Okay, I'm really glad that I got that box of tissue out before I read the end. I love how she told Logan that she loves him and that she didn't have to hear him say the words back to her. That whole scene made me cry. His reaction to her words was awesome too.

Now I know that I should be happy with the ending which is basically a happy ending for all three of them, and I am, mostly. I was nervous that it was all going to end in sadness, especially for Logan. But I'm still a bit uneasy and I think it's because of my Rogan bias. But when I really stop and think about the story that you wrote and their thoughts, emotions and complicated relationship, it all makes perfect sense. I mean, Logan and Gambit both love her and gave her so much of themselves, how can she not love them both in return, right?

This is a truly compelling and complicated story and I'm so glad that you wrote it, shared it and finished it. You are an exceptionally talented writer and I can't wait to read your next story. That you can make me, a devoted Rogan fan, think to myself, "You know, it might not be exactly the ending I was hoping for (please forgive my obsessive Rogan bias), but it works and it's perfect and beautiful" says a lot for your talented writing.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for this amazing comment--and for donating your tissues to this story! Thank you for appreciating the fact that Logan did not respond; as I said in another comment, I can't ever really imagine him saying that to her--at least not the way he's interpreted in my stories so far--and I like that about him, about them; their wordless intimacy. And thank you for appreciating the ending, despite your Rogan bias! :) I genuinely cannot imagine any other honest or true ending but this one--so thank you for understanding the story and its efforts to suggest an atypical vision of love (or the Rogan relationship). This was a lovely and thoughtful response; and is much appreciated by this writer. See you next story!

Absolutely loved this story. But the epilogue seems to cry out for a sequel, yes? Surely Rogue will get what she wants, she always does.

Author's Response: Haha... sequel? The only sequel I can imagine for these three is a smutty one-shot. Though I'm sure people wouldn't mind that...

I cried. Again. You... wow.

Okay let me write down what I have to say about this chapter.

I love Rogue and Storm relationship. I love how Storm is fiercely protective towards her sometimes like a mother, sometimes like a sister.

I love Storm and Hank since the comic.

I love how this chapter doesn't scare me. It's like I'm through riding the wave. I have that "calm" sense throughout the chapter.

But then Rogue must got herself injured. And then the whole "I love yous" with Storm. I understand why Storm is crying and laughing at the same time because it's Rogue. Yes, she would let you in her body but not her heart. Even if she did, she wouldn't tell you about it.

And this is where I started crying. The whole scene with Logan. The whole I love you. The you before and now. It just make me happy and sad. Happy because she finally tells Logan how she feels and sad because it takes a lot for her to tell Logan about it. The road that she has to use to get there.

And fuck it all Rogue, why must you love two men at the same time??

Yeah okay. I know that feeling too.

There. I really love it that you didn't make Logan say it back. Not because he's a coward but because he just doesn't know how to.

This is beautiful BB.

- Alia.

Author's Response: Once again (and for the last time, at least for a while!) thank you for your much beloved tears! Yes, I almost love the Storm/Rogue and Storm/Hank dynamic more than the Rogue/Gambit/Logan thing. Did Storm and Hank have something going on in the comic?! I didn't know that! Wow, yay. If I ever did a sequel to this, I can only imagine a Storm/Hank one, haha. And thank you so much for your reaction to the Rogue/Logan confession. And yes; this story imagines the possibility of genuinely loving two different people in two different ways, which are both, nevertheless, love. And thank you for enjoying the fact that Logan did not say it back; I can't really ever imagine him saying it to her, especially in this story where he's so internal. I like that about him, in that relationship; and I like that she understands that about him, too. Love that doesn't have to be declared in the conventional way is moving to me; love that can be conveyed through gestures and silent knowledge; I like that. Thank you so much for your always beautiful comments and reactions; I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them during the progress of this story. (hug) There's a silent gesture of thanks, from me! :)

more please!

Author's Response: More is there! :)

So we are all caught up now. I am really loving this story. Out of all of them it seems like Rogue is the most screwed up right now. How interesting. I can't wait to see what happens next! Update soon!

Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading and your lovely comments. Haha; yes, I think I would agree with you on the Rogue assessment. At least the others are trying to live honest lives; live the best they can, with what they've got.

:(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

I cried so hard it's not even real anymore.

I thought chapter 8 is the hardest chapter to get through, but I think this chapter is mother of all hardest for me.

Oh Rogue... there are too much that I want to say about Rogue but all I could think of is that, she's scared and she's growing up too fast. Knows secrets that she's not supposed to know and she knows answers that she thought she's ready to handle but couldn't in the end. And then when her images of how Logan now was tainted, she gets angry and upset and I think I know why she's crying at this part :-

"Carefully and gently repairing and renewing everything she had destroyed."

Maybe because she knows what Logan is capable of doing and his previous life was all about destroy destroy destroy but in this life, he's all repairs and renews and that somehow makes her sad how Logan used to be only one dimension and now he has more sides of him that Rogue has seen.

And Remy... omg never have I feel conflicted by whatever he's trying to shove down Rogue's throat.

I know he wants Rogue to know the truth about Logan and him and asks for her to understand that something cannot be avoided and were Logan to remember what he had done in his previous life, he too would regret them immensely.

For that I applaud Remy's persistence for Rogue to forgive them (maybe to forgive Logan more because somehow he knows that Logan is the main concerns here.)

But maybe I'm wrong in my observations.

Hey, you made me cry but you should be proud of yourself for this exceptionally amazing truly beautiful writing.

- Alia.

Author's Response: Thank you again for your always detailed and extensive reviews; and thank you especially for your tears! I think your observations are apt... I think absolutely, that for Rogue there is something heartbreaking about knowing who Logan used to be and who he is trying to be, now; that in some way the way he is living his life is already about an atonement for a past he doesn't even fully know yet. I don't know if Gambit wants Rogue to forgive them; I think, for him, he doesn't believe either of them should be forgiven, and he certainly doesn't forgive himself. (Some shades of the comicverse Gambit/Marauders/Antarctica thing.) But I think (I'm speaking as an objective reader, not as the author) what he hopes for--what we hope for from the people we love or wish to love us--is to be seen, truly seen; known and truly known. And I think he wishes the same thing for Logan. Particularly because Rogue is so adamantly against knowing anyone. Thank you again for this wonderful comment and for your emotional reactions--they move me each time you respond.

"Who Logan has been; what Logan has done.
Who Logan had been. What Logan had done."

That would be a major turning point of how Rogue sees Logan. Right?

Dude, I always say this but Imma say it again:-

I'm afraid. And this time, I'm afraid that Rogue would hate Logan for the things that he'd done.

Author's Response: lol. What can I say? I feel like I want to give you a cookie. As always, thank you for reading, despite the fear! You get much appreciation from me. :)

It really really hurts,reading this story. Sometimes people get it wrong when they are dense, and we can roll our eyes at them and think opening theirs would make it all better. But here, there is just so much helpless pain, and if they did open their eyes and hearts there wouldn't be less, because to love is one of the most dangerous things we can do.
At least Rogue slowly matures, after all the growing up she has done she realises she might be Storm's friend. Maybe she has a chance to settle into herself after all. Maybe. I look forward to that happening, if I manage to continue reading.

Author's Response: Thank you so, so much for this lovely and detailed comment. It sounds strange to say, but I'm very honored to hear that it "hurts" you to read this story. If you do continue to reading, I hope you will find a few bits of hope. I know, they are few and far between so far, but they are (and will be) there. :) And I wholeheartedly agree, about the love. And yes, about Storm! I actually am as invested in the Storm/Rogue dynamic in this story as with the Rogue/Gambit/Logan thing. Or even the Storm/Hank dynamic. Or even Piotr/Bobby. I always like the side characters almost more than the main characters, it's an illness.

This was very interesting. I actually love the spin you did with Harada. Very cool. I like that she went there for revenge and came out with answers and still none of his blood on her hands. Good job!

Author's Response: Thanks for the lovely comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the Harada section; yes, it seems I have a thing for somewhat de-villainizing old villains. :)

I keep feeling bad because your updating seems to coincide nicely with my lunch hour at work, which is good for me but means that I'm not logged on to review right after reading it. :-( Anyway, this was great. Seriously great. I'm starting to see how everything connects, and even though I'm pulling for Rogan to the bitter end, I feel sympathy toward Gambit, too, and that's rare because his character almost always is just too annoying for words to me. And yours is, it's true, but it's more like the endearing kind of annoying you put up with 'cause he's just too damn cute!

Author's Response: Haha, please, any comment at all is much cherished by me. I understand what you mean about Gambit's annoying-ness; it really is a crucial part of his character. But there's something about that, in itself, that compells me--I like the things that someone so external, so jokey can bring to the table. Somehow, tortured people who pretend to be cheerful and blasé are often more moving to me than tortured people who just live their torturedness (ahem, everyone else in my work). And since my Logan and Rogue characterizations are so internal they're practically mute, without Gambit there'd be no dialogue in this damn thing at all! Just people crying in their gloves. Haha.

Hands down, this chapter is the hardest chapter ever for me to read because I'm scared. I am truly truly scared for Rogue and Logan and Gambit especially Rogue.

And I don't know how Remy knows about Rogue's feelings towards Logan but what he said about "It's not your fight." strikes her to the core because even if she did say that she wants to exorcise the memories that don't make sense to her, Gambit is right, it's not her fight. She can choose to ignore them just like she ignores all feelings related stuff. But why couldn't see let this one go?

And Remy, saying that he loves her all the way now? /sigh

It's hard okay to read that part because I don't know. It's like real life. You love someone a long time ago and then you buried that feeling and then that someone is in love with you but then there's someone else and you just don't want to deal with any of them. And I'm scared that Rogue is not gonna end with Logan. There. I said it. I'm a sucker for that endgame even if the ride is a total bump.

"And now there is a look on his face that she has never seen; that reminds her of no other look."

And that part? Is where I start crying.

I'm sorry if I don't make any sense. But I think things will get harder for them in the next chapters yes?

More soon.

-alia

Author's Response: I always feel equally overjoyed and guilty reading your lovely detailed responses, with all the fear I appear to be causing you! Yes... I am definitely interested in all the messiness that comes with caring about people, knowing people. And thank you, thank you for your tears; they are much cherished by me--though I apologize for them, as well!

Oh damn you – the big old pendulum is swinging back again (which is strange cause I never thought it would swing away to start with!) – My Remy phase is over and I can’t help feeling sorry for Logan. It’s strange that although he has an inkling *something’s* going on at the moment he’s pretty clueless and that’s something we’re not used to. His general nature along with his senses usually keep him clued up to everything going on around him and he’s not usually depicted as someone you can hide anything from. Instead we’ve got Remy knowing everything as well as being the one Rogue has sort of opened up to and discounting the occasional sex session, Logan is getting pushed aside and being ignored. Is he really in the dark? Does he already know? Who’s protecting who? Is there reasons that they’re all ok with settling for less than they want? Is it ever that simple? (not in your fics!)

My brain is overloaded, it ok for you, you know where you’re going with it!

I know, I know, they’ll be more in the next chappy so stop reading rambling reviews and off with you....to the pen & paper/lap top/whatever.....Get writing and post.....(rinse and repeat as necessary)

Author's Response: Rambling reviews are much cherished around here! It's true, Logan is typically characterized as more or less all-knowing, because of his senses; but I've always found that interpretation to be a little incomplete, particularly for the movieverse rendition of him. He has impeccable instincts, but instincts are distinct from facts, knowledge; knowing something's wrong isn't enough to tell you what it is, particularly if it's a bit more complex than "intruder nearby." His scenes with Stryker or Xavier are exemplary here, where you see him grasping for facts in his past he just cannot access, despite his obvious intelligence and perceptiveness. Haha: believe me, knowing where it's going does NOT keep my brain from being overloaded. I need to change the summary description, soon. Anyone who comes in here looking for a light series is going to be very, very confused.

Well the cracks are getting deeper! Rogue’s internal struggle has stepped up a gear.

We got a great insight into Remy here, been given a closer look at the man/his background/the emotion/his reasoning for actions, been given a degree of understanding of his side of the coin/ where he’s coming from/where he want’s to go etc. He gets the sympathy vote for this chapter but..........Logan I feel hasn’t come into play yet, the why to a lot of questions as yet unanswered.

Who’d have thought you could get us all hooked on a threesome! It’s definitely a rollercoaster journey, a clever one too, my thoughts are changing each chapter as we get more info to what has already been.

Add another Gold star to your collection, great stuff as usual x

Author's Response: Thank you once again for your lovely detailed response, as always! Haha, yes, I know, this chapter and the one to follow will still be largely Gambit-centric, as we catch up on Rogue's POV, to the time where Logan's left off. But Logan will definitely come into play soon. Haha, threesomes; yes, I think a previous comment had it right; non-traditional love story. I guess it's all in the title, really. :)