I can't believe this story hasn't been reviewed in EIGHTEEN whole years! I will rectify that injustice right now!

This story is beautiful! It shows in just a few words everything we love about this pairing : the pain of Rogue's mutation, how it keeps her from experiencing the most basic of human desires, to feel the touch of another. But it also shows us why this gruff and taciturn man is perfect for her because he shows her that touch is more than skin-on-skin.