So, this is my first ever try at this type of thing, so I would really appreciate it if those who read this would leave me some type of feedback on how to improve the story or ideas on possible events for the story.

Just to let you know, I plan on using various aspects of the different X-men worlds in this story. So, if you have any questions on the story, ask away and I will try to answer them as best I can.

P.S I do not own the x-men in any way, shape, or form.

'…..' = thoughts

"….." = speech

Chapter 1

'What am I doing here?' thought Rogue as she stared at the rolling ocean waves from the relative privacy of the gazebo. All day long, she had been overwhelmed with the number of people who had needed her attention or assistance. 'Seriously…why can't they give me a moment of peace?'

Of course, it didn't help that all this attention had come after a series of skirmishes in which she had to use her powers to an extent she wasn't used to. In fact, she had absorbed so many personalities that they were on the verge of breaking through her mental block she had erected to keep them from trying to gain control of her body.

'Figures…I can't even stop thinking about all the obnoxious teenagers in that horrid mansion. Maybe I just need a break form it all…like Logan, when he goes off on his own for weeks…sometimes months at a time,' Rogue thought with some humor, 'Yeah…Logan would really love that. Me…all on my own with no "protection…"'

Sigh.

The truth of the matter was that Rogue was no longer that weak little girl the X-men had first encountered years ago. She had matured mentally, physically, and had made dramatic progress with her mutant abilities. Not that she had informed any of the other X-men yet. Just thinking of the emotional outbreak from the others and physical contact involved if her progress was discovered made Rogue visibly shudder.

Rogue was not adverse to the idea of touching. It was just that…well…her control of her powers was still…erratic…at best.

'Erratic…yeah that's one way of putting it,' thought Rogue thinking about her recent blunder over breakfast Wednesday morning.

Flashback

Rogue woke up vaguely disorientated from her dream.

"C'mon Rogue! We're going to be late for breakfast," Kitty yelled at Rogue as she rushed out their bedroom door.

'Why did I have to be stuck sharing a room with that unbearable brat,' an anguished Rogue thought, 'I mean it's not like we have anything in common.'

Looking about the room, this observation was clearly an understatement. Where Kitty's half of the room was slightly messy and horribly colorful, Rogue's half was meticulous and had a tasteful blend of earth tones that represented Rouge's deep need for some peace. Needless to say, the two sides of the room clashed horribly, just like their personalities often did.

As Rogue was getting ready that morning she remembered what the professor had said during her last lesson with him concerning her control over her power.

(Flashback two)

"Rogue, you need to build up some resistance to physical contact if your training is to proceed," Professor Xavier exclaimed.

"I know professor…I…just don't know if I'm ready yet. I don't know if I'm ready for the others to know I've been working on controlling my powers." Rogue replied.

"Well, think it over Rogue. I know this is intimidating for you but don't let your fears control you Rogue." Xavier gently responded.

(End Flashback Two)

'Maybe today I'll leave off the gloves...see if I can control my powers.' Rogue contemplated as she held her gloves in her hands. 'I'll just keep my gloves in my pocket…just in case.'

Doing just this, she headed down to the kitchen to get her breakfast.

Breakfast went off without a hitch…no one even noticed she had her gloves off throughout breakfast, despite frequent, quick touches that had Rogue thrilled about her use of control. Although, no one noticed because of the absolute chaos that was breakfast at the institute.

After breakfast, Rogue headed out for some early morning exercises. On the way though she ran into Gambit….a.k.a. Swamp Rat (or Remy as known to the rest of the X-men) Normally this wouldn't have been that exceptional…except lately he had been flirting outrageously with her even knowing what her powers could do to him.

'Now what the heck could he want now?' questioned Rogue.

"Ma petite, where you heading?" asked Gambit

"Morning training…same as always Swamp Rat." Rogue retorted with marked annoyance.

"You know chérie, wecould do some training together…just the two of us," suggested Gambit with his usual charm.

"Like I already told you, Swamp Rat, I ain't interested!" exclaimed Rogue.

As she said this she raised her hand to add emphasis to her statement, completely forgetting she had left her gloves off. Gambit reached up to grab her hand but in the process, Rogue accidentally absorbed his powers. Thankfully the contact had not been long thanks to some interference from Storm as she was headed down the hallway and saw the confrontation. Nevertheless, with her newfound "control" of her powers, her powers were more powerful, allowing Rogue to absorb the other's power with the added benefit of being able to recall said power over a limited period of time.

"Rogue! You should know better than to go around without your gloves! Someone could have been seriously injured." Storm lectured.

"Yeah, I know." Sighed Rogue as she was dealing with the impression overload still coursing through her thanks to that little touch with Gambit.

"Don't be so harsh with her, Storm! Gambit was just talking with the girl and no real harm was done." Gambit heatedly bit out.

"No, Remy. She's right. I knowingly endangered my teammates. That is unforgivable." Sighed Rogue.

"I'm glad you realized this Rogue. Now, I would like you to report this incident to the Professor. Understood?" Storm ordered Rogue.

"Yes ma'am," supplied Rogue as she turned around and headed off.

(In Xavier's office)

"Rogue, while I am glad you decided to try controlling your powers, you must remember to keep your emotions in check until you have full control." Professor Xavier remarked.

"I know, Professor. It's just that emotions are all I have; they're the only thing I've ever had to rely on in situations. They're what I rely on." Rogue replied.

"Be that as it may, you must maintain control of your emotions at all times Rogue. Anything less could be…hazardous." Professor Xavier responded gently.

"Understood, Professor," Rogue sighed gently as turned to head out of the office. 'Well, lesson learned. My powers are too dangerous to let out or control with my emotions all jumbled up,' thought Rogue. Her emotions were the power base for her mutant abilities. The stronger her emotions, the stronger her abilities reacted.

End Flashback

'Yeah…and I'm still having a hard time controlling his powers,' Rogue thought as she glanced down at her hands which were slightly glowing. See, since her powers allowed her to absorb other mutant's abilities, the abilities essentially became hers for the period of time she had them. This means that her emotions affected her control of these powers just like they affected her own abilities.

'Is it so much to ask for one moment of being normal?' queried Rogue.

Just then, her internal reverie was interrupted by the appearance of Kurt behind her as he poofed in.

"You know, you really shouldn't pop in on people like that, Kurt." Rogue shot at him.

"So I've been told," retorted Kurt with his usual grin.

"What do you want?" Rogue asked.

"The Professor wants you in his office…something about a message for you." Kurt supplied.

'What? A message for me. Who could it be from?' questioned Rogue. "Alright, Kurt. Want to poof us there?"

"Sure thing, Rogue"

"Ah! There you are Rogue." Professor Xavier exclaimed as Kurt and Rogue poofed into his office. Wolverine and Gambit were also present in the professor's office at the moment.

"Yes…Kurt said you had a message for me?" questioned Rogue.

"Correct. It's addressed to you from a Mrs. Maddie," the Professor replied neutrally as he watched Rogue for a reaction.

Meanwhile, Rogue felt as if her whole world had taken a leap for the worst. 'I haven't seen Maddie in…must be at least 5 years…wonder how she's doing?' Rogue thought as she tried to come to terms with what could very well be the end of her "relatively" calm life with the X-men.

"Sound familiar, chérie?" Gambit asked with concern.

"Yeah…just a bit of a shock. I haven't heard from her in years…What's the message Professor?" Rogue responded.

"I'm not sure, Rogue. There was a large box shipped to you. We asked the delivery person what it was but he just responded that he was not at liberty to discuss the contents of the package." replied the professor.

"Yeah. That's something Maddie would've seen to. So where's the package?" Rogue asked.

"Over there, Rogue." Wolverine answered.

Rogue walked over to the box. On top was a letter addressed from Maddie to Rogue. As Rogue contemplated reading the letter first or opening the box first, a strange sense of unease swept through her. Foregoing the letter in favor of the box, Rogue jerked open the box only to be confronted with an old, battered cowboy hat of no known value…that is to an outsider.

To Rogue though, that one article of clothing had a world of meaning to it. Rogue knew right then and there what Maddie's letter was going to tell her. In fact, the image of that black cowboy hat in that unassuming box did more to confirm the message than Maddie's letter ever could. That cowboy hat in that box meant her father was dead.