Best of You

By: RogueBHS

Chapter 7, "Closer to the Edge"

Author Notes: I said last chapter that reviews are wonderful, and I was so right. I had numerous people add this story, me or even other stories of mine to alerts and favorites last night after Chapter 6 was posted. Completely made my night! So, now the plot is beginning to move along, and it won't be long until we move on to Muir Island. I will still show some scenes of the X-men while we're "away," don't worry! So, lets get on with the show, shall we?

Disclaimer: I do not now nor will I ever own the X-men in any way, shape or form. They belong to Marvel...Naturally. Z belongs to my friend...not me!

Foreign Languages: In my story, Rogue is fluent in French, as is Remy. Of course, Kurt speaks German, and Piotr speaks Russian. Therefore I will use bits of those languages in my story. All translations are provided via the amazing Google translator. Words frequently used like "ma Chere," etc. will only be translated once per chapter.

Notice: Due to rules, I don't dare post song lyrics in my stories here any longer. There will be names of songs included, and if you're interested in lyrics, Google "A-Z Lyrics." Its a great site I've used for years with no issues. Look for song information in Parenthesis as you read.

Full Summary: After the ordeal with Apocalypse, the X-men, Acolytes and Brotherhood try to find some sense of normal, but for Rogue, that's harder than it is for the others. Will she be able to find herself again in Bayville? Or will it take new friends and a new location to make her the woman she knows she's meant to be? For that matter, how will the others react to a new Rogue?

Main Characters: The X-men (Scott, Jean, Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, Storm, Wolverine, and Prof. X.), Acolytes (Gambit, Colossus, Pyro, Magneto), Brotherhood (Todd, Pietro, Lance, Wanda, Fred, Mystique), and my own unique Excalibur team...you'll find out who they are later.

Morning after end of Ch. 6, Boy's Dorms, Scott & Remy's Room:

"Did you notice somezing different about Rogue vhen she got back from talking to ze Professor?" Kurt asked Scott. He had come in early to speak to his friend, having not slept well, worry about his sister keeping him up.

Scott paused the act of putting on his t-shirt, and looked to Kurt, noting absently that he and Kurt were sporting the same expression; worry for a teammate and close friend. "Yeah, I did. It was like she was there, but not."

Kurt nodded, his tail flicking from side to side quicker than normal, a hint to his emotional state. "I just vish she'd talk to me," Kurt said, his head drooping now. He had a brief thought and looked at Scott closely. "You've been spending more time vith her...Has she said anyzing to you about how she is?"

Scott sighed, now fully dressed, and pulled his desk chair over so he could talk with Kurt. "Not really. But I can tell she's still messed up about Apocalypse, and what Mesmero did to her. Anyone would be."

"Ja..." Kurt frowned. "Vhat do you two talk about anyvay?"

Scott hesitated noticeably to answer. "Random things..." he said vaguely, closing his eyes as he switched from the goggles he wore at night to his sunglasses.

The frown on Kurt's face deepened before he realized that Scott was trying to protect his sister's privacy. "If zhere vas somezing important, you'd tell me, ja?" He asked, the frown disappearing..

Scott nodded, his expression clearing and becoming honest. "Of course." He reached out and put a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "Lets go see if they tell us at breakfast, yeah?"

Kurt gave a hasty nod at the mention of food. "Ja," his stomach gave an impressive growl that made them both laugh. Both boys stood, and left the room, only to run into Kitty and Jean at the top of the stairs. Jean laced her arm through Scott's, smiling at him.

"Morning Kurt," she said, then pressed a brief kiss to Scott's cheek as his 'good morning'.

Kurt gave Jean a brief smile. "Good Morning, Jean," he let his golden eyes turn to Kitty. "Kitty."

Kitty's smile was weak, a fact all three picked up on. Kurt immediately moved to her side, putting a friendly arm around her shoulders. "Somezing bothering you?" he asked.

"Just, like, last night, with Rogue." Kitty said with a sigh, glancing at Jean. "Jean and I were, like, just talking about it."

Kurt nodded. "So vere Scott and I," he admitted.

Jean glanced at Scott, wondering if he had some insight, only to be met with her boyfriend's stoic look. "Look, I don't know what happened last night, but like I told Kurt, if she had told me something important that needed to be shared, I would. Ok?"

Jean and Kitty nodded, and entered the dining room ahead of the boys, only to find Rogue already seated. Rogue was normally one of the last ones awake and downstairs. Kitty immediately went to her friend and sat down beside her, intent on questioning her about the night before. When Rogue had finally rejoined them for movies, it had been obvious her mind was elsewhere. Her laughter had been forced, her eyes distant, and at one point, it had taken Remy giving her shoulder a slight shake just to get her attention. Before Kitty could begin to question her former roommate, she realized something that distracted her. For the third day in a row, Rogue was sans-makeup.

Jean noticed what Kitty had, and the two girls studied Rogue, since she didn't seem to be paying them any attention yet again. Rogue, with her makeup on, had a pure white face, with her eyes so heavily made up that you had to pay attention to them...provided you could draw your attention away from her purple lips. But without the makeup, it was like seeing a different person. Her skin, while still almost scarily pale, held a softness and warmth that invited you to reach out and run your fingers along it to see if it was as soft as it looked. Her facial structure, normally not as noticeable under the thick white makeup, was startlingly attractive, from the curve of her jaw to the shape of her nose. But what really drew the attention, just as much without the makeup as with, were her lips and eyes. Her lips were full, and shaped in such a way that they looked equally attractive in a sneer as they did in a seductive pout. Her eyes would probably be more startling in their green color, Jean mused, instead of the gray they currently were, but the shape of them, combined with her long lashes still drew your attention.

In the time Jean and Kitty had been studying their teammate, nearly all of the other students had trickled into the room in groups of two and three and taken their seats. Once Logan entered the room, along with the Cajun, the Professor moved from the corner where he had been talking quietly with Ororo, and took his place at the head of the table. With him in place, everyone else immediately moved to their own seats, and sat down.

"Good Morning everyone," Xavier said, a warm smile on his face as his eyes briefly met those of all his charges and associates. Most everyone at the table returned his greeting, except for a few who were yawning or rubbing at their eyes. It was still early to most of them, being as it was summer vacation, but he preferred to have a group breakfast on the weekends anyhow. He could see a few of the boys itching to reach for the food in front of them, and smiled. A brief telepathic message to Rogue and the adults later, he nodded to his students. "Lets eat, shall we?"

There was brief disappointment on the faces of his original X-men, who he could sense wanted to know what was troubling Rogue, but they seemed to accept that they would have to wait. Slowly, conversations began taking place around the room, and everyone ate their fill. But through the meal, students would look to the Professor or another adult, curiosity written all over their faces. Finally, Professor Xavier finished his meal, and laid his fork and knife down on the plate, his blue eyes scanning to see how many were still eating. The only ones still with a fork in hand were Fred, who was finishing up his forth plate full, and Ororo, who had waited until everyone else had served to take anything for herself.

Professor Xavier cleared his throat, gaining him instant attention, and even Fred had learned enough manners in his time at the institute to put down his fork at times like this. Once all eyes were on him, Xavier smiled warmly. "Before we all head our separate ways, there is something the other adults and I have been waiting to speak to you all about."

Before he could continue, Kurt spoke up. "Does zis have somezing to do vith Rogue being called to your office?"

Xavier forgave the interruption and simply nodded at Kurt. "It does. You see, ever since Jean's power surge, I have become increasingly aware of how limited I am in some cases, when it comes to helping you all control your powers, or advance them in a safe manner. Therefore, I have been in contact with an old friend who has become a renowned scientist and geneticist, specializing in mutants and their powers."

It was now that a few started to realize what Xavier and the other adults might have wanted to talk to Rogue about, and the Professor could sense the excitement begin to tingle in the air. "My friend, Dr. McTaggert, has been going over the files of the X-men, and more recently, Erik has sent her information on his team members." He paused, glancing at Rogue, who was looking down at her lap, her hair obscuring his view of her face. "She believes that she may be able to help Rogue finally get at least some measure of control, if not full control, of her powers."

Kurt gave a whoop of joy, and looked to his sister, who was only now looking up. She gave him a shaky smile, and he remembered belatedly that she hated being put in the spotlight like this. His smile turned reassuring, and that earned him a more steady smile from Rogue.

"However...there is one small catch, if you will." Xavier said, causing Kurt's eyes to turn back to him.

"Catch?" Scott asked, a frown forming on his face. "What kind of catch?" It never even occurred to him to ask if this McTaggert could do something for him.

Rogue looked to the Professor, who was watching her. Sighing, she turned to Scott. "In ordah for her t' help meh, Ah'd have t' leave th' institute..." Rogue said softly, but in the quiet of the room, it was heard clearly from one end of the table to the other.

The quiet didn't last long though. Once her words sunk in, Kurt was out of his chair and muttering in German, gesturing wildly, obviously not wanting her to leave. Kitty burst into tears, and immediately leaned over to hug her friend, leaving Rogue to awkwardly return it given the angle. After an initial outburst, most of the younger students seemed content to let Kurt vent, but Jamie too was standing, upset at the idea of Rogue leaving. Scott seemed to have no reaction, and that had Rogue staring at him, trying to see past the stoic expression he had pulled up at her words.

"Calm down," Xavier instructed, turning a steady gaze on anyone who was still venting their disapproval at the idea of Rogue leaving. "This is not a descision that was come to lightly," he told them, folding his hands in his lap. "Now I understand that you all are upset at the idea of a friend and teammate leaving, but it is not your choice to make."

"It was mah choice," Rogue said, her eyes focusing on Kurt and Scott who were seated side by side. "Ah chose t' do this."

"But, vhy vould you choose to leave?" Kurt asked, his golden eyes showing his hurt.

Rogue swallowed hard, trying her best to keep from tearing up. "Because Ah'd rathah leave, an' get control of this," she said, even as she lost her battle and a lone tear began its trek down her cheek, "than evah be used against mah family again..."

Seeing that lone tear on her face seemed to snap something in Scott, and before he even realized what he was doing, he was out of his seat and rounding the table to her. Kitty moved out of his way just as he reached them, and watched as Scott turned Rogue's chair a bit to face him. Squatting down, Scott looked her in the eyes, an unreadable expression on his face. For a moment, all he did was watch her, apparently looking for something. Around the table, people were watching this go on, confused looks on their faces. But once that moment had passed, Scott reached over, picking up Rogue's cloth napkin from the table. He used it to gently wipe that lone tear away, and slowly, the smile he reserved just for her formed on his lips.

He said nothing to her, he didn't need to. At this close of range, Rogue could read him like a book, and he knew she saw the sadness in his expression that others likely didn't see. She returned his smile, albeit a bit shakily, and he could tell she was trying to keep more tears from falling. Giving her a moment to regain her composure, he looked to the Professor. "How long until she leaves?"

"Dr. McTaggert will be ready for her in a week's time," Xavier said gently, trying to avoid another explosion. But Rogue's heartfelt comment seemed to have hit everyone at the table hard, and no one could find it in them to speak out against her leaving now.

Scott nodded slowly, his gaze shifting back to Rogue. "Then I guess we'll just have to enjoy this week," he said, glancing to Kurt and Kitty, who nodded emphatically.

Kitty paused, struck by what she thought was a wonderful idea. "Professor?"

"Yes, Kitty?"

The brunette girl hesitated, knowing Rogue might not like the idea, but forged ahead anyhow. "Can we, like, throw a small going away party, like at the end of the week?" Her blue eyes immediately turned to Rogue, gauging her former roommates reaction.

Rogue took a deep breath, feeling the Professor's eyes upon her as well, then looked to Kitty. A small smile curved her lips, and she nodded. "That'd be nahce, Kit," she said softly, still trying to get her emotions under control. "Just remembah ya were th' one who said 'small'," she teased, getting a responding broad smile from Kitty.

"Like, of course," Kitty said, glancing to the Professor now for his approval.

Xavier gave a single nod of his head. "A small party sounds like a wonderful idea, Kitty," he said, then glanced to Ororo. "I trust you'll help her keep it small enough, Ororo?"

Ororo gave a brief nod as well, and her sapphire eyes turned to Kitty and Rogue. "I'm sure we can come up with something small, but fun."

"Yes, a party!" Evan said, effectively drawing some attention away from Rogue. He could see Rogue growing a bit uneasy again with attention on her and Kitty, and while he wasn't always close to the Goth girl, he still had a great deal of respect for her, which he knew went both ways. He didn't miss the look she gave him, and he gave a small shrug to dismiss her appreciation.

Scott stood slowly, managing to keep from drawing more attention to them, and glanced at Rogue again. Her eyes had changed from the gray they had been at the beginning of breakfast to the green, and those eyes were focused on him. He could tell she wanted to speak to him, and mouthed "later" to her, receiving a nod in response.

The younger students had been distracted by Evan's excitement, and were now happily discussing ideas they should give Kitty for the party, most of which were a bit too extreme for a 'small' party. The Brotherhood and St John were quietly conversing, though their eyes would occasionally turn to Rogue. Pietro and Lance in particular seemed affected by Rogue's imminent departure, remind the few who noticed their expressions to recall that they were the members of the team she had been closer to. Wanda was seated quietly by her brother, and her sapphire eyes were locked on her roommate, taking in every expression and word she could for discussion later when the two girls were finally back in their room. Piotr, the ever silent giant, was watching the goings on as well. During the brief time he had been a member of the X-men, which he had officially joined after the Apocalypse fiasco, he had already grown quite attached to the equally silent Goth. They shared a fondness for art and books, and often spent quiet time in the library, sharing sketches or just reading in each others company.

Seeing that the students were content now, Xavier called for attention one last time, and waited patiently for everyone to turn to him again. "Now, Dr. McTaggert has offered her assistance to the rest of you as well, should you ever need it in the future." He glanced briefly at Scott. "She has also given me some possible leads on ways to help Scott," he said, smiling at the young man's startled look. "You have Rogue to thank for that," he added. "When Rogue met with me this morning, as I was on the phone with Dr. McTaggert, she asked if there was something to be done for your powers. Now, as most of you are aware, Scott's lack of control was thought to be due to damage sustained when he was younger," here, most of the students started nodding. "But Rogue brought up a good point. If that was true, how did Erik's machine on Astroid M allow Scott control? Erik has confirmed that the machine, no matter how amazing it was, could not have possibly healed the damage we assumed was keeping Scott from controlling his powers."

Scott was hanging on every word, and his hand drifted to Rogue's shoulder, which he squeezed; a silent thank you for her thoughtfulness.

"With that knowledge," Xavier's pale blue eyes shone as he looked to Scott, "We honestly believe that you can achieve control as well, without having to leave the institute."

Scott could feel his knees shaking, and a burning in his eyes that he associated with his lack of being able to shed tears since his powers had manifested. "I..." He paused, trying to collect himself. "I don't know what to say, sir," he said, voice as shaky as his knees.

"Hank and I hope to begin working with you after the end of the week," Xavier said, the reasoning clear. He wanted nothing to take away from the last week they would have with Rogue.

"Sir," Jean interjected, bright green eyes focusing on her mentor.

"Jean?"

"You never did say how long Rogue would be gone," she said, having sensed the question burning in many of the minds of her friends, and also her boyfriend.

"We are hoping she will be able to return not long after the beginning of the school year," Xavier said. "However, with as complex as Rogue's powers are, its hard to say for certain."

Jean nodded slowly, as that sunk in with everyone. Through the telepathic link she shared with Scott, she could feel his emotions swirling. While he was ecstatic at the thought of being able to see the world without his ruby-quartz glasses, it was dampened considerably by the mix of feelings stirred by the fact Rogue would be gone in so short a time. For a moment, Jean considered trying to sort out what it was he was feeling, then shook off that idea. Scott had been trying to be a better friend to Rogue since the night they had shared pizza, it was understandable that his emotions would be up in the air.

Across the table, Scott was looking down at Rogue now, emotions shifting over his face too quickly for most to pick anything out. Rogue turned her head to look up at him, and refused the urge to reach up and take his hand. The right to do so in the way she wanted wasn't hers, after all. So instead, she just let a sad smile curve her lips as she looked at him, a smile he returned.

"Oh my god," Kitty said, reaching out to get Rogue's attention. Once the green eyes were focused on her, Kitty continued. "We like so need to go shopping!"

The moment with Scott broken, Rogue gave a short laugh at the look on Kitty's face. "Even if Ah say no, ya gonna drag meh 'long aren't ya?"

"Of course," Kitty said, smiling broadly. "We can, like, get the other girls to come too."

From a few seats down, Jubilee and Amara had overheard Kitty, and were already nodding. "A shopping trip sounds awesome," Jubilee agreed, tossing her long black hair over her shoulder.

Rogue just smiled a bit. "Ya aimin' t' go now?" she asked.

Kitty nodded, then looked over to Jean and Tabby. "Are you two, like, going to come too?"

"Of course," Jean answered with a smile, as Tabby nodded from her spot not far from Jean.

Rogue scooted her chair back a bit more, with assistance from Scott, and stood. "Well, then Ah'll go change," she said, gesturing to the relaxed look of yoga pants and a light-weight long-sleeved shirt she had on. "Wasn't exactly plannin' on goin' out."

Kitty smiled. "Like, sure. I totally need to, like, freshen up anyhow."

Rogue fought the urge to roll her eyes, because after all, Kitty hadn't been up long enough to require 'freshing up,' but that was Kitty for you. Jubilee and Amara agreed, and headed towards the stairs with Kitty, talking excitedly about a chance to shop. Sensing someone still looking at her, Rogue turned her head to find Scott there, his hand on the back of her chair. A quick glance told her they were all but alone now in the room, only Dr. McCoy and the Professor lingered near a doorway, where the spoke in hushed tones. Her attention returned to Scott, and she reached out, touching his arm.

"Ya ok, Scott?"

Scott reached out and pulled her into a hug, not answering for a moment. He could feel how stiff she was in his arms, but didn't let go. It took her a couple of seconds, but she finally relaxed into him, her arms coming up and wrapping around his neck to return the hug. Scott lowered his head, and put his mouth next to her ear.

"You are like an angel, Kate," he murmured, and felt her smile against his chest at the words he had recited from Shakespeare what felt like forever ago. After a moment, he pressed his lips to the crown of her head, causing a shiver to go through her frame. "You'll have to get used to random things like that," he told her, even as she pulled back to look at him.

"Oh really?" she asked, her eyes that vibrant, deep green that, even with his ruby-quartz glasses, never failed to take his breath away.

Scott nodded, a small smile curving his lips, but said nothing.

Rogue sighed in amusement, then slowly pulled away from him. "Ah'd bettah go change, b'fore Kit an' th' gals quit their primpin'," she murmured, ducking her head to hide the emotions she could feel showing in her expression.

Scott let his arms drop to his sides. "Ok. We can talk later, right?"

A bit confused as to what he might want to talk about, Rogue nodded. "Sure," she answered. "Latah."

As she left the room, she glanced back at him from the doorway. He forced a smile onto his face, even as a chill ran through him. She obviously didn't buy the smile, from the look she gave him, but she turned and went up the stairs anyhow.

In the dining room, Scott stood statue still, his eyes looking at the last point he had been able to see Rogue. He finally had the answer that had been eluding him all week, a reason for all of these feelings he had been getting when he saw her. It was so simple, really, that he could kick himself for not seeing it sooner. He'd had a crush on Rogue when she first arrived in Bayville, one that most had not noticed due to his more obvious feelings for Jean, and it seemed that the crush had returned in full force. No. That's not true. His more-than-friendly feelings for her had never died out. He had squashed them into a corner of his heart, telling himself that she had no interest in him, that people's comments on how perfect a couple he and Jean would make were what he should listen to. After all, he'd had a crush on Jean for years. There was no way some new girl could show up and over-throw that, right?

God, how stupid could he really be?

Bayville Mall, A little after Noon -

"Gawd," Rogue moaned as she dropped into a chair in the food court of the mall. "We haven't been heah much more'n hour or two and ya'll have worn meh out..."

Jean gave a tired laugh as she sat down next to Rogue. "Tell me about it," she muttered, shooting a mock glare at the younger 4 girls. It had no affect of course, but it made Jean feel better.

Rogue found herself shooting Jean a sympathetic look, and the two shared a laugh. "Ah don't even know if Ah wanna move t' get somethin' t' eat."

Kitty sat down on Rogue's other side, a pile of bags at her feet. "Oh come on, we're just getting started!"

Rogue looked less than enthusiastic. "That's what Ah'm afraid of."

Amara laughed as she re-arranged her long brown hair into a ponytail. "Honestly Rogue, you can stand Danger Room sessions with Mr. Logan, 2 hours of Racquetball with Scott, and fighting the Brotherhood doesn't even make you break a sweat, but a couple of hours in the mall shopping has you ready to drop. I just don't get it!"

Tabby smirked as she pulled out a new set of plastic bracelets she had bought and started to put them on. "The girl's a total bad-ass, Mara. But she's not girly like you or Jubes." She gave a shrug. "Besides, shopping with you two and Kitty is a workout of its own."

"Gee, thanks," Kitty said, rolling her eyes before looking to Rogue. "Besides, she needs some new clothes..."

Rogue raised an eyebrow, then looked to Jean. "Ain't it wondahful how they talk 'bout meh lahke Ah ain't heah?"

Jean chuckled, but found herself eying Rogue's outfit critically anyhow. Rogue had changed into a pair of black slim-fit jeans, a black tank top, and her green mesh shirt before they left, and while the outfit suited the Goth girl, it still left a bit to be desired. She could sense Rogue bristling a bit at the attention and quickly diverted her gaze to Kitty. "If Rogue wants to buy something, then that's up to her. And its not nice to talk about someone like they aren't there if they are."

Kitty rolled her eyes, her attention dragged away from digging through her purchases. She looked to Rogue. "Your closet is, like, over half empty!" she said this in a scandalized tone. Obviously anything less than a full closet was blasphemy to her.

"Over half empty?" Amara and Jubilee repeated in unison, shock written on their faces.

Rogue gave a shrug, ignoring the fact that even Tabby, Jean and Wanda (who had just returned from a trip to the ladies room) were starting at her. "Ah have as much as Ah need t' get bah. What's th' point in havin' a full closet if ya nevah wear what's in it on a regulah basis?"

Jubilee looked to Kitty. "She's joking, right?"

Kitty shook her head sadly. "No. She has a few pairs of jeans, two black skirts, a couple of coats, and three mesh shirts in her closet. Plus 4 pairs of shoes."

Now Tabby's jaw dropped. "Only 4 pairs of shoes?" Her hazel eyes focused on Rogue. "How do you survive?!"

Rogue frowned. "Ah have my combat boots, a pair of nicah boots, my Converse, and my boots for mah uniform. What else do Ah need?"

"Oh god," Jubilee moaned. "Its worse than I thought." She looked to the other girls. "We totally have to have an intervention here, ladies."

Rogue's eyes went wide, and she started to protest, but was cut off, to her surprise, by Wanda. "I agree."

Rogue glared at Wanda. "Ya traitor, ya don't have any more clothes than Ah do."

Wanda shrugged. "I haven't been shopping since I got in town. I was intending to get some new things today...My father gave me his credit card." A wicked smile spread over her face. "I might as well make a dent in his bank while he's willing to let me."

Kitty nodded, then looked to Jean. "Professor X gave you his credit card to use on Rogue didn't he?"

Jean gave a serene smile, even as Rogue's glare shifted to her. "Yes. And I just checked with him," she said, tapping her head. "He's ok with us going all out to get Rogue what she needs."

Rogue groaned. "Its offical, th' world hates meh..."

Jubilee smiled. "We better get something to eat...we'll need the energy if we're going to fix Rogue's wardrobe by the time the mall closes."

The only sound that followed was a thud as Rogue's head hit the table in defeat.

Xavier Mansion, 10 pm -

"Vhere are the girls?" Kurt asked, looking up from the game of 'Sorry' he, Remy, Scott and Piotr were playing in the den.

"Ya got a bunch o' femmes at a mall," Remy said, still disappointed that Logan had put a stop to him teaching the others how to play Poker. "Trois o' which got a serious addiction t' shoppin'." He made a move on the board, then looked up at Kurt. "Ya honestly t'ought dey'd be back b'fore de mall was closed?"

Kurt pondered this for a moment, then sighed. "Wishful thinking," he admitted. His tail twitched in time to the second hand on the grandfather clock on the other side of the room as he took his turn at the game. "I vanted some time vith meine Schwester."

Scott patted his friend on the back before smirking as Kurt forced one of Remy's pieces to move. "You'll get to spend some time with her, don't worry about it."

"But ve only have a week!" Kurt said, looking up. "A veek! I've only known she vas meine Schwester for a few months, and now she's leaving!"

"Not for good," Piotr said, his voice slow and steady, his Russian accent changing the way some of his words sounded. "She vill return."

Kurt tried to calm down at that reminder, and gave a forced smile in Piotr's direction. "Ja...she vill."

Glad to be able to make someone feel better, Piotr smiled. "She vill be missed," he added, making it clear he was one who would miss her company.

"Yeah..." Scott said, looking down at the game as he took his turn.

"Well ain't ya'll sweet," a Southern voice said from the doorway, drawing their attention. It was Rogue, of course, but she had changed clothes yet again at the insistence of the girls, who were currently carrying their own loads of bags up to their rooms. The new outfit, one of many she had been talked into purchasing, was in keeping with her Goth style, and encouraged the boys (other than her own brother) to give her a good once over. Her feet and lower legs were covered by a new pair of high-heeled knee-high black leather boots, that gave way to a pair of black semi-sheer hose. The top of the hose were covered by a pair of black shorts that had the cuffs rolled, making them end mid-thigh. Tucked into the shorts, a black mesh shirt kept her arms and midriff covered, while a deep purple corset-style top completed the ensemble. It was dark, form fitting, and to the minds of two of the boys looking at her, the sexiest damn thing they had ever seen her in.

Kurt absently noted that his sister was attractive, a casual thing any boy with a very hot sister might think in passing, especially when confronted with two of their friends staring at said sister. But more than that, he was just glad she was home. His subconscious had noted she was fully covered, and so he gave no active thought to porting directly to her, and grabbing her into a hug. "You're home!" he said, so enthusiastically that Rogue couldn't help but laugh and hug him back.

"Yep," she said, even as she looked at Remy and Scott over his shoulder. She gave Piotr a brief, friendly smile, which he returned, then pulled back to smile at Kurt. "Ah tried t' talk th' othah gals inta leavin hours ago, but even Wanda voted meh down."

"Really?" Kurt said, then shrugged it off. "You have to promise you'll spend tomorrow vith me," he said, giving her a pleading look.

"T'morrah is all yours, lil' brothah," she assured him, reaching up with a gloved hand to muss his hair. Knowing she was leaving him soon had her feeling very affectionate, and she pulled him into another hug, which he gladly returned.

"Gut," (good) he said, as they released each other finally. "Vell, I guess I'll go pester Kitty before calling it a night," he added with a broad smile that showed off his fangs. "I'll see you in ze morning, meine schwester."

Kurt ported away, leaving Rogue to fan at the cloud of brimstone scented smoke he left behind. "Ah really wish he'd quit doin' that..." she muttered, then looked to the other boys. Noting the game, she gestured to it with a black-gloved hand. "Who was winnin'?"

"Yo' frere," Remy said, taking a few steps towards Rogue. "Was whoopin' all o' our asses," he added with a smirk.

"Well, Kurt is good at board games," Scott interjected, drawing Rogue's attention to him. In the moment her eyes hit him, an emotion Scott couldn't define passed through them. But as quick as it was there, it was gone, leaving Scott wondering what it might have been.

"That's true," Rogue said, moving to one of the lounge chairs to sit and stretch her legs out on. Once she was seated, Scott and Remy both returned to their own seats, but Piotr stayed standing. Curious, she looked to him, allowing a small but tired smile to curve her purple-tinted lips. "Ya headin' up, Petey?" she asked, knowing she was one of few who he would allow to call him that nick-name.

"Da," he answered, returning her smile. "It is late. And there is training tomorrow," he added.

"See ya in de mornin, homme."

Piotr gave a brief nod to Remy, then looked back at Rogue. "Good night, Rogue,"

"Night," she replied, before leaning her head back on the lounge and closing her eyes for a moment.

She heard Piotr's footsteps as he left the room, but noticed a presence near her and re-opened her eyes to see Remy there, looking down at her.

"Ya look pretty tired, yo'self, Chere."

Rogue made a soft "mm" of agreement, closing her eyes again. "Ah spent all day bein' a dress-up doll fo' th' othah gals," she muttered, knowing Scott and Remy could hear her. Since it was them, she knew they wouldn't think less of her for what she was about to say. "And on top of it, Ah had to act all happy an' glad t' have a girls day, even though Ah hate that come next week, Ah won't be heah for Kitty t' drag t' th' mall. Much as Ah complain about it..." Rogue let her eyes open, revealing the gray that had formed a small ring in her otherwise green eyes. "Knowin' Kit wants mah company, ovah even Jean sometimes, it means a lot."

Remy just gave her a smile of understanding, having left his own family in New Orleans, who while he didn't always like them, he still loved them. "S'not easy, leavin' home..." he said, sitting down in a chair near her. "But some times 's de only way."

Rogue's gloved hand reached out and gave Remy's a squeeze. He had told her of what had happened after she and the X-men had left him in New Orleans, and of the fact that the reason he had been able to come to the mansion was because he was trying to get out of an arranged marriage. "Bella been callin' again?" she asked, reading his expression.

"Oui," he said, ignoring Scott's confused look, even as the leader of the X-men moved to sit on a foot stool so he too could be near Rogue. "She be threatin' t' come drag me back t' N'Awlins herself...alive or dead."

Rogue winced. "Ya decided what ya gonna do about her?"

"Only one t'ing to do, if mon pere still ain't figured a way outta dis. Gonna hafta go home an' deal wit' Bella and de rest."

A sad expression formed on Rogue's face, and she pulled her head up so she could look at Remy. "When ya gonna leave?"

"After ya do," he assured her, not looking happy about circumstances himself.

"Do you mind me asking what you two are talking about?" Scott asked, wondering if there was something he or the X-men could do for the Cajun. Rogue had said having Remy there had been a help to her, and while he hadn't grown close to the thief, despite them sharing a room, he knew how much it would mean to Rogue. "Is it something the X-men, or I, can help with?"

Remy shook his head, but gave Scott a look that was much closer to friendly than any the two had shared thus far. "Non, not'in ya or de X-men c'n do, 's family business. 'Preciate de offer t'ough." He gave a sigh, and after a look from Rogue, finally answered Scott's first question. "M' famille is de leaders o' de T'ieves Guild o' N'Awlins. We been warrin' wit' de Rippers, or de Assassins as dey callin' demselves now, for longer dan anyone c'n remember. In order t' bring peace, when I was a pup, mon pere and de leader o' de Rippers arranged a marriage 'tween me an' his daughter. Was 'posed t' marry de femme 'bout a year 'go, but dats when Mags came callin. Figured dat if I got outta N'Awlins, might be able t' get outa de marriage. But now..." He trailed off there, hanging his head.

Scott took all of this in, emotions warring in him. On one hand he was happy to know that in all reality, the Cajun couldn't pursue a relationship other than friendship with Rogue, but at the same time, the idea of anyone being forced into an arranged marriage in this day and age struck him as odd. Surely there were other ways to ensure peace. "What if you married someone else?" Scot asked, not even realizing what he was saying until the words were out of his mouth.

"T'ought o' dat. But I'd still be hitched t' someone dat I might not wanna be hitched t'," Remy pointed out, but Scott didn't miss the way his eyes shot to Rogue, making it obvious that he wouldn't mind being married to her.

Rogue apparently hadn't missed Remy's eyes landing on her either, and she gave a short laugh. "Swamp Rat, Ah already told ya no..." she teasing reminded him, a smile forming on her lips. "Don't make meh have Logan tell ya for meh..."

Remy gave an exaggerated shudder at the idea. "Non, dat not necessary, Chere," he said, but he smirked anyhow. "I'd t'ink ya'd take it as a compliment, me t'inkin ya'd be good femme t' be married t'..."

Her expression softened considerably. "Ah do, Rem, but Ah ain't 'bout t' marry anyone b'fore Ah graduate High School."

He chuckled. "Je comprends, mon cher, vous savez que je t'aimerai toujours, cependant." (I understand, my dear, you know I'll always love you, though.)

Rogue gave another sad smile. "Et je vous, mon ami. Je souhaite juste que c'était assez." (And I you, my friend. I just wish it was enough.)

Scott felt as though he was intruding, now that they were speaking in French. He had a brief thought that he should have taken that in school instead of Spanish. He could pick up a few things, like when Rogue said "my friend," but that was about it.

Remy stood, and leaned over to kiss Rogue's gloved hand. "Un jour, il va vous voir, mon amour. Et quand il le fait, il va se rendre compte du trésor que vous êtes." (One day he'll see you, my love. And when he does, he'll realize the treasure you are.) His eyes shimmered for a moment, as his empathy picked up on the pure affection that flooded Rogue at his words. He honestly loved this woman, but he could sense her heart was already taken. It would be so easy to charm her, make her love him instead, he mused. And she would be happy. But he could also sense that the one she loved was already starting to see her as he should've all along. So he would settle into the role of trusted friend, give her a shoulder to cry on, and a listening ear. He brushed his lips over her hand one last time, then smiled at her. "Bon nuit, mon amour," he said, then looked to Scott. "Night, mon ami."

Scott nodded absently. "Night," he replied, his eyes focused on Rogue. She was watching Remy, her expression full of affection for the Cajun. It was almost hard to stomach, now that he realized how he felt for her, seeing her look at another man that way. But then her eyes turned to him, and he realized with a jolt that the affection he had seen directed at Remy was only amplified when she looked to him. How had he never seen that before?

"Bon nuit," Rogue replied, even as her eyes settled on Scott. "See ya in th' mornin."

Remy made no sound as he took the stairs to the dorms, and in the sudden quiet, Scott found himself studying Rogue. He could feel a tingle in the back of his mind that he associated with Jean trying to speak to him over their link, and sighed to himself. One of these days having a telepath for a girlfriend was going to get him in trouble. He opened the link just enough for Jean to speak, but not enough for her to see or feel all he was at the moment.

Scott? Where are you? Jean questioned, her 'tone' one of concern, even over the link.

'In the den'

'Still? I saw you there when we got home, but I wanted to put my things away.'

'Yeah...I got to talking with Remy and Rogue,' Scott said, even as he felt Rogue's gaze turn questioning. "Jean." he said simply, tapping a finger to his head, and getting a nod in return.

'Oh...' He could feel Jean's confusion, making it obvious she had her end of the link wide open. 'Are you coming up soon? I was hoping to have some time with you...'

'Maybe in a few minutes. But I would be going straight to bed...it is getting late, and we have that session in the morning.'

'Okay...well...good night.' He could feel the gentle telepathic 'kiss' that Jean gave him, and felt bad. He had spent so long going after her, and now that he had her, he was thinking about another girl. Well, he supposed he could add "Worst Boyfriend" award to his list of accolades.

'Good night. If I had known you were waiting, I would've come up.' He said, doing his best to reassure her. 'Want to go see a movie tomorrow after DR?'

'That would be great,' Jean replied quickly. 'See you at breakfast.'

Scott didn't bother to reply, feeling Jean shut down her end of the link as she got ready for bed. He smiled at Rogue. "Sorry about that. Just saying good night to her."

Rogue gave a shrug. "That's fahne. Ah should probably go on up mahself."

Scott hesitated for a moment, then tilted his head. "What was Remy saying to you, when you two were speaking French? If you don't mind me asking..."

Rogue cringed. "Gawd, Ah keep doin' that don't Ah? Switchin' t' French with him, Ah mean."

Scott nodded, a small grin curving his lips. "Yeah."

"He was just bein' a sweet heart...and a good friend."

"Oh? Ya know...I've always gotten the impression he liked you as more than just a friend..." Scott left the comment hanging, wondering how she'd respond. Nothing could have prepared him for her answer, though.

"He loves me," she said simply, a small smile on her lips that made Scott wonder if she felt the same way about Remy for a moment.

"And you?"

Rogue paused, searching his expression for some hint as to why he cared what her feelings for the Cajun were. "Does it matter?" she asked finally. "Come next week, Ah'll be in Scotland, he'll be in N'Awlins, probably getting married."

Scott frowned. "Is that the only answer I'm going to get?"

Rogue sat up, pinning Scott with a serious look. "Give meh a reason why it mattahs, and Ah'll answer ya honestly..."

"Because..." Scott's tongue battled with the words he wanted to say to her. "I...you know I care about you," he said finally, that the most his tongue (which he was cursing at the moment) would allow.

Rogue must've seen something in his expression that his words didn't convey, because Scott suddenly found himself face to face with the most caring look Rogue had ever given him. The way her lips curved, the smile that took over her eyes, it was enough to make Scott's heart skip a few beats. Could she? Did she?

"Ah love him," she began, and Scott felt his heart sink. "But not th' way he loves meh..."

"Do you, I mean..." Scott's brain battled his tongue again. "Is there someone else?"

"There always has been," Rogue said vaguely, then pushed herself out of the chair. "Ah'm gonna go t' bed, sugah," she told him, reaching out to briefly touch his arm. "Ah'll see ya in th' mornin."

Scott nodded, unable to form words. Her admission had left him speechless.

A/N: And there you have it. Chapter 7, and the beginnings of Scogue. I honestly thought about having Remy try harder to win her over, but I just can't do it. At least not right now. We'll see how things go in the future. LOL. Minus the A/N's, this came in at 7500 words again, so I hope you all are happy! This was added to more favorites and alerts since last chapter, and I got a few more reviews. That makes ME happy! Until next time my wonderful readers!

Review Response to "Guest" - I'm glad that the last update made you happy! We'll see about who goes with Rogue to Scotland. There are a couple of definite chars, but other than that it's up in the air until I write it. LOL. Looking forward to another review from a fellow Scogue fan!

Review Response to "Anonymous136": Glad to see another review from you! Hope I don't loose you with the Scogue this chapter, but I felt that Remy should have a few small demons to get rid of before we got another further. Its not Remy if there aren't a few black marks on his record.