A/N: Sorry about chapter one being so compact. I uploaded it using my cousin's computer and ran into some problems. Gee, I hope the next couple a chapters will come out normal. Anywayz, thanks a bunch to all of you who reviewed! I'm glad you enjoy this and I hope you'll enjoy the rest. I'll just shut up now.
By the time she got home, Rogue had a throbbing migraine. It was as if all her senses were heightened to Logan's intensity. She sighed as she walked up the steps slowly. "Hi Rogue!" Bobby called as he and Rahne ran down the hall in full combat regale. Rogue blinked. Rahne was running as a girl! She sighed again, and with a shrug opened the door to her and Kitty's room. Kitty was lying on her bed crying. Rogue groaned, all she wanted was to take some aspirin and go to sleep; but she wouldn't be able to with Kitty carrying on like that.
Throwing down her bag she sighed and walked over to Kitty, sitting down on the edge of her bed. "Come on Kitty, its not that bad," she said softly. "Not that bad?" came Kitty's muffled reply. She looked up at Rogue, hours worth of tears staining her face. "I was walking down the hall when I phased right through it and landed in the bathroom!" "So?" "While Logan was in it!" Rogue gasped. "Did you…?" "No, he had just walked in there," Kitty cried, "But, oh! It was so embarrassing!" She fell forward into her pillows. "So how'd Logan take it?" "Like Logan! He ushered me out of the bathroom, then closed the door in my face!" Kitty buried her face in the pillows. It had happened four hours ago, but she was still dying of embarrassment. Logan! Of all the people in the house why Logan? Then again Logan wouldn't say anything about it. That would help, but it was still embarrassing. "So you didn't see anything." It was a statement not a question, however Kitty answered anyway, nodding her head slowly. Rogue was trying not to laugh. The whole incident in itself was funny, but Rogue would've given anything to see the look on Logan's face as Kitty fell through the ceiling. Keeping her voice under control Rogue said, "So would ya like to?" "ROGUE!!" Kitty cried; then began to laugh as she noticed Rogue was only playing with her.
Kitty held her breath and slowly concentrated, counting the steps as she walked to dinner. She felt really stupid walking slowly, having to concentrate on her every move. She saw Kurt walking just as slowly and suddenly didn't feel as stupid anymore. "Hey Kurt wait up!" Kurt turned around and watched as she slowly approached him. When she reached him they began walking toward the dinning room side by side. "Ach! I feel so stupid!" Kurt cried. Kitty giggled. "I know, so do I. But you know what the professor said." "Ja," he cleared his throat and began to imitate the professor, "Keety, Kurt, zis eis for your own good. Valking slowly vill help you concentrate. Zat vill ensure control of your powers. Vithout control, you could both end up anyvhere." Kitty laughed as Kurt waved a finger in her face. This was more of the Kurt she knew. Kurt laughed too. Sobering, Kitty sighed. "Kurt do you think we'll, like, get better?" "Of course Katzchen. It's just going to take a leetle while. Zats all." "I hope its over soon." "Ja, me too." Kurt held the door open and Kitty walked into the dinning room. They sat down next to each other and continued their conversation.
Professor X sat at the head of the table and watched his young charges. They could be exasperating at times and often annoying. However, they were like family to him, and he cared for them all as if they were his own children. Looking them over he noticed one was missing. "Kitty" Kitty turned to face him. "Where is Rogue?" "Uh, like, she had a headache and took a nap. I didn't wanna wake her up." The Professor looked at Ororo. She nodded and got up, quietly walking out of the dinning room.
The mist was thick, but it was warm. There was a soft fragrant scent in the air, unfortunately it was untraceable. The baby's crying was getting louder and a force was propelling its companion along, drawing her forward. Soon there was a door. It was dark and made of engraved wood. The handle was brass and shaped like a sideways S. Small hands reached up for the handle. The figure of a little girl swayed on tiptoes. 'Have to get to the baby before mama wakes up.' Straining, the small form jumped, grabbing the handle and yanking it down. The door creaked open as the girl blew at white bangs. She turned to glance behind her before slowly slipping through the darkness. She could still hear the baby crying, but couldn't see, not that she needed to; she knew where the crib was. Humming "Hush little baby" she slipped silently through the shadows towards the crib.
She stopped in the middle of the room, feeling a presence in it. She listened and made no sound. After a few minutes she was satisfied and began humming again, walking towards the crib once more. But she could still feel the presence. It was the monster. The monster was with the baby. That's why he was crying. The little girl ran toward the crib. She had to beat the monster to him. No monster was gonna take her baby brother away. She tripped, over what, she didn't know, couldn't tell. But when the baby stopped crying she could feel the tears in her eyes. She tried to get up but was pinned to the ground. Her heart was racing and she began to cry. The monster was gonna get them both. She began to choke; she was being strangled by the air! She could hear a voice. "Maddie! Maddie! Where are you?" Her mama was awake. "Maddie?" She was headed towards the baby's room. As the door slowly opened, light filtered in and the little girl lay unmoving on the floor. The baby began to wail and a woman rushed into the room. "Maddie!"
Rogue shot up in bed, breathing unsteadily as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Realizing where she was, she lay back, draping an arm over her face. "Stupid dream," she spat.
The same dream had been haunting her for a while now, though she had never had it this far before. 'Maddie' Who was she? Rogue bit her lip as she tried to concentrate on the dream. Unfortunately, she couldn't make out the dream from the mess going on in her head. She sighed. The door to her room opened slowly. "Rogue?" Rogue looked over at Ororo standing in her doorway. "Yeah?" "I was wondering how you were feeling. Kitty informed us of your headache." 'Good 'ole Kitty' "Ahm fine." Ororo walked over and sat on the bed. Rogue shifted to the side to give her more room. Ororo looked over Rogue, silently taking notes as she brushed some of Rogue's hair away from her face. Surprisingly Rogue didn't flinch, but closed her eyes and sighed. Her sigh spoke more about how she was feeling than her sweaty body, tear-filled eyes, and rumpled sheets. *She seems distressed, I will try and speak with her* *Thank you Ororo. Inform me later of her troubles* Ororo continued to run her hand through Rogue's hair, it was silky smooth and rather thick. She looked down at the teenager. How could she deal with living so limited? No freedom. No physical contact. She could just imagine what this could be doing to Rogue's fragile sense of self.
"Ororo?" She was startled for a moment. Rogue had sounded so childlike. "Yes child?" "Did you ever have a dream that felt so real, you coulda sworn it happened?" She thought for a moment. "Yes. I have, on occasion." When Rogue said nothing she asked, "Why?" Rogue sighed. "Oh, it's nutthin'. Jus wonderin'." So Rogue was being bothered by a dream. Perhaps someone else's memory? She would speak to Charles about it later; she would deal with Rogue now. "Rogue, we are serving dinner. Would you like to come down?" "Naw. Ahm not hungry." "You should have something to eat, you've been loosing a lot of weight lately." 'They noticed?!' "Ahm just stressed out." "Well all the more reason for you to nourish yourself." Ororo got up, extending her hand. Everything in Rogue wanted to take it, but she wasn't wearing any gloves. She looked away, pushing hair from her face. "Ah'll be down in a minute, ah just have tah fix mahself up a bit first." "Well," Ororo replied, pulling back her hand, "We shall wit for you." "Don't wait, ah'll be down soon." Ororo smiled at her and left the room.
As Ororo sat back down, the professor looked at her. "Rogue will join us in a minute." *Is she well?* *She is being disturbed by a dream, or so I believe. She has not said so, but I believe it may also be the cause of her weight loss as well.* *Yes, she has been loosing a lot of weight lately. And she seems tired very often.* *You have noticed.* *I have.* *Will you speak with her?* *Yes. After dinner.* Everyone was silent as Rogue entered the room, more depressed than usual, and deep in thought. She took a seat next to Scott. "I'm glad you could join us Rogue. Are you feeling better?" the professor said with a smile. "Yeah Rogue, like, how's your headache?" Kitty chimed. 'Maddie….' "Rogue?" Scott nudged her gently. Rogue looked up startled. "Huh? What?….Uh, fine, thank you." She looked back to her plate. It was full, but she wasn't hungry.
All through dinner everyone ate almost silently, while taking glances at Rogue. Rogue didn't eat. She swirled her fork along her plate, displacing the food. Her head rested against her hand, which cupped her cheek, and she stared at her plate. She was so lost in thought she didn't realize when dinner ended. "Rogue, may I speak with you?" She didn't look up. Bobby tapped her on the shoulder. "Oh! Uh, sure." She got up slowly and followed the professor to his study.
"They've been in there for an hour!" Kitty cried, "Do you think Rogue's alright?" "We'll have to let the professor decide that," Scott replied. "You don't think its serious do you?" asked Jubilee. Scott shrugged. "You never know with Rogue." "I feel sorry for her," Rahne said from her place on the couch. "Why?" Bobby and Sam asked simultaneously. "Well, I know I'd go crazy if I couldn't touch people," she replied. The room fell silent as they all realized they would as well.
Kitty entered her room to find Rogue already asleep. She sighed. She had never thought about what life might be like for Rogue, because it was always so depressing. It was no wonder Rogue acted the way she did. Kitty bet if she were Rogue she'd do the same thing. She climbed into bed and shed the tears she knew Rogue never would.
