A/N: I found Rogue! Now I can continue…

This is the second last chapter. I'm really trying to tie all the loose ends together so bare with me.

Rogue sat on the floor waiting. She wasn't sure how long it was in real time and worried that maybe this wouldn't work. But she had to try. She shook herself and once again reached out with her mind. Finally the woman in front of her woke.

'Jean?'

Rogue waited as Jean stood up and looked around. Rogue smiled and gave a small wave.

'Rogue?'

'Hi. Bout time you woke up.'

'Where are we?'

'In your mind. Well part of it. I've been using what I have left of your abilities to seal off this room. You know where we are.'

'This is my old room. Meaning this is my house.'

'Exactly and the door is closed to keep the scary bird out. But the problem is with her swooping around there and you locked in here, the phoenix can wake up and kill everyone.'

'So you want me to get rid of her?'

'No Jean, we both know that strong personalities need to be controlled or controllable. Not locked away and forgotten.'

'You're enjoying this!'

'Hey you got to play doctor in my head. So, yes, this is fun.'

'Only the professor can put her away.'

'The professor isn't immortal. He can't do your homework forever. Time for Jeannie to grow up and face her own demons.'

'When did you become so patronizing?'

'Why do you always divert attention to me?'

'Urgh! Stop this Rogue.'

'Direct that anger over there.'

Rogue pointed to the door. Jean turned to the door and grasped the handle. She pulled and pushed and rattled but nothing happened. She started pacing, throwing glances at Rogue who was fascinated with her nails. Finally she kicked the door which blazed in response. Rogue sighed and stood up, putting her hands on Jean's shoulders.

'Your anger is her anger.'

'What do I have to do?'

'You know what.'

Jean sighed and stopped pacing. She turned to the door and placed her hand on it.

'Please.' she whispered.

Rogue frowned and crossed her arms.

'Don't ask. It's your mind, your body.'

'I can't force the phoenix back. You know that.'

'Jean my psyche's aren't a part of me. I ask because they're people who have their own thoughts, lives, desires. But you and the phoenix are one. Stop treating it like a separate person.'

'You don't want me to lock her away, I can't ask her to disappear. What must I do?'

'Three, two and…one.'

Rogue held back a laugh as Jean suddenly looked very focused. Jean then sat on the floor crossed her legs. She closed her eye's deep in concentration. Rogue wondered around Jean's room. She really wanted to get out of here but that was another problem of her own. She knew time was running up and even though now she had a hold on Jean's telekinetic powers but she also had a feeling that while she was here in Jean's mind her own mind was under immense strain. It was currently holding off the phoenix, and coping with her random psyches. She took another deep breath and pivoted around spinning her arms around.

'Rogue?'

'Ready?'

'I guess.'

'See you soon.'

'Not actually.'

'What?'

'Rogue, I'm going to wipe my own memory. The whole thing.'

'Wait! That's not my plan. You were just going to wipe some memories. Then we'd go back home.'

'Look sweety, I'm going to wipe everything. And I know it's selfish to ask but I'm going to need someone to help me. With the amnesia and the phoenix, but I don't expect it to be you.'

'Fuck this is going to take long!'

'You can go.'

'No, I'm not coming to the mansion and have them look at me with that same disgust. I'm sick of being the source of gossip.'

'Thank you.'

'Yeah, yeah.' muttered Rogue.

'You better go.'

Rogue nodded and closed her eyes. She concentrated and took a deep breath. There was a tugging sensation on her stomach.

When her eyes fluttered open it was her own eyes. Her body felt stiff. She flexed her fingers before sitting up and rubbing the back of her neck. Next to her was Jean's body. It was floating slightly. Rogue need to act quick if she was going to keep Jean alive. She took a deep breath and picked Jean's body up. The woman was certainly no pixie. Rogue headed out the warehouse she had teleported into. She looked around and smiled as she saw the hospital around the corner. Not bad for a first time teleportation.

She arrived inside and was immediately helped with Jean. She sat down on one of the chairs and reached out with Jean's telepathy. Just a little tweaking here and there. Finally she 'convinced' someone to hand her some money. She'd pay them back. She headed to a clothing shop and bought a simple dress and shoes. She then went into a public bathroom and changed. Tossing her x-uniform she headed back into the hospital. She walked to the reception and smiled.

'Hey, I just brought my sister here. She has red hair and looks nothing like me.'

'Oh, yes. They've taken her to a room. Fill this form out. I'll give you the room number when you're done.'

'Thank you.'

Rogue sat and pondered over what to fill in. She went for Jean as a first name but put D'Acanto as Jeans last name. She handed the form over when she was done and then headed to Jean's room. Jean lay still, her face in her frown. She touched Jean forehead and sent her a message about where they were. Then she left. She needed to establish a life while she waited for Jean to wake up. She couldn't take Jean to the mansion. Not with the risks and ways for the phoenix to come out when Jean was fighting so hard to control her own body.

-xXx-

Three months passed before Jean finally woke up. It was the middle of the night. Rogue had just finished her shift at the local bar and was heading home to her one bedroom apartment. She went through her regular routine of washing her hair, cooking dinner and putting on her sweats and tank top for her workout. That's her body felt really weird. She'd rushed to the hospital and as she came to the entrance the nurse looked at her shocked. Rogue ran to Jean's room to find her thrashing. She placed a hand on Jean's head and using what little telepathy she had left, sent a soothing message to her. Soon Jean relaxed and Rogue sighed and fell back in the chair behind her. Taking deep breaths she nodded at the doctors who worked over Jean.

Mutants were socially acceptable in this town. Hardly spoken of but not shunned. She just told everyone she was empathic. Seemed like the most reasonable explanation for what she would have to do today. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

~Rogue~

Hi Professor. I'm guessing you felt Jean.

~Yes, though her power is weaker.~

She locked the phoenix away. Completely. And then wiped her mind so that she wouldn't remember the phoenix. Now all she needs to do is control her power and…

~And then you come home~

Yeah, I guess.

~There's something else.~

Mm. You know me too well.

~I know because you were going to come visit for two weeks. While Jean was in hospital, you promised you'd come back. But you didn't.~

I'm pregnant.

She waited but there was only silence.

Professor?

~I don't see the problem. Logan has changed Marie. He's still here waiting for you, he's not going to run away.~

That's not the problem. What if it isn't Logan's? What then?

~There are ways you can find out~

I just don't want to find out when there's a possibility that it might not be.

~You're afraid of what happens when it isn't his~

Yeah

~It's your decision my dear. But remember this is your home. And there are people who love you and want you here.~

I have to go.

~Very well~

She opened her eyes and found Jeans eyes piercing hers. The doctors were gone and Jean seemed to be stabilized.

'Hi.' whispered Rogue.

'The doctors say we're sisters.'

'Not by blood.'

'Why can't I remember anything?'

'You had an accident.'

'Oh.'

'Did the doctors say when you could leave?'

'In a week.'

'Well then we better get to work.'

-xXx-