TOMORROWS MY BIG NIGHT! I am so freakin nervous so wish me luck my faithful readers! So anyway I needed to relax so I decided to finish this lovely developing chapter to keep my mind off things ! love ya all!!!

The Professor sat in his home office looking out his window which had a perfect view of the entire front lawn of the mansion. There was a good twenty or more kids sitting on the grass waiting for Logan to begin his lesson. Things had happened much faster than the Professor had expected and so he had no time to build a new workout room, the one he had now was far too small, so the great out doors would have to do for now.

He smiled yet sighed as he watched the kids straighten up when they saw Logan walk across the lawn towards them. Two months had passed since he was fired and thought he money was of no concern he still felt like he had failed the kids in a way. When they returned they would be welcomed by a prejudicial and angry Principal Kelly. The Professor had only met the man once and hadn't been fond of him. But after seeing some of the kids walk through his gate seeking shelter he forgot his thoughts of teaching at a public school and focused his attention on his mutant residents.

There were still many things that needed to be worked out but with Rogue and Jean stepping up as leaders all the students behaved themselves. Both girls were strong and determined though they were so different. The Professor hoped that someday the girls would realize that they are a like in many ways but for now he kind of enjoyed having the girls try to out do each other, made his hectic life easier, especially since he was busy working with Hank on a compute that could locate mutants. There had been a lot of complications but after today the Professor was sure they had it, now he just needed to contemplate who it was they were going to find.

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"That that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger!"

"Shut it Bobbie!" Jean hissed as she peeked over the edge of the bush that she and her team were hiding behind. Rogue was good, too good considering they could only stay on the front lawn. Where are you, Jean thought concentrating on the alcove by the stairway, they had to be there.

"That that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger, I need you to hurry up now…"

"For the last time shut it Ice Boy!" Jean snapped looking back at the annoying younger mutant. How had he gotten stuck on her team? If they got caught it would be his fault.

She wanted to use her powers badly but powers were forbidden in this game, or if you could call it that, it was more like Logan split the kids into two groups and basically said attack each other in the old fashion way. Jean had no problem going after Rogue but she also had to keep in mind that her boyfriend was on the team and she needed to find a way to keep him safe.

Yes they were still going out even though they were both mutants. After all the fuss had died down about the Professor and the school incident she and Scott had finally had a chance to talk. She had been scared, no horrified about what he was going to say. But of course he still loved her like she still loved him; everything was perfect, until she explained to her parents that she wouldn't be coming home.

The Grey's were a rich exclusive club kind of people and had always taken great pride in their daughter but after Jean called and confessed that she was a mutant things changed. They still loved her with all their hearts but they had suddenly become afraid of her. It made Jean want to cry as she stood on her patio with her bag and her mother stiffened as Jean pulled her in for a hug. It would just have to be something they work together and eventually her mother and father would come around.

"Better, faster, stronger!" Bobbie suddenly sang out a wide grin on his face.

"Would you…" Jean began turning to face the annoying brat when she suddenly felt something grab her shoulders and she was thrown with a clunk against the ground. Of course she looked up into the face of the painted up angry goth but Jean wasn't one to give up so easily.

Grabbing onto Rogue's shirt Jean brought her legs up against the ground and got herself up, Rogue's arms now trapped in hers.

"What ya gonna do now?" Jean asked triumphantly.

The goth was silent but she heard her screwed laughter. "This!" Rogue hissed in her bitter tone and for a second Jean was baffled until she felt her knees give way as Rogue knocked her to face first into the grass.

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As much as Logan enjoyed seeing Rogue, who he was beginning to see as a daughter, try to make the older red head eat grass he knew it was time to stop.

"Alright Stripes," he said grabbing the back of her shirt and pulling her off Jean, "I think fun times over and we need to do a couple of laps."

"Fun time!" Scott stated in defense of his girlfriend as he ran to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, "That wasn't very much fun! Especially for Jean, she…"

"It's alright Scott," Jean interrupted giving Rogue an evil glare, "I've always got my powers to help me."

Rogue snorted but didn't say anything as Logan gave her a don't say it look. He knew she was going through a rough time right now but he didn't want the friction between her and Jean to get any worse.

"Ten laps!" Logan hollered, "You pipsqueaks need to get some muscles on those legs! First one done gets a two minute break," the two red head immediately looked at each other, "now go!"

Logan watched as the pack of mutants began their run, he sorted out who was already in shape and who wasn't, and to his disappointment all of them were jogging by the fifth lap except Scooter, Red Head, and Stripes.

"You're working them awfully hard today," said that sweet caramel voice that had the slightest hint of disappointment.

"They need it," Logan replied taking a quick glance at her before reverting his gaze back to his students, "I'm not too worried about the Brotherhood, they've already proved they can take them, but Chuck just informed me that Eric is back and that he's setting up a team. I don't know him that well but I know he's not stupid and he's going to have the best of the best."

"That is the truth I suppose," Ororo commented crossing her arms, "things have been so hectic lately. I'm still getting use to sharing a home; I was always in little apartments where everything was quiet and now it's like a twenty four hour zoo."

Logan didn't say anything, ever since that day at the school Ororo had become colder around him, they still talked of business and the kids, but if he even tried to bring up the relationship they had before she would just ignore it and speak of something else. It frustrated him but at the same time he understood, a woman like Ororo was someone who didn't like to be lied to and she wanted to know everything about a person. Even if Logan liked her a lot he wasn't ready to open himself up to her, hell he had trouble doing that with himself.

So Ororo gave the children one quick look and slipped away leaving Logan to his private thoughts.

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"Common Lance," Tabitha pleaded jumping onto his lap, "take me to the movies!"

"I don't want to!" Lance replied pushing her off him.

Tabitha landed on the floor with a thump but kept up her argument, "Your still not over that Pryde girl? It' been like forever Lance, it's obvious she doesn't want to see you again. So why not start early and save yourself the pain of finding someone new?"

"Because I can't!" Lance hollered standing from the coach, "I love Kitty and always will! A slut like you can't ever make me forget that!"

Tabitha tried to say something but before she knew it Lance was out the door with a scowl on his face.

"Damn," she whispered wondering what she would do now that Lance was gone when Pietro suddenly came strolling in. "Hey Pietro," Tabitha said with a smile, "wanna play a game?"

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Lance was standing outside the mansion gate after walking around for several hours. It was pitch black out yet he could still see into the second story window with pink curtains that he knew was Kitty's room. She was moving back and forth from either side of the room moving boxes and even though he couldn't see he could feel the smile on her face.

He stood there for awhile until the lights went dim and he assumed they had gone off to dinner, which was something he needed to do considering hiss stomach was growling but ever since that day at the school he hadn't eaten a decent meal or slept good.

"Night Kitty," Lance said to the no one as he turned to head back to the Brotherhood house when suddenly he heard a noise behind him and turned to see a dark figure crouched on the ground.

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"Rogue," Ororo said lightly as the rest of the student body departed from the dining room to watch TV, "Rogue?"

Rogue was just sitting in her seat starring out the window with her face resting against one of her hands, she looked like she was going to cry but her jaw was clenched in anger. It wasn't until Ororo rested one hand on her shoulder and gently shook her that she came back from wherever she was.

"Yes?" she asked her dark painted eyes locking onto Ororo's.

"I think you should eat," Ororo said nodding toward Rogue's untouched plate, "it's not healthy to carry on the way you do. Gatorade and chips aren't exactly part of a well balanced diet."

"Sorry," Rogue said vaguely, "I'll try tomorrow night."

"Please do," Ororo said giving the girl a loving smile.

Rogue didn't reply she just silently took her plate to the kitchen and then went straight up to her dark bedroom.

There were still a lot of unpacked boxes, mainly Kitty's clothes, but she could already tell that their styles would make the room clash. Rogue didn't really mind, she was just happy she was all the way on the other end of the hall from Jean. The girl had acted like she was in control of everything along with her boyfriend since day one and Rogue had gotten tired of it quickly. Yeah Jean was strong with her powers but she was a weak fighter. Rogue was more aggressive and she let the red head know it, if she didn't like it she would just have to toughen up.

Now as for Rogue she needed to toughen up to but in a completely different way. She knew she wasn't eating, sleeping, or socializing like her normal self but she couldn't help it. Every minute seemed like an eternity of hell without her red eyes Cajun around. She missed him, more than she wanted to admit. But now it was becoming obvious to everyone else and Rogue just felt to weak inside to try and hide it.

Throwing off her gloves and shoes Rogue threw herself onto the bed burying her head in one of her pillows. The tears would begin any second but she attempted to scream out her pain into the pillow but it didn't work. Soon Rogue felt hot tears fall down her cheeks as she continued to grip the pillow. A few minutes went by where she did nothing but sob until she finally pulled away from the makeup stained pillow and tried her best to wipe the tears away. It didn't work, each time she tried a fresh coat of tears fell to the point all her makeup had washed away and it hurt to blink.

She wanted to know where he was, if he was still in Bayville or if he had gone back to Louisiana. She only had bits and pieces of what the big Bayville heist was but she was sure that it had long been completed proving her point that he'd go back to Belle leaving Rogue all alone again.

"Another notch on his belt," Rogue whispered wrapping a blanket around herself and making her way out to the small balcony.

The fall breeze bit at the smooth skin on her face and the blanket wasn't much help, but Rogue didn't care. Leaning up against the wall she slide into a sitting position as she gazed out over the beautiful view. It almost made her want to cry again but she was out of tears and instead clenched her fist hitting herself in the knee. She cried out and immediately dropped her hand, it wasn't much but it was enough to keep her in check as her sensible side told her to go inside or else she would freeze to death. Still she couldn't move, it was like her body was too cold to move except for her eyelids that were slowly closing.

"Ah don't care," Rogue yawned before closing her eyes and letting sleep over take her.

When Rogue awoke the next morning the sun was just visible over the horizon and she was surprisingly very warm. This realization made her sit up in a panic until she realized she was in her bed with two large blankets wrapped around her.

She looked over to her sleeping roommate and smiled, "How did she carry meh to mah bed?" she questioned throwing her legs over the edge of the bed and stretching her legs out.

Rogue was about to dart off to the bathroom to claim the warm shower when she saw something sitting on her dresser that made her smile drop. Relief, anger, sadness, joy, and fear suddenly flooded through Rogue and her body froze except for her shaking hand reaching for the item.

Rogue suddenly felt very dizzy and her world went black as she fell back against the bed, the single King Of Hearts falling to the floor.