Warning: More shady dealings, alcohol-fuelled seductions and enter the X-Men...

Rogue was having a pleasant day.

The school were hosting a formal dance and the committee had decided to make it a theme night. Most of the school settled for 'A Night at the Movies', opting for a red carpet and photographer in the lobby. The theme was also the most generic, making costumes easy to come by.

The couple were at lunch, enjoying a rare moment of solitude, when Cody asked,

"So you want to go to the dance?"

"Could do. What would you go as?"

"Ah was thinking we'd go as the couple from the movie you made me watch." He smirked, referring to one of their regular debates.

She smirked in return, feigning annoyance. "Ah didn't make you watch it. You got the films mixed up."

He shook his head. "Well, I still think we should go. But Ah won't wear the trousers. Or the wig."

She sighed. "You know, we could go as Lydia and Beetlejuice?"

Cody shook his head. "Nah, Ah know the Labyrinth is you're favourite. Besides, you'd look good in white."

Rogue knew exactly what scene he was referring to. "You don't think that'll look too bridal. What will everyone say?"

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter what they say. It's what we want."

"It's what you want, you mean." She smiled.

"C'mon, you know every girl wants to be a princess at some point."

She rolled her eyes and threw her bread roll at him, which he caught deftly and began to eat, much to her amusement. After school, they decided to pick up their costumes as neither were working and as they were in town, decided to stop for dinner.

"What about Irene? Won't she be mad?"

Rebelliously, Rogue replied, "Forget Irene."

Back at home though, Irene barely gave her a civil greeting. Rogue ignored it. She had had her fill of manipulative games and if Irene didn't want to talk to her, she'd play the game right back at her.

XxX

The night of the dance had finally arrived. Rogue and Cody were going with some of Cody's friends. Rogue's dress was indeed more bridal, with the puffy sleeves, cinched waist and wide hoop skirt. Cody conceded on wearing a wig but refused the make-up.

"Aww, but the make-up's the best part."

He rolled his eyes.

As Rogue had predicted, Cody's friends and their girlfriends made comments about Rogue looking too bridal and questioned whether that was a hint.

"You'd better run while you can, Cody."

They refused to believe that the costumes were Cody's idea. He whispered, "Forget them Rogue. It's what we want, remember?"

So she sucked up the poor feelings, held her head high and entered the building on Cody's arm, ready to dance the night away.

XxX

It was hot in the school hall and people were growing leery. There were whispers going around that the punch was spiked and Rogue avoided that. Not so Cody. He and his friends were busy getting wasted and weren't showing signs of stopping. Cody was also becoming more hands-on and at first it felt nice but then she remembered they were in public and on Monday, she would have to return to the school and hear the whispers. She pushed him away repeatedly, before nudging her way out of the hall.

She inhaled the cooler September air and noted that she'd lost one of the gloves that came with the dress.

"So much for mah deposit."

She heard the doors open and watched Cody stumble over to her.

"Whatare youdoing outhere?" He'd slurred his words so she stared blankly at him.

"You're all alone?"

"It's hot in there."

"Aww, poor baby."

His arms were around her waist but she caught the whiff of punch and something else on his breath.

"You reek."

He lowered his head to her neck, his lips grazing her exposed skin. "Why do you gotta be so rude to meh? Ain't Ah been there for you?"

She shuddered. "Yes, you have."

"And you can't even say anything nice to meh."

"I'm sorry Cody, I'm just not feeling too good. It's so hot in there and you know people are drinking."

"You ought to loosen up a little."

She hadn't thought he'd act like this. Growing up, her mother had rarely bought the guys she dated home, meaning she'd never had to get used to someone else at the breakfast table. Her mom hadn't been a big drinker and she certainly wouldn't have chosen spirits or liquor. Cody's parents liked the odd drink, so it was normal for Cody to have the odd beer. He was also more sociable, being confident that he was liked and not having to put up a charade.

"Why don't we skip out? Party's not over for another hour. Give us plenty of time."

He rested his head on her forehead as she leaned against him.

"Hm? Whad'yah say?"

She was about to answer when the door opened and Cody's friend poked his head out.

"Hey lovebirds, get back in here."

Cody took Rogue by the arm and brought her back in in enough time to see some of the other boys start up trouble. They were pushing and shoving each other. No-one could say why. Not that it mattered. There was a gap near where Rogue stood and she leaned closer to see the fight, when one of the two stumbled and crashed, knocking her to the ground.

Now, Cody was pissed, shoving the boy off her and grabbing her hand. She felt the others come to help but Cody's hand locked about her wrist, before he stilled and collapsed.

Someone switched on the lights, revealing Cody in a catatonic state and immediately the people around them turned on Rogue. She pulled her arm out of Cody's hold and ran from the hall. Some of the boys blocked the exit, but she braced her shoulders and ploughed through them, using one of Cody's signature moves.

XxX

Irene had been enjoying a quiet evening when the usual sensations that foreshadowed a vision ravished her body. She was at a party, the room was filled to the rafters, and there in the midst of the dancing, stood her daughter with a boy, whose hand was on her bare skin.

She'd warned the girl about covering up, against the heat of the sun. When she was alive, the girl's mother had taken her for an interfering fool, but since Rogue had been in her care, she'd made it very clear that she should cover up.

And now what she had predicted, had come to pass. She reached for the phone.

"It's me." She spoke before anyone could interrupt. "It's happened."

"I'm on my way."

"You're not the only one."

XxX

Professor Charles Xavier had been using a specially designed machine that's sole purpose was to identify and locate rare human beings. It had been customised over the years and christened 'Cerebro'. There were only a handful of people in the world that could use it. It required specialised skills, of a telepathic nature. For the truth was, Professor, nicknamed by his charges as Professor X, was a mutant. He ran a school for gifted students, some of whose gifts weren't accepted by society. His school provided students with a safe place to live, the chance to develop their unique abilities in a secure location and protect them from the many who were intolerant and would never accept their natural abilities.

His home was welcome to those in need. The younger ones trained to ensure their powers worked together as a unit and the older ones worked together to help those in need, under a cover of anonymity. They were affectionately dubbed, 'X-Men' and comprised of the following: Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Logan, Ororo Monroe and Hank McCoy. Their two latest recruits, Kurt Wagner and Kitty Pryde were under supervision of Logan and Ororo, who were even now observing one of Logan's training routines to ensure their location was secure.

The man had a gruff manner but had proved his loyalty and devotion to the cause many times and despite stating he was not paternal, demonstrated great protective instincts for all those in his care.

Charles was about to join the observation, when a new reading indicated that their services were required.

The training had reached its conclusion and they were in the control room when her arrived.

His voice echoed over the tanoy system. "I apologise for disturbing your weekend, but Cerebro has indicated a new mutant in Codecott, Mississippi. As we're all present, I believe the full team should attend."

XxX