OK, this FB's gonna be written as I read along (rather belatedly; I apologise. Rogue wins against Logan? Good for her, in every possible way! And she has won, as odd as it may sound under the circumstances, a decent victory. And gets the respectful bow of the opponent that is due to her. She might even eventually learn that she does have a choice, and has become Logan's equal quite in herself, without the help of the other personae and against the insecure, victimising attitude of Marie. Will the girl get a chance to outgrow her teens, I wonder?

A leaping heart is certainly a prerequisite to life, once in a while. Oh, and it wasn't Logan she had won against with her tiny bikini, all those years ago. Now I AM curious to understand what took that victory away from her again... No, wait. This last scene is before she knew his darkest side, was it? But hadn't she long seen that he was grooming her?

Author's Response: Just coming back to clarify those few plots points - the scene in Havana DOES take place after Pasadena, when she absorbed him properly. Prior to Pasadena, she was pretty much Marie, damaged teenager. After Pasadena, Marie becomes embryonic Rogue, having taken in Wolverine. It takes Rogue AND Marie to face down Marie's demons (in Havana) just like it will take Marie and Rogue to face down Rogue's demons in the present day :D

Definitely not rough! Past and present are fitting together nicely, liked Rogues pov here, how she’s almost [I was going to say on the outside looking in when actually she’s on the inside looking out but you know what I mean!] Really liked how you conveyed her internal struggle, how you’ve split them so it’s not only the outsiders in her head but 2 of her as well. ‘A clamour of protest, that was Rogue. Marie was quiet, though. Did she have nothing to say? No thoughts on this matter? She walked from that girlish room, smiled her girlish smile, and stood on tiptoe to speak in Rogue’s ear. “Trust you. Do this for me.” - loved this line.
Really enjoying this, keep it comin’ x

Ps hope your daughter has a great Birthday! It was my daughters today but the days of candles and cakes are long gone - its not so much fun when they get older just more expensive!!

Author's Response: I'm glad the chapter made sense, especially the last few paras - I admit to writing them VERY late on Saturday night immediately prior to posting! I'm glad you like that line - rereading it, I was pretty impressed with it myself!!! Party was huge fun, if exhausting - she's turning 4 (tomorrow, actually), so it was little girl heaven, with fairy bread, painting, bubbles to chase, fairy dresses, and birthday cake!rn

Loved this chapter, the way you create a back-story for these two isalmost exactly what I picture when I imagine them not meeting the X-Men.

Author's Response: So glad you are enjoying it. It's interesting to see how many of us converge on the "what should have happened" stakes!

Wow, what an awesome chapter -- and covering so much ground! But so evil to leave things there...on such a sensual cliffhanger in both past and present! Not fair! ;-)

Author's Response: But just imagine diving off that particular cliff. I suspect the next chapter's going to be very ... fulfilling. It'll be a nice technical challenge writing two different sex scenes like that ... glad you enjoyed it!