Author's note:

Streetwise girl: Yup, she's definately gone. Don't look at me like that; "There can be no victory without sacrifice", to quote the LOTR ROTK trailer!!

xxxSarahxxx: *looks around nervously* Ahhhh … yeah … kind of … :p *hedges away from question* What lovely weather we're having!! *laughs*

Don't-eat-chunky-pudding: Death scenes have a tendancy to bring out the best … because they have such a myriad of emotions and personalities … glad you like the fic!

X3: :-) Thank you ! Glad you like it …

Crazy4horses: Well someone had to go … *evil grin* Thanks for reviewing!

****************************************

Chapter 7: And So It Begins

The Brotherhood stalked through the forest near Xavier's Mansion. Pyro forced himself to be calm, not to panic. No one need ever know, he thought despairingly, looking at Magneto's cold viasge as he looked at the mansion, but his heart was sinking. A look of cold hatred burned in Magneto's eye. He noticed Pyro's gaze, and shot him a dark look. He knows … he knows about the letter … Pyro forced the nauseous feeling back.

They waited … waited for the battle to begin …

****************************************

Bobby held Rogue's limp body, his body shaking in silent sobs. He had broken free of Storm's embrace, not caring if he hurt the woman, not caring as she recoiled; all he wanted to do was hold Rogue, hear her say everything was all right.

But Rogue wouldn't speak. Never again would her words fall on Bobby's ears, never again would they laugh together, never again would she hold his hand, feeling his skin beneath her glove and wishing that she could hold him and never let go. Never.

Bobby cried … cried for lost opportunities, for the happiness he'd lost, for the girl – the woman – he had loved since the moment he set eyes on her.

Storm gulped, forcing back tears. *Professor* she thought desperately. *Professor!* 

*I'm coming* he said. *Get Bobby out of there*

Storm put a hand on Bobby's arm. "Come on, Bobby," she said gently. He shook his head, holding Rogue tighter. "Come on, Bobby," Storm repeated. "You have to let go. She's dead. You can't help her. Let go of her Bobby."

Tears running down his cheeks, Bobby slowly laid Rogue down on the bed. He took a few steps back, Storm's hand on his shoudler, before turning away, and running out of the room. Storm let him go, knowing that Bobby needed time to himself.

Bobby sat, shaking, staring at the ground. He couldn't believe it. Rogue's gone … she's gone … she's not coming back … He slammed his fist into the wall in anger, letting our a cry.

As his hand sank back to his side, he noticed something in his pocket … the letter, he thought, remembering. He took it out, thinking it might distract him.

He read the opening lines and his heart almost stopped. John … what the hell?

Intrigued, he started to read …

He landed the helicopter and I got in. I didn't really think, I just knew it was the right thing for me to do.

Bobby paused in his reading. He was shocked. How did I never see this? Why did I never ask him about this? How the hell could I miss all this in my best friend?

He tried to calm down, tried to think this through. He knew that there was more to read, that he had to calm down so that he could understand it properly. He read on:

I've never really looked back, but now … I shouldn't be telling you this. If Magneto or any of the Brotherhood ever find out, they'll kill me for sure. But – I think I should tell you this. For the sake of our friendship … because I can't let you walk blindly into this trap. You were a great friend, Bobby. I say that in the knowledge that we will not meet as friends again. I'm sorry, but …

We are coming: coming to Xavier's Mansion. Magneto calls it "Operation Mutant High". We'll be there later today; maybe even now. Magneto wants to finish off the Xmen once and for all. But you – they have plans for you. That's why I'm writing this: I don't want you to walk blindly into their trap. They want you to join the Brotherhood, Bobby. Their plan today is to kill the others and capture you.

Bobby laid the letter down on his lap with shaking fingers. Oh God, oh God, he thought, fighting down panic, this can't be happening. He forced his attention back to the letter.

It appears that you've found out part of our plan – Mystique. Now there is one crazy bitch … but crazy as she is, it appears she's failed. Logan Wolverine found her, didn't he? I told her that would happen … she was basically supposed to spread havoc in the mansion, and take Cyclops out of action. As for the rest of us …

Gambit will cause an explosion in part of the mansion, and then I'm supposed to control the flames to burn out the rest of the mansion and force all of you to evacuate (into an ambush) or be killed. Sabretooth and Toad will be waiting near the doors and –

Bobby started as an explosion rocked the mansion. He ran to the window and stared; the northern section of the building was ablaze. He glanced down at the letter clutched in his hand …

****************************************

Magneto smiled as fire leapt skywards under Pyro's control. "It has begun …" he whispered.

****************************************

Bobby ran downstairs, stuffing the letter into his pocket. Storm and Cyclops were in the hallway, and even as Bobby joined them, Jubilee and Shadowcat came running up. "What was that?" Kitty yelled, panic lacing her voice.

"An explosion," Colossus said, limping up to join them. "In the northern wing."

"You're hurt," Jubilee exclaimed.

"It's not serious," he replied, smiling. "I didn't change quickly enough. It will be fine."

"It must be the Brotherhood," Cyclops said.

"It is the Brotherhood," Bobby exclaimed.

"How do you know?" Storm asked.

Bobby faltered, not wanting to tell them about the letter. "Uhhh … I saw them – out the window," he lied quickly. Storm's eyes narrowed, but she accepted it.

"We have to do something. They're going to burn the house down around us," Cyclops said. "We have to face them."

Bobby's mind flashed back to the letter – "force all of you to evacuate (into an ambush) or be killed" – and he cried, "No! We can't go out there."

"Why not?"

"They'll be waiting – an ambush," Bobby said, breathlessly. "We can't …"

"If we stay in here, we'll burn for sure." Storm paused, then said, "The Professor says Logan is on his way. The Professor is going to Cerebro." She paused. "Logan doesn't know about Rogue."

"I'll tell him," Bobby said instantly.

"Tell me what?" Logan asked, walking over to join them. "Are we going out there or not?" His eyes roamed the group as Bobby tried to work up his courage, and none of the other Xmen would look at him. Logan's eyes narrowed. "Where's Rogue?"

Storm and Kitty lowered their eyes, and Bobby swallowed nervously. Logan rounded on him, grabbing the teenager by his shirt collar and hoisting him up off the ground. "Where is she?" he yelled.

Bobby coughed, his eyes sad. "Logan, put him down," Storm yelled.

Logan lowered Bobby slowly back to the ground, his eyes showing his understanding.

"She didn't make it," Bobby whispered. "She's gone."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," Logan yelled, a primal scream of pain and rage. He fell to his knees.

He sat for a moment, before getting to his feet, his expression cold with anger. "Let's go," he growled. "Let's make them pay …"

****************************************

The Brotherhood waited …

Then, they saw their opponents emerge from the fiery building, flames all around them, giving them an eerie silhouette.

The battle was about to begin.

****************************************

A/N: RR please! Only two chapters to go if I stick to my chapter plan …