Disclaimer: Sadly, it is not mine. (Cries)

A/N: Well, I really shouldn't post this, I don't really like this chapter that much. But it's my birthday (9/13) and I'm feeling generous, so…here ya go…

Numbuh333halfway2hell - Right in one. Lol. Or are you…

Shadyk - Hey girl! Sorry I didn't talk to you much the other day. I started reading this story and well, you know, I get distracted easily. Lol. Anyway, yep, of course it was Mystique. I mean, honestly, who else would it be? (Smiles evilly)

Roguechere - Glad you like it so far. And I'm still trying to figure out her plan as well…

Whylime - This is a good story line? Really? (Blushes) Thanks! And I'm trying my best to remember, but I'm not really getting anywhere. I suppose I'll think of something eventually. So yeah, I don't know. Oh, and thanks. I'll try not to skip too many classes. ; -P

LanceIsHot - Thanks! And you're not stupid, I would've had to go back and check as well. But that might have to do with the fact that I can't remember anything…like my plot. (Sigh) Oh well, I'll come up with something eventually.

Anime-fanatic-17 - Well then, I suppose I'll just have to come up with something then, won't I? Lol. Glad you like it and thanks for the review!

Kool-Wolf - Thanks! Is this soon enough?

Starrydreamz - Thanks! Yep. And here you go…

Chapter 8

An unexpected appearance

"How could we not have seen it before?" Rogue asked for the millionth time, sitting with her head in her hands on the couch in the rec. room. Everyone had reassembled there after the little incident upstairs. Jubilee and Bobby were nowhere to be found, though; but that was to be expected. Gambit had his arm securely around Rogue's shoulders while she sat there trying to come out with the words she needed to explain what she knew.

"Rogue, we need you to tell us what you know." Scott said, kneeling in front of her and placing his hand on her knee. Gambit watched him closely.

"It's mah fault." She mumbled, her leg starting to shake. "All of it."

"Rogue, you aren't making any sense. What was your fault?" Scott asked, reaching for her hand in order to get a better view of her face. Oh, if looks could kill Cyclops would've been six feet under twice by now.

"Leave her alone, homme." Gambit said in a low, threatening voice. Scott immediately backed off.

"Ah…Ah need air." She managed, and then she shot up out of her seat and raced out the door.

"See what ya done?" Gambit asked accusingly, standing up and following Rogue's lead. Scott just stared with a mixture of shock and disbelief written across his face.

Gambit found Rogue sitting on the front steps. She was shivering slightly and he took his coat off and placed it over her shoulders. She didn't look at him as he sat beside her or give any acknowledgement that she noticed him at all. After a few long minutes of silence, Rogue reached her hand over and took his in hers. He looked at her surprised but she was still staring at nothing. He sighed.

"Wanna go for a walk, chère?" He asked quietly, squeezing her hand gently. She nodded her head slightly and made to stand up. He followed suit and the two of them made there way around the mansion toward the woods.

They reached a small clearing just inside the woods and Rogue stopped, pulling Gambit's coat closer around her. Gambit noticed this and he moved closer to her as well, pulling her into a hug. She didn't move for a few minutes, but when he didn't let go she gave in, throwing her arms around him and holding him tightly as she sobbed into his chest, afraid that if she let go he'd leave her. Startled by her sudden change in demeanor, his grip on her tightened and he held her as close as possible.

"Chère?" He asked when her body stopped shaking with quiet sobs. "Rogue, ya okay?"

"Ah'm what they want." She whispered into his shoulder. "The others were just an added bonus. They're tryin' to get to me. Toad was right, it was Mystique all along. She's just happenin' to get her revenge on everyone else while she takes her time getting to me." She sniffed. "Ah should've seen it coming, it was all too obvious. Jubilee, she was just a diversion."

"What do ya mean, Rogue? Diversion for what?" Gambit asked, confused.

"Jean. She's next." She whispered into his shirt. "And Ah can't stop it."

"No one blames ya chère. Mystique, she's insane." Gambit said, running his fingers through her hair.

"But…" she began, then paused, trying to figure something out. "Mystique wouldn't just leave a list of her victims lyin' around." She whispered, mainly to herself. "Unless she knew Ah'd find it. Do ya think she's tryin' to throw us off?"

"I don' know Rogue. We never really had to deal wit' her." Gambit said honestly. Suddenly Rogue froze as her ears suddenly perked up and she heard a noise coming from behind a tree. Unconsciously, she moved closer to the Cajun and looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of something. "What's wrong chère?"

"Someone's here." She whispered, and before he could do anything to stop her she teleported out of sight.

He stood there flabbergasted until he heard talking coming from somewhere off to his right. He quickly took off in that direction. It didn't take long for him to come upon Rogue and a strange blonde girl he had never seen before. He stopped and listened to what they were saying.

"Come on Mystique, Ah know it's ya. No use hiding your true form." Rogue snarled, raising her fists and getting into a fighting stance.

"My name is not Mystique. It's Carol." The other girl said calmly, glaring at the southern belle. Rogue narrowed her eyes, not daring to believe her.

"Ah'm not believing a word ya say." She said harshly, stepping closer to the girl who appeared no more than a few years older than herself.

"That's fine by me, cause there really is no need." She said, still as calm as ever. "Besides, you'll find out the truth soon enough." And then she flew forward and grabbed onto Rogue's exposed neck.

At first, Gambit thought she was going to strangle her, but then he put what she said and the fact that Rogue didn't have anything covering that part of her together and realized what was going on. He ran forward and attempted to pull the girl off Rogue, but she wouldn't budge. He growled slightly and tried again.

"Damnit, let go o' her." Gambit yelled, this time being successful in pulling her off. Rogue fell to the ground.

He fell back as well, Carol in his arms. He quickly set the girl aside and crawled over to where Rogue lay unmoving. He leaned down and made sure she was breathing before standing up. He walked back over to the girl who had called herself Carol and checked to make sure she was breathing as well. After making sure both girls were still alive, he picked Rogue up and sent a telepathic message to the Professor telling him that someone needed to bring the other girl in.

Kurt showed up a few seconds later and glared at the Cajun.

"What did you do to my sister?" He accused, looking at Rogue's unconscious form in his arms.

"Gambit didn' do anyt'ing mon ami, but it would prob'ly be a good idea to get these two inside." He said, not really in the mood to be lectured at the moment. Kurt seemed to agree and picked up the blonde girl, then grabbed Gambit's arm and teleported them all to the med. bay.

A/N: If you're confused, you're not alone…I've confused the crap out of myself. Review please and let me know what you think is confusing so I can try to explain it better in the next few chapters. Oh and when it said "unexpected appearance" it really was unexpected. I never planned that I would add her, but then I had an idea…which I'm still trying to completely understand. So, just hang with me I guess. It's most likely almost over.

Oh and I don't really know that much about Carol, so sorry if she's out of character.