Disclaimer: I obviously don't own it.

A/N: This is a bit of a short chapter, but the next one will be longer. I hope you guys are liking it so far. As always, thanks for taking the time to read! Let me know what you think.


A week of unease turned into a month, and a month into two months without any further sign of Mystique. Logan told her that she'd called only three more times, each time angrier than the last. He wouldn't tell her exactly what was said, but she got the feeling either he or the Professor had finally ripped into her adopted mother over the phone since the woman hadn't called since. It had probably been Logan. When she voiced that thought to him, he only smirked though. Which was an answer in itself.

After three months the calls had stopped, and there'd been no sign of any legal actions. A cop had walked up to her one day after school, a few weeks after the first call, and she had been sure that she would have to run for it. He'd only wanted to ask if she'd seen someone in a picture who'd defaced the library though. It had looked suspiciously like Toad, but she'd only shrugged, mumbled a no, and walked off. No police had shown up on the Institute steps, no one from Child Services had come for her, and no lawyers had been in contact. It seemed like the Professor had been right about it just being a bluff.

After four months, Rogue finally started to shake the unease, and most thoughts about why Mystique would suddenly want her back had faded. Even the others were acting more like themselves and less like her bodyguards. Though, she had to admit, she missed the days when Kitty had stopped using her music as an alarm. The respite had only lasted a month, just long enough for Kitty to stop worrying about her mental stability.

It seemed as if Mystique's latest scheme had failed and she'd move on. Things were finally back to normal, or at least as normal as things could get in a house full of mutants. Which admittedly probably wasn't very normal.

"But, like, have you seen him?"

Rogue rolled her eyes at her roommate. Her current obsession of the week was apparently a new transfer student in her math class. Apparently he was...

"So like...adorable. You know?"

"Uh huh."

"Are you even paying attention, Rogue?"

"Uh huh."

A pillow suddenly hit her head, accompanied by an irritated shout of, "Rogue!"


Somethin' smelled.

It smelled like cigarettes and beer. It was a familiar scent on an unfamiliar body. Logan narrowed his eyes and took a step closer to the window. Charles was discussing something about a recent prank war outbreak with Storm. Jean and Kurt worked on homework on the sofa, but it didn't take enhanced senses or telepathy to know Kurt was mostly just listening to Chuck and Storm.

Just as he was about to check the perimeter and track down the smell, it suddenly got stronger just as he heard the front door open. Seconds later Scott was in the doorway with the source of the smell right behind him.

"You have a visitor, Professor," Scott announced, looking somewhat confused. He stepped inside and gestured to Charles all the same. "That's Professor Xavier."

Logan took a moment to look the newcomer over. He was the large burly type. Reddish-brown hair, blue-gray eyes, and scruff along the jaw. There was something he didn't like about the guy already. Something in the expression.

"Professor Charles Xavier?" the man asked. He didn't make a move to enter the room. In fact he looked suspicious of everyone.

"Yes, I am Charles Xavier," Charles replied, moving forward. "May I ask who you are?"

It almost seemed like the guy didn't want to answer, but finally did so grudgingly. "Bruce. You can call me Bruce."

"It's nice to meet you, Bruce. What can I help you with?"

"I'm here for Anna Marie."

A sinking feeling hit Logan in the gut.

"Anna Marie?" Scott asked.

Bruce spared Scott only the barest glance, as if he was barely worth the effort of acknowledging. "You call her something else."

Charles' eyes narrowed, but it was so subtle Logan doubted anyone but him and Storm noticed. "I believe you mean Rogue..."

There was a hushed whisper between Scott and Jean, and Kurt's surprise was clearly written on his face. Logan tensed further and balled his hand into a fist. He took a moment to sniff the air, but didn't catch Mystique's scent.

"I saw her on the news awhile back," the man continued without commenting on the name any further. There was a callousness in his voice that Logan didn't like the sound of. "Tracked her here."

"Why are you looking for her?" Storm asked.

The room was silent, everyone waiting for an answer.

"I'm her father."