Disclaimer: I do not own X-men or Fantastic Four, so please do not sue. You probably wouldn't be getting much. I am wowed by the response that I have gotten for this story. It all makes me so happy! Erm… to those of you who don't particularly like Johnny, I have a simple question: why read the story? Because it is going to end up a Rogue/Johnny, you know. I'm not saying it to be mean, I'm just genuinely curious. I don't think that this is my best chapter. It's more of a plot mover than anything.

Rogue sat down with a hot cup of coffee, staring at her computer screen. Slowly she was discovering that if she didn't like the small amount of privacy she got back at the apartment, she would have to go out to get it among the masses of people. Ironic, wasn't it, how alone she could be among so many people?

So far she had given no reply to Bobby. She was trying to decide what to write. The southern girl knew exactly what he wanted to talk about, that wasn't hard to figure out, but she was questioning whether she wanted to hear it yet.

-

To: whitestripes

From: KitKat

Subject: Your Momma Is A Subject

Piotr and Amara seem to be getting along fine. They look so cute together, all romantic and junk. It's so sweet that it almost makes me sick. I guess that the real question is, how long will it last?

There are times when I wonder whether a perfect relationship actually exists. At first I had thought that you and Bobby were the perfect couple, and look at how that turned out. I have officially decided that real perfection doesn't last. After all, if it did, wouldn't you and Bobby still be happily together?

-

To: KitKat

From: whitestripes

Subject: Yeah, Well, Your Momma's The Oral Report

Love isn't perfect. It isn't always happy. That being said, Bobby and me were never always happy. There are fronts people put up to protect themselves from the outside world. Our happiness was one of them. We loved each other, we wanted to be together, but nothing was perfect about our relationship. I guess that that's hard to see when you're looking at it from behind a piece of glass.

Jealousy is streaming off you. I can even feel it through my computer screen. Really, it's amazing. You have nothing to be jealous of. You're happy. I admire you, truth be told. Just don't tell anyone. It'd ruin my reputation.

-

To: whitestripes

From: KitKat

Subject: Ouch. That One Hurt

I'm kind of sorry for springing this on you. It's just that romance seems to be buzzing around the mansion and I'm kind of feeling alone. This isn't like me, is it? This depression isn't like me at all.

I guess the big thing that's making me realize this is looking at everyone. I think about Logan and Ororo. They're going to get together soon, me thinks. Dr. McCoy is less than happy about it, but I think that he can sense it, too. Logan seems to be the only one who doesn't realize it. He's still hung up over Jean, y'know?

I'm supposing that you're no longer hung up over Bobby. It doesn't sound like it, with the speech that you just made. In fact, it sounds as if you accept that it's over, just like that. You two couldn't have been hiding that much from the public eye. You had to have been happy. Maybe you just can't see it now through the sadness.

-

Rogue smiled at the screen despite its depressing subject. When Kitty got emotional, Kitty got emotional. She never went at things half-assed. Slowly, she shut the screen. For now she needed a break from life at the Institute. She needed a break from the life that she was given. Maybe that was why she originally came to New York. Or maybe she really did want the cure. Either way, she'd have to decide fast. More and more mutants were coming to the city and supplies had to be running short.

"Sir, you can't come in here without a shirt on!"

Rogue looked up at the worker behind the counter of the coffee shop. There was fear in his eyes. Rogue knew that fear. It was the fear of a mutant. Abruptly she found herself looking towards the doorway, where a young, blonde man stood.

He looked vaguely familiar, with hair so light that it was platinum and flawless skin. He was tall and muscled. He was Warren Worthington III. Rogue bit down the urge to scream. He was even better looking in real life. Instead she eyed what would happen between the mutant and the man.

Warren was breathing deeply, as if he had just run a race. His eyes were glued onto the man, but slowly, after turning and looking at all the stares, he backed out onto the streets. Even more people stared at him there.

For a few moments, Rogue paused, wondering what she would do. It didn't take her long to decide. She picked up her laptop, left her coffee behind, and took off into the crowds of New York, following the angelic man.

"Hey," she called, "Wait up."

He didn't seem to hear her. She didn't blame him. He was probably wrapped up in the world around him.

"Worthington."

Still nothing.

"Angel!"

That seemed to get his attention. He stopped, turned and stared at her, "What did you just call me?"

Finally Rogue caught up with him, "Angel. The wings."

"I don't even know you."

"You're a mutant."

He glared, "Thank you for telling me. I haven't noticed."

"Ah'm a mutant."

He eyed her now like a scientist would a new species of plant… or maybe a disease. "Clearly your power doesn't get you this kind of attention."

This was the first time that Rogue noticed the stares now aimed at her. "No. Ah suppose it doesn't."

Smiling sadly, he started to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

The fact that he stopped for a second time surprised her. He didn't seem to like her from the moment she talked to him.

He turned back and looked at her, "I have no idea."

"What happened?"

"Why should I tell you anything? I don't even know you."

"Who do ya know? Do ya know anyone?"

After that he followed her silently. It seemed as though she had struck a nerve. They sat down in a different coffee shop. These people didn't stare at Angel. Or, at least they did so discreetly. He seemed much more comfortable than he had previously.

"Do ya want to talk about it?"

The blonde shook his head, "Want to tell me what's going on with your hair?"

"It's a long story."

"I've got time."

"Who said that Ah did?"

He looked taken aback, as though he hadn't ever expected that she would say something slightly mean and underhanded.

"That's code fore Ah don't really want to talk about it." She took a sip of her new coffee, courtesy of the rich man before her. Truth be told, Rogue was surprised there was any money in the fitted jeans he was wearing. He seemed like the type who expected people to instantly know who he was and 'tab' him, "So ya've got no place to stay."

"That's about right," he said.

"And ya ran away from home."

"Correction. I flew."

She fixed him with a look, "Like that really matters."

"Just telling you."

Warren looked kind of put out, like this wasn't how imagined the conversation going. Rogue couldn't help but giggle slightly at his downtrodden look. At that, he smiled.

"You're pretty, you know that?"

Rogue wasn't used to blushing, but now she did it freely.

"Ah've heard it now and again," she said. In truth, she couldn't remember the last time that she had been called pretty.

For a few moments they sat in silence, Rogue drinking her coffee, Warren sending some not so subtle glances her way. Just when she was about to say something, a familiar flashy car pulled up and an angry-looking Johnny stormed into the shop.

"Where have you been? You have an appointment, you know. I waited almost an hour," he stopped suddenly and looked at Warren. "Who are you?"

Warren looked dully between her and Johnny. Rogue couldn't help but feel bad for the man. He probably wasn't used to a guy as overbearing as Johnny. Because Johnny could be overbearing when he wanted to be.

"I'm Warren. Warren Worthington III."

Despite the fact that he asked the question, as soon as Warren started to speak, Johnny ignored him and turned his attention back to Rogue, "You skipped your doctor's appointment for pretty boy over here? You skipped it for a date? Are you crazy?"

"No. Ah think ya are. Didn't ya get my message? The appointment's been rescheduled for tomorrow." She gave him a very pointed look.

The older man flushed, to her surprise, "Sorry, I didn't check, I was in such a rush…"

"If ya don't have the time, then ya don't have to take meh to the stupid appointment."

"Hey, granny, if I said that I was taking you to the appointment, then I'm taking you to the appointment."

"Excuse me," Warren cut in. He looked quite amused by the entire thing, "But, really, I have to go. Rogue it was nice to meet you. I'm going to guess that you're Johnny Storm, superhero has-been? It's been… an experience."

As he was walking out the door, Rogue yelled, "Wait."

She scribbled something onto a slip of paper and handed it to the blonde man, "It's the address to the Xavier Institute. It's a home to people like us."

"Thanks," he whispered into her ear as he walked out the door.

Johnny just kind of stood there with a shocked expression on his face.

To: KitKat

From: whitestripes

Subject: Hurt Like Your Momma Did Last Night

Not giving any clues as to who it is, but the Institute might be getting a very… special new member. Not saying anything, just wanted to tell you. When he gets there… well, you will no doubt be e-mailing me away.

We went out to dinner last night. Sue, Johnny, Reed, Ben, and I, that is. It was fun. We went to a little diner with an arcade across from it. I know what you're thinking. 'Rogue, you are much too old for video games! And you're, like, a girl.' But, it really was fun. Especially after I completely wiped Johnny's face in the ground at Dance Dance Revolution. He thought he was just the hottest thing until I came along.

Things have been kind of different around here, I guess. Sue's preparing for her wedding to Reed (According to Ben, it's the third time. He's just wondering whether it will be cancelled yet again). Reed is always off doing some experiment. Ben is… doing whatever Ben does. He'll go out for a couple beers sometimes, or stay home and watch a movie. I guess it really depends on whether he feels like letting people look at him. Because wherever he goes, people do stare.

Johnny… is still being Johnny. He makes fun of me, angers me, and is generally the jerk that he normally is. But it is really hard to hate the guy who takes the time out of his busy schedule to take you to a doctor's appointment that you could probably get to on your own. It's strange, but he's out with fewer girls than he normally is. I'd like to think that it has something to do with Sue giving him a 'talk' but I highly doubt it. He's twenty-five, after all! No one else seems to think that it's strange at all.

The doctor said that my legs should heal up fine, but he's not sure. After all, it's kind of hard to examine the patient that you can't touch without gloves on. But I trust him. He doesn't seem like the type to tell a lie. Or a big one. Think of Dr. House with a twist. Yeah, he's that bad, Kitty. Actually, he might be worse. At least on House, Dr. House doesn't go around slapping nurse's backsides. But whatever. Johnny kind of made sure that the doctor didn't go anywhere near my butt.

To: whitestripes

From: IcekInG

Subject: Come on

We have to talk sometime. Come home and we'll talk about it. Then you can go home to your precious Johnny or whatever.

To: whitestripes

From: KitKat

Subject: Why The Yo Momma Jokes? Why?

So Johnny is being super sweet, huh? Sounds like he's got a crush on you. Or maybe it's the other way around. I mean, you do talk about him an awful lot in your e-mails. And he is, like, mega-hot.

Who's coming here? I am so exited. If no one shows up I'm going to be so angry I could kill something… or y'know, maybe not. Killing someone would be so gross. Can you imagine all of that blood? Like, eew.

Wolverine's ignoring Ororo. I think they'll get together soon. I hope that they get together soon. That would be freaking awesome. Since, you know, they're all badass together and stuff.

Romance is at an all-time low at the moment at the Institute. Have you and Bobby made up yet? I don't think you have by the way that you've avoided talking about him in all of your recent messages. You have to talk to him sometime. Who knows, maybe you'll end up resolving everything and getting back together. But then, that would put a damper on your whole run-away-and-marry-Johnny plan, wouldn't it? Oh, don't think that I can't read your mind just because you're not here and I'm not Jean. You southern belle types are open books to me.

We've been practicing in the danger room a lot. I think that something's going to happen soon. Something big. And when I say soon, I mean soon. When I say big, I mean mammoth. That means really, really big, in case you didn't know. Please do something to defend yourself. Knowing you, you have taken the cure and just haven't told anybody. If you took the cure, come back to the mansion ASAP. Everyone thinks it would be for the best. I mean, like, I know you have Johnny and the rest of the Fabulous Four or Totally-Gorgeous Four or whatever they're called to protect you. But sometimes you just can't rely on other people. Rogue, you have to take care of yourself. Promise me you'll get out of the city soon.