Authors Notes: Deepest apologize for the lateness but if you read Cubi you will know why I have been distracted. If you don't, blame it on a site called DeviantArt and my account there. My mind has been on drawing not writing for awhile now, as I am overloaded with art items to do, including a few worth money irl. Along the same lines, expect my updates to be much like this next year, as I am enrolled to study and no doubt this will take up a lot of my time, again with art.

Day ten boys and girls and in this I actually have made a salute towards a wonderful little store I found when travelling in America: Road Kill.

This is a store found in the French Quarters of New Orleans, where I spent far too much money in but picked up some lovely pieces. Like Roguey, I am a Goth, and unlike Hot Topic this is Goth, not Punk with a little bit of Goth. I instantly loved the place and maxed out my credit card before heading off to the Vampire tour that night. The only sad part was I had to give up my umbrella I brought there because I could not fit it in my bag to fly back home (it was so beautiful, black with little red dices all over it) and because of my time in the store I missed out on going to the Voodoo shop famous in New Orleans.

Thankies as always to those who commented and have supported me during my writing of this, thank you for sticking with me while I have been taking far too much time between chapters.

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Chapter Ten

February 10th

With her trench coat slung over one shoulder and blowing at a strand of hair that had plastered itself to her forehead with sweat Rogue stumbled out of the Danger Room with the rest of the team, ready to fall back into bed after a long hot shower.

She had awoken this morning to a strange sight, Remy's half of the bed empty. Now outside of training, missions and her wonderful breakfast in bed for the first day of this all her man tried to never get out of bed before ten in the morning. For someone who had so much extra energy to burn he hated mornings with a passion, even more than her. And since he was suppose to be part of this mornings training his absence hadn't gone unnoticed to her alone, part of her tempted to smack him silly as she was sure both Logan and Scott were taking their anger for him out on her and the others. But then again, most of the guys seemed extra grumpy today, but Rogue shrugged it off with them being worked extra hard.

Giving her pained muscles a stretch as she headed for the elevator to go and lock herself into her own private bathroom instead of the shared changing room ones Rogue shook her head. Leaning up against the buttons as if he had done nothing wrong Remy gave her a little wave and a grin, dressed for the day and with sunglasses already covering his eyes, a habit that was getting him jokes within the house about mimicking Scott.

"Where the hell were yah Cajun? Yah had trainin' today."

"Was da today? Mon mistake."

Poking a finger into his chest she leant her body into his. "Yah knew it, and yah know it." Pushing past him she hit the button for the doors. "Yah not bein' there pisses Logan off even more, then he takes it out on us."

Taking up her hand he pressed a kiss against her palm as they stepped into the lift. "Aw chèrie, forgive dis poor Cajun, 'e was gettin' ya next gift ready."

Rogue gave a roll of her eyes. "Remy."

"Don't ya 'Remy' moi, it ain't goin' to stop me." His hand slipped into the pocket of his jeans, tugging out his wallet and upon opening it held a card out to her. A credit card.

"What's that for?"

"Rogue, even ya should be able to recognize w'at dis is."

Her eyes narrowed at him with that, arms crossing over her chest. "Ah know what it is Swamp Rat, whah yah givin' it to meh?"

"Day ten, shoppin' spree for Remy's girl."

Rogue gave him a droll look at that and raised a brow before speaking. "Remy, yah know Ah ain't lahke Kitty and them, Ah don't do the mall and 'shoppin' sprees'." She even raised her hands to do the little air quotes with it.

With a grin still plastered on his face Remy leant his back against the wall of the lift as it raised them to the upper levels. "Remember dat store Remy took ya to in N'Awlins last time?"

"Road Kill?" She guessed, knowing he was referring to their trip post the whole kidnapping of her not long after the Acolytes had broken up. Remy had insisted on a proper trip for her down there, not one when they had to go dodging shots taken at them by Rippers.

"Oui."

"What 'bout it?"

"Well," Leaning towards her and dropping his voice as if it was some big secret his mouth traced over the curve of her ear. "As Remy 'ears, dey just opened a store in Bayville mall-"

"There's a Road Kill here?" She interrupted. "In Bayville? Their better than Hot Topic! No punk wannabes in there!"

"Exactly." His smile widened at her expression and he waved the card in front of her eyes, light striking the platinum surface of the plastic. "Still don't want it?"

Snatching it from his hold she held it to her chest. "Gimme!" But allowed her body to relax as she calmed herself, fidgeting with the card between her fingers. "Yah don't have to come, Ah know most gahys don't lahke shoppin'-"

It was his turn to interrupt her now. "Of course Remy will come! Just promise we stop in Victoria Secret on da way back."

Unable to stop a laugh at the leer he now shot over at her she gave her head a shake, she should of known better with him. "Deal." Running the tip of her tongue over her lips and reversing the situation Rogue slipped a finger into the edge of his belt, tugging his body to hers as she tilted her face up towards his. Her voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Ah do need an audience to see what will look better on meh. Green satin or black lace."

Remy let out a groan at the mental image she described. "Ya too good to dis Cajun chèrie."

"Now come on," Keeping her smile as the door reached the level she wanted Rogue tugged on his hand, pulling him with her. "Ah need some help washin' ma back."

"Ah'm all ya's."

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Later.

A necklace? No. Teddy bear? No. Chocolates? Maybe. Candle? Flame. Fire. Red. Orange. Heat- Snapping his head to shake the idea from his mind John's brow creased, he had to concentrate now, not think of his own obsess- and yellow, and flickering and- No! He was shopping for Wanda, not himself. His jaw set in determination and head held high he marched through Bayville mall, hoping the shops and their contents would some how inspire him.

Lance, Freddy and froggy-boy were the lucky ones as even Tabitha had been dropping hints and prodding Pietro for his own show of affections for the upcoming day. Yet in saying that, with Wanda's current bad mood that was worse than normal, none of the Brotherhood was safe. Thus, John was here, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans, set on his goal. He had even left his lighters at home to make sure his mind didn't stray from its task. But the problem was, even with being a writer on the subject he couldn't think of a single romantic thing for his girl that she would actually like. Wanda was so different to all girls he had known before, and while true not many stuck around for long as they couldn't handle him, they were relativity 'normal'.

He was tempted to blame his friend, much like Pietro was but John knew Remy enough to know he wasn't doing this to show him up, hell the guy properly didn't realise the stress he put on any other around him. He just wished he had stolen some of his old team-mate's charm and ideas on the subject of woman, since the Cajun never seemed short of them as an Acolyte.

And speak of the devil himself, sunglasses covering his eyes due to the crowd and as always sporting his coat he stepped out of a store that would make John raise a brow at any man in if it wasn't for his friends reputation.

"Didn't know ya were a cross-dresser mate."

Taking up his offered hand in a firm shake Remy chuckled at the joke, slinging the bag over his shoulder with 'Victoria Secret' stamped on the front of it. "W'at can Remy say, feels so good against 'is skin."

"Yah a sick sick man Cajun." A voice came from behind them, Rogue exiting the store and placing the credit card back into her wallet, another bag in hand. "John." But there was a touch more scorn than normal in her voice towards him, but generally being on semi-good terms with him and Wanda thanks to Remy's connection with the other ex-Acolyte.

Leaning towards Remy John raises his brows and whispered. "What I do?"

Answering in an equally hushed Remy said. "She found out ya be Joan Alhday."

"Oh." Taking a moment to turn it over in his mind he actually pouted over at the X-Woman. "You don't like my writing?"

"Ah don't lahke the fact Kitty lahkes yah writin'."

Another moment passed before John whispered to Remy again. "You're sheila's weird."

Laughing at this Remy gave a smile at Rogue's glare before switching to a safer subject. "W'at ya be doin' 'ere, ya ain't a mall rat."

John's shoulders slumped as he remembered his predicament. "I need to find Wanda something for Valentines, she's pissed mate, really pissed, even for her. And I have no idea what to get her!" Grabbing hold of Rogue's hands, almost making her drop the bags she was holding John's bottom lip actually began to quiver. "What do girls like you like?"

"'Girls lahke meh'?"

Recognizing the early signs of Rogue's temper rising, her eyes narrowing and one hip popping out to rest her fist against as she tugged herself free from John's grasp Remy cleared his throat, bringing the focus back to him and away from any oncoming disaster. "John," He raised a brow over his glasses, "Ya be a romance book writer." Leaving the sentence hanging.

"And?" John asked, not to sure on where this is going.

"Write her something Johnny! Personalize it. Merde, how the hell do ya sell so many when ya can't even manage it in real life." Remy gave a grunt as Rogue slapped her hand against his stomach.

"Yah'll think of something John, and if not," Reaching into one of the bags she carried she handed him a black card from one of the stores they had been to, a white skull matching the one printed on the bags. "Use that as a hint."

Getting a wave back from his friend as he threw an arm around Rogue's shoulder and made their way towards the exit John glanced down at the piece of paper. "Road Kill?"

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AN: Sorry kids, there will be more updates in the new year once I am back from holiday, and hopefully I will get this one and Cubi finished in 2008… keep your fingers crossed for me…