FYI:

~Personal Thoughts~

~"Inner Voices"~

ESP

[Flashback]

"Normal Conversation (Duh)"

ROGUE

The day at the mall had passed by without much trouble. It still puzzled meh though why Remy had been so upset about meh mentionin' New Orleans. ~Why wouldn't he want ta go back? Isn't that what Christmas is about--seein' ya family?~

~"T' much bad stuff down t'at road for Remy."~

~Isn't that why Ah'm here? Ta go down that road with ya?~

~"Non, Remy don't want ta go back."~

~Why? What happened?~

~"Non, I ain't gonna say anyt'ing."~

~Damn, why can't Ah just look straight inta his memories? Why do Ah have ta deal with his stubborn personality?~

~"Remy not stubborn, just right—all de time."~

It was Friday night an' Ah was standin' in mah room tryin' ta get ready for the small party we were havin' down stairs where everybody was exchangin' their gifts. Ah grabbed up mah pile an' headed down the front stairs ta the community room.

"Hey, like what took you so long." Ah entered the room ta find nearly everyone coupled off. Remy was standin' by the fireplace talkin' ta John, Tabitha, Kurt, Piotr, an' Kitty, who waved meh over. John was holdin' a small bough of mistletoe over Tabitha's head.

"Come on Sheila, one kiss."

"No way!" She shoved him back an' Remy caught his arm before he fell inta the flames.

"Mate, how do you get the girls so easily?"

"It'd be my charm, mon ami." He slid an arm around mah waist as Ah put the packages down.

"Ooo…gifts! Where's mine?"

"Cool it Kitty, ya can't start openin' them till tamorrow. An' Piotr's gonna make sure of that." Ah gave Piotr an' Remy a wink as Kitty looked at meh questioningly.

"And like why not?"

"Because Hanukkah doesn't start till tomorrow. An' if Ah remember correctly, ya only open one gift a day." Ah handed over the eight boxes tied tagether with a piece of ribbon. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she threw herself at meh in a hug. Ah closed mah green eyes an' opened mah red on black ones as she squeezed meh.

"You are like so sweet for remembering!" She let go of meh an' Ah relaxed as mah eyes went back ta green. ~Thank God, for the professor's trainin'.~

"Here, mon amis." Remy handed Piotr an' John their gifts as Ah gave Tabitha an' Kurt theirs. John's eyes reflected the firelight in his excitement as he tore the paper off.

"No shit! Awesome candles, Mates!"

"Just a little somet'ing for y' obsession. Just don't burn our room down or anyt'ing." Piotr then opened his next t' reveal a sketch pad.

"Thank you, my friends. It will give me something to do on the plane." Kurt opened his next ta find a picture frame. Around the edge it said 'Siblings 4Ever' an' on the back Ah'd written 'To My Loving Brother, The Fuzzy Blue Dude'. He grinned as he examined the picture in the frame that had been taken after the Romeo an' Juliet play. Ah was still in costume an' Kurt had his inducer turned off so it was really a comical picture.

"Zank ja, Rogue."

"Ya welcome." Tabitha opened her gift next. She squealed with joy at the necklace we had gotten for her. It was silver an' said 'Devil' on it.

"It's great, thanks you guys!"

Ah smiled as Ah turned ta take the rest of our gifts around the room. Remy an' Ah received a lot of thank yous from everybody before we got back ta the others on the couch.

GAMBIT

De next t'ing I remember was being bombarded by gifts from our friends. Rogue opened hers first and found a necklace from Kurt and Amanda t'at said 'Schalk', Rogue in German. "Thanks, Kurt. It's really cool!" She smiled up at him as she opened de next one from Kitty and Piotr.

"Umm…Kitty, Ah already have this makeup."

"Like no you don't. You've been like using mine, so like when I leave tomorrow, you'll be needing your own."

I laughed as she opened and closed her mout' in astonishment. "Yeah, Ah guess Ah have been. Oops."

"It's like totally cool. I think it's great that you're like no longer wearing dark colors."

Rogue opened her next gift which was from John and Tabit'a. It was a set of incense wit' a burner.

"Something to remind you of me while we're gone, Sheila." John winked at Rogue as Tabit'a jabbed him in de stomach and I shot him a deat' glare. I began opening mine next and started wit' de one from John and Tabit'a. It was a cigarette lighter wit' de King and Queen of Hearts on it.

"John what's is t'is for?"

"So you'll stop stealing my lighter, when you go out for a cigarette, Mate."

"Ya smoke!" Rogue turned on meh and never was I so grateful t'at looks really can't kill.

"Only when Logan makes us get up at five in de morning for training."

"That's no excuse."

"I'm nineteen, Cherie. It's not illegal or anyt'ing."

"That's not the point, it's against the rules."

"Since when did y' care 'bout de rules, hmm mon Cherie?"

"Shut up." I gave her a wicked grin as I opened the next box t'at was from bot' Kurt and Amanda. It was a black t-shirt that read 'Stop Reading My Shirt'. I laughed because I'd remembered pointing it out yesterday but had no clue when Kurt would have been able t' buy it wit'out me seeing him.

"T'anks, homme." I opened de box from Kitty and Piotr last t' find an extremely nice poker set, complete wit' four decks of cards, poker chips, and automatic shuffler.

"Like to give you guys something to do while you're stuck here with the grownups."

"T'ank y', mon amis. It's great." ~When was de last time so many people t'ought t' get y' a gift? Been a while t' say de least.~

The night passed t' quickly for my taste. De t'ree of us went back t' our rooms carrying new stacks of gifts. John and Piotr started packing t'eir stuff up so I left t'em and went down de hall t'wards Rogue and Kitty's room. I knocked and heard an agitated Kitty from inside.

"Like, Bobby, if you're bugging me again, GO AWAY!"

"Non, it's not Bobby, but if it's a bad time…" De door flung open and Marie came flying out. "Mon Dieu, what's wrong, Cherie."

"Ah can't take it anymore in there. She's drivin' meh up the wall."

"T'at bad?"

"Worse. Ya wanna do somethin'. Everybody's packin' an' Ah feel a little left out."

"Oui, we'll break in my new poker set." I led her back t' my room long enough t' grab de set and we walked back downstairs t' the community room. The room was in shambles from de party and Logan and Ororo were trying t' clean it up some. The tree was nearly falling over from being top heavy, (A/N - Let's just say Bobby got to it.) and Logan was crawling on de ground beneat' it trying t' set it back up.

"Need some help, Wolvie?"

"What? Oww…" He tried t' stand up but banged his head off one of de lower branches. He t'en backed out and stood up rubbing de back of his head. "Something I can do for you two?"

"Non, just wanted t' know if y' needed help."

"No thanks, Gumbo. I think I've got it under control. Where's your buddies, the Russian and Orange?"

"Mon amis are packing, like everybody else." I shrugged as I led Marie out of de room and t'wards de living room. "Here's as good a place as any, non?"

"Yeah, ya want ta deal, or should Ah?"

"Well, t'at all depends, what kind of game we gonna play?"

"What are ya getting' at Swamp Rat?"

"I just want t' know what game we're playing."

"Well, Ah don't know, ya think of one."

"Ok, how 'bout war?"

"Too long."

"Bull Shit?"

"Ya know the second Ah lie."

"Strip Poker?"

"REMY LEBEAU!"

"Follow De Queen?"

"Fine, but we ain't playin' strip poker, ya hear?"

"I hear, but t'at doesn't mean I won't t'ink 'bout it." She knocked me over de back of de head wit' de box as I started t' deal out de cards. "Queens and sevens are wild, mon Cherie."

ROGUE

A few hours passed before Ah was out of poker chips. "Ya win again, Sugah. Just like always."

"I'm not called Gambit wit'out reason."

"Boy, that didn't sound the least bit cocky, now did it?"

"Who's cocky, Cherie?"

"Ya are, an' ya know it."

"Y' wound me real bad, Cherie." He placed a hand over his heart and gave meh his best hurt expression. Ah gave him another whack across the back of the head as Ah stood up.

"It's getting' real late an' the others are leavin' really early tamorrow. Ah want ta make sure Ah'm up ta say goodbye." He put the cards an' chips back inta the box an' left it on the coffee table. "Ya comin'?"

"Oui." He put an arm around mah waist as we climbed the stairs. Outside of mah door Ah could still hear Kitty scramblin' ta pack her stuff. "Petite's still at it?"

"Yeah, she's tryin' ta take everythin' with her." Ah went ta open the door but Remy pulled against it keepin' it shut. "What do ya think ya doin…" Ah turned around an' he silenced meh with a kiss. As he leaned back Ah tried talkin' again. "…Sugah?"

"Giving my girl a goodnight kiss." He kissed meh again, an' this time Ah parted mah lips lengthenin' the time we spent there kissin'. Ah was leanin' up against the door an' he had one arm around mah waist an' the other one on the door. All of a sudden Ah felt mahself fallin' inta the room with Remy landin' on top of meh.

"Like oh my God, I didn't realize you two were like making out, out there. I'm like so sorry." Kitty had opened the door on us causin' us ta fall in. She had jumped back just in time an' was standin' there tryin' her best not ta laugh at us. "Did you two like have a nice trip?"

"Oui, but I should be going. Bonsoir, Cherie, Petite" Remy left the room with his half bow, leavin' meh alone wit' Kitty.

"I'm like soo sorry, but that was really funny. That'll be like the highlight of my entire vacation!"

"Kitty, ya are so dead if ya tell anyone."

"Like what's the big deal, you two are dating. Who cares if you were like making out?"

"The point is it's one thirty in the mornin'. Ah think someone might care."

"Oh, yeah. Have I like been packing all that time?"

"Yes, now how about some sleep. Ya can finish in the mornin'." Ah quickly changed inta pajamas an' flung mahself onta mah bed. ~Actually strip poker wouldn't have been t'at bad.~

~"T'at's what Remy t'inks t'."~

GAMBIT

I was woken up by de sound of John and Piotr dragging t'eir luggage out of de room. I rolled over and looked at my alarm clock t' see t'at it was already ten in de morning. ~Merde, t'at will teach me t' stay up so late. But it was wort' it, even wit' t'at little fall.~ I crawled out of my warm bed and shivered as I hurried t' put on some clot'es. "Merde, t'is place cold enough?"

"It is not to bad."

"Damn it, Piotr, you fucking grew up with Eskimos. I never even heard of this shit called snow 'til I moved here."

"But y' do enjoy de snowboarding, non?"

"You shut up too, Mate." I smiled as I pulled on a t-shirt t'en t'rew on my trench coat over top for added warmt'. John not only had a suitcase in his one hand but his snowboard perched over one shoulder. ~T'ere's no way for him t' deny he likes snowboarding.~

I walked wit' t'em down stairs t' find de front hall in complete chaos as people dragged t'eir stuff outside t' be packed int' de four cars t'at were going t' de airport. Marie was standing in one corner wit' Kitty and Kurt.

"Like you have to promise me that you'll IM me everyday."

"Kitty, Ah don't have a screen name."

"Like you do now. I set it up last night for you."

"Kitty…"

"I put like everyone on your buddy list so there's no excuse for you to ignore us all break."

"Kitty…"

"Your screen name is piazza31chik…he's like your favorite isn't he?" (A/N: That really is my screen name so if you want to IM your reviews, that's cool with me to)

"Kitty, Ah didn't ask ya ta do that."

"Like I know, but that's what friends are for, right?"

"Thanks."

"Ja vill talk to me to, right Rogue?"

"Of course Kurt."

"Kitty, we should be going now." Piotr and I had been standing t'ere listening t' t'em for a while before we decided t'at if t'ey still planned t' leave t'ey should really be going.

"Oui, Petite, if y' don't go now, y'll be stuck wit' me all break."

"Uh…like no way am I watching you two like make out the whole time!"

"Vhat are ja talking about?"

"KITTY!"

"Oops, like I said to much. Bye!" Kitty grabbed two of her suitcases leaving de ot'er four for Piotr t' carry. He shook his head as he grabbed two of t'em.

"Here, mon ami. I'll help." I grabbed de last two and headed outside wit' him.

"Tabitha, why do you need so many fucking suitcases?"

"Because I want them, so there." Storm was frowning at de two of t'em as t'ey argued but didn't say anyt'ing 'bout John's language. ~T'ere are just some battles y' can't win…t'is would be one of t'em.~

"Hey, I'll see y' hommes later." All of de students waved t' us as I stood next t' Marie on de front stairs.

"Bye Kitty! Bye Kurt! See ya guys soon!" De cars slowly drove away down de driveway and out of sight t'rough de front gates.

"So who's up for some training?" Logan had come up behind us as de professor and Beast went inside.

"Ya gotta be kiddin', Wolvie. Ah ain't doin' a speck of trainin' all break, except for what Ah've already planned for mahself."

"And what's that Stripes."

"Ah'm gonna see how long Ah can keep up Remy's powers." Wit' t'at she closed her eyes and reopened t'em t' reveal de eyes I knew t' well as my own. She took off her gloves and tapped Logan on de nose. "See, Ah'm trainin'. Ya happy."

"Whatever." He turned and walked inside leaving us alone.

"So what should we do first now t'at we practically have de mansion t' ourselves?"

"Ah don't know about ya, but Ah'm takin' the longest bubble bath on record since no one's around ta interrupt meh."

ROGUE

Ah, finished mah bubble bath an' threw on an old sleeveless tank an' a pair of boxer shorts before headin' back down stairs. It was nearly five o'clock when Ah found Remy in the livin' room playin' a game of chess with Beast. "So who's winnin'?"

"He is." Remy sounded distant as he knotted his brow tagether in concentration. Ah sat down on the floor beside the game ta watch as Remy made his next move. "Check, homme."

"I'm afraid that you fell into my trap, Remy, once again." Beast moved one of his pieces forward takin' out Remy's queen. "Check mate."

"Merde, t'at's five times in a row."

"Remy, Ah think ya worse at chess, then John is at PS2."

"T'at hurts Cherie, t'at really hurts." He looked down at meh with his famous pouting expression as Beast set the board up for another game.

"Would you like to play, Rogue?"

"No, Ah know when it's best to just admit defeat." Right then, the door bell rang. "Ah wonder who that could be?" Ah stood up ta go answer it but Beast stood up as well.

"Rogue, it could be a protestor. It would be safer if you stay here."

"First of all, Ah don't think a protestor would ring the doorbell, an' secondly, wouldn't it be best if someone normal answered the door?"

"Alright, but be careful."

"It's not like an axe murderer's gonna be on the other side or anythin'." Ah walked outta the room tawards the front hall. Through the glass doors Ah could see a tall slim blonde girl with a boy who was built similarly ta Remy slightly behind her. The only difference was this guy had short, styled hair an' a clean shaven face. Ah opened the door cautiously.

"Hullo." She had an English accent that made me think of Risty right away. ~No, can't be Mystique, she wouldn't be that stupid would she?~

~"No, doesn't smell like her."~

"Who are ya, an' what do ya want?"

"My names Elisabeth and this is my brother, Brian, and we're here to see Remy LeBeau. He does live here right?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Well, what do you all think? Well, click on that little purple button and tell me for gosh sakes. I could still use ideas for what Remy and Rogue should get for each other for Christmas! Don't make me beg and grovel more. *Pouting.

I told you, I'd throw in some new characters, you'll recognize them soon enough if the British accent thing and names haven't already clued you in.