FYI:

~Personal Thoughts~

~"Inner Voices"~

ESP

%The Written Word%

[Flashback]

"Normal Conversation (Duh)"

* Com Link or Telephone *

*Sound Effects (usually just Kurt's bamfing)

ROGUE

Ah'd made mah way down through several states over the past two days. Ah decided ta take a break when Ah hit Tennessee. For some dumb reason Ah had the urge ta see Nashville. ~Kitty, what is up with ya obsession with Country Music?~

~"Like have you ever seen Toby Keith? He is like so totally hot! Then there's Rascal Flats, and like that new guy Dirks Bently…oh, he's like to die for!"~

~An' Ah'm gonna puke.~ Ah slowed mah bike ta a stop outside the Grand Ol' Opery an' looked up at the buildin'. ~Ya talked meh inta drivin' all this way ta just look at this buildin'?~

~"Like you could go on the tour or something."~

~Or not.~ Ah'd begun talkin' ta mah psyches on this trip simply 'cause Ah'd gotten some what lonely. It did feel good though that Ah wasn't under a constant siege of questions anymore.

~"If y' go t' Nashville f' de Petite, den y' go t' N' Awlins f' Remy, non?"~

~Ah'm not goin' ta N' Awlins.~

~"Please, Roguey. I wanna see New Orleans too."~

~Ah hate it when ya two try an' gang up on meh.~

~"Is dat an oui, Chére?"~

~NO! Ah ain't goin' an' ya can't make meh!~ Ah put the bike back inta gear an' started ta look for a decent hotel ta stay in for the night. Ah stopped outside a Motel6 an' unhooked mah bag an' swung it over mah shoulder an' headed in ta check in.

Ah got mah room key an' went ta get a good night's sleep before Ah decided where ta go next. ~Maybe tamorrow Ah'll go on that silly tour, just for somethin' ta do.~

~"Or y' could just drive straight t' N' Awlins."~

~Ah ain't goin' there.~

~"Why not, Chére?"~

~'Cause there's a certain Cajun that Ah don't want ta see right now.~ Ah began ta open mah bag an' pulled mah pajamas an' looked at the rest of mah clothes that were already dirty. ~Uh, Ah need ta find a Laundromat or somethin'.~ That's when Ah saw it, the letter that Jamie had given meh. Ah picked it up an' began ta slowly read it.

%Roguey,

I know I'm not going to be as good of a writer as Remy, but I'm going to try my best any way. I know that you two have been writing back and forth. I kind of found the letters in your desk. I didn't mean to snoop. Please don't be mad, Roguey.

I came to ask you if I could borrow your calculator but you weren't there. I looked in your desk figuring you wouldn't mind. That's when I saw the letters. I know you're on your way to New Orleans to see Remy. Why didn't you just tell us that? I think everyone would have understood and maybe a little less worried.

Tonight, well the night before you left, I overheard Storm and Mr. Logan talking. They sounded really worried about you. Mostly Logan was the worried one. He said something like, "I should go with her," but Storm talked him out of it saying you needed space. Why do you need to leave us to get space? You could just ask, and you know we'd all leave you alone if that's what you wanted. That's why I think you left to see Remy.

I also know you'll come back soon and then the X-Men will be back together. We'll also be a lot stronger of a team because you'll bring Remy back too. So please hurry back, but while you're in New Orleans, would you send me a postcard? Maybe one of Mardi Gras. It would be my favorite in my collection.

Please hurry. We're all your friends here and we're all going to really miss you. Besides, who will I have to talk to other than Sarah if you go? Please come back and don't stay away forever.

Jamie%

Ah folded the letter back up as Ah sat down on the edge of the bed ta think. ~How many people know about meh writin' ta Remy? Well, there's Piotr, now Jamie. Anyone else who's thinkin' Ah'm on mah way ta N' Awlins?~ Ah grabbed mah night clothes an' went ta take a nice long hot shower ta try an' get rid of the headache that was comin' on.

~Why am Ah doin' this? What am Ah thinkin' ta be in N' Awlins?~ Ah was walkin' through the French Quarter of N' Awlins regrettin' mah stupidity. ~Even if Ah did want ta find him, where would Ah even begin ta look?~

~"Right dere, Chére. Follow dose two."~ Ah looked straight ahead of meh ta see two pickpockets workin' their way through the tourists.

~An' why would Ah want ta follow 'em? They're just pickpockets.~

~"An' all t'ieves have t' start somewhere. Dey'll lead y' t' de Guild most likely."~

~What do Ah have ta lose?~

~"Not'ing but seein' Remy 'gain."~ There was a smirk in his voice as Ah picked up the trail of the two thieves. Ah followed 'em 'til they reached a bar which they entered an' paused for a moment, so it didn't seem like Ah'd followed 'em. Ah waited for what was probably only a minute but it felt like an hour or more out there.

Ah walked inside an' found mahself in an extremely crowded bar. 'Long a mirrored wall ran the bar with glasses stacked on shelves. As crowded as it was, there was only a single bar tender workin' behind it but there were several bar girls runnin' behind ta fix drinks an' such for the customers seated at tables. Ah flicked mah hair behind mah shoulder an' sat down at the bar actin' as mature as Ah possibly could hopin' ta not attract attention.

"Y' new here." Ah looked up at the bar tender who smiled at meh an' placed an empty glass in front of meh. "Name's Francis, so what's y' poison?"

"Umm…Bloody Mary." He glanced at meh suspiciously then poured out the drink for meh an' moved down the bar a ways ta serve the two pickpockets Ah'd followed.

"Have a good night, boys?" Ah tilted mah head ta the side so that Ah could listen ta their conversation with more ease.

"Yeah, the tourists around here are t' gullible."

"Ripped off at least a dozen, just on this block." ~Ah'm definitely in thieves' territory. Question is, am Ah in the guild's territory?~ The bar got extremely quiet as everyone turned ta watch a blonde girl enter. Ah heard a lot of whisperin' about a 'Bella'. ~That's her, Remy's wife.~ Ah did mah best ta conceal mah surprise ta see her an' tried ta pretend Ah didn't have a clue as ta who she was. Ah cursed mah luck as she sat down next ta meh.

"Hey Francis! The usual, please." She turned an' looked at meh an' smiled prettily. ~No wonder Remy married her, she's gorgeous.~ "Y' new."

"Yeah, Ah was here lookin' for someone." She chuckled as Ah spoke. "Somethin' funny?"

"Y' a River Rat! Wouldn't be a li'l lost would y'?"

"Ah ain't lost. Ah know exactly where Ah am." She smirked as Francis poured her a shot of whisky an' gave her a small grin.

"I highly doubt dat. Y' neck deep in trouble an' completely clueless t' dat."

"Ah know that this is a hangout for the guilds." 'Gain quiet fell on the place as everyone's attention turned on meh an' Bella. She nearly spit out her drink as she glared at meh.

"And what would y' know 'bout de guilds?"

"Not much, other than the fact that the guy Ah'm lookin' for is a member of the Thieves' Guild. If Ah'm right, Bella," Ah emphasized her name ta make sure she understood that Ah knew exactly who she was, "Ah'm here for ya husband, 'Le Diable Blanc'." This time she really did spit out her drink an' Francis frowned as he pulled out a rag an' started ta clean up the mess.

"What do y' know 'bout Remy?" Ah grinned seein' Ah'd gained the upper hand in this conversation.

"Ah know enough, like the fact that he's a mutant, the 'Prince of Thieves', an' plenty more." Ah was inwardly nervous ta the fact that the entire place seemed ta hang on every word that the two of us were sayin'. ~Can't everyone just mind their own business?~ She scowled at meh but Ah ignored her as Ah calmly took a sip from mah drink. "So where can Ah find him?"

"Where he is, is none of y' business."

"Wrong answer, lets try that again." Ah did an extremely good impersonation of Logan an' got the results Ah wanted from her.

"I don't know, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell y'." Ah narrowed mah eyes at her as Ah tried ta figure out if that was the truth. Ah settled for that it was an' turned 'round on mah stool so that Ah was facin' the entire bar. "Maybe one of ya know where Ah can find him." Ah saw a man stand in the back corner of the room an' start walkin' tawards us. He wore a long brown trench coat but his face was hidden in the shadows. It wasn't until he was mere feet away from meh that Ah recognized him. "Remy…" It came out in a surprised whisper that no one really heard except him.

"Dat would be me." He was smirkin' as he stepped between the two of us. The bartender nodded his head tawards him an' stepped away ta serve someone else. "Now what did Remy do t' deserve a visit from such a bella femme?" ~He mustn't recognize meh. Ah've changed ta much for him ta even realize who Ah am.~

"Y' don't know her?" Bella was lookin' extremely confused at what she was seein'.

"Non, Remy knows de femme." He was starin' straight inta mah eyes as Ah examined him. He'd changed as well. His hair was much longer now an' pulled back in a ponytail. His bangs were longer as well an' easily fell below his eyes makin' for good cover for his demon eyes in this dark bar, although Ah doubted that him bein' a mutant mattered very much ta these people. The corners of his mouth turned up in his cocky grin as he saw that Ah was starin'. "What y' doing here, Marie."

"How do y' know her, Remy?" Bella looked extremely angry as she turned ta stare at meh then Remy. Remy just continued ta smirk at all the attention he was gettin'.

"Marie, dis be Remy's wife. Bella dis be Remy's girlfriend."

"That ain't true!" Ah was appalled at the way he was handlin' thin's.

"Fils de putain!" (A/N: Son of a bitch) Bella stood up an' slapped him hard 'cross the face an' stormed outta the bar.

GAMBIT

"Remy mighta deserved dat." I grinned as I sat down in what had been Bella's seat and looked at Marie as she stared back. "Y' different, Chére." Francis returned and placed a glass of beer in front of me but I paid no attention t' de action. He t' looked slightly surprised by de turn of events. "Not in a bad way t'ough." I stared at her realizing dat her hair was much longer and curlier. She ran her fingers t'rough her hair nervously causing de white strands t' mix in wit' de dark brown. I also noticed dat she was wearing gloves. ~T'ought she had dat under control.~

"Ah could say the same 'bout ya." I blew upwards so dat some of mon bangs moved outta mon eyes.

"Not dat much."

"So ya still cocky, an' ignorant, an' perverted…"

"Y' wound Remy real bad, Chére."

"Ah ain't ya dear." She turned her eyes away an' picked up her glass an' examined it rat'er den drink from it.

"Non, since when?"

"Since 'bout three months ago, when ya left meh." She turned back ta look at meh and f' once hated mon empat'etic powers. All I could feel was her hurt, pain, anger, and hatred of me.

"Remy's sorry." She glared at me and practically spat at mon apology.

"Ya ain't sorry. Ah know ya better then that. Ya never mean anythin' when ya talk like this."

"What? Talk like what?"

"In the third person. It's just ya bein' flirty." She stood up an' went ta leave. Ah grabbed her hand ta stop her but she turned 'round and slapped me 'bout ten times harder den Bella had. I dropped her hand and rubbed mon cheek as she stormed out.

"Remy t'inks he deserved dat une." Francis smirked as he wiped up de counter.

"Y' got some lady problems."

"Y' can take une off Remy hands if y' like."

"Dat brunette looks like a handful. Y' nuts if y' t'ink I'm taking her."

"Non, y' can have Bella. Dat une's Remy's." I put on anot'er confident smile and walked outside t' find Marie.

I found her standing over a motorcycle wit' a helmet in her hands. She was getting ready t' leave on it when I called out t' her 'gain. "Chére, don' do dis."

"Ah came here ta talk ta ya, an' ya won't even take meh seriously."

"I'm taking y' very seriously." She looked up at me, frowned and moved t' get back on de bike. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer t' me. When she was closer I grabbed de glove off her hand as she stared at me wide eyed. "What's wit' dese? T'ought y' had it under control."

"Ah did, for a while." She tried t' pull her hand back but I kept a firm grip on her wrist. "Remy, let go. Ah don't want ta hurt ya." I could see in her eyes dat she was pleading and let her go. She didn't move but just stood dere.

"Den what happened?"

"For awhile, Ah could use Dorian's powers ta negate mah own, but then that stopped workin'. Now, they're more powerful then ever, an' Ah can't even touch ya if Ah wanted ta." She stared down at her hands as she spoke.

"Of course y' can. Y' powers don' work on me, remember?"

"That's how it used ta be. Thin's change, sometimes for the worse."

"Why didn' y' tell me dis b'fore?"

"'Cause Ah knew what ya would do." I looked at her puzzled. "Ya'd come runnin' back ta New York an y' shouldn't."

"Y' right, I would have, 'cuase I care 'bout y'."

Well, ya shouldn't. Ya should be here an' lovin' ya wife." She turned her back on me and went t' leave 'gain.

"Don' go. Not yet." She looked back at me over her shoulder and I could see de tears falling.

"Ah can't do this ta ya. Ah saw how ya blew off Bella for meh, Ah can't ask ya ta do that."

"Y' didn'. Dat was mon choice."

"Remy, Ah…Ah…" Her voice cracked as she stared back down at de ground. "Ah love ya too much for ya ta throw everythin' away like this. Ah want ya ta just let meh go, don't call, don't write, an' don't follow meh."

"Non." She looked back up at me as if she never expected me t' refuse. "I'm not letting y' go, Chére. I was dumb enough t' do dat once, I ain't doing it 'gain." She stood dere stock-still as I walked up t' her and placed mon arms 'round her waist. I went t' brush de hair from her face but she swatted mon hand away.

"Ya so stupid ya know that? Do ya want ta end up in a coma?"

"Dat's mon choice as well." I leaned down t' kiss her not caring if she absorbed me or not. She pushed hard against me sending me into a nearby wall.

"Just don't touch meh. Let meh go, Remy. Please, just go back ta ya wife an' be happy. There's no way for anythin' ta happen between us now."

"What if I told y' I wasn't happy dere. I haven' been happy since I let y' walk away t'ree mont's ago, Chére." She t'rew her hands up int' de air in disgust.

"Ya impossible. Ah'm leavin' right now an' Ah'll never fogive ya if ya follow meh."

"Den I'll jus' go back t' de X-Men a single man and wait f' y' t' come back."

"Ya'll be waitin' a long time." She got on her bike and strapped on de helmet. "'Cause Ah ain't ever goin' back."

"Den where y' going?"

"Tanight—a hotel, then Ah'm leavin' town in the mornin'."

"Y' got money f' dat?" She glared at me den grinned.

"Yeah, a Swamp Rat offered ta pay." She laid rubber as she sped away. ~Merde, dat fille can ride.~ I put mon hands int' mon pockets and realized dat mon wallet was gone. ~De Petite T'ief!~

ROGUE

I pulled up outside a hotel an pulled Remy's wallet from mah pocket. ~Sucker.~

~"Dat ain't nice, Chére."~ Ah ignored psyche Remy's comments as Ah used Mystique's powers ta look like Remy. Ah walked inta the hotel lobby an' found a bored lookin' manager sittin' b'hind the check-in desk.

"Can I help you, Sir?"

"I need a room f' le soir (A/N: My French sucks: the night), homme." Ah pulled off Remy's accent perfectly. The manager keyed some thin's inta the computer.

"Credit card and ID." Ah handed Remy's credit card an' driver's license ta him an' tapped mah foot impatiently. The man seemed satisfied that Ah was indeed Remy LeBeau an' gave 'em back with a room key. "Have a good evening, Mister LeBeau."

"Bonsoir." Ah gave him a nonchalant wave as Ah went ta find mah room.

Once in the elevator, Ah went back ta mah normal shape. ~That wasn't so hard.~ Ah found mah room an' immediately started a hot shower. Half an hour later, Ah stepped out an' wrapped a towel 'round mahself as Ah went ta get mah clothes. Ah stepped outta the bathroom tuggin' at the bottom of the towel while tryin' ta hold it up as well. "Damn hotel towels, they're always ta small."

"Remy t'inks it's a perfect fit." Ah nearly jumped outta mah skin when Ah saw him layin' on mah bed as if he belonged there. "Dis supposed t' be a hint, Chére? 'Cause if it is, Remy's liking it."

"What the hell are ya doin' here?!?! Nevermind, just get outta mah room!" Ah grabbed some of mah clothes an went ta change.

He sat up in innocent shock. "Well, technically, dis be Remy's room."

Ah glared at him as he stood up an' faced meh. "Ya shouldn't go breakin' inta hotels."

"Didn' have t'. De nice homme in de lobby jus' gave Remy de key." He held up a room key innocently as Ah backed up inta the wall seperatin' the bathroom from the rest of the room. He walked tawards meh an' placed his hands on the wall on either side of meh blockin' all means of escape.

"Remy, don't do this. Ya ain't thinkin' straight, if ya even thinkin' at all." He grinned cockily as he leaned down tawards meh. Ah squeezed mah eyes shut an' phased through the wall an' heard his head hit the wall hard makin' a loud hollow sound. "Hate ta tell ya this but that's ya head that's hollow, not the wall."

"Merde, dat was uncalled f'. If I wanted knocked unconscious, at least let me kiss y' rat'er den bash my head off de wall." Ah couldn't help but laugh as Ah quickly changed. "Dis ain't funny. It hurts like a mother F-er." Ah stepped outta the bathroom ta see him rubbin' his forehead.

"Serves ya right, for tryin' ta be fresh with meh. Why'd ya follow meh?"

"Told y' I wasn' lettin' y' go dat easily." He stopped rubbin' his forehead an' smiled warmly at meh. "Did I tell y', y' look bella?" Mah hands flew up ta mah face which had no makeup an' was framed in soppin' wet curls.

"Um…well…" He laughed as Ah stuttered nervously.

"Y' de most bella femme in N' Awlins, Chére." Ah felt mah cheeks grow hot as he stood there watchin' mah reaction. "And now y' de most bella femme in de world when y' blush like dat."

"Stop that, ya don't mean it." Ah found mah feet frozen ta the floor as he walked tawards meh 'gain. He snaked an arm 'round mah waist so Ah really couldn't move even if Ah'd have wanted ta.

"Non, I meant every word." Ah closed mah eyes in panic as he lowered his head. Ah felt a slight pressure as he kissed meh on the top of mah head. Ah sighed in relief that he'd lost some of his boldness. ~Must have had some sense knocked inta him. Although, with that hard of a head, it's hard ta believe.~ "Didn' know it was dat good." Ah looked up at him ta see he had a cocky grin plastered onta his face.

"Why do ya insist on doin' this ta meh? Ah'll never be able ta kiss ya…or…or…"

"Dat don' matter. Hasn' mattered t' me since I met y', and it still doesn' now." Ah looked up at him ta see him lookin' back down at meh lovingly while he ran a gloved hand through mah hair. "Love ain't all 'bout de sex. T'ought y' knew better den dat, Chére." Ah blushed 'gain at the way he could just talk 'bout it like it was nothin' but ta meh it meant a lot more. It was the one thin' Ah could never have.

"Remy stop. There's no reason for ya ta throw ya life away ta spend it with the untouchable. Ya'll never be happy." He frowned as he tilted mah chin up forcin' meh ta look him in the eyes.

"Non, mon life didn' even begin 'til I met y'. If I leave y', I really will be t'rowing mon life away." Ah was ta shocked ta do or say anythin'. As quickly as that sentimentality had come on, it was gone again as he broke inta another cocky grin. "I'll make y' a deal. If y' leave demain (A/N: tomorrow), I'll never come looking f' y'. But if y' still her demain soir (A/N: Still my really bad french: tomorrow night) at ten, den y' go out wit' me."

"Well, then ya better start sayin' goodbye, 'cause Ah'm gone come mornin'." He opened the door an' bowed his way out grinnin'. "Ya ta cocky for ya own good!" Ah shouted at him through the closed door.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Wow, that was a long chapter, kind of. Not nearly as long as some I've written. Well, I'm sorry it's taken me so long. I've had work and all kinds of crappy stuff to do this weekend so this is the first chance I've had to use the internet. I've written tons by hand but haven't had time to type them up and upload so please deal with me for a little while. Now for roll call:

Sakuru Cherry Blossoms: I'm sure you just loved the Rogue vs. Bella confrontation this time.

Lid'l Rogue: Sorry, it took me so long. Work really takes a huge bite out of my writing time and it doesn't help that all day yesterday was spent in another state.

Ishandahalf: I know men are confusing! I've literally given up on trying to understand them personally. I feel as if I've failed you…I'm no longer the bunny on crack. :-(

Pomegranate Queen: All hail the queen! Thank you so much for the Cajun swearing!

Gothic Cajun: Just psycho. I don't really know my mail person but I think they'd be paranoid if I was waiting for them everyday.

A.M.bookworm247: Who said I was stopping here?

Rogue4787: Well, I hate to say it but that's really close to what my lines were…hm…there will be some action going on though to make those lines more interesting.

Lupine Draconis: No such thing as too presumptuous.

Malta2ndengine: I e-mailed you the pix. Enjoy!

Lightspeed Suzuku: I wouldn't even know who else to bring in at this point.

Ravenhawk: The thing about white eyes was more of an observation from the cartoon series. I wasn't planning on incorporating it into my story.