*****

The returned letter was the first indication that something was
wrong.  Marie had written to her parents on and off over the years
she'd been gone, not wanting them to worry about her, but she'd never
given them a return address until the wedding invitation.  For all
those years, she hadn't wanted them to find her.  It wasn't because
they hated her or were afraid of her, like most of her peers'
parents.  It was because they loved her, and they would come for
her.  They were like that.

After "the kiss," her parents had been amazingly supportive.  They'd
stuck by her, defending her against David's parents and the outraged
people in the community.  Reporters had camped out on her doorstep,
eager to interview the girl who could kill with a touch.  Doctors and
researchers called at all hours, promising cures if only they could
examine her.

Her parents had protected her.  They had gotten a lawyer, kicked the
reporters off the lawn, and changed the phone number.  They had told
her that they still loved her, that her mutation didn't matter, and
that they would be careful.  That had been enough for her, until
David woke up.

She had wanted to be there, but David's parents were furious at her,
so Becky, her and David's best friend, had been her inside source.
Marie hadn't known what to expect.  On television shows, people woke
up from comas just like they'd wake up from a nap.  David had been in
a coma for three weeks, and real life was far different from T.V.  It
had taken him two days just to wake up, his level of consciousness
slowly increasing over time.  Becky said that when she had finally
gotten to see him, he was drooling and didn't seem to remember her.
The doctors said he had permanent brain damage from the coma and
would need months or even years of physical therapy and special
education.

It was then that Marie knew she had to leave.  A casual kiss, no
longer than a few seconds, had changed David's life forever.  What if
she brushed against Momma or accidentally touched Daddy?  She loved
them too much.  She couldn't stay and risk the possibility of hurting
them.  She'd snuck out that night, her dark green cloak and black
jeans blending with the darkness to hide her from any prying eyes
that might still be watching the house.

In four years, she hadn't seen or spoken to them again, but she'd
written.  The letters while she was hitchhiking around the U.S. and
Canada were about why she'd left them and why she couldn't be around
people.  The heartfelt letters expressed her love for them and
appreciation for their support, but explained her fears of ever
letting anyone touch her again.

After the Statue of Liberty, she wrote to tell them that she was ok,
in case they had heard about it on the news and figured out it was
her.  She told them about Logan and Magneto and the touching.  She
wrote about how neither of them had been affected like David, so
maybe if she accidentally touched mutants, at least she wouldn't ruin
their lives.

Her letters turned lighter after that, about friends and school and
boys, about a place where people like her could belong.  She always
wrote about Logan, how he was her best friend, and later, how she
thought she was falling in love with him.  Her last letter invited
them to the wedding, asking Daddy to give her away in the ceremony.
She finally gave them her address, wanting to see them again so much,
wanting them to see her all grown up.

She had really expected them to come.  When the wedding day arrived
with no word from them, she had been heartbroken.  Maybe they had
been mad at her when she left.  Maybe they had realized they were
better off without her, and didn't love her anymore.  Maybe they were
throwing away her letters unread, or worse still, reading them and
laughing at her pathetic mutant existence.

The professor had walked her down the aisle.  She'd tried to look
happy, not wanting anyone see how disappointed she was, but she could
tell that Logan knew she was upset.  He was so good at picking up on
her emotions.  He didn't mention it until later that night, when they
were finally alone, and she told him about her parents and the
invitation and how disappointed she was.

He told her that her parents were morons if they didn't realize what
a wonderful person she was.  Well, he had used stronger words than
that, but that was the gist of it.  She still loved them, though, and
couldn't understand why they hadn't come.  Of course, Logan managed
to get her thoughts off her parents that night and for the rest of
their honeymoon.  No wonder people wrote books and songs and poems
about sex, it was freaking wonderful.  She had Logan's and Erik's
memories, but the real thing with someone she loved was amazing.  In
fact, she didn't think of the letter again until a few days after
they had gotten home and she was chatting in Jubes and Kitty's room
like old times.

"So, was it worth the wait?" Jubilee asked with a lecherous grin.

"A lady doesn't kiss and tell," Marie answered coyly.

"Oh Rogue, please tell me you did more than kissing.  You're ruining
all my fantasies."

"You're no blushing virgin, Jubes.  You know what it's like."

"Yeah, but with the Wolverine.  I mean, does he growl when he..."

"No comment," Marie said with a giggle.

"Rogue, come on, give us the goods," Kitty begged.  "You've been gone
for three weeks."

Marie just shook her head and smiled.

Kitty tried a different tack.  "How was Anchorage?"

"Did you even make it to Anchorage?" Jubilee added.

"Yes, we made it.  Eventually.  It was... nice.  Not what I was
expecting.  In some ways, better than I was expecting."

"Did you even leave the hotel room, or did you get these deep and
insightful impressions from your window?"

Marie was flushed red.  "Jubes, stop it, you're embarassing me."
Marie looked around the room desperately for anything to use to
change the subject.  When her gaze settled on Kitty's table she saw a
familiar envelope.

"What's this?" she asked reaching for the letter with her
handwriting.  It had a return to sender stamp with the reason for the
return checked as unknown or incorrect address.

Jubilee was glaring at Kitty as the young woman meekly replied, "I
know we should've given to you sooner, Rogue, but we didn't want to
upset you before the wedding."

"When did this get here?"

"About five weeks ago.  You were so nervous and we didn't want you to
worry about your parents not wanting to see you.  Everyone knows that
you write them all the time."

"This says it was returned for an incorrect address, but the address
is right.  What's going on?"

"Rogue..." Jubes started, but Marie was already up, walking across
the room and dialing the phone.

After waiting a few seconds, she said in a confused voice, "Hey, can
I speak to George Trent?...  Um, is this 601-555-2341?...  Ok,
thanks."

Slowly, she lowered the phone.

"Rogue, what is it?"

If she heard Kitty's question, she gave no indication of it.  She
simply walked out of the room, a dazed expression on her face.

*****