Instead of doing homework I find myself writing this lol. Oh well....

Disclaimer: I still don't own any of the characters....

Anna shivered when she walked onto the veranda, uncertain if it was because of the cool morning breeze or something else. She paced back and forth for a few moments allowing the fresh are to relieve her headache. She looked blindly into the distance trying to focus on anything but her own problems. It was a lost cause. Almost unconsciously she found herself holding the wedding band between her fingers.

"Nice ring" She heard, interrupting her short lived attempt at solitude. She cursed herself for believing secrets could be kept when so many people were gathered together. Lying to Logan had never been easy.

"Thanks" she muttered.

Logan closed the door behind him and stood next to her friend. Gently he took the ring from her hand. Instantly he could feel a difference in himself. He looked at her in surprise but she averted her eyes. His heightened senses were gone by just holding the small piece of jewelry. Quickly he handed it back to her.

"That's one interesting trinket you got there darlin'."

She said nothing as she placed it back in its box.

"Are you having trouble with your powers again Rogue?"

"I'm fine."

"I don't buy that for a minute. You haven't been yourself since you got here and last night…"

"Logan, how do you even know who "Ah" am now? It's been a lifetime…"

"Because you ain't happy kiddo. I can smell it. And I'm beginning to think it has something to do with that band more than it does Remy's attempts to make things right between the two of you."

Rogue stood silently unable to look at the man who had taught her so much.

"So you gonna tell me or do I have to force it outta you?"

She said nothing.

"Be glad I like you kid 'cause otherwise I might have thought about taking these claws outta retirement."

He caught a glimpse of a smile and forced her to look at him.

"Anna, first things first, where'd you get that ring?"

"It's not a big deal Logan, Ah just got it from this doctor I knew."

It wasn't a lie exactly but Logan wasn't fooled for a moment.

"Some doctor doesn't up and give you some one of a kind inhibitor. That sounds fishy to me."

"Logan please…"

"Then tell me." He put his arm around the shoulder of the troubled young woman. "We've helped each other through tough times for as long as I can remember."

Logan's eyes were sincere and concerned.

"You ain't making it easier for a girl to keep to herself."

"If there's one think I've learned it's that easier when people care about you darling. You gotta know that by now."

"This is your time. Ah don't want to bother you with my problems"

"I'm getting married Rogue but that don't mean we stop caring about everyone else. You think I can still be happy knowing you ain't?"

She smiled at the man who had been like a father to her. For some reason Logan always understood. Their pasts had been different but similar. They both fought to find where they came from….where they fit in. Tears filled her eyes and she sighed

"If you were me wouldn't you want one? Want something to make you normal, make you able to feel what everyone else feels?"

"Anna, you don't…"

"Don't try to tell me you didn't see how Peter was lookin at me. He's terrified that Ah'll hurt Kitty again and you know what? So am Ah!"

"It was an accident."

"And accidents shouldn't happen. Normal people don't have to worry about sucking the life outta their friends…Someone told me that they could make me normal…make me whole…I believed them."

"But that's only part of the story…" he said urging her to continue.

"He promised me everything that Ah ever wanted."

"But?"

"He couldn't do it," She looked away trying to hide the sadness and anger. "The damn thing didn't work right."

"When I touched it my senses…"

"It works fine for awhile but when mah skin warms it up it just…it just don't work. The box keeps it cold so it works longer but…"

Logan squeezed her tighter, "I wasn't like being normal."

She nodded, "Ah was a failed experiment so he went on to some new project."

"And we ain't just talking about science now are we? That ring meant more then that." She didn't answer but by here expression he could tell he was right. "I'm sorry kid"

"Sorry about what?" a sweet small voice piped up behind them. Ella smiled questioningly at Logan.

"I thought you were with Hank darlin'"

"Dr. Hank and papa are talking. They're no fun."

"Do they know you're out here without a jacket"

She shrugged and turned towards Anna, "She doesn't have a jacket."

"And Ah'm getting kina chilly sugah. Maybe you should go inside."

"But I don't wanna be inside. Miss Emma's yellin at someone on da phone about food."

Logan froze, "Sorry ladies, I gotta fix the catering problem before Ororo doesn't get a wedding cake and I spend my first month as a married man in the doghouse."

Anna sat down in a reclining deck chair and wiped away her tears. The little girl climbed up and sat on her feet.

"What are you doing sugah?"

Ella looked up at Anna with her big blue eyes. "Are you mad at me?"

Anna was startled by the question, "What would give you that idea shug?"

Ella looked down, "You're always leavin' when I'm around."

"Ah ain't mad."

"Are you sad? You be crying." Ella began to cuddle closer to Anna. Rogue moved quickly making sure her bare skin didn't the young girl but Anna's actions startles Ella and she started to back away.

"Ah'm sorry Sugah. I didn't mean to scare you none but my skin…do you know what a mutant is?"

"You mean like papa and Dr. Hank."

"Well Ah'm a mutant too. So are most people here. But mah mutation might hurt you even if Ah don't want it to. You can't touch mah skin okay Ella?"

Ella nodded, "Someday I wanna be a mutant. Papa says I might be someday."

"Papa also said you shouldn't go outside with no coat on petite."

Remy crossed his arms at the young girl.

"Sorry Papa," she said batting her eyelashes.

"Some-how I don't believe you chere."

Ella giggled

"The Summers terrors are looking for you Elle. They be upstairs."

"Thanks papa!" She said racing into the house. Remy called a warning to calm down but she didn't hear it. He shook his head.

"She's quite the little charmer" Anna remarked.

"Like her papa, though papa thinks his charms been wearing a little thin lately."

There was an awkward silence for a few moments. Then Anna spoke.

"What are you doing here Remy?"

He sat down on a chair close to her. "I came to apologize. Remy shouldn't be snooping in your things."

"No you shouldn't be."

"Is that all you have to say? You ain't gonna tell me why you've got some sort of inhibitor thing?"

"You think that Ah'm just gonna forget you invaded mah privacy?"

"Come on chere, It seems like you be telling everyone but me what's going on."

"That's a lie and you know it."

"What you and Logan been talking about."

"You don't know when to quite do you?"

"Quitting ain't my style. Common Chere, why won't you tell Remy?"

She opened her mouth to speak but the only thoughts that circled her mind were I don't wan to hurt you, and she couldn't force herself to tell him that so she said nothing.

"Fine," He said standing, "Remy won't bother you no more Chere. Just remember dat da whole world ain't out ta get you."