Disclaimer: Yes, I understand that I don't own ANY of'em. Doesn't stop me from wishing I did, though! Btw, OC's in later chapters are all mine.

Watching. Living. Being: Chapter 2

"And you are sure that this is what you want, Rogue?" Professor Charles Xavier asked, studying the girl, no, he amended silently, young woman in front of him.

"No," she answered. "But ah do know that if ah don't do this, ah'll go mad, Professor. Ah don't know if this is what ah want, but ah do know that this is what ah need."

"Then, I suppose the only thing to do would be to wish you luck?" Charles said with a sad smile. All his children were growing and leaving the coop, but somehow, he worried more about Rogue than anyone else.

"Thank ya, Professor!" the smile that burst out was the most genuine that he had seen in a long time. That alone convinced him that it was time to let her go. "Ah'll keep in touch, ah promise. But," here she hesitated. "Ah don't want anyone knowin' where ah'll be."

"I don't think that that is entirely wise, Rogue," he told her after a pause. "We are a family here, and if you disappear without telling them, they would be very upset."

"Ah know," Rogue shrugged. "Ah'll tell them ah'm goin' for a vacation or somethin'. But after that, could ya just tell them ah'm not comin' back? Ah'll let ya know where ah'll be, but that's all."

Charles shook his head. "I have to respect your wishes," he told her. "But I think you're doing the rest an injustice."

"Ah know ah am," Rogue replied wearily. The elation she'd felt moments ago was gone, to be replaced by doubt and anxiety. "But ah want a fresh start. And that means no ties to tha past."

Charles nodded silently, sighing. "If that's what you want."

"It is."

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my Gosh, Rogue!!" Kitty said excitedly. "I can't believe you're going to Europe! It's, like, so romantic."

"Yeah," Rogue grinned in spite of herself. "Sean and Moira said that ah can have tha lay of their castle in Scotland. An' Betsy's promised ta take me tha Louvre."

"And a real life castle! And Paris!!" Kitty shrieked. "When you come back, I want, like, all the details! If it wasn't for this little fellow," she laid her hand on her swollen belly, "I'll be, like, coming with you!"

Rogue said nothing, listening absently as her best friend chattered excitedly about the plans she and Piotr had made for the baby. It suddenly hit her that she wouldn't be around to watch this miracle be born. That she would not see Kitty be a mom. That she'd be missing a lot.

"Rogue?" Something in the tone warned Rogue that this wasn't the first time Kitty had called her name.

"Sorry," she said, thinking quickly. "Ah spaced out for a while."

"I could tell," Kitty said grinning. "I would too, if I was, like, going to Europe. Anyway," she said sobering up. "There's something I want to ask you."

"Shoot."

"Will you be my baby's godmother?"

Rogue stared at Kitty in surprise. "Meh? Ya want meh to be the godmother?"

"Why not?" Kitty asked. "You're my best friend. Who else would I ask?"

"Kit, ah…" Rogue was at a loss for words. "Ah don't think ah'm the right person for tha job. Ya should ask Jean or Storm."

"No, I want you," Kitty said calmly. "Next to Piotr, you are the person I trust most in the world. I know that if anything were to happen, you'd take care of my baby."

Overwhelmed by Kitty's faith in her, Rogue could only stare.

"Rogue, take these couple of weeks to think about it, ok? That's all I'm asking." Uncharacteristically sober, Kitty brushed her hand over Rogue's gloved one and left.

Alone, Rogue looked at the room she'd lived in for a decade. There was no denying that she had been the happiest here, but she had also been the most broken here. And though she wanted to stay, wanted to hold Kitty's baby in her arms, she knew she couldn't. "Ah'm sorry, Kit," she whispered, a tear rolling slowly down her cheek.

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As she prepared to walk into the gate, Rogue took a final look at the faces of her family. Kitty, enormously pregnant, leaning on Piotr's arm. Jean and Scott, grinning from ear to ear as they watched their son leap onto Bobby's back. Storm, eyes sad as she watched Rogue go. Professor Xavier, face unreadable. And finally, Remy, leaning back against the chair he was occupying, waving jauntily at her. As she stood there looking at him, she realised that this might well be the last time she would see him. With that realisation came resolve. She set her bags down and walked towards him, enjoying the faltering of his smile as she came closer. If ah never see him again, she thought, ah'm gonna make sure ah'm tha girl he never forgets.

She leaned over and kissed him. Not long enough to drain him, but just enough so she could keep a part of him inside. When she finally pulled away, he protested, trying to pull her closer. With a smile, she stroked his cheek with her gloved hand. "See ya around, Swamp Rat."

She sauntered back to the gate and picked up her bags. Turning around, she studied all them for the last time, committing each face to memory. Taking a deep breath, she walked through the gate, and away from everything she knew.