Cross Country Escape

Chapter 1: Betrayal

A/N: Ok, at the risk of being redundant. Magneto is now a part of the X-Men and is referred to by the students as Professor Magnus. The brother hood and the Acolytes with the exception of Sabertooth are part of the team as well.

When Rouge was 17 and Andrea (formerly known as X-23) 16 Logan legally adopted them.

Gambit does not live in the mansion but he now lives in Bayville, he acts as more of a liaison to the X-Men, but Rogue sometimes sees him on a regular basis.

Also, I have been wrestling wiht myself for a while on whether or not to post this so soon, so chapter two may not be up for a few days even though it's already written, in face every chapter up until 6 are written but this is a story that is going to require a lot of my time so please be paitent. I really don't want to end up doing what I've done with a few other stories. (which is discontinue them.)

Oh and the the first chapters are a little depressing and slow but their just build up to the main idea!!!!

ENJOY!!!!

She could see it in their eyes, the betrayal, the unrealized hatred. She knew they didn't want to hate her, that they still cared maybe even pitied her, but she still felt alone. She could say she didn't have a choice, say she wished things were different, but in the end it was all a lie.

The minute she heard about the supposed 'cure' for mutants she felt this weight in her chest lift. The weight, that for years had plague her with depression, anger and jealousy. She was poison, she was everyone's living nightmare (literally, she had everyone's nightmares). She was like that evil creature you'd see in a fantasy movie, the one that just wanted to destroy everything.

She honestly tried to find another way. She meditated, she worked with the Professors she even talked to Agatha Harthy, but still there was no answer to her life long problem. So late one night, while the mansion slept peacefully, she left for New York City, where a large distribution center for the 'cure' was located.

She knew the Professor's both knew and she knew that Logan suspected she would go, so when she returned to the mansion three days later, she wasn't surprised to be called into Professor Xavier's office.

All the instructors were gathered there, no doubt waiting for her to officially tell them what they already knew. So she did.

Jean and Scott hid their emotions well, but she could still tell they were a little confused. Mr. McCoy seemed to understand completely why she did it and even Storm was understanding of her situation. On the other hand, Professor Magnus seemed a little upset, but she couldn't blame him, after all he fought for, for the mutant population it wasn't surprising, and Professor Xavier seemed disappointed, probably more because he wanted to keep trying with the therapy he was using to help her get control.

And then their was Logan, the only one who really mattered of the group. His expression was the same as always, stern, but their was something else there. In his eyes, a small glimmer of…was that sadness?

She sighed as she left the office behind, Professor Xavier's words still ringing in her head.

"You'll always have a place here, Rogue."

She sighed. "But for how long?"

The first day back was and wasn't what she expected. A lot of the kids, the ones who were proud to be X-Men and of their powers avoided her, but then again they avoided her when she had powers anyway. Kitty came to find her right away the next morning, having nothing to say but that she was still her best friend and always would be. Rogue pretended to be indifferent, but both of them knew Kitty's friendship meant the world to her. Next came Kurt, her little blue step brother, whom once again reinforced that he loved her no matter what or who she was. She smiled at him a true genuine smile and for the first time, she gave him a hug, no barriers, no shield. She decided that she liked it more then she ever thought she would.

Andrea came to find her later that day, closer to dinner. Since Logan had adopted them both, the younger girl had taken to treating Rogue like a real sister, which honestly was ok with Rogue, (she always wanted a sister). They had become very close in the last few years, but today was different.

"Why?" she asked seriously. Rogue looked up from her sketch pad, trying to decide if she was angry or just curious. It was always hard to tell with her.

"Ah…Ah, couldn't see another way." Rogue replied honestly. "Ah just want to be able to touch somebody." she continued. Andrea nodded.

"Ok." she said, leaning forward and hugging her step sister. "As long as your happy." she continued as she walked out.

And then curfew rolled around and everyone was getting ready for bed. That's when Logan decided to make his move. He sat down on the bed next to her and was silent for while, before saying;

"How ya feeling?"

"Tired." Rogue replied. "But the doctors said that was normal." he didn't know if it was just him, but her accent seemed thicker, like she was holding something back.

"Listen kid." he finally continued. "I'm not going to pretend to understand what you've been through, but if you ever need to talk…" he left it hanging.

"Ah know, thanks…" she paused. "Dad." Logan looked at her surprised, before a light smile replaced it.

"Come here, stripes." he said, pulling her into a hug. She gladly accepted and laid her head on his shoulder.

Their wasn't anything else that needed to be said.

While she knew the only people who really mattered to her, were there to support her, she still couldn't shake the feeling that she let the team down. She felt like she was suffocating in a sea of disappointment and betrayal, a sea that she filled in herself. There was nothing wrong with being a mutant, she firmly believed that, but by getting the 'cure' she had pretty much told everyone different.

They just didn't understand. They didn't understand what it was like to never touch a single person. To know what is was like to feel skin on skin. To kiss the man she loved, or just to dance with him. She was cursed, used by her own mother, betrayed by her own skin.

But now she was finally free, free to touch, free to kiss, free to love with out barriers. And if no one else understood that then she considered them lucky.

"I don't understand." Bobby said slouching down on the couch. "I love being an X-Man, why would anyone want to change?"

"Because not everyone is lucky enough to be able to freeze things, Bobby." Jubilee defended. "Not every mutants powers are a "blessing"."

"Still, that whole cure thing seems to be nothing but an excuse to take the easy way out." Jamie continued. Just then Mr. McCoy walked in.

"Is it really cowardice for a person to want to fit in?" he asked, gaining everyone's attention. "This is not something a group of people can understand unless they too go through it."

"Yea, but still, I once heard Professor Xavier talking to Logan about how Rogue had the potential to be a class 5 mutant if she could control her powers. I'd love to be a class 5. Why would anyone want to give that up?" Bobby asked.

"Do not act as if your feelings are the general consensus, Ice Man. Not everyone's powers are as simple or controllable as yours."

The room was silent as they thought about what Mr. McCoy said. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't help but feel betrayed.

A/N: Short first chapter I know but I just wanted to get the idea out. Please review and chapter 2 will be up soon. warning the first few chapters are a little depressing.

-RED