"John." It'd been three weeks since Rogue had woke-up from her coma. As usual, she had followed John out to his hiding spot in the woods. Actually, truth be told, he lead her out here. The same way he had been since she had been released out of Hank's care. He made sure she had no time with Bobby, not that she had much time with him before. "Its cold out here."

John took her hand and pulled her closer to him, "Then I guess I'll just have to keep you warm."

There was no way Rogue could deny she liked the feeling of John's warmth. Ever since her coma he had become so persistent of her being around him. He seemed kind of mad at first, she could understand that feeling, she was upset herself. She didn't know how that…tacky ring had gotten on her finger. Logan had told her the whole story, she asked Bobby, he verified. Its not like she could tell him she needed time, he'd told everyone. They were bugging her for details and dates. She hated all of it. That's why she treasured when John would sneak her out of the building. He had taken her to all of his secret hiding places, some of them she admitted to knowing. When he stole her away from the world, she didn't have to worry about all of the pestering questions and nonsense.

She did have a nagging feeling in her stomach though. That the secret she had worked so hard to keep from him had somehow come out.

"Come on, why do we keep going into the woods? Scared of being seen with me?" Rogue teased as John lead her through a tree pass.

"I just don't want you to be forced back into that room. You've barely lived outside of those halls for almost a year." John confessed. It was nice to almost be completely honest with himself and her.

"Come on," Rogue laughed, "Tell me the truth."

"Just wait. I'm leading you to my favorite place."

"I probably know about it."

John pushed a curtain of leaves and vines aside and stepped inside what seemed like a room of trees and grass.

"I figured I could spend most of my summer, seeing as I'm going to be trapped here, right here." John said as Rogue stepped into the area.

"John, its amazing." She gawked as she looked around. "I see you even stole some of the lawn ornaments from the school." She giggled pulling him behind her towards the hammock that was strung up between two of the far trees.

"You're such a nerd." John followed her lead.

She fell onto the hammock and pulled him down with her.

"I'm glad you come and rescue me." She confessed as she snuggled up against his chest.

"Duh. And I thought my life was crap."

"What do you mean?" She looked up at him with a confused look.

"Bobby alone sucks. Marrying him…I feel really bad for you. Plus you're sick every other week. I honestly don't know how you smile." He kicked the ground to start swinging them.

"Cause I've got you. You're my best friend. I know it seems stupid, but if it wasn't for you I might have died. I figured the best way for me to repay would be for me to leave you alone, only you came to me. You have no idea what that means to me." Rogue batted back tears that were stinging her eyes.

John tilted his head back to look up at the sky. He secured his arm tight around her trying to think of possible solutions for their situation.

"So you're seriously going to marry him?"

"I guess. Who else would marry me? He was the only one who-never mind. Lets talk about something else, better yet. Lets just sit." She yawned while repositioning herself to use John's arm as a pillow.

John silently agreed to her suggestion, he wanted to think anyway. After all this time…she saw him as her best friend? It was getting easier to admit to himself everyday that he had grown some sort of strange feeling (dare he say it, could it be love?) for her. To hear that though, it was kind of disheartening. Still, Logan told him that he was the only one who could get her out of this. He still hadnt given her the gift he had gotten her. No timing seemed right, it did feel like it was close at hand though. Maybe one of these next few days he'll be able to.

Nothing could prepare them for what happened when they got back to the school building. As usual Rogue suggested they race back, John suggested she be a good little girl and not give Logan another almost heart attack.

"John, I need to ask you something. Please answer me truthfully." How was she supposed to fess up to him that she was debating dropping her whole wedding for him. That if he just gave her the right sign she would. "Do you---what's going on?"

John turned his gaze to follow Rogue's.

This time they didn't make it all the way to the building. There were four people standing outside when they got back. Logan, looking stern as ever; Storm, looking stressed as ever; Bobby, looking displeased as ever; and Kitty looked like a trailer woman wronged by her man.

"Uh-oh. Wonder what happened." Rogue gasped John's sleeve loosely.

"I think its what is about to happen. Ice-prick looks to stinkin' happy." John's steps were more cautious now.

"Rogue, baby, get away from that slime ball." Bobby stepped forward first to grab Rogue's arm and pull her to him.

"Hey, what's your issue, Ice-prick?!" John exclaimed.

"Apparently, its not their issue, its your's." Strom added in with an unhappy face.

"What?" Rogue asked wide-eyed looking at all the people surrounding her.

"Babe, we don't need to stay for this, you don't need the stress." Bobby began to lead her away.

"No!" Rogue dug the heels of her boots down into the ground, "What is going on?"

"Ask John here. Ask him why he has a sudden interest in you. Why he wants to be with you all the time. I'm sure his answer will be the one you want to hear." Kitty added snidely.

"John? What's going on?" Rogue turned her attention to John who was standing on the opposite side of the circle.

"I wish I knew." John glared over at Bobby.

"Don't play innocent. Tell her about us. Tell her how you don't want anything to do with our child. How as soon as you found out you went to hide with her. You knew I couldn't hurt her and tell her that her 'best friend' was nothing but a worthless jerk." Kitty popped her hip to the side and crossed her arms over her chest.

"WHAT?! You're so full of it!" John felt like he had been leveled by her accusation.

"John," Rogue's southern voice rang in his ears. It wasn't what it had been earlier. Now it sounded beyond broken. "is it true?"

"No! She is-"

"Quit lying! Man-up you spineless coward!" Kitty demanded.

"I'm not lying."

"John, if this is true, then we're going to have to take action." Storm added in.

"Its not! I've had nothing to do with her in months!" John couldn't believe his ears.

"I thought you were the hero. Is it only for women who don't want anything from you?" Kitty kept throwing in her stupid petty remarks.

"Bobby, I need to get out of here." Rogue turned to face Bobby's chest completely. She couldn't look at John. It hurt too much to even think about the fact that it might be true.

"Its okay, love, lets go." Bobby began to lead her away again, only this time she didn't oppose him.

"Rogue! Wait! There is an explanation for this!" John tried to follow them, only Logan stepped in front of him. "Come on. You don't buy this bull do you? Its a lie"

"Apparently. John, just leave her alone." Logan said that then him and Storm left. Leaving him to be alone with Kitty.

"Sucks doesn't? The one person you actually find yourself loving can't be your's cause they were already someone else's." Kitty threw herself down into one of the lawn chairs.

John didn't answer, he stood in the dewing grass and shook with anger and disbelief. Why now? Everything had been going so perfectly.

"You're a bitch." He spat with fiery venom.

"I know. Comes with the territory." Kitty giggled in response.

* * *

She had almost thrown her wedding for John! What if they hadn't been there and she actually asked him?!

"He didn't care at all!" She sobbed and threw a few of her stuffed animals across her room angrily. "Not at all!"

"Rogue, don't work yourself up into a tizzy." Bobby stood from the chair he had been watching her in and restrained her arms to her sides. "Calm down. We need to get you out of all these clothes. You're gonna have a heat stroke. Ridiculous how he risked your health for his fun."

Bobby helped her shed out of her brown coat, then green sweater, and etcetera until she was only in her T-shirt and blue jeans.

Before he had the chance to pull away she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on the mouth.

When they finally broke for air, Bobby looked at her stunned. "You sure?"

She nodded. She really didn't want to, but being with Bobby was going to be the only way to get John off her mind. John and the awful situation he had been hiding from her.

Bobby kissed her and she felt all the coldness wash John's warmth away. She had to remind herself that it was a good thing. That in the end it was for the best. John was never going to happen, not now, not ever.

Tears escaped her eyes before she could control them. Bobby pulled away and Rogue bit her lip in shame and sadness.

"Its okay. You're hurt. I get it. Just take some time and clam down. Take a bubble bath, that always makes you happy." He smiled and cupped her face.

"Okay. I'm sorry." She put on a smile and hugged Bobby. He was the one meant for her, as hard as it was going to be to accept, it was true.

"I do know something I can offer." Bobby, lifted her chin to make her look at him.

"Hmm?" She sniffled.

"Lets move the wedding up. How about in two weeks? All we really need is a preacher, dress, and suit--maybe one witness. Also, that way, we can go on our honeymoon and leave all of this mess behind us. How does that sound?" He said it with what seemed like so much eagerness.

"Okay." Rogue agreed. The sooner the better, her heart wont last much longer if she keep abusing it like this.

Ba ba ba dum! Oh snap! I've already got the next chapter (wedding chapter and possibly FINAL chapter) stirring in my head and going on my computer! Tell me what you think of those dirty schemers and once upon a time dreamers!

RAWR