New Life New Beginnings' By Samman.

Disclaimer: I don't own the x-men or the characters…

Reviews: Wow I'm back after a long time. No time for excuses..just wanna say that I'm sorry for the delay and thanks to those who are still reading and/or reviewing this story. Love the encouragement and comments that you guys post on review board. Thanks.

-Samman

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Chapter 9: Looking Back

So many days, so many difficult, painful nights passed by, the time that never seemed to pass by seemed like a minute of events to her as her green eyes stared at the ceiling for answers. Looking at the past few days or even months, compared to her laying peacefully in bed, Rogue thought that her life had taken such a big turn of events. The life she was going to begin now was going to be a much better one, she hoped, only if the x-men let themselves to accept her presence in their family.

But some of them were already accepting her. A slight touch of smile appeared on the corner of Rogue's plush pink lips as she thought of the only person she could thank…or may be she could thank Logan too for what he had done. Gambit. No Remy..said Rogue in her mind. She remembered her encounter with him in the danger room. A rush of heat and electricity flowed through her body.

Gambit had not only touched her arm but pulled her body close to his larger one despite knowing that her powers could hurt him, moreover he had asked her to call him by his real name, Remy. His Cajun accent had soothed her ears that had never heard anything in her life but profanities and curse words that insulted her of being a mutant. Clutching the blanket closer to her bare arm, Rogue turned to her side feeling giddy inside the pit of her stomach.

What is wrong with meh?? Rogue questioned herself, she startled herself by having such intense emotions and feelings towards someone who she did not even know. There was no doubt that Gambit was drop dead gorgeous and stunning—just like one of those people she saw in movies only, when she was younger. But now that she actually came across one who was equally handsome and charming, it didn't mean she needed to be so overwhelmed by him considering the harsh truth that she couldn't touch anyone. Because she was a Mutant. A stinkin' filthy Mutant bitch just like the people had always called her. On top of that, her uncontrollable powers were what left Rogue for nothing in this world.

Another thought filled Rogue's mind just as Gambit's left her mind. Wolverine. He was there, had risked himself and fought the friends of humanity to save her life. How could she not thank him? But as soon as Wolverine and the other x-men had found out about her being the assassin who took the life of their now former team mate-Carol Danvers, they had turned against her. Rogue shut her eyes closed. Carol Danvers. Ah wonder where she is raght now..Rogue asked herself, Carol Danvers had been extremely annoying for the first few days when Rogue had absorbed her but slowly stopped herself as Rogue threatened her saying that she was capable of using her powers in her own mind too. However Rogue herself did not know what she exactly was capable of doing.

But Ah don't blame Wolverine foh what happened. What if somebody took the life of someone Ah loved…only if I had the experience of loving someone I would know…Even the first person who touched Rogue intimately for the first time did not even know Rogue so closely, and she lost him too.

Once again Rogue tightened the blanket around herself and looked at the greenish twinkling stars that storm had put on her ceiling to decorate it a little. Whatevah they've done, Ah own them so much. How am Ah goin' to repay them? Ah nothin'. Nothin'. 'cept mah powers which Ah hope can come in handy when we go on missions and Ah'm able to repay them with a favoh.

Her huge green eyes shadowed by thick dark lashes watered. A tear slipped on her cheek and then onto the pillow. A hiccup escaped her lips and brushing away wisps of white hair for her face, Rogue buried her head into the pillow. With one sob, she rested into a sleep that she wished would be peaceful.

****

"Bobby you need to stop doing that before I make you!" Jean yelled not looking up as she flipped the pancakes and tightened the apron with the other.

Bobby smirked. He sat on one of the chairs at the breakfast table waiting for the breakfast. While he waited, he made tiny ice sculptures of different people with his hand, however the ice sculptures melted away leaving nothing but pools of water at the table. "If the pancakes are not in front of me in five more minutes, I'll keep on doin' this…"

"I don't think so. You should be thanking me in the least because it's me who asked Scott to cut you guys some slack today. You've guys have been very busy with the new mutant lately." Jean cracked him a smile and arranged plates on the table.

"Well then…" Warned Bobby and made an ice cube and landed it on the table right in front of her.

Jean ignored him and shook her head at Bobby's immature attitude that he had been doing for the past few minutes. "Well then forget about your pancakes."

"Awe come ooon. I'm starvin' here." Bobby whined.

"Can't you wait for the others for five more minutes? Why don't you come here and give me a hand?" Jean smiled pulling her hair from her face at the same time pouring oil in the pan.

"Ughhh…You're husband is an expert in doing all that stuff-don't expect me to come there and help you." Bobby rolled his eyes. "Where the hell is everybody?"

"We're right here!" A very active and hyper Jubilee as usual came in the kitchen with Gambit on her side.

"Speak of the devil and the devil is here." Bobby muttered.

Gambit went to Jean AND peeked over her shoulder to see what she was doing, Jubilee made her way to the corner of the table where Bobby sat. Popping her gum near his ear, she said out loud. "I heard that! Now you wanna apologize or—Wowww, lookie here.." Jubilee's black eyes dazed at his work and she scanned the sculptures.

Jubilee looked at Bobby with mischief in her eyes.

"What?" Bobby asked defensively.

"Nothin'. If I'm not wrong Icecube, this ice statue or whatever you call it is of our new resident Southern belle… Rogue!" The asian girl stated plainly.

Gambit's ears perked up at the name of their new team mate. He glanced in Bobby's direction with his red on black eyes.

"Come here Gumbo, look at it." Motioning him to come over with one hand Jubilee looked in awe at the tiny sculpture that Bobby had made.

"It's nothin'. God you girls exaggerate a lot." Bobby said trying not to give them any wrong idea of why he had made that sculpture of their new team mate. Rogue indeed was one breathtaking beauty that stumbled across their doorstep but Bobby was just bored and without thinking he had made an attempt to make her sculpture.

Letting a low whistle out, Gambit roamed his eyes at the small figure made of ice. "Merde, she's one fine femme." A smirk appeared on his handsome features.

Jubilee suppressed her laughter at Gambit comment and slapped his arm playfully. "Sculpture you mean." She popped her gum loudly and slapped Gambit on the shoulder playfully.

"Yeah yeah. Whatever y' call her." Gambit looked at her and then back at the Bobby's work. Jubilee shook her head at him.

Gambit was about to pick the sculpture up when Bobby slapped his hand away. "Heyyy. You're gonna break her." Bobby said, the sculpture was already beginning to melt.

"It Bobby IT. It's a sculpture not the real girl." Jubilee remarked. Moving to Jean's side, she took out pancake syrup from the cabinet.

Jean who had been talking to Scott mentally jerked her head at Jubilee abruptly. "Sculpture?! Bobby stop doing that, you've left pools of water everywhere at the table. We're going to eat there. Stop messing around." However, the issue of Bobby making Rogue's ice sculpture was gone unnoticed by Jean since she was talking to Scott.

"Oh he's not Jeanie, come 'ere and have a look at Iceboy's magnificent work of art. Voila." Gambit patted Bobby on the shoulder giving him the sarcastic remark. However Bobby missed the mad look on Remy's face that was beginning to be very prominent .

"I was just gettin' bored and I did it. It's not a big deal guys." Bobby replied.

"Oh yeah? What's the real deal then Bobby? Jubilee wiggled her eyebrows at Bobby who smirked at Gambit which made him turn his grin into a look of disgust.

Just then Storm and Scott walked in the kitchen talking about the new surveillance equipments and security systems they had shipped from D.C to New York.

"Good morning everyone. Storm greeted the people in the kitchen with a warm smile that would comfort and brighten everyone's day in the worst of times. Scott moved to Jean and hugged her from behind causing Jubilee and Bobby to move their eyes at them.

"C'mon everyone, the breakfast is ready. Let's not wait any longer or else Bobby will freeze all of us up." Jean looked apologetically at Bobby. Instead, he went up and cleaned the mess he had created at the table.

Some of the x-men sat down and some still looked for their favorites in the cabinets and the refrigerator. Beast entered the kitchen with a big smile on his face. "Why, aren't we having a good morning after a long time? Good morning everyone."

"Yo Hank." Jubilee smiled up and him and spit her chewing gum in the trash. "Heyyy, where's the professor, Logan and ahem Rogue?" She glanced in Bobby's direction.

"Cut it out Jubes!" Bobby said taking orange juice from the fridge.

"Or else?" Jubilee said daringly.

"You don' wanna know," Bobby warned.

Jubilee felt a cold hand slipped under the back of her shirt in the middle of her back. "Wha—aaaaaaa-a Stop it icecube you don't—a—ewww my shirt is getting wettt!!!" She screamed receiving annoying glances from everyone. Bobby had formed an icecube, slipped it in her shirt and held it there.

Gambit shook his head at them and began eating with the rest of them. "Y' might wanna stop it Bobby. For once let us 'ave a good mornin'. Y' know how irritatin' she can be…"

"Yeah I guess you're right." Giving up, Bobby sat on his seat beside Scott.

"But Gambiiiit, all I said was where was the Professor, Logan and Rogue! Now you tell me. Is there anything wrong with it? God you people can be so paranoid sometimes." Jubilee went with her constant whining and rolling her eyes as she began eating.

"Professor is doing some research on the latest search FOHs have started doing in order to find their escaped…mutant." Jean said receiving nervous glances from everyone. "And umm, I gave him breakfast down there, so don' worry about it. Logan will be here any minute."

"And you believe that the escaped mutant happens to be…er…our new team mate?" Bobby questioned.

"Yep." Logan said as he walked in the kitchen. They could notice he was still fussing over having a new team mate who was a former terrorist and had almost taken the life of their old team mate, Carol.

Before anyone could reply, they saw Rogue walking in the kitchen quickly dressed in simple jeans and a white shirt. "Ah'm sorry Ah'm late." She walked in the door only to hit Logan in the shoulder as he came from the side. Rogue's super strength made Logan hit the cabinet with force although it was clearly noticeable that it was not her intention.

"Oh mah god Ah'm sorry Ah didn' know--" Having spent some days in the mansion, Rogue had learned slight control over her language and attitude.

Instantly, Logan shed his claws and backed up from the cabinet and straightened up. Walking up close to her , he stood with his claws to his side.

Wow. Great. Just Great. Bobby thought rolling his eyes while Jubilee suppressed her giggles by putting her head on the forehead. A smirk appeared on Gambits face. Scott crooked an eyebrow. Beast shook his head and Strom and Beast exchanged glances.

Logan pointed his claw at her. "Next time y' better keep yer eyes open and watch where yer goin'." Snikt. The claws went back up in his skin and he moved to take a seat on Scott's other side.

"Ahem." Beast disrupted the silence by getting up and grasping Rogue's covered arm, he brought her to the table from the place where she had been standing for the whole two minutes. Her mouth was closed shut and her eyes were expressionless.

"Lets eat. Its okay. It's the danger room sessions and active duty you have to worry about being late to. You don't have to worry about being late to the breakfast, but we'd prefer to eat with our new team mate." Beast said as he pushed Rogue to sit on the chair beside him and Gambit.

"Damn it Logan. You sure do—er--" Jubilee whispered to Bobby but cut her sentence as she felt Logan's stare towards her. She cursed at herself for not remembering the fact that Logan had excellent senses, he could hear anything below the audible range of a normal human being.

"Here you go Rogue…pancakes." Storm moved the plate towards Gambit to pass it to Rogue.

Rogue tamely accepted it and offered a slight smile to Storm. "Thanks." She mumbled.

"So Rogue, I believe you are adapting to the institute?" Beast said to lighten the mood.

Yeah raght. Doesn' it look lakh it? "Ah guess so. Lakh ah mentioned befoh, Ah don' know anyone else who could help me with mah powers or take me in since ya'll already know that friends o' humanity are lookin' f' me." Rogue tugged some white strands that came out from her pony tail. "Ah have no where t' go."

The silence filled the air and all of them ate in silence, taken back by her response to Beast's question. Jubilee threw her nervous smiles occasionally, Bobby talked to her mouthing words to her without, and Remy…he looked for every single possible way to touch her gloved hand by asking her for a fork, juice and even tried to reach over her and get something from the table. Meanwhile Jubilee kept on doubling over in fits of laughter at Remy's actions.

Lawd....this boy is drivin' meh crazy already! Rogue rolled her eyebrows, Remy had once again asked her to pass the orange juice. "Wait a second Remy. Jubilee, sugah, could you pass the juice to Remy?" Rogue smirked at Jubilee who reached across the table and gave it to Remy.

"Uh, t'anks Jubilee." Remy managed a smile.

"No problem Remy. This is the fifth time you've asked for orange juice from Rogue. I never knew you loved it so much." Jubilee said playfully. Jean and Storm finished and began to clean up the kitchen.

"Thanks for breakfast everyone. Ah think Ah'm gonna head upstairs now." Rogue got up and began to get out of her chair.

But Remy captured her gloved hand with his own and jerked her downwards back into her seat. "C'mon chere, dere's no hurry, we're not leavin' for session until fifteen minutes." He let his hand rest on her shoulder and looked into her eyes.

Gawd is some hot thang or wha—Rogue felt herself being distracted moementarily by the red on black eyes that bore into her very soul. A faint blush appeared on Rogue's porcelain like skin. She bit her lower lip and looked away trying to find something she could concentrate on.

Bobby scrunched his face and Jubilee elbowed him in the ribs. "No I think we really need to get going. Rogue I have to show you this really super-duper-cool-poly-gizmo thing up in my room and…" On went Jubilee with her rambling as she stood up and grabbed Rogue from her seat leading her out of the kitchen.

"Latuh Sugah." Rogue smiled and waved her hand to Remy. Logan tightened his fists at the side and went out of the kitchen. Everyone knew that Logan did not approve of Jubilee spending time with the new team mate, they thought it was risky. Getting out of the kitchen Logan walked beside Rogue to go upstairs, however since the two girls seemed to be indulged in talking, he shoved passed Rogue hitting her slightly on the shoulder.

Rogue stopped dead in her tracks making Jubilee stop with her. "Y' need to watch where you're goin'." Rogue said. O-oh. Jubilee thought.

Logan stopped as well. He tilted his head and turned around. "What did ya say?"

Not scared by one of the bravest mutants she had ever seen, Rogue looked at him defiantly in the eyes. "Ah said, y' need to watch where you're goin'. Need an illustration?"

"Who the hell do ya think y' are t' tell me what to do?" Logan asked advancing towards her with a deadly look on his face. In a matter of seconds his claws split out of his hands.

"Y' wanna know sugah?" Rogue said pushing her sleeves up.

Standing on Rogue's side, Jubilee hesitated. "Umm..guys…uh I think we should just let it drop here.." She moved in front of Rogue and spread her hands at her side to keep Logan from hurting anyone.

"Get outta my way kid." Logan warned as he took another step.

But Jubilee protested from getting out of his way. "Logan…please…look.."

Rogue stared at Logan. "Jubilee, he can' hurt me. C'mon He needs t' know that Ah don' need to be treated lakh some trash picked up from a street."

"If that's what y' are, I got no other way t' treat ya." He snorted.

His comment threw her off guard and Rogue pushed Jubilee out of the way.

"Don't touch her." Logan growled and attacked Rogue who shoved Jubilee on the side to save her from getting hit by anything.

Catching his wrist in her gloved hand, Rogue pushed him forward by slamming her hand on his chest. "Ah shoulda known before askin' to excuse yoahself that Ah wasn't talkin' to a man. Ah was talkin' to an animal." She dodged out of his way as he slashed his claw near her shoulder but it caught on her shirt tearing it from the bottom.

"Animal? Y' wanna see the real animal?" Once again Logan lunged at Rogue and grabbing her arm with his hand, he threw her at the floor causing her to land on her back. With one swift kick to his ankle, Rogue caught his wrist and punched Logan in the arm throwing him against the coffee table.

"Goddess!" Storm said as her blue eyes widened with fear. Not having her com-badge, Storm went to call their leader, Scott.

"Dieu..what the hell are dey doin'?! Can' keep y' mouth shut can ya wolverine? Knew dis would happen." With lightening speed Remy jumped over the couch to the center of the TV lounge where Rogue and Logan were indulged in a massive fight. Soon most of the x-men were standing at the door as Jubilee had gone and called them.

Rogue found herself pushed tightly against the wall and closed her eyes shut as the claws came to her face to slice her face into pieces. But the hand never came. She found Remy standing behind Logan and had caught his arm.

"Logan Rogue stop dis! What d' you think you're doin'."

"Stay outta this Gumbo." Logan jerked his arm away and twisted Rogue's wrist that he held tightly. Rogue, quickly using advantage of the situation, punched Logan in the gut with full force which sent him flying away against the sofa.

"Logan!" Two blue-green eyes widened with anger and Jean raised her hands to throw Rogue up against the wall again.

"Y' guys ready to stop or else Gambit's ready t' blow dis place up."  Remy charged his card and held it up in the air. Everyone stood at their places and did not bother to move. Scott entered the room and clapped his hands sarcastically at their behavior.

"Well well. This is exactly what the professor expects from us, isn't it?" Scott eyed everyone in the room. "Jubilee and Bobby you go meet with the professor upstairs."

"But I was the one he---" Jubilee muttered.

"I don't want to hear a single word." Scott ordered and Jubilee went out of the tv lounge and up the stairs, Bobby followed stomping his foot on his way out.

"Jean let go of meh." Rogue said through clenched teeth. She showed her the death glare from her fierce, blazing green eyes on which her hair fell.

"After what you did to Logan? I don't think so." Jean replied with an angry smile on her face and glanced at Ororo who gave Logan a hand to stand him up.

"He was the one who started it." Rogue spat.

"How do I know that? After all, you were the one who hurt Carol."

"ENOUGH." Scott ordered.

"Say that to yoah wife whose defendin' Logan. Ah haven' been here for a week an' Ah know how aggressive he can be. How could Jean not know that aftah livin' here for such a long time?" Rogue said stuck to her position against the wall. She glanced at Gambit who shook his head and looked downwards. Oh so you're turnin' your back on me too? Son of a..Her thoughts were cut off by Jean's voice.

Before he could reply, Scott moved to Jean who whimpered bringing a hand to her forehead. "You okay Jean?" He asked, his voice full of concern.

"Oh…I..I can't hold her any longer than this.." She clutched her forehead and it began to wrinkle. In a second she lost hold of her telekinesis on Rogue who tried to make her way out of the room but Gambit caught her arm.

"Y' stay here." He moved his arm to her wrist grasping it lightly.

"What if Ah don' want ta?" Rogue asked arching her eyebrows at him. Her delicate covered wrist remained in his fingers.

"Den I'll make you." Remy replied. A thought hit him and his eyes softened, he glanced at her ripped shirt. "You okay? He asked, his thumb moving slightly on her wrist indicating his concern. However Rogue looked away by jerking her arm back and choosing not to reply.

"Jean, Scott, Remy, Logan and Rogue. I want all of you to come down to the danger room, now." The Professor's voice echoed in the room.

"Y' heard de boss." Remy looked and jerked his thumb towards the stair case. Rogue rolled her eyes at him and they all went up stairs prepared for a long lecture from the Professor.

****

"Alright everyone. This is what you have to do in order to make up for your absurd and careless actions in the morning. The professor has asked us to do this three hour constant session in order to get some sense through your thick sculls." Cyclops pointed his index finger towards his head angrily. There was no doubt that he was very disappointed and frustrated from the morning's events. The rest of the x-men stood facing Cyclops listening to the orders he was passing given to him by the Professor.

"If all else fails, the Professor will not restrain from giving you a real, severe punishment." Cyclops said.

"Try to gain control over your anger," Scott paused to glance at Logan, and then at Rogue, "and your emotions."

"Anything happens, you get another hour added. Now go ahead." Cyclops turned to the computer and the large screen to assign the right level of danger room session and the x-men entered the room as soon as the doors slid open.

****

Author's Notes: Next up…Rogue/Remy on the roof…and…I won't tell you anything else, you'll find out anytime soon. :)

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