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.}

ROGUE

Fourth of July was nearly as crowded as Mardi Gras. After a while Ah'd tired of the constant noise floodin' in ta the condo through the open windows from Bourbon Street below. Remy was out 'working' the crowds so Ah figured he wouldn't miss meh if Ah went for a walk. Ah left him a note an' started mah walk tawards the docks.

Once there, Ah kicked off mah shoes an' rolled up the bottom of mah jeans as Ah dipped mah feet inta the water. Ah relished in the coolness of the water an' splashed it watchin' the drops fly an' sparkle in the hot July sun. ~This is the life.~ Ah leaned back on mah hands as Ah stared up at the clouds that were driftin' past.

Ah turned when Ah heard footsteps behind meh. "Hey Swamp Rat."

"Bonjour, mon ange." Ah raised an eyebrow at the latest pet name. He sat down next ta meh an' leaned back on his elbows. ~God he's sexy, an' Ah bet he knows it.~ "I wanted t' ask y' somet'in'."

"Yeah, what's that?"

"Did it hurt when y' fell from heaven?" Ah slugged him hard in the shoulder.

"That's the lamest pick up line…ever!" He smiled but he seemed nervous about somethin' as he fidgeted. He sat up an' kicked off his boots droppin' his feet inta the water as well. "Somethin' on ya mind, Sugah?"

"Oui."

"Ya wanna tell meh 'bout it?" He sighed as he nervously kicked out one foot in the water. Ah watched the water droplets fly away.

"I had somet'in' else I wanted t' ask y'."

"Oh, okay. So ask away." He glanced out over the water as he fumbled in his pocket for somethin'. He pulled out a small velvet box.

"Will y' mariez me?" ~What did he say? I don't recognize that word from French class.~ He pushed the box inta mah hands an' waited for meh ta open it expectantly. I glanced at him but curiosity got the best of meh as Ah opened the box. Ah let out a small gasp at the beautiful ring that was inside. The diamond embedded into the band was a decent sized one, but not gaudy in appearance. ~Oh mah God, he meant 'marry'!~

"Oh, Remy." His eyes flickered with worry as he watched meh. "Do ya really want ta do this? Ah might never gain control over mah powers, an'…" He cut meh off abruptly.

"Dat don' matter." He took mah hand in his an' gently kissed the back of it. He lowered it an' rubbed his thumb along the knuckles reassuringly. Ah stared at his gloved hands holdin' mine an' fought the urge ta cry. ~Ah'm the Rogue, Ah don't cry or get all emotional. But he's already given up so much.~

"Yes." A smile tugged up the corners of his mouth as he slipped the glove off my left hand an' slid the ring onta mah ring finger. He leaned over an' kissed the top of mah head an' helped meh ta mah feet.

"Y' make me happy, Chére. Happier den I t'ought was possible f' me." He wrapped his arms 'round mah waist an' we stood there in a silent hug for the longest time.

WOLVERINE

I looked up at the door when I heard the approaching footsteps. ~Too light to be one of the younger kids, and too light to be a man. Definitely not a wheelchair. That leaves, Jean, Ororo, Frosty, and the Brit. Must be the Brit--the footsteps sound determined like hers.~ "Come in, Brit." The door opened and Betsy poked her head through.

"Hey, how'd you know it was me, luv? I'd expect that from Jean or the professor, no offense, but not you."

"Sounded like you. What'd you want?" She walked in and shuffled her feet nervously then regained her composure as she took on a serious attitude.

"I'm just going to cut to the point. How long have you known Rogue's in New Orleans?"

"Since the letters came."

"Who told you, I'll kill them for Rogue."

"Nobody had to tell me."

"Then you overheard?"

"No, smelt it." She cocked her head to the side in confusion. "The letter smelt like Gumbo. It was a little obvious that she was in New Orleans."

"Oh…you're not going to go down there and do something stupid are you?"

I frowned at her as she glanced at me worriedly. "Do I really seem that over-protective?"

"Yeah. But that's a good thing!" She tried to turn it into a compliment and I had half a heart to smile.

"Don't worry, I think Rogue can handle herself. Lord knows she can kick Gumbo's ass if she needs to." She smiled as she ducked back out the door.

"Well, I guess Kitty can stop tweaking now." ~Half-Pint is always worried about Rogue. Can't blame the kid, don't want to admit it to myself, but I'm worried too.~

NIGHTCRAWLER

"Vell, vhat did he say?"

"Nice to see you too, luv." Betsy sat down at ze library table vhere Kitty, Piotr, and I vere already vaiting. "He says he's not going to do anything."

"Phew…I was like totally worried there."

"Yeah, I know. If I wouldn't have just gotten the nerve to ask him outright, we'd still be putting up with your worry."

"You can now relax, Keety." Piotr put a comforting arm around her shoulder az she kept an eye on Betsy and I.

"Vhat?"

"Are you like okay?"

"Of course ich bin fein. (A/N: I am fine) Vhy, vhat should be vrong vith me?"

"Well, I like thought with your sister being with Remy again, you know, you might be a little worried. Heck, she even thought you'd like freak out a little and like come down there."

"I'm fine vith ze fact zat meine shweister has found happiness."

"Well, that's like good. 'Cause I bet ten to one she comes back hitched or knocked up."

"Kitty!" Betsy seemed to be ze voice of reason vhen it came to Kitty not zat Rogue vas gone. "She can't touch for God's sake and you've got her pregnant."

"Stranger things have like happened." Ve all rolled our eyes seeing ze impossibility of Kitty's ideas.

GAMBIT

"Chére, y' don' have t' do dis."

"Ah know." We spoke in hushed voices so dat we didn' attract attention. She bent over the sky light t' de museum and watched de guards movements inside. ~Knew better den t' let her talk t' mon pere alone f' five seconds. Tante Mattie jus' had t' force me t' help her in de kitchen.~ "But ya know that if Ah sit 'round doin' nothin' for ta long, Ah'll be goin' up the walls." I smiled at de view of mon fiance as she continued t' stay in a crouched position. ~Speakin' of mon pere, or should I say t'inkin', I need t' tell him 'bout dis.~ I sighed as I went back t' watchin' de guards on de outside of de buildin'.

"Dese hommes ain't so good. Dey seem t' talk more den work."

"Yeah, well there ain't much incentive for 'em ta work now is there." She shot me a wise grin as she stood up and crossed t' where I was standin' on de ledge of de buildin'. "But there will be tamorrow night when it's ta late."

"Don' like y' doin' dis."

"Ah know ya've told meh a million times already. But relax, already. Ah mean, who better ta pull off the whole stealth thin' when Ah got ya theivin' brain, Kurt's ability ta get outta any situation, an' Kitty's ability ta walk through walls?"

"And don' forget yo' ability t' turn int' une of de guards, de fact dat y' can outrun anyt'in'…" Ah smiled at her mimickin' de way she'd ramble off her powers t' make a point. She frowned but refrained from hittin' me dis time.

"So when do we do this?"

"In a few minutes. From what I saw last night, nearly all de guards take a smoke break 'round une." She nodded as she sat down on de ledge danglin' her feet out.

"If Ah didn't know this was wrong, Ah'd almost wanna say it was fun." She was smilin' t'ough as she looked back up at me. "But Ah really wanna try an' fit in with ya family."

"Ma famille will amour tu non matter what." (A/N: my family; love you)

She smiled wistfully. "But it'll help if Ah'm a li'l thief too." I noticed dat de guards were all comin' out f' deir break and nodded dat de time was now.

I helped her stand up b'fore moving back t' de skylight. I glanced down t'rough t' see dat dere were non more guards in de room. ~We've got fifteen minutes b'fore dey come back.~ I was about t' disintegrate de window panes when she pulled back mon hand. "How 'bout somethin' a li'l less conspicuous." She placed a hand on mon shoulder as we b'gan t' sink down. I blinked a few times in surprise as we passed t'rough de roof and hovered a foot of de ground.

"Dat works t'. Merci."

"Mon plaisir." (A/N: My pleasure) She smiled as I pointed t' de case holdin' de necklace we'd come f'. She kept us hoverin' off de floor so dat we didn't trip any laser alarms. As we got closer t' de case she released mon shoulder but I remained in de air as she placed her fingers on her temple f' concentration. I worked quickly pullin' out glass cutters and de weight dat I'd use t' replace de necklace.

De day b'fore, Marie had gone int' de museum t' check out de security so we knew what t' expect. I'd told her what t' look f' and she'd come back reportin' dat deir was system on most everyt'in' dat if de weight was removed, de silent alarms would be goin' off. After some more research I'd found out how much de necklace weighed and found a proper replacement f' it.

I tapped de glass and de circle began t' fall t'rough but I quickly grabbed it so it didn' disturb anyt'in' inside. Movin' quickly I grabbed de necklace and in de next instant had placed de weight on de small pedestal. ~Une t'ing I hate 'bout silent alarms…y' never know if y' tripped une 'til 's t' late.~

Don't worry, Sugah. Ah'll smell the guards comin' from a mile away. She pulled me back t'wards her so dat she could again place a hand on mon shoulder t' go back t'rough de ceilin'.

"I had dis feelin' dat God was talkin' t' me back dere."

"Really, what'd he have ta say ta ya?"

"She called meh Sugar and told me not t' worry." She rolled her eyes.

"Since when was God a woman?"

"It'd take a woman t' realize dat de world needs a Remy LeBeau."

"Watch it Swamp Rat. Someday someone's gonna knock ya 'cross this city for a comment like that."

"Den I hope 's y'."

ROGUE

Remy leaped from rooftop ta rooftop while I simply teleported. He grinned cockily as I followed him ta where we'd left his motorcycle. Ah'd wanted ta bring mine, but he'd insisted that it be left.

["Chére, y've got it licensed. Mine's not." Ah crossed mah arms over mah chest an' glared at him icily.

"An' ya point?"

"'S easy t' track down."

"We could just as easily get pulled over for ya not havin' one."

"Den we can jus' out run dose petite cop cars."]

Not once had Ah ever found a point ta tryin' ta argue with him. ~What's that sayin'--Never argue with a stupid person. First they'll drag you down to their level, then they'll beat you with experience.~ Ridin' on the back of Remy's motorcycle always gave meh a lot of time ta think. ~He's not really stupid. Just used ta gettin' his way.~

We pulled up the drive ta his father's house an' we both got off. The door was already open so Remy lead the way inside ta a room that looked slightly like the professor's office. It was nicely decorated, in stolen thin's of course. His father sat behind a desk porin' over some paperwork. As we entered his face broke out into a large grin as he waved us in.

"Well, how did it go?"

"Fine." Remy pulled the necklace out of his trench pocket an' handed it ta the older man. He pulled out one of those eye pieces that jewelers use an' inspected it. "Somet'in' de matter?"

"Non, 's jus' dat last time, we got a fake. Caused problems wit' out dealer and de buyer." Remy nodded as his father put the glass away along with the necklace. "So how'd she do?" He was eyeing me like a kid eyed candy in a candy store. Ah blushed furiously as Remy answered.

"Bon. Got us in and out in less den ten minutes. Plenty of time t' spare b'fore de guards came back." (A/N: Good)

"Good t' hear. I'm glad y' decided t' work wit' us, Marie." I nodded slowly not trustin' mahself ta speak at the moment. "Well, I don' want t' keep y' kids up any later. I'm sure y'll be wantin' t' get some sleep." He raised an eyebrow suggestively an' Ah almost told him off.

"Dere's une more t'ing dat I needed t' tell y'." I was surprised by Remy's seriousness with his father. Usually he was in a jovial mood, but this was different.

"What is it mon fils?"

"I'm engaged…t' Marie."

"So soon. Are y' sure dat's wise?"

"Don' care. Dis is what I want. If de guild doesn' like it--I'll leave." I was speechless. It had never crossed mah mind that the guild might not approve of Remy's decision.

"Den y' have mon blessing." His father stood up an' shook Remy's hand an' took mine an' kissed the back of it. ~Well, now Ah know where Remy gets it from.~

~"De homme taught me everyt'in' I know."~

"Au revoir." (A/N: goodbye)

"Goodbye sir." Jean-Luc gave us a warm reassuring smile as we left but Ah didn't feel any better for it.

GAMBIT

As I pulled int' de condo parkin' lot I went t' get off but felt Rogue's arms still 'round me. ~She fell asleep!~ I moved quickly so that I caught her before she could slip off the bike in her sleep. Surprisingly she didn't wake up which meant she was extremely tired considerin' dat she was a light sleeper. I scooped her up in mon arms and carried her inside bridal style. I had t' be careful takin' her up de stairs as I carried her int' de loft. I placed her on de queen sized bed up dere and was 'bout t' go collapse int' mon own bed when she woke up.

"Don't leave."

"Chére, we bot' need t' get some sleep."

"Then sleep up here. Ah just don't wanna be alone." I smiled as I pulled back de covers and crawled in next t' her.

"I'd be jus' done dere."

"Ah know. But that's still ta far." I wrapped mon arms 'round her waist and breathed in the smell of her hair. ~Now dis is de life.~ She snuggled her head int' mon chest and she was soon fast asleep again. ~I could stay like dis f'ever.~ I kissed de top of her head and fell asleep as well.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

HA! Funny thought. Cajun version of weakest link - Y' are de weakest link-- Au revoir!

Okay, my other story that I'm working on is "Everything's Constantly Changing". It's about a girl, Allison Williams, who realizes she has mutant powers and is moving into the institute. She's got some things that need dealt with at home as well as some emotional baggage. My idea of what it would be like to move into a house with over a dozen other people and try and figure out who's really right or wrong about the mutant debate.