Disclaimer: The characters belong to marvel. Don't sue me.

She closed the door behind him. How he had found her, she couldn't guess. Until she remembered who he was, who he worked with.

"So the professor told you where I was, did he?"

"What, I'm not smart enough to have figured it out myself? Don't answer that. Yes, he told me where to find you. Thing is, we need you to come back."

She didn't even have to think about what her reply would be. "I can't do that."

"Please, Rogue? We're short on teachers and its getting harder and harder to find good ones that are willing to come to the Institute."

"That's not my name anymore. Besides, I haven't taught since I left. I'm not right for the job. Tell Charles to look somewhere else."

"Fine. Quick question though... I drove down, and its getting late. I don't want to drive back in the dark..."

She knew what was coming next.

"You can stay on the couch."

Bobby smiled and leapt over the top of the large piece of furniture.

"Its nice and comfy. So... whatcha been up to?"

Anna Marie tried her best to look annoyed at his actions as well as his blunt questions, but in all honesty, she was very happy to see him. She sat in the chair across from the couch and picked up the television remote.

"Not much... the usual."

"So kicking ass?"

She laughed a little as she switched on the TV. The "usual" sure was different now.

"Ok, I guess not the usual. I've been working. A real job. Well, a number of real jobs. Had a little problem when I was working in a park out west. Got fired and moved back closer to home."

"Oh? What exactly did you do?"

"Uprooted a tree. That didn't go over too well. I was banned from the redwoods national park. They've got my picture up on the bulletin boards and everything."

"Haha! Can you do me a favor?"

"Aren't I already doing you a favor?"

"I mean, another one?"

"Depends. What is it?"

"Drop the accent. It is soo not you."

"Bobby... I can't do that."

"Just for old time's sake? Please?"

"I..." She decided to humor him, knowing full well that if she didn't he would pester her mercilessly. "Ah suppose ah could drop it for a little bit. It's just that Ah'm so used to talkin' different around other people, Ah don't want t' get in th' habit of usin' it again."

Bobby clapped his hands like a little child who had just received a present.

"I knew you could do it!"

"Ah could have told you that."

Bobby just grinned. She hated it when he did that. But he was so exuberant, so... Bobby, that she couldn't really be mad at him.

"Hey, Rog—"

"Anna Marie."

"—Anna Marie?"

"Yes, Robert?"

"Got anything to eat?"

"No."

They sat in silence for awhile, staring at the television, not really watching it. Anna Marie remembered that she had been on a search for food herself when Bobby arrived. She clicked off the TV and stood up.

"Ok. Lets go get some food."

Bobby jumped up happily and followed her towards the door. Realizing that she didn't have on gloves or long sleeves, since she had planned to just sit around the house until she had to go to work, she grabbed a jacket and pair of gloves before leaving the apartment. Locking the door behind her, she headed for the stairs. Bobby trailed her closely, trying to think of a good way to get her to come back. He had been sent there with that objective, and he hated to go home empty handed. The professor had told him that it was important for the team that they get her back. Despite the publicity the X-Men had been getting from the media recently, being shown as the heroes that they tried to be, as opposed to being shown simply as mutants, the team was faltering. Certain members were struggling with their powers, some for physical reasons, others for emotional. It was because of one of those faltering members that Bobby had been sent. He knew that if he told Rogue about Gambit's condition, she would probably come back. But it wasn't something that he could tell her straight out. He had to work towards it. He didn't know what the status was between the two once she left. He knew only what Gambit mumbled about, which wasn't normally very coherent. Unless, of course, he was telling a story to the kids. Bobby smiled as he remembered Gambit's story time habits. He always told these magnificent tales of battles won, and sometimes lost, but no matter what, he always concentrated on one character in them. Rogue. She had become something of a legend to the students that arrived after her departure, and even to some of the ones that had been there prior to it. If she only knew that... Bobby was snapped out of his thoughts by Rogue's voice, no, Anna Marie's voice, he reminded himself.

"This ok?"

"Um, yeah. Sure."

He hadn't realized it, but they had walked to a small café. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he barely remembered where he was. As they sat down in the booth, he brought himself back to reality.

"So... what's good here?"

"Just about everything... the kid's menu is on the back."

Looking up at her, he feigned offense at her comment.

"I'll have you know, I am a very mature individual!"

"Yes, Bobby. Yes, you are."

Before he could open his mouth to snap something back, the waitress appeared.

"You know what you want to drink?" She asked, snapping her bubble gum.

"Ice water"

"Can I get a milkshake? With a cherry on top?"

"Vanilla, Chocolate, or Strawberry?"

"Umm... Strawberry!"

The waitress walked away, and Anna Marie started laughing.

"Yeah, Bobby. You're real mature."

"What? A guy's not allowed to order a milkshake?"

"With a cherry on top!!" She mocked his enthusiasm, glad once again that he came to visit. It had been awhile since she had been around any of her "old" friends. In fact, the last time had been at work, she was working the security for a fashion show, and who should be there to model, but Betsy Braddock. It had surprised her pleasantly, and she had even "broken character" to talk to her. She remembered Betsy's shock as she heard someone whisper "Hey there, shugah" in her ear. It took her a minute, but once she realized who it was, they had a blast. Betsy ended up staying for the whole weekend.

"Yeah, well I like milkshakes..."

"Ah know, Bobby." She blinked as she realized that she had dropped the fake accent. It had been over two years since she had done that, she had gotten so used to using it in public. Bobby noticed it too, and he grinned.

"Can I call you 'Rogue' again, then?"

"Not funny."

"Well, I thought it was."

Just then, Bobby's cell phone rang.

"Uh, excuse me."

He flipped it open and answered it.

"Y-ello? Hey, Lo-lo. Yes, I know how lucky I am that you aren't here to slice me to bits for calling you that. Huh? Oh, she's right here. No, I haven't told her about... hang on."

He stood up and walked out to the sidewalk to finish his phone call. When he came back, the waitress had delivered their drinks, and he had a smile back on his face.

"Sorry, you know Logan, always calling at all hours of the—"

"What haven't you told me?"

Bobby was hoping that he wouldn't have to tell her this. At least not this bluntly.

"Well, the reason we need you to come back... its not because of the teaching situation. I mean, we do need teachers, but there's more. You see, Gambit's been kind of under the weather lately..."

"What does that mean?"

"Ever since you left, he's been kind of... off. For about the past year, he's been getting worse. On missions, he can hardly concentrate. He spends more time in your room. I think it's just sunk in that you might not be coming back. On top of that, he got sick a few weeks ago. After our last mission. We don't know what it is exactly, but the big fuzzy doctor suggested that you might be able to help. So here I am."

She didn't know what to say. She had never meant for her leaving to hurt anyone, especially Remy. And now it sounded like he was really in trouble.

"Rogue... I'm sorry to have to do this, but I'm not returning without you. You owe it to him to at least go and talk to the professor."

The waitress came back, ready to take their orders. Anna Marie looked up at her, tears starting to form, and requested the check.

Five minutes later, they were out on the sidewalk.

"So are you coming?"

"You know the answer to that, Bobby. I have to."

Bobby nodded. He pointed to a parking lot across the street.

"I'm parked over there. Anything you want to get before we go?"

Instead of answering, Anna Marie did something that she had promised herself three years ago she would not do again. She picked Bobby up and flew off towards New York.

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