Chapter 7

She shot up out of bed, gasping for breath, damp from a nightmare.

"Rogue, Rogue it's okay," Logan said, sitting up to put his arms protectively around her and pull her back to a lying down position. "It's okay, just a dream."

Her breaths slowed as she cuddled into him.

"Sorry," she said, still panting from leftover fear. "Were you up?"

"Yeah, and don't be sorry. Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she exhaled with a laugh, letting the dream go and the memory of what had happened revive inside her head. "Yeah, I'm better than okay," she said, leaning up to gently kiss him. "You wanna do something in New York when we get there today?"

"If you want."

"Well, then in a couple hours we'll be in the heart of New York City, you wanna stop and sight see a bit?"

"When was the last time you were there?"

"It's been forever. Years. I was…well you know who I was, I was Marie back then."

"You want to go as who you are now?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's do it."

XxX

"You hate it."

"I don't hate it."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Logan!" she exclaimed as they sat in a diner on 52nd and 4th Avenue, where the waiters and waitresses sang great 50s and 60s music. "Don't lie to me. Otherwise I'll ask you to see Les Miserables!"

He dug his fork into the food. He was trying so hard to like this tourist thingy she was doing but he wasn't used to…it.

"I'm just not used to doing a lot of touring. But I'm getting used to it, all right?"

"Don't you think there might be more to life than drinking and having sex?" she asked.

"Not really," he replied and she laughed. "I'll be right back."

"K," she said, twirling the spaghetti on her fork.

Across the restaurant, they noticed Logan had gotten up.

"Alright, he's up, I'm going to go talk to her."

"Be careful, she'll most likely think we're following her."

"We are following her."

"I know, but she's going to assume we're them."

"We're not, and that's all that counts," she finished, standing up and making her way towards Rogue.

Rogue stuffed her mouth full of the spaghetti when she looked up and noticed a beautiful woman sitting in Logan's seat. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was full.

"Can I help you?" she managed through her full mouth.

"Hi, I didn't mean to startle you, I just need to talk to you for a second," the white haired woman said.

Rogue wiped her mouth and swallowed.

"Do I know you?"

"Not yet. My name's…Ororo Munroe. Have you heard of the X-Men, my dear?"

"No."

"Let me start by saying I'm a mutant, and I know you're a mutant who's in danger. I know you've been on the run for a few years from other mutants."

Now she had Rogue's full attention.

"And how do you know that?"

"Because I'm a mutant, I'm an X-Man. We're an organization of mutants that have a place where we can be safe from everyone else. Where we learn to control and manipulate our mutations. Where we can hide people. I'm giving you our card with our address, phone number, and all other contact info," Storm said, slipping the card to Rogue. "I know this must sound…extreme but I promise you that we can keep you safe and give you a place to live. We're all mutants at this institute, so if you're ever scared or in danger or just simply have no where to go, come here."

Rogue looked at the card. It was a school.

"What's the catch? I mean why have you sought me out, knowing things about me I haven't told anyone, offering me everything?"

"Because I'm a mutant who joined other mutants who wanted to create a haven for them, and I'm inviting you because we need a place where others can't get to us. I have to leave now, but you keep that card. The institute's in Westchester, you've got a safe place Rogue."

Storm squeezed Rogue's gloved hand, then got up and left. Rogue stared at the card.

"What's that?"

She jumped.

"It's nothing," she said, putting it in her pocket as Logan sat down across from her. "So, where do you wanna go next?"

"Liberty Island?"

"No thanks," Rogue replied. "Had a dream about it, gives me the creeps. Anywhere else you wanna go?"

"I don't know. You're the one who knows what's out here."

"Maybe we should just keep going to Canada," she suggested.

"You ever been there?" he asked.

"Yeah, a long time ago. Studied medicine there."

"Rogue, if you enjoy New York and want to stay here, that's fine with me," he said sincerely. "If you're happy, I'm happy."

She smiled.

"Thanks. I think you liked everything we did until this restaurant," she laughed as another waitress sang a 50s song so loudly she had to shout for him to hear her.

It had actually been really fun. She'd actually made Logan fun to be around. They'd walked around Manhattan visiting various landmarks with one of her bought maps that they wrestled over and laughed about. She brought up a side that was stashed deep inside him and he felt so much lighter, without so much baggage weighing him down. He'd gotten used to laughing, that was incredible.

As they got back into his truck several hours later to head up to Montreal, she got out her laptop again.

"K, I can put the money into your account in Canadian or American dollars, which do you prefer?"

"I don't have an "account", Rogue."

"Fine, I'll get it out of an ATM, do you want it in Canadian dollars?"

~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~