"Scotch on the rocks, Heather" Rogue said, sliding onto one of the few remaining empty stools at the bar.

"Hey Rogue!" the cute redhead exclaimed, sliding a beer down the bar to a waiting patron. She leaned across the bar and gave her best friend's older sister a brief hug. "You all by yourself tonight? Where's Storm?" Rogue grabbed a handful of pretzels.

"She's out with Isaac tonight --- some concert up at the college." She took a long gulp from the drink Heather sat in front of her. "As for me, well....I, uh...."

"Have a date."

Rogue turned to look up into a pair of angry blue eyes. Chris grabbed the seat next to her and smiled at the perky bartender. "Hi, Red. I'm Chris."

"Nice to meet you Chris." Heather said, reaching across the bar to take his outstretched hand. "I'm Heather, Storm's best friend."

"Heather may as well be family." Rogue said, hoping to draw the redhead into the conversation so that she wouldn't have to face the wrath of Chris' temper just yet. "She and Storm are going up to Memphis to see Jubilee and Gambit this weekend."

Chris arched an eyebrow in Rogue's direction, indicating to her that he knew what she was up to. He turned to Heather with a smile. "So I guess that means you won't be at the show, huh?"

"Show?" Heather asked, confused. "What show? storm didn't say anything abo..." she trailed off, a look of recognition coming over her face and bringing excitement into her blue eyes. " OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! You're...I mean, it's...do you know who you ARE?!?!?!?"

Rogue couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Heather's face. Chris grinned.

"Well, I knew who I was the last time I checked....." Heather blushed.

"I'm a big fan, Mr. Jericho." Rogue looked at her in amazement.

"Are you serious? Since when do you watch wrestling?!?"

"I've always watched, " the bartender said, never taking her eyes off Chris. "I remember your RAW debut, when you interrupted the Rock's promo....that was CLASSIC!..."

Rogue was lost for the next few minutes as the two discussed past matches and alliances. She used the time to study Chris covertly. She really loved the way he smiled...like all his attention was on you. And when he listend, it was like you were the most important person in the world and no one else existed. Chris looked over to see a soft look in Rogue's eyes and a small smile touching her still swollen lips.

"Wanna dance?"

"Hhmmmmm?" Chris smiled at her answer.

"I SAID, 'Wanna dance?'."

"Oh! Uh, well, I'm not really that much of..." Right at that moment the DJ chose to play a slow song --- one of her favorite's no less. It was Pearl Jam's "Nothing Man".

"C'mon, this is a slow song....it's easy. Just let me do the work." Chris pulled her out onto the floor, and into his arms. Instinctively she pressed as close to him as she could and wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing in his warm scent. Chris' hands smoothed over her back and held her tightly as they swayed to the music.

She once believed

In every story he had to tell

One day she stiffened

Took the other side.

Empty stares from each corner

Of a shared prison cell

One just escaped

One's left inside the realm.

And he who forgets, will be destined to remember.

"How true." Chris murmured in her ear. Rogue opened her eyes, startled to find that at some point she had closed them and laid her head to rest on Chris' solid chest.

"What's true?" she questioned, peering up at him through, thick dark lashes.

Chris' breath caught in his throat as he looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms. He reached up, taking her chin in his hand and tilting it towards him. "That last line....'He who forgets will be destined to remember', " Chris stared at Rogue's slightly parted lips. "I'd forgotten how fantastic it feels to have a beautiful woman in my arms." He leaned over, capturing her mouth in a soft, but seering kiss. He swayed them both to the music playing as they ended the kiss.

Rogue sighed contentedly, snuggling deeper into Chris' arms. The compliment he'd paid her may not have been true, but at least he'd tried. I'm just gonna have to give him the benefit of the doubt , Rogue thought to herself. And maybe I can keep myself disillusioned until after he drops me off.