Thank you SO much to all my reviewers! Okay, this is the first chapter I'm putting up without having already finished the next one. This is an overview of all the basic characters that intertwine with Rogue, and then her herself. Pretty much their thoughts on everything. Believe me, though, there are only two or three more chapters left in the story and the main things happen there. (The parts I have had planned since the beginning, that is). Now, on with the story...

Ironic how the sky would be clear on perhaps what was to be the darkest day known to man and mutant kind. Yet as the Brotherhood marched forward, none seem daunted by the clear sky—a warning perhaps that this wasn't to be a day that evil would prevail. Instead, the troops were set for destruction. They were prepared to fight for their right, or die trying.

John had made sure that Rogue was by his side as they went forward. Even though technically it was true, he saw her as a friend to watch over. Yes, he wanted the ring to be true—in a way, that is, not that he found himself ready for marriage—and her feelings for him to match his for her. Still, the fact that it was far from the truth sickened him. What the hell had Magneto been playing at? Yes, it was to keep Rogue with them…it made it a lot easier for her to be on their side. But to that man, she was only a tool. And with her, he seemed to be playing a lot more than a standard game of chess, taunting the opponents. No.

He was destroying John, too.

Looking to his side, he couldn't help but notice that she seemed to be fully confident and prepared to face them all. Once more he was tempted to ask what had happened, but for all he knew he was 'told' this already. This would be perhaps the worse time to bring something up like that.

And so he marched on, wondering perhaps if this was the last time he'd see her—frankly, that was the only worry on his mind. He'd rather have sent her back to be with Bobby than to see anything happen to her.

Rogue was ready. She never would have been more so at any point in her life. Finally she would be able to ruin the X-Men. Destroy them for what they did to her.

It had been that day at Alkali Lake. She had gone out to look for John, to get him back into the jet before it was too late. They had needed to find the others. She had been stranded out there, Bobby had left without her, none of them had come back for her. None, that is, except for Magneto. They had spotted her from the helicopter and had taken her back with them. Not, of course, that she had wanted to go with the man that had once tried to kill her. But he had come back for her when she would have been left for dead.

So she too marched on, walking beside John to earn their freedom.

Bobby hadn't spoken to anyone. Kitty had made several attempts to comfort him, but he shrugged her off just like he did to everyone else. He was so sick of trying to be the strong one—the one that made everybody happy. God, he was only seventeen! Yet still he felt as though he had to be the logical one of the X-Men. Especially since Scott—he didn't really want to think about what had happened to him.

Yet when they were called to fight, to once again suit up for the cause, he found himself filled with hope. After all, perhaps this was his chance to find Rogue. He knew it was his fault she'd left. But when he found her, he'd make sure to kill Pyro for what he did. Kidnapping perhaps was the lowest they could go.

And he would make them pay for taking her.

Logan wasn't quite sure he had been right. Rogue still hadn't returned, and he couldn't deny the fact that he was rather worried about her, as he knew Bobby was, too. Sure, going to get her would be perhaps the stupidest idea someone could get—most likely they wouldn't last two seconds, even himself, not to mention Bobby. Still, what if something had happened to her?

Shaking his head, he put the thoughts aside. Whatever needed to be figured out would be that night. For all he knew, they would be stupid enough to bring her along to the battle. Bad idea for them, because they had possibly the two most important things in his life with him.

Jean, the woman he loved. He knew well enough that he could never have her. Jean was Scott's, always would be. Knowing that Scott was now dead, however, he wished he never would have interfered. He ruined what could have been the man's last chance at happiness for her.

Then there was Rogue. He had been wrong when he told her she wasn't his daughter. In a way, she was. Sure, he knew she was his best friend, but his fatherly feelings towards her hadn't changed. And remembering distinctly what Bobby had said, no matter how mad he was at the boy he also knew he was right.

He was supposed to protect her, had promised, and had failed again. But no more, because that was the night he set everything straight.

Kitty was distraught. She had tried her best to talk to Bobby, and he still wouldn't listen to her. She missed how he used to come to her room and tell her about his day. Most of the time she knew it was just to make her feel better, but she couldn't help but think that maybe he really liked her. Sure, knowing that something had happened to Rogue made her feel bad. After all, she had really liked Bobby and secretly hoped he would like her more than Rogue. What if that was the reason she left?

Sure, she had really liked Bobby still, but Rogue was one of her best friends. It hadn't been fair to her, and if she could take it back she knew she would have left it alone. Especially now that, for all she knew, Rogue wasn't even alive anymore.

As regretful tears stung her eyes, she ignored the feeling as the X-Men entered the X-Jet. She knew very well that they could all die that night. Yet for some reason, she didn't care. Their sacrifice could save not only the world, but Rogue as well.

And so she willingly went along, living perhaps the last day of her life just so that others could go on. Still, she knew if it helped them, she'd do it in a heartbeat.

She just hoped she had a chance to say she was sorry to Rogue for what she'd done.

It had grown dark since the decent of two enemies. The Brotherhood breaching the company's warehouse…and the army that stood in its way. It didn't take long, however, until a line had formed—one not only to protect what was in the building, but the National Guard itself.

Unbeknownst to the members of each side…their worlds were about to collide in a way that no one could fix.

So, how was it? R/R...I'm going to make you beg!