Disclaimer: Marvel owns the characters. Everything they do in this story belongs to me! Clear distinction, no suing.
Undreamt Of
Prologue
It was raining. How fitting. Rogue looked out her window at the sullen clouds as she donned her black dress. She knew this would happen, his words echoed in her ears "Chere, I love yah. Gambit have ta say dis fore he leaves." He had given her a beautiful silver necklace. It was actaully an inhibitor that him and Beast had cooked up. With a touch of a button, she could touch someone. What made it dear to her now was the inscription on the inner edge "Always Chere" followed by the ace of hearts. She fingered it now, memory still flooding her head "Keep dis so you always know Gambit come back." That was the day he left with Scott and Hank on a mission. No one else knew why, but they had gone, jaunty and sure. They hadn't come back. Fresh tears spilled down her face as she remembered that day, him waving to her as they left. She sighed and walked out the door.
The bereaved wives of the deceased were seated up front, and it was a lovely funeral, as funerals go. Rogue didn't notice, Jean and Trish were clinging to her sobbing. Rogue, alone, sat dry eyed through it all. "He gave me dis necklace so ah'd know he was comin back!" She believed. She accepted the sympathy and the tears, but through it all, believed.
She believed as she attended Trish's funeral. Suicide.
She still believed, four months later as she helped Jean pack.
"Thank you for your help Rogue." a heavily pregnant Jean said. " I just have to leave....leave all this behind. I want my girl to grow up safe. She's all I have left of Scott...."
"Ah understand Jean. Your retirin, and frankly gal, yah deserve it. Jus don get upset when auntie Rogue drops by tah visit wit yah."
"You are always welcome Rogue. You'll like Alaska."
"No promises there shugah. I don much care for de cold. But ah'll try."
"Thank you Rogue. Good Bye."
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By the end of the first year, her faith was faltering. So she kept busy. Lately, she had been accepting more solo missions, more dangerous mission. Some said she had a death wish. Sometimes they were right. She sat now on a ridge overlooking a dingy warehouse in the middle of nowhere. She watched as large cages were offloaded and moved inside. Even from this distance she could tell that the cages held humans, or more rightly, mutants. It was a slaver stash, standard run. Get in, bust up the bad guys, grab the kids and scoot out. She didn't expect the HF (Humans First) activists to bomb the place.
As she watched, fire blossomed from the roof and the workers scrambled away. Leaving the kids. Rogue flew from her post, signaling the
x-men frantically as she flew. Inside the building there was fire, blood, and screaming. She worked fast and hard, pulling kids out, going back. As she left with her eighth child, the building collapsed and crushed all that remained. She spent another hour digging out the remaining children, none with breathe in their bodies. Numb, she turned to see that the X-men, too late to save the children, were treating and soothing the ones she had.
It was too much pain, losing kids. There were no placations like "He knew what the job entailed. He knew the risks." These kids had been out playing not more than a week ago, carefree. The oldest saved from the fire was only nine, the youngest , only fifteen months. She watched them all now, seated in the blackbird. And she wished with all her heart that they could have a normal life, not be trapped by their powers. Like her, like them all.
When the jet touched down she went directly to her room. There was an envelope waiting on her bed. It was addressed to her, or more correctly, to one of her pseudonyms, Mary Darkholme. It was from a law firm. "Why not more bad news?" she told herself as she opened the envelope.
Winchester and O'Mally Law Firm
Rogue, in tears, threw the letter at the wall. She then curled up on her bed and cried herself to sleep.
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Rogue awoke, depressed and bleak the next morning. "Everyone! Everyone ah know is dead or dyin. Everyone is fightin this horrible future and ah jus don' think ah can handle anymore!" She picked up the letter and called the law firm.
Rogue sat in the officer of Ms. O'Mally and gaped in shock. Raven had left her, specifically, around four million dollars as well as an estate in Mississippi. The picture sat in front of her, a charming place. It was three stories tall, and rambling with two wings. She was told that the house had no less than twelve bedrooms and six full baths. Then there was the Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, Rec Room, Den, Library and Garage! She was in shock. Ms. O'Mally seemed to understand and waited patiently for her top regain her composure. "Ms. Darkholme, I know this may come as a shock, but these are all yours. The bank account is already in your name and the deed to the house is right here." The attorney pulled out the documents. Rogue signed them and left.
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As she rode in the cab back to the mansion, she thought about what to do with her new wealth. No ideas came. Sighing, she paid the driver and walked into the house. She was immediately assaulted by the screaming of children and the frustrated shouts of her fellow X-men. She followed the noise to the rec room where Bobby and Betsy were babysitting. Or attempting to. When she walked into the room, a hush fell and into the silence, the youngest said "Mama!". A glimmering of an idea started to take root as she relieved the two hassled X-men and sat with the kids.
As the weeks passed Rogue sat with the kids often, learning their names, and their personalities. Sarah was the oldest and she watched the other children like a mother hen. Next oldest at 8 (and a half!) was Johnny. In every way, he reminded her of Bobby. He was followed by quite Justin, Maggythe insanely active, Thomas the good boy, Dreeny the elf girl, Kurt the prankster, and the youngest whom she dubbed Raven. She loved them, and in return, the children all flocked to Rogue. That decided her.
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"Professor!" the cry rang through the halls of the Xavier Institute. "Professor the children are gone!"
"Relax Jubilee, I know. They are in good hands." Charles Xavier said as he read a letter for the third time.
Love
Rogue
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So what did you think? This is only a prologue, more chapters to come, so don't worry. And for all you Cyke, Hank and especially Remy fans, don't worry. In the words of a friend "Don't worry, they're only Marvel dead"
So don't kill me!
