you're wrong, ok? Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go see if maybe I can get her back out of this funk, alright?"

Jean gave him a look. "I don't know how smart that is, Scott. I mean, if the girl has a crush on you..."

Smirking, Scott crossed the kitchen to her, then leaned down, placing his forehead against hers. "Hey, I'm your boyfriend, right?"

"Yes..."

"Then don't go getting jealous or something on me. I know how good I've got it, thanks."

It was Jean's turn to sigh now. "I just don't want her getting false hope, Scott."

"She won't," Scott assured her, then moved away from her, taking another two Dr. Peppers from the fridge. "Anyway...I'll see you after a bit, ok?"

"Right," Jean said with a smile that only lasted as long as he was in the room, but as she watched his retreating figure she had to wonder how blind he really was. Her bright green eyes turned to the clock, noting the time. 9:30, she mused, then glanced towards the stairs again. I hope you know what you're doing, Scott. Because if you were to hurt her, I really don't know if she could handle it...

Rogue and Wanda's room -

"Rogue?" Scott asked, pushing the door to the room open again after receiving no answer to his knocking. And there the girl was again, stretched out in the dark of the room, headphones on, with the bass of the music audible even at the door where he stood. With the light coming in from the hall, her eyes flicked in that direction, and when she realized who it was, the headphones slipped off at once.

"Ah thought ya were talkin' with Jean," Rogue said uncertainly, reaching over to her bedside table and flicking on a lamp, sending more light through the room. But she received to answer to her words, and instead was faced with a staring Scott Summers. The unnerving part was the fact that it was her he was staring at.

My god, Scott thought, his eyes widening a bit behind the glasses as he took in the girl before him. Sometime while he was gone, Rogue had washed her face of the thick makeup she always wore, and brushed out her hair from whatever styling she did to it every morning. The change was more than extraordinary, for gone was "touch me and die" Goth persona, only to be replaced with a more approachable and exotically beautiful Southern belle. Her hair, which hadn't seen more than a trim or two in over a year was longer, easily reaching her shoulders, though something in the way she normally styled it kept it from seeming so long. And her face...I have no idea why on earth she'd cover up her face like she does, Scott realized. A pair of green eyes that were the same color as emeralds, but with a good deal more depth watched him warily, and it was then Scott noticed that her lips were moving.

"...Are ya even listenin' t' meh?" Rogue asked, raising a single eyebrow in question.

"Huh?" Scott shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Oh, sorry. The light must've surprised me or something," he fibbed, eyeing her even now.

"Right..." Rogue drawled, then sighed, sitting up. "Did ya want somethin?"

Holding up another soda, he grinned. "Just figured you might still be thirsty."

Rogue was up easily, and snatched the cool drink from him, craving the caffeine. "Ya figured right," she informed him sassily, the life back in her eyes as she smirked at him. "Didn't shake it up or nothin' did ya?"

Snapping his fingers in a 'well darn' gesture, he continued to grin at her. "Knew I forgot something," he teased.

Moving out to the balcony, Rogue opened the drink easily, taking a gulp before glancing over her shoulder at him as Scott stood in the doorway, watching her again.

"Do Ah have somethin' on meh?"

"No," Scott admitted, moving out on to the balcony with her. "Just wondering when the hell you went and grew on me." And it was true, he realized. Rogue had once been a full head shorter than him, and now...now she came up to his nose, just about...with both of them in shoes, of course.

"Ahh," Rogue said, leaning her back against the balcony railing.

"You don't seem surprised," he pointed out.

"Ah know," Rogue answered easily, then took another drink. "Hank said it was t' be expected."

"What?"

"Me changin'...Hank said it was probably gonna happen, even though technically speakin' I shouldn't since Ah'm nearly 18."

"Ok...I'm not ashamed to admit I'm pretty damn confused here...mind starting over?"

Sighing, Rogue set her drink down, turning to face him. "After th' whole thing with Apocalypse, Hank gave meh a good once ovah...And 'corrdin, t' him, though he likely didn't mean t', Apocalypse transferred a lil' of his powah to meh. So mah body is changin' again, for some reason or 'nother."

"Changing how exactly?" Scott asked, truly curious.

"Growin...height wise and otherwise," she said evasively, a light blush staining her cheeks as she gestured to what she meant, earning her a blush from Scott as well.

"Oh...I eh...I see," he said, rubbing at the back of his neck nervously at the fact she'd drawn his attention to that part of her body. He'd never really been one to ogle girls like other guys might...not that he didn't admire, but he certainly wouldn't sit around staring at their chest or backside for as long as possible. Granted, he had noticed the differences between the X-women in general bust size, rather against his will at that, as Bobby and Ray had sat around discussing it one afternoon while the teens played baseball. And now that Rogue mentioned it, she did seem larger than before. She had always been the more buxom of the women, despite her average height, but if what Hank said was true, she was likely going to be around Jean's height or so, if not taller. Shit, she's gonna be a knockout...he realized and could have groaned in frustration.

"Ya alright, Scott?" Rogue asked, and reached out, gently touching him on the arm in a rare gesture.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," he assured her, giving a slight smile. "I just eh...well...you know how I get about that topic..."

Rogue gave a hint of a grin. "Right...and that's why ya just spent a couple minutes starin' right at that part o' mah body..."

Crap... "I didn't mean to, Rogue...I just..."

Much to Scott's surprise, he found himself silenced by a gloved finger over his lips. "Ah get it, Scott. Ya don't have t' explain. Ah just wanted t' tease ya a lil."

"Right. Well...its late, so I'm gonna go," Scott said, smiling again.

"Alright," Rogue nodded, subconsciously hugging herself against a sudden breeze.

"Hey."

Rogue's eyes, which had gazed off towards the front door shot back to Scott, only to find him standing not even a foot away and she had no room to back up. "Ya shouldn't be this close...if Ah..."

"I trust you, remember?" Scott asked, then pulled her to him, hugging her despite his better judgment. "Night, Rogue..." he said simply, moving away now, and even by the time he was to the door and pulling it closed, he hadn't received a response. Glancing over his shoulder before closing the door, he gave a slight smile at the sight of Rogue, green eyes staring at him, a shimmer of moonlight spotlighting her. Scott sighed, then pulled the door to, fighting the urge to open it again and see if she was still standing where he'd left her. I've got to quit that...he told himself as he stepped away from Rogue's room, heading for his own. Jean will have to wait till tomorrow...there's no way in hell I can be around a telepath right now...not with the way I was just thinking about Rogue...

Danger Room, next morning -

"Alright," Wolverine began, his tone gruff as always. "Today's objective...take me out...first one to do so gets a surprise, courtesy of Charles. So...no holding back, kiddos. Got it?"

There was a groan at the idea of having to take on the Wolverine, but one person stayed silent, taking in the room's set up of a trashed cityscape. Then, grinning, she looked to her mentor. "Anythin' goes right?"

At that, everyone turned to Rogue in surprise. Normally she hated these sims as much as the rest of them. "That's what I said, ain't it?" Logan asked her, curious as to what she was up to.

"Jus' checkin..." she muttered, then went back to eyeing the room, obviously coming up with a plan already.

"Well then, see if you can find me," Logan said simply, then took off, a light fog hiding him after he'd gotten a certain distance away.

"Alright team, lets do this," Scott ordered, then motioned for them all to spread out, keeping Rogue with him. "Got a plan?" he asked her once they were alone, his eyes looking around from behind the visor.

"Yeah...which is why Ah'll see ya round..." Rogue said simply, then split up from him, leaving him behind.

Within half an hour, all but Rogue and Scott were taken out, and those who were out were now watching the Sim from up on the observation deck.

"Damn that girl's good," Tabby muttered, watching as Rogue perched on the upper level of a five-story building, watching as Scott battled it out with Logan. A close up camera focused on her, showing the smirk curving her lips, and the dangerous gleam in her eyes. "And she's looking for a fight, to be sure," Tabby added, earning her a murmur of agreement from the others.

"She's insane is what she is," Bobby said simply. "Thinking of taking on Wolverine by herself?"

"I'm with you dude," Toad said, staring at the screens. "The girl's beyond insane."

"Cyke's out," Logan said into the comm. unit, and everyone's eyes flicked back to the monitors showing the fight. But now Logan was standing over Scott, his claws extended. "So who's left, Chuck?"

"Rogue."

A feral grin spread over the Wolverine's lips as he moved to allow Scott to leave. "Good."

"Ya bet it is," Rogue's voice answered as she delivered a roundhouse to Logan's head from behind, catching him off guard and sending him sprawling. But before he could get up, Rogue was gone again. "Lets play..." she taunted, her voice now coming from his Comm. unit.

Surprised, but pleased, Logan nodded. "Lets..." And thus he began his hunt.

Rogue took a running leap from one rooftop to the next, landing in a roll, then coming up running again. Gotta keep goin, she thought, only to find herself falling through a floor, landing on a conveniently placed girder beam. Shit...damn thing's slippin' on meh..."FUCK!" she yelled as the beam fell. Still close to the buildin' girl...come on... Using a ledge, she changed direction, and instead of going for a window, headed for a flagpole sticking horizontally from the building. Thank god Irene had meh in Gymnastics f'r so damn long...Rogue thought, taking a dangerous jump from the pole, sending her flying towards a building over ten feet away. It was then she noticed the shadowed figure in the window she'd almost gone into a few moments before. Good thing Ah didn't or this'd be ovah right quick.

There was a crash of wood and glass, then Rogue's feet hit solid ground again, and she took off, thankful for the fact her muscles were so well toned. Another running leap had her sliding down an elevator shaft by the cables, tearing up the sheet she'd snatched from something upstairs. Damn Ah hate doin' that...she thought, then jumped down to the floor, landing in a crouch.

Up above, the other X-men were watching in complete shock. Never had Rogue pulled something like this before in a sim. And with good reason...it might as well be suicide given the fact she didn't have a power to fall back on to save her other than her absorption. But something had changed her since Apocalypse...something that had her taking risks she wouldn't otherwise.

Logan watched her with keen interest, glad to see she was finally using her training to its fullest. He had always pushed her harder than anyone else, knowing she not only needed it, but could do it as well. A point she was definitely proving well. When she began to move again, he decided that no matter how good she was, it was time to end this session. Before he could move, Logan heard something headed for him, and turned, slashing at whatever it was with his claws, only to realize far too late it was a bag of pepper. His nose and eyes were overrun with it, keeping him from seeing her or being able to smell her. Smart girl, he thought, a dry grin forming. Damn this shit hurts. Wish my healing factor would kick in faster than this.

While he waited, the others watched Rogue set up a mannequin she'd found in what was supposed to be an abandoned store on a skateboard, then send it straight for him. With his hearing still working fine, Logan managed to slash the mannequin just before it got to him, only to find his arms wrapped tightly in leather straps. As his vision and sense of smell cleared, he found Rogue standing there smirking at him, just before she kicked at a rope, causing him to be pulled a few feet into the air. Another kick had two spears in her hands, and while the smirk turned into a grin, she walked over to him casually, then placed one spear under his chin, the other pointing towards his heart.

"Smart move, Rogue," he told her, a grin forming on his lips as well. "There's just one problem."

She only raised an eyebrow in question, but he had a feeling she knew what he was going to say anyway.

"I can still get loose."

"Ah reckon ya could at that," Rogue admitted. "But ya see...as tough as ya are, what with your skeleton and claws bein' adamantium laced an' all, not t' mention your healin' factor, Ah'm willin' t' bet there's one thing even ya couldn't live through..."

"And just what's that, Stripes?"

"Ya wanna drop, be mah guest. We'll see how well your healing factor c'n cope with a blade through the heart an' another straight int' your brain..."

"Not t'day kid," Logan said, then cut himself loose, and snapping the blades from the spears in the process. But before he landed, Rogue had grabbed the bladed parts again, and had them ready to use, just as Logan landed, his claws still extended. "Now assumin' we do this at the same time, you still loose. My healin' factor means I live even if you do make a decent cut."

"Maybe," Rogue conceded with a smirk. "But with mah power that means Ah heal an' you don't. Thing is...one o' us is bluffin right now...th' other is 'bout t' die. And right now...Ah'm thinkin' a gal named Rogue shouldn't evah play by ordinary rules...So lets find out!"

"Lets not," Logan stated simply, rubbing at his wrists as he stood up straighter. "I'm beginnin' t' understand why ya call yerself Rogue...certainly fits," he muttered dryly.

Rogue grinned again, putting a hand on her hip. "Ah'll be takin' that as a compliment under th' circumstances."

Before she could say anything more, the sound of the others joining them drew her attention, especially when her adopted brother ported himself right in front of her.

"You vere terrific!" Kurt exclaimed, giving Rogue a hug, much to her surprise. "Taking down ze Wolverine! And ze acrobatics! I don't zink I could do better!"

Rogue gave a shaky laugh, becoming more and more uncomfortable as people pressed in, wanting to tell her how impressed they were by her performance. "Ah...Uh...Ah gotta go!" she said, then turned, pushing her way out of the danger room, and bursting into a full run, not stopping until she reached the main floor. Upon entering the living room, Rogue sank to the floor, burying her face in her hands. "Gawd...how in th' hell am Ah supposed t' get through this?" she asked herself aloud, not noticing the presence making its way towards her.

"That was one hell of a session you did, Rogue," a kind voice told her, followed by the feel of an arm resting against hers as the person sat down beside her.

Slowly, Rogue lifted her gaze to look at Scott. "Sorry for boltin' like that..."

"Hey, don't apologize," Scott told her, giving a small smile. "You need your space, and they should respect that."

"Stripes?" Logan asked, sniffing at the air even as he entered the room. "Ya alright?"

"Ah...Ah guess," Rogue admitted after a moment. "Jus' freaked when they all got so close..."

"I figured as much. But wanted t' check on ya anyway." Logan gave the girl a mildly concerned look. "Charles said ya can meet him in his office later. He wants ya t' relax some though...calm down and what not."

"Alright," Rogue said, lowering her head again so her hair fell in her face. "Tell th' othahs Ah'm sorry, won't ya?" she asked, then pushed up from the floor, not waiting for an answer. "An' if they wanna tell meh how much they liked mah kickin' Logan's butt, they c'n do it one at a time or somethin' later."

"Will do," Scott told her, watching as she left, likely heading for her room. When he was certain she was out of earshot, he looked up to Logan. "There's gotta be something that can snap her out of this..."

Logan gave a quick nod of agreement. "Kid's just recoverin', One-eye. Give 'er a few more days."

Sighing, Scott stood. "Alright. But if she doesn't come down to eat with us soon..."

"Don' worry...Chuck ain't gonna let 'er hole up any more. Told me this mornin. She gets a few hours now, but that's th' end of it."

"Right..." Scott muttered, watching as Logan stalked off. Rogue wouldn't take kindly to being pushed into being social, but if Storm's suggestion of them staggering mealtimes again worked out...Like that'll make a difference, Scott reminded himself. This is Rogue we're talking about...she hates being pushed period. Sighing again, he turned back towards the elevator, planning on using the showers in the gym's changing room. I just hope she doesn't bolt or something.

A/N: Ok...that'll do for an opening chapter I think. So...Have I lost my touch or kept it? LOL. Read and review please!