CHAPTER 2

It was a few days after using the oil for the first time, that Rogue returned to White Owl.

Like before, Hedwig was resting on the counter. The southern girl smiled and walked up to the owl and began to stroke her feathers again. "How're yah doin' girl?"

Hedwig hooted and puffed out her chest. And Rogue wondered if she could actually understand what she was saying.

"Back again?"

Rogue turned to find Rose standing behind her. Like the other day, Rose wore dark sunglasses. She smiled at her, "Yeah. Ah had some free time and thought ah'd come and browse a bit. Since ah didn't last time."

Rose smiled. "In that case, call me if you have any questions, or when you're ready to check out. I'll be in the back," she said, before disappearing behind a beaded curtain.

Rogue began to walk around the store. Browsing the various items. She began with the candles, which were apparently divided into two sections, and then by smell. The two sections were Regular and Enhanced. The Enhanced candles were further divided after smell, by things such as clears sinus, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress, and enhances arousal, just to name a few. The incense was divided similarly, though the incense sat by a stand of incense holders for sale. She laughed at some of the holders, while others were plain, and still others looked like extravagant works of art.

After the candles and incense, Rogue looked at various nick-knacks. They ranged from dream-catchers, to crystal sculptures, to little statues, there were even chess sets and other games. Small drums and other simple wooden instruments sat in one corner. There were also some sculpted flower pots, she picked up a tall one decorated with lightning-bolts for Ms. Monroe, she was sure the older woman would appreciate it. She contemplated getting a chess set for the Professor and Mr. McCoy, but they were way out of her price range, at least they were if she wanted to have any spending money left.

Next she made her way towards the elixirs, ointments, and oils. She was amazed at some of the purposes listed, and wondered if they were all as effective as the oil and ointment Rose had provided her. Next to them, were the soaps, shampoos, and bath oils, there was even bubble bath. They were all divided the same way as the candles and incense were. She picked up a bottle of shampoo and conditioner, both cinnamon scented to go with the oil she had already purchased. She carried her current purchases up and set them on the counter.

"Mind if ah set this stuff here?" she asked Hedwig.

The owl shook it's head, and Rogue was almost positive that the owl really could understand her.

Giving the owl one last look, she went back to browsing, all that was left to look at were the music CD's, books, and a glass case at the back of the store that she didn't notice on her last visit. Curious, she went back to examine the large case, only to find it was filled with knives of various shapes and designs. Some were obviously decorative in nature, while others looked dangerously practical. She noticed a small sign that said, 'Must Ask to Handle/Examine Knives.'

Figuring that she didn't need a knife, Rogue went over to browse the music. The selection wasn't big, it was mostly instrumental music, with a few singing artist. It was all soft, and probably meant to be soothing.

Picking out a flutes CD, the goth teen went over to the books. The range of subjects fascinated her. She found books on medicinal herbs, meditation, sex, mythology, and massage, just to name a few. There were even joke books. Rogue toyed with idea of getting one for Kurt, but decided that his jokes were bad enough already.

Walking back to counter, she called, "Rose, Ah'm done!"

"Just a minute," Rose called back. A few moments later, Rose came back through the beads, and up to the counter. "What do we have here?" she said to herself as she looked at everything Rogue had on the counter. She looked at the other girl. "Is this it?"

Rogue nodded. "Yeah. Ah can't afford anythin' else ah like," she said. "By the way, thanks for that other stuff yah gave me. The ointment and oil worked wonders."

Smiling as she entered numbers into the register, Rose said, "Good. It'd be bad for business if they didn't." She looked at the register, "Forty-three dollars."

Rogue handed over the money, and Rose put the items into a heavy paper bag, complete with handles. "Here you go. And just so you know, next week the stores hours are changing. I don't know if you noted the sign out front. But we won't be upon until four, but we'll close at eight instead of six, Monday through Friday. Saturday's hours will remain the same eight to six, and Sunday's we'll still be closed."

"Thanks for tellin' me. May ah ask why?"

Rose smiled. "School starts."

"Wait, yah still go to school?" rogue asked surprised.

The black-haired girl nodded. "Yeah, I'll be a Junior this year." She smiled. "Maybe you can show me around the school."

"Ah'd like that. Though yah'll probably have tah put up with mah friends."

"I look forward to it."

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Returning to the Institute, Rogue heard noises from the rec-room and quickly took her stuff up to her room. She put her new shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom, and her CD on her dresser, before taking out the lightning-pot.

Carrying the pot down the stairs, Rogue snuck past the rec-room, where she could see Kurt and Kitty playing fooseball and Evan was playing a video game.

It wasn't long until she exited the building and made her way to the greenhouse.

It was no surprise when she found a white-haired African woman working.

"Ms. Munroe," she called.

The woman, Ororo Munroe, also known as Storm, turned to look at her with a smile. "Rogue, what a pleasant surprise." She then noticed the pot that Rogue was carrying. "What's that for?" she asked with a kind smile.

"Ah was in town," Rogue answered. Walking over to Ororo, she showed the older woman the pot. "Ah saw this and thought yah'd like it." She handed the pot to the other woman.

Ororo took the bot and examined it. The bottom was weighted, and a raised lightning bolts danced around the outside of the pot as they descended from the raised clouds. The craftsmanship of the porcelain was quite good. Ororo smiled, "Thank you. It is a lovely pot. May I ask where you got it?"

"There's a store, White Owl. It's got all sorts of stuff. Ah bought some ointment and oil to help with sore muscles a couple of weeks ago. They work miracles. And Rose, the owner, is real helpful and nice." Rogue smiled, "Not tah mention Hedwig."

"Hedwig?"

"Rose's owl," Rogue explained. "She' real beautiful, though ah'm not sure owls should be as smart as she seems tah be."

Ororo raised an eyebrow. "I believe that I'll have to stop by and check out this shop some time."

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The next day, after getting directions from Rogue, Ororo visited White Owl herself.

Walking into the store, she was surprised by the sense of calm that engulfed her. As she looked around the shop Ororo's eyes were drawn to the bookshelves, upon which a snowy white owl rested, watching her intently. Ororo assumed that the owl was Hedwig.

"Hello," she said softly to the owl.

The owl actually hooted, though the African woman didn't know if it was in reply to her hello, or if was just coincidence.

"Hedwig likes you," A voice said from behind her.

Ororo turned to see a black-haired girl, wearing dark sunglasses. "Are you Rose?"

The girl smiled, "Depends on who's asking."

Ororo smiled. "Where are my manners, I am Ororo Munroe," she said, holding out her hand towards the girl. "Rogue told me about your store."

"In that case," Rose grasped the older woman's hand and shook it, "I am Rose Potter." She walked over towards the bookshelf and held her arm up, and the owl promptly transferred herself to Rose's arm. "So are just browsing or are you looking for something specific?" the girl asked.

"Just browsing. Rogue told of the things you sold here and I'd thought I'd come and take a look."

"Just tell me if you need anything," Rose said, as she carried Hedwig to the counter, where the owl climbed onto a perch. Rose herself went to sit behind the counter, and pulled out a book to read.

Ororo, meanwhile, was browsing through the candles. In fact, she had already picked out a few. Three candles that were meant to relieve stress, and one for heightened arousal (which she got out of sheer curiosity, and would never admit to purchasing). As she browsed, she asked, "Do you make these?"

Rose looked up from her book. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked if you make these?" Ororo repeated, looking over at the girl.

Rose nodded. "Yes. I make the candles, along with the incense, soaps, shampoos, oils, elixirs, and ointments."

"What do you use?"

"Plant extracts." She grinned. "Though what exactly I use is a trade secret. So I'm afraid I can't tell you."

The white-haired woman chuckled as she moved on to the soaps and bath oils.

When Ororo left the store, she had also purchased a book on medicinal herbs, and bath oil one bottle for relaxation and one for heightened arousal.

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6:15 PM, That Night

"We can expect clear skies and warm weather tonight, as a warm front moves in off the ocean," the weatherman said on the television.

Logan turned the channel. The only reason he even watched the news was for the weather. Besides, Pinks was on tonight.

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Ororo filled her bathtub, adding a couple drops of the arousing oil. She also set the arousing candle on the sink and lit it. She was genuinely curious if this would work. If it did, she might have to visit White Owl more often.

Untying the belt to her robe, Ororo let the garment fall to the floor, before climbing into the tub.

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Rose looked out the window of her store and frowned, the weatherman said clear skies and warm weather, so why were their black thunderclouds, spewing lightning, while a virtual blizzard raged?

Come to think of it, why was it snowing in August?

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Logan ran to the door of Ororo's bedroom, he was just about to break down the locked door, when his nose caught up with his actions. He stopped mid-kick and smirked.

No wonder it was storming out.

"Logan, is everything all-right?" Charles Xavier's voice said in his head.

"Everything's fine Chuck," Logan replied. "Ro's just relieving some stress."

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Evan was worried. He was sure that his Aunty O was responsible for this freak storm. But he resolved that if there really was trouble, the Prof would contact him.

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Ororo's breathing was ragged as her head relaxed on the back of the tub. She was certain that the oil and candle had helped, she had never had a more powerful orgasm in her life. The question was weather it was really the result of the candle and oil, or if it was a placebo effect.

She'd have to do more testing. But she was definitely going back to White Owl.

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