Rain poured down in heavy droplets as Remy and Rogue stealthfully left the jet undetected; Rogue under her green raincoat and Remy in his quotidian brown trench coat. They waved for a cab and jumped in hurriedly.

" To Pubs diner please," Rogue addressed the old cabdriver.

" Pubs, now dats a great place, but who you be meetin' dere dis late chere?" the driver asked suspiciously. His Cajun accent a little thicker then Remy's.

" Dat be none of your business Mon ami," Remy snapped. The driver did not respond.

" That wasn't very nice Remy," Rogue said obviously surprised by Remy's callousness.

" Listen chere, you don' know bout Naw'leans like I do, you just do what I say got it?" Remy said. He struggled to get his brown contact in place as tears sprang from his eyes," Merde! Dese damn tings' hurt!"

Rogue turned her head to the window; ever since they got off the plane he had been so distant and cold. Not the friendly Cajun she was used to," Who's Bella Remy?" Rogue asked softly, still gazing out the window.

Remy's jaw hardened," Dere be no Bella chere,"

Rogue knew he was lying, she could here the quiver in his voice," You were screamin' her name while ya were sleepin'. Ah saw ya face, sweatin', you were scared, an' angry,"

Remy turned away from Rogue," I said dat dere is no Bella,"

Rogue could see through the window the tears that came from Remy's eyes. But this time she was sure that they weren't because of the contacts.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~~*~*~**~

When they got out of the cab a plump brunette was waiting for them outside the door. She wore a long gray coat that reached till her ankles. Brown slacks and a white blouse underneath. She extended her jeweled hand," You must be Rogue and Remy, I'm Scarlet," she said politely.

Remy kissed her hand gently," Nice to meet you chere," he smiled.

Scarlet twiddled with her pearl necklace as she swooned," my, my, my what a charmer. You shall fit right in," she turned to Rogue trying to submerse a gasp," Why you look almost exactly like Klara,"

Rogue plastered on a smile," That's why ah'm here," she tried to keep her Southern drawl away from her new more dignified Southern accent.

" Well of course the make-up needs some work, the clothes most definitely, but of course these are all fixable flaws," Scarlet said, as if Rogue were some kind of Barbie doll.

Rouge bit the insides of her cheeks, holding back the words that wanted to roll off her tongue. Thankfully Remy saved her," Mrs. Wilks please, it be very cold out here. Could we get goin'?"

Scarlet threw her head back and laughed," Oh of course, ya two must be freezing, not ta mention hungry! Come, we shall go to my humble home a bode! And get…acquainted,"

In her limo she looked at Rogue," I thank tha' two of you, my daughter Klara means the world ta me, and doin' this for me leaves me beholden to ya forever,"

Rogue smiled, this was what she loved about being an x-men. Helping people no matter how much they did or didn't deserve it. Then watch them try to thank them, knowing that they could never repay their courageous deeds," Thank ya; we are glad that we can help. But we do need ta ask ya a few questions, if ya don't mind,"

Scarlet's eyes widened for a second," Of course ah don't mind,"

" Do ya have any idea why these people are tryin' ta kill your daughter?"

Scarlet shook her head," If ah had an idea, ah wouldn't have called ya now would I?"

Rogue nodded," Ah guess ya right, but still you have no clue as to why your daughter is being targeted? Is she a mutant?" Rogue knew that Scarlet was aware of mutants, and was well aware that Rogue and Remy were ones.

Scarlet gave an austere stare," My daughter is no mutant! She is as normal as any belle in New Orleans!" she shouted, obviously not approving of her daughter being accused of have mutant DNA.

Rogue wanted lay a swift slap across Scarlet's face but Remy grasped tightly on Rogue's hand," driver can ya roll up the window?"

" Very well miss," a protective tinted glass came up as a barrier between the driver and the three of the passengers.

" Now why did you do that?" Scarlet asked," Henry knows about mutants, he is no harm to you,"

" How long is it to your house?" Remy asked.

" Oh about an hours drive, I would never live around here, all the simpletons dwell in this area,"

" Why don't ya take a nap them Mrs. Wilks?" Rogue suggested, anything to get that woman to stop her endless condescending attitude.

" Oh that's Alright dear, I'm not tired at all,"

Rogue slipped off her glove and touched Scarlet's face gently, as she did Scarlet went unconscious," Well ya are now,"

"Chere!" Remy shouted in a harsh whisper," Why you dat for?"

" Don' worry Cajun she'll be fine, plus ah know you wanted her ta shut up as much as ah did," Rogue stated, smiling mischievously.

~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~**~*

Scarlet came about just as they reached her manor. Her eyes twittered open as she looked confusingly at Rogue and Remy," What happened?" she asked," What did you do to me!?" she growled at Rogue.

Remy spoke in Rogue's defense," Chere did nottin' my petite, you were jus' tired. Why such a prestigious femme as yourself must get tired once in a while, non?"

Scarlet flushed," Oh ah suppose your right. Ah am a very busy woman ya know?" she said," Sorry that ah accused ya darlin'," she apologized to Rogue.

Rogue smiled graciously," That's alright," Professor was right about sending Remy. Rogue couldn't even count the number of times he'd saved her tonight. But it didn't help her pride much.

Scarlet's manor was enormous. A large veranda and large pillars supporting the structure. A golden paint trim along the widows, and bushes of roses bordering the verdant lawn. 'so this is how the other half lives' thought Rogue.

" Don't worry about your bags, Henry will get them," Scarlet quipped.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Rogue's eye's gleamed as she took in her surroundings; everything from the staircase to the marble floors seemed to sparkle of gold iridescence. Portraits of many generations of akin clung to the cream walls and fine artworks adorned every French coffee table. Rogue gently perched herself near the blazing fireplace, upon a vanilla croissant chair; the cool leather tingling against her skin.

Remy stood, acting as if he would contaminate anything he touched," Very nice place ya got here chere,"

Scarlet beamed proudly," Yes, it has been in my family for decades, quite valuable at that," she said," Now come, I'll show the two of your to your quarters. I arranged for your rooms to be connected, only a door between them,"

Rogue and Remy climbed the spiral staircase, the inanimate eyes seeming to follow them causing paranoia. Rogue held onto the golden banister, captivated by the diamond chandelier that hung so delicately over the living room. She could see all the many servants scurrying about, cleaning or jabbering amongst themselves about the latest gossip.

" If you need anything," Scarlet began," Just feel free to ask any one of the hired help, they'd be more than happy to cater to your every whim,"

Rogue nodded," Thanks,"

Scarlet stopped before a door and handed Rogue a small silver key," I call this room the Carnation room," she said," I think you'll be quite fond of it,"

Rogue thanked her and inserted the key into the lock, the door flung open, a wave of pink erupted into view. The carpet was a creamy peach, the curtains a brighter hue of the same color. The sheets, comforter, pillows were all the same plush pink color. Pink carnations and roses were visible in pale pink vases, which were placed upon a nude corner table. Even the bath towels were of the same sickening color.

Remy entered through the adjoining door, bellowing in laughter," Dat Scarlet is one funny woman," he said picking up a fuzzy pink pillow," Like your room chere?"

" It looks like Barbie exploded in here," she said," ah hope your room is jus' as bad!" Rogue marched through the door into Remy's completely ordinary quarters," That's not fair! She puts you in a normal room but ah get stuck in Barbie's summer palace!"

Remy laughed," My petite, you must' understan' belle's here like pink. It's a feminine color,"

" Are ya sayin' that I'm not feminine?" Rogue asked," Jus' cause I don' happen to like pink?"

Remy shook his head," No, it was jus' to inform you. Wouldn' wan you to take a offense to Mrs. Wilks puttin' you in here. Don' wan' you t'cause more trouble,"

Rogue scoffed," For ya information ah wasn't gonna start any trouble," she stated," Ah can handle staying here without throwin' a fit thank ya very much,"

" No one here to appeal you on dat chere, jus' remember your manners. Naw'leans is still a place of customs, one wrong utensil and ya be scarred fo' life,"

Rogue plopped down on a rose embroidered loveseat, while opening the large armoire. Gowns of silky fabrics and many colors hung with little notes taped on each one 'Rogue, wear this at Sunday dinner', 'Rogue this is to be worn at morning meal,'

" How dare she!" Rogue ripped each slip of paper off the dresses, crumpling them into a ball," Acting as if ah can't even dress mahself'!"

Remy hung his shaking head," And here I tought' you weren't going t'throw a fit,"

A knock at the door sounded as Scarlet walked in," Rogue, ah see ya found your dresses. Do ya like?"

Remy gave Rogue a silent warning," Ah do very much. But don't ya think that these are a bit, too much for the occasions?"

Scarlet patted Rogue on the head," My dear foolish child. How is anyone going ta believe that you are mah daughter if ya dress like some Yankee,"

Rogue looked dumfounded, Scarlet was still living back in 1860's. Hardly anyone referred to anyone as a 'Yankee' these days," ah'm not a big Yankee fan, ah'm more of a Redskins kind of girl,"

" Oh what a sense of humor!" she squealed," Just save that humor for us now, ah don' want ya sharing it with anyone else now ya hear?" she said, trying to sound as pleasant as possible," Well mornin' shall be approachin' soon. Might as well get some rest you two,"

Remy nodded," Good night Mrs. Scarlet, you too chere,"

" Night Cajun," she said," Good night Mrs. Wilks," Rogue got up and began to lead her to the door.

" You two well do a good job," she said," The chemistry between ya two…it's so…intoxicating," she smiled one last smile and left.

Rogue pondered her words. Chemistry? With Remy? Intoxicating?" That woman really needs ta get a life. Remy and me? Hah! Well Remy was right, that woman is funny,"