Hello again. After a long wait the next chapter is finally here.

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Never Forgotten - Chapter Two

The night of Rogue's graduation Scott couldn't have been happier or prouder of the beautiful young woman he had come to know everything about. Well, maybe not everything but he knew more than anyone else in the mansion knew about her that much was for sure. He thanked God every time he saw her that she had walked down and sat beside him that fateful night at the fountain, just a little over a year ago. He didn't know how he would have made it through some of the nights without her to talk to. After that night they had no longer sat in silence during their nightly meetings at the fountain, at first all they talked about was Jean. How Scott had fallen in love with her at first sight, their first date, how Rogue didn't want to like Jean at first because of her crush on Logan, and how Jean ending up being like the big sister she never had. Their conversations slowly started to carry over into the day, first sitting together at dinner, and then eventually all three meals. Then after a few months the two seemed inseparable. And looking at her now as she danced with her friends at the after graduation party he couldn't imagine his life without her. She had become his new purpose in life, to protect and keep her safe, like the one that walked out of her life had promised to do and didn't. Logan, it was completely obvious to Scott that Rogue did have more than just a crush on him, even though when she talked about her feelings for him that was all she ever referred to it as, a crush. But you could see it in her eyes whenever his name spoken that the pain there was too great for it to have just been a crush, she had loved him. Just as Scott had loved Jean and together they trying to were finding a way to live without that love to guide them.

Scott sighed as he turned and walked out of the double doors to the patio that had been decorated with an abundance of lights and flowers for the celebration of the new graduating class. He looked up at the sky as his thoughts returned to a time when Jean was still alive; he closed his eyes as he breathed the night air deep into his lung. A sadness came over his face then as his thoughts sifted to what Jean would be doing if she where still here, how she would have only danced with him to the slow songs, and the blush that she would give him when he would rub the small of her back letting her know it was time to make there way upstairs. Then as quickly as the sadness had come across his face a smile had replaced it when he felt the soft touch of a hand on his shoulder, a touch so soft, gentle, and guarded that it could have only been Rogue's. Her touch was always so different of everyone else's, maybe it was because of her years of having to be so careful where touched was concerned. Or maybe it was because her touch was a lot like her nature so soft and loving to everyone she knew and care for, so gentle to every person both those she knew and those she didn't, yet so guarded to let anyone to close to her in fear of being hurt or hurting them. Turned his head to look down at the vision of beauty she had grown into this past year, what he wouldn't give to have a women like her. She was wearing a black dress made of silk, that fit snugly to every curve of her luscious body from the top of gown that started just below her throat with only a small dip in front to show off her collar bones all the way down to her thighs where the dress spilt on each side the rest of the way down to her ankles. Her hair was tumbling down around her shoulders in a messy sexy look and she had a pair of black silk gloves to complete the out fit that went all the way up to just about her shoulders since her dress was sleeveless. No necklace, no rings, not even a scarf just a pair of diamond stud earrings and stunning smile, which was all she needed. She was the embodiment of a perfect women as far as Scott was concerned, a classic beauty with porcelain skin, mature and wise beyond even his years, yet not afraid to enjoy life and do something silly or crazy just to make you smile. Yes who ever won the heart of the women now standing next to him would be a lucky man, not only because they would have Rogue but because they would have to meet Scott's approval first.

"So, watch ya doin' out here?" Rogue asked him with her usual southern draw. As she took in the sight of the man next to her, she could understand more and more everyday why Jean had loved this man so much. He was more than easy on the eyes, in fact he was a blessing to look at especially when he was hard at work, and contemplating a plan of action in his head on what he would teach at school the next week or how the next mission was going to go down. From the way his jaw would twitch when he was confused, to way he run his fingers through his hair when he was on the right track. But it was more than just the way he looked, truly there were no words for him. He was Scott, it was more than just his loyalty, honor, and friendship, it was the way he listened, how he told you to truth even if you didn't want to hear, the way he would hold you up if you needed him even when you don't want to admit it, and contrary to what most people thought the way he would make you laugh just to hear the sound. He was Scott, not just the Leader of the X-Men but her best friend.

"Let's just say, you can only watch Hank dance in circle for so long before you start to feel dizzy yourself." He joked as he nodded in the diction of the ballroom, where Hank was indeed still swinging his hips from side to side while turning circles. "Honestly I don't know how the man is standing, much less still doing that dance." He said with the sound of her laughter filling his ears. There was only one thing better than seeing that smile of hers and that was hearing her laugh.

"Well at, least he is having some fun." She stated in between her giggles, turning to come stand in front of Scott. "And that is more than I can say for you; so… we are going to do it right here… right now." She told him with her soft southern draw sounding more sensual than usual.

Scott felt his month go dry as he looked down at the vision before him, surely she wasn't asking him to do what just ran through his mind at the sound of her words. "What?" he asked somewhat confused cocking his head to the side.

"Dancing." She said with a smile across her face that reached ear to ear.

"No" he replied slowly shaking is head to reinforce his answers, as she started to debate the subject.

"Yeah… Yes seriously…come on nobody's around." she pleaded as she took his hands in hers.

"No.. I can't… I don't dance." he refused again trying not to look her in the big brown eyes that he knew would be his undoing.

"Well you do now." She said pulling him further out onto the patio.

"I.. I don't want to dance." He somewhat argued he with as he let her pull him.

"Oh come, you put one arm here. And then we just… Oh come on, I'm not gonna bite. Please Scott, come on. Just one dance." She begged him once again.

"Rogue I.." he tried to protest once more before she caught him by surprise.

"Marie." She confessed, finally getting him to look her in her eyes.

"Marie?" he questioned, knowing he was a goner now. He had made the mistake of looking her in the eyes, there was no way he was getting out of this dance now.

"Yeah, my real… my real name… it's Marie." She admitted, as she placed her arms around his neck and start swaying side to side as the music from the ballroom be hide them started playing Wild Horses by the Sundays one of her favorites. " With all you know about me I just thought… maybe you would like to know who it is your really talking to." She continued her eyes now down cast looking toward the ground.

Without realizing it he was moving with her, when she looked down he brushed a finger under her chin, to quickly for her skin to react but still getting her to move her eyes back to meet his gaze. Then with the same finger he ran it down one of her stunning white steaks. "Marie, I never would have guessed. But then again I don't think I could have ever come up with a name as beautiful as the lady." He all but whispered to her as a strange pull began to build and bought the two closer together. All his could think about was what those full lips when taste like under his, when it happened. The rain had started pouring down on both of them causing them not only to get drenched as they ran inside but to burst out in laughter.

"Well so much for that dance." She said so giggling at a now water down Scott in his black suit.

"Hey I danced little, you better count you lucky stars you got that out of me." He joked with her as he brushed aside a soaked white streak from her face. And then there was that look again, that soft, innocent, sexy look that could only come from her… from Marie and the laughter was gone.

"Well I just this is natures way of letting us know we should call this a night." She declared as she took a step back feeling that if she didn't leave now she would do something that might ruin their friendship.

"Yeah I guess it is." He said with a smile as he let his hand drop to his side.

"Good-Night Scott." She said taking another step back before turning to start making her way upstairs for the night.

"Good-Night Marie." Scott said as he watched her retreat before retiring for the night himself.

Later that night she heard him thrashing about from her room next door. She was a little surprised when she heard him because it had been so long since he'd had a nightmare like this that she had hoped they had finally come to an end. That hope now banished Rogue pushed away her warm covers, put her robe and gloves on, and then headed for Scott's room. She took a sit beside him on the bed, and started speaking the words that had always clamed and eased the nightmares away.

First he felt her hand on his face gently wiping his tears away before the words came. " Shhh…. Its ok Scott, I'm right here. It's ok." She whispered in his ear. " I wish I could tell you it's all just a bad dream but… well I can't… but I can tell that I'll be right here until this nightmare goes away. And eventually, eventually it will, Scott. That much I can promise." Her soft voice was left ringing in his ear and he could feel her hand rubbing his arm to let him know she was there beside him, but she was wrong this nightmare wouldn't go away and he was the cause of it.

He pulled away from her and sat up putting his feet over the edge of the bed and standing he walked over to the window and looked out into the darkness as the still falling rain beat against the glass in front of him. "You're wrong." He stated in almost a whisper.

Marie now standing garbed his arms and turned him around to face her. "Scott, your not making any sense. What do you mean I'm wrong? Wrong about what?" She had no idea what it was he was talking about but she had seen that look on his face before and it scared the hell out of her. The last time she saw that look was the night she had found him at the fountain broken, defeat, and ready to give up on life.

"You're wrong. Don't you see, my life is the nightmare and I created it. It will never go away." He said in a tight voice, as he brushed away her hands from his arms.

" Scott what happened to Jean… it wasn't your fault. She made the choice to go out there." Marie said as she looked up into the covered eyes, now understanding what he was talking about.

"Choice… You call that a CHOICE… being buried in a watery grave or staying alive to be here for the ones she loves. THAT IS NOT CHOICE ROGUE THAT IS FALIURE. I…failed to protect….her… I…" he dropped to his knees and for the first time since Jean funeral he gave in, and he covered his face with his hands and cried.

Seeing Scott like this shook Marie to the very core of her soul. She knelt down in front of him and put her gloved hand on his hands and pulled them away from his face and with her other gloved hand she placed on his cheek and lift his gaze up to meet hers. They both had tears falling uncontrollably and their eyes locked.

"Listen to me Scott..." she said her voice just above a whisper because that was all she could manage without it cracking. " You never in any way failed Jean. Scott… you don't you see.. She saved us… by letting her go you saved us." She pulled him into her arms and held him as tight as she could. And then he wrapped his around her in return. They sat there in the floor holding each other until no more tears flowed. And when she started to pull away Scott pulled her so close to him that she almost couldn't breathe.

"You can't leave me too… I need you… I need you to stay… Please, Marie, I'm asking you to stay." Scott didn't care at this point what it sounded like, what it meant, or what it was exactly he felt for her that was so strong he couldn't fathom the thought of what life would belike if she left. All he knew, all he wanted, all he needed was to hear Marie say she was going to stay.

"Ok… Scott… okay I'll stay." She said it so softly as she ran her fingers through his hair and down his back. And she stayed there in his lap letting him hold her, her rubbing his back and neck. And this time it was Scott who fell asleep in Marie's arms with his back rested against the wall. And just as Scott had always stayed by her side, she stayed by his and fell into her own peaceful sleep as they lay there holding on to one another, neither one not yet knowing why.