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"I'll call a meeting in half an hour. You two can tell your story then. Until that time, I want you to stay out of sight of the others. You can stay in here if you would like."
"Alright."
"The meeting will be in the study. I'll let you know when to come in."
Rogue nodded. "That's fine. Ya care if Ah go change first?" She looked down at the black pants and hoodie she had thrown on that morning.
"Not at all, just don't let yourself be seen."
"No problem." Rogue flew herself and Remy off the balcony and up to her room. She had made sure to unlock the balcony doors before going down to this office. She landed and opened the door. Remy silently followed her into her room.
"Ah'm going to change." Rogue grabbed some clothes and went into the private bath attached to her room. When she came back out, she was wearing a green tank and faded blue jeans that were fashionably ripped. The outfit let an inch or so of her tattoo show. She finished off her outfit by pulling a white and green ball cap on. Remy immediately noticed that it hid the white streaks in her currently straight hair.
"Chére, I don't think they'll recognize ya." He looked over the tall brunette before him. She had a nice tan that was set off even further by her bright top. Her hair had grown longer and hung at her shoulder blades, rather than the blunt chin-length cut she had sported for the last few years. She had visibly matured even more during their short time in Louisiana.
"If it weren't for your eyes, Ah don't think they'd recognize ya either." For once, Remy wasn't dressed in his trademark coat. His long legs were encased in faded jeans and his maroon LSU showed off his lean torso. His hair had gotten longer, giving it a more haggy appearance rather than the bowl cut it had looked like.
Rogue, Remy, please come down to the door of the study. Rogue glanced at Remy to see him flinch. He hated it when people were in his head.
"Guess we better go." Rogue led the way down. Remy wrapped an arm around her waist as she led the way through the mansion.
Rogue stopped in front of a closed door. They figured that the Professor simply wanted them there early, so Remy leaned against the door frame and waited. Rogue grinned at him and leaned in for a kiss. The kiss quickly got more heated and Remy pushed off of the doorway to wrap one arm around Rogue as the other hand found it way up to cup her jaw. Rogue wrapped her arms around Remy's neck and pressed her body to him.
Neither of them were aware of the Professor talking in the room. They also didn't notice when the door was opened. Remy pulled back when he heard a familiar snikt. He looked over to see a pissed off Wolverine and a shocked group of X-Men.
"You've got two seconds to get your hands offa her, bub."
"Logan, drop it. He's fine." Rogue led Remy into the room as everyone stared. They all seemed fascinated by the fact that Remy was touching Rogue's bare arms, hands, and waist.
"Rogue?" Scott asked, not believing his eyes. This wasn't the pale, unsocial Goth girl that he knew. She was tan, makeup free, and gorgeous. Even though he had seen her plenty of time, Scott's eyes traveled her body.
Remy watched with a smirk as Scott eyed Rogue. He knew that she looked different than when she left. She was probably ten pounds lighter, half an inch taller, and more toned. Her ordinary figure had taken on an hourglass shape with the lost weight and a slight increase in the chest area.
"Damn." Remy heart Bobby's muttered comment and grinned. Rogue heard it too. She secretly loved having guys drool over her. She hadn't been able to get their attention while she was a Goth, but she seemed to have it now. She noticed every guy in the room staring at her with something akin to admiration. Rogue gave a mental smile. She knew her body was awesome, even better now than when she had left.
"You can touch?" Rogue glanced over at Kitty. The younger girl looked amazed by Rogue's transformation. Rogue could also see the hurt in her eyes that her friend had kept an important secret from her.
"Rogue and Remy will answer all the questions in a minute."
"Wait. What's he doing here?" Kurt snarled as he took in the thief's arm that was still around his sister.
"He has decided to join the X-Men, Kurt. Now, if you two will please tell your story."
Rogue looked hesitant for a moment. "Okay. My name is Anna. Anna Marie D'Ancanto. Ah'm the daughter of Marius Boudreaux and Desiree D'Ancanto, better known as Raven Darholme." Rogue could see the immediate recognition in their eyes.
"You're really my sister?"
"Yeah, Kurt, Ah really am. Anyway, Ah was born in Mississippi. When Ah was ten, my mother took me to join the Assassin's Guild of New Orleans. Ah was more or less 'adopted' by the Guild Master, Marius. Ah was trained to be an assassin until Ah was sixteen, when my mother and me left and went back to Mississippi."
"Why did you leave?" Jamie asked.
Rogue smiled at the younger boy. "Ah'm getting to that. Ah had been datin Remy for almost a year. Only problem was, he was engaged to Belladonna Boudreaux." Rogue ignored the gasps that came when she mentioned her relationship with Remy. "Bella found out and came after me. Mystique took care of her and we left before anyone knew what happened."
"Oh my stars and garters," she heard Hank mutter.
"After we left, we moved in with Irene Adler, aka Destiny. Ah kept seein Remy and we got engaged before Ah was seventeen. Ah knew that Xavier was gonna try to recruit me. Destiny had told us when, where, and what to do.
"The first time ya'll met me wasn't the first time my powers showed up. Ah already had control by the time Cerebro picked me up. Ah joined Mystique and moved up here and ya'll know the rest. Ah'm sorry Ah kept this from ya, but Ah was following orders."
"What do you mean following orders?" Jubilee asked from her seat on the floor.
"Shit, Ah guess Ah left that part out. Ah was working for Mystique up until Apocalypse was locked away."
"You've been lying to us and helping that bitch?" Rogue did a double take at Logan's question. It definitely wasn't what she was expecting. She had figured he'd listen then go out drinking and think everything over before talking to her about any of it.
"She's the only family Ah knew about. What was Ah supposed to do? Turn my back on her? What would you have done?!" Logan realized that she had a point. He wisely chose not to respond.
Rogue looked at the handsome Cajun next to her. "Ah think it's your turn, sugah."
Remy nodded and started his story. "I was born in New Orleans. I have no idea who my parents are because they abandoned me after they saw my eyes. I wandered the streets for a few years before I tried to pick the pocket of the Guild Master of the Thieves Guild.
"Jean Luc LeBeau took me in. He gave me a name and raised me as his son. Naturally, I learned the art of thievery from the Guild. I was almost a master thief when I left." Rogue noticed that he left off the part about her and Bella.
"Magneto offered me a contract and I took it after Mystique urged me not to turn him down. I figured that I'd do some stealing and get to spend some time with my chére while I was here. He only ever told us what to do, not the motive behind it. We didn't know his plans for anything, we just followed orders. Y' all know where that led."
Storm looked at him questioningly. "LeBeau? Have you been to Cairo?"
Remy hid his surprise at the question. "Oui, once or twice."
"I thought I recognized you."
"What?"
"You don't remember me?"
"Sorry, Stormy, but no."
"I was a thief on the streets. I recall meeting you and your father along with Henri, isn't it?"
"Oui." Remy racked his brain to try to remember the white haired beauty. A thought suddenly came to him. "Y' were a member of the Guild there, non?"
Storm nodded. "For a short time, yes."
"I remember you now."
"Wait a second?! An Acolyte is standing here and Rogue is telling us that she's been lying for the last two years and all you can talk about is Egypt?!" Scott looked outraged at the thought.
"What do you want us to do?" Jean asked. "Remy obviously didn't know what he was doing under Magneto and Rogue just confessed to everything. Would you rather we treat them like traitors because they wanted to hide things that they've done in the past?"
"Well, no, but…"
"But nothing, Scott," the Professor interrupted. "As far as I am concerned, they have done nothing wrong. Rogue, or Anna, hid her past…"
"And her current job and the fact that she's engaged to an Acolyte!"
"Ex-Acolyte, Scott," Xavier corrected harshly. He was well aware that Scott needed a reality check every so often. "He is no longer with Eric."
"Whatever." Scott crossed his arms ad glared at Remy. It was the Cajun's fault that he had gotten rebuked. If he hadn't come in, none of this would've happened.
"As I was saying, Anna has hid her past. She's not the only one. Many of us have pasts we'd rather not advertise. And I'm sure she had her reasons for helping Mystique. Unless you know the situation, don't judge someone for their actions. As for Mr. LeBeau, he willingly joined. I have heard his story and know that he truly didn't know what he was getting into when he agreed to Magneto's contract."
The other X-Men looked thoughtful. Well, except for Scott. He was still sulking. Kitty looked at Rogue.
"Why did you hide the fact that you could touch from us?"
"Ah don't know. If it makes ya feel any better, Ah didn't tell the Brotherhood either." Kitty nodded.
"If there are no more questions that you wish to address right now, this meeting is dismissed." The X-Men all filed out of the room. Logan hung back.
"Kid, I know what it's like to have to pick between what you think is right and helping someone that means a lot to you. It's a hard decision to make."
"Thanks, Logan." The moment was ruined by Remy wrapping his arm around Rogue's waist. Logan growled and stalked away.
"Hey, Logan?" Rogue called. He stopped and turned to her. "We're getting married in August. Ah want ya to be there." Logan growled again as Remy kissed Rogue. Rogue bit back a laugh as he stalked off once again.
"Ya love to torture that man, don't ya."
Remy looked at her innocently. "Now, amour, what makes y' say that?" Rogue laughed and pulled him in for another kiss.
"Ya realize he controls the danger room sessions, right?"
"Merde. He's gonna kill me." Rogue started laughing until she heard Remy's phone ringing.
"Lo?"
"How's it goin with de Prince of T'ieves?"
"Lapin, what the hell do y' want?"
"Jus' makin sure y' still alive. Y' told em yet?"
"Yeah, we told em. And yeah, we're still alive."
"Figured I'd check. One of dese days, y' not gonna be able t' talk y'self outta something."
"Like that day'll ever come."
"Y' pere wants t' know when y' comin back."
"I dunno. Sometime 'fore the weddin."
"Smartass. Jus' figured I'd ask."
"We just left this morning."
"I know, but it ain't de same without y' an' Anna."
"We'll be back eventually."
Rogue got tired of listening. "Remy, let me talk to him." Remy handed over the phone. He knew better than to argue with her.
"Hey, sugah."
"Hi, Anna."
"Ya need something?"
"Not really. Jus' wanted t' talk t' m' cousin."
"Well, sugah. You're interuptin our private time."
"What do y' need private time for durin the day?"
"Emil," Rogue said warningly.
"Fine, chére. Tell dat cousin of mine I said adieu."
"Ah can do that."
"Oh, Anna, one more t'ing."
"Yeah?"
"Save some of dat lingerie til after de weddin or we gonna have t' go shoppin." Rogue hung up on Lapin's laughing. She should've know that he'd say something like that. After all, his birthday present to her had been a leather bustier and thong. The card had read 'Here's something for you and Remy. Happy Birthday.' Tante Mattie had smacked him in the head good for that one.
That made Rogue think of something. As much as she told herself that the X-Men meant nothing to her, it had bothered her to see the look of hurt in Kitty's eyes. She had an idea to make it up to the girl, or at least she hoped.
"Sugha, Ah've got something Ah need to do." Rogue disentangled herself from his arms and walked out the door. Remy shrugged and went to look around the mansion.
Rogue went up to Kitty's room and knocked on the door. She didn't hear any answer from the perky brunette, but went in anyway. She saw Kitty sitting in her chair with headphones on. When the girl noticed her, she pulled the headphones down around her neck.
"Hi, Rogue."
Rogue smiled "Call me Anna. Ya mind?" Rogue motioned to the bed. Kitty shook her head and Rogue sat down. "Kit, Ah'm sorry."
"Like, don't be. I can understand why you didn't tell us. You totally didn't want us to freak out."
"That's not exactly it. Ya know that Ah'm not the most open person. It was easier to keep y'all at a distance that to let ya get close. That's the way Ah've always been. Ah've been hurt too many times to let people in easy."
"What about Remy?"
"Ah've known him since Ah was Ah don't know eleven, twelve? Ah knew him before Ah had to push people away because of my powers. Ah had to go for weeks without touchin anyone after they showed up. And he's never lied to me. Even when he knew it would hurt me, he's told me the truth."
"Oh. You make it sound like Remy is the only one close to you."
"Until Ah came here, he was my only friend. He's been through the same kinda shit as me. He doesn't pretend to understand, because he's seen it all. Most of what Ah've gone through mirrors his life."
"Wow. I didn't know that you were so close."
Rogue shrugged. "Like Ah said, we've known each other for a long time. Anyway, Ah came up here to ask ya a question. Ya can say no if ya want."
"What is it?"
"Ah was wonderin if ya wanted to be my maid of honor at my weddin?"
Kitty squealed in excitement. "Are you, like, kidding?"
"No, Ah'm serious. Kit, you're my best friend after Remy. Ah want you to be involved in the most important day of my life."
"Of course I'll do it!" Kitty nearly tackled Rogue with a hug. Rogue laughed at the younger girls enthusiasm.
"Ah'm guessin that this means you'll help me pick out my dress?"
"Of course! And now that you can touch, we should totally go shopping."
"Ah don't know, Kit. Ah've heard about your shopping sprees before. Ah don't know if Ah can last that long," Rogue teased.
"Well, now we don't have to shop in, like, Hot Topic or anything. Unless you're still Goth?"
"The only reason ah was Goth is so that people would leave me alone. But, speaking of Goth, Ah've got to ask Wanda if she wants to be a bridesmaid."
"We should totally go over there and see if she wants to go shopping with us!"
"Who's going shopping?" Jean stuck her head through the doorway.
"Me and Rogue, I mean Anna. You want to go?"
"Why not? Let me grab my purse."
"Okay. We'll meet you downstairs."
"Ah'm gonna go tell Remy what we're doin. Ya wanna wait or come with me?"
"I'll come with you. I really don't feel like standing around when Logan is in a bad mood. There's no telling what could happen, and I totally don't want to do a danger room session right now."
Rogue laughed. "Alright. Let's find that Cajun."
They didn't have to look far. Remy was wandering down the hall toward them when they came out of Kitty's room.
"Hey, chére."
"Hey, swamp rat. Me and Kit are goin shoppin."
"And y' didn't invite this Cajun along? I'm hurt, chére."
"Yeah, right. Ah really believe that. Behave yourself while Ah'm gone."
"I always behave, chére." Remy gave her a charming smile.
"Ah know, ya can go find Kurt and talk to him so he doesn't try to kill ya in ya sleep."
Jean came back over to them. "I'm ready whenever you are."
"We're ready," Rogue said. She leaned up to kiss Remy. "See ya later, sugah. And Ah'm serious. Ya should go talk to Kurt." Rogue walked away with the other two girls.
On the way to the mall, Kitty kept asking Rogue questions about her wedding.
"So, like, what are your colors?"
"We haven't really talked 'bout anything, but Ah like violet and silver."
"Those are okay, but whiteout doing something more like a wine or burgundy?"
"Ya know, that's not a bad idea. We could do burgundy and silver."
"Those are a really good combination," Jean said, glancing over at Rogue. " The burgundy can be for Remy's eyes, you know the whole red and black thing. And silver goes with everything, well almost. Plus, your eyes are a grayish silver color on occasion."
"That's really good. Ah get the feeling that Remy won't care, so Ah'm gonna make a decision on this. Silver and burgundy it is."
"Great, now you totally need to pick somewhere to have it."
"Ah already know where it's gonna be. There's this gorgeous cathedral on New Orleans. Well, actually, it's a catholic church. It's where Remy and Belle were supposed to get married."
Kitty looked at her in surprise. "You want to get married where your fiancé and his ex were supposed to get married?"
"Their fathers set it up, not them, so it's not like Bella picked the place or anything. It's more of a tradition to get married there. Plus, it's big enough to fit a small army."
"Oh, well that's different." Jean parked in a space at the mall and the girls climbed out of her SUV. "Let's shop."
Yay, another chapter done. Sorry if the X-Men's reaction wasn't as explosive as you were expecting, but it's the X-Men. They've seen so much happen that it probably wouldn't be the most shocking thing ever. And I swear I really do like Scott, but he does tend to overreact in situations coughDay of Reckoningcough. So subtle. Anyway, Hope you like it. Thanks for the reviews! Oh, and I was going to reveal Julian's killer in this chapter, but it didn't really fit. fear not, the killer will be revealed soon, but feel free to guess. Not saying I'll tell you, but...