I am so sorry about the late update. So sorry. But I had finals, and then I was sick and I had to go to Great America this past Saturday, the day I had scheduled to finish this. (And by scheduled, I mean said on friday night...I can finish this tomorrow). But no more. I will be better about updates. Scout's honor. (nevermind that I was never a scout).

Oh yeah, also, I was (am) trying to wrap this up, but unfortunately, its spun again out of my hands (well, in my hands, but out of the plan I'd decided on) and so, there'll be a few more chapters. Sorry about that too.

And lastly, thank you so super duper much for the reviews. You guys are awesome. Better than awesome. Better than fantasmic. Just incredibly wonderfully spectacularlly...um...amazingly terrifically cool people. Thanks to the people that added me or my story to their fav. list. Love ya!

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Ps. I know the chapters are long *sigh* ... :( If its way too much, tell me and I'll try and cut the size. I don't want them to seem really looooooooong and boooooooring. As it is...you could probably like split it, read half now and half later. I promise, either way, next chapter will not be this long.

JUST REVIEW!!!

The Freedom Caper
Chapter Eight: Looking for Clues

Lucy Grahms was in that barely conscious, early morning mode as she walked, zombie-like, up the stairs to enter the Eureka police station. A red tote bag was slung over her shoulder and caught between her arm and her side, something inside rattling in sync with the click clack of her shoes against floor. She entered; the delicate, sensuous aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeting her as she reached her desk.

"Oh my God," Lucy muttered, in a throaty voice still thick with sleep, "That smells heavenly."

A desk over, Rebecca James grinned. And with good cause: her shift was ending. "Ready for another thrilling day at the office?"

"Ugh."

"Oh, sure. You morning folk always complain about the time, but its us nighties that get the weirdos." Rebecca handed her a stack of papers. "Here you go, anyway. You can finish filing."

"Hurrah, hurrah." Lucy plopped down on her chair and lifted a pen to her mouth. "Busy?"

"Riots, dear, remember? I got so lost in paperwork, I nearly suffocated. Oh yeah, there's a file in there somewhere, about a runaway caught in the riots, that Barnes says we can just toss it out. Less work for you."

"Runaway? Let me guess, some rich kid who doesn't know how good he's got it."

"Right. Except it was a she. Jubi...beans or somethings."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Jubilee? Jubilation Lee?"

"Yeah...hey, how'd you know what?"

"I baby-sitted Jubilee! Way back when I used to live in Beverly Hills. That kid's like a firecracker. A runaway? No way! I haven't talked to the Lee family in ages, but they were so kind to me. Gave me a raise so I could afford the prom dress I wanted, helped me with my science homework. I'd hate to see anything bad happen to Jubilee and that family." Lucy, now quite awake, began looking through the files in search of the one report. "Maybe I should give 'em a call to make sure everything's okay."

********

There was a secret. Or rather, there had been a secret which now found itself revealed, a tidbit of information that had stunned the X-men into an awkward silence -a silence, in which Scott now found himself lost and rather confused. He thought he'd finally gotten a firm grasp on the situation, but like sand in Poe's Dream, his ability to comprehend things kept sifting away.

So then, what was the complication? Jean was gone, missing in action. A terrorist group named Golden was a likely candidate for the abductor. Ororo and Logan were most likely hot on the X-men's trail, and the Acolytes would need to report to Magneto soon. All facts seemed to indicate the team should be jumping into action while they still could.

And yet they were frozen.

He ruffled his hair, realized how unkempt it must have looked and smoothed it over again. Scott cleared his throat. "Is it bad news...?"

The Cajun who'd entered with him, and theoretically should have been as uninformed, had a silent, eye-to-eye conversation with Rogue, and backed up slowly, as if planning to use the goth as a human shield. So it was news about Gambit, evidentally, and therefore Rogue as well.

"Would someone care to explain or should we play charades?" Scott said dryly, a bit miffed at the silence, annoyed by their inactivity when they should be hunting down Golden operatives. "Kurt? Kitty?"

Breaking from her trance, the brunette snorted. "Like, don't ask us. Why don't you ask Mrs. Gambit over there." His mind ran over what that could mean. Mrs. Gambit? He saw Rogue bite her burgandy lower lip and take a deep breath. Remy touched her arm to make sure she was okay.

Mrs. Gambit?

Mrs...

Gambit...

Wait....

Mrs. Gambit?!

"What?" Scott froze over.

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

Remy got the distinct feeling that Kitty Pryde wanted to spit the words 'Mrs. Gambit' out, preferably on his face. Was the idea so disgusting? It wasn't like he was to married her. He glanced down at Rogue, whose skin had paled considerably. What with her already white complexion, she was nearing transparency.

Which, all things considered, wasn't neccessarily a bad thing.

"It be okay, Chere." He comforted anyway, sending a murderous glare at Susana and Mark, who were slowly coming to realize they'd made a mistake.

"Its not really legal, is it?" Jubilee asked, with more curiosity than censure or approval. "'Cause that would be like, woah. Married. Big step. Old people kinda stuff."

"Why do people insist on questioning the legality of the union?" Mark said. "If you're preparing for the arrival of the great Master, if the grand union means everything that's anything to you, don't you think you'd cover all your bases and ensure its validity? Yes, its legal. The master and his bride are, indeed, bound to each other not only by destiny, love, the promise of everlasting peace, but also by the laws of this land and-"

Remy cut him off with a tight grip on his shoulder that was precariously close to strangling him. "Don't talk, you o' Susie, 'til I say. Okay?" It wasn't a suggestion.

The man grew instantly weaker. "Yes, Master."

"Good. Now..." Remy licked his lips and tried to piece together a complete explanation. How the marriage had occured. Why they hadn't told anyone. A sea of faces studied him, expectantly. For anyone else, it would have been daunting. Frightening. All the people, so much trust that ought to be developed or in some cases, preserved. The girl, his girl, at a loss for words. But Remy LeBeau worked people over as well as he worked the locks of a security box, knew them like he knew the blueprints of a building, just from sight, with a minimum of contact.

Remy smiled, charmingly.

"Dis sounds a lot worse dan it be." He began, directing his opening phrase to Scott Summers, who may not have been breathing, and then Jubilee -the two x-men least likely to kill him in cold blood. "See, de fille an' I, we were havin' a personal conversation, just decidin' dat mebbe we liked each other more dan average...an'..."

Someone was missing. Piotr wore a blank expression, John was fighting back the laughter; Scott, Jubilee, Kitty, they were all watching him intently. What happened to Kurt?

Suddenly a hand swirled him around and the fuzzy blue mutant glared at him with solid yellow orbs. His mouth opened to speak, but Rogue intervened. "Ya promised meh Kurt. Remember that. Ya said Ah wouldn't catch ya actin' all irrational again."

"Ja, zat's true." Kurt replied. With a small, stiff grin, he touched Remy's sleeve again. "Zen I guess ve'll have to go vhere you can't catch me." The Cajun was allowed one moment to register the sentence before he was surrounded by black smoke and the overwhelming scent of brimestone.

And then he was outside. Just like that, in the time it took to snap a finger. Outside in the middle of a cornfield, with a red barn decorating the distance and a full moon to finish off the cowtown ambiance.
"I don't t'ink we in Kansas anymo'," he whispered.

"Actually, zis is Kansas." Kurt had released his grip and back up, arms crossed.

"Didn't know y' could travel dat far in one jump."

"Zat's not important. Ve're finishing zis conversation, about Rogue, here and now." He came forward, menacingly. Threateningly. Gambit waved him back.

"Not gonna start attackin' me again, are you? 'Cause an homme's gotta fight back eventually an' I t'ink y' at de advantage here in Corn City, but I don't want news gettin' twisted an' sent back t' Roguey dat I hurt y' wit'out cause."

"Are you always zis cocky? I vonder how you an' Rogue can stand t' talk. Bot' o' you insisitin' you are right. And no, I don't plan on fighting you just yet. I did promise to be nicer."

"Den why we out here?"

"Because I vant to hear vhat you have to say and not vhat you want Rogue to hear you say. I know Rogue. I trust her vith my life. You, however, are a stranger to me. I don't trust you vith my life, let alone Rogue's. In fact, I don't trust you at all"

"I'm not here t' kill her, mon ami."

"Oh, and you've proven yourself so trustvorthy."

"What have I done t' make y' question m' word. Aside from de whole Acolyte t'ing."

"You eloped with mein shwester!" Kurt said, accusingly.

"Oui. But it's not like I wanted to. It was an accident. Not like we picked out drapes o' sent invitations."

"So you didn't vant to marry Rogue?" There was a break in sound. Kurt invaded his space again. "Vhy not? Vhat's wrong vith her?"

There was no dealing with crazy protective brothers, Remy realized. He sighed. "Nothin' wrong wit' her. But we'd just barely figured out dat we didn't want t' kill each other, an' dat we wanted t' date five seconds 'fore it happened. I been accused o' moving fast, but not dat fast."

"Is she pregnant?"

"What?" Now he was just being weird. "O' course not! Can't even touch de fille, how'm I gonna give her a pup?"

"Vell I don't know, Gambit, you managed to elope wit' her. How am I supposed to know the extent of your sliminess. For all I know, you could have infested her vith your children and zey will end up eating zeir way out of her stomach."

"You've seen too many Alien movies." Remy said, but quickly understood they hadn't reached that friendly, joking place in their relationship. In fact the word 'relationship' suggested too much. They were still in the kill-or-be-killed territory. He looked away. "Non. She's not pregnant. An' de marriage be handled soon. We gonna get an annulment soon as we can."

"And zen you're going to leave her alone?"

"Non." Remy paused. "I gonna keep datin' de fille unless she decides it ain't workin'."

"She decides or you decide you vant to chase another girl?"

Remy sighed for the umpteenth time. He wasn't getting through to the blue mutant. Different tactic? "Mon ami, do you have a girlfriend?"

"Maybe. Its none of your business."

"So you have one. Good. If a pretty girl tries t' get on your good side, y' gonna go along wit' it?"

"No. She means too much." Kurt replied. "Ve have risked everything to be together. Zey're are a lot of pretty girls...but only one Amanda."

"Its de same t'ing. Roguey's one in a million, we c'n agree on dat. She wort' more dan all de filles dat tempt me. I won't hurt her...and dat includes leavin' her t' please you."

Kurt was still suspicious. Taking a deep breath, Remy removed his glasses in a show of honesty, baring his feelings for Rogue, his genuine desire to smooth over the rough patches between her friends and himself. His red eyes sparkled in the light.

There they were, two demons in the early dawn, pale yellow meeting dazzling red. Kurt was trying to read him, into his heart, trying to see him as he was truly, beyond the arrogance and nonchalant attitude. And he wanted to be read, because this boy, for all his over-reacting and wild threats, was important to Rogue and they had to get along for her.

She was their common thread. The two guys who didn't want the same part of her love, but competed anyway. If they didn't figure it out, she'd have to choose. And she'd be hurt...

And they'd both have failed her.

Kurt moved his hands, as if he couldn't stand them being idle any longer. The wind blew wisps of his black hair over his face, like a shroud. "Understand zat if you hurt her, I vill hurt you. Zen I vill give your aching body to Mystique an' Logan, who vill fight over you like two hungry dogs tearing at zeir first meal in days. An' zen ve'll gleefully hang your shredded remains over ze mansion as a varning to all other slimy Cajuns who vant to take advantage o' her."

"Y' have it all planned out, don't you." Remy laughed, slightly. "I'll turn m'self in."

"Good. Its a start. Maybe, zere's a small chance you von't have to die." Kurt actually smiled. "Let's go back before Rogue figures out a vay to kill us both zen." Remy nodded, and then *bamf*.

They were back in the library, the smoke clearing again.

Scott wasn't bluer than a drowned smurf, so he was breathing. But he wasn't doing too much moving. Kitty seemed mad. Pyro and Jubilee were talking, apparently already over the big announcement. Rogue was waiting for them.

"'Bout time y'all came home. Was beginnin' ta think y'all murdered each other."

Kurt walked over to her. "He seems all right for now. But vith a terrorist mom, a blue brother, and now a card-throwing villian husband, you're asking for trouble, schwester."

"Ah'll take mah chances."

"Zat's up to you. But you'll have only yourself to blame if you end up with time-jumping, gruff, bearded man for a son." He warned.

"Now you're just talkin' silly. That ain't gonna happen ta nobody."

"What about de library? Shouldn't people be comin' in soon?" Remy asked, suddenly remembering their surroundings.

"We found out it was closed today." John said with a shurg. "The place is all ours if we can stay hidden."

"But we're going into the back room. Its got all the computers we need and a lot less risk of exposure."

"Lets go."

"Hey, what's wrong with Scott? He's been unusually quiet lately."

Rogue walked up to the leader. "Scotty, yes, Ah'm married. Sorry ta steal ya thunder, Ah know ya always figured you an' Jean would be the first o' us ta tie the knot but, that's life. Unless ya get yo'self in gear, ya ain't eva' gonna get Jean back. So weigh it all nice in that head o' yoah's. Jean. Foolish shock. Jean. Foolish shock."

Scott tilted his head. "I didn't think Jean and I would be the first to marry. I mean, I didn't think of it at all. Well I thought of it, but not in comparison to when others would get married. You know what I mean."

"Uh...not really."

"It doesn't matter. What matters," Scott loosened up a bit. "is that you and Kurt have decided you can rely on Gambit and something tells me that such faith isn't unjustified. Gambit, I'd like to welcome you to the X-men. You'll be joining us, won't you? You can't be an Acolyte and Rogue's...husband...at the same time."

"Scott..." Rogue said.

"You can hold a field position as part of our team, anyway. After this is through, I suspect all of our spots on this team will be in jeapordy. So welcome, Gambit, for now. You will be expected to obey all of our rules, of course. Number one, no killing. Number two-"

Rogue motioned for everyone to go inside. "Well, let's get this show on the road."

"A minimum use of profanity on the battle field. You'll never know when a child is listening. Number four-"

Everyone went inside, taking Scott with them, so that only the Southerners remained.

Rogue placed her hand on her hip, her expression questioning, but silent. She walked over to Gambit, gave him a thourough visual examination, walked around him in a circle. Before her revolution around him was completed, the Cajun whispered, "De view is nice, non?"

She smacked him on the head. "Ah was checkin' for physical damage."

"Always, de excuse. Don't be afraid t' ogle, Chere."

"How 'bout Ah just stuff an apple in yoah face ta silence ya like the pig ya are?"

"Y' check fo' physical damage inflicted by y' brother, den threaten t' do worse? I'm sensing conflicting interests here."

"One impulse is growin' steadily stronger than the otha', the more ya keep yappin'."

"Sorry. Remy fall t' pieces, like a lil' school boy when y' near. Babblin' on an on, all flustered like. Mebbe if y' help me out...make a man out o' me, I be more eloquent."

"Ah know a betta' way t' cure testosterone-induced problems," her gaze, once held at his eyes fell lower and lower, slowly, slyly. "If get ya mah drift."

"Dat don't work out fo' neither o' us."

Her gaze bounded up, as if having reached the end of its yo-yo string. "Actually, that's not true. Ah had a project on the Castrati for music appreciation, an' ain't nothin' in the procedure imparin' mah future enjoyment."

"Glad y' learnin' in school."

"Uh huh." The rest of the team was, thankfully, already in the back room. "We oughta be goin' in there an' helpin' them out."

"Right. Gotta get Jeanie back 'fore Scooter goes into withdrawl. T'ink I already saw some symptoms."

One step before entering, Rogue caught his sleeve and pulled him back to her. "By the way, Ah dunno what ya told Kurt, but thank ya. That uncanny ability o' yoah's ta make people that hate ya love ya, Mr. Rogue, is part o' why Ah like ya so much."

She splayed her covered fingers over his mouth and then kissed them lightly, willing the kiss to pass between them and reach his lips. Then she went into the other room.

Remy touched his face where her hand had been, thinking of the goth girl. It wasn't the most intimate exchange he'd ever had. Not even close. Shouldn't have been the highest praise he'd ever recieved, either.

Yet he couldn't tear the grin away with a crowbar, nor erase the positively giddy sensation tingling in his body, like a high, but better.

Much better.

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

Susana nudged Mark. "See how easily they orchestrate joy and happiness in their own inner circle? Let the doubters doubt now. Ha! Oh, I can't wait until we can share this experience with the Leader."

"Yes. Just as soon as they rescue him."

*****

Remy soon instructed Susana and Mark to go back to the hotel until further plans could be made. The two parted with their master reluctantly, but were far too afraid of his wrath to protest long. They doted over Rogue, praised Remy to no end, complimented the rest of the gang, and departed, promising to wait patiently until the Leader was found and returned.

Then, the X-men decided to research Golden more intensely. Utilizing Shadowcat's computer expertise, they managed to uncover several important pieces of information, though it wasn't until Jubilee cried out in delight that they got their big break. She was standing near Kitty, reading the information while the other girl quickly worked to cover her tracks.

"Bingo, baby! I think we've found our obligatory charismatic sociopath. Her names Ami Lorrell, born 1958 in Reyton, California. Kinda a prude, isn't she." Jubilee said, folding a stick of gum into her mouth.

"Charasmatic sociopath?" Kurt asked.

"Everyone knows these self-righteous, backyard militia group always got their psycho leader, ya know, the Hitler wannabe. He kisses the population's butt, sweet-talks 'em, and then convinces them to commit genocide. Same old story. Looks here like this Lorrell chick fits the bill. And woah, are those golden eyes I spy beneath that psuedo-army cap?"

Scott rolled his chair closer, leaning in over Kitty to get a better view. The woman pictured was tall, thin, bedecked in old army clothes, and yes, underneath the rim of the hat, a pair of brilliant gold eyes stared out cruelly. "Is she a mutant?"

"Um...nope. Says here she's worn the contacts for an awfully long time. Without them, her eyesight is terrible. Her eyes were injured when she was caught in a fight between two kids whom she claims were...freaks with weird powers. Mutants, I think is a safe bet. Apparently, she carries a grudge. She was in the National Guard for seven months until they caught her smuggling weapons to a Nazi group-"

"Golden?" Scott asked.

Kitty squinted to read the words. "Uh...no, some other group that was broken during the time of her court martial. Lorrell was sentenced to life in a federal penitentiery, but the vehicle carrying her never made it. Driver and guards assumed dead. Probably secret friends, maybe another traitor on board. A photographer spotted her in his pictures once after that, with a man named Nef Lane. Lane was questioned, proclaimed ignorance of her status, and the two were never linked again. However, Lane soon opened Golden Foods Co, of which he is now CEO. And after that..."

"A list identifying Jewish families -subtitled the Priotity group- in California, ranked in order of 'most vulnerable', was found by authorities and Golden was placed on this list." Jubilee finished for her. "They hate mutants and Jews most of all? Jeez, Kit, you must be, like secret society enemy number one."

"Thanks a lot."

"Mais, de rest o' us not be far behind, non?" Remy said, sadly. "We gotta stop 'em."

"Where did you find this?" Scott inquired, surprised such detailed stories hadn't been found earlier.

"Um...secret FBI files?" Kitty said.

"You hacked into our governments top secret files? Way to go, Kitty! Who knew the freshman in our corner had such skill." Kurt said.

Pyro nudged Peter's shoulder. "Where's our computer genius?"

"There's more. Laney's got a secluded cabin in the central Californian coastline, where he visits fairly often. Maybe he keeps her there, in a little love shack." Suggested Jubilee.

"Or maybe its her base of operations." Scott said, sternly.

"How come, if the government knows all this, they don't check it out themselves." Rogue wondered aloud. "The connection feels fairly obvious, don't it? Golden Foods, Golden the terrorist group...Lorrell tied ta both."

"Laney's Board is very influential in politics, Rogue. Money buys power. They are major campaign contributers, upstanding citizens to the naked eye, the ideal supporters minus the link to the terrorist group. Outting the group like that would cause a major shift in leadership. There's probably a lot of pressure to keep it under wraps and just leave the guys alone."

"Obviously," Scott said, "We'll have to check this out ourselves. But..." He didn't have to finish his sentence; every other person in that room knew the words as surely as if they dangled at the tips of their own tongues. What about Jean. There was a pause, a wrinkle in his brow, the thoughts running through his head like school children at the end of the day. Then he straigtened his back, looking determined, apparently having made a choice. "We'll have to split up. I'd like...Remy...to take Rogue, Collosus, and Kitty down to investigate. Find out everything you can, especially about the upcoming uprising. I don't have an extra communicator with me, so you'll have to share but contact is essential. Kurt, Jubilee, Pyro and I will find Jean."

"I'll download the directions now." Kitty said, reaching for her handheld.

Remy bowed in acknowledgement. He could see Rogue's raised eyebrow. Was she was pleasantly surprised at Scott's desicion to delegate leadership to him, or just surprised that they would be encouraged to travel together again? Either way, the grin on her lips made up completely for the headache he'd probably get from the other x-girl with them, Kitty Pryde. "De clock is runnin' non? Let's go den. We'll be in touch, mes amis."

He walked away with Rogue at his side, and all his team but Kitty trailing behind. Shadowcat stared hard at Scott, trying to make a connection through the ruby barriers. "You're putting him in charge?"

"He has leadership experience. It seemed like a good idea."

"You don't even know if you can trust him!" She protested.

"I'm a good judge of people, Kitty." He was matter of fact, not bragging just serious. "I've a hunch as long as Rogue's on our side, he'll be as faithful as she is and your mission may require his expertise. If our files are accurate, he is the most qualified person for this job. Now go on, you're wasting time." She wanted to continue arguing, but his tone was firm and purposeful. She swallowed whatever doubts she had and ran to catch up with the group.

I hope I'm right.

Scott collapsed neatly into a chair, crossing his arms across his chest. Can you hear me Jeanie, on that link of ours? I could really use your help right now. The x-men are going crazy. They eloped, been arrested, and are fighting amongst themselves. The only sane people I can find are our arch enemies, and that can't be a good sign. Can't you give me a hint? Anything to let me know you're all right?

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

Making the Dream a Reality.

It sounded like she was a rejected reality show contestant. Red grimaced. What if she was? What if her inability to remember was a kind of subconscious protection from her mixed up life? Maybe she was dating a drooling, idiot car salesman who still lived in his mother's basement and liked to collect lint balls.

She turned her head into the sheets, clinging the bracelet.

No, the engraving was something else, something important. It had meaning, she could tell. Her mind felt like it was tingling, reaching out with invisible receptors to recieve...what? What was the connection she needed to make? What could she be trying to connect to?

"Dear, we've brought you some tea." Alma called.

At least, Red thought, she had someone nice to depend on in her sickness. She sat up in the plush bed.

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

Their list of legal offences was growing ever longer, the most recent addition being the theft of a small, private owned airplane from the back of a locked up parking lot. They were X-men, yet they stole at will, taking what they needed when they needed it, never looking back. Fighting for a greater good, the pilot had said between toying with the wires and advising everyone to strap in. Like he knew how to do the right, good thing.

Kitty suspected that the Cajun's loose morals were contageous. He breathed it out like a virus. And they were all being infected.

At least they were out of the plane now. Granted, that also meant they were standing in the middle of a woodsy, forresty area with no cabin in sight, as it was hopelessly hidden in the wilderness. They'd checked in with Scott, and set to finding it.

Over to the side, Rogue and Peter were engaged in an animated conversation. The goth had had no trouble in talking to Peter, no reservations about letting the handsome, attractive, amazingly level-headed, all too considerate Russian know what she thought. Now she was smiling.

Smiling!!

How often did Rogue smile? And not that 'yeah, sure get away from me' twisted little expression, but a real, honest, genuine smile. It made her whole stupid face brighter. Why didn't they just go off into the woods together where they could-

"Jealous, Chere?"

"Of you? Uh -no."

"Didn't mean o' me. Meant o' Rogue and Petey over dere. Dey be gettin' along well, non?"

"Yeah, whatever. If anyone should be jealous, it's you. I mean that is your wife."

"I'm not scared. Y' shouldn't be either. Dey not hookin' up romantically. Piotr's innocence in de field can win over a lot o' femmes, Chere, but Roguey ain't one o' dem."

"Can you get away from me? I'm like, starting to smell like dirty Cajun."

Rogue looked back at them then. Gambit blew her a kiss with the ends of his fingertips, and she caught it, pretended to drop to the floor, and crushed it with her foot. She stuck out her tongue.

Who was this Rogue impersonator? Not a very good one either.

"Kit's, Petey heah was just tellin' meh y'all ate gummi bears together. Ya know, in Caldecott, gummi bears was the official food o' Couples Day. They said anyone who ate 'em togetha' would wind up sharin' 'em again on the holiday."

They'd been talking about her and Peter? Oh...

"Tol' y' so." Whispered an arrogant voice.

Annoyed, she deliberately pushed Gambit and stumbled off into the woods to look for the cabin.

*********

"What I do?" Remy asked. "Was just tryin' t smooth t'ings over wit' de petite."

Rogue watched the figure, still angrily batting away tree branches and leaves in her path. "It ain't yoah fault, Remy. Ah'm gonna go talk ta her. Don't know what's up with that girl, but Ah'm sure as hell gonna find out." She went after her.

"Kitty! Will ya slow down. We gotta talk!"

"No!" Came the reply. "And we're on a mission. Use codenames, Mrs. Gambit!"

"Shadowcat then!" Rogue answered, growing ever more annoyed. "Slow down."

"Make me."

"Ah hold a higher position on this team. Y'all are on a mission, remember. When Ah say slow down, ya slow, o' else obey one o' Cyclops's rules."

The brunette stopped walking.

"How come ya bein' like this?" Rogue asked.

"Like what? Normal?"

"This ain't normal, Kits. This is borderin' on the most unnormal Ah've eva' seen ya."

"So, like how come its okay for you to act out of character then?"

"Ah ain't."

"Oh right. How come its okay to touch you now. Or at least, for someone to touch you now. Gambit's hugged you more in the past twenty four hours than Kurt's hugged you in, like, a year. And suddenly, you don't care about the dangers? That's not normal for you."

"Ah had three days o' nothin'ness ta review mah life, Kits. Ah realized, if bein' held captive by those guys was that bad, but how much more is it gonna be ta be held captive by mah own powers for the rest o' mah life? Ah made a vow that if Ah survived, Ah'd try an' get past it. Its not easy for meh ta let him be so close, but Remy, he don't discourage easy."

"Yeah, that's a good excuse to let your creepy, ugly boyfriend fawn all over you."

"He ain't creepy. He's quite the gentleman, thank ya very much an' you yo'self said he's about the cutest guy Bayville's eva' seen."

"That was like, so way before this. Now I know how much of a jerk he is."

Rogue rolled her eyes, not believing that the same bright, sweet girl who'd taught her to dance the Jitterbug for the school's retro dance, insisted that the bunny on her bed had a real personality, and downloaded a Power Puff girl's screensaver onto her laptop computer could be so stubborn and cynical.

"What's your problem Kitty. You're the only one who still insists on treatin' Remy like dirt. For Heaven's sakes, even Scott's playin' nice! Ah would've thought you, o' all people, would understand. Ya did spend months datin' Lance, didn't ya? How can ya still go around actin' like Remy's the devil in disguise?"

"Because, you're right!" Kitty burst out, crunching the twigs under her feet with hard stomps. "I do know what its like to like the wrong guy! And you know what? It sucks. You think you can change him, that you've found the good in him, but it doesn't work like that. Lance won over the team too, even Scott, and he still ended up being a complete jerk."

"But Kitty, Remy-"

"They're all jerks! It what they do! They go out of their way ruin the professor's dreams. The same dreams he's taught us to believe in!"

"But-"

"And it doesn't matter how much you think he cares about you. In the end, they're all still Magneto's goons. They always go back to him. That's who they are!"

"Not this time! Lance was a creep, yeah, Ah could've told ya that 'fore y'all started datin'. Ya learn a lot from livin' with a guy. But Remy and Peter, since Ah know ya got a crush on that Russian, they're different. They've been cut from a different vine, Kitty, they ain't gonna wind up sour."

"In case you haven't caught on, Peter's only here to collect your boyfriend and head on back to Bayville."

"That's what he says, but if that was all, couldn't he have gone back after y'all found us? Why come heah, why go through all the trouble o' pickin' up Jubes, researchin' in the library, flyin' ta Reyton? That don't make no sense for a hard-hearted character, does it? An' if Ah just a passin' gal in Remy's life, why would he go through all the trouble o' keepin' meh near him?"

Kitty shook her head, frustration blowing out like steam from a coffee pot. "All I know is we've worked so hard to pull you out of your shell and this whole brooding goth thing-"

"Kits, how many times Ah gotta tell ya-"

"I know, I know. Correlation doesn't mean causation. Just because a person's an isolationist and a goth, doesn't mean she's an isolationist because she's a goth. It just mean's she happens to not like superficial people and bright pink, frilly sundresses at the same time." The words fell out in neat little phrases, as though they'd been memorized long ago. Kitty sighed. "What I meant is, we want you to open up Rogue, to us, to others. We want to know you're really comfortable. But now you've chosen to give your faith to the most untrustworthy, unreliable guy you can find and we're afraid..."

That she would get hurt and clamp up like a clam. Kitty was being the same girl she'd always been, she'd just automatically switched to protective mode when Remy had reminded her of Lance. She didn't act out in the same way as Kurt, and so she'd just seemed bratty. Rogue wiped her brow and paused, thinking of a response, wanting to assuage the girl's worries. The tone of her voice eased into a sympathetic, understanding sound. "Weren't ya always the one who tol' meh Ah should date more?"

"I also told you to, like, take it slowly, not marry the first biker who picks you up."

"He can be very persuasive. Its part o' his charm" Rogue laughed to herself. She patted Kitty's slumped shoulder. "Put Lance in the past, where he belongs, Kit. Don't let him ruin our friendship...o' your chances with Peter. He's an awfully nice boy, Remy don't think Magento's gonna hold him very much longer. Evil plots can't succeed with a sweetheart like that actin' 'em out."

"He's all right. I don't like like him or anything like that."

"Been spendin' a whole lotta time with him."

"Someone's gotta keep me company while you're acting all goofy with Remy, and Kurt's exchanging gags with John."

Rogue gave her a look. "Uh huh. Ah'll buy that. Just pack in there with Scott's bad streak, Jubilation's calm day, an' Logan's ability ta carry a tune." She moved aside a branch, and something in the distance caught her eye. The place they were looking for, she supposed, though it didn't look anything like a cabin.

"What is it?" Kitty asked.

"Ah think Ah found it." The brunette tripped her way over, having gotten tangled in the mess of leaves and vines.

"Wow."

"Yeah. Ah betta' call the boys." Her hand hovered over the communicator for a minute. She glanced back at Kitty. "Y'all be nicer now, won't ya?"

"No."

"Kitty..."

"Oh Fine. But if you're wrong..."

"Ah'm not. An' Ah won't try ta slap ya anymo'."

"You didn't try to slap me."

"Naw, but Ah really, really wanted to."

"Have I been that awful?" Already, the real Kitty was returning. Guilt laced her words.

Rogue was in a forgiving mood, though. She just winked at her and pressed a button on her communicator. "Hey fella's, Ah think we've found our little cabin. An' by little cabin, Ah mean a giant, highly secure, secret nazi hideout with all the latest in technology."

"That's going to be hard to infiltrate. You'll require more assistance than that disgusting, greasy, pathetic skirt-chaser can give you." Kitty and Rogue looked at each other.

They frowned.

And then they looked up.

Standing on the limb of a tree was none other than Mystique herself.

*********





It's crazy but I'm frightened by the sound of the telephone, oh yeah
I'm worried that the caller might have awful news, oh my'
Who knows these days where on earth the money goes, oh yeah
No doubt we could put it to a better use, oh my

You keep insisting that nobody showed you how to keep relationships, oh yeah
Your daddy made a real good try, oh my
You said you knew all along
We could work it out, oh yeah
Do you have to make a fuss everytime we fly
Oh I'm looking for clues

I have to make an effort now I just to be serious, oh yeah
Nobody's gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, oh my
Everytime I pick a paper up it's harder to believe the news, oh yeah
I'm gonna have to shake it up and twist and shout, oh my

You can't do nothing that you don't put your mind to, oh yeah
I suspected all along you were a dream come true, oh my
I'm never in the dark 'cause my heart keeps me well informed, oh yeah
I'm convinced that there's a way of getting through to you
Ooh I'm looking for clues

It's crazy but I'm frightened by the sound of relationships, oh yeah
I swear we could put it to a better use, oh my
Do hurry baby you've forgotten how to catch a night groove, oh yeah
You told all the callers you were not amused oh I'm looking for clues

You keep insisting that nobody showed you how to use a telephone, oh yeah
Nobody's gonna give you a second chance, oh my
I don't have to make an effort now to find out where the money goes, oh yeah
Do you have to make a fuss everytime we dance
Ooh I'm looking for clues

Do ya do ya do ya do ya
Ooh I'm looking for clues
Ooh I'm looking for clues
Ooh I'm looking for clues





Notes:

1. Song is Looking for Clues (we've got to break this trend of 80's music, don't we...) by Robert Palmer.

2. Please review! Sorry about the long chapter! A note on the Castrati: I don't know if they are actually able to, ahem, do everything. One of my music professors did his thesis on the Castrati or something, and I think he said they could, if the procedure was preformed right, but my knowledge is a little shaky. Sorry 'bout that.

3. Individual Responses:

Goldylokz: I do love conspiracies! How'd ya guess ;) Thanks!

Snow Queen: Do they know she's a mutant? And anyway, they have to wait for the big uprising thing. Thanks for the review!

Spark2005, GeminiDragon, LuLu, Demonic Angel: I have decided for them, Remy will be in the movie. I've taken the difficult decision from their hands, its all settled now... :D .... thank you guys so much for the reviews!

Rogue Star: Um...does three weeks count as soon? I'm sorry, I tried! And now you have to wait a lil' longer to find out why Remy's in the cell...gosh, what's wrong with me!!?!?!?!? Thank you for reading, despite my craziness.

Tranquility: I don't mean for the chapters to be *THIS* long. It just...happens. I dunno. The words mate or something. Glad ya like my cult! Thanks!

Ishandahalf: Okay, this seems to have brought out the jean-basher in you *quietly looks away*. I always try to please my readers before myself (unless, like, you guys suddenly wanted me to make this a Rietro or something, then I'd have to just ignore you and pretend like my computer didn't let me access my reviews), HOWEVER, Jean's gotta come back sometime. On a funner note, I'm super glad you liked my Jubilee. I've always adored her. When I was little, I always wanted to be like Jubilee. She's (the real Jubilee, I mean) has got that great blend of sarcasm, cynism and every-day-kid funness, she's Logan's REAL fake daughter figure, and hey, she recognizes the wonderfulness in Remy too. She's not Rogue...but I love her anyway. :D

Firewolf: hey, he wasn't in the bar seen. Only Mr. McCoy was! :D And the only connection they better have is Rogue! thank you so much for the review!

Rogue LeBeau: Trust me, its not about Jean. In fact, amnesia was an easy way to put the couple focus on Remy and Rogue! Thanks for the review!

Neurotic Temptress: Glad you like Jubilee...wait...what's this? You've discovered my evil idea-stealing machine, which I intend to use to take over the world and reign supre- er, I mean, ha ha, what a coincidence. Oh great. Now I'll have to kill you (and I did so enjoy reading your reviews and stories...wait..stories...if I kill you now, I'll never know where Rogue was...darn it!) I hope you're happy. Now I can't finish in two updates and its all your fault!!!!

Lucky439, Kikuyo Okiura, AngieX, Susannah De Silva: Thank you all so very much for you're sweet, nice, wonderful reviews! Glad you guys are liking it, and hey, I'm always up for suggestions, so feel free to give me some! Thanks!

Christy S: Ah, fencing. How I adore sword fights. I think, perhaps, I *will* use that idea. Look for it! But not yet. :D Thanks!

Panther Nesmith: Thank you v. much! I'd give you're review a YEAH! too :D

The Flying Pen: I know she's alive, but, but he just looked sad. He doesn't know that she's alive. And for all we know, and have reason to suspect, she might come back and try to kill him. Its a little sad...isn't it?

Solitaire: Thank you for the review! But...where could Logan be....hmmmm...

Lace123: Thank you v. much! As a matter of fact...I DO do that!! Ah, great minds think alike. Well, great minds and sorta mediocre, kinda broken, hit-it-with-a-baseball-bat-to-jump-start-it kinda minds. (mine would be the latter :D) Thanks again!

Legolas Luver: Oh sure, stick me with the corpse. Say all you will, ever since I got the LOTR video game, Leggy and I have been spending a lot of time together...I think he's forgotten all about you. HA! j/k.
Thanks for the review!

Classic Tinker: Your reviews are so great. Oh wow, you actually aren't asking me to let Jean wallow in misery...wow. Shh, don't tell some of these other people, but I actually...*looks around to see if people are watching* I don't hate scott and jean. I like them. I'm glad you think I can portray them well enough to be likable characters. :D As far as Kitty and Petey goes, I almost want to write a fic for them, a short one, to get it out of my system. *sigh* Of course, Remy and Rogue will always have my attention first, before anyone else. Thanks! Review again!!!!!

Tabby: I actually considered the Guilds coming in, but...I've decided against it. I'm so sorry. Its just crazy enough as it is...Though I promise, promise,promise you will get Wolverine's reaction. And who knows, I say I've decided against it, but I could so easily change my mind tomorrow. We'll see.

Lil: Oh my gosh!!! Thank goodness we were able to save someone from the stupid Bobby/Rogue garbage! Wow, I feel so happy now. There is hope after all!!!! I swear, all of those Bobby/Rogue fans just don't know how much better Romy is...Thank you so much!!!

Dark Elf: When they got to Remy's name, I almost shouted out: ITS GAMBIT!!! Only the small children beside me kept me in check. But seriously, I too can't wait for that fantasmic Cajun to grace our screen. I'll watch the movie a trillion billion times!!!!! Thanks for the review!!!!

Kanshisha Tenshi: They did mess up Pyro, didn't they? I mean, I can't get the accent down, but they should know better!!! And I totally want to see the Bobby we all know and love -the prankster, the joking, joshing, all around fun guy. And Remy, well, I'm sure you know how much I want to see that Cajun guy....I think we all want to...Thanks for the review!!!!!

If I missed anyone, I am so sorry. Thank you all!!! Please REVIEW!!!