Turn of the rogue

" North perimeter secured." Kitty radioed in as she took out a guard with knock out gas.

" This guy's catching Z's. Uh I mean, South perimeter secure." Spyke said

" Ok, let's make it a clean rescue." Cyclops said. " Jean." Cyclops called out as he and kurt teleported into building in free fall.

" Sorry. You guys are heavy." jean said as she caught them in midair.

" Storm? Storm? She's out." Cyclops said as he looked down on the woman below. He took shots at the cuffs that chained the woman hoping to free her.

" Nice aim." Nightcrawler said as Cyclops missed two of his shots.

" Yeah!" They both say as they give each other a high five. Cyclops had finally made the shot.

" Which one of you guys has been putting on weight? I can hardly hold you." Jean asked as she struggled to hold the two men up.

" It's nightcrawler. Burgers seven days a week will do that to you." Cyclops said

" The breakfast of mutants." Nightcrawler said

" Hey!" A voice said as he grabbed jeans shoulder distracting her causing them to fall

Stark teleported in and grabbed the two men as they fell crashing towards the ground. " Guess that plan went up in smoke. Huh Guys!" Stark said as they all landed on the floor. We need to hurry let's grab her and go." Stark said trying to grab the woman. " Anna!" Stark said as the woman grabbed his face

" Gotcha!"

" WHAT THE! Hold it! Hold! Stop the simulation!" Stark yelled as the simulation shut down

" Stark, you're never to stop a simulation unless you're hurt." Xavier said as he and the others entered

" Trust me that hurt." Kurt said

" WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT XAVIER!" Stark yelled " WHY IS ANNA IN THIS MOCKUP? SHE WAS NOT PART OF THE BRIEFING!" Stark yelled with fury in his eyes

" Lower you tone stark. That was simply for the element of surprise. It's part of life. So expect it on every exercise." Xavier said

" Anna isn't an exercise. How can we expect her to trust us when you treat her like an enemy?" Stark asked. " You won't do that again." Stark said staring directly into Xavier's eyes. " MOVE!" Stark yelled as he pushed his way past the others.

" Whoa, stark chill man. It was just an exercise." Evan said.

However, stark didn't see it that way. As he heard those words come from evans mouth. Stark lost control and Punched the Metal walls surrounding them. The walls around them all shook with the force of the punch. The walls themselves Cracked and a dent appeared. This action shocked everyone around him.

" I'm sorry Evan. But there are somethings you just don't do. Not to those you want to protect." Stark said solemnly as he walked away.

" I don't want to be that guy chuck, but again the kid is right. You can't treat the girl like an enemy and expect her to trust us." Logan spoke up

" They need to be ready for such an event to happen, even if they don't like it logan." Xavier responded

" To Stark trust is something sacred Charles. The trust he's given us is hard to gain, but easy to lose. The same could be said backwards. He cares greatly about the trust we've put into him, so much so that he bottles up his emotions. He keeps this image of an invincible warrior to protect us." Ororo said

" Storm. I know." Xavier said. " And It's clear he cares deeply for miss rogue."

" You ain't kidding chuck."

" I owe you all an apology." Xavier said bowing his head to the others.

" It's alright professor." Scott said getting a nod from everyone else.

" You should all get to school." Xavier said as the others all left to get ready for school.

Later

" All right. Double-check your spelunking gear. Make sure your packs contain a hardhat, spiked boots, rope, compass, rations, lamps, candles, and matches. Remember, there are no sporting-good stores in the Tapo Caves. Oh, and I'd better not see any Game Toys." Mr. roudlensky said

" Ughh! Come on. I just got a sweet new game." One of the students groaned.

" So, he threw off your game by sticking Rogue in a simulation. What's the big deal?" Jean asked stark as she and scott caught up with him.

" Me fouling up isn't the problem, Jean."

" What then? Because he chose rogue?"

" Yes. That is the problem Jean, if I didn't make it obvious earlier, then yes." Stark growled out. " How can we pretend she's the enemy in a battle simulation. After everything that she's done for us. She's always helped us when we needed her. And yet it seems like I'm the only one who trusts her." Stark complained.

" Hey, it was only a simulation, Stark. Scott tell him." Jean asked

" I agree with him Jean. What the professor did back there was wrong no matter how you try to spin it." Scott spoke up

" Not you too Scott." Jean said. " Listen Stark, nobody wants you to stop trying with rogue." jean said to stark as they walked towards the buses.

What they didn't know was that stark was so angry he didn't sense mystique was so close to them and had overheard their conversation.

In the gym

Rogue had been practicing her fighting skills when she overheard scott, stark and jean getting ready for the trip.

" Jean, tie that down over there." Scott said

" Got it."

" Stark, help me with this."

" Yeah, I'm right here." stark said reaching to help scott

" This trip ought to be fun." jean said

" Yeah, hmm?" Stark said as he locked eyes with Rogue. " Anna!" Stark yelled before the woman looked away.

" She'll come around stark." Jean said putting her hand on the mans shoulder.

back with rogue.

" Principal darkholme!" Rogue said

" He's never going to be your friend. You know that." Darkholme said

" Who? stark? Ah ain't interested in him." Rogue said in her defense.

" Really? Tell me, dear, have you forgotten how Mr. Stark and his friends attacked you?" Darkholme asked

" Stark didn't attack me. He saved me." Rogue said

" Is that what he told you? Isn't it weird how he managed to "save you" Just when you needed it?" Darkholme asked

" No, It's just that..."

" Just this morning, I overheard them discussing their simulated battle exercises with you as their target." Darkholme said

" But, why? Why would they do that?" Rogue asked

" I think it's time that you be reminded just who your friends really are. Enjoy the field trip, dear. It should prove most enlightening." Darkholme said as she walked off leaving rogue upset

" Jean, bad news." Rudlensky said

" What?" Jean asked as she, scott, and stark were loading their stuff onto the bus

" Seems Administration won't clear your time off for the field trip. Something about too many absentee days in your file."

" Whoa wait a second. Those were all approved." Scott said

' Mystique what did you do?' Stark wondered

" If they just call Professor Xavier, he'll" Jean started before being cut off

" I wish we had the time, Jean, but they've already filled your spot."

" What, that's bs teach and we both know it. No way they just dropped the ball last second like that." Stark spoke up.

" Look, I hate it too, but there's nothing I can do about it right now. I promise I'll clear it all up when I get back. Hey, Jean. I'm really sorry." Rudlensky said

" Yeah. Well, have fun." Jean said as she grabbed her things from the bus.

" Oh man that sucks. Who filled her spot?" Scott asked

" Jean wait up!" Stark yelled as he ran after jean.

" What is it stark?"

" I don't like this. It's too much of a coincidence." Stark said

" It's just the school being stupid again." Jean said

" Bullshit, No way are they going to punish their brightest student like this." stark said getting a blush from the woman.

" What are you getting at stark?"

" Go back to the institute and have logan and the others be on standby at all times. Keep a psychic link with me as well."

" Stark, you don't let anyone in your head without reason let alone for anything longer than a couple minutes. Are you sure about this? You aren't scared I'll peak into your thoughts?" Jean asked

" Jean, I trust you more than you realize. You are my friend. I know you won't do anything that would break my trust like the professor. I'm putting my faith into you jean." Stark said

" I won't let you down stark. Be a good boy." Jean said with fire in her eyes as she gave the man a hug and a kiss on the cheek before running off to call the professor.

" Okay, that was unexpected." Stark said as he rubbed his cheek. That fire in her eyes. I know that from anywhere, but there's no way it should appear, not this soon.' Stark thought. " This means I've changed the timeline. Things aren't gonna happen as I remember them." Hopefully I'll be able to handle it.' Stark thought. " The Phoenix is coming." Stark whispered as he made his way back to the bus.

" Yo Stark, you won't believe this man." Scott said as stark stepped on the bus.

" Won't believe what?" stark asked

" The person who took jeans spot was..." Scott was saying before Stark realized who it was

" Anna!" Stark yelled in excitement.

Back at the institute

Xavier had been reading in his study when the wind from the oncoming storm had picked up. When charles had went to close the window, a strong magnetic force had pushed him back.

" Ugh! Magneto, why are you here?" Charles asked

"I've come to pay you a compliment. Your young charges, they seem to be flourishing under your tutelage. Especially the one called stark; he is quite a fierce some young warrior" Magneto said

" Yes. They're doing quite well. And stark is definitely a great asset to the team. The young ones have a profound love of him. The faith they've placed in him is far greater than the faith they've placed in me. Even though scott is the leader of the team officially, they all look to him for guidance and protection." Charles said in acknowledgement of his student.

" I was referring to the development of their mutant powers." Magneto said

" I'm very proud of them." Charles said

" Proud. " Yet you don't trust them." Magneto said

" But I do trust them, with my life." Charles retorted

" But not with the truth." Magneto said pulling charles towards him. Charles slammed into the glass window shattering it as magneto vanished.

" Chuck!" Logan yelled as he burst into the room. His claws drawn. " Are you alright? I smell him in here." Logan asked

" Yes, I am fine logan, but I believe Stark's warning about this so-called fieldtrip was right. Get the others suited up and ready. Just in case." Charles said to logan

" On it!"

Back to the fieldtrip.

" What's wrong Anna you haven't said one word to me since we got on the bus. Did I do something wrong?" Stark asked

" Ah don't have to speak to you every time we meet."

" Sorry, I. I'm sorry Anna." Stark said as he turned away from the woman.

The two sat in silence as the bus ride continued until the bus started to swerve

" Hang on!" The teacher yelled as the students all panicked

" ANNA!" Stark yelled as he grabbed onto the woman who was nearly thrown onto the floor. " Are you ok?" Stark asked

" Ah'm fine you can let go of me now."

" I was only trying to help."

" Well Ah Don't need yer help."

" Shit, Anna hold on we're heading for a cliff." Stark grabbed onto the woman and as they approached the edge fired a cero out of his finger slowing the bus down. While scott fired his optic blast at ground creating a ditch for them to land in.

" Good thinking Scott." Stark said as he caught his breath.

" You too man, Jesus!" Scott said

" Let go of me." Rogue yelled

" Anna I was only trying to keep you safe." Stark said releasing the woman

" Why Do you care?" rogue asked as she walked back to her seat.

" I've always cared about you Anna. I always will." Stark said getting a smile from the woman

" Everybody ok?" The teacher asked

" Oh, now what?" one student asked

" We head back." The teacher said

" What?" One of the students spoke and said

" What are you talking about? Another student asked

" We don't want to." Someone else said

" Okay. Okay, people. Now, who wants to get out and push?" The teaches asked

" Mr. Rudetsky, why not take our snowmobiles to the cave and wait out the weather there?" Rogue asked

" Yeah, teach." Stark spoke

" Yes, love that idea." Paul said as he and everyone else on the bus cheered rogue

" We're gonna have so much fun!"

" Sounds good to me. Let's do it." The students said as mr. rudetsky groaned

" Nice job Anna." Stark said as the students got off the bus.

Everyone paired up with the people they sat with.

Rogue and stark, And Scott and Paul.

" Anna, you know how to drive this thing right?" Stark asked slightly panicked

" Just trust me Alright."

" Yes ma'am." Stark piped down

" Oh, there's scott and paul. Ah have an Idead." Rogue said as she pulled up to the men

" Test your mettle, tough guy?" Rogue asked scott

" Anna please don't kill us." stark pleaded

" Oh, you're on! YEAH!" Scott yelled as he picked up the speed. Rogue hot on his trail doing the same.

The Two raced each other up the mountain as their partners held on for dear light. Paul not doing as bad as stark was, however. As they raced rogue went up and a steep hill and jumped it.

" AHHHHHHHHHH!" Stark yelled as they landed in front of scott and paul. " Anna-Marie!"

" Oh, using ma full name, are we? Just makes me want to go faster." Rogue taunted.

" DON'T KILL US!" Stark yelled

" Oh whoa, Okay, you know what? I've had enough." Paul said finally scared himself " Scott! Scott!" Paul called out as scott picked up the pace to catch rogue and stark.

" I think I'm gonna be sick." Stark said as spirals appeared in place of his eyes.

Rogue and Scott glaring at each other as they raced.

" No, no, no! Forget it, you maniac!" Paul pleaded as scott approached a steep turn

The ground got slimer and slimer as they approached the turn. The two mobiles practically touching each other.

" ANNA BE CAREFULL!" Stark yelled as their mobile bumped scotts.

" Yeah, what he said." Scott yelled

" Yeah, what he said." Paul tried to speak out through his sickness.

Rogue gave scotts mobile another bump and nearly knocked them both off.

" SCOTT!" stark yelled

" LEAN IN! LEAN IN!" Scott yelled as he and paul both leaned in straightening their mobiles out and coming to a stop.

" Man, that girl is wiggy. She didn't care what happened to us." paul said in shock.

" Yeah, where did that come from?" Scott asked as he and paul watched the two drive off.

" ANNA What the hell! You almost killed scott and paul." stark yelled

" Ah didn't though so it's fine."

" No, it's not." stark said stark said as they drove off

After a while Scott and paul both reached the same cave that rogue and stark had been using for shelter.

" Sorry, no trophies for second place." Rogue said with a grin.

" How did a Southern gal like you learn to handle a snowmobile?" Scott asked

" I wouldn't exactly say handle it buddy. Bleeer." stark said before throwing up again

" Let's just say I'm full of surprises." Rogue said as she walked up to scott

back at the mansion

" Did you think about what stark had told ya chuck?" Logan asked

" Yes, I have and i still don't know logan."

" Chuck, like he said these kids are good at keeping their cool and their secrets. They'll deal with it. Trust me. You've taught them a lot." Logan said as Jean and storm both walked in

" Trouble's brewing. A blizzard in the mountains." Storm said as she walked in

" The geology Club left for their fieldtrip up there this morning. And the link I had with stark was suddenly cut. I think we need to head up there and get them." Jean said

" Stark was right. Trouble is brewing let's go." Charles said as they all left for the x-jet

Back to the mountain

" Okay, we're stuck here. Might as well make the best of it. So in review, metamorphic rock. Question: What has altered it from its original state? Answer: Heat, pressure, or chemical change." Mr. Rudetsky said as a shadowy figure creeped around behind the group. " It was one thing, now it's another. A mutation." Rudetsky said as Scott and Stark both saw the figure lurking.

" I'll handle it scott." Stark said patting scott on the shoulder before slipping away. Stark followed rogue through the cave until he found a large drop. " Anna?" Stark asked as he looked around for the girl. " Whoa, there you are." Stark said

" Ah need to know stark, what is it you want from me?" Rogue asked

" Anna, I don't want anything. Well except your friendship. I only want to get close to you."

" You know what I want? The truth. Am I a target for you and your X-freaks?"

" Anna."

" It's true isn't it?"

" I know all about your battle simulation, the one where Ah'm the enemy." Rogue said in a hurt voice before walking off.

" No. No, wait. Anna, It's not like that. I swear." Stark said as he ran after the woman. " Anna, I would never do that to you. I hated Xavier for doing that. I still do. I would never hurt you Anna. I want yo with us."

" Yeah? Well, sorry. Not interested." Rogue yelled

" Anna wait, please!" Stark yelled as he chased after the woman.

" Hey, everything all right? Rudetsky's looking for you." Paul said

" Paul here is yer friend, but ah bet you never practice fighting him!" rogue yelled

" Anna please I would never hurt you. I don't care if it was real or not!" Stark said before catching something. " Wait A minute!" Stark yelled in anger

" I'm afraid you'd lose that bet rogue." Paul said before turning into Principal Darkholme. " Hello, Stark. Are you more surprised to see me... or me?" Darkholme asked before shifting into her true form.

" DAMN! I should have known you'd be behind this mystique."

" Yes, you really should have. I've been meaning to pay you back after what you did to me." Mystique said chucking a grenade at the man.

" Are you crazy this could kill all of us."

" But you won't let that happen to your precious rogue, will you?" Mystique asked

" ARGH!" Stark grunted as he pulled the grenade close to his chest and jumped over the edge of the cavern to keep the explosion from hitting the others.

" No! STARK!" Rogue yelled as the man fell to the bottom of the cavern an explosion following soon after. " Why did you do that?" rogue asked

" I'm protecting you dear, from his lies. He only wants to hurt you, just like Charles Xavier and all the other X-men." Mystique said as rogue wiped the tears from her eyes.

" And you don't? What did you do to Paul?" Rogue asked

" Let's just say he missed the bus, thanks to a little miscommunication about the departure time." Mystique said as she began to transform back into paul. " Now let's rejoin the others and break the tragic news." Mystique said disguised as paul.

" No more secrets! Your powers are mine! Your memoires are mine!" Rogue yelled as she took her gloves off and grabbed mystique. Getting a glimpse of the woman's memories and seeing everything she's been hiding

Flashback

" Absorbing his memories and physical abilities. Wonderful. She will come to us willingly, given the right incentive." Mystique said to irene before trans forming into Wolverine.

" You!" mystique yelled as wolverine and attacked rogue

flash

" Thought you could escape us did?" Mystique disguised as Cyclops said

flash

" We cannot lose her! Especially not to Xavier." Mystique said. " Yes. We were lucky to get to her first." mystique said

" Indeed." Magneto replied

Back to the cave

Mystique groaned in pain before passing out. Rogue herself feeling the aftereffects of holding onto mystique for too long.

" Oh, stark! Ah'm sorry." Rogue said as she looked down the hole

" Arghhh! That blue bitch." Stark whispered. Holding onto a platform and his side. A lot of blood pouring from the wound. " I had to use to most of my energy to make sure the blast was contained. Didn't have enoguh time to make sure I wasn't hit too." Stark growled through the pain. Stark looked up to see Rogue disguised as mystique jump down, and right before he fell she caught him.

" Gotcha!" Rogue said while pulling the boy up.

" Anna, I'm so sorry for what we did. I swear I didn't know."

" It's okay. Its alright ah believe ya stark." Rogue said as she pulled him up

" Thank you for saving me Anna."

" Don't thank me yet!" rogue said as a giant rock was suddenly dropped on them. " Look!" rogue said as the rock got closer. Stark went to fire a cero but realized soon that they were to close and the explosion would hit them too.

" Damn it!" Stark yelled as he grabbed onto rogue and jumped down to the waters below. " ANNA HOLD ON TIGHT!"

" But Stark You're hurt. You're bleeding a lot." The woman said in a panic.

" JUST HOLD ON!" Stark yelled as they hit the water. Once they stopped falling they both swam their way to the surface.

" Arh!" They both grunted trying to catch their breaths.

" ANNA HOLD ON!" Stark said as he wrapped the woman in his arms tightly. His body smashing between the rocks and sharp edges of the cave.

" STARK!" The woman cried in tears. Her make up running down her face. In fear over losing both of their lives.

As the approached the caves walls stark shot a cero at the wall destroying it. " HANG ON TIGHT ANNA!" Stark yelled as the went over the waterfall.

" Ahhhhh!" rogue yelled in fear.

" ARGHHHH!" Stark roared in pain as he landed down on his back hard over a bridge The blood from his wound pouring out more than before. Along with new wounds from his head and leg, both of which were opened from slamming against the cave walls, now died the snow a dark crimson.

" Stark? Stark? Listen, just hang on. We're gonna be okay. Alright!" Rogue said with tears in her eyes as she looked down on the state of the poor man.

" Anna!" Stark said reaching out for the woman.

" Ah'm right here and Ah ain't going anywhere." Rogue said as she dragged the man's hand to her face

" Thank you, Anna! you saved my life." Stark said. " Don't cry Anna, I promise no matter what happens to me I will always protect ugh! you." Stark growled in pain as the blood from his wound seeped out continuously.

" Don' die! Please don't die!" Rogue begged. " ah've been fighting you guys this whole time and no matter what ah did or said, you were always there fer me, you always kept me safe. Ah promise, ah'll never side with the brotherhood again. So please, don't die. Don't leave me all alone again." Rogue said holding the man's face in her arms.

" An.... na!" Stark said feeling his eyes getting heavier.

" Stark! don't pass out. Don't close yer eyes please. Please wake up. Please don't leave me" rogue said trying to keep the boy awake.

However, Mystique saw this opportunity as her chance to eliminate the threat. She turned into a wolf and hopped down the mountain towards the both of them.

Rogue struggled to move herself and starks body away from the wolf.

" Stark! Scott! I hope you two can hear me. We're on our way." Charles said

" You need to hurry professor. Stark went to check on rogue and hasn't come back." Scott said

" Stark! Stark! HE'S HURT!" charles said

" Great. How are we gonna find him in this whiteout?" Logan asked

" Anna the other are coming." stark said

" What? They are? Great." rogue said in relief

" They can't find us." Stark said

" Figures." Rogue said pulling stark away from the wolf.

" Anna, I need you to listen to me."

" Ah'm listening stark. Anything."

" Guide my hand towards mystique."

" But how will that help?"

" Just trust me ok."

" Ok, I believe in you." rogue said lifting the man's right hand towards the charging mystique

Right before she could attack. " Cero!" Stark said as a blue blast of energy drilled mystique knocking her back across the bridge. Leaving her unconscious.

" Way to go stark." Rogue said in relief

" I'm not finished yet. There's no way the others will be able to find us in all this snow. We have to give them something to look for." Stark said lightly, feeling himself lose consciousness again.

" Alright Ah understand what yer saying."" Rogue said as she raised him arm towards the sky

" Please save her." Stark said as a large blast erupted from his fingertip

" There! Charles, take the controls." Logan said as he spotted starks cero

Suddenly Mystique recomposed herself and went to attack again, however this time she was stopped by scott and the arrival of the x men.

" Give it up, Mystique, or you'll be tangling with a wolverine!" Logan yelled

Mystique turned into an eagle and flew away.

" Stark! Rogue!" Scott yelled as he raced towards the two.

" Logan, you grab rogue. I got stark." Scott said as he picked the man up and carried him onto the jet.

" Oh god no!" Storm said upon seeing the boy's injuries and how ghastly pale he was.

" CHUCK PUNCH IT AND HURRY!" Logan yelled as he tended to the boy's wounds

after some time, Logan had managed to stop the bleeding, but the boy was still very close to death.

" Ugh!" Logan growled getting up from starks side. " Where's your allegiance kid? Us or them?" logan asked.

" If ah don't say you, will I get thrown out of this jet?" Rogue asked before she felt a hand grab hers

" An..na! So, long... as I'm... Still.... Breathing... no one... will hurt you!" Stark said in between heavy breaths before passing out again

" Stark!" rogue yelled as the boy passed out again.

" CHUCK HIGH TAIL IT HURRY!" Logan yelled

" I'm trying logan!" Charles yelled back

Scott and storm could only watch as the as the boy turned paler and paler, signaling that he was drawing closer and closer to death. The two crying heavily over the state of their dying friend.

" Stark, please don't leave me." Rogue said cradling the boy's upper body in her arms

Later that night

" It's the same as lying to us. We had a right to know who our principal really was. And now thanks to her we don't know if stark is ever going to wake up again. Our friend is down there dying." Jean said with tears in her eyes. Angered at the current state of one of her closest friends.

" Yeah. Professor. Jeans right." Kurt spoke up " What did you think we were gonna do? Go after her?" Kurt asked

" Man, we know better. She wants to play like nothing's going down, so can we." Evan said

" It's like we were playing with fire and didn't even know it." Kitty spoke up her eyes beat red.

" Rogue?" Charles asked wanting to see the girl's opinion.

" It's not my place." Rogue said

" Sure, it is. You're part of the family now." Kitty spoke up

" Yeah, girl. Tell us what you think." Evan said

" Well, Ah think. No, Ah've leaned that honesty is very important between people you care about. At least it is to me."

" You're right. All of you. I must apologize for keeping this secret from you. But please understand, there are many challenges in your future. Secrets, elements of surprise. Some you're ready to deal with, some you're not. In the future, I will try to do better knowing which is which." Charles said

" Thanks, professor. We're all in this together. It's nice to know we've all got something to learn. That's what makes us X-men." scott said standing up.

Not long afterwards Logan and storm entered the room bringing an update on starks current condition.

" How is he!" Kitty and rogue both asked in unison.

" He'll make it. But the boy lost to much blood. In all honesty, he may never wake up again." Logan said instantly crushing the hope the students had all gained

" Oh no, Stark!" Kitty cried collapsing to the ground.

" You promised me stark! You promised me you wouldn't leave me." rogue said as she ran out the room towards the med bay.

" Rogue wait!" Logan yelled

" Let her go logan." Charles said getting logan to stand down.

" It's going to be okay kitty." Jean said hugging the crying girl tightly.

" It's going to be okay!" Jean said tears now falling down her face as well.

" Chuck, Ororo, I think we should give them all some space." Logan said

" I agree logan." Storm said

" Logan, I've failed them. I really have." charles said as he rolled his way out of the room.

Down in the med bay.

" Stark! Rogue cried as she approached the man's bed

The Scars from his wounds closed up. And some color had returned to the boy's face after so long.

" Why? Ah don't get why. After everything Ah've done to you. You still chose to protect me. Why?" Rogue asked as tears streamed down her face. Rogue stood there for a minute just crying. After some time had passed. rogue removed one of her gloves and held the boy's hand in her own. " Ah Promise ah will always protect you." Rogue said as she leaned down and kissed the boy's unconscious lips.

Logan, charles, and storm had all watched this great show of affection and decided to leave the two alone for the night.

" Come on, Chuck let's get everyone to bed. I think a long rest is what everyone needs right now." Logan said

" You're right Logan. I just wish it never would have come to this in the first place." Charles said

" It was bound to happen eventually, but it is our job to see them grow and learn from this. We have to prepare them." Storm said

" Yes, and I fear they may face another challenge soon." Charles said as Magneto appeared in his mind. " Let us hope they are ready."