02

Disclaimers in Chapter One…

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Rogue walked into the restaurant with nervous anticipation, wondering if maybe she'd be better if she just turned around and left. She'd never waited tables before, and she wasn't sure it would be a job she'd like. Besides, this place, well, it looked like the sort of place she'd find Logan.

She took a deep breath, and sauntered into the small building, standing as tall as she could. She walked over to the counter, where a woman who Rogue figured was about her age stood. The other woman was tall, with red hair she had pulled back in a ponytail, and bright blue eyes. "Can I help you?" she asked Rogue in an accent that Rogue had decided, after the few days she's spent in this part of Louisiana, to be Cajun.

"I'm lookin' for Jacques Rawlins," Rogue said. "I saw in the paper he's offerin' a job."

The woman looked over her shoulder towards what Rogue assumed to be the kitchen and yelled, "Papa, quelqu'un est ici pour te voir!" She looked back at Rogue and smiled. "He'll be out in a minute."

Rogue looked around the room, and noticed that maybe it wasn't as bad as she'd first judged. Although it was dark and had sort of a rustic look, it wasn't nearly as sleazy as some of the establishments Wolverine like to frequent. She noticed most of the people there could still sit up straight, there weren't any unidentifiable smells, and many people were even sitting down and eating. Rogue even spotted a couple of families. "Maybe working here wouldn't be so bad," she thought.

"You wanted t'see me?"

Rogue looked up and saw a short, chubby man with a balding head and a bushy red mustache. "You're Jacques Rawlins?"

"Yeah."

"I read in the paper you're lookin' for a new waitress."

Jacques held his chin in his hand and looked Rogue over, as if inspecting her. He raised a eyebrow at her hair. "You got a name, mouffette?"

"Uh, people call me Rogue," she said, not wanting to ask what a "mouffette" was.

"Your mama give you dat name?"

"No."

"What name your mama give you?"

"If ya don't mind, Mr. Rawlins, I figured I stopped being' that person when my mama kicked me out."

Jacques stared at Rogue for a moment, and she wondered if he was going to yell. He looked like a man who could get angry easily. Much to her surprise, he laughed. "Ya got a fire in ya, mouffette, and dat's a good t'ing in my book. You ever waited tables before?"

"No."

"Den you're gonna need some practice. Come back tonight—'round eight. Elaine here will show ya what t'do." He gestured a thick thumb towards the girl at the counter.

Rogue nodded. "Uh, thank you, sir. But don't I need an interview or somethin'..."

"Call me Jacques. An' no, no interview… No need. I can tell you're gonna work out jus' fine. Come back at eight an' talk t'Elaine." He gave her a smile before retreating back into the kitchen.

Rogue frowned as she walked out. She wanted a job, but this Jacques character seemed a little, well, crazy. Still, there was something about him she couldn't help but like. She decided just to come back at eight and see how things went.

*** *** ***

"Papa said people call ya Rogue?"

Rogue nodded. "Yeah. You're Elaine?"

"Yup." She pointed to a blonde and then a brunette. "Dat's Trixie and Dat's Brienne. Call 'er Bri. Gabrielle an' Marguerite had de earlier shift. Usually dere's jus' t'ree of us here at a time, but Papa wanted me t'break you in. Where you from anyway?"

"Originally Mississippi, but I've been livin' in New York."

"What brought ya back down dis way?"

"I was havin' some trouble up there."

"Man trouble?"

Rogue frowned. "What makes you ask that?"

"Dat's de kinda trouble dat always sends a woman t'change everyt'ing."

"Why do you say I'm changin' everything?"

"You tol' Papa you ain't never waited tables. Dat's not jus' somethin' you wake up one day an' decide t'do. 'Sides, you look nice, like ya worry 'bout fashion an' stuff, de way dey do in New York. Somet'in' musta gotcha good t'make ya wanna come dis far. I jus' bet it be a man."

"Well, you guessed right."

"Good you came back down here," Elaine said. "Dose men from up North don't do not'in' but break hearts. I know, believe me. Had myself one once—now it's jus' me an' Claire."

"Claire?"

"My li'l girl. She stays wit' my mama when I work. She's six. Angel child, dat one. You got kids, Rogue?"

"No. Always wanted them, though."

Elaine laughed. "Well, don' rush it. Dere great most of de time, but sometimes ya wanna strangle 'em. 'Specially when you're on your own cause deir papa's a good fer not'in'."

Rogue wondered for a moment if that's what it would've been like for her if she'd had children with Logan. She didn't think he'd desert her completely, but would fatherhood actually persuade him to stay in one place for the rest of his life?

"So ya ready t'learn the excitin' skill of waitressin'?" Elaine asked, pulling Rogue back into the present.

Rogue smiled. "Ready when you are."

Elaine grinned back as she led Rogue to the floor.

*** *** ***

Rogue collapsed into a chair once all the customers were gone and the bar had been cleaned. "What time is it?" she asked.

"'Bout five, I reckon," Trixie said.

"New girl havin' problems keepin' up?" Brienne asked, rolling her eyes.

"Leave 'er 'lone, Bri," Elaine snapped. "You didn't look much better your first day eit'er." She turned back to Rogue. "You'll have t'excuse Bri. She t'inks 'cause her papa had more money den de rest of us when she was growin' she's got de right t'be a bitch."

Trixie snorted. Bri rolled her eyes.

Before Rogue could say anything else, Jacques came out, wiping his hands on his apron. "You still breat'in', mouffette?"

Rogue looked up, already used to the nickname. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Ya gonna stick 'round, den?" he asked.

"Yes."

Jacques grinned. "Good. I like ya. Give Elaine your number. She'll call an' give ya your schedule. Ya can go on home now."

Rogue nodded. "Thanks again, Jacques."

"Happy t'help."

*** *** ***

After a week, Rogue was beginning to get the hang of things around Jacques place. She didn't see much of the other two waitresses, Gabrielle and Marguerite, but from what she had seen of them they seemed nice. She liked Trixie and Elaine a lot, and had quickly formed friendships with the two of them. Brienne was another story entirely, but Rogue had managed to stay on her good side—which wasn't really all that good, until you compared it to her bad side.

She was working the day shift one Wednesday with Elaine and Trixie, and slow business allowed the three of them to take a break. "I'd work not'in' but days if de tips weren't so bad before nightfall," Trixie muttered, stretching out in one of the booths.

"Definitely beats runnin' from table to table bringin' drinks," Rogue agreed.

Elaine turned to Rogue. "So, Rogue, what's your story?" she asked.

"I told you the first day I got here," Rogue said.

"Non. You said you're runnin' from a man. Dat ain't no story," Elaine said.

Trixie sat up a little. "Yeah, Rogue, tell us more 'bout you."

"I don't know much about y'all," she said.

"Not much t'tell," Elaine said. "I jus' work fer Papa, and Trixie here is a local gal who never went t'college so she can't get out."

"Most girls our age wan' outta here," Trixie said. "I was too stupid. You, on de ot'er hand, came here willin'ly. Gotta be somet'in' to dat."

"Why didn't you leave, Trixie?" Rogue asked.

"Same as Elaine—got knocked up. Never see my baby t'ough. His papa run off wit' 'im. By dat point my parents had disowned me, so I work here t' support myself."

"You say your mama t'rew you out," Elaine said. "Why'd she do it? You said you never had kids… You do somet'in' else? Drugs?"

Rogue shook her head. "No, nothing like that. I…I guess she just wanted me to leave."

"Is it 'cause you're a mutant?" Trixie blurted out.

"Trixie!" Elaine yelled.

Trixie blushed. "Sorry."

"Why…why would ya say that?" Rogue asked nervously.

"Trixie an' me, well, we were t'inkin mebbe ya were a mutant, an' dat's why you're so secretive 'bout everyt'in'," Elaine said. She added quickly. "It's okay if ya are, we don' judge here. Some of our best customers are mutants."

"You're really not against mutants?" Rogue asked.

Trixie shook her head. "Non. I figger God made every one of us, an' it ain't my place t'judge anyone of His creations."

"Papa taught me t'love everyone," Elaine said.

Rogue let out a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm a mutant," she said, feeling a rush relief at not having to hide that part of herself anymore.

"What sorta powers ya got?" Trixie asked.

"Crappy ones," Rogue muttered.

Elaine laughed. "Can't be dat bad. Not like you're blue an' furry or not'in'."

"Sometimes I wish I was," Rogue said. "My mutation is, well, I can absorb people's personalities and memories just by touchin' their skin."

Trixie and Elaine both looked at her in shock. "But you been touchin' all of us jus' fine," Trixie said.

"That's because I have control over it," Rogue explained. "I used to not. The first boy I ever kissed was in a coma for three weeks. An' my ex—the one I mentioned to you, Elaine—he's still inside my head."

Trixie let out a low whistle. "Merde. Dat couldn't have been good for your love life."

Elaine looked up at the door. "Great. It's de swamp charmer," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Who?" Rogue asked.

"You'll see soon enough," Trixie said. "He's a regular here. Tries to get into de pants of every woman he sees."

"Yeah, an' he's been in yours," Elaine muttered.

"Not jus' mine!" Trixie exclaimed. "Bri's too!"

Elaine rolled her eyes. "Too bad dat one didn't last. Dey deserve each ot'er."

"Afternoon, ladies."

Rogue turned around to see a tall, handsome man with long, auburn hair. He was dressed in nice, obviously expensive clothing, right up to his designer sunglasses. He smiled as he saw Rogue. "I see Jacques hired someone knew. An' who might you be, petite?"

"I'm Rogue."

He smiled an almost-predatory grin. "Rogue. Quite a name for such a lovely little t'ing." He leaned down and kissed her hand. "It's a pleasure t'make your acquaintance."

"I'm sure de pleasure's all hers," Elaine said briskly as she stood up. "Now are ya gonna cut de crap an' order or am I gonna have t'tell Papa you're takin' up our valuable time?

"I'll have my regular," the man said, waving his hand dismissively at Elaine. She grumbled something under her breath and walked off to the kitchen to place the order.

Trixie looked up, her eyes colder than Rogue had seen them before. "Why don't you sit down an' wait fer Elaine t'get your food. Ya know she never makes ya wait long."

"If dat'll make you happy, chère," the man said with a nod, leaving Rogue to go sit a few tables away.

"It would make me happy if you fell over dead," Trixie said low enough so only Rogue could hear. "I don' know what I was t'inkin' wit' dat one. I guess he can be charmin' when he wants t'be."

"What's his name?" Rogue asked.

"Julien Crevecoeur," Trixie told her. "An' it definitely fits. He's a heartbreaker if I ever met one."

"Were you in love with him?" Rogue asked.

Trixie shrugged. "Didn't last long 'nough fer me t'fall, really. But he had me under his spell, I can tell ya dat much. Cried more tears over dat man den I did over de fat'er of my child. It's like he works some sorta voodoo magic t'get himself in ya heart."

"I think it has less to do with magic and more to do with the fact he's gorgeous," Rogue said. He'd taken off his sunglasses, and she could see now that his eyes were crystal blue.

"Don' you go fallin' fer 'im now, Rogue. You got hurt enough by dat boy Elaine said you had back in New York."

Rogue suppressed a laugh at the sound of anyone calling Logan a "boy." For all Rogue knew, Logan could've been a full-grown man when Trixie's grandfather was young. "You're right there," Rogue said. "Bein' hurt by Logan is enough heartache for a lifetime."

"Julien's starin' at ya," Trixie said. "You'd t'ink he'd at least have decency not t'check ya out wit' me sittin' right here."

"Men like him aren't very well acquainted with decency," Rogue said.

Trixie laughed. "Ya got dat right, gal."

Elaine came out of the kitchen and served Julien his meal with a smile. "You just holler if ya need anyt'ing," she told him.

"Sure t'ing, chère," he replied.

Elaine rolled her eyes as soon as she was looking back at Rogue and Trixie. She sat down with them. "You give him de same as always?" Trixie asked in a hushed voice.

"Right down to de spit in his tea," Elaine said.

Trixie giggled. "Don' know what I'd do wit'out you, Elaine."

"Probably keep sleepin' around wit' every boy dat pulls in on a Harley."

"I do dat wit' you around."

"I know, and ya need t'stop," Elaine said, giving Trixie a playful swat on the arm.

Rogue smiled as she watched her new friends, feeling that maybe she'd finally found a place where she belonged.

*** *** ***

"Jean?"

"This is Jean."

"Hey, Jean, it's Rogue."

"Rogue! I'm so happy to hear from you! I was beginning to worry."

Rogue smiled at the sound of the other woman's voice on the line. She was beginning to settle into her new life, but she still missed her old friends. "I tried to call earlier, but Logan answered and I couldn't talk to him."

"That's all right. I can understand," Jean said. "So tell me how you are—where are you?"

"I'm in Louisiana, and I'm fine," Rogue said. "I'm workin' at this Cajun restaurant and bar that's run by this wonderful man name Jacques and his daughter, Elaine. All the other waitresses except one are really nice, and I get along well with the regular customers. My friends even know I'm a mutant and they're okay with it. I'm makin' enough money to support myself and I'm really happy."

"That's great, Rogue," Jean said. "I'm glad you're making it on your own. Nothing down there giving you any trouble?"

"Well, there is this one guy—Julien Crevecoeur," Rogue said. "He's got it in his mind that he's gonna seduce me, and he's not taking no for an answer. It's all right though—Elaine says he'll get sick of me and move on to someone else soon enough."

"You could always put him in a coma."

"Jean!"

"Just a suggestion."

Rogue giggled. "I'll keep that in mind. So what's goin' on at the mansion?"

"Oh not much, just same old same old." Jean paused for a second. "Logan left again this morning."

"Just this morning?" Rogue asked in surprise. "I would've thought he'd left long before now."

"So did I. He told Ororo he was hoping you'd come back."

"I'm not going to," Rogue said. "Not even now that he's gone."

"I know."

"Hey, Jean, I should probably go. This call is gonna cost me a fortune."

"Yeah, I need to go, too. Scott and I are supposed to go out tonight."

"Y'all have a good time," Rogue said. "And tell him hey for me."

"I will. Bye, Rogue."

"Bye, Jean."

Rogue hung up the phone and began to cry.

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