He watched the pair avoiding each other, she with her long dark hair and those white streaks that blaze in the dark, him with the smelly cigar and a Molsens. They avoided each other, ignoring one another because to do anything else would only bring heartache. As he watched them he wondered if they really even knew what heart break was. Logan had lost his memories and Rogue, Rogue was still so young. He flexed his hands, felt his nails bite into the callused flesh of his palms and savored the pain. The pain that kept him sharp, that kept him from the dark. He watched them and they didn't even know it. And he'd been watching them since Liberty Island.

He didn't hear her approach, she moved like a wraith, her steps guided by something beyond even his heightened senses. She stopped out of arms reach and spoke softly. "Do you still want me to go in there?"

He peeled his eyes away from the pair who still ignored one another and looked towards her. Rhiannon, tall for a woman but still several inches shorter than he with dark curling hair and eyes so dark that even he couldn't determine where her pupil started and her iris began. She had skin so pale that if it weren't for the pink of her lips and the slight color in her cheeks she would have looked like a black and white photo. She was his lover, his reason for living now. She had brought him from the brink of death and held him with the force of her iron will until he was well enough to leave her but that day had never come. He had never left her, only taken to the road only to return a day later and beg her to go with him. "Rhia," He greeted her softly and held out a strong, muscled and somewhat hairy arm which she ghosted over to and he encircled her. "I can't go in there, I can't do what needs to be done. But you can. I shouldn't ask but will you?"

She turned in his arms and reached up to place slender pale hands on his cheeks stroking his side burns. "You had only to ask. I will go and do what you believe needs to be done. Will you be alright?"

He looked down into her black eyes seeing his own amber eyes reflected back. He smiled slightly. "I will try to be." he said.

She stood on her toes and kissed him her tongue nicking on one of his sharp teeth and he sucked the sweet tang of her blood away. She let him go and stepped from his arms. "I will be back as soon as the deed is done Victor."

He nodded. "Be safe my love." He murmured and watched her ghost from the woods and stride with confidence towards the mansion.

Sabertooth felt a burning begin in his gut as he watched his mate stride towards the home of the people he used to call his enemy, to help a man who he had once called brother. He watched Logan and Rogue ignore each other then looked after his mate though she had gone from sight and the burning abated, he was doing the right thing. Now to convince Logan and Rogue to do the right thing.

Rhiannon walked silently to the front of the mansion and climbed the steps. She paused in front of the large double doors and cocked her head listening. It was a school day and she could hear teachers lecturing to students she imagined to be very bored. She could hear a faint whirring noise on the second floor. She closed her eyes and let her astral form slide into the mansion. She surveyed the layout and mapped a direct route to Xavier's office before her astral self returned and she opened her eyes again. She smiled at a passing reminiscence of her by gone days of illicit deeds before opening the door and walking in as if she owned the place. She took a look around the foyer and was impressed that Xavier had managed to maintain a balance between aesthetics and practicality, especially in a school for mutants still learning to manage their powers. She stood for a long few moments in front of a large painting of a man on a horse admiring the artwork. She wasn't worried about being caught. No one would know she was there until she wanted them to.

She finally followed the route her astral self had mapped out and strode into Xaviers office. She sat down in the chair across from him and waited for his heart rate to slow. He was very good at hiding his emotions and looked at her with an expression of mild curiosity though she was very sure his mind was racing and he was probably mentally calling for every member of the X-Men to come to his aid. "I wish to join the X-Men." She said quietly and almost smiled when he visibly startled.

He opened his mouth to reply when her theory that he'd been calling for help was proved correct. The door burst open and Scott, Logan and Storm all burst in. Anticipating an attack she slide sideways from the world and Logan's grappling grab passed right through her. "Please don't do that again. You'll hurt yourself or the Professor." She said quietly.

"It's alright you three. She caught me unawares. You have a very unique talent I see." Xaviers smooth voice cut in and all eyes returned to him.

"I can do more than just this." She assured him. "And I'd like to use my talents for something more than enlightened self interest. At least for now."

"Enlightened self interest? What's that mean. You used to use yer power for yerself?" Logan asked and Rhiannon couldn't help her bodies reaction to his voice. It was close enough to Victors to make her body yearn for her lover.

She saw Logan's nostrils flare and decided she would have to be sure to turn him down hard. "Hmmm. Yes, I suppose that would be accurate. More accurate would be to say I used my powers to get what I wanted when I wanted it. I was decidedly unscrupulous in my early years."

Xavier raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, he was trying, unsuccessfully to delve into this woman's mind but he was blocked at every turn. She was facing away from him when he decided to try a more forceful method. He focused his gift into a fine point and tried again. Just before he finished focusing he saw a ghostly apparition of her face appear on the back of her head then it faded and she turned back to him. "You won't be able to read my mind." She said plainly. "So stop trying."

Everyone stared at her then Xavier spoke quietly. "Exactly what is your gift?"

She smiled slightly and the effect was startling, she went from being a Gothic but pretty woman to being a Gothic and radiant woman. It was captivating. She stopped smiling seeing their reaction. "My Code Name is Wytch. I can astral project among other things. I also channel energy through my body and shape it according to my own will. You can call it spell casting if it helps. The amount of power I can channel is limited to the condition of my body and mind. Also extensive meditation has enabled me to prevent any telepath from reading my mind. If I'm feeling especially spunky I can also predict the future in a very limited capacity."

Xavier sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. He thought for a several minutes. Logan started getting antsy but Storm and Scott seemed perfectly content to wait. While Xavier thought Logan was examining the new comer, this Wytch. She smelled familiar but he couldn't figure out where he'd smelled her scent before. She was alluring and he felt drawn to her. Especially since her scent had spiked intriguingly when he'd spoken, a flash of arousal that, made his body half harden before she'd looked away from him dismissively.

"I believe we'll take you on as a provisional member until we get to know you better. In the mean time are you able to teach?" Xavier asked.

She shrugged. "Depends on the subject. I can teach comparative religion or art appreciation."

Xavier nodded. "The new semester just began, if you could teach a combination class on comparative religion using art as a metaphor we might have a slot for you."

She smirked. "That I can do."

He held a hand out and she grasped it. "Welcome to the School. What's your name?"

"Rhiannon. You can call me Rhian." She replied.

Rhian looked around the room she'd been given in the teachers wing. She hadn't brought anything with her and she didn't feel like dealing with the headache she'd have if she conjured things from thin air. She thought for a moment then smiled. Duplication would solve the head ache issue and she knew just who to borrow from. She left the room and went in search of Rogue. She was intercepted by Logan however. "So what's yer angle?"

She looked at him and he couldn't help but stare at her black eyes. She tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Whatever angle I have is my own. What about you?"

He snorted. "Depends on my mood. Mostly I'm looking for my past and kicking ass for Wheels."

'If only you knew the man I know.' She thought thinking about Victor waiting for her in the woods.

Logan caught a wiff of her arousal again but it disappeared as fast as it had come. "Maybe I just want to kick some ass as well." She said challengingly.

He chuckled and folded his arms leaning against the wall. "If you wanted to kick some ass you wouldn't have sneaked in like you did."

It was her turn to laugh. "I walked in. Through the front door, while you and your friends were playing school. The front door was unlocked for crying out loud!"

He scowled. "Yeah that's something I wanted to talk to you about. How the hell did you get past every security measure Scooter and I set up? Even if Chuck can't read yer mind and even if you can phase out like you did in his office the camera's and motion sensors shoulda picked you up."

She smiled enigmatically. "I'm sure you'll figure it out sooner or later."

"Or maybe you'll give the X-Men a demonstration in the Danger Room later." Scott said walking up to them.

She gave him an appraising look then shrugged. "sure, why not. After I get some cloths."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "You didn't come with any?"

"Just what I'm wearing. I travel light." She replied. "Know where I can find Rogue?"

Logan straightened sharply and glowered at her. "How do you know about her?"

"She wasn't mentioned and you've never seen or met her." Scott added watching Rhian suspiciously.

Rhian cursed herself for not thinking about that before she spoke. She answered carefully. "I told you if I'm feeling spunky I can sometimes see into the future. I saw a little bit of the future, basically I saw myself talking to a girl with white streaked hair and gloves. She introduced herself as Rogue."

She felt like holding her breath praying Logan would believe the lie. If he was anything at all like Victor it would be extremely difficult to lie to him but she had managed to once or twice before. His shoulders relaxed she felt her the cramp in her stomach ease. He'd bought it. "I'll take ya to see her." He said.

"Thanks." She followed him but made a note of the very suspicious look on Scott's face. She wasn't sure he'd bought her lie.

Logan lead her to another wing of the mansion and pointed out Rogues door. "Not gonna introduce us?" She asked.

"Thought you saw the future." He growled.

She laughed. "The future is like water. Every little ripple changes it. Just because I saw part of a vision of the future doesn't mean it's set in stone."

He nodded in understanding. "I'll let you make your own introductions." He said and stalked off.

'This is going to be harder than I thought.' She thought with a small sigh.

She knocked on Rogues door and waited. Rogue opened the door hesitantly and Rhian smiled reassuringly. "Hi, I'm Rhian. You're Rogue?"

Rogue opened the door. "Ah am." Sh replied.

"I just got here. I'm going to be teaching Comparative Religion. I was wondering if you could help me with something."

Rogue frowned and tucked an ivory lock of hair behind her ear. "Help with what?"

"I need some cloths and was wondering if I could copy some from you."

"From meh?" Rogue looked stunned. "Ah haven't got anything that would look good on ya."

"I think you might. What your wearing now looks pretty nice." She motioned to the lacy red long sleeved shirt Rogue was wearing over a black tanktop.

Rogue thought about it for a moment chewing her bottom lip nervously then she nodded and opened the door to let Rhian in. "Jus' don't touch mah skin." She warned.

"Why?" Rhian asked knowing full well why but playing her part.

"Ah have killer skin. Ah don't want to hurt ya." Rogue replied walking over to the closet.

She pulled out a few shirts and handed the to Rhian expecting her to drape them over her arm. Instead Rhian lay one on the bed spread and held her left hand out over the shirt, the right hovering over empty space. She concentrated for a moment and a duplicate of the shirt started to take shape. Rogue watched in stunned amazement. When the shirt was completely copied Rhian picked it up and held it up. "Pretty cool huh? I can use energy channeled through my own body and shaped by my will to do pretty much anything. Including make copies of cloths I like. I haven't paid for cloths in years."

Rogue blinked. "Ain't that like stealin'?"

"Depends on your point of view. Technically no one owns anything. It's all just borrowed from somewhere until we die then it's borrowed by someone else until they die. I'm just borrowing a little more efficiently." She watched Rogues face carefully. "If I'm making you uncomfortable with my cloths copying I can go elsewhere."

Rogue thought about it for a moment. "Nah. It's ok. Jus' never thought about it that way." She took the original shirt back from Rhian and handed her a different one. "So what happens with the cloths you copy? They got a time limit or somthin'?"

Rhian shook her head. "They last as long as the original and have to be washed and dried and mended just like the originals. I usually donate them to the Salvation Army or give them away when I'm done with them."

"That's nice of you." Rogue was starting to like Rhian.
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Rogue and Rhian walked into the dining hall together chatting amiably. Rhian as wearing a dark green tank top and a pair of jeans she'd copied from Rogue and looking perfectly comfortable. Rogue looked much as she usually did. Cautious but trying to enjoy life. Logan watched the pair of them but looked away when he saw Rogues head starting to turn towards him. He was doing his level best to leave Rogue alone to experience life unhindered by his damaged self. Apparently Rhian hadn't gotten that memo because she dragged Rogue over to sit at his table. Rogue was trying to unobtrusively attract his attention and Rhian was watching the whole sad affair. At one point during the meal she reached over and poked Logan with her fork. "Hey!"

"Hey yourself. You haven't said word one since dinner started. Mind telling me why you're sulking?" Rhian asked.

"I ain't sulking kid." He replied hoping to distract her with an obviously inappropriate nickname.

She wasn't biting. Victor had tried to push her away with the same tactics. She ignored the name. "You're sulking like someone took your favorite cigar."

"And how do you know I smoke cigars?" He asked.

"I can smell them and Rogue told me your favorite brand is Don Kiki." She replied smoothly. "Now quit avoiding the question and tell me why you're sulking."

He leaned forward and gave her his most intense stare which had the side effect of making Rogue shrink back. He felt a little guilty about that but if it kept her from ruining her life by pursuing him so much the better. "I. Ain't. Sulking." He stood and stalked off.

Rhian watched him leave. 'Just like Victor.'

She turned to Rogue. "He always this surly?"

"Only for the last month or so. It's mah fault too." Rogue replied looking down at her plate her long hair falling forward to hide her face.

Rhian suppressed a sigh. This damsel in distress thing was getting old but she'd promised Victor she'd get Logan and Rogue together. "And how is his bad attitude your fault?"

Rogue sighed. "Ah've been in love with him since Ah was seventeen. Last year after Ah turned twenty-one Ah tried to tell him how Ah felt and he pushed me away. He's been ignorin' me ever since."

Rhian watched Rogue for a few moments then turned her attention back to her meal. She wasn't going to make her move just yet. She still needed to gather a few more facts and make a plan before she did anything rash. She'd give it a week to settle in and get a feel for the situation. Then she'd start fulfilling her promise.

"So as you can see in frame two the clash between Christianity and Paganism took many forms. If you look here in the lower corner you can see a satyr shrinking from a woman bearing a cross while in the upper right hand field you see a cross aflame." The lecture broke off as the door opened and Rhian looked expectantly at the interloper. "Can I help you?"

Jean gave Rhian an odd look. She'd been away at a medical conference in England for the last two weeks. She'd heard about the new Comparative Religion and Art Appreciation teacher but was curious to see the woman for herself. She was surprised. The woman had skin the color of liquid paper but it was natural from what Jean could tell. So was the pitch black hair that had the natural blue and red sheen under good lighting that all natural black hair has. What struck Jean as most peculiar looking about the woman were her black eyes. There was no distinguishing between her iris and pupil. She looked like a black and white photograph. "I asked if I could help you. You're interrupting my class." Rhian said impatiently.

Jean snapped out of it. "I just wanted to introduce myself I'm..."

Rhian cut her off. "It can wait until after class. Please either sit and listen or leave."

Jean frowned but left. The woman was also rude. She wouldn't be surprised if Logan had brought the woman back to the Mansion with him. She carried her suitcase to her and Scott's room and set it on the bed. She heard the toilet in the bathroom flush and smiled. She had missed Scott.

Scott smiled when he saw her standing by the bed. She moved towards him and they embraced one another for a long moment. "I missed you." He said.

"I missed you too. So I see there have been a few staff changes while I was away." She replied tilting her head up so she could look at his face.

"Yeah. Rhian. She's good at what she does but she's a little creepy." Scott replied gently kneading her spine.

"She's also rude. I tried to introduce myself and she told me it could wait until after class." Jean pursed her lips when Scott gave a small smile.

"Don't judge her too harshly. She only gets three hours a week with them and she says she wants to make every minute count. She's a good teacher." Scott leaned his head down to press kisses along her neck and Jean trembled slightly.

"Where did she come from?"

"No idea. She just showed up one day and said she wanted a job." Scott said distractedly kissing the column of her throat. He nipped her neck and Jean forgot about Rhian.
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Rhian hadn't forgotten her however and when Jean finally pulled herself from Scott's arms and went to find a cup of coffee she met Rhian in the kitchen. Rhian had filled a cup and handed it to Jean as Jean walked in. "Sorry if I was abrupt with you earlier. I only have three hours a week to teach them to appreciate what Art and the science of Religion can mean in their lives. And I want to make it all count."

Jean added cream and sugar to her coffee. "No problem. Scott explained it to me. My name is Jean."

Rhian waved her hand over her nearly empty cup of coffee and it refilled before Jeans eyes. "I'm Rhian. I've heard a lot about you. I'm glad I get to finally meet you." She took a sip of coffee.

"What exactly is your mutation?" Jean asked watching the coffee cup.

"I channel the energy present in the earth through my body and bend it to my will. Call it spell casting or magic or whatever you like. I can sometimes see bits of the future if I'm feeling spunky. I just used a Duplication to refill my coffee cup." Rhian replied.

Jean was flabbergasted. The woman before her had one of the most powerful mutations she'd ever witnessed and she was using it to refill her coffee. "Are you on the X-Men team yet?"

"Not yet. I haven't finished my trials yet I guess. I'll get there eventually. I've only been here two weeks. I'm actually going out for a while tonight. It's Friday and I'd like to spend the weekend out in nature. It's been a long two weeks." Rhian sipped at her coffee to hide the tremor in her lips. She missed Victor painfully. She'd only been able to slip out to see him once in the last two weeks.

Jean was carefully trying to probe Rhians thoughts but she was met with a blank wall. Rhian gave her a knowing look. "You can't read my mind Jean. Not even Xavier can read my mind. It's a by product of the intense meditation process I had to go through to learn to control my powers."

Jean felt her suspicions mounting but apparently Xavier trusted Rhian enough to let her teach. Rogue walked in just then and made a beeline for Rhian. "He's coming back tonight Rhian."

Rhian took another sip of coffee and raised an eyebrow at Rogue. "And what am I supposed to do? I told you you have to get a little more proactive about your approach."

"But Ah don't know what to do!" Rogue wailed.

Rhian smiled slightly and gave her an indulgent smile. "Give me the weekend to think things over. I'll come up with a fool proof plan for you and we'll go over it on Monday ok?"

"Why the weekend?" Rogue asked.

"Because if I don't get away from the students, the noise and the unruly energy here and meditate in the peace of nature I will start slipping and I don't want to loose control here." Rhian replied. "Now scoot. I'll find you Monday."

Rogue gave her a quick hug and left. Jean gave Rhian another appraising look. "You've made a fast friend in Rogue. Is she still trying to win over Logan?"

"Yes. I've been trying to help her but she's so timid. She needs to take a stronger approach to the man or he'll never take her seriously." Rhian knew this wasn't entirely true but it was all Jean really needed to know.

"Good luck with that. Logan is stubborn as a mule."

"Thanks Jeannie. Nice to know what ya really think of me." Logan growled as he walked in.

"You're back early." Rhian commented.

Jean couldn't help but notice the way Logan watched Rhian. It was a look she'd seen turned in her direction a few times but this was more serious. Logan really wanted Rhian. Rhian for her part seemed unaffected. "Yeah. Couldn't stay away fer some reason."

'More like he wanted to get back and see her.' Jean thought with an odd sense of relief. It had been flattering to be the center of Logan's very alluring attentions for a while but she had tired of the overwhelming intensity. She was happy with Scott.

Speaking of Scott. She stood. "Hey Rhian, could you maybe conjure up another two cups of coffee. I want to take some up to Scott. I think I wore him out."

Rhian peered into Jeans cup. "I think I can oblige. Hand me another cup will ya?"

Jean handed her another coffee mug and Rhian poured a little of Jeans coffee into the empty cup then waved her hands over both cups. They filled quickly and Jean left with the steaming drinks. Logan watched Rhian for a long moment before moving towards her purposefully. Rhian watched him knowing better than to try to bolt. Better to out think him than fail to outrun him.

"I'm not for you Logan." She said quietly.

"Why not?" He asked.

She smirked. "Because you're destined for another and I'm not interested in you."

He scowled. "Don't tell me yer more interested in someone like Scooter?"

She laughed. "Not a chance. I just don't want you."

He closed in on her and she held herself still not challenging or submitting. He pressed up against her enjoying her warmth but her passive unresponsive attitude annoyed him. He wanted to smell her arousal. He cupped the back of her head and dipped his head down to kiss her. Her mouth was slack and unresponsive. He growled in frustration and stepped back. Grabbing a beer from the fridge he stomped out of the kitchen.

"You can take the Wolverine from the wild but you can't take the wild from the Wolverine." She murmured and slipped out the kitchen door.

She'd told Xavier she was leaving for the weekend to meditate and she'd left Scott a note just in case Xavier didn't tell anyone that she'd be gone for the weekend. She gathered her will and in a breath she was standing three yards from Victor. "Victor." She murmured and smiled when he spun round his claws slashing at the air between them.

"Make some noise damn it Rhia. I don't want to hurt you again."

She felt the faint twinge in her abdomen at the reminder of the one time she'd failed to keep out of arms reach when approaching him. He'd slashed her belly to ribbons and it had only been her will that had saved her life. "That's not going to happen again Victor. I learned the first time."

He stalked forward and grabbed her up into his arms his mouth crashing down on hers and this kiss she opened herself to. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as they kissed trying to cleave to him so they were one body. Victor broke the kiss panting. "It's been a week." He groaned.

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder as he shifted his grip on her. "It hurts." She murmured.

He nuzzled her neck breathing in her scent. He could smell Logan not precisely on her but his brother had been close to her recently. He didn't care, he had no doubts when it came to Rhia's loyalty. "It hurts." He agreed.

She lifted her head and stared into his amber eyes. He gripped her hips firmly and held her so they could stare into each others eyes, their hearts synchronizing until they beat in unison, their breathing synced as well. Rhian felt the tension and the dull throbbing in her head abate. This was her meditation now. Becoming one with Victor was better than any meditative trance she'd ever put herself in. When she broke eye contact he growled and grabbed the back of her head. He hated it when she broke eye contact during their sessions. He kissed her forcefully as if he could possess her soul if only he could get to it. They crashed to the ground, her astride him until he rolled so she was under him. He wanted to dominate her, to own her body and soul but with a enormous effort of will he fought the urge. She reached up as he fought with himself and cupped his face. "Enough my love. You won't break me. Let go." She whispered and he let go.

He always felt dirty and unworthy of her after letting go. She never came away unscathed. This time was no different. She lay asleep on a pile of ferns beside him five long red welts marking the perfect white of her ribs. They would be gone by morning and her skin would be as perfect as ever. She didn't heal per say. She merely willed the wounds away. There were bruises on her hips and thighs and he knew he'd torn her a few times. But sure as the sun rose in the east she'd wake and tell him she didn't care. That she loved it and him.

He watched her sleep and tried to ignore the feeling that he didn't deserve her. Eventually he settled on the thought that no man ever deserved the love of a woman and the only way to even come close was to continually try to deserve them. He lay down and pulled her closer to him. He thought of Logan stubbornly refusing this kind of salvation and smiled slightly. No one held out long against Rhia when she set her mind and will to a task.

Rhian sat in the kitchen eating a huge plate of eggs, sausage, toast and hash browns with ravenous abandon. She was always starving after an intense session with Victor. She took a sip of coffee and watched Jean's horrified stare. Jean sat across from her eating a bowl of fruit and a cup of coffee. "What were you doing in the woods to work up such an appetite?"

Rhian smirked slightly. 'If only you knew.' She thought. "I was meditating and communing with nature. I was also fasting since I didn't bother bringing supplies with me." She said aloud.

Which wasn't entirely true. Victor would never allow her to go hungry but he did understand her need to fast for twenty-four hours though it bothered him to let his mate go without food. Jean nodded. "I see. I take it you feel refreshed."

"Very. Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"

"Not really. Logan's been stomping around the place in a cranky mood since Friday. I'm guessing you turned him down. Storm had a nightmare and it snowed in the garden and Rogue did what she always does and did nothing at all." Jean bit into a strawberry and watched Rhian.

She was starting to like Rhian. The woman was entertaining, intelligent and completely inaccessible to Jean or the Professor. And Jean was starting to find that she liked that. Rhian for her part was trying not to start liking Jean too much. Friendships made here would have to fall away when she returned to Victor since her mate would never be accepted in the hallowed halls of the School. "Well since Rogue didn't do anything this weekend she must be dieing of boredom. I think I'll take her out to do something since neither of us has class today."

"Is that wise? With her skin and all?" Jean asked concern for Rogue rising to the forefront.

"To tell you the truth I really don't think it'll be a problem. Part of today's outing will be an intense meditative process. I think I know a way to help her control her power." Rhian replied.

"But we've already tried meditation, several different kinds." Jean protested.

Rhian smiled. "Not all meditation involves closing your eyes and focusing your mind Jean. If it doesn't work it doesn't work and we'll try something else."

Jean sighed but couldn't think of anything to say as Rhian dumped her dishes in the skin and rinsed them. She sailed out of the kitchen leaving Jean with her thoughts.

Rhian ran into Logan on her way to get Rogue. Apparently Logan had been lying in wait because he grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. He could smell something very familiar on her. A scent that blanketed her own. He stuck his nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply but before he could place the scent she'd shifted sideways from the world and he fell through her. She glared down at him. "I told you no Logan."

He stood and glared at her. "You smell like a man. Who'd you go see this weekend?"

"That's none of your business." She replied hoping that the musk perfume she'd sprayed on this morning when she'd dressed would cover Victors scent.

"It is if yer giving them inside info on the mansion." Logan growled.

She laughed. Partially because it was absurd but partially because he'd hit the nail on the head. She'd been sharing information with Victor about the goings on in the mansion but only about Logan and Rogue. Victor wasn't interested in the rest. "You're a cranky suspicious bastard today."

He scowled heavily and Rhian began to ghost away from him. "I'm going out again today but this time I'll have Rogue with me so you won't have to worry about me selling information on the School with her as witness."

"Yer up to something and I'll find out what." Logan promised as she walked away from him.

Rhian felt apprehensive about that promise. Something was nagging at her but she couldn't place it so she shelved it and knocked on Rogues door. Rogue answered as usual swathed from neck to toe in layers. Rhian appraised her outfit and shook her head. "That's not gonna work today Rogue."

She slipped into Rogues room and opened the closet. "We're going out today you and I."

"Out? Why?"

"Because I promised you I'd help you get Logan, I just needed time to come up with a plan. The first step is getting out of the mansion for a while. Here wear this." Rhian handed her a pair of leggings, a floor length black skirt and a long sleeve blouse. Rogue changed quickly in the bathroom. When she came back out Rhian looked her over then reached to pluck the top three buttons completely off the blouse leaving a long expanse of Rogues pale neck exposed. "Perfect."

Rogue gaped at her. "That's too much skin Rhian!"

Rhian looked her in the eye her face serious. "Rogue, Logan is never going to take you seriously if you look like a school marm. You need to learn to relax a little. Here in the School everyone knows about your skin so their careful around you. In polite society in the outside world it's considered very rude to go around grabbing at peoples throats unless your plan is to strangle them in which case they deserve a good zap from you. Showing a little skin between collar and chin is perfectly safe. Hell you could probably show off half your cleavage and still be just fine."

Rogue thought about it for a moment then nodded. "Alright. So what do you have in mind?"

"Well first we're going somewhere quiet for a few hours. I have an idea on how we might control your power. Then we're going shopping." Rhian grinned.
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"So the idea is very simple. Psychologists use it to treat people with multiple personalities. They teach the patient to compartmentalize the different personalities and uses a trigger word to bring them forth or lock them away. Jean says you know how to meditate?" Rhian asked sitting cross legged from Rogue on a stone balance beam in a empty playground.

"Yeah."

"Good. Close your eyes and seek out your power. What does it feel like?" Rhian asked and waited for Rogue to slip into the meditative trance. It took about ten minutes. "Rogue. What does your power feel like?"

"It feels like static but softer, like when you run your hand over a computer screen." Rogue replied softly.

"Good, gather that feeling into a small space, pack it into a ball. Draw every bit of it into a ball and hold it." Rhian waited again until Rogue said she had it all. "Build a box around it. Visualize the walls of a box, make it any kind of box you like but it has to have a lid with a lock and key."

Rogue focused and Rhian saw beads of sweat break out on her forehead. The strain of this kind of meditation was incredible. After about half an hour Rogue spoke again. "I got it. My power kept trying to get away but I got it in the box." She sounded triumphant.

"Good. You need to lock the box. Pick a trigger word. Something that doesn't get said often around you. Anyone will be able to unlock the box with the trigger word so it needs to be really unique." Rhian shifted her weight slightly and waited.

"I can't think of anything." Rogue said a little frantically.

"Calm down. I'll help you. How about you use a mythical name? Use the word Freya." Rhian said quickly.

Rogue mouthed the word and visualized locking the box. She opened her eyes slowly and wiped sweat off her forehead with a shaky hand. "Do..do you think it worked?"

"Only one way to tell." Rhian replied and laid her bare fingers on Rogues bare neck.

Neither of them felt anything. Rogue started crying and Rhian pulled her into a hug. "I can't believe it. It's under control."

Rhian pulled away from Rogue and handed her a tissue. "Not entirely. You have to let it out from time to time or it will explode out of the box and you won't be able to get it back in and if someone else says the trigger word you'll have to spend some time meditating to get the box closed again. But this is as close to gone as you can get."

"What does my trigger word mean?" Rogue asked.

Rhian smiled. "She's the goddess of women, the protector of women and children. Makes a perfect trigger word for you. And most people don't say her name anymore."

Rogue nodded, her stomach growled and she pressed her hands to it. "Oh man I'm starving."

Rhian checked her watch. "Not surprising, we've been out here for three hours and that was an incredibly intense session. Come on. Lets go to the mall. We'll get lunch then blow some money on some seriously sexy cloths."
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"Are you sure about this?" Rogue asked looking at herself in the mirror.

She was wearing a black halter-top that clung in all the right places without being slutty. A black leather skirt hung to just above her knees and she wore a pair of what Rhian called witch boots. She looked sexy but something was off. Rhian was considering her image and holding two large bags of cloths. She'd decided Rogue needs a wardrobe overhaul. She snapped her fingers. "I know just what you need. Come on lets go pay for those."

Rogue wanted to scream at the total but Rhian simply paid for the items and they left. "How can you afford to spend that kind of money? That wasn't a conjured card was it?"

Rhian laughed and people around them turned to watch the pair of beautiful woman walking along. "No. It's not conjured Rogue. I wasn't always a school teacher. I have money enough to really enjoy life and sense enough to not squander it unless I think it's a good cause."

Rogue blushed. "I'm a good cause?"

Rhian slung an arm over Rogues now bare shoulders. "Hell yeah. Come on."

Rogue looked at the salon. "You're going to get my hair cut?" She squeaked.

Rhian fingered Rogues long straight single length hair. "You're twenty one and this hair cut does not show it. We're just going to sex it up a little. It'll still be long." She reassured.

Rogue swallowed then nodded firmly. "I'm twenty one. Time to stop feeling like I'm sixteen."

"Atta girl!" Rhian said cheerfully glad to see Rogue finally shedding her timid shell.

The stylist oohed and ahhed over Rogues beautiful hair while Rhian gave instructions. "Sex it up but leave it as long as possible. Maybe give it some curl? Not like mine though, her hair won't tolerate that."

Another stylist looked Rhian's hair over with an appraising eye. "Is that color natural? And the curls?"

Rhian smiled. "Yup. Never touched it with a dye bottle and forget the curling irons."
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Logan prowled the foyer, the game room, the media room and back again. He felt restless and angry. Like someone had encroached on his territory but he didn't know who. It had been almost eight hours since Rhian and Rogue had left the mansion and he was torn between leaving to find them and just plain leaving. He paced back into the foyer and his ears caught the sounds of car doors shutting. He yanked the door open and Rhian half stumbled. She'd been leaning on the door trying to adjust the bags she was carrying. "Thanks Logan. Lets just dump me on the marble huh?"

He snorted. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Out." She replied cheekily.

He looked past her looking for Rogue. He didn't immediately recognize the young woman standing in front of the door. She was stunning, a black halter top and black leather skirt with old fashioned black boots made her body seem impossibly long and lean. He started when he saw the white streaks in her tousle curled hair. Rogue's new hair cut had turned hr long straight thick brown hair into a thick tousle curled mane. It looked fantastic on her. She was wearing very light make up and for a change actually looked twenty one. Rhian reached over and closed his jaw. "And she's got complete control of her skin." She commented before gathering up the bags and climbing the stairs to the teachers wing.

"You can control it?" He asked gruffly.

"Ah can. Rhian taught me how to lock it away." Rogue replied.

Logan eyes darkened slightly and she could tell he was angry about something. She moved towards him. "Do ya like it?"

He gave a her a quick once over and growled. "Yeah. Doesn't change anything though." He stalked away leaving Rogue standing in the middle of the foyer trying not to cry.

Rhian's astral self had watched the entire exchange. It appeared she would have to move to stage two of her plan.

Rhian spent the better part of two days picking out a date for Rogue. It was her intent to prove to Logan that if he didn't move soon Rogue would be stolen by another. She finally settled on a new student in her class. The suave cajun wonder everyone seemed to call Remy. He'd turned those red on black eyes her way a few times but when she'd threatened to send him on an astral tour of hell he'd left her alone. She arranged the date and told Rogue who was skeptical. "Ah don't even know the guy Rhian."

"That's half the point of dating Rogue." Rhian had remarked and handed her an outfit. "Just because Logan is being thick doesn't mean you have to deny yourself the fun of going out on a date."

"Ah guess." Rogue had replied and gotten dressed.

Logan had watched Rogue and Remy leave the mansion. He went to find Rhian who was flipping through slides for her class the next day. "Tryin' to make me jealous?" He asked.

"Is it working?" Rhian asked clicking through the slides.

He grabbed the remote and set it on the desk out of her reach. "Just stop."

Rhian raised an eyebrow. "Stop what? Stop being Rogues friend? Or stop making you think about what you're giving up?"

"This is some kind of game to you isn't it?" Logan asked angrily. "You show up and decided that you know what two people need to be happy. You don't know the first thing about us."

Rhian waited until he was finished. "This is no game to me Logan." She finally replied and he could smell her anger, he also thought he could smell an undercurrent of pain. "See I don't know what will make two people happy. Not for sure but I do know what could make You happy. I do know what could make Rogue happy and seeing you waste the gift by pushing it away is infuriating."

"Waste the gift? I ain't wasting it Rhian. I'm tryin' to protect it. I'm an animal. I'm a dangerous weapon and someone as good and decent as Rogue should have to live with that." Logan was practically shouting by now but Rhian had stopped listening.

**I'm an animal you stupid woman. I could rip you apart and not care. Why the fuck do you care so much? Get away from me before I do rip you up."** She blinked pushing the memory away and focused her eyes on Logan.

"You're an idiot Logan. Instead of assuming that she's not capable of accepting you as you are why don't you give her the choice." She shoved past him her anger clouding her eyes and filling her gut with hot coals.

Logan followed her. "Where are you going?"

"To the woods, to meditate. To get away from you. You aren't an animal Logan. Animals don't push their mates away. Animals don't make dumb assumptions based on societal norms. Animals don't ignore what's right in front of..." The report of a gun stopped her words in midflow and she stared at the man before them.

He was dressed in camouflage clothing carrying a rifle. A terrified young boy was trying to get away from him but was caught between the mans side and elbow. "Quit squirming you filthy little shit." The man barked.

Rhian pressed her hands to her stomach trying to hide the blood from both Logan and the boy. "What are you doing? Let him go."

"I ain't gonna let my ex-wife bleed me dry in support money so her mutie brat can go to some fancy school." The man replied viciously.

Logan took a step forward but the man pointed his gun at Rhian. "I'll shoot her again. We're gettin' out of here. You can't stop us."

Logan cast his mind out seeking the Professor but remembered that the Professor was in Washington DC with Jean and Scott. He was going to have to deal with this guy on his own. Rhian cleared her throat. "Look, it's clear you don't even want the kid so just let him go. I'm sure you can work something out with the boys mother."

"She don't want to work nothing out. Says I'm gonna pay fer the kid to learn to use his powers. Calls it retribution fer being a lousy husband. I ain't never done nothing wrong to her. Not my fault I got lousy luck."

Rhian was having a hard time focusing through the pain and blood loss. She ruthlessly shoved it aside and tried to think of a way around the situation. "Look, please just let the kid go. You're hurting him."

Logan tried to get closer but the man tightened his grip in the gun. "I said stay back mister."

He looked back at Rhian. "I ain't paying fer him to be here any more. You send him back to his mama you hear? I ain't gonna pay another cent fer trash like him."

"We'll take care of it." Rhian said calmly.

"No, you'll kick his ass out!" The man yelled and the gun went off again. Rhian couldn't focus enough to turn sideways from the world and the bullet tore through her abdomen. She managed to stay on her feet but the kid screamed. Logan roared and sprang forward gabbing the gun man. He got him pinned to the ground and screamed for help as Rhian swayed on her feet and collapsed.
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Victor knew something was wrong. His gut burned and he was nearly overwhelmed with anxiety for Rhia. He paced back and forth in the woods trying to calm down when all he really wanted to do was run to the mansion and make sure she was ok. He paced a path into the forest floor until after dawn.
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Jean and the Professor had left early when Logan called them. Jean was frantically trying to repair the damage to Rhian's abdomen caused by the bullets and Rhian's own stubbornness. Rogue was sitting in the waiting room with Logan. Remy had left hours ago. Rogue wasn't looking at Logan but from time to time Logan glanced over at her. She was still wearing her date cloths. He was thinking about what she'd said before the gun man had shown up and shot her. He was also thinking about how the security system needed to be upgraded, overhauled, completely replaced. **"You're not an animal. Animals don't push their mates away."**

He sighed and shoved a hand through his hair. She'd spoken so forcefully he could almost taste the fury in her voice. Like she'd said those words before to someone else. Rogue shifted in her chair and he glanced over at her again. She'd returned from her date just as the police were picking up the shooter. They'd brought him outside and claimed that he hadn't made it inside but taken pot shots at the front of the mansion. He was being tried for carrying a gun without a permit and for vandalism and reckless endangerment. Logan wished he was being tried for attempted murder but they couldn't reveal that Rhian was injured or too many questions would have been asked.

He cleared his throat. "She'll make it. Rhian's tough."

She nodded. "Yeah."

Logan finally just gave up and turned to look at her. "Look I'm tryin' to keep you safe kid. I'm tryin' to make sure you don't get stuck with someone who'll make ya miserable."

"By making meh miserable?" Rogue asked waspishly.

He was startled by the bold statement. Before Rhian had become her friend she was timid and often didn't fight back. "Yes, no. Hell I don't know kid."

"Ah am not a kid Logan. Ah am twenty one and you're gonna remember it. You can't keep meh safe forever. Eventually Ah'm gonna get hurt. Hell Ah am getting hurt right now. You're hurting meh."

She crossed her leg and leaned back in her chair which did interesting things to her figure. He stared at her her words ringing in his ears. "I'm sorry." He finally muttered.

The door opened and Jean came out. "She's stable. In rough shape but stable. I'd be willing to be that as soon as she heals a little she'll be able to gather her will and finish the healing process without external aids. Right now she's on a respirator though."

Rogue covered her mouth and choked back a sob. "Oh thank God."

Logan slipped out of the waiting room. He needed to get out and think for a while. He left the mansion and started running through the woods. He was so busy thinking, just running on instinct he didn't notice the figure in his path until he ran into it. He and Sabertooth went sprawling on the ground. Logan sprang up his claws unsheathing. "What're you doing here?" He snarled.

"Could ask you the same." Sabertooth snarled back his anxiety for Rhia preventing him from making sane decisions. He needed to relieve the pressure and a good fight with Wolverine would do just fine.

Sabertooth grinned at Logan crouching into a fighting stance. Logan grinned back glad to have someone safe to take his aggression out on. "So how ya been Wolverine? Since Liberty."

"Just fine bub. Why are you here?" Logan growled back.

Sabertooth growled low in his throat. "I'm lookin fer someone." He snarled and launched himself at Logan his fury spilling over.

Something was wrong. He had the gut wrenching feeling something was wrong with Rhia but he couldn't go find her. He slashed at Logan subconsciously blaming his brother for however he may have failed Rhia. Logan grabbed him propelling him into a tree. "If yer looking fer Rogue again you ain't gettin' her. Who sent you. Bucket Head again?"

Sabertooth chuckled. "Hardly. Magneto abandoned me. Unlike Mystique I don't tolerate betrayal." He jumped into the air and came down with both hands clenched into fists pummeling into Logan's unprotected back.

Logan spat blood and winced feeling a broken rib repair itself. Sabertooth took a swipe at him ripping his shirt. "Sides. Skinny little Rogue ain't got nothing I want."

Logan snarled but smirked while he did. he took a swipe at Sabertooth and opened up three long wounds in his opponents chest."She ain't skinny no more bub. Not that any self respecting woman would want a hair ball like you anyway."

Sabertooth felt the barb hit home though he knew there was no way Logan could know about him and Rhia. 'If he only knew how right he is.'

Sabertooth backed up a little and waited for the wounds to close up. "I seem to recall that cute little piece of ass in Tijuana that wanted my hairy self." He said tauntingly. "Oh that's right, you ain't got no memory so you wouldn't remember Tijuana would you Jimmy?"

"What?" Logan gaped at him. He'd found a little information on himself indicating that his name had originally been James Logan Howlett but beyond that he was like a ghost.

"You heard me Jimmy. What you spend all these years looking fer yer past only to find out that your enemy knows exactly who you are. Life sucks don't it?" Sabertooth taunted.

"You know who I was? Shit why should I believe you?" Logan stood up straight and faced Sabertooth, the urge to attack him dissipating.

Sabertooth stood up as well and shrugged. "You don't have to believe me. Doesn't matter to me one way or the other."

The wind shifted and Victor could smell Logan's scent mixed with Blood. Rhia's blood. His vision went red and he launched himself at Logan. He caught Logan by surprise and drove him to the ground. "What have you done to her?!" He howled.

Logan grappled with the larger man trying to get hijm off of his chest. "Who?" He snarled.

"Rhia. What have you done to Rhia? I can smell her blood on you!" Sabertooth slashed at Logan's face and chest his fury and fear for his mate overwhelming him.

Before Logan could answer a blast of red light knocked Sabertooth off of Logan. Scott and Storm ran to Logan. Storm helped him up while Scott prepared for another blast. Sabertooth was struggling to his feet. He launched himself at Scott. "What did you do to Rhia you bastards?!" He howled and Scott blasted him again.

Everyone expected him to stay down after a close up blast from Scott's visor but Sabertooth staggered to his feet. Logan got himself to his feet and put a hand on Scotts arm. "Scott, don't. I think he's talking about Rhian."

Sabertooth collapsed to his knees and slide from consciousness. After a brief argument Scott finally agreed to take Sabertooth to the mansion and lock him in a cell until they could figure out how he was connected to Rhian.
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Rogue slipped up next to Logan while he stood watching Sabertooth through a one way mirror. Sabertooth was pacing back and forth muttering something. When Logan had switched on the intercom he could hear Sabertooth talking to himself. It was a little disturbing. Rogue watched Sabertooth for a few minutes before speaking. "Rhian isn't recovering very fast. Could be a while before we can ask her about her and Sabertooth. Though Ah don't get what she might see in him."

Logan chuckled. "I didn't either but then again. What do you see in me?"

Rogue stared at him. "You're nothin' like him. He's insane."

"Maybe. I've been called crazy a time or two myself. Sabertooth is just a little less restrained about it. But we're both animals." Logan kept watching Sabertooth who had stopped pacing and was standing with his head down.

Rogue thought about it for a moment. "You may be a lot like animals but you're not. He might be but yer not. You hung on to yer humanity, made something better of yerself. I love you fer who you were, are and will become and Animals don't have that kind of potential." She turned to leave.

"When this is over, when we figure out what's going on with Rhian and Sabertooth, you want to go out sometime? Maybe give whatever it is we're feeling fer each other a shot?" Logan asked.

Rogue took the two steps back over to him and kissed him forcefully. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close. When they pulled apart finally they were both grinning. "You better believe it sugah."
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Victor paced back and forth in the cell. He'd banged on the one way mirror for a while demanding to see Rhia. Begging to see her but no one had answered. He was starting to think they'd sealed him away and were just going to leave him there to rot. He finally sat on the floor and braced his arms on his knees. He wanted to kill Logan. To rip his brother to shreds. After all if Logan hadn't been so thick about Rogue being his mate Rhia wouldn't have offered to help them and she'd be safe now. He refused to entertain the thought that she might be dead. His heart couldn't take that thought.

"Shoulda just shown up and told Logan outright. Told him everything. Rhia." He spoke her name like a prayer.

He had no idea that the task Rhia had set out to accomplish was finished. That Logan and Rogue had taken the first step down the right path. All he knew was that he was alone and that if Rhia was gone he woulkd move heaven and earth to end his life to follow her.

Logan walked into Sabertooths cell. He didn't think Sabertooth was going to put up too much of a fight right now. "How do you know me?" He asked.

He heard the click of the intercom and knew Rogue was listening. Sabtertooth looked up at Logan from his position on the floor. His feral amber eyes were listless, he didn't seem inclined to move, it had been two days since he'd been left in the cell and the constant worry for Rhia had worn him down. He shrugged deciding he was done playing games. Done evading the questions just to taunt the smaller man. "Cause we're brothers."

Logan felt the words hit him like a kick to the groin. He hadn't thought that he might have any family left in the world. He left the cell leaving Sabertooth to sit on the floor. Rogue was staring at him when he came out and she rushed over to wrap her arms around him. He held her until the thudding in his chest had slowed but he still felt restless, he still needed answers. "I'm goin' back in darlin'." He murmured and kissed her quickly before walking back into the cell.

Rogue watched through the glass and listened to the intercom. "How far back?" Logan asked. "I've been around since World War II, I know that much. How much further back?"

Sabertooth shrugged. "I never was much good at keeping track of dates. Before America became America though. Back when it was just colonies."

Logan looked like he'd been sucker punched again and Rogue was worried about how he was going to handle the revelations. "And we...we worked for the Government?" Logan finally asked thinking about the dog tags he'd given to Rogue.

"Yeah. Fought their wars, did their dirty work. Guy we worked for was Stryker. I heard you killed him. Guy tried to betray us, tried to kill us off. I never could get close enough to the bastard to kill him though. You saw him fer what he was first and hightailed it out to Canada but he used yer girlfriend to bring you back. He ended up killin' her when she tried to help ya." Sabertooth leaned his head against the wall.

Logan wished he could see the memories Sabertooth had but his mind remained as blank as ever. Rogue wished she had the strength to touch Sabertooth so she could see his memories and maybe share them with Logan. "How come you never came lookin' fer me after Stryker?" Logan asked.

"I hated you. Stryker promised to lace my bones with adimantium after he proved it could be done on you but then he went back on it. Said my healin' factor wasn't strong enough. It was a load of bullshit. He just didn't want someone as unpredictable as me running around able to cut him to ribbons." Sabertooth snorted. "I tried to kill ya you know. A few times before Stryker shot you in the head with an adimantium bullet. I was so mad at you. My little brother who was so much stronger than me."

"What changed?" Logan asked his question echoed inaudibly on the other side of the glass by Rogue.

"Liberty Island." Sabertooth replied. "When Scott blasted me off the statue I thought I was done fer. I should been too but this chick found me and kept me alive. She made me heal. Kept talking and healing and asking questions and healing. Wouldn't leave me alone. She made me think about myself."

"That was Rhian?" Logan asked.

"Don't say her name. You don't have the right to say her name. I shoulda never asked her to come here." Sabertooth got to his feet and glared at Logan.

Rogue almost pressed the alarm button but there was something tortured about Sabertooths stance. He was in pain and Rogue wondered just how long they were going to let him believe Rhian was dead and by Logan's hand. Logan smirked. "Rhian. I woulda thought she was smarter than to let herself get involved with someone like you." He was trying to goad Sabertooth seeking a sense of normality.

Sabertooth's shoulder slumped a little before he squared them again. "I used to think that too before I realized that without her I really am an animal. And so are you little brother. Rogue makes you a man and you're too fucking blind to see it."

Rogue blinked wondering how Sabertooth had managed to figure that out from the ten minutes on Liberty Island. Logan wanted to know too. "Just how did you figure that out on Liberty. I barely knew the kid then."

Sabertooth gave a nasty grin. "I've been following you around since I got healed up enough to travel. Been watchin' you little brother and you didn't even know it. Good thing I ain't working fer anyone."

Logan growled but Rogue interrupted. "Logan can Ah talk to ya?"

Logan glared at Sabertooth. "We ain't finished bub."

"Yer right." Sabertooth replied. "Don't keep me waiting Jimmy."

Logan slammed the cell door behind him. "What's up darlin'?"

"We need to tell him Rhian is still alive. He's obviously in love with her." Rogue said.

"I'd rather see him suffer a little. He's been watching me fer years. That makes me mighty uncomfortable." Logan replied shortly.

"What if it was you in there?" Rogue asked gently putting her hand on his arm. "Ah don't like him either Logan but we're the X-Men, we're supposed to be better than him."

Logan gazed into her eyes and felt his anger dissipate a little. He gathered her in his arms and held her close for a few minutes breathing in her scent. "I'll tell him." He finally said. "But as soon as she's up and around he's out of here."

"Ah doubt he wants to be here anyway." Rogue replied with a small smile.

Logan let her go, kissed her softly and went back into the cell. Both Logan and Rogue were shocked by what happened next. Sabertooth launched himself at Logan who crouched instinctively. Sabertooth had planned for this and sailed over his brothers head. He kicked Logan in the back and slammed the cell door. Spinning around he saw Rogue. He grabbed her by her shirt and lifted her up. "Rhia liked you girl. You're lucky she did." He growled.

"Freya." Rogue gasped and felt the soft static current of her power snap on. She slapped her uncovered hand on Sabertooths face and felt the pull immediately.

He let out a pained animal whine as his life force and powers were sucked from him by force. His grip loosened and he dropped her staggering back weakly. Rogue kicked him in the head cursing in pain as her foot throbbed dully. He went down and she darted past him to open the cell door. Logan burst out claws drawn. He stopped abruptly when he saw Sabertooth laying on the ground only barely conscious. "I thought yer power was locked up?" He said stupidly.

"It was but Ah hold the key. Ah can unlock it any time." She said just a little smugly. "Don't touch meh fer a bit though. I have to lock it back up and I need to be calm to do that."

Logan pulled his flannel shirt off and handed it to her. When she'd donned it he pulled her into a forceful hug. She rubbed his back knowing how terrified he must have been when he realized an very angry Sabertooth was alone with Rogue. After five minutes Logan let her go and crouched next to a barely conscious Sabertooth. "Yer lucky I don't cut yer head off bub." He leaned down closer and spoke very softly. "And yer also lucky Rhian is still alive cause if she weren't I'd kill you right here for touching Rogue."

Sabertooths amber eyes went wide but he was too weak to even speak. His eyes rolled back in his head and he finally slid from consciousness his final fleeting thought was one of pure adulation. Rhia was alive.

Victor woke to the sound of a heart monitor beeping incessantly. Another, more annoying noise, a swishing hissing noise gave an uneven undercurrent to the beeping. He sat up and looked around. He was in a hospital room. He stiffened before realizing his mistake. It wasn't a hospital room. It was the mansion infirmary. He reached up with scrub the fog from his eyes but his hand jerked to a sudden stop. He looked at his wrist. He'd been cuffed to the gurney. Someone chuckled across the room. "Don't worry bub. It'll come off when we're sure ya won't go rampaging around."

Victor glared over at his brother. Logan was slouched in a chair arms crossed chewing on a cigar. "Better get it off me Jimmy or I'll break it."

"Yeah yeah. Answer a question first. Was Rhian here to get Rogue and I together?"

Victor didn't answer immediately. When he did answer his tone was serious and there was less the feral mutant in him than Logan had thought possible. "I watched you every day since Liberty Island. When you took off looking fer yer past I took off too, followed you to Canada and back. When you came back and saw Rogue with the Blond Ice Kid I saw the way you reacted, like he'd taken something he shouldn't have. Over the years you started looking at Rogue the way I look at Rhia but then when she told you how she felt you broke her heart and ran again. I almost kicked yer ass fer that. See Rhia makes me more than an animal. She makes me want to be somethin' more because she believes I'm somethin' more. Rogue does that fer you and fer two screwed up half animals like us if we can find women who can make us men then we shouldn't ignore them. We should never hurt them or cast them aside or we are no better than animals." He looked Logan in the eyes. Amber meeting hazel.

Logan chewed his cigar for a long moment before speaking. "So because you knew I'd try to kick yer ass if you showed up here you sent Rhian."

"I don't send Rhia anywhere. Rhia goes where she damn well pleases whether I like it or not." Victor retorted. Rhia asked if I wanted her to go. I said no. She said as soon as I was ready all I had to do was ask and she'd go. Damned hardest thing to do too. Askin' her to go where I couldn't follow her. Hardest two months of my fucking life. What sent me asking fer her help was watching Rogue trip right in front of you and watchin' you not try to catch her at all. Even though I knew you had to have wanted to reach out and grab her. Yer a damned fool trying to protect her from love. You can't protect her from that any more than I can protect Rhia. They'll do as they please and all we can do is hang on fer the ride."

Logan grinned. "And what a ride." He growled.

He stood up and unlocked the cuff. "Rhian's in bad shape. Some mutant hating bastard came here lookin' fer his kid, his ex-wife was using the support money to pay fer the kids tuition. Rhia got gut shot twice trying to talk him into lettin' the kid go."

"And you didn't stop him?" Victor growled savagely.

"He had her at point blank range. I moved an inch and he shot her just cause he could. If it's any consolation he won't be picking up a gun ever again. Not with one hand a stump and the other missin' fingers." Logan retorted.

"Shoulda killed him." Victor snarled.

Logan grabbed Victor by the shoulder and turned him around. "I don't kill unless I have to. I've done enough killing. He ain't gonna hurt anyone else and Rhian's still alive."

"Where is she?" Victor asked shrugging Logan's hand off.

Logan pulled the curtain back and Victors knees almost gave out on him. Rhia was laying in a gurney that looked too big for her. Her black and white coloring was more definite in the huge white hospital bed. A heart beat monitor showed her heart rate, blood pressure and O2 levels. But what really made him feel like killing someone was the ventilator tube in her mouth. She couldn't breath on her own yet and that scared the shit out of him. He lurched over to her side. Rogue who'd been sitting on the far side of the bed stood up. "It looks worse than it is." She said softly. "Jean says she'll be off the ventilator as soon as she regains consciousness. She doesn't know when that will be though since no one can read her mind."

Victor reached out and stroked Rhia's cheek gently wishing it were him in the bed instead of her. He lifted the sheet and examined the bandages on her abdomen. They were clean, no blood seeped through and for that he was grateful. Rogue reached over and put a tiny hand over his. "She saved that kids life Sabertooth. And Ah think Rhian's the kinda person who'd count that as a victory no matter how she ended up."

Victor let his eyes travel up Rogues arm to her face. His amber eyes met her big brown eyes. "My name is Victor." He said stupidly. "You can call me Victor."

She smiled and Victor could see the radiant light that filled her face when she slide her hand under his and clasped it. She pumped it twice. "Nice to finally meet the real you Victor." She let go of his hand and walked around the bed towards Logan who was watching the whole exchange carefully. Victor watched her walk to his brother. 'She's just like Rhia sometimes. No wonder he loves her.'

Rogue slide an arm around Logan's waist and Victor smirked slightly. 'Rhia did it.' Rogue gave Victor an encouraging smile. "Ah think she's been waitin' to hear from ya. Might want to talk to her a little. We'll leave ya be. When she wakes up push the red button. Jean will come remove the ventilator tube."

Roge pulled Logan away leaving Victor alone with Rhia. He stroked her hair brushing strands of black away from her cheeks and eyes. "Why do you always have to take such risks Rhia?" He asked. "He was just one kid. Do you know how dumb it is to get shot over one snot nosed brat?"

He lifted one of her tiny slender hands in his and kissed the finger tips. "Scaring the crap out of me isn't smart either Rhia. I could feel it though. I felt something happen, all the way out in the woods. Is that how you feel all the time? Being so in tune with everythin' around you that you feel everythin'?"

He waited for a response, a twitch, eyes opening, her hand to grasp his but nothing happened. "Come on Rhia. You can't sleep forever. I need you with me. I promised you a better life than hanging around the woods watchin' my dumb brother. I can't make that life if yer not awake."

He rmbled for a while longer before falling silent. He held her hand stroking the soft skin on the back of her hand and remembering all the times those fragile looking hands had dealt such staggering blows. Yet had been as soft as kittens fur later. He closed his eyes and remembered the feel of her hands on his bare skin. The way she knew just how to touch him to make him come apart. **" Do you ever think about kids?" "Not really. I'm an animal Rhia. Not much good fer raising kids ya know? Too scary."** She'd hit him for that and told him that he wasn't an animal.

"I was thinking about somethin' you said a while ago. About having kids. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if their yer cubs and all. Maybe one or two. I still don't think I'd be much of a dad but if you want to try we can give it a shot. If I turn out to be a screw up we can always drop the cub off here." He hadn't opened his eyes, he was too busy imagining the look of consternation she always got when he maligned himself.

His eyes flew open when he heard a gagging noise. He looked down at Rhia who was chocking on the tube. "Shh, shh baby it's ok. You have a breathing tube in ya. Shh, calm down." He tried to soothe her leaning over her and pressing his forehead to hers.

Her eyes were wild and frightened but the pressure of his hands on her shoulders and the feel of his skin against hers calmed her a little. "I'm gonna call the doc. She'll have that out in no time."

He pushed the red button then looked back down at her. She stared up at him her black eyes questioning. He stroked her cheek. "I came to find you baby. I felt somethin' happen to you and I came lookin'. Ran into Jimmy and we duked it out. We managed to figure things out. He and Rogue are together so we can finally start our life."

He heard Jeans heels clacking up behind him. "I need you to move Sabertooth." She said frostily.

He moved so she could get to Rhian. Jean took a firm grip on the base of the tube. "This is going to be uncomfortable Rhiannnon. You need to cough a few times while I'm pulling it out and you may gag." She spoke coldly and Victor could smell her hostility.

Rhia could sense it too. She coughed a few times while Jean pulled the tube out. Once it was out she swallowed a few times and glared up at Jean. "Get over it Jean." She said hoarsely. "You never asked if I was involved with anyone and it's not like Victor has tried to hurt any of you recently."

"He kidnapped Rogue." Jean replied planting one hand on her hip.

Rhia rolled her eyes. "So he screwed up and did dirty work for a complete asshole. Bet you've screwed up plenty Jean. The past is the past. Its what he does now that counts. And before you get all defensive on Rogues behalf maybe you should ask Rogue how she feels."

Jean scowled. "I think I will. You." She said pointing at Victor. "Will not move from this room until someone comes to escort you. You do and I'll have Scott blow you into nasty meaty chunks."

She stalked out her heels clicking angrily. Rhia sighed. "I liked her." She muttered. "And I really tried not to like anyone here so I wouldn't leave any friends behind."

Victor scooped her up and sat on the bed cradling her small frame. "I'm sorry Rhia."

She looked up at him and shook her head. "Friends come and go love. You are my eternal. Besides if she's willing to toss the friendship aside so easily maybe it's better that way."

He kissed her gently but the undercurrent of loneliness worried him. He knew she'd spent most of her life alone before him and he knew she wished for female companionship. "I was thinkin'. Maybe we could have a cub. Settle down since we don't have to follow Jimmy around anymore we can start our own life."

Her hands tightened on his arm and she looked up at him. "You mean it?"

He grinned at her. "Yeah. I mean it."

Epilogue:

Rogue felt something shift. Some indefinable sense of change that she couldn't pin point but felt none the less. She'd grown more attuned to the world around her thanks to her meditation and practice with her power. While Rhian had been recuperating from her injuries she'd started teaching Rogue more advanced meditation techniques. **'Your gift is stronger than most, and more flexible. You can copy any mutation. Wield any power and that makes you unique. Most mutants are limited to their own mutation and whatever skills they've developed with it. You can be anything, do anything. I'm going to teach you how.'**

Rogue had learned quickly knowing Rhian and Victor wouldn't stay long after Rhian was healed enough to travel. Now once Rogue touched someone she kept their powers permanently without killing the other mutant. The first power she'd kept was Logan's. As soon as he found out that Rhian was teaching her how to keep what she copied he insisted on being her guinea pig. Now she was as immortal as he was with one large difference. She could shut it on and off.

She opened her eyes and smiled at Rhian. It had been two years since Rhian and Victor slipped out of the mansion in the dead of night. Rhian had sent letters frequently but they'd never visited until now. Rhian was sitting indian style across from Rogue, still as black and white as ever. "Ah thought Ah felt ya." Rogue greeted her and leaned forward to hug her friend.

Rhian smiled and hugged her back. "I'm glad to see you haven't given up meditating."

"Ah kinda like it." Rogue replied. "Makes me feel peaceful. Not that Ah don't want ya here but why are ya here?"

Rhian suddenly lit up. "Victor is at the mansion introducing Logan to his new nephew!" She crowed.

Rogue squealed in delight. "That's amazin' Rhian! Congratulations! How old, what's his name, how much did he weight, what does he look like?"

Rhian laughed and Rogue thought she'd never looked more stunning. "He's seven months, his name is James, he was five pounds even and you can come up to the mansion and see him for yourself."

Rogue grabbed Rhians hands and teleported them to the mansion. Rhian gasped a little upon arrival. "I see you've made good use of your power."

"Oh yeah. Ah have a whole library of skills now." Rogue laughed.

Rhian chuckled and they chatted amiably on their way to the gym. They found Logan and Victor sitting on one of the benched. The baby boy in Logan's arms looked like Victor. Large amber eyes and shaggy blond hair but the shape of his face and the tight curls in his shaggy blond hair were all Rhian. So was his expression. Knowing with a side order of mischief. He reached ot for Rhian silently and she picked him up. She handed him to Rogue. "James, meet you're Aunt Rogue."

Rogue cooed and smiled at him and he smiled back slowly dimples on either cheek. He reached up and tugged gently at one of her white streaks. Rogue's smile grew wistful and she snuck a side long glance at Logan. Victor noticed it. "Uh oh Jimmy. I know that look. Rogue wants one. You'd better run." He joked.