Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, the Fantastic Four, or any related characters

Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, the Fantastic Four, or any related characters. Before starting on this fic, I just wanted to clear the whole Johnny thing up. It wasn't that Johnny was actually snooping through her stuff (much). This won't come out in the fic at all (I think), but what he actually did was take Kitty's e-mail and use his own e-mail address to talk to her (Torch). So, slightly snooping, but still giving her privacy.

kristie: I can't really give away anything about the story. I like to believe that anything I say could (and sometimes even does) become a vital point to the plot. I like to keep the reader in suspense, so I don't really like to give anything away. Ideas… I don't know; they came from all around. I guess for the whole crossover thing, I was wondering who Johnny could be paired up with that wasn't an OC and didn't make me want to gag. This may or may not have been after I saw the guy who played him on E's sexiest bodies list. So after I thought of Rogue, I started formulating a plot. Then X-3 came with Angel and the new cast and I fell in love. I was disappointed that Rogue didn't get much of a part in the movie, so I wanted to give her more back story for it. Plus, although I like Bobby, he just wasn't doing it for me in X-3. As I write, ideas develop. When I started this fic, I made a few key points that I wanted to reach (such as the final battle of X-3), and I'm just sort of trying to lead up to those points. Actually, this story wasn't even going to be posted (I didn't think that a crossover would be very popular, especially with two such obscure fandoms). I got a little bit of advice on it, and finally just decided to post it. I'm just going to say that superheroes are my thing. I love reading comics, watching the movies, ect. I like to think that I'm pretty good at writing about them, too. Anyway, I'm writing a Batman Begins fic to sort of get me excited for the new movie (Christian Bale is to die for), and I'm thinking about doing a Sky High. Oh, jeez, now I'm rambling. Back to the story.

Chapter 12

To: whitestripes

From: StormGirL

Subject: Life

It's been a while since I've heard from you, Rogue. In fact, I haven't heard from you at all since you left to help the X-men. Ororo sent me a message that you are all right but… you've still got me worried.

We weren't able to find the… well, the Frightful Four. As they've taken to calling themselves. Our counterparts, more or less (just without the powers). Someone either tipped them off that we were coming, or they had the foresight to move on. I don't doubt that they'll be back. It's got Reed really worried.

--

To: StormGirL

From: whitestripes

Subject: The Universe

I'm so sorry that I haven't e-mailed! Things have just been so hectic here at the mansion. We're treating nearly fifty mutants right now for injuries sustained during the battle. Some of them, apparently, decided to join our side after the fight.

Oh, and there was the little fact that I was one of the mutants getting help. I was already on our side, though. Does that even make any sense? Anyway. The fight was completely insane, but it showed the world that we are more than just people-killers and freaks. A lot of parents want their kids to come to learn to defend themselves. They're beginning to see that some people will always be prejudice, but at least their mutant kids will be prepared to face that prejudice and not give in to violence.

A lot of people have also been writing thank you letters and notes to us. It's really weird. But, then again, we're getting three times as much hate mail as ever. Some people still blame us for everything. And, you know, it's kind of hard to keep the Institute's address a secret with so many people wanting to come and all the features that have been on the news.

So you couldn't find those guys? They just… disappeared? I'd watch my back if I were you guys. They can't have gotten too far away.

How is everyone? Ben, Reed, Johnny? Are you all holding up fine?

--

Rogue turned off her computer and curled up on the couch. Kitty was on the floor, telling her the latest gossip, and Logan was staring at her like she was some sort of alien creature from Mars. Teenage girls were not his forte.

"So, how's it going with Warren?"

Kitty frowned, "It's not going. Half the time he's completely ignoring me, the other half he's with you."

"Have ya tried talking to him?"

Usually Kitty had no problem at all talking to guys. She was the flirt; Rogue was more in line with being the best friend. It was just the way things were.

"He's so hard to talk to!" She exploded, "Every time I try, he gives me this look that seems to say, 'Yeah, and?'"

"Maybe that and means that he wants ya to keep talking."

"I blather on like an idiot."

"It can't be much different than usual," Logan grunted from his place on the couch.

Kitty squealed, "Hey, that's not nice, Logan!"

"I'm not nice, cat."

"Kitty! My name is Kitty you oversized dog!"

"I'm a human being."

"Could have fooled me." Kitty shrugged, and then grinned. "So. Ororo."

Wolverine's eyes narrowed. "Ororo."

"She's kind of pretty, isn't she?"

Kitty was now exchanging glances with Rogue. The southern girl could barely hide her grin. Logan was looking between the two warily. "Whatever."

"Don't you think she's pretty," Kitty pressed on.

Logan said nothing. His eyes were far away. Jean. He was thinking about Jean. Rogue didn't need a psychic or a genius to tell her maybe Logan wasn't ready to move on. Maybe he never would be. After all, he killed the one woman he thought he might love.

"OK, fine. But let me tell you, denial isn't just a river in Africa."

Logan rolled his eyes, and then focused on the doorway. Both girls turned to see what he was looking at.

Bobby Drake stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Can I talk to Rogue for a minute?"

Kitty fidgeted. Logan glared. Finally, Rogue replied, "Yeah, sure. Why not?"

She got up slowly, trying to prolong the long-needed talk. He led her out to the gardens and sat down on a bench. She was hesitant to follow.

"We need to talk."

He wouldn't look at her. Instead, she was forced to take in the sight of her boyfriend looking pathetic and forlorn. And he was her boyfriend because, well… she simply hadn't had enough time to break up with him. Plus, it was her first break up and she was expecting tears even if she didn't like him as much any more.

"All right. Talk."

His eyes widened. His fingers closed around a flower, picked it, and handed it to her. She lifted it to her face and sniffed. It smelt good, but he was just trying to put off their talk more.

"I love you, Rogue."

"Ah doubt that, Bobby," she replied gently. He was her first boyfriend, a good friend, and although he cheated on her, she didn't want him to… to think that she hated him or something. Although she kind of did. It was a weird feeling… to be between like and hate, friends, enemies, and lovers. She hated these unsure feelings.

"No really," he insisted, eyes intent upon her face, searching for something. Whatever it was, he couldn't seem to find it. "I love you Rogue."

"If ya love meh, then why did ya kiss Kitty?"

He had no answer. His face went unusually pale and for the first time, he couldn't meet her gaze.

"That's not love, Bobby. If ya loved me, ya wouldn't be kissin her."

"I love you."

His voice was beginning to shake, almost as if he were breaking down. Rogue wasn't the one crying, although it looked like Bobby might. Why wasn't this harder for her? Why did it seem so easy to talk to him about this? Shouldn't she at least be slightly angry?

But, then again, she hadn't thought about Bobby in a while. Or at least not Bobby in a boyfriend type of way. Instead, as much as she absolutely abhorred admitting it, her thoughts had turned to… Johnny.

Like, sometimes, she wondered what he was doing at any given moment. Was he sleeping when she was awake in the early hours of the morning or was he getting a snack like he sometimes did? When she was taking her college classes or training, was he driving his car around, picking up girls, or was he helping his sister or Reed with a new experiment?

"Ya love meh," she stated. "But Ah don't think ya're in love with meh."

He stared at her in wonder. It was as if the thought had never crossed his mind. And, from the look on his face, he didn't like the sound of it.

"No, Rogue. That's not what I'm saying. I'm in love with you. I love you. I want us to stay together."

"Bobby," Rogue sighed, tears finally starting to well up in her eyes, despite how bad she didn't want them to. This was something she had prepared to be strong for and suddenly strong wasn't looking too great. "Ah can't."

"We can work through this," he insisted.

He reached out to grab her gloved hand, but she ripped it away. His face was so pleading and sad. He looked as though he were going to break down into tears in a matter of seconds.

She looked back at him, "Probably. Maybe we could have if Ah never left. But Ah did leave and this did happen. Things changed, Bobby. Ah changed and you changed and Ah don't think either of us are going to change back."

He didn't say anything, so she went on. "Ah loved you, too, but Ah don't think that that's what Ah feel anymore. Ah think Ah still love ya, think Ah always will since ya're the first guy who's really liked meh and Ah really liked, but Ah'm not in love with ya."

Bobby looked at her accusingly. "It's Johnny Storm, isn't it? You went off and fell in love with him!"

Rogue smiled at him sadly, "Ah honestly don't know what Ah feel about Johnny. Sometimes he's a jerk; sometimes he's caring and kind. But Ah'm not in love with him. And, honestly, Ah think ya need to work out yar feelings for Kitty."

Rogue knew that it was one of the things Kitty was having trouble talking about lately. She knew that her best friend had feelings for her boyfriend—ex-boyfriend—and that it was difficult not to bring them up.

"What feelings," he scoffed.

"The ones that the whole Institute can see but don't comment on because of meh."

"I don't like her."

"But," Rogue said, touching his cheek and smiling, "Ya might be in love with her."

And when she walked away, Rogue knew that she had done the right thing, despite any feelings she still had for Bobby. It was when the tears continued to pour down her cheeks that she began to question her good intentions.

--

To: whitestripes

From: StormGirL

Subject: And Everything

What do you mean you got injured? How badly? Are you going to be all right? Now you've got everyone here worried about you. They want to come see you. It's strange not having you around with us every day.

Reed and I are helping out with a research team to find a cure for the Cure, if that makes any sense. Apparently, 3 out of every 7 mutants who originally got it wish that they hadn't. Besides not being able to get over not having some form of mutation, some mutants are experiencing strange things happening to their bodies, like constantly getting sick or skin flaking off with such a rapid rate that new skin can't grow. Many mutants aren't experiencing any of these problems, but the Cure is turning out to be an extremely huge health risk. Hopefully, we'll be able to find a rich donor soon because trying to find out what is causing this and turning mutants back into mutants is eating away at nearly all the funds we've gotten so far. Few people are willing to continue donating, especially after hearing what we're trying to cure. There are so many prejudice people out there.

Over here there's not much going on with anyone. Johnny has been spending a lot more time racing than he usually does and recently got a job working at the new car company, Green, as a test driver. He's paid insane amounts of money to do what he loves. Plus, he considers one of the benefits the fact that the cars are environmentally safe vehicles. I think he may be trying to impress someone. I wonder who it could be.

Ben is doing what he does best, helping with research, trying to keep Johnny out of trouble (although he says he doesn't even know why he bothers), and patrolling the streets. He's constantly on the lookout for the Frightful Four and says that he's prepared this time to completely annihilate them. I'm still worried, though. I can't imagine what we'd do if the same thing happened twice.

I hope that you're well. It's nice to know that so many people want to go to the Institute. It would do Xavier proud. Hopefully we'll see you soon.

A/N: I wanted to do the break up scene in a way that few people do before: as a way to end a relationship, not to drive Rogue into another man's arms. I hope that I did it well. Sorry for the long update again! Remember to read, review, and enjoy!