Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Xmen. I know, you're disappointed. SO WHEN,….. Will be my friend…. So when will it end…..

HAHA.. . . I see that the last chapter made you sad. . . Well let's make you sadder. . . . Or happier, whatever floats your boat.

Thanks to:

Ishandahalf: Aww… Threats. . . . OH dear Oh dear. . . But I fear I shan't be able to comply to your threats my dear. . . . MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!! The problem shall never be resolved.

RogueChere: Err.. . . We don't want to have our precious Remy humping dead people. . . Oh no, no we can't be having none of that. No not at all. . . Oh and hun, I wasn't going to kill our little Roguey. . . No No, not even I am that evil. . . This week anyways. But for this story, Rogue's not gonna die, I don't think or maybe she will... THANKS FOR THE IDEA ,DARLING!!!

SickMindSucker: Didn't I just rip out your heart and do the Mexican hat dance on it? Actually I thought the last chapter was pretty sucky. . . One of my worst work yet. . . I felt sad on the inside. .

Enchanted Light: Oh how I have updated. . . You'll wet yourself with excitement.

OH yeah, feel the love. . . . We find a kind of paradise. . . (sings morbidly)

RECAP: Rogue is now dead to the world. Everyone is no one, and no one is Everyone. OOOOH I love that phrase!! I feel so proud of myself (hugs herself) .

NOTICE: Rogue is already in the asylum of happiness. Oh and the only thing she remembers is her actual name and her code name.

Walking Alongside the Devil

Chapter 17: Flourish

" Beneath the golden

Flowers bloom. . . "

Blank emerald eyes stared languidly at the softly padded walls. The bindings carelessly wrapped around her arms, pressured against her chest. Lifting her head up, the light strands of hair brushed gently across her pale cheek.

Licking her dry lips, she took in a deep breath. Fidgeting slightly Rogue glared harshly at the wall.

' Can't… move….' she groaned to herself.

Shifting once more, she attempted to pull her elbow up to her face but only succeeded in making herself fall over onto the floor. Determined, Rogue hauled herself up from the floor and endeavored to yank her arm from the jacket.

' Ah want t' move…….' she hissed in her mind.

Rogue bit down hard upon the fat of her lower lip, groaning aloud. The soft noise was dimmed dramatically by the padding on the wall; which prevented her from injuring herself.

' Need to move….'

Rogue rapped her head against the pliable material behind her head. Breathing in deeply once more, Rogue insisted upon ripping her arm out of the cumbersome jacket. Squirming rapidly, Rogue yanked as hard as she could but it came to no avail. She could feel as the metal began to dig into her upper arm, creating cold sensations to run from her shoulder to her wrist.

' I need freedom…'

Collapsing to her knees, Rogue began to squirm more frantically, her hair flaying left and right. To an outsider, she looked like she was having a fit; but it was quite the contrary. For the past hour and a half, Rogue had felt the overwhelming desire to free herself from the confining holds of the damned jacket. It wasn't because she had wanted to wander freely flailing her arms wildly around her like most of the other patients in the building. It wasn't even because she was deemed as a classic case of clinical dementia. She had only one reason to why she was thrashing wildly in her room.

' Damn it…. Let me out of this thing….' she screamed internally.

An itch. . . . An itch beyond any she had ever experienced within her entire life. She needed to scratch that itch so badly or she would really let loose her rage within the confines of her area.

The desire to scratch the infernal itch grew with each passing moment, slowly seeping out the last ounces of Rogue's sanity.

Scurrying over to the small window above her door, Rogue peered through the bars. Her breathing becoming heavy.

" SOMEBODY COME HERE AND GET ME OUT OF DIS INFERNAL T'ING OR SO HELP ME, SOMEONE IS GOIN' T' DIE TONIGHT!!!" Rogue shrieked loudly, her voice echoing down the empty corridor.

Unfortunately for her, several other people began to scream right after her.

" YES, GET ME OUT OF HERE TOO!!! " Screamed a woman in the cell next to her.

" MAMA GIVES ME PAMPERS TO EAT!!!!" Shrieked another.

Rogue sighed exasperatedly and slumped down to the carpeted floor. Her eyes staring blankly at the small pieces of lint floating in the air; all the while, the itch was getting worse.

' Ah gotta scratch mah damn nose…. Gotta an itch…. So badddddd….'

Rogue rolled around on the carpet, hoping beyond hope that she'd somehow get the itch but it came to no avail.

A huge buzzing noise reverberated down the hallway making Rogue cock an eyebrow warily.

" DINNER TIME!!! "

Snarling slightly, Rogue dragged herself into the corner of the room. Wishing that everything wasn't so white for then she'd be able to hide within the shadows away from the bad people.

The slight turn of a lock grasped Rogue's attention, making her suck in her breath.

' They be t'inkin they gon' give Rogue dat pill, well dey ain't…. No dey ain't…'

Rogue drew her legs to her chest , hiding as best as she could from the Nay-Sayers with their trays and blasted blue pills. She had seen what those pill did to the others, she wouldn't allow that to happen to her. She wouldn't become empty. . . No. . . not again. No matter what those dumb doctors told her, she was still a somebody. . She may not remember exactly who she was, but she knew. . . She knew she was a somebody.

" Marie?…." came a sickening sweet voice.

Rogue plastered herself against the wall, her teeth grinding together. A tall woman dressed completely in hospital scrubs and white tennis shoes stepped into her room. She had a heart shaped face, her cheeks were rosy as if she had just came in from cold weather. Long curly blond locks were pulled up into a high ponytail while two strands hung casually in front of her face. She had clear blue eyes that glittered happily when she caught sight of Rogue in the corner. Pushing her cart into the room, she kneeled down in front of Rogue.

" Oh Marie…. There you are. . . " she beamed.

Rogue narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

" Don't…call meh that. . . " she hissed out venomously.

The woman looked taken back slightly but quickly regained her resolve.

" Oh come now dear, I have to call you that…. It is your name after all. . ."

Rogue growled deep in her throat.

" NEVER call me that…."

The woman shook her head slightly and turned to pick up one of the trays from her cart and set it in front of her. Rogue stared at the tray, her lip turned up in disgust. On it was a hardened chunk of creamed corn, the meatloaf was gray with small lumps of carrots, and week old string beans.

" Eat up. . " beamed the woman.

Rogue stared at the tray and back up at the woman.

" And just how exactly am ah supposed t' do that?"

The woman looked confused for a moment.

" What do you me---?… Oh, silly me. . . "

The woman slapped herself lightly on the forehead.

" You can't very well eat with that thing on now can you?…"

The woman reached for a fork on top of the cart while Rogue observed from a far. Rogue caught a slight glimpse of her name tag. It spelled out Bella Donna. Rogue smirked slightly, a shadow playing across her face.

Bella Donna turned back around, fork in hand.

" Come now, We don't want you going hungry now would we?"

Rogue slid over to Bella Donna, Her emerald eyes never leaving the nametag. Bella Donna seemed to notice for she immediately shifted position causing for her hair to fall over the slip of paper.

Rogue snapped out of her reverie and stared over at the fork in Bella Donna's hand.

" Hey, ah have a proposition….." Rogue spoke out slowly.

Bella Donna glanced at her.

" Do you now? "

Rogue nodded emphatically, her hair falling into her face.

" Yup, Yup… Do ya agree?"

Bella Donna smiled at her as a teacher would to a student who didn't understand a math problem.

" Well that depends, what is the proposition?"

Rogue bent her head down.

" Well seeing as ah haven't tried to maim ya or nothing, ya think that maybe ya could let me feed mahself fo' a change?"

Bella Donna stared at Rogue, her cerulean blue eyes glistening with thought.

" I don't know…. The last time we let you feed yourself, the nurse left with a fork enlodged in her right buttocks."

Rogue shrugged slightly.

" She shouldn't have tried to take the fork from me, Ah wasn't finished eating yet.."

Bella Donna looked at her warily.

" I'll let you feed yourself on one condition."

Rogue tilted her head to the side, her emerald eyes glittering curiously.

" And what is that?"

Bella Donna twirled a small strand of her blond hair with her index finger.

" If you promise to take your pill later tonight.."

Rogue paused, her mind weighing the pro's and con's.

" Alright.. " she conceded.

Bella Donna flashed Rogue a sweet smile, a smile so sweet that it made Rogue's stomach turn. Rogue smiled back, her eye twitching slightly.

A slight moment passed as Bella Donna undid the buckles on Rogue's jacket. The minute Rogue felt the jacket slide down from her shoulders, she let out a sigh. Indentations of the metal on her pale flesh shone freshly in the bright neon light.

" Thank ya kindly….."

Bella Donna nodded her head before pushing the cart out of Rogue's room. Closing the door behind her and re-latching the locks, silence once more filled the room.

Rogue immediately began to scratch at her nose with a cold fury known by only Satan, himself.

" AaaaaAaaaahh…." Rogue sighed.

Rubbing her arms, she reveled in the relief from the jacket. For some odd reason, the people here believed that she was prone to random acts of schitzophrenic behavior. Just because she nearly strangled the doctor with a sanitary napkin because she swore she heard the wall tell her too meant nothing.

Picking up the fork, she stared at the glob of food on the tray. Revulsion coursing through her stomach prevented her from attempting to consume any it. Pushing the tray across the room, She stared blankly at the back of the door.

The latch on the door was once more being flipped up; catching Rogue's attention.

' She wouldn't come back that early would she?…. '

The door flew open with a dramatic flair, leaving Rogue feeling exposed as she sitting in the middle of the floor. Peering upwards, she found herself face to face with a bald man in a wheel chair. He was wearing a gray suit , a white undershirt, with a matching gray tie. His caramel brown eyes stared down at her, the creases around his eyes jerking slightly. Bella Donna walked up beside him, pointing to her.

" This is her…"

The bald man nodded his head at Bella Donna and smiled warmly at her.

" Thank you very much."

Bella Donna gave him a curt smile and turned back to Rogue. Without looking at the bald one behind her, she pulled out the jacket that so previously caused Rogue so much pain in the first place.

Rogue slid back against the wall, her emerald eyes wide.

" Hey, ah thought we had an agreement…"

Bella Donna tilted her head to the side.

" Yes we did, but you know the rules Marie.."

Rogue growled again, her eyes narrowing and her lip thinning out.

" Ah thought ah told ya earlier not to call me that…."

Bella Donna ignored her and strapped the jacket back upon Rogue. Of course with some extreme difficulty as Rogue continued to back away into the corner of the room.

Belle stood up, a hand on her hip.

" Now you behave Marie or else.."

Rogue snorted indignantly, her emerald eyes flashing dangerously.

' Ah'll show ya…. Ah'll show all ya, no one messes wit' me…'

As Belle left the room, she closed the door behind her and locked it; leaving Rogue alone with the bald headed man.

Already in a bad mood, Rogue merely glared at the man.

" Good Evening Rogue…. "

Rogue refused to respond, she merely glared at him all her anger towards Bella Donna directed to the innocent bystander.

The bald man didn't seem bothered by Rogue's hostile behavior. In fact he seemed to be acting as if he was used to this behavior; as if he already knew her.

A long silence passed before either of them spoke. The entire time filled with nothing but the cotton fluff of Rogue's thoughts drifting from one portion of her mind to the other.

The bald headed man coughed slightly and moved his chair closer to her.

" I am Professor Charles Xavier…."

Rogue scooted back a bit farther.

" Yeah, ah know."

The bald headed man's eyes widened with surprise.

" How did you know?"

Rogue pointed to the man's shirt. On it was a simple nametag that merely read: Visitor's Badge for Charles Xavier.

" It's on ya shirt."

The man named Charles chuckled slightly.

" Oh. . . I see. . "

Rogue gritted her teeth together.

" So, what is it ya want?…"

Charles's face lost all humor but didn't mislay any of it's warmth.

" Rogue.… I've come here to help you.."

Rogue lifted her chin slightly.

" Help me with what?"

Charles bent forward and placed his hands together.

" Help return your memories.."

Rogue stood up slowly carefully adjusting herself.

" Really now?…"

She stepped around him, her head brushing against the wall.

" And just how are ya gonna do that now?"

Charles remained seated where he was. He didn't even move his head.

' I'm a telepath Rogue, I can help restore our memories…'

Rogue jumped slightly at the voice in her head. For some reason she felt a slight bit of irritation at the blatant way he invaded her mind.

' Well isn't that just nice. . . . ' she thought back sarcastically.

Whipping around quickly, she leapt over his chair and landed in front of him. Her face inches from his; her warm breath touching against his cheek.

" What exactly makes ya think ah need ya help?"

Charles smiled at her, startling Rogue enough to back away.

" I know I can help you Rogue, just give us a chance.."

Rogue turned around, her back facing him. The constraints on her arm already beginning to bother her.

' You'll be free Rogue…'

Rogue peered at him from the corner of her eye.

" So what do ya want from me?"

Charles tilted his head to the side, confusion displayed across his features.

" What do you me--?…."

Rogue whipped back around, her eyes flashing.

" Nobody just helps somebody else without them givin' something up to dem.."

Charles shook his head slowly, flashing her another kind smile.

" I need nothing in return Rogue. . . But I'm sure many people would say they would want their friend back."

Rogue started, her eyes wide. Bumping into the back of the wall, she opened her mouth but no words came out.

' Yes Rogue, I do know who you are. . . '

Rogue sunk to her knees, a single tear sliding down her cheek. Charles leaned forward and caught onto her elbow, helping her to her feet; he smiled. (a/n: I know. . . .he's in a wheel chair. . . Weird.)

Rogue lifted her head to stare at Charles, her eyes watering.

" Please take me away from here…." she whispered.

Charles nodded.

" Of course Rogue. . . Of course. . "

( I know, it should've been Gambit, shouldn't it've? It would've been oh so sweet of him wouldn't? I know, I only thought of Gambit only after I wrote this part. . .. I wanted to hurt myself because I was too lazy to change it. . . . Oh well. . . . :p)

Oooooo-oooooo-oooooo-oooooo-ooooo-oooooo-ooooo-ooooo-oooooo-ooooo

Theo sat alone in the den, his eyes staring desolately at the computer screen. Lifting his trembling head, he clicked out of Rogue's file. He had been researching for nearly a month for a way to reverse the effects of Rogue's memory loss but his search was futile. Everyday, he would go and visit Rogue while she was in the refuge. They had decided against placing her with all the other loonies in the asylum. Though it would've lived up to her name. Instead she was placed in a care refuge, where they held the terminally ill ranging from schitzos to patients with leukemia.

Monty and Vera had visited her every day after contacting the Professor at the Xavier Institute after Rogue's virulent attack. It took quite a while for them to explain Rogue's habits outside the Xmen. Most hadn't been surprised in the first place, knowing how craving for action adventures.

The Xmen had been devastated when they were informed by Rogue's condition but none more than Remy LeBeau. He had immediately rushed to Rogue's side when he had found out. He had held her for hours, calling her name constantly. But he received no response for her. Nothing but a blank stare as he consistently tried to get her to remember him. It had come to a point when the despondent Wolverine was forced to drag him away from her.

Absolute havoc had broken out at the hideout when Theo had tearfully informed the others of Rogue's condition. Theo had sworn to himself that he would never forget the look that had crossed Monty's face when he heard. It was as if someone had plunged a knife into his stomach and the same person had asked him to remove it. Vera had sunken into his chair and muttered to himself for the rest of the night, while sipping on bourbon and staring out the window. Even Emma had looked worse for wear when she had found out the news. Of course she wouldn't admit it to the others, Theo knew that she would miss having someone to bicker with everyday.

Theo pushed himself away from the computer table. Strolling from the room, he found himself in the kitchen. Reaching into the cabinet he pulled out an old bottle of Jack Daniels. Slumping onto one of the bar stools, he whipped out his shot glass and poured himself a small drink. Staring at the liquid, he couldn't help but feel just a bit more desolate than before.

' Dammit. Rogue. . . . . . '

Before Rogue had joined the group, everyone was pretty much working the solitary route. They could've cared less whether or not the other was still breathing as long as they had gotten their bounty money. But she just had to come along and cross their path. She just had to pass on her cheer to them and infect them with her insanity. She just had to make them a family. What if he didn't want them to be a family? What if he wanted it to go back to the way it was? . . . Why couldn't go back to the way it was?. . . .

Theo choked on a sob that began to rise in his throat. His grip on the shot glass growing even tighter.

' Why can't it go back to when I didn't care?. . . . '

Clenching his jaw, Theo threw the shot down his throat; burning it all the way. Slamming it against the counter top, Theo shook his head dejectedly.

' Why do I care? . . . . I shouldn't care. . . . . I'm a loner. . . . I'm. . . I'm. .. . '

Theo felt as the shot glass shattered in his hand. He felt as the shards pierced into the tender flesh of his palm but he didn't care. Obviously, his apathy could only work on something that concerns his own welfare.

Sighing to himself, he stared at his hand. Picking up the bottle of Jack Daniels, he poured the alcohol onto his hand. A slight stinging sensation erupted through his arm making him wince slightly. Blood mingled with the small traces of the clear liquid, running trails down his arm.

Rogue, a southern belle with a spitfire personality that would repel the worst of people and attract the greatest of them. The only person capable of bringing together a group of rag tag individuals and making them work as a team. The only person who he had found worthy of being considered close enough to be his sister.

Slamming his fist back against the table, Theo wrenched himself off the stool.

' Dammit I'm going to find a cure. . '

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o---o-o-o-o-oo-o

" How is he?. . . "

John sunk down into the couch, his eyes downcast.

" He hasn't left his room in a week, mate.."

Piotr shook his head.

" I wish I could do something for mein comrade. . . "

John pulled out his lighter and began to flip it slightly, the sound of the metal clicking reverberating around the room.

" Already tried, I told him I'd even throw away all my lighters… He still didn't speak a word."

Piotr let out a shuddering sigh.

" What are we going to do, my friend?"

John shrugged. Putting his lighter back into his pocket, he turned toward the window.

" The only thing that we can do is hope that the bald bloke can somehow bring that Sheila back. . ."

The sound of the phone ringing jolted them out of their reverie. Sighing softly, Piotr walked over to the phone. Lifting it to his ear, he answered.

" Hello?" (a/n: what else was he gonna say?)

" Hey Piotr?!!"

Piotr blinked, the voice was surprisingly familiar.

" Yes. . . It is I. . "

" Yay it is Piotr!!" the voice shrieked out on the other side of the phone.

" Hello? . . . " spoke Piotr hesitantly.

" Oh uh Sorry, It's like me, Kitty Pride!!"

Piotr's eyes brightened and to anyone else looking at him, he seemed to have straighten up more.

" Hello Kitty…"

" Hi Piotr, oh I just like called to tell you that Rogue is like totally back now!"

Piotr let out a startled gasp, grasping John's attention.

" Wait what? She's back?!!"

John shot up from the couch and ran to Piotr's side.

" Really the Sheila's back?!" he nearly shouted.

Kitty paused on the phone.

" Oh no, I mean like she's back here at the Institute. . . She still doesn't remember any of us. . "

Piotr's shoulders shrunk slightly.

" Oh. ."

John glanced at Piotr's reaction and guessed that he was supposed to shrink his shoulders. So he did.

" Tell Remy okay, cause the Professor says he has an idea on how to get Rogue's memories back. . . "

Piotr nodded his head while speaking.

" Yes, I shall. . "

" Thanks!!"

With that, Kitty hung up the phone. Piotr turned around to face John, who was on the floor because he didn't seem to decide when to stop shrinking his shoulders.

" Tell Remy that Rogue's back at the Institute."

John shot up from the floor and saluted him.

" Aye Aye mate!! "

John rushed to Remy's room and knocked on the wooden paneling. Without waiting for a response, he bust into the room.

" Hey mate!! You'll never guess what's happened!!"

Remy turned around on his bed and glared at the Aussie. His crimson eyes flaring dully. John ignored the Cajun's cold stare and continued.

" The Rogue Shiela, she's back at the bald bloke's place!"

Remy immediately leapt out of his bed.

" WHAT?!!"

John rolled his eyes.

" Oh now he talks. . .. "

Remy grabbed John by the shoulders and shook him.

" Where is she? Does she remember everything now? Is she okay?!!!" he shouted.

John grabbed one of Remy's hands and pushed him away. Frowning slightly, John sneered at Remy.

" Woah mate, when's the last time you took a shower?!"

Remy raised an eyebrow warily. John raised his hands in mock defeat and chuckled lightly.

" Eh he heh heh, just kidding . . . . You know a joke between mates and all. . . ."

Remy raised up his hand, an ace of spades glowing brightly in his hand. John turned on his heel screaming at the top of his lungs.

" AIEEEEEEE!!! I WAS JUST KIDDING MATE!!!"

Then came the explosion. Piotr glanced up from his book and smiled. At last, things were returning to normal.

There we go, a longer chapter. . . . Are ye happy?!!! Are ya?!! Oh and just to let ya'll know, Rogue's still not in the clear yet. . . She still has Yukimura Todedia to deal with and her memories and whether or not I want her mind to deteriorate even more. . .

YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS GONNA END BUT IT WON"T HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Review for me or else. .

RoguesHeart.