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When Rogue returned home an hour later, she was STILL dazed and confused about what had occurred that day.

First, she had gone shopping of her own free will (but not really, because she had to get gifts for everyone)

She had actually gone INSIDE Abercrombie and Fitch, a.k.a. the third dimension of hell…

And stayed for nearly 30 minutes…

AND modeled the clothes…

She was hunted by Duncan and his goons (which really wasn't unusual) and was "saved" from them by the preppy, bouncy, little valley girl store clerk who turned out to be much more than Rogue had first thought

Finally, she had even bought jewelry from said third dimension of hell.

But, in Rogue's defense, she had only purchased the silver and black weaved necklace/bracelet set out of gratitude for Mandy's "rescue" - however twisted and horrifying it had been - and was going to give it to Kitty for Christmas/Hanukah anyhow.

So, as Rogue ascended the stairs in the mansion's foyer and headed to her room, she hardly noticed as Scott furiously pounced upon her.

"Rogue! What the heck?! You STOLE my CAR?!" He sounded pretty pissed.

Rogue turned to look at him, her brows furrowed in confusion as she tried again to make sense of her bizarre day.

He was red - REALLY red.

"Hmm…? Oh… Sorry... Here." She dropped his keys into his hand, "Sorry." Rogue noticed that even her speech was languid and disoriented.

It was all far too much for her to process. Abercrombie and Fitch? Really?

She HAD to be crazy.

Scott stopped ranting and his expression instantly changed from furious to concerned.

"Rogue? Are you alright?" His face darted back and forth as he tried to make eye contact and assess her at the same time. Rogue noted that he sort of looked like a chicken by the way his head was bouncing all over.

He touched her covered arm cautiously and turned her toward him.

"Rogue are you alright? Did something happen? Are you hurt?"

He was talking slowly and deliberately either because he thought she was in shock, or because he didn't want to frighten her. She wasn't sure which was more accurate.

She slowly brought her eyes to his, the same look of confusion and consternation still plastered on her face, and nodded her head yes slowly.

"Ah'm…fine. Weird day…" And, with that, she continued walking up the stairs completely lost in thought.

XXX

Twenty minutes later, Rogue was lying face down on her bed. She had dropped her bags at the bedroom door, walked over to the foot of the bed, and fell on it. She was still in the same position – boots dangling over the edge, arms at her sides, face buried in the comforter, coat still on – when the Professor telepathically spoke to her.

"Rogue?"

She screeched and nearly rolled off the side.

"Geez, Professor ya nearly scared me half t' death!" She yelled out loud.

"I apologize Rogue. I would like to see you in my office please." With that, he cut the psychic connection and left Rogue alone in her room.

"O-Kay." She muttered out loud, rolling her eyes.

She really had to stop doing that, it was becoming a habit.

"Lord, what 'm ah in trouble for this time?" She contemplated. Then she remembered. "Oh yeah, I kinda stole Scott's car. Crap."

Taking a deep breath, she cranked her neck from side to side and smiled at the loud pop it produced. Kitty would have hated it.

X

By the time Rogue reached the Professor's office, the shock and wonder of that afternoon's events had mostly worn off. At least she was able to speak and think coherently again. She had even managed to grumble slightly when Jamie bumped her in the hall.

She had almost laughed at the young boy's (and his clones') expression when they looked up and saw who he had run into. Poor kid had looked utterly terrified.

The thought made her stop. Was she really that scary? She didn't mean to be. She always assumed that the kids at the mansion avoided her because of what had happened with Apocalypse.

After all, she had nearly gotten them all killed. Twice.

Strike that. Three times.

First when her powers went nuts, second when Mesmero forced her to awaken Apocalypse, and third when they had to STOP Apocalypse because Rogue had released him in the first place.

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Not a good track record. No wonder everyone was frightened of her.

"Rogue?" She heard Xavier call out from the other side of the door. At least he hadn't used his telepathy that time.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside. "Yeah?" She asked warily before closing the door again. "Ah mean, ya wanted t' see me?"

"Yes Rogue. Please, have a seat."

Oh gawd she was in for it now.

"Look Professor, ah'm sorry about takin' Scott's car, but ah needed to go Christmas shopping and Jean had already left for the day, and a motorcycle doesn't carry bags well, and …"

"Rogue!" Xavier stopped her, smiling. "You are not in any trouble."

"Ah, ah'm not?" She asked, bewildered.

"No. However, I would recommend that next time you ASK first before 'borrowing' Scott's car." He had an amused look in his eye, as if he was trying very hard not to laugh at her, yet still wanted to appear stern.

He started again, "Scott was concerned about you. He said you were acting…" he struggled for the right word.

"Crazy?" Rogue offered honestly.

"Odd." He finished. "Why do you say 'crazy' Rogue? Have your powers been bothering you again?" He asked.

"No. Mah powers are fine. Well, at least as fine as they can be. Ah just had a really … odd … day."

Then, surprisingly, Rogue launched into a detailed description of exactly how odd her day had been.

X

Rogue took a deep breath. Despite her utter mortification, if she had dared to look up, she would have laughed at the Professor's almost constipated look.

He was trying VERY hard not to lose his composure.

"So he…?" Xavier questioned again.

"Hit on me." Rogue was beet red and looked as if she wanted to cry.

"And you…?"

"Nothin'. Ah shoulda slugged that no good, two-faced, son of a..."

"Rogue..." The Professor warned, folding his hands and resting his mouth on his fists. It was the only way he could effectively hide his growing grin.

"So how did you manage to get out without being seen?" Xavier was rather curious about her Houdini-like escape.

"Ah think that's the weirdest part. That girl, Mandy, helped me." Rogue explained with a raised eyebrow.

"After ah changed, she offered to take me out through the store's back entrance. It leads right out t' the parking lot. Ah was so grateful ah even offered to buy a necklace or somethin'. Ah think it made her day. She even hugged me. It was kinda disturbin'."

Rogue screwed up her nose at the memory, but one side of her mouth tilted into a little half smile.

Mandy had actually hugged her. Even though she knew Rogue was a mutant, Mandy had still hugged her.

Of course, had she known the severity of Rogue's powers, the girl never would have touched her in the first place, but still…

She'd hugged her.

Rogue couldn't remember the last time ANYONE had hugged her. Not even Irene ever really hugged her.

Inexplicably (at least to Rogue) she discovered a growing lump in her throat and quickly lowered her head from Xavier's gaze. She had to stop her stupid chin from quivering before he noticed anything was amiss.

She took another deep breath and focused on the more infuriating details that she hadn't cared to disclose.

Like how Duncan had run his hand down her arm.

Or how the boys had called her a "hottie."

Or how Mandy's parting words were, "Make sure you work on that little "hiding" problem we talked about."

It was only after Rogue had reached the car that it finally dawned on her. The hiding thing. What made her think it was a problem anyhow? Mandy didn't know the crap Rogue had to deal with every day. Didn't know how dangerous it would be if she let other people get too close.

If she just reached out.

Opened up.

Let go.

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COMPLETE – for now…