Title: Mystique's Mind

Author: Mystique (saras@earthlink.net)

Summary: An alternate ending to the What If about Mystique, Rogue, and
Michael. Mystique goes insane and her only relation comes to her aide.
This is a continuation of the What If, I think called Children in the
Attic?



	Destiny's ashes were flowing across the seemingly endless water in 
front of her face. Rogue/Michael teleported away and the stench still 
lingered on the air. Looking at the water, she could almost hear what 
Irene would be saying. "It's not your fault, Raven. It's not the boy's 
fault either. My path led here. It was my choice." 
	Raven felt a tear slide down her cheek as she whispered into the 
wind, "It was his fault. I'll kill him for it." She then stood and 
stared for a moment longer at the sea. She fancied for a moment that she 
saw Irene standing on the water, shaking her head in disappointment. 
	Raven reached her house. As she entered through the gates, she 
remembered the night that her worlds had collided. The night her son had 
died. As she walked down her memories, she suddenly heard a voice behind 
her. More than one. They were shouting. She spun around and stared into 
her memories as she watched her son burn and one final kiss between 
Rogue and Michael. Raven screamed and ran towards the flames. Tearing 
through her own illusion she stumbled and fell to the ground. Suddenly 
angry, she slammed her fists into the earth. Just as quickly, the rage 
transformed into the bitter sadness that had accompanied her for so 
long.
	Tears flowed from her eyes and watered the earth. She heard more 
voices. "No, please no," she whispered as she turned to see another 
memory. She saw Michael, Rogue and herself all standing together. They 
were showing her the portrait Michael had painted of Rogue. It was a 
beautiful piece. 
	Raven stood shakily and walked over to the dream before her. 
Reaching out she tried to touch Michael's face, but there was nothing 
there. She threw her hands to her face so she wouldn't have to see him. 
All around her she could hear the cluster of memories. She spun around, 
jumping through her pain until he felt she would go mad. Then it all 
stopped.
	"Mama?"
	Raven turned to see Rogue standing in front of her. Raven suddenly 
realized that she was bleeding all over from self-inflictated wounds. 
She stared around her. 
	"Rogue, where did they go?" she asked in a voice strange to Rogue's 
ears.
	"Who, mama?"
	"All the people! They were just here! Didn't you see them? Michael, 
he was here! And Irene was there!" she said, madly pointing from one 
spot to another. 
	"Mama, Irene's dead and Michael's part o'me. I'd a'known if'n he'd 
left," Rogue said, confused at Mystique's strangely pained expression.
	"Irene's not dead! I just have to find her! The boy took her, yes, 
he took her away! I'll find her, though! He can't hide her from me!" 
Raven muttered this like a madwoman. She stood as she spoke, though she 
could not remember falling. Rogue walked over to her and placed a loving 
arm around her shoulders.
	"Mama, I think you're just a little upset right now. I'm going to 
take you to someone who can help you." Rogue said as she lead her to the 
road. Rogue could see that Raven had finally gone insane. Rogue couldn't 
blame her, after all, if Michael hadn't been there for Rogue, Rogue 
would have lost it long ago. But Raven didn't have Michael, or Irene, 
anymore. So it fell to Rogue to take care of her. 

***

	Rogue waited outside the X-men's medlab. Hank came out and looked 
at her. She shifted nervously under his steady gaze. "Rogue," he 
started, "She's lost it. She'll have to be confined, for her own 
safety." 
	Rogue looked at the floor and nodded, "Still, could Ah talk tah her 
for a minute?" 
	Hank nodded and opened the door. Rogue stood in the doorway staring 
at the woman who could've been her mother. A good mother, if she'd just 
not been ashamed of her son. 
	"Hello, is Michael there? Or maybe Irene?" Raven's voice came from 
the corner. 
	"No. it's me," Rogue said gently and knelt before the fallen womand 
as she crouched in a corner. 
	"I need them. They're going to show me the light. They're going to 
help me. Will you help me find them?" Raven asked in a quiet, subdued 
way. 
	Rogue looked at this woamn's eyes and said, "Yes, I'll help you 
find them. We'll find them together." With that Rogue hugged Raven and 
Raven hugged her back.