Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just make them do what I want ; )
Rating: I don't think we've gotten any worse than PG-13
Distribution: Ask, (nicely), and ye shall receive.
Okay, unless some unforeseen time appears, this may be the last update for about two weeks. Time to sit exams. Aren't I lucky? Fortunately, this is the last lot until I go to university thank God.
Special shout outs to RedIceBlueFire and Wapps921. Thanks for the reviews people, you're excellent.
Anyway, not too many more chapters to go. I think.
I'm altering this chapter by trying another method of inserting page breaks. The system wont let me just insert three asterisks anymore. Humpf, go figure. I'm going to try three X's and hope for the best.
XXX
Logan held her hand. He kept imagining that it was cold. Like she was dying. He knew that she wasn't. Rogue had said that she was okay. Wherever she was. She was okay. She wasn't in pain.
The pretence gave way. She was alone. She was all by herself with no way of knowing if she'd ever be able to leave. Logan sat down on the chair next to the bed. When patients were in a coma, the family and friends were told to talk to them because there was a very good chance they could be heard. But Logan knew from what Rogue had said that Jean could not hear them. She was lost to them. To him. He pressed her hand to his lips. "I wish you could hear me. And I know that you can't hear me. But I'm just gonna talk to you for a while. Okay?
XXX
Rogue headed back to her room. She ignored the tears on her cheeks. Logan was so lost. His desperation to help Jean almost hurt her physically. She knew how'd she feel if she was in that position and she wished she could fix it for Logan.
It wasn't just that though. She knew that Logan was lost, but for some reason she couldn't put her finger on, she felt desperately lost too. They were in a terrible position, with no idea how to get out of it. She was terrified that one or more of them might not make it through and even more afraid that it could be Bobby.
She pushed open the door and just lay down on the bed. This wasn't like her, to feel so panicked. But it just all seemed so...hopeless.
XXX
Pyro turned over as he awoke. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he had slept really well. He ran a and through his hair as he struggled to remember why he had slept well. He turned and saw Athena lying next to him. Oh yeah. He smiled and stroked a hand down her arm. She sighed in her sleep. He looked at his watch. He had to meet Magneto and Mystique soon.
He didn't want to wake her, but he didn't want her to find him just gone with no explanation after last night. He kissed her shoulder gently and felt her stir. She turned over and looked into his face, "Hey."
He smiled down at her, "Hey, I'm sorry to wake you. I have to go and I didn't just want to leave you."
She nodded a little sleepily, "Kay."
"Just stay and sleep longer, and I'll see you later."
"Hmm."
He smiled. They'd only spent one night together and she'd already stopped listening to him.
XXX
"Hey, you ok?"
Rogue tried to smiled at him, "Yeah, I'm sorry about last night. I just...I'm so scared."
"Yeah I know, and I don't..." He struggled to find the words. "I don't mind you being sad and upset, I can deal with that. It's just that...It's not like you. Maybe you're...are you..?"
Rogue frowned in confusion, "Am I what?"
"Are you...about to have anything that might make you more emotional than usual?"
She thought, "I think I might be actually. It could have something to do with it I guess."
Bobby ran a hand up her arm, "How did you sleep?"
"Not too good. I'm just...I'm just so scared and it all seems to be getting on top of me."
Bobby saw, to his horror, that the tears were starting again, "Oh Rogue, it'll be okay. I promise."
She slipped into his arms, "I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me. This is not like me."
Bobby felt a shiver go down his back, she was right. It was nothing like her. He felt the shiver again. Then again. Then he realised, he was actually feeling a shiver. Cold air was running down his back. Down his left shoulder. Next to Rogue's face. He gently eased himself away from her. She looked up at him and he looked at her mouth as she breathed out, "Rogue? Umm...you're breathing ice."
Her eyes widened in horror as her hand flew to her mouth to feel the air. Then she shoved herself backwards off the bed and away from him. She was draining him. Oh God! How? How could that be? She felt round her back and found that everything was attached as it should be.
How was she draining him then. She looked up at Bobby, "Are you okay? I'm sorry, I don't know what's happened...I don't understand." The tears that seemed to be constantly near the surface these days started, "Oh God, I'm sorry...I don't..."
Bobby slid off the bed and tried to take her in his arms but she yelled and held out her hands in front of her. She pushed herself backwards away from him. "Don't Bobby, don't touch me."
"Rogue, I didn't feel anything, it's okay."
Her eyes flashed, "Then we were lucky. Like the first time you kissed me. That doesn't mean we can risk it."
Her head dropped and she looked at Bobby's hands. She wanted to take them in hers. But she couldn't do that. She might hurt him. "Bobby, we need to go and see the Professor."
XXX
"Are you sure Rogue?"
Bobby smiled a little, "She's sure. I felt and saw it. And if anyone can recognise it, I can."
"Of course. Well, I guess we should call Ororo."
The Professor picked up the phone. Before he even started to dial though he saw Bobby take Rogue's hand. Apparently without even thinking. He was about to stop him, but nothing happened. She just twined her fingers with his.
After a full ten seconds, he saw a scowl cross Rogue's face, she looked down at their linked hands in horror and yanked hers away. Bobby seemed to become aware of what had just happened. "Rogue...I'm okay."
She looked him over, apparently convinced that he was telling the truth. "But, how..." her eyes widened, "Oh god...it...it can't..."
"What? Rogue, what is it?"
Rogue had gone white, Bobby took her hand again, "Rogue, what's wrong?"
Rogue stood up, "I'll...I'll explain...just...I just need to do something...."
She turned and left the room, Bobby stood and was about to go after her, but the Professor stopped him, "No. I think you should let her go."
"But Professor..."
"No really. I think she...well I don't know what she was thinking, but I could tell that she wanted to go by herself."
Bobby fought the instinctive urge to follow and sat down.
XXX
About two hours later the front gate opened to let her in. Rogue was in a daze. She could hardly see where she was going. All she knew was that she was heading in the general direction of the mansion. Back to Bobby. She needed him. She needed to talk to him. He would make all this make a little more sense than it did at the moment.
XXX
Magneto knew what had happened between Pyro and Athena. He was not happy about it. He had told the boy that he was not to get involved with any of the other mutants. It was going to make it a lot harder.
Her group, they were very unpredictable. The worst of the lot. They were too much of a liability for them to continue as they were. Magneto knew what he had to do. Pyro wasn't going to like it, but he just hoped that the boy would understand. He had grown very fond of Pyro.
XXX
Bobby was pacing round their room. She had been gone for over two hours and he was constantly fighting the urge to go and look for her.
He wanted to help but he didn't know what to do. Should he look for her? He hated the thought of her being alone. Or did she need to be alone for now? He ran his hands through his hair.
He span round when he heard the door open. And there she was. He moved over to her and pulled her into his arms. "I was worried about you. Are you okay?"
She slid her arms around him. Her eyes drifted shut. She thought that maybe she had taken this for granted. Just the feeling of him touching her. When, this morning, she had thought that it might be going to go away, she was terrified. She couldn't give this up now. He interrupted her thoughts, "Rogue? Talk to me. What's going on?"
She met his eyes and kissed him gently, "I think that we should talk about something."
He looked so worried, "Of course. Whatever you want."
She sat down on the bed and he sat down next to her, "I had to go out today, because I thought that something might be happening and I needed to see if it really was.
Bobby nodded. "Ok. And, this, whatever it is. Is it happening?" She nodded, biting her lip, "Okay, well, is it a good thing or a bad thing?"
She frowned slightly, "Well, I think it's a good thing. At least, I think, I think it's a good thing."
He smiled little despite himself, "Okay, how about you let me know."
She met his eyes, "I...I'm going to have a baby."
Bobby's mouth literally dropped open, "You're...you're having a baby? Having...my baby? My baby?"
Rogue giggled, "Well, who else's baby could I be having?"
Bobby blanched, "Oh god I didn't mean that I just..."
She took his hands in hers, "I know, I'm only teasing," her face suddenly got more serious, "How do you feel about this?"
His face split into a huge grin. Bobby wrapped his arms around Rogues waist and pulled her across his lap. He slid his hands into hers hair and pulled her face to his.
Rogue slid her hands up Bobby's chest, rubbing her tongue against his gently. She moaned in pleasure before pulling away gasping, "Do I take it you're glad too?"
He smiled, "You could put it like that."
His fingers went to the buttons on her shirt, "I love you."
She smirked, "Prove it."
XXX
They sat together on the balcony, looking down at the others swarming below, "I love it up here."
She leant against Pyro's shoulder, "I do too. It's the only place in the building where I can hear myself think."
She giggled, "That's not why I like it."
He turned to her a little, "Why do you like it here then?"
She smiled and kissed him gently, "Because you're here."
He was surprised by that, but he realised something. He was having a better time because she was here, "I'm glad you're here with me."
She smiled again, "I am too."
Athena rested her head on his shoulder.
After a few minutes he realised that she was dosing. It had been a long day. He smiled as she sighed in her sleep.
However, he was worried too. He knew that Magneto would not approve of this if he knew. Pyro knew that there was something going on with Magneto and Mystique, but he was equally aware that this was not a valid argument. Their situation was very different from his. They were united by their hatred of humans. Athena didn't feel that way. And if he was honest with himself he had known all along, that that was the case.
He didn't see how her group could remain in allegiance with them. Their anger over the death of their leader currently sufficed, and even more so, their willingness to support Athena. They cared about her. She had been born within the confines of their group and some of the older members had had a hand in raising her.
As long as Athena sided with them, the group should be possible to control. He hoped. Even then he wasn't sure. He turned and kissed her head.
He hoped so.