Divine Source

Disclaimer: I don't own X-men or Charmed in any way, shape, or form. I own only the plot.

Chapter 25

'I can't just stay in this room,' Taylor thought. She was lying on her bed, staring aimlessly up at the ceiling. 'I just can't stay in this house either.' She thought about the day before. About Logan and Chris arguing over her. Before, it probably would have flattered her, made her think that she was beautiful. Instead, it made her feel torn.

She had feelings for the both of them and it hurt that they both felt the need to rip each other apart in her presence. She wasn't in love. She knew better than that. She just really liked them. They both had the potential to invoke love from her but after what had just happened with Eri-the Woogy, she was too scared to find out what love was really like.

The pain she was feeling now. That was real. It wasn't a spell, it wasn't a potion; it was real. The potions purpose was just to invoke love, a feeling that was already in her heart, and give it to the Woogy. Her heart was really broken. She hurt.

"I can't keep doing this," she whispered as she teared up again. She had been crying for two weeks now. She wanted to stop. Standing up Taylor went into the bathroom to take a long, hot shower.

"Taylor!" Chris said in surprise. He, Logan, Bobby, and Rogue had been sitting in the kitchen, eating lunch when Taylor had walked in. Her hair dripping wet from her shower.

"Hey Chris, Logan, Rogue, Bobby," she said with a painful smile. Logan smiled back but stored away that her shoulders were hunched and she seemed to be trying to shrink into herself. She didn't want to be there.

"Hey," Rogue said standing up and walking over to her roommate. "Are you okay to be here right now?" she whispered carefully into Taylor's ear. "Ah can still stay with Jubilee. Her snoring isn't as bad now that Ah'm used to it." Taylor smiled half-heartedly at Rogue's attempt to cheer her up.

"It's alright, Rogue. I'm okay now." Rogue shook her head slightly with a frown.

"No yu're not," she whispered. "But you will be. Just-just don't shut 'em out, okay?" she glanced over at the table where Chris and Logan still sat for fear that their movement would make Taylor orb away again. "They really lihke you. Maybe even love. Who knows? Well, they do, but still...just be careful." Taylor smiled again, and this time, she actually meant it.

"Okay." She reached forward and gave Rogue a huge hug. When she pulled away, she reached up with her bare hand and touched Rogue's face, the only part of the other teen that was exposed.

"Who said you can't touch?" Taylor said with a smile even as she felt her energy draining into Rogue. She held her hand there for another moment, letting Rogue see her trust before pulling away.

"But-but," Rogue stuttered.

"It's okay. I have more power than others and I trust you. I don't believe you'll hurt me." And just to make her point known again, Taylor gave Rogue another hug and a kiss on her cheek. "Now, you wanna make me some pancakes? I'm hungry. A two week starvation diet has done great things for my body but horrible things for my energy." Rogue laughed and nodded.

"Ya got it, sugah. Go over there and sit with the fellas to keep 'em company." Taylor nodded and did as she was told.

"How're ya doin, kid?" Logan asked her as soon she got settled in her seat next to bobby and across from him and Chris.

"Better," she lied with a smile. "A lot better." Logan sniffed the air.

"Liar." Taylor frowned.

"Dude!" she exclaimed. "You cannot use that freaky smell thing of yours to read my emotions. Is that even a freakin power?" Bobby choked on his drink as he laughed and Chris turned his head to try to hide his.

"Yea, well," Logan shrugged. "It's a lie detector and you're lying."

"Yea, well, so is the president and no one's giving him the third degree!" Bobby raised a finger.

"Um, actually they are. They whole mutant thing is freaking people out and they're demanding answers." Taylor rolled her eyes.

"Whatever! My point is, if I lie about my emotions, who cares?"

"We do," Chris said solemnly. He stared intently at Taylor, catching her eye and holding it before she finally looked away.

"Fine."

"So, kid," Logan tried again. "How're you really doing?"

"I really don't know," Taylor admitted with a sigh. "I can't explain what I'm feeling and I'd rather not try. Let's just take it a day at a time, okay?" Logan nodded as Rogue rejoined them with a large stack of pancakes for Taylor. "Hey Logan?"

"Yes?"

"Don't call me kid. Today's my eighteenth birthday…hey Rogue? You guys got syrup?"

Her birthday…great. Something else he didn't know about her. This thought ran through Chris' head as Taylor practically devoured her pancakes. What could he get her? What could you get someone who you'd known for only a few weeks? Logan was right. He knew nothing about her…he didn't deserve her.

'But I like her,' he thought to himself. 'I really like her. She's smart, strong, and not afraid. I want her to like me too. I wish there was some way to get her to open up.'

"Hey Chris," Taylor said suddenly, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Yea?" Chris asked, his head snapping up to give her his full attention.

"We need to talk." He nodded with a slight shrug. He knew he seemed like he didn't care, but a part of him was scared that she just wanted to tell him that she hated him and never wanted to see him again. The other part was hoping against hope that she'd tell him she loved him, or even liked him for that matter.

"You too Logan." Chris held back a groan. That hope against hope had just died a miserable death.

Logan sat impatiently on the love seat while witch-boy sat on the couch opposite him. They both glared at one another before turning their attention to the brown skinned girl pacing the living room floor between them.

"I'm leaving," she told them suddenly. "I can't stay here. Our worlds should have never crossed and now that they have, so much can go wrong. I have to stop this now." Logan frowned and stood quickly.

"You don't have to leave," he told her gruffly. "We'll take care of you. We'll help you." Taylor shook her head.

"Look there's nothing you can do. You guys helped me with the Woogyman and I appreciate that. You did a great job. If it weren't for you, then I probably would have…" she trailed off as a large lump appeared in her throat.

"Are you sure about this?" Chris asked quietly from his spot on the couch. He hadn't moved since Taylor began talking and he seemed to be thinking about something. "Do you really want to leave?"

"Yes. There's no reason to stay."

"There is," Logan said suddenly. He moved towards Taylor and grabbed both of her hands in his. He leaned forward until their foreheads touched. "Look, I'm not good with this sort of thing, but I like you. Now I know it's sudden and I know it may be a little weird for you, but I just can't stand by and watch you leave without knowing what could've happened between us." Shocked, Taylor pulled away, looking at Logan with saddened eyes.

"Logan, don't," she whispered.

"I can't help it," Logan told her honestly. "I don't use flowery words, okay? I like you, I want to be with you, but I can't persuade you to stay with flowers and chocolate cause that's not who I am. I just want you to think about it. Give it a chance. Don't throw us away."