Hiya all! Thank you, sincerely, for all the wonderful, sweet reviews. See post-chapter notes for individual recognition. Please note that this chapter is not at all late. Ha! I go back to school tuesday, so I'll probably try and post chapter seven of this on monday night. I'll post We've Met Before, probably on Saturday, and my Easter fic on, er Easter Sunday. And then I'll stop posting for a week or two and study for midterms.

Oh yeah, and I passed the 100 review milestone!!!!! Thanks! Keep Reading and Reviewing!!! Puleaze!!!!!!! Reviews make the world go 'round. (along with a bunch of other sciency stuff). Praises, flames, critiques, we accept all kinds here. REVIEW!

And finally, fine. You called my bluff. I can't write anything but Romy. I even tried, just for the hell of it. It went something like this: She wished he would show her those wonderful eyes, why did they have to be hidden? The glowing spheres, the auburn hair tickling the front of his Cajun head...oh darn it. Off track. Er, how could anyone else understand them? How could they know what it was like to be surrounded by friends and still lonely, only the Cajun...wait a sec. She and the Cajun...no that's not it either. Oh well. Guess its a good thing I don't support Rogue/anyoneotherthanGambit, huh.

:)

The Freedom Caper

Chapter Six: The Girl is Mine

Some people wore the night well, like a cloak. Or they were like a needle, weaving in and out of the darkness. Nightcrawler did both. He *bamped* nervously from one edge of the street to the other as he traveled, the accompanying black residue smoke quickly blending with the soft breeze. In, out, through, always unseen, like a vampire bat seeking out its next meal.

His partner did neither. For in his anticipation, Pryo's mutant powers itched to be seen, and there were flames in his footsteps, lights on his fingertips, and they stole from the night, hogging attention, catching the eye of every stray cat.

Earlier, they'd settled into a playful, comfortable talk, the two jesters of their teams. But that was all forgotten when their targets fell into range. The serious sides of both came out, and they moved on in determination, a mixture of anxiety and hope in their spirits.

******

For a moment, Rogue found herself paralyzed, her hands still up in the air, as if they didn't know Remy had been blasted to the other side of the living room. But that feeling of shock only lasted a second or two, and then she regained conscious thought. By this time, Kitty had approached her. "Are you all right?"

Rogue's green eyes fastened on Remy. There was a smoking hole in the upper torso area of his shirt, and he was dazed, yet still awake. She frowned and rolled over, crawling to his side, asking of Kitty and the others, "What have ya done?" What could they have possibly been thinking? Didn't they know Remy was too sweet, considerate, supportive, thoughtful, nice damn it, to have been hurting her?

Of course they wouldn't know. She had been suspicious herself, less than two weeks ago, believing Remy possible of anything. And had she called them, let them know about things, her well-being, her newfound friend? No. She'd been too caught up in flying across the country, being drugged, abducted, and married, to lift up a phone.

Married! Oh God, how was she going to tell them? And what about Kurt! That was sure to impact their fledgling relationship for the worst. Why didn't she just drag it out across a spiky terrain by the ankles, and beat it with the end of a baseball bat. She sighed and whispered to Remy, who was now cradled in her lap, "Ah told ya we needed ta get away from heah, Sugah."

Kitty was the first to stop babbling false accusations and unlogical assumptions. She walked over to Rogue again, all sympathy and kind-heartedness, extending her manicured hand. "Let us help you, Rogue. We care about you."

Rogue refused the gesture. "What's the matta' with y'all anyway, burstin' in heah, attackin' us."

"We weren't attacking you. Just that...that..." Kitty pointed a finger as she tried to put sound to her thoughts, "that freak."

"Freak? Why's he a freak, just 'cause he looks different? Ah thought you were above that Kitty."

"I am. He's a freak because he kidnaps my friends and tries to seduce them!"

"Kit, hon, in case ya haven't caught on, there ain't a whole lot ta gain by seducin' meh."

"Well...well...that's not what it looked like when we came in!"

Rogue blushed, recalling the situation prior to their interruption. "Sugah, ya kinda came in durin' a personal moment, if ya don't mind. Those closed doors keepin' y'all out, they're there for a reason."

"And why would you need privacy for you and him. You hate him, remember? He tried to turn us into people confetti."

"Dat was a long time ago." Remy answered for her, now more alert. He rubbed his chest with one hand and braced himself on Rogue's leg with the other. "De belle an' me, we friends now." Really, really good friends, he added in his mind.

"You don't know what friendship is," Scott said roughly, finding his place in the conversation. "Rogue, just trust us, please? Have we ever given you any reason not to? Please?"

*****

Remy was almost scared that Rogue would accept Scott's offer and leave his side. And then what would he do? Go with Pete, who surely was only with the x-men to capture him. Lose Rogue on the same day that she finally let him into her life, really. Be under the miserable thumb of Magneto. Same old, same old, only much more now that he'd discovered how wonderful things could be.

Much to his delight, however, Rogue shook her head. "No, Scotty, its high time ya started trustin' me."

"But-"

"No buts, Sugah. Ah'm always the one listenin'. Rogue, Mystique is evil, trust us. You ain't alone no more, Rogue, trust us. We're your friends, trust us. Now its time ta see if y'all are willin' ta do the same. Ah got somethin' ta say, Ah'll explain it all, but first ya need ta call off the verbal attack dogs and calm down."

Dat's de fille I know, Remy thought. He gave her a reassuring squeeze.

Obviously, the x-men were reluctant. But greater was their fear of losing Rogue's attention and trust.
While both the brunette and Scott kept their fists clenched, their jaws locked, the frustration pinned up inside them so well, they nodded.

"We're willing to listen, Rogue." He noticed they didn't promise to believe the story.

Peter caught his eye and gave a slight tilt of the head, his shoulders shrugging. Good ol' Petey knew what was going on. But what was he doing, consorting with the enemy?

"Remy didn't kidnap me. Ah ran away, he was just there in the rain, an' Ah needed a ride..."

***

"VHERE IS SHE!"

The living room, somewhat restored, with the couch fixed, and burdened with the weight of several teenagers, had fallen eerily silent for some time, before the puff of smoke and German-accented cries smashed the quiet like a sledgehammer through thin glass.

Kurt appeared before them, almost frantic. "Vhere is my sister?"

"Ah'm heah, ya furry elf." He rotated half a circle, grinning broadly as Rogue waved to him with one glove clad hand, her slender fingers wiggling. "Its good ta see ya."

And it was. She hadn't realized how much she missed the goofy blue mutant until his face appeared before her. "Rogue!" He swept her up, not noticing that in doing so, he had detached her other hand from Gambit's, who was seated unusually close to her.

"Been teasin' Kit for me?" She asked him.

"All ze time." He answered happily. He had obtained his goal: Rogue was once again reunited with the x-men. So why weren't they all as thrilled as he? Why was Scott and Kitty brooding on the couch, while Peter smirked knowingly.

Then his eyes settled on the Cajun, currently studying the carpet beneath his feet. There was a rip in the rug, and his foot peeled back the loose end. The Cajun who had abducted Rogue in the first place.

"You," he said, releasing his Southern sister. "You took her from us."

Rogue caught his arm and tugged on it. "Ah gotta talk ta ya, Kurt. Before you go all crazy 'bout this."
But he wasn't listening. The door burst open, and a gasping Pryo fell inside.

"I'm here, Mates. Thanks for leaving me, Nightcrawler. Oh...oh."

Oh, indeed. Kurt began advancing on Gambit, needing a source on which to vent all his anxious feelings. And who better than the guy he'd vowed to hurt anyway. Surely, the other Acolytes wouldn't mind if he was just a little broken.

"You stole Rogue."

"Mon ami, de femme accompany me willingly."

"Ah think ya better let meh explain," Rogue insisted.

"Did you think we wouldn't find her? That she wasn't one of our best friends? That you could just abduct her and none of us would care?"

"Kurt! Ah gotta tell ya the story."

"Yeah, let her tell you," Scott said. "Its quite the tale."

"De femme, Nightcrawler, wants y' t' listen t' her. She explain why we so far away."

"You manipulated her mind, didn't you? We know all about those powers!"

"Not dis again. Listen, homme, I don't take advantage o' filles." He winked at Rogue. "But dey be welcome t' take advantage o' me."

Kurt caught Gambit's flirting, but not Rogue's responding smile and blush. "I don't care what you say! Rogue belongs with us!"

"Rogue belongs wit' her..." Remy saw her flinch, assuming that he would announce their situation to her friends so tactlessly, "...wit' whoever she wants. Mebbe dat's me."

"Why wouldn't she want to be with us? We are her family. What are you? Nothing."

"We close now, de belle an' I."

"Not closer than I am to her. She is my sister. What do you have on that?"

"He's mah..boyfriend, now, Kurt." Rogue said, timidly. "We're kinda datin'."

"VHAT!"

Remy sighed and bent backwards to dodge a loosely directed fist. "I don't want t' fight wit' you, Nightcrawler. We bot' care 'bout de fille, non?"

"I do. You're just using her."

"I be askin' fo' a chance t' prove m'self. Why are y' stuck on de notion that I be trickin' her?"

"Because we aren't going to let you manipulate us. We're here to save her!"

"She doesn't need savin' from me. Why dat be so hard to accept?"

Kurt spat, "Because it means I'm supposed to believe that she didn't want to be with us. That she was leaving the mansion without even saying goodbye! My sister is not like that. Not unless you made her."

Rogue stared guiltily at her hands now, wishing she could turn back the clock and leave Kurt a note the night she'd left. She hadn't wanted to abandon him, but knew that Kurt would have found a way to cheer her up enough. Enough to keep her there, but not enough to fill the void inside. She should stand up, put herself between the two guys who she cared about, and tell Kurt the truth.

What kind of weakness was it that turned her bones to mush, so that she couldn't manage to move?

Meanwhile, Kitty said, "Look, all this stuff makes for a great story, Rogue. But can't you see how crazy it sounds? I mean, a cult wanted you as their virgin sacrifice."

"Is that so hard ta swallow? Ah made a pretty good sacrifice, thank ya very much." Rogue replied, a bit miffed, yet relieved to find an escape from her thoughts.

"And you were poisoned." Scott added.

"Yup. In the beginning. Ah didn't even plan ta stay with Remy then, but after he saved me, I dunno, it just made sense."

"Right. And then they thought that Gambit was their king."

"Masta'. An' that was later. After we got ta California."

"Master." Scott repeated.

"Things don't get this insane naturally, Rogue!" Kitty cried, unable to accept the wild story, certain that Gambit had made it all up during his brainwashing.

Suddenly, the commincators they were wearing beeped their way to the center of attention. Jubilee's voice filled the quiet room.

"Hi, guys, hope everythings good. Um...listen, I kinda accidentally lost Jean in the middle of a mob and her communicators not responding, and I've kinda got arrested, so if you can stop by the Eureka Police Station soon, preferably before they get my finger prints and contact the mansion, that would probably be good. Er, bye. Jubilee out."

Immediately, Scott pressed the buttons on his own communicator, frowning deeply. "She's not answering me either."

"Like, are you sure you pressed it right?" Kitty noticed that Peter and St. John were creeping away to the...closet? She shook her head, more worried about her friends' welfare.

"Yeah. Guys this is not good." Scott looked up to Nightcrawler and Gambit, who were still in each other's faces, arguing. "Come on, Kurt. We're gonna have to settle this later. Jean and Jubilee need our help now. Rogue, can we count on you to stick with us?"

"Of course," she mumbled. They always could trust her, even when the favor wasn't neccessarily returned.

*************

Pyro and Peter stood alone in a darkened room, the latter's arms crossed, his head bowed. Outside sounds drifted in and out, like someone was playing with the volume control to their heads.

"We got what we needed, Mate. Magneto will be furious if we stuck around any longer." Pyro created a flame, tossing it routinely, as though he were juggling miniature stars.

"Magneto isn't going to know at all." Peter replied.

"Even so..." The flame stretched into a bridge across his open palms, lighting his face with all the effect of a flashlight over a campfire.

"You're right." There was a silence.

"Of course, we could use the extra time to say, learn their techniques. A bit of knowledge for the next battle?"

"It might tip the balance to our side, you mean?"

"Yup."

"And if we assist them in rescuing their other friends, its only so they won't figure out our true motives." Peter said, thoughtfully.

"Naturally." Pryo clapped his hands together, extinguishing his burning toy. "For the sake of our cause. Now will you open the door? We're a tad too close for my liking. I like you, Petey, but not in that way."

"Shut up."

There was a knock at the door and Scott poked his head inside. "We're leaving now. You guys can do as you choose."

****

"By the Goddess, what has been happening? Have we been so preoccupied with finding Rogue that we've missed something like this!" Ororo stood her full height, regal posture and all, halfway between a room and the outer hall. "Have they just simply dissapeared?"

"Actually," Bobby said, "they all gave perfectly valid excuses for their absense. Scott is visiting his brother at some unnamed lodge in Canada, Jubilee convinced him to take her along. Jean and Kitty are doing firsthand research for a school project in Yosemite National Park. Also approved, and ditto for Kurt, who is with his familiy in Germany for the weekend, about a birthday party or something. In fact there's very little evidence to suggest they've done anything wrong."

"You seem to know a lot about their doings, kid." Logan grunted. "What are you hiding. Its no coincidence that all of them scampered off at the same time, is it."

Bobby gulped. "Well, I'm not covering anything, sir. I mean, they didn't tell me anything. I just...er....I don't know anything! I just don't want 'em to get in trouble, that's all."

Logan glared. "We already know they're up to something involving Rogue. If I find out you knew more than yer tellin', you'll be scrapin' gum off the blackbird until your fifty."

"I don't know anything!" The boy squealed, working his way out of Logan's grasp and sliding down the hall as fast as he could go.

Logan sighed. "So now we've got a whole set of missing kids. Do you think now would be a good time to contact Chuck?"

"He is discussing very serious matters. We musn't disturb him unless we are absolutely sure we require his help."

"Right. So then, where's Hank? Can't he cook up some kiddie-findin' device?"

Ororo shut her eyes. "He's taking a vacation."

"Hmmm. Should I go round up another batch o' brats for inquisitions then?"

"I suppose so."

*******

Kurt huffed and puffed his way to the train station, walking as far from his sister and her new beau as he could possibly be. He glared at her over the top of Kitty, who was likewise avoiding the couple. Flaunting their relationship, as if it were something to be proud of. Gambit was all show, kissing their joined hands, leaning on her shoulder, whispering secret jokes into her ear.

Kurt growled softly under his breath. He'd figure out what kind of spell the creole creep had cast on Rogue. And then...he'd break it! They could go on back to their normal, happy, content lives. Never trust a Cajun, that was his new motto.

"Look at that," he told Kitty, in a quiet voice. "Who does he think he's fooling?"

"Rogue, I guess. Ugh, and to think I thought he was cute!"

Joining in, Peter laughed. "Are you sure you're not just jealous because he didn't choose you?"

"Like, ew. He's totally not my type."

"And what is your type?" Kitty went pink and shugged both of them, Kurt and Peter, off, quickening her pace to catch up to Scott.

"I don't envy you your women." Peter said. "They're all a little nuts, aren't they." And yet, there was a twinge of jealously, as if he did.

******

"I t'ink dat brother o' yo' wants t' kill me." Remy murmured, nonchalantly, slipping his arm around Rogue's waist as they lagged several feet behind the rest of the team.

"Ah'd have ta agree." She answered, sneaking a peek at Kurt. He was engaged in a conversation with Kitty and Peter Rasputin. "Ya know, they have some nerve, tellin' me Ah'm crazy, while Collosus and Pyro are providing their back up. Talk about hypocrits."

"Dat was nice, Chere, de way y' stood up to dem. Like a femme wort'y o' de name Le Beau."

She burrowed into his arms. "Don't think Ah'm gonna stick with it. Just 'cause we got distracted this mornin' don't mean there won't be an annulment tomorrow."

He pouted, so adorably, but she rolled her eyes and crinkled her nose, unaffected. "Don't play that game on meh, Sugah. Ah ain't one o' your mindless followers."

"Dat's not what yo' friends say. An' who knows y' better?"

"That's what scares meh."

"You t'ink mebbe dey right?" He asked, looking rather hurt.

"No, ya swamp rat." She sighed. "That Ah won't be able to convince 'em o' the truth, an' Ah'll have t' give one o' you up. Just when Ah've decided ta let ya stick around a while."

Remy stopped them, in order to fully envelope Rogue within his arms. He kissed the top of her vanilla-scented hair, briefly recalling her anger at the hotel for not having a better smelling shampoo, and soothed her. How sweet she's looked, eyes narrowed to sharp emerald swords, hands on her hips, hair dripping with wet. She was just as lovely now, in the cold air and dark sky, her skin going all the paler, like the face of the moon, her favorite coat plumping her up considerably. "I promise, Chere. Whatever happens t' us, t'ings work out fo' de best."

She buried her face in his chest. "Ya sure. Easy for you ta say. Prob'ly replace meh the second Ah look away."

"Non," he said. "Dere not be anyone else like you. 'Side, we bound by destiny, non? You've been saved fo' me." They resumed the walk.

"Don't be gettin' no ideas, boy."

"What?" He said, deliberately misunderstanding, as much to tease as to hide the thoughts he'd already had. "De belle wants t' keep Remy around as a trophy? Look nice, don't speak."

"That's the way Ah like mah men."

"Don't bother wit' dat book, Remy. Jus' put on de nice shirt."

"Ha ha."

"Don't go t' school, Remy. Brush y' hair."

"Very funny."

"Don't try t' talk wit' me, Remy. Jus' made mad passionate love t' me, an' make it look good."

"Ya sure ya still makin' fun, an' not daydreamin' aloud?"

His eyes went wider than saucers in a phony sort of way, his hand cupped his mouth. "Merde!"

"Oh hush up. An' don't even think Ah've forgotten 'bout that village bike comment."

"I was tryin' t' save y' life!"

"An' that was the best ya could think up?"

"I had a split second t' say somet'in'."

"Nice t' see your mind is focused on what counts."

"Always."

"Hey, Remy?"

"Yes, ma Chere?" He breathed, loosening his arm on her until it was just an ornament, like a shawl.

"Thanks for not tellin' 'em 'bout the weddin'. Ah don't think they're ready ta hear that yet." Up ahead, Kurt angrily kicked a trash can that had tipped into his path. Cans and plastic containers scattered in the alley while he said a strand of hushed German curses.

"What gave y' dat idea."

*******

The Girl Is Mine"

[1st Verse (Michael)]
Every Night She Walks Right In My Dreams
Since I Met Her From The Start
I'm So Proud I Am The Only One
Who Is Special In Her Heart

[Chorus]
The Girl Is Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
I Know She's Mine
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

[2nd Verse (Paul)]
I Don't Understand The Way You Think
Saying That She's Yours Not Mine
Sending Roses And Your Silly Dreams
Really Just A Waste Of Time

[Chorus]
Because She's Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

[Bridge (Paul)]
I Love You More Than He
(Take You Anywhere)

[Michael]
But I Love You Endlessly
(Loving We Will Share)

[Michael & Paul]
So Come And Go With Me
To One Town

[Michael]
But We Both Cannot Have Her
So It's One Or The Other
And One Day You'll Discover
That She's My Girl Forever And Ever

[3rd Verse (Paul)]
I Don't Build Your Hopes To Be Let Down
'Cause I Really Feel It's Time

[Michael]
I Know She'll Tell You I'm The One For Her
'Cause She Said I Blow Her Mind
Chorus (Michael)
The Girl Is Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

[Michael & Paul]
She's Mine, She's Mine
No, No, No, She's Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine

[Paul]
The Girl Is Mine, (Yep) She's Mine
The Girl Is Mine, (Yep) She's Mine

[Michael]
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine

[Paul]
Michael, We're Not Going To Fight About This, Okay

[Michael]
Paul, I Think I Told You, I'm A Lover Not A Fighter

[Paul]
I've Heard It All Before, Michael
She Told Me That I'm Her Forever Lover, You Know, Don't You Remember

[Michael]
Well, After Loving Me, She Said She Couldn't Love Another

[Paul]
Is That What She Said

[Michael]
Yes, She Said It, You Keep Dreaming

[Paul]
I Don't Believe It

[Michael & Paul]
The Girl Is Mine (Mine, Mine, Mine)

Otay, notes:

1. Song is The Girl is Mine, a duet by Micheal Jackson and Paul McCarthy, from the Thriller album. Love the song.

2. Non-existant prize for reviewing my last chapter was a box of chocolate Easter eggs. This time, er, its a special box of Cracker Jack, in which Sailor Jack and the ever trusty Bingo are depicted as chasing a tutu-clad Easter Bunny. Don't ask what the toy is, 'cause they won't let me see.

3. Personal Replies to my wonderful, tiggerific reviewers:

Klucky: I dunno why they act so foolish. I guess maybe they want so much to believe the best of Rogue. They don't know that she wasn't as happy in the old situation as they were. *sigh* Lets hope it works out for the best, and thank you for the review!

Kaosda: Lets hope they do realize that she's acting on her own. I think their wild ideas get more farfetched by the minute. And I too, would hate to see Remy dumped (who would dump Remy? crazy person, that's who) Thanks!
And darn you and your astutness, calling my bluff!

Goldylokz: Hope ya liked it! Thanks for reviewing!

Lisa: Ooh, wonderfun. I like that one. I usually use like fantabulous, fantasmic, or the like, but wonderfun is...fun. Cool beans! Thanks for liking my story!

Gaea: You did read it! Thanks! And don't be too hard on Scott, I mean he thinks he's doing the right thing. Maybe he'll come around. I'll get your WMB out soon, I promise!

The Flying Pen: its only now that I'm typing this that I get a visual image of our name...thanks for the review!!!

Panther Nesmith: Why thank you very much! *grins proudly*Can I declare you to be wicked cool? 'Cause you, like, must be. :) Thank you! And you should write more of your own stuff. Yuppers.

Solitaire: Ah, no marriage certificate shown. Actually, its kinda pasted to a wall in the Hotel...but rest assured, they will eventually learn of this little marriage thing. Bwahahahaha! And don't worry, it took all of my energy just to write that little / sign between their names. This is so a Romy story. Thanks for the review!

Ishandahalf: Okay, first off, I will get to Strangers, but later. LATER! Um, also, I have in fact seen Men in Tights, that was the inspiration for that little comment. Yuppers. :) Tee hee hee. I often steal clever ideas from movies I like. Don't be too hard on the x-team, they're rather caught up in their assumptions. *sigh* I'm sure Scott will eventually see the light. And Kitty and Kurt too. Thanks so much for the review!!!! :)

Christy S: How terribly perceptive of you. And who knows what can happen while they're off rescuing Jean and Jubilee. They could forget about the annulment all together (ahahahahahaha) Thanks for the review! :)

Rogue Star: Come now, there's no need for threats. :) Were you happy? Kurt played the big brother role, Kitty remained unaffected by the stories. And she doesn't even know about the marriage yet. Eeek. Thanks for the review! V. Cool.

Lulu: well, they haven't managed to take Rogue away yet. As to the length of their marriage, well, there are some clues SOMEwhere the story. But I can say no more, lest I be forced to kill you. :) Thanks a bunch!

Nuerotic Temptress: I know, I hate the way the name 'Muffin' sounds. It feels so awkward and yucky (one of my bigger problems with the SM dub). Eew indeed. And actually, since the ceremony consisted of a kiss, you were witness to the happy occasion :). Thank you for your reviews! And hey, maybe, since it is almost easter, one of the holiday bunnies will have a cousin or something...Thank you!

Flitz: Thank you for that. I liked that line too, kinda made me think of Bubbles. Glad you're enjoying it!

Bunny Angel: Tee hee hee. Thank you for the review! Glad you enjoyed it.

Ryoko Subaru: Fabulishious, another cool word I hadn't thought of! Hmm, I may use it now. And fear not, the Romyness will be kicked up a notch, in a chapter or so. :) Thanks!

Lynx: As good as chocolate?! That is a great compliment indeed. I thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Hope ya still do.

Gothic Rogue: Thank you! You are so sweet!!! V. glad you're liking it!

4. Muchos Gracias for reading. Any and all questions, comments, and coconuts can be sent to me, via email at Eileenblzr@yahoo.com.