Summary: A single act brings hurt and grief

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men

Rating: T

BETRAYAL

Chapter 5

Maui, Hawaii: Present Time

…Six days later…

Rogue padded barefoot down to the facilities private beach, reveling in the feel of toes spreading across the sand. She took a deep breath, inhaling the salty sea air. Her face brightened upon sight of the endless blue water as it stretched out toward the distant horizon. It was days before she could take this opportunity to come out and taste the fruit of the island. And she saw it was truly paradise. Endless palm trees stood rooted in the volcanic soil and swayed in the gentle breeze. There was a dazzling variety of flowers enriched with potent fragrances she'd never smelled before. Sand so white it appeared to glow in the sun.

She walked to the edge of the shore and eased onto the sand. She watched the pristine blue waters lap onto the sand and sighed. It was wonderful here, peaceful, free of the tension and strife that seemed to oppress her since she arrived at Westchester. Rogue wondered, perhaps, she should have come here first; taken the three hundred dollars her father shoved into her hand before casting her out into the street, and come here. Dr. MacTaggert was wonderful, kind, like the Professor, except…she blinked out last thought. She didn't want to discredit the man who'd brought her into his home with open arms.

Sighing, she fell back against the sand, soaking up the sun's rays, while listening to the surf break on the bank. She'd come here to relax and assist Scott in whatever way she could, not dwell on her problems. She didn't want to think about Bobby or Kitty, or how she'd sniffed out their treacherous affair. And she certainly made it a point to purge Logan out of her thoughts. The man had no right to barge into her room like a raving lunatic and treat Scott like his personal punching bag. She sucked in her breath, groaning.

"This is not how I want to spend my time," she said.

"I thought you were spending that time with me."

Rogue bolted up, swinging her torso around, her legs almost getting tangled in the effort. "Scott!" He was standing behind her, leaning on the orderly, Todd, for support. Immediately, she was on her feet, going to his side. "What are you crazy? You should be in bed."

He gave her a weak smile; the swelling on his face had gone down, and thanks to Dr. MacTaggert revolutionary anti-inflammatory medicine, the bruises were fading rapidly.

"Ah," he said. "A couple of broken ribs and a fractured jaw aren't going to stop me."

Rogue pouted her lips. "Logan almost did."

"Let's not go there," Scott muttered, clinging to Todd as he was lowered to the sand.

"I don't know if this is a good idea." Rogue said apprehensively.

"It's alright." Todd informed in a thick Scottish accent. "Dr. MacTaggert said the fresh air would do him some good."

"See, the Doc says it's okay." Scott grinned and Rogue couldn't help but laugh. The expression on his face made him look so adorable. She sank to her knees and crept up beside him.

"A half hour then," said Todd, winking, and headed back to the large facility at the top of the hill. For a long while, Rogue and Scott didn't say a word to each other. They shared a quiet moment, gazing out onto the aquamarine sea, relaxing in the calming breeze.

"I always wanted to come here," Scott said, shattering the never-ending silence. "I think Hawaii is the most beautiful place on God's green earth. You know Jean and I…"

Rogue's head jerked up, eyes wide. Since their arrival to Dr. MacTaggert's secluded clinic on the far side of Maui, Scott had not spoken a single word in regards to his fiancée. In fact, he never breathed a word, even when they were back at the mansion.

Scott grimaced, flinging a broken sea shell into the water. He took a glance at Rogue, giving her a flat smile. "I guess you don't want to hear about Jean."

"I really don't have a problem with her," she admitted.

"But everyone else does," he grumbled.

"She thought she was losing you."

Scott glared at her. "Are you defending her?"

"No," Rogue cried. "I…just thought…well, one of us has to be rational while the other gets hot and bothered."

He made a face and turned his eyes to the sparkling ocean. "Where's the rationale in sleeping with another man to make me jealous."

"I can't believe Jean was jealous…of me…"

Scott looked her over, eyes soft although cloaked in the ruby quartz shades he had worn since he was thirteen. "Shouldn't she be?"

Color flamed Rogue's cheeks, giggling, she shook her head. "I…Mr. Summers…"

"Rogue," he berated, tipping her chin, amazed he could touch her. Her skin was soft like velvet and he suppressed the urge to strum his thumb across the silky flesh. "You know better."

She lifted her eyes to his face and smiled. "Scott."

"That's better." He lowered his hand, almost sad to loose contact with her smooth skin. But what he was feeling was inappropriate. Not only was she still his student, he would be touching thirty in three years, while she'd barely graced the age of eighteen. She was a minor. Was he crazy?

"So," Rogue cleared her throat. "Have you thought about what you're going to do when we return to Westchester?"

"I know what I'm not going to do." She saw the edge in his expression, the tender throb of his jaw as he grounded his teeth. She knew he was wicked furious. He gave her a guarded look that sent chills through her body.

"The wedding is cancelled."

"Damn right it is."

She let out a breath. "Shucks, I had high hopes on being a bridesmaid." Scott laughed.

"I bet you'll look dazzling in a hot pink gown with lots of ruffles, big bows."

She smirked and lowered her head. "Yeah. I'll always look great…as…a bridesmaid."

Scott heard the sadness in her voice and eased closer, draping an arm about her shoulder. "But that's not you're fate anymore."

Tipping her head back, Rogue searched his face, overwhelmed by the warmth and concern emanating from the man who was her teacher. Her heart skipping, she trembled. Sensing her reluctance, Scott removed his arm, and added a safe distance between their bodies. The crash of waves on sandy bank overtook their conversation and the pair watched a huge Carnival ship move across the water. Rogue dug her fingers into the sand, made pictures, and built a small sandcastle.

"You never told me if you had that talk with the Professor."

"Talk," said Rogue, blinking her hazel green eyes.

Scott narrowed his eyes. "You're mutation…this sudden ability to touch…did you tell the Professor."

"What's the point? The whole school knows, I guess he knows to." She scoffed rolling her eyes. "I cured myself…whoopee!"

"Rogue," Scott said critically. "There could be more to this than meets the eye. What if there's something wrong?" Regret thinned his lips at the sight of her dark and hostile eyes.

"Wrong! You don't want me to get better?"

"Of course I do…" He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.

"You want me to remain trapped inside my skin?"

"God no! Rogue. I was merely implying to fact that we should look into this. You're powers could be evolving and with this sudden onset of former powers you've absorbed…we don't know what to expect."

She clamped her arms about her torso. "Whatever's happening to me I'll take it all in stride. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. You have no idea what it was like, always having to wear extra clothing, always having to be mindful. The fuckin' scrutiny." She blushed. "Sorry."

He grinned. "It's fine. And don't forget I know what you're going through," and he jiggled his shades a bit.

Rogue closed her eyes slowly then opened them. "God, I'm sorry. I forget." She yearned to reached out and stroke her finger down the side of his face. Instead, she clamped her hands in her lap. "Such a burden."

"I don't think of it that way," Scott said. "I've learned to accept what's happened to me and live with the sad fact that I'll never be able to see in color." He chuckled. "You know Jean…never mind."

"What?"

"She…uh, well…she's tried before to contain…my powers."

"Did she succeed?"

Scott shook his head. "It's funny. I just can't seem to stay pissed at her when I'm around you. Inside I want to scream and rant about what she's done, but around you I can only think about the good times. Things we were going to do, the things we could have done."

"Is that so bad?" Rogue asked.

He turned his head. "Yes…and…no. What was she thinking? I loved her didn't my words count for something."

Rogue shrugged as she thought about all the times she told Bobby she loved him. Yet he cheated on her with Kitty. "I guess she needed assurance."

"Fucking Logan was a way to gain my confidence, my love?" Anger twisted the handsome features of his face.

"In her twisted mind," Rogue whispered.

"You're right on that." Her eyes widened. She didn't believe he had heard her. "Sometimes I think being a telepath has made her crazy. A thousand thoughts bombarding her every day, it's bound to make her a little paranoid."

"It takes two to cheat Scott," Rogue pointed out. "What about Logan? How hard is it for him to keep it in his pants…I mean…he has Ms. Munroe.

"For a man like him, it's downright impossible to do anything." He said sourly.

"God! What she must be going through."

"Don't worry about Ororo," said Scott. "She's more resilient than you may think."

"I saw her crying the day Logan left. I think she might be in love with him."

His face hardened. "Pity."

"Is that all you're going to say?"

He tossed a look a Rogue. "What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know…I guess…"

"Look. I'm sad for 'Ro, but she's a grown woman and…" He released a puff of air and shook his head. "I really don't want to talk about this anymore."

Disgusted, Rogue levitated a stone, and hits Scott with it.

"Ow! What's that for!"

"For being heartless," she grunted.

"Rogue," he darkened. "I've just lost my fiancée, my self-respect in front of the students, and my pride all in one day. Heartless is all I have left." She caused another stone to rise and pellet his back.

"Ow! Quit it!"

"No," she said with a cheeky grin.

Growling, Scott dove for her; a terrible and idiotic maneuver on his part. His ribs flared, voicing their disapproval, a smarting pain ripped across his torso. His smile faded. Skin paling, he groaned in agony, narrowly collapsing on top of Rogue.

"Scott!" She cried, grabbing him by the upper arms, holding him steady. She laid him on the sand and smoothed his brown hair off his brow. "Silly. You forget you're an injured man."

"You…you…started it," he panted.

"Sorry," she sniffed.

He slowly turned his head. "I'm not dying Rogue."

"I know…damn Logan…"

"Don't cry for him either."

She giggled and hit him playfully. Sitting erect, she rested his head on her lap, and combed his hair with her fingers. "That's nice," he said.

"Don't get too comfortable. Todd will be back at any moment."

"I hope not," he smiled.

Patting his forehead, Rogue hummed a southern melody her mom taught a long time ago. Eyes closed, hands gently caressing Scott's forehead, she became lost into the mystic sounds of ocean waves churning, gurgling, and slamming into the shore.

"You're hands are hot," Scott commented.

Rogue popped her eyes open and looked down at the man lying in her lap. "What?"

"Hot," he said. "You're hands are really hot."

She plucked them away from his head. He frowned. "I'm sorry," she said rubbing them together.

"Don't be," Scott grinned and careened his head to left. "Uh oh, here's come Todd. Time's up." As he eased to a sit, he couldn't help but to notice that the pain in his side and back were gone. The ache in his head, which would increase due to prolong periods in the sun, had vanished. And his eyes weren't burning him. "Wow. I…uh, feel great. Fresh air did the trick." He stretched shocked he could do such a thing after being pummeled by Wolverine. He looked at Rogue. Her eyes were bulging out of their sockets. "Rogue, what's wrong?"

"You're…you're scares, you're bruises," she said quietly. "They're gone."

A/N: I know some of you were hoping for some dramatic sex appeal but, realistically, things are gonna go slow between Scott and Rogue.