Learning to Live Again Revised Edition Chapter 7, "Missing Person + Few Friends = Trouble..."



"Sugah, we bettah get t' th' Danger Room." She was toweling off her hair, looking in Gambit's mirror.
"Chere, de Danger Room c'n wait. It ain't goin' nowhere." He kissed her neck gently.
"Remy, if'n we don't' get outta here soon, Cyke is gonna come up here aftah us himself." She put the towel in his pile of dirty laundry and then walked out of the bathroom, towards his bedroom door.
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "Where ya goin' chere?"
She looked up at him smiling. "Ah need t' get back t' mah room for a minute or two…Finish freshenin' up."
He grinned. "Can't finish dat in here mon amour?"
"Sorry. Ah got t' get back t' th' way Ah was when Ah came in here, or th' othahs are gonna get suspicious." She opened the door and slipped out. "Meet me in th' Danger Room in 15, ok Remy?"
He nodded, with a grin. "Anyt'ing ya say Roguey."



10 minutes later, she was walking out of her room, only to bump into Storm. "Oh, hey 'Ro."
Storm looked at Rogue and smiled. "Hello Rogue. You missed a meeting earlier today…"
"Ah did?" Surprise was obvious in her eyes, but she didn't offer any clue as to her whereabouts for her friend.
"Yes. It appears that Joseph has gone missing. Jean, Scott and the Professor fear he may have regained his memories."
"Wha…What?" Rogue's eyes went wide, having a feeling she knew why he left…And this reason had nothing to do with his memories.
"He's gone. The others think it may be for good…" Storm's tone became slightly more gentle, no longer sure of Rogue's exact feelings for Joseph.
"Ro? Ah think Ah know why Joe left. Tell everyone t' meet in th' War Room, K? Ah'll tell everyone then…"
Storm nodded and walked off.



"Well, Rogue, mind informing us as to why you think our other white haired member left?" Beast inquired once all the X-men were assembled.
"When Ah was in th' med lab aftah he accidentally hit me, we talked an' he said he didn't feel accepted, much less trusted or anythin' like that. An' honestly, Ah don't blame 'im…" Rogue looked around the room, noticing the slight shock that registered at her last comment. "Don' get me wrong, Ah think o' y'all as family. But y'all could be a bit more trustin, as could Ah. Ah was th' only one Ah evah heard 'im call his friend." She looked at Scott. "Maybe Ah aughta go aftah him an' see if Ah c'n talk t' him…"
Scott shook his head. "No. No one needs to go after him. While I do agree with you Rogue, if he really wants us to trust him, he'll return. Just like Gambit did."
Rogue sighed. "Ya jus' don' get it do ya? Bout half th' time Ah don' know if you trust me Scott. Hell, Ah even wondah if Ah trust mahself sometimes." She looked pointedly at a few X-men. "It took me a full damn year t' learn t' trust some o' ya…and longer for some o' y'all t' trust me. So why th' hell can't Ah go aftah Joe? He needs t' know he does have friends here. Othahwise, he ain't evah comin' back. Trust me."
Scott looked at his wife for a moment, then back to Rogue. "I'm sorry if I've made you think I don't trust you Rogue, because I do trust you. On the other hand, Joseph may be dangerous if he's regained his memories. I don't want anyone in danger."
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Sugah, Joseph's no more dangerous than any o' us on a bad day. Ya are forgettin' that Ah've been able t' reason with Magneto on some occasions ya know…"
The professor nodded. "She's right Scott. I believe Rogue and Erik made a connection of sorts in the Savage Land, causing him to trust her. Even if Joseph has regained his memories, he might talk with Rogue rather than attacking her straight off as he might if it was anyone else. She has my permission to leave when and if she sees fit." With that, he left the room.
Scott sighed. "Wait another hour to see what happens, then I'll let you go."
Rogue sighed again and nodded. "Alright. Now if'n ya don't mind, Ah'm goin' t' mah room fo' a little bit."