Yes, yes, they are married. Ishandahalf: yup, they're married and as Rogue always retains a bit of everyone she absorbs, part of Sabey is still in there. Let's see if our favorite southerners can work through their trust issues. Burning Touch: Yup, it's Rogue, not Belle. Since Remy has such fierce loyalty to his family, it would stand to reason that his loyalty would extend to his wife . . . and her family. Bumpy rocks in the road? Why would you say that? ;-) Don't worry, they'll leave the room soon enough. Remy'sRogue: ROFL! Sorry about the jaw but I think it was worth it, don't you! And I think I have a splunking hat. Have I mentioned that I love your name? Have you read KillingBellaDonna's story? It's only the first chapter but I love that name too. Chica: After marrying her mother, Marius accepted Rogue as his own daughter; so technically, she is the daughter of an Assassin. inTHEgrid: I thought you'd like that. Yes, blast the man and his overactive libido! But he's married now so at least he can put it to good use. (wink) It shall rain candy cigarettes from the heavens! How does that sound? If they will be able to get past their issues, that is. Warrior zoe: Yup! Married by proxy! Those thieves are pretty smart, aren't they? Or is it Mystique who is the smart one? Sara: Thanks, I'll try not to disappoint. Tammy: We all know that they care about each other but are they glad to be married? We'll see. And as for Mystique's plans; well she does seem to have Remy right where she wants him. I love it when other characters make guest appearances! If the X-Men are connected to the Avengers and X-Factor, etc. then it stands to reason that the bad guys would have their own little network, right? I was really trying to figure out a way to put in a cameo of Spidy, but I haven't figured out how yet. Mazdamiatta: Of course it's Rogue. I wouldn't let anyone else have Remy. If I can't have him, then Rogue gets him. But why would they need a sequel if they are going to live happily ever after? Loyalx2xNone: Thanks! I think I will make it a trilogy. Linz: I try (tries to appear modest) Here we go, on with the story!

Marvel's, not mine.

Chapter 26

Rogue had started to hate him for leaving her; for not being there when she needed him and not understanding the battle going on inside her own mind. He had just left her, assuming that she meant everything she had said that night. Creed not only haunted her dreams, but also her every waking moment; in the times she had some respite, she never felt more alone. She had to suppress the constant urges to gut everyone and she noticed that her hands tended to linger too long on her body when she showered. Fortunately, Mystique intervened before her daughter lost her grip on her sanity. Emma Frost came to New Orleans to help Rogue suppress Creed's psyche but she said that she could not get rid of it all together. He was effectively locked away in the deeper recesses of Rogue's mind until he faded away to a whisper of a shadow.

Her mind finally silent, Rogue stood alone in her room with an order to get some rest and listened to the deafening, crushing silence. The house was quiet for her benefit but she could barely stand it. The darkened room was too quiet and empty; that's when she cursed Remy. All she wanted was to feel his arms around her and bury her face in his chest; she wanted to sob forever into his strong shoulders and feel his fingers in her hair. But he wasn't there; he had left her alone with only herself and all of her fear. Her mind screamed at him, why wasn't he there? He said that he loved her; why wasn't he there?

She sank down on her bed, it felt cold and empty; she looked down at her hands and then she noticed something on her floor that had been partially kicked underneath the bed. She picked up the black garment and stared at it; it was a shirt, but not hers. It was his; the one he couldn't remove fast enough that first time they were together. Had it been there that whole time? Burying her face in it, Rogue breathed in his scent; his cologne and sweat, mixed with a spice that was only his; and she wept. Wept until nothing more would come, then she stripped off her clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor and slipped the shirt over her head. She hugged it tight against her, though it was slightly damp with her own tears, feeling it against her bare skin and wishing it was his arms around her instead. Slipping under the covers, Rogue curled up into a tight ball and found that there were more tears to be shed after all.

The next few weeks were a blur to her, she walked about in a daze and when she was aware of her surroundings, she was angry. She told herself that she hated him but she still kept her window open and when the weather was too chilly, it was closed but unlocked. She kept waiting for him, to feel his arms slip around her from behind and feel his breath tickle her ear; but he never came. She was aware that the guilds were on edge and that Julien was causing trouble but she paid little heed until the day Raven came to her and told her that she was to marry Remy.

There was no hesitation on her part. Marry Remy? Of course she would, be he still wasn't there. If she was going to marry him, didn't that mean that he would be returning? No, the marriage would be one by proxy and she would join Remy in Morocco afterward. Again, everything was a blur and all her life, she would have trouble remembering that time. They were getting married and still, he did not return. She learned on the flight to Morocco, on Jean Luc's private jet, that she would stay with Remy until he returned to New Orleans. The job he was on with Philippe had hit a few snags and they would be remaining in Morocco until it was completed. Then they told her that Remy wasn't aware of the marriage. She felt a little faint.

He had been gone for nearly a month and now she was flying to him, as his wife; and he wasn't even aware of it. Rogue tried not to tremble as she finally sat in the living room of Remy's apartment in Morocco and waited while Jean Luc told him. She met Philippe but she was too nervous to respond with more than a weak smile. She barely remembered what he had said to her; she thought he said: "Ah, so you be Anna." Why he had said that, she knew not, nor did she care. A loud explosion sounded a moment later and nearly made her jump out of her seat. Smaller explosions followed and then, silence. It was Remy's powers. Was he upset? Of course, he had to be, but was he that angry at her? Was he that upset to be bound to her forever? How dare he be angry?! He was the one who left!

Jean Luc came in off the balcony after another moment and Remy followed; Rogue froze, fear, anger and uneasiness swirled through her so quickly that she had to grip her gloved hands together to keep from jumping up and running out the door. Henri and Philippe parted before her and between them stood a stone-faced Remy. His face was unreadable at first, betraying nothing of what he felt but it shifted as soon as he met her eyes. He blinked as though he didn't believe his own eyes and his face was equal parts relief and bewilderment.

"Anna?" Remy stared at her, drinking her in and hoping that he wasn't merely seeing her like he had the other evening with that girl whose name still escaped him. It couldn't be her, but there she was; the lovely white streak through her auburn locks, the emerald eyes darkened by the green silk blouse she wore, the full, cherry-red pout that he longed to kiss and the rest of her that made all sorts of delicious thoughts spring into his mind. He tore his eyes from her to look at his father. "Papa, what . . ."

"You didn't tell him?" Rogue asked her father-in-law.

"I tol' him he was married," Jean Luc leaned against the doorway that lead into the kitchen with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I guess I forgot ta mention dat he was married ta you."

Rogue looked back over at Remy, open-mouthed, unable to speak. He thought that he was married to Belle; that had been the reason for the explosions. Her heart leaped before she reminded herself that she was angry at him.

"Henri, Philippe," Jean Luc straightened and headed toward the door. "I'm famished. We can go to dinner and Philippe can tell us all dat's been goin' on here."

He stopped beside Rogue giving her a wink and a reassuring smile before kissing the top of her head. He tossed something gold and shiny to Remy before continuing. "I tink dese two have much to discuss."

Henri and Philippe exited behind Jean Luc after kissing Rogue's gloved hand and casting knowing looks at Remy, leaving Rogue and Remy alone in the apartment. Neither could speak for over a minute, they just stared at one another, until the silence was too much. Rogue stood and stepped over to him and his eyes traveled down her form. He noticed the way the silk blouse with its flared sleeves clung to her and the black lycra pants hugged the curves of her hips and thighs before flaring out just below her calves. She was wearing black boots and it crossed his mind just how quickly he could liberate her of those clothes she looked so good in. She was admiring his toned form as well, wondering how a tee shirt and a battered pair of jeans could look so good on someone. She tried to shake the thoughts from her mind as she came to stand before the man that was now his husband and noticed he was staring at something in his palm. It was a solid gold band; he slipped it on his finger and her anger was forgotten.

"I missed you," he whispered to her.

"Ah missed you too," Rogue gazed into his red on black eyes, thinking that they were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. She was immediately lost in their dark depths, content to drown in the sexy glow that seemed to be flashing now with his happiness and growing desire. Peeling off her gloves, she threw them aside and reached up to cup his face with her palms, reveling in the feel of his skin. "Ah missed you so much, shugah."

She kissed him, standing on tip toe, bringing his lips to hers, kissing him with sweet insistence; achingly desperate kisses rained down on his lips, chin and jaw; kisses that were returned to her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her against his own body. Her arms went around his neck and she pressed herself against him as though trying to eliminate any space between them. They weren't lusty kisses but rather soft, sweet ones, however insistent, they just glad to be touching one another. Until Rogue's lips lingered a second too long on Remy's and then their desire grew tenfold. He licked her lip, requesting entrance and she obliged, letting out a whimper as his tongue invaded the depths of her mouth. That small whimper made his heart beat faster and his pants a little tighter. Their hands wandered each other's bodies as his tongue dueled with hers and both their breathing hitched with need.

Remy tore his mouth from hers and began to devour her neck and collarbone, feeling her whimpers and moans reverberate in her throat. She moaned his name and he nearly came in his pants at the tone she used; it was so full of need he thought he might just take her thereon the floor or up against the wall. The wall was closer; he picked her up easily and wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed her against the wall. She let out a throaty laugh that excited him so much that he bit her collarbone rather harshly.

"Didja ferget 'bout mah pants, shugah?" she breathed.

"Damn yer pants," Remy swore as he sucked gently on her neck to leave his mark on her.

Rogue chuckled again. "Let me down, darlin' an' we can do this right."

She gasped and nearly lost all coherent thought as he gripped her bottom and ground his hips thoroughly against hers. "Puh-please Remy," she gasped. "Not this way, not tonight."

He lifted his head to gaze into her eyes and saw that they were filled with just as much desire as his were but they were pleading with him to fulfill her request.

"Technically," she said. "This is our wedding night, right?"

"You're right," he deftly threw her over his shoulder and made a beeline for the bedroom.

(evil laughter Don't worry, the next chapter will follow shortly)