a.n.: I shall start with an apology. I promised I was going to update sooner but then things happened. I had to prepare for the Comic Con here in my country during May and then I had so many papers for work that it killed me. This chapter was written such a long time ago. I only needed to edit it a bit. There might still be some errors in it, I am so sorry. But I rather upload it than wait for another week to get some free time. That's it. no more chatty- chat! let me know what you think though.

The other fiancée

She grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door opened without hesitation. Two things could happen: 1. He could be in the room and she'd have to explain her sudden intrusion or 2. The room was clear, in which case she was going to be lucky. As she closed the door silently after her she was almost disappointed that it was the latter; against better judgment, she was hoping he'd be a late-morning person and she'd catch him off guard… She took him for the sort of guy who slept in the nude and it wouldn't have bothered her to provide an answer to her small curiosity.

But she could work fine with the given situation as well. Stepping on her toes not to make any noise with her high heels, she proceeded with her plan. Rogue let her small purse on the bed and went directly to the nightstand to look through the drawers. She was grinning like mad when her search proved to be rather short.

"Now let's see how generous a thief's pockets are."

She opened the wallet with easiness. After years of practice she knew exactly where and how to look. She felt a thrilling chill run down her spine.

"Well, well Remy… Ah didn't know you cared so much about your fiancée. You really don't have tah, but if you insist…." She grabbed a handful from those beloved papers and after a moment of consideration went for two more. Her sly grin only grew bigger as she put the wallet back and pushed the money into her purse.

She made her way out of the room, checking the corridor first. She was hoping that everyone would be downstairs having breakfast so that she could make her way out of the house as smoothly as possible. After leaving the scene of the crime, Rogue pulled the delicate chiffon scarf around her head and was ready to pull her sunglasses when the door in front of her opened and out stepped Merci.

She thought about running away since the woman hadn't seen her but she had nowhere to hide. Eventually the blonde looked up and was surprised to find Rogue in a dropped waist dress, patterned à la Raoul Dufy, a matching purse in her hand and a semitransparent scarf around her neck and head.

She frowned.

"Going somewhere, petite?"

What was she to say? No? breakfast? That's not how people dress for breakfast.

"Actually… looking for you."

If someone from the family was to find her, her dreams and hopes of getting out of the house would have turned to ashes.

"Me?" Merci looked both surprised and as if she was being lied to.

"Yes…" Rogue had to go on with the plan. So she detached herself from the place in which she had stopped and advanced towards the woman; might as well tag her along if that was the only way out of it.

"I was thinking about a window shopping day around New Orleans'. I need to get out for some fresh air and I wanted to ask you to come with me. You must know the best places around the city and well, since you're the only woman with good tastes in the vicinity…"

Still not knowing how to react to her words, Merci eyed her carefully. She wasn't an idiot; she could recognize granted compliments when she heard them.

"I don't think that you leaving the house is a good idea."

"Yes, I know… the entire 'we need to find a solution to this engagement situation' chaotic matters. But this is why I wanted to take you with me. I'm not alone outside the house and you see – " she brought her hands up in front of her " - gloves… no one from the outside can see the ring." Well… that was not the reason why she was wearing her long gloves but it was a good argument in her defense.

"I still believe that you should ask –"

She let out an annoyed sigh.

"Look sugah. With or without you, I will leave this house. It's rather an option if you want to come with me or not. Plus... I think it would do you good as well. Nothing takes away the worries like a lovely, relaxing morning downtown. Come on, what do you say?"

The fact that she gave an ultimatum seemed to have an effect on the woman. Rogue knew that she wasn't going to take a single step out if Merci refused and informed Remy of her plan but she chose to go with the bluff. And, it finally worked.

"Alright." she huffed convinced. "Let me take my shawl and purse."

The biggest smile appeared on her lips and Merci felt as if it was contagious because she found herself returning it. As she opened the door to her room again she hoped that she wasn't agreeing to a mistake.

She let the door opened and while Rogue was watching the woman going through the shelves of the heavy closet in the room, she considered how classy people are always dressed properly even inside their houses. All Merci needed was literally her purse because otherwise the woman looked as sharp as ever.

When she returned she spared Rogue a look. Her distinctive white stripes were hidden under the scarf. Rogue notices her interest.

"I know how to be discrete. I don't like attracting attention." And that was true. Not only because it was in her advantage for less people to know of her peculiar connections in the guild but also because she was not going to be an easy prey if Lansky's men were lurking around New Orleans.

The women went down the stairs.

"Don't you want to have breakfast first? They are already at the table."

Rogue waved her hand dismissingly at the thought and mumbled more to herself. "And what a breakfast it would be… probably all the food would get stuck in my throat."

She looked at the woman apologetically as she opened the front door. "It's no secret that I am not the favorite person in this family."

Merci snickered. "Can you blame them?"

"No. But pretending would be a nice gesture."

She stopped. "What's the next step?"

The woman was glad that the question was asked because she went through her purse and acquired a pair of car keys and walked to her beige Chevrolet Eagle.

Rogue arched an impressed eyebrow.

"You drive?"

Yet she lost no time in getting inside the car, next to the driver.

"Honey, if you truly want to be part of this family you have to be a woman of many talents." She joked as the engine purred.

Rogue finally got her round sunglasses and hid her green eyes behind the lens. She only smiled and avoided giving an answer. She had quite a handful of talents. She just was not sure they would know how to handle them.

Rogue was actually extremely happy with the outcome. Taking Merci out had proven to be an unexpectedly pleasant surprise as she knew the shops from downtown New Orleans by hand. Or better said the owners of said shops knew her. It paid off to be a woman in the LeBeau family, and in what a glorious way. She was instantly greeted by the owners of the finest shops and Rogue had access to the best products. She had by now bought two pair of exquisite shoes and a pair of amazing high waist trousers, together with a delicate minaudiere and had all of them sent to the LeBeau residence. Ah… she could so easily get used to this lifestyle… not bad at all.

"Mademoiselle, could I interest you in the new collection that arrived from Italy?"

Rogue was thrilled at the attention that she was getting but didn't let it show.

"Hmm... something more compact, less volatile do you have? The Italian fashion is not exactly at its peak these days." She smiled. She loved to dress. She always had and with her powers she took the most of it, enjoying being as sophisticated and as à la mode as she could get. She knew how the tailors and fashion houses worked. The less impressed you looked the more chances that they will treat you more humbly and bring you the real merchandise.

She already had ordered a couple of dresses and blouses to be packed, but she looked rather unimpressed by them.

Merci got out of the changing room and took a pirouette in the tea dress she was trying out.

"So? What do you say?"

Rogue took a seat on an arm of the leather sofa.

"Looks perfect on you but… it seems so… local…"

Merci spun and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Miss…"

Rogue turned her head at the approaching mistress of the shop. Right next to her, a young woman was tailing her with a coat hanger up, covering the piece.

"I heard from my girls that our floral models are not exactly to your contentment."

The old stylish woman analyzed Rogue from head to toes.

"Maybe something from the French avant-garde… We don't keep these models upfront since it usually scared away the traditional clientele; and not a lot of women can pull the look, but…"

Now she was interested.

"Do you have something for Merci, here?" she got up and approached the woman.

"Well…" she made a pause, sparing a glance at the blonde client. "not something ma belle dame would usually wear.."

"Let's see it." Rogue dismissed her.

The girl stepped ahead and pulled the cotton bag off the dress.

"Mon dieu…" unintentionally Rogue satirized their accent "is that a Chanel?"

The woman's eyes glimmered in pleasure when she heard the instant recognition in Rogue's voice.

"Indeed…" she looked pleased at the young apprentice. "Je t'ai dis! Les yeux et le client. Cette fille a des yeux…. Et quells yeux!"

"Chanel?" Merci approached them. "But isn't she more specialized in perfume?"

"Sugah, Chanel's perfume is a blessing to our senses but she has amazing ideas in clothes. Not as catchy in America but the European fashion can't have enough of her creations." She stopped and looked into her blue eyes. "Come on, try it! You won't regret it."

She nodded at the girl to go into the changing room with the dress and pushed Merci after her.

The mistress smiled knowingly and showed signs of leaving them alone.

"It is rather peculiar to see such a colorful crayon in the close company of a LeBeau."

Rogue eyed the woman suspiciously but couldn't help the smart smile.

"Not the first time I hear something similar."

"I can only imagine. The women of the family are very classic and sophisticated. They don't venture outside the books. A trait the entire family shares." Then she continued. "I have never seen you around before. Are you a guest at their manor?"

Rogue didn't like the prying attitude of the woman. She couldn't exactly lie because she was afraid news traveled fast in this city.

"What if I were…?"

And suddenly the woman's face brightened with realizations that she did not care to share.

"Ah, I see. Please excuse my curios nature. I understand how things are now."

Rogue was not sure what the woman understood at all because she herself was left confused as if she was missing part of the conversation.

The door of the changing room opened.

"I shall be upfront in the shop if you need my assistance."

Merci stepped out in the elegant straight-lined white evening dress. A simple black ribbon was cupping her middle, meeting a vertical line starting from the base of the high neck and finishing at the hem of the skirt.

Rogue looked at her.

"Wow… you look fantastic."

The woman stopped in front of the mirrors and evaluated herself. Truth being told her pale complexion and blond hair seemed to complete the style. It was different… rather simpler than what she was used to wear at a party but she rarely felt as elegant. She let out a giggle thinking how much she resembled the stars from the Hollywood films.

Rogue approached her.

"Just imagine… with some fine diamonds in your ears…"

Merci stood a moment longer to take in the image in front of her. Then she laughed and rolled her eyes.

"You're a devil, you know that?! Henri will hate to find out I went shopping again."

Rogue stepped back and grinned.

"Well… we all have our guilty pleasures. You're wearing the dress, not the price."

The blonde woman, just a bit shorter than Rogue, kept her grin while going back into the room.

"Anna, around these parts we usually wear the price as well…. how else do you think women show how loved they are by their men?"

"I don't know… by spending less time in front of the public eyes and more behind closed doors?"

She heard the woman laugh from the other room.

Hmm… having someone who was actually willing to laugh with her and indulge common hobbies was fun.

When she was ready they both returned at the front desk. Merci gave the instructions and went out ahead to make sure that the girl was sending the right address to the chauffeur.

The mistress closed her book of sold items and looked up at Rogue.

"Please visit us as often as you want. I shall make sure to be more prepared for a fine eye such as yourself, mademoiselle . It would be my pleasure to be at your services."

Rogue smiled politely, but not too friendly. One should never be too friendly with hyenas like her.

She fixed her glasses back and wanted to step out of the shop.

"And send my congratulations to Monsieur Jean-Luc. He has the finest tastes."

Rogue blinked and went out a bit confused. Then she froze, a dreadful realization hitting her.

Merci caught sight of her distressed expression.

"What's with you?"

"Did she-… I think she just assumed that I was Jean-Luc's mistress."

Merci stood quiet for a second then let out another rich laughter.

"I guess it could look like that from their point of view."

Rogue caught up with her, trying to overcome her shock.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Anna, look at you… You're a new face in the city. You're young, wildly beautiful and exquisitely dressed. Jean-Luc may be an old wolf, but he still has a way with women. I swear that man is disarming. The older he gets the easier is for him to sweep women off their feet. And the sort of women he had…" she huffed a laugher "… let's say he affords to pick the best looking ones."

Rogue stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She looked along the narrow street, at the windows of the boutiques bathing in the morning sun.

"If I didn't know I'd say it runs in the family."

Merci grinned. "Well, he was a role model for both his sons. But I got my hands on Henri and I've made sure he had eyes just for me ever since. He was never the gross-hopper type anyway. Though Remy's a charmer… I always told Henri: now he's young; but give him time and he'll end up the splitting image of Jean-Luc."

Rogue didn't know how to take the words but somewhere along the line she felt offended. She was about to defend herself when she felt the woman stop.

She looked up and realized that she had stopped in front of one of the many windows, staring down at the objects on the other side.

Her eyes went above, at the sign. It was a children shop. She approached the shop window and glanced at the high framed picture of a mother and their two little sons. She bit her lip, not knowing what she should do or say. She remembered the anger with which the woman had told her about her pregnancy.

Merci was staring down at a wooden box, carefully carved, holding a pair of newborn beige bootees.

The silence was making Rogue uncomfortable. She looked around in hoped that the woman would soon move but it didn't happen.

"So… have you thought what you'd like to have? A boy or a girl?"

She tried to start a conversation.

As if brought back to reality the woman shook her distant thoughts away.

"No…. not really…" she whispered.

This was not going as Rogue was expecting.

"How long are you?"

"A couple of weeks I suppose?"

Rogue looked back at the various objects and toys in the window.

She really couldn't understand what big of a fuss could babies be. She knew she couldn't have one. It was impossible with her mutation. And she didn't know if it was what she really thought on the matter or just a self-induced idea, but children looked to her like loud, headaches-giving, pooping machines. Not to say that when they were new-born they looked completely ugly. And she was perfectly comfortable with her ideas. Better this way.

Without knowing, she ended up staring at the same pair of bootees as Merci. But she felt the woman shift position and without a warning she continued her walk, leaving Rogue behind.

"Come on… you said something about some matching earrings to my new dress."

She needn't say another word.

Rogue made herself comfortable in the rush chair at the bistro. After all the walking Merci picked a place for them to drink their coffee and take their breakfast at the bistro of a hotel in the French Quarter. She couldn't have enough of New Orleans… It was strange but even if she was from the South she had never been in the city. Maybe because after she ran from home she wanted to have nothing to do with the South anymore. Coming to think of it… it was the first time she had traveled back in the South in years. She breathed in the sweet smell of the city.

Merci was inside, talking to the chef. Rogue was starting to believe this was a dream. Of all the places she could have landed and here she was, in the core of a family that had the best of the city at their little finger. She smiled to herself and opened her purse. Happily she pulled out a delicate bracelet made out of gold. She had procured it today, but unlike most of the things she had played for with Remy's money, this one was all on her skills. Old habits die hard. And why pay for something when you can avoid it. She clipped it around her left wrist, over her glove. The metal shined in the sun and she felt extremely proud with herself.

Merci returned to the table.

"Pierre is back in town. He makes excellent pastry, you'll see."

The woman played with her glasses over the table.

"I could live on this street!" she said in one breath. "I could really get used to this…"

A sly grin appeared on her companion's lips as she brought the cup of coffee up.

"Funny that you should say that… we have an apartment up the street. It's barely used and the doors stay closed unless… Remy is in town." Her smile grew bigger. "Hmm… if everything ends up badly and the engagement falls you could always talk to him, borrow the apartment if you two need it."

Now she felt offended. She was no mistress! … Though she had played the part on numerous occasions….

"If that were to happen I wouldn't stick around."

The woman put her cup down.

"If you say so."

Rogue gave no more attention to her teasing and a curiosity gripped her mind. She looked absentmindedly down the street.

If Remy had an apartment there, why hadn't he called off the engagement and just kept her hidden there? Why would he keep her in the manor with his family? Was he really convinced that she might cross him with the first occasion? Well… she couldn't blame him but… this would have simplified their situation a lot.

Their breakfast was soon brought and it smelled as delicious as it looked.

"Ah, all this shopping made me hungry!"

Rogue laughed at the woman and considered her words.

After a few bites she made herself some courage and cleared her throat.

"What are you going to do about the baby? When will you tell Henri?"

Merci stopped and for a moment just played with the food in her small plate. She took another bite and when it seemed that she was going to ignore her question she put the fork down.

"I was considering not telling him."

Rogue looked at her confused.

"Well… wouldn't he notice at some point?"

The woman didn't look up. Eventually Rogue's eyes grew wide with realization.

"Oh….." she wanted to swallow but there was a knot in her throat. "Are you sure about this?"

Merci took the napkin and rearranged it on her lap. She avoided looking at her.

"I have already talked to someone. I just need to give them a sure answer by the end of the week."

Rogue felt how lost the woman was and yet she admired the power with which she took the cup back up and continued her breakfast.

"They told me it was safe and clean. Nothing to worry about. They are the best in the south… and discrete as well."

When she went for her coffee Rogue realized that instead, her hand was shaking at what she was hearing. She forced the cup back down.

"I don't want to be intrusive but… is this what you really want?"

"Of course not!" she looked at her for the first time since they opened the subject. "But I've been thinking of it. The doctor said that there are still some chances that I could have a baby in the future even if I do this… I guess I'll take the chances because this is not exactly the right time to bring the news of a baby."

"Would you really do that because of some stupid traditions?"

"They are not stupid and they are far more than simple traditions." She hissed. "They are written laws."

"I don't know those laws, but I am pretty sure that there's nowhere written how you should treat your body and your family life!" she retorted with the same attitude.

"Maybe not, but I know what this would do to Henri. He cares about Remy and this would only bring more quarrels in the family. I have a duty as a wife to make sure that Henri is not thrown again in the web of paranoia and chaos that the old council knows how to create. It's like they're looking for each and every chance to see the family eating itself!"

Rogue stared at her. She really couldn't understand in depth the ways in which the Guild worked. And at this point she was sure she didn't even want to. Every coin had two faces and she was willing to bet that all the power that they had, came at a high price.

She returned to her breakfast.

"Ah still believe that you should make your decisions. Not based on what some lunatics want but on what you feel that is right. Living your life with unbearable secrets is not a fun thing to do." She should know.

Merci glanced at her before she let out a bitter laugh. "You're quite a peculiar little thing… is this what you get of the story? I was expecting you to urge me to tell Henri before taking such a decision since it's his child as well. That's what normal people would say."

"If by normal people you mean the house in which you live then maybe you should get out more often. Ah am sorry, but there's nothing normal about that family."

Mercy regained her smile.

"Can't argue with that…" She looked at the waiter and nodded at him to come and fill her glass with some orange fresh.

"Thank you for listening."

"Well… I am partially guilty for what you're going through… listening feels like it's too little."

"It's more than enough. Usually they just go and tell people what to do."

Whatever she wanted to say, she instantly changed her tone. "Oh, merde…."

"What is it?"

"That's Marlene… Olivia's best friend. She'll murder me when she'll find out that I went shopping without her."

Rogue rested her chin on the back of her gloved hand.

"That bony woman with an entire ostrich on her head?"

Merci let out a crystalline laughter at her choice of words. And then she stared some more at the woman they were talking about.

"You know… now that you mentioned I can't get the image out of my head."

Rogue proceeded to her coffee unfazed.

"I'd hate to have a seat behind her at a theater."

The blond woman hid her amusement behind the glass.

"What's with these hats anyway? They are hideous… you could just take an animal and put it on your head and add some flowers and it would look the same."

'It's called opulence…. There's a lot on the streets of this city."

Rogue giggled. "Look at that one for example…red and pink…who mixes red and pink?"

"Oh, that's the wife of the mayor. She takes advices from the worst designers in Texas."

"…I can see that…."

"Oh look... this is going to be interesting; the French Quarter is filled up with spicy encounters all the time. That over there, coming out of the perfume boutique is the mayor's mistress aaaand" she made a pause for extra drama "Delahoussaye's wife. He's the most famous art dealer in New Orleans'…also still paying his debts towards the Thieves…" she stopped another time but this time in order to check if Anna was still following her. She had no idea of how much the woman knew about their ways. By the look of it she had it covered.

"She's pretty." Rogue looked appreciatively over the top of her glasses as she put them back for discretion. Tall, slim, stylish, deep brown eyes, long legs. What was there not to like about her?

"Of course she is… Jean-Luc brought her into the city some years ago. When she understood that she was not going to be the next lucky Mrs. LeBeau she slipped to an easier candidate that eventually ended up marrying her."

"Hmm… and what did her husband do to owe something to the Thieves?"

"… her…"

Slowly Rogue looked at the woman to her right, both of them with their elbows on the table, their chins cupped in their hands. Merci met her eyes in that silence.

It only took a moment until both of them burst in a fit of giggles.

Rogue heard the sound of running steps coming from behind her and laughs filling the air. Somewhere in the distance she thought she heard someone cursing loudly in French. She looked back just in time to see a group of raggedly dressed young boys running past their table down the street. Out of instinct she looked down at the small bags she had at the feet of her chair, things that she bought and were weightless enough for her to carry. She could never be too careful on the streets of the Big Easy. Before the boys disappeared completely from their view, Rogue caught sight of a familiar face.

"I've seen some of those children at the mansion."

"You probably did. The Thieves make use of them to deliver information and keep an eye on everything that is happening on the streets of this city."

Rogue frowned.

"They use children to do their less clean job? Isn't that too harsh?"

Merci raised a questioning eyebrow.

"The Thieves are not exactly the cleanest organization, but I guess you already knew that. And I don't see how that can be considered harsh. The bayou is anything but paradise. It's a very dangerous place. These boys earn a fair coin by doing what they are asked; better than begging at the corner of the street."

Rogue fell silent. She couldn't argue when things were seen from that point of view.

Merci eyed her carefully, judging her reaction. "You know...I can't understand how a decent woman like you didn't run when she realized the sort of family Remy comes from."

Rogue was taken aback by the sudden shift of topic. What could she answer to satisfy the woman's curiosity? For some reasons lately she had found herself telling more truths than she did in years.

"Who said I was decent?" she made a pause and then added with some edgy humour. "What decent woman would get involved with a cad like Remy, anyway?"

Merci felt intrigued, and for the first time she realized that, even if right under their noses and subjected to their questions, they didn't really know much about the woman in front of her. She wanted to ask something but something caught her eye and in she felt the blood leaving her face.

"Merde!"

Rogue looked at Merci instantly. She didn't like her tone. It was nothing like the previous cursing. It didn't mean any trifle between women. To Rogue it sounded more like a morbid realization. And when she met the livid expression of the woman she knew she was right. That "merde" translated more into Merci remembering why agreeing to let her out was a bad decision.

So she followed her line of sight. Her eyes traveled all the way across the street until she caught sight of a tall, slim, coquette woman. For some reason unknown to her, her own heart started to pound faster.

Dressed in a blue frilly dress, the rich colour was only rivaled by the woman's eyes. Long legs, labeled shoes, lace gloves, she had the frame of a doll. And her sun bathed face was framed by natural curly, vibrant-blond locks. Rogue felt a sting of envy towards this dreamy image of the perfect southern belle.

Instinctively she went after her coffee. So did Merci but her gestures were rushed and nervous. She attempted to hide herself behind the glass.

"This was a mistake; a terrible, terrible mistake."

"What are yah talking about, sugah?"

Merci turned her head to one side.

"I can only pray to virgin Mary that she moves away and doesn't see us."

Rogue looked back at the woman… and frowned.

"Well… I don't think that's an option anymore."

"What?!" Merci panicked but didn't dare to look.

She tucked one of her auburn locks of hair under the scarf as she watched the woman secure her purse under her armpit and approach them with confidence.

"She's coming right this way."

Only then did Merci dare to turn back into her seat, defeated. Her glass was not so gently put back on the table as she started the approaching woman in the eyes. Rogue saw her jaw clench.

"You know her, I take…"

"The entire New Orleans knows her, darling."

Rogue brought her cup of coffee back , preparing to take a sip as her eyes lingered on the blonde woman that was navigating to their table.

"She's so pretty though… Who exactly is she?"

Merci spared her a worried look and she truthfully didn't know what to do. Fight her distress or laugh hysterically at the craziness of the situation. She looked back at the woman who was now getting closer and smiled a delicious fake smile her way as she whispered to Rogue.

"I can't say that I am surprised that you don't know about her. Oh Remy, Remy… I am still eagerly waiting for the day in which he'll actually take responsibilities and consider someone else's feelings other than his."

Now Rogue was confused.

"That's Bella Donna Bordeaux … the heir of the Assasin's Guild… also… Remy's fiancée ... or I guess in this situation his other fiancée…" she paused and pondered amused "though taking everything that has happened into consideration I think you're the other fiancé."

But Rogue had long chocked on her coffee. The moment the name had rolled out of Merci's mouth she felt a terrible weight in her stomach. The familiarity of the name ranged painfully in her head like a horrible omen. And there she had it. When Merci finished her sentence she felt the entire world blackening and spinning around her. She almost spilled her coffee on her dress as she desperately reached for a napkin.

"What?!" she hissed horrified behind the piece of cloth.

But there was not time for an answer.

"Bella Donna, what brings you here?" she smiled but didn't bother hiding her venom towards the intruder.

"Ah, Merci, such a surprise to see you, chère." the woman dismissed her tone.

Rogue swallowed hard and carefully wiped her chin. What a sight she must have been… in front of this woman nonetheless. She wished the earth would part in two and eat her entirely.

The woman seemingly raised her chin and spared a look her way.

"And how might your new friend be?"

"Oh…" Merci looked at Rogue. She kept her hand busy by pushing her blond hair behind the ear.

"This is Anna; she's…new around here. I was showing her around New Orleans." Merci only wished that her words would satisfy the woman's curiosity.

"Oh…" and so, self-absorbed, she lost her interest in a blink. "Do you mind if I sit avec vous for a while?" But she waited for no answer as she pointed towards the waiter to bring a chair for her at the table.

"I won't be keeping you long. I just need a rest… I've been around town all morning. I ordered a new set of necklaces from Antoine and since I was already here you know I couldn't stay away from having a look at my favorite boutiques."

She put her purse on the table and opened it, getting out a cigarette case and a zippo.

"A caffé latte." She lit a cigarette. "Smoke?" she asked pushing towards them the masterfully engraved case.

"No, I don't feel like it."

Then she turned to Rogue.

"Thank yah but I don't smoke …usually." She wondered why she felt like adding that last word.

"Ah, so you are from the south as well…"

Rogue simply nodded and rearranged the napkin on her lap, avoiding her eyes. She felt petrified, lost. She had no idea what to say or how to react. The position in which she was …That jerk, not saying a single word to her about it.

"I head Remy is back. That rascal! He didn't even tell me. I had to learn word about him from the streets."

Merci returned to her glass. She was willing to bet that at some point in the future this particular table will be on everyone's lips as one of New Orleans's most shocking gossips.

"He returned a couple of days ago…. but you know how he is."

Then the blonde across them interrupted Merci again.

"Oh, how rude of me ... where are my manners? I'm Bella Donna Bordeaux, Remy's fiancée. I guess you already know Remy – where are you staying exactly, I didn't catch that…" She purred with a strange insinuation of possession in her words.

Rogue cleared her voice. It felt as if she had completely forgotten how to talk.

"I'm staying at the LeBeau mansion." Rogue could read in the woman's frown and in the pause from her smoking that that was the moment in which Bella Donna decided that she didn't like her. Her rapid and sugar-coated answer only confirmed her theory.

"So you've met Remy."

Suddenly Rogue felt heat rising up in her body. The fact that Merci was standing aside, watching the round of rivalries between them made her forget about her pitiful position.

"Yes Ah did. Though I have to say, since Ah got here I haven't seen much of him. Only last night at the dinner and ..ah yes, that morning, remember Merci?" she looked energetically at the woman as if she had just remembered a casual fact "when he got home looking awful and reeking of alcohol and cheap perfume."

Merci brought a hand up to cover her small gasp at Rogue's indiscrete words. She looked at Bella Donna bemused, and her desire to grin only got bigger as she caught the expression of pure outrage painted in her face.

Bella Dona clenched her jaw and let out a long puff of smoke, carelessly in Rogue's direction.

"That's Remy to yah… probably driven 'round N'Orleans by problems." She smiled reassuring. "You can't change a man like him. Only a foolish woman would get angry on petty deeds like these. He always liked to make me jealous. It's his little game… to fire me up. But what I share with Remy is special. He plays with a lot of naïve women, but loves only me. If you've met him already you must know how he really is; whatever woman he has, in the end he returns to his fiancée."

Rogue remained quiet and Merci felt the tension. Only then she asked herself what was she doing. She was not supposed to stay back and watch them as a source of entertainment. She should be avoiding any conflicts. That's the last thing that the Thieves needed at that moment, and it would all fall on her head.

But something stopped her. Merci always loved to play with fire. And she was curious by nature; curiosity that often got her into troubles. And the sudden smile on Anna's face made her dangerously curious to what it might happen.

On her part Rogue kept that wise smile long enough on her dark painted lips. She took one last sip from her coffee and arranged the sunglasses over her nose.

"I completely agree… you couldn't be more right." She took her purse and got up. "Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I'll go check one or two more shops while you catch up without my intrusion. Merci, if you don't mind I'll leave my bags in your care."

"Sure…"

Rogue said no goodbye, no nice to meet you, knowing how much the confused woman wanted to hear those words. She tried her best not to storm away from the table so she focused on the powerful grip on her purse.

To say that she was infuriated was an understatement. She really had in mind one particular boutique that she wanted to return to but she disappeared into the closest shop as soon as she could. It didn't matter what it was. When she opened the thin door the bell on top rang and she was hit by the powerful fragrance from inside. She was determined to do one thing and one thing only – buy the most expensive product that the shop had to offer.

Rogue made her way to the owner.

"May I have a gift card, please? I want to write a message. Also, I want to have my acquisition delivered as fast as you can to the following address."