Stranger than Fiction

Ok I had to break this chapter up into two parts because it was too big. So don't freak with the way this part just ends

"Well, I'll be damned no one woke us up this time!" Matthew said stretching as he and Rogue woke

Rogue just yawned and rubbed her eyes. Matthew kissed her on the crown of her head and Rogue smiled sleepily

"Did you have fun yesterday? I mean at the restaurant and all." Matthew asked when Rogue finally sat up and stretched

"Yeah I had a great time........ I still can't believe you ate all that food though." Rogue said yawning and rubbing her neck

"I know..You don't think it has anything to do with my powers do you?" Matthew said sitting up in the bed and rubbing Rogue's shoulder

"Maybe..You could just need to eat a lot after you heal yourself...... Oh that feels good." She said closing her eyes and smiling

"I am really good at giving massages.....well not REAL good but I ain't bad either. I used to have to do this when my mom's back would start acting up." Matthew said as he started to rub Rogue's shoulders

"You said she was hurt in a wreck when you where little. Mind telling me what exactly happened to her?" She said tilting her head to one side while Matthew massaged her shoulders

"She was coming back from the store with Cindy and some lady hit her head on. Cindy just got a busted nose but my mom's spine was pretty much crushed all to hell." Matthew said with an angry look on his face

"You mean paralyzed and everything?" Rogue asked turning around to face him

"I would say one step away from it. Four slipped discs, two crushed vertebrae and fifty percent blockage of her spinal fluid. She could still walk but just barely. The doctors said just sneezing the wrong way would paralyze her. So she just stayed in the bed a lot. She only got up to use the bathroom and take a bath even then we had to help her." Matthew said sighing

"I am sorry that must have been hard for you huh?" Rogue said putting her hand on Matthew's knee


"At first yeah because I was so young. I missed her picking me up and giving me hugs and all that stuff. After a while though I got so used to it I didn't even see anything wrong with the way she was." Matthew said with a slight shrug

"Wait if she was that bad off where were yall going that day of the wreck?"

"Oh we won a free trip to some theme park in North Carolina. It came with a free weekend stay at this really fancy hotel. Even though my mom couldn't go the theme park she wanted to go stay at the hotel. So we all packed into the car and left. That's all I really remember is getting in the car and driving off. Next thing I know I wake up in a fucking body cast and some asshole doctor just walks in and says" I am sorry your family has passed," He had the most insensitive look on his face when he said it. I mean Godamn I was only a fifteen year old kid. You don't just drop a bomb like that right off the bat.... I couldn't even go to their funeral." Matthew lowered his head and started crying

Rogue leaned in and hugged him tightly. Matthew placed his head on her shoulder crying


"I sat there for months in that fucking hospital.....No one even came to see me but my cousin... and that was only because she forced her dad to bring her to see me...When I got out there was this big fight because no one wanted to let me live with them. I finally ended up staying with my dad's sister. She was real mean to me. She said it was my fault they died....."

"Why would she say something like that?!" Rogue said pulling away and looking at Matthew with an angry look on her face

"........I was the one who entered the contest. Everyone said it was my fault it happened......... That's why no one wanted to take me in... IT WAS NOT MY FAULT IT WAS THAT GOD DAMN TRUCKERS! HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO DO A PRISON SENTENCE....HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME AND ONLY GOT A FUCKING SLAP ON THE WRIST!" Matthew was not crying anymore but was shacking with anger

"WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T THEY LOCK HIM UP?!" Rogue found herself getting very angry now as well

Matthew sighed and tried to calm himself

"I don't know...I had to sit there in court every day and listen to his fucking lawyer babbling about some fucked up laws. Next thing I know they just took his licensee and made him pay some fine............That's why I fucking hate court. Of course I got blamed for that too ...After a while I got so sick of it I just packed my shit and ran away. I hitched my way up to New York over the next six months...When I got there I didn't have any more money and I couldn't find a way to work..and no way was I going to sell myself to make any. So I tried stealing but I wasn't too good at that so I got my ass beat a few times..That's how I met the Professor. I tried taking his wallet and he caught me and offered me a job if I promised to stop stealing. I was so fucking sick of living on the street I took his offer. I didn't even care what he wanted me to do I just said yes. Thank god he wasn't some sick child molester. I lived with him after that. Cleaning up around his lab and going to pick up equipment for him and helped him with experiments. In return he let me live in the lab and gave me food and clothes. He even put in some cable so I could watch TV. Which is when I started watching you again. He used to get so freaked out when I watched cartoons. He would say" You are too old to be watching such things"....Well until I got him hooked on Buffy anyway." Matthew said the last part finally smiling

"I didn't know you had been through all that shit...." Rogue said hugging him again

"I never thought about bringing it up..But since I told you lastnight to tell me anything that was bothering you I figured I might as well tell you." he said while Rogue hugged him

"Hey wait a minute you said "watching me"..Was I the only reason you watched that show?" Rogue asked him

"Yes, I wasn't even going to watch it. Then I got up early one morning and it was the only thing on and I just said fuck it and turned it on. I was about to turn it back off when they cut to you. I was really surprised that you where a Goth. I mean the Rogue in the comics is this huge flirty southern bombshell with a thick southern accent. I never got that.. I figured if anything you would be this really depressed and closed off woman. Not running around calling every one sugar and shaking your ass in skin tight clothes. Needless to say I thought you where more realistic. Which makes perfect sense now since you are real." Matthew said

"I don't have a thick accent I only called you sugar once...I sure as hell don't shake my ass .And no way in hell am I a flirt. Next you're gonna say I liked country music." Rogue said curling her nose in disgust

Matthew made a face that said "well yeah"

"No fucking way!" Rogue said covering her face

"Hey I said the one in the comics not you Marie....Want me to draw her for you? Let you see what she looks like. Might give you some insight into how you will look when you are older." Matthew said as he went to Rogue's desk and took out a pencil and piece of paper

"Sure why the hell not. I bet I am better looking than her anyway!" Rogue said jokingly

Matthew sat down at her desk and a good thirty minutes later he walked back over to Rogue's bed and handed her the drawing. Rogue's jaw dropped

"OH MY GOD HER TITS ARE HUGE! (1)" Rogue said covering her mouth and giving Matthew a funny look

"Hey that's how they drew her don't look at me like that!" Matthew said when Rogue gave him a funny look

"GOD who draws this stuff? A bunch of horny old geeks?" She asked still looking at the drawing

Matthew laughed

"Yeah pretty much!" he said still laughing

"She looks nothing like me!.....well the hair yeah but that's it. I mean no way is my body that perfect!" She said looking at Matthew

"I happen to think your body is very pretty. Besides that's just a comic drawing. Their supposed to look unrealistically beautiful. You are a real person and you have a very great body." he said smiling

"You really like my body? " Rogue asked smiling

"Of course I do! Every inch of you is beautiful to me!" he said kissing her

"You're just saying that!" She said Kissing him back

"Oh hush you know I mean it." he said smiling

"Yes, I know you do......So what do you want to do today?" She asked getting out of bed and stretching

"I am up for anything right now. Oh I know lets go see that movie you talked about at the park!" Matthew said jumping out of bed

"You just asked me on a date didn't you?" She asked turning around with a smirk on her face

"You damn skippy I did!" he said walking over to her and kissing her

"OK I'll go on a date with you tonight."She said smiling

"I would hope so!" he said

There was a knock on the door

"Who is it?" Rogue asked

"...It's me Carla....Can I come in?" the girl asked sounding very sleepy

Rogue and Matthew looked at each other.

"Um..Just a minute we need to get on some clo....we need to get dre....Shit just wait a minute"

Rogue said as her and Matthew threw on some sweats. Rogue opened the door and Carla was standing there already dressed.

"What is it Carla?" Rogue asked looking at the girl

"Piotr is taking me out for breakfast and I wanted to know if you two want to come with us." Carla asked looking over Rogue's shoulder at Matthew

"Piotr is taking you out to eat?" Rogue asked looking a little surprised

"Yeah...." Carla said

"Mind if I ask if he has been a little flirty with you?" Matthew said walking tot he door

"Not really....We just hung out yesterday after you went out to eat with you parents......Why did he say something to you about me?" Carla asked looking at Matthew.

"Not really. But Marie and me noticed he was hanging all over you the moment you showed up yesterday." Matthew said folding his arms

"I thought he was just being polite...." Carla said lowering her head

"Nope I think he likes you. He even confronted me yesterday when you were crying and demanded I say sorry and try to make you feel better..Which I am sorry about that I should have been nicer....." Matthew said with a sigh

"It's OK.. I know you two love each other and I would have just got in the way if you didn't tell me flat out like you did." Carla said frowning

"You won't get in the way. If you want to be friends with me and Matt I don't mind. We just want you to understand that we love each other and that we won't hide that fact to keep from hurting your feelings." Rogue said with a very serious tone

"I know I know......Listen are you coming or not?" Carla asked finally looking up

"I am fine with going. How about you Matt?" Rogue asked turning her head to him

"Have you ever known me to turn down food?" He said smiling

"No" the two girls said at the same time

Matthew laughed

"OK we will be down in around forty minutes. Is that OK with you ?" Matthew asked looking down at Carla

"Yeah. Just meet us in the kitchen." Carla said before turning around and walking off towards the stairs

Rogue closed the door and turned to Matthew

"I hope she doesn't bust out crying when we go eat."

"She didn't when you said we love each other. That's a good sign..........then again she could be crying right now. Shit I hope this is over soon. I just want us to get some damn peace. I thought everything was going to be fine when the thing with Magneto was over now I got to deal with Cindy's parents and Carla." Matthew said running his hand through his hair and sighing

"They are your parents too Matt." Rogue said

"I know I know..but they aren't my real parents. I know they want to be. Just like Cindy wants to be my real sister, But they can't, I have been through to much because of that wreck just to forget it all and let them in. I want to but I just can't." Matthew said looking down to the floor

"But you were acting like you wanted them to be your parents yesterday. You even called Mister Ballard pa for crying out loud." Rogue said putting one of her hands on her hip

"I know I know. I just acted like that so I wouldn't hurt their feelings."Matthew said with a frown

"Why? I mean this is your chance to get back your whole family. Do you have any idea what I would do to be able to have my parents in my life? This is your chance Matt don't lose it. " Rogue said taking Matthew's hand

"I want to don't get me wrong.. I just can't. " Matthew said looking into Rogue's eyes.

"But Why?!" Rogue asked sounding a little annoyed

"Because If I do I will betray my family's memory. They may be the same people but they aren't THEM. I mean what If I had staid dead an another Matt came would you let him touch you the way I have?" Matthew asked still looking her in the eyes

"No, I wouldn't because they wouldn't be you." Rogue said frowning as she thought what would have happened if Matthew had not returned

"Then you can understand what I am going through here. I am going to be nice to them the best I can..But I am not going to let them replace my family. Just as I know you wouldn't let anyone replace me If I was gone." Matthew said leaning in and kissing her

"OK OK stop talking about that you're going to make me cry Matt..Now to change the subject before I do start to cry. I think we should get ready before Piotr breaks down the door." Rogue said before kissing him and heading to the bathroom

"Oh who cares I can take him." Matthew said walking into the bathroom with her

"Yeah you can can't you?" She asked smirking as she stripped out of her clothes and started the bath water

Matthew still found himself extremely nervous when Rogue would take off her clothes in front of him but He was learning to push that aside when she did so. He let out a long sigh and did his best to calm himself and fight the urge to try and have sex with her right there since he knew she was not ready. Which he found odd since she now had no problem getting butt naked in front of him now. Not that he was complaining.

Rogue herself had no problem taking off her clothes in front of Matthew. She also wasn't nervous around him when he would do the same. She felt comfortable around him when she was nude since she knew he wouldn't try to do anything to her unless she asked him too. Which at the moment she was dying to ask him for anything but she didn't want to get caught with his head between her legs with his parents in the same house. Or even worse her head in his lap. She never told anyone but she had a memory from one of the people she had drained on accident of them going down on their boyfriend and being caught. No way in hell did she want to experience that herself firsthand. The stranger's memory of the event was enough for her to know to be careful.

After Matthew was finished shaving and taking a shower Rogue asked him to leave so she could shave. She had no problem at all being nude around him or shaving her legs. but shaving her pubic hair was another Matter. She thought it would look like she was masturbating in front of him. She knew Matthew wouldn't try anything, but she also knew it would be nothing short of torture to do something like that to him. Then of course there was her armpits. Which she knew he would find nasty if she did that infront of him. When she was finished shaving she walked out back into her room. Matthew was already fully dressed and laying on her bed watching TV. he looked at her and smiled. She loved when he did that always made her melt like butter. She smiled back and got dressed herself. When she was finished putting on her makeup they headed downstairs to the kitchen. Like the day before Piotr was hanging all over Carla.

"Hey Tin Man where we going to eat breakfast? I am starving." Matthew said as he walked into the room turning on his Holo as he did so

"What the fuck did you just do?!" Carla asked when the Holo turned on

"Oh sorry should have warned you about this. I have to wear this so I don't get mobbed by those damn mutant haters. I don't really need to worry about getting hurt but if they attack me I might kill someone on accident since I still have a little trouble controlling my strength when I get mad. You're Lucky Piotr you can turn it off whenever you want." Matthew said sitting on the counter

"Or you can turn it off like you did yesterday. You will have to learn to control that power you may cause one of us to get hurt if we need to fight and you slip up and leave us powerless." Piotr said looking at Matthew

"It doesn't work like that. It only works as long as I am in physical contact with the person. Though I probably could make it last longer if a tried."

"The fact is you don't know how to control your powers and that makes you dangerous." Piotr said looking a little angry

"I can't control my powers either do you hate me to?! You must since you where going to let that old fuck kill me!" Rogue said walking over to Piotr

"I don't hate you I hardly know you."Piotr said turning and looking down to Rogue

"But you don't deny you where going to let him kill me."Rogue asked putting her hands on her hips

"I...I had no choice..." Piotr said

"You always have a choice you dickhead. You just didn't have the balls to make the right one." Rogue said jamming her gloved finger into his chest

"Would someone mind telling me what the fuck you two are talking about?!" Carla said standing up and looking at the three teenage Mutants

"You wouldn't understand trust me." Matthew said sliding off the counter and walking over to Rogue

"Come on Marie I don't think we will be going out to eat breakfast with these two now." Matthew said placing his Hand on Rogue's shoulder

"I am not moving till Piotr tells me he is sorry !" Rogue said pushing Matthew's hand off her shoulder

"Why should I? Everything turned out fine in the end anyway." Piotr asked

"I will tell you why you should you damn Russian jackass. I almost died, Matthew did die right in front of me. Might I add that image will haunt me for the rest of my life. Now tell me you are sorry right now dammit!" Rogue said still jamming her finger into his chest

Piotr looked around the room at the three people around him. Carla looked confused, Rogue looked extremely pissed off and Matthew looked ready to fight if he did anything to Rogue to get her to back off. Normally he wasn't worried about a fight because he knew his powers would help him if it got to rough. But fighting Matthew was another story all together. He swallowed his pride and spoke.

"I am sorry. But only because you had to see your loved one pass. I am not sorry for what I did because I had no choice. If I had refused to do what I was told my family would have been killed.." Piotr said looking down to Rogue

"You damn fool." Matthew said

"How dare you call me that!" Piotr said looking very angry

"I can call you what the hell I want since you are a damn fool. Magneto was going to use Rogue to power a machine that would kill all none mutants. Including your family." Matthew said looking a little pissed himself

"He was what?!"Piotr said walking past Rogue and getting right in Matthew's face

"Like I said he was going to kill your family and every none mutant on the planet with that damn machine he built. If I hadn't destroyed it billions of people would be dead right now. You mean to tell me you didn't know?" Matthew said looking a little surprised

"Of course I did not know. He only told me he was going to insure our race's survival. I may have done anything to keep my family safe but I would not sacrifice the world to do so." Piotr said lowering his head in shame

"Do you even have any idea where he has them?" Rogue asked looking a little surprised. She knew Magneto had something on him but not the Russian's whole family

"No, He has either killed them and was just using me or moved them around a lot. Xavier is looking for them now. I will leave as soon as they are found. If they are found." Piotr said looking depressed

"I am sure you will find them Piotr." Carla said putting her hand on the Russian's arm

"I pray I do. Magneto is lucky he is already dead because If I don't find them I would have killed him." Piotr said looking angry

"Hey I thought you guys were going out to eat!" Jubilee said walking into the kitchen

Jubilee looked at everyone in the kitchen then spoke again

"What the fuck is wrong with you all? You looked like someone just killed a kitten." She said walking to the fridge

"Nothing is wrong lets just go come on."

Carla said grabbing Piotr's arm again and dragging him to the door. She stopped and turned to Matthew and Rogue

"You coming or not?" She said looking at the couple

Matthew and Rogue looked at each other for a moment. Matthew shrugged

"Sure. Come on Marie there is nothing but cereal and eggs here anyway." Matthew said taking Rogue's hand

"OK I will go but if he says anything to you again I am kicking his ass." Rogue whispering in his ear which she had to pull him down to do so

Matthew laughed. Then he leaned down and kissed Rogue and squeezed her rear. Something they both enjoyed very much now . Rogue whimpered in pleasure and kissed him back biting his lower lip gently it felt like she bit down on steel when she did it. Jubilee turned around seeing them do this and said

"Damn you two go up to your room if your going to do that." Jubilee said blushing

"We ain't fucking Jub we are just kissing." Rogue said looking at Jubilee while Matthew still had his hands on her rear

"Close enough for me. Geez Matt you better watch your hands before you slice her ass off." Jubilee said still giving them a funny look

"Shut up Jub I ain't going to slice her ass off. I am very careful with these things. Besides if I hurt her she will kick my ass." Matthew said smiling before kissing Rogue once more

"You damn straight I will. Now lets get going I am starving."

Matthew smiled and let go of her and took her hand. They walked out to the car where Piotr and Carla were waiting.

"What you ain't going to drive?" Matthew said walking out

"I do not have a Drivers license."Piotr said

"Well, Fine by me...Where do you want to go eat?" Matthew said taking his keys out of his pocket

"I do not Know any restaurants around this town. You may chose the one that you like best."Piotr said getting into the back of the jeep with Carla

Rogue grabbed Matthew's arm and pulled him down so his ear was to her mouth

"You better say Grandma Peaches or I am kicking your ass." She whispered in his ear

Matthew laughed before opening the door for Rogue and letting her in the car. He got in the car and turned on the radio to the local rock and metal station. Piotr made a noise of annoyance at the music.

"Hey you gave me the keys tin man now you have to deal. It's this or nothing because I sure as fuck ain't turning to pop or hip hop." Matthew said while driving onto the road

"Fine I don't like those styles of music anyway. Just keep it down. Now where are you taking us?" Piotr ask

"He is taking us where we went to eat yesterday. Right?" Rogue asked looking at Matthew

"Of course I am."Matthew said with a smirk

"Why does Matthew keep calling you tin man?" Carla asked looking at Piotr

"Because I can do this."Piotr said holding up his hand and turning it into its metallic form

"Awsome!"Carla said looking at his hand

"You really think so?" Piotr asked while turning his hand back to normal

"Yeah! I mean who else can turn into steel?"Carla said smiling

"I guess I could look at it like that." Piotr said finally cracking a slight smile

"Yeah you're like a knight in shining armor!" Carla said

Rogue cracked a smile and elbowed Matthew. Matthew looked at her and Rogue mouthed the words "she likes him." Matthew grinned before turning back to the road when the light turned green.

"Carla do you mind If I ask you something? It's about your Matthew so If you don't want to answer I will understand." Rogue asked

"....I guess It's OK. What is it?" Carla asked sounding slightly sad

"When did you two know that you liked each other?" Rogue asked

"Well, my parents moved closer to his parents around the time we started going to middle school and we ended up going to the same school. It was around time for the big school dance You know the big send off for eight graders. Anyway No one asked me and he asked me like the night before the dance. I thought he was just doing it to make me feel better."

"Wait Cindy said we had been going out since we were twelve" Matthew asked

"I know she though we were boyfriend and girlfriend because we always hung out together." Carla said

"Oh so what happened did you say yes?" Rogue asked

"Of course I did. He looked so nervous when he asked me I thought something was wrong with him. Anyway when we got there he was holding my hand and acting real funny he was hugging me and stuff and when we did the last dance of the night he just grabbed me and gave me this huge kiss."

"What did you do?" Piotr asked

"I nearly fainted! I mean it was a real good kiss. My legs felt like rubber and I could hardly stand. He took me over to one of the tables and just flat out told me he had liked me as more than a friend for the last year and he finally got up the nerve to tell me since my parents where thinking of moving to North Carolina and he didn't want me leaving without knowing how he felt."Carla said

"Well, What did you say to him?" Rogue asked

"I didn't know what to say really. I mean I had this huge crush on him ever since I could remmeber.He just kept going on and on about how he felt and I just told him to shut up and kissed him back. Needless to say I talked my parents into staying and we started going out after that. So that's how we started going out."

Carla said closing her eyes and sighing as she thought about that night at the dance with Matthew. The one she had only known for two days was different from the one she knew but she saw in his eyes when he looked at her a hint of the small boy she first met when she was five. The one that asked if she liked Transformers and G.I.Joe and told her she had pretty freckles. The one that beat up the school bully when he tore her favorite dress. She saw how he looked at Rogue and seen the look in his eye he had the night of the dance. Carla thought of the first time they made love to each other. How gentle he was and how he told her he was sorry when he entered her and she whimpered in pain from her hymen breaking. She remembered then the day he passed. How he had asked to see her when he regained consciousness. How he cried when he held her hand and said he was sorry. She remembered hearing the beeps and the alarms going off on the machines. Then the sickening cold feeling she felt in her gut when she realized he had held on long enough to say he was sorry for having to leave her like that. She remembered hearing one of the nurses calling him a freak. That was the first time she ever hit anyone that day. She jumped on the nurse and beat her till she was pulled off by the doctors. She thought of his funeral. How no one showed but his immediate family and her and her family. She never cried harder than she did that day when she saw him laying there in the casket. They had covered him in makeup trying to hide his mutation. She put a picture of them together taken the night of the dance in his hand and kissed him. He felt so cold. She cried herself to sleep for the next three months. She remembered taking her mother's sleeping pills and downing the whole bottle. Her mother came into her room just when they started to affect her. She remembered begging the doctors to just let her die to stop trying to help her when they wheeled her into the hospital. She woke up under a suicide watch. She hated the doctors that said they knew what she was going through. None of them had ever held the hand of someone they had loved their whole life and watched them die. She was thinking of killing herself still until Cindy came to see her and held on to her for dear life and cried her eyes out. The little girl begged her not to leave her. She told her she loved her like a sister and begged her not to try and kill herself again. She said she wouldn't but only because she didn't want to hurt the little girl. She didn't listen to the doctors when they tried to help her. She knew everything they said was bullshit. She knew the pain would never get better. The only reason she didn't try to kill herself again was because she had promised Matthew's sister not to leave her. She remembered when she went back to school hearing the cruel things people whispered about her. How they called her a mutant lover and called Matthew a freak. How they would jump her in the halls and beat her for "fucking a mutie." They nearly put her in the hospital till one of Matthew's friends helped her. She asked why he didn't hate her like everyone else. His friend confessed that he had found out he was a mutant the same week Matthew had been in the wreck. Matthew was the first person he told. He had told him to keep it a secret but to never be ashamed of his gift. After that the boy always walked her to class and kept close by her to keep her safe. After a while though the name calling and rumors got so bad she dropped out and took home school. That's how her life had been ever since. She staid home and never went out unless she had to. Cindy came to stay with her almost every weekend. She knew it was because the little girl was still afraid she might try to kill herself. She remembered when Cindy called and told her she had found out she was also a mutant. Carla was so surprised when she saw Cindy after her abilities manifested. She looked just like Matthew. She showed Carla her powers when she touched a sapling and it shot up a good fifteen feet into a tree right before her eyes.Cindy was afraid Carla would call her a freak but Carla thought that was the coolest thing she had ever seen in her life. They joked how Cindy could grow a whole forest by herself in less than a week if she tried.Carla wasn't surpised at all when she found out Cindy has been helping Storm with her plants.She thought of how shocked she was when she got the call from Regina telling her that Matthew was still alive but had died trying to save a friend. She felt the same sick feeling in her gut when she heard that and called Cindy right away. She could tell Cindy was trying to tell her something but she didn't give her the time to do it.She just told her she didn't care what was going on that she was coming with Matthew's family to pick up the body.Then the call came on the way to the airport.The voice on the other end sounding so much like him . She could tell he was trying his best not to make her cry when he told her he wasn't her Matthew.She heard the sadness in his voice when she asked if he didn't love her and he said he was sorry.She was so shocked when she walked in and saw him.He looked so much like him. Yet she felt the air around him was more violent.He felt like a steel statue when she hugged him. He didn't even try to comfort her while she cried her eyes out into his chest.Then she saw her behind him. She saw him look at the girl behind him and felt him tense even more.She knew then they were together.She wanted to hate Rogue so much.Untill she looked her in the eyes and said she knew what she had been through and Carla knew she was telling the truth.She knew this Matthew had been killed right in front of her. But unlike the other this one came back. Why didn't her Matthew come back? Why was she forced to suffer so much when she had loved him her whole life and here was this girl who had only known him for a month and he came back for her.She still wanted to hate Rogue more than anything but just couldn't do it. She was surpised when Matthew touched her face and raised it to his. She saw that look in his eyes.She could tell that he still had feelings for her when he told her that he tried to find the Carla he knew but was to late.When she started to cry she saw he wanted to hold her and comfort her .She was hurt even more when he didn't but she knew he didn't because she might take it the wrong way. Then Piotr came he took her hand and held it like it would crumble into dust and asked her to stop crying.He even brushed away her tears with his hand. She heard a roar like a lion and knew it was Matthew. Piotr asked what was wrong and she told him Matthew had hurt her feelings. She saw something in the boy's eyes that protective look Matthew had when someone insulted her.He got up and left her alone with Jean.Jean sat down beside her and took her hand. She felt strange for a moment like someone was pouring water into her brain. She was scared untill Jean told her to calm down she was only helping her. She felt Jean take away her sadness. When she was done Jean asked her not to tell anyone she had done that because she would get in trouble. Carla said she wouldn't. She heard Matthew walked back inside and heard him argue with Piotr.Piotr came back downstairs looking angry and asked if she wanted to go for a walk around the grounds.While they walked around the mansion she noticed he was sneaking glances at her.When she looked at him and their eyes met his face turned red and he quickly looked away. She was flattered that such a large man like him would blush when she looked at him.She could tell he found her attractive and despit herself she found him attractive as well.He staid with her the rest of the day not even saying a word unless she spoke to him first.When he did talk to her the first time he stuttered and said a few words in Russian. After they talked for a good hour though he seemed to losen up.He told her about growing up in Russia. How cold the winters were and how they didn't have much money. When she asked what kind of powers he said he quickly changed the subject . He only told her he was very strong.When he changed his hand into metal just a few moments ago though she was very surpised. She had heard rumors that some mutants had very strange powers. She never thought someone was out there that could turn into a walking block of steel.She thought about the knights she saw in the movies. He was like a big Russian knight come to take away her pain. And to her surpise she was willing to let him.

She had been so deep in thought she didn't realize they had just pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant and that Piotr was asking her if she was OK. She snapped back to reality and looked at him and Smiled. She saw him blush again when she did that and she bit back her urge to giggle and got out of the car.

"Are you OK Carla?" Piotr asked while walking beside her into the restaurant

"Yes I am fine....Can I ask you something?"Carla asked

"Of course what is it?"Piotr asked

"...Do you like me?" Carla asked taking his arm and turning him to her

Piotr was completely and utterly embarrassed. He had no idea she noticed how he acted around her. He bit the bullet though and answered

"Yes I do." he said with his Russian accent kicking in full force

"Just checking." She said walking off after Matthew and Rogue who had already been lead to a booth

"You asked him didn't you?" Rogue said as Carla sat down in front of her

"How did you know?" Carla said looking at the Goth girl

"Because he is still blushing...shh here he comes" Rogue said as Piotr sat down beside Carla

"I do not know what kind of restaurant this is but the food smells as good as my mother's." Piotr said as he sat down

"It's what me and Matt call a home style restaurant. They don't make fast food or fancy food. Just nice home cooked type meals." Rogue said

"Yeah that's the kind of place it is. It is good too. Logan comes here all the time. And with a name like this it has to be good for him to even step in the door." Matthew said looking over the menu

"I bet I know what you are going to get ." Matthew said looking at Rogue

"Oh yeah? Tell me." Rogue said with a smirk while still looking over the menu like she had not decided yet

"Scrambled eggs grits and hashbrowns. Right aint I?" Matthew said with a smirk

"You sure you ain't a Telepath?" Rogue asked dropping her Menu and smiling

"No, I ain't. I just know you love grits the rest was easy to guess since you can't be from the South and not like hashbrowns." Matthew said still smiling

"Is there anything they didn't cover about me where you are from?" Rogue asked looking at him

"Hmm....." Matthew said looking deep in thought

he leaned in and whispered in her ear

"They didn't cover that little birthmark on her right cheek."

"I don't have a birthmark on my face." She whispered back

"That's not the cheek i was talking about (2)" Matthew whispered back with a smirk

Rogue blushed beet red. Matthew burst out laughing then kissed her

"What are you two talking about?" Carla asked

"Nothing!" Rogue said still blushing

"Whatever you say." Piotr said giving the couple a strange look

The waitress came and took their orders then. No one really talked that much till they got their food then Carla decided now was as good a time as any to try and get to know Rogue.

"Where did you get the name Rogue from?"Carla asked looking at the Goth girl in front of her

"Some kids teased me once because I didn't have a lot of friends and they called me a rogue. I liked it so I just let it stick." Rogue said

"Oh. But why does only Matt call you Marie? I noticed everyone else just calls you Rogue." Carla asked

"I only let him and I guess his parents call me that. I just want everyone else to call me Rogue." Rogue said

"Yeah you nearly kicked my ass when I called you Marie the first time." Matthew said looking at Rogue

"Well, what did you expect? No one not even the Professor knew my real name and you just said "Sorry Marie" out of no where. You where lucky your skin was so damn tough because I was going to kick your ass but I didn't feel like breaking my damn hands. Speaking of which how did you find out my name?" Rogue said looking at Matthew

"Movie."Matthew said with a smirk

"They made a movie about us?! That is so much fucking cooler than a cartoon! Who played me?" Rogue asked

"Anna Paquin." Matthew said

"That chick from Almost Famous?! That is fucked up she looks nothing like me or even that drawing you showed me!" Rogue said looking pissed

"You don't have to tell me. Plenty of people were pissed when they cast her. Then again they had Patrick Stewart as the Professor and that was just fucking brilliant casting."

"That guy from star trek?" Carla asked

"Yep." Matthew said

"Was I in it?" Piotr asked suddenly finding himself interested in this conversation

"You where in the second one but only for a few minutes. No, I don't know who played you but you did kick some ass if that's what you want to know." Matthew said

"Forget who played who tell us what the hell happened in these movies!" Rogue said

Matthew laughed and told them everything he Remembered. Leaving out certain things he knew they should not know about. Like what happened to Jean at the end of the second movie. Or the fact Edward Kelly was going to be a real big pain in the ass in the future

"That's fucked up why the hell would I go out with Bobby? He is the biggest fucking goofball I ever met." Rogue said curling her nose in disgust

"I am still trying to wrap my brain around Magneto being played by Gandalf." Piotr said with a mix of confusion and amusement on his face

"The guy did a great job though trust me." Matthew said

"Wait you guys are superheroes?" Carla asked looking surprised

"No, that was just a movie Carla. There are no such things as superheroes." Matthew said

"Yeah and guys just go around calling themselves Magneto and kidnap people just for the hell of it." Carla said

"She found us out Matt I think we have to kill her now." Rogue said looking very serious

"No, I think brainwashing would be best. Killing is to messy." Matthew said with the same look

"Stop trying to frighten her." Piotr said looking at the couple

"Please tell me you two are joking. I promise I won't say anything!" Carla said looking nervous

"Oh hush we are just joking ." Matthew said smiling

Rogue leaned in and whispered in Matt's ear

"I was joking about killing her but you need to tell the Professor to erase that whole conversation when we get back ."

Matthew nodded

"What are you two talking about now?" Piotr asked

"I'll tell you later." Matthew said giving him a look that said "you have a pretty good idea what we were talking about"

Piotr just nodded and said fine

"When did you find out you where a mutant?" Carla asked Looking at Rogue

"I went to a school dance and got knocked over and the guy I was dancing with helped me up. Our skin touched and my powers manifested." Rogue said this not looking to happy as she thought back to that night. She knew the boy really liked her but after that when he did recover he never spoke to her again. She tried talking to him once to say she was sorry but he just turn around and walked away

"So you mean what the others said about you not being able to touch anyone but Matt was true?" Carla asked

"...Yeah. I haven't been able to touch anyone without being covered for the last three years. Even before that I hardly ever did." Rogue said looking sad

"You don't have to worry about that now though Marie. I'm here and maybe if I can learn to control my powers you might be able to touch more people than just me. I mean you where able to touch Piotr at the park. Maybe somehow I shut off your powers then." Matthew said this while taking her hand and rubbing his thumb over it

"Do you really think you can do that?" Rogue asked Looking at Matthew

"I don't know If I can but I swear I am going to find out. There has to be a way for my power to last longer than just the time I am in contact with someone. If there is I promise you will be the first person I use it on. You deserve the right to touch more people than just me."Matthew said before kissing her

"I hope you can. I am sick of always having my guard up. I just want to go out and have a normal life like the rest of you. But if just being able to touch you is all I can do I am happy. The ability to touch others will just be the icing on the cake." Rogue said when Matthew pulled away from the kiss

To Carla's surprise she didn't feel like bursting into tears when she saw them kiss each other. She was even more surprised to find out what Jubilee had told her lastnight about Rogue was true. She could see now why Rogue always seemed to be touching Matthew. She would be the same way if she had went so long without contact. Jubilee had filled her in on everything this Matthew had been through and all the things he had done to protect Rogue. She could never see her Matthew doing things like this one had. Sure he had a little mean streak in him but nothing like what Jubilee had told her. The most he had ever done was break a guys nose for trying to feel her up at the beach. But this one had nearly killed four people protecting Rogue. Jubilee told her how he saved Wanda. She didn't even believe her till Wanda said it was true. She said he told her it's what he does save Goth chicks in danger. She remembered how her Matthew was so excited when she dressed Goth for the Halloween dance. He had told her he found the style sexy and she wanted to make him happy even though she didn't like dressing like that. That was the night they first made love. They had snuck away from the school and went to some motel a block over. He was so nervous. She remembered the look on his face when she took off his clothes and just looked at him. He looked so embarrassed standing infront of her like that with his member at full attention. He was even more nervous when he took her clothes off. She thought of how gentle he was. How he held her so close and stopped when she cried when he entered her. He asked if he had done something wrong and kept saying he was sorry. He said if she wanted to stop it would be OK. She didn't care it hurt she just wanted to be with him then. She told him just to wait till it stopped hurting before he moved again. When he did it hurt so much but it started to feel better as it went on. They moved against each other in a slow rhythm. When she climaxed it was the greatest feeling in her life. He climaxed soon after and just held her. She wanted to stay there like that for the rest of the night but they had to hurry back since the dance was almost over and Her parents where coming to pick them up. She had to rush and fix their makeup as best she could when they got back to the dance. They only made love three times after that. The second time was at her house while her parents went to the store. The third was when Cindy walked in on them. She had to promise to buy Cindy six new Barbie's so she wouldn't tell. The last time was the night before the wreck. He came over to ask if she wanted to come with them since he had an extra ticket. She wanted to but she had to baby-sit for their neighbor's. They waited till her parent's where asleep and made love like never before. They went at it for a good forty minutes. She had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from waking up her parents. That night he told her when they where old enough he wanted to sneak away and elope. He even gave her a promise ring. It had a small pink diamond rested in the gold band. When she asked how he was able to get her something like that he told her he had been saving up since he was ten to "buy her something pretty."She cried when he gave it to her and he held her face like this Matthew did when she cried yesterday. She still wore the ring today and swore she would never take it off. Even if she found someone in the future she would never take of that ring. It reminded her of the happiest day of her life. When she knew Matthew loved her enough to want to spend the rest of his life with her. After the wreck she went to see him every day for the next three weeks. She remembered how His parent's warned her he had changed from the wreck. She didn't care that he looked like a monster then he was the boy she had loved her whole life. He was getting better everyday. When he finally woke up she though everything would be fine. Until he took her hand and said he was sorry and started to cry. She could see herself in his now black lifeless eyes. She felt his grip loosen on her hand and saw his face fall still. His eyes where still fixed right on her face. She heard the doctors say his heart just gave out while she was crying hysterically. Jubilee had told her this Matthew woke at the same time as hers but pulled through. She asked how Jubilee knew all this and the girl just said "I have good ears." She staid up that whole night after Jubilee told her everything she knew about Matthew. How he was so sweet to Rogue even though she was very rude to him for the first couple of days he was there. How he attacked Rogue's then boyfriend for just using her. That he had beaten one of the toughest mutants around to within an inch of is life for saying he was going to rape Rogue and let Matthew watch. Everything Jubilee told her made her look at this person differently. This was not her Matthew. This was not the kind and gentle boy she had grew up with. This was a man with a demon just below the surface waiting to be unleashed whenever someone threatened what he cared about. She saw it when she took a better look at him. He had a violent aurora. But as soon as Rogue was next to him he was the boy she had always knew. She was happy he had said he was willing to be friends with her. He could have just told her she wasn't a part of his life anymore and told her never to bother him again. He did say he had looked for her wanting a relationship in his world. She wondered what would have happened if he showed up near her instead of here in New York. Would he be telling her how he loved her? Would she even let him? After all he isn't really HIM. But she knew if that would have happened she would be dead right now. Her, Rogue and everyone one who wasn't a mutant. He was meant to be here. He was meant to be with Rogue. She wondered if her Matthew had lived. Would he have ended up here with the other mutants at the school? Would he have feel for Rogue just like this one had? Would he have just called her one day and said I am sorry I found someone else? She realized that is exactly what would have happened. She found herself trying to hold back the tears again. To her surprise she felt a leather clad hand take hers and heard a voice ask if she was OK. She looked up and Rogue was looking at her and was holding her hand. The two men were looking at her and she just started to cry

"It's nothing just old memories that's all." She said taking a napkin and cleaning her face

"You where thinking about him huh?" Rogue asked handing her another napkin

"Yeah...you see this ring? He gave it to me the night before the wreck. He said when we where old enough he wanted to marry me.....God I miss him so much." She said lowering her head.

She heard someone get up and felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. She looked up and Matthew was sitting next to her. She saw him throw a glance at Rogue and seen the girl nod. The next thing she knew he was hugging her. She broke down and let her tears flow then. She could hear people around them making comments. She heard Piotr say something and they stopped talking. Matthew didn't feel like a statue now. He felt warm and caring as he held her and let her cry. Rogue was still holding her hand as she cried. Matthew was just rocking her and saying he was sorry. She heard the manager walk up and ask what was wrong. She heard Matthew's voice say

"She lost her fiancee now go away." He said in a harsh tone

"I'm sorry Carla. I'm sorry he died. I am sorry you have to go through this. I know I am not really him but I will try and help you make it through this as best I can. I am not going to try and tell you I know what you are going through because I don't but I will help you make it through this. We all will. Right?" Matthew said looking at the other two people with them

"Yes I will help as best I can" Piotr said

"Carla I am here for you if you need me. I know I ain't exactly the person you probably want trying to help you but I had a taste of what you went through and I want to help ." Rogue said

"Thank you..." Carla said

"I think we should leave. Everyone here is staring at us. They may ask us to leave soon." Piotr said

"Yeah I think we should go before someone starts acting like a jackass." Rogue said sliding out of the booth

"Come on Carla lets get going." Matthew said pulling away from her and looking at her

She saw that look. The one Her Matthew would give her when he tried to cheer her up. She nodded and brushed away her tears from her face. Matthew smiled and got out of the booth and waited for her to clean her face off with another napkin before she got up. He smiled at her again and walked off with Carla close behind him. Everyone packed into the jeep after Matthew paid and drove back to the mansion. No one said anything the whole way back. When they got back everyone got out of the car and walked back inside, Carla walked after Piotr while Rogue and Matt walked up to their room.