CHAPTER TWO
It's quiet now and Rogue finds herself far away from Bourbon Street, near the
banks of the rivers (if not for the wall keeping you from actually seeing the
river). She sits on the side of a fountain that displays band members and the
only sound that can be heard is the distant tune of a street musician's
saxophone.
"What are ya doin' here, chere?"
Rogue doesn't know what to say. She is more embarrassed than anything. The fact
that she started a riot still doesn't sit well with her.
"Ah... ah..."
"Well?"
"Ah thought ya might want some help?" she finally manages to murmur out.
Remy doesn't move, he stands aside and lights a cigarette. "What makes you t'ink
dat I need help?"
She sees the glare in his glowing red eyes. He doesn't look happy. She doesn't
like to get this kind of reaction from him. She is finding it harder and harder
to hold back her emotions. Even though she may be nearly unbreakable physically,
she is not emotionally.
"Did you hear me, Rogue? What are you doin' here?"
She doesn't respond. She just turns her head to look at the shiny coins that
have collected at the bottom of the fountain. Remy is getting impatient and he
walks over to her and grabs her shoulders tightly. She can see deep into his
eyes as he glares her right in the face. Then, his eyes change to show remorse.
"You shouldn' be here, chere"
He holds her shoulders a little longer while keeping deep eye contact. His grip
is strong, but he knows that she could throw him in a second if she wanted to.
He releases his grip and moves away from her.
"Ah'm sorry," Rogue whimpers in a soft voice as her eyes gather moisture. "Ah
didn't mean to upset you. You just looked... well... you... Ah thought ya might
want help with whateva you were doing because.. and... ah, ah..." She begins to
cry as she whispers out the last words.

Remy turns to see her crying and his anger fades even more. He feels bad for
yelling at her the way that he did. He drops his cigarette to the ground and
puts it out with the soul of his shoe. He then walks over and sits next to her
on the fountain. Neither one says anything. Rogue has her back turned away from
him, trying to keep her tears hidden, while Remy leans forward with his head
resting on his hands. After a while he slowly moves closer to her and gently
puts his arm around her. He pulls her in closer and wipes away her tears
with his two glove-covered fingers. He begins to stroke her hair and she buries
her face against his chest.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you, chere. It's not dat I don' want you aroun'. It's
jus' dat it may be dangerous for you..." As he says this she lifts her face so
that her eyes meet his. He takes a deep breath and continues," De person on de
phone was my brother. He tol' me dat my father was dyin' an asked ta see me
b'fore he pass'd on. He was lyin'. When I got here I found out dat my dad died
two years ago. Nobody bother'd ta tell me."
Rogue had deep sorrow in her eyes for what he was telling her. She knows that he
wasn't very close with his family, but she also knows that he was more fond of
his father than the rest of his family. She slips her hand onto his and he
responds by taking hold of her hand.

"My brother call'd me te come down here because der is a price on my head by de
assassins." Rogue's eyes widen. "I guess dat dey wanted to collect..."
"What!" Rogue breaks in, "how can they betray you like that! They're your
family."
"You should know dat your family can easily betray you, Rogue."
Rogue's face dims. She remembers being betrayed by her father when he found out
she was a mutant, and she remembers being betrayed by Mystique.
"Where have ya been, then? Ah mean, if ya haven't been with yer family?"
"I have a friend. Someone I always ran to as a pup when I was in trouble"
"You must've gone there a lot," Rogue broke in with a slight smirk.
Remy laughs and tightens his hold on Rogue. He pulls her in closer and hugs her
with both arms. They remain that way for a few minutes, neither one wanting to
move. He kisses the top of her head once, but he wishes more to kiss her cheek
or her lips.
"C'mon. We should go," Remy says. "You'll like Mama DuBoise, she's great."
"Mama DuBoise?"
"Jus' wait, Rogue. C'mon, we bes' be gettin' inside somewhere in case der's
someone lookin' for me... or you." He grins and pulls her up with both hands.
They begin walking to what they hope will lead to a peaceful nights rest.