Rogue smiled, watching as Sam enthusiastically attempted the maneuver that Callisto had shown a moment ago. She walked further into the gym, moving towards the wall, and waved back to Paige. The little girl smiled broadly at her before sending Rusty sprawling to the floor. Rogue's smile grew as she leaned against the wall.

"She so beat you!" Sam exclaimed, snickering as he helped his friend up.

A second later Sam was flat on his back and Rusty was the one laughing. "And she so just took you down," Rusty said.

Rogue gave Paige a thumbs up as the girl glanced at her before looking back at Callisto. They need this, Rogue thought, watching as the younger mutants practiced. They were a lot more efficient than they had been a few weeks ago.

The doorway opened and Bobby entered. She looked away, hoping he would get the hint and not approach her. Casting a quick glance in his direction, she sighed in relief when she saw that he had ventured to the opposite part of the gym.

The doorway opened again and Rogue froze as she watched Magneto enter. She had done such a great job of not running into him. Waking early, she had eaten breakfast before Bobby had even got to the kitchen. She had worked out in the gym when she was certain everyone was eating. Now, she was here, watching the children train because this would have been her time to shower after working out.

"You tried to leave," Magneto stated, stopping a few feet in front of her. She looked questioningly at him, wondering how he knew. "Cameras, Rogue. Why were you going to leave?"

"It doesn't matter," she replied, looking intently at the floor. There is no way in hell he will ever know why, she told herself.

"What stopped you?" he prodded.

"I tried to keep going, but my feet wouldn't let me go," she said, looking back at him, eyes widening in suspicion, "did you stop me?"

"Rogue, if I was keeping you captive here," Magneto answered, an unholy amusement in his voice, "you never would have made it to the hanger door."

He motioned to the doorway and reluctantly she followed him, knowing she truly had no choice in the matter. If she tried to stay he would only use his power to make her trail after him and she would have a punishment to endure. Obeying him was easier. Though maybe it would be better if I didn't do what he says. Then I'll be punished, she reasoned with herself. And I won't dream of…maybe the dreams will just stop.

She stopped, realizing they were at his study. "Why are we here?" she asked, watching as he entered the room.

He turned back towards her. "We are going to practice using your power," he replied.

"Don't we need to practice the plan?" she asked, taking a step back. The last thing she needed to deal with was feeling his skin against hers. "Shouldn't that be more important? Mystique said she was going to show me…" Oh god, what was she going to show me? "…the connecting thing."

Magneto raised an eyebrow at that. "The 'connecting thing'?"

"Yeah," she replied, cursing herself for forgetting the correct words.

"If you are unable to remember the appropriate terminology than perhaps it wasn't a pressing matter," Magneto stated, his lips curving slightly at the edges of his mouth.

"Or," Rogue offered, "maybe I merely suck at remembering 'the appropriate terminology' of things and it really is something that should take priority."

His eyes darkened and she stiffened in response. "I designate the priorities in this facility, Rogue," he told her. "Inside."

She nodded and entered the room, quickly sitting in her usual seat. "Gloves," Magneto demanded as he sat across from her.

She removed them and handed them over, her hands quickly dropping back to her lap. "How many times have we practiced this?" he asked, directing a steely gaze at her.

"Uh….a lot," she replied, trying not to quiver because of the anger in his voice.

"Then where should your hands be?" he asked. She looked down at them and then back at him. "Hands!" he said, placing his own above the table that lay between them.

She hesitated a second too long and watched as the metal links were ripped from her gloves. As he manipulated the metal, she thought of running to the door, wondering how far she could get before the metal would attach to her. The links reattached around her wrists and her hands were forced into the air, smacking down against his before she had time to respond.

His power flowed into her as did his memories and she flinched at the fury she felt from him. He broke contact with her and she dropped her hands to the table. "I…I wasn't ready," she told him breathlessly, trying to push away his voice in her head.

"You will not always have time to prepare yourself," Magneto said, pulling her hands back up. He dropped his shield, interlocking his fingers with hers and she gasped as the pull began.

"Stop it," she groaned as his power rushed into her. Objects floated around them, spinning wildly as she looked at him, trying to push, but unable to focus as he clouded her mind.

"You know how to stop it," Magneto said, his voice echoing in her head.

She tried to pull her hands away, hoping to stop it that way, but his grip tightened. "I can't do it," she cried, tears running down her face. "Please just stop."

"Push!" he yelled, his grip on her hand becoming harder, causing her to cry out in pain.

Rogue used all of her strength to push back his power and thoughts, screaming as she finally drove them out. She leaned her head against the table, the metal singing to her as it cooled her face. His grip loosened on her hands and she wrenched them free, moving them to grip locks of her hair as she cried. He was so much stronger in her now.

She could feel his determination, the power he exuded so easily, encompassing her, taking her over, his private symphony enticing her. She could sense each piece of metal around her, calling to her, trying to make her as pliable to his touch as they were. She watched in horror as his presence in her mind saw her dreams and she tugged on her hair as he smiled at her. Bolting upright, she pulled her arms down, looking at the metal links. She used his knowledge to break them and tried to hurl the metal paperweight at him as she fled towards the door, forcing it open with his powers.

It closed in her face, the metal links reattaching and twisting her around to face him. "It is my power, Rogue," Magneto said, walking towards her. "I have spent a lifetime perfecting my use of it; you have no chance of using it to beat me."

Her arms were lifted above her head, snapping together at the wrist, eyes widening as she was lifted a few inches from the ground. "What are you doing?" she asked, fearfully.

"Is this not what you've been asking for?" Magneto questioned and she flushed as he stepped closer, his nearness stirring emotions in her she did not want to feel.

At least not from him. "Suspension," he continued, raising her a few more inches as he moved closer.

She groaned at his proximity, eyes widening in horror as the sound left her mouth. He looked at her, surprised, and she took hold of that opportunity to use his power to rip the links from her. She fell to the floor, cursing the lack of a handle on the door. "Rogue," Magneto said from behind her.

She leaned her head against the doorway, refusing to look at him. "Please open the door," she whispered and closed her eyes. "Please."

The door slid open and she quickly exited. "Rogue," he called as the links snapped back on her wrists. She turned to look at him, thankful for the lack of emotion he displayed. "We are training in an hour."

She nodded and turned away, walking as fast as she could away from him. His presence in her mind smiled. She knew she would never be able to escape him.

xxx

What if something goes wrong? Rogue wondered a few days later, turning over in the bed. She looked at the other side of the bed, absently stroking the cotton fabric, as she replayed the plan over in her mind. There wasn't much for her to do. Mystique was going to infiltrate the guards, disposing of one of them and taking his place so they would know which van the mutants would be in. Magneto would stop the van and any other vehicles that were in their path. Bobby was to freeze anyone who tried to stop them.

Her job was to pilot the plane, bringing it close enough to the others when called so that the rescued mutants could quickly be brought on board. Then, she would need to fly it to the rendezvous spot in order to pick up the second team. What if I can't do it? she worried, remembering how afraid she was whenever she held the plane's controls in her hands. She had improved since her first time flying, but the fear each time she took the plane into the air never dissipated. What if the fear finally consumes me?

She closed her eyes, bringing her hands to grip the pillow. Sleep remained just out of reach, Paige's soft snores teasing her. After an hour she gave up and pushed off the covers, eyes opening to stare at the ceiling. She silently rose from the bed slipped out of the room. She passed by the TV room and peered inside. Pyro and Avalanche were watching an anime movie.

"Can't sleep?" Pyro asked, looking over the couch at her.

Rogue shook her head in reply. "We're having a marathon," Avalanche informed her.

"We've got popcorn and soda," Pyro enticed, holding up the items.

"I'm going to take a walk, but thanks," she replied, smiling at them before walking away.

Slowly, she meandered through the hallway, her hand trailing along the wall. She stopped outside of the hanger, staring blankly at the door before walking inside. Did it get bigger? she wondered as she walked towards the plane, feeling miniscule next to its large frame.

Sighing, she moved away from it and pushed the button, opening the hanger door. She sat down on the threshold of it, letting her feet touch the rocky sand. Using her toes she began to draw, winding intricate paths along the cold ground. After a few minutes, she rose and walked out onto the beach, stopping at one of the large rocks. She perched on top of it, pulling her knees close to her body. Wrapping her hands around them, she leaned her head on top, staring out at the endless sea.

Her fears encircled her, every possible way the plan could go wrong playing out in her mind. The wind whipped through her hair, sending strands of it into her face. What if none of us make it back? Her eyes widened in apprehension. Who will take care of the kids? She didn't doubt that they could handle themselves for a few days, but after that she knew the fear would set in and they would be lost. Images of them lying on medical tables, tubes and machines hooked up to their battered bodies haunted her.

She unwrapped her hands and let her legs drop, allowing them to dangle over the rock. They're stronger than you think, she told herself and hopped down from the rock, walking closer to the water. The sand beneath her feet became damp and she shivered as the water splashed against her feet. Images of summer vacations rose to her mind and she watched as she made castles with her sister.

Rogue shook her head. I don't have a sister, she reminded herself and looked closely at the images. It wasn't any beach she knew of and the bathing suits were in styles she did not know. When the girl looked towards her and called for 'Erik' she knew whose memories they were. She kicked at the sand, sending it flying back to the ocean. Never escape.

"Rogue."

Speak of the devil, she thought, a bitter smile spreading across her face. She didn't turn around, instead focused on squishing her feet into the damp sand, relishing being able to feel something besides fabric or metal. The water splashed against her feet again and she shook from the cold. Begrudgingly, she took a few steps back, gasping when she connected with something solid.

She turned and found herself standing in front of Magneto. Much too close. She side stepped around him, sitting once again on one of the large rocks. "Why are you out here?" Magneto asked her, though he still faced the ocean.

"Thinking," she replied, letting her toes once again trace pictures in the sand.

"Of?" he asked, turning to look at her.

She focused her attention on her creations, becoming flushed under his intent gaze. "Lots of things," she replied and let out a long sigh, knowing she would need to go into more details. "There's so much that can go wrong."

Rogue looked up at him. "I don't think I can fly the plane," she told him honestly.

"You have flown it fine under my supervision," Magneto replied, folding his arms across his chest.

"But what if I can't?" she asked, nervously twisting her hands.

"You will," he told her.

She looked down at the sand, biting her lip in trepidation. His hand cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "You will," he repeated, taking a strand of her hair in his fingers. He tugged hard. "Or you will bear the punishment."

"I think getting everyone killed would be punishment enough," she said sincerely.

His hand moved from her chin, trailing feather light caresses down her neck. Her eyes closed and she gripped the rock with her hands, feeling weak. "I suppose it would," he replied, his fingers moving back up her neck, to her mouth, tracing her lips.

Suddenly, his hands were gone and she opened her eyes, looking at him in confusion. "Up," he told her and she slowly stood, trying to see his face in the moonless night.

Before she knew what was happening, his lips were on hers. She shut her eyes, hands coming to grip his sweater. She desperately tried to remember every detail; the taste, the feel, the smell. For once it wasn't some second rate memory that teased her, nor did she need to worry about her power. She moaned as he broke the kiss, her eyes opening to look up at him.

In the back of her mind, she could hear a voice protesting, telling her to push him away and go back to her room. She ignored it, closing her eyes again and resting her head against his chest, clinging to him, desperate for his touch. His sweater was scratchy, but it felt different from the material of her nightgown, and it smelled like him. She rubbed her face against his shirt, enjoying the texture of it against her skin. She sighed against him, her eyes opening as she felt the back of her knees gently connect with the rock she had risen from.

Rogue looked up at Magneto, her eyes heavy with desire. She felt her body rise a few inches, so that he did not need to bend down when his lips once again pressed against hers. This was nothing like the first kiss. That one had been soft, almost gentle. This one was raw, stirring a passion she feared could consume her.

She felt like she was melting into him and grasped his shoulders, needing to hold onto him in order to ground herself. She felt lightheaded.

His hands caressed her hair before they moved down to her back, stroking up and down. She gasped against his mouth as one of his hands brushed her side, before gently moving across her stomach, her nightgown rising slowly with each touch. His mouth left hers, and her grip on his shoulders tightened as she felt his tongue traced patterns up and down her neck.

"Beautiful," he whispered into her ear.

She shuddered and groaned, "Erik."

Her eyes opened, trembling slightly from fear as well as arousal. That was his human name. "Marie," he replied, tugging gently on a stand of white hair before capturing her lips again.

She pressed her body into his as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He groaned at the contact, his hands once again in her hair. Eventually, they broke apart, and she leaned her forehead against his, trying to even out her haggard breathing. His hands gently gripped hers, removing them from his shoulders as he placed her on the wet sand.

"You should sleep," Magneto told her. "We have much to do tomorrow."

Rogue nodded, looking intently at his face, trying to discern how he felt. He smiled briefly at her. "Go," he said, gently caressing her face.

She turned and walked back to the hanger door. As her feet touched the steel floor, she looked back at him, watching as he sat down on her rock, staring at the ocean. She pressed a hand to her mouth, closing her eyes as she remembered the feel of his lips against hers, before walking away.

Once at her room, she laid on the bed, pulling the covers over her body. She dreamt of metal, its alluring song comforting her as waves crashed against her feet, her fears forgotten.

xxx

Rogue had an unsettling feeling her stomach, the kind her mother always called butterflies. She blinked, pushing thoughts of her mother into the back of her mind. Focus, she told herself, twisting her hands as she walked into the hanger.

Looking around, she realized that she was the first there, and looked at the plane, all of her fears from last night consuming her. Her eyes traveled to the hanger door, fingers touching her lips, as more doubt filled her. She had no idea how to behave around Magneto or what to expect from him. Or how he'll expect you to behave.

The door behind her opened, and she quickly dropped her hands, listening as the children entered the room. "Why can't we go?" Sam demanded and she smiled at the sulkiness she could hear in his voice.

"You have to be at least this tall," Pyro answered, raising his hand a few inches above Rusty's head. Rogue turned around, glaring at him. There was no need to tease them.

"That's a stupid rule," Rusty replied, scowling.

"I can fight," Sam declared, his fists clenching at his side. A second later, he was flying through the air, flames trailing along after him.

"Yeah," Rusty yelled, flames surrounding his hands.

"Down, now!" Rogue yelled, looking up at Sam.

Behind her, she could hear Rusty mutter something about Pyro stealing his fire. "I suggest you listen to her," Magneto said from the doorway and reluctantly the boy did.

Rogue turned and watched as he entered the room, the rest of the Brotherhood and Bobby following. She looked down at her hands, then the floor, trying to look at anything but him. "It's not fair," Sam complained, and she looked up at him. "We could help."

"We want to help," Rusty added, the other children nodding.

"Admirable," Magneto replied, placing his helmet on his head. "You are needed here, to guard this facility, and get the medical supplies ready in case they are needed upon our return."

The children nodded, though Rusty and Sam both looked crestfallen. "We are counting on you," Magneto continued and Rogue smiled as both boys perked up at that fact.

"We won't let you down, sir," Rusty replied.

Magneto nodded. Slowly the children began to exit the room. Rogue watched them leave, trying to memorize their faces incase something went wrong. Paige turned back towards her and ran to her, hugging her tightly. "Come back," the girl whispered.

"That's my plan," Rogue told her as Paige released her grip.

She watched as the girl walked over to Magneto, looking up at him, a serious expression on her face. "Don't let her get hurt," Paige told him.

"I won't," he replied, casting a heated look towards Rogue.

Rogue looked down at her feet, remembering the feel of his hands in her hair. Her nervousness increased, her body becoming flushed at the thought of his touch. "It is time," Magneto said, his voice nearer than before.

She looked up. He was standing beside her. "You will do fine," he assured her, caressing her arm, his fingers trailing gently, before walking towards the plane.

Rogue shivered and turned to follow him. Her footsteps faltered briefly when she spotted Bobby on top of the ramp, watching her intently, looking at her as though she had betrayed him. She took a deep breath and walked onto the plane, ignoring him as she passed, taking her seat in the pilot's chair.

xxx

She really wanted all of them to shut up. Did they honestly have no idea how nerve wracking this was? She gripped the joystick in her hands, eyes locked on the window, glancing every so often at the buttons and meters. Behind her, she heard Pyro make another joke, Avalanche and Blob both laughing in response. Her grip tightened, eyes narrowing as she thought of the many ways to cause each of them pain later.

"You are doing fine," Magneto said, his hand resting on her shoulder.

She gulped, blushing at the contact. "I…thanks," she replied, unsure what she should say to him.

His hand moved to the back of her neck, firmly massaging it, and she bit her lip at as his warm fingers massaged her, setting every nerve ending on fire.. "Don't," she whispered and his hand stilled.

"Don't?" he asked, anger creeping into his voice.

"I can't concentrate when you touch me," she explained. "I'll crash the plane."

"Very well," Magneto replied, sounding pleased as he removed his hand.

From his reflection in the window, she knew that he was still standing near her, his face hidden by shadows and the helmet. She also saw Bobby's face reflected in the glass, his eyes narrowed in anger. Taking a deep breath, she focused her attention on flying the plane, ignoring both him and Magneto, and trying to block out the noise from the other passengers.

xxx

Rogue looked at the radio in her hands, desperate for any communication from either team. She knew it would be minimal at first, with neither team wanting to alert anyone to their presence. The only sound the radio had made for the last thirty minutes was static and as each minute passed, her anxiousness grew. The plane was well hidden in a clearing near the lab. That doesn't mean someone couldn't stumble into it, she reasoned.

She looked at the sensors, grateful that they didn't detect any unknown presence. "…Rogue…hear me?" Bobby's voice crackled over the radio frequency.

"Yeah," she replied, cursing the quality of his transmission.

There was no reply and her concern grew with each passing second. What if they needed me and the radio isn't picking up the signal? She bit her lip, shaking the radio in an attempt to make it work better. What if I go too early?

All of the waiting was reminding her of Alkali Lake, uncertainty interwoven with boredom and fear. She had flown the X-Jet then, crashing it into the snowy embankment. I won't crash this time.

"….Rogue…them…" Bobby said, his voice barely audible.

"How the hell am I supposed to understand that?" she screamed at the radio in her hand.

"…come…" Magneto said, his voice a little louder than Bobby's.

Rogue bit her lip, hoping that he was asking for her to pick them up. Next time, we need better equipment. She tossed the radio into the copilot seat and prepared for take off. The plane rose into the air, her grip on the joystick tighter than before as she maneuvered her way to their location, following the blinking button on the control panel.

Looking down at the ground below, her eyes widened in horror at the scene. The four vans were flattened, bits and pieces of metal decorating the asphalt of the road. There were bodies of uniformed men strewn about the ground. Her mouth dropped open in horror as she realized they all had pieces of the vans piercing through their skin. Oh god.

In the distance she could hear the sound of sirens and forced herself to block out all regret for the dead. She pushed the button to unlock and open the ramp, unable to look away from the wreckage as people boarded the plane.

"Now, Rogue!" Magneto yelled, the ramp closing once he reached the top, relief sweeping through her at the sound of his voice.

She didn't hesitate, flying them away from the destruction and towards the second team's rendezvous. There was a great deal of commotion in the plane. She could hear various voices offering thanks, muttering about the camps, wanting to know what was happening. Rogue concentrated on keeping the plane steady.

After a few minutes, she arrived at the pre-arranged location and landed the plane. The second team boarded and she sighed in relief. Mystique sat down in the copilot's seat. "You did good," she told Rogue as the plane took off.

Rogue smiled. Finally, we're going home. She bit her lip, her stomach queasy, as she realized she had called Magneto's base home.