Passing Over--2

Rogue pushed through the large oak doors into her old home. Butterflies danced about in her stomach, as though even inside her was nervous.

"Rogue!" came Storm's cry of glee as Rogue smiled bashfully. Storm enveloped her in a graceful hug, giving the uneasy-looking girl some confidence. "I'm so glad you've returned. Come see the professor," along the way, Storm explained the going-ons in the mansion these days--of Wolverine's return (much to Rogue's suprise) of Scott and Jean's marriage, of Magneto's hiding.

"So..." after a while, they had come to the large doors of Xavier's study. "Should I go in alone?" Rogue shifted nervously from foot to foot, as she lacked any sense in the matter. Storm smiled reassuringly.

"Yes, child." she turned and her face almost exploded with unrequited glee. Little did Rogue know about the plan all the X-men (including the Professor) had put together.

She pushed open the doors and stepped over the threshold, turning to close the doors behind her. Her heart gave a flip when she heard that familiar voice...

"Rogue?"

Logan? Her butterflies grew worse as she turned and saw a gruff-looking Logan scrutenize her.

"I thought the Professor was supposed to meet me here..." she stated meekly. Logan gave a pointed glare at the way Storm had passed.

"Seems they saw damn well fit to pull the wool over our eyes," Still the same Wolvie I left. Rogue reflected.

She intertwined both hands behind her back, rocking onto her heels. "You say that like it's a bad thing." she pointed out blushingly. Logan started.

"Isn't it?" he questioned uneasily.

Silence tooks the reins. After that tense few moments, Rogue looked Logan square in the eye. "Do you think it is?" her sadness betrayed that note of confidence in her voice, making Wolverine's eyes widen a fracture.

"Well...I mean...no...but..." Rogue was taken by suprise. Usually Logan was the epitome of confidence, never stuttering, always proud and aware. I must have threw him off. Rogue thought with a small smile. His mouth curved in a thoughtful way, he almost daring himself to ask that question. "Do you want to go to lunch with me?"

-o-

After Rogue had happily agreed, a rather shocked and bashful expression on her face, they had piled into his van and drove off into town.

Rogue popped another french fry into her mouth, settling the bag more comfortably between herself and Logan so that she could rest her head on his shoulder. Of course, being Logan, the two had ended up at McDonalds, buying Bic Macs and french fries.

She could see that tinge creep up his cheeks, although she knew he'd tried hard to restrain it. "So...what've you been up to?" she questioned, blinking her doeful eyes up at him. A muscle in his cheek twitched, and he tried to keep his eyes on the road, so that they'd not wander to her.

"Travelling," he stated. She was quick to ask another question,

"Why'd you come back?" he opened his mouth to reply, but then he found he had no answer. It took him a moment, before he shrugged and came up with an answer.

"I just felt like I needed to," came the unexpected reply.

"Yeah...well, you're not the only one."

They talked a bit more, until they got back to the mansion, where they ate comfortably, settling back into old habits. As the time came and went, and the clock read nine o'clock, they got up and cleaned.

"G'night, kid." Came the gruff voice of Logan. Rogue smiled and looked through her lashes at him, her beautiful eyes obscured.

" 'Night, Wolvie." Rogue stood on her tippytoes, before applying a brushing kiss across his cheek. She turned and hurried away, as Logan let his hand wander to his cheek.

Now, where will this lead?

End