Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
This is a short chapter. It's also the last.
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Remy rose up from the water, wiping away stray drops from his eyes. As his vision refocused his attention moved towards Rogue. She lay on a towel, near the pool Remy inhabited. She was stretching one bare leg out as she read through a book, sunglasses adorning her emerald eyes.
For a woman who could put someone in a coma if her bare skin touched them for a prolonged period of time, she was definitely confident in her clothing choices. One skimpy green bikini hung off her figure. Remy was glad he was in a nice cool pool.
The loud splash to his right brought him back to the reality around him as water was flung in his face.
"Bobby, homme, y'coulda at least givin' me a warning!" Remy yelled sarcastically, flinging water back towards Bobby in revenge.
Bobby swam over to Remy's side, looking towards Rogue. He put one hand on Remy's shoulder. "Y'know Remy, I can completely see why you'd want to stare at Rogue all day long. Totally understand. But," Bobby gestured dramatically towards the other X-women scattered around and in the pool, "these are all fine ladies too. And they can at least touch you man.
This earned Bobby a swift dunk under the water. When he re-emerged, gasping for air, Remy was already climbing up out of the pool.
"Jeez, I was just kidding," Bobby muttered.
"Yeah, but damn, there are a lot of us girls that would love for a man like that to be single." Jubilee added in emphasis. Bobby swiveled around, the water sloshing up around them. Jubilee's concentration was still on the receding form of Gambit, his swim trunks clinging dangerously tight to his legs, his lean torso glistening in the sun.
"Uh huh," Bobby stated un-interestedly. "There are other guys here who look good half naked too Jubes.
Jubilee just laughed in response, using the ladder to climb out of the pool and head for her towel in the grass, which rested near Rogue and Storm.
Remy had already sauntered over to Rogue. He dropped himself to the grass, propping himself up on his elbows. Knowing that Rogue was watching him, he stretched out before her, trying to show off every inch of his well-toned body.
He looked up to see her reaction but her nose was already placed back in her book. Storm however, was staring at him, one eyebrow raised in amusement. Remy looked to his right and noticed that Betsy and Amara were also staring at him, but with hungry eyes instead. In fact every woman was watching him except the one he wanted. Remy sighed and lay his head back in the grass, one hand falling to his chest.
He felt Rogue's fingers begin to tread through his hair, gently massaging his scalp. He let his eyes close as her touch relaxed him.
"Whatcha reading Rogue?" Remy mumbled.
Her hand left his hair and her heard her book close. "Nothin' good sugah.
When he reopened his eyes, he found Rogue watching him, her head turned to the side, the book laying on her stomach.
"Dontcha feel guilty, lying around lazily like this while Apocalypse's globes are littering the world?" Rogue asked, searching Remy's face for an answer.
Remy gave a little grunt. "Not really chere. I take things as dey come. We've done as much as we can for now. It be his next move.
"Ah suppose so." Rogue said, resting her head back against her towel.
Remy leaned onto his side, placing a quick kiss on Rogue's cheek. "I'm gonna grab something t'drink, y'want anything?
Rogue smiled. "Iced tea please.
"Could you grab me some as well Remy?" Storm asked, her eyes never leaving the pages of her book.
Remy jumped up gracefully. "Course Stormy. Y'know I'd do anything for a couple of femmes as beautiful as yourselves.
The women laughed as Remy headed for the back entrance of the mansion. As he entered the kitchen he felt his senses tingle, and he quickly tensed up, his arm immediately catching the one that flew at him from his right side.
The figure lurking in the shadows pushed Remy away from him with ease, but made no other move to attack. Remy's blazing eyes grew wide in surprise as he met a pair quite similar to his own.
"Who de hell are you?
"I'm a curious man Gambit. One who had to see the truth with his own eyes.
"What de fuck is dat supposed t'mean?" Remy moved forward, pinning the man to the wall. But he did not even flinch at Remy's aggressive movements.
The man gave a loud sigh, putting his hands on Remy's wrists and removing them. "I am not here to harm you Remy. Something," the man paused, "changed me," he finished.
"Dat's nice old man, but unfortunately you be on private property, so unless you're a guest o'someone here, I'm gonna have t'ask you to leave. It's either dat or I call for Wolverine.
The man gave a wry grin, slipping out of Remy's grasp, slowly melting back into the dark closet he had been hiding in. "Very well Remy." When the man had escaped Remy's vision, he dived into the closet, pushing aside the few winter coats that resided within, kicking the shoes out of his way. But no one was in there. The man had simply disappeared.
Confused, Remy backed out of the closet one hand rifling through his hair.
"Dat was strange," Remy muttered to himself.
"What was Remy?" he heard Jean Grey ask from the doorway. He turned around, noticing Scott was with her, one arm wrapped around her shoulders.
Remy shook the perplexed look off his face, replacing it with a wide grin. He moved swiftly to the fridge, taking out the iced tea.
"Nothing chere. It be a beautiful day, non?
The couple merely nodded, smiling in politeness before they headed out back to join the other X-Men.
Remy took in a deep breath, feeling grateful for something he couldn't quite pin point. Picking up the three drinks he headed back outside, back to his perfect day.
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(Future versions)
Rogue and Remy had a few seconds left before they would disappear, dissolve, die even. But much like the world they had left, the world that had been deconstructing, there was something beautiful in their last moments, a simplicity that could not be touched upon.
They held each other, watching their bodies fade, become translucent. Their limbs began to phase through each other, as detail and color drained from their features. But Remy's signature grin was still visible making it possible for Rogue to fade away without pain. The grainy texture that continued to give them form started to blow away, and they reached out for each other one last time.
But somewhere, at that very instant as time was patching itself back up, Remy and Rogue were together again. They would have their chance.
They had succeeded.
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She snuck up to Apocalypse's resting chamber with ease, her nerves twisting a bit as she kept one bare hand stretched forward. An inner strength chided her, giving her more confidence than she thought she could have.
She could see his grayish blue face, a statue beneath the pod he lay in. She felt her eyes flutter as she paused, a strange aura clouding her vision. As Apocalypse's eyes snapped open, so did Rogue's reflexes. She was meant for this very task. She felt as if something had been risked to get her to this point.
And the energy that coursed through her as she ran around his re-charging pod, shutting every lid only encouraged her belief. It was going to be a new beginning.
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Her feet touched down quietly on the tile, as she ran a hand through her wind blown, tangled hair. She took a deep breath and crouched down on the roof shingles.
Rogue loved this time of night during the summer, as the last bit of sunlight faded across the sky in red hues. She wrapped her arms around her legs watching a car pull up into the circular drive. Warren Worthington jumped out of the driver's seat, jogging to the other side of the car quickly. Betsy Braddock appeared at the bottom of the steps decked out in an evening dress. She took hold of Warren's arm as he led her to the open car door.
Rogue could hear them laughing pleasantly from her position on the roof. But their sing song laughter was covered over as the sound of a Harley roared in the distance. Rogue felt her heart flutter as it pulled in through the mansion gates, parking haphazardly in the grass outside of the garage.
She watched Remy LeBeau take off his helmet, long strands of his auburn locks falling around his chiseled face. He looked up then, in her direction as he stepped of his bike. He removed his leather jacket and placed it with the helmet on the seat of his bike before he begin to stride across the lawn, his red eyes never leaving Rogue.
"Hey Remy.
"Evenin' chere.
His head was arched up to her third floor seat. He smiled as she began to float downwards, but she stopped before her feet hit the ground, keeping herself a few feet above Remy.
He cocked his head to the side, the grin never leaving his face.
"How's my gorgeous heroine o'de hour doing tonight?
"She's ponderin'." Rogue whispered.
He arched an eyebrow. "Ponderin' what ma cherie?
"Ponderin' our luck. Our love.
Suddenly Remy tugged at her waist, bringing her forcefully into his arms. He grinned wildly, his eyes shimmering with passion.
"We got a chance t'live our love chere, what more can y'ask for?
Rogue kissed him then, reveling the friction of her lips against his, without consequence. When she let go her eyes searched his lustful glance.
"Ah want it to last sugah.
Remy gave a deep laugh, scooping Rogue up into his arms.
"I got dis feelin' our love could last in any time chere.
Rogue smiled, trusting his words, feeling that a good fight had been put behind them. Anyone could write away their physical relationship or insert a new love interest. Time would always give them a second chance.
She watched Betsy and Warren drive off, their laughter still echoing in her ears as Remy carried her inside. At a spur of the moment gesture, Rogue leaned in and kissed Remy's neck.
"Ah almost lost ya Remy.
He set her down on her feet, lifting her chin up, taking in her beautiful green eyes fervently. His eyes squinted in confusion.
"What makes y'say dat chere?
She searched his red orbs for an answer, her expression looking determined. "Ah don't know Remy." She smiled brightly to cover up the strange feeling that had just passed.
Lifting a hand to touch the side of his face, he mimicked her movements. She half expected him to dissolve, fade away.
"I'm still here chere," he whispered, kissing the inside of her palm.
"Course ya are sugah." Rogue replied lightheartedly.
And together they smiled.
Love almost lost had once again become lovely, as time would have it.
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Ok. It's over. Finally. And it had a happy ending. And it probably made no sense, which is why the number of people who had me on their favorites list decreased. That's probably not a good sign. My next story however, will not involve any of these things:
a. Mr. Sinister
b. His stupid portals
c. Time travel
Unless of course the story I write next is the sequel to that one story I wrote a while ago. But all my stories are starting to sound the same. Thus the need for that list. Feel free to add on to it.
For those that are confused with this and the last chapter, I left a lot unexplained, but that was on purpose, it would have seemed not right to explain every last detail. I'll just go answer some reviews now since I don't know how to explain my story.
TheRealMai: Is aim express the same is aol instant messenger? Cause if it is I do have a screen name. It also doesn't make any sense like my story. It's IsisTaAtNehepet. Anyways, I'm happy you were able to count out the good things that happened since time was changed. It means my stories were good enough to stay in your memory bank for at least one month. Sarcasm set aside, I very much appreciated your review.
Pandora's Sorrow: This chapter marks the ending. Short, I know. But I think it's time for me to write a different story. Thanks for reviewing.
Star-of-Chaos: I made it have a happy ending. So you can keep dancing. Thanks for reviewing throughout.
Psycho88: Uh, I like a few of Evanescense's songs. The lead singer has a beautiful voice.
Ishandahalf: Everyone seemed to like Essex getting squashed. It really lessons his diabolical, evil appeal, doesn't it? Thanks for always reviewing ish.
Antonia: Well, I didn't kill Magneto, but I left him out of this chapter. Hopefully that will suffice. And sorry about your confusion. Basically, Rogue and Remy fixed the past, returning it to a time before the Marauders attacked in Semi-Conscious. Because Remy never died, Rogue never left the X-Men, allowing her to defeat Apocalypse. Whew. Thanks for reviewing, and sorry if you are still confused.
Aro: Well, unfortunately not much happened next, ha. And don't worry if you are confused still, because frankly, so am I. But thanks for reviewing anyway.
Sara: Well, I didn't explain how they figured out the whole touch thing, because I didn't think it was a really important detail to the end of the story. A lot is left up in the air. I'm glad you liked the last chapter, and thanks for reviewing.