(A/N: Now before anyone says anything about Gambit being in Rogue's head
and helping her learn to control her powers; yes, I have read Giddy, but my
idea for this chapter did not originate from that fic.
Disclaimer (I guess): Anything in here that may seem similar to fore mentioned story, I give all credit to the author of Giddy, who did a wonderful job on that fanfic which I enjoyed immensely and I would not think of purposefully copywriting any work of a fellow author's unless given permission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Rogue let her mind drift as she watched the buildings of Connecticut pass by. Wanda was driving and St. John was in the passenger seat, leaving Rogue squished up next to Remy in the back. Surprisingly, she didn't feel as uncomfortable with this arrangement as she would have just yesterday.
She had been up all night talking and meditating with Mesmero, he was helping her take the first step in controlling her powers by removing the fear that always kept her from letting people get too close. It made Rogue more confident and less worried, but they still had a little ways to go. "What are you thinking about, Cher`e?" Remy's question broke into her thoughts, Rogue didn't look at him when she answered, "About gaining control of my powers"
"There's somethin' I never would've expected you to say" his tone was neutral; Rogue knew he was trying to be serious. He wanted more information. She debated weather or not to tell him, Mesmero was prompting her to open up. Finally, she proceeded to explain, if only to get Mesmero to be quiet, "Ah've found a way that might help me control my powers. And when that's done, Ah'm gonna go back to the X-men"
Wanda glanced sharply into the review mirror, "No you're not" she stated as if to say the girl didn't have a choice in the matter; Kitty and Rogue gave her a questioning look.
"We'll have a better chance at stopping Mystique if we stay" she explained, and when that's done then we'll form our own group, new and old Brotherhood members, who are a part of the X-men only a different faction living in a different area. We could have our own training equipment and missions"
Slowly, a smile grew on Rogue's face, she liked the idea and could tell Kitty did too. But suddenly Rogue found the flaw in this little plan, "We need some adult structure to keep everyone in line, and Ah don't think the Professor is gonna consider sparin' any of the teachers at the institute. They need everyone they can get at that mad house"
St. John turned in his seat to face them, "Couldn't ya' just divide the X- men? You know, everyone who wants to come with our faction we can recruit, and everyone who wants to stay at the mansion can stay, that way they could have an equal amount of teachers and kids on each side"
Rogue grinned, "Excellent, we can work it out with Xavier but there is still the threat of Mystique. No matter what we do to stop her rampages she's just gonna keep comin' back, that'll make it harder to get Lance and them to join us"
Kitty shook her head, "Like, no it wont. The only reason the Brotherhood is with Mystique is because she has no consistent rules for them to follow and they like their freedom. But if we promise that this new faction of the X- men is, like, less strict and doesn't have Cyclops on the team, then they'd probably jump at the chance to get away from her"
Rogue noticed Gambit pull out a card and watched apprehensively as he played with it with his fingers, she didn't want him accidentally blowing up her car and everyone in it, "I don't know, Petite" the Cajun commented, "I've had enough experience with gambles like this: it's a sixty/forty chance that they'll join and the odds aren't in your favor"
Rogue snatched the card from his hand and gave him a pointed look before saying, "Ah know the Brotherhood better than ya'll, Ah had to live with them for two years, not to mention Ah've absorbed all of them at least once. Pietro's a definite yes, he'll be the easiest because of what happened to Magneto, Fred's a maybe, Todd's a yes, Lance is a no"
Kitty frowned upon hearing this but didn't protest, Rogue knew what she was talking about after all. After a moment, Rogue sighed, "You know, it'll be really weird, having the X-men, the Brotherhood, and the Acolytes on the same side. For a while, there wont be anyone to fight against and none of us are used to that. Although Ah'm sure Mystique will come up with a new team, then we'll have our hands full"
Gambit grinned, "The bigger the challenge, the better. 'Sides, you wont have to worry about fighting a new team, Cher`e, I will protect you"
Rogue snorted, "For one, Ah can take care of myself. For two, you wont be very useful once Ah've broken your rib cage for insulting me"
Remy was dumfounded for a moment, he gaped at Rogue, "How did I insult you?"
She rolled her eyes, "By suggesting that Ah need protection! What have you been taking lately?" he tilted his head as if he were seriously considering her question.
Then he lost the concentrative look and grinned, "The femmes" Rogue bopped him in the back of the head.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Mystique glared at Destiny from the entrance of the kitchen. The old Brotherhood (minus Pietro) was scattered around in the living room, doing what they do best: sulking. And her new, more powerful team, was off God- knows-where, doing God-knows-what, when she wanted them to be here training their asses off for her evil plans.
"Why did you just let them leave like that?!" Raven exclaimed, her eyes narrowing on her life-long friend; Irene hardly flinched at the harsh tone Mystique used, being accustomed to it by now, "They are not prisoners, they may come and go as they please" the older mutant raised her head and seemed to stare out the tiny kitchen window.
"Besides, you have already lost the girls and your scheme has failed. They will not comply to helping you destroy Charles Xavier and his X-men" Mystique was furious, in all the years that she had known Destiny, the fore- seeing mutant had never spoken so boldly towards her, not even about a vision. "When did you see this?!" Raven demanded, slamming her fist on the table, Irene sighed, "The moment they pulled onto the road"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Pietro began returning to the world of consciousness, but wished he could have slept the next seventeen years of his life away as the memory of what had happened to his father automatically replayed in his mind.
It hurt like hell to think about the events of Magneto's death, but Quicksilver vowed he was done with his grieving. Wanda had been right.
Eric Lensheer was not a father. And it had taken Pietro this long to accept that fact, although, subconsciously, he had known the truth much earlier.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Warren Worthington dipped and flew through a clear, morning sky. He stretched his long, feathery, wings, which looked magnificent in the son's warm glow. He took a deep breath and savored the free, unattached feeling of flight.
He loved everything up here; no matter what, nothing could go wrong when he was flying, nothing.
He let his thoughts drift to Rogue and his already wide grin broadened. Sure, he knew if she wanted to start a romantic relationship with anyone, it was going to be that Cajun Playboy, but he still had feelings for her and always would.
*As long as she's happy* he thought, *And as long as we're still friends so I can be there for her* he smirked as he did another barrel roll, "If Gambit ever hurts her, I'll go after him with knives and fists"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Wanda pulled into a hotel parking lot mid-afternoon and they paid for two rooms on the third level of the four-story building. As soon as everyone got settled in, Wanda, Kitty, Remy, St. John, and Peter decided to do some sight-seeing and asked rogue if she wanted to come, "No, thanks" she said, hoping to get some time to herself.
She wanted to continue learning how to control her powers, "I'll stay with you, Cher`e" Remy offered. Rogue was about to reject his suggestion when Mesmero piped up, *Tell him he may stay*
Rogue frowned, *But he'll distract me*
*He might be just the thing we need to helping you gain control* was the response. *How?* Rogue asked, confused, *Trust me* he answered. "Fine" Rogue said out loud, much to Gambit's delight.
When the others left Rogue sat cross legged on the floor and motioned for Remy to do the same, "The only reason Ah'm alowing you to stay is because Ah think you can help me control my powers" Remy grinned, "I get to be your test subject?"
Rogue rolled her eyes, *I'm two seconds away from shoving him out that door* Mesmero ignored her mental sarcasm, *Tell him to close his eyes and you do the same* she gritted her teeth, I am going to regret this*, "Close your eyes" she said with immense hesitation.
Surprisingly, he obeyed without a coy reply to her order. She closed her own eyes and asked Mesmero what to do next, *I am going to take you both into the depths of your psyche. We will proceed from there* Rogue felt herself being pulled into her own mind, it was the same sensation as when Mesmero had first talked to her in her head.
Rogue found herself in her filling place, but this time all the memories were neatly organized and shuffled away. She also noticed that her wall, which was keeping the psyches of the people she absorbed from mixing with her own, seemed stronger than ever; now, though, there was something different about it.
"I added it last night" Mesmero said, coming up beside her. Rogue's gaze was so transfixed on the medium-sized, glowing panel, planted in the direct center of her wall, that she didn't notice Gambit or his utter shock at being transported to such a place.
"What's it for?" she asked the telepath, he smiled, "When you have learned to control your powers, you will be able to use this panel to harness the power of the people you absorb and prolong the time you have their abilities. However, eventually their powers will fade but you will still have them longer then you are able to now"
Rogue nodded, "Ah've got a feeling that is going to come in handy soon" Mesmero turned towards an occupied Remy and motioned for Rogue to acknowledge the Cajun. He was ruffling through her mind's filling cabinet. Rogue's eyes widened and she rushed at the card boy, pushing him back and shoving the file drawer closed, "Don't you dare!" she exclaimed, "Ah don't give a damn if you're a thief, my memories are strictly off limits"
She was about to give him an advanced course in pulverisation, but Mesmero intervened, "You may beat him up latter, Rogue. At the moment we have more important business to attend to"
The Goth folded her arms across her chest and leaned against her filling cabinets, still giving Remy a death glare. Gambit got a good look at Mesmero for the first time and his first instinct, upon recognizing former enemy's profile, was to place himself between the man and Rogue while preparing to attack.
"You need help getting this guy out of your head, Cher`e?" Remy asked, "Of course not" Rogue answered, "He's the one that's been helping me learn to contol my powers and block out the people Ah absorb"
Gambit looked confused, but before he asked another question, Rogue explained, "After Ah absorbed Mes, he told me about how he had been under mind control and was barely aware of his own actions when he did Apocalypses dirty work. Ah actually saved him from himself by taking him from his body and now he wants to return the favor"
Gambit was extremely skeptical, but he trusted Rogue's judgment. However, one wrong move from Mesmero and the Cajun would make sure that there was hell to pay.
"Now" Mesmero said, "Gambit, I want you to use your powers and charge an object. The kinetic energy can simulate a life force which Rogue's mental embodiment should be able to retain into her mind like a psyche"
Remy produced a card and was surprised when he found he could use his powers, then Rogue took off her glove and touched the card, concentrating. Her mental form began to glow, than a beam of white energy lifted from her and floated towards her wall, automatically being sucked in with no need for any open and close passage.
The glowing around her faded and she waited for further instructions from Mesmero, "Got to the wall and place your hand on it" she did as she was told, "Reach out with your mental senses and try to locate the force you just absorbed" it took a while, but Rogue finally found what she was looking for.
A crackling, kinetic energy that sought out more particles to attach to and fulfill it's purpose of exploding. It was almost as if the energy sensed her there, and it came towards the wall, looking for a way to reach the beings on the opposite side and return to it's counterparts.
Rogue pulled with her mind and felt the energy flow back into her. She held up a hand and used her telekinesis to return it to the card. Remy retracted the power once it was returned.
Mesmero smiled, "Now you will be able to put psyches back in their original occupants. But you must try this on a real person a few times before you are able to return the psyche quickly enough in order to not absorb anything; you see, when you return a psyche, your mind thinks it is because you have taken as much information from that person as you need, so you will be able to touch that person without hurting them.
"But you must be careful, because I am not sure how long it will last. When you have mastered the skill, though, then you will not even need to concentrate on it. When you begin to extract a psyche that you don't want, your mind will not go through with the process. This way, you only absorb the people you want to absorb"
Excitement bubbled up in Rogue, she could not believe she was so close to controlling her powers. Without warning, she raced towards Mesmero and hugged him, mumbling a series of thank-yous.
When Mesmero was over his initial shock, he awkwardly returned the embrace, not having been exposed to affectionate displays such as this for longer than he could remember.
"It was my pleasure, dear Rogue" he responded as she pulled back, "Are you ready to go back to the conscious realm?", she nodded, going to stand beside Remy as they opened their eyes in the physical world.
Rogue and Gambit stood, then, much to Remy'surprise, Rogue hugged him like she had done to Mesmero. Not being one to pass up rare (almost non-existent in this case) opportunities, he wrapped his arms around her and held her as close as possible.
"Thanks for helping me" she said, then ducked out of him vigorous embrace much too soon for Gambit's liking.
When Rogue registered the fact the she had just hugged Gambit, she gave and internal groan, *That was one, stupid impulsive action* she thought, even while a tiny smile graced her lips and she turned quickly to hide it.
*It felt good, though* she realized, not because of his handsome features and great smelling cologne, but because, for the first time in what seemed like forever, Rogue felt truly and deeply loved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Mystique floored the gas pedal as she tore down the long stretch of deserted country road. She didn't care what Destiny said, she was not going to loose the chance at having some of the most powerful mutants in the world under her leadership. She was going to hunt them down and demand they come back with her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
(A/N: I know, my inevitable late updates are beginning to annoy you:) Blame it on the muse.
St. John: (walks in waving a contract) Uh-uh, Shiela, right here in your own official muse contract it states: "No author shall be able to blame sources of entertainment on dry spells or lack of inspiration"
J.D: Give me that (glances over conveniently highlighted section, than tosses paper in shredder) Just another one of your lame attempts at forgery, so I can blame you all I want.
St. John: (slipping into depression) After all I've done for you, mate. (big, sad, irresistible puppy-dog face)
J.D: I will not give in, I will not give in, I will not....(sigh), There should be a law against endearing, emotional displays. Alright, my muse has nothing to do with my tardiness.
St. John: (pats author's head) Good girl.
J.D: (growls with resentment)
Disclaimer (I guess): Anything in here that may seem similar to fore mentioned story, I give all credit to the author of Giddy, who did a wonderful job on that fanfic which I enjoyed immensely and I would not think of purposefully copywriting any work of a fellow author's unless given permission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Rogue let her mind drift as she watched the buildings of Connecticut pass by. Wanda was driving and St. John was in the passenger seat, leaving Rogue squished up next to Remy in the back. Surprisingly, she didn't feel as uncomfortable with this arrangement as she would have just yesterday.
She had been up all night talking and meditating with Mesmero, he was helping her take the first step in controlling her powers by removing the fear that always kept her from letting people get too close. It made Rogue more confident and less worried, but they still had a little ways to go. "What are you thinking about, Cher`e?" Remy's question broke into her thoughts, Rogue didn't look at him when she answered, "About gaining control of my powers"
"There's somethin' I never would've expected you to say" his tone was neutral; Rogue knew he was trying to be serious. He wanted more information. She debated weather or not to tell him, Mesmero was prompting her to open up. Finally, she proceeded to explain, if only to get Mesmero to be quiet, "Ah've found a way that might help me control my powers. And when that's done, Ah'm gonna go back to the X-men"
Wanda glanced sharply into the review mirror, "No you're not" she stated as if to say the girl didn't have a choice in the matter; Kitty and Rogue gave her a questioning look.
"We'll have a better chance at stopping Mystique if we stay" she explained, and when that's done then we'll form our own group, new and old Brotherhood members, who are a part of the X-men only a different faction living in a different area. We could have our own training equipment and missions"
Slowly, a smile grew on Rogue's face, she liked the idea and could tell Kitty did too. But suddenly Rogue found the flaw in this little plan, "We need some adult structure to keep everyone in line, and Ah don't think the Professor is gonna consider sparin' any of the teachers at the institute. They need everyone they can get at that mad house"
St. John turned in his seat to face them, "Couldn't ya' just divide the X- men? You know, everyone who wants to come with our faction we can recruit, and everyone who wants to stay at the mansion can stay, that way they could have an equal amount of teachers and kids on each side"
Rogue grinned, "Excellent, we can work it out with Xavier but there is still the threat of Mystique. No matter what we do to stop her rampages she's just gonna keep comin' back, that'll make it harder to get Lance and them to join us"
Kitty shook her head, "Like, no it wont. The only reason the Brotherhood is with Mystique is because she has no consistent rules for them to follow and they like their freedom. But if we promise that this new faction of the X- men is, like, less strict and doesn't have Cyclops on the team, then they'd probably jump at the chance to get away from her"
Rogue noticed Gambit pull out a card and watched apprehensively as he played with it with his fingers, she didn't want him accidentally blowing up her car and everyone in it, "I don't know, Petite" the Cajun commented, "I've had enough experience with gambles like this: it's a sixty/forty chance that they'll join and the odds aren't in your favor"
Rogue snatched the card from his hand and gave him a pointed look before saying, "Ah know the Brotherhood better than ya'll, Ah had to live with them for two years, not to mention Ah've absorbed all of them at least once. Pietro's a definite yes, he'll be the easiest because of what happened to Magneto, Fred's a maybe, Todd's a yes, Lance is a no"
Kitty frowned upon hearing this but didn't protest, Rogue knew what she was talking about after all. After a moment, Rogue sighed, "You know, it'll be really weird, having the X-men, the Brotherhood, and the Acolytes on the same side. For a while, there wont be anyone to fight against and none of us are used to that. Although Ah'm sure Mystique will come up with a new team, then we'll have our hands full"
Gambit grinned, "The bigger the challenge, the better. 'Sides, you wont have to worry about fighting a new team, Cher`e, I will protect you"
Rogue snorted, "For one, Ah can take care of myself. For two, you wont be very useful once Ah've broken your rib cage for insulting me"
Remy was dumfounded for a moment, he gaped at Rogue, "How did I insult you?"
She rolled her eyes, "By suggesting that Ah need protection! What have you been taking lately?" he tilted his head as if he were seriously considering her question.
Then he lost the concentrative look and grinned, "The femmes" Rogue bopped him in the back of the head.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Mystique glared at Destiny from the entrance of the kitchen. The old Brotherhood (minus Pietro) was scattered around in the living room, doing what they do best: sulking. And her new, more powerful team, was off God- knows-where, doing God-knows-what, when she wanted them to be here training their asses off for her evil plans.
"Why did you just let them leave like that?!" Raven exclaimed, her eyes narrowing on her life-long friend; Irene hardly flinched at the harsh tone Mystique used, being accustomed to it by now, "They are not prisoners, they may come and go as they please" the older mutant raised her head and seemed to stare out the tiny kitchen window.
"Besides, you have already lost the girls and your scheme has failed. They will not comply to helping you destroy Charles Xavier and his X-men" Mystique was furious, in all the years that she had known Destiny, the fore- seeing mutant had never spoken so boldly towards her, not even about a vision. "When did you see this?!" Raven demanded, slamming her fist on the table, Irene sighed, "The moment they pulled onto the road"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Pietro began returning to the world of consciousness, but wished he could have slept the next seventeen years of his life away as the memory of what had happened to his father automatically replayed in his mind.
It hurt like hell to think about the events of Magneto's death, but Quicksilver vowed he was done with his grieving. Wanda had been right.
Eric Lensheer was not a father. And it had taken Pietro this long to accept that fact, although, subconsciously, he had known the truth much earlier.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Warren Worthington dipped and flew through a clear, morning sky. He stretched his long, feathery, wings, which looked magnificent in the son's warm glow. He took a deep breath and savored the free, unattached feeling of flight.
He loved everything up here; no matter what, nothing could go wrong when he was flying, nothing.
He let his thoughts drift to Rogue and his already wide grin broadened. Sure, he knew if she wanted to start a romantic relationship with anyone, it was going to be that Cajun Playboy, but he still had feelings for her and always would.
*As long as she's happy* he thought, *And as long as we're still friends so I can be there for her* he smirked as he did another barrel roll, "If Gambit ever hurts her, I'll go after him with knives and fists"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Wanda pulled into a hotel parking lot mid-afternoon and they paid for two rooms on the third level of the four-story building. As soon as everyone got settled in, Wanda, Kitty, Remy, St. John, and Peter decided to do some sight-seeing and asked rogue if she wanted to come, "No, thanks" she said, hoping to get some time to herself.
She wanted to continue learning how to control her powers, "I'll stay with you, Cher`e" Remy offered. Rogue was about to reject his suggestion when Mesmero piped up, *Tell him he may stay*
Rogue frowned, *But he'll distract me*
*He might be just the thing we need to helping you gain control* was the response. *How?* Rogue asked, confused, *Trust me* he answered. "Fine" Rogue said out loud, much to Gambit's delight.
When the others left Rogue sat cross legged on the floor and motioned for Remy to do the same, "The only reason Ah'm alowing you to stay is because Ah think you can help me control my powers" Remy grinned, "I get to be your test subject?"
Rogue rolled her eyes, *I'm two seconds away from shoving him out that door* Mesmero ignored her mental sarcasm, *Tell him to close his eyes and you do the same* she gritted her teeth, I am going to regret this*, "Close your eyes" she said with immense hesitation.
Surprisingly, he obeyed without a coy reply to her order. She closed her own eyes and asked Mesmero what to do next, *I am going to take you both into the depths of your psyche. We will proceed from there* Rogue felt herself being pulled into her own mind, it was the same sensation as when Mesmero had first talked to her in her head.
Rogue found herself in her filling place, but this time all the memories were neatly organized and shuffled away. She also noticed that her wall, which was keeping the psyches of the people she absorbed from mixing with her own, seemed stronger than ever; now, though, there was something different about it.
"I added it last night" Mesmero said, coming up beside her. Rogue's gaze was so transfixed on the medium-sized, glowing panel, planted in the direct center of her wall, that she didn't notice Gambit or his utter shock at being transported to such a place.
"What's it for?" she asked the telepath, he smiled, "When you have learned to control your powers, you will be able to use this panel to harness the power of the people you absorb and prolong the time you have their abilities. However, eventually their powers will fade but you will still have them longer then you are able to now"
Rogue nodded, "Ah've got a feeling that is going to come in handy soon" Mesmero turned towards an occupied Remy and motioned for Rogue to acknowledge the Cajun. He was ruffling through her mind's filling cabinet. Rogue's eyes widened and she rushed at the card boy, pushing him back and shoving the file drawer closed, "Don't you dare!" she exclaimed, "Ah don't give a damn if you're a thief, my memories are strictly off limits"
She was about to give him an advanced course in pulverisation, but Mesmero intervened, "You may beat him up latter, Rogue. At the moment we have more important business to attend to"
The Goth folded her arms across her chest and leaned against her filling cabinets, still giving Remy a death glare. Gambit got a good look at Mesmero for the first time and his first instinct, upon recognizing former enemy's profile, was to place himself between the man and Rogue while preparing to attack.
"You need help getting this guy out of your head, Cher`e?" Remy asked, "Of course not" Rogue answered, "He's the one that's been helping me learn to contol my powers and block out the people Ah absorb"
Gambit looked confused, but before he asked another question, Rogue explained, "After Ah absorbed Mes, he told me about how he had been under mind control and was barely aware of his own actions when he did Apocalypses dirty work. Ah actually saved him from himself by taking him from his body and now he wants to return the favor"
Gambit was extremely skeptical, but he trusted Rogue's judgment. However, one wrong move from Mesmero and the Cajun would make sure that there was hell to pay.
"Now" Mesmero said, "Gambit, I want you to use your powers and charge an object. The kinetic energy can simulate a life force which Rogue's mental embodiment should be able to retain into her mind like a psyche"
Remy produced a card and was surprised when he found he could use his powers, then Rogue took off her glove and touched the card, concentrating. Her mental form began to glow, than a beam of white energy lifted from her and floated towards her wall, automatically being sucked in with no need for any open and close passage.
The glowing around her faded and she waited for further instructions from Mesmero, "Got to the wall and place your hand on it" she did as she was told, "Reach out with your mental senses and try to locate the force you just absorbed" it took a while, but Rogue finally found what she was looking for.
A crackling, kinetic energy that sought out more particles to attach to and fulfill it's purpose of exploding. It was almost as if the energy sensed her there, and it came towards the wall, looking for a way to reach the beings on the opposite side and return to it's counterparts.
Rogue pulled with her mind and felt the energy flow back into her. She held up a hand and used her telekinesis to return it to the card. Remy retracted the power once it was returned.
Mesmero smiled, "Now you will be able to put psyches back in their original occupants. But you must try this on a real person a few times before you are able to return the psyche quickly enough in order to not absorb anything; you see, when you return a psyche, your mind thinks it is because you have taken as much information from that person as you need, so you will be able to touch that person without hurting them.
"But you must be careful, because I am not sure how long it will last. When you have mastered the skill, though, then you will not even need to concentrate on it. When you begin to extract a psyche that you don't want, your mind will not go through with the process. This way, you only absorb the people you want to absorb"
Excitement bubbled up in Rogue, she could not believe she was so close to controlling her powers. Without warning, she raced towards Mesmero and hugged him, mumbling a series of thank-yous.
When Mesmero was over his initial shock, he awkwardly returned the embrace, not having been exposed to affectionate displays such as this for longer than he could remember.
"It was my pleasure, dear Rogue" he responded as she pulled back, "Are you ready to go back to the conscious realm?", she nodded, going to stand beside Remy as they opened their eyes in the physical world.
Rogue and Gambit stood, then, much to Remy'surprise, Rogue hugged him like she had done to Mesmero. Not being one to pass up rare (almost non-existent in this case) opportunities, he wrapped his arms around her and held her as close as possible.
"Thanks for helping me" she said, then ducked out of him vigorous embrace much too soon for Gambit's liking.
When Rogue registered the fact the she had just hugged Gambit, she gave and internal groan, *That was one, stupid impulsive action* she thought, even while a tiny smile graced her lips and she turned quickly to hide it.
*It felt good, though* she realized, not because of his handsome features and great smelling cologne, but because, for the first time in what seemed like forever, Rogue felt truly and deeply loved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Mystique floored the gas pedal as she tore down the long stretch of deserted country road. She didn't care what Destiny said, she was not going to loose the chance at having some of the most powerful mutants in the world under her leadership. She was going to hunt them down and demand they come back with her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
(A/N: I know, my inevitable late updates are beginning to annoy you:) Blame it on the muse.
St. John: (walks in waving a contract) Uh-uh, Shiela, right here in your own official muse contract it states: "No author shall be able to blame sources of entertainment on dry spells or lack of inspiration"
J.D: Give me that (glances over conveniently highlighted section, than tosses paper in shredder) Just another one of your lame attempts at forgery, so I can blame you all I want.
St. John: (slipping into depression) After all I've done for you, mate. (big, sad, irresistible puppy-dog face)
J.D: I will not give in, I will not give in, I will not....(sigh), There should be a law against endearing, emotional displays. Alright, my muse has nothing to do with my tardiness.
St. John: (pats author's head) Good girl.
J.D: (growls with resentment)