A/N:

Seeing as only one person admitted to wanting fluff, I'll have to add the requested Scott romance drama at a better fitting time. Until such a time arises, I will settle for updating this chapter.

Sadly, I do not own X-Men :(

Drilling… Why was it drilling? What was drilling?

Pain… Why am I in pain?

Needles.

Cracking.

Metal.

Beep beep… Beep beep… Beep… beep… beeeeeeeeeee-

Heat. Unbearable heat. Why? Why was this happening? What is that noise? Why do I feel cold? No, I'm hot… Or am I?

"I'm sorry." Why? Why are you sorry? What did you do?

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-

Silence.

Am I dead?

I jumped awake, shivering and covered in sweat. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my ragged thoughts.

I glanced at my clock, which brightly proclaimed the time as 12:06.

Happy fifteenth anniversary, I thought to myself. Fifteen years... Fifteen years since Logan lost his memory.

Sitting up, I sighed before getting up. This type of nightmare called for some serious therapy- moose tracks ice cream and a cold beer. That is if Logan left me any. Which I severely doubted.

I twisted the shower faucet until a steady stream of warm water. I stepped in, allowing the water to wash away the memory.

Hardly two minutes past before there was a banging on my door. I recognized the mind, but not the panic within it.

"What is it?" I shouted out to Ororo.

"Rogue!" And the water was shut off. I jumped out of the shower, pushing the water away from me with a telekinetic pulse. I slipped on a pair of sweats and an old T-shirt before throwing my door open.

Students were gathering at the end of the hall, where Logan's room was located. My mind brushed up against the students' and I nearly froze. Ignoring the hysteria emanating from the students, I pushed my way through the crowd.

Ororo, Jean, and Scott were already there, all watching as Marie jumped, her hand twitching away from Logan's face as he fell to the ground. Jean rushed forward as he began seizing.

"All of you, out!" I shouted, clearing the hall immediately.

"Scott, grab a pillow," Jean ordered, flipping Logan onto his side.

Marie stared at Ororo and I guiltily.

"It was an accident," she said, her voice shaking. She made to move and I reached a hand out to her. She jumped and I withdrew my hand.

"Marie, there's nothing wrong. Logan will be fine," I soothed, nodding slowly. Jean turned her head towards me.

"I need to get him down the med bay," she determined. I shrugged.

"He'll be fine. This is nothing compared to the stuff we did back on Stryker's team," I argued.

"Well, he doesn't remember that, now does he?" Jean scowled. I sighed.

"Good point. Alright, Marie, if you're okay I want you to go back to my room. The other students won't bother you there. I'm going to help Jean get Logan to the med bay and then I'll be right up." I felt her mind tense up and I sighed, placing a hand on her covered shoulder.

"No one is angry with you," I promised. I glanced at Jean. "From what I can tell, she momentarily absorbed Logan's abilities, including his healing factor. If she hadn't, I'm sure she'd be dead right now. Logan will recover in a few hours. I'd say, given the circumstances, things turned out pretty good."

Glancing around the room, I smiled at Ororo's stiff nod.

"I think I can manage him by myself," Jean said. I shook my head.

"No, I'll help," Scott said, crossing his arms. I smiled appreciatively at him and he nodded.

"I'll see you guys in the- er, later today," I said, catching myself. Marie looked a little guilty as I led her away. "First things first: to the kitchen!"

"Wai- What?" Marie asked, clearly confused. I caught the residual panic and shame in her eyes and I grinned.

"You just had your first traumatic experience in the school. It's a big milestone that everyone here has passed. Scott blew up a third of the school; Ororo accidentally set rain onto breakfast; I nearly decapitated Jean-"

"What!"

"Oh, relax," I chuckled. "It was an accident, regardless of what she thinks. I was teaching Defense and she decided to interrupt in the middle of a form. She was about fourteen; a new student and didn't know any better. My claws were out and I couldn't stop moving. It was all I could do to twist my wrist so I got her hair instead of her neck. I don't think she's ever forgiven me for cutting her precious hair."

"I'll say," Marie grumbled. I was glad to see some of the panic fade.

"Now, seeing as you're a bit young for a beer, how about some ice cream? We have… moose tracks, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate chip mint," I read off. She was about to respond when I shoved an ice cream scoop and a bowl into her hands. I choose my own weapon of choice and began attacking the tub of moose tracks.

I was drizzling hot fudge on my incomplete sundae when I glanced back at Marie, only now helping herself to the plain chocolate. She joined me at the counter and I set out the normal sundae necessities: hot fudge, caramel, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, whipped cream, and M&M's.

I loaded up my sundae and headed directly to my bay window, a forgotten book from some early breakfast or other still lying open on the cushion. The students had learned that if they messed with my stuff outside of class, they messed with me in it. Nothing a little intimidation couldn't discourage.

"What are you standing for?" I asked around a spoonful of ice cream. Marie stood a few feet away, holding her bowl as she glanced around. I rolled my eyes. "You aren't in trouble. Look on the bright side: you're probably going to get your own room- and bathroom- because of this! But, seriously, don't worry. The professor is really understanding about this kind of thing.

"Now, are you going to sit down and eat that ice cream or are you going to panic for the next seven hours?" I gestured to the spot besides me, inviting the girl to sit next to me. She hesitated before coming closer.

"They probably think I'm a freak, now," she said quietly, her eyes staring up at the ceiling.

"Probably," I shrugged. Marie looked startled and I smirked. "I can blend in if I want; I could melt into a backdrop so that you couldn't find me if I tried. And I have. I did that for years of my life. It wasn't until I realized that I'd rather be a freak and be myself than stay hidden."

"But you're not a freak!" Marie protested in her southern accent. I grinned.

"I bet you'd think differently if you had known me twenty-five years ago. Back then I was a killing machine. Now I'm settled down, more or less, and working at a school. That is the most freakish change I can imagine. Fifteen years ago, I didn't have these claws. You don't think I'm a freak because I've already accepted that I'm abnormal. It'll be the same for you. The others will fear you only as long as you fear yourself."

"I'm not afraid," she countered weakly. I raised an eyebrow before reaching my hand out towards her. She shied away from my fingertips and I lowered my hand.

"I rest my case… Anyway, I think I've made my point. I think it's time for both of us to turn in. You can stay in my room, if you want."

When I woke up, Marie was gone.

A/N:

Not too bad for a chapter. I might end up updating again before I go to sleep, but probably not. If I do, I'll leave a warning, as per usual.

HALFWAY DONE!

Yes, you heard me.

Wellll, more like 5/9ths way done... Nine isn't divisible by five according to my math teacher... But, if you missed the hint, there are only FOUR CHAPTERS LEFT!

...

Yeah... probably won't update tonight... I don't have as much of the next story as I'd like, but that stupid plot bunny keeps telling me to write InuYasha... and Doctor Who... and Harry Potter... and Avatar: TLA... and pretty much anything other than X-Men.

*sigh*

Stupid plot bunny

-.-' Susie '-.-