Phoenix Rises

Disclaimer: I own no X-Men characters

Phoenix Rises

Rogue hummed softly as she shaded the sketch in front of her. The young mutant stopped what she was doing and pulled back to look at her work. Nodding to herself she laid the sketchbook aside and took a deep breath, enjoying the soft scent of the garden.

"Rogue?"

Said girl looks up at her boyfriend. "Yes Bobby?" She asks politely.

"The Professor wants to see you in his office." Bobby states, confusion coloring his voice as to why he had to inform Rogue rather than the Professor telepathically tell her himself.

Rogue nods and stands, stretching slightly, before bending down and picking up her things. "Thanks."

Making her way to the office Rogue smiles as a new recruit runs past her. Knocking gently to announce her presence Rogue enters the comfortable office that doubled as a classroom.

"Good afternoon Rogue, would you have a seat?" Xavier asks her, motioning to a chair.

"You wanted to speak with me Charles?"

Professor Xavier straightens as Rogue uses his first name. It had become habit for her to call him that in private after she absorbed Magneto on the Statue of Liberty.

"Yes, I'd like to speak with you about your dreams."

"Not yet Charles." She says, smiling softly. "It's not time yet."

Charles Xavier sighs and fights the urge to rub his temples. Lately talking to Rogue had become like trying to solve a complicated riddle.

Rogue, as she preferred to be called, had always been one of his most confusing students. Xavier was never exactly sure who he was talking to, whether it be Marie, Rogue, or one of her other absorbed personalities.

"You know Charles," Rogue begins slowly, opening her sketchpad and gently tearing out a page. "The funeral was a nice touch. But you forgot one thing in your little speech."

Xavier watches her and braces himself for her next move. "And what was that?" He asks feeling that this was definitely similar to playing chess with Erik.

Rogue smiles and lays the picture on his desk before turning to leave.

Xavier glances at the picture his eyes narrowing as he takes in the beautifully drawn phoenix. He looks up as Rogue pauses in the doorway.

"A phoenix always rises from its ashes." She says tilting her head a bit and opening the office door. "Professor." With that she leaves, snapping the door shut behind her.

Rogue smiles as she walks away from the office. John, in her head, was practically, cackling at the professor's predicament and Erik was chuckling quietly.

She was not stupid, far from it. Rogue had known the Professor was hiding something. His emotions had been a bit off at the funeral almost as if he knew.

However it wasn't until the dreams started that Rogue understood what was going on. Before Alkali Lake Jean had been trying to help her gain control of her power.

The only thing accomplished was Jean joining the other voice in her head. It seemed to create a slight bond between the two. Not a telepathic bond, like what Jean shared with the Professor, but more empathic.

After Jean's supposed death Rogue had felt the bond slacken and change, but it was still there. And the Professor knew that she was not truly dead yet he didn't inform anyone else so she decided to humor his decision.

The truth would come out soon enough. After all, what she said was true.

A phoenix always rose from its ashes.

End.

Please review, if enough people ask I'll create a sequel. Bye!