A/N: Thank you all for quick response to the first installment, here is the next chapter.

Chapter One

After ten miles or so Ah feel a bit better, at least Ah don't want to blow up everybody who passes meh over on the highway. Riding a bike always helped me to let out some steam. This time however there is a lot of it.

Ah know Ah've never been exactly one of the team, never wanted to be, but it was home somewhat. Ah just don't understand their reasoning! Why were they so ready to throw meh away? Because Ah killed Jean the Perfect? Jean who turned into a crazy bitch? They were ready to slit mah throat open for Chris's sake! Or maybe Ah am overreacting. We all were shaken up by Prof's death, everybody's lives have become chaos in just a day. They were happy just to be alive. Ah… don't know. Ah was given another chance at life, but where did it get meh? What am Ah supposed to do now? All Ah know is that Ah can't go back. What's done is done. Meh saying sorry won't make mah words disappear. They were rather harsh, but Ah don't regret saying them. Much.

In mah rather hazy departure, Ah've managed to grab mah savings and mah camera. That was a start. Ah also have a bike, a rather good one. Ah've always been jealous of Gambit for having such a beast. It has a lot of power, but moves without making a noise. Ah bet it was tuned to be perfect getaway wheels. But better not to think about him and where he didn't get away from.

And thus Ah start mah ride to discover the world. Ah move from state to state, make pictures of the sites, tourists and tourists on sites. Ah finished some online courses on digital photography while in the Institute, Ah am no artist, but it allows meh to get buy. Ah am certainly not into socializing and everything, but Ah decided to get to know people. So Ah watch them through the camera lens, watch the happy, unpretending faces. It is rather painful. Painful to know that Ah don't have what they do, to know that they don't know about the pain mutants suffer just a couple of states north. Of course, mutants are all over the news, but the anti-mutant craziness hasn't spread this far. Yet.

Ah travel through the northern states, staying clear from the South, but eight months after mah murder (how else to call it?) of the Dark Phoenix, Ah found mahself in Louisiana. Ah totally don't know why. Ah certainly can't call it home, but it called for meh or something. Ah decide to stay put for a while becoming a waitress in a bikers' bar. And how is that, you may ask. Well, during mah journey, Ah discovered that a part of the Phoenix indeed was in meh, because Ah still absorbed Jean's powers while charging her. The whole thing is complicated of course, and Ah basically have no idea how it happened and why, but now Ah can fly whenever, have telepathy to control those freaks in mah mind, as for touching… it's basically possible.

So that's how Ah found mahself pouring beer and whisky for the hairy, tattooed men of all ages. It was not easy at first, but Ah gained their respect by tossing out some of them singlehandedly. And the bike, of course. Ah lost count how many wanted to buy it from meh. But Ah stood mah ground. Obviously there are gropes, dirty comments and flirting, but why not? Life is not sweet, but it not all sour either so why not live it?

…

So it is yet another night shift for meh. Nothing unusual. Ah park mah beast in the back. We have full house. There is some intense poker game going on in the corner – nothing unusual. Ah step to the bar where another bar girl, Stacy, is waiting to go home. Usually does, but not tonight. She is all excited about something or someone more like it. Her crash of the week seemed to change a few days earlier.

"So what's happening?" Ah ask rather indifferently. Fate is cruel to meh, Ah run all the way here, and there is still another Kitty Pryde waiting for meh with her romantic crap.

"Oh there is this new guy! He is to die for! He is so… gorgeous! You must meet him!" mah blond 'colleague' recites in one breath. If this is going to continue, Ah am starting to call her 'Kitty'. Mark mah word, huh.

"You can have him for all Ah care," with the same indifference. Stacy made her mission to set meh up. Didn't Ah tell you? Kitty Pryde's reincarnation or something like it.

"Common, aren't you intrigued?" she squeals.

If she makes that sound one more time… Her workday will be cut short since Ah'll personally toss her out of the back door. "Okay, okay. So where is this gorgeous guy of yours?"

"At the poker table," she chirps in response. "They've just ordered a refill. Take those glasses to them."

"What a fuss," Ah mutter, but take the tray with the four whiskey glasses. It is mah work after all.

So Ah move to the corner table, going in between the tables, throw greetings along the way, nothing unusual as Ah keep telling mahself. It is a bit dark in the bar, but not dark enough for meh not to recognize the poker players – Louis, Pete, Michael and – Mah waitressing career goes down the drain as the whiskey which is now on the floor with the glass shards and the tray. Because Ah dropped it. Dropped it from shock of a lifetime after seeing the fourth player. Ah just stand there like a statue, making a total fool of mahself, but Ah can't move an inch. He stands up, goes around the table and appears in front of meh. Ah have a giant sense of déjà vu. It is completely the same as we met for the very first time.

"Wow, guys, somehow has finally managed to snatch Anna's heart!" Michael howls. Or is it Pete? Whatever. Ah think Ah am going to faint.

"Maybe her heart was not free in the first place, mon ami."

There is no mistake. It is the same voice, the same drawl. If he calls meh, calls meh… Then Ah am definitely going to faint. "You are supposed to be dead," Ah whisper not for others not to hear, but because, quite frankly, Ah can't find mah voice.

"You don't have much faith in Remy, chere."

Okay, Ah don't faint, but Ah do grab his arm to steady mahself. The same freaking trench coat! "We need to talk," Ah manage to squeeze out of mahself.

"Remy's time is all yours, chere."

Ah've started to forget how much Gambit annoyed meh. Ah turn and go back to the counter where overexcited Stacy is waiting for meh. Oh bugger.

"So who is he? And old flame?" she blurts out the moment Ah am in the hearing distance.

"Just someone Ah knew. Clean up the mess, please. You can go early tonight."

"Knew how? Intimately?"

"Stace, if you want him – take him. Not that anything good will come out of it."

"If you insist, but the chemistry is so there, I can tell."

Why is Fate so cruel to meh?

…

"It is surprising in the least."

"What exactly, Swamp Rat?" Ah bark in response. How does he dare to disrupt mah peace while Ah am cleaning the counter?

"No fighting. No snapping. Acting all housewife like."

"Don't even think about going there," Ah snap in return. It's what Ah do. "Why are you even here?"

"Why are you?"

Gambit certainly knows how to ask uncomfortable questions. "Ah work here if you haven't noticed."

"That Remy did, Anna."

Mah whole body stiffens. Hearing him saying mah name… It sounded totally different from the other men. Was it because of the accent? "Ah am waiting for an answer. Why are you here? Alive?"

"Not happy to see an old friend? Remy doubts your old buddies visit you here."

Right for the sore spot. Damn him. "Not in the least. Ah have a new life now. The past should stay in the past. You still haven't told meh-"

"It was a lousy kiss. Remy was up and about even before the earthquake. Remy is sorry about the others."

Lousy kiss? Is he insulting meh now? "Why weren't you at the funeral? Could've saved meh a headache."

"A headache over Remy? Touched."

"Gud! Why do you do this all the time? Can't we have a decent conversation for once?"

"Remy is listening."

Okay, that was not what Ah had in mind. What am Ah supposed to tell him? Mah life story? "To what exactly?"

"To the reason you left Bayville. In such a hurry no less."

"Well, Ah made a scene at the funeral, because… everybody thought Ah would be the next to lose control over mah powers and rein havoc. Ah disagreed, so Ah left. End of story."

"You were tres belle up there, chere."

"You mean…"

"In the sky, with Jean."

"There is nothing beautiful about a murder," Ah retort, hoping he won't hear the pain and regret in mah voice.

"You've saved the world, there is nothing to regret."

His words have a calming effect on meh, but Ah still have mah doubts. "There is still a possibility. We don't know why or how it happened to Jean. We all can be ticking bombs."

"Remy's sure there is still some time before that. Let's enjoy it."

"Whatever."

"Are you happy now?"

That takes meh off guard. "What do you mean?"

"Do you regret leaving the team, your friends behind? Do you like your current live, your job, your apartment?"

"Ah get by," Ah throw offhandedly, lying through mah teeth. Of course, Ah miss those years. Even with a crowded kitchen, Kitty's constant blabber, total absence of privacy, Ah miss the Institute. Even the Danger Room sessions. Ah miss all that, but Ah must learn to live on mah own. Ah won't tell Gambit all that, of course. But by the smirk on his lips, Ah think he knows everything already. Bastard. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"You have something of Remy's."

Ah almost start to protest, but he is actually right. And as much as it pains meh, Ah have no claim on the bike. It has become a part of mah new life, the only constant companion on mah travels. Ah certainly don't want to give it up. "Yeah. Sorry for that. Ah thought you wouldn't need it anymore. Ah kinda got attached to it, will you sell it to meh?"

"It's a very special bike, chere."

"Yeah, it's tuned to perfection, starts like a rocket and brakes in an instant- What are you grinning about?" Ah demand, but halfheartedly, since Ah feel Ah am grinning too.

"It's Remy's lucky bike. It's Rogue Strié Blanc."

"You are quite superstitious, Gambit. First, a lucky card, now a lucky bike."

"Remy doesn't use that name anymore. And having a bit of luck on your side is very useful in Remy's line of work."

"Thieving?" Ah ask not without distaste.

"Surviving."

Now that's an interesting turn. Is he running again from the same pursuer he hid in the Institute from? "So you won't sell the bike to meh even if you are in a dire need of cash?"

"Remy gets buy," he replies, referring to mah earlier answer, with that grin of his. Ah hate it when he does that – pry into others business. That grin just says, 'Ah know what you are thinking, you can't hide from meh'. Ah don't know how he does that, but Ah surely hate it. "Remy cleared your friends' pockets tonight, so he doesn't need cash. At the moment."

"They are not mah friends, just clients."

"The looks there were giving you tell another story."

"They can look wherever they want."

"But nothing more," he remarks with that knowing smirk of his. Did Ah say how Ah hate it?

"Ah must close the bar, so go wherever you were going in the first place."

"Don't you need company?"

'Need' not 'want'. What is he implying? "Ah am not some damsel, Ah can take care of mahself."

"That Remy surely knows."

"Listen, misterh, Ah'll give you the damn bike and you get out of mah life, deal?" Ah snap – he is really starting to get onto mah nerves.

"Don't you want to spend some time with an old friend?"

"We were never friends, Swamp Rat!" Ah slam the door with more force than necessary and turn the key. Ah like the night shifts because there are not much people around at the closing time. So usually Ah lock the bar and disappear into the night on mah bike. But now Ah couldn't ask anyone to get him away from meh, not to mention he was going to take the bike from meh too. How am Ah going to get home at two a.m. from now on?

"We made a good team."

Okay, that is true. But that doesn't, Ah repeat, doesn't mean anything. On the other hand, Ah've never made a good team with anyone else, even Wolverine, Ah was mostly on mah on. "Just take the bike and get out of here! It's in the back." We walk around the block to the back alley where Ah parked the bike and a revelation hits meh. "That's how you found meh! There must be a tracking device on it!"

"You know Remy so well, chere, and you say we are not friends."

"But why wait for so long? It's been almost a year. Did you stalk meh all this time?" Ah ask defensively, turning around to face the bastard. Right at that moment we are passing a street lamp and – "Oh mah Gud!" In the bar, Ah avoided looking into his eyes because… just because. The now long hair is hiding a new detail about Gambit's appearance. Nobody will ever see two shining red dots in the darkness of the night ever again, because his left eye is now crossed over with a scar and not a pretty one. "Why haven't you told meh anything?"

"What would it change?"

"You lost an eye and it's mah fault!"

"Not in the slightest, chere. It's not the first Remy's scar nor it's the last. His aim is as good as ever."

"But you could've lost an arm or a leg or both eyes! Don't you care about yourself at all?"

"Remy is glad, you care for him so much."

"Don't turn it around, Gambit. Ah am a decent human being, Ah care about people around meh that's all. You are nothing special. You could've come to the mansion, even with Doctor McCoy dead, you could've been treated."

"Remy went to search for you."

He sounds sincere and Ah am touched by his concern, but the situation still seems ridiculous. Did Gambit also not consider himself a part of the X-Men and that's why preferred to patch himself on his own instead of turning to us for help? "With a bleeding eye? Are you crazy?"

"Remy rang Pyro up."

"That maniac? You are definitely crazy."

"Pyro is a decent fellow, especially if you need to close a hole in your body. He is quite skillful at that."

"You mean… burn the skin to close the wound, like in the ancient days?" Ah imagine it in mah head: no anesthetic, no painkillers, just a stream of fire on his face to scar him for life. That must've hurt like Hell. The X-Men had it good and cozy. Ungrateful bastards and Ah was one of them. "Ah am sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about, chere. Ah, there it is… Remy's treasure."

We reach the alley where the bike is parked. Ah am thankful for the topic change, of course. Ah watch him trace the lines of the vehicle with surprising tenderness, as if he is caressing a woman. Boys and their toys… Ah feel bad for trying to take it from him, since he must have the same feelings towards it as Ah do – that bike is the only constant in his life. Ah think about the name, Ah am not good with French, but 'rogue' was definitely in it, and however you look at it, it was mah nickname. And then it hits meh: the tank was painted with scarlet flames or something that looked like it and on both sides of the tank were long white stripes. Ah've never paid any attention to that, but really, it was so obvious! The White-striped Rogue. Good Lord… "You named your bike after meh," Ah breath out, refusing to believe the obvious.

"Remy told ya, it's a lucky bike." He mounts it with ease of a habit and revs the engine. The bike's vibration is the only indication that it's running. "Remy'll take you home."

Ah have nothing to do, but to get behind him. We get out of the alley and onto the main road. Ah am not surprised he knows where mah apartment is. He stops right in front of the door to mah apartment building.

"See ya," he says and rides away into the sunrise. Seeing him again, that's what Ah am really worried about.