She spent a good deal of time - too much really - thinking about him.

'We have a kinship.'

'Kinship, my ass.'

All the pleasant demeanor dropped from his face. Something of truth fell into place as the post-battle adrenaline cleared from the air. Or perhaps it was just the cabin pressurizing.

'You protest too much, Rogue. I take that as a positive encouragement.'

Their kiss when the power of the Three-In-One ran through her body; a hive mind in one form. The girls had never tried such a thing - though they had wondered, and wondered often. It was the perfect chance to try on Rogue. They figured she was the best choice thanks to nearly losing her life with the Hecatomb before everything…well…everything went to hell.

The Three-In-One's power had reverberated, echoed, and increased on itself. It made her dizzy, but she was supremely confident. And then she had personally embarrassed herself, before the entirety of the island. Afterward, it was only made worse when she had made an absolute fool before Erik. Trying to avoid the constant reflections of their powers by spreading them outward, on an emotional level she didn't think she was going to touch after that mortification.

How that backfired.

And now she was staring out over the sea, trying to get the feel of his hands on her, committed to memory. The softness of his breath as he hovered agonizingly close to her lips. The warm scent of him filled her with memories past of their previous experiences together.

No one else knew what happened the night after on Island M. Rogue's head tilted back as she looked up at the pre-twilight rusting sky.

This far from humanity, it was easier than ever to see the cosmos on display. Thanks to modernity; the Milky Way was something that children were taught in classrooms. Magneto had just mentioned it himself. He seemed to be concerned in teaching his students to just be instead of being heroes. So far, all of his conversations tonight were focused around helping the students remember to hold onto whatever innocence they had left.

"Ah remember seein' it too as a kid; it's real nice to see it tonight," she said as she looked up at the inky blackness.

"You do?" Magnus asked, as he settled in next to her. He had offered to refill her refreshment, and after returning with her order had begun this latest stretch of the conversation. Rogue cracked her beer open as Magneto sampled his scotch.

"Yah huh, nights where Ah lived in Mississippi, an' then by m'lonesome…" She slurped a bit and sighed happily. "Mmm…dunno what y'Europeans see in havin' beer warm. Cold's much better."

They spent a great deal of the night talking. About this, about that, and who knew what else. The length and breadth of their subjects were varied; it was interesting to experience. A polymath like Magneto found himself greatly enjoying the young woman. He had found a most interesting conversational partner in Rogue.

She may not have had much in the way of a formal education, but her experiences with Irene and Raven were enough alone to allow her to find out how much there was in the world. And the lives she had seen…she entrusted to him the truth of how much she actually remembered. It left her able to keep pace with him. Even if she couldn't contribute with data, she made astute observations, deductions and devoured every new scrap of information like clean rain on thirsty crops.

The minutes turned to hours, and suddenly, Rogue realized it was morning. Magnus had begun to substitute other drinks beyond scotch, Rogue could continue knocking back brews, but kept it to a minimum. They were on an island in the ocean far from humanity; Logan would not appreciate Rogue bogarting all the beer. No need to irritate her still somewhat new teammates.

So the two of them were completely sober as the sunlight began to lighten the sky. She looked over at Magnus, startled beyond words. "You're…healed!"

Magnus made a short, barking laugh. "Hardly, my dear. A judicious use of my powers to increase oxygenation and - "

"Alright, Ah get the gist. Clever you," she said, and turned to him, smiling. "So you really can do just 'bout anything, can't you?"

Having spent the night learning more about this hurt, lonely young soul seemingly had done something for him. He placed one hand over her gloved one. She gave a small start, but didn't move. Her eyes were wide as they locked with him. Her startled green locked with his serene blue. "I make it my mission to succeed at whatever I apply myself to."

"Magneto…"

"Anna Marie; you told me your name, you must call me by mine."

"M-Max…"

Whatever else might've been said was interrupted as the next emergency reared its head. A hero's work was never done.

And now, Rogue found herself at another momentous crossroad.

'We have a kinship.'

"Lost in a memory?" A voice asked her, snapping her from her reverie within thought. She looked over her shoulder, surprised to see Erik walking towards her.

"Yeah; what can Ah say? Had a lot to think about t'day. Lotsa stuff happened." Rogue demurred, and turned a bit to look at him as he settled on the large rock alongside her. She suddenly felt ashamed at that kind of behavior, tired of running. "Erik, I wanted to tell you - "

He waved a hand, but that made her shake her head even more effusively. "Rogue, do not be concerned. I don't-"

"But that's just it, Erik. Lemme finish, please. You don't need to make excuses for me, not anymore." she said firmly, and to her amazement, he did.

He settled back, his expression neutral, and unreadable. But he allowed her to continue.

"I wanted to tell you that I appreciate you trying to take all the blame for earlier. But you don't need to, an' more; I don't want you to." She sighed and carefully placed her hand over his.

Surprised blue eyes met mischievous green. "If you wanna accuse yourself, go for it. But you're gonna have to avoid denying me how badly I wanted-"

AND IF I COULD STOP THIS THING WITH EVERY LAST DROP OF MY HEART'S BLOOD

I

WOULD

WILLINGLY

BLEED

"Erik?" Rogue asked as his hand gripped hers. They had both heard the words inside their heads, outside of their minds, thrumming along the entirety of their beings.

"That sounded like Ruth. What-" Erik began before a brilliant white light swallowed everything and everyone there ever was.