A/N: Sorry this chapter took a little longer to write, been a busy couple of weeks :)
Pain. That was the first thing that registered as Rogue's brain fought its way back to consciousness. Her head was pounding harder then after the Christmas party last year when someone had spiked the punch. At least she could feel the cushioning of her bed, a little less comfortable then usual, underneath her. Now if it would only stop moving up and down. Wait, up and down? Beds were not supposed to move up and down.
Her eyes shot open as her foggy brain tried to catch up. Looking down she found her head resting on Kitty's back as the poor girl lay sprawled face down in the dirt. Rogue lifted herself stiffly into a sitting position and looked around. Where the hell were they?
All around her was a hilly landscape with intermittent patches of dirt and tall wavy prairie grass. A few trees dotted the scene in front of her, sparsely adding brief areas of shade from the heat of the midday sun. While most of the little hills she could see over, one larger hill lay behind her blocking any visual in that direction. As far as she could tell they seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.
Her hazy memories finally sprung to the forefront, as she recalled the last moments in the lab. The mission, Forge's machine and the unexpected malfunction that had sent them spinning into unconsciousness. Her attetnion was drawn back to the tiny brunette next to her as Kitty began to shift and stir. Slowly, with some assistance from Rogue, Kitty was able to lift herself into a sitting position.
"Like, where are we?"
"Best guess, lost somewhere in the middle of Texas circa 18 whatever."
Kitty's stared in shock, "So it actually worked? We actually traveled trough time?"
"As far as I can figure," Rogue let out sigh.
Before she could say more they both heard a loud groan from under a nearby tree that caused Kitty to spring to her feet.
"Oh my God, Piotr." She started to run but only made it a handful of steps before she tripped. For the first time Rogue noticed the absence of her normal jeans and pink sweater. Instead she now wore a long dusty pink gown, complete with high neckline and bustle. Rogue tried to stiffle a giggle as Kitty picked herself up, smacking dust from her skirt, then akwardly trying to lift it to make her way through the wavy grass to her boyfriend. In a huff she called over her shoulder, "Instead of laughing maybe you should locate our other wayward companion."
Rogue's giggles subsided as she let out a frustrated breath. "Why do ah have ta track down the Cajun?" she called as she got up. Not seeing him immediately in the vacinity she cupped her hands around her mouth and called, "Hey Swamp Rat."
Waiting she heard a muffled "Merdi" coming from a indentation in the prarie grass a little ways in front of her. It took a few moments and a few more curses before a hand appeared, waving in her general direction.
"Ah found him," she called to Kitty, who now had a dizzy looking Russian hanging on her tiny frame as she walked back towards Rogue. Rogue was about to head over to help when Kitty happened to look up and really got her first good look at Rogue. She froze in her tracks, causing Piotr to stumble forward a little, and her mouth gapped open.
"Rogue, like, wow," was all she managed to sputter.
"What's got into ya?" Rogue asked, feeling uncomfortable now that Piotr seemed to have gotten a similar look on his face, "Ya hit your heads or something?"
"Rogue," Kitty began a little hesitantly, "did you, like, happen to notice what your wearing?"
Rogue gave a start, she actually hadn't thought to check. She knew Kitty's clothes had changed, her hair too now was swept up with little curls falling around her face. Piotr too now wore a long pair of pants, a tan vest over a white linen shirt and a set of sturdy cowboy boots. She honestly thought her outfit must have been similar to Kitty's because she vaguly remembered hearing fabric rustle as she stood. With trepidation she turned her gazed slowly downward, and instantly made a promise to kill Forge.
Gone were her normal all covering goth clothes, and in there place was an outfit that would have made any painted lady proud. She wore a tight emerald green corset covered in black lace, leaving her long pale arms exposed to the elements. The skirt while full, fell only to the middle of her thigh. It was black with a few green ribbions hidden amongst the tiered ruffles, a green underskirt peeked out from beneath. She also wore gartered stocking and tall high buttoned boots. It seemed the only thing protecting people from her poisionious skin was a dainty pair of black lace gloves on her hands. She was still reeling when a slow clap and whistle came from behind her.
"I must say Chere, dat is now m' new favorite oufit."
"Ah don't c..." Rogue spat out as she spun around, but whatever retort she might have had died on her lips. Her throat constricted and she suddenly found it hard to catch her breath.
Gambit had made his way over to them, his long black leather duster still rippling from his movement. He had a white shirt underneath, whose opening stopped just a few inches below his collar bone. It was the only contrast between his coat and pants. As he regard Rogue's reaction flashed a trademark grin before sardonically reaching up to tip the brim of his planters hat to her. Even though she could see no ivory pistols poking from beneath the duster, everything about him seemed to scream wild and dnagerous. Rogue could feel the fear creeping up her back, he looked just like...
"I will take de stunned silence as confirmation dat de wild west look agrees with Remy, heh?"
His smuggness was enough to push Rogue's apprehenion momentarily to the side, "Get over yourself, Cajun."
"I see somethin' I'd rather be all over."
Remy had never seen so much of her bare skin. It was like a smooth porcelin, unblemished from time spent out of the sun. The emerald of the dress made her eyes pop against the pale skin of her face, which also brought out the crimson blush of her lips. Her hair was swept back into an intricate knot of cascading ringlets, leaving only the white streak to fall across her forehead. It was also impossible to overlook that outfit. If Forge were here he might have just kissed the man. It accentuated all the best parts in all the best ways.
"Knock, it off," Rogue snapped after his staring began to make her slightly self-consious, "Remember mah skin will still put ya in a coma so don't get any bright ideas. Ah'd hate ta have to explain that some old time sheriff if they lock meh up for trying to kill ya."
"I don't think you have to worry to much about that, Rogue," Kitty said gesturing with her head towards Gambit.
Following the direction of her gaze, Rogue caught the shine of something on his duster. For a second she had to squint to try and make out what reflective object was. When Gambit shifted slightly so the sun no longer hit it, Rogue could clearly see the star shaped metal badge.
"Ya got ta be kidding me."
Glancing down Gambit broke out in a laugh, "Well would y' look at dat. Never been on dis side of de law before."
"So your the sheriff?" Kitty asked.
"Non petite, dis here says U.S. Marshall. Pretty sure dat's even better."
"Ah swear this can't get any worse," Rogue sputtered as she stared at him. As he met her gaze she was surprised for the first time to notice that his eyes were no longer red on black, but a regualar dark brown on white. He must have slipped his contacts in before joining them. "Ah be so glad when this nightmare is over. Your eyes look weird by the way, brown is not really your color."
For the first time in their whole exchange she saw his smile falter as confusion took its place. "What y' talking bout, chere, never took dem out of de case."
They all froze. Each one looking from one to the other. "Ya had ta of. Ah'm looking at ya eyes and they are as brown as Kitty's hair." Remy looked to Kitty who was now nodding her head in agreement. Piotr though clearly confused, also backed up the two girls.
Taking one glove off his hand, Remy fished around in his pocket to find the watch. "Tellin' y' I never opened dis case." When he found it, he popped the back of the watch. Inside lay two perfect glass contacts, reflecting a blue tinted iris.
"That is impossible," said Rogue as she walked over to take the case Gambit was holding outstreched to her. She was so focused on the watch that she did not see the rock on the ground in front of her. Before she could correct herself, she began to pitch forward. She braced herself for the impact with the ground, but Gambit was quicker as her reached out his bare hand to catch her.
For once terrifying second they all seemed suspendend in time as everyone prepared for consequences of skin to skin contact. Remy readied himself for the painful drain, as his powers and memories would flood from him into a frighted Rogue. For one brief heartbreaking second he could feel the softness of her skin as his hand wrapped around her upper arm. His eyes closed, and hers were shut tight.
Kitty let out a surprised sqeak, and both there eyes flew open. They both stared at his much larger tan hand laid bare against her ivory skin. Four sets of eyes and four mouths gapped, as for the first time since Rogue's powers manifested, nothing happend.
A/N: So glad to be getting back into this. Next chapter a little bit of hysterics. Reviews are always loved :)