Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or Evolution.

This story takes place right after the events of the "Cajun Spice" episode. Chapter 6, this chapter and the following one all take place at the same time.

I'm really bad at accents so forgive me in advance for not even trying.

I like many on the Animation Insider Boards was looking for some resolution to the last scene of Impact. This is my take on the aftermath between Kurt, Rogue and everyone else before the Ascension episodes.

:used to indicate private thoughts:

The Long Flight Home

Chapter Seven - Back to three

Rogue let the water rinse off the rest of the soap. It was always a pleasure to take a shower at night when she could take her time and not be rushed. She did notice her clothes were starting to reek from the dip in the bayou. The trip to Mardi Gras had been a good chance for her to clear her head - though she did have another sample of Gambit's psyche added to her collection now.

She finished getting dressed in her pajamas and decided to check on Scott before turning in. She had a question for him she was hoping he would answer.

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Kurt waited for the Professor and Storm to enter the elevator before he went in to see his friend. Scott had both his hands over his visor and had let out a long sigh as Kurt walked in.

"Uh. . . .Hi Scott. How are you doing?" Kurt interrupted Scott's thoughts.

"Kurt! Hey, how are you?" Scott ran his hand through his hair. "Look Kurt, I'm really sorry about what I said about your mom. I wasn't thinking and it was a really stupid thing to say."

Kurt raised his hands and said, "Scott, it's ok. It's no big deal."

Scott looks down at his hands and said, "Kurt, you've always been a lousy liar. What I said about your mom . . ."

Kurt interrupted, "I should be the one apologizing. I questioned your judgement. I was out of line."

Scott disagreed, "Kurt, if I'm going to be any good as a leader I need people to tell me when I've done something stupid. You were right - I'm an idiot when Alex is around. It's like I take my commons sense out of my brain and put it in my back pocket. I need feedback like that in order for us to stay on the top of our game. I know I can be a stubborn hothead during the action but I'll listen to suggestions and criticisms after an exercise. Don't be shy."

Kurt replied, "Sure, well now that you mention it, back in the swamp when you let that first blast rip. . . ." Scott's eyebrows knit together as he tried to remember his position and his target. Kurt snickered at his friend's confusion. "Look - it's cool - I was just kidding. You and I are okay, and I'll be talking with Rogue now. It's all just like it was before."

Scott thought for a few seconds and jumped in. "Kurt, you need to think this through. It's going to take a long time before things between you and Rogue are okay again."

Kurt held his hands up, "No, it's all right. I'm not leaving - I'm needed here. And I forgive Rogue for what happened."

Scott listened very carefully to Kurt's tone. He heard the echo of the recently orphaned boy lost in his good little soldier persona from a time not so long ago - how at first Scott didn't hold his father responsible for the plane crash but did later until Logan helped him sort it out.

Scott was quiet again as a debate raged in is head. Things for Kurt were already a mess - should he say anything that might make it worse or just let an adult handle this? Was it his place to warn Kurt of the possible pain he was facing with his denials? Scott knew his biggest fears were for himself that the dreams might resurface the more he talked about that night.

Kurt was his friend and he needed help. Nightmares or not.

"Let me tell you something - what it was like for me before you came here. You've heard the deal about my family - how they died in a plane crash. What you don't know is I had trouble forgiving my father for what happened for years - a really long time. This hot shot test pilot get himself and his wife killed right before his two boys. How could he fly without enough parachutes? How could he make me jump when I knew he and Mom weren't going to make it? Why me - why did I make it and not Alex? I kept it all bottled up, being the perfect student and it nearly destroyed me. I was lucky the Professor didn't gather a bunch more recruits until I got my head a little straighter with a lot of help from Ororo, the Professor and Logan. Without them, Jean would be deputy leader right now- not me."

The older boy paused while he saw Kurt thinking over what Scott had said so far. "What I'm trying to say is - don't expect to flick a switch in your head and be able to forgive her. What happened between you two is pretty heavy and it's going to take a lot of time and effort to get through it. There's a lot of questions you two need to answer for each other and you might not like what you hear."

Kurt nodded slowly, letting Scott know he had listened and was considering the advice he heard.

Scott allowed himself a small smile. "Ok - I'm out of lectures for the night. Listen, I was afraid I was losing the best transporter officer in the fleet. I'm glad you're sticking around - we'll need every hand on deck for this face off with our not so friendly neighborhood mutant. And again, I'm sorry about your mom."

Kurt slowly paced the floor, looking at his shoes. He turned to Scott saying, "Yeah, well. Listen, I'd better get back upstairs. I've got some math homework I've got to finish and a big test coming up. Later dude." Kurt then disappeared transporting up to his room.

Rogue was waiting outside the med lab room as she had listened to Scott and Kurt talking. She was glad to hear their argument in the plane was settled for now. Rogue worried that Scott's words warning of continued trouble between herself and Kurt has an unfortunate ring of truth to them.

She waited for a few minutes trying to decide if she should go in or just go back to bed. Rogue then stepped in to check on Scott since she was already downstairs.

She rapped the door frame saying, "Knock, knock. Are visiting hours over?"

"No, apparently not, c'mon in. You just missed Kurt," Scott said.

Rogue stood at the side of the bed and asked, "So how are you? Are you ok?"

Scott replied, "I'll be fine - I just need some rest according to Mr. McCoy. How about you?"

She looked at the team leader and said, "I'll be ok I guess. I need to know something Scott. How did you know to setup Logan and Ororo with Kurt to listen to us on the plane ride back without us hearing them?"

Scott grinned as he said, "It wasn't really how I planned it. I tried to cut off all the wires but Logan got on the plane quicker then I thought and I didn't get them all. I just got lucky that the right ones were cut - they could hear us but we couldn't hear them. I guess it worked out since Kurt's said he's going to stay. But what about you?"

Rogue shrugged, "I've been asked to teach the martial arts class. If I get Kitty's help it should be okay." Scott thought a little bribe with his car - or better yet Jean's SUV - might seal the deal with her if Kitty needed a little push. "As for Kurt and me. . . .", she let the thought hang.

Scott's tone turned softer for a moment, "This sounds stupid but just give it some time. Being here will help a lot - he was really worried when we found out you were missing. We were lucky to find you in the crowd at Mardi Gras. Too bad I'm not lucky like that in the raquetball court upstairs. You know we missed this week's game. Should I accept it as a forfeit?"

Rogue fired right back, "Let's try rain delay. So you missed your weekly humility session?"

Scott laughed at the joke. "What do you say - are you finally going to teach me that spinning serve? I still can't figure it out on my own."

Rogue caved as she waved her hand at Scott. "Alright - quit your whining. I'll show you the serve AFTER you lose to me once more for old times sake." She needed a new challenge and knew if she taught Scott the spinning serve she could have to pull some other tricks out the bag to stay ahead of him. "Listen, you get all the rest you can - you'll need it, you slacker. Next Thursday, 6:30 am sharp!" She gave his arm a light punch and walked out towards the elevators. :It's good to be back,: she thought.

After Rogue left, Scott thoughts drifted towards the poor Cajun who had no idea what he was getting himself into. He started to relax knowing his two friends were back where they belonged - back among their fellow students at the Institute.

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Author's note: a little shameless plug for one of my earlier stories - Honor Them. It what Scott means by Logan helping his with his father's actions on the plane. It's a little contrived but it was the first fanfic I ever wrote.

As usual, please send review/flame if you have any opinions.

Rumors are flying that X-Men:Evolution will not be returning for a fifth season. I had suspected this but am really, really, REALLY disappointed. It's a shame - I've been an X-Men fan for a long time and really like this version of the universe. They had a great run over four seasons and now that I know about this website, I can still indulge myself in Evo stuff.