FYI:

~Personal Thoughts~

~"Inner Voices"~

ESP

%The Written Word%

[Flashback]

"Normal Conversation (Duh)"

* Com Link or Telephone *

GAMBIT

I silently landed on de balcony outside of Marie's room and peered t'rough de glass doors. Kitty roled over in her sleep snoring softly as I cautiously opened de door and crept inside. I made my way across de room stopping only when Kitty made a few noises in her sleep fearing dat she'd woken up. ~Merde, just keep sleeping! Y' gonna screw t'ings up if y' see me.~ I pulled a sheet of paper out of my pocket and placed it on her bed stand before placing my hand over Marie's mout' as I gently shook her shoulder. Her eyes flew open and she gasped in surprise. I removed my hand and placed a single finger on her lips as a warning t' stay quiet. She sat up and stared at me.

"What are ya doin' here?" she hissed.

"Shh…t'ought y'd like t' get away from dis place. Hurry up 'fore y' roomie wakes up." She got up and went t' her closet glancing back over her shoulder at me while I waited sitting on her bed. She returned from de walk in closet wearing a pair of black jeans dat had de knees ripped out and wearing a purple sweater dat looked like a left over from Betsy's quick exit. She hesitantly headed t'wards de door but I grabbed her elbow silently shaking my head. "Non, dis way." She looked at me like I was crazy for leading her t' de balcony which hung out over de bay three stories and a cliff below.

"Are ya nuts?"

"Shh…non." I laced my fingers t'gether and indicated for her t' use dem t' climb up t' de roof. She shook her head irritated and simply levitated herself up. ~Duh, Psylocke's powers.~ I grabbed de edge of de roof and expertly hoisted myself up ont' it.

"Now tell meh what's goin' on."

"Haven't y' had enough of de glares and de pitying looks? I just t'ought y' might want t' get away from it all wit' me. Or did I misunderstand y' when y' said I should tell y' 'fore I leave." She bit her lip in consideration t' de offer.

"No…Ah don't know. Ah just never thought of leavin' here."

"I'm not talking 'bout forever, Chére. Just for a few days, t' get away." I crossed over t' where she was standing and took her hands in my own.

"Scott harassin' ya? Ya such a weenie if ya lettin' him get ta ya." Her words were meant t' be funny but her voice was quiet and filled wit' concern. Her eyes shimmered in de moonlight as I led her t' de end of de building 'til we were standing above de garage. While I jumped t' de garage roof and den t' de ground she simply lowered herself using her powers. ~Could've just jumped, broken a leg, den had used Wolvie's powers t' heal herself, but dis way works t'.~ "So where'd ya have in mind?"

"N' Awlins." She gave me a shocked look, which didn't surprise me much.

"Ah thought ya didn't want ta think 'bout N' Awlins?"

"T'ings change." I shrugged nonchalantly as I got my motorcycle and began walking it t' de end of de drive.

"Ya tellin' meh." She shook her head again in confusion as we t'rough de gates.

SHADOWCAT

I woke up the next morning totally surprised to see that Rogue had beaten me up and had even made it out of the room already. I shrugged as I got ready and walked down to Piotr's room. "Hey Petey. You like ready for your first day back to school?"

"In a minute." He was digging through his desk drawers looking for something and came back out with a set of drawing pencils. John rolled his eyes as Piotr grabbed his backpack and joined me in the hall. "Have you seen Remy?" It shocked me that he was missing his room mate as well and shook my head in a simple no.

"I like bet he and Rogue are off someplace like making out!"

"I do not believe that. Remy tends to not be much of a morning person." I rolled my eyes and playfully slapped his arm.

"That's because he's going through Rogue withdrawal." He looked at me strange.

"I thought it was more of a nicotine withdrawal?" I giggled as we walked into the garage to worm Rogue into giving us a ride. She was nowhere to be seen even though her jeep was still sitting there. "That is odd. She is normally waiting on us."

"Yeah, I like wonder where she is. This is so not like her." I scratched my head in confusion as Piotr shrugged.

"Maybe she is still eating breakfast?"

"She like never eats breakfast, but it's like worth a try." We walked into the kitchen for me to remember sadly that Kurt wouldn't be there gorging himself. ~I wonder how the guy's doing?~ "Hey Sam, have you like seen Rogue this morning?" He looked extremely sad and that probably had to do with the fact that Betsy had left for England. She'd been the only interest he'd ever had since coming to New York. ~Poor kid, his heart's been like broken in two. I even think that Betsy liked him back from the way she kept blushing at the mention of his name. I'll have to play miss long-distance matchmaker.~

"Nope, haven't seen her."

"What about Remy?"

"Nooo…is there something going on?"

"I like don't have a clue but they're like both missing and we don't have a ride to school!"

"Have you ever thought to see if they took his bike. It's getting to be nice again."

"I did see that his motorcycle was missing."

"Well, I like hope she doesn't mind but I'm like going to borrow her jeep." I ran upstairs leaving Piotr and Sam shrugging. I burst into our room and looked on her desk and dresser for her keys but didn't find them. ~They've got to be her somewhere…what about her bed stand.~ I walked across the room and examined the table that sat next to her bed. I found a book, a playing card, ~King of Hearts of course…that is like so romantic.~ and a slip of paper. I picked up the paper thinking it might have been a note from Rogue to me saying that she wouldn't be driving to school but gasped in horror as I read it. "ROGUE'S BEEN LIKE KIDNAPPED!!!"

WOLVERINE

"ROGUE'S BEEN LIKE KIDNAPPED!!!" I tossed down my newspaper and nearly knocked over my damn coffee in my rush to get out of the dining room. Of course Piotr and Sam took after me as I rushed up the two flights of stairs and down the hall to the girls dorms. Jamie stuck his head out the door of the bathroom as we ran past with a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth.

"What's wrong with Roguey?"

"Are you deaf, twerp?" Sam's insult seemed to strike a chord with the kid as he ran down the hall as well abandoning his toothbrush.

"What's this all about Half-Pint?" She was practically in tears as she thrust a piece of paper into my face.

"Rogue, she's like been kidnapped. This is like so horrible, first I lose Betsy as room mate and now Rogue too!" She ran straight to Piotr and threw her arms around him as he tried to console her. Sam simply stood there gaping while Jamie tried to look over my shoulder at the paper. I slowly read it and reread it to make sure I had understood.

%I've taken Rogue with me. Don't try and follow and please don't blame her. She had nothing to do with anything and this was all my decision. I promise I won't hurt her so please don't worry about her.%

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jamie's voice came from behind me and he was standing on tiptoe trying to see.

"How the hell should I know?" I stormed back out of the room sending Sam sprawling to one side as I headed towards Chuck's office. I slammed the door shut behind me to find him talking to the Frost woman.

"Logan, now isn't a good time."

"This ain't a good thing, Chuck. Someone's kidnapped Rogue." His eyes snapped to the paper I held in my hand as the woman took everything in. I handed it to him and when he finished reading it he sighed.

"It seems that whoever has kidnapped Rogue is extremely close to her and cares a lot for her."

"Are you thinking it might be Mystique?"

"It's a possibility I'm afraid." I shook my head. ~Damn lady shows up and disappears every time you least expect it.~ Emma then held out her hand for the paper as well.

"May I?" Chuck handed it to her but I growled in disapproval.

"It's none of your business."

"It is now. I have as much right to know what's going on here as you do." She read the note as well and shook her head in disagreement. "I don't think this was written by a woman. The handwriting is much too sloppy and large." I narrowed my eyes at her trying to understand what she was saying.

"So you think a man kidnapped her?"

"Maybe not a man, but a boy." Her blue eyes flashed up at me as realization hit me full force.

"I'm going to kill that Cajun!"

ROGUE

"Ya gotta be kiddin' meh. We're takin' the train?" Ah stared at him incredulously as he pulled his motorcycle over in front of the train station.

"Oui, dat we are."

"Why?" He led meh inside and across ta the platform that announced it's departure for N' Awlins.

"Y' want t' travel a t'ousand miles on de back of a motorcycle? Kinda hard on de rear if y' ask me, but den I could always massage it for y'."

"Perv." Ah turned tawards the train and walked on board. Remy quickly hopped up behind meh an' led meh ta a back seat of the train car. Ah couldn't help grinnin' though at he thought of ridin' ta N' Awlins on the back of his bike. All that time spent huggin' him 'round the waist…

"A penny for y' t'oughts."

"Is that all they're worth ta ya?"

"Non, dey wort' more den de moon and de stars, mon Chére." Ah shook mah head in partial disgust but also so that mah white bangs fell inta mah face hidin' the blush that was threatin' ta take over.

"Ya can be so cheesy some times."

"But y' love me anyway don't y'?" Ah wasn't sure how ta answer him so turned mah head out the window an' simply left the question hanging in the air. Ah heard him sigh an' settle back in his seat for the long trip. "Uh oh." ~That's not somethin' ya want ta hear from the Cajun.~

"Uh oh what?"

"Forgot de tickets."

"Ya did what?!?!" Ah whipped 'round an' gave him mah most menacing glare. "Ah can't believe how stupid ya can be sometimes." Ah shook mah head but realized that the train was now moving meaning that he ticket man would be comin' 'round any minute. "Shit, do ya realize what ya've done?"

"Just follow me, Chére."

"Ah can't believe Ah'm doin' this but, okay." He took mah hand an' lead meh through the door in the back of the car so that we were now outside. "What, this is ya brilliant plan? We just stand out here an' hope the guy doesn't wonder what we're doin'?"

"Non, just stick wit' me." He leapt across the void between the two cars landing on a luggage car. He held out a hand for meh ta use ta steady mahself as Ah ta made the jump. He pushed open the door ta reveal the car ta be full of crates and miscellaneous luggage.

"Real first class."

"Oui, but it's better den walking, non?"

"Ya got a point there, but we wouldn't be in this mess if ya wouldn't have been such a sneaky thief an' woulda just bought tickets the old fashioned way."

"But dis is more exciting, non? A real adventure."

"Ah've had enough real adventures for a lifetime." Ah sighed as Ah plopped down on one of the crates. He sat down on the floor beside meh stretching out his long legs as he leaned back on his hands.

"Ain't dat de trut'."

"So why ya goin' on another one?" He shrugged an' left the question hangin' there. ~Guess Ah deserve that for not answerin' his.~ After a while he pulled out some of his cards an' began ta play solitaire as Ah got lost in mah thoughts. ~Wonder if they've noticed we're gone yet? Kitty probably thinks we're playin' hooky tagether an' laughin' it up Ah'm sure. Logan's probably pissed 'cause we're gonna miss trainin' after school an' the professor is probably disappointed in us for bein' so irresponsible.~

SHADOWCAT

"Are you going to phase in there and eavesdrop or what?" Tabitha was pressing up against the door to Cerebro trying to catch any part of the conversation in there that the adults were having.

"Fine, fine. I'm going." I pressed my hands against the door and pushed my head through close to the ground hoping not to attract any attention. I looked up at Mister Logan, Ororo, Mister McCoy, the professor, and the new lady, Miss Frost. The professor was using Cerebro while Mister McCoy tapped away at another computer flipping through newspaper articles and news reports.

"Find anything yet, Blue?"

"I'm afraid not, which is a good sign because that means they haven't caused any mass chaos." Logan shook his head in disgust as he turned his attention to the professor who was wearing the Cerebro helmet. He seemed to be in deep concentration and paid no attention to the bickering adults around him. ~They can be just like us sometimes, fighting and so forth.~ Ororo was pacing back and forth but Miss Frost seemed to be pretty cool about the whole thing standing there with one hand placed on her hip waiting patiently for some results. All of a sudden images of Remy came flying up on Cerebro's screens. ~Uh oh, I like don't think that's a good sign.~

"Chuck, what's going on?"

"It appears that Remy is using his powers." Logan grunted.

"So where is Gumbo and is Rogue with him?"

"I don't know if she's with him but it appears that he's on a south bound train."

"To where?" Miss Frost asked this question finally having her interest peaked by the conversation.

"New Orleans." I phased back through the door to relay the information I'd gotten to Tabitha, John, Bobby, Amara, Sam, Ray, Jamie, and Piotr. They all nodded and listened quietly until I'd finished.

"Wow, New Orleans, huh? Bet they're just gonna whoop it up at Mardi Gras." Tabitha's explanation seemed simple enough but I still had my doubts.

"Then why would he leave a fucking note? It's not the Mate's style to fucking kidnap the girls. He rather make them swoon."

"Yeah, like that note still puzzles me." Piotr was quiet and was in deep thought.

"He has been feeling rather guilty lately for what has happened to Kurt, perhaps he wanted to distract her from her brother's plight. If that is the truth, then he would not want Rogue to be in trouble when they returned thus he 'kidnapped' her."

"But she would like go willingly right?" ~Of course, if she like didn't want to go there is like no way that Remy'd force her. There's like no physical way since she's like able to kick ass when she wants to. Besides if they would have fought or something, it would have woken me up.~

"I'm worried about Roguey." Jamie hung his head and kicked the wall in frustration producing two more Jamies.

"Cut it out, twerp. This hall's small enough without you multiplying on us." Sam looked pissed. ~I really need to get in touch with Betsy and get the two of them like hooked up so he'll like take a chill pill.~

"I'm like sure she's totally fine. Probably having a good time just like Tabby said."

"Then why did Gambit use his powers?" Bobby brought up a good point. Too good of one and everyone got quiet and sullen as we walked away.

GAMBIT

"Is it meh, or is it gettin' hot in here?" She was waving her hand in front of her face like a fan stressing her point. I got up and pushed de door t' de car open slightly so dat de air would blow in cooling de car off. It was quickly becoming a beautiful evening. ~Non, not as beautiful as mon Cherie.~ I smiled at de t'ought as I turned back t' look at her.

"Is dat better?"

"Yeah, thanks." She leaned back against de crate and sighed.

"Y' know y' coulda just taken dat sweater off. I wouldn't have minded." I gave her a wink as she launched herself at me pushing me dangerously close t' de open door. "Chére dat ain't non way for a femme t' act."

"Well, Ah honestly don't give a shit." She had nearly tossed me out of de car before I had gotten my bo staff out and used it t' keep myself from falling out completely. She planted her foot on my chest pushing against me as I tried to pull myself back in.

"Point taken, now here's mine. Pull me in or I blow dis boxcar right of de tracks."1 I charged de entire boxcar so dat we were engulfed in flaming pink kinetic energy. She rolled her eyes as she pulled me back in.

"Ya crazy enough ta do it."2 She sat back down on the floor of de car as I sat above her on a crate. I pulled out a deck of cars and started a game of solitaire. "Ya ever quit playin' with those cards?"

"Non, dey remind me of y'."

"Yeah how's that?" I shuffled de deck until I found de Queen of Diamonds and held it up for her t' see.

"Y' as a hard as a rock sometimes, Chére." She rolled her eyes as I flipped t'rough de deck again until I found de Queen of Spades. "But y' as regal as de come t'." 'Again I shuffled t'rough de deck until I found de Queen of Clubs which I showed her as well. "And dis one is 'cause y' insist on clubbing me so much." She smiled as I pulled out de Queen of Hearts. "But y' always be de queen of dis poor Cajun's heart." She rolled her eyes and den closed dem. After a few minutes she was fast asleep. I sat dere watching her much like I had before when she'd been in de Med Lab, so peaceful. I shook my head trying t' make dose t'oughts go away. ~Get it t'get'er homme, y' gonna go soft. Remember y' coming down here for a reason.~ I shrugged off my trench coat and wrapped it 'round her shoulders. I crouched down next t' her as I tucked it in 'round her. She made a small noise as she moved in her sleep an' moved her head ont' my shoulder. ~Guess, I won't be going anywhere.~ I put an arm 'round her shoulder as I sat dere watching her sleep.

COLOSSUS

"Like I'm coming with you and there's like nothing you can do to stop me."

"Half-Pint all I have to do is say no and you'll be staying right where you are." Kitty was doing her best to glare down Logan but that seemed to be an impossible task for someone like her. Logan simply rolled his eyes and walked away to board the Velocity.

"But Mister Logan, she's like my best friend." He ignored her as he boarded. "Petey, help me out a little." She was practically on her knees begging as I watched Wolverine step onto the Velocity and out of sight.

"I do not think they are going to listen to me either."

"You could at least try. Think of Rogue! Think of Remy, he's your friend and Mister Logan'll like tear him apart in a second flat if no one tries to stop him." I sighed knowing she was right. I stepped onto the Velocity to make one last plea for her.

"What do you think you're doing, Russian?"

"I think you should allow us to go. We are their friends." Storm seemed to have a change of heart and motioned for Wolverine to back down. Kitty quickly boarded and sat down buckling herself in before he could change his mind.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Anything with a super script (which I hope works) number above it is pulled straight from the episode so don't anyone start thinking that I'm taking credit for stuff that isn't mine. These lines are just to good not to use. That applies to the following chapters as well. Well, I just realized I forgot to say this again. I don't own any of the characters, but bless Marval for making them so I could write about them.