Four

Nine Years Earlier

Its considered a bad sign the world over when you wake up feeling like your head is the anvil in a hammer making factory; at least that was Rogue's point of view as she cracked one eye open. It was an experiment that she would have preferred not to repeat except for the fact that there apparently was a witness. Turning on her side and ignoring the wires running from her body to the gadgets set up around her Rogue concentrated and opened both eyes to glare at the intruder.

"Bon matin Chére," Remy's voice was a little rough as he uncrossed his legs to move a little closer to the bed. "Ya had Remy worried."

Groaning Rogue lifted a hand to feel how greasy her hair felt-it was pretty bad which meant she'd been in the bed for a while. "How…" her lips were cracked from disuse and Remy quickly brought a glass and straw to her aid. Rogue smiled slightly as she sipped the ginger ale, "How long have Ah been out?"

"Since de mission." He pushed his sunglasses up on his nose, "'Bout two weeks hein. Remy had ta carry you out Chére."

Frowning Rogue tried to understand what exactly had happened. Xavier had sent her, Remy, Piotr, Kitty and Bobby out to check out rumours that Mystique was putting together another Brotherhood. Sure enough it'd been true. Rogue nearly growled thinking about the lying, blue bitch that was her 'mother'. Things were foggy but Rogue could remember going toe to toe with the blonde bitch that Mystique seemed to have picked to replace Rogue at her side. She fingered the lump on the back of her head and reminded herself not to volunteer for a fist fight with someone who could bench press three elephants while giving herself a pedicure.

"That Ms. Marvel bitch do that much damage?" Rogue checked herself over but didn't feel like a super strong girl had kicked the shit out of her. Rogue had to admit aside from the fading headache-she felt really good.

There was a second of hesitation but that was all Rogue needed. Remy wasn't someone to hesitate-not with her. That he wasn't teasing her about biting off more than she could chew was a bad sign. "What the fuck happened Swamp Rat? Why isn't every bone in my body shattered?"

"Chére," He sighed but she knew he'd tell her anyway, "Da Saloppe had you down and was getting ready ta finish ya when she hit a rip in ya uniform."

"WHAT?"

"When we saw what was happenin," his face was a little haggard, "Ya'll were unconscious and couldn't stop her from touching ya Chére…Petey had ta pull her away from ya…but…"

Rogue's eyes flashed her temper rising, "But what Remy…"

"You absorbed her Chére." He reached out for her gloved hand but Rogue yanked it away, "She tried ta kill ya but you absorbed her til dere wasn't nothin' left to absorb."

"You mean I killed her first?"

Remy looked genuinely concerned that he was the one telling Rogue about this but she didn't care. It was a little much to take. "Oui Chére…ya killed her first."

Eyes snapping open Rogue couldn't help taking a few deep breaths to calm herself; it was so disorientating to relive a memory-especially that one. She twitched as she felt a hand on her shoulder and blinked to bring the owner into focus.

"Are you okay Rogue?" The Professor's face was a studied measure of non-expression as always; though his eyes said he was concerned.

Running a shaky hand through her hair Rogue nodded, "Yeah. That one's always ta worst…and it's one of mine."

"You are making excellent progress," He nodded and sat back relieved, "Carol Danvers' personality has been completely subdued and you're even starting to be able to recall past absorptions to use other's powers. You said that Joseph was modifying one of his inventions to aid in controlling your powers?"

Rogue nodded and forced herself not to blush, she was after all an engaged woman of twenty-six not a teenager. The Professor didn't care about her love life as far as Rogue knew. "He is. The Zoxx chamber. Ah'm not sure how it works but it's extended the few seconds of control I have to up to two hours. It's not forever but it helps for now."

"I see." His eyes gave a little twinkle; "Have the two of you set your date yet? I know Jean and Kitty are anxious to start your wedding preparations."

Forcing down a groan Rogue looked at the Professor trying to decide what to tell him; in the end she figured the truth was enough. She'd come a long way since her days of depression and isolation; if anyone could be trusted with her doubts it was the Professor, "We haven't yet…Ah mean with all my responsibilities…I dunno Professah. Sometimes I feel like this whole wedding business is more to make Joe happy than me."

"And why is that Rogue?"

"Well things have been so hard for him…what with being Magneto's clone and all." She sighed, "I just wonder if he really loves me or just wants to feel like he belongs here."

"Have you talked to him about it?"

Another sigh was ripped from her throat, "I keep tryin' ta…but he makes it hard."

"You understand Rogue," The Professor's voice remained even as always-he was nothing if not completely neutral, "That I've known you longer than most and will support any choices you make. The Rogue I know has never put someone else's happiness above her own; especially not when doing so would hurt the other person more so."

"That doesn't make it any easier ya know." She huffed and got up off the couch; "Ah suppose…"

Rogue stopped as the phone on the Professor's desk began to ring; the number was private and known only to a select few. That it was ringing was never a good sign. Deciding to stay and find out what was happening Rogue sat back down while the Professor answered.

"Charles Xavier. Yes, Wanda so good to hear from you. A new mutant you say? No I haven't been in Cerebro to find out but thank you for letting me know. Eight? That is quite young…Balls of explosive kinetic energy? Is the little girl a danger to herself? Her parents are aware? Yes, if they'd like us to work with her we can at least do a consultation; we have a group of younger mutants coming to send two weeks getting to know the school and making a choice about staying. She could join them. Her nanny can bring her right away? Wonderful. If they call ahead with the flight arrangements we can have someone meet them at the airport. Wonderful. Thank you so much for letting us know. Goodbye."

Sitting back Rogue lifted her eyebrow an inch; she'd gotten a fair amount of info just from the Professor's side of things. Of course she was still groaning about being one of the heads of 'Mutant Summer Camp' as Bobby had dubbed it. Chaperoning a large group of kids from 6 to 12 was a daunting prospect even with invulnerability and super strength. "Eight is pretty young for those kinda powers."

"It is," The Professor nodded, "I'm going to add her to your group if you don't mind Rogue; you're a little hardier than Kurt or Kitty."

"No problem Professah," She nodded and stood to finally talk to Joseph if she could find him, "This kid got a name?"

"Anna-Marie," Came the answer, "Funny. Wanda didn't mention her last name. I'll have to remember to have the Nanny fill out all the forms when they arrive."

"Are you sure dat you're not hurt Chére?" Remy held his daughter close wondering again that now of all times her powers had to manifest; and that they'd be so similar to his.

"Oui Papa," Anna-Marie smiled her gap toothed grin at her father; despite the dust in her hair from the small explosion she was still beaming about talking to Rogue-she'd liked the woman's voice. "It was cool. I kin 'splode thins just like ya do!"

Groaning Remy decided God hated him; that was the only explanation for an eight year old with her mutant powers. He'd had a hard enough time controlling things and he'd been in his early teens when his had appeared. "Chére, it ain't right ta just…"

"Je sais Papa," She groaned then cut him another sly smile, "I suppose ya'll need to let me go to Monseiur Xavier's ta learn how ta use my powahs proper like."

"Non. You not going anywhere." He clenched his jaw, "Papa kin teach ya."

"Mais Papa," Anna-Marie smirked as she pulled on his pant leg, "You gotta work."

Groaning Remy decided he was definitely being punished it was the only excuse there could be for having such a stubborn child. "Chére, what would Papa do witout ya?"

"Work on dat big job ya péré been plannin' for months." Came Tante Mattie's gruff voice as she entered the kitchen, "Dat's why Tante Mattie has it all planned hein."

Remy lifted an eyebrow knowing he'd never resist the powers of both of them-not alone and unarmed. "What be dat? Remy don want his Chére goin ta Xavier's."

"Aww mais Papa!"

"Non Peite." Mattie cut Anna-Marie off with a nod and an upraised hand making Remy jealous, nothing short of a national decree got his daughter to listen to him so well. "We be goin to an veille amie o' mine. She be a Traiteur. Deux semeine outta da city do de childe good too non."

Again Remy was certain looking at two of the three women in his life that if he didn't agree they'd do what they wanted anyway…and get Merci involved as well. He didn't think it fair that they consistently banded together against him to get their collective way but this time it was the right thing to do. Anna-Marie needed someone to help teach her to control her new gift. If it wasn't going to be Charles Xavier or himself he trusted Mattie to find someone just as good.

"Fine." He groaned, "Mais, you better call your Papa every night."

A note on Anna-Marie's powers...think a cross between Gambit and Boom-Boom. She takes the kinetic potential from objects through touch and creates explosive energy spheres. Cool eh?

And then there were shoutouts!

Cass: I think I was waiting for people to stop expecting me to return...that's it...yes. Glad to be back though and that you like this one. I'm getting back into researching Time After Time...I want it to be as accurate as fiction can be. Wild Horses may have to wait...but not long.

The Rogue Cajun : x2 no less. Tehehe...Yeah I'm pumping out chapters pretty quick on this...which is nice. My blog's suffering in the mean time...oh well. I know everyone hates Joe...me too...but he's the only one I could think of hurting that no one would mind.

I Heart the Distillers: I love writing Jonda...it's so much fun. I can pretty much take anything one of my friend and I have done and it could be a Jonda moment if we were dating so I'll never run out of ideas for them. There shall be more of them in this I swear. Baby steps...I'll finish this and some work for TAT and get that up.

EE's Skysong: I know I know. But think...anyone else would cause a bigger uproar over Rogue hurting them...no one will care now just like no one cares that Bella's dead. It works...trust me. Yep, she's all superpowered and going to Xavier's whether Remy knows or not. Awww...I almost made you cry? One afternoon huh? Awww. Sorry. Glad to hear you liked. I really want to finish that one. Eventually I have to either let Cypher be happy or kill her.

Ishy: For someone typing with clentched fists you wrote a lot. Trying for the "War and Peace' of reviews? Hehehe. I'm surprised you didn't round up a pitch fork whelding mob for me including him. You took it better than I thought. See look...I've explained my rationale for including Joe...he needs to be hurt and compleately disposible. He will go away like Bella did you just need patience. Yes, I remember you telling me once that you like my OCs even if generally they are evil. It's an honour to know. And yeah...John's easier than Petey...much. And he and Wanda are my dream team. I should do a Jonda oneshot. Hmmmm...glad you liked despite that and yes...I am the bunny on Krac.

IvyZoe: hehehe...Welcome to Krac's house. I like doing evil things. Sorry. It will all work well in the end, I know I'm known for my unhappy endings but I swear here and now on my Angst Wand that THIS WILL HAVE A HAPPY ENDING. Okay? I nthe mean time I'm going to make you growl a lot.

Naemus: Spanks a bunch.

Rogue-14: How about the Romy Devadas? That'd be heavy. Hehehehe. Glad though to find another Bollywood fan out there. Don't let them know how it all turns out. I'm going to be lifting some big chunks from KKHH...sigh...I've even got my version of the little Sikh boy planned. Yeah...Joe's like kleenex...gets thrown away after one use.

AM Bookworm: Calm...Calm. When did you see KKHH? Isn't it hte best? I got the idea being stuck at home sick going through my B-Wood collection. It's so wrong...there are times I think I'm browner than my brown friends. OMG...you are just to wonderful for words..."Mex of Emotions" "Splendiforous Writing"...You are my new favorite person ever. Thank you so much for the high praise I'll try to live up to it. In the mean time...go through my older stuff...it's not as happy but it'll fill the void between posts of this one for you. And I'm uber thrilled you like AM...i was worried folks wouldn't.