Author's note:  I have returned from the grave, inspired anew.  I'm sorry I abandoned my story "Changing of the Guard,"  if anyone still cares.  I just kinda lost the thread of it when I saw the finale of season 2.  This story takes place from the end of season 2 (last ep) into season three, so it sort of parallels the series itself.  It helps if you go back and read my story "Tag!"  If you don't feel like it, then here are some facts that you're just going to have to accept for this story to make sense:

Pietro and Rogue are together.  So are Lance and Kitty.  So are Jean and Scott.  Cope. Pietro has developed an immunity towards Rogue's powers.  Keep coping.  Rogue has permenantly absorbed Pietro's powers, though not his personality.  Cope on and prosper. This story, while not actively pro-Jean, is not anti-Jean.  May the coping be with you. 

If you're violently not okay with any of these facts, this story may very well just piss you off.  I'd rather not rehash the entirety of Tag! so please don't complain that Rogue having Pietro's powers (or Pietro himself) makes no sense, etc, etc. 

This first chapter is a brief intro chapter.  But I'm working on it, so just hang tight.  I don't own X-Men: Evo, but if I did the first thing I'd do is get Gambit a better damn haircut. 

*This is a third repost of chapter one.  The whole story has been tweaked cause Pietro was pretty OOC.

"Now just to be certain let's be sure to set the record straight: I could use an angel but I don't intend to split up the take.  Never go for treason, but I got reasons that don't warrant debate.      My act's in tact and in fact you're not all that…"  -Bad Religion, 'Evangeline'

            Rogue swallowed hard as Scott walked out of the danger room, loyalties split between the boyfriend she worshiped, the team leader she trusted and Xavier, who had turned in his chair and rolled out the door.  As it turns out, her decision was made for her by a little brunette.

            "What," Kitty began, crossing the room to Lance in three strides, "the hell," and in one swing she decked him.  "Is your problem?!"

            Rogue cast her eyes on an uneasy looking Quicksilver.

            "I was actually wondering the same thing."

            "Kitty, baby-"

            "Don't you Kitty-baby me you jackass!" Kitty shrieked, swinging at him again with such fury that she phased through him, her velocity knocking her off her feet.  Todd and Freddy nearly crashed to the ground with her, laughing their asses off.

            "Nice moves tinkerbell!"  Freddy choked out.

            "Everyone out," Rogue growled.  Todd's giggling subsided.

            "The hell should we listen to you?"

            "Do what she says," Lance said.  "Now."

            Wanda shrugged, and she Blob, Toad and Quicksilver slunk towards the exit.

            "Not you, Pietro," Rogue said.  "You stick around.  Jean, Evan, Kurt, beat it."

            "It would take me days to list off all the reasons why that ain't gonna happen," Evan replied.  Rogue walked over to Kitty and helped her up. 

            "Come on guys," Jean said, grabbing Evan and Kurt's respective arms, and pulling them past Quicksilver, still frozen in place, towards the door.

            "What are you going to do?"  Kurt asked the other two girls over his shoulder.  Rogue cracked her knuckles.

            "It's time for a little couples therapy."