Title: A Spark Of Good From The Burn Of Evil

Rating: FRT
Disclaimer: I own Ashley, nothing more. Just the idea.
Spoilers: X1, X2, X3

Summary: Your past is the blueprint for your future. Rogue knew this better than anyone. Future fic. Ryro, slight RoLo, Bobby/Rogue vibes.

Most characters will have a slight bit of OOC, but given the storyline, I don't know how they'd react to this situation.

I changed a few things from the movie, so it's possible AU.


"Marie. It's so nice to see you." Said Professor Charles Xavier as he wheeled around his desk.

"You too, Professor." Marie spoke from the doorway to Xavier's office, Ashley tightly holding her gloved hand and Logan standing behind her.

Once Logan had convinced her that returning to the mansion, if only for a visit, was the right thing to do, they packed and took off the next morning. When Ashley had asked where they were going, all Marie had said was they were off to visit an old friend. Now they were in that old friend's office.

"Please come in, come in." he gestured to a couch where Marie took her seat, Ashley on her lap.

"And who might this lovely lady be?" indicating Ashley, who smiled shyly. Of course, he already knew, he just wanted to hear it from her.

"This is my daughter Ashley…Ashley, this is Professor Xavier. A friend of mommy's."

The Professor extended his hand, and Ashley lightly clasped onto it.

"Now," directing his attention to Marie, "I don't need to be a mind reader to know that you're here for a reason. Not just a social visit."

Marie glanced cautiously at Ashley, who was playing with the hem of her shirt.

"Perhaps," said Xavier as he sat up and turned his attention to Logan who sat on the edge of Charles' desk. "Logan, if you don't mind, could you keep Ashley occupied for some time? I need to talk with Marie and I'd prefer young ears didn't hear this?"

"Sure." Wolverine stood from the desk and waited at the door for Ashley.

Marie addressed her daughter. "Honey, now mommy has to talk with the Professor for a bit. Boring stuff. How 'bout you go with Uncle Logan, and I'll meet up with you in a little while."

"Okay." The little girl kissed Marie's nose then joined Logan at the door. He could tell she was saddened by the departure from her mother so he picked her up and sat her on his shoulders.

"What'd ya say I introduce you to a friend of mine? Maybe we can get her to brew up some snow."

"Snow? Now?"

Logan nodded. "What better time of the year than June."

Once the door was closed, Xavier started the discussion.

"You're daughter's a mutant."


"How did…" Marie stopped mid-sentence. She had forgotten he was Telepathic. The Professor already knew why she was here.

Xavier took her silence to explain his findings over the past 6 years.

"I know the reason you left 6 years ago was because you were pregnant. You didn't want anyone to know, nor did you want the identity of the father revealed."

Marie's head shot up. "You know!"

"I know you went out one night while the so-called 'cure' was reliable. I know you didn't come home till the next morning. I know you were afraid Mr. Drake and Logan would find out, and yes, to answer your question, I know who Ashley's father is."

Marie stood from the couch.

"You had no right to read my thoughts." How else would he know all that?

Xavier moved his wheelchair to where she stood near the window.

"Reading your thought had nothing to do with it. I never touched your thoughts. I could sense you weren't on the school grounds, your vagueness of your whereabouts told me you wished no one to find out, and the unmistakable resemblance tells me who Ashley's father is. I may be a Telepath, but logic was the only power at work."

Marie was shocked. She didn't think she was that transparent. She thought no one would be able to figure out why she left, or what happened. But then again, Professor X was almost like God. He knew everything.

"Did you know she would be a mutant?" Marie turned to face him.

Xavier shook his head. "Not until she was born."

Marie was confused. Charles explained.

"During one of my daily visits with Cerebro, seven new mutants showed up. Ashley was among them."

"Why not before she was born?"

"When a child is being formed, its life sign overlaps with that of the mother. I am unable to decipher the almost identical genetic makeup."

The Professor looked at her expectantly.

"Why?" Would it have made any difference?"

"Of course not. It's just would have been nice to be prepared."

"Prepared for what?" he questioned. "The idea of your daughter spontaneously doing something humanly impossible?"

She sighed. "I don't know." Rogue felt like she backed herself into a corner. Professor X was right. Would knowing of Ashley's inevitable mutation made a difference? Would she have treated her differently? Would she have stayed at the mansion? These are questions Marie was glad she didn't have to answer.

After a few moments of silence, Charles spoke.

"Why did you come back? What did you expect to find?"

That's a good question, Marie thought.

"I don't know. I guess…I just wanted some answers."

"Did you get them?"

"No…yes…I don't know…I want to know why…I mean, I'm happy she has a power that she can do extraordinary things with and set herself apart, but I also wanted her to be what's considered normal. I know it can be tough being a mutant sometimes."

"Marie, there are just some questions that don't have answers. Why is she a mutant? Why are you a mutant? Why am I a mutant? We don't know. We just are. It doesn't make us any less human. It doesn't make us any less important as beings either. It's just how life is."


As the door closed, Logan was making his way down the halls of the mansion with Ashley on his shoulders. If it had of been anyone else, they would have almost been ignored. But when a guy whose codename is Wolverine, and whose said to be an animal, walks around with a five year old covered in pink, one can expectantly get a few odd looks.

But not to worry. Those looks would disappear with a simple glare.

The halls of the mansion were filled with students of all ages, going to and from class or just loitering. As he passed the lounge he saw two students getting a little friendly.

"Hey!" The students sprung apart. "None of that." The two students, not wanting to feel the wrath of one of the most intimidating mutants to ever walk the Earth, almost flew out of the room.

Ashley giggled as the pair ran down the hall.

Once at the end of the hall, Logan turned and exited out the building to the grassy backyard of the mansion grounds. There, they found Ororo Monroe, or more commonly known as Storm, sitting on the lip of a fountain.

"Hey, stranger."

Logan sat Ashley down and moved to give Storm a hug.

"Hey yourself."

Once they parted, Wolverine reached out his hand to Ashley who clasped it tightly.

"I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Storm, meet Ashley."

Storm shook Ashley's hand gently. "Call me Ro."

Ashley smiled shyly. "Hi."

"She's gonna be staying with us for a few days. Her mom is in with the Professor right now, and I thought you might be able to brew up some snow."

"Sure thing." Ro still had some questions, but decided against voicing them with the child present.


"What aren't you telling me Logan?" Storm asked while her and Wolverine watched Ashley frolic in the small patch of snow that she managed to conjure up.

"Come on Ro, I can't give you details."

"How do you know her? I mean, she looks just like…" Logan interrupted.

"I can't tell you anything. If you want to know, ask her mother."

"Who's her mother?"

It seems Wolverine didn't have to reply.

"Mommy!" screamed Ashley from where she was standing in three or four inches of snow.

Both Storm and Wolverine looked to the direction Ashley was watching.

Marie came walking up the path to where both adults stood.

"Hey, Ms. Monroe"

Storm engulfed Rogue in a hug. "It's good to see you."

"You too…I see you've met my daughter." Marie said rather uneasily, indicating Ashley, who was now trying to make a snowman.

Storm looked like she could have been knocked over with a feather…or perhaps a small gust of wind.

"Uh…yeah."

Daughter? She looked to be 5 years old. That would mean, she would had to of been…it instantly struck Ro like lightning.

This was the season she left!


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Author's Note: I have absolutely no idea how Cerebro works. That was just my take on how if could work.