What Goes Up Must Come Down

By: Kryptonite

*****

*Eleven Months Three Days After*

" Please tell me your joking." Rogue looked at the man approaching her.

" Not in the least." A few of the younger kids thought this was hilarious.

" Scott, don't you dare." She warned, still backing away from him. Scott just grinned before he lunged, trying to grab onto her clothing. Rogue shrieked and ran, all the little kids helping the adult they liked the most but generally getting in everybody's way.

Scott chased Rogue all over the living room for the younger kids, leaping over the low furniture when he had to. He finally managed to grab a hold of Rogue and fell with her onto the couch.

" I win." He said from where he lay on top of her. The kids took this as a clue to create a dog pile and jumped on top of and around the two babysitters.

" Scott." Jubilee's voice called from the doorway. " You have a phone call."

" Just a second." Scott sat up, shedding ten-year olds and younger as he continued to straddle a giggling Rogue. Jubilee huffed in the doorway as she tapped her foot, waiting for Scott to take the phone from her hand.

" Thanks Jubilee." Scott said, Rogue trailing behind him, eyes shining and cheeks turning bright pink.

" You're a slut you know that." Jubilee hissed as Rogue stopped near her. The angry oriental girl turned and walked away down the hall.

" Shows what you know." Rogue muttered, rolling her eyes and turning to go back into the room. " Alright guys. Rest time." Rogue called to the room at large. Everyone groaned half-heartedly as they settled down for the hour where everyone was quiet and either slept or read or the like.

Rogue hit the play button on the stereo, turning on the Music of the Week, which turned out to be Bach. She settled down onto the couch, pulling a blanket over her legs.

*****

" Oh god!" Rogue shouted, bolting straight up. New thoughts and memories were coursing through her brain, half-formed and misty like. But the boy who they belonged to lay breathing shallowly on the floor. Rogue picked the boy up, making sure all of her clothes were arranged properly and flew down the hall to the elevator.

" Dr. McCoy!" Rogue shrieked when she burst through the doors to the med. lab.

" Rogue? Put him on the bed." Rogue stood back helplessly as the local MD did his thing. " He'll be fine. Sean should wake up soon." Hank turned around to see the doors sliding shut. " Rogue?"

*****

" Where's Rogue?" Scott asked the instant he entered the lab under the school. Xavier had called all of them there to inform them of the situation.

" She left. I didn't see her go." Scott turned around at Hank's words and went to leave again. Logan blocked his path.

" Let her have some time one-eye." Logan growled. He still didn't know that Scott knew what he had done almost two months ago.

" Back off Logan, before I cut you in half." Scott answered, mustering all of his strength to shove Logan's deceptively heavy bulk out of the way.

******

" Rogue? Rogue!" Scott called as he pushed his way through the darkened woods in the near dark of night. Scott came up on his first checking point. Some point a while ago the kids had erected a tree house. Being the head teacher, after Professor Xavier, and the leader of the X-men, Scott had been asked to check its durability and workmanship.

" Rogue?" Scott asked quietly, poking his head in the door.

" It's my fault. I should have been awake." Scott could see the tear tracks down her cheeks by the light of the extraordinarily bright moon, drifting through the treetops.

" What happened?" Rogue turned haunted eyes on Scott, scaring him as much as she had two months ago.

" I was sleeping on the couch. The other kids dared him to touch my skin. He didn't think anything would happen." Her voice was cut off by a sob.

" Rogue-" Scott started, moving towards her.

" Don't touch me!" She cried. Tears spilled down her face again, making her seem shiny.

" Rogue it wasn't your fault."

" Oh God." She sobbed out much like she had done when she had first realized she was a mutant. Scott took her moment of weakness and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

" It's okay, everything's going to be okay." After initially stiffening in his grasp, Rogue relaxed, pouring tears out onto his shirt and soaking in the comfort.

*****

" It's about time you two got back. Sean was up a half hour ago wanting to do it again." Rogue gave a sigh of relief and turned to Professor Xavier.

" We'll talk in my office." He said to some unspoken remark. The two left through the door and Scott turned to leave as well, to go find the kids and put some sense in their heads.

" Next time take a cold shower before you come near me, got it?" Logan growled once the two men were in the metal hallway.

" Next time listen when Rogue says she doesn't want to fuck." Scott snapped back, shoes echoing off the walls as he jogged down the long hall to get to the elevator.

Logan stood in shocked silence as he watched the leader of the X-men vanish into the elevator.

*****

" Rogue it wasn't your fault. Sean is fine and we'll just have to re-impress the idea that you don't have complete control over your skin, no matter what anyone says. In fact it's a miracle you have as much control as you do."

" I know Professor, believe me I know. But I don't think I'm fit-"

" Simply put Rogue, the kids love you. They haven't wanted anyone to watch them but you and Scott. As it is, I'm hard pressed to find anyone more willing than you and Scott." Rogue smiled sadly at the praise. " Rogue, don't shut me out." Xavier warned, feeling her shut down her mental barriers. It was the same creepy feeling that Xavier had had all those months ago when Rogue had tried to drown in the lake.

" Sorry sir, is this better?" A torrent of thoughts and ideas and images flooded his brain, pushed just a little bit because of Rogue's anger, at him and at herself.

" It was not your fault. Don't listen to them. Which reminds me, come here at lunch tomorrow and I'll start your training. See if we can't make progress on freeing your head."

Rogue heaved a sigh. " Thanks Professor. If you'll excuse me."

" Scott's looking for you. He's in your room. Shall I tell him to stay put?"

" Yes sir, thank you." Rogue closed the door silently behind her.

" Always happy to help." Xavier said before telling Scott to stay where he was.

*****

" Feel better?" Scott asked at about eleven that night. Rogue simply smiled up at him, craning her neck around so she could see his face.

" Much. Thanks for the ice cream." The two of them were sitting on her bed watching a movie on TV and eating chocolate ice cream.

" Anytime." Scott said, smiling down at Rogue. She noticed how the look in his eyes changed slightly but she dismissed it as a trick of the light. Stacking her bowl in Scott's she placed both of them on the nightstand.

" This movie is so stupid." Rogue said, turning back to the movie. They were watching 'Finding Nemo'.

" But cute." Scott argued. Rogue nodded, snuggling into his body closer.

" Very cute. Scott don't you dare." She said as she felt his hand move down her side.

" And if I do?" He teased, eyes glued to the TV set. He didn't wait for her response before he started tickling her.

" Scott. Scott! Stop, please stop!" Rogue couldn't keep from laughing and it was a matter of moments before Scott was on top of her, weighing down on her body.

" Say mercy." He ordered, fingers still digging into her sides.

" If you don't stop I'll make this a very painful experience for you." Rogue said, trying to get her breath back as Scott paused in his attack.

" What?" He asked confused. Rogue grinned wickedly and pushed her hips up slightly.

" Didn't notice that did you?" Rogue teased, wrapping her arms around his waist to stop him from rolling away. " I never thought I had that kind of effect on you, really makes me feel powerful."

She grinned up at him, not noticing how close his face was. He lowered his face a few centimeters closer, causing her to catch her breath.

" Makes me feel powerful I have the same effect." He said at the hitch in her breathing.

" So what are we gonna do about the situation?" She asked, not taking her eyes off of his.

Sometimes the worst seeming situations can have a good outcome. Just remember what goes up must come down and vice versa.

*****

A/N: So, I wonder what happens… hehehe. Okay, morph, isn't it a good thing you've run out of bad things to say? Or does that mean you really don't like my story but are still reading it anyway… I'm confused… again. Angel, hope this chapter answered your question. Nope it wasn't a dream, unfortunately.

Sorry it took so long to get this up, I was running low on creativity plus my life has gotten way hectic. I mean, Christmas break starts in less than a week and I still have shopping to do. I am so going to be one of those people at the mall on like the 23rd and 24th buying Christmas. Course that's probably a good thing since I'll be at my mom's.

I really don't know what the next chapter is going to be but it's probably going to be a ways back since I have a few loose threads I never explained but I don't know. I'm not going to be able to update from the 21st to the 1st since I'll be at my mom's (again) so I'm saying now MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Have a good Christmas/Hanukah holiday and spend time with family (even if you don't like them).