Rogue sighed, as she stood against the wall of the elevator, standing next to her longtime love, Logan. It had been three years that they have been a couple; since she had just about turned eighteen. The Penthouse Suite that her two friends, Brian and Tabitha resided in, was another ten floors up. The snow had fallen lightly outside, yet the streets, and pavement of the sidewalks were freshly shoveled free of the snow. She was eager to see her friends again; her and Logan had taken a trip across country, heading into Canada and back. They had been gone for three years now. They had decided to take the trip the moment she graduated; she had said goodbye to her best friend, Elizabeth, almost reluctantly. And now, she was going to be reunited with them for the first time in three years. She was nervous; deeply nervous of the reunion; she didn't know if the group's closeness with her had possibly been affected. She had never been able to really stop and settle in one place while she and Logan were away, long enough to write a letter to her best friend with a return address. The only communication was Rogue sending postcards, and brief phone calls, that both were eager to make.
Logan could sense the nervousness in her. He smiled, placing his arm around her, comforting her. He had been gone from those he cared about too much; he knew from experience, what it was like to reunite with old friends after long periods of being away. She sighed heavily, resting her head into his shoulder. "It'll be okay, darlin'. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, you know." He smiled.
"I hope so." Rogue nervously told him.
*~*~*~*
Elizabeth smiled, as she placed the last glass ornament onto the large Christmas tree that stood in the middle of the living room, of Tabitha, and her twin, Brian's, penthouse suite. Brian smiled up at the decorated tree proudly. "Nice. Now you do me!" Brian said to the tree.
The twins were now at the age of twenty-one; while Tabitha was still at the mere age of twenty. Everyone had grown up; graduated, some moved out of the Institute, some had stayed. Remy turned from the balcony, and walked into the large suite. "Nice, mon ami." He smiled coyly.
Elizabeth looked at him with a wide grin. The two had been best friends as teenagers, finally falling in love, and committing themselves to each other, for the past three years. They lived in a posh apartment in Manhattan. Not far from her twin and Tabitha. "Now, where's the star?" Elizabeth asked Brian.
Tabitha smiled, "I've got just the thing!" She grinned.
She rushed to the table, and slipped off a piece of cloth, pulling out a star. She hurriedly rushed towards the tree, and Brian, using his mutant superhuman strength, lifted her up with ease, letting her place the star onto the tree. In the middle of the star, was a picture of herself, smiling. The others glared at the ornament on top of the tree. Tabitha crossed her arms, grinning proudly at the artifact. "Now, doesn't the tree look beautiful? I mean, now the ornaments have something to aspire to!" She smiled.
"Ah, yes. Shining like a beacon of unemployment." Elizabeth smiled.
Remy shook his head, smiling, as he turned to answer the door at the doorbell. Brian grinned, as he helped Tabitha to her feet on the ground. She smiled, hugging onto him. Remy opened the door, and smiled, seeing the two friends they had not seen for three years, "Logan! Rogue!" He smiled.
Elizabeth swung around, her face beaming. Rogue rushed in, and the two best friends rushed to each other, throwing their arms around each other in a hug. Logan smiled, as he walked into the suite, ushered by Remy. Remy closed the door after him, as Logan shook his hand, "How's it goin, Cajun?" Logan smiled.
"Good, and yourself?" Remy asked.
Logan shrugged, "Been great." He then turned, as Tabitha nearly pounced on him, hugging him, "Oh, hey you wild child!" He smiled, as he hugged the young blonde.
Brian stood at the hugging Rogue and Elizabeth, waiting for his turn to hug the girl he thought of as a second sister. She looked up at him, and took an arm, wrapping it around him as well, sharing a group hug. Elizabeth pulled away from her, and touched her bare hands to her face, "I'm so glad you've come, luv!" Elizabeth smiled, with tears welling in her eyes.
Rogue fought to keep the tears back, but to no prevail. She was overcome with emotion, at the first sight of her best friends, whom she thought of as her other siblings. She had learned to control her mutation, with help of extensive sessions with Professor Xavier. She was able to touch. Rogue and Elizabeth hugged once more, kissing each other on the cheeks. Elizabeth pulled away, allowing Tabitha and Remy to hug the Southern Belle. Elizabeth turned her attention to her dear friend, Logan, and hugged him tightly, "Hey, kid." He smiled.
"It's so good to see you!" Elizabeth gushed.
Brian shook his hand, "Good to have you back home, my friend." Brian smiled.
"Come, come! Sit! Are you hungry, thirsty?" Elizabeth asked, quickly ushering the two guests towards the couch.
Logan smiled, taking full advantage of the hospitality, "I'll take a beer." He coyly smiled.
"I'll get em!" Tabitha immediately grinned, as she rushed towards the kitchen.
"Kitty, Lance, Wanda, and John called, telling us they're on their way. Kurt and Amanda are heading over as well." Brian smiled.
Rogue sighed, as Logan threw his arm over her shoulder, both of them resting back against the couch, "Good." She smiled, "It's so good to be back. I've missed you guys." She smiled.
Tabitha returned with a beer bottle for Logan, and a bottle of champagne, and glasses for everyone. "Tabitha, we're not opening the champagne until everyone else gets here!" Remy told her.
"Oh, phooey on you Gumbo!" Tabitha hissed, as she turned back to the kitchen.
"Still the crazy nut, eh?" Logan grinned.
"You have no idea!" Brian laughed.
Tabitha then returned with other beer bottles for everyone. She handed them out carefully, so they wouldn't fall out of her arms, before sitting on Brian's lap in the large armchair. Rogue sighed, looking around, "This is a nice place." She smiled.
Elizabeth glared at her, noticing the slight change. A smile slowly formed on her lips, as she stared at the new Rogue. She no longer wore the heavy eye makeup; but still dressed a tad gothic. Her large emerald green eyes were clear of the heavy dark eye shadow; her hair still kept layered and short; black vinyl pants on her legs, and a dark gray sweater. "Yeah, we pretty much thought of livin' it up for a while." Tabitha smiled.
"So, anythin' change while we've been gone?" Logan asked.
The others shrugged at his question, "Not really. Kurt and Amanda are livin' at the institute now. Ever since Amanda found out about her mutant gene, she decided to shack up there, even though she's latent. But, she helps out Hank with being an instructor; Jean and Scott are still anal, Lance and Kitty are shackin' up together in a house down the street from the institute. That's pretty much about it. Otherwise, everyone else stuck around the institute." Tabitha smirked.
"What about Wanda? How's she been holdin' up since finding out what her dad did to her mind?" Rogue asked.
"She's been okay. She's still trying to cope through the whole process of understanding. The Professor has been a big help to her." Elizabeth explained. "Plus, she and John are working on starting a family." Elizabeth grinned.
Rogue's mouth dropped, with the corners creasing to a smile, "Are you serious? Wanda? Kids?"
"Why not?" Elizabeth laughed.
Rogue let out a small laugh. The door knocked, and Elizabeth rushed up to answer it. Rogue turned to Remy, "So, what about you?" She asked. "How've you been?"
Remy smiled, with a shrug, "Been okay, chere. Been bouncin' back between Betsy's place and the institute." He smiled.
"Hey you guys!" Elizabeth smiled, at Wanda, John, Lance, and Kitty.
The four came in, taking off coats, and placing bags of gifts onto the floor. Rogue and Logan stood, to greet the mutants who had just walked into the suite. Wanda and Kitty rushed to Rogue, nearly knocking her to the ground, as they hugged her. "Oh my god! It's so good to see you Rogue!" Wanda gushed.
"Yeah! You like, shoulda' called more!" Kitty joked.
Rogue pulled away, looking at her two friends, "I know, but, we moved around so much, that I really didn't have a lotta time." Rogue smiled.
Kitty rushed to Logan, after he said hello to John and Lance. She jumped up into his arms, hugging him eagerly. "Mr. Logan!" She smiled.
"Hey, half pint!" He grinned, as he hugged her in return.
"Yeah, feliz navi dude!" Tabitha grinned, "Okay! Now we break out the champagne!" Tabitha smiled.
Wanda gave Brian a kiss on the cheek hello, before turning to give Remy the same greeting. "Bonjour, cherie." Remy smiled at her, as he received his greeting.
"I have something for you Brian!" Kitty smiled, pulling out a package. "It's just a little something for your tree."
Brian smiled, taking the rectangular box, "Oh, Kitty, you didn't have to, luv! I thought you were against the whole tree thing, with you being Jewish and all." He smiled.
Brian began to open the gift, while Kitty explained herself, "Well, I figured I shouldn't be a flake, and like, impose my beliefs on you." She smiled.
Brian opened the box, and tried to hold back his frown, as he pulled out a silver star, "The star of David." He said aloud.
Tabitha peeked out from the kitchen, "What?! Who is this David, he's completely stolen my idea!" She snapped.
Elizabeth turned from the crowd, looking at Tabitha. She then glanced at her twin, for an answer at the blonde's remark. "She makes me laugh." He quickly replied.
Rogue let out a laugh, looking at Tabitha, "No, Tabby, it's the star of David."
Tabitha scoffed, "I heard that!" She then frowned, "But, has it been patented? That star up there is my idea!" She snapped.
Elizabeth smiled, "Tabitha, yes. It's been patented." She joked.
"Oh? And by who?"
Elizabeth gulped, raising an eyebrow, wondering how drunk the blonde was, "By God." She answered.
Laughter consumed the room, and Tabitha winked, projecting a thought to Elizabeth, duh, I know that; I'm just trying to lighten the mood!, Elizabeth heard.
Elizabeth shook her head, smiling at the blonde's antics. Tabitha rushed back into the kitchen, to prepare the champagne glasses. "Now, Kurt and Amanda just need to get here so we can head to the restaurant downstairs for some food." Brian announced.
"Great! I'm starving!" Wanda smiled.
AN- okay, all, THIS IS COMPLETELY A/U! Everyone's grown up, remember? But, read and review, letting me know what you think….all you ROMY fanatics that wanna put out hits on authors who choose Rogue to go with someone else, while Remy goes with another….*bonks ya'all on the head with a mallet* LIGHTEN UP! Be open minded for once! If it offends ya that bad, then don't read it, and don't complain! As for everyone else *hands ya all candies and chocolates* WOOHOO! Now, the banner for this fic, with some characters wearing santa hats, (it's so cute), is posted up on mah site under fanfics….WOOHOO!