Life, Love and Egg Nog
Chapter 3: The Lost One
Hi guys I thank everyone who reviewed this story. Over the weekend I re-read the story, and all I can say is It's amazing what you find the second time through. I'll be revising the story here pretty soon correcting the areas where my mind was moving faster than my typing speed. Guys please bear in mind that I haven't seen 'It's a Wonderful Life' in at lest a year. For now though, lets get this underway, Shall we?
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Rogue hurried to the main hall of the mansion where she saw that the Professor had been waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. Scott was waiting beside Professor Xavier and both where staring at her with a look of excited anticipation on their faces. "What's up, fellas?" wondered Rogue with a pronounced southern accent.
"Since when do you have a southern accent?" asked Scott "Never mind, Come on open your presents!" he exclaimed as he pulled Rogue to the tree.
"What's gotten into you?" inquired Rogue as she nearly fell on her face.
"Scott just wants you to open the present that he got for you." Answered Charles
Scott riffled through the gifts until he found a small box wrapped a fine silver gift-wrap with a red ribbon bow that read 'To Marie, my Rock, my Life, my Love' written in Silver ink that contrasted the crimson of the bow perfectly. Rogue nearly melted at the shear effort put into the package. She gently removed the package, being careful not to harm the ribbon or the paper. She found a small cardboard box inside and slowly removed the top. Inside there was a sterling silver bracelet that was accented by an engraving that looked as if it where something straight out of 'The Lord of the Rings'. Rogue was struck speechless; she didn't know what she had done to deserve this magnitude of a present, but could not bring herself to ask. Instead she tackled Scott with an embrace that would make the most Jaded of people blush. As she felt her skin come in contact with his, a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. She had never been able to get this close to anyone, before.
Scott returned the embrace with equal fervor "I take it that you like it?" he asked half sarcastically. "As much as I'd like to take all the credit; Kurt helped me pick it out." Rogue looked up at the smiling face of Kurt Wagner who sat quietly in the corner of the room. Rogue stood up and walked over to the blue velvet skinned boy and gently kissed him on the forehead.
"You should smile more." She whispered. She sat back down at the bulk of the group after dragging Kurt in with her. Time passed that day and soon the unplanned after lunch party was in full swing, and for the first time in her life Rogue was content. Just then the Charles called the group to silence and rose his glass to the air. He looked Rogue straight in the eyes
"I'd like to per pose a toast. To Marie, fifteen years ago I saw you in that orphanage; so quiet and willing to sacrifice so that other children could get into homes. You where a terror on purpose, had it not been for my mutant abilities I would not have seen the kind caring person that gave me my purpose." He gushed
"To Marie, for her dedication to all of us." Said Logan as he hoisted his bottle of Ever Clear. Rogue smiled an uncomfortable smile and waited until the attention died down to slip out of the room onto the balcony. Scott saw this and followed her surprising her with a loving hug from behind.
"Scott," she said as she rested comfortably in his arms "What did you mean by I'm your rock?"
"What?" He asked as if he had just seen a flying pig. "You know." His face became uncharacteristically solemn. "When Jean died three years ago, you got me out of the depression I was in."
"What!?!" wondered Rogue as she broke the contact between them. "How?"
"You where there. Fred Dukes kidnapped Jean when he thought she was showing interest in him. When she fought him for her freedom Fred threw a file cabinet at her, but she caught it. She wasn't lucky enough to catch the second machine that he threw at her. You where the closest to her and yet paid attention to everyone else first." Scott explained. Rogue was shocked speechless. Jean was dead? The emotions welled up inside of her; sure they were worlds apart in her previous life, but she far from hated the redhead. She could not take it any more she ran inside the mansion and up to her room. She flopped down on her bed and thought over the memories of this life. She did indeed remember the death of Jean Grey and the funeral that followed. The look on Jean's parent's faces was enough to bring her to her knees. Suddenly yet calmly came a comforting hand that laid on her shoulder. She looked up to the face of her guardian angel, Clarence.
"Why," she sobbed, "Why do you have to torment me?" she asked
Clarence's face lightened "Dear Child, This is the world that would have been had you been born a human. I only seek to show you what you wished to be; having not earned my wings yet that is all I can do." Rogue continued to sob into her pillow as Clarence tried to console her.
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End Chapter 3
I hope ya'll like it; at this point I'm sorta kinda drawing to a close. Tell me what ya think, writers love constructive criticism (Well this one does anyway). On with the Review answers. (Blows into trumpet until it flies out of my hands and clobbers a neighboring cat) oops sorry.
BaneofJean: I hope I explained how Rogue was adopted into the Xavier family enough (smiles nervously) It was kinda for plot sake. (fake laughs). 'bout Unveiling: Please do.
Dark Jaded Rose: Manipulated? How so?