A/N: Again, as always, thank you all for the reviews. I appreciate them highly. Here's the next installment of my story and I hope you like it. Personally, I'm pretty happy with it. And as for my song choice, I just had to use it because it just fit perfectly for this chapter and the story itself. Well, I hope you enjoy! Now, on with the show!

Full of Grace

(by: Sarah McLachlan)

Rogue knocked lightly on the door in front of her, not real sure what she was going to say to him, or how he would react for that matter. He had just told her he loved her and now she was coming to him to say she was leaving. She was leaving the life she knew for so long behind her. It was a scary thought, but it was something she knew she had to do just the same. The door opened to reveal a tired looking Scott and she knew it had been from their conversation the other day.

"Rogue." He said with a look of surprise on his face.

"Can Ah come in?" She asked as she fiddled with her hands in front of her. She was nervous and she wasn't real sure why.

"Uh, yeah." Scott said as he scratched the back of his head while moving out of the way so she could enter. "What's up?" He asked as he sat down on the bed.

"Ah'm not real sure where to start. This was really a last minute decision, but..." Rogue babbled as she paced in front of him.

"Rogue, just tell me." Scott said, getting up off the bed to stop her pacing.

Rogue looked up at him, startled by his hands on her shoulder. She was afraid to tell him, afraid of seeing the look on his face, but she had to. She couldn't just leave without telling him goodbye. And so, with a deep breath, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Ah'm leavin' Scott."

She was frightened at what she saw on his face. Or lack there of. It was completely blank; not a hint of emotion, but then again, her news could just have not registered in his mind yet. She hoped he didn't think he was the cause, because that wasn't true.

"When?" He finally spoke up; letting go of her shoulders to turn his back to her.

"Ah don't know yet. Like Ah said, this was a last minute decision." Rogue answered as she brushed a strand of white hair behind her ear.

"It was Logan, wasn't it." Scott demanded and she could hear the anger rise in his voice.

"Partly, yeah. But not completely. He just made me realize Ah needed to find myself before anything else happens in my life. That's all." Rogue answered, somewhat trying to defend Logan.

"Stay, Rogue." He ordered, turning around to face her again, this time showing a flood of emotion, scaring her in the process.

She shook her head and chocked back a sob as she looked down at the floor, "no, Ah can't do that."

"Why not?" Scott demanded; giving Rogue a sense of deja vu.

"Because Ah can't, Scott. There are too many memories here, too much pain for me and Ah need to leave. Ah need to start somewhere fresh, to get my emotions in order. Because right now, believe it or not Scott, Ah am as messed up as they come from all of this. Ah can't take it. Not while Ah'm still here." Rogue explained, allowing the tears to fall. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, but she hadn't expected to cry from it.

The winter here is cold and bitter

It's chilled us to the bone

We haven't seen the sun for weeks

Too long too far from home

I feel just like I'm sinking

And I claw for solid ground

I'm pulled down by the undertow

I never thought I could feel so low

Oh, darkness I feel like letting go

"Am I not enough?" Scott asked and Rogue could've sworn she saw a tear fall out from behind his glasses.

She took a deep breath and looked around the room. Again, she couldn't lie to Scott and the question he asked was going to be hard for her to answer. On both of them.

"No, Scott, you aren't." At her answer Scott turned away from her again and she saw him raise a hand to his face.

"You are just a much a part of my memories as any of this place or the people in it. If not a major one. And Ah can't do this if Ah'm with you. Ah'm sorry. It might sound cruel but it's true. Ah need just me right now, Scott. And Ah wish you'd understand that." Rogue explained.

"How can I understand that the woman I love doesn't want to be around me. My best friend. Huh? How?" Scott shot back.

"Scott, it's not you..."

"Oh, don't give me that crap, Rogue. You have people here who are willing to love you, to do anything for you. And you've got friends who would walk to the ends of the earth for you, but instead you think about yourself, pitying yourself because of some man who you can't..." Before Scott could even finish the sentence he found his cheek burning from the slap Rogue gave him. He held a hand to his cheek as he looked up at her. He saw anger floating in the tears that were filling her eyes and instantly regreted what he said. Love hurt, he knew that. And Rogue had suffered with it for years and he had to bring up something like that. Yeah, great way to make her stay.

"You have no idea. No idea what I have been through, so don't you dare give me some fucking speech on what I had been doing through the years because I know. Believe me, I know, Scott. There had been so many times where I tried to fight my feelings for him when I knew we were never going to be together. Hell, I even tried before that with the thought in my head that he didn't want me. But now. Now he does want me and it had to be during one of the worst times imaginable, so yeah. I pity myself. But give me just a little credit here, Scott, please. Because I'm not sure if my life can get any worse." And with that she turned on her heel and stormed out of his room, slamming the door in the process.

If all of the strength

And all of the courage

Come and lift me from this place

I know I can love you much better than this

Full of grace, my love

Rogue ran down the hall, not real sure where she was going. Scott had hurt her more than she could imagine. And she never thought he would say something like that to her. In love or not. She angrily wiped off the tears as they fell. She was getting frustrated with all the crying she was doing. It seemed that was all she did now. But her life was a wreck. Had been from the moment she discovered her mutation. That's when everything went down hill for her. Yeah, she had it great here at the mansion. Lifestyle wise, but not emotionally. She was on a rollercoaster she wasn't sure would ever stop. Until she had the plan to leave.

She ran around a corner so fast she ran right into Logan. The last person she wanted to see. She would've fallen on the floor, had it not been for the hands that grasped her arms. She hung her head to the floor, not wanting him to see her the way she was, her hair a curtain around her face. She tried to fight back when Logan cupped her chin in his hand and raised her head, but failed.

"What's the matter, kid?" He asked as if nothing had happened between them. Rogue sniffed and wiped a few more tears away before answering.

"Uh, nothing, I'm fine."

"Marie." He lightly growled.

"It's nothin', Logan. Now may Ah please go." Rogue denied.

"Are you having second thoughts on this?" Logan asked with a sound of hopefullness in his voice, but knew better.

"Huh? Oh, uh, no. Ah just... Ah talked to Scott. He wasn't too happy." Rogue blurted out; not really meaning to.

"What did he do to you, Marie." Logan demanded with a low, threatening growl.

"Logan! Nothing! He didn't hit me if that's what you're thinking. He just said some things that touched a little too close to home, that's all." Rogue defended; shocked that even Logan would think Scott capable of such a thing.

"What did he say?" Logan wanted to know. He was going to tear ol' one-eye a new one.

"God, Logan! Don't worry about it! It's over, alright! I'm leaving soon anyway. Probably by the end of the month. So why don't you two alphas stop worryin' about me or the situation!" Rogue screamed. She was feeling like she were going insane from all of the chaos. She pulled herself out of his arms and continued on down the hall at the same speed Logan had caught her at.

"Marie, wait! I have to tell... you... something." Logan slowed his wording down when he knew she wasn't stopping. Not for anyone. And he had some news he desperatly needed to tell her.

It's better this way I said

Having seen this place before

When everything we say and do

Hurts us all the more

It's just that we stayed

Too long in the same old sickly skin

I'm pulled down by the undertow

I never thought I could feel so low

Oh, darkness I feel like letting go

Earlier that day

"Are you sure about this?" He asked her as he rested his hands on her shoulders.

"Yeah, I'm sure. And I'm fine. I had a feeling there was something missing. And I realzied it was you." She answered with a small smile.

"You're not upset?" He asked, slightly surprised.

Her smile grew as she answered, "No. You two belong together. I feel more like I stole you away from her. Not the other way around."

"You are an amazing woman." He replied.

She shrugged slightly and smiled, "yeah, well, I try."

"So, are we okay?" He asked.

"Of course we are, honey. I love you. I'll probably always love you. But I know now that we aren't true for each other. You and Marie. That's true love. I could see it in her eyes and I thought I saw it in yours, but I wasn't sure. That was one of the reasons why I talked to her. She spilled to me and I wasn't at all surprised, but when I tried to tell her about you, she refused. She's a great gal. Don't let her get away."

"Isn't that the speech she gave you?" Logan asked with a laugh.

"You heard?" Sherri asked back with a slight smirk.

"I was lookin' for ya."

"Ah, well, yeah, it is the same speech. Well, close to it anyway." Sherri smiled before standing on her tip toes to lightly kiss him on the cheek. He smiled down at her and she returned it before hicking up the bag that was sliding down her shoulder.

"I'll mail ya the papers and I'll probably send some people to pick up my stuff. Oh, don't worry, I'll make sure they're either mutants or mutant friendly." She said before walking out the door. Leaving a confused yet relief filled Logan behind.

He had sat her down after Marie told him her decision for leaving and told her everything. And to his amazment, she wasn't shocked, surprised, or even angry. She just nodded her head and said, 'thought so,' and after a few moments of silence after that she spoke up, 'and it's about time'. She then told him her story of how she had her suspicions about the two and how she felt like she was keeping apart something amazing. And she didn't want that. She also told him about how hearing his story of how he met Rogue and saving her twice, that a love built around that, built from that to be more precise, couldn't be held back or taken away. So she decided on leaving. They both promised to keep in touch but also knew it was highly doubtful it would happen. And once Sherri left, Logan searched high and low to find Marie to tell her of the news.

If all of the strength

And all of the courage

Come and lift me from this place

I know I can love you much better than this

Full of grace

Two weeks later

Rogue hugged all her friends as she stood by her car. Jubilee made her promise to write everyday and if she didn't have paper to get some. She wanted info on her adventure and so Rogue had promised. The professor had given her enough money to make it to her destination, wherever that may be. And a few little going away gifts from the other teachers and classmates. She was thankful for all of it. Most were necessaties to make it on the road. She hadn't seen Scott since she told him of her departure and figured she had just ruined one of the greatest friendships she ever had. Next to Logan's. She avoided him like a plague as she prepared leaving. She didn't want him to try and convince her to stay. It was early in the morning when she decided to leave and was shocked to see everyone around her car when she came out of the mansion, only expecting to see the professor and Ororo. But it really thrilled her to see Jubilee and Kitty holding a huge sign saying, "we'll miss you, chika!" in big yellow letters. Yep, Jubilee made it. As she opened the car door she looked back at her family, tears streaming down her face.

Logan wiped the water off his face as he came out of the bathroom in just his sweat pants. Today was the day he would find Marie for sure and tell her about him and Sherri. It was a big relief for him and knew it would be even bigger for her. Everytime he found Marie she ran away from him. He knew why. She didn't want him to ask her to stay. That was his intention, yes, but he would have given her a very good reason to stay. They could finally be together. No hiding. No secrets. Her dream could finally come true.

His ears perked at a sound her heard coming outside and he could swear it was the sound of Marie laughing. What was she laughing about? He wondered as he wandered over to the window. He almost stumbled when he saw his Marie climb into the car after wrenching a Jubilee from off her neck. Quickly dropping the towel he rushed down the stairs, taking three or maybe even four at a time. He had to stop her. He had to tell. Why hadn't she said goodbye to him? Why was she leaving without telling him? He thought if all else failed in his plan he could have at least told her when she said goodbye. Or maybe she was too afraid to say goodbye to him. The fear of coming to him to say goodbye would have made her stay. He knew her and he knew that was her reason. She was never great with goodbyes. Especially when it came to him.

He wrenched the door open and rushed outside, the cool air prickling at his hot skin. He watched as the car sped down the driveway as he ran after it, not caring about the sharp rocks digging into the flesh of his feet. All he cared about was stopping Marie. God, she had to know.

"Marie!" Logan roared as he ran past the crowd, not caring about the looks they gave him.

Rogue looked out the rearview mirror and saw Logan running after the car. She had to fight back the aching urge to stop the car and run to him. Because she knew if she did that, then she would never leave. So as she brought her eyes back to the road she didn't notice the broken man fall to the gravel covered ground in defeat.

I know I can love you much better than this

It's better this way