Disclaimer: Don't own the X-Men. Do own both Blaze and Raven. Golan belongs to Star and is used with permission.

04

The next day dawned bright and cheerful, summer's last stand before the new term began at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Rogue rose late feeling numb and detached. She went through the motions of getting up and dressed, pulling on her gloves for yet another day without paying any attention. Distractedly she made herself tea and then aimlessly wandered outside to drink it. It was as though without realising it she was searching for solitude, hollowness eating at her. Why after more than fifteen years of this mutant power was it suddenly becoming so cripplingly hard to bear?

But the solitude she searched for eluded her out in the morning sunshine, her inner tumult silenced by a cheery "Morning!" from the figure sat on the low stonewall in front of the house. Blaze too was drinking tea, long hair playing in the breeze as she beckoned Rogue to come join her.

"You recovered from you flight yet, Hon?" Rogue asked politely, making her fellow X-Man smile.

"I think it'll take a few days. I'm not as young as I used to be…" Blaze answered, looking back over the lush gardens, her eyes resting gently on the small group playing with a Frisbee just out of earshot. Scruffy was bounding about with contagious energy, an infection it seemed he had passed on to Gambit and Raven. Blaze shook her head slowly in wonderment. "Though apparently I'm the only one feeling a little hazy. Maybe if I'm lucky they'll wear each other out…"

Rogue said nothing, watching the red-headed eleven-year-old Raven laugh as Gambit tormented Scruffy good-naturedly with the toy, offering it then snatching it away as the dog barked. He almost caught Raven out too, a swift backwards lob making her squeak as she raced to jump for the Frisbee. Jessica leaped with the dog to catch it, only to screech as she was swept up by her dad's hug and twirled around in the air. Rogue sighed heavily, heavier than she'd meant to, and Blaze wasn't slow to pick up on it.

"What's wrong Rogue? Why so glum?"

"I'm not…" Rogue started defensively, but Blaze's sceptical raised eyebrow cut her off short. "Its… hard, y'know? Everyone's kinda settlin' down, not jus' you, but Scott an' Jean with Duncan, Logan an' Storm got Hana…" Rogue dropped her eyes, aware she was whining.

"You've got Bobby." Blaze pointed out softly, but it only shifted Rogue's mood from depressed to suddenly angry and defensive.

"No I don't." She snapped, "Every time he leaves I'm sure he ain't comin' back…"

"Rogue…" Blaze tried to butt in but Marie was having none of it.

"An' if he did, I won't blame him. Don't you see? I'm a curse, with my powers. I shouldn't be with nobody. I hate it!"

"Your powers are part of you," The woman who'd spent years denying her own spoke the truth calmly, "You can't…"

"Don't tell me what I can an' can't do!" Rogue snapped, "You don't know, you can't understand what this is doin' to me!" And with that she stood abruptly, not caring that she knocked her teacup to shatter on flags. Gambit glanced over at the shouting, Jessica's red-on-black eyes matching her dad's concern. Blaze glanced at her family, as Rogue stormed back inside. But the fire elemental didn't get chance to say anything as a familiar telepathic voice resounded through the minds of the X-Men with differential concern.

#X-Men to the briefing room, # Jean instructed, #We have a mission. #

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The briefing room was a jovial space. The other X-Men seemed inspired by the newlyweds' return. Even grouchy old Logan was grinning for no apparent reason, letting Gambit get away with a quick succession of little digs that had Blaze and Jubilee stifling giggles. Also present were the mansion's established old marrieds, Scott and Jean. Kitty, Kurt, the earth-mutant named simply Golan, and Ororo took their places chatting, leaving Rogue the last one standing. Scott didn't wait for her to be seated, forcing her to drop into the nearest vacant chair as he addressed the team.

"His name's Genie," Cyclops began officially, flashing up a 3-D portrait of the man in question in the air above the centre of the table. Beady black eyes twinkled at some hidden joke over a wide, grinning thin mouth. Fluffy greying hair stuck out mad-professor style from behind each ear, though his hairline was receding. He certainly didn't look much like a genie to Rogue. "We've had an eye on him for a while. He's been recruiting mutants for various criminal activities, promising to grant a single wish in return."

"Is this some kinda joke?" Wolverine asked dubiously as besides him Kitty leant forward on her elbows. "Grantin' wishes?"

"A girl he recruited in Kentucky asked to be a work of art." Scott changed the image, bringing up a picture of a teenager clutching the sides of her face with both hands as if in agony, mouth gaping in horror. "She only wanted to be beautiful. Genie has got her thinking she's the figure in 'The Scream'."

"He's a telepath, an illusionist," Jean filled in decisively, the Guardian of Thought knowing what she was talking about. Rogue was uncomfortably aware of Scott putting his hand over Jean's on the tabletop as the redhead continued. "But not a strong one if you're aware of what he's trying to do. It shouldn't take more than two X-Men to take him down a peg."

"Jean and I are going to Kentucky to see the girl. With any luck Jean should be able to help." Cyclops smiled at his wife who nodded smugly in reply, confident now in her own abilities. "Gambit," Scott looked to his teammate, "If you're feeling up to it this might be a good mission for you to get warmed up on again."

"No problem." Gambit nodded, shuffling a pack of cards easily in his hands before glancing to Blaze at his side, "Wanna come along Petite?"

"I've just spent all summer jetting around Europe with you and Jess." Blaze replied regretfully, "Now I've a week until term starts and I've not done a shred of lesson planning. I'm sorry Rem, I'm going to have to pass." She smiled a little as Gambit squeezed her shoulders sympathetically, knowing that Blaze took her teaching at the school at least as seriously as her X-Man status. Rogue bit her tongue as she watched them, the unfairness of it all too clear. She missed whatever it was Cyclops said next, though it seemed everyone was now waiting on her answer.

"Sorry what was that Sugah? Wasn't listenin'…" Rogue shook her head apologetically. Scott looked at her oddly before repeating himself.

"I said, looks like you're up then Rogue." Cyclops turned back to Gambit, effectively giving the Cajun command over Rogue. She folded her arms, scowling. Bad enough she was filling in for Blaze in the first place… "Take the Falcon, the coordinates of Genie's last known whereabouts have already been transferred from Cerebro to the jet's computer." Scott pushed back his chair, a sign that they were dismissed, the others all starting to leave.

"Maybe while you're at it you can wish yourself back single again, hey Gumbo?" Logan retorted with a grin, "I mean, what were you drinkin'?"

"What it with you folks all thinkin' I was drunk?" Gambit laughed, arm round Blaze's slender waist. "I ain't done nothin' to deserve dis!"

"Wanna bet?" Logan pressed his friend, who for once turned down the challenge with a single shake of his head, whilst Blaze chipped in exasperatedly with, "You're such a mate Wolverine, seriously…"

"Just doin' my duty." Logan smiled and left. Blaze kissed Gambit good luck before turning to a waiting Rogue. "Take care of him for me, okay Rogue? And good luck."

"No problem." Rogue forced a smile, not that Blaze noticed as she left to carry on her playful arguing with Logan.

"So," Gambit grinned at Rogue easily, "Who gets to fly the jet?"