Disclaimer's: Don't own 'em...

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Rogue was tired. Not physically tired, (even though she had had her share of that at times) but sick and tired (not morning sickness, but again, she had been that before). She was sick and tired of everyone treating her like she was going to fall apart. She was lucky if she was allowed to walk up the steps.

"Put me down, you canucklehead!" she yelled at Logan, I can walk just fine by myself!"

Logan had then preceded to give her a big, long lecture on how she wasn't supposed to do too much physical activity. Rogue knew it was useless arguing with him, so she shut up and allowed herself to be carried up the stairs to her and Logan's room.

Logan put her on the bed, kissed her, and went back downstairs. Rogue glared at the door as he closed it, "I almost wish the world would end just to keep him occupied with something other than me."

Be careful what you wish for,,,

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Scott and Jean were downstairs with the others, trying to watch a movie. It wasn't a very good movie, so sooner or later, the others all drifted off to go somewhere else. Scott and Jean stayed on the couch.

"You know how we've been using the original teams from when we all fought before?" Scott asked.

"Yes," Jean said.

"I'm taking Logan off the A Team," Scott said, "The Professor thinks we'd better."

"Why?" Jean asked, "He's certainly the best fighter we have. He's been training al these years that we haven't been doing anything more than rearranging our furniture."

"I know," Scott said, "But right now our only goal isn't to beat the end of the world. We need to try to keep Rogue's baby intact. Having Logan out of the immediate danger will help that. She'd lose the baby anyway if we won, but Logan died or was seriously hurt. Shock would take her down quickly."

"You're right," Jean said, "So, what are the teams now?"

"You, me, Beast, Gambit, A Team. Logan, Jubilee, Nikki, the Professor if need be, B Team," Scott said.

"You might not want to tell Logan about this until closer to the end," Jean said, "It would insult his pride."

"We don't know when the end is going to be," Scott said, "So we'd better tell him tomorrow in the Danger Room."

"All right," Jean said, "But you can tell him. I dislike arguing with people who are always convinced that they know best."

"So do I," Scott said, "Why do you think I never argue with you?"
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Logan was not too happy about his new team position.

"That's out of the question, Cyke," Logan said.

"Look, that's not the only reason," Cyclops said, "We also need someone to look out for the rookies. You can make sure that Jubes and Nikki don't get themselves killed to early in the game."

"It's still out of the question," Logan said, "You're doing this for the wrong reasons."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cyclops asked.

"Look, you did this to keep me out of the line of fire, making my chances of injury or death slim to none so Rogue won't lose the baby. My main priority isn't for Rogue to keep the baby, it's to keep everyone alive. It would be better to put me on the A Team. We all fight better together. I want to keep Rogue alive and if the baby makes it, fantastic, but I would die if it meant keeping her alive. The baby is on the bottom of my list."

Cyclops looked at him and said, "If the Professor says that's OK, then, I guess you're back on the A Team."

The Professor looked at Logan and said, "It's not my choice to make."

"Thanks," Logan said, "I already made my choice."

"Maybe it's not yours either," The Professor said, "I think the one person everyone neglected to let decide was Rogue."

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After Logan had explained the situation to Rogue, she looked at him, "Why did you ask me? You know what you want to do. Do it, for God's Sakes."

"So, you mean it's OK with you to put me in the line of fire?" Logan asked. This hadn't been so hard...

"No," Rogue said, "It's not OK, but it's what you want and really, it's your decision. Do what you want."

"Rogue," Logan said, "If you don't want me to¾"

"Would you just do it?" Rogue screamed, "Of course I don't want you to, but if we want to win this, there's a good possibility of you dying no matter what! Just do it!" She burst into tears.

Damn! Logan thought. Out loud, he said, "Rogue, please don't cry like that. It's not good for you right now. Please?"

Rogue just rolled over so she was facing the wall. Logan leaned down and kissed her cheek, "I'll see you in about an hour."

Rogue just kept crying.

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Everyone left Rogue alone for the rest of the afternoon. They all figured that she needed some time to accept this and would feel much better after a good cry. Well, at least that's what the women thought. Jean smacked both Gambit and Cyclops when she caught them mouthing the words "pregnant mood swings" to each other.

Wolverine walked over to Cyclops and said, "A Team." He then walked away.

"Why is he such a jackass?" Scott murmured to himself, "Even though Rogue said to go ahead, I think she meant anything but....."

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When Logan went up to bed that night, Rogue was in the shower. That meant he had about 20 minutes of down time that he intended to use to relax. Rogue was right about the tension. Even Jubilee was getting crabby and she was usually the cockeyed optimist.

After awhile, Rogue came out of the shower in her pajamas. She sat down on the bed next to Logan and said, "I'm sorry."

He looked at her, "It's OK, darlin'. I think everyone around here is a little tense. You have more right to be than anyone else."

"I acted like a spoiled rotten brat," she said, "Which is all your fault for spoiling me but¾"

"Come here," Logan said. He leaned in to kiss her when...

"Everyone!" Jubilee's voice yelled, "Come look at this!"

Everyone raced down the hall to Jubilee's room. They found her watching the 6 o'clock news.

"Listen," she said. She turned the volume up...

Ladies and gentlemen, never in all my years of working here have I seen anything like this! Fires have broken out in every major forest across North and South America. Monsoons have attacked Asia. Millions are in Africa where droughts and famine are of record breaking proportions. Tidal waves, tornadoes, and more are sweeping across island countries and it won't stop raining in England. Scientists have reported new holes growing in the ozone layer that are causing temperatures to rise to scorching in the rainforests and deserts across the world. Religious fanatics are walking the streets talking about Judgment Day. Mobs and riots are everywhere. Animals dropping dead everywhere for unknown reasons. What is going on here? This is Mike Lerner signing off....

"It's starting," Rogue said.

"We could really use Mom now to fight the weather," Nikki said, "I wish I knew where she was."

"Yeah, well, a Weather Witch wouldn't do much good against holes in the ozone layer and rampaging animals," Logan said.

"How do we fight this?" Rogue asked.

"I don't think we can," Nikki said, "I think we might all die."

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Well, how was that? I hope this isn't sucking. The major action is coming up! Stay tuned!