Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
Thanks to all my reviewers! Sorry if I didn't' get to you all.
Ishandahalf: hoping for reconciliation isn't too much, no. I'm just angry enough that Marvel is breaking them apart again that I may write a (semi) happy ending.
TheRealMai: Mystique destroyed the X-Men because she is working for Apocalypse. It was subtly mentioned, maybe. She was also working for Essex who wanted to make sure Remy stayed away from the X-Men. Oh, and I won't put Jean and Remy together, don't worry.
Antonia: Yes, Rogue rejoined the X-Men, as this chapter will better explain.
Aro: Rogue will not be having Magneto's child. I hated that part of the AoA series. I also hated that she chose Magnus over Remy. Pissed me off, and I liked most of the AoA series too. So don't worry, there's hope for our southern couple yet!
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Shadowcat ran quickly through the overgrown weeds, stopping to rest for a brief moment on the piece of stone extending from the ground as her partner caught up. Using their powers out in the open would only signal those searching for mutants. Otherwise she would just have Kurt teleport them.
She sank down to her knees, one hand still resting atop the grave. She turned un-committaly towards the stone, skimming over it. So many had died, new recruits, young mutants. But the name she had chosen to rest on was that of Piotr Rasputin. She removed her gloved hand, feeling suddenly very vulnerable to her emotions.
She had felt a bond to this man, but it had been broken before it truly had begun by his unfortunate death. She wondered what they could have been like, had they the chance to get together.
A small tap to her shoulder brought her back to the present day.
"We must hurry leibling." Nightcrawler urged softly.
"None of this should have happened Kurt. It doesn't feel right.
Kurt put a hand comfortingly on Kitty's shoulder. "Ve cannot change ze past Kitty.
"I know," she whispered, but it went unheeded as Kurt's head snapped up and he ducked to the ground, grabbing Kitty down as he did so.
"Zere are three figures heading towards ze mansion.
"Well, we should intercept them then." Kitty stood up, dusting her uniform off, a look of determination setting in her eyes.
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"So, is de security t'dis place still as bad as it used t'be?" Gambit asked, kicking a pebble into the grass.
Wolverine chuckled, and from the corner of his eye, Remy caught Jean clasp quickly but tightly to Logan's hand.
"What are you doing here Jean?
The voice came from their right side, with a evident tone of bitterness. Gambit kept himself still, hidden behind his comrades.
"What's the matter Kitty, can't a girl visit her old friends?
Kitty's hardened glare vanished as soon as it had begun when the red glow of Gambit's eyes caught her attention.
"Gambit, what?-
Kurt joined her side then, interrupting the dazed Shadowcat, doing his best to welcome the three despite tense relations.
"Look elf, Magnus knows I'm comin', so lets keep dis short and sweet. Just take me to him, d'accord?
Nightcrawler glanced at the other two. "And vhat of zese two?
"We're joining him bub," Wolverine stated, crossing his arms. Jean remained quiet by his side.
Kurt turned, motioning for the trio to follow him. Kitty moved to the front of the crowd, avoiding conversation. Wolverine and Jean walked a few steps behind her, while Remy and Kurt made up the end.
"May I make one request?" Kurt asked with soft spoken words, facing Remy.
Gambit's eyes continued to stare ahead, his expression firm. "Oui." It was mumbled, caught on the breeze.
"Do not be so hard on mein sister my friend.
Kurt watched Remy's jaw tense up as his teeth began to grit back and forth.
"If I have it my way mon ami, I won't even have t'see her.
Remy heard Kurt suck in a breath. "From mein lips, this may mean nothing Remy, but she does still love you." Nightcrawler sped up then, joining Kitty in the front. Remy blinked several times, unsure of what to make of Kurt's words.
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Eight months previous-
Rogue scurried about the space she shared with Remy at Essex's headquarters. One small bag lay open on their bed, as Rogue threw what belongings she wanted into it with a haphazard swing.
Remy was out on a mission, not due back until the evening. Rogue hoped to be gone well before then. She had a long note written. She knew that if she talked to him face to face, she would never leave. She also knew he would not come with her. But the hole in heart where the guilt continued to plow through was killing her. Her small form glided across the carpet, back and forth. Her black body suit, the uniform of Sinister, still clung to her back, reminding her of her deceit.
It was the smell of cigarette smoke that alerted her to his presence. She stopped several meters from the bed, her feet still above the ground. Her head turned with unease towards the doorway, her curls hiding the full view of her face.
It was the shadows that hid his. His red eyes glowed intensely, the cigarette touching his lips the only other mark to his form. Occasionally the light of it would illuminate his face; his tightened, angry face.
"Y'got a long mission ahead I don't know bout' chere? Or are ya takin' a vacation?" His snide tone indicated his sarcasm, as he blew smoke into the bedroom.
Rogue let her feet drop to the floor. She took hesitant steps to the bed, tucking the shirts in her hand evenly into the luggage. Her mind was cursing at a hundred words a minute.
"Didn't expect ya back so soon sugah. The quiet tang of her voice echoed painfully through the room.
He was beside her in an instant, his breath hot on her cheek, his cigarette mysteriously put out. One hand fingered a strand of her hair.
"I know where y're goin' Rogue." Animosity glazed his words as he remained in close proximity to her.
Rogue closed her eyes, trying desperately not to reach out for him and scream that she was sorry. "Ya knew Ah wanted ta rejoin the team Remy. Ah can't take it here no more.
"Were y'gonna ask if I wanted t'go wit you?" He tugged harshly at the strand he was holding, releasing it and moving away from her slightly.
"Ah knew ya didn't want to Remy. Ya always avoided the topic when Ah brought it up. Rogue edged her way to the bed, seating herself against the frame. Finally she met his eyes.
Remy looked disgusted, pure and simple. His mouth was crooked at one end, nearly snarling, while the red in his eyes raged.
"All y'had ta do was be straight forward wit me chere. All y'had t'do was ask." The fury dripping from his voice softened, as his shoulders sagged, and he glanced to the carpet.
The zipping of her luggage pushed Remy to raise his eyes. Rogue stood before him, bag slung over one arm. Her emerald eyes pleaded that she was sorry, but the words never left her lips.
She gathered her courage, and walked to his place a few feet away. She began to play with the fingers of her gloves, but her vision remained focused solely on him.
Her body was so near Gambit felt his body shudder involuntarily at her warmth. But his expression did not flinch.
Slowly, she raised herself up, placing one last kiss on his lips, her soft mouth apologizing as it increased its firmness. But when Remy did not respond to her touch, she opened her squinted eyes, and acknowledged his disappointment. His eyes were wide open, staring at her with resentment and fear. She heard him swallow as her lips brushed away from him. A look of longing swept over his face, but he made no move to hug or grab her.
And so Rogue walked off, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Once she was gone, Remy stumbled across the room, his knees connecting with the edge of the bed. His body collapsed forward then, his face landing in the soft cotton sheets that still smelled of lavender like her. His fist reached out and pounded against the mattress. When that did not satisfy the terrible pain that erupted in his chest, he charged the sheets, watching them burn pink.
He wanted nothing left to remind him of her. He let the sheets explode, watching the bed crack and break down, before he to did the same, landing on the floor, his eyes on the doorway, a sliver of hope etched in his eyes, as he waited for his love to come back.
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Present day-
"What the blazes is taking him so long?" Wolverine questioned, one foot tapping rapidly against his knee. The trio now sat in Magneto's office, formally the office of Charles Xavier, waiting for the master of magnetism to greet them.
Jean rested her hand against Logan's boot, stopping his nervous movements. He could see the stress building up behind her green eyes, and he knew she was feeling the same trepidation as their fellow Cajun companion. Lost loves were never easy to forget.
Gambit's head rested back against the chair, dangling somewhat off the back. His eyes lay closed, his carefree appearance making him seem relaxed. When the door creaked open he didn't even move an inch.
But the sultry southern tone that greeted the three immediately woke him.
"Sorry guys, Magnus is a bit busy right now, he asked meh to keep ya-
Remy heard her freeze, as if she just realized who she was taking too. He turned from his position in the chair, his bangs hanging in front of his eyes. She held a look of shock in her gorgeous green eyes. Remy wanted nothing more than to jump from his seat and pull her into his arms. But then he remembered everything that had happened.
"What's de matter chere, ole' Magnus didn't tell ya who your visitors were?" His sharp tongue bit the air. Even after the months that had gone by, pain still gripped his eyes.
"He was busy," she stated simply, collecting herself, before walking around to the seat behind the desk. She took a seat and acknowledged the other two.
"It's been awhile, Jean, Logan. What brings y'all out here?
Wolverine snorted. She was obviously trying to ignore Gambit, her eyes glued as if interested on Jean and Logan.
"I think ya better ask the Cajun, Stripes. He's the one who brought us here.
Rogue looked to Jean, in the hopes that maybe the red head could explain, but she merely glared coolly at Rogue, her lips sealed.
"Come on Rogue. It's not like I'm a hard guy ta look at, non?
She could feel him smirking before she even returned her eyes to his spot. Suddenly she stood from her chair and began to head around the desk.
"Ya know, maybe its best for y'all ta just wait for Eric." Her uncomfortable presence made Gambit smile wider. He grabbed her by the wrist as she tried to escape out the door.
His warm, calloused hand made Rogue shiver. Her knees went numb and she wanted nothing more than to fall into his lap and kiss the smirk off his face. But too much had changed, and he obviously no longer cared for her.
Eric's entry into the room saved Rogue a response. Remy quickly let her wrist drop as she joined Magnus at the doorway.
Remy glanced quickly towards the desk, out the bay windows. He had no desire to see Rogue run to Eric. He hated the sight of her even touching him. Thankfully, Magnus chose to sit alone behind the desk, while Rogue remained standing in the back.
"Now, Remy, to what do we owe the honor? You do not find your way out here often.
"I think we both know why dat is Magnus." Remy stated firmly. He heard Logan clear his throat next to him.
Eric did not respond, his blue eyes turning stiff. The room remained enveloped in awkward silence before Remy let his stubbornness melt.
Sighing loudly, Remy stood from his chair, his eyes burning into Magneto as he lifted his hands up. His left hand began to peel off the right hand glove, the leather slipping off slowly. Once his skin was revealed he looked to Rogue. He felt satisfaction at watching her gasp at the scars that had burned his skin.
He threw the glove down in front of Magnus, returning his attention back to the man. He had already explained his situation to Jean and Logan, and they sat quietly waiting for him to explain.
"What happened to you Remy?" Eric asked, his expression far away.
"As Rogue may or may not o'told y'Magnus, Essex was lookin' for a mutant strong enough to kill Apocalypse single handedly.
"She mentioned something along those lines." Eric mused.
"Well what she and I didn' realize at de time was, I was de mutant Essex had picked." Remy pulled his other glove off, letting the wounds breath. He felt Rogue move up closer to his position, but he did not turn to face her.
"Y'see Magnus, my powers were surpressed when I was a boy, eliminating my true potential.
"How were they suppressed?" Eric asked.
"By de telepathic ability I also have.
There was silence again, as he watched Eric consider his words.
"You are an Omega class mutant then?
"Oui.
"Do you believe you are strong enough to destroy Apocalypse now?
Remy shrugged. "Maybe. I can charge things wit a blink o'an eye. I can even telepathically charge de insides of any living thing. But dat ain't de reason I'm here.
"Then why Remy?" Rogue asked from behind him.
He smirked, pivoting on his heel to look at her lovely face again.
"Cause chere, as it turns out, you were de mutant who can stop Apocalypse, cept' you were supposed ta stop him eleven months ago.
"Whaddya mean Remy?" Rogue's confused eyes stared bravely into his red orbs.
"I mean chere, none o'dis was supposed ta happen. I mean dis ain't our world as we know it.
A million questions were about to be asked, as Remy slipped his gloves back on and began to explain what had to be done.