Thanks for all the respsonses! I really appreciate it. This chapter is more emotional than wwell written lol. Tell me what you think so far and the direction this is going

Disclaimer: Still don't own anything tear

Hank quietly made his way through the crowded party and stepped outside into the cool fall air. Leaves danced in the breeze and circled Hank's feet as he walked down the entranceway towards the parking lot. Scott had expanded the parking facilities to allow older students and teacher more convenience. After all these years the school was still thriving. Hank searched through the lines of cars until her found her.

"Leaving so soon?"

Anna looked up from her trunk startled, "Hank, What are you doin' out here?"

"I would ask you the same question."

Anna smiled and lifted a duffle-bag out of her car.

"Just bringin in my stuff. Guess Ah'm gonna be stayin here, might as well unpack now before everyone else."

She forcefully closed her trunk and turned towards Hank. Her eyes were red.

"Anna, are you alright?"

She glared at him, "Fine and dandy," She said putting her bag on the ground, "Why?"

Hank looked into her eyes but she quickly turned away, "Anna…"

"Ah told you Ah'm fine."

Hank was not convinced, "Here, let me carry that for you." He said reaching for her bag.

"Yah think Ah'm an invalid now Hank? Ah might not have Ms Marvel's strength anymore but ah can still carry mah own bags."

"I meant nothing by it. It was just a gentlemanly gesture of kindness."

She breathed in trying to calm herself. She just wished people would leave her

alone but she new she had to act the part. She had to get through this week for Logan and Ororo. She smiled at her hairy friend.

"Ah know Hank, Ah'm sorry for flyin' off the handle like that. It's just.."

"It's alright."

Hank noted the open bottle of alcohol in the back of her car and followed her back to the Mansion. Anna took off quickly down the hallway in search of her room, leaving Hank standing by the door.

"Hank?"

He turned towards the voice as Kitty walked towards him followed by Colossus and Cecilia. His worry about Anna was momentarily clouded by surprise.

"Oh my stars," He gently hugged the young woman, "You look wonderful Kitty."

"So do you and Cecilia told us about the two of you! I can barely believe it"

Cecilia laughed and but her arm around her husband, "Believe it. I'm not letting him go."

Hank smiled but looked in the direction that Anna had fled to. He noticed Remy heading in her direction and shook his head.

Remy caught up to Anna as she reached for her doorknob.

He took her by the wrist and spun her to face him.

"Get your filthy paws off me swamp-rat!" she screamed startled by his forcefulness.

"Not till I get some answers chere. Why you treatin' me so bad? I ain't done nothing to ya. Tell me what's with you?"

"What the hell you want to hear from me?" She spit back at him, going on the offensive. "That Ah'm still fucking in love with you? That nothing has changed since the last time we saw each other? Forget it! I ain't the same person Remy, even if you're still the same playboy you always were. I ain't falling for it again."

Remy looked hurt.

"That all you t'ink ah me Chere, Dat I'm just some guy tryin' to get in you're pants? Thought you knew Remy better den dat."

"Ah've heard it all before Remy!"

"Remy ain't said a thing yet. Just let me explain to ya what's been goin on."

"Why? What does it matter?"

He stared into her angry green eyes and let go of her wrist. He almost didn't recognize the cold cynical woman looking back at him. Then he noticed the tired circles hidden by make-up and the redness and tears that she tried to hide. He knew the signs by heart. He had seen them all before.

"Rogue, you been drinkin'?"

"How dare you!" She yelled turning away from the Cajun, "What are you accusing me of? You of all people!"

She didn't wait for an answer and ran off to her room, leaving Gambit more confused than he had been before. He quietly walked back to the lounge and collapsed on a chair. What the hell was going on? He only looked up when Hank sat down next to him. Hank noticed his concerned expression and waited until gambit was ready to talk.

"She ain't well Hank?"

The doctor nodded.

"She been drinkin, a lot."

"Are you sure?"

"Seen it more dan once. Been dere myself."

Hank thought he saw tears in Remy's unique eyes.

"Would you talk ta her Hank? She ain't gonna listen to me but she needs help."

"I know." Hank said calmly.

"Hank, if you know somet'ing you betta tell me."

"It's not my place my friend. Physician confidentiality prohibits me…"

"Aw save it. You ain't her doctor."

"I am her friend Remy and I know you are too, even if she can't see it, but it's not my place."

Remy ran his hand through is hair in frustration.

"You still gotta talk ta her," He paused, "She's runnin from somet'ing bad and only makin it worse."

"I will." Hank patted his friend's arm and got up. It was plain to see that Remy still cared for Anna even after all these years. He was afraid how Anna's past would affect him but that wasn't the main issue. He had to help Anna. Hank made his way to her door and knocked loudly.

"Don't you dare show your face here Remy Lebeau!" came from behind the door.

"Anna, it's Hank."

Slowly he heard the door unlock and open. She peeked her head into the hall.

"Can I com in?"

"Yah, sure Hank, Ah thought you were someone else."

He laughed gently and walked into her room..

"I wanted to catch-up with you Anna. How have you been?"

She sat down on the bed, "Mah life's been pretty quiet."

"There must have been at least one changed," he pried.

"Why do you say that?"

"Anna, you're wearing a wedding band."

She looked down at her hand and cursed. She had put it on for some sort of comfort, a feeling of normality. She must have forgotten to take it off. She pulled it off her finger but it slipped and fell to the ground, rolling to Hank's feet. He picked it up and examined it.

"Fascinating"

The ring was not only a symbol of marriage. The metal was warm to the touch and he could hear liquid inside of it. This must be David's invention. Anna rose quickly and snatched it from him and stuffed it away in a small container on her dresser and sat back down on the bed.

"I talked to Dr. Turner a few months back. He told me about his marriage." He said quietly.

She looked up startled. Tears found their way to her eyes like they had become accustom to, but this time anger flashed across her face as well. Sarcastically Rogue responded "Ah'm sure it must have been wonderful."

He told me what happened Anna. He told me about…"

"About what?"

"About the children," He didn't know what else to say.

By this time tears streamed down her face but she no longer cared. Rage pulsed through her. "He told you about our kids huh? He probably told you about mah drinkin too. Did he tell you mah side ah this Hank? Did he tell you, did he tell you that while I was at home scared outta my wits, miscarrying our first child, he was out fucking his secretary? Did he tell you that when I was hospitalized with complications that he said he was gone for business but he really spent the week with one of the damn nurses? One of them that was treating me no less? I'm sure he didn't say that when I found out that my second child had died inside me, that my body had killed my child, that he wasn't there. In fact I had to drive myself to the damn hospital because I couldn't find him and then when I drove myself home 4 days latter without my baby I found him screwing some whore on may sofa. You think you know because he told you something Henry? You don't know a damn thing."

Hank stood blankly looking at the woman in front of him. She looked tired after blurting out all of the painful memories of the past few years and he felt guilty for making her.

"I'm so sorry Anna," was all her could muster as a response.

She wiped away some of her tears, "Don't be."

He sat down beside her and wrapped his big blue arms around her. He would have wiped her face and stroked her cheek to comfort her but he knew that he couldn't touch her. She shrugged his arm off and stood.

"It's mah fault anyway. Serves me right to get mah hopes up, believing that he could make me normal." She hated herself for breaking down and losing her temper. "Don't tell anyone Hank. This is Ororo and Logan's special time. It don't need to be tarnished by my stupid problems."

"I won't, but Cecilia already knows, Remy's suspicious. He cares for you Anna, he…"

"Just drop it Hank, Remy ain't nothing but a bad memory," She thought back to all the time she had spend fighting with him when they were younger. It wasn't all bad, she admitted to herself, but she couldn't let her past feeling cloud her mind. Besides, she wasn't worth the effort. "Things are different now."

Hank could see the sadness on her face when she thought about Remy. He desperately wanted to take away the pain that David had caused her but he knew it wasn't that easy.

"I'm here if you want to talk."

"Ah know, but I just have to deal with this on mah own." Nobody needs me bogging them down.

"Okay, but remember, we have all been through things other people could not dream of. If you need help we will all be there for you." As he walked out of the door he noticed Remy watching him. He tried to look happy but failed. Instead he walked in the opposite direction to the back door. He had done what he could but nobody can receive help if they do not wish to take it. Remy's head fell when he realized Hank was ignoring him. Damn that woman. Already she's fogged my mind. But he didn't mind, he still loved her.