It was a week after Rogue had rescued Jake and brought him to the hospital, and a couple days after Rogue had visited Jake, he was given the all clear to leave the hospital with his family. Eventually Zeb Reisenauer would be facing a sentencing for his probation violation, when, Jake wasn't sure.

Rogue was at the Xavier Mansion taking a shower in her room. After several minutes of washing her body and her hair, Rogue felt nice and clean, smelling like peaches and roses. She stepped out of the shower and got a towel to dry off her wet, naked, body. Once her naked body was dry, Rogue wrapped a towel to cover up her intimate areas, and then she got a towel to wrap around her hair so that it could dry off. As Rogue wandered over to her bedroom, she heard her cell phone ringing. "I wonder who that could be?" Rogue asked herself as she went to her phone. Rogue recognized the number belonging to Jake Phillips Jr! She sat on the bed and picked up the phone, saying, "howdy Jake! What do Ah owe the pleasure of receiving your call?"

"Hey there Rogue." Jake said on the phone, "how are you doing today?" Rogue laid on the bed, crossing her feet together and said, "Ah'm doin' pretty good. How ya holdin' up after comin' back to your dorm?" Jake replied on the phone, "oh you know, coping and trying to get better if you know what I mean. My roommate has been willing to accommodate for everything though, so that's good. How are you, by the way?" Rogue smirked and said, "Ah think Ah know what you mean. Ah'm doin' pretty good, thanks for askin'. Ah feel much cleaner after gettin' mahself cleaned up." Jake said on the phone, "I was wondering if you're busy doing anything today..." Rogue's eyes slightly widened and she asked, "why Mr Phillips, are you asking me out on a date?" Jake replied on the phone, "well not exactly... I was thinking we could get some ice cream and hang out at the park. I just want to get that incident out of my mind and do something to lift my spirits." Rogue gave a soft smile and said, "Ah think Ah know exactly what you mean, sugah. Ah don't think the Professor needs us to deal with a villain of the week right now. Ah think Ah'm free."

"Perfect!" Jake said enthusiastically on the phone, "I'll take the bus to go to Baskin-Robbins." Rogue smiled and said, "sounds like a plan, Ah'll meet you there. And Ah can fly you over to whatever park sounds nice." Jake replied on the phone, "excellent! See you then Anna."

"Buh bye now," said Rogue as she hung up the phone. Rogue then looked for some clothes to wear and put on a pair of blue jeans, a Dolly Parton t-shirt, her yellow gloves, and some feminine green sneakers with purple socks. Once she was all dressed up, Rogue left the Xavier mansion to meet up with Jake at the Baskin-Robbins in Manchester. Waiting for her was Jake who was wearing a Star Wars t-shirt with a red flannel shirt, blue jeans and some Wolverine themed sneakers on his left foot because his right foot was still in a cast and Jake was in the wheelchair. He brightened up when he saw Rogue. "Hey Anna!" Jake said enthusiastically. "Hey yourself Jake," replied Rogue, "Hope Ah didn't keep you waitin' too long."

"You didn't," assured Jake, "forgive me for not standing up. I dunno about you, but I sure am hankering for ice cream. How about you?" Rogue chuckled and said, "well what are we standing around here for?" She went with Jake inside the ice cream shop and they ordered ice cream. Rogue ordered two scoops of Pralines N Cream while Jake ordered two scoops of Wild N Reckless Sherbet. Once the ice creams were paid for, Rogue went outside with Jake and said, "Ah know a good park that'll be perfect to relax in." As she grabbed the handles behind Jake's wheelchair, he said, "that sounds nice." Rogue took Jake to a particular spot in the park and there was a nice grassy area with a lovely big tree. Jake looked at the view and said, "oh yeah, this is nice." He carefully stood from his wheelchair, and then sat down on the grass. Rogue sat next to him, blushing a little. "Feeling more comfortable?" she asked. "Yeah, thanks," said Jake as he started to eat his ice cream, "so... Which part of the south are you from?"

"Caldecott County, it's in Mississippi," replied Rogue, "it was a nice little town. Ah guess you and your family are regulars in Manchester?" She ate some of her ice cream. "Yeah, pretty much," said Jake, "we've been to other parts of New York and Brooklyn too. Nice t-shirt by the way." Rogue smiled and said, "thanks sugah. Ah know it might sound stereotypical, but Ah do love Dolly. Her songs just speak to me." Jake nodded and said, "I do agree, Dolly Parton is a good singer and she makes some really good songs." Rogue looked at Jake and asked, "so your family is connected to SHIELD?"

"Yeah, a lot of the Philips family has worked for SHIELD ever since my great-great grandfather Colonel Chester Phillips co-founded the organization with Nick Fury Sr, Peggy Carter, and Howard Stark," explained Jake. "Damn, that's a hell of a bloodline," commented Rogue, "You plannin' on workin' for them?" Jake shook his head and replied, "actually no. I want to get my veterinarian degree." Rogue gave a look of surprise and asked, "a veterinarian degree? Why that particular field?" Jake blushed and asked, "you promise not to laugh or make fun of me?"

"Ah won't," promised Rogue. Jake breathed in and replied, "I want to get my veterinarian degree because I want to work at a ranch and take care of horses." Rogue listened to what Jake said and replied, "you like horses?" Jake nodded and said, "I think they're magnificent creatures. They're my favorite animals next to lions and bears. My family's okay with me pursuing this career." Rogue smiled and said, "well it's nice to know your family's got your back with this career choice. Ah like horses too, Ah've seen my fair share of horses when Ah was growin' up in the south. They could take me anywhere." After a few minutes, the two of them finished their ice cream. "So were you made fun of for wantin' to be a horse groomer?" Rogue asked. Jake nodded and said, "among other things when I was in middle school and high school. It's like, the moment I left elementary school and started attending middle school, it somehow became okay to be a jerk and say cynical things about stuff I would normally love. Anyone would bully me for just about anything." Rogue looked at Jake sadly. "Ah'm sorry to hear about that sugah," said Rogue. "It's not a big deal," said Jake, "past is in the past. I can learn from it and move forward. And I never stopped liking the things I like even if people bullied me for it. If I did do that, I wouldn't be into Doctor Who anymore."

"Ah've never really watched Doctor Who growin' up," said Rogue, "maybe you could help me get acquainted with that show and also that Broadchurch show." Jake smiled and said, "I'd be happy to do that for you, Anna. We could probably watch it at my place or your place. Where is your place?" Rogue rubbed her right arm and said, "oh Ah live in this Institute that's kind of like a refuge place for mutants like me." Jake nodded and said, "that would make sense. Your friends wouldn't mind if I visited the place so we can hang out, would they?" Rogue shrugged and replied, "Ah doubt they would mind. Especially since you ain't a Sentinel or a malicious bigot." She and Jake shared a laugh at that. Jake looked into Rogue's green eyes, and Rogue looked into Jake's brown eyes. "She's so beautiful," thought Jake while looking into Rogue's eyes. "He's so handsome," thought Rogue as she looked into Jake's eyes. She hadn't felt this way about a man since she developed feelings for Cody Robbins. Oh, poor, poor, Cody...

Suddenly, Rogue's cell phone started ringing, playing the song Jolene by Dolly Parton. Rogue blushed with some embarrassment and bashfully said, "sorry... Ah gotta answer this..." She picked up her phone and asked, "hello?"

"Rogue, where are you currently?" Hank asked on the phone. "Ah'm at the park with my friend Jake," said Rogue, "what's goin' on, Beast?" Hank replied on the phone, "actually, it's a good thing that you're with Mr Phillips. The Professor and I need to speak to you and we may need to tell Jake this sudden news as well. Please come to Xavier's office and we'll explain everything." Rogue sighed, "If you insist. Ah'll be there." She hung up the phone and said, "well Jake, looks like you're goin' to get an opportunity to meet the X-Men today." Jake's eyes widened and said, "really? That sounds exciting!" She helped Jake get back on his wheelchair, and then Rogue lifted the wheelchair up and said, "hang on tight, Jake. We're about to go flyin'." Rogue then lifted into the air and started flying with Jake being carried, off to the Xavier Institute!