AN: Okay, I have actually posted this story before, but I'm now redoing it a bit, so bear with me here!

I want to give a shout out to the only person who reviewed this story the first posting, Jinxeh, who not only left a review, also pointed out what he/she liked specificly, which is so helpful! Thank you so much!

This time around, I'm REALLY hoping y'all will take a moment to leave a review...if not, then I know I really need to rework this fic.

Please, please, R&R! Thanks.

Disclaimer:

Rose Redd is my OC,

The X-Men are Marvel's

I hope you'll like Marv, too,

And I've lost my marbles!

Chapter 1

She stood. Rain poured off her knapsack and down into the drain as she read the sign with weary resolve.

"Welcome to Bayville- A beautiful town" It read, displaying the peppy town welcome in bright blue colors.

She sighed, then smiled. Well, I had better find a place to rest and get dry before I wrinkle up like a prune. She stretched out her hands and felling the rain dripping from them to the ground, washing her hair and drenching her clothes.She then continued through the town, looking for a dry spot to rest. As she walked, she thought again of all the other places she had traveled to, the other towns, the many buildings and people she had seen. As the grayness of the dreary day surrounded her again, she thought miserably to herself, "This town can't be different from the others. There's almost no point in hoping anymore."

She stopped, her head hanging low. With tears in her eyes, she clenched her hands fiercely. "No. No, I won't give up without a fight. I won't just be content to sit back…without even knowing…"

"Well, here's a cute place" She thought, as she looked at the small diner. "Eva's. Hmm...well, at least it's dry. I'm glad they're still open, it's almost eleven." The door swung open, as she looked around. Cute old cliché,she thought, looking at the empty booths parallel to the counter. Stools ran along the length of the counter, ending at the cash register. Across from the counter, the greasy grill sat, with the other utensils and machines. A pear-shaped man came in from the back.

"Hey there, miss. Can I do somethin' 'fer ya?"

"Hello!" she said. "How long are you open?"

He smiled. "Well, I reckon as long as I can stay awake...I own the place and I live here, too! Say, why you all wet?"

She looked up into his eyes, smiling back, and answered, glad to see a friendly face. "Well, it's raining! I've been walking for quite awhile, and I was wondering if I could rest here for a bit...if that's alright."

His smile broke into a grin. "Of course it is. I'm always open to havin' a bit of company, especially when the company is a pretty little traveler like you. Have a seat! Where you from?"

She thought for a moment. "Nowhere worth speaking of... I... travel a lot."

"I see. Well, I'm not one to meddle in somebody else's affairs, but you don't happen to be runnin' away from home or nothin', are ya? I'd hate to think that a sweet thing like you is in some kinda trouble..."

She paused, looking for an answer. " Well, I'm not in any kind of trouble with anyone...and my parents...well, there're not here anymore... I guess you could say I'm kind of...wandering."

"You're not vistin' family, or friends, 'er somethin'?"

"No, I don't know anybody here."

"Ah. Stayin' at the motel, then, eh?"

"Nah, I need to save my money…I passed a gazebo a while back…" She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She hated sounding like a bum, but she did like the man. There was a nice, almost uncle-like quality about him. "Anyway, could I still order something? I'm pretty hungry."

He nodded, smiling softly. "'Course ya can! Here, have a menu. I'll be right back"

The man walked back into the back room as she looked over the menu. Ugh, my clothes are soaking wet…maybe soup would warm me up, She thought, shivering. He came back in, carrying a blanket, towel, and pillow.

"What are those for?" She said.

"For you. Dry off with the towel, and you can sleep in one of the booths for the night. I recommend the one at the end," he said, pointing, "it ain't used much, but it's pretty big." He said, as laid them out on the biggest booth.

"But..." She began to object, but he interrupted, holding up his hand.

"I don't wanna hear it! You need a place to rest- you look beat! You can sleep here tonight, and no buts!"

She smiled, saying "Thank you, you're very kind, sir. But I don't want to impose..."

He laughed, then said, "Impose? Don't even think 'bout it! I'm not about to let someone go and sleep in a gazebo when I got perfectly good booths. Besides, I need somebody to sweep the floor in the mornin'! You can do that, and we'll call it even. That sound fair?"

She nodded with a smile.

He continued, "Good. And another thing- don't call me sir. It makes me feel old. You can call me Marv. It's short 'fer Marvin. Now, what'll ya have?"

"Well, what is the soup today?" She asked.

"Potato, I think. Good choice, if ya don't mind me nukin' it."

"That sounds good" She said with a yawn. He nodded and soon placed it on the counter, and she ate, as he described the town to her. A bank, a marina, airport, library... just like all the others, she thought, as he talked.

"Say," He said suddenly, "How old are you? 15,16,17? You can't be much older than that!"

"Yea, I'm 15...I'll be 16 soon...but don't worry, I can take care of myself."

"Well, are you plannin' on stayin' here long?"

She sighed. "For a while... if I can find a job."

"Well, I'm heading 'fer bed, I'm beat. G'nite, uh…say," He smiled, scratching his head, "What's 'yer name, anyway?"

She looked up. "Rose. Rose Redd."

"Goodnight, Rose Redd. See you in the morning." He said, as he shut the door.

The place was quiet, peaceful, with only the sounds of an occasional car, and the soothing rain, pouring down, all though the night. It had been a long while since she could relax...and it didn't take long for her to drift away to dream world.