Gah, I noticed an embarrassing typo in that last chapter. I talked about the character in the first person. My apologies. I was writing a short story at the time-first person. I do that a lot when I attempt to multi-task. Sorry it has taken me this long to update. I was hoping to get the chapter up before I left for Mexico (where I couldn't get my hands on a decent computer) but alas, I failed….

Everyone stood in Warren's room, watching him sleep. Kitty was still crying, huge tears running to the tip of her nose and splashing onto the blankets. They had gotten Faye, a girl with healing powers, to come to Warren's aid and she had successfully healed his wound. Now, they were all waiting for him to regain consciousness.

Logan stared down at the boy and frowned. He knew that Storm shouldn't have brought the girl to the school. There was something about her he hadn't liked. He could smell something on her-something that just didn't seem right. He had smelled it on John, too. And they all knew the path he'd decided to take.

Faye, her fiery red hair in her face, lifted her head to look at the others around her. To their relief, she had a bright smile. "He's coming to, guys."

Sighing with relief and joy, Kitty walked closer to edge of the bed and took Warren's hand. "Warren?" The others couldn't ignore the earnestness-and eagerness- in her pretty features.

Eyelids fluttering open, Warren looked around at the people standing over him. At first, he seemed confused but then, the events of earlier seemed to dawn on him. "Well, if you're going to get blasted with stolen energy by a destructive mutant, you might as well do it at Xavier's, right?"

Storm let out a relieved laugh. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling well enough to joke, Warren." She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Get better soon, alright? I want to see you up and about." She turned a silently left the room.

Those who caught Kitty's admiring smile took the cue and turned to leave. Those more clueless were dragged out by Rogue. And, just like that, Warren and Kitty were alone.

Suddenly shy, Kitty looked down at her feet, feeling a blush starting on her face. "So, um, you feel better? I heard Faye is really good at what she does."

Warren shrugged. "Well, it's not like I suddenly feel like a million bucks. But for a guy who was just bleeding heavily all over the hallway floor, I think I'm doing pretty well." He reached out and took Kitty's hand. "Thanks."

Surprised by Warren's actions, Kitty gave his hand a little encouraging squeeze. "Thanks for what?" She felt something inside of her changing. Excitement and some unrecognizable feeling were welling up just below the surface. And she was fighting desperately to make it not look so obvious.

Managing a small shrug with difficulty, Warren gazed at Kitty with an unreadable expression. "For staying with me, there in the hallway. I felt like I had a guardian angel."

Kitty nodded. "It was nothing. I was worried about you." She glanced down at the floor, suddenly self-conscious and unsure of herself. When she looked back up, her eyes met Warren's. For a moment in time, everything on the planet seemed to fade away. All that existed was this room, two people.

Almost positive she knew what was coming, Kitty suddenly jerked back. Sharply pulling her hand away from Warren. "I-I have to go. I'm glad you're feeling better Warren." Her words were so run together they almost seemed like one. She turned on her heel and darted from the room, not giving Warren any time to protest.

Falling back against the pillows, Warren frowned. Kitty's actions had surprised him, but what surprised him more was what he was suddenly feeling. In his eyes, he saw the girl differently. Trying to ease his mind of the complicated thoughts, he closed his eyes, and sighed.

Rogue sat in her room, tracing her gloved fingers along the embroidery on her pillow. Jubilee had made it for her when she was bored. In curly red letters, it said "Marie". But she was no longer that person. Maybe she never had been. Her powers were back. She was Rogue, once again. A tear slipped from her eyes, left over from the flood earlier that day, and landed on the pillow.

"Hey, Kid." The gruff voice needed no identification.

Without looking up, Rogue replied. "Hi, Logan." Her voice was barely above a whisper, as she struggled to keep her emotions out of her tone-without much success.

"Can I come in?" For some reason, he thought he should ask for permission, even though he usually didn't bother with manners.

Shrugging, Rogue still didn't bother looking up. "Sure." Her hair was a mess and her eyes were red and puffy, but she didn't care. She was lost in her own thoughts, her own miserable ponderings.

Slowly strolling into Rogue's room, Logan sat on the edge of the bed, beside her. "Look, I can't begin to imagine how you're feeling right now." He sighed and scratched his forehead, trying to find more words. "I guess all I can say is that I'm here. You know, if you want to talk."

Rogue looked up and stared at the opposite wall. She still said nothing.

Concerned, Logan continued to sit with her. Maybe he had nothing to say but just having someone nearby might ease Rogue's mind, however little. It wasn't long before the tears came.

A huge tear slipped from Rogue's eye again and spilled down her face. Many followed and she was suddenly shaking with sobs. No words were spoken as Logan held her close. Just help her cry, he thought. Just help her cry.

Aalene looked at herself in the mirror. Magneto, overjoyed with his newly-restored abilities, had presented her with new clothes-most likely stolen. Eager to get out of Rogue's clothing (for obvious reasons, following the Bobby incident), she quickly changed into a black tank top and green cargo pants.

"Beautiful, my dear."

Catching sight of Magneto in the mirror, Aalene smiled a little. "I guess I have you to thank for that. I was getting sick of wearing Rogue's clothes. Not very fond of that basket case."

Magneto walked forward and put his hands on Aalene's shoulders, almost like a fatherly gesture and gave her a smile in the mirror. "Oh, don't mind her. She just can't accept what she is. And what she is supposed to be." He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Not like you."

Pulling back a little, Aalene fidgeted with the bands on her wrist. "I was curious about these, though, Magneto." She held her wrists up for him to have a better look. "I don't remember having these before. And I can't seem to get them off."

Something seemed to flicker across Magneto's features for a moment, but it quickly passed. "Oh, there something I made a long time ago. In case someone like you ever came along."

Sudden confusion caused Aalene to take a step back. "Someone like me? Exactly what am I like?" A discomfort suddenly became evident in the room.

"Don't take that as a bad thing, my dear. I only meant that your power is something to admire. These bands are only meant to help you better channel it and to signify that you are special. Because you are. Don't ever let anyone make you think otherwise."

Silently, Aalene nodded, accepting his answer hesitantly. Even though the words were meant to comfort her, they only caused more discomfort for the girl. They sounded too rehearsed. Like he had used them on another-or maybe others-before.

The silence persisted and Magneto finally left Aalene alone in the room, still studying herself in the mirror, wondering for the second time if this was really a good idea.

John studied his old lighter for a moment before flicking the top off and clicking it on the make the flame appear. He could almost feel Aalene's lips against his when he looked into the fire. The kiss had been brief-interrupted, actually, by Prophecy. But it was enough. He had felt something in it. Power, fire, beauty, pain, bliss. The contrast was sharp, yet intriguing.

So caught up in his own thoughts, John hadn't noticed the fire growing as his mind wandered. Finally, his eyes caught the glint of the glowing flame, and he quickly snuffed it. It seemed that whenever Aalene entered his mind, something burned inside of him. That something seemed to fuel his abilities with fierceness and passion.

Maybe it was coincidence.

Or maybe it was fate.

It seemed like their paths were supposed to cross. Maybe there was some purpose to their meeting.

Or maybe it was wishful thinking.

He just wanted those green eyes to be important. To mean something. Not just to him but to others, as well. John was almost longing for their meeting to be of some importance. Something had to come of it or nothing would make sense anymore.

Listen to yourself! John felt like another side of him was battling his thoughts. Since when did you act like this? What has this girl done to you?

The truth was he had no idea. Ever since their paths had crossed in that bank, he'd had trouble functioning. He was constantly fumbling, his mind was always elsewhere. John was overcome by something that he didn't quite understand. Some emotion unfamiliar to him. He didn't want to call it love. It was more like infatuation. Aalene intrigued him, much like fire.

"John?" It was Aalene, standing in the doorway. She was dressed in her new clothes and her hair looked like she had brushed it. As her eyes met his, she entered the room and sat down next to him. "I know this is going to seem like a stupid question but…what now?"

John gave her a strange look, unsure of the question she was asking. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Aalene leaned back a little and sighed, "I'm in the Brotherhood of Mutants. I am now on what the rest of the world sees as the bad guys' side. But what does that mean? What do we all do now?"

The question seemed valid, just a little surprising. "Hm, well, I'm sure Magneto has something in mind. And if he doesn't, he will soon." John was sure of that much. Magneto's evil genius had been dormant for much too long. It was almost a certainty that something would come to him soon.

Finally, something in Aalene snapped. She looked at John with eyes full of something that he didn't recognize. "Is it alright to be a little afraid?"

Compassion and empathy were not emotions that John felt very often. But suddenly, they both hit him, at once as he wrapped his arms around Aalene. "I guess it is."

Maybe he was as well.

Sorry this is short but I was kind of fishing for ideas on this chapter.