Apologies for such a delay.

Rogue entered the mansion, steeling herself for worry and ridiculous comments, but she didn't see anyone. She headed for Professor X's office and politely knocked on the door. He answered in her head to wait a moment, and soon the children opened the door, chatting after class and leaving for lunch.

"Hi Rogue," they called, unaware of her absence.

She was slightly put off but pleased as well that they hadn't known she was gone. She didn't do it to be missed. In the end, she was relieved.

"Hello Rogue," Xavier said.

"Hi," she sat sheepishly in a chair. "I'm sorry for—"

"Don't worry about it. You have returned."

"It was silly. I—I just needed some space."

"We understand." He cleared his throat. "But you do understand that training must resume?"

"Yes, of course."

"And perhaps therapy?"

She didn't speak.

Of course she didn't want to start—restart therapy, but she wanted to be, no she was, an X-man. Less than desirable parts went with the job. She nodded, but couldn't hold back the sigh. At least she was going to do it, X could live with that she figured.

"And Rogue," he said before she opened the door to leave, "We're glad to have you back."

She smiled, it was small, but as pleased as before to have a nice comment of return. She hoped she hadn't stirred anyone up.

…Like Bobby. Everything ached in Rogue to groan as she walked to her room, but the new Rogue, the one deep within her, struggling to emerge, held her head high. She would deal with it.

"Besides," she told herself, "it's not like you planned to have ten thousand and one voices in your head…It must've been that last voice that did it…"

"And now you're talking to yourself." She rolled her eyes at herself. Her lips twitched a smile.

"Rogues do that, no?"

She turned around from opening her bedroom door and saw Gambit leaning against the wall. His arm propped him up in only the most charismatic and attractive way possible. Rogue's eyes danced away at that thought.

"Rogues do a lot a things." Oh, because that wasn't poignant. Sheepish, Rogue, Sheepish.

Gambit took a breath, as if to say something, and appeared to change his mind. He shifted his jaw. "De Rogue be missed, by some. Remy may may not be one 'f dem." He shot her a grin.

"It's only been a few days," She stopped herself just short of saying his name. She gave a shrug.

"When a body disappears, one notices."

She didn't know what to say, but he said nothing as well. His steady red gaze was held on her, before he smirked and walked off. She wasn't sure how long she stood in the hallway, but finally Rogue came back to her senses and entered her room for some clean clothes.

Freshly cleansed and clothed, Rogue made her way to the team, for she knew, even if the kids hadn't missed her absence, the team had. She realized the real brunt of her entrance would fall on them, for she had in essence abandoned them for a short while. They might not be as diplomatic as the Professor.

She entered the control room to find that Jean Grey and Cyclops were running through a session with some of the others. He lifted a gaze to her, gave a nod and went back to work. Jean Grey, sweet as ever, offered a smile. Rogue still held out on the thought that Scott would have words with her when he could devote his whole attention to her.

"Good." Cyclops stopped the session after half an hour. "Head on up."

Nightcrawler was there within a few seconds, and squeezed Rogue's shoulder as he passed by.

Gradually, a few other team members came in. No one outloud commented on her return. Rogue guesses some knew and some didn't. Angel was rather clueless, and Iceman was red and silent.

She couldn't help that. Even if she caused it. Why should she even take credit for that, she wondered. Part of her wanted to, and then the other part said what he felt is what he felt, she couldn't control that. Guilt tried to persist in her, but she refused. She needed an escape, and to clear her head. It was mental health. He should understand that. He was supposed to be her friend after all. If he felt more that was—

"Rogue?" Scott interrupted her thought process. Jean somewhat frowning behind him

Rogue fought back her glare she had ready to flip on Jean for invading her thoughts. Again. Like that helped with someone who had a few thousand too many people in there already. "Yes, Cyclops, I'm ready."

He nodded down to the room, silently saying 'go on, then.'

She headed down to her first exercise since being pummeled through the wall and her meltdown. Next to her, Storm and Jubilee entered the room. Kitty remained behind in the control tower, along with Kurt, Bobby, and the others. Gambit entered in behind them with Pyslocke and Pyro.

He flicked a card at John, just to warm up, the latter engulfing the card in his own fire and smothering the explosion to a pop.

"Here it goes," Rogue said under her breath.

* * *

Maybe you're being the hardest on yourself, Rouge thought. None of her teammates had said anything to her. Avoiding trouble, and or really good friends. Rogue was finally ready to breathe out her tension.

"You break alotta hearts, you know that?"

It caught her off guard, but the cut would have been the same either way, if she'd seen it coming or not. She turned around. It was exactly who she knew it'd be. Logan.

"I won't say 'it's not my fault,'" she said, "But it's not my intention."

"I'll make sure to let everyone know."

"Don't—" she started before he interjected.

"Don't you give me attitude." The rumble in him was typical Logan fight response gearing up.

She laughed, not out of humor, but self-deprecation. "I was just gonna say don't think you can berate me anymore than I do myself."

He looked sheepish and slightly apologetic as soon as she said that. The look was so slight, only one who knew him well could decipher his variety of frowns and sneers.

"Look," she was just going to let it out. Therapy with Logan would be better than Therapy with X. "I don't expect anyone to understand, but I just needed a break. I guess, I have a bit more sympathy for Jean Grey, always knowing what everyone is thinking and feeling.

It was crowded. I didn't even know which thoughts were mine anymore. I'm sorry if you got hurt."

"Who said I got hurt?" his arms crossed in front of his chest.

Whatever. She wasn't going to touch that can of worms. "I just—I'm trying to make sense of all this."

He softened, as much as Wolverine could in a given conversation. He nodded. "Get some sleep, kid."

She dug into herself for a smile. It was a strange conversation and she didn't know what to make of it. She went to her bedroom and lay on the bed. Kitty looked up from her journal.

"We missed you."

Rouge smiled, a thank you.

"I'm sorry, that you had all that stress." She shrugged. "And if I contributed at all—"

"'s okay." Rogue soothed her. "Wasn't you, shug."

Kitty looked relieved. Rogue couldn't blame her. Kitty went back to her book, then looked up one more time. "I'm glad you're back."

"Glad to be back."

Rogue turned on her side and shut off her own light to get some sleep. She wasn't sure how easily or swiftly it would come, but she was sure it would be good, a dreamless repose meant for refueling energy. She couldn't ask for more at the moment. She shut her eyes.

"You know, the strangest thing was that Logan couldn't transfer his healing to you. Your skin was not having it."

Rogue's eyes stayed open all night.