NOTE: okay, tell me what you think of this chapter….hope you guys like it! Keep the reviews coming please….(



Rogue squinted into the sun, and yelped in excitement as she caught sight of the 2nd flag. "Lance, look! We only have to find more flag, the finish line is probably really close by!"

Lance peered over her shoulder. "Hey, you're right, how much time do we have?"

"Mmm, about an hour. Plenty of time to get there, we're going to win," Rogue said excitedly.

Lance grinned. "Yeah, we make a great team."

Rogue smiled and then biting her lip, looked away. So far her resolve to be indifferent to Lance was not working. She had tried to stay quiet and aloof, but Lance had the uncanny ability to bring her out of her shell and make her laugh. Which was why it was killing her to give him up to Jubilee. But she had to. It was what a good friend would do.

"Something wrong, Rogue?" Lance asked, frowning at the pensive look on her face. Rogue swallowed hard and smiled shakily.

"Nothing, ah'm fine," Rogue said, her voice slipping into her Southern accent the way it always did when she was nervous.

"Look Rogue, I, uh wanted to tell you something," Lance said, turning a little red.

"What is it?" Rogue asked cautiously.

"Ilikeyou," Lance said all in one breath, not daring to look at her.

Rogue giggled. "Jeez, your getting as bad as Pietro. Slower, Lance, a lot slower."

"I like you."

Rogue stopped in her tracks. Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh God, I can't tell him how I feel, what about Jubilee? She'll be crushed, Rogue thought miserably. The moment she'd hoped for had finally happened and now she couldn't do anything about it.

"Rogue? Rogue?" Rogue snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him with huge eyes, dreading what she was about to tell him. "Did you hear what I said?"

"Yeah, ah heard," Rogue said,

"Well, will you go out with me?" Lance asked hopefully, turning to face her.

"No."

"What?" Lance asked slowly, looking hurt.

"No-, what I mean, is I can't," Rogue said miserably, tears pricking her eyes as she saw Lance's jaw tighten.

"Why not?"

"It's a lot of things. I just…can't," Rogue finished lamely, willing herself not to cry.

"Can't or won't?" challenged Lance, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Ah can't go out without you Lance, not so long as-," Rogue broke off, looking away.

"So long as what?" Lance demanded, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders.

"So long as I have the power to kill others with a single touch," Rogue answered him defiantly. Lance's eyes softened.

"Rogue, I don't care about that. It's not important to me."

"It may not be important to you now, but what about in a few years? Will you still be okay with never being able to touch me?" Rogue asked, walking away from him, gazing into the ocean.

"I will always feel the same way about you, Rogue. What I feel for you is special, it's not going to change," Lance replied firmly. Tears pooled in Rogue's eyes. Why couldn't things ever be simple? It would be only too easy to stay here on the island forever with him.

"Can we just drop it Lance?" Rogue asked, her voice shaking. Lance gave her a long look.

"Fine," Lance finally said stiffly, turning away and began walking ahead of her. Rogue looked after him, crestfallen. You did the right thing Rogue, she told herself as a stray tear fell down her cheek.

The silence was killing her. They had been walking steadily for almost an hour and Lance hadn't said a word to her. Rogue knew he was hurt, from the stiff curve of his back and the way his jaw was set. If only he knew the real reason she couldn't be with him!

Rogue was so lost in thought that she didn't spot the rock in front of her, until her foot struck against it and she was face-first in the sand. "Mmf," Rogue tried to speak, spitting out sand. Lance turned around at the noise. His eyes widened and he ran to her side.

"Are you alright Rogue?" Lance asked anxiously, reaching out a hand to help her up.

Rogue coughed, making a face as she wiped the sand from her knees. "I'm fine, but I think I ate some sand. Yuck."

Lance laughed as she stood up. Rogue looked at him with a sad little smile on her face. "Hey, do you notice something?" Lance asked her.

Rogue frowned. "Not really, what do you mean?"

"Look," Lance said pointing. Rogue gazed to where he pointed and gasped. The giant red flag that marked the finish line was less than 15 feet away. They were going to be the first!

"Oh my god," Rogue said excitedly. Lance grabbed her hand, and they ran like maniacs towards the flag. When they got there, they stopped, gasping for breath.

"We did it!" Rogue squealed in a very un-Rogue like way. Lance smiled at her, and his hazel eyes turned serious. He took her hand slowly.

"Rogue, we're good together. You can't deny that," Lance said, tightening his grip on her gloved hand. Rogue swallowed. I know, Lance, Rogue thought sadly.

"We just can't be together, Lance, okay? I told you already-,"Rogue said desperately.

"What? Your mutation? Sorry, Rogue but that doesn't cut it. There has to be another reason," Lance said stubbornly.

"I can't tell you," Rogue said, trying to slip her hand out of his.

"Why not Rogue? Don't you think I atleast deserve an explanation?" Lance asked softly. He was right, Rogue thought.

"It's Jubilee," Rogue said, looking down. Lance frowned, looking genuinely puzzled.

"What about Jubilee?"

"She….likes you too," Rogue said, the words sticking in her throat. Lance was quiet for a second.

"I'm sorry about that, but I don't feel for her the way I do for you. Jubilee will understand, I promise," Lance said quietly. Rogue looked up.

"Lance, I don't-," Rogue began. Lance shook his head.

"Shhh, I'm not gonna hear it okay? You and I have something special. Give us a try. Please?" Lance pleaded, pulling her close. Rogue did not know how it happened but the next minute her arms were around his neck, and they were hugging. "We''re together, Rogue. That's all that matters," Lance whispered in her ear, stroking her hair.

Rogue closed her eyes, and laid her head against his chest. He was right, Rogue thought contentedly, that was all that mattered.