Hello everyone. This time around, since we reached the end and the answers to the questions, we have a larger than usual chapter. I hope it lives up to everything I expected of this. Anyways don't let me stall any longer. Enjoy…

Tayrion

Enemy within our gates

Logan stared at Crane defiantly as the two of them stood face to face. Logan was the first to move. He lunged forward with his claws protracted, aiming straight for the chest of Crane. Crane effortlessly sidestepped to avoid Logan's attack. Logan though had calculated on that exact response. So he cut his attack short and abruptly twisted his body to strike at Crane on his thigh. His Claws pierced Crane's flesh through and through. Crane screamed in agony as the attack caught him completely by surprise. In his anger and agony he delivered a thunderous right hand at Logan, who was momentarily immobilized having his claws stuck in Crane's leg and had little chance to avoid the hit. Logan flew through the air until a tree cut his flight short. He fell down unconscious.

Rogue and the professor had just stepped through the tornado and while Rogue expected to experience chaos and turbulence within, she was met by peace and tranquility. Her surprise was noticed by the professor. "I told you there was nothing to worry about Rogue. The tornado you saw, was a form of defence, created by your subconscious. Our minds are places of order and serenity. We are the ones creating the chaos within. We can see now the memories belonging to Remy, and you shouldn't fear them. You should remember that you're safe from whatever you experience here, and that whatever we see from now on, are NOT your experiences and choices but Remy's."

Rogue silently nodded her head, but inside she still felt scared. Not scared for her life, but scared of the possibility that the 'idea' of Remy that was carved in her heart and mind, might be spoiled and ultimately destroyed, by what she saw in her mind.

As the Professor, still holding Rogue's hand walked forward, they came to a southern –style house, with a big garden. It was very beautiful and felt so familiar to Rogue. The inside of the house seemed dark and dusty. Everything was like a blur, but had very negative feelings emanating from all around. When they entered the house it was like someone else was dictating Rogue's steps to a predetermined course. She immediately headed to what seemed like the living room of the house. There she saw a very beautiful woman that almost glowed in that dark and gloomy room. She sat in an arm chair resting peacefully. Her pregnant state not spoiling the image she gave off. She seemed to Rogue almost like an angel. As she approached her quietly, the woman slowly opened her eyes and upon seeing Rogue, she smiled radiantly. A smile that filled Rogue with warmth. "Hey sweetie." Said the woman smiling. "Come sit here beside me. I want to tell you something." Rogue moved obediently next to the woman, whose voice filled her with love and a feeling of safety, and sat beside her on the arm of the chair. "Now that the baby is coming I want you to help me care for it and love it. You know that daddy is very busy this time of year, so you'll be the man of the house. Your little sister will want you to love her very much and she will look up to you, when she arrives. You think you'll be able to do that honey?" said the woman with a soft and loving voice.

"Sure ting mom" said Rogue. The woman looked back at her lovingly and hugged her very tenderly. "That's my Remy".

The professor then appeared next to Rogue. "Rogue we have to move forward." He said sternly. For a minute Rogue seemed hesitant to let go of the memory, but then she regained her composure and allowed the professor to lead her forward.

She walked outside of the living room, but then she heard baby cries coming from the second floor of the house. Hesitantly she went up the stairs to the second floor of the house, and entered a room just in front of her. A baby's cries were the first thing she heard as she walked in. She saw a man sitting in a chair holding a baby. Tears were running down the man's face as he was rocking the baby and as he turned and looked at her straight in the eyes, he burst into crying. Amongst the sobs he told her: "I'm sorry Remy… I'm sorry… She didn't make it…"

To her growing horror she took a couple of more steps forward and stood next to a large bed in the middle of the room. There she saw the woman that she had just left downstairs, lying still as if she was sleeping. She seemed so peaceful with an almost unnatural glow surrounding her face. Rogue slowly found herself in the brink of tears. She found it difficult to breathe as something seemed to clutch at her heart and squeezing unbearably hard. She starting muttering not by a will of her own: "…m… mom?? Mom!"

The woman did not respond and realization started dawning at her. She was dead. She started shouting among sobs. "Mom!! Mommy!!"

The professor then appeared again next to her and forced her to look at him. "Rogue listen to me. Rogue! Look at me. Snap out of it, this is Remy's memories Rogue. Calm yourself and take deep breaths. Rogue slowly but steadily begun to calm down with the help of the professor.

As she now looked around her, the room had changed. It seemed as though it was completely abandoned, as dust and spider-webs now covered the furniture. A baby's cries were once more heard. She got out of the room. A loud grumpy voice was heard from downstairs. "Remy!!! Go see what de damned ting is crying about!!"

Rogue then started walking towards another room on the second floor. The crying became louder as she entered the room. It was obvious that the room was not taken care of very well. Clothes and baby toys were scattered recklessly all around. She picked up some stuff she found lying on the floor and put them aside in an effort to make it seem tidier. As she approached the baby's crib in the middle of the room, she saw the most beautiful thing she had seen in all her life. The baby stopped crying as she saw her standing over her crib. She looked back at Rogue with her big blue eyes and it seemed to Rogue that through her eyes all the good and innocence of the world resonated. She picked her up and gently rocked her in her hands. And she whispered lovingly to her: "Shh… Everyting's gonna be alright now little Vanessa. Remy will never let anyting happen to you…"

The baby seemed to enjoy her cradle so much that she soon fell asleep in her hands.

The Professor once again intervened. "These are very old memories Rogue. We have to go further to the future if we want to find anything helpful. We have precious little time."

Out in the mansion's gardens:

Ororo once more got out to the garden. This time she was very angry. She came out just in time to see Logan propelled to a nearby tree, which only served to fuel her anger more.

The air around her started to become charged as she took to the air, in one of her currents. She hovered there above Crane and concentrated for a few seconds. Then she let out all her fury in a concentrated attack towards Crane. As the sky above them started to get darker from the gathering clouds, a lightning bolt traveled downwards and struck Crane, as a sudden gust of wind suddenly came out of nowhere along with a concentrated blizzard. At that moment Crane felt the true fury of nature, that only a weather Goddess could unleash. He fell to his knees as his skin was sizzling from the electric charge that surged though his body. Yet he was still moving. Ororo looked in disbelief as she saw that Crane was still making an attempt to stand up. Any other creature would have gone down.

Crane with extreme difficulty managed to stand up and through gritted teeth he spoke. "Remarkable effort weather witch, but not enough to put me d…" Crane did not have time to finish what he was saying. "AAARGGH!!" He screamed in pain as at that moment a red energy beam struck him from behind, dropping him face-first down to the ground.

"How about this one you bastard?" said Scott who came up from behind Crane.

Back inside the mind of Rogue:

Her surroundings seemed to change every so often, which left her disoriented for a while. She blinked hard trying to focus on something, to get a grip on the environment around her. Her eyes fell upon a beautiful apothecary table. It seemed really old, yet preserved very well. She looked around her and she realized she was now in an antique store. A voice was heard from behind her calling Remy's name. It was a young voice filled with joy and life. She turned around and saw a little beautiful girl running towards her, with arms wide open. "Remy! Remy! Catch me! Catch me!" Although Rogue was surprised, she opened her arms and welcomed the child that fell into her arms and wrapped her little arms around Rogue.

"Remy can I talk to you for a minute." A voice came again from behind Rogue. She turned around with the little girl still in her arms, and she saw a well dressed man standing in front of her. "Hello Vanessa! How are you doing darling?" said the man to the little girl. Vanessa shyly turned and buried her face to Rogue's chest smiling. Rogue was confused as if she had no control whatsoever of herself much less of what was going on. "Vanessa can you go and play for a while so that I can speak to your brother?" said the man again. Rogue through no will of her own let go of Vanessa, who run to the back of the store laughing happily. The man in front of Rogue now looked back at her very seriously. "Remy, listen. I know that you are 18 years old, so that means that this antique store is yours. But keeping Vanessa is a whole other matter. They can use your father's suicide to claim that you did not grow in a good environment, or that it left you psychological scars that could be harmful to your sister." Rogue was hit with a wave of emotions. Hurt, helplessness and hate. A hate for 'her' father, who had done such a horrible thing leaving 'her' and Vanessa alone, something that could now cost 'her' Vanessa. "We could make a case for you in court if you are adamant in keeping her but it's not going to be easy. I think your best option is to let her go to a foster family. Plus I think it would be best for her."

As Rogue was starting to get very upset and emotional everything around her froze. The professor entered the store. "Rogue, I know that you want to know about Remy's past, but our main is goal is to find what Remy knows about the man who is attacking us." Said the professor.

Rogue looked back at him confused. "Professor I have no idea what's going on here? Why are you speaking to me as if I'm controlling what's going on. I thought it was you who guides me through these memories." She said in protest.

"You may think so Rogue, but we're inside your own mind. You dictate where we go next, even if you do not realize it. So please try to focus on more recent events." Said the professor, more softly this time.

Rogue sighed in frustration. "I didn't ask for this you know!" she said feeling as if she's being accused.

"I didn't want to imply that you've done something wrong Rogue. I'm just trying to help you realize that you have the control of where we're going to go next."

Rogue looked back to the professor, with hesitation painted all over her face. "Alright professor I'm going to try."

Outside in the mansion's garden:

Scott and Ororo stood over their fallen adversary and were joined by Logan who had come around pretty quickly from the blow he received.

Logan still had his claws protracted and warned his two teammates. "Be careful! I don't think he is out yet."

As the words left his mouth, the air around them begun to get charged. Before they had a chance to react they were all hit by powerful electric charges, and they were thrown away from their adversary, who was now slowly getting up.

"You can not defeat me X-Men! You are way over your head with me!" shouted Crane as he stood tall. Ororo was down and out as was Scott. Logan lay on the floor and barely moved as his skin was still sizzling from the shock, but he was not yet down. He mustered all of his strength and determination and started to get to his feet. Then through gritted teeth he said to Crane: "Maybe so… But you'll never down me bub! No matter what you throw at me I'll keep coming back for more. Do you think you can handle that?"

Crane looked at Logan angrily and screaming with frustration he charged at Logan.

"Professor! Where are you? Where am I?" shouted Rogue as she found herself yet again in new surroundings. She was now in a darkly lit room. As she scanned the room around her she noticed an open laptop on the table in front of her. She approached it and saw that there was a notification for a new message on the screen. Hesitantly she clicked the new message. The message itself read:

Gambit I was very pleased with the results of your previous work. If you check your bank account I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the little bonus that I threw in. BTW if you're interested I have another problem that needs solving. The fee will be double what you got for the last one.

Contact me.

The Doctor

Then she also noticed the message button on the phone was blipping. Feeling somewhat scared of what she would hear she pressed play. She heard a woman's voice, who was obviously very upset. "Remy hi. It's Helena. I've tried to reach you a couple of times but I couldn't find you. It's Vanessa Remy. It's gotten worse. She can't even stand on her own two feet the last couple of days. She's also burning up with fever and she's been crying your name over and over again. You've got to come over Remy. We don't know what to do any more. There were a couple of doctors here to see her and they were at a loss. I… (the woman suppressed a sob)…They say she hasn't got much time yet. My baby is going to die Remy. (said the woman as she burst into crying) We don't know what…(pulling herself together she continued)… I just thought that you should know Remy. Hope I see you soon.

As the message ended Rogue felt anger, frustration and helplessness surging up within her. She let out a cry as she picked the phone and threw it to the wall, shattering it. She then fell to her knees, put her face in her hands and started crying uncontrollably.

Crane stood over Logan who was just barely hanging on the verge of consciousness. He stood there looking at him smiling. "Well… what do you have to say now eh? Nothing left into you anymore eh?"

Logan looking up at him managed to put together a sentence. "I… I'm… not… dead… yet… you… piece of shit…"

Crane looked at Logan curiously. "What is it that keeps you going on so stubbornly? I swear to God…" Crane did not have time to finish what he was saying. A blipping interrupted him. The blipping was coming from the wristband he had in his hand. He looked at his wristband and as it stopped blipping, looked back at Logan and smiled. "I would love to stay and chat some more with you, but it appears that my work here is done."

And with that Crane left just as suddenly as he appeared. Leaving behind him the X-Men in a mess but not dead, and the mansion's gardens destroyed.

When Rogue lifted her head again she was sitting in a beautiful room, near a large bed. In the bed lay the same beautiful young girl she saw before, that she now knew was Vanessa. She was very pale and seemed very weak, as Rogue was holding her hand, and suppressed the tears that threatened to appear on her face. Vanessa now looked back at her with a weak but very genuine smile, that made her feel happy and unbelievably sad at the same time. Her small hand tried to squeeze Rogue's hand in a supporting manner, as she said to her softly. "Don't you worry about me Remy. I'm fine. Honestly…" she said as she tried to smile more widely to prove her point. Then whispering she continued in a mock conspiratory tone. "Now tell me what happened in your last mission?"

Rogue's heart sank. She felt she loved this girl more than life itself but there was nothing that she could do. Suddenly she felt a determination building up inside her. She was not going to let Vanessa die no matter what she had to do.

Next thing she knew Rogue was standing in a dark room. She saw in front of her a man standing there, but she couldn't make out his features. Right behind him stood another man, who was very tall and well- built. It was as if a constant shadow was falling over both of them that did not allow Rogue to see how they looked. The man in front of Rogue then told her: "Look Remy, what I did was give your sister more time. Her mutation seems to be killing her. I don't know how this could have happened. In order for me to be able to help her more, you have to do your part. I'm not saying that if you don't do what I have asked of you I'm not going to help your sister; I'm saying that in order for me to help her, you have to retrieve for me what I've asked from you. I believe that then, I'll have a much greater chance of curing your sister. So… Do we have a deal?" said the man as he extended his hand to Rogue. Rogue froze for a while. She didn't know what to do. But then, not of her own volition, her hand was wrapped around the man's hand in a firm handshake, sealing their deal. Immediately Rogue realized that something bad had happened. Then again everything around her froze, including the two men in front of her. The professor then appeared next to her, looking at the men in the shadow with curiosity. "Rogue…" he said, "Why don't you want to see who these men are?"

Rogue was confused. "What? What do you mean professor?"

"You're keeping them in the shadows Rogue. You also didn't want to hear what the actual deal that this man made with Remy was. You have to get past your fears Rogue. They may not be your fears to begin with…" said the professor stoically, "I believe that they come from Remy's psyche. But you have to force past the shadows Rogue, in order for the truth to shine. You have to try Rogue."

Rogue seemed frightened and hesitant. She wasn't sure now if she really wanted to know, and even if she did she didn't know how to do it. She concentrated hard to sort through her conflicting emotions, and soon she felt the fresh air of determination filling her senses. She would do it. She would find out the truth.

Suddenly the shadow covering the men's features started to dissipate, and Rogue stood there looking at a man she hadn't seen before and right behind him, stood the man that had attacked her and the X-Men these past days and was now wrecking havoc outside. Next to her though, the professor stood in shock looking at the face of the man in front of him.

Then he muttered in disbelief: "N… Nathan?"

Memories and images then started hitting Rogue and the professor full force as realization slowly started to dawn in them.

(Nathan and Professor)

"Charles please… If you allowed me the privilege of conducting some tests to your students, harmless tests, I swear that humanity and mutant-kind would be greatly rewarded by the results. I'm sure of it."

"I'm sorry Nathan. What you're asking is probably the only thing that I must deny you. Please my friend, accept my apology, and know that any other help you require from me you'll get it."

"That's fine Charles. I'll just have to find another way to find the results I'm looking for." Said Nathan smiling.

(Nathan and Remy)

"After Crane has attacked them, you'll make your appearance for the first time and save the day for them. I know the professor is interested in you. That will just give them one more reason to accept you in faster."

(Remy and Hank in the infirmary)

Hank: "Before you leave, I would like to take some tests of you."

Remy looked at Hank curiously. "Meaning…?"

"Nothing to serious I assure you. Just some blood and DNA samples for now. The rest we can do later." Said Hank reassuringly.

"Huh… Is did standard procedure?"

"Oh yes. Everybody else has done it. I have a … library you might say, of information of this type for everyone in this mansion. Professor Xavier's instructions. You know… for any eventuality."

Remy looked at Hank surprised. "Is dat so? And where do you keep dis extremely valuable library of yours?"

"Oh but right here, in my laboratory." Said Hank as it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Remy now looked shocked. "In here… But dere's hardly any security in here Hank! What happens if someone wants to steal dem?"

"Oh come on Remy… For someone to get in here, he must know exactly what he is looking for and where it is, and furthermore get through all the other securities of the mansion. Who could get through all these security systems?" asked Hank smiling.

Remy looked at Hank dead serious. "I could!"

Next thing she knew Rogue was awake in the Professor's office with a feeling of dread gripping her soul. The Professor was also awake and he was standing in shock and disappointment close by.

Rogue immediately got to her feet and stormed out of the Professor's office. The Professor called after her. "Rogue wait! Rogue…" But she had already got out.

She run through the mansion's corridors with one destination in mind. Her eyes were filled with tears ready to roll freely down her face. Her mind dreaded to accept what she now knew were facts, so she had to see it with her own eyes.

Reaching her destination she burst through the infirmary's doors and stood there in shock. An empty bed and the empty benches of the laboratory were the only things that awaited her.

He was gone, and with him also a small part of her heart. She fell down to her knees crying, as she still fought to come to terms with the bitter reality.

To be concluded…

Star-Of-Chaos – That's ok it happens to the best of us every now and then. :-) What did you think of this one and the story as it unfolded?

Haruechan- Glad you liked the previous chapter. This time around even more action, and more inside Rogue's mind. This time the answers are here. I wonder if everyone figured out what was going on? Anyways… Thanks for the understanding about the delays. And I forgot to tell you sorry about the opening day of the European Championship. We ruined your fiesta eh? Sorry just had to bring it up. But in the end both our teams qualify and I hope we meet again in the final! :-)

Ishandahalf- More action more Drama! Dun dun duh! And its disclosure time! Did you see THAT coming? I bet you did… Anyway… hope you liked it. Only the epilogue now left. And as for the second story… I'm not sure yet… I guess time will tell… :-)

Enchantedlight- Thanks for the kudos… I hope this was soon enough and good enough. This chapter is why this whole story was written in the first place (more or less), so I hope you enjoyed it. Only the epilogue now left. :-)

Leann- Now that everything's out, I can tell you the story behind Cure my tragedy. That song was written by the singer of Cold who wrote it for his sister who was diagnosed with cancer. Pretty heavy stuff. The song is supposed to be a letter to God.

Next: The final chapter. The epilogue of the story.