Chapter 13: A Celebration

The cars, vans and motorcycles pulled up in the parking lot of Chuck E Cheese, while the X-Jet landed beside the parking lot in an abandoned field. Once the vehicles were in park the kids were jumping out to meet Logan at the doors.

"Can we go in?" Jamie asked excitedly.

Logan shook his head. "Does it look like everyone's here kid?" Jamie looked around and shook his head. Logan grunted, "We wait for everyone, then we go in."

Slowly but surely the older teens and adults joined the crowd of kids and younger teens at the door. The professor nodded to Logan. Logan sighed, "Alright then everyone, we go in as a group and stay as a group. There are two party tables set up for us so if you follow me to the tables the waitresses will take drink orders."

Remy leaned over to Rogue, "The wolf man sounds like he is leading a DR Session as a restaurant greeter."

Rogue snickered, "Can ya see that in a simulation?" There was a brief pause and the two broke out into laughter. Ororo and Charles, who were right behind them, just shook their heads.

Jamie, Amara, Rahne, Tommy and Sarah all got chocolate milk while everyone else got either Regular or Diet pop. After what seemed like an eternity to everyone four pizzas arrived at the tables. Two were plain cheese and the other two were pepperoni. All the pizzas were party sized to accommodate both the number of people and the hunger level of them all. "All hail ze pizza man!" Kurt called out. All the kids and most of the teens cried out in excitement grabbing slices of pizza. "Finally!" "Three pepperoni slices please." "I thought I vus going to starve." "Kurt, other people need to eat too!" "Here Bobby, here's the plain cheese."

The adults waited until the children had filled their plates and were eating before placing slices of pizza on their own plates.

Logan tapped his glass to make a toast, but the volume between game machines, talking and eating was too loud. The Professor sent out a telepathic message, "Logan would like to make a toast."

Most talking ceased and eyes landed on Logan who cleared his throat. "Hum, thank you Chuck." He looked at the group and then started his speech. "Today, thanks to many brave souls who spoke the truth we had a victory. Well done teams."

The sounds of clanking glasses, and mutterings of, "Good work," "Well done," and, "Good job," surrounded the tables. 'Short an' t' the point, typical Logan' Rogue thought as she shook her head slightly raising her glass to toast with the others.

When Tommy, Sarah and the Junior X-Men were finished eating they asked if they could go play some of the games. "Yes, that is fine, but please meet back here at 3:00, we have a little bit of a drive back to Bayville," the Professor informed them.

Emily and Rebecca looked around at the playing children and then over to Rogue and the X-Men. "We should be leaving. It has been a long day."

The Professor folded his hands locking his fingers together and gave a brief nod, "Indeed it has." He looked around at all of his students and staff. "Food never ceases to amaze me." They all looked at him with quizzical expressions. "Look at them," he indicated to his pupils. "Twenty minutes ago they looked ready to fall asleep, and now they are playing Dance Dance Revolution, Air Hockey and Whack-A-Mole. Amazing is it not?"

Magneto chuckled, "Yes it is Charles. Children bounce back mighty quickly after a meal."

"I should be getting back home too," Calysto said. "I am sure the others are wondering what the verdict was and why I have been gone so long."

Rogue looked at her, "Thank ya again Calysto f'r ya 'help. Here, take the left over pizza down t' the Morlocks, we got enough food at home."

"Are you sure Rogue?" Calysto looked over at Kurt, the bottom-less pit.

Rogue nodded, "Ah'm certain, ya'll need it more than we do."

"Thank you Rogue, they will be very grateful, as am I."

Rogue shrugged, "It's the least Ah can do after what ya did f'r us." Rogue then turned to Emily and Rebecca, "Would it be alright if Calysto caught a ride with ya? It's a bit o' a hike back t' town."

The girls shook their heads. "No problem. Where do you live?"

There was a brief pause and then Calysto said, "If you just drop me at Rickey's Convenience I can get home from there."

"Are you sure? It's no problem to drop you off at your…"

"No," Calysto said. "My home is right beside it."

The girls shared some questionable glances and then said, "Alright then." Rebecca turned to the Professor, "Professor, thank you so much for providing lunch."

"Not a problem ladies."

They then turned to Rogue, "Rogue, I just don't even know where to start to thank you."

Rogue blinked, "Thank meh? Ah'm the one who should be thankin' the two o' ya. Without your 'elp we might not o' been as convincin' as we were." She smiled at them and then yelled over the music and games, "JAMIE! Get ova 'ere!"

"Stripes, my ears! Damn it Kid, isn't it loud enough without you yelling?"

Rogue shrugged, "Probably, but ya know meh Logan, Ah'm a lot like y'."

"Don't we know it," muttered Scott.

"'Cuse meh Scott, Ah wasn' sure Ah caught that."

"Nothing Rogue, I was just thinking that…"

Jean cut him off, "That's the problem Scott, you were thinking, or weren't thinking." She turned to Rogue and Kitty, "Do guys ever think before they speak?"

The girls shook their heads, "Nope," said Kitty.

Never," said Rogue.

"Come now ladies…" Magneto started but was abruptly cut off by Jamie.

"Yeah Rogue, what is it?"

"Emily, Rebecca and Calysto are leavin' now. Thought ya might wan t' say good-bye t' 'em."

"Oh thanks Rogue." He turned to the two older teens. "Hey, maybe you two could come and visit us some time, you know, when we are not dealing with a crisis."

They laughed, "Yeah Jamie that might actually be fun. After all, Summer is just around the corner." Emily gave him a quick hug.

"Yes Jamie, hopefully the next time we see each other, you will not be pounding down my door." Rebecca ruffled his hair and gave him a squeeze. Then Calysto, Emily and Rebecca all headed out the doors and into Rebecca's car. She started the engine and the three of them headed back to town.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas collected Tommy and Sarah. "Thank you for taking such good care of Tommy." Mrs. Jones said.

Rogue shrugged, "It's Amara ya should be thankin'. She helped keep 'im calm and whatnot."

The Thomas family turned to Rogue next, "Thank you for letting Sarah speak. We were a little reluctant, but your family took good care of here. Thank you."

"It was nothin' really. Who knows, maybe one day we will see 'er and Tommy at the institute." Rogue smiled at Sarah and Tommy.

Tommy gave Rogue a hug and she stiffened, "Thank you for putting the medsin man away." He let go and smiled at her.

"Um, your welcome Tommy."

Next it was Sarah's turn. Rogue braced herself as Sarah wrapped her arms around Rogue in a hug. "Thank you for taking me here." This time Sarah let go of Rogue.

Rogue looked at her and said, "You're welcome Sarah." She surveyed the two children. They looked exhausted. "Y' two should go 'ome an' get some sleep." With that the four adults and two children waved their good-byes and left the restaurant.

Jamie grabbed Rogue's gloved hand, "Come on Rogue, come and celebrate!"

Rogue shook her head, "Naw thanks Jamie, Ah think Ah will just chill out 'ere f'r a bit."

"Well if that's how you want to play it…" He got a wicked smile on his face.

"Jamie," Rogue said shakily with a bit of anger, "What did ya do?"

"Hey Remy, she says she isn't gonna come!"

Rogues eyes popped out of their sockets. "No, Ah ain't comin'. Jamie le' mah hand go." She turned to Logan, "Logan, tell 'im Ah ain't goin'"

Logan looked at her and rubbed the inside of his ears. "Sorry Stripes, I think I am still partly deaf due to your earlier scream." She scowled at him.

"Like come on Rogue, it might like actually be fun," Kitty encouraged grabbing her other arm.

Remy weaved between machines and Rogue followed his every move with her eyes. He was getting closer. Rogue gulped. 'Ah'm gonna kill Jamie when we get 'ome!' Remy approached her. "Come on Cherie, come 'ave some fun."

"Ah am havin' plenty o' fun right' 'ere, thank ya very much."

The adults snickered. "We can see that Rogue," Mystique said.

"Shut up Raven!" Rogue snapped back at her.

"Stripes, manners, you and your brother need to work on manners."

She merely rolled her eyes at Logan's comment. Remy decided to step in before Kitty or Jamie went flying off of Rogue's arms in one of her fits of anger. "Cherie, der is trios ways we can do dis. Un y' can walk to de games. Deux La chaton et petit garcon can drag tu. (Two The kitten and little boy can drag you.)

Remy stopped and Rogue stared at him before asking, "What's number three?"

Remy smirked, "Trois Remy sweep ya off o' ya feet an' carry ya t' de games." He cocked his head to the side. "So Cherie, what it gonna be?"

Rogue closed her eyes and lifted her head to the ceiling sighing deeply. Remy motioned for Kitty and Jamie to let her go of her. As soon as they had let go of Rogue's arms Remy grabbed Rogue sweeping her up in into his arms as she screamed at him. "Remy! Ah didn't decide! Pu' meh down!"

"Non," Remy replied. "Remy drive ya 'ere, Remy saw dat ya got fed, now Remy gonna make sure dat ya 'ave some fun. Come on Cherie."

When he placed her down and Rogue was calm enough to focus she realized she was in front of DDR. "Dance Dance Revolution? Are ya serious?"

"Qui, Remy need a partner t' play against."

Rogue let out an evil laugh, "Fine, but your ass is so kicked."

"Quoi?" (What) Remy asked. It was too late. Rogue had selected a song and before Remy could register what song it was, arrows were flying quickly pointing left, up, left, right, down, left and right, up and down. And if you break my heart, my achy breaky heart…

"Oh ya, our leader is kicking Remy's butt!" Sam cheered. "Go Rogue!" The song finished and there were cheers all around.

"Rogue beat the top score, look," Amara said. Flashing on the screen was "New Record!"

"Remy get to select de nex' song." He was sulking after being beat.

"Oh what's the matter Rems, can' stand t' loose?"

Remy looked at her half mad, half sulking. "Non, Remy never loose."

Rogue laughed, "Sugah, ya jus' did."

The students mumbled amongst themselves, "Sugah?"

Rogue ignored them as another song came on. I like to move it move it, I like to… Their feet were flying on the metal surface. When it finished Rogue looked at Remy, "Three things. One, the beat was good, two, the lyrics sucked, an' three, Ah beat ya, again." She smiled.

"Bes' two out o' three Cherie!"

Rogue shook her head partly laughing. "Sugah that already makes meh the winner." Remy looked at her. "Remy, Ah've already won two. Even if ya were t' win the next song, an' ya probably wont, Ah would still be the winner."

All the X-Men were there, Junior and Senior. They laughed. Rogue selected the next song. Arrows started to fly again as everyone watched. Forever united here some how, yeah! You got a piece… Remy stared at Rogue. "How be it dat dis Cherie know 'ow t' dance so well?"

"Did you ever think that you can't dance Cajun?" Logan retorted.

Remy looked at Logan. "Ok den Wolvie, you get up 'ere an' beat de Rogue."

"Oooo!" All the kids were having a great time and challenges and bets were the top favorite things in the mansion.

"I don't play stupid games Cajun, no offence Rogue."

"None taken, Ah can understand if ya don't wanna play meh. Ah wouldn't' wanna hurt ya pride or nothin'."

Ororo closed her eyes and put her right hand over top of them. Mystique snickered; Charles and Erik looked at one another. The children were looking between Rogue and Logan with anticipation.

"What!"

Rogue looked at him and smirked. "Ya heard meh. Ah broke Remy's pride, Ah'd hate to break yours too."

"Why does she do these things to us," Scott moaned as he looked at Jean. "We are all going to pay for this later, aren't we?" Jean just nodded.

Ororo looked at Mystique, "I know you raised her as a fighter Raven, but I didn't know that included being mouthy."

Mystique shrugged, "What can I say; she gets it from everyone she is around. Do you ever listen to Logan?" Ororo sighed and nodded. "Well then, that is part of your answer right there."

Logan broke, "Get off the mat now Cajun!"

Remy stepped off and Logan stepped on. Rogue looked at him. "Your choice o' song Logan."

"Twenty dollars says Rogue beats him," Bobby said.

"Thirty dollars says that Logan breaks something when we get home after loosing," Sam said.

"Oh ya, fifty dollars says he throws Rogue in the Danger Room when we get home," Scott said.

Rogue looked at them, "Are ya'll done ya bettin'?" They all froze and looked at her. "Good 'cause 'ere we go!" Go Grease Lightning you're burning up a ¼ a mile… Everyone watched in amazement at how fast Logan was. The music sped up and their feet flew up down and side to side. Rogue and Logan were almost tied until the end as Logan hit three out of for arrows while Rogue only got two. "Whoa Logan," she said while catching her breath, "Ah, Ah had n, no idea ya could dance like that!"

He smiled at her, "Most of them would loose their bets, wouldn't you say?"

Rogue gave a weak smile back, "What'd' ya mean "most" o' 'em?" She had a bad feeling.

"Let's just say after a rest you and I will have a different type of dance off in the DR."

"Gulp, Scott, ya win," Rogue said. Scott smiled but Jean and Kitty smacked his arm and shoulder.

"What was that for?"

Jean looked at him and said, "For being a jackass."

"How does that make me…"

The Professor cleared his throat, "A hum, as fun as this afternoon has been, it is now three o'clock. Please find a driver and collect yourselves in groups. It is time to go home." There were groans and protests. The professor smiled, "I know, we all want a chance to challenge Rogue on this DDR, but if I am not mistaken there is one in the Arcade in Bayville."

"But Rogue will never go there," Jubilee said.

"Who says?" Rogue shot back.

"Says you," Sam said.

Rogue got a wicked grin on her face. "Uh-oh, now you two have done it," Rahne said.

"Alright mah Junior X-Men, instead o' the DR next Saturday ya'll are goin' t' the arcade with meh and doin' dance offs."

They started the cheer when Amara said, "Against who?"

Rogue smirked at them, "Firs' each other an' then the winner goes against meh."

"Ok," came five meek voices.

Rogue hopped off the machine and strode to the doors.

"I never knew Chuck E Cheese could be so dangerous," Magneto said.

Charles laughed, "Anywhere you go with a crowd of teenagers becomes a dangerous spot."

"Especially when Rogue is there," Mystique chimed in.

"Or her "father figure"," added Storm. They all shuttered on the inside.

Once outside they climbed aboard the X-Jet and sat down. The Professor said, "Well, we are finally going home." They all sighed and silently agreed. Between the lack of sleep the night before, the Court House and a dance off, it had been two long trying days on everyone. They were all due for a rest and much needed sleep.