Disclaimer: I no own de X-men. Believable non?

Best Laid Plans

Silk and Swords

          Rogue stared at herself in the mirror; she was beautiful. A word she didn't commonly apply to herself. Her wedding dress was complete…not a boring white atrocity but a deep emerald green silk gown, reminiscent of a New Orleans ball gown. It flowed full and heavy from her waist to her ankles in a bright cascade of dripping silk. She couldn't believe it…the gown was done, which meant the wedding was…tomorrow morning!

          She sat down, hard, on the stool behind her and leaned her chin in her hand "Am ah truly ready fah this? Ready fah the happily ever afta and white picket fence? An kids…does Remy want kids…Ah hope so…I need something of him tah hold onto iffin anything happens tah him…" She stood and guiltily smoothed the expansive skirt. She leaned towards the mirror and whispered "Iffin it comes to tha moment and ah can't say yes…what do ah do?"

          The door creaked and a tousled head poked in "Chere? What's wrong chere? Gambit can tell you distressed…what villain peekin in da room? Chere?"

          She jerked her head up and turned, one tear crystalline on her cheek. "Nothins wrong shugah…nothing at all." She put on a dazzling smile "An tha only villain peekin in is you. Yah ain't supposed tah see the bride in her dress before the altar…"

          Remy sobered and looked at her, he knew that something was still bothering her…but she was so breathtaking in her dress…he couldn't press the issue. "Gambit never been one for tradition neh?"

          "Shugah…"

Breathtaking as she was, he knew that tone. It meant leave or get stuff thrown at you. As the only other things in the room were a heavy stool and a mirror…he wisely retreated.

Rogue returned to talking to the mirror "Ah don't deserve him…Ah don't know how he evah forgave me…" She shuddered to remember the dreams she had lived through after the trial in Antarctica…horrid dreams of blood and pain. She knew that her mind had broken; it was just now beginning to heal. In those dreams, Remy had been both the Sadist and the Savior*…which was true? Could she live up to the expectations of either?

*   *   *   *   *

Gambit slid down the wall after he closed the door and sat on the floor. He was reeling. Here he was, a master thief that had held every precious, perfect stone in his bare hands…and he was overwhelmed. "What a t'ief like me done to deserve a Belle? What happen if she wakes up? She jus doin this cause I saved her? What happen if Gambit wake up? Maybe he still freezin in de snow…" He stood and shook his head, his auburn hair fanned around his head beautifully. "Gambit need te think…he know jus de place…"

*   *   *   *   *

Wolverine was whistling as he showered after a danger room session. It sounded an awful lot like a wedding march. Who could blame him? He paused for a moment as he heard the outer door open. He couldn't identify the person's scent over the powerful smell of Irish Spring…cursing, he turned of the water. "Who's there?"

"Just me"

Wolverine growled…just who he didn't want to see. "Go away."

The grinning red head sauntered over until only a shower curtain separated them and mock pouted "I just want to talk Logan."

"We can talk another time I have things to do."

"Just a moment, please?"

Maybe it was the please, but he decided to hear her out. He snagged a towel and stepped out "What you want red?"

"Curious you should phrase it that way…I came to ask you the same question."

"What's your point?"

"Is Jubilee really the girl for you? Sure you wouldn't prefer someone more…mature…more capable?"

"Jubes is more mature than most women I know, Hell…how do I put this…she clicks Jean. She fits in my life like a damn puzzle piece. She makes me happy. That works for me."

"I see, so tomorrow, you will be a happily married man…tamed at last?"

"Happily married? Damn straight! Tamed?" A low growl trickled from his…

"So this'll be my last chance for this…"

"What?!" He couldn't move. Telekinetic bonds stronger than his adamantium held him in place. He felt smooth fingers trail along his cheeks and brow to settle lightly on his shoulders. Then she leaned forward like some awful bird of prey and kissed him. That pissed him off.

"There, that wasn't so bad was it Logan?" She snuggled against his dripping body and sighed "Not bad at all…"

They both heard the door open once more "Wolvie? You get lost? I've been…" Jubilee walked around the last lockers and looked at them. Her mouth worked, but no sound emerged. Tears began to trail down her cheeks and she turned and fled. Jean chuckled and patted his chest "This is for her own good you know…she can't handle you…"

He fought against the bonds about his throat, his vocal chords grated, then finally, he could talk "You better run damn far before I get free of this…"

Jean looked in his eyes and saw nothing but mania…he had gone over the animal edge where her telepathy couldn't reach, or control, him. She ran.

*   *   *   *   *

Kit sat up in bed as Jubilee ran into their shared room and watched as the petite Asian curled up into a very small ball and cried…silently.  Lockheed hovered uncertainly and cheeped inquisitively. Worried, she went to the aide of her young team mate. "Jubilee? Jubes…look at me…please look at me…" It was no use, Jubilation Lee seemed to be in a catatonic state. "Lockheed, watch her, I'm going to get Jean, maybe she can reach her…"

She phased through the floor into the kitchen below, there was only one person there…Kurt. "Kurt, have you seen Jean…something's wrong with Jubilee…"

Kurt was getting over the slight tingle Kitty's presence always elicited, so it took a moment for the words to filter through "What exactly is wrong?"

"She seems to be catatonic…"

A small voice nagged at the back of Kurt's head…seeking Jean made him uncomfortable. "Herr Professor has much more experience…"

"We'll snag which ever we find first…"

"How about your truly seeks the professor while you take her to med lab? I can guarantee we will meet you there soon…"

She looked at him for a moment…he was just so damn cute when he was concerned… "Deal" She smiled her impish smile and phased back through the ceiling.

*   *   *   *   *

The professor leaned back from sending Jubilee into a deep sleep, tears cutting deep tracks down his face. "I cannot tell if she is just hiding or truly gone from her mind…all I can see is the last scene she witnessed…"

"Who did this to her?"

"I can show you both…" Kurt and Kitty nodded, eager to make who ever harmed Jubilee pay. A hazy picture began to form, then resolved itself into an image of Jean and Logan, him dripping, her snuggled far to intimately…

Kitty couldn't bear it any more "He would never do that…It's her. I'm going to kill her. My way will be better than letting Logan get her…" she stared straight at the professor and her next words were chilled steel "Do not try to stop me." She left.

Kurt watched her go then patted the top of Jubilee's head "And I shall check on Herr Logan. The picture seemed to be that of the shower room…I also suggest you do not try to stop Kitty, I may be able to find and speak with her…after I ascertain Logan's condition."

"You do not believe he did this voluntarily?"

"Kit believes in him…try to bring Jubilee back to us, she is to be wed tomorrow."

*   *   *   *   *

Kurt found Logan in the shower room, struggling to move. Growls were issuing from his throat along with a high pitched whine as he fought the invisible bonds that held him. It was a miserable sight, one Kurt was glad that Kitty had been spared. He cautiously stepped towards the feral man, speaking softly. "Herr Logan…Herr Logan, Calm down, try to think. Jubilee is incredibly hurt…" The whining cry increased "She needs you there, to protect her…to help find her…she's run away."

"Need to find…kill her…"

"Leave that to your family, Kitty is already tracking her, I am soon to join her. Jubilee needs you…"

"Lee…protect…hurt?"

"I can take you to her…" Kurt lightly touched his shoulder and 'ported them both to the med lab. Logan looked around and sniffed the room, then walked straight to Jubilee's bed and curled up in front of her, placing himself between any and all comers, and his love. Kurt went to find Kitty.

*   *   *   *   *

Kit was stalking a red head, who was hastily packing in her room. Rule one of avoiding death by ninja…never leave your door open as you pack. Kit's face was grim, a sword in her hand, but she wasn't feeling murderous…she was feeling righteous. "Jean"

Jean turned with a muffled scream and looked at Kitty "You scared me Katherine!"

"Good. You have destroyed the lives of two people today. How do you feel?"

Jean's eyes went wide "I didn't…He…"

 "Wrong answer"

Jean frowned "Don't tell me you actually intend to make scare me into apologizing? I did it for their own good…"

Kit contemplated her blade for a moment "I was never good at scaring people..."

"Go away Kitty"

"I simply kill them. You see, there are few things worse than the people I have been forced to kill in my life. A viper that pretends to be family is one of them."

Jean felt the bonds on Logan slip, then break. She had no choice. She lashed out at Kitty's mind, hard.

Kit felt like a ton of bricks had slammed into her brain, blood began to leak from her nose, but she still stood, still held the sword. "So much for family ties... Goodbye Jean." She rushed her.

*   *   *   *   *

Kurt ported in just in time to watch Kitty fly through a wall, head lolling at an odd angle, blood was pouring from her ears and eyes and nose…and yet Kit tried to stand. Kurt understood her in that one moment…do everything for family…die trying. Damned if he was going to let her die…alone.

Jean watched Kit move feebly, and smiled. "Never really liked you anyway Katherine." Then a solid punch hit the back of her neck, followed by another. She turned, and there was Kurt. "My my, the pacifist emerges. Might as well go out with a bang don't you think? You truly wish to die beside her, I will let you…"

"I will not be the one dieing here frauline. I'm not the one about to be skewered. Good bye." Kurt bamfed in front of her eyes, blinding her even as she felt the sharp prick of a blade at the base of her skull. Then there was cool, cold darkness.

Kurt was there to catch Kitty as she finally released the blade and slumped unconscious. Then he was alone in the room with two bleeding women, the day before a wedding. He brought Kitty to the Med Lab…then returned for the body of Jean grey, which was miraculously breathing. Kurt wasn't in the mood to thank God for that.

*   *   *   *   * 

Rogue waved good bye to the mirror, and left the room through the window. "Ah'm o glad we talked shugah…" she called as she flew ot the roof. Remy was there, with several empty beer cans.

"'lo chere"

"Hey swamp rat, you getting drunk before we get married?"

"Getting? Been there, got the shirt chere…on to merrier lands…"

"Why?"

"Chere gonna leave me…"

"No Remy, ah ain't. Ah ain'y nevah gonna leave you."

"Remy says that Gambit says we love you chere."

"You're drunk Remy."

"Yep"

*   *   *   *   *

Kurt hovered anxiously by Kitty's bedside until she opened her eyes, they were stained crimson with blood, but still fully cognizant…still Kitty's eyes. He sighed in relief "Welcome back"

"Hello Elf. I hurt."

"You should…you just took out one Jean Grey…ex-second strongest telepath in the world…"

"Couldn't have done it without you…"

"Yes you could have, you're an adept at solo missions…"

"Don't like solo…" She mumbled into the blanket tucked around her chin. "Jean's actually dead?"

"…no."

"Good, I don't think I could have forgiven myself…but she destroyed Jubilee and Logan more surely than any enemy we ever had…"

"She will live…but she won't truly recover. She will never regain her powers…and will never set foot in this house again. Scott is filing for divorce…"

"Kurt…do you hate me now?"

"Never"

"Oh…good. I'm going to sleep now okay?"

"Sleep Katzchen…I'll be here."

*   *   *   *   *

* Reference to "Blue Eyes and Shadows" The prelude story to this.

Sorry for the late updates folks, but I hope this chapter makes up for the wait. –Steahl-