A/N: Some familiar characters make an appearance along with some foreshadowing. Rogue is constantly in trouble and is a victim of circumstance. Most of the narrative is through Rogue's eyes. There may be trigger warnings for Annie-trauma and general angst.

Three months had passed.

Rogue grew stronger day by day, thanks to the hours spent in rehabilitating her body. There was still some subtle scarring around her body that wouldn't fade and her skin remained as sensitive as a new born.

She also had difficulty with maintaining her body temperature, making her more immune to colds.

She had joined a team of wheelchair basketball players which help her rebuild her muscles. Clint had also retaught her archery and it became part of her routine, along with several hours building up reflexes and gymnastics for flexibility.

Through all this, Logan and Carole explained that after her mother had died and Carole had been an an accident, she had eventually gone to live with her father.

"What happened before that?"

"Unfortunately there were a couple of foster placements. There was a mistake with the paper work."

"What is he like?" It took a minute to decipher that she was referring to Charles. They found that this Rogue was quick to move between topics.

"He's a very kind and intelligent man. He loved Anna. He loves you."

"Oh."

"He knows you don't remember him but he still wants to meet you."

That's where they were today.

Rogue had insisted on a last game of basketball, giving time for the Professor to arrive and see her in action before meeting her officially, when she was showered.

She practically wheeled herself across the room, stopping with a squeal of her wheels directly opposite Charles, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry."

"There's no problem at all. I understand the need for exercise."

"Both Logan and Carole keep telling me to take it easy but the more Ah do, the sooner Ah'll be on my feet. Oops, sorry."

He shook his head. "So, how else do you spend your time?"

"Well, Ah read what Ah can, watch TV. Carole keeps threatening to take me shopping but Ah don't really need anything. She told me that Ah was able to finish school before."

Charles nodded. "Yes, you were determined. You didn't want to spend anymore time at the school in Bayville."

She frowned. Is that what the place is called? They did tell me but somethings stick more than others."

"I see."

"You don't seem like a Professor."

"Do you expect more hair and a white lab coat?"

"Ah guess."

"Well, not all Professors are the same. You may find my colleague better fits your image. That is, if you'd like to meet him? He has a penchant for quoting Shakespeare."

She smiled, realising the true intent of the visit was rearing it's head.

Fury had been patient but she'd heard him state, "This ain't a recovery centre." enough to know her time here was reaching expiration. Now they were looking at more long term plans.

She wasn't so sure about returning to a place she had no real memory of, but Logan had assured her he would be there. Carole had promised to visit, bringing Clint and Natasha on.

"What kind of place is this?"

"It's a school for students with special abilities. It provides a safe place for them to adapt and thrive, where other schools have not been able to manage that."

"What kind of special abilities?"

"Anything you can think of."

It was only then she noticed he'd said that without moving his lips.

"Ah'm not so sure... Did Ah know about this before?"

"You did. You had special talents yourself."

"But Ah don't now." She frowned, momentarily mourning the loss, despite not remembering it.

"No, but in time maybe, they can reappear?"

"But won't the other students think it odd that Ah'm there?"

"They have been been informed about this and all agree that you would be welcome."

She smiled. "Ah guess there's perks to being the Professor's daughter."

"There's time enough for you to make a decision. We can always start with a visit..."

She shook her head. "Nah, Fury's had enough of me."

"Well, perhaps we can talk more about this tomorrow?"

"Sure, whatever."

The Professor was invited to stay for dinner, of which he declined so as not to overstay his welcome. Logan escorted him back to the jet.

"She seems better."

"She's a tough kid."

"Thank-you Logan. I appreciate all you've done for her."

Logan waited until the jet had left before returning inside. He sought Rogue out and was told she was in her room.

She was on the bed. He leant against her doorframe.

"Hey you. How do you feel?"

She stared up at him, blankly. "What do you mean?"

"About the offer."

"Well, Ah guess it's about tayme Ah move on. Let Carole get back to what she was doing before. Do you think that's part of the reason she was in the accident?"

"Could be."

"Do you know what the place is?"

"Yeah, I've spent some time there."

"These kids, with special abilities?"

"Yeah?"

"We're not talking about Genius level academics are we?"

"No, but some of them are straight A students."

"Are there dormitories and bunk beds?"

"No, no bunkbeds."

"Shared rooms then?"

"Yes, there are."

"Ah'm not too sure about that. It wouldn't be fair."

"There are some rooms set up for one person occupancy."

"You sound like you swallowed the brochure."

"Well, I'm going to turn in. You should too. You're all worn out."

XxX

By morning, Rogue was back in the gym, working on her upper body strength along the parallel walking bar. She spent some time, away from the base, to meet other people her age and blend in with the local community.

Carole often attended these sessions, although there was someone there to make sure she didn't overwork herself or slip.

The person on watch was new and clearly distracted, considering the amount of times they were looking at their watch.

Rogue was getting tired and ready for a rest. She let out a sigh. "Ok, that's enough."

He shook his head, "No, you need to keep going."

She had a memory of Carole telling her something similar. "Walk until you're exhausted than walk a little more?"

"That's right."

Her breath was coming in heavy rasps, as she begged. "Please?"

"No, you need to keep going."

"Ah can't."

There were footsteps outside the hall at the same time Rogue's legs gave out and she collapsed onto her front.

Her guard ran to the door and barricaded it, before running to the opposite exit, leaving her speechless.

XxX

Carol heard the crash and ran towards the door. It was jammed. She put her shoulder to the door and forced the door apart. She rushed over to where Rogue lay on the floor and helped her turn over.

"What happened Kid?"

"He left me."

Carole looked up and saw the open door, she rushed over and made her way following the same route that the interloper had taken. He had already disappeared.

XxX

Rogue was back at the base. The Avengers and Logan were discussing what had happened. The support assistant was a new hire, there wasn't much intel on him and he seemed to have vanished. Carole frowned at this new information, turning to Logan.

"Have you spoken to Charles?"

"I'll call him later. I think we need to forgo the visits and bring up the move instead."

"What do you say Rogue?"

"Makes sense."

"Do you want to make a start on your packing and I'll call Charles. We can leave tomorrow."

XxX

With her bags packed, Rogue paid one last visit at the community centre pool. She stuck with the shallow side and managed to do a few laps, before pulling herself out and shuffling over to the plunge pool for one last time.

The sudden cold gave her the rush she needed to clear out her mind towards what was happening next. She pushed her body further up the chute and held her hand out to reach for the edge, when a large clang sent her into darkness,

She heard the footsteps in retreat and began to bang on the sides.

XxX

It was Logan's turn on duty this time and it was getting later. He entered the swimming pool area to find no sign of her. He looked towards the plunge machine, noting that it had been unplugged.

He caught the whiff of Rogue's scent. It was strong enough to know she was still hear. Then he heard it, the faint banging.

He raced over to the plunge machine, ripping the lid off and pulled out the shivering Rogue.

XxX

Rogue was bundled up and carried onto the jet, along with all her belongings. Charles had opted to return personally to escort his daughter home. Several others wanted to join, but he had refused. This was no mission but a private matter. Hank had been briefed to ensure the med-bay was ready, despite Dr Banner assessing her quickly and clearing her medically. Whether it was the combination of adrenalin and a change in atmosphere that proved a potential cause for concern, Rogue was in and out of consciousness and by the time she eventually woke up, it was in a warm and sterile unit.

She heard someone mumbling pleasantly to their self. The figure entered the room, forgetting about the memory loss. Rogue looked up and was startled by the non-human appearance and she closed her eyes, to feign sleep.

"Oh, forgive me, I thought you were awake." Hank wisely played along.

She waited until Logan returned to ask him about it.

"Who was the guy that gives King Kong a run for his money?"

He gave a short laugh, pleased to know she kept her sense of humour. "What?"

"The blue furry guy? Is he one of the specials?"

"Oh Hank? Dr McCoy? Yeah, he works in the med-bay. He was probably coming to check on you and forgot to wear the image inducer."

"Huh? Are there many more like him?"

"There's one or two. It gets pretty chaotic here."

"What kind of a place is this?"

"Don't worry kid, it will get easier."

XxX

It was later that evening, Rogue had been allowed out of the med-bay to have dinner with the others. She'd showered in the accompanying adapted suite and accepted the clothes that had been set aside for her. Logan had insisted on escorting her there, though she refused to let him push her.

"Ah'm no invalid."

Once she was back in the wheelchair, she wheeled herself out of the med bay and along the corridors to the dining room. The was a collected lull of silence as she entered the room. Logan motioned his head towards the space he left beside him. She wheeled into the space, noting how the others continued to stare.

"What?"

They looked away and the conversation. People were awkward, unsure of what to say. They did not know this new Rogue and had been burned by the last one.

After dinner, they settled into the rec room, there was an old rerun that became absorbed by the residents.

Then at 9pm, everyone was ordered to bed, even the ones that were over eighteen. Rogue was shown to the room that had last been used by the fake Rogue. She was tired, despite her recent recovery and did not pay much mind to the pastel decor and plush furnishings.

When she woke the next morning, it was to a sun lit room of pastel proportions. The bed sheets were made of satin and the floors were carpeted. It was a little girl's paradise but it was her nightmare.

She'd been in this same room before. It was exactly the same room as Annie had.

Being in here was too claustrophobic, the sheets were too slippery, the blankets were too hot and there were too many decorative pillows and cushions. She had to shuffle her way out of bed, gripping one of the four posters to navigate the distance from the bed and the chair. The decor extended to the ensuite and micro kitchen.

There was a small collection of foods that was purely American based, not like the foods she'd enjoyed as a child.

It was really too much, as she wheeled herself into the ensuite wet room and scoured herself clean until she felt more sanitised and ready to face the rest of the students.

XxX

Most people were gathered at the breakfast table, especially as it was a weekend.

"How did you sleep?" The one known as Kitty asked.

"Ok Ah guess."

"Vhat is wrong?" The boy had a German accent and had opted to wear what Logan called an 'image inducer'. It seemed an odd choice considering she'd already seen Hank, who had returned to his natural state. She'd queried this with Logan, who promised to speak to Kurt about it. For Logan's part, he had spoken to the 'elf' but Kurt insisted on wearing it for now.

"Just some flashbacks. Ah knew a girl who loved that kind of decor."

"Oh?"

"What's wrong with it?" The red head from the night before queried. What was her name? Jane? Jean?

"Nothing, if you're into unicorns exploding rainbows and magic. Mah tastes have always veered to the Gothic persuassion. Anyway, the decor is exactly how she had her room from the time we were ten, when Ah first met her, to the tayme we were fourteen. If Ah didn't know any better, I would guess that she had been here. She always had a way of showing up where she wasn't wanted. Doesn't that sound crazy?"

No on answered.

"What was her name?"

"Annie."

"Why are you so sure she was here?"

"Just a feeling. The food stuff in the kitchen is all American. There's nothing wrong with that, but Annie hated anything that could be considered ethnic. So if she was here, Ah'm sure she would have either made some of you uncomfortable or tried to enforce her rules. Annie was, is a very jealous person. She wants the world at her feet at all times. Anyone who differs from her narrative, well let's just say there are consequences."

Bobby gulped, "What kind of consequences?"

"Ah had a friend when we met. We'd been raised together practically from the get go. Annie didn't like that. So her father, who was her superior at the hospital where her family work, lessened their shift, until they were forced out of town."

"How do you know she did that?"

"Her father was a pushover when it came to Annie. He was a plastic surgeon and Ah'm sure he did an excellent job, but he liked to be in control at all times and like his daughter, well, he didn't like anyone that wasn't fully American."

Some of them were still thinking about it later. Logan, Kitty and Kurt had offered to help strip the bedroom of everything that was too 'Annie-fied'. Most of the room was bare of everything too pastel.

The belongings were left out for the others to shift through, however not many wanted them. They decided to sell the things instead to rid the mansion of the scourge of Annie.

Bit by bit, they redecorated the room in stronger colours, selecting more manageable furnishings. Charles had not even considered that they should change the room. He took it to heart. Storm was sympathetic. Logan was ambivalent.

"Look at it this way Chuck, Rogue's bonding with the others now. They're even sharing stories about Annie."

He'd overheard some of them and most were savoury enough. Still, Charles felt the burden of this oversight.

As the decorating was completed, Rogue felt much more relaxed with her setting. She continued her physical therapy and got to know the X-men. They continued to ask about Annie and pieced together what happened.

During her time there, there were times when the X-men were called out on missions and Rogue often sat in the communication room, listening to their adventures. It gave her the motivation to improve.

xxx

Months passed, Rogue had finally healed and was preparing for her move to Georgia.

The Professor had asked if she would consider staying but the answer was always the same.

"Ah've always wanted to go to Georgia. "

Charles had to accept her decision. It was enough to think that she was alive and would be thriving at college.

As it became nearer time, arrangements were put in place for Rogue's college time. Charles was to pay for her college fees, Carole paid for her meal plan, Logan wanted to contribute to some of her day to day expenses.

Before the start of her summer programme, Carol arrived to take her shopping.

She eyed her warily. "You want to take me shopping?"

"Yes, I'm sure there are things you'll need."

"Why you? You hate shopping!"

"I don't hate it. It's a necessarry evil."

"So why do you want to take me shopping?"

"There's things you'll need, a new jacket for one."

"Look, it's nice that y'all want to take me shopping, but Ah'm still traumatised by the last taym you tagged along."

Carole frowned.

"You insisted on looking at all the items, inspecting their quality and then spoke very loudly about youths being sexualised and made to pay for the privilige. It was so embarrassing. If you want to buy me things, you can just give me the cash."

Carol's blush revealed her memory of that occassion. "No, we're going."

In the end it was made into a group excursion, with Carole and Rogue going separately and arranging to meet them at the mall. They spent time getting the basics, before moving on to the more important items.

Carole recalled the last shopping trip with Anna and Rogue. It was true, she had been shocked by the prices and skimpy items. Rogue had done her best to ditch the two women for the cheaper stores.

Carole's distaste for for clothes had extended to refreshments. The new names for coffee, such as 'machiatos, mochaccinnos and frappes,' "What the hell is a frappe? All I want is a black coffee!"

Rogue, who had recently started working at the mall, another issue Carole had had, explained "You mean an Americano?"

"What's an Americano?"

"It's black coffee, after all."

"Then why not just say that?"

"Because some people enjoy going to coffee houses and trying new drinks. It's for the ambience."

"Well good for them, paying over the nose for coffee."

Rogue scowled, apologising as she offered the cashier her discount card, taking a fraction off the price. "Happy now?"

Anna had taken the tray and brought them to a table.

"You know, Ah get that you have this supposed hotshot career, but don't think you're better than that cashier because you're not. Remember, the higher you climb, the more you risk to fall."

That sage advise from a fourteen year old girl had stayed with Carole ever since. Back then, Anna had played mediator between the two and had cleared up many miscommunications between them. Most of them were based on Carole's quick judgement and Rogue's lack of clarity. Rogue admitted that was a deliberate ploy. Like the time Rogue was spending most of her weekends at the Mall. Carole had been called in to drop her there as Anna had been called in to work at the last minute.

"You know there's more to life than shopping. How much does a person need? A lot of the time it's just overpriced junk."

Rogue had not said a word, merely thanking Carole for the lift.

"You know, Anna can't afford all these trips, I know she wont say anything to you and I get that you've been through a lot but at some point, you're going to have to think of your future. There's more to you than this."

Rogue had shaken her head before leaving to brace the day at the coffee shop.

Anna had cleared that little miscommunication, leaving Carole shaken from her misconception.

"Why did you not say anything?"

"Why should Ah? You've already made it clear that you think Ah'm nothing more than a spoiled brat, whose taking all her mom's money."

"Rogue!"

"But you just let me go on and on..."

"Why should Ah apologise for your mistake?"

They had taken a break, stopping for coffee. Rogue was getting tired but they still hadn't found the jacket. Both had their own thoughts about it. It needed to be light and portable enough for Georgia weather, trendy enough that it wouldn't be relegated to the back of the wardrobe and forgotten about.

They were in the last shop and almost ready to drop when Rogue's eyes were caught by a long green, military style jacket. There was a small patch of the American flag on the left breast along with various other patches, like stars and hearts.

"That's the one?"

Rogue nodded.

"Well, alright then."

XxX

With her bags packed and her the car ready for their journey, Rogue bid goodbye to the others. It was a long process as there were many people wanting to say goodbye - despite not knowing them for long, they had more of an affinity to her. There had been many discussions about who would accompany Rogue to Georgia and it was the Professor who won by a long shot. Logan would also join them.

Rogue had asked for a bit of time for her to adjust to her new life before visitors arrived. She wanted to enjoy the summer programme and get a chance to meet new people.

XxX

Those first few weeks went by in a whirlwind fashion. Being alone in the apartment gave Rogue to incentive to explore the town and look into the clubs that were affiliated with the college. She was also in a prime position to gain some part-time employment. Despite Logan arranging to give her an allowance, she did not want to be wholly dependent on anyone and needed to put her working skills to good use.

She obtained employment at a local beauty spa, as the receptionist. It was mainly taking calls, payments and complaints but the hours were flexible. The Manager knew she was a college student and would put her study hours before anything else.

She collected her schedule and used the time to order the books on the suggested reading list. There was also a few classes, of which one was drama, they were putting together a Shakespeare festival and it was one that Rogue was very much pulled to join. Drama was about learning to adapt and become new people, it did not matter who you were or what you had done but who you could be.

It was the perfect escape.

The committee had decided to put together pivotal scenes from the classic choices. There would be the initial auditions to be involved and then specific auditions for which play to be cast in, then the final audition for the character. Rogue was assigned to Romeo and Juliet, but she didn't like the odds of the parts she would be expected to play. It wasn't pride that gave her the feeling she would be cast as Juliet. It was a feeling she'd had before. Things in the past, events that had driven her to be at certain places at set times. Like with Georgia - it wasn't just the odd longing to be in Georgia, she wasn't deliberately cutting herself off form the family she'd become accustomed to back in Bayville.

It was instinct warning her she had to be here. It was telling her now that she was going to be cast as Juliet, unless she gave them a good reason to be cast elsewhere.

XxX

The director was surprised by the passionate plea he received.

"And just why do you think you are to be cast as Juliet?"

"Ah have no logical reason, just a feeling. Ah wondered if Ah could plead my case for an alternative role. One that Ah have an affinity to."

"Oh?"

"Mercutio. He's the one who provides the comedic value. But when he gets stabbed, he is the one that places the curse on Romeo and Juliet. He is the first sacrifice for their affair. Ah want to have that part. Ah think Ah can carry it better than being the lovestruck ingenue."

"I will consider that."

Rogue was granted the role of Mercutio. Another candidate , by the name of Bella Donna, who had earned the role of Juliet discovered later that she was granted it on default and began a campaign of jealousy against Rogue.