Hello Lovelies! Thanks so much for the reviews; they really help me a lot and I am so glad that you all like my story. I thought that I rushed that last one because I was in a hurry when I wrote it, so I'm glad you thought it was okay. I wasn't initially going to put that scene there, I had been planning on dragging the tension out for a while or even have them interrupted, but when I started writing, I couldn't do that to poor Remy. I have a soft spot for him.
warrior zoe: that good, huh? And only one night? I was thinking along the lines of like forever. Chica and mazdamiatta: Let's see who is at the door. Remy's Rogue: let's just keep him forever. But hey, I'd settle for Orlando Bloom for the next eleven months after that ;-) justmerogue: Merci! Burning Touch: that's the way I'd like to wake up! Irene sees a lot, but just how much remains to be seen. I mean; the woman foresaw her own death and didn't do anything to prevent it so. . . Inthegrid: aww, I love you too, doll. Your review made me smile, thanks. Rogue is starting to feel guilty about lying as it is. Can she keep it up or will she break down? And what will Remy do if and when the truth comes out? Sorry, you'll just have to keep reading MUWAHAHA! Tammy: Mystique is extremely manipulative. She has continued to manipulate Rogue in the comics and she's a grown woman now. Maybe Marius really has it bad for her. You know the old saying: Love it blind. I went easy on you guys. What if I had ended that chapter with the beginning paragraph of this one? P.S. In the comics, Rogue is in her mid-twenties or a bit older, so I'm putting in technology and fashion from a few years ago 'because those eighties clothes in the comics were awful. And I was little and I don't remember a whole lot.
Marvel's characters, not mine.
Chapter 12
They just gazed at each other in silence but had they not been so enraptured with one another, they might have heard the soft knock on her bedroom door.
It was as if a spell had been cast over the occupants of the room; neither cared about anything or anyone outside of their embrace. All that mattered to them were the soft kisses they gave each other and feel of the other persons fevered flesh against their own. It was like that place between being asleep and awake; you are aware that you are dreaming and you know that this dream has to end but they were loathing letting it slip away. Real life would crash down upon them soon enough; although they to preoccupied to realize that it was knocking again, louder this time. That door was the only thing that stood between bliss and ruin; and it was starting to open.
"Anna?"
Rogue sat bolt upright, ignoring that pain that shot through her side and the protest of newly used muscles, her green eyes wide with surprise and panic. The door had opened about two inches and Rogue ceased to breathe.
"Marius." The voice of Irene called from down the hall and Rogue's door closed as Marius turned to greet his mother-in-law.
"Breathe," Remy whispered from behind and Rogue turned to him realizing she was clutching his hand tightly. She let out the breath she had been holding and taking another deep breath, her wits returned to her.
"Y'all need to get out of here," Rogue whispered as she found her night gown crumpled at the foot of the bed and slipped it on. "They're all probably awake by now."
"Your grandmere have amazing timing," Remy whispered as he slipped on his boxers and jeans.
"Just hurry up before they come back," Rogue hissed as she attempted to stand and winced from the soreness she felt.
"You okay, chere?" Remy was by her side in a flash; caressing her face and shoulders. He was angry at himself for causing her even a little bit of pain, he cursed himself, he should have been gentler or even waited until her bruises had healed completely healed. "Did I hurt you?"
"Nah," Rogue smiled up at him and reached up to caress his cheek. "Ah'm alright, shugah."
Another knock sounded at the door followed by Marius' voice: "Anna, are you awake?"
"Under the bed," Rogue hissed as there was no time for Remy to climb out of the window without being seen. As soon as Remy was out of sight, Rogue pulled on her thin, cotton robe and made her way to the door.
"Ah'm awake," Rogue opened the door to find Irene and Marius standing outside of it.
"So you are, p'tite," Marius gave her a rather fond smile. "Package was just delivered fer you dis mornin'. Look like a birthday present."
It was a small box, post marked Baton Rouge but had no return address. Rogue recognized Pyro's handwriting and smiled as she accepted the package.
"Your mama tol' me ya don' like ta celebrate your birthday," Marius handed her another package, this one lavishly wrapped. "But I got you sumtin' anyway. Happy Birthday."
He gave her another smile and headed off down the hall.
"Yes, my dear," Irene chuckled. "Happy Birthday. And I suggest you clean out underneath your bed before your mother comes."
Irene made her way back to her room, chuckling to herself.
Remy rolled out from under the bed as Rogue closed the bedroom door and made sure to lock it this time. He stood there, clad only in his jeans and gave her a rather skeptical glance.
"You sure your grandmere be blind?"
"Yes," Rogue sat down on her bed with her presents. "But she sees quite a bit."
"So I heard," Remy nodded toward her gifts. "Who sent ya dat one?"
"Just a friend," Rogue opened St. John's gift and found a small, filigree silver ring with a polished abalone stone. It had a vintage look to it and she slipped it on the ring finger of her right hand. "Whom Ah haven't seen in awhile."
"An' he live in Baton Rouge?"
"How do you know it's a he?"
"Dat writing ain' a femme's writing."
"Are you jealous?" Rogue asked him playfully.
"Should I be?" Remy pulled her up against her and gave her a searing kiss that made her knees weak.
"Ha ha," Rogue said dryly as she regained her composure. "You must think a lot of yourself. Thinkin' that's gonna affect me. Surprised ya don't carry around smellin' salts wit' ya."
"Do you need some?" Remy pretended to go for his pocket and Rogue threw a pillow at him.
"Its from someone who worked with mama," Rogue passed over the subject as smoothly as she could and started to unwrap the gift Marius had given her. "This is wrapped so pretty, Ah almost don't wanna open it. Oh-!"
Rogue lifted an old, hardcover book out of the box and held it as though it were made out of the finest crystal. Her eyes lit up beautifully and there was a look of awe on her lovely face. Remy felt a pang of jealousy that he had not bought her a gift that made her face light up that way. Then again, he recalled the expressions she wore earlier that morning and smiled to himself.
"What is it, chere?" he sat bedside her on the bed. "Good book?"
"It's a second edition of Gone with the Wind," Rogue said, running her hand over the cover and opening the precious tome. "It came out right after th' movie; it has a cast list and pictures from the movie. This was actually published in 1939! It's in excellent condition, how could he just. . ."
"This is amazing," she looked up at Remy. "Ah feel like Ah have ta put it under glass. Mama must've told him it was mah favorite book."
It was then that Remy realized that he did not know much about Rogue, other than she was beautiful, sweet, spunky and he loved being around her. He cared for her, perhaps more than he was willing to admit to himself and his life had become deliciously complicated yet instantly better on the day he met her. He wanted to know everything about her, especially in light of what they had just shared. Reaching out, he stroked her cheek and those lovely green eyes met his ruby orbs. He tore his gaze from her eyes to her full, cherry-red lips and he leaned in to kiss her. She was like a drug to him; he wanted to be with her, touch her, breathe in her scent, hear her laugh, see her smile- he had never met someone so innocent and yet so full of life. Their kiss only lasted a few moments; they broke apart when they heard movement outside the room again.
"You hafta get outta here," Rogue whispered. "B'fore someone comes knockin' again an' Ah have a feelin' that mama'll be the one who comes next."
"I'll be back later," Remy promised as he kissed her one last time. "Happy Birthday, chere."
Rogue stared at the window Remy had slipped out through for a moment before rising from her bed and heading to the shower. She went over the events of that morning in her head and blushed. She felt amazing and happy and elated all at once. She couldn't help the grin that had spread across her face and refused to go away. She stepped into the shower and the grin wouldn't even wash away.
Her bedroom door was locked but that did not stop Bella Donna from picking it with a tool she had seen the thieves use. The blonde assassin closed the door quietly behind her; knowing that the other occupants of the house were getting ready for that ridiculous outing they were forcing her to go on and she had a few moments to search the room while Rogue was in the shower. Belle had never set foot in the room since Rogue had moved in so her eyes drank in every detail of the sun-washed room. It was furnished with a vintage, turn of the century flare, with its polished mahogany floors and furniture.
She went over to the bed with its white sheets and plush comforter, everything with lace trim and lots of pillows. Her eyes went over everything from the book and empty packages on the bed to the- what was this? She picked up a black tee shirt from the floor by the bed. She knew who owned the familiar shirt even before she scented the mixture of tobacco, cologne and spicy fragrance that belonged to her fiancé. She clutched it in her fist, her knuckles turning white and rage slashing so swiftly through her that she forgot to breathe. Turning her eyes to the bed, the one that was just big enough to hold two people, she could just imagine them upon it. Pulling back the coverlet, Belle's eyes widened with disbelief. 'Of course the bitch had to be a virgin,' she thought to her self when she saw traces of blood on the snowy-white sheets. Replacing the coverlet, she crept toward the bathroom, noting the used condom in the trash, and fingered the silver garrote wire in her pocket. It would be so easy, over so quickly and they would be rid of that skunk-haired slut.
