Xavier Institute Courtyard, Monday Aug. 12th 2:32 pm

Kitty stifled a sigh in the blistering sun and blew more bubbles across the grass. Sabretooth stood in the grass like a dog, looking around him cluelessly. He chased after the bubbles in the August heat. She watched after him, his mind destroyed after a fight with the Phoenix. Professor Xavier had intended to fix his mind somehow but things didn't go as planned.

She felt someone should look after him. Most of the school avoided him during the period of mourning, then ignored him after. Even Kitty couldn't abandon the now pathetic mutant.

It seriously disturbed and upset Logan that his arch nemesis was on campus grounds, but it had been Xavier's wish. Even he could find a way to get over it. Kitty took pity on the savage mutant, watching him chase after butterflies and bubbles in her red sun dress. She understood the expression 'ignorance is bliss' as she watched. Maybe he got off the luckiest of all, he didn't seem to have a care in the world.

He sat and scratched his ear with his foot like a dog. She watched as fleas or ticks jumped from him. "You're gonna need another bath..." She sighed. Hank hated giving him one. Piotr approached, trying to hide the tenseness on his face.

"Katya," He began, eyeing the mutant with suspicious eyes. "Lunch is ready. You've been in hot sun all day. Have some lemonade." She smiled at him wearily, casting a last look at Sabretooth before she went.

"Comin', P."

xxx

"It's gonna melt soon, but..." Bobby used his ice skills deftly to create a small, ice replica of Rahne. Then Jean. Then Ray. Then the professor. Amara watched with wonder, feeling at home in the sweltering summer sun. "I think in the winter I could make big blocks of ice. A-And you could help me carve them." He blushed involuntarily. "I-I think they'd all like it." He looked at the ice figures wistfully. A lot had changed in the past few months. It'd been a difficult road without so many.

She smiled at him, taking a second to think of their fallen friends. Her hand slipped slowly into his, marveling at the ice figures. "I think they'd love it. I can't wait for winter for once." Bobby smiled dopily at the Brazilian mutant. "Of course I'll help."

xxx

Kitty finished her peanut butter and jelly sandwich and tossed her plate in the sink. She jumped when the screen door opened and Logan stumbled in. The smell of dark liquor floated into the kitchen. She wrinkled her nose at the smell and his behavior. "M-Mr. Logan..." He hadn't been the same in the months of after Jean and the professor's deaths.

He had been disappearing for random days and return with barely healed cuts and wounds, reeking of booze. He hadn't been like this since Kitty first arrived to the institute. She shook her head.

He grunted in acknowledgement, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "Half-Pint." She crossed her arms and cocked a hip.

"Mr. Logan..." He grinned as he pulled out a cigar. Kitty wasted no time marching over to him and yanking it from his lips. She wordlessly phased it into the ground and looked at him. "You know better." She said, disappointed.

"Sorry, Kiddo." She looked at him indignantly. He looked so tired, now. She hated it.

"I'm not a kid, Logan." She was right. He never realized just how much Charles Xavier kept him in line. Who was to stop him from going on drinking and fighting benders? It was stupid and selfish, but he was at a loss without them. "The kids need you. I need you." His shoulders sagged tiredly but he yelped and Kitty pinched his ear, hard. "Get it together, ya yahoo!" He couldn't help but smile, proud of the woman Kitty had become.

"You're right. Playtime's over." He settled into a seat at the kitchen table. Kitty sighed.

"I'll make you some coffee?" He felt very grateful for her in the moment.

"Please." She sent him a reassuring smile before headed over to the coffee maker. "Thank you." He growled at her.

"Of course."

Rogue fell to the ground with an 'oomph.' She was wearing a plain, black X-Suit an oversized green shirt over it. Her eye sight still hadn't returned. Hank wasn't sure what manner of Jean's powers took her sight away. All they could do was be patient and wait. Rogue didn't like being patient. Or waiting. Remy smiled down at her, a plain black X-Suit on under his trench coat.

"C'mon, petit." He jested. He knew not having her sight bothered her. He tried his best to take her mind off of it. Scott preferred she rested and coddled her. That would not help her get better. She groaned, reaching for a staff similar to Remy's.

"Ah jus' think Ah should use my powers..." She grumbled, running a hair through unruly, auburn curls. He chuckled.

"Course ya do. Ya be a reckin' ball, petit." He placed his hands on his hips and sent her an amused look and she threw her hair in a bushy ponytail. "Ya know ya gonna have to get good if ya eye sight take a while. He neva gonna..." He trailed off when a blank lose crossed her features. "Desolé, I-"

"No." She leaned up on the staff and stood, refusing to accept his help. "You're right..." Her gaze dropped to the ground. "This could be a matter completely outta our hands." Her grip tightened around the steel staff. "And if Ah am gonna be like this, I'm still gonna be on the team." She slowly took a defensive stance, holding he staff horizontally. "Again."

Remy tried to remove the hearts from his eyes and took his stance. "Atta girl, chére." He tapped the ground around her. "Ready." Her brow furrowed in concentration. He swung in front of her and she backed away slowly, forcing herself to use her other senses. He swung again and she blocked, hesitantly, her grip on the staff shaking. "Steady your hand." He ordered, his voice firm. Rogue steeled her face, spinning around and lunging at Remy. "Good." He coached.

He moved around her and lunged. He was pleasantly surprised when she dodged, moving not an inch too far to the right. He smirked, flicking his wrist and jerking towards her. She jumped out of the way with a yell and swung for him, correcting her stance quickly when she missed. "Good," Remy breathed. Watching her closely. She was backing up quickly, but not going on the defensive.

She swung the staff over her head but Remy moved. He swung his around with a grunt but she blocked it, both weapons shaking with tension. Remy pulled back and watched her closely as she listened for his movements.

"Good," He told her again, throwing her the bone of his voice. He held his staff behind him as the wind blew. 'Time to stop takin' it easy on her.' He thought, his face gritting with determination. In near silence he jetted forward, his staff raised.

Rogue moved and countered with a jab of her staff, sending Remy sprawling. He shot upright quickly, his mouth in a smile.

"Still not holdin' back quite enough." He commented, trying not to laugh. Rogue grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry." She approached him slowly and held out her hand. He was grateful she couldn't see his blush right now as he stared at her. 'Why does she have t'be so beautiful...' He thought grudgingly as she wiped at her neck. He wordlessly handed her a towel. "You should ask Scott, y'know." He baulked. She thought too much of him. It was like she was the only one who couldn't see him being covered in a stone exterior. Loss will do that to a person. He was still soft with her, especially in her condition, but not with much else.

"Chére," He began, his stare wistful. "Ya know he nev-"

"Maybe if I ask?" He grimaced.

'Especially not if you ask.'

"I'm getting around better, I'm gonna start instructing the Danger Room sessions soon... Scott could use the back up." Her face turned sad and pensive. "We've lost some people..." His shoulders sagged.

"Listen," He looked at her reluctantly. "He ain' gonna say yes. But..." He couldn't help but smirk. "Pour vouz, so Remy don't have to see that look on ya face." She smiled at him. Months ago, forgiveness didn't seem like an option. Not for the Rogue. There was a time where she thought she'd never be able to forgive even Logan. But those times had passed now, she finally saw the value in the freedom of forgiveness. Especially with her sight gone and tons of time on her hands.

"Thanks, Remy." He forced a smile, convinced she could feel it even if she couldn't see it.

'Don't thank me yet.' He thought, imagining asking Scott for anything.

He caught the X-Men's leader in the library, silently cleaning and organizing. He was obsessed with cleanliness in the wake of Xavier's death. He spent his free time in the Danger Room and tirelessly renovating the mansion. Remy snuck up uncomfortably behind him as he arranged the books in alphabetical order.

"Gambit." He said without turning, his voice ice chilly. "Do you need something?" He seemed to sigh and then face Remy with an impatient look. "Is Rogue alright?" He hated that they trained together, and Remy helped her around the grounds when Scott was on missions. But she insisted it was good for the both of them. It helped Rogue work through their many issues and it kept Remy on a positive path. He didn't buy it for a second.

Magneto had snuck into the institute under their noses. He had killed Jean. The X-Men would not be deceived, not again. Not on Scott's watch. Remy squirmed in discomfort under Scott's disapproving stare. "She's alright. Doin' really well, actually." Scott's brow furrowed. "C-Came to ask you about somethin' else..." He answered unsurely.

"What?" Remy swallowed.

"W-Well, Remy mean... Wit' Rogue injured," Scott's eyes narrowed. "And spots open on de team..." He cocked an eyebrow.

"Do you have a suggestion?" He crossed his arms.

"Well, I... Remy meant himself. Rogue, she suggested it, thought it might be a good-" Scott moved closer to the mutant, his breath rolling out hot on his face.

"Gambit," Scott began. "Rogue pities you. Because she's a good person and she has the capacity to. I," He moved even closer. "Don't. You will never be a part of this team. The only reason you're still here..." He turned to the bust of professor Xavier on the shelf. "Is because he gave permission. And the only reason I let you near Rogue is because it helps keep her from getting stressed out."

Remy stared at him, speechless. A million and one things flew through his mind but he remained silent.

"She's pink clouding, Gambit. She lost her connection to Jean. She lost the professor." He narrowed his eyes, tears forming. "She thinks forgiving you is going to make the pain of loss easier to bear." He stared at him, his teeth bared at him like an animal. "And it won't. So don't ever ask me something so stupid again." He walked past Remy, clipping his shoulder in the process.

Ororo and Emma stared up at the front of the institute as the sun set. A plaque out front now said "Charles Xavier & Jean Grey School For The Gifted". Ororo sighed. She missed Charles desperately. They weren't ready to do this without him.

"What do you think?" Emma asked, examined the front of the school closely.

Ororo held back a sigh. "I suppose it'll have to do." She replied, thinking of better times.

"We'll be alright." The telepath responded. "We have to be."