Disclaimer: I do not own them

Summary: Rogue is finally able to touch but she is dying. Is it too late for love?

I know I took ages to update this. Work has been busy, stressful and tiring. Imagine standing almost 12hours each day. But the actual reason is that, I don't have enough review to motivate me. Haha! Yeah Right! I'm kidding. Ok, this is serious. The actual reason is that, I have no idea how to pen it out. The idea is there, just a bit difficult in widening it's story line.

Living For The Present: Chapter 3

It was a beautiful Sunday. They were having barbeque at the garden. A celebration for Rogue's newly acquired control over her powers – touch. It has been five months. She had gone through thorough tests and experiments, before Hank and the Professor finally agreed that her control is permanent.

"You're not going out like that Stripes" Logan had said when he saw her walking out of her room, carrying a towel on one hand and sunblock on the other in her bikini.

"And why not?" Rogue glared at her surrogate father. "Yah nevah forbid Lexa, Kitty, Jean or Wanda" Logan had only managed to growl at the young girl he considered very much like his daughter, knowing that he could never ever be able to argue with her.

Logan had pushed past her and grunted under his breath 'Teenagers'

"Ah'm ninteen Logan!" Rogue shouted, a smile curved on her lips. Logan was one of the best things she have in her life, beside her brother Kurt and best friends Kitty and Wanda. Logan is the man in her life - the next best thing to a father. Logan is a confidante, a friend and an over-protective bodyguard. And she loves him for that.

Jean, Wanda, Kitty and Rogue were lying by the pool, enjoying the warm sun, especially for Rogue, who hadn't had the chance before, now were only wearing an emerald green two piece bikini set, much to Logan's earlier disapproval. The boys would occasionally have a quick glance at Rogue exposed skin, not daring to look longer. They knew for the fact they would be dead – if they were lucky – or gotten into some serious bodily harm if they were to do that, either skinned alive by Wolverine or personally yours, Rogue herself.

The girls – the young mutants - prepared the food while the guys help to set out tables and other necessary arrangements. Kurt was giving instructions; he had wanted the celebration for Rogue to be perfect. His overly excitement caused the others to groan, even for Scott.

"No. Zat suppose to be zhere Ray."

"– And zhe plates suppose to be on zhe otherside."

"– Scott have you forgotten what I've told you"

"- The speakers zhere! Over zhere!" And it went on for a while until Rogue went up to him.

"Yah know Kurt, it's really nice of yah to be doing this fohr meh." She gave him a smile knowing that Kurt really care and love her. "But give them a break will yah. Just lay the tables in a row; the BBQ pit near the other end and everything else will turn out fine. In case if yah forget dear Brother. How nice yah set the place, it's gonna be destroyed."

"Ja, but I just want it to be perfect for you swizter" Kurt said.

"This is perfect. Ah appreciate it" Kurt gave Rogue a big hug.

The fire started at around 6pm, compliments from John. The music was played, Ray was the DJ, and the food was great. They ate, chatted, danced, played games and pranked each other.

Kurt had asked Ray to put on a slow number and had asked Rogue for a dance. "May I have this dance with you." His hand out, for Rogue.

"It'd be mah pleasure" She replied. The other guys followed soon after taking turn to dance with Rogue followed by their own dancing partner.

"We should have all our meals out here more often. It won't destroy the kitchen," Logan told Storm.

The girls were chatting by the pool, teasing Rogue to no end about getting a boyfriend. She simply shrugged saying no men interest her. It was when she gulp down her drink she felt that massive wave in her head. It was pounding that she dropped her drink and clutched her head. It lasted for a minute and then it was back to normal. When she looked up she saw the concern eyes on her. She had simply dismissed it as a passing headache; nothing she's not used too.

--

Life for Rogue had been a routine. Getting up as early as five in the morning. Fight for the bathroom. Get her ass down to the Danger Room with the others. Fight for your life in there. Then went down for breakfast where you fight (again), for food – glad that at least nobody else likes black coffee except Logan, Lexa and Wanda, and ride off for school. That is the only thing she look forward every morning; not school but riding. Her love for automotive, bikes or cars, had made her took a course in Mechanics Engineering with Business Admin. She still hate the Mathematics thou. But her passion drives her to be the unexpectedly top student in her course of study.

Someday, she would run her own business dealing with Bikes and Cars servicing, maybe even custom make them. Even if she can't run her own business, she could help improving the X-men "assault" vehicle. It wouldn't be so easy but definitely a challenge. Kitty could help with sophisticated programs on the vehicles; Scott, Logan and herself can look into the mechanics. Forge definitely can help with gadgets maybe some sort of invisibility device, which she believe it would really come in handy. As for the boys, they can be the crash dummies. She chuckled at the idea of having Bobby, Ray or Roberto getting into mischief.

It's been a few months now since she got her first massive headache. She still got them from time to time but was never as bad as the first. She came into the school compound and parked her beloved Kawasaki Lime Green on Black Ninja ZX-10R. She had it accustomed for tracking purposes – An Arrow exhaust pipe, racing brake pads, suspension, damper and the PC Commander.

She took of her helmet in such a way that her hair falls down neatly and she shook it as the wind blows her hair, much like those sexy girls in the movie.

"You're doing that again" Kitty said as she came out from the newly arrived SUV, parked by the side of her bike, driven by Jean. "How do you like do that? It always work you know, the wind always seems to blow your hair nicely when you took off your helmet."

"That sugah, is mah secret" Rogue smiled at the petite brunette. "And yah all late"

"Traffic" Jean said a matter of fact with a smile. "Can't move in between cars. Unless Kitty is driving." That earned laughter from everyone and a glare from Kitty.

"And you Rogue you should stop using Storm's power to create that hair effect. Wouldn't want to break the hearts of some boys in school, do we?" Wanda said smirking at the two-toned hair girl. "Besides, if I do remember correctly, someone said there are no guys that interest her or is there honey?"

"Ah so that's how she create that special effect." Kitty smiled.

"Wanda, do yah need to psycho analyze meh just 'cos yah're majoring in Philosophy and Psychology?" She said as they walked towards the school lobby.

"Keeps me sane" was Wanda's curt reply. For a girl who had been in an asylum and having a fire-obsessed maniac for a boyfriend, Rogue wondered if 'sane' is understatement for the Scarlet Witch. But living in a household full of hyperactive teenagers that drives everyone crazy, Wanda could just be the sanest person after all.

By the end of school, the girls and sometimes the guys would hang out at their favorite café joint; Carousel, which was located few streets down from school. Aside from the foods and desserts Carousel served, they had chosen the café as their hang out because not only that the location has wonderful accommodates; it has Rogue's all time favorite Book and CD shop, the rows of apparels shops that sells amazingly nice yet affordable clothes, which ranged from sophisticated to Goth to beach wear, the salons which the girls will sometimes drop by, the arcade few down the blocks, They even have a small D.I.Y computer shops round the corner. Most importantly, it is along the way back to the institute, and the fastest route home

Rogue was sitting at one of the corner of the café by the window, where she had a clear view of the entire floor as well as outside. She idly tapped her pen on a piece of paper placed on the table. She glanced at the empty plate across the table, only crumbs of cakes were visible, the mud pie had long finished. Her Cappuccino Freeze almost to its last drop. She had been waiting for the others for an hour. Apparently, her last class ended early, being given a project for the finals. Six months; the project was to be completed within six month and then a month after she would graduate.

She took out her sketchbook from her bag, something she would carry always. When inspiration struck, she'd sketch or scribble poetries. She held her pencil thinking. She does not have any inspirations for now, but she was hoping her boredom would be cured once she draw some lines or circles. Her staring contest with the blank page of her sketchbook was interrupted when she heard a girl's laughter few tables away.

"You lost Chad. So it's your treat," the girl said, putting a few cards down onto the table.

"Let's play again. I think you cheated" the boy reshuffled the cards again.

"No I don't but we can always play again. I'm good with cards you know," she said proudly, giving the boy a smile.

"Yeah can see that. What's with you and cards anyway?" He sigh, probably knew he's going to loose again. The girl had simply shrugged.

"It's like having 52 explosives in one little pocket" Rogue whispered, and smiled. The memories of him, always seems like yesterday and her hands started to draw lines, strokes and shades. She had always emblazed him in her mind although his psyche is not longer there, like the others, except for powers and memories. When she missed him, she sometimes used his charging abilities, to feel the warmth that runs through her body. That was the closest she could feel him. At least she reasoned, that is how she would feel if he were to hold her…or kiss. She lightly touched her lips. She knew she kissed him once, only because John had brought that tape to prove her that it did happen; yet she couldn't remember how it had felt like.

"God I hate school!" Lexa dropped into the seat beside Rogue. "I hate that Julian guy. He's so irritating!" Lexa had started to hang out with them since Rogue's accident.

"Who would have thought Lexa to be the one who is going to break my dear brother's heart. Love triangle." Wanda said, Lexa simply glared.

"Drawing cards?" Jean asked as she peered at Rogue's drawing.

"Thinking of someone?" Wanda asked as she slipped into the seat the other side of Rogue while Kitty placed herself opposite of the table.

Rogue gestured to the couple still playing their card games. The girl was laughing while the guy was fuming having to lose so many times. "They are mah inspiration. Was going draw 'em next. But since yah all here, ah think ah'll jus' skip"

Kitty mouthed a 'liar' when Rogue was busy putting back her sketchbook into her bag. The others nodded.