Rogue POV

Nobody understands our relationship. Everytime someone finds out that me and Bobby are a couple, their initial reaction is "How?". It makes me frown each time, but Bobby, he just holds my hand reassuringly and says something like "We're working on it.", or "The phsyical isn't all there is to a relationship." I don't always believe it, but Bobby does, and that makes me want to believe it too.

You see, there's three reasons why I love Bobby, and that's one of them. Bobby is so happy, and optimistic. There's nothing that can get Bobby down. He's my shoulder to cry on, the one that makes me want to believe that one day I'll be able to touch. That one day, my powers won't matter.

That leads me to the second reason I love Bobby. Bobby has never seemed to care about my powers. Not even after I almost killed Logan by accident. I can tell he's cautious about it sometimes, but I can't blame him. It hasn't stopped him from sharing the two kisses we've had so far. What? Two kisses to me is a miracle.

As for the third reason I love Bobby, it's...

well, it's...

I know there is one! I just can't think of it off the top of my head. What! I know there is one. I just care about Bobby so much that I have to put alot of thought into it. But, is it a bad sign that I can't think of the three reasons off the top of my head? No, of course not. Love is something that you can't take lightly.

"Rogue?"

I'm snapped out of my thoughts, and I look up to see Bobby staring at me with a concerned expression. I can feel my cheeks blush slightly with embarassment as I realize he must of asked me something. "Sorry Bobby, I was just lost in thought. What is it?"

He shuffles uncomfortably in his seat and I can tell he's wondering what I was thinking about. See that's the thing with Bobby, I can always tell what he's thinking. "I just asked if you were ok. You've been really quiet during the whole movie."

By now, everybody is staring at us. And by everybody, I mean Kitty, Piotr, and Jubilee. I had completely forgotten about the movie we were all watching. If I wasn't blushing with embarassment enough already, I definately was now. "Yeah, I'm fine. I've just had alot to think about." What? Why is he furrowing his brow in concern like that?

Bobby leans in, and looks me square in the eyes. I don't know why, but I'm a little unnerved by this. I tell myself it's our proximity, and listen as he says in a hushed voice so the others won't hear, "Is this about Jean?"

I frown at this. It's only been about four months since Jean's death, and we all still haven't recovered. Scott has taken it the hardest. Of course, that was to be expected. It wasn't hard to tell that Scott believe that Jean was his one true love. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen Scott more then maybe three or four times in the past four months. I make a mental note to see how he's doing later.

"No, it's nothing, really." I smile at him, genuinely. I can tell that my answer isn't good enough, but Bobby knows not to push me, so he takes my hand and stares back at the television. By now, I'm not really interested in the movie at all and I take the time to observe everyone else.

Piotr, like me, didn't seem very interested in the movie either. Instead, he was sitting in one of the big overstuffed chairs and sketching in his art pad. That boy was always drawing, and he really did have talent. For a moment I glare at him, as I recall finding a crumpled up drawing of me and Bobby, where I'm draining his powers. I'm not sure, but I'm almost positive he drew it.

Then there's Jubilee, who is just consumed in the movie. I don't even remember what movie it is, as I glance at the television for a split second. It was an action movie, which means it could of very well picked by anyone in the room except for...

Why is Kitty staring at Bobby? Or more importantly, why is she staring at Bobby's hand that is holding mine? I frown, staring at Kitty a moment longer. There's something in her eye that I just can't place. I can't put my finger on it. As though feeling my eyes on her, Kitty looks up embarassed to of been caught, and looks back at the TV quickly.

Third Person POV

The snow is gone now. Melted, in the new spring season. The once cold, barren lake was now warm and lively. Alkalai lake was empty, but beautiful in it's natural state. It was the ideal place for someone to go in order to clear their mind. Who wouldn't love Alkalai Lake?

Logan wouldn't, that's who.

To him, the lake was nothing but a reminder of terrible things. In his head, Logan couldn't think of one reason why he liked Alkalai lake. It reminded him of the metal lacing his skeleton. It reminded him of the searing pain every time he released even one of his six adamantium claws. But worst of all, it reminded him of her.

Snuffing his cigarette out, Logan went to the edge of the lake, running his finger through the warm water in which he hated. Closing his eyes briefly, he remembered his last memory of her. She was saving them all, she was giving up her life to save them. She had gotten of the Blackbird, and was using her powers to get them out of there safely. She was being brave, but Logan could smell her fear even from the Blackbird.

She had been terrified. Just thinking of how scared she had been made Logan feel like he was being stabbed in the chest. She was scared, and he couldn't save her. He couldn't comfort her, and take her fear away. This was the woman he claimed to love more then himself, and he couldn't even comfort her.

He stared at the placid lake as he stood and wiped his wet fingers on his jean's pant leg. Somewhere at the bottom of that beautiful, but horrible lake was Jean Grey's body, and that killed him. They never even found her body. They held a ceremony for her, yet they never found her body. Never found proof that she was really gone; dead. That hurt him, and at the same time gave him hope that she was still alive.

That, and the fact that he could smell her. He could smell her all the way back in Westchester, and here at the lake, her scent was almost burning the inside of his nostrils as incense would. He just didn't understand, she's been gone for four months. Jean has been dead for four months. Why could he still smell her?

"Where are you Jeannie?"

Right then, something began vibrating in his pocket, startling him out of his thoughts. Pulling out an expensive, and sleek looking phone from his pocket Logan growled with annoyance. Phone's weren't his thing, but he had promised the professor he'd carry it around as long as nobody outside of the mansion had the number.

"What is it?" Logan all but snarled into the phone.

"Logan? Are... are you alright?" It was Storm, and Logan almost instantly felt bad for snapping at her. If the professor was busy, he'd have Storm call atleast once every two weeks to check up on Logan. Something that got on his nerves, yet he appreciated all the same.

Rubbing his eyes with his thumb and middle finger, Logan's voice softened. "Yeah, Stormy, I'm ok. You just caught me at... a bad moment." He turned to look back at his, well, one of Scott's motorcycles as he made his way to it.

If Logan could see Storm, he'd know she was frowning. This was how things had been since Jean's death. She couldn't talk to Scott, or even Logan half the time without there being an awkward moment where she knew they had been thinking of Jean. "The professor wanted me to call and see how things were going. He was hoping you'd maybe come back soon."

Logan pulled out another cigarette, holding the phone between his ear and shoulder as he lit it. Taking a drag, Logan exhaled and mumbled with the cigarette in his mouth, "He was, was he? Well you can tell wheels-"

If it wasn't for Logan's dog like hearing, he wouldn't of caught it. He would not of heard the almost silent, familiar voice, asking someone if they thought it was him on the phone. If it wasn't for his hearing, he wouldn't have that sinking feeling in his stomach as he remembered a girl, no, a woman now that he had left back at the mansion. A woman he had promised to protect.

"Logan?" Logan could hear the concern in Storm's voice, as he realized he had cut off in the middle of his sentence.

Taking another drag of his cigarette before dropping it to the ground and stomping it out, Logan put the phone in his other hand, holding it back up to his ear. "Is Marie with you?" There was a pause on the other side, he assumed she had looked up before answering him.

"Yes, she's here."

Logan put a leg over his metal steed, turning it on as the rumble could be heard on Storm's side, he was sure. "Tell her I should be at the mansion by tomorrow. Bye Stormy." Again, a pause. This time he assumed she was confused.

"I will, goodbye Logan."

Bobby's POV

After the movie was over, Piotr, Jubilee, and I were talking about what we liked and disliked about it. Rogue listening to our conversation, but not participating. I kind of got the feeling that she hadn't really payed attention during the movie. Kitty had rushed out of the rec room as soon the credits came on, but I didn't question her. A few minutes went by and Jubilee and Piotr both decided they had things to do, and left.

That left me and Rogue.

"So, what did you think of the movie?" I stared at her as I asked. I was almost positive she hadn't really watched, but it was always polite to ask anyways.

I watched her tuck a bang behind her ear, and blush a little. "I, uh, wasn't really paying attention..." I smiled at her confession, and she smiled back. "Want to get some ice cream?"

Rogue loved ice cream. She once told me that besides southern cooking, it was probably her favorite food in the world. That was on our first date, when we went to see a movie. She beamed when I suprised her by taking her by an ice cream shop afterwards, and I didn't want to ruin it by telling her that I didn't like ice cream.

Suprising, I know. Here I am, the so called "Iceman", and I don't even like ice cream. I can't exactly explain why I don't. It's not that it tastes bad, really. I mean, I guess it's ok, but I just never really craved ice cream like normal kids or teenagers.

"Yeah, sure." I grabbed Rogue's gloved hand, and my lips slightly turned downwards as she flinched at the contact. I didn't bring it up, but lead her to the kitchen. I wasn't suprised to see Storm there, on the phone. When you live here, you get used to not having alot of alone time.

"I'll get the bowls." Rogue smiled, as she went over to the cabinets pulling two porcelain bowls out as I got the ice cream from the freezer.

"The professor wanted me to call and see how things were going. He was hoping you'd maybe come back soon." I was scooping ice cream out for me and Rogue when we both looked up as Storm said this to whoever was on the phone. I could feel my gut tigthen, as I looked at Rogue who was smiling at me. I was hoping, praying that what she was going to say next wouldn't come.

"Do you think that's Logan?"

I wanted to wince as she looked at me with that excited look on her face. This was how she was when someone so much as said his name. It's not that I disliked Logan, really. It's just, that nobody ever made me feel so uncomfortable when I saw them with Rogue.

"Maybe." I smiled at her, hoping she wouldn't be able to tell that I was really hoping it wasn't.

She didn't.

I continued scooping the ice cream out, as Rogue paid close attention to Storm's phone call. I saw Storm pause on the phone, and then look up at us, and again I felt a sickness in my stomach as her eyes caught on Rogue. Storm then turned her back on us, as she replied to the mystery caller.

"Yes, she's here." Another pause. "I will, goodbye Logan." Storm hung up the phone, and turned back to us with a smile on her face. "Rogue, Logan wanted me to tell you that he's coming and should be here by tomorrow."

Great.

Rogue looked absolutely ecstatic, and I swear that Logan could of just stabbed me in the gut with those claws right then and there.