If she didn't hate carriage rides before she sure did now. Her knuckles were even paler then usual from gripping the side of the buggy as her escort flew through the dark city streets. Rogue at first tried to hang her head over the side to distract her from the buildings that passed in front of her eyes in a blur, only to find that the rapid spinning of the wheels made her so dizzy she swore she discovered a few new colors. "Ah swear ah'll kill him if we ever make it to where we're going alive" she thought as they barely slid by another wagon.

"For someone who doesn't want ta get noticed ya sure are making it hard not ta," she hissed over the noise to her current source of annoyance.

The man in question was sitting beside her grinning like an idiot, his eyes flickering just briefly to meet with hers. He was actually enjoying this as much as a kid enjoys presents at Christmas. Was there ever a time when men didn't make complete fools of themselves over fast moving objects and driving like mad.

"Come on dere cherie, y' know y' lovin' every minute of dis," he said flashing her his most dazzling smile.

"That's it ah might just kill him now," she grimaced.

It was then that they took a particularly sharp turn and Rogue found herself grabbing his arm for balance that she felt once again the confident air he had crack as he instinctively flinched away from her. No matter how well he hid it she knew he was terrified of even her slightest touch. She saw now that he was no longer grinning and was much more subdued. Was she this bad with her friends? She knew the answer was yes, she could see in her mind all the times she isolated herself to protect them. Understanding his feelings she returned her hands to holding onto the buggy. She wanted to show him he didn't have to worry about her.

The trip wasn't long from that point and within minutes they were stopping in the back of what looked like an abandoned merchant office. She could tell they were close to the docks because she could hear the lapping of the water coming from around the front of the building. The windows were boarded up and the gray shingles that made up the sides of the building were crumbling and falling off. She made out the vague outline of a door set over to one side, Rene gestured to it telling her to go on ahead as he went to tie the horse up somewhere along the side.

Rouge had to push a little to get the worn door to move but at least it didn't make to much noise. She stood in what could only be a dark hallway. From the minimal light that came in from outside she judged that it lead to more rooms while directly in front of her was the start of a set of stairs. Now naturally she would have made her way down the hall first but her eyes caught just the faintest flicker of light coming from what she assumed was a door at the top of the stairs. Lifting her skirts she very carefully made her way up, almost crawling since she could not find any type of support on the walls around her. As she got closer she could see the telltale flicker of firelight dancing from the crack along the floor and reaching up very slowly she felt for the knob making her way into the room beyond.

This room was a stark contrast to the building and the rooms downstairs. Though it was sparsely furnished: a couch, table and chairs as far as she could tell, the happily crackling fire and the dozen or so candles spread around gave it a welcome feel. A door opened slightly towards the back, and Rogue figured it led to what was being used as a bedroom. A few pictures lined the walls and she could see that someone had spread a faded yet still pretty rug along the wooden floors. Rogue guessed that someone was the woman currently occupying the chair closest to the fire.

"Good to see you made it here with no trouble Miss Devereux," Olivia greeted.

"It's just Annabelle if ya don't mind, Miss Laurent, unless ya prefer Olivia," she said taking a seat on the couch.

"Olivia is fine," she replied pausing as Rene entered the room taking in the two women the smirk returning to his face.

"Look ma souer y' thought Rene never be able t' get a fille into his bed, and moi didn' even have t' ask dis one," he said gesturing to wear Rogue was seated on the couch.

Rogue blushed a bright scarlet as she got up and moved to sit next to Olivia at the table. The other woman shot Rene a look that Rogue new all to well having given it to Kurt a few times after he teleported into her room without warning.

"That wasn't very nice Rene," Olivia scolded her brother, "didn't I ever teach you any manners at all?"

"Non, y' did, just didn' stick Liv," Rene laughed as he threw himself down into the now vacated couch.

Rogue watched the two interact, her heart twisting at the thought of how much she missed her own furry blue brother. Olivia caught her reaction and misread its meaning.

"You must be wondering just how we could possibly be brother and sister?" she inquired softly.

Rogue at first shocked by the question since it hadn't really crossed her mind but she realized that in this time period a family such as theirs was not common. It was in thinking this that a new and more horrible thought entered her mind as she turned her face to look at the stunning woman in front of her. Before she had time to think the better of it or contemplate Rene's reaction the question came tumbling from her lips.

"Olivia you were not a slav…?"

She never got to finish the sentence as Rene bolted off the couch. His anger was apparent in the fury of his eyes. Rogue could understand his anger but secretly she was missing Remy and the way he could always seem to control his emotions now matter how upset he was. Rene appeared to run hot to cold at the slightest provocation.

"Non, never," he shouted, "Ma souer never belonged t' no man and she never will. Merde Anabelle, how could y' even ask dat?"

It was Olivia who raised a calming hand to her brother to stop his tirade, "Rene hush your mouth for one minute. The girl asked a perfectly natural question; in fact I would have been surprised had she not thought of that first. Now why don't you take yourself off downstairs until you can learn to calm down."

Rene looked like a child that had been caught back talking his mom. He walked over to the door, mumbled his apologies to the ladies before disappearing.

"You really must forgive him, he is very sensitive and protective of me. He tries to ignore the fact that most of the people of my color are first viewed as property before they are viewed as people. I know you were not asking the question to be hurtful, the horror I saw in your face when you were asking it told me it is not something you believe."

"Ah could never support that."

"That is a good thing to hear and I will explain that later. As to my brother and I we share the same father not the same mother. You see are father was a merchant by the name of Lucas Laurent. He traveled to many places along the Southern coast, selling to the wealthy cities that sprung up there. It was on one of these trips that he met my mother. Her name was Eliza and she belonged to one of the plantation owners around here. They fell in love and my father tried to buy her freedom from her master so they could be together, but the man refused. My father was forced to leave town because of the commotion the plantation owner caused over the affair, but he promised to come back. My mother was already pregnant with me by this time and she had no choice but to stay put. She managed to hide the pregnancy from her master until I was born but once he found out he sold her. She was to broken hearted that my father hadn't returned and weak from my birth she didn't fight it. Before she taken though she gave me to one of her relatives who was planning on running away with his family. Perhaps you have noticed that I don't talk like a Southerner."

Rogue nodded her head that she did in fact notice; she was to wrapped up in the heart-wrenching story to speak.

"They did get away and made their way up North. It wasn't long though before they saw how difficult it was going to be to make it the rest of the way to Canada with a small baby, so once they reached Boston they left me with a cousin who had been born a freedman and his family. They raised me and gave me a solid education that is rare for my people. While this was happening my father had come back to New Orleans to find my mother gone. He looked for her and found out she died of a fever not long after being sold. He found out somewhere about me and traced me to my family in Boston. He saw that they loved me and that I was being well cared for, so he decided it was for the best to leave. After a while he met and married Rene's mom, Colette. She gave birth to Rene but passed not long after. It was not until my father was on his deathbed that he told Rene about me. Rene was fourteen and alone in the world so instead of forgetting about me as most men in his position would have done, he found me. We've been together ever since, we're the only family the other has left, my foster family moved to Canada soon after I turned eighteen. It wasn't until Rene was seventeen that we decided to become conductors on the underground railroad."

"Ah can't believe you've gone through so much. Ah don't blame Rene for getting so mad at even the thought of it," Rogue said while trying to brush a few tears from her eyes.

"It hasn't been easy that much I can tell you," she gave a bittersweet smile, "Now I have a question for you. Just what is your connection to Colin Monroe? I assume you know him since you were invited to what we know was a private party at his home."

"Ah do know him and he's the main reason ah need your brothers help."

Both women turned at the sound of the door opening and a much calmer Rene resumed his seat on the couch. Rogue could tell form the suspicious look on his face that he had caught the tail end of their conversation. His gaze first shot to her before swinging towards his sister.

"Liv just what is it y' hopin' t' get from de fille?"

"Just information Rene, I think she can help us, but first I would like to know just why she needs our help in return." Olivia stated simply as both siblings stared at her.

"Colin Monroe is mah fiancé. The announcement was made earlier tonight," Rogue could not lift her head to catch Rene's eyes but she definitely couldn't miss the string of curses that left his lips. Olivia gave a nod of her head as if the information didn't surprise her.

"I take it that this is not something you want?" she asked.

"No ah don't. Ah might have at first," Rogue knew from Annabelle's family that the match had been wanted at one point, "but now ah no just what he is. He is forcing mah father's consent. He promises to ruin mah family if ah don't marry him. Ah wanted ta see if maybe since ah thought your brother was a smuggler he could find a way ta get me out of here without risking mah family."

For the first time Rogue found her gaze meeting Rene's. He had remained seated on the couch, after his first reaction he had gone totally silent. He didn't speak but Rogue saw the some fierce emotion burning in his eyes, making the little red flecks within them stand out form the chocolate brown in the fire light. She didn't know how to explain it, but in that moment with him staring at her like that Rogue could feel some invisible force reach out and connect between them. Somewhere in her mind she recognized this as the exact moment when Annabelle's life became undeniably tied to the life of the man sitting across from her, and it caused a shiver to shoot up Rogue's spine.

It was Olivia that broke the silence that had descended upon the room.

" I have an idea. Annabelle I believe we can help each other out," she said in a quiet contemplative voice, "It would require some risk are you willing?"

Rogue nodded.

"We need information about the Monroe plantation. We are becoming noticed here in town and we still have a few people we need to help from there. If you can remain close to Colin long enough to tell us when would be the best night to accomplish our task we will help you to leave. I take it this marriage contract can not be broken off by anyone, but if you vanish, for example appear to have been kidnapped, then your family can not be held responsible for it."

"Ah guess but won't they search for me?"

"Dey might chere, but no need t' worry bout dat. We been hunted before for what we do and no one been able t' track us yet," Rene said with a small smile.

"Do you know of anything that might help of the top of your head," Olivia inquired.

Rogue paused searching her mind for anything that might be of use. It took a minute but it finally came to her. "Ah do. In three weeks mah father will be holding a ball ta celebrate mah engagement. Since it will be at our house the Monroe plantation will be empty for the night. If ya want the best chance that would be it."

"Rene will be leaving tonight to get our current passengers to their next stop in Boston. Rene with the voyage and the need to restock supplies when will you be able to get back?"

Rene thought for a moment, doing the mental calculations in his head. "Rene will be back bout four days before the party."

"That gives us just enough time. Annabelle you will get all the information you can before that time that could help us. The night of the party we will help our passengers to freedom then I will send Rene to get you and you will sail with us to our next destination wherever it may be. Will you accept this?

Rogue saw very few choices before her, " Ah accept."

"Good," Olivia's wide smile lit up her face; "Now it is very late I think it is time my brother got you home. We will be very busy in the next few weeks."

Rene stood and made his way to the door saying he would get the buggy ready. One thought was still bothering Rogue as she made to follow him. Turning she looked once more at Olivia.

"Olivia why do you trust meh so much with all this? Ah know you said it before but ah don't think the reason ya gave meh is the only one."

Olivia let out a sigh as she faced the younger woman, "I trust you because of Rene." She saw the confusion dawn on the other girls face and continued quickly, " My brother is special, he does not think so but he is. Ever since his gift manifested itself he views himself as a monster, and I fear the reaction of others has only enhanced this notion."

Olivia unconsciously began to favor her right hand. Looking closer for the first time Rouge saw in the light from the fireplace the burn that covered the woman's hand.

"He did that?" she asked gesturing slightly with towards the hand with her finger. When Olivia nodded, Rogue could feel the tears prick at her eyes. "He hurt ya, is that why he is so afraid ta let anyone come near him?"

"Part of it," Olivia said her voice catching in her throat," but there was a different accident then this one that has left him even more scarred. I won't tell you for that is his secret to tell but needless to say it has left a mark. I understand he can not control his gift but others are not so tolerant, even if he has not touched them just witnessing what Rene can do has sent people running in terror, everyone but you. He told me how on the docks you didn't seem to judge him but rather you seemed to understand, that is why I trust you."

Walking over Rogue gave the woman a reassuring hug. She did understand more then Olivia would ever know. With more thoughts on her mind Rouge left after whispered goodbyes and made her way down the narrow staircase to where Rene waited. He stood still watching as she approached.

"Chere, are y' sure y' want t' do dis?" he shocked her with his question, "Y' know dis be dangerous and 't may not go as smoothly as ma souer makes 't sound."

Looking into his eyes Rogue knew it wasn't just the idea of her being in danger from others he feared. He was afraid of taking her with him; afraid he would hurt her too. She knew he needed something to show him she wasn't afraid, she trusted him. Slowly she put her hand on the collar of his coat. He filched ever so slightly his eyes never leaving hers as she lifted the fabric to his face. She could see the fear reflected in those brown eyes, god was this what her friends always saw in hers? Once the collar touched the skin of his cheek she tenderly rubbed it with her bare hand.

"Ah'm sure sugar."

oooXXXXoooo

She didn't remember the ride home or falling into the soft comfort of the bed. Her first thing to invade her memory was the sound of the bird on the balcony. After silently cursing the fact that she still wasn't home as had become her custom she swung her feet out bed and went over to the nightstand to wash her face. Taking a glace in the mirror she noticed that one of the French doors to the balcony was open, the curtains swaying gently in the breeze. Confused she made her way over to it, knowing that she had left them locked before going to the party the night before. At first nothing seemed amiss and she almost walked away before something on the ground caught her eye.

She bent and picked up the red rose that was resting on top of a pair of men's gloves. Rogue let out laugh tinged with sadness. For so long gloves were a symbol of prison to her, a reminder that she would always be alone, but these gloves she knew were something different. These gloves were a symbol of trust from a man who felt he didn't know how too. A man that sadly she would not be able to see for almost three weeks. Looking up at the bright sky she let a sad smile play at her lips before walking back inside and gently closing the door behind her.

A/N: Another chapter done, I hope to move things just a bit quicker after this since I am not detailing a three week time period. The next chapter has her attempting to follow thru with her end of the bargain and also what happens if Colin catches her. Also Olivia sends a messenger to keep an eye on her. Stay with me guys I think I want somewhere between twenty and twenty –five chapters but I can't guarantee that since the characters appear to be running this show. Please review and hope this hold you over until I write again since I have put my other stories on hold to hopefully devote my time to this one. :)