Authors Note:This chapter used to have some song lyrics, but I have removed them in order to comply with One day perhaps they will realise that the vast majority of people write for fun or a little relief from the drudgery of daily life and just generally give us all a break. These kinds of things are not worth a hissy fit over. Saying that, they'll probably close my account now ;-)

Chuckles123, DemonicGambit, Sweety8587, Marin M & Blackrougefillie: thank you all for the very lovely reviews you wrote me. As promised, a lucky dip has been organised...I wonder what you'll win...

Ishandahalf: oh Billy Talent are often on TV over here, it's not hard to break England! Getting carried away rocks, its why I possibly write the longest review responses ever ;-). And I love not wearing shoes in the summer. Surely Canada can't be doing that badly? You seem to be very good at water sports, I've definitely seen Canada in the sailing and diving, and you did so well in the coxless 4's (that's the rowing, see me and my rowing lingo! After all, it is my fav event...), well enough to make me yell at the television! China is kicking everyone's arses at everything though; nobody stands a chance... But yeah, go Great Britain and go Canada too! Rah rah rah!

Pyros-gal: ahh so it's something you made up! Now that confused me, I thought it was from the tv or something! Hmm, I don't think I'd run away with Remy myself; I'd let Rogue have him!

Silky black: well, this is AU (in parts) so there's not actually any acolytes...this is my own fault. Everytime I sit down to write I manage to forget Remy was part of a different team. I don't mean to! One day I'll write something that's actually right for once.

Freak87: haha, I suppose someone had to interrupt them eventually. The empty beach/house thing appears to be bugging you a little. Yes, it's a touch unusual, but it can happen and isn't it nice for them to have private time? After all, they don't have much left ;-)

Spunkypippy: Wayhey! Another Olympics aficionado! Welcome to the club! And who would you be cheering for?

Anamaniax: lol, well I'm glad someone liked it, I wasn't happy with the end result; I like this chapter much more though. Thanks very much for the lovely review though, you said some very lovely things!

Abaiisiia: ohh, its fun words in the actual chapter! Now I get it! I thought it was just random words you liked and decided to share! Wow, looking back on your reviews, I honestly don't remember writing some of those words...worrying. I bet Gambit is always imacentrillized too ;-)

Footprints in the Sand

Chapter Eleven (Reflection)

"Hey Remy! Ah found a crab!" Rogue called across the beach. The tide was out as far as it could go and rather than the golden sand stretching out to the horizon, it eventually gave way to large rock pools that were home to a small array of sea life.

Rogue couldn't remember why she had decided to go rock pooling, perhaps it was because it was something she had never done before, but now she was standing slightly precariously on a large damp rock, staring into the shallow water inside, her green eyes following the large, mottled crustacean that was trying its very best to hide amongst the bits of seaweed that filled the pool.

Remy didn't really share her childish enthusiasm for what she was doing, but was taking an interest anyway. Instead, he walked along the wet sand, watching her as she darted over and amongst the rock pools, coming to take a look when she thought she found something worth showing.

He couldn't see why Rogue was enjoying herself this much, but he was happy that she was. Her pretty smile was infectious and when she was beaming away like this, he couldn't help but smile himself.

"Very nice chére," he congratulated, rather like a parent would their child. "I t'ink de tides startin' t' come in dough..."

Rogue looked a little crestfallen that her game might have to come to an end sooner rather than later. She pouted, but carried on nevertheless.

The temperature had fallen since yesterday and now the sky had clouded over, it didn't look good. Remy looked upwards at the sky, trying to work out if the weather would become a little nicer as the day went on, or if it was just downhill from here.

His questions were answered though when a drop of rain hit him in the eye. More quickly followed. It wasn't long before the sky had opened and torrential rain hit the coast.

"Rogue! C'mon!" Remy yelled as he began to run back towards his house, trying to stay as dry as possible even though he was clearly fighting a losing battle. Rogue however, was a little more reluctant to go inside. As she figured, she was already wet and so a little more water wouldn't hurt her.

"Ah'm gonna stay out a lil bit longer!" she called back, yelling to make herself heard over the rain.

"Y' gonna catch y' death if y' stay out here!"

"Oh quit frettin'! Ah'll be fahne!"

Remy decided there was little point in arguing with Rogue, she would come in to him when she was ready.


Remy had been right. Not ten minutes later, a shivering Rogue appeared on his doorstep complaining that she was cold. The rain hadn't stopped and the previously blue ocean was now a depressing grey. Remy was beginning to wonder if it would ever stop.

They were now sitting on the big couch in Remy's front room, watching TV. Rogue was wrapped in a giant towel and was lying with her head in Remy's lap, she was being almost lulled to sleep by the quiet buzz of the TV and the hypnotic feeling of Remy's hands stroking her still-damp hair.

Rogue, with her gazed fixed on the television, was completely unaware that Remy had spent the last five minutes just watching her. He had never felt this way about another girl before, could it be possible that he had fallen in love with a girl he'd only known for a few weeks?

He thought she might have fallen asleep, but suddenly she sat up and turned the volume on the television right down.

"Ah think tha rain has stopped" she said, listening for it before getting up, towel still wrapped around her slender frame, and peered out of the window. The rain had stopped, but it was still pretty overcast.

"Ah'm gonna make tracks befoah it starts again." She told him, turning to leave.

"Y' leavin' dis poor ol' Cajun by himself?" Remy asked with mock seriousness, a wounded expression playing on his face.

"Ah gotta go do some packin', Ah have ta leave tomorrow, remember?"

"How could I forget..." Remy murmured, face falling.

"Ah'll see ya in tha mornin'" she said, giving him a lingering kiss.

He vaguely heard Rogue leave, but he was in a daze now. It had only just sunk in properly that Rogue would soon be out of his life for good. He would be going back to New Orleans himself in a few days, back to thieving and hiding from Belle...it made him miserable just thinking about it.

Slowly, he climbed the stairs and went to his room, lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He tried his best to clear his mind and sleep, but all he could think of was her.

The more he thought about her, the more he felt it. He had fallen for her, completely and utterly, but he was pretty sure that she didn't feel the same way; after all, it was her who had suggested that this was only for the summer.

If he let her go, would it be something he regretted the rest of his life? Or would he just move onto someone new once he got home? His head told him to leave it, his heart told him not to, and he didn't know which one to listen to.

His head was buzzing and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't relax. He had been just lying there for hours now, and it wasn't helping. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Rogue.

It had been a brilliant, carefree couple of months by the sea, he felt he should be satisfied with that alone, but now he had fallen in love and it was a feeling that just made everything ten times better. Was he prepared to throw that all away?

He wondered if he would see her again after they went their separate ways. He hoped their paths would cross again anyway, but he found himself doubting that she would even remember him. One thing was for certain, life wasn't going to be as good without her.

A small tapping noise at his window made him sit bolt upright in his bed. He squinted to try and see what it was without getting up, but it was too dark outside to tell. His questions were answered however, when the windows were opened and his chérie climbed through them.

"Not dat Remy aint pleased t' see y' chére. But what are y' still doin' up?"

"Ah couldn't sleep, theres too much on mah mahnd..." Remy hoped that the thoughts that were keeping her awake were similar to the ones plaguing him.

"Ah decided Ah didn't want ta spend mah last nahte here alone," she continued, Remy caught the smirk that briefly crossed her face. He knew what she meant.

"Y' sure bout dis chére?"

She nodded, moving over to his bed and placing a tender kiss, filled with emotion on his lips, gently brushing stray coppery strands of hair from his eyes. As Remy returned her kiss, he made sure to memorise everything. After all, he may never get another night like this and he didn't want to miss a single moment...


Oh la la! Make of that what you will. You will have to use your imaginations though; I didn't want to write anything that would push the rating too high ;-)

Would you mind reviewing for me? It won't take a minute I promise. Pretty please?