I was fast running out of options. The professor's apartment had become an empty husk of the sanctuary it used to be. Anonymity destroyed. No longer earnt under the illusion of hard work.

Since I didn't had a job anymore beyond the mansion, it made sense to move back. The city held nothing more than memories of a life half-lived. It might even be good for me. Force me to be social. Regular, well-cooked meals. And I'd be closer to him. Not undesirable, even if we weren't on the best of terms currently. Although I was pretty sure he wasn't mad with me, hence voicemail, there was a lot of unresolved shit that needed attention.

As I carried my single box of possessions back through the hallways, I walked past the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee enticing in the early morning.

"Rogue!" a soft voice floated out of the room, stopping me dead. I backed up a few paces to look in.

Storm lowered herself back to a seated position on her stool. Clearly, she'd been about to chase me down the corridor. I guess I'd hoped it was still early enough to avoid everyone, but I'd forgotten about the only resident who'd enjoy the quiet stillness before the sun rose. Where she could have half an hour to herself before the daily chaos overtook her.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine," I lied.

"What are you doing here?"

"I… erm…" I muttered, shifting the box in my arms. It wasn't heavy, but holding the bulk of it out in front of me for longer than necessary put strain between my narrow shoulder blades. "I thought I'd come back. For a while. It gets a bit lonely out in the city, you know?"

She nodded, her features set in that sympathetic way that always got my blood up.

"Were you heading back to your old room?"

My jaw was set so tightly I could only manage a nod.

"Well, we've had a few new younger residents join us recently. But we do have some space on the top floor. Let me show you."

She picked up her coffee mug, refilling it quickly before leading the way up some back stairs I'd never known were there before.

"Since Logan returned, he's been helping out with a lot more than classes," Storm opened a plain wooden door onto a sparse landing that seemed to be built in the rafters of the mansion, with a small round window at the end and two additional doors on either side.

She gestured for me to enter through the left one. The room actually managed to take my breath away. It was spacious and airy, despite being built into the roof, more window than not, with sloping blinds and built-in bookcases filling the rest of the wall space. A substantial, comfortable-looking bed dominated the space, and in the corner, a tall brass reading lamp and large Chesterfield chair sat waiting patiently.

"What do you think? Will this do?"

I wasted a bit of time placing my few belongings around the room; hairbrush on the dresser, the few clothes I brought with me hung limply in the vast wardrobe. Dreamcatcher hooked onto the catch for the high window.

When I finally worked up the courage to poke my head into the med lab, it was predictably empty. I guess after that revelation he needed to get in the wind. And I, for once, was strangely okay with that.

My legs felt heavy as I climbed the floors back to my attic room.

The nice thing about having the entire floor to myself was a private bathroom. Only the teachers had en-suites, the rest of the smaller, student rooms had to share, one per floor.

I sat on the edge of the tub, waiting for the brown hair dye to develop. It wasn't as rich as my natural shade, more ashy, muddy brown than mahogany, but it would do until mine grew back in.

Being the top of the house, it was warm, despite being mid-winter. Another perk. I was wearing a skimpy old pair of pajamas, not minding if they got flecked with hair dye.

I was starting to think that maybe this wouldn't be too bad. Until a knock on the bathroom door drew me back out of my reverie.

"Chica, it's me."

I opened the door and there she stood, the same as ever, dressed head to toe in her signature color - a carnary yellow roll neck and slacks. Even her socks, peaking out of her sneakers, were tweety-bird.

She eyed me for a moment, probably more to judge my reaction than anything. I must have looked like a looney toon myself with my hair stuck into wild points with the dye. Then she launched herself at me.

I stumbled back, at first surprised then I started to panic.

"Chill, I'm covered." And she was. I relaxed into the hug I realized it was, not an attack. Damn, I'd retained more of him than I'd thought.

"You have no idea how much I missed you, girl."

"I missed you too!" I had. This easy friendship we'd used to share, amazingly unbroken despite the tension I'd put it through.

"Kitty has become so uptight after the baby, I swear…"

I pulled back, stunned, "Kitty had a baby?!"

She threw me a sly smile, still holding me at arm's length, "Chica, we have SO much to catch up on."

We sat propped up against the tub for the longest time, chatting, laughing. It was like no time had passed at all. The timer I'd set on my phone went off, buzzing until it fell into the sink.

"Let me help you!" Jubes chided, snapping on the rubber gloves in preparation to rinse my hair.

"Erm, I don't know if…"

"Shh! Head. In tub. Now." She welded the shower head almost menacingly, and I complied, showing my head over the edge.

Once the water was running clean, I wrapped my head snuggly in a towel and made my way back to the bedroom, Jubliee following. She let out a low whistle.

"Wow, this is something. I had no idea he was creating this little slice of heaven up here."

I stared at her, open-mouthed. Did everyone know what Logan had been up to except me?

"How do you…?"

"Oh, come on. It's so obvious." And after a stunned pause, "He's been doing all this for you! Making things, preparations for you to come back home. With us. Where you belong."

"No…I, I-I, don't! Not - with…" normal, decent people. People who think of others before themselves. People who were whole, and good. Ones who could forgive and forget. Like a family would.

Tears burned behind my eyes. Jubliee stepped forward again, and this time I fell into her outstretched arms.

"It's only you who ever thought that."