DISCLAIMER: They aren't mine. They will never be mine. I don't have a lawyer. I am making no money from this. I enjoy long walks on the beach.
Within the week, Rogue had gained back her strength and was once again taking part in Danger room sessions. Luckily for her (and maybe even more luckily for Remy), Gambit decided to heed her advice and keep the program that he had designed to himself. After talking with the Professor, Rogue agreed to remain at the school as a permanent team member. She was reinstated as a teacher, and the first day of class for her was fairly hectic, as the students all had heard about her from Remy.
"Miss Darkholme?"
"Call me Rogue. Yes?"
"Is it true that you once took out a sentinel yourself, just by punching it?"
"Where'd ya hear that?"
"Um... Mr. LeBeau?"
She sighed. The whole day had been like this. And it was only the fourth period. She had been told things about herself that she hadn't even remembered. She had given it some thought, and decided that she was going to go only by her codename again. Anna Marie Darkholme was a different person. She had grown up as Rogue, and come to this place as Rogue. Rogue was the one who lived, Anna Marie was little more than suppressed memories. She looked at the guitar in her hands. It hadn't been Marie who had taught herself to play down south when she was younger. It had been Rogue. And look where that had gotten her. Now she was teaching teenagers music. When she had announced at the team meeting that she would be taking over her classes again, she would see some of the frustration visibly dissipate from Scott's face. Scott was many things, but a musician definitely wasn't one of them. She turned back to the student who had asked the question.
"Yes, Ah did that. But it was already—"Her words were cut off as the entire class erupted in whispers. She rolled her eyes and went back to tuning her guitar, waiting for them to calm down. She looked up and noticed a few more hands raised. Pointing, she called on a tall girl seated in the middle of the room.
"I was wondering... who is 'Joseph'?"
Rogue was surprised. "Remy told ya'll all that too?"
The class almost entirely smiled. The girl who asked the question clarified, "He said something about this guy named Joseph who was always trying to steal his um, chair or cherry or something. When we asked about it, he would just mumble and say to hunt you down because you knew better than he did."
"Well. Ah can see that for one, ya aren't in any French classes." The class laughed. "Two, Joseph is somethin', someone that don't matter t' me. He shouldn't matter to ya'll either." She walked up to the board and wrote "Gambit" on it, then turned back to the class. "Ah can tell that some of ya'll have trouble understandin' the swamp rat, so ah'm gonna give ya a crash course in it, ok?"
A lot of the students looked happy. They had often walked away from conversations with him not understanding half of what he said.
"Ok. Lets make ourselves a Gambit dictionary. Take out ya'll's notebooks." The class pulled out the notebooks that they had been given and proceeded to copy down the 'lesson' from the board. Once the class had ended, the students were almost completely comfortable with their new teacher. Even the ones who had seen her nearly kick Remy's ass on the elevator. As they filed out and headed towards the dining room for lunch, Rogue grabbed her guitar and flew up to the rooftop. She sat there, playing it again for the first time in three years. She was surprised that she could remember so well. As she hummed along to the music, She heard the gutter creak slightly and then distinct footsteps behind her. She lied down and smiled up at the tall figure that was standing in front of the sun, covering her and the guitar in shadow. He moved to sit next to her and she sat back up, leaning against the chimney.
"Remy ain' heard music so sweet before in his life."
"Aw, shut up Cajun."
"It's de trut'..." He trailed off, looking out at the garden, just taking in the beauty of it. He put his arm around Rogue and she leaned back into his chest, still playing. Minutes passed and not a word was spoken. The silence, though once again odd considering the people involved in it, was not awkward. More things were said in not speaking than could ever be said vocally. Remy looked down at Rogue, who had her eyes closed but was still playing the guitar as only she could. As he watched the wind sweep her white bangs across her forehead, he smiled.
"You comin' down to lunch, Chere?"
"Remy?"
"Oui?"
She wanted to tell him how sorry she was, that she had ever done this to him, done it to them. But the look on his face told her that he knew. He had forgiven her. She smiled.
"Nothin'... Ah'm gonna go grab a bite now."
She stood up and walked towards the edge of the roof, pulling Gambit along with her. Grabbing him by the collar, she swooped down into the window to join the other teachers at the first lunch of the beginning of what she hoped would be a long long time at the mansion.
A/N: Well, there it is. I know, I know, the ending chapter was short. But so was the beginning, and it is styled after that chapter in many ways. I was afraid if I went on too much longer, I'd completely lose any point and plot that the story had. Thanks so much to all who reviewed (this doesn't mean don't continue reviewing, you know ;-) ;-) ). Keep an eye out for my other stories, I should be updating them soon.
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU....THANK YOU.