Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.

Thanks much to Uninvited, ishandahalf, PomegranateQueen, TheRealMai, silky black, Totally Obsessed47, Kira, Star-of-Chaos, and Antonia for reviewing.

Now, to (maybe) answer a few questions:

Ishandahalf: Ororo is dead. It will be explained why she was made to die later on. And you're right, those pills are definitely not too friendly. I'm glad you caught Eric using his powers though, now you know mutant abilities are to be used in this story. And yes, of course Rogue and Remy cannot leave without a fight eventually

TheRealMai: Xavier will be mentioned eventually, I do have plans for him. I can't answer all of your questions, but yes, Rogue's memory will come into play at some point. I hope all the blood hasn't rushed to your head whilst waiting upside down for me to update. I took longer this time.

Silky black: Rogue's mutation will be explained and introduced. I'm just not sure when.

Totally Obsessed47: I'd say you are pretty correct about Eric. And Remy has some unfinished business to deal with elsewhere, down south to be exact. Where else?

GreenFairyGirl88: Just keep thinking bout' it, cause I can't answer that question just yet. :)

Antonia: Yes, they are mutants. Rogue just doesn't know it yet.

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The wind played with Rogue's white bangs, whipping them around the helmet she wore. She clung to Remy's waist with watchful comfort, feeling the escape of leaving the mansion behind in the fresh air around them. As they left Bayville county, the storm began to subside, leaving them with a slight wind and a few tiny drops of rain.

A natural rhythm hummed along with the breeze, eerily following their exit. After an hour of riding, they pulled into an abandoned field. Upon closer inspection, as Rogue stepped off the bike, it looked to be an old airplane runway.

Remy stood there, helmet in hand, staring at the sky. Rogue removed her helmet, joining his side.

"Ah take it we're waiting for a plane Remy?

He nodded as a black dot began to make shape in the one patch of clear sky. It disappeared several times in the cloudy haze, before it began to appear closer and closer, it's distinct plane shape becoming easy to make out.

As the tiny plane landed, Remy pushed Rogue backwards lightly with one hand protectively. The feel of his palm on her stomach, even through the fabric caused Rogue to inhale sharply.

The back door as well as a side one opened up. One man stepped out through the side exit, a wide grin on his face.

"You finally decided t'come home mon frere?

Remy's eyes blazed with a dark glow. "Oui Henri.

There were no more words exchanged as Remy wheeled his bike up the back entrance and they boarded the plane.

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Rogue stared absentmindedly out the plane window, watching the land below become less distinct. Remy sat to her right playing with a deck of cards, obviously trying to avoid contact with the other men on the plane.

But finally Henri walked to the back where they were seated and took the empty seat beside Remy.

"I'd leave it to you Remy t'always have a femme wit you wherever you go.

When Remy gave no answer, Henri tried pushing a bit further.

"I see you finally decided t'let dose things show?" Henri asked, gesturing towards Remy's eyes.

Remy let a small smile escape. "Well dey do make me appear even more devishly handsome, non?

"Now dere's de Remy LeBeau I know and love." Henri responded, chuckling.

Remy looked back down at his cards. "Don't expect t'be seeing much o'it when we get down dere Henri. Not after everything dat's happened.

Henri gave a long sigh. Rogue watched the man stand up but with a lsecond thought, he turned towards her and extended his hand.

"I'm Henri LeBeau petit. Remy's brother.

Rogue took his hand warily, not wanting to trust the man anymore than Remy seemed to. "Rogue." He shook her hand and then walked back up to the head of the plane.

Rogue leaned into Remy and whispered. "Why are we going back with them if y'all don't get along?

"Because chere, we'll be safe wit dem.

"Safe from what?" Rogue asked, fearing the answer.

"Safe from Eric and company. Look I'll explain it better when we get ta New Orleans." Remy eyed the front cautiously and then went back to shuffling his cards, his expression solemn.

Rogue turned her vision back out the small window. She wondered if the visit to the south would help jog any of her forgotten memories. She leaned her head back against the seat, her eyes still watching the sky. She felt Remy's hand slither across her lap and reach for her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. When she glanced over at him, his eyes were closed, head rested back.

She felt alarmingly comfortable in his presence. She felt he could never hurt her.

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Another mansion. But this one wasn't quite so empty. They were greeted instantly by a smiling black woman, beads dangling in front of her eyes, clicking together as she walked. But that was as far as the joyful greetings went.

An older man pushed through a door further up the hall, a group of men behind him. When he caught sight of Remy, his body immediately straightened. He marched towards the two, his piercing eyes leaving Remy for only a second to survey Rogue.

"What're you doing back here boy?" He asked plainly.

"Oh come on pere, no how are ya? Nice ta see y'again?" Remy challenged.

The man took a deep breath and then looked again to Rogue. The crowd that had been behind him began to wander off at Remy's father's signal.

"So what could have been so bad dat you had to come back down here?" He asked, turning his attention back to Remy. "And wit a woman who ain't Belladonna none de less.

"Belle's dead. And I blame you as much as I blame myself.

The man looked taken aback, but hid it well. "Does Marius know bout' dis?

"Non. I've been trying to take care o'it myself. My plans fell through and Rogue and I need a safe place t'stay for awhile.

He eyed Rogue again, then smiled. "My name is Jean-Luc LeBeau." He reached for her hand and kissed it lightly. "Rogue. Such an unusual name.

"Uh-huh." Rogue's green eyes sparked.

"Alright Remy, show Rogue t'an empty room. But meet me in my office in an hour. I'll see how I can help y'.

"Merci." Remy voiced through clenched teeth as he began to lead Rogue up the grand staircase. Rogue turned around, her eyes meeting Jean Luc's. He held a worried expression, a look one would hold for a loved one. Her hair slapped her face as she spun back around and followed Remy upstairs.

The hall was wide, as if it would echo with their very steps, but the carpet caught their sounds instead. Rogue felt herself shudder involuntarily as they entered a room at the end of the hall.

As Remy creaked the door open and allowed her in Rogue began to hug herself in comfort. "There's somethin' bout' mansions; big, creepy old houses that just gnaws at meh the wrong way." Rogue whispered.

She couldn't hear Remy walking behind her, but his hand on her shoulder made her release the breath she was holding.

"Yeah, dey never sat right wit me either. Dat's why I always had my own apartment somewhere.

Rogue let her eyes wander around the room. The light Remy had turned on was dim, and barely lit the place up. An old smell crept up through Rogue's nostrils as she took in the large canopy bed and rustic furniture.

"Remy this room looks like it's in use," Rogue observed, taking in photographs, books and other personal belongings. She fingered the sheets that hung from the high rise bed.

"It belonged to my brother's wife before dey married. She moved out a year ago dough. She just left stuff from her younger years behind." Remy said as he began to pace the room. Rogue watched his delicate movements, as he opened the dresser drawers up.

"Looks like dere are some o'her old clothes in here, if ya want to change out o'your muddy ones." Remy stated, his eyes still not meeting hers. A slow smile began to appear though, and his eyes sparkled as they finally reached Rogue's.

"I'll take y'shopping tomorrow chere. Show you de town.

Rogue nodded and hoisted herself onto the bed. Her legs dangled off as she continued to watch Remy move around.

"When are y'gonna explain things to meh Remy?" Rogue asked as her expression dead panned.

He picked up a framed photograph, sighing. His hair hung carelessly in front of his eyes. He looked up, and strode towards Rogue, the photo still in hand.

He set the photo down on the bed and placed his hands on either side of Rogue. "Your in de Thieves Guild lair now Rogue. And I be de Master of all Thieves." He traced one finger from her lips, down her throat slowly, seductively.

Rogue gulped, afraid to move, even breath. "What bout Jean Luc? You the master of him too?

Remy rested one hand on Rogue's thigh. He used his teeth to remove the glove on his left hand and showing Rogue his bare skin, he let her eyes follow his finger down to the picture frame. As he touched it, a pink hue took over the entire thing.

Rogue wanted to gasp, maybe even scream, but she felt entranced by the eerie glow. She wanted to reach out for it, and as her bare hand made the move, Remy sucked the energy back up.

"You don't want t'be touching dat chere. If I had let it, it would of blown up." Rogue watched his full lips form each word and finally she couldn't help but reach out and touch his lips with her fingers.

"What are ya Remy?

He leaned in closer, grabbing a fistful of hair, before resting his hand on the back of her neck. "I just got a different gene den most humans Rogue. You have it too." She felt his hand move up her leg, his mouth now inches from her own, his heat intoxicating. It made it hard to even think straight as she reached out and pulled his collar tightly. As she met his lips once again, the word gene flashed through her mind, alarming her to Hank McCoy's description of the gene disease.

Quickly she pushed Remy back. She could feel him protest, but he stood away from her despite.

"Those pills were meant for a gene disease. Is that what they were giving people those pills for? To stop it from developing?
"Yes." Remy took a deep breath, looking to the door as his hands filed through his hair. His eyes took a far away look as they remained watching the door. "My wife Belladonna got sick." Remy swallowed tightly. "She wasn't my wife by choice, but I felt obligated t'still take care o'her.

Remy's red eyes flashed to Rogue before he moved to the window by the bed, opening it, letting a cool night breeze shift in through the crack. He rested one elbow on the window sill as the wind played with his hair.

"Belle and I were meant to rectify de rivalry between de Assassins and de Thieves. We got married for our families, and it was our families dat led to our own undoing.

Rogue stayed quiet, her eyes glued to Remy's in a form of suspense.

"Her brother and her father started givin' her something dat would give her long life and great powers. It made her sick. My father had de one thing dat might cure her, and he refused to give it up. Dat's when Jean Grey showed up, explained how she could help, and took Belle and I up to New York.

Remy's fist tightened on the sill, as he moved his gaze to Rogue. "Dey started giving her dose damn pills, explaining something bout' a gene disease. D'funny thing was dey never gave de pills to me. When Belle died, dey explained dat I was strong, dat I deserved my powers, dat I was de elite. Bullshit about a war o'some kind. I played along wit it in order to avenge Belle, to save dose dat I could.

After a long pause, with Remy's attention back out the window, Rogue slipped off the bed and to his side. "Ah'm sorry Remy.

Remy turned to her, observing her thoughfully. "It's strange your gene mutation hasn't surfaced yet, what with you not takin' dose pills.

Rogue shrugged. "Maybe it has and Ah just have a boring, useless power.

Remy grinned, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe chere. Now get some sleep petit.

Rogue wanted to pull him to her, but she could not gather the courage, and so she said good night and watched him walk out. She leaned back against the bed, collapsing backwards on it. Her back hit something, and standing up she realized the forgotten photograph.

She recognized Remy's trademark smile instantly, as well as his brother Henri. But the other two women she had never seen before. The blonde next to Remy, her arm draped around him, she could only assume was Belladonna.

She carried the photo back to the dresser, and began to riffle through it for something to sleep in. She found an oversized t-shirt, and stripping out of her clothing, she pulled it on, slipping into the large bed.

A light rain began outside, and something began to tap at her window. Jumping up, she looked with fright towards the window. It was just a branch, it's thin, dying stem hitting continually against the glass.

She took a breath, slipping out of bed, knowing she would not be able to sleep. She opened the door that led back out into the hallway, taking in the grandfather clock across the way, it's hand pointing to five past one in the morning.

A drip, drip sound caught her ears then, echoing over and over. She walked towards the sound, finding an empty bathroom, the faucet not completely shut off. She reached for the handle, intent on ending the repetitive noise, as it itched away at her skull. She looked into the mirror as she did so, her pale complexion startling her.

She rose a hand to her cheek, suddenly very aware of how little she knew about herself. About her past. She backed into the wall, feeling her eyes well with tears, as her mind fought to stay on one single thought.

She stumbled out of the bathroom, and right into the arms of someone else. As she looked up, she was relieved to see red on black staring back at her. He stood half naked in the hall, his eyes looking just as startled as her own.

"Y'ok chere?

"No, Remy Ah can't stay in that room by myself." Rogue's words flew speedily together as she clung to his bare chest.

He put an arm around her, leading her down the hall and through an open door. "You can stay in here Rogue. I'll take de floor, you have de bed.

Rogue let go of him, shaking her head rapidly. "No Remy. Stay with meh. Take away all these blasted thoughts and dreams!" Rogue lifted her hands above her head, pulling at strands of her hair. "Images from that mansion keep coming back. Ah can't stop thinkin' bout it's emptiness, it's-it's-

Remy collected her in his arms, pulling her tightly to him. "We're gone from dat place chere, sshh." Remy pulled them both into bed, as Rogue wrapped her entire body around him.

Her eyes became hollow, imitating that of the ghost girl that kept teasing her sanity. Rogue's thoughts drifted to her, as she felt Remy's touch lighten her body, ease through her muscles.

What happened in that place? What was really going on? Rogue shuddered again, pulling closer to the stranger in bed beside her. But his warmth was familiar, every inch of him fit seamlessly with her own, as if they had perfected that art a long time ago.

The rain still fell outside, lulling Rogue's eyes closed. White flashes greeted her closed eyelids, dotted with lines of color, images not quite put together, but they startled Rogue, causing her to sit up, knocking Remy's arms away.

"We didn't leave it completely behind Remy," Rogue murmured.

She felt his arm slip around her waist, pulling her back down into his arms.

"Yes we did Rogue. Sleep.

Rogue felt her chest rise up and down quickly, adrenaline pumping through her. But it subsided as she rested her head into the crook of Remy's neck and shoulder. His arm slipped around her; slipped around the girl without memories.

Rogue's eyes fluttered shut again, this time consuming her in quiet darkness. The rain outside reminded her sleeping form of her fear however, providing the melody to her dreams, the sweet drip drip hitting hollowly, numbingly throughout.