Disclaimer: Not my characters, just my imaginings.
A.N.: We are getting close to the end now. Only two more days! Thanks to my wonderful reviewers who have made this experience fun and have inspired me to try even harder next time.
Jubilee, Kitty, Rogue, Bobby, John, Piotr, and Angel were all sitting on the ground, enjoying the bright sunshine and light breezes of early spring. A cacophony of words rose from the group. Angel was answering Rogue's questions about his current work with his father's company. He was only working with his father temporarily. Everyone was glad Warren would be back at the institute to teach his classes there in only a couple more months.
She leaned her back against John's shoulder, relaxing in the companionship of old friends. Soon the others were all discussing some new legislation, except for Jubilee who was on her cell phone. Rogue tilted her head back just a little to murmur to John, "I sure am glad you came back. It wasn't the same when you were gone."
"It was probably more peaceful, right?"
"Well," she giggled, "it wasn't as exciting." He'd always loved making her laugh. She just lit up when she laughed and for some reason she found his jokes funny.
She turned more serious then. "How're things with you and Bobby?"
John sighed and looked at his old friend. "It's slow, but he'll come around."
"Yeah, he will. Do you miss them?"
He nudged her off him and turned to face her, one arm propped on his bent knee. "Who?"
"The Brotherhood."
John ran a hand through his hair and stared blindly into the distance. "Sometimes. I mean, I don't want to go back or anything, but it wasn't all bad, you know?"
She looked into the trees and nodded. "Yeah, I do know." The shared a comfortable silence before she broke it again. "I bet I'd feel the same way about the Institute."
He looked at her then, wondering if there was more to her statement than she was letting on. Was she planning to leave? He knew if he asked outright, she would tell him the truth. Rogue was willing to avoid subjects, bend the facts to protect people, or just stay silent when necessary, but she wouldn't really lie. The real questions were was it any of his business and what would it mean if she was thinking about leaving. Would it matter to him? What would it mean to Bobby? He glanced at his former friend and wondered what went wrong between him and Rogue. They'd been like the poster couple for mutants or something. At least, they'd been second only to Cyke and Jean.
John's lips twisted in wry regret. So much had happened. So many changes they'd never seen coming. Who would have believed some of it possible? He looked back over at the contemplative woman beside him. He was honest enough to admit that at the beginning he'd been very attracted to her himself. He'd backed off for his best friend, but if Bobby hadn't been in the picture things would have gone far differently.
If he let himself go, he could still want her for more than a friend. There was just something about her… that blend of innocence and sass, of naiveté and naughtiness that was such a heady combination. Honestly though, she had always been a great friend and a friend was what he needed right now. He'd been surprised by how welcoming she'd been on his return. Even more than surprised, he'd been terribly thankful. The thaw had begun already with other team members, but it was going to be slow progress and he knew he needed to tread carefully.
Deciding this wasn't the best time or place for the questions he really wanted to ask, he just let it go. They joined back in the general conversation. It wasn't long before they all returned to the mansion.
Logan sat at the counter watching beads of condensation roll down the sides of his beer. He hadn't seen Rogue all day and was finding he felt a bit aimless. He'd already programmed some new simulations for the students to run in the DR, repaired a door damaged by on of the younger kids who'd accidentally destroyed it with some kind of pulse wave or something, and broken up a mild fight. His bike didn't need any work and he was running out of things to keep busy with. A shoe scuffing the floor alerted him and he watched to see who was coming in.
He saw a kid he recognized. It was that kid he'd carried out of Alkali. The one with the tongue. He'd forgotten the kid's name, but remembered him having some spunk, even back when he was so little. He inclined his head when the kid greeted him.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
"Yeah, I remember you, kid."
The kid held his hand out. "The name's Mike."
Logan shook his hand and then went back to studying his beer. "So, Rogue's not around, huh?"
Logan's brows dropped, "What do you mean?"
Not intimidated in the least, Mike shrugged. "Relax, man. I didn't mean anything by it. It's just, usually when you aren't busy with missions, school stuff, or working out you're hanging out with Rogue."
When Logan only grunted, Mike kept talking to him. The kid didn't seem to get that you didn't just 'chat' with Wolverine. Logan would have done something about it, but he reminded him too much of another 'kid' from so long ago. He had the same oblivious innocence Marie had when he let her ride with him that first night. "So, she's pretty cool, isn't she?"
Logan just looked at him. "I mean, she's always been nice to all us younger kids. Never treated us like pests, you know? Even when we were being pests." Logan nodded. "So," Mike settled himself across from the older man, "is she your girlfriend or what?"
Logan contemplated that and then wondered why he was even thinking of answering the presumptuous little lizard tongue. "Or what."
Mike nodded as sagely as a teenager can. "Yeah, they can take awhile to come around, can't they?" He looked directly into Logan's eyes. "You know she's into you, right?" When those hazel eyes narrowed in warning, he hurried on. "I figured you did, but sometimes a guy can be too close to it to tell, you know? I mean, everybody knows she's loved you practically forever. Well," he amended, "everybody but Iceman. But the dude was totally in denial." He grabbed his orange and his can of soda and stood. "Anyway, it's cool that you're sticking around this time. I hope it's for good. Good luck with the Rogue, dude." Mike lifted one hand and ambled back to the rec room.
Logan couldn't believe the entire conversation. Did that little punk just actually try to give him advice on his love life? Did the puke really call him 'dude'? I've gotta be losin' my edge when the rug rats think they can just talk to me about anything. Logan's thoughts rambled on randomly before zeroing in on the most important thing about his encounter with the cub. Everyone knows she's loved me practically forever, huh? Now that's good to know.