- Y'all know the dilly yo, that I don't own these characters, marvel or anything else. Sometimes I wish I did, but wishing ain't having… oh well. Y'all know the drill.. blah blah blah.
- This story doesn't really fit in with the X-Men Evolution timeline at all nor would I try to make it to. However, in this story, Gambit was an acolyte, and Magneto disappeared. Oh yes, and the first meeting with Gambit and Rogue and the card and the whole media thing still happened. Oh, and Evan doesn't exist in this story or he's off with the morlocks because I don't really need a whole bunch of characters to incorporate into the story, since this is really a ROMY story. Everything else is all A/U but in a beautiful way. Enjoy!
On with the story…
Somewhere I Belong
"My lil' angel, yes ya are. Always remember that, my child." The woman cooed as she rocked back and forth on the chair with a girl of two years who had the brightest green eyes and a smile that could melt the entire arctic.
"Momma, love ya." The girl told her mother in an incomplete sentence She looked up at her mother with adoration. Her momma was so beautiful, like Cinderella, the little girl thought. Her mother had soft restless hazel eyes and long flowing auburn hair. Her face was soft and sensitive, but held a determination and strength that demanded respect.
"Ah love y'too, my baby girl. Ah always will. Ya are the most beautiful girl, do ya know that?" Her mother asked the child as she continued to cradle the child in her arms.
"Uh-huh. Momma beautiful too." The girl responded as she brought a hand up to touch her mother's face.
The woman took the child's small chubby hands and pressed it against her cheek. How, she loved her child so. Her baby girl was her everything and she never wanted her child to forget that. She knew she didn't have long in this world to tell her how much she loved her, and so every single minute with her baby counted.
"Momma, sing, please?" The little girl requested. She drew a big yawn as tiredness slowly overcame her.
"Okay, baby girl." The woman responded.
The girl closed her eyes as she clung to her mother. The warmth of her embrace was heavenly. She buried her head into the woman's shoulder as the woman sang softly to her.
"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside I've got the month of May. I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way, My Girl…"
The little girl fell asleep immediately and the woman looked down at her child and smile. She got up off the rocking chair and walked towards the crib in the nursery. She kissed her child good night, before she placed her into her crib.
"Ah love ya, baby girl. Always remember that." She whispered and she took a final glance at her child before leaving the nursery.
-xoxo-
The blonde hair of the doll shone brilliantly as she combed it thoroughly with a brush. When, she thought the hair was just perfect, she put the brush down and proceeded to assemble the perfect outfit for her doll. The little girl played with the few articles of clothing she had for it, and finally chose a pretty sundress with daisies printed all over it.
She chose it because it reminded her of her mother, who she was told was sleeping at the moment. She dressed the doll in the sundress and placed it in the little shoebox that was its home and which her mother had helped construct for her.
The little girl smiled at the doll and thought her mother would be proud of her if she saw how neat and careful she was playing. Then she had an idea; she was going to bring the box to show her mother.
The girl smiled brightly as she picked up the box and walked to the door. She opened the door and could see a bunch of people running around. She saw that a few of her mother's closest friends were huddled in the kitchen, crying. She saw that a doctor had just entered the house and had gone straight to her mother's room, with which he slammed it as soon as he had gone in.
This didn't faze the girl though, nor did she realize the seriousness of the current situation. She simply walked towards her mother's room, box in hand, and knocked lightly on the door.
The door did not open though, and so the girl knocked again, a little louder this time. Suddenly, someone opened the door, and it was nurse Debbie. At least, the little girl thought her name was Debbie, she only remembered meeting this woman twice, so she couldn't be sure.
"Is momma there?" The girl simply asked.
The nurse's face was sympathetic and soft as she spoke to the child, "Your momma is very tired at the moment, sweetheart. She'll see ya in a lil bit, okay? Why don't ya go to the kitchen and ask one of your aunties there for a snack?"
The little girl didn't even contemplate about the suggestion as she answered politely, "No, thank ya. Ah'll sit right here and wait 'til momma ain't so tired no more. She woul' really wanna see this."
The nurse sighed as she realized the unfairness and incomprehension this little girl would have to face soon.
"Okay, sweetheart. Ya do that then." The nurse answered and gave the girl a little pat on the head before returning back into the room, and closing the door shut.
The little girl became slightly confused and could not understand what her mother's ailment was. Nonetheless, she plopped herself down, next to the door and waited until her momma would become less tired again.
She remembered sitting there for only ten minutes before the doctor and the nurse had come out. They both had their heads down as they discussed the situation quietly and with obvious disappointment and sorrow. They both noticed the presence of the little girl and gave a sympathetic and perhaps pitied shake of their heads. The nurse managed to say, "I'm sorry, child," before she walked out of the house with the doctor.
The girl was puzzled at the nurse's comment, but she chose not to think much about something she couldn't understand. She did realize, however, that her mother must be awake now, since the doctor and nurse had both left. She got up onto her small feet, and knocked on the door again.
The door whipped open and in front of her stood her father. He had heavy bags under his eyes, his hair was disheveled, and he looked as if he hadn't change or shower in days. He looked extremely distressed as he stared into the empty wall in front of him.
"Daddy?" The little girl asked.
The man's eyes blinked as he realized that there was someone standing before him. He looked down at his daughter and his eyes were blank. It was as if he didn't recognize his own daughter.
"Daddy, can ah see momma now, please?" The little girl asked as she smiled at the thought of seeing her mother's proud face when she sees how careful and neat she had treated her doll.
With the mention of his wife and the smile on his daughter's face, he felt that life was further taunting and rubbing the pain deeper in him. His eyes grew angry as he suddenly bellowed, "YOUR MOMMA'S DEAD!"
The girl's smile immediately disappeared and her eyes widened with fright. She had never seen her father this way, nor did she know what it meant that her momma was dead. She wanted to ask, but something told her that at the present moment, it would not be a good idea.
The man suddenly became angry at the child's reaction. Does she not have the decency to even shed a tear, he wondered bitterly. So overcome with grief at this point, the man had lost all reason and had completely forgotten that he was dealing with a four-year-old child who did not even know what death meant. His irrationality and loss of common sense at this very moment would be the root of his resentment and his abusive actions towards his daughter in later years to come.
"Ya ain't ever gonna see your mother again, girl." The man bitterly said and he walked away from the child, to whom he would not regard as his own from that day on.
The little girl was so confused that she began to cry. Her father had never treated her this way before and she did not understand why he was mad at her. She didn't know why she couldn't ever see her mother again and she ran into her mother's room.
She dropped the box at the sudden sight of her mother. She ran to her and jumped on the bed.
"Momma? Momma?" The girl frantically cried over and over again as she realized that her mother was not waking up.
"Momma, wake up, please? Please wake-up, momma." The girl pleaded desperately as she began to shake her mother. And yet, her mother kept sleeping.
After a few more minutes of frantic pleading and begging, the little girl gave up. She finally knew what death meant and uncontrollable sobbing overcame her. She curled up next to her mother as she moved one of her mother's arms to wrap around her little body.
"Momma, please don't leave me. Ah love ya." The little girl said her final plea.
The house was bustling with noise. There were people crying in the kitchen, and her father was clumsily taking out his anger in the backyard by chopping firewood. The kettle was screaming, as it was ready to be taken off the stove, yet nobody did it. It was noisy, all right, but the little girl heard nothing.
For the only sound she listened for was the breathing and heart beat of her mother's, but she could hear neither.
Silence was all she heard.
-xoxo-
"GIRL!" His voice yelled loudly from the kitchen.
The girl aged eight, quickly covered her head with her sheets in her dark bedroom, as she silently prayed that her father would leave her be.
She wasn't so lucky.
Suddenly, the covers were whipped off of her as her father grabbed a handful of hair. He dragged her out bed and she bit her lip to prevent from screaming in pain. She knew that when she made any noise, he would punish her even more.
He dragged her all the way into the kitchen and made her look into the sink. Sitting there was a mug she had forgotten to wash. She silently cursed herself for being so forgetful.
"Ah'll wash it right away, daddy." She explained and tried to struggle out of his hold to wash the mug.
He wouldn't let go of his hold as he yanked it hard just because she was trying to struggle out of it. He pulled her up to him and shouted, "Why didn't ya clean up all the dishes, girl?? All ah ask of ya is t'do a few chores around the house while I'm at work and y'can't even do that! YOU'RE USELESS!"
The girl can smell the alcohol in his breath. She saw how his eyes were bloodshot and angry. She had seen this many times and it always frightened her every time.
"Ah'm sorry, daddy. Ah'll wash it right now." The girl stammered, as she hoped that he would let go of her.
And he did, but only to slap her across the face. He slapped her so hard that he caused her to fall down to the ground. She clasped the side of her face where he had hit her with a hand as she fought hard to hold her tears back.
Her father looked at her with disgust as he continued to rant. "Ah have ta work for the both of us! Money don't grow on trees, none! Ah work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, and ah ask ya t'take care of some household chores, and ya can't even do that!!!!! What is wrong with, ya, girl? Ya think ah like hitting ya? Ya ain't giving me much choice if ya going t'be so goddamn stupid!"
The girl just nodded her head in agreement as she was too scared to speak. This just angered him even more.
"Ah don't want ya! Y a ain't not'ing but trouble! Ah never wanted ya! It was your mother who wanted ya, not me! Y a ain't my daughter." He cried incoherently as the effects of alcohol were clearly taking its toll.
She didn't even know what to do anymore. The mention of her mother had unleashed a flood of tears. She wanted so desperately for her mother to be here, to hold her, to just simply live again.
The mention of his wife, also took a toll on the man as he started to cry. "Why did ya leave me? Why? We were supposed t'be happy forever! Ya weren't supposed t'leave me!" He cried as he looked up at the ceiling.
The girl softened slightly at this unusual display of grief his father was presenting in front of her. As much as she hated her father, she sympathized him, for they both had one thing in common; they both loved and wished that the woman who had taken care of them both would return.
"Daddy, ah'm sorry. Ah'm sorry momma died." The girl said softly, with hope that this one comment might somehow help unite them in their grief.
It was a mistake though as his grieving eyes grew angry again. He turned back to her and slapped her across the face once more.
She yelped in pain, which infuriated him even more.
"YA THINK THAT'S GONNA BRING YOUR MOMMA BACK?? She shouldn't have died! And now look what ah've gotta deal wit!" He yelled at her.
"Ah'm sorry, daddy. Ah'll be good. Ah promise. Ah'm your daughter." The eight-year-old girl tried to convince him of how she would be completely obedient from then on.
"Ya ain't my daughter." The man bitterly said as he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Daddy, please. Ah'm sorry." The little girl cried as her father flung her against the wall once more.
"You're not my daughter. Get out!" He yelled at he with more conviction.
He, then, yanked her hair and dragged her across the floor. He opened the door and tossed her out.
"Don't come back, girl, or y'll be sorry!" He growled before slamming the door in her face.
She cried as her fear grew. She didn't know what to do and the only thing she could think of was to run. She didn't know where she was going to run to but she knew all she could do now was run.
She ran hard. She ran as far as her eight years old leg could take her. Finally, she collapsed in front of a woman with dark glasses.
"No need for running anymore, child." The woman had said and extended her hand for the little girl to take.
-xoxo-
She was walking home from Bayville High. She did not know whether or not the Xavier Institute for the Gifted Youngsters could ever be considered 'home'. Frankly, she didn't think she ever had a home in her entire life.
The day was getting shorter since it was the winter and she had to walk home from school because she had missed her ride with Scott but it's not like she wanted to be crammed in his car with Kurt, Kitty, and Jean. She felt completely stupid at the moment for even having a crush on Scott. With her mutation, she should learn how to control her feelings better.
She looked up at the sky, and sighed. It was beginning to get dark and it was only quarter to five. She opted to take a shortcut then, to get back to the institute faster. She made a turn into an alleyway that bypassed the big busy streets that she would have to normally walk on.
The last couple of weeks had been pretty tough on her. She had found that her only friend, Risty, was really Mystique who claimed that she was indeed, her adoptive mother.
Rogue got angry at the thought of Mystique calling herself, her mother. She didn't even remember Mystique being in her life. She was no mother to her.
She continued to burn with anger as she came to the other end of the alleyway. Suddenly a limousine pulled up in front of her. The door flung open and out stepped Irene.
"Irene?" Rogue inquired, as she couldn't believe her eyes. She hadn't seen Irene in months and she wasn't sure whether she should hug the blind woman or yell at her.
"Rogue, my dear. I've come to see you." Irene said as she walked towards Rogue.
Rogue took a step back and asked, "'Bout what?"
"You must leave the X-Men." Irene stated.
"And why would Ah do that?" Rogue asked defensively.
"I have seen the future, and if you continue to stay with the X-Men you'll only be in grave danger." Irene told her.
"Ah think ah was in greater danger when ah was with ya and Mystique. Ah'll take my chances wit' the X-Men." She said bitterly.
"Rogue, I know you think that Xavier could somehow help you with your powers, but he can't. He'll never be able to. You have no ties with them. You are Mystique's daughter and mine too." Irene responded as she took another step towards Rogue.
Rogue stepped back and she told Irene angrily, "Ya two ain't ever gonna be my mother. Ya two don't know what it means t'love a child."
"We love you, Rogue. Just come home. We'll keep you safe." Irene insisted.
"LOVE? Ya two don't love me. Do ya think using me for my powers is called love? That's the only reason ya want me back. That's the only reason ya took me in, in the first place! Ya knew that ah was gonna manifest this power! Ya knew it because ya saw it in your vision! Ya didn't take me in because ya loved me, because ya felt sorry for me. Ya took me in to train me t'do whatever the hell ya two pleased. Ah ain't gonna go back with ya, ever, Irene. It'll never happen again. Ya don't know the first thing about love, nor does Mystique." Rogue cried angrily at her.
"Rogue, be rational, child. Remember how close we use to be? I do love you, contrary to what you believe." Irene tried to convince her.
"If ya love me, ya'll leave right now without me." Rogue told her.
However, Irene made no move to get back into the limousine. Instead of being angry with Irene, Rogue was overcome with sadness. She had hoped that Irene would prove to her that she did love her, but she had chosen to remain standing in front of her with intentions of convincing Rogue further to go back with her.
Rogue shook her head and said, "Ah'm grateful that ya took me in, Irene. And ah thank ya for that, but ah'm not gonna be a pawn in your game or Mystiques. No matter what ya think, that ain't love. Ya don't use someone ya love. Not like that."
"Rogue, please, listen to me." Irene began.
"No. Ah've heard all ah wanna hear. Tell Mystique, Kurt and ah will be fine without her, like we've always been." Rogue cut her off.
With that note, Rogue walked away from the woman who had taken care of her in the latter half of her life. She was sorrowful for what had happened, but she didn't regret it.
She would never regret walking away no matter how much it hurt.
-xoxo-
She was walking, trying to clear her head of him. She didn't want to think about him anymore, and the voices in her head were always trying to add their two cents in. They all had an opinion on what they thought of the Cajun and she was having a hard enough time trying to silence all the other voices. She just didn't have the strength to deal with the doubts in her head about what she had just done hours earlier.
She was so preoccupied with the chaos that was her mind; she didn't notice the men until they pulled her into the alley.
Immediately, she got into defense mode as she kicked the guy and proceeded to run. Yet, she found that she had run into another man who grabbed both her arms and twisted it around him. She tried to kick back, but he managed to dodge her legs.
Rogue was angry and embarrassed at the same time. Normally, she would have no problem beating the three men to a pulp, but because the psyches had been pestering her all day, she had found that her strength had seriously waned.
"FUCK YOU!" She remembered yelling out of anger.
"Bitch, shut up." The man holding her from behind said.
She saw that the man she had originally kicked was standing inches from her. She shuddered at his touch when he ran a finger along her arm.
"Such a pretty lil' thing for a fucking dirty mutie. I'm gonna have a lil' fun with you before you die." She heard him murmured.
"Don't fucking touch me!" She cried as she began to panic. She tried to kick her legs forward, but the other man had held her both her legs down.
She tried to struggle out of the hold of the guy who held her arms, but felt that he had just passed her onto the one who had touched her. She tried desperately to get out of his grip, but found that the man who had now had her wrists in his grasp was stronger than the man before him.
"Stop it." The man yelled as he pushed her against the wall, hard. She bit her lip from yelping in pain when her head made an impact with the wall.
"Don't start struggling, bitch. It'll only hurt more." The man told her as he leaned in closer to her. He had one hand around her wrists tightly and his other hand groped her breast.
Rogue's eyes brimmed with tears of humiliation as the man began to touch her in various places that nobody had the right to. She could feel his alcoholic breath on her as he leaned in closer.
Please don't touch me. Please don't touch me. She pleaded silently as she realized that he was inches from touching her bare skin. She did not want his psyche in her mind.
Suddenly, something exploded and the guy let her go. She ran to the side and saw that Remy had shown up and was beating the three men to a pulp.
She began to shiver as she tried to regain her composure. Tears were falling at this point, and she felt a sudden cold come over her.
All of a sudden, she felt someone touched the side of her and she immediately, retreated.
"Don't touch me." She murmured softly.
"It's okay, Rogue. It's just Remy. I wont hurt y'." She heard him say.
And then she realized that it really was only Remy. She didn't hesitate to run into his arms and cry her eyes out.
It all just hurt so much.
-xoxo-
His eyes flashed open and revealed a concerned intense red. It was pitch dark in his room but he knew what he need and where it was.
He got up and grabbed a sweater to pull over himself. He fumbled with the doorknob for a bit and then he finally whipped it open.
Then he ran. He ran hard and fast.
He was worried and he knew why.
She was hurting.
He opened her door slowly and saw her.
She had her arms around her legs as she was crying into her lap. She looked up at him and wasn't surprise to see him.
He, immediately, walked to her and got on the bed. He pulled her into his arms and she let him.
"It hurts so much, Remy." She murmured between her sobs as he held her tighter.
"I know, chere. I know." He told her.
He held her and a while later, she had stopped crying and had drifted to sleep. He lied there with her in his arms and eventually managed to doze off, but he kept an ear open.
Just in case she needed him.
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