Disclaimer: Don't pretend you don't know.

Dedication: Patience; it's a virtue you know.

Author's Note: Two for one, smile.  I promise more is coming; my last exam is Friday.  Also, I'm being really naughty, I've now got two more fics on the go.  Promise it'll be done soon, but there's at least another 16 chapters.

Chapter 24: Aren't They A Cute Couple?

"Ah nevah thought ah would do that."  Rogue said breathily.

"'Chere you gotta have faith."

"Dumb ass."

"It's true, your concentration and meditation helped you control your power."

Rogue looked uneasy, and shifted away from him slightly.

"It wasn't really the meditation."

"What then?"

"You."  She whispered.  "But that's off the record."

"Huh?"

"Ah opened up ta ya in a way ah can only dream of opening up ta others."  She pulled her top on.  "That first day, ah flirted with ya more in fahve minutes than ah had in ma entire lahfe up ta that point."

"Really?"  He was shocked.

"Ah'm natural, normal with ya, ah don' need ta pretend or hahde.  It's weird, in order ta drop ma defences physically, I had ta drop the defences ah had built up mentally.  You helped me do that."  She moved towards him, "you made me feel normal ah have these powers unda control because of you.  You arrived in ma lahfe and accepted me."  She kissed him softly.

"Chere, so did Logan, Xavier and the others."

"No, Logan felt ha had to call me ba ma first name ta preserve ma humanity; the professor saw me as anotha young mutant to help; the others did, possibly do, fear me.  You just accepted me.  When ah told you about ma powers you turned it into a come on!!"  She stared at him intently.  "Ah just wish ah could show you how much ya've helped me to do."

"You've done pretty well so far Chere."  He smiled.

Rogue groaned, could he not think about sex for ten seconds?  He kissed her hard.  Then again!