Disclaimer: I do not, do not, own the X-men. But I do own everything else in this story. If you try to take any of my characters…we're going to have issues.

Undreamt of

On the wings of a storm

          Rogue closed the cover of her diary, stretched her back, and sighed. Thunder pounded the study window, and made her glad she was indoors. It had been a month since her and the children had moved into the house, and things were beautiful.  Rogue had even discovered a few "surprises" left by her late mother, Raven. Surprises like a whole level under the house that echoed the Xavier mansion in miniature, with a med lab, rec-room, war room, weapons room, and even a mini danger room.

The only thing that still worried her was Justin. He had been sleeping on a cot in her room in order to "be near Raven".  He still couldn't explain why he needed to be near her…and the one time he had slept down the hall, Raven had screamed all night. She assumed that Justin exuded an aura of calm, or peace…or maybe the two just really liked each other.  Rogue didn't know. That is why she had started her diary. Just to write down things that occurred to her during the day. It was a simple way to keep track of her emotions and thoughts and see, later down the road, if her guesses were correct. How evah did yah do it proffesah? How did yah keep sane?

          Scooting back from the desk, she stood and started her rounds. Walking first down the bedroom hall, alert for sounds, giggles, shuffling…but there was nothing to be heard. The children were blissfully asleep.  Next was her own bedroom, to check on Justin and Raven. Raven was asleep in her crib, chubby fist curled around a bear. But stepping beyond the crib, she began to sense that something was wrong.

          Justin's cot was empty, the blankets in disarray…and the window was open. Rogue cleared the distance from cot to window in a rush, every sense alert…straining her eyes for any sign of the boy. At the sill was Justin's nightshirt, ripped beyond repair and bloody. A pained moan floated in the window, carried by a rain heavy breeze.

          Rogue belated realized that she was gripping the window casing as chunks broke off in her hand. Someone had broken into her home and hurt her child! Fury lent speed to her flight as she gently scooped Raven from her bed and brought her down the hall to Sarah's room. "Sarah, wake up shugah, ah need yah to watch her for a second alright? Ah'll be right back, ah promise."

          A bleary eyed Sarah rubbed grit from her eyes and sleepily took Raven. "S'alright momma, I got her." She mumbled.

*   *   *   *

          Headed out the door, Rogue flipped the security on; no one else was going to break in tonight. The cool wind slapped rain into her face as she stood still and listened. Nothing could be heard over the wind and rain, so she went to inspect the window. No tracks, no evidence of a fight, nothing. Rogue bit her lower lip, worried. Then she heard it, the low, feeble groan.

          Following the sound led Rogue to a small copse of trees that formed a small clearing. There, huddled at the back of the clearing was Justin, moaning. "Justin shugah? What's wrong? Why'd yah leave like that?"

          "Momma Rogue, My back hurts…I didn't want to scare Raven…"

          Rogue walked to the small figure and looked; his back was a mess of torn skin and blood. Something moved under the skin shreds, feebly pushing against the last layers. "Okay shugah, can yah stand up and hang on tah me? Ah don want ta touch your back when it's like that. Ah'm gonna take yah inside alright?"

          Justin nodded his head and wrapped his arms around Rogue's neck. Together, they got inside and down to the infirmary.

*   *   *   *   *

          "Alright shugah, lay still. We're gonna find out what's happenin to you…" Rogue deftly manipulated the scanner above the bed. It showed her an interesting sight. "Shugah, yah got bones where there ain't usually bones! What does it feel like when they flex?"

          "It hurts my back some…but it just feels like I gotta strech…"

          Rogue came to a rapid decision. "All right shugah, I'm gonna give yah some medicine to kill the pain, then I'm gonna fix your back alright?"

          Justin nodded.

*   *   *   *   *

          Rogue waited until the pain killer knocked Justin out, then she looked for a scalpel. Please lord; let me be right…please let this be right… She gently cut away the last shreds of skin…

*   *   *   *   *

Dear Diary,

          Today was a miracle. Justin's got wings! Beautiful wings! I gave him the loft in the library as his room. It has a door that comes into my room, plus it'll let him practice flying. All the other kids are jealous of him, and they are teasing him cause his wings are purple…but they are wonderful. Raven loves them, I even let him fly Raven around the room. I can't wait to see what else my kids have in store for me…I can truly say, this is the first time I've been truly happy in a long time.

                                                Until next time,

                                                                   Rogue

*   *   *   *   *

          Rogue closed the cover of her diary, and went on her rounds.