Hey everyone, I'm so sorry for the long wait for an update but I've had a lot of family issues and personal problems that are slowly resolving themselves so I'm hoping that in the new year, the updates will get more frequent.

However, I would appreciate it a lot if you would provide a review of the chapter below or the story as a whole as I really appreciate receiving them and make my day brighter.

Anyway, please read, review and enjoy, daisyboo x

I do not own any of the X -Men characters and only use them for the basis of my story.

Chapter Six

Rogue followed Kitty and Jubilee into the mansion as they all rushed in due to the rain that had just began to pour outside and then Scott appeared behind them too shutting the door behind him with a soft click. Kitty and Jubilee started grumbling and complaining as they shook the rain from their soaked clothes and Rogue giggled at the scene.

"I don't see what you find so funny, Rogue," Kitty chided as she feigned annoyance at her friend and placed her damp coat on a free hook in the cloakroom under the stairs.

"Actually Kitty, ah do think it's very funny," Rogue joked as she approached Kitty and extended her gloved hand towards her to gesture to her face, "especially when ya mascara runs the way it has."

Kitty gasped when Rogue made known to her that her make-up had smudged due to the rain and she ran to review her reflection in the hallway mirror. Kitty groaned when she saw her face and Jubilee followed Kitty's groan as she too was studying her appearance.

"This rain has ruined my hair," Jubilee moaned as she ran her small hands through her short dark locks, "I need to sort this now."

And with that, Jubilee bolted straight up the stairs with Kitty in tow and an argument ensued straight away as to who would use the large communal bathroom first that held all the best and latest gadgets that made washing yourself fun. Rogue listened, silently laughing as she placed her gloved hand on the banister of the stairs and heard Jubilee and Kitty manically rushing around gathering their lotions and potions that they would use in the amazing bathroom. Scott appeared beside Rogue and chuckled as they both listened to the girls.

"They'll never change," he sighed as he wandered into the kitchen and Rogue then heard Jean's sweet voice greet her fiancé.

She listened to Scott and Jean's cute but brief exchange and as normal, she was envious of their easy loving relationship. Rogue sighed then and removed her backpack from her shoulders placing it on the hard wood floor of the hallway. She then removed her dark green hoodie and placed it on another free hook in the under stairs cloakroom next to Kitty's fashionable trench coat. Rogue picked up her backpack then and casually jogged up the stairs to her room. She entered her room and closed the door behind her. Rogue placed her backpack on her unmade bed and started to ready herself for her after school activities. Since Rogue's meltdown, after the battle with the Sentinals, she had been constantly busy with her school work, Danger Room sessions and private meetings with the Professor and her meetings with Professor X were the toughest activities that she had. She thought about her meetings with the Professor, especially her first one after the battle where he explained what had happened to her and she thought deeply about that meeting.

The Professor had summoned Rogue into his office once she had recovered from her injury and advised that the voice that she was hearing inside her head had belonged to a girl called Carol Danvers but she was also known as Ms Marvel. He explained that Rogue had come to him for help in desperation as she had absorbed both Carol's mutant abilities and physic presence and that Rogue was now hearing Carol's being inside her head. The absorption of Carol had resulted in her being left comatose and close to death and Rogue had been deeply affected by what she had done. He further explained that Rogue had requested that the Professor wipe her memory of what she had done to which he obliged begrudgingly as the Professor never normally agreed to interfere with people's mind or memories but Rogue had pleaded with him and he eventually relented. However, the Professor was unable to explain how the memories or Carol had gotten unlocked and mused that the shock that Rogue had received from the Sentinel must have unblocked Carol and Rogue had been suffering Carol's abuse ever since so the Professor was now giving Rogue private tutoring on how to block Carol's voice as Rogue refused to have her memories wiped again. She was disgusted that she would allow herself to have her memories wiped and vowed that it wouldn't happen again.

Rogue walked over to her vanity table then and placed herself on the adjoining seat. She picked up her hairbrush and started to brush her chestnut and white hair whist looking at her reflection. She continued to brush her hair slowly as she gazed at her image in her vanity mirror and noticed that the rain too had smudged her make-up. Soiled make-up never bothered Rogue but she placed her hairbrush on her vanity table and then extracted a facial wipe from its packet and began to rid her face of the make-up that she had used that morning for school. Once the make-up had been removed and her face felt refreshed, Rogue then wondered as to what she should wear for her after school activities because as well as her session with the Professor, Logan had booked a one-on-one Danger Room session with Rogue and she wanted to make sure that whatever she wore, her attire was as practical as possible.

However, as she mused as to what she could wear, her eyes fell upon the single dried out three week old white rose that Rogue had on her vanity table that was situated in a drinking glass that Rogue had borrowed from the kitchen. She gazed at the rose as it brought forward all memories that Rogue had tried to repress over the last three weeks and then removed the white gloves that she had been wearing. Rogue extended her left hand towards the rose and touched one of the shrivelled petals of the flower. Even though the rose was old and shrivelled, the petal was still soft to Rogue's touch. Rogue removed her hand then and placed it gently into her lap but her eyes never left the rose. She had glanced at that flower many times over the last three weeks and considered that she should throw it out but she just couldn't bring herself to do that and the reason why she couldn't throw it away was because of the person who had given it to her. The rose had been given to her by Gambit or Remy Lebeau and the moment that Rogue said his name in her mind was the moment that his face appeared in there too. Rogue felt her stomach flutter as she thought of him and how handsome he was and how considerate he could be.

Remy Lebeau had been deeply worried about Rogue since the battle with the Sentinels and for the first few days since they had come back, he had never left her side. Due to Rogue's injury, she had been placed in the infirmary for the first few days back while Hank and Jean ensured that she had healed properly and in order to ensure that, they had kept her sedated for those first few days back. Those few days in which Rogue had been unconscious was some of the most frightening that she had ever endured as Carol's voice had continued to verbally abuse her and her memories tortured her too. She had awoken from her sleep with a start and she had flown straight into Gambit's waiting arms. He had captured Rogue in his strong embrace and held her gently as he crooned to her to try and soothe her as Rogue had been frantic with panic. Eventually, Gambit had been successful in calming Rogue and she gripped him in desperation and fear as the tears fell as well. Gambit just held Rogue as she clung to him and he continued to soothe her with her calming words. Finally, Rogue was stable enough to let go of Gambit and then the Professor had arrived and he explained what he had done to Rogue. Gambit had been present the whole time that the Professor explained everything but had left the moment that the Professor had finished his explanation and Rogue had not seen him since then but before he had left, he had given her this single white rose. Rogue sighed then and removed her finger from the rose. She decided that she had to ready herself for her after school activities so she moved from her vanity table and removed her X-Men uniform from her wardrobe when the Professor penetrated her mind.

"Hello Rogue," he greeted regally.

"Professor," Rogue acknowledged and then Professor X continued with what he needed to tell her.

"I'm ready for you now Rogue and I'm awaiting your arrival in my study."

"Ah'll be there directly," Rogue responded in her mind and then she felt the Professor leave her thoughts.

Rogue laid her X-Men uniform onto her unmade bed and then removed her jeans and top that she was currently wearing. She stood in her room in just her underwear for a moment but then she slipped her uniform on and zipped up the front right to her throat. She completed her look by putting on her boots, gloves and communication belt. However, as normal, she felt self-conscious whenever she wore her X-Men uniform as it greatly accentuated her assets so she picked up an old brown leather jacket that she had recently bought from a vintage clothes shop and put it on. She placed her covered hands in the pockets of her leather jacket and quickly checked her reflection in her full-length mirror. She noted that the bagginess of her leather jacket did not show off her assets as much and she was grateful for that so she then left her room. She made her way to the Professor's study and politely knocked on the door. Rogue patiently awaited the Professor's voice to allow her entry into his study and when he spoke, Rogue opened the door and closed it behind her with a soft click.

The Professor was sat behind his desk looking like his usual dignified self, wearing a grey suit of handsome craftsmanship with a white shirt and a dark blue tie. He gestured for Rogue to sit down on the vacant chair opposite him but Rogue was not alone with the Professor and in fact, Logan was present also. Rogue's eyes narrowed a little due to Logan's presence as it was normally just the Professor and her in their sessions but Rogue did as the Professor bid and sat in the vacant chair opposite the Professor and to the right of Logan.

"Hello Rogue," the Professor greeted politely as Rogue looked between the Professor and Logan.

"Professor. Logan."

"I know you are wondering why Logan is present so I'll let him explain."

Rogue turned her attention to Logan then intrigued by what Professor X had said. Logan coughed slightly before he explained his presence and to Rogue he appeared nervous. Rogue fixed her eyes on Logan and awaited his explanation.

"As you know, Kid, the Professor has shared with me what he has been trying to achieve with his lessons with you and has asked for my help. The Professor feels that you have made a lot of progress over the last two weeks and would like to take things further with you so he wants you to start touching people to see what happens."

Rogue gasped loudly the moment Logan finished his explanation and instantly got defensive.

"No!" she yelled loudly in defiance as she rose from her chair in anxiety and switched her glare between Logan and the Professor, "ah will not let people get hurt."

Logan rose too, a minute after Rogue had and raised his hands in surrender to her.

"Darlin'," Logan drawled as he gazed soothingly at Rogue to try and calm her, "just listen to the Professor's reason for this."

"No!" Rogue yelled again but then the Professor entered her mind and she instantly felt his comforting presence.

"Now Rogue, calm yourself," the Professor soothed, "just listen to Logan and I."

Rogue watched the Professor as after a long moment, she internally agreed to listen to them in spite of their request to go completely against everything that she stood her and she calmly sat back down. Logan looked instantly relieved the moment that Rogue placed herself back on her previous seat and he gently touched her covered shoulder in support. Rogue noted his touch but did not flinch as she knew that her shoulder was covered and she also noticed his encouraging look. However, Rogue turned her attention back to the Professor and her heart was pounding as she awaited his explanation.

"As Logan previous said Rogue, you have been progressing really well in our sessions and we have discussed this formerly too. Has Carol's voice diminished since our last session?"

"It has Professor due to ya coaching but ah think my emotions affect the frequency of Carol's visits," Rogue explained evenly.

"And what do you mean by that Rogue?"

"Well, if ah'm feeling calm then ah don't hear her but if ah'm scared or angry then she comes back."

"I see," the Professor mused as he studied Rogue, "so if your emotions are high for whatever reason, Carol comes back."

Rogue nodded.

"And have you been practicing our techniques for this?"

"Ah have Professor," Rogue replied nodding again.

"Ok and as you have been doing really well, we need to up the ante and attempt direct human contact."

"Professor, ah'm sorry for my earlier outburst but ah'm not ready to try that."

"However, I feel that you are and Logan has kindly volunteered to be our test subject."

Rogue turned her attention back to Logan then and he was kindly smiling at her.

"I care about you, Stripes, and I don't want to see you torment yourself if you hurt someone so why not try touching me?"

"But Logan…"

"Besides, I heal quickly so you'll cause no real damage to me."

Rogue remained quiet as she contemplated what Logan and the Professor had said and she agreed with them that she had been progressing well. However, she still did not feel ready to do this and the Professor sensed her inner torment.

"Rogue, you need to have faith in yourself as we do."

Rogue noticed the encouraging looks of both the Professor and Logan and then found herself nodding her head in agreement.

"Fantastic," Professor X exclaimed happily.

"So what do ah do?"

"It's simple," the Professor explained, "you just remove your glove and touch Logan's hand whist trying to remain relaxed."

"As simple as that," Rogue remarked nervously but also sarcastically.

"It is, Kid," Logan encouraged as he held out his hand for Rogue.

Rogue gulped fearfully as she felt her heart pound in her ears and was scared as to what her powers would do to Logan. However, Logan was smiling positively to her and she found herself removing the glove on her right hand. She extended her hand slowly with her heart still pounding furiously and breathing heavy. Despite her fear, she felt the Professor's calming presence within her and she felt encouraged. Nevertheless, her fingers eventually reached Logan's and the moment that her skin touched his, she felt her powers begin to take affect and Carol's voice began to ring in her ears as well but then her eyes locked with Logan's. Rogue noticed the concentration on his face as he tried to repel her powers as she tried to rein it in. However, both were unsuccessful and Logan suddenly fainted due to the intensity of Rogue's power. She gasped loudly the moment that Logan fell and tears began to escape her eyes. She heard Carol's voice deeply insulting her then and the insults were so loud and abusive that Rogue covered her ears to try and stop the noise and deeply closed her eyes.

"Shut up," Rogue yelled as the abuse became too much for her and even the Professor was unable to comfort her at that point.

Rogue leapt from her seat then and ran into the lengthy corridor adjacent to the Professor's study. The Professor called after her but again, he was unable to reach her and Rogue continued to run to try and evade the noise and insults that were inside her mind.

"Stop," she yelled at the top of her lungs as she leapt into the air and began to fly instead of run.

Rogue was very disorientated at that moment and the only thing that she was concentrating on was repelling the noise from her mind but she was fruitless in her attempts. However, the next thing that Rogue knew was that her body was engulfed in a force that she could not break through and was gently manoeuvring her. She suddenly heard another female voice inside her mind that was comforting and fending off Carol's voice.

Next, Rogue felt a masculine warmth surround her as a pair of strong arms cradled her slender body and soothed her. After a long moment, Rogue's episode was over by the attempts of her teammates and as she opened her eyes to survey her surroundings, emerald green met red on black. A familiar strong face met hers and Rogue smiled at the familiarity.

"Miss me, chere?" came the sexy Cajun drawl but Rogue was unable to contemplate more as her world turned black.