Xavier's Institute, Saturday Aug. 10th 4:44 pm

Rogue sat between Kitty's legs as she ran a straightener through her now long hair. Her eyes were shut in a trance as Kitty carefully sectioned off her hair with gloved hands. Kurt sat beside them, a bowl of popcorn in his hands and Kill Bill on the tv.

"You're gonna have to start paying me, Rogue. Sheesh!" She said as she ran her fingers through her shockingly long tresses. "How'd your hair get so long?" It was well past her shoulders straight. Rogue shrugged.

"More like how did she keep it so short?" Kurt commented with a mouth full of popcorn.

"You said you missed doing it!" She snapped, looking up at Kitty. Bobby snickered from the kitchen, shooting ice into a blender with fruit.

"Remember when you first got here, Rogue? Your hair was short and Kitty would beg you to straighten her hair." They all laughed. Rogue rolled her eyes.

"It's just easier to manage in the Danger Room, okay. She wanted me to straighten her hair for parties." Rogue tossed her hair into a long, low pony. Kitty laughed, tossing her head as thought her ponytail still swished. She leaned back on the couch and sighed.

"Those were the days, huh?" Now everyone felt wistful. Rogue became tense between Kitty' legs but she, Kurt, and Bobby just frowned.

"A lifetime ago..." Said Rogue, standing. She stretched. "I guess I should go get ready for duty," She said as Bobby approached, a smoothie in his hand.

"Not before dinner, stupid." He mocked, handing her the drink. "You always get a headache when you don't have one, and then the whole mansion's on headache-Rogue alert!" She pouted as she excepted the smoothie.

"Do not." She lied, smirking as she took a sip. "Thanks, B." He flashed a triumphant smile.

"Uh huh. I'll walk you to the D.R." Rogue waved and headed off to lead her session, Kurt and Kitty barely able to control their laughter.

"Uh, Bobby?" Kitty called, halting them. "Where's my smoothie?" Rogue was blushing a deep red as they haughtily continued to the basement.

"Making her smoothies?!" Kurt exclaimed. "Since when does Bobby do that?"

"I know, right? For ms. "I'm never dating again" they were looking cozy." Rogue had had a rough go of having feelings, she didn't blame her. They all kind of had as far mutants were concerned, it made everything harder. They watched their retreating forms disappear.

Bobby plodded beside Rogue, content to find himself in her presence. Rogue had had a hard go of it. From before Apocalypse to after. They really bonded after Scott's departure, even if Rogue distanced herself from the team. He had always seen through her tough exterior and despite the hardships, she was slowly softening up (and not just on the outside, either). Bobby remembered the days when he used to purposely antagonize her, how times changed.

"What are you doin' after the session," He asked her nonchalantly. "Kurt says the second Kill Bill comes on right after." She took another swig of the smoothie.

"Hmm, I'll see if I can pencil y'all in... As long as Jaime doesn't extend this session tonight." She slapped a hand on her forehead and Bobby busted out laughing.

"You got Multiple? I'll see you at midnight, then..." She playfully shoved the boy. Even after it became clear Carol's abilities were permanent, he never changed how he treated her. He still joked with her and pushed her buttons sometimes. Rogue loved that and she never forgot it.

"Nah, Jaime's a good kid though." Bobby smirked at her. For as tough as an exterior she tried to have he always found her sweet spot for him funny. If Rogue was anything she was full of surprises.

"You're just like him." He said before he thought better of it. It had been ten months and nobody had heard from Scott. Rogue froze and Bobby frowned as the smile slid off her face.

"Don't," She began.

"What?!" Bobby exclaimed. "He's left. He's not dead, Rogue." She glared at him but he didn't back down. "We're gonna see him again-"

"Bobby..."

"I'm just saying you'd make a good leader. I know being an X-Man is the last thing you want to be, so don't jump down my throat." He waved his hands at her. "A guy can dream, can't he?" Rogue sighed. He almost had a way with words in a fucked up kind of way.

"You're a real yahoo, Bobby."

"Takes one to know one." Rogue stood toe to toe with him. She used to have him on height before Apocalypse but the boy hit a late growth spurt. He wasn't a boy anymore, he looked like a young man. When Rogue looked at Bobby she liked what she saw, he wasn't just a little annoying new recruit anymore. Kurt was her brother, Kitty was her best friend, but Bobby was her partner in crime. The only one she'd ever had.

And she wasn't exactly sure what she was gonna do as she stood nose to nose with him, staring defiantly into each other's eyes.

"Drake," Rogue drawled. She exclaimed when he grabbed her suddenly and hurled her behind him. He iced out and made a giant sword attached to his arm made of ice. Rogue watched for a moment, impressed. She really was missing a lot by not being on the team. When she followed Bobby's line of sight her blood ran cold. There stood Remy, or at least, what looked like him.

There was no black in his eyes anymore, they flashed an ominous red. His hair was white like Magneto's and his skin deathly pale. He stared through Rogue, his smile hungry. He had betrayed her in every sense of the word. Rogue hated him. She could've killed him. But she had never feared Remy. She feared what she, herself, might do for his transgressions. He conspired with Mystique. His actions took the life away from a child. She could never forgive him. Ever.

But when she saw him now, knowing Sinister did things to him beyond their wildest dreams, fear set sail in her stomach. Even with all her powers. She didn't have anything that could counter the pure evil in his grin.

"Chére." He breathed like a lion stalking it's pray. "Ça fait longtemps." She glared at him.

"Bobby," She snapped. "I can take a tank to the face, why the hell you standing in front of me!" He was staring hatefully at Remy. It was a topic Rogue didn't like talking about, even now, but he could tell how he'd desecrated Rogue's trust.

"No way," He growled back, watching Remy intensely. "He's either here for you or to kill you." He began icing up a wall in front of Rogue. "No way." She pulled his arm back.

"We need to apprehend him-"

"We don't even know how he got in here!" He looked at her to say "Logan and Scott aren't here, I'm not risking it." They both knew he wasn't there for a good reason.

"You think I'm still soft!" She accused, her voice hurt. Bobby frowned.

"Anyone would be."

"C'mon, petit." He launched a glowing card at the ice Bobby built, exploding it with a rumble. Rogue screamed, grabbing Bobby and hoisting him from the blast. "Y'got mon ami in here somewhere. Gambit jus' here t'get him back." He flashed a smile at Rogue that dropped her temperature five degrees. Bobby was right. There was something wrong with him. Really wrong.

"Even he don't deserve to be sent off with you." Rogue spat, her fist shaking. "Final warning, Remy. Get out of here." He extended his staff.

"Y'don' wanna know how I got here?" She stared at him, her face red. "My new boss has a lot of useful DNA samples." He examined his arms. "Gotta thank lil Kitty for that one." Rogue shook her head in disbelief.

"God, no..."

"I ain't as strong as you, chére but maybe one day, Sinister can make me dat strong and we can play." Her blood ran cold. Sinister. 'Did... Did he just say...'

"You really are busted, Lebeau." He snickered.

"Remy knows de importance of gettin' wit da winning team." Rogue grit her teeth. Without warning she shot forward and knocked Remy into the wall, creating a person sized hole.

"Wow," Said Bobby as he looked at the crater. "I wasn't expecting that. I know he wasn't expecting that-"

"Get the rest of the team here. He's trying to take Magneto." Bobby frowned, nodding seriously.

"Sure you're..." He watched her roll her leather jacket sleeves up.

"Trust me, it'll be cathartic." She turned to him. "Go get someone! Send for the professor, shoo!" Remy climbed out of the wall, a scowl on his face. "REMY." Rogue yelled, flying forward. Reluctantly, Bobby took off War Room to get on the intercom.

She landed in front of him, angry tears in her eyes. "Mr. Sinister? How could you!" He frowned at her. He had expected her not to be able to fight him at all. He had underestimated the southern belle once again.

"Da Remy who still loved ya jumped out dat window last year." He spat at her. "So don' "how could I" me." She balled her hands into fists and tried to keep herself from ripping a chunk of the floor and throwing it at him.

"Liar!" She hissed at him. "And you know it."

"You a telepath now, girl?" She narrowed her eyes, unfamiliar with this one of his many pet names. It sounded negative. Violent. Like a scolding. Like her father would do. "You like it when I call ya that, right? I got mild telepathic capabilities now, too. I'm no X-Man so sometimes I take a peek." He pointed to his head. Rogue stumbled backwards as he advanced on her, a smirk on his face.

"I think I'm gonna be fuckin' sick." She stumbled away as she groaned, feeling light headed.

"Tell me I'm the same Remy." He goaded, standing right in front of her. "Ain't no Cyclops and Wolverine now, girl. Tell me." She shook her head, staring in to maraschino eyes.

"You're not," She drawled in response. "You're not Remy at all. You been put together like Frankenstein by Frankenstein himself." She wiped her tears hesitantly. He sneered at her.

"Still wrong," He teased, reaching for her. She jerked from his touch like he had the plague, trembling. "I am Remy." He placed a hand behind her head and tugged on her long hair. Rogue was paralyzed for a moment, wondering how this was the same person she ever saw herself being in a relationship with. "And I am death." Her heart slammed in her throat.

"First string X-Men, report to the D wing! Don't suit up to assist Rogue!" Bobby's voice rang over the school's P.A system. Remy chuckled to himself. "Professor, conference in with Rogue!"

The announcement on the intercom shocked everyone who heard it. Like turning a t.v on, Xavier was in Rogue's head as she stared at Remy.

'Rogue? What's going on? You're putting out some alarming feelings.'

'Professor, Remy breached the mansion. He's... Here. Right now.' She stared hatefully at him as she communicated with the professor.

'Emma and the team are coming as we speak, DON'T engage, Rogue. You don't know what Sinister's plan might be.' She stared at him like a cornered animal, watching his every move very carefully. It did seem like Magneto was his main focus. If his goal was to hurt or kill Rogue he certainly was taking his time. Rogue couldn't really tell if he was enjoying this or not and it scared her.

"Guess I better take my chance till ya lil' friends join us, non?" She gasped when he mashed her lips to her in a painful kiss. If their first kiss had been incredible and everything she wanted this was the exact opposite. With a scream she was repelled from Remy and into the wall. Hard. She hit it with an 'oomph', glaring at Remy from the ground. He was smiling, unharmed. 'What the...'

"Guess I shoulda expected dat, non? I had Sinister make me jus' like you, belle." Rogue covered her mouth in horror.

"You are a monster, Gambit. A monster." He flashed an animalistic grin at her.

"Oh, well merci."

"Remy Lebeau." Emma stood with Ororo, Kitty, Kurt, Piotr, Bobby and Laura behind her, a grin on her face. "I didn't know we ran a homeless outreach plan." Remy laughed.

Laura sharpened her two claws, staring at Remy and Rogue blankly. She didn't know her well but she was part of Logan's personal pack, so she was ready to launch an attack.

"If only you were as strong as you were funny, fille." His gaze darkened. "I need da mutant." She shrugged.

"No." Kitty shook her head in disbelief, her heart breaking for Rogue. It was bad enough he had done the one thing Rogue ever asked someone not to do: betrayed her. But now he was in the mansion looking like a monster.

"It's like this, Gambit." Emma said, her face serious. "Just because you're a dead spot to some telepaths," She began, raising a hand. "Doesn't mean you are to all." She clutched a fist and he dropped to one knee instantly. "And just because some are not comfortable entering someone's mind like this..." Remy grunted under the strain while Rogue watched. "Doesn't mean we all aren't. Darling."

Remy snarled and struggled his way to his feet despite the telepathic pain Emma was inflicting on him. "Be careful." Rogue warned. "Sinister gave him my abilities, don't let him touch you." He stared at Rogue, desperately trying to fight Emma's assault on his mind. He wanted nothing more than to grab Rogue's throat and squeeze.

He reached for it, his eyes blazing red. Clenching her teeth Emma pressed harder, causing Remy to scream and fall twisting to the ground. "Enough." She snapped. "You go or you think you're a cup of orange juice for the rest of your life." She turned to Rogue. "And you stay the hell away from that one, Lebeau." She scowled at him. He muttered something in french they couldn't hear. Then, he disappeared in a sudden cloud of sulfur.

Kurt's mouth dropped open. "Did he just-"

"Mr. Sinister has all our DNA, apparently." Rogue held back Mystique's likely instrumental role in that, he didn't need that right now.

"He was totally, icky Rogue. I can't believe he just waltzed in here!" Kitty said hotly. She looked at Rogue worriedly. "Are you o-"

"No." Was all Rogue said before she walked past the crowd of convening mutants. Kurt began to chase after her.

"Vait-" Bobby caught his arm.

"Let her cool it." He suggested, his face grim. Kurt glowered.

"But-"

"Ice boy is right for once. Let her decompress." She crossed her arms and stared at the spot that Remy once was. 'He got right in here, Charles.' She sent the message telepathically as the students dispersed.

'I know Emma. Time to invest in the war room.'

"You failed, Gambit." Sinister crossed his arms. "But you did so much better than I expected." Remy was shuffling his cards back and forth, the image of Rogue's angry stare in his mind. He had never hated and loved something so much.

"I want t'watch da life go out her eyes, homme." He declared, tossing his deck of cards on the ground. Mr. Sinister smiled.

"And you will. In time." He placed a hand on his shoulder. "I have another important task for you. I need for you to gather me a band. A band of Marauders." Remy sneered.

Xavier's Institute Infirmary, Saturday Aug. 10th 6:07 pm

When "Erik" awoke in the strange hospital the girl with silver bangs was there, glaring at him. It was strangely familiar. He sighed softly and sat up, looking at her. "Girl..." She winced.

"Don't call me that!" She snapped, and his face softened even more. She didn't buy it. This soft, amnesiac, Magneto. It was a trick. A ploy, to get to Charles when he was vulnerable and she would never allow it. He smiled at her.

"Forgive me..." He waited for her to tell him her name but she didn't. She crossed her arms.

"What are you planning?" His head titled to the side.

"I'm sorry?"

"Sinister? Angel brought you here? Gambit showed up?" She waited for recognition to wash over his features but it never did. "Don't act like-"

"Please, forgive me. Miss-"

"You know my name is Rogue." Erik chuckled.

"That cannot be your name? For one as lovely as you..." He dropped his gaze shyly. Rogue knew she must've been lonely because the long, white hair and young features served kind of Magneto. A lot. Also it was nice that he wasn't perpetually scowling. But it was fake. A trick. And Rogue knew better than to fall for any of it. "Certainly you have a true name?" She snorted in response.

"None you will ever know." Confusion crossed his features.

"Do you know my name?" Rogue's face fell a little bit. It was beginning to become hard to believe that the meek man in front of her was Magneto, a mutant she had to work up the nerve to confront even now.

"Drop the act! It's Magneto..." He cocked an eyebrow and she could tell he didn't understand. She huffed. "It's Erik. Lensherr..." She mumbled. He pushed his mouth into a grim line.

"I do not feel like an Erik... Or Magneto. Magneto," He repeated. Rogue jumped as metal began to levitate around around them. Rogue frantically began to scramble out of her glove, panting. 'Knew it,' She thought, "Is it because I can do this?"

"Quit it!" She screamed at him, and he dropped the things.

"My apologies..." She watched him wearily. "Do you have an ability? Like mine?" She huffed.

"Yeah, if I touch you, it's lights out." He nodded, remembering her touch that put him to sleep.

"You've got the touch. You're an angel." Rogue scoffed in embarrassment. He didn't seem lucid. She was beginning to believe that Jean did wreck his mind. "What if I don't feel like an Erik? Or Magneto." She frowned.

"I dunno, that's who ya are. What, are you just gonna call yourself? Joseph?" She quipped, wishing someone besides this banal Erik was there to witness it. He smiled at her and she dropped her gaze.

"Joseph and his robe of many colors." He said after a moment with a grin. He held his hands up and they began to glow with purple energy, then blue. Then every color. Rogue watched with wonder for a moment before she remembered who she was with. "Maybe I will call myself that. This self. It feels... Better." Rogue scowled.

"Right. I'm still calling you Erik, and that's a gift." She expected a telling hard look in his eyes but they remained soft. He laughed sadly to himself.

"As you wish, but I hope that you will give me something prettier to call you." Rogue froze on her way through the doorway, her ponytail splashing like a wave.

"No," She said. Her voice was firm. "And Erik," She turned to look at him, her face blank. "If you've really forgotten..." She placed a hand on the doorframe. "I hope that you never remember." She disappeared from his sight and she was all Joseph could think of.

Kyoto Japan, Saturday Aug. 8th 10:13 am

Logan spent most of his time at the monastery in silence. He had a lifetime of horrors in his mind to work through, anyways. When he did speak and was spoken to he learned invaluable information.

"Let me guess, your Jean..." Segi had said after hours of meditative silence. "Flaming red hair." Logan turned to him, his concentration completely broken.

"Yeah..." He answered reluctantly. He looked carefully at his old friend. 'Don't tell me, the bastard loved a host of the force too?' He sent him a knowing smile.

"Old texts say the very first Phoenix Force's first avatar, the first woman, was a red head." Logan dropped his gaze, thinking about Jean's sea of red hair. "These texts also say she lived and ruled with once with Odin, lord of Asgard..." He looked at Logan. "The force hasn't had many avatars but I also knew and loved one. Briefly, as they always are..." Logan grimaced.

"You know more about this force than the people who try to tame it, control it." He snorted at the thought. "Now tell me how I can keep it from earth." Segi's face went blank.

"Logan,"

"Anything, Segi. Please."

"There's nothing you can do. It won't be the last time you see the Phoenix Force. And it won't be the last time you see Jean, either."

Emma Frost's Office Xavier's Institute, Monday Aug. 12th 6:54 pm

Emma smiled across from Kitty Pryde. Shadowcat did not like her, not by a long shot. She knew the sickeningly cute girl had been close with Jean, and all but idolized Scott. Despite the very serious battle with the Phoenix Force, Emma knew the revelation of her half-cocked attempt at flirting with Scott didn't fall between the lines.

Kitty, who was normally seen chattering with any and everybody, was rather quiet in the session. She didn't like talking about Jean. She liked training in the Danger Room and going on missions. She'd rather go to school than talk about the loss of her hero. Especially, with someone like Emma Frost. Simple people thought Rogue was the opposite of Jean but they couldn't be more wrong.

At heart, Rogue cared a lot about things and the people around her especially. Even Jean when she didn't necessarily like her. Maybe because the two girls were very similar. Brave. Protective of the people they cared about. Powerful. The opposite of Jean was someone like Emma. Cold. Superficial. Inauthentic. Sarcastic (in the least abrasive way). Underhanded. Bougie. Everything Kitty hated. Everything Jean stood against, yes, even that Jean who threatened the world and could just as easily destroy it.

Emma held in a sigh and tried not to pry into the girl's mind too much. She disliked her enough. "You're feeling guilty for something, Katherine. What could that possibly be?" Kitty frowned.

"I... Some of the girls and I, we'd been teasing Rogue about Remy for weeks."

"..." Kitty sighed again.

"That's just it, Emma. You weren't here for..." 'Jean already knew everything about all of us. The context, the history... That's why when she shrinked us we were actually better after.' Kitty thought bitterly, hoping Emma didn't hear her comparison to Jean in her head. "Rogue's just already been through a lot." She said glumly. "She was always so against it. If we let her just stick with her decision..." Emma leaned forward, an impassive look on her face.

"Kitty," She began, leaning her chin on her hands. Her white acrylic nails glinted in the light. "Bad things just happen. Not only do reasons not matter but they'll never accurately be traced. You'd be better off not worrying about such a thing." She pursed her lips when Kitty didn't respond. "The only person to blame for what's been done to her is him. Remy."

Their eyes met and for once, Emma saw true grit and potential in them. Her iPhone began buzzing as the alarm for the session went off.

"Thank you..." Kitty grumbled, standing awkwardly as Emma watched.

"Yes. Good session." Right when Kitty walked out the alarm sounded. She'd barely gotten out of school and there was something they needed to rush off and attend to. She huffed, watching as other raced toward the basement.

"Oh, joy..." She thought, hitting a light jog and falling in stride with Bobby.

xxXXxx

Xavier focused, coming out into the foyer.

'Rogue, could I speak with you please?' She had been sketching peacefully on the roof, trying to ignore the alarm.

'Sure, professor.' She replied, trying not to sound hesitant. She left her sketchbook and charcoals where they lay and hovered down a floor where she knew the professor would be waiting.

"Ah, there you are." Xavier smiled warmly. He had gotten closer to all his students in the wake of Jean's absence. He felt particularly protective of her in Logan's trip elsewhere, and she was slowly starting not to resist.

"Hey, what's the matter?" She hoped he didn't request her to go along in the mission. It was hard to say no to the man who had done so much for her, and he never cashed this card in unless he felt he needed to. Things weren't the same. They were never going to be the same. The X-Men had a mission: to rescue Jean. And they had failed.

"Nothing, nothing. Really." He sent her a look she couldn't read. "Checking on you after..." Rogue frowned. It had been a few days and she thought she might actually make it without an awkward conversation about Remy. Kitty and Kurt knew when to ask Rogue questions and when to back down. Bobby didn't even ask, communicating that he was there in seconds with a look.

But the professor held no punches with both Scott and Logan gone. Logan had made his fair share of mistakes but he knew the mutant would never forgive his neglect of Rogue. "Yes, I know you don't really want to talk about it but I had to check." He grimaced at her. "Emma, Hank, Ororo, and I are all very worried about your safety." He told her seriously. She sighed and hugged herself.

"Ah know," She said, avoiding his eyes. "But Remy seriously underestimated how hard it's gonna be to take me on now." She looked at her hands. "I wouldn't worry." She smiled lamely at the professor. She knew the telepath didn't buy it but he smiled politely.

"Yes, even still. Remy's determination worries me." He cast her a weary glance. "I've just already noticed you pulling away from the team and I didn't want you to get even more withdrawn." He understood completely. Every night he was thankful he went to sleep a coward who did not have to witness or go through what they did. He loved Jean too much to ever bare it.

"I know, I'm sorry. These past few months have been-"

"Difficult? Of course. You don't have to apologize Rogue. Or ever explain why you don't want placement on the team." Her eyes were watery again. It felt nice to just be understood, especially with Logan and Scott gone. Sometimes she forgot what it felt like. "I just want to make sure you're adjusted and doing okay here." She nodded.

"I'm okay, professor. Really." He studied her carefully to her dismay.

"Maybe so." He folded his hands together. "I heard you had a visit with our 'Joseph.'" She paled suddenly.

"Oh, I-"

"He was quite tickled, Rogue!" She watched in disbelief as he chuckled. "He perked up the most we've seen since Angel brought him here. He's been asking about you." She stared.

"Me?" He nodded.

"Oh yes."

"Professo-"

"Rogue." He cut in gently. "I know you are weary of Erik and rightly so." A moment passed between them and they both reflected on that time where she battled him in Times Square (she was lucky she wasn't murdered). Or when he kidnapped the X-Women to an asteroid. The kids didn't understand the professor's loaded and complex relationship with Erik. They only saw Magneto. "But sadly, that is not Erik."

Rogue tried to keep her suspicions to herself, he was clearly buying it. "Right."

"I can't explain what happened either, Rogue. There's nothing but... Space in his mind. No hint of his former psyche." He frowned. "It's a miracle he's aware of his mutation, he is simply not informed enough of anything to be a threat." He sighed. "And so far is our responsibility." He looked at her. "I have a suggestion."

"A suggestion?" She asked wearily. He nodded with a smile.

"Yes, since you're not an active team maybe you could help Joseph get acclimated to the school. Maybe, have him on Danger Room sessions. He's getting energy and I feel he'll grow depressed without something to do." Rogue stared, dumbfounded.

"W-Wait, you're really calling him Joseph?" She looked at him skeptically and he chuckled.

"Yes, he doesn't feel like Erik. He means that Rogue, I'd be able to know if he didn't." She sighed. She was very reluctant to believe that on top of everything else, she really had to deal with a Magneto with no memories. She fought the urge to slap her face.

"Right..."

"You brought out a great side of him." She cocked an eyebrow. 'Don't know why, I wasn't nice.' She smiled uncomfortably. "Give him a shot. You underestimate yourself."

'No, I think I estimate myself pretty well, thank you. And I estimate that this ends with me socking 'Joseph' in the face.' She held her smile.

"Sure, professor. Why not." He chuckled at her choice of words.

"Have faith, Rogue. Have faith." She sighed.

"Luckily I do, in you." She turned and head toward the stairs.

She headed out to the garden with a plate of bread of pasta salad out to 'Joseph'. He was sitting on a bench and gazing at the slowly setting sun. There was no telling how long he'd been like that. She watched him secretly. Everything about him was so different. His mannerisms were like a whole different person's. She crept up behind him and he didn't even acknowledge him.

She was wearing a black X-Suit and had a flannel wrapped around her waist. Her hair reached past her back now and it was still relatively straight thanks to Kitty's diligent work. She took her time approaching the amnesiac mutant, she wasn't sure what she was gonna say.

"Rogue."

She jumped when he called out, not turning to face her. "You've come." He continued. She swallowed hard.

"You haven't learned when dinner is." He turned back to face her finally, a peaceful smile on his face. He stood and hovered over to her deftly. He grabbed the plate gently as though his hands were dangerous.

"Thank you, that was very kind of you." She blinked as he took the plate and sat with it. "This place is lovely on it's own but it's even better with company. How do you like living in such a peaceful place?" Rogue snorted and crossed her arms.

"You think it's peaceful now. Just wait." She moved a hair closer, eyeing him. "This place goes from Yale to a traveling circus real fast." Joseph laughed.

"You're clever." He paused and winced. "R-"

"Anna." She said through clenched teeth. "Anna Marie." He looked at her, his eyes soft.

"I know that there was a different name for you. I'm no Erik," He closed his eyes. "And you're no Rogue."

A/N: Ça fait longtemps: Been a long time