Disclaimer: "See you somewhere down the line Whichever once again I'm here And I'm on the mend I'm here And I'm on the mend, my friend"

(An: Here's where a couple of the questions about John get answered... Heh.)

(John)

I sighed, propping my feet on the headboard of my bed and staring up at the ceiling. Those few moments outside, when Remy and I had laughed and teased Piotr, had made me forget exactly why I was angry with him for a while.

All right, so maybe I hadn't been the best example of a friend either.

But there were only a few things I had in this world, and I wasn't willing to sacrifice any of them. My affections for Rogue were one of them.

Unfortunately, Remy was another. He was one of the few people who didn't ask me questions- he just knew. He knew why I was with Magneto, he knew where I came from, he knew the way I thought. I can't claim the same, but I don't think anyone really understands how Remy thinks. He's mysterious, and he likes it that way. He enjoys his secrets.

That's part of the reason, after all. If someone can break a promise like that, what does it mean? The fact that he didn't tell me about Rogue- tried to make her another one of his secrets- annoys me just as much as the actual relationship. If you can't tell your supposed best friend, who can you tell?

I'm not ashamed of the way I think. You might think it's wrong, but I don't. Maybe I am a little off in the head, but I don't give a damn.

Unwillingly, my mind drifted away from the unpleasant topic of Remy, to one that was equally so in a much different way. Rogue.

I met her on a rainy night.

I just happened to be the one who answered the door that night. If it had been Remy or Piotr, things would've gone much differently. But they didn't.

I've mentioned I have a weak spot for crying girls. Anybody who willfully makes a girl cry is scum, in my opinion.

Anyway, there Rogue was, standing on our doorstep, her head bowed and rain not the only thing trailing down her cheeks. She looked up, wiping at her eyes as though the tears were a horrid affliction. "Can I talk to you?"

I was rather taken aback by the question. I had never really met Rogue before- I kind of knew her by reputation alone, since Remy had always had a tendency to rant about her (he had never mentioned, though, that his feelings for Rogue might've been deeper than just annoyance and frustration). And the fact that someone who, as far as I could tell, made a point to be as strong and independent as possible was asking for a shoulder to cry on was surprising.

I tell you, mate, I was doomed from the start. I let her in.

She was upset because her brother, Kurt, had almost died, partially thanks to her. Well, it wasn't really her fault, but, being her, Rogue saw it that way.

Apparently, Kurt had decided that Rogue should have a birthday. Since she didn't remember her own (or wouldn't tell), Kurt had appointed the day she'd switched sides as her birthday. And every year, he annoyed her with a party.

"God, I feel so bad," Rogue had mumbled to me. "Every year, around this time, I treat him like dirt so he picks up on the hint. But he never does. He always gets everyone in the 'stute to give me those damn parties, no matter how much I tell him I don't want it or how rude I am to him. And now..." She had let out a little sob and grabbed me around the neck.

This, of course, was very startling to me. I'm screwed was what popped into my head.

Eventually the rest of the story spilled out.

Kurt had been out buying her present when his inducer had shorted out. This was, of course, right in the middle of a fancy department store where he'd been dickering over the price of her gift.

Having a young, enterprising German boy who knows what he's talking about buying something is very different from having a blue, fuzzy, elf-demon dirtying your store.

After the shock had worn off, a riot had broken out. Kurt tried to 'port, but there had been too many people hanging onto him. He'd managed it, but only got to the door of the store.

He'd passed out.

According to Hank, it had been a stroke of luck and a true display of Kurt's endurance that he'd survived.

"He's still unconcious," Rogue had whispered into my neck. "And I can't talk to anyone else. Kitty's a wreck, Logan's pissed, and everyone else in the mansion... thinks it was kinda my fault. And so do I."

She'd kind of trailed off after that, her words degrading into sniffles.

"And you know what's the worst of it?" Rogue asked, after she'd calmed. She sat back in her chair. "He was buying me this." She took off her bracelet. It was a pretty little thing, black and silver with an emerald set in it. "It's a power negater. God knows how Kurt knew they had it, Since he'd paid for it, the store sent it to me anyway."

The thought that this beautiful creature could be touched now was almost impossible for me to bear.

Rogue wiped at her eyes a last time. "Thanks... We never really talked before... and you still listened to me."

"What else was I supposed to do?" I replied- one of the few things I contributed to our conversation.

"You could've slammed the door in my face, like someone else would've," she responded. She kissed my cheek and left.

The next day Remy asked me about our visitor. He hadn't known who it had been. I was surprised that he even knew someone had come over. I explained about Rogue, and Remy had given me a long, steady look.

That was when we decided that Rogue was strictly off-limits.

I had a rather nasty realization that night, as thoughts of Remy, Rogue, and Wanda had stewed in my mind.

Wanda had come here to hurt me for making her friend hurt. This meant that Rogue had probably cried over Remy breaking up with her. And it had been my anger that had led Remy to do that. So, inadvertently, I had made Rogue cry.

This meant, following my own logic, that I was scum.

Funny how things work out.

(Remy)

I rolled over and out of bed, landing on the floor. Somebody had knocked on my door, rousing me.

Resisting the urge to yawn until my jaw cracked, I opened my door.

John was standing there. Exactly what I was supposed to think, I'm not too sure. I eyed him warily. "'S there a reason for you coming in here at-" I looked at my clock, "-one in the morning, or are you just a sadist like that?"

(John)

I should've expected that kind of reaction from him. This is what I get for being a jerk, I told myself, and tilted my head back so I could look him in the eye. "Actually, yeah," I said. "I've been a bloody jerk for the past few days."

"Glad you can admit it," said Remy, looking equally amused and serious.

"You make it really hard to apologize, mate, anyone ever told you that?"

A corner of Remy's mouth went up, in that trademark smirk of Remy's that annoyed me as much as it did everyone else. "Why, yes, probably. I just don't care."

I rolled my eyes. Classic Remy. "For the record, I am sorry. Can we forget this all ever happened?"

Remy cocked his head, studied me, then nodded. "Alright... that'd work."

Considering the circumstances, that was a pretty good response.

The next morning, I wandered into the itty-bitty room we called the kitchen and slumped down in a chair.

"Tired?" said a voice.

"Thanks," I mumbled, still half-asleep, as a coffee cup was pushed into my hands. I took a deep drink and then looked up. "Wait... What're you doing here?"

(Wanda)

I grinned at John, leaning back in my seat. I shrugged. "We were out of cereal and money at the boarding house, and figured I could probably hit you guys up for food."

Piotr shot me an incredulous look.

"I second that," John agreed. He eyed me skeptically, sipping his coffee. "Wow, Remy must've been tellin' the truth 'bout the Brotherhood if this seems better."

"Like I'd lie about that," Remy replied, grabbing John's coffee and draining the rest in a single gulp, his nose in the newspaper.

"Hey!"

Remy set the mug down and walked out.

"Swamp rats," John muttered. "Can't live with 'em, can't incinerate them."

I snorted.

"Be nice, John," said Piotr. "Lighter fluid is highly explosive."

"Like I care," he responded.

(John)

"Where's the bathroom?" Wanda asked.

Piotr and I both pointed at it without looking up from our breakfast.

Remy came in and sat down next to me, propping his boots on the table.

"You owe me coffee now," I informed him.

Remy looked up and gave me the "Do I look like I care?" eyebrow.

Wanda leaned out of the bathroom. "Toilet paper?"

Remy (whom she couldn't see) looked at me, raised his eyebrows, and shook his head.

I relayed the gesture to Wanda.

She grabbed some paper towels and ducked back inside the bathroom.

Remy looked at me, smirking.

"Say anything, and I'll fry your cards," I said. "I swear I will. Every pack you've got in that dresser drawer."

Remy looked shocked that I knew about his "secret" hiding place. "You wouldn't."

I held up an ace of spades and my lighter, bringing up a flame.

Remy gasped and grabbed at the card.

I flicked it at his face, just to show him how annoying it was.

(Wanda)

I emerged from the bathroom, giving John a dirty look. I shoved Remy out of my chair and sat down.

"Femme's strong," Remy commented from the floor.

"I live in a house of perverted guys," I replied. "Do the math."

"You don't live with him," said John, pointing at Remy. "A different sheila once a week, always on Tuesday. Like clockwork, it is."

"I hate you," said Remy, still under the table. He got up with all the dignity of an offended lion and walked out.

Piotr sighed audibly, propping his chin on his fist.

"Actually, the Brotherhood's probably worse," said John. "Watch this." He leaned over by Piotr. "SEX!" he crowed.

Piotr spasmed and slumped over the table.

Remy stuck his head in the room. "Where?"

Simultaneously, without a word or a glance, John and I pointed out the window.

Remy looked at us, snorted, and walked off again.

"Poor git," said John, patting Piotr's back.

"I should tell Kitty about that," I mused.

"Heh," said John. "You're evil. I like that."

"Thanks...?" I said, with a crooked smile.

"It was a compliment, sheila."

"Right," I said. "And my name's Wanda."

John looked up, his eyebrows raised.

"That's more intimidating when Remy does it."

I saw something odd flash across John's face. Just for an instant, he looked equally suspicious and jealous. The look disappeared as soon as it came, though. "You're a piece of work, Wanda, you know that?"

I cocked my head.

"Again, compliment."

"Sure," I said. I studied him. He looked absolutely gorgeous like that- leaning back in his chair, his hands behind his head and a carefree smile on his face. I blushed slightly, deciding the tabletop was safer.

Piotr got up, all red. "I'm going to kill you one of these days, John," said Piotr. "And I shall laugh."

"Love you too, Petey," said John lazily.

Piotr's eye twitched. He clumped off.

(John)

"What time is it?" Wanda asked suddenly.

I glanced at the clock over the stove. "If this thing is to be trusted, almost nine."

"Fuck!" said Wanda. "I said I'd meet Rogue."

I don't open my eyes, but my interest meter goes off the scale. Wanda and Rogue. The perfect combination. Where did that come from? I wondered, sitting up and glancing at Wanda.

The goodbye kiss she gave me was unexpected, but far, far from unpleasant.

(Wanda)

I didn't really think about kissing him. I just did. He just kind of turned his head so that the sun from the window made his face look perfect... I couldn't help it.

Turning about as red as the streaks in my hair, I stammered, "I'll- I'll let myself out, shall I?" I bolted.

As I ran to meet Rogue, his taste lingered on my lips like a secret.

(Rogue)

I was leaning on the bridge, my head leaned back into the warm sunshine and my eyes closed, when Wanda showed up. I opened an eye. "You're late," I informed her.

"I was... distracted," said Wanda. To my surprise, she blushed.

I raised an eyebrow. "Got something juicy, do you?" I asked.

"Yes," said Wanda instantly. She straddled the bridge, her words coming out in a rush. "You're in love with Remy. John's in love with you... and... I think I may just be in love with John."

I stared at her. What else was I supposed to do?

(I didn't have writer's block; I just got lazy and couldn't be arsed to start. Review, please.)