Disclaimer: Don't own them. Wouldn't want to. They look like they'd be a lot of work. Just having a little fun.

Summary Chapter 1: Rogue wanders, and ends up at the X Men's mansion. Will she be accepted? Is her last chance at a real life not a chance at all?

Note: Okay, so this is my first shot at actually writing a fic, so take it easy on me. Please read and review. I'm taking certain liberties with the storyline of the cartoon, but bear with me, this is going somewhere, I promise.

When There's No One There To Catch You

CHAPTER 1

            The rain continued to fall as the night droned on in Bayville. The beating rain was unmerciful on the lone figure, carrying a single bag, that wandered the streets of the otherwise deserted town. The girl pressed on down the street in the dim light of the flickering streetlights, her hands gripping her thin hooded jacket around her. Her pale face was completely hidden under the hood, leaving only two white streaked protruding from the material. The rain plastered her clothing to her, and her hands grew numb from inside her small leather gloves. And yet she continued to walk. There was nothing else for her to do. There was nowhere for her to go. Nowhere but the one place that filled her with hope while terrifying her at the same time. And she was scared.

            Rogue strode steadily through the storm which seemed to fight with all it had to bring her down. Yet the girl hardly noticed. Her eyes were unseeing as she continued across the town, and she was completely unaware of where she was or where she was going. A sudden car came barreling down the road and almost ran directly into Rogue. The car swerved, nearly crashing into a nearby telephone pole. The driver rolled down his window and proceeded to yell a stream of profanity at the young mutant as she continued to walk away, unaware.

            Soon, the city began to disappear behind the girl as she exited the city's limits. The streetlights were replaced by trees, and the road was plunged into a thick darkness that seemed to be penetrated only by the constant pummel of rain. Finally, Rogue glanced up as she walked and seemed to notice the rain for the first time. Her face scrunched up as the drops fell inside her hood and onto her face. Ah hate rain, she thought to herself, It figures it would be raining tonight. It always rains on days like this. Ah guess Ah'll never get away from it. She looked around her surroundings and suddenly realized where she had come to. Directly in front of her was a large iron gate and a sign that simply stated "Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters" (*is that what is says? I can't remember). No! Ah can't be here. Ah can't believe Ah ended up here of all places. It's too soon. Ah can't face him. Not yet…

            A crack of thunder suddenly erupted from the sky, causing Rogue to jump in spite of herself. If at all possible, the rain began to fall harder, almost like it was mocking the girl. Rogue angrily looked to the sky, ready to curse at it, but along the way her eyes passed along the looming silhouette of the institute. She was again reminded of what brought her here, whether intentionally or not. Her expression quickly changed from one of anger to one of uncertainty and fright. This was her last chance. What if he didn't accept her? What if she wasn't good enough? She bitterly glanced down at herself and thought Of course Ah'm not good enough. Ah never have been..

Another sound of thunder made up her mind for, and she turned back to the institute. She closed her eyes and took a quick breath. Looking at the iron gate in front of her, she saw a security camera on top, and a security code box to the side. For a moment she was almost thankful for the ridiculous amount of physical training that her moth-… that Mystique had put her through. Backing up to get a running start, she bounded over to the gate and took to the air. In a matter of seconds, she had twisted in the air, landed on the top of the gate behind the camera, and rebounded back to the ground. With a satisfied nod and a quick readjusting of her bag, Rogue was on her way down the path towards the front door. Her moment of confidence from jumping the fence proved to be fleeting, and was immediately consumed by an overpowering sense of fear and self-doubt.

Ah haven't had the best of luck fitting in anywhere. Why would this place be any different. If… oh God, if he doesn't…… if he hates me, this is it, she franticly thought to herself as she approached the main door of the massive building. This is my last chance… my last chance. Rogue nervously shifted from one leg to another, causing the rainwater to cascade off of her clothing. Her worn sneakers squeaked underneath her and her gloved hands kept in constant motion as she waiting by the door after ringing the doorbell. She glanced at her watch and realized it actually eleven o'clock at night. Oh God, she groaned to herself, Now, not only do Ah  intrude on the enemy, Ah do it while they're tryin' to sleep. She tried desperately to remember what day it was, but couldn't focus her thoughts. Standing before the looming door, she tried to recall whether or not any of the lights had been on in the institute.

The door was abruptly opened, jarring Rogue from her thoughts. The tall, graceful form of Ororo, also known as the mutant Storm, appeared from behind the door. Her tired expression was replaced by one of shock and confusion as she looked upon the soaked, hooded figure outside. Apparently, she wasn't alone, for when she didn't immediately acknowledge the visitor, the shorter mutant Logan, Wolverine, materialized beside the weather goddess to demand what was going on. He, too, stopped and stared when he realized who it was that stood before them in the rain. Thankfully, Storm was the first to recover from her initial shock.

"By the goddess, child, come out of the rain. You must be freezing!" she exclaimed as she ushered the young mutant into the foyer of the mansion. She then turned to Wolverine. "Logan, would you please fetch a blanket for this young one?" The man was hesitant to leave his teammate in the presence of a mutant believed to be an enemy, regardless of the girl's age. However, with a look from Storm, he stalked down the hallway and disappeared into the storage closet. The woman smiled as the stream of muttered complaints and curses faded into the darkness of the hall. She again turned to Rogue, who stood quietly and defensively by the doorway. "Come, child, you will not be harmed here," said Storm in attempt to put the strange guest at ease. "You must tell me what brings you here. And why in the world you are out on the streets in weather such as this," she continued as motherly concern filled her voice. After all, a child was still a child to Ororo, regardless of what side she fought on.

Rogue cautiously moved further into the foyer and closer to the tall, nightgown-clad woman inside. There was something in Storm's voice that comforted the girl. She sounded concerned. She sounded like a mother caring for her daughter. Rogue flinched as she realized that she had never heard anything like that before. Pushing these sullen thoughts from her mind, Rogue opened her mouth to reply, only to be interrupted by the still-grumbling voice of Logan as he returned with a soft blanket.

"Thank you, Logan," said Storm as she took the blanket from the man and wrapped it around the drenched body of Rogue, who had begun to shiver slightly. "Come, child," she repeated to Rogue, "Come inside and warm yourself. Then we will discuss your reason for coming here." Rogue gave a slight nod and allowed herself to be led into the deserted living room and unto a large couch. After several minutes of silence in which Rogue sat shifting from underneath the blanket, and Ororo and Logan exchanged confused and weary looks.

"Ah…." Rogue began when the silence became too much for her. "Ah left the brotherhood. Ah can't go back there… can't ever go back there…" she said in a low, almost whispered voice. She hadn't thought about how she was going to explain herself once she got there.

*flashback*

"I lost him so long ago and was left with you! A useless, weak, ungrateful child! He was the one I wanted!"

*end flashback*

            Rogue shivered again under the blanket and squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to block out the hateful voice of Mystique. Storm and Wolverine cast worried looks at each other as the girl flinched and shut her eyes. They both seemed to be thinking to each other What the hell did they do to her? All of the X Men knew who this girl was. She was known as Rogue, and had the mutant ability to steal memories, mutant abilities, and life force through skin-to-skin contact; a power that many of the X Men had witnessed a little too close. She was one of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. And most importantly, she was as tough as they come. What could possibly have happened at the brotherhood house to transform her into this scared, trembling child before them.

There was something in that change that evoked a sudden protective feeling in Logan. Known for his gruff façade and tough-guy attitude, Wolverine wasn't one to get overly involved in anything too emotional. But this girl was different. He had fought against Rogue in the past, and she was much stronger than anyone knew. She had been unafraid of him, and had even held her own for a while; a feat that was actually quite impressive. He respected her as an enemy; it wasn't really her fault that she ended up on the wrong team. And now here she was. This brave, sarcastic, independent girl was sitting in the institute's living room, defensive, and obviously scared of something. It was more than the guy could take. Before Storm could say anything to the girl, Logan quietly, but still gruffly, said "You can stay here," earning him a surprised, yet bemused look from Ororo, and a relieved, startled look from Rogue.

"Ah… Ah don't know..," she whispered as she looked up at the hairy mutant.

"Of course you can stay here," interjected Storm. "I won't hear of you walking back out onto the streets. Come, I'll show you where you can change into some dry clothes, and then we must see the professor. He must know what is going on." With that, the unlikely trio made their way down the hallway, and further into what was a last hope for Rogue.

Author: Okay, so that's the first part. The other X Men will come in next chapter, and maybe some more brotherhood (cuz I just love em so much) Pleeeeeeeeease review! I've never done this before, and I'd really like to know how you guys think I'm doing. There will be more of the actual plot mext chapter, I promise!