Rogue's Avalon Epilogue

The room she and Serena entered was dark. "Computer, engage lights." As soft white light filled the room, Rogue picked-up Serena and took her into her bedroom. Tucking her in, she kissed the tips of her fingers and touched them to Serena's tired mouth.

*Good-night, Rogue.* Said a sleep voice.

"Goodnight, Bright Eyes." The door whooshed closed behind her as she entered the living room.

Rogue moved over to the couch and collapsed into its softness. Closing her eyes, she examined the events of the last twenty-four hours.

* * *

As the X-Men had left Avalon's main assembly hall, Gambit had stayed behind. She had known that she would have to talk to him. Feeling Magneto continue to assist her breathing, Rogue began a conversation harder than the one she'd just had with Scott. The group of X-Men stood waiting by the hole they had made in the wall. The question on their minds could be read even without the aid of a telepath: Would they lose two team members this day? Rogue had already answered that particular question.

Standing before Gambit, Rogue had said words that separated the Southern Belle and the Cajun forever, "Ah don't…want ya ta stay." At Gambits rather shocked expression she continued, "This is mah new life. Ah get ta begin all over again. And this ain't where ya wanna be Cajun. Ya'd hate it here. Anything get stolen, ya know they'd look at ya first. An' your only excuse would be, "Jus' keepin' in practice, mes amei." That ain't no life for ya, Sugar."

He had looked sad, a man that was usually only with two emotions, happiness or none, was for once saddened by a woman.

"Gambit…Remy," he looked to her at the mention of his real name. "Go home Remy. Stay with the X-Men for as long as ya can. But when your run with them is over, go back home, Remy. Go back ta Belladonna. Make her remember ya, settle down and start a family. Ya deserve that, and it's more then Ah could ever give ya."

Now tears refracted the light in his eyes even more deeply red then ever before. Bending over at his waist he bowed once ta her, then took a step towards her. Taking her face into both his hands, he tipped her head down and kissed her bang-covered forehead. And then in the language of love, which he knew she understood he said, "Me Amour."

Then without looking back, he exited the hole in the wall, followed by the X-Men. When they had gone and not a single trace of them could be seen, Rogue fell to her knees, crying and gasping from two very different pains.

* * *

Opening her eyes, Rogue sat up on the couch. Pressing her back into the pillow that lay against the armrest, she took a deep breath and smiled when it caused her no pain. She closed her eyes again.

* * *

Struggling against the burning in her throat and heart, Rogue could barely comprehend anything around her. What she didn't know at the time was that all thirteen of the Acolytes had gathered around her to try to figure out what was wrong with her. But Magneto had wasted no time. Using his mutant powers, he had pushed a path through his Acolytes to get to her.

Rogue could remember hearing his words over the rush of blood in her ears. "All of you, go to each of the floors and tell our fellow mutants that the danger has passed. Also tell them that we will be leaving as soon as I have attended to one of our own." But strangely and wondrously enough, not a single mutant had moved.

Magneto, who was getting tired of not having his orders followed, was about to order them with consequences, when Senyaka took a step forward, "Lord, will she live?"

Again surprised by the feeling in Senyaka's words, Magneto had looked to his other Acolytes, who all seemed to wonder Senyaka's question too. "Yes. Now do as I have instructed; I will take Rogue to the infirmary."

They had moved then, Rogue remembered hearing their footsteps on the metal floor become softer and softer. She remembered thinking she was dying; when in reality, she had simply passed out.

When she again awoke, she felt groggy, but she was breathing easier; and that instantly brightened her mood. Looking around the room, she recognized as her very own infirmary room, she was startled as a sitting Magneto had come into focus.

As she began to speak, she was once again relieved that her voice didn't produce the previous fire. "Ah reckon everythin' went accordin' ta the plan, right Boss?" She smiled and then smiled even larger and with a small laugh as Magneto chuckled at her question.

"It would appear that way, yes. How do you feel?" Rogue smiled showing beautiful pearly teeth. Then to his amazement, Rogue closed her mouth and stuck out her tongue. Magneto rolled his eyes heaven wards and then looked seriously at Rogue.

She hadn't known what to think when he had become so serious, so she had lain their waiting for him to drop the obvious bombshell he was holding.

"Rogue, we left the Earth's atmosphere over eighteen hours ago." He had been tense, waiting for Rogue to scream or yell at him for leaving without her knowledge. But she hadn't.

"Good." It was all she said all she had to say to make him understand that this was her new life. That she wanted to be rid of all those things that laid in her past; she was now a free woman.

A nod from Magneto was his only return, and he then launched into an explanation of how Heartattack had missed the infection in her trachea the first time, but had eventually killed it and healed the damaged areas. He had told her that Heartattack would be in soon and release her from sickbay; the damaged tissue had healed completely and they had only been waiting for her to awaken.

But it was as he was leaving her to Heartattack, who had entered, that all of Rogue's pieces finally matched into a complete and beautiful picture, "Welcome to Avalon, Rogue."

The picture was Avalon.

* * *

Getting up from the couch, Rogue moved to check on Serena who was sleeping soundly with Vermont tucked under one arm. Letting the door close behind her, she moved into her room and settled into her new bed, "Computer, disengage lights."

As the lights blinked off, Rogue gave her finale comment to her new world, "Goodnight Avalon."

Sleep came quickly.