The next day, all the arrangements were set. They would leave in the early morning, taking the boy with them. There would be no explanations given, no notes written. As far as everyone was to know, they'd simply disappeared. That was the way it had to be.

Rogue packed all the things important to her. Still, she was going to be forced to leave behind a lot of things. Glancing at the clock, Rogue saw that she still had time before everyone would be up. Rogue reached for her gloves, then decided to leave them. It was unlikely she'd run into any one else this early.

Walking down to the kitchen Rogue made coffee. She sweetened it as she liked it then waited for Sean to arrive.

"You all packed?"

Rogue jumped, accidentally burning herself on her coffee. "Jeezus! Sean, don't do that!"

Sean cocked his head and smiled. "Future note, don't sneak up on Rogue."

Rogue stuck out her tongue. "Don' be a smart ass. And no, Ah'm not all packed. AH will be in an hour though."

Sean made a face. "An hour, love? Boss lady said to pack light!"

"That is packin' light." Rogue smiled and started to return to her room. First she had things to do. Stopping in Kitty's room, Rogue placed a picture frame on her bedside table. Inside was the picture taken of them when they were in costume for the musical Dracula they did for school. In it they were smiling and hugging each other after the show.

Then she headed for Kurt's room. There she left him her favorite book, Dante's Inferno. Rogue knew that these small gifts would tell both teens that she had left of her own free will, and that they need not worry.

Rogue shut Kurt's door behind her and started for her room. She'd debated whether to leave Remy anything, and had thought of one thing, the card he'd given her when they'd first met…the Queen of Hearts. Rogue opened her door and not looking around headed for her jewelry box where she kept it.

"Goin' somewhere chère?"

Rogue jumped and whirled around. "Remy! What's wrong wit' ya? Ya scared the hell out of me!"

Though his face was hidden in shadows, Rogue could tell he was upset. "Sorry, bébé. Didn' mean to. What de bags for?"

Without looking Rogue knew he meant the open suitcase on her bed. "Ah'm…Ah'm leavin'."

Remy got up and walked to the window. He looked tired, with his face tense and lines around his eyes. "Wit' him, right?"

"Him who?"

Remy turned to her with anger in his eyes. "Sean. Wit' Sean! I shoul' have known! No woman can be trusted!"

Rogue felt her own anger stir. "Now ya wait a minute Remy LeBeau! Nothin' goin' on!"

Remy walked over and grabbed her hands. "You be leavin' wit' him Rogue! Dat's your 'not'in' goin' on'!"

Rogue tried to pull her hands away, accidentally bringing Remy's attention to them. Looking down Remy let them go quickly as if burned. Then he turned questioning eyes to her. "I jus' touched yo' bare skin Rogue."

Rogue turned away and focused on straightening the clothes she already had in her suitcase. "Yeah."

"Rogue, not'in' happened."

"Ah know."

Remy turned Rogue around gently and lifted her face to his. She was crying, tears running down her face. "Wha's de matter chère?"

Rogue pushed him away. "Ya weren't supposed to know! Ah was supposed to leave without anyone findin' out! That was the deal!"

She began to storm out but Remy got there first and slammed the door shut. "Wha' deal?" He asked furiously.

"Mah deal with my older self! She gave me this gift and Ah was to do somethin' for her! And now ya ruined it! Ah have to go!" Rogue tried to push around him but he grabbed her arms and wouldn't let her by.

They wrestled for a minute before Remy sighed. "Rogue…" He leaned down and kissed her. Softly, for only a second. Then he did it again. Less gently and less short. Within seconds they were both grabbing at each other and falling towards to bed. He had been her first kiss. It was only appropriate that he was her first lover as well.

Later, too much later, Rogue stirred. Then she jerked awake. Glancing at the clock, she realized that she was late! They should have left an hour ago! Rogue scrambled up and grabbed her clothes. She shoved the clothes that had fallen out of her suitcase back in and buckled it shut.

She got up and started for the door when the sight of Remy stopped her. He was lying on his stomach, his arm wrapped around the pillow she'd lain on seconds before. Rogue brushed a lock of hair out of his face and felt her heart break. Just when she'd gotten the ability to touch, she had to leave the one man she wanted to touch more than any other. They'd had this short hour though, and that would have to be enough.

Rogue walked away, leaving behind the only home she'd ever really known, the only people she'd ever trusted, and the only man she'd ever love.