Authors Note: so I think you've probably already guessed what happens in this chapter, being the all-round clever people that I know you are. As a heads up, its not a good idea to listen to weepy music and read parts of this. I wrote it to "Gravity" by Embrace so I'm speaking from experience! Thank you all very, very much for your reviews, you've been real treasures yet again.

Y'know what, I'm gonna give everyone their own response today, after all, I wont get another chance! Best get comfy....

Ishandahalf: haha yes well I'm sorry, but I was just so damn pleased about the rowing! But Canada did get a well-deserved silver medal in that, and I was told y'all did pretty well in the sailing (or one of the sailings, there are so many!). Also I stood in Leicester Square (theres a big screen up) the other day and watched Canada versus America volleyball and cheered for you! Loudly! Earning me some confused looks from passing tourists. But now its over! I feel a bit lost :-( but it does mean all the dodgy Australian soaps I love so much are back on the air! All is going to be revealed in this chapter so you wont have to wonder much longer. As a side note, Reading was wet, but awesome! (I've still got a hangover), the song from this story got played live! and Morrissey rocked socks, I remembered your kiss. Thank you so much for all your cool reviews, you always keep me encouraged and entertained!

Spunkypippy: this is good, we're getting a nice broad spectrum of support! Well, three different countries anyway...but hey, it's a start! Not exactly many more chapters, not any more chapters! This is it I'm afraid. The end. Thanks very much for your review.

Foxy-Glove: why thank you! Don't worry about not previously reviewing, what matters is your reviewing now and what a lovely review it was! I'm afraid I cant give you any more chapters, but hopefully the least I can give you all is a decent ending. I'm serious about the weepy music though! If you thought the last chapter was depressing, well this one in parts is far far worse. Thanks for reviewing.

Star-of-Chaos: ooh la la indeed! Thanks for reviewing! :-)

Evil-bunny-leader: ooh a new name! Very nice. Thank you very much for reviewing.

Sweety8587: who's sasha? Where did they come from? Gosh. I'm not going to give anything away, you're just going to have to read this chapter! Thanks for the review.

Karakin: but the other x-men are all on holiday and Rogue has to go home! I'm glad you like the story. I love it when people enjoy what I write, its why I do it. Thanks for reviewing.

Shockgoddess: ahh but will anyone go home with anyone? You'll have to wait and see. Yeah I was trying to work out the timing thing. The main problem is that the timing works fine here but I'm not sure about America, which is where everyone seems to be! If you say its ok though, I'll believe you! Thanks very much for your reviews :-)

Chuckles123: one of your favourite fan fics? Thank you, that's a very lovely thing to say, you've made me smile! Thanks for reviewing.

Anamaniax: I hope the endings good too! Thanks for reviewing!

Silky black: hmm, my eyebrow is raised to the Kylie reference but I shall let it slide. I'm glad you like the story, thanks for reviewing :-)

Southern Gal 8: I think you've got enough there to write your own story! And very good I'm sure it would be too. Thanks for the review.

Marin M: well you don't have to wait any more ;-) thanks for reviewing

Freak87: in this chapter you get more of Rogues opinion on things. The beach is loosely based on one I went to as a kid. It was in Boston and my family rented a house there for a little while. We were almost the only people there and it was peak holiday season...plus its kinda romantic! Thanks for reviewing.

RoguesTale: your summers nearly over too huh? Mine as well; soon it's off to college –sob-. Well I hope you make the most of the last of your holidays, thanks for the review!

Abaiisiia: it was song! I said so in my author notes! Lol, that just shows how much attention people pay me! Don't worry about confusing me, I confuse far too easily and frankly, its fun either way. Exclamation marks are the best, I use them all the time. Did you know there is a band called !!! (its pronounced chk chk chk)? Its all true. Thanks for all your ever-amusing reviews over the chapters, you've been great.

Sd: eek. My first death threat! I'm not diabetic and I don't have a biscuit allergy so I'll take the cookie thanks! Ta for reviewing.

Jenny: happy smiles are good, thanks for the review.

DemonicGambit: well y'know, more fly's with honey etc... I'm not saying anything; you'll have to read on! Thanks for reviewing.


Footprints in the Sand

Chapter Twelve (Goodbye)

--Honey it's been a long time coming, and I can't stop now. Such a long time running, and I can't stop now. Do you hear my heart beating? Can you hear the sound? 'Cos I cant help thinking, and I don't look down-'Gravity'-Embrace--

Rogue smiled at what she saw when she woke up. Next to her was Remy, lying tangled in the white sheets, still sound asleep and a cute smile playing on his lips. She felt so warm and happy here in his arms, she was debating as to whether she should leave or not. Last night had been indescribable, and her feelings for the Cajun were now stronger than ever.

She knew that in a few short hours she would have to leave all this behind though. She wished more than anything that they could stay like this forever, but she knew it wasn't possible. In a couple of days she would be back at school and back to being an x-man.

She tried to get out of bed as quietly as she could so she could go take a shower without waking Remy; he looked so peaceful as he slept. The moment she left his arms however, his eyes opened.

"Mornin' chérie," he said, giving her a good-morning kiss. This was nice he thought. He had never actually woken up with a girl before; usually he was out of the door before they woke up, not this time though. If he had his way he would never leave her.

"Mornin', did ya sleep well?"

"Better dan ever chére."

Rogue smiled, but that smile soon changed to a frown when she saw the clock on the wall. She had to get going.

"Ah gotta get up Rem, Ah have ta go soon..."

Remy reluctantly let Rogue get up and have her shower. In the meantime, he took himself off downstairs and made them both some breakfast.


Rogue was packed up and ready to go but first she needed to say goodbye to Remy. She had always hated goodbyes, especially long drawn out ones. She knew saying goodbye to Remy was going to be one of the hardest things she had had to do in a while.

Finally, the man himself wandered up the road that ran along in front of every house, hands in his pockets and eyes downcast. Rogue was standing out by her car having just put all her stuff into it. She didn't look pleased to be going.

"Y' lookin' forward t' seein' y' friends chére?" he asked, making small talk to avoid the point.

"Yeah Ah guess so..."

"Well den, dats good..."

Rogue had had enough, she knew she had to get this over and done with now; otherwise they would be standing here exchanging pleasantries all day. She left the bag she was holding on the bonnet of the car and threw her arms around his neck.

He closed his eyes, savouring her warmth and the feel of her in his arms. Inhaling the sweet scent of that shampoo she used that he had grown to love so much. It just felt right, them being together like this.

Gently, he tilted her chin up so he could see her face. She looked so sad, tears were welling up in her beautiful eyes, and it was tearing him apart. Bringing her lips to his, they indulged in one long, lasting goodbye kiss, the kind they hoped they would remember for years and years.

"Goodbye Remy, Ah'm gonna miss ya so much."

"I'm gonna miss y' t' chére, like y' wouldn't believe. Au revior, drive safe."

Wordlessly, not wanting to spoil the moment Rogue got in her car and began to drive back towards the main road, back to her home and out of Remy's life forever.

As he waved at the retreating car he knew he would have to get over her, it would be hard, but he was going to have to do it. Maybe it would have just been better not to let himself get attached in the first place.


Rogue had been driving for hours now and even with her stopover at a slightly better motel than the one found on the way there, she still couldn't stop thinking about what she had left behind. She had even had to turn off her music as so many songs reminded her of him and their time spent together.

It had been her decision to keep this as a summer romance, but had it been the right one? Now doubt clouded her mind but it was too late to turn back, she was much nearer to New York than she was to California.

She could feel tears beginning to sting her eyes, it wasn't the first time that she had felt them today, and she gripped the steering wheel even tighter, somehow hoping that would make them stop. It didn't work though and soon, fat salty tears were falling down her cheeks.

One thing cheered her up a little though. She had memories and experiences from this summer that would last her a lifetime. However painful it was now, she would never forget him or the time they had shared together. When she was alone, and she closed her eyes tight, she would be able to picture his stupid, handsome smirk and his messy hair and feel his arms wrapped tight around her, as if they would never let her go, along with that smell of spicy cologne and cigarettes that seemed to get into everything. The kinds of things she was hooked on.

She had just entered New York State; it would only be another hour or so until she was home again. Composing herself and quickly removing one hand from the wheel to dry her tears and wipe away the streaks of mascara that were making her look like a battered panda, Rogue drove on through the last leg of her journey.


"Rogue!" squealed Kitty as Rogue got out of the car.

"Hiya Kitty," Rogue said, trying to keep her balance as Kitty gave her a rather over-exuberant hug.

"Did you have a good time in California?" Rogue thought about telling her everything, but decided not to, it would be her little secret.

"Yeah thanks, how was it at ya parents?"

Kitty started off an epic, and very fast, speech about everything she had got up to back in Illinois which Rogue tried her best to listen to, but all those "likes" just made it too damn hard. However, she didn't have to suffer for long as the appearance of some of the teachers and students, including the Professor, stopped Kitty in her tracks.

"Cutting it a bit fine aren't we?" Jean chastised; referring to the fact that school started again the day after tomorrow. Rogue rolled her eyes and ignored her.

"Its good to have you back Rogue, I trust you had a good time," the Professor said, giving her an almost knowing look, reminding Rogue why she had never liked telepaths.

"Its nahce ta be back Professah, but if ya don't mahnd Ah think Ah gonna go to mah room and unpack."

"Oh there'll be plenty of time for that later, right now I want everyone to assemble in the rec room, there are new recruits I want you to meet."

Rogue muttered something under her breath, she wasn't interested in new recruits, all she wanted to do was go upstairs and secretly wallow in how much she missed Remy. Seemingly though, wallowing was not an option.

She left her bags in the car and followed the group back inside. Every year there were new recruits and she never really bothered to get to know them or anything, they were nearly always scared of her anyway. Pushing open the door, the aimless chatter of over excited teenagers stopped and a quiet murmur ran around the room.

"Surprise chére."

Rogue gasped. There he was, standing out among the younger students, towering over them. But he was really there and Rogue was in shock.

"Remy! What? How?" she couldn't move.

"Decided I couldn't let y' go chére, y' mean t' much t' dis Cajun. Jus' after y' left I came t' m' senses, got on m' bike and drove as fast as I could."

Rogue looked around, trying to make sense of the situation. Standing next to her, Kitty was grinning, in fact everyone was, even the Professor was smiling. Apparently they all knew what had gone on.

Suddenly, any doubt she might have had was lifted away. Her confused expression changed into the happiest smile anyone had ever seen grace Rogue's face and she practically flew into Remy's arms.

"Ah thought Ah'd lost ya," she whispered, gently stroking the side of his face as if checking to make sure that he was really there and not just some beautiful dream.

Now she was back in his strong arms, she couldn't imagine ever leaving them. However much she had tried to deny it to herself, she had fallen completely and head over heals in love with this man, and it felt so good and so right to see him again.

"Y'll never lose me, je'taime chére."

"Ah love ya too sugah, so much."

And with that, their lips met in a passionate kiss as Rogues friends and the newer students at the Institute broke out into loud and excited whoops and cheers around them.


Ahh so there you have it, a very cheesy, casebook movie ending, but at least it was a happy one!

Huge thanks to everyone who has read this story and even more thanks to everyone who has reviewed, your feedback was greatly appreciated, especially the people who have reviewed from the very first chapter (you know who you are!), you're especially lovely.

Review and tell me the end result please? I'm toying with the idea of writing an epilogue, should I bother? I just don't know...

See you all again soon

SweetRevenge