True Lies Chapter 28, a x-men: the movie fanfic

True Lies

Chapter 28A: Christmas Break

By: Michelle2

Finally posting a new chapter! Sorry it took so long!

Note: This fanfic takes place 1 ½ years after X-men 2. While I enjoyed the various films since X-men 2, I always envisioned my trilogy as the sequels. The imagination is awesome.

True Lies is the third part of my trilogy. Part 1: The Truth Hurts. Part 2: Sweet Little Lies.

As always: I don't own the characters or make money off my fanfics. I enjoy having fun.

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Christmas Break

December 18th…7 days before Christmas…

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"Toad showed me around Genosha today," Lorna explained. She felt weird talking to Alex through a computer screen, but when you are thousands of miles away, she happy to have at least one way to talk to her boyfriend. "Magento's building a library. They are supposed to go into the city to find books and more supplies."

"Why do they have to go into a city to get supplies?"

"The U.N. blocked trade to Genosha about a month ago. The only way to get supplies is to bribe tanker boats and to go into the original city." Lorna sighed. It wasn't fair. These mutants just wanted to live peacefully.

"So, how is your sister?"

Lorna shrugged. "I haven't seen her since I arrived. Professor Xavier has been with her most of the day, and Magneto is in and out. Pietro is usually around, but every time I see him, I just want to punch him in the face."

"It's that bad."

"I try talking to him, and he just snaps at me," Lorna replied. "He snaps at everyone."

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Rogue rolled her eyes as her phone buzzed again. "Logan is driving me crazy with all this damn texting."

"He's just worried." Remy drove the rental car, more focused on the road than ever before. The night was dark and there were no streetlights once he turned off the main road.

"Ah told him Ah'll text when we arrived at your Tanta Mattie's house," Rogue replied.

The headlights lit up the narrow road. Remy seemed to know where he was going, but then again, he didn't look confident. They were expecting to arrive in the early evening, but now it was two in the morning.

When he pulled through a gate, suddenly the road opened into a field with trees covered in moss. She could see Tante Mattie's two-story shotgun house in the background. She got an eerie feeling as they drove up to the house. VooDoo? Was that something Tante Mattie practiced? She thought Remy told her something like that.

Once they parked, Rogue helped Remy retrieve the suitcases from the rental car's truck. Then, they walked up the steps to the house and knocked on the door. Tante Mattie answered promptly. She wore a baggy, flower-printed night gown and magenta robe, and her hair was covered by a pink headscarf. She looked tired, but happy to see them.

"Git in. Git in. It's chilly out dere," Tante Mattie fussed, and they obeyed.

"We're sorry we're so late," Remy apologized as he hugged her.

Tante Mattie looked like a tough woman, but she was teary-eyed as he spoke. It just hit her that he was actually there. Rogue couldn't help but wonder if why her own family couldn't be the same way.

"And dis must be Rogue," Tante Mattie said, placing her hand over her heart.

"Hi," Rogue smiled. "It is nice to finally meet you. Remy's told me a lot about you."

"And he has told me 'bout you. Don't be shy," Tante Mattie said, embracing her in a hug.

Rogue watched Remy smile as his Tante hugged her. She should have felt uncomfortable, but she didn't.

When Tante Mattie released her embrace, she looked on the verge of tears again. "You two must be tired."

Remy spoke to her a little more and they followed Tante Mattie upstairs to the guest room on the right.

"Don't go in de other bedroom. It is such a mess," Tante Mattie said. "De bathroom is right here, and dere's closets if ya need hang up your clothes. I gotta iron and ironing board if ya need one. Is de bed gonna be fine? If not, Remy, ya can find eggcrates in de hall closet where de bath towels are."

Tante Mattie left them alone after reminding Remy about a few more things. Rogue place her suitcase down and looked at the queen size bed. It was smaller than the king bed they shared at home.

"It'd be fine, Chère," Remy said, as if he read her mind.

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December 19th…6 days before Christmas

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Remy rolled over, gazing at Rogue asleep in bed. The morning was cool, but not as harsh as it had been. That's when he remembered where he was. He wasn't in New York. He was in Slidell at Tante Mattie's home. He was in Louisiana—his home state—and Rogue was with him.

The scent of bacon traveled up to their room.

"Rogue."

"Hmm."

"Rogue, get up."

"What time is it?"

"Nine, I think."

"Aren't we supposed to sleep 'til noon on vacation?"

Remy smiled. "Yeah, but if we don't git downstairs, Tante Mattie will cook everything in de fridge."

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His reasoning somehow worked, and after a few minutes, Rogue shyly followed him down the stairs to meet Tante Mattie.

"I wasn't sure what time ya got up," Tante Mattie said, busy at the stove. "So I figured de scent of my cooking would lure ya down."

"It was de only way ta get me up fa school," Remy replied. "Ya didn't have to do all dis. I can cook."

"Nonsense, ya my guests. Now git out my kitchen." Tante Mattie scurried around the kitchen. "So Rogue, tell me de truth now. Does Remy treat ya right, or do I gotta knock some manners inta him while ya'll here dis week."

Remy smirked as he watched Rogue blush when she answered. "He can be a gentleman. He's pretty well-trained."

Tante Mattie laughed. "I like her."

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Wanda ran around the room as the four walls closed in on her. Where was she? How could this be happening? She had more power than this.

Then, it all went black.

"Wanda."

She heard his voice in her head. "I don't remember inviting you."

"Wanda, I'm here to help you."

"It's not me who needs help," she replied.

"Mutter."

She felt them grab her hands, but she was being torn away from them.

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"I'll git dat, Chère," Tante Mattie insisted as Rogue tried to clean up her plate.

"Are you sure?" Rogue replied. 'Ah don't mind helping."

"Ya my guest, Chère," Tante Mattie said, taking the dishes to the sink.

"Thank you for breakfast."

Remy watched the two of them interacting. Rogue and Tante Mattie got along instantly, which was a relief to him. Tante Mattie wasn't bothered by Rogue's powers, and though she was asking a million questions, Rogue answered confidently.

"Ah'm going to clean up," Rogue said.

Remy kissed her gloved hand. "I'm gonna stay down here a bit, if ya don't mind."

Rogue smiled and kissed him on the cheek. He kept his eyes on her as she walked up the stairs and disappeared. He wasn't sure how long he lingered there, just staring, until Tante Mattie snapped him to.

Remy's felt the heat from his cheeks. He was blushing, and even sipping his cup of coffee did nothing to disguise it.

"She's good fa ya, Remy."

"Too good," Remy replied.

Tante Mattie just shook her head. "Ya too hard on yaself. I know t'ings 'bout people. I feel it in my bones. Dat girl, she da one fa ya."

"I t'ink so too."

Tante Mattie sat next to him and patted his hands. "Ya just a mess inside, ain't ya?"

Remy looked around the room to avoid her gaze. She could read him like a book. Damnit. She was good.

"Remy."

Remy closed his eyes and hung his head. "I'm tryin' not ta screw t'ings up."

"Ya just need some healin'. Rogue too." Tante Mattie sighed, and she brushed the hair out his eyes, so she could see into his soul. "I know ya worried 'bout BellaDonna and ya father, but ya gotta face de t'ings ya afraid of. Ya can't heal if ya hide. Ya can't lock up all ya feelin', cuz it could be disastrous."

Remy took a deep breath and nodded his head. Something told him this was going to be harder than he thought.

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Wanda rolled around her bed, kicking the sheets off. She was fighting him. Professor Xavier tried to ease her pain…to help her…but she wouldn't have it.

"Wanda, you need to listen to me. I need you to relax and let me help you."

Wanda shook her head, and tears rolled down her cheeks. "You can't help me. No one can."

"I can if you let me in."

"You know what I did…you know what happens to those who spend time around me."

"I am here to help you, Wanda," Xavier replied.

Wanda sat up in her bed and tilted her head. "I'm fine. Everything is alright."

Professor Xavier rolled back from the bed. The room's dull shade brightened into a sunny atmosphere. It reflected how she wanted to be, but behind the illusion, she crumbled mentally.

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Remy looked at his watch. She was doing this on purpose; she was making him sweat, so she could have the last laugh. She was probably watching him right now…Rogue too.

He grabbed Rogue's hand as they waited for BellaDonna to arrive. All he had to do was sign over the house to her, and they could be out of there. BellaDonna had other plans. "Sorry, Chère. I promise to make it up to ya."

It was clear that Rogue was annoyed. They were in Louisiana less than 24 hours, and things didn't seem to go his way. This should have been easy liking pulling off a bandaid, but No. BellaDonna wasn't going to make this easy.

BellaDonna's heels commanded attention as she walked in the door. Even though it was cool outside, she wore light blue dress with deep, plunging neckline and a slit up to her thigh. She wasn't wearing a bra; he was positive. She ran her fingers through her hair. The bob was a nice change from the braids.

Rogue was not amused by her presence. Did he notice he stared, even briefly?

"Ya late, Bel," Remy said as he and Rogue stood up.

BellaDonna fake smiled. "Were ya waitin' fa me?"

"The notary's waitin'. We ain't his only appointment today."

"Ain't you snippy," BellaDonna turned to Rogue. "'Hello Rogue."

Rogue held her head high. "Nice to see you again, BellaDonna."

"I can't say I feel the same." BellaDonna tried establishing her dominance in the room, but thankfully they were called in to the notary's office.

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Lorna sat in the back of the truck as they traveled into the city. She was amazed by the changes in scenery.

Genosha was beautiful. Away from the metal boxcars and scraps her father had shaped into apartments and buildings, the island was full of trees and exotic flowers. Toad mentioned there were a few undiscovers species on the island, but no one dared to explore. At one time, Genosha was an island filled with mutants—more so than anywhere on earth. When they got to the city, Lorna understood why.

The city decayed, reminding her of images of Chernobyl and abandoned villages she studied in her classes. Toad told her that the city was safe, but it was haunting.

She felt their metal presences along the streets. Arms, legs, torsos, heads—the Sentinels littered the ground with the damaged buildings and abandoned structures. She recognized her father's work.

The truck came to a stop, and Toad hopped out.

"We're stopping here?" Lorna asked, as she looked around the debris.

"We haven't dug through this section. You'd be surprised what you'd salvage. The interiors of the buildings are rarely touched," Toad replied. "Just be careful. Some of the buildings are unstable."

Lorna sighed. This was going to be like an excavation.

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Rogue watched as Remy signed over his house to BellaDonna. He seemed upset, but he wasn't trying to show it. She asked him about it once—the house that is. He bought it for BellaDonna when their marriage was arranged. He just wanted to have some place they could go home to and be away from the guilds. Rogue never asked how much the house was worth, but she was positive it cost every cent he stole.

She felt BellaDonna's eyes on her. When she glanced in her direction, BellaDonna smirked, knowing she was getting underneath her skin.

Why did this bother her so much?

Remy was officially divorced from BellaDonna. Signing the house over to her satisfied the liquidation of assets portion of the marriage. What was it?

BellaDonna didn't have to wear gloves to touch him. She didn't have to fear hurting him when leaning in for a kiss. She was his first love—that meant a lot of things.

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As Lorna moved through the debris, she could feel eyes on her. Being around the mutants in Genosha wasn't that different than being in the mansion. Everyone wanted to see what powers you had.

Moving metal out of the way was effortless for her now. Training in the Danger Room made a difference in her confidence and control. Even Professor Xavier complimented her on her abilities. Yet, there was a fear there. Afterall, she was Magneto's daughter.

But the mutants on Genosha gazed at her like she was a princess or something. They looked excited in a way that was flattering but creepy.

Lorna looked around at her surroundings. She was in some sort of mall, but the damage was so severe, she couldn't confirm. Toad was right. This area looked untouched, as the simplest things were like finding gold. The mutants filled their arms.

She found herself wondering alone at times in the trip. She'd pick up things here and there, but nothing really stood out. Then, there was the nail salon.

It seemed silly for her to even go in, but somehow the salon felt welcoming. She used to go with her mother to the nail salon when she was a little girl. Her mother would get a pedicure, and the nice lady would paint her toes too. Lorna did that with Talia once, paint her nails. She felt like such a grown up during that time.

One wall of the salon stood completely untouched. Various nail polishes lined the walls. Lorna picked through them, thinking about how her mother felt and Talia felt. Perhaps, Wanda would like this too.

She was surprised to find a few polishes still good. Most were dried out or empty.

"What'd you find?"

Lorna turned to Toad, who had snuck up on her. "Just a few nail polishes. It was just thinking…sigh…Usually places like this have sterile equipment. We might be able to find some things here."

She was right when they started checking the rest of the salon. Scissors, nail files, and other tools were plastic-wrapped. They hit the jackpot.

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Wanda placed her hand on her belly. She could feel them kicking inside her. She wanted them to be free…no she was ready to give birth. She was ready to hold their hands and hug them and tell them she loved them.

"Mutter."

Wanda smiled. "Soon my boys. Soon."

"Wanda, who are you talking to?"

Wanda turned her head to see Xavier there for the first time. "I'm due any day now. Isn't it wonderful?"

"Wanda, you know this isn't right."

She tilted her head. He wasn't going to stop her from enjoying this.

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Kurt took a deep breath. "So it wouldn't bother you if I flew to a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier to visit Mystique?"

Ororo shrugged. She seemed shocked by his request, but it was Christmas. Shouldn't he be with his family? "Kurt, if that is something you want to do."

"I vouldn't be gone more than a day," Kurt said. "Ve could all go together."

"You want to bring two five-year-olds and a pregnant woman with you to a S.H.I.E.L.D. base?" Ororo smirked. Even she knew that was a foolish idea.

"I feel bad leaving you and the girls," Kurt replied.

Ororo smirked turned to a soften smile. "We'd miss you, but I think it is important that you visit Mystique. I know you need mother-son time."

"I'm vorried, Ororo."

"I know you are."

"Fury is vague vhen I call for updates."

"Well, Fury is a man of few words."

"I know…and I know Mystique is vell-care for in custody, but I feel this is something I should do," Kurt said.

Ororo kissed him on the cheek. "Visit your mother, Kurt."

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Remy was tired of being there, watching BellaDonna take her sweet time to sign the final paperwork. He wondered if Rogue noticed it when BellaDonna touched his leg and batted her eyes at him. Rogue had to be uneasy.

"Well, that should be everything," the notary said. Remy had lost his concentration. He just wanted this to be over, so he didn't have to deal with BellaDonna again.

They all thanked the notary for his time and walked into the lobby, when BellaDonna said, "Do ya mind if I talk ta Remy here alone?"

BellaDonna's smirk unnerved him, and he took a deep breath. Rogue stared at BellaDonna, who wished she could blast her into oblivion. She didn't look comfortable at the request; she was already feeling uneasy with the whole situation. Remy kissed her lightly on the kiss. "It will just be a minute."

Rogue's look declared she wanted to blast his ass too, but she replied. "Don't be long."

When it was just the two of them, BellaDonna asked, "Is something bothering her?"

Remy rolled his eyes. "Dat's enough, Bel. Ya had ya fun."

"Whatever do ya mean?" She smiled. That smile meant something was up. Damnit. He should have seen it coming.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do nothing, Remy. Ya can relax," BellaDonna said. He wanted to believe her. "But since ya arrival in town last night, ya got de guilds all testy."

Remy knew that. Tante Mattie mentioned that his father was up most of the night, convincing the Thieves Guild that he wouldn't violate the terms of his exile. "I know not ta cross de lake, Bel."

"Ya think dis is all 'bout you?" BellaDonna sighed. "Part of it is, of course, but no. Fa once, it is more than just you. Them registration acts got everyone up in a tizzy."

"Ya don't need ta lecture me on de acts. I follow de news," Remy replied. It was all they talked about in their X-men meetings. Hank's speeches weren't effective. Some people didn't want to bother listening. They just wanted to pass the acts without a care about whom they affected.

"Den ya know dat dis is more than just a mutant thing."

"Of course, de elixirs make many of the thieves and assassins superhuman. Ya can't have wanted criminals and murderers register."

"Ya think this is funny?"

Remy studied her face. BellaDonna would be Queen of the Assassins Guild one day. She took everything about the guilds seriously. That was one of her faults. "No, I don't t'ink dis is funny. I'm a mutant, Bel. I'm de one these acts are really targeting."

"Look Remy, I know ya don't give a damn 'bout what goes on in de guilds, but ya still Jean-Luc LeBeau's son, a prince of de Thieves Guild," BellaDonna reminded him. But he didn't need the reminder. He knew where he came from; it just didn't mean he still belonged there.

"Bel…de acts scare me too. Ya right. Dis ain't about me, but ma famille. A lot of people I love are affected if de acts are signed," Remy said. He thought about Rogue, Jean-Luc, Tante Mattie, Henri, and Merci. He thought about Storm, the X-men, the school and his students. He thought about a lot of things.

BellaDonna relaxed. "Good." She walked to the door and turned the knob. "Oh, and Remy."

"Oui, Bel?"

"Ya try and cross Lake Pontchartrain and I'll shoot ya ass myself."

Remy smiled. She wasn't kidding.

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The light-yellow room brightened around her. ABC blocks spelled out their names, Billy and Tommy, on the wall. For a while, it had just been the two of them, but now, they would double.

Vision floated over to her. She was sitting in a chair now, too tired to get up again. "Agatha is on her way."

She placed her hands on her belly. She could feel the next contraction starting.

"It something of a miracle, isn't it?" Vision said. "Something impossible between us."

She felt his hand interlock with hers. This was what she wanted. This was what he wanted. They seemed to be an impossible couple with infinitive possibilities.

"Wanda."

She felt him in her head, trying to reach her again.

"Wanda."

The room faded. The bare walls of her room in Genosha haunted the emptiness she felt inside. She sat up in her bed, feeling her flat abdomen.

"Wanda, you need to stop doing this," Professor Xavier explained.

She looked at him, angry for destroying her perfect world.

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Rogue walked out the notary. She wanted to scream, but she didn't think anyone would hear her. Remy was alone with BellaDonna, and while she knew his relationship with his ex was over, she didn't feel easy about the situation.

She looked around the parking lot, cursing the fact Remy had the keys to the rental car. That was when she realized she wasn't as alone as she thought.

The parking lot was full of vehicles, each with one person inside. The notary was expecting other appointments, but it was odd that they'd all show up at once.

Then she felt his eyes on him. "Bad VooDoo" is what Remy would call it. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing a man leaning on the building behind her.

"Oh, and Remy."

"Oui, Bel?"

"Ya try and cross Lake Pontchartrain and I'll shoot ya ass myself."

Rogue joined Remy's side, but she questioned if he could protect her from such a man. She watched as BellaDonna joined the man, and one by one the parking lot emptied.

"Y'alright, Chère."

"Who was that?"

"Gris-Gris…and some other assassins. He didn't hurt ya none, did he?"

'No. No. I just want to get out here."

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"Remember your breathing. Hee Hee Hee Hoo. Hee Hee Hee Hoo. Hee Hee Hee Hoo."

She shook her head. "I can't do this. I just can't."

"You can, Wanda."

Vision held her hand as Agatha instructed her to push. She screamed, thought it wasn't a scream in pain but in relief.

Then a cry filled the room. 'It's a boy."

"A boy, Wanda. It's a boy." Vision couldn't cry, but he could understand love. He smiled at her.

"Alright Wanda, it's time to push again."

She howled out in pain until it was over. Another cry filled the room.

'It's a boy."

Agatha placed one baby in her arms, and then the other in Vision's. They were a happy family at that moment. Then, he interrupted.

"Wanda, put it back."

"No," she felt the baby wrap his hand around her finger.

"Put it back."

"No, stop it. Get out of my head."

"You can't keep doing this, Wanda."

"No. NO! NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Her screams echoed the room, and she fell to the floor empty handed. She was alone in the room with Professor Xavier. Vision was dead. Agatha was dead.

She killed them. Yes, she did.

Her boys…her boys were there. Why didn't he get that?

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Lorna helped Toad load one of the trucks with supplies. She didn't have to lift a finger, really. She just thought about it, and metal instruments floated into the truck, lining up in the boxes.

"I never would have thought to raid a nail salon," Toad admitted.

Lorna smirked. "So when you come into the city, what do you look for?"

"It varies," he explained. "Sometimes we look for cleaning supplies and building tools. Toilet paper is always a great find."

"What about food?"

"That worked for a few months…you know after the Sentinel attacks, but can goods do have a shelf life. It's been 20-21 years, so we avoid food."

Lorna looked around at the destruction. Something told her that this country was once a beautiful, prosperous place.

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Remy drove around Slidell, looking for some place to take Rogue for lunch. He wanted to take her to New Orleans, but BellaDonna's threats were clear the guilds were taking the exile seriously.

"Ya okay?" Remy asked as he parked the car at Times Grill. She had been quieter than normal. He grabbed her hand. "Look. Gris-Gris is harmless."

"You knew him."

"He's an assassin, Chère. He follows BellaDonna now dat Julian is…Let's just say Gris-Gris doesn't like me none. He was trying ta scare ya and make ya uncomfortable."

"Like BellaDonna was."

The look she gave him was a mix of jealousy and anger. "Ya saw dat."

Rogue rolled her eyes. He deserved it for asking something so stupid. "She was hitting on you right in front of me and you did nothing."

"I ignored her."

"You didn't stand up to her."

Remy shook his head. He ignored BellaDonna's advances. Wasn't that what he was supposed to do? "I'm tired of fighting wit her, Rogue. I just wanted ta sign de damn house over and be done, so I…I could move on."

Rogue sighed. She had a point about him not standing up to BellaDonna. "Remy, watching her in there…it just…I wanted to knock her lights out. I was jealous, and she knew it."

"I'm sorry…I should've said something," Remy apologized. "But ya gotta understand, Rogue. I just wanted ta be done. I just wanted ta be free ta make my own decisions wit'out de past hangin' ova my shoulders."

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Magento stood on the balcony, staring out at the city that crumbled in the distance. He was worried about his children. He had lost one already—all those years ago. Now, Lorna was joining the Genoshans gathering supplies in the city. Pietro hated him and blamed him for everything that went wrong. And Wanda.

What could he say about Wanda?

Her screams reached the balcony, tearing into his heart.

He was helpless.

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"Ah'm sorry about before…in de car," Rogue apologized as they ate lunch. "Ah should have been a little more understanding about de situation ya were in."

"It's not your fault…I felt like my hands were tied, Chère," Remy replied. He picked at the appetizer of fried pickles. "I'm sorry ya had to be dragged into it."

"Why did giving up the house bother you so much?" Rogue reached for a fried pickle and dipped it in ranch.

"When BellaDonna and I's parents arranged fa us ta be married, I kept thinkin' about how we'd always be unda dere thumb." He shrugged. "Dere was a lot of pressure on us, so I bought a house fa us ta have our own lives. Or try to anyways. I just wanted…wanted ta be free"

"Oh."

"De guild-life can be complicated." Remy reached across the table and took her gloved hand. "I like the simpler things in life."

Rogue smiled. She had a small glimpse into Remy's world. This trip was bound to reveal more about him. It could be a good thing, she thought…or a bad thing. "And with the boathouse. Us moving in there after New Years. What are you expecting?"

"Ta start a new chapter in my life." His eyes were bright in that moment. "…wit you, Rogue."

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December 20th…5 days before Christmas…one day before students left for Christmas break

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Remy and Rogue chatted during the drive from Slidell to Caldecott County, outside of Meridian. It was a long drive, and the closer she got to her hometown, the more nervous her voice became, especially when she started giving him directions. The home Cody was in was located outside the city.

He pulled into the parking lot, and she looked afraid. "Ya don't have ta go in if ya don't want to."

"Ah have to do this."

Remy nodded. This made him uncomfortable, but she was right. She had to do this. She had to face this fear she had inside her or she would never be free.

It was a quiet walk Cody's room. Remy used his charms to help them navigate the hallways and avoid suspicions. Afterall, Rogue was the girl who put Cody in the coma.

Rogue stared at the number and the name on the door. "This is him…Cody Robbins. Room 143."

Remy took a deep breath as she opened the door to the room. There in the bed lay Cody, a pale, blonde-haired boy kept alive by feeding tubes and machines. The air was cold, even more so than outside.

Rogue looked over her shoulder. He could see her eyes watering, but she was going to fight her tears. "Can Ah have a minute alone?"

"Sure," Remy nodded. "I'll be outside."

For the first time since he met her, Remy finally understood Rogue's real fear. Rogue didn't want to hurt him the same way she hurt Cody.

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Kurt and Logan argued over how to get the refrigerator up the stairs to the attic. The attic had its advantages as far as privacy, but the narrow stairway upstairs proved to be problematic.

"I can bamf the fridge up there, Logan," Kurt argued. "It's not a big deal."

"You're weaker when you teleport with things, especially something big," Logan countered. "Besides, I still need you to help me install the thing."

Ororo meet them at the bottom of the stairs. She sighed. "The girls are taking a nap. You're not hauling that thing up here now."

Logan gave her the look that signaled he was annoyed, but he knew better than to piss her off. He looked at Kurt, who shrugged. The girls were bouncing off the walls when he left.

"Fine, come get me when they wake up," Logan said. He left the refrigerator in the hallway near the staircase and made his way up to the rooftop.

"Logan," Kurt said. He hadn't realized his friend had followed him. "Something bothering you, mein freund?"

"Nah." He pulled a cigar out and placed it in the corner of his mouth. He lit it, taking a few puffs. Kurt hadn't left yet. "I'm fine, Elf."

"So is Rogue," Kurt replied.

Logan concentrated on his cigar. The mansion's atmosphere changed over the past few days. Charles left with Magneto. Students were going home for the holidays. Rogue was with Remy in Louisiana. The holidays were hard enough, but this year seemed different. It scared him.

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Rogue sat in a chair beside Cody's bed, while Remy waited outside. She talked to Cody and apologized for putting him in a coma, even though she was sure he couldn't hear a word she said. But, she talked to him like she did before he was in this state.

Cody always seemed to listen when she talked. Perhaps that is why she started liking him as more than just a friend. He listened to her, even if he didn't know how to respond. He was there for her when she needed someone to talk to. She was an open book to him. She never guarded herself around him.

But now…now they were older. Their lives turned out different.

She closed herself off from the world.

Rogue looked out the window into the hallway, seeing Remy's figure through the blinds. She wasn't sure how long she talked to Cody before she realized that he wasn't the only one in her life that was there for her. Remy was there. He was willing to listen, if she opened up to him.

She stood up and let the tears finally fall. "Ah gotta go now, Sugah," she said, wiping her eyes. "Thank you for always being there for me."

Rogue walked out the room. Remy was leaning against the wall with his arms folded. He looked up when he heard the door close.

"Ya okay, Chère?"

Rogue nodded and walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his chest. When she let more tears fall, he didn't say a word. He held her in his arms.

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They watched him. He walked onto the balcony, staring out at the sunset.

"He seems sad," Thomas said.

"He is sad," William replied. "I can feel it."

"What do you think he thinks about?"

William glanced past Magneto. The ruins of Genosha's main city lay in ruins. "The past. Before the Sentinels."

Screams echoed through the hallways.

Magneto stood on the balcony. A tear rolled down his cheek.

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Remy sat in the driver's seat of the car, but he didn't start the engine. Rogue sat in the passenger's seat. Despite how strong she was, she couldn't help but cry in front of him. It broke his heart every time he saw her like this, but for once, it wasn't really about him.

"Rogue…"

She didn't answer, so he took her hand and held it for a while.

"Why do you want to be with me?" she finally said.

"What do you mean?" Remy asked, puzzled by the question. Wasn't it obvious why he wanted to be with her?

"Why do you want to be with me?" Rogue asked, turning to him. The tears made her green eyes sparkled. "Remy, you keep talking about the future and things like that, but you know Ah might not be able to give you the stuff you need. Ah don't always have control over my powers, and Ah may never have control. Ah'm scared Ah'm gonna hurt you, Remy."

Remy took a deep breath. He thought a lot about the future. He knew the sacrifices that came with a relationship with her. Remy took a tissue and wiped her cheeks. "I know…"

"You're the only one Ah ever let get this close to me…If Ah hurt you like Ah hurt Cody…Ah'd never forgive myself…"

Remy lowered the tissue. "Rogue, I love you, and I know you would never hurt me. What is it you think I need, Rogue?"

Tears rolled down each cheek again. "A family… Ah don't know if Ah can have kids…or even if Ah want kids."

"I know that," Remy smiled. "I know it may be just the two of us."

"Ah don't want you building a fantasy life about us in your head."

"Rogue, wit'out you, I ain't got no life," Remy smiled, kissing her gloved hand. "I'd never want to trade this reality for a fantasy."

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"She's fine, you know," Kurt said. Logan was on his second cigar, staring out in the distance. "She's not a kid."

"I know that." Logan's gruff response didn't fool him.

Kurt smiled. The elder man never liked to share his feelings, and he wasn't going to start now. Rogue was the closest he'd ever get to having a child of his own. "You regret it?"

"What?"

"Not settling down. Having a family of your own."

Logan puffed on his cigar, delaying his response as much as possible. Perhaps, he was just trying to fog everything out. Sometimes, memories could be hard to deal with, even when you desire so much to have something to hold onto. "No…I don't…Guys like me. We don't have families."

Kurt knew Logan was just being honest, but there was a lot of pain trying to hide in his response. "Things can change you know. I never thought. I never thought I could have a family."

"You're a good man, Elf," Logan replied. "You deserve good things in your life."

"So does Rogue," Kurt reminded him. "And so do you. Family is more than blood…"

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Rogue looked around the café. She hadn't eaten there in years—since she left Mississippi. Yet, now she was there in that old dinner with the same 1950s feel and aging waitress.

Remy scanned the menu. "What's good here?"

"Ah liked their burgers. The chili cheese fries with jalapenos are good too."

Rogue leaned back in the booth. The smell of grease should have turned her off to the food, but she was instantly reminded of Cody. They would come here with a few other friends.

"What ya thinkin' 'bout, Rogue?" Remy asked.

"Cody…" she thought about what she just said. 'Sorry."

"Don't be," Remy replied.

The waitress came and took their order, and Rogue observed Remy's movements. Her mention of Cody bothered him some. Maybe he was jealous.

"We used to come here. Cody and Ah and some friends," Rogue explained as they waited for their drinks.

"Ya don't have ta explain yourself, Chère." Remy smirked. Yeah, it bothered him a little. "I know ya had other boyfriends."

Rogue nodded and took a deep breath. "Yeah, Cody was…" She didn't know what she wanted to say. Why did she even want to explain? "He listened…he listened when no one else would."

"It was hard livin' with your dad, wasn't it?"

Rogue shrugged. "My dad, he tried…he just did know how to listen. He was always gone, and when he decided to be a father, Ah couldn't connect to him. When my powers…well that was it. My dad disowned me; Ah was afraid Momma Raven and Momma Irene wouldn't understand. And Cody was…in a coma."

Remy grabbed her hand again. "Ya ain't alone Chère. Ya got me and a friends who are more ya family than any blood can be."

"Ah know," Rogue smiled, but her eyes watered again.

XXXXXXXMENXXXXXXX

Logan smashed his cigar on the roof of the mansion. It was cold, but he didn't care about that. It wasn't like he could die or anything?

Kurt, on the other hand, was cold. The younger man bundled himself up in his coat; his body perched on the roof.

"So you're going to visit Mystique?" Logan said.

"Ja, I made arrangements to leave tomorrow. Agent Coulson has a few agents switching helicarriers. One vill pick me up on route," Kurt replied.

"Oh."

"Vhile I am avay, I vas hoping you'd spend time vith Talia, so Ororo could have a break. Scott and Emma plan to take Clarice for a vhile."

"Yeah, I can help. I can take her for a few hours." Logan leaned back, looking up at clouds.

XXXXXXXMENXXXXXXX

"I ate way too much, Chère. Ya might have ta roll me out de café," Remy said, standing up.

She took his offered hand and slipped out the booth. "Ah have a feeling you ain't gonna be able to fit in your X-suit when we get back to New York."

Rogue was happy for the first time that day. After opening up to him, she seemed to be in a better mood. Seeing Cody was hard for her, and talking about her father was even harder. Yet, she opened to him and he listened.

"So, where to?" Remy asked as they walked back to the rental car.

"Ah don't know," Rogue replied. Her smile faded.

"This is your day."

They paused when they got to the car. He carefully tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"I am going be by ya side, no matter what ya want to do," Remy assured her.

"Promise."

"Always."

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"Watch the doorframe."

Ororo watched, holding the girls back as the Kurt and Logan argued about the refrigerator. She didn't understand how a smaller unit could cause so much trouble for the two. They had barely maneuvered the refrigerator up the stairs, and now the door was another obstacle.

But Logan was a perfectionist. He would never admit it, but he was when it came to home remodels.

She wondered if that was something he did. Maybe he built houses—a contractor. Heavy lifting and bossing others around seemed like something he would do. But no? It was a good guess, though. Perhaps, it was a hobby. Something he did when he wasn't going berserk and slashing people with his claws.

"Left! I said left!"

She smiled. Kurt's response was something in German. A curse word, perhaps? She didn't know why he did that. Logan knew German.

"There. It's finally in."

Ororo looked in the small kitchen. The old fridge from the boathouse fit perfectly. She and Kurt didn't have to go down a flight of stairs for a snack for them or the girls. She had a place to store excess breast milk for after the baby was born. The kitchen wasn't much bigger than one found in a camper, but it would be a handy addition to their space.

"Give it about 24 hours before you put food in it. It doesn't have an ice maker, so you are going to have to fill trays," Logan grunted. He pulled out another cigar and shoved it in the corner of his mouth.

Logan exited the room before Ororo even thank him. She glanced to Kurt, wondering what was going on, but with the girls there, she wasn't going to press the issue.

XXXXXXXMENXXXXXXX

"Is this it?" Remy asked as they parked on the curb in front of an empty lot.

"Yeah," Rogue got of the car and Remy followed. She stared at the overgrown weeds on the empty land. She lived here with Momma Irene and Momma Raven, her foster mothers.

This was a happy home. She felt welcome here when she lived with them. She had a happy life before her father turned his life around an could take custody of her again.

But now there was nothing but dead weeds.

"I'm sorry, Chère," Remy said, standing beside her.

"Logan told me Mystique had the house demolished," Rogue reminded herself more than Remy. "Ah guess Ah wasn't expecting something like this."

They walked around through the weeds, and Rogue tried to remember what it was like with her foster mothers. She could see them briefly in flashes.

"Excuse me. This is private property. Ya'll need to leave."

Rogue and Remy turned at the sound of a woman's voice. The woman's hair was graying, but Rogue recognized her. She was a neighbor. "Mrs. Puckett."

"That's me. How you know who I am?" the woman asked. Her eyes squinted in the sun.

"Ah'm Irene and Raven's foster daughter. Ah'm…"

"Anna Marie," Mrs. Puckett said, stepping a little closer and shading her eyes. "Anna Marie, that is you?"

Rogue felt Remy's eyes on her, but he didn't say a word. He knew better then to ask if Anna was her real name. "Yeah, It's Anna Marie. Ah just came to pay my respects. Ah haven't been back home in a while."

"Irene said you'd come with a boyfriend." Mrs. Puckett smiled. "Come with me. She had something for me to give you."

XXXXXXXMENXXXXXXX

Logan sat up on the rooftop smoking another cigar. He lost count how many he had that day.

He glanced at his cell phone. He thought about calling Rogue again to make sure she was alright. But she was with the Cajun. She was in good hands with the Cajun. The younger mutant proved himself time and time again, but Logan couldn't shake the thought from his head—Rogue didn't need him.

Rogue wasn't the scared teen he met all those years ago. She was strong, confident, and fearless. She had more qualities he admired than he ever saw in himself.

If he had a daughter—a real daughter—he hoped she would be like Rogue.

Logan slipped the cell phone back in his pocket. He wasn't going to call her, but he was still going to worry like a father.

XXXXXXXMENXXXXXXX

Remy and Rogue sat at Mrs. Puckett's table, listening to her chatter about Sentinels and the last time she saw Irene. The woman moved around the kitchen, making them both dizzy. Rogue seemed unsure what to make of everything.

Remy smiled as Mrs. Puckett poured him a glass of iced tea. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Mrs. Puckett replied before ushering off in another room, all while talking. "Your mother, Irene, was such a character. It was like she knew the future or something. Anyways. A few days before them giant robot thingys, she had me take her to the post office and the bank. I'd wait in the car to give her privacy cuz she said she had important papers and stuff that she needed to take care of. Then, when I brought her home, she gave me two envelopes. I gave the first one to Raven cuz it had her name on it an all…"

Remy took a sip of his tea and grabbed Rogue's hand. She was focused on what Mrs. Puckett was saying, but she seemed to stare into the distance.

Mrs. Puckett returned to the kitchen, holding an envelope in her hand. "Irene said not to give you your envelope until you came with your boyfriend. Irene was so specific about things…and she never was wrong, so this is for you, Anna Marie."

Rogue took the envelope in her hand. It had yellowed in color. Remy knew that Irene saw this event coming long before the Sentinels. Irene could see the future, and she didn't hesitate to prepare.

They talked to Mrs. Puckett for fifteen minutes more. Rogue fiddled with the envelope in her hand. Remy sensed her nerves and knew the limit of their stay. He thanked Mrs. Puckett for her hospitality, which motivated Rogue to do the same.

When they returned to the car, Remy started and turned on the heater. Rogue stared at the envelope. She couldn't bring herself to open it. He watched her trace her name; each letter reminded her of Irene.

"We can wait until we get back ta Slidell before ya open it, if ya wanna."

"Ah know," Rogue replied. "Ah just…listening to her talk about Irene made me afraid, you know?"

"I do." Remy smiled at the phrase.

He watched her break the seal of the envelope with her gloved hands. She was anxious but careful, as if she didn't want to damage it. She pulled out a letter and an object fell between the seat.

'I got it." Remy slipped his hand between the seat and the console and pulled out a brass key. "What's it say?" he asked about the letter.

"Nothing. It's just blank paper surrounding a business card to a bank," Rogue said. She held up the card, and he handed her the key. "What do you think it is to?"

"Safety deposit box," Remy said. "Where's de bank located?"

"Slidell." She handed him the card.

"Out of all de locations," Remy said, turning the card over. 213. "Dis looks like de box number."

Rogue took the key from him. She stared at it, as if she was trying to burn a hole through it with her eyes.

"Y'alright, Chère?"

Rogue nodded. "Yeah….Ah think Ah'm ready to call it a day."

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Wanda lay on the cold floor of her room. She ran out of tears, and her throat hurt.

"Wanda."

She looked up at Xavier who offered her a hand. "What makes you think even you could help me…"

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Thank you for reading this chapter!

Time to develop the next one.