Scott's POV again and the one after this will probably be Rogue's. Enjoy it and don't forget to review.

I stared grimly at the mirror watching Duncan kiss Jean with a fiery enthusiasm. I had been left alone some time ago, left to make my decision while 'Jean' tortured someone else's soul and had time to think. Not much time mind you, the doppelganger had informed me that my physical body had only a matter of hours before there would completely be no return.

"Slipping away like so much sand in an hourglass." I breathed remembering that phrase from what seemed like a long time ago. I held a small one in my hands filled with cobalt sand, one that measured how much time I did have to make my decision. As soon as the sand had all spilled into the bottom I would have to choose. I guessed I had about two more hours, maybe two and a half. The mirror's image changed to that of Rogue's. She was flipping through the pages of an album, stopping every so often at a picture of the both of us.

"Have you decided yet Scott?" The question was serious, devoid of her usual mocking tone. 'Jean' had given up trying to claim my soul a while ago.

"It's hard you know?" She nodded and came to sit beside me.

"You're a strong one Scott; I'll give you that much." She looked into my eyes, the ones that would soon be covered in shades unless I failed to make my decision in the allotted amount of time. "Not many have been able to face their deepest fears and still want to live; knowing that someday those fears could come true." I stared at the precious tears that slipped down Rogue's face.

"I just wish I had more time. This is important." Earlier I had just picked one, hoping that that would be it and I could go on my way. Needless to say it didn't work, I needed a concrete choice and if later in life I backed away from it...

Let's just say life doesn't come without a price.

"I can't give you more time Scott, I'm sorry but your physical body is just too injured for that." I sighed.

"I know..." I decided to go through all my options and analyze them, again. "Jean: beautiful, good mind, caring heart, misses me. Rogue: beautiful, good mind, caring heart, misses me. They both care for me but I've known Jean longer and even though she's with Duncan now she may change her mind later, which I can't." I looked at 'Jean' and she nodded respectfully. Much as I hate to admit it I had actually come to like her a little bit. "And Rogue...she has always loved me but if I choose her...I can never touch her, or kiss her, I would faint if I did that. But she does seem to care, I've never seen her so shaken up, or Logan too for that matter. And instead of kissing some other guy she's remembering times we had together."

"Tragedies often bring people together, and trust me I have seen a lot of tragedies." She smiled a little, a sad smile. "You know I've grown to like you Scott, even after you blasted me in the face with those eyes of yours. That really hurt."

"But you're fine now, right?" I studied her face and saw no trace of the burns that had marred them before.

"Yeah, but I'm distracting you, get back to your decisions."

"I haven't warmed up to Rogue like I should have. I always shrugged her away, not wanting to get hurt. I hate to say this but I think I was actually afraid of her for some time."

"So showed one of your worst fears, her touching you for dark purposes and making you black out." She tapped my hourglass. "You're running out of time, you need to choose soon."

"I know...I think I've chosen. But I'll wait on my verdict, give it some more thought." Clapping a hand on my shoulder she gave me a hard look.

"If it's the wrong choice you can never turn back." I smiled and shoved her away.

"You worry too much. I thought you were supposed to try and make me die, why the sudden change of heart?" Regarding me with a vexed look she shoved me back.

"I like you Scott, you by far have been the most fun and I will miss you. I won't see you again until your next brush with death."

"Will you still look the same?" I didn't want Jean, real or otherwise to see me when I was an old, decrepit man.

"No, I don't think so; the chances of that happening are very seldom, very seldom indeed." She gazed at the hourglass that was draped around my neck and watched the last grain of bright indigo sand slip through. "It's time. Have you made your choice?"

"Yes, I have." She slipped her fingers through mine and kissed me lightly on the forehead.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of your life Scott, have fun, 'kay? Promise me."

"I will, I promise." I chuckled and everything faded to black.

It's almost over, not too much more to go. Hang in there 'till the end 'kay?