~*~*~Update~*~*~

He looked down, surprised to see Rogue's fingers curling around his wrist.

"Stay, please? Ah dohnt want ta be ahlone...." He nodded.

"Anyt'in' Chere." Sliding off his trench-coat and draping it over a chair, he laid down next to her, pulling her close to him, and kissing her shoulder, as she drifted off to sleep, tears still silently sliding down her cheeks.

-Tomorrow.- Rogue sleepily decided. -I know everything, so I'll tell them all everything tomorrow....-

She snuggled closer to Remy as her last thoughts were of John, and how he must be feeling.

~*~*~

John drove very slowly, all the way back to the Acolytes base. He didn't pay any attention to Piotr as he passed him, or his comment about Remy not planning on returning that night. He kept his head bowed down, in pretense of looking at Lauren, but his eyes were closed. He knew the base's layout by heart, he didn't need to look. Truth was, he didn't want to look. He didn't want to see her diminish. Despite it all, he found himself in his room, laying her on her side of the bed, and walking around to his, laying down so he could watch her.

He hadn't really cried in the first place, and he couldn't now either. Hugging his knees to his chest, he watched her for a moment more, before reaching over and brushing a strand of her hair out of her eyes, recoiling, almost in horror, at the sudden coolness of her skin. As what had happened finally set in, he curled up into a ball and cried himself to sleep.

In the next room, Piotr sighed. He didn't like hearing John like this, even though it was a welcome change to his constant fire-obsessed hyper-ness, he didn't want him to cry. He hadn't wanted Lauren to go either. She had been a nice change around the place.

He glanced at the picture of them all on his wall, next to the picture of his sister. Remy and Rogue, John and Lauren, and himself with Kitty.* Smiling slightly, he turn on his side, attempting to block out the faint, muffled sounds of Pyro's crying, echoing through the unusually silent house.

~*~*~

Remy was woken by the movements of whichever girl it was he'd fallen asleep with last night. He didn't open his eyes.... not yet.... until he heard a familiar voice.

"Swamp Rat?!? What th' hell ahre ya doin'?" Opening one eye, he gazed into Rogue's emerald ones.

"Holdin' y' Chere." He replied, closing the eye and pulling her back down into his arms, resting his chin onto her shoulder so she couldn't get up as easily. "Dis be nice.... stay.... don' move." Rogue's jaw dropped. He was telling her to stay? She narrowed her eyes slightly, thinking quickly.

"Remy...." She spoke sweetly, softly, tilting his chin up off her shoulder. Smiling, she placed a slight kiss on his lips, before moving and biting his shoulder. "Don't ya tell meh ta stay!"

He was lost for words when she kissed him, but the bite brought him back to reality quick enough.

"Aww, Chere.... y' don' need t' bite Remy.... He know y' dang'rous.... an' he b' oh-s'-scared!" He smirked, causing a fit of giggles from Rogue. He didn't realise how funny it looked, especially with the make-up that had come off her face and onto his.

"Rogue, can I like, borrow..... oh...." Kitty laughed. "Umm.... Nevermind...." She paused, trying to hold the laughter in. Rogue placed a finger over her lips and Kitty nodded, leaving the two of them alone.

"What b' s' funny Chere?" Rogue shrugged.

"Ah dunno Cajun...." She paused, remembering. "Ah need ta speak ta Johnny."

"He know what b' funny?"

"No, Ah need ta speak ta him.... Call him...." 

~*~*~

((A/N: I'm not sure which one of the two parts I want to do next, as either would fit really.... so I'm gonna go with the one I like better, and I'll post the alternate as a separate chapter, after this.))

When St John woke up the next morning, he turned to look at his Fiancee, smiling when he caught sight of her. In his groggy state, it vaguely registered that there was something wrong with her.

"Lauren, Luv, ya awake?" No response. He frowned, sitting up, wondering why they were both still dressed, and why they had slept ontop of the sheets. "Lore?" He reached across and touched her bare shoulder, jumping back and falling off the bed as her skin's coldness.

"Oh, Jezus Christ...." He swore softly, as Piotr entered silently, helping him up. "I forgot.... Shes gone Mate...." Piotr nodded.

"Remy has called. Marie wishes to speak with you." St John nodded, walking out of the room, hanging his 'Do not disturb' fire sign on his door. Resting his hand against it for a moment, he bit his lip, before following Piotr outside, even giving in to his requests to let him drive as he was in no state to do it.

~*~*~

Rogue was sat with her eyes closed, having sent Remy to keep a look-out for St John arriving, she was sifting through the memories in her head quickly, determining which were hers, and which were Lauren's. It didn't take her too long, and then she walked herself onto her psyche plane.

Remy-Psyche jumped as Rogue materialised infront of him, and smiled knowingly. He wrapped his arms around her briefly, before tugging her towards Lauren-psyche.

Thanks Remy.... Leave us? He left at Lauren's request. John-psyche cast her a pleading look but she shook her head and he went as well. I've been expecting you. Rogue nodded.

Ah knew ya would b'. Lauren.... we need ta talk....

Sure do....

Ah'm not suah what ta tell Johnney.... when he gets here....

Tell him I love him.
This is what Ah dohn't undahstand. How can ya love him, when ya part o' meh?
I just do. I wasn't always part of you. Besides, you used to have that crush on him.... then the Cajun came along.... Lauren shrugged.

Oh.... Ah think Ah undahstand.

You don't. I know you don't. You cant lie to me Marie. She paused. Tell him the truth. That I love him, and that I'm still here.... There was another pause, longer. Oh, and I'm sorry about that Marie.... I am.... I didn't know about it. And then Rogue felt herself pushed back into reality, gasping as she 'fell' back into her body.

She didn't realise John and Piotr were in the room, as well as Remy, until she heard his soft question.

"Marie, ya alright Sheilah?" She shook her head slightly, opening her eyes and moving her gaze up to look at John. He looked tired, and worn out. She decided instantly.

He's been crying.... Lauren's voice said in her head softly, regretfully. Tell him not to cry. Please.

"Johnny.... Don't cry." She simply said, watching his bemused expression.

When he had walked into the room, the first thing John noticed was how much like Lauren, Marie looked. Or was it the other way around? Of course, they had differences, but that's was irrelevant.

"Johnny.... Don't cry." He almost jumped. He didn't look like he'd been crying, and no-one had said anything. He frowned.

"What makes ya think I been cryin' Sheilah?"

"Lauren knows."

"Oh." He swallowed hard. Was Lauren still around? If when Rogue touched people, she got a piece of them in their head, does that mean....? "Lauren?" He guestured to Rogue's head, and she simply nodded. "Oh." He said again, slumping down into a chair, before he fell. "Is she....?"  He shrugged, not knowing how to finish it.

"She's aware.... and fihne.... just upset." Rogue paused. "She wants meh ta tell yah WHY she had ta do this...." She closed her eyes. "Bettah yet.... She can tell ya...." Rogue voice got quieter and faded out.

Ya turn Lauren.... Ya tell Johnney....
You sure about this?

Posative.... Ah know ya wont wreck Mah bodeh. Or do anythin' stupid in it....
Thanks.... Lauren chuckled, closing her eyes on the Psyche plane, and opening them again in the real world. In Rogue's body. She watched the confused look on St Johns and Remy's faces when she opened her eyes and they were a deep sapphire colour.

"Johnny?" She smiled, and watched, as he looked like a man waking up suddenly, as if from a dream. He rose and walked over on unsteady legs.

"Lauren...." He whispered, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly, a tear finding its way down the side of his face. He HAD to remember that this was Marie, and not Lauren.... but it was so hard. "I missed y' Luv.... I really did...."

She nodded.

"I know.... I'm sorry."

Remy stood watching the pair, bemused. Lauren's voice and eyes on his girl.... Hell, PYRO'S girl in his girl.... How much more complicated and strange could things get?

~*~*~

A/N: I make more spelling mistakes on this part than I do on the story.....

* = Yeah, I like Piotr with kitty at the moment. Pietro's too much hassle to write in now, and Piotr deserves her more.... Pietro just gets Pixie Sticks.... now.... Everyone stand back.....

Reader Reviews!

SickmindedSucker - NOW im REALLY scared.... .Smurfs! ARGH! You have no idea how badly scarred for life I am because of those little blue things! Thanks for the compliments, does wonders for my ego. I am ALWAYS Very Very Very VERY Nice to Johnny.... But not by re-incarnating his dead fiancee's, girlfriends, whatever.... Cant be having competition now, Can I? Anywho.... COOKIES FOR REVIEWING! *hands 10,000 cookies* What? I have a LOT to get rid of

!

ishandahalf - Yep, sowwy.... Shes dead.... ish.... I'm afraid she is really dead.... like really-really dead. He didn't ever do anything bad to me.... Hes just MINE. But yes, TONNES of ROMYNESS on the way.... Tonnes and tonnes and tonnes.... honest.... And Rogue's explanations are coming.... I just needed to write another sad-happy chappie first. Heh, I can burn a pot noodle! :-P..... Here.... have cookies..... Lots and lots of cookies!  

*whispers* Ravyn Nyte - Ha ha ha, not quite. Ya nearly got my evil plot! :-P

As for the Johnny-Rogue thing..... yes, technically it means they have, but Rogue is....... Actually, im not going to tell you. Think of all the fun I can have.... lets see.... Kit and Bets are due another convo....

You disappeared you bugger!

And you're not dead.... that sucks..... well, at least youre here..... hiding, but here..... and Ish will probs know by the time I put this up..... ha ha ha...... sowwy. Missed ya and thanks for the brownie points..... no cookies cos ya hiding.... cant have cookies.... I'll owe you.....