Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men (I know, I was shocked as well!)

Note: Thanks for the reviews so far! If anyone has any suggestions how they'd like the story to go, please do send them in!

ALSO for the whole story: 'Personal thoughts', "speech" and telepathic communication

She just stood in the doorway, not moving. She couldn't move. For minutes that seemed like hours Bobby and Marie just looked at each other. Finally, Bobby seemed to gain the ability to speak, and whispered

"Marie, I d-" But she had already gone, running down the corridor in an effort to get herself as far away from the pain as possible. She no longer cared about the noises she made, and even less about the vast darkness. She ran into a small passage and stopped, leaning against the wall and then sliding down it as the devastated sobs racked her body, the tears streaming down her face.

Bobby and Kitty. Bobby with Kitty. Now that hurt – big time. She knew they had been close, especially leading up to Alcatraz, but she'd just hoped it had been a brotherly/sisterly affection, nothing more than good friends, nothing more.

She had been wrong.

She became aware that she was crying rather loudly, but there had been so many tears shed in the last few weeks, maybe no one would notice. She had been wrong about that too. As she tried to compose herself enough to go back to her room (where she intended to crawl into bed and lie in the foetal position and never come out), she stood up, only to come face to face with Emma Frost.

Marie didn't scream, but she sure did jump a mile in shock. Dressed all in white with her long platinum blonde hair, Emma looked quite like a ghost in the haunting night that surrounded them. She was surveying Marie with a look the girl couldn't quite make out.

"Your name's Rogue, isn't it?"

"Yes, but Marie now"

"Ah, you are the one that took the cure" Her polished accent was completely emotionless, but Marie still bristled, used to the disappointed or disgusted looks she got in the house full of mutants.

"And so what if I did?" Marie growled, a habit picked up from Logan probably, which made Emma smirk slightly. Marie was about to continue, but she realised who she was talking to – a teacher. Her shoulders slumped and a couple more tears escaped.

"I'm sorry, did I wake everyone up?"

"No, not everyone, just me" The reply was mild, and Marie looked up to catch the look of complete sympathy etched on Emma's face. Not pity, she was glad to see, but sympathy. "Your pain emanated strongly across the astral plane. I'd be surprised if there isn't a telepath within a hundred miles who didn't hear it" Marie shuddered at that. Like the Professor, Emma Frost was an incredibly powerful telepath. In fact, the rumour was that Emma was probably stronger, but the scarier thought was that unlike the Professor, Emma held few (or different, perhaps) morals and ethics, and had less regard for mankind.

But, she was also obviously waiting for an answer, so Marie opened her mouth to speak, with the words formed in her head, until another sob escaped, and soon she couldn't stop. Surprisingly, Emma said nothing, but instead stepped forward and wrapped her student in a soft but comforting hug, possibly sacrificing her designer night-gown as Marie's mascara ran everywhere. The girl clung to the older woman, unable to speak but needing someone to understand what she really felt. Then suddenly, a voice spoke that seemed to come from nowhere.

Don't worry child, I am here for you. If you cannot speak, I could search your mind for the answer, if you want? Marie's sobbing lessened abruptly from the shock of Emma's telepathic communication. Not what she said, but the means as to how she said it. She had heard stories of the Professor using such methods to contact the X-Men, but had never been on the receiving end herself, so the sudden intrusion sobered her immediately. She looked up at the towering face of Emma Frost, her face pale, and she nodded. Emma smiled softly and placed her hands on Marie's head, closing her eyes.

"Your mind is like this hallway Marie. There are hundreds of doors that can be opened, closed and locked. I want you to open the door to what happened. Can you do that, do you understand?"

Marie closed her own eyes and gave a sad smile. She understood more than anyone – those doors hid people she had absorbed and their resulting personalities. But she decided not to explain, instead just nodding (before realising that Emma couldn't see her and so made an affirmative noise) and bringing the images to the front of her mind. Then inner warmth came and Marie felt safe and content for a few seconds. Just a few seconds. Then it was gone and she was left with herself and the images of Bobby and Kitty together. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at Emma. Their eyes locked and Marie's face crumpled again. Feeling oddly maternal, Emma wrapped her in another hug.

Oh my poor darling, I'm so sorry. You've been together a long time, haven't you? Marie nodded against her gown. Emma released her, wrapped her arm around her shoulder and led her down the corridor, towards Marie's room (Marie realised Emma must have taken that information at the same time). While walking they passed the window Marie had stopped at only minutes earlier. She unconsciously slowed to look, but Logan was gone.

When they reached her room, Marie had run out of tears. The tears were replaced by shock. She had given up her powers for him – however much she denied it to Logan beforehand. Emma seemed to understand, and she led the teenager to her bed, wrapping her up in the duvet.

"You gave up your powers for yourself Marie, no one else. The ability to touch is something we all take for granted, you're not stupid – you just wanted the ability to feel." She sat on the side of the bed; one hand resting on Marie's, the other went to push the white strands out of the girl's face.

"I loved him so much" was all Marie could say, hiccupping in between words.

"Oh I'm sure you did darling, and he probably still loves you! But, well, he's a man, and I'm afraid men just don't understand what us women go through" Marie snorted.

"What should I do Miss Frost? Should I forgive him?" She knew she sounded pathetic, but to hell with that, she already looked a mess, she might as well sound it too.

"I'm afraid that's your decision to make, no one else's. Maybe, over time, you will forgive him, and maybe even Miss Pryde. The say time heals all things, but if you want to forgive, that's a different story all together." She stood up and smoothed the sheets over the young girl's frame. "Now, I think what you need is time, sleep and possibly a good hearty breakfast in the morning. It does me the world of good" They both smiled at the joke – Emma only ever has a black coffee in the morning.

"Goodnight Miss Frost"

"Goodnight Marie, and I'm sorry, I really am" and with that, she left quietly.

So as Marie tried to get to sleep, tossing and turning in a way she had not expected to when the night began, she went through all the memories she had, deciding her future as a whole.