Disclaimer: I don't own any or claim to own in any way any of the X-men, except Katie Bower.

Notes: This is a story you've probably heard a few dozen times, but I decided to kick it up and knotch and give it a lil twist. (You'd hafta watch Emeril to appreciate that ^^) And this is definitely not the best chapter, my favorite is the third one, but if you'll read this one, you can understand the other two, and you'll be happy and I'll be happy!

Chapter 1

It's been so long since she's been there, it was a sight for sore eyes indeed. It was true that she had been there after it happened. She dropped him in that bitter coldness, scarcely feeling the biting wind. Feeling nothing in fact but a deep hatred of the man whom she had come to consider her soul mate.

It was approximately one week after her gloved fingertips slid out from under his arms and she'd spat those angry words at him that had obviously affected him like poison to his soul. She could clearly remember his odd red on black eyes full of a pain that only she could inflict. Eyes that many were frightened of, but ones that she found terribly enchanting and had only gotten lost in.

From there she flew up, away and left him to die. Plain and simple. The massive overload on her brain from absorbing the one person she wanted to get to know like a normal person had caused her to pass out when she finally stopped flying somewhere near Boston, Massachusetts. A nondescript abandoned apartment building that smelled of rot and feces. When she awoke, six days later, and was aware of what she did and what it meant, she flew at top speed towards Antarctica.

There was virtually no way she could tell where she dropped him or where he was, with the sporadic snow storms and miles of blinding whiteness.

She must have searched for fifteen hours nonstop. Flying above and combing through the landscape as best as she could. The only thing she found was a simple piece of rectangular paper. A solemn two faced queen peering out at her with a cold gaze. Red hearts at each corner. Clutching the card she had given him as a symbol of her love, she flew back to the mansion nearly dead from exhaustion and hell bent on finding him as soon as her own resources were back to normal. Her bedroom window was still open like she left it, and as soon as she flew in, she landed on her bed, too tired to sleep or move. Finally sleep came; however, it was under a flood of warm, wet tears.

She woke, to the commanding voice of someone who has put aside all feelings for information.

"Rogue, get up." The voice itself wasn't enough to rouse her, though she heard it somewhere in her unconscious state, but the blast of icy cold wind coming through that same window was enough to make her come to her senses.

Another blast of wind, this one strong enough to lift her from the bed and turn her vertical to face one of her dear friends, the Weather Witch.

"Rogue, get up." This time her efforts succeeded in making the green eyed beauty open her eyes. Standing before her was the exotic Wind Rider, one graceful hand extended towards the window and seeming to hold Rogue suspended. Eyes flushed a milky white and face set in an expression of harsh grimness.

Behind her, stood the stocky Canadian, large arms crossed over the wide spance of his chest. His expression was harsh, but less condemning.

"Rogue, where is Remy?" Storm's words were crisp and clear, authoritative and used to being obeyed.

She blinked a few times in confusion and then it all hit her like a hundred foot wave crashing on the rocks. If Storm weren't holding her up, then Rogue's knees surely would have buckled underneath her.

"Ah, Ah...." She had hoped it was all a bad dream, but the redness of her skin where the cold managed to bite through her invulnerability in places and the seriousness of their expressions told her it by far wasn't.

The wind shook her back and forth with a stunning force. "Rogue?!"

"Easy 'Ro, let tha kid talk." Deep voice of silken smoothness.

Tears started running down her cheeks. "Ah, Ah left 'im. Ah left 'im there, 'n' when Ah went..." She was cut off by the wind tossing her like a toothpick across the room. It probably wasn't meant to be that hard, but her limp limbs still contained immense strength. She felt her body break through her wall and fall like hay towards the ground. Reflexes shot and still not feeling fully coherent, she hit the ground and sunk in two feet.

Bones battered and body slight bruised, she picked up herself and flew off the mansion ground, not to return for two years. Nothing can describe the betrayal she felt. But she couldn't really blame Storm. She had left her best friend out to die.

***

What happened in those two years is pretty cut and dry. She had flown to Texas, a little town called Bandera that consisted mostly of hills and dirt. There were a few ranches located there and she took up a job as a cowgirl. Bonified and certified. She hid that she was a mutant and for a while convinced herself that she was happy. The little southern belle in boots and spurs. People could tell that she wasn't from around there, but she was a hard worker and that's all that they asked.

Whenever she got time off, she flew to Antarctica to look for her Cajun love. Always coming up empty handed. She still kept the card, and he was on her mind atleast 30 seconds of everyday.

To amuse herself and pass the time, she took up her old hobby of breaking hearts. It never making the dull throb in her own go away though.

So for about two years she lived the life of a drinking, gamblin' cowgirl. A lifestyle that in a million years she couldn't have pictured for herself. Maybe that's why she took so much comfort in it.

***

So there she stood, cowboy boots and all. Silver spurs, tight fitting wranglers and a green button down, long sleeved shirt, brown gloves on her hands, and cowboy hat perched upon her thick auburn and white hair. The headband, card, and an extra pair of clothes in a worn suitcase by her side.

She didn't know why she chose this day of all days to come back. Something in her soul both ached and longed for something. And she had a sinking feeling that it was here.

Walking the rest of the way to the stairs, she takes them one at a time, as though her very mental health depends upon this simple act, which it very well does.

Lifting her gloved hand, she knocks three times, loud, clear and distinct. It seemed an eternity that she waited there, footsteps echoing in the distance beyond the door.

Finally the door was pulled open. Storm standing there in all her usual majestic splendor. She blinks once, twice, and a third time. Rogue stands there in obvious anticipation. She had been sore for weeks after that fall. Now was the time, the time that would decide whether or not she would be going back to Texas.

"Rogue, child come here." Storm's long arms opened like a mother hen's wings welcoming her child. Smooth voice filled with warmth.

Rogue smiles, obviously relieved. Setting her suitcase down, she walks a few slow steps forward, nearly collapsing into the woman's embrace. Perhaps the first amount of human contact she had had in years. As far as contact skin-to-cloth went.

The embrace tightened for a moment before releasing her. "We have all missed you so...where have you been?"

Rogue pulls away and picks her suitcase back up. "It's a long story..." She had to admit that she was a bit confused. "No hard feelin's sugah?"

Storm takes a few steps inside, opening the door wider for Rogue to come in. "Of course not. I did not mean for that...incident to happen. I was very angry and for once didn't control it as I probably should have." Storm was in a good mood it seemed, even after all that had happened.

Rogue nods, walking in a few steps and waiting inside for Storm. The mansion was just as she left it, and the security system still recognized her. There was one question on her mind and though she was outspoken, she felt it better left to be answered in due time.

Storm walks past Rogue and into the living area. Rogue follows her, glancing about ever so often at the familiar decorations.

Perching herself on one of the plush couches, long tanned legs cross one over the other. Storm's hand comes from her lap to pat the velvety material beside her. "We sent a small team out, led by Logan to go find you." Voice quiet and contemplative, reminiscing.

Rogue sits down beside the Weather Witch, hand coming up to her cowboy had and pulling it off her head, but behind her, so it rests on her neck. A string keeping it there. The tuff of auburn and white being brushed impatiently back with a gloved hand.

"So many things have happened while you were away. But first, tell me all about what happened with you." Deep brown eyes meet ones of emerald green.

Rogue smiles almost nervously under her good friends scrutiny, slender shoulders lifting in a shrug. Inside she really wants to cry with frustration and anticipation. "Ah want down ta Texas. Good buncha people. Ah worked on a ranch, with tha horses. It was almost normal. Much easier than punchin' through cement."

Storm hadn't said anything about Rogue's clothes but you could have the perception of a two year old and still be able to notice them. "Quiet the fashion statement." Storm's lips curved upwards in a smile as she says this meaning to loosen things up.

Rogue laughs a bit, it working. "It's not tha green 'n' yella mission suits, but ya get used ta it."

"So that is where you have been this whole time?"

"Yup"

"We couldn't figure it out, wait until the other's hear our Southern Belle turned Cowgirl."

"Yoah turn sugah, fill me in." Rogue didn't have any hard feelings against any member of the team. She was surprised Storm was the only one to express her opinion on the matter, but maybe the others just didn't get to her in time.

Storm sat there for a long moment, pondering what words to say next.

"There has been something new declared by the anti-mutant leaders. It is called Operation: Zero Tolerance. Along with this is the mass production of a new line of sentinels." Voice calm and reserved, but a burning hatred in her deep brown eyes. "We have only had two separate encounters with these forces. One was a month ago. Sentinels came charging up here. We were all put on full red alert. It took nearly the full team to take down three of them. Since then Charles has upgraded the security system."

Rogue takes all this in, she hadn't heard anything about it in Texas. But they rarely watched TV and their subjects centered around business in the ranch. It was like another world. "Ah haven't heard anythin' of it."

A slender brow is lofted from the exotic beauty, but she doesn't really look surprised. Of course facial expression were never a big part in how she expressed herself.

"An' tha othah one?" She hasn't fought anything in a long while and hearing things like this bring an old aching into her fists. A kind of fire lights in her eyes. It seems the old Rogue is showing herself.

A shadow passes over Storm's face and she seems reluctant to speak. This baffles Rogue and it makes her all the more eager to hear. And just when Rogue thinks that Storm isn't going to speak, she does. "It was two months after you left and one month after Zero
Tolerance started. There was a report of a small band of mutants who were captured while trying to rescue a fellow mutant in New Orleans."

Rogue blinks a few times the very last word having an obvious effect on her. Eyes fill with a glimmer of hope. Though Storm doesn't see any of this. Eyes gone far away as though reliving the experience. Or maybe she doesn't look at Rogue's face because it would have too great an effect on her. Rogue stares intently at Storm's face, leaning forward slightly and her gloved hand grasping the cushy end of the couch cushion in anticipation.

"At first we thought it was you, child. But now that I think about it, you would have wanted to be anywhere but there."

Rogue merely nods, wanting for her to go on.

"Charles told us to assemble a team and go rescue all involved and bring them back here with no human casualties. The team consisted of me Cyclops, Jean, Wolverine and young Jubilee." She pauses, taking a deep breath and sighing, a few white tendrils being blown from her face at the unconscious movement. "The fight was a swift and hard one, with Logan sustaining the most damage. Though he can take it. Obviously we had taken them by surprise, or else we would not have gotten that far.

"Most of the victims had been knocked unconscious, so we loaded them all up into the Blackbird and headed back home.

"We did not know until we got them all back here, that one of them was our good friend and teammate, Gambit.

"The whole mansion was buzzing with life after that. True we were worried about the others; however, we were all so happy that he was with us again."

Rogue can't speak, her eyes bubbling with emotion. Hope, happiness, excitement, tredemption. So that's why there were no longer any hard feelings from Storm. "Where is he?" she wonders why Storm didn't tell her sooner, but there was no way that she could know how much Rogue missed that Cajun. It felt like her heart was finally healing. Her hand relaxes on the edge of the couch, it looks like someone took a couple tons off her shoulders.

"Rogue, child, there is something you must know before all else." Oddly the expression doesn't leave Storm's face. She talks with the same monotone and face devoid of emotion. Though her chocolate eyes pulsed with an emotion that was anything but happiness for her friend.

"After he got better, which only took him a couple of weeks. Stubborn he is, and not wanting to stay a moment longer..."

"That's Remy foah ya."

"There was a new addition, that helped Hank with Remy, her name is Katie. Dr. Bower. She is a telepathic genius. She worked quiet diligently with him..." Storm's voice was thick with emotion, as though she could sense rough roads ahead. She looks like she wants to cry, but Storm never cries, so the tears don't fall.

"Ah'll send 'er a Thank Ya Card. What's yoah point Stormy?" The annoying nickname goes unnoticed. All Rogue wants to do is see Remy, these thoughts cloud all other judgement, even the one that enables her to read between the lines.

Storm senses this, and it makes it all the harder for her to go on. "Listen to me Rogue. In the weeks that proceed this, Remy and Dr. Bower got close. Since then she has never left his side and they are now engaged to be married." It was easily the hardest thing she's ever had to tell someone.

Rogue's eyes go wide and she stops all movement though she really wasn't moving too much to begin with. Her bottom lip trembles and her hand that grasps the edge of the couch tightens involuntarily it seems, it being crushed under her massive strength. Fluff spews from the side like a fuzzy waterfall of couch guts. The soft material falls from a trembling gloved hand as she pulls it back into her lap with it's mate. A heart once restored, now broken into a million pieces with a blender on high. The emotion on Rogue's face is tragic. Crystal clear tears roll out of her big green eyes and down cheeks that the surface of a peach can envy.

The look on her face is too much for Storm to bear. She quickly stands and makes her way out of the room, voice hoarse with an emotion she can barely control. "You are welcome here Rogue, no one has done anything with your room." And when she turns back to make sure the invulnerable woman with super strength, and skin that could kill a man with a single touch, but a heart of glass, heard her, a frown laces her lips as she sees
the girl is no longer there. The weather goddess walks out of the mansion and lifts herself into the air with the slightest of movements from her arms. Already dark and menacing clouds loom overhead and thunder booms in the distance. Ever so often lightning illuminates the sky. Tall slender body rises higher in to the air and she chews on her bottom lip, tears welling up in her eyes but with obvious reluctance. She didn't have a power of empathy, but she could practically feel what her dear friend was going through. Torn between two emotions, sympathizing with Rogue, or feeling happy for Remy. She was biased, she knew, her heart going out to Remy and wanting him to be happy. She thought this she would be betraying Rogue in some way. But didn't Rogue leave him to die? She couldn't control herself for once and in a matter of seconds a storm raged outside. Wind, hail, rain, lightning and thunder shakes the very foundation that the house rests on. The windows rattle under the force, but hold strong. And for a few moments, the weather witch can let loose.

Little does Storm know, that when Rogue flew out, she flew outside and onto the roof that held so many memories. There, she sat down and hugged her knees, arms crossing over them and fingers digging into the rooftop to keep from moving. Her head burrows into her knees. Hot tears mix with rain and dampen her face. Clothes soak through to the skin and her cowboy hat had long sense broken off it's string and is somewhere far away on the mansion grounds.

Inside the mansion few would regard the storm with little more than a quizzical glance at the sudden down pour, but those who know Storm go to their windows and look out. Wondering what could've happened to make her let loose so harshly.

***

Notes: I changed the comic history around and adding stuff to suite my purposes of the story. I know Storm's personality isn't the best, or her accent atleast. If you have any comments/advice it's appreciated! Second and third chapters up! See...I'm a good person, I made this thing reader friendly for ya'll. I know that I don't read a story if the format sucks, so maybe this will make it better.