"The Dividing Line"

Epilogue

(Midwinter)

Rogue crossed her arms as she looked over the cliff and sought the horizon. The night time sky was starless, but instead of stars, gentle flakes of snow were lazily descending. She felt her nose grow cold and remembered that she would never get used to these Westchester winters. Caldecott had never been this cold.

Of course, her new coat was keeping the worst of it at bay. It was Scott's gift, of course, bought with whatever he had left from their little adventure to Chicago – a green, melton wool, hooded greatcoat with quilt lining, thick and comfortable. She loved it, and it came in handy, because she wasn't in Caldecott anymore...

Ah, there it was, again. The thought. The thought that she hadn't been able to shake.

They had been huddled in front of the giant plasma screen in the rec room, mutants of all ages, watching CNN and latching onto any mention of the Registration Act, which was on the very verge of being passed. They had all gotten sick of the footage of Rogue going haywire in the middle of the Academy of Tomorrow, recorded mostly by camera phones, being pushed forward as one of the most concrete pieces of evidence that mutants were inherently dangerous.

In the news reel after that one, Rogue had caught a glimpse of the bayou, and it had immediately brought about a surge of memories – this time, nobody's but her own. Memories of Caldecott, Mississippi, Irene, Cody, the frequent visits of a 'relative' that she now knew was Mystique... and then there were the fainter memories of the time before Irene, memories of her Auntie, and here's your Rogue, Mrs... no name. Still nameless.

The idea had then settled into her head. The idea was slowly giving way to need, Rogue knew. It clashed somewhat with the impromptu lesson Scott had given her without even meaning to: that her needs and desires weren't despicable by default, that she, like everybody else, wanted and needed certain things. Acceptance of certain aspects of herself, some of her desires especially, Rogue knew, wasn't something she was ready for just yet.

But this wasn't about that. It was about something much simpler, something much more basic – something that she should have had by default, something stolen from her by her own damn DNA.

Lost in her thoughts (and glad that she could get lost inside her own thoughts,) she didn't notice Scott until his arms snaked around her torso and he pulled her closer. His lips found her temple and he landed a kiss. Warmth. Rogue sighed and relaxed, settling into his arms.

"Aren't you cold?" he asked.

"Not anymore."

"It's even warmer inside."

"Just a little longer."

"Alright."

They stood there, exchanging warmth.

"Any chance you might tell me what's on your mind?" Scott asked.

"You."

"Liar."

"Ah am not!"

"Okay, omitter, then."

"Omitter? Is that even a word?"

"It is now."

"And what am Ah omitting, exactly?"

"What's really on your mind."

Rogue laughed. It was still this alien sound to her, she hadn't quite gotten used to hearing it, despite how often he got one out of her. She could feel Scott grinning. Her heart sank, if only slightly.

"Ah might leave soon." Rogue said.

"Leave?"

"For a week or two. Three, tops."

"Where to?"

"Mississippi."

"...I am not coming with you, am I?"

"Ah'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Forget everythin else, it's a beautiful place. Ah'd love to take you there sometime..." She said, "Just not on this trip." She sighed, "Ah need to find mah aunt. She's the only one Ah know who can give me the answers Ah need. Ah need to know who Ah am. Ah need to know what mah mama would call me by, if she had been mah mama."

"I know."

A moment of silence.

"When are you leaving?"

"Not for a while." Rogue slipped out of his arms and turned to face him, to look into his eyes, "Ya know Ah'll be back. Ah'll be back for you."

"I'll still be here when you get back. You know that."

Rogue smiled.

"How'd Ah get so lucky?"

"I don't know. How did you?"

"Just kiss me."

Scott did. Rogue, despite how many times they had done this very simple thing, still found it unbelievably beautiful. A thousand thoughts and emotions rushed into her, and when he withdrew, she had a piece of him inside her. The echoes didn't last long these days, and when they faded, they were gone completely, but for a while, having this little piece of him inside her would suffice. It was enough for her.

"I'm going back in." Scott said, shivering, "It's freezing out here!"

"Right there with ya, sugah." Rogue said.

Her hand slipped into his and their fingers interlocked.