1Disclaimer: I don't own, so don't sue.
A/N: Sorry, Scott is in this chapter, but there's no bashing. I couldn't work it into the scene. But there is Rogue making fun of Bobby, so that's always a plus! Oh and sorry it's so late! -begs for forgiveness-
And there was that whole rumor going around that we're not allowed to respond to our readers reviews, but since there was no little bulletin on the homepage. I'm going to respond, since unless confirmed, it remains a rumor.
Devonshirelass: Thank you for the compliment, I try and make it so people can actually see it in their heads. Glad to know I succeeded with at least one person.
Twitch in my eye: If I wanted I'd write, don't you mean; 'oh my stars and garters' but Gambit's my character, not Beast.
Really-A-Dopey 1: Well Logan wasn't meant to be a highly thought of character, I needed an antagonist, and he fit the bill. Specially since I'm all angry with him at the moment.
Sweet8587: Well I'm glad you liked the chapter, and all will be revealed.
Proffy: Well I hope you aren't dead, because then I'd have lost a reviewer and that's never good... well hopefully you'll love this chapter as well, even if it is a little short.
MJK: Yeah, I still have to work on the following deadlines thing... And I'm sorry baby jesus... -hangs head in shame-
Leafee: Ah! I've been poked. Alas, I didn't update sooner... Sorry! -hides behind Melfina-
GambitGirl2008: Have some faith!
Anna: Well, in my story Rogue's (18) graduating and Remy's a year older (19) so they're legally adults. And Jubilee's in this chapter, but no Jean.
CHUCHU123: Well this chapt is still a little short, but the next one is supposed to be much longer. And unfortunately some mag, Remy isn't set to be in the next movie, or the fourth!
Bird's Sparrow: -Pokes you with a stick- Wake up, the next chapter is up.
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Xavier sat at his desk grading papers on the latest book his students were reading. When suddenly thundering pain shot up his spine into his brain. Flying back against his chair he grasped his temple with one of his hands as he maneuvered to the side of his desk. Leaning forward he used his other hand to clutch at the side of his desk.
Scott walked into the office flipping through the mail. "Hey professor, you got something from the Genonshan gov-" The mail fell to the ground as Scott stood in shock for only a mere moment. "Professor!" Within moments he was at his mentor's side asking if he was alright. When the professor only strained against the pain within his mind, Scott stood up and began making his way to the door, "I'm getting Jean!"
The Professor's hand reached out towards Scott, as he called out to him with through his mind, Scott, no! Stopping in his tracks, Scott looked back at the professor, who was now releasing his grip on the desk, as his breath finally evened out. He looked up and forced a smile at Scott, "No. I'm- I'm fine. It was nothing."
Reluctantly Scott let out a sigh, "Okay professor... I guess I'll go and work on the early morning danger room sessions... If you need me I'll just be in my office."
The professor gave Scott another small smile, as he walked out. Scott never having had been able to read people's expression couldn't see the strain that laid just beneath that smile. As soon as Scott left the room the professor completely sombered up, wiping the sweat from his brow, his face held enough worry for the world. He sat there as if he was staring into another world, his eyes never moving, his words made no sound as he spoke. "...There is nothing, anymore." He closed his eyes and shed a single tear for his lost student, and hung his head in despair.
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Clutching her books to her chest, Rogue walked out of her last class, glowing, along with her entire class. Jubilee ran up behind her dropping various papers out of her binder as she made her way over to Rogue. "Hey chica! Wait up!"
Rogue turned and stood in the middle of the hallway waiting for her friend. Having successfully caught up to her friend the two began walking down their path. "Can you believe it?"
Rogue turned to her and raised an eyebrow in question. "Believe wha'?" She asked assuming she had missed out on the latest gossip.
Jubilee gave her an exasperated looked, and smacked her forehead in disbelief. "That it's finally OVER!" She threw her remaining papers in her binder in the air, "No more homework!"
"Which ya never did."
"No more projects!"
"Ya didn't do those eith'ah..."
"No more lectures from Scott!"
"An' ya jus' slept through those..."
Jubilee groaned in frustration, "You know you're making it hard to celebrate our freedom."
Rogue laughed at her friend, "Ah'm sorr'ah. Din't mean ta, jus' how can ya celebrate tha release from sumthin' tha' ya nev'ah reall'ah did..." Jubilee simply glared at the southern beauty, as they continued walking through the hallway.
Ignoring Jubilee's attempt at a glare, Rogue thought to herself, I guess she's right. Ah should be celebratin'. I'll jus' wait till Remy comes back from 'is mission... Then we can celebrate properly! Rogue smiled to herself as she began to plan several ways they could celebrate her graduation.
When she heard Bobby calling out to her as he ran towards her, much in the same fashion that Jubilee had just a moment ago. "Rogue!"
She turned to face him, "Oh, hey Bobbah. Wha' do ya need?"
"Hey. The professor sent me to tell you that he wants to talk to you. He should be in his office. I'll walk you over." Rogue thanked Bobby and waved goodbye to Jubilee. Then she turned and they headed for the professor's office.
"So are you as thrilled as the rest of us that school is finally over?" He asked with a smile.
"Ya know technically it ain't ov'ah. We still got college..." She looked over at Bobby and gave him a sympathic smile. "Well... some o' us do at leas'." She said as they both stopped in front of the door to the professor's office.
He smiled and nodded, then as the realization of her words hit him, he looked at her with hurt on his face. "Hey!"
She moved so that she was standing in front of him and looked at him sadly. "Gotta face tha' facts, sugah. Someone had ta tell ya sometime..." She patted him on the back, before he could get another word in. She opened the door to the professor's office and walking in.
Once inside the small, yet grand room, Rogue made her way to the professor's huge oak desk. The professor sat at his desk with the back of the chair facing her, "Hello Rogue."
"Hey professah. Ya wanted ta see meh?" He spun around in the chair, a grim look on his face. One which immediately uneased her, and filled her with something, but she wasn't quite sure what it was.
He sat there staring at her for a moment, as if he was unsure of everything. Rogue found that it was the most nerve wrecking sight she had ever seen. Not once could she remember the professor confused or unsure of anything. "Rogue..." As soon as her name left his mouth he turned away and said nothing else.
"Profess'ah... Ya scarin' meh."
Still he refused to look at her, it wasn't until he leaned on the arm rest and hid his face within his right hand. "I'm so sorry."
She simply sat there, confused by his words. 'Sorry'? What did he have to be sorry about, not like he had done anything. He's never hurt anyone, and he opened his institute to her and Remy. Remy...
The weight of reality hit her a falling building, and all she could do was sit there. The professor began talking, but she couldn't hear anything he said to comfort her. She couldn't even see him anymore. All she saw was darkness, he had simply faded away into the background of the room.
Xavier knew that Rogue wasn't listening to him; still, he felt as if it was his duty to try his best to ease the pain of the situation. "-that everything feels...numb right now. But you have to know, that with time everything won't seem as terrible as it does now. Time helps you to forget..." He paused at the word 'forget' and decided to rephrase his words, knowing full well that at the moment she wouldn't want to forget Gambit, "I mean, to release the pain."
Slowly in an attempt to reconnect with the world around her, as the shock began to gradually fall away. She turned to the professor. "I love him." She said it with no emotion, and simply stared into the professor's glassy eyes. Finally after moments of silence, she was hit with waves of sorrow, pain, suffering. "I love him." Her body began shaking as she fought against the tears threatening her entire being. Knowing it was a losing battle, she brought her feet up onto the chair and buried her face in her hands, so that both her knees and hands hid her face from the professor. "I love him."
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Logan walked out of the hanger and into the metallic hallway with a sadistically feral grin on his face. Pausing in front of the doorway he crossed his fingers and pushed them outward over his head, stretching, and released a satisfied grunt into the otherwise silent corridors.
His smile never leaving his face, he made his way to the elevator. Stepping in, he pressed the button for the first floor. The elevator hummed to life, thankfully it didn't play any music, and he was left alone in the silence which he didn't mind in the least.
Leaning against the metallic wall, he crossed his arms. He began talking out loud to himself, since he was currently alone. "Takin' out the competition in less then half an hour... Not bad fer a day's work. I'm the best at what I do."
With a ding, the movement of the elevator stopped and the doors slid away to reveal the wooden panels of the hallway. He stepped out and figured he would head over to the kitchen for a victory snack having missed lunch while out on his little 'mission'.
Once in the kitchen he began gathering all the ingredients for a proper sandwich. Spending the better half looking for just the bread, which had been moved from the cabinet to a weird looking metal bread basket on the counter. Grumbling to himself, he began cutting the ham into slices, and recalled the look of anger on the Cajun's face as he had been dragged away.
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Rogue walked out of the professor's office with tears streaks still staining her distraught face. The professor had kindly offered to have one of the others come and escort her to her room, thinking she wouldn't want to be alone. She had refused much to his shock, and said she wanted to be alone with her thoughts, figure out what she was going to do.
Silently she followed her subconscious through the hallways, not particularly caring where she ended up. Luckily all the students where out celebrating the end of the school year, which left her practically alone in the mansion.
Why tha hell did this happen? Now of all times! When we were finally happy, everythin' was finally goin' mah way. He's stolen away from meh! It ain't fair.. She began biting on her nails, as she crossed her arms over her chest, Maybe this is some sign tha' I don't get ta be happy. That Ah'm supposed ta be alone... God, Remy. Sugah I jus' wish ya where here. I jus' want ya ta hold meh so bad, an' tell meh tha' everythin'll be alright. But ya can't do tha', ya can't do anythin' anymore.
She was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts, as she walked into the wall and fell backwards onto the ground. At least that's what she had thought until she looked up and saw Logan standing there holding a sandwich in his hands. She simply sat there watching his lips move, as he asked her a question and looked down at her with confusion on his face.
He held out his hand to her, and still she didn't move, as if she barely noticed him. He said something again, as he knelt down, his confusion now replaced with concern. He snapped his fingers in front of her face, and suddenly all sound and awareness came rushing back to her.
She jumped back a little, and slowly shook her head to clear the fog from her mind. "Ah-Ah'm sorry. Wha'd ya say Logan?"
He raised an eyebrow and looked her over, "I jus' asked if yer alright, darlin'." He stood back up, and offered his hand to her once again.
This time she accepted and let him pull her to her feet, since at the moment she didn't feel like she could move on her own. "Yeah... Ah'll talk ta ya later..." Slowly as if she was in a trance, she once again began walking her previous trail through the hallway.
Before she was five feet away from him, he called out to her. "Ya know darlin'. I'll always be here, for you. I'll never leave." She looked over her shoulder, yet her gaze was locked onto the red carpet of the grand hallway. Not even acknowledging his words, she turned forward and walked away.
Logan stood there, watching her retreating form until she turned a corner. Even then he still stood and listened to her footsteps, until she was too far away. He grunted to himself, and contemplated. She's takin' it harder then I figured she would... He smiled to himself and took a bite from his sandwich. That'll make it easier fer her to see that I'm the one fer her.
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A/N: Isn't he an asshole?