FYI:

~Personal Thoughts~

~"Inner Voices"~

ESP

%The Written Word%

[Flashback]

"Normal Conversation (Duh)"

* Com Link or Telephone *

*Sound Effects (usually just Kurt's bamfing)

{Background noise--music, crowds, etc.}

GAMBIT

I stood on de roof of a neighborin' buildin' t' de museum and watched de outside guards movements. Dey had a pattern. One walked past de front door and checked each rear exit every ten minutes. Never did anyone check de roof f' disturbances. ~Dis is t' easy.~ I vaulted ont' de roof of de museum and landed noiselessly. I walked over t' de emergency stairs exit and gave de handle a slight tug. It didn't budge. ~Dat ain't up t' spec. Dose doors supposed t' be easy t' get out in fires. Tsk tsk.~ I placed a single finger on de door knob and disintegrated it wit' mon powers. ~Non powers, blah, blah, blah. Dis bein' done mon way or de high way.~ I opened de door and knelt down pullin' out an aerosol can. I sprayed at de base of de door and was surprised t' see non security lasers. ~Tsk tsk. Dey really need t' work on de security here.~

I walked down de flight of stairs and again disintegrated de door knob on de ot'er end when I found dat une t' be locked as well. Once more I knelt down t' check f' de security lasers but found none. ~Dis really is t' easy.~

Shakin' mon head at de simplicity of dis job, I started t' de right t' find de gallery holdin' de piece I was gonna steal. ~Hmm…Romare Bearden's 'J Mood'. What's de significance of dat?~ I stood in de archway t' de gallery and glanced 'round quickly f' security. Dere were non cameras but dis time dere was at least de lasers—a pat'etic square foot. I shook mon head as I pulled out mon bo staff and extended it 'cross de room in front of de art piece. I zipped up mon trench coat so dat it wouldn't drag t'rough de lasers and made mon way over t' de piece.

I swung up and around so dat I was non longer hangin' by mon knees and smiled as I easily balanced standin' on de staff. I closely examined de piece f' furt'er security and frowned when I found none. ~Somet'in' 'bout dis don' seem right. Dis should really be harder. Not dat I'm complainin'.~ I carefully removed it from de wall and placed it under mon arm t' carry back out. I walked 'cross de staff like a tight rope t' de ot'er end of de room and dropped down lightly int' de center of one of de laser squares.

Jus' as I did dis, de alarms b'gan t' go off every where as de entire museum b'came bat'ed in eerie blood red lights. ~Merde! How could I have missed somet'in'. Dis place had no security at all, how could I set somet'in' off?~ I grabbed de staff and took off at a dead sprint. At de end of de hall I came 'cross a mon lying on de ground. ~Merde, someone else is here.~ I knelt down next t' him and immediately saw de bruisin' 'round de neck from strangulation. ~Assassins.~

As I stood back up a card slipped from mon pocket and fell b'side de body unnoticed b'cause I was t' busy tryin' t' get outta dere b'fore I was found. ~Knew dis was t' easy.~ Almost grinnin' at de sudden challenge, I made mon way t' a window wit' a fire escape. Impatiently, I charged de glass causin' it t' fall away and as I was 'bout t' leave I got caught.

"Stop right there!" I turned t' see a security guard standin' alert wit' his gun drawn. ~Great, jus' great.~

"Homme, let's make a deal. Gambit walks away, y' walk away, and nobody gets hurt."

"Put the painting down and step back inside with your hands in the air." I sighed at his ignorance.

"It's a collage, homme." He frowned as he took a few steps closer t' me. I reached int' mon pocket and grabbed t'ree cards ready f' a fight.

"A thief with a sense of humor, just what I've always wanted."

"A guard who knows not'in' 'bout art, jus' what Gambit's always wanted t'. Bonsoir, Messieur." He eyes went wide in surprise as I t'rew de charged cards at him. De knocked him off his feet as I slipped out de window and down de fire escape disappearin' int' de night.

ROGUE

I tossed an' turned tryin' ta sleep but found it impossible. I sat up an' stared out the window for a few moments wonderin' 'bout Remy. ~Ah hope he's okay. Please, don't let him get caught.~ I moved over ta his desk an' rummaged 'round for paper an' a pen. Ah found 'em an' headed downstairs ta the dinin' room.

"A li'l early, ain't it, Child?"

"Ah couldn't sleep." Ah smiled at Tante Mattie who was makin' a pot of coffee in the kitchen. Ah sat down at the breakfast bar separatin' the two rooms.

"I see I won't be alone in my worryin' anymore."

"How do ya do it? Ah mean how can ya let him do this all the time?"

"I don' sleep much, Child. How do y' like it?" She indicated t' the coffeepot.

"Just like mah men, strong." Ah smiled at the poor humor an' she politely smiled as well.

"Obviously, y' not datin' Remy." Ah chuckled at the insult. He would have died at someone's poke at his manliness.

"Nope, Remy's much ta obnoxious for meh."

"Ignorant."

"Careless."

"Reckless."

"Immature."

"Childish."

"Superficial."

"Frivolous."

"Manipulative."

"Deceptive."

"Intelligent." Tante Mattie smiled at mah change of pace.

"Smart."

"Carin'."

"Sweet."

"Gentle."

"Courteous."

"Romantic."

"Hopelessly."

"Trustin'." Ah sighed as Ah propped mah head on mah hands an' looked at the wise woman standin' 'cross from meh. "Is it wrong ta love him? Ah mean after all that's happened an'…"

"I'll tell y' de same t'ing dat I told Remy. If anyt'in' can be sweeter dan one's first love, it must be dat love recaptured." Ah sat there ponderin' the meanin' of those words for a li'l while.

The corners of mah mouth turned up in a slight smile. "Ah'm afraid that ain't gonna happen, but those are wise words."

"Why not Child?"

"Remy's gonna tire of meh eventually. He's a guy, an' guys, they don't hang 'round untouchables very long."

"When was the last time y' looked at the boy?" The question shocked meh slightly.

"Ah don't know couple of hours ago. Right b'fore he left."

"What was he wearin'?"

"What's that got ta do with anythin'?"

"Jus' answer de question, Child."

"Um…jeans, long sleeve shirt, his trench coat, an' gloves." She nodded as if this should explain everythin'. "Okay, so what's the point?"

"De point is dat he don' care dat y' de untouchable. Child, b'fore y' showed up, he wore board shorts, muscle shirts and God forbid dat he wear gloves." Mah eyes went wide wit' realization.

"Ya mean, he's…why?"

"Why's the boy tryin' ta kill himself? He's fallen in love and has fallen hard at dat." Ah swallowed as Ah looked back down at the letter Ah'd started ta Kitty. Ah hadn't gotten any farther than 'Dear'. "What are y' doin', Child?"

"Writin' back home. Ah've got about a dozen an' a half letters ta write so nobody feels left out."

"Dat's a large family."

Ah laughed. "They're kinda all just really good friends. But Ah guess ya could say it's kinda like family. When ya cram a dozen teenagers inta one house with a couple of adults, ya get pretty close." She smiled as she nodded. ~Ah take it back, Tante Mattie is the resident professor here.~

"Well, jus' remember dat home is where de heart is."

"Huh?"

"Home is wherever ya heart lies. If y' love someone back dere, den dat's home, but if not den it's not really home."

"Then Ah guess Ah have two homes." Ah smiled. "Can't say that Ah don't love mah brother, Kurt, an' Logan's practically a father ta meh. But N' Awlins is startin' ta feel a lot like home."

"Remy used t' say dat his real home was in Bayville. His fat'er didn't like dat much."

"Ah'm sure." Talkin' ta Tante Mattie was like gettin' ta pick Remy's brain. The woman seemed ta know everythin' 'bout him an' was willin' ta tell meh all. "Ya know, talkin' ta ya makes this whole waitin' thin' easier."

"Yes, it used t' be rat'er lonely sittin' down here drinkin' my coffee."

"Bonsoir, mon femmes!" Ah turned ta see Remy standin' in the doorway ta the dinin' room all smiles.

"It took ya long enough."

"Don' y' know dat dere are people worryin' 'bout y' boy?"

"Remy's sorry." Tante Mattie frowned at him as he continued ta grin. He set a paintin' down along side the wall but kept one hand b'hind his back. "Brought somet'in' f' y' Chére." Ah raised an eyebrow as he strode over ta meh an' pulled a teddy bear out from b'hind his back. It was black with reddish brown eyes an' held a white rose.

"Oh…thank ya." Ah took it in mah hands an' smiled as Ah plucked at it's ears an' fluffed up it's fur. "How'd ya know that Ah like teddy bears?"

"Don' t'ink I never noticed de bears all over y' room at de institute." Tante Mattie seemed surprised by his seriousness an' droppin' the third person trick. He was still smilin' an' winked at her. He bent down an' kissed the top of mah head while Ah blushed.

"Well, I might as well make y' two breakfast."

"Remy be much obliged." She raised an eyebrow at the sudden switch in manner.

"Y' can talk t' de girl seriously, but de woman who raised y' gets y' casualties. Glad t' see where I stand." She smacked Remy 'cross de back of the head.

"Oww…what was dat f'?" She didn't answer as she b'gan ta crack open several eggs inta fryin' pan.

"Wait a minute, where'd ya find a store open at three in the mornin' ta buy a rose an' a teddy bear?" Ah narrowed mah eyes at him as he only smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

"It was open."

"How open?"

"De air vent was open." Ah punched him in the shoulder then turned ta work on mah stack of letters again. "Y' know b'tween de two of y', Remy's gonna look like a punchin' bag." Ah smiled as Ah sipped on the coffee an' kept writin'.

GAMBIT

"Remy's been t'inkin'."

"That's a dangerous thin'." "Dat's a dangerous t'ing." Tante Mattie and Marie laughed after they finished speakin' at de same time.

"Ha ha. Seriously t'ough. Y' know what y' told Remy 'bout gettin' his own place, Remy's gonna do dat." I was lookin' at Tante Mattie waitin' f' her reaction.

"Y' actually listened t' me? Dere's a surprise. But, I didn' mean now…" She trailed off as she scrambled de eggs and sighed.

"Y' mean b'fore I decided t' get divorced." She sighed and nodded her head. "Well, dat don' matter, 'cause I'm movin' int' an apartment so dat Marie and I are outta y' way."

"Y' never in my way, boy."

"Non, Remy made y' lose y' sleep t'night."

"Boy, I'll lose even more sleep once y' leave dis house." I smiled as I glanced over at Rogue. Her jaw had dropped a few inches in shock.

"Ah…Ah don't understand. Why ya want ta leave here?"

"Don' worry, we ain't gonna go far. Jus' 'cross town. Dere's a nice petite apartment wit our names written all over it."

"We…our…speak for yaself, Swamp Rat."

"Y' tellin' me dat it don' bot'er y' dat dere's t'ieves walkin' t'rough dis house day and nuit and dat mon pere questions y' every chance he gets?"

"Well…it's a li'l unnervin'."

"Jus' a li'l, hehn?" She frowned when I hit a nerve.

"Ah hate it when ya win." I smirked as two plates of eggs and bacon were pushed in front of us.

"Merci. Marie, I won' do dis if y' don' want me t'."

"Ah just wish ya'd stop doin' thin's just for meh. It's pointless." Tante Mattie was standin' in front of us and leaned over and smacked Rogue 'cross de back of de head.

"What did I just tell y' Child? I swear nobody ever listens t' me." She rubbed de back of her head den smiled at me.

"Okay. So where is this place again?"

SHADOWCAT

"I'm like really worried. It's been weeks since Rogue left!" We were all sitting at breakfast and it was driving me mad that no one had mentioned Rogue since she'd left.

"I know, luv, but it won't do any good." I stared at Betsy in disbelief.

"But she was your roomate! How could you like not be worried."

"Half Pint, the Brits got a point. Worrying ain't going to do anyone any good." I frowned at Mister Logan through his newspaper as a single hand reached out and pulled a coffee mug behind the screen.

*Bamf! "Mail's here!"

"Kurt! You're like standing in my breakfast!"

"Sorry. Zere's a letter for ja zough."

"Really? I like just got one from my parents yesterday."

"Zere's one here for everyone." I watched as Kurt passed out a letter to everyone including Mister Logan, Storm, Mister McCoy, Miss Frost, and the professor.

"They're like all from the same person. Look at the handwriting."

"But there's no return address, luv."

Jamie was the first to tear his open and began bouncing up and down. "It's Roguey! She's the writer!" I tore my own open and scanned down to the bottom to see that it was Rogue's signature.

"Wow! Like maybe I should mention her tomorrow and she might come back."

"Don't try your luck, Half Pint." Logan had already replaced the letter for his newspaper. "She sounds happy wherever she is."

I looked back down at the letter and began to read it.

%Dear Kitty,

I know you're probably worrying you pretty little head off by now. Please don't. I'm fine, really I am. God, I'm going to kick myself later for telling you this, but I'm in New Orleans. Don't tell the adults. I didn't include that information in any of their letters because, well you know Logan. He'd be down here in five seconds flat and killing a certain Cajun.

Things are going well. We've worked out a lot of our problems and I'm really glad to see him again. I'm sorry I've been such a bitch to you and the others. I was hurting a lot and just wasn't sure of anything anymore. Can you forgive me?

His family seems really nice. Tante Mattie, the lady who was kind of like his mother, is really great. Talking to her is like picking Remy's brain.

I'm sorry this is so short, but as you probably already know, I've got a bunch of other letters to write.

Your friend,

Rogue%

PSYLOCKE

I was sitting at breakfast when the letters came and opened mine almost as eagerly as Jamie had.

%Dear Bets,

Wow, things have been really crazy lately. I'm in New Orleans, but don't tell the adults that, because, well we all know Logan. I miss having you as a room mate, but I can't complain about my new one, if you catch my drift. And no, there isn't any funny business going on like that. You know that my powers are out of control again, but that doesn't seem to stop him. He's caught me off guard twice now with a kiss. I'd love to punch the daylights out of him, but I almost think he'd enjoy it.

Seriously though, if you haven't by now, put my stuff in the attic. I may not be back for quite a while. But don't worry, I'm safe.

Friends Forever,

Rogue%

MULTIPLE

I jumped up and down for joy when I recognized Rogue's handwriting.

%Dear Jamie,

You're dead when I catch up to you. I will be back so you better train hard in the mean time. Nobody should mess around in a girl's room, especially not little boys. I can't believe how many of you guys figured out where I would eventually be going. That sucks, I thought I was being sneaky.

Whatever, you do, on penalty of death, don't talk to any of the adults as to where I've gone. I've told all the kids in their letters, but I didn't tell the adults. So for my sake, and Remy's life, don't tell Logan!

Well, I guess you'll just have to be resident bad ass for me now that I'm on a short vacation. Give them all hell for me and don't let anyone push you around. If they ask you who died and made you God, tell them that Rogue just said so.

Keep on smiling, Sugar,

Rogue%

NIGHTCRAWLER

I zink it came as a shock to everyone zat Rogue had written everyone letters. I opened meine and read zrough it happily.

%Dearest brother of mine,

I'm sorry I've been such a bitch. I should have just told you the truth. I guess deep down, I knew I'd end up in New Orleans. Don't go all big brother on me and come tearing down here to kill Remy. We've worked things out. I guess distance just heals all wounds. Besides, between Tante Mattie and myself, we've got him under close watch.

How's Amanda? I hope things are going well for you. If you guys face the brotherhood give them all a good kick in the face from me. Same goes for Apocalypse, but I honestly hope you don't face him.

God, I miss you guys, but it may be a while before I come back. Don't worry though, you know me, always capable of taking care of myself.

Love Your Sister,

Rogue%

~Meine Schweister, I'm glad you've found happiness again.~

WOLVERINE

%Dear Wolvie,

I can almost see you growling at that. I'm sorry I can't tell you where I am, but just trust me when I say that I'm safe. I miss the institute a lot but I'm just really happy with where I am now.

I bet you're giving all those kids a hard time in training. It's summer, Wolvie, give them a break for me. I bet by now you've tried tracking down Mystique. Don't kill her, I think Kurt or I should get that honor, you know?

Your Adoptive Daughter,

Rogue

P.S. It's taken me a long time to realize, that you've been more of a parent to me then anyone else. Thanks for that.%

~Kid, I can smell Gumbo on this letter. I'm not dumb.~ I smiled anyway knowing that if I showed up in New Orleans that she'd forget the niceties and try and kill me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Romare Bearden's 'J Mood is actually in the East Building of the Smithsonian Art Museum in D.C. I thought it would be more at home in the Big Easy. Okay, the action wasn't nearly as long as I'd wanted. I expected it draw itself out as I typed, but that didn't really happen.