Special shout out to the following for Reviewing:

RomyGirl123- Thanks so much for the review! I'm glad you like it so far!

Thillia- I'm glad you like it! Bobby and Logan are in this chapter so enjoy!

Chica De Los Ojos Café- Thanks so much for the review! Here's the update!

Irisheyesrsmiling- Well, I can't tell you who the father is yet, that would give away too much, but you'll find out soon. Thanks for the review!

Fantasygirl721- Thanks so much for the Review. I'm glad you like it so far. I had to laugh when I read "here's your stinking review." Lol. So here's your stinking update. Lol.

CMT1992- Alrighty, here ya go.

GabrielsDoubt- Thanks for the review! Enjoy!

FireAngel- Yes, Pietro and Wanda were Magneto's children in the comic books. That's all I'm saying. I'm not telling if they are in this or not, so you'll just have to read. Lol. Thanks for the Review and here's your update!

UltimateGammy91 – Yea, Grammars never really been my strong suit. Thanks for the review though!

PyroWhore- Well, here's the long awaited reactions. Thanks for the Review!

Dulcesweet- Sorry, I'm a major fan of cliff hangers. Lol. Thanks for the review!

Now, on to chapter four! Read and Review!


Chapter Four:

Rogue took a deep breath as the cab came around the wide bend in the road. The trees gave way and there, standing in all its glory, was the school. It looked just like it had all those years ago. The same stone building, with the green vines climbing up the walls. As the cab pulled around the road and drew closer she could just make out the shapes of students playing basketball. Some were younger, around ten, but all were included, and all looked like they were having fun. The closer they got the more activity they could see. Baseball, soccer, some were even swimming in the pool.

Rogue held Mathew tighter to her as the cab pulled up to the gate. That's what she wanted for Mathew…this was what she wanted for him. Here they would all be safe. But could she survive this? From the moment the plane had touched down in New York she had felt wave upon wave of nostalgia wash over her. When they reached the city, every place they passed seemed to hold some memory for her, and it became painful to gaze at the scenery they passed.

The one that hurt the most was when she had seen the burned and charred remains of a building. Wanda had whispered, "What do you think happened?" But Rogue had known. She couldn't tear her eyes away from it and without thought she had handed Mathew to Wanda and yelled, "Stop here!" to the cab driver. Ignoring the questions from Pietro and Wanda she had stepped out of the cab and stumbled toward the charred remains. Most of the building was still there, but Rogue knew what had happened. Her fingers itched to grab the ash and hold it to her.

Without realizing it she had turned and was surveying the area, looking for any clue that he was here. But her eyes had landed on the still sleeping Mathew and Wanda, who were now standing outside the cab, and she had been jolted back to this time and day. Sadly, she had walked back to the car and pulled Mathew back into her arms. Slowly they both slipped back into the car.

"This used to be a cure station" The cab driver called back to them. "But that damn brotherhood got a hold of it a couple years ago. No one's re-built it…and I guess they left it as a reminder of how dangerous mutants really are."

Rogue tensed, and she could feel Wanda do the same. But no one had said anything, and the remainder of the trip had been in a somewhat comfortable silence. Now, as the large metal gates swung open, Rogue felt like she had mutant butterflies in her stomach and they were all blasting each other. Wanda and Pietro were wide-eyed, probably never having seen this many mutants in the same place, but Rogue had been here before. And true, there were new faces, but the old ones were the ones she was afraid of.

It was the old faces that were standing on the steps to the institute, watching the cab pull up with huge smiles. Rogue tried to calm her breathing but was having difficulty with Mathew lying against her chest. Wanda seemed to sense that and she pulled Mathew out of Rogue's arms. "I'll hold him." She stated. Pietro looked like he wanted to hold him too…but he had long since gotten used to the 'no men touching me' rule.

Once the cab pulled to a stop, Rogue had to force herself to step out of it. The sounds were still the same, children laughing, birds calling; it was exactly how she had remembered it. Well…minus a few teachers and a student.

"Rogue!"

Rogue looked over the hood of the cab to Storm and felt tears come to her eyes. She rounded the cab and bound up the steps into the open arms of her long time friend. Storm held her close, laughing all the while, and then moved away. "Let me get a good look at you" she stated, sounding like a long lost grandmother instead of just a friend.

"You haven't changed a bit!" Rogue declared, taking in Storm's layered gray and white hair and her black pin stripe suit. Storm laughed and shook her head.

"You on the other hand" Storm declared. Rogue smiled as Storm touched Rogue's brown hair that was pulled into a bun and then her white bangs that fell into her face. She took in Rogue's outfit, pajamas, and laughed. "You weren't kidding when you said you had nothing."

Rogue shook her head and then seemed to remember the man standing behind Storm. "Logan!" She breathed and he grinned from ear to ear. He moved around Storm and pulled him toward her in a hug meant for the prodigal daughter who had finally returned home. It was minutes before they released each other and both felt the same wave of mixed emotions running through them.

"Missed ya, kid" Logan stated softly, probably so no one would hear the sweet comment. Rogue smiled.

"I missed you too, Logan." She whispered. Logan looked past her and his brow furrowed.

"These your friends?"

Rogue's eyes widened. She'd almost forgotten about them. She nodded and turned around, walking back to her pajama clad friend. "This is Pietro Maximoff," she stated, introducing Pietro who bowed, grinning from ear to ear. "And his sister Wanda," Wanda nodded at them and then carefully handed Rogue Mathew.

"And this," Rogue said, smiling as Mathew picked that time to open his eyes and look around. She walked back up the steps to stand between Storm and Logan as she said, "Is my son, Mathew."

Rogue could have laughed at the expressions on both Storm and Logan's face. It was wide eyed shock that neither of them, despite their usual control of their emotions, were hiding very well. Storm looked unbelieving, while Logan's expression sifted between amazement, hurt, anger, shock and then finally just stayed in surprise. Storm was the first to recover and with a grin to rival any proud grandmother she stepped forward and bent to eyelevel with the baby.

"Well hello" she cooed. "Hello cutie."

Mathew's eyes were wide as he watched Storm, but he wasn't afraid, Rogue could tell that. Logan blinked a few times and finally managed to speak. "Look's like we got a lot to catch up on." He stated and Rogue nodded.

"Well come on. I'll grab Hank and the others and have them meet us in the library. After you change of course." Storm stated.

All three of their brows furrowed this time…Mathew was watching Logan warily. "Change?" Rogue asked and Storm nodded.

"I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of calling back Mr. Maximoff and getting your sizes so you can change." Pietro looked away as Rogue and Wanda turned to look at him. "Come on," Storm laughed. "They are in your rooms. I'll give you a little while before we talk." Rogue nodded and, still barely able to believe this, she followed Storm into Xavier's School for the Gifted.


Mathew was too curious to sleep during the small reunion in the library. In the end, Storm explained that everyone was either in class, or teaching a class, but Hank had managed to find his way down to be part of it. Rogue and Wanda were sharing Rogue's old room, and both had found outfits that only Pietro could have picked out for them lying on their beds. Mathew would have to do without a change of outfit for a day, but it wasn't bothering him. Pietro was in the boy's wing rooming with Piotr Rasputin…a name Rogue had instantly recognized as Colossus. Pietro was slightly intimidated by the man, but he would never let anyone see that. It would deflate his ego too much.

Now the small group sat in the couches Rogue had once sat in with her friends while studying. Her heart tightened as she glanced at the couch Storm and Logan were sitting in, with Logan's arm around Storm. Storm had told Rogue that they were married and Rogue had been thrilled…yet at the same time…she had been jealous of something she was sure she would never have.

Storm explained that most of the kids Rogue had grown up with were still here, with a few exceptions. Most had changed to be teachers here. She also explained how she current taught History and English and Rogue had offered to take English off her chest for her. Wanda was given day care…since she loved kids so much and wanted to be able to keep an eye on Mathew, and Pietro would start a new business class for the older students.

Hank was married now, to a woman named Amanda that Rogue had never even heard of. Apparently she had been a friend of his when he worked for the government as the secretary and when he left, she had realized how much she loved him and followed, despite the fact that she was not a mutant. She was a wonderful cook, however, and so she was sent to work in the kitchen, a job she loved.

Kurt was still in the mansion, but he was mainly there for religious reasons and any student that was Christian or Catholic and wanted to participate in his Sunday prayers was welcome too. He had somewhat given faith to a lot of students through that.

Storm explained how Artie Mattocks was learning how to use Cerebro so they could use it to rescue mutants once again. Jubilation Lee had started again after Alcatraz and worked with Hank on weapons for the X-men, although she tended toward explosives and putting them in things that could be carried anywhere. Like gum wrappers.

Apparently, Piotr and Jubilee were dating, although no one knew how long that would last. Piotr helped with heavy lifting and construction. He taught a construction class most of the time. A ton of new mutants had joined the mansion, including a Betsy Braddock, who was currently dating a returned Warren Worthington…or Angel as Rogue remembered him.

The most shocking one was Scott's brother Alex Summers, and his girlfriend Lorna Dane. There were many more but Rogue was having trouble remembering them all. Then Storm said the words that should have hurt Rogue…but strangely didn't. "And Bobby and Kitty got married. Bobby teaches Science, and Kitty is learning to cook with Amanda."

Rogue simply nodded to everything that was said as Storm, Hank, and Logan caught her up on everything. Pietro looked bored, but Wanda was leaning forward listening to everything with wide-eyes. The filling in finally ended and everyone fell into an awkward silence. Logan was the one to break the silence.

"Why'd ya run, kid?" Rogue took a deep breath as all eyes, including Pietro's and Wanda's, turned to her.

"Guess ya'll have a right to know." She stated. She took a deep breath and said, "I took the cure…but then ya'll knew that. I guess I just didn't feel like I belonged anymore. I wasn't a mutant. I was human, the thing that was killin all of us…and I ran."

There was silence and then Storm shook her head. "You are always welcome here Rogue. This is your home. Just like its Mathew's now."

"Speaking of which," Hank piped up. "Where's the father?"

Wanda's eyes widened as she turned to Rogue but Rogue looked away. "He died." She stated, and then realized she should have sounded a little more hurt. "He was killed by the FOH about a month after we got together, right before my powers kicked back in."

Wanda rolled her eyes but the others seemed to buy it. "And you can touch Mathew? Without your powers…" Hank began.

"Yes." Rogue cut him off. "I can touch my baby. We think it was because he's part of me…he was in me."

Hank nodded. "That would make sense. Your body remembers it being inside you and so recognizes it as a part of you. Makes perfect sense."

Rogue nodded. After a lengthy explanation about the war and what was happening, they finally got to the part Rogue had been dying to hear about. "After Magneto and Mystique were taken out, Pyro took control of the Brotherhood." Storm paused here and turned to Rogue. "You remember Pyro, right?"

Rogue almost laughed at the absurdity of the question. Not only had he been one of her best friends in the school, he had grown to be so much more. Did she know him? Rogue simply nodded and Storm continued. "He was much more aggressive than Magneto had ever been and much more ruthless. He did more damage in three months than Magneto had done in his entire lifetime. But when the cure ran off, it seems Magneto and Mystique took over again and Pyro stepped down."

Rogue listened intently, trying desperately not to appear too interested in the enemy. "A lot of the mutants we fought in Alcatraz returned to the Brotherhood once the cure ran its course…and you can imagine how hell bent they are on revenge for it."

Rogue nodded. Storm told Rogue how the X-men had grown to Piotr, Jubilee, Kitty, Bobby, Hank, Kurt, Alex, Betty, Warren, and of course Storm and Logan. It was quite the team now, and Storm insisted that the three new mutants try to become a part of it as well. Rogue promised to think about it and then slowly they all retired for the night.

It had been midnight when Rogue had stumbled out of bed and down the dark hall she recognized so well. It was easy, slipping back into this routine. She'd just gotten Mathew to sleep and hadn't been able to sleep. Her throat was too dry. Sighing she hurried down the carpeted hall, remembering how the carpet had felt under her feet the night she and Bobby and John had been running from Striker's men.

She rounded the corner into the kitchen and froze. Her eyes widened as the man sitting at the island in the middle of the kitchen looked up. Ice blue eyes widened as Bobby Drake opened his mouth in shock. Rogue was positive her features reflected his. Bobby had changed drastically. True, his brown hair was still short and spiked, although now it was joined with a brown goatee and beard. His ice blue eyes had the same cold surface they had had when she was dating him, and by the looks of things, he hadn't gotten any taller, but his muscles were definitely more pronounced. She could only imagine what was going through his head at the moment.

"Rogue?" he stuttered. She blinked, bringing herself out of her daze, and smiled sheepishly at him.

"Hey, Bobby."

Bobby nearly fell out of his chair. "What…" he began but before he could finish a much softer voice drifted to them.

"Bobby?"

Bobby's head jerked toward the sound and he sighed just as Katherine Pryde rounded the corner. She stopped long enough to smile at Rogue and then beckon her husband back to bed. Rogue watched from where she stood as the couple moved out of the room, Bobby still in shock and Kitty to asleep to care. Once they were gone, Rogue sank down into the chair Bobby had been occupying. No doubt, he'd want to talk to her. He would want an explanation for why she left. But that was obvious, wasn't it? He'd cheated on her with Kitty, she'd seen him. So she'd left. Sighing Rouge grabbed a bottle of water and headed back toward her room. It wouldn't take long to get used to the swing of things around here again. Rogue was almost anticipating it.

For the next few years, things became normal. Rogue taught English, and never, under any circumstance, left the mansion. She didn't want the Brotherhood to find out about her. Not until she was ready. Wanda and Pietro fit right in, and Bobby and Kitty were more than thrilled to have their old friend back. Many people, including Logan, had asked about Mathew's father, but only Logan didn't buy the "he died" line. Logan knew her too well. Whenever he asked, and she blew him off, he'd simply shake his head and said, "You'll tell me when you're ready I guess." Other than that, thing were perfect, peaceful even, until Mathew turned five.

It had been three days after his fifth birthday when it happened. Rogue had been sitting on her bed, grading papers, and Mathew had been playing in the floor with the new toy his Grandpa Logan had bought him. Mathew was, to say the least, spoiled rotten by all of his 'aunts' and 'uncles' and especially by Hank Storm and Logan. He still only let women touch him, but he wasn't as scared as he once was. Logan was able to pick him up, as was Pietro after a while. Hank could play with him, but resent the fact that Mathew considered Hank a big fluffy teddy bear. Everyone else just laughed it off.

A bug landed on the window and caught Mathew's eye. He studied it, watching it crawl from one side of the window to the other in a zig zag pattern. His hands still held his toys in them, but he was so quiet Rogue looked up from her papers to check on him. Her gaze followed his to the bug and she shivered. "I hate bugs" she stated. Mathew looked up at her, through his chocolate brown eyes, and a tuff of brown, almost gold, hair fell into his eyes.

"You don't like bugs, mommy?" he asked and Rogue shook her head.

"Never have, sugar."

Rogue had been a little startled when Mathew had nodded and turned his gaze back to the bug. He was staring at it so intently that Rogue turned to look at the bug herself…just before it burst into flames. Mathew turned back to look at his mommy and smiled. "See mommy," he stated, apparently not registering Rogue's wide-horror filled eyes, "No more buggies."

"LOGAN!" Rogue screamed and a second later 'grandpa' along with Hank had come bursting into the room. They took in the scene quickly and then quite confused turned to Rogue.

"What's wrong?" Logan demanded but Mathew answered for her.

"Mommy doesn't like bugs so I made it go away."

"He incinerated it!" Rogue cried.

"What?" Logan asked.

"It was on the window…and he was looking at it so intently…and then it just burst into flames. Hank, that can't be normal."

Hank turned to regard Mathew who was looking up at them with wide unaware eyes. He held out his toy to Logan and said, "Play with me?"

"Well he is a mutant, Rogue." Hank reminded her gently. "Perhaps his powers are manifesting faster than normal. After all, you said the father was a mutant too. If the gene was dominate through both of you, it would explain why it's manifesting so quickly."

"But what do I do about it?" Rogue demanded. "What if he sets someone on fire on accident, like one of us?"

Hank shook his head. "We'll just have to teach him how to control it. If it happens again, let me know, and I'll run some tests. Until then…let the boy have his fun."

Rogue sighed and regretfully turned back to grade papers. Every now and then her gaze would travel to the tiny black scorch mark on the window and she would shiver. 'Why…why oh why did it have to be fire?'

Next chapter has Pyro! So read and Review! The more reviews, the quicker I post it.