Thank you SO much to my reviewers! Okay, this is definitely the longest chapter I have ever written for this. I had initially had an entire different plot idea...but I didn't do it. I'll mention it later, and see if anyone wants an alternate chapter before I go on. Other than that, here it is, the next-to-last chapter!

John was eager to enter the battle. Even as a select few, including Rogue and himself, were kept back from the fight, he found that he'd rather defy Magneto and rush in more than standing around like an idiot. Yet as he looked at Rogue, he knew he could think of a few good reasons to stick behind. He had half a mind to stick with her through the whole fight. Not that the X-men would hurt her, but he didn't trust the National Guard. They were probably instructed to fire at anything not in camouflage or branded with an X.

Sighing, he clenched his fists in frustration. Yet as Rogue touched him lightly, allowing herself to absorb a bit of his power so she too could join in as they set the cars Magneto flung into the air on fire.

John could almost live an eternity doing nothing but setting the cars on fire. The way the flames smelled and the sight of burning leather and melting metal intrigued him. His fun, however, soon came to a stop as one of the cars was encased in ice before falling to the ground. Looking ahead, he spotted none other than Robert Drake. Turning to glance at Magneto, he noticed that he had nodded.

Smirking as he realized what Magneto was suggesting, John obliged instantly. Darting at his old friend, he was completely prepared to destroy him.

As the two stood in front of each other, he found himself reflecting on their years in the Xavier Institute. The two had been best friends, nearly inseparable besides their obvious differences. Sure, John enjoyed annoying the hell out of Bobby, yet they managed to put it all aside and get along for the most part. Then Rogue came to the school and they started talking less. They still got along, were still best friends. The only problem was that they were both attracted to her. John had pulled from that race, however, the moment he noticed how close they were and how all their friends supported Iceboy and the Rogue.

Still, neither of them moved, yet John found himself unable to keep quiet. "So," he smirked lightly. "You're playing with the big boys now, huh? Tell me, did you come of your free will or did Logan pull you from your bed, kicking and screaming? I bet Mr. Snuggles misses you."

Bobby didn't answer, however. He was too busy staring blankly at a space behind John before he managed to make a sound.

"…Rogue?"

Frowning, John felt thin clothe draw across his neck and he turned his head. He grinned, however, when he realized that it was indeed Rogue.

"Hey, baby," he greeted her, risking a glance to see Bobby's reaction. He knew that he really shouldn't be doing this, but he couldn't help it. He really liked Rogue—maybe even loved her—and if she found out the truth, and he told her, Magneto would kill them both. His plans were too important.

Returning the smile, she kissed him with an air of passion. "So, you two going to tear each other apart or what?"

Noticing the gaping Bobby, John nodded eagerly.

"Limb by limb."

Grinning mischievously, Rogue dramatically blew Bobby a kiss, followed by a sarcastic. "Good luck."

Stepping back, she left room for the two to fight without getting hit or interfering with their blows. It was obvious, however, that she wanted to watch.

"Ready, Iceman?" John mocked Bobby, noticing that he still seemed a little out of it. It was more than obvious the scene he had just witnessed was killing him.

Nodding stiffly, Bobby braced himself, prepared instantly to go on defense. John didn't hesitate, either, as he sent a stream of flames. While Bobby deflected it with a quick shot of ice, it was more than obvious that he was over come—possibly due to a certain distraction. Yet as John basked in his advantage over his opponent, he smirked with pleasure. "Maybe you should go back to school."

Grimacing at the swell of heat, Bobby held his barrier up as best as he could. It didn't last long as the heat decreased, and coolness returned to his body. He glanced at John in confusion. John too, however, stared blankly at his hand. Gasping in pain, he quickly turned behind him.

"Rogue?" he murmured hoarsely before crumbling to the ground. Rogue stood above him, one of her gloves off as she released her hold on his neck.

As he lay down, weak yet alive, she glanced up at Bobby.

He had a hopeful look in his eyes, and he took a step towards her. She turned away, however, disgusted with herself.

"Rogue…what?" he asked in confusion. She shook her head.

"I dunno…when I kissed him, something told me I owed you something. Something from his head. That's the last thing I ever do for any of you," she stated scathingly before her eyes widened and she lurched forward. On reflexes, Bobby dived forward to catch her, and she felt tears spill out as John's memories flooded through her. They didn't match her own.

Looking at John, who had a pained look, she choked slightly. "What did you do to me?" she asked softly while Bobby helped her up. John still seemed unable to stand, and wanted to speak less. But he fiercely shook his head. "No." he croaked, wanting to explain.

"Shut up! Don't come near me again…how could you do that to me? Let them do that to me? I was your friend…and you took my memories?" she accused before following after Bobby back to the others. She didn't have a chance to see John's own tears falling down his face, disappointment in himself for not telling her, having her find out like that. She did, however, hear him call out to her.

"Rogue, please…wait!"

She chose to ignore it, however, as Bobby supported her and the two settled back to where Logan, Ororo, and Hank were slumped, avoiding the attacks while forming their own.

"Marie!" Logan called out, eyes wide as they settled her onto the ground. John's memories were still flashing through her head, and she was trying to take control of them, to find out what she had missed.

Shaking her head before he could ask her any questions, she corrected him. "No…it's still Rogue," she responded softly, recalling her talk with John. Or atleast the one from his memory.

She could tell that he was relieved—not because he didn't want her to take the cure or had a preference. It was because he knew she wasn't completely unprotected out there. Still, part of her didn't care about anything, or whether or not she did end up hit and taken out. Her life was too confusing; her mind was a mess. She wasn't sure what she should do. Yet as they immediately continued their talk of plans, it being more than obvious they knew what they were doing, Rogue sunk into her own thoughts. Or technically, John's thoughts. She had finally calmed the rush down, and was able to sort them out a bit.

She could see him when they were in school together. They were inside a museum together. He was flicking his lighter back and forth, and the three of them were just hanging out. Yet from his mind, she could see what it meant to him. Being able to get out of the school, not to mention ditch the younger groups and stick to the food court. The best part for him was that he could talk to his best friends, and they had finally decided to stop being so goody goody and follow him rather than staring blankly at exhibits. Soon later two boys came over, ruining their day…and showing Rogue that even then he had cared about her. She wondered if it was a lie. If maybe he had had his memory taken too, and changed.

Yet as she searched further she found the true source. She was seeing through his eyes as a man stood above her, and John questioned what was going on. Rogue could feel how worried he was, and Magneto led him away. Following that were quick flashes of those two together, leading up to the point where John led her away and asked her to marry him…but that wasn't what he wanted to ask. It was what Magneto believed. It wasn't John's fault…none of it. He had wanted to tell her…

"Rogue!" she heard Hank call out to her before pulling her back from where she laid down. A metal pole sliced through the air from where she was sitting. Turning to look, it was more than obvious that Magneto was aware of what was going on. And she knew too much of his plans to be with the X-Men now—one mistake he had made was letting her in on the secrets. She was replaceable, though, and killing her would only assure more chances he had of defeating the X-Men.

Sucking in her breath, realizing how close she had just come to dying…perhaps a usual thing for X-Men to go through…she glanced at Hank with an uneasy smile. "Er…thanks."

She still wasn't sure how she was supposed to act around them. Rogue knew from John's memories that she had sided with them, and that they hadn't left her. But her own conflicted, leaving her confused.

"Rogue," Logan stepped forward, quickly, grabbing her bare arm so that a bit of his power went into her. "With Mr. Metal targeting you, you could use a little pick me up," he gave a small smile, shaking off his sudden drain of energy. With that, he turned a left, the others following after.

Yet as the adult members moved out, taking a curious look back at her, Bobby shook his head before leading her away.

"Come on," he urged. "We don't need Magneto targeting you again."

His comment would seem tactful, except for the nervous tone he had. He had thought he had lost her, maybe it had been his fault. Yet after seeing what happened when she touched John, he knew it was something more. They had done something to her, trying to change all of her thoughts. But he wouldn't let that happen again, that or let Magneto kill her now. He knew it was his fault she left, and now that he had her back, he wasn't going to leave her out of his sight.

"Bobby!" he heard a voice call out, and turning to look he noticed that Kitty was struggling as she helped carry a boy across the battlefield. Most likely it was the boy they had been sent to protect in the first place. Racing over to her side, he helped tend to the boy, looking at Rogue who was busy staring ahead. Magneto was running away with the rest of the mutants. Obviously something had gone wrong, and by the looks of it, it was all caused by Phoenix, who was preoccupied with Logan.

Frowning, Bobby called out to her quickly. "Rogue?"

She didn't look back, instead staring straight ahead. Jaw dropping, Kitty looked at her in disbelief. "Rogue? Oh my God, you're okay!"

Neither of them got an answer, and instead she started walking towards Logan and Phoenix, her mind set. She still had Logan's own mutation inside her, and she had a chance to stop her…if Logan could make it that far, so could she.

She had barely taken three steps forward, however, before she was pulled into Bobby's arms.

"No! Leave me…I can do this!"

Her protests, however, didn't stop him as he leaned forward to murmur into her ear, stopping her struggles. "Rogue…no, I can't lost you. Not again. Please, even if it doesn't mean anything to you anymore, I still love you. I always will care about you one way or another. And I'm not going to let you do this to yourself. You're my best friend, Rogue, and I can't lose another one."

Rogue hadn't even realized that she was crying now, confused about her feelings while she struggled against his hold before collapsing into his arms completely. She remembered there had been a time when she had cared for him, and had loved him. Yet all she could think of now, even after everything that happened, was John.

There it is! Did you like it? Let me know! R/R!

Also, for the extended ending...I was wondering if anyone would be interested in Rogue actually breaking away and touching Jean and Logan and her having their own spat. I didn't do it because I thought it was too much...but yeah, let me know and I may do it before I post the final chapter. But only if you want it, I'm not even sure if I will then. It just doesn't seem realistic entirely.