Wow okay everyone thanx for the reviews. i got a little bored here so i skipped a bit and rushed things forward, trust me though its gonna get really really dramatic- no one dies though


Emma Frost

I bumped into Rogue as she was sneaking in. I had been down to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and couple of shots of what passed for alcohol around here. I was climbing the stairs when I saw the window being slid open and her climbing in as stealthily as a thief climbs, I cleared my throat. She either ignored or didn't hear me. She threw her hair back and I watched her as she snuck along the hallway.

Suddenly a door opened a little girl came out clutching a teddy bigger then her,

"Mawee" she lisped, Rogue spun on her heel instantly at the little girl's side,

"Anna, did teddy have another scary nightmare?"

What the hell? I scoffed,

The little girl- Anna- nodded sniffing and fighting tears. Rogue cooed kissing her hair lovingly, "Well how about you bring teddy to my room and we'll cuddle those bad nightmares away huh?"

Not even bothering with subtlety I burst out laughing at this ridiculous show, suddenly the tough Southerner was fussing over the kid as if she were her own.

Rogue's head shot up and her eyes met mine, those eyes, which had been full of motherly tenderness now showed, undisguised hatred,

"Um Anna you just head along to my room, I'll be there in a minute" absently she dismissed the child leaving us standing in the hallway,

"You have some nerve laughing at a distressed child," she hissed, coming toward me her jacket flying after her,

"Please" I rolled my eyes, "You spoil the brat and how is she meant to get over these nightmares if she denies having them?"

"Nightmares aren't always something you can just get over" she seethed, I knew I'd hit something there,

"No, well how about you bring teddy to my room and we'll cuddle those bad nightmares away huh?" I mocked,

For a moment, her eyes widened with hurt but then she covered it up with a haughty smirk, "Gee, guess you must be desperate for a bed partner, Logan not biting the bait huh?"

Now it was my turn to be speechless, mortified I could only stare as smirking she turned and flounced up the hall. Furious I ignored all Xavier had told me about the ethics of mind reading and plunged into her uppermost thoughts,

In there I found something concerning Logan, I brushed past it knowing I couldn't hurt her without hurting him and I didn't want to do that.

Digging deeper I found something she wanted dearly-and that I could take from her.

"So you care about these kids huh?"

Snorting she turned back to me, "Yeah, unconditionally"

"And you're happy to spend the day running after them?"

Still not comprehending she placed a hand on her hip and eyed me, "Yeah, I am"

"Good" I sashayed past her "Then you wont mind giving up your campus classes and returning to school by correspondence"

She blinked showing her surprise "What?!"

I smiled "Well you do take marvellous care of the children- and seem to know which ones deserve the liberties and which don't, so you wont mind giving up something so…"

"No!" Rogue hurried forward and took my arm, her eyes pleading, "Please, I…I don't have enough time to look after the children and do my work as well"

I twisted my arm and released her hold, "Well then, you'll have to sacrifice one or the other wont you"

She saw the ultimatum clearly,

Give up your position in the school, rendering her useless and easier for me to dispose of-or- give up your education, that which you value so highly,

"I…" she stuttered, shaking her head gently, looking absolutely devastated and absolutely beautiful, "I…guess you're right, well I suppose I can return to school by correspondence"

She closed her bedroom door softly behind her, I knew that if I were to press my ear to it I would hear tears of anger I smiled licking my lips.