Seven

The only people upon the face of the earth who liked to be awake at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning at Xavier's were usually either Wolverine or under the age of 12. Belonging to the second group Anna-Marie threw back her blankets as soon as her eyes blinked open and realized the sun was rising. Not bothering to stop and make her bed she glanced around the room for any sign of her father she was almost disappointed when she didn't find any until her eyes lit on the pack of cards by her bed with a bottle of Tante Mattie's homemade cough medicine.

Ignoring both patiently Anna-Marie did a small happy dance in her bunny slippered feet. It was just a matter of time now before her father and Rogue saw each other again and fell in love. Hurrying out of her room Anna-Marie wanted to eat something quickly and meet the other kids to watch cartoons. It was the best part of Saturday mornings and it would give her time to figure out how to get her dad and Rogue in the same room.

She was so wrapped up in her visions of wearing a nice blue flower girl's dress when Anna-Marie ran smack dab into someone-or rather a tall someone's legs. Startled the little girl landed on the floor on her backside looking up at the man who was almost as tall as her Daddy but with brilliant white hair. He seemed quite as startled as she did as he leaned down to check on Anna-Marie.

"Are you alright little one?"

Anna-Marie smiled and stood up quickly, "I'm not hurt…why do you have white hair…You're not old are you?"

"No I'm not old." He looked relieved and smiled at the question.

Taking this for encouragement Anna-Marie looked him over, "You look like you're my Pere's age. Dat's plenty old. I'm Anna-Marie Lebeau."

The man looked at the tiny-gloved hand held out to him in such an adult fashion and tried not to laugh at the comments about his age-she was probably older than he was in reality. "It's a pleasure to meet you Anna-Marie. I'm Joseph. Are you here for the summer camp?"

She nodded enthusiastically getting ready to hop from foot to foot, "Uhuh…Mon pere used ta be an X-man…One day I am too." She quickly pulled on his pant leg to bring him closer so that she could whisper in his ear, "Only I'm gonna be an X-Woman…dat's cause I'm not a boy."

Joseph was about to comment when both their stomachs rumbled at the same time. He smiled down at Anna-Marie and put a hand over his flat belly, "How about you tell me all about it over some pancakes?"

"Can I have maple syrup and chocolate chips?" Anna-Marie asked hopefully.

Joseph shook his head, "Would your dad want you having all that sugar?"

"Oh yeah," She breezed as they walked down the stairs together, "I eat dem dat way all de time…dat's how we do things in N'awlins."

He grinned and kept his strides short so that she didn't have to run to keep up with him, "Well…Rogue should be up by now. As long as she confirms that's what a Southern lady like yourself needs for breakfast I don't see why not."

"Ooooh!" Anna-Marie could barely contain herself at the news that she'd get to eat with Rogue; it meant that she could get the woman closer to her Daddy faster. "I like Rogue…She be de plus jolie X-Woman."

Joseph's smile widened as they got within feet of the kitchen, "Glad to hear that someone agrees with me." He stopped to whisper to Anna-Marie again, "I think so too."

He pushed the doors open so that the pair could enter the big bright kitchen that Xavier had renovated many times to accommodate all of his 'children'. Anna-Marie grinned as she caught sight of Rogue leaning against the counter sipping a large mug of coffee; all around there seemed to be the beginnings of a pancake breakfast too. Breaking away from Joseph, Anna-Marie hopped to her idol, "Rogue, I gots ta have pancakes wit chocolate chips AND maple syrup…right?"

"Ah don't see a reason why not." Rogue smiled and set her cup down before adopting a stern face and set down a glass of juice in front of the little girl, "But ya'll gotta eat your fruit too, starting with the OJ."

"Okay…" Anna-Marie moved to the table to sit down so that she could watch the woman cook while drinking her juice-it was the good kind with all kinds of pulp just the way Anna-Marie liked it, "but no grapefruits."

"How about some strawberries?" Joseph asked as he moved closer to Rogue.

"Okay…"

"I told you that you'd be a great mother Rogue," Joseph smiled as he started rolling up his sleeves to help the Southern woman.

Anna-Marie watched them intently; it made her tummy do flip flops to hear that Rogue wanted to be a mom. That was important to know before going through with the rest of the match making plan.

"That ain't what I'm worried about Joe." She sighed but didn't elaborate she just picked up her bowl and whisk to stir the pancake mix.

Anna-Marie's jaw nearly dropped as the little Cajun watched Joseph put his hand over Rogue's gloved one before he leaned in gently to kiss the top of her head, "And that's why I love you."

Choking down another gulp of her juice Anna-Marie realized that her wonderful plan had a little complication.

" 'Hello Swamp Rat.' After nine years Remy shows up an all she can say is 'hello Swamp Rat'!" Remy ran a hand through his unruly hair and sucked on a cigarette fervently.

His companion had been listening to his friend rant about the welcome back he'd received the night before and for the life of him Piotr Rasputin couldn't decide who was more upset by Rogue's non-reaction to Remy's return. Remy or Kitty. Piotr had sat in silence for many of his girlfriend's rants about how her southern friend was fooling herself with Joseph when she truly loved Remy Lebeau. Frankly, the Russian strong man was getting a little tired of the same old song and dance. He had enough problems without meddling into Remy and Rogue's love lives.

Sipping his coffee Piotr shook his head to clear the uncharitable thoughts running through his mind, "My friend. You have been gone for many years. Rogue has always maintained that the two of you were no more than friends…"

"De femme sure don act like it!" Remy nearly exploded, "De rest of Remy's friends sent their condolences when Belle died…"

"Niet my friend." Piotr spoke before he could stop himself; he knew there was no way around revealing the only secret he'd ever kept from the other x-Acolyte, "Rogue was in New Orleans for Belle's funeral. When she came back…" he sighed wishing he had just stayed silent.

Remy whirled seizing on this new piece of information, "What happened when she came back?"

"She was very quiet." Piotr answered trying to sum up the dark state the Goth had gone through, "She became more diligent in her training, she worked harder at her studies…and even started dating. She seemed hurt for a while after you left but when she came back from Belle's funeral she seemed freer…there were periods where she'd be depressed but she did her best to move forward with her life."

Sitting down Remy tried to remember if he had caught sight of the Gothic Belle at his wife's funeral; the whole period of his life was a tangle swirl of memories. Finding himself the sole caretaker for a newborn as well as arranged a proper service for Belladonna had sapped Remy to the bone. Looking back at that point in his life Remy knew that unless Rogue had stepped right up to him he wouldn't have noticed her. It was clear though that she hadn't wanted to be noticed either.

"I think comrade," Piotr continued thoughtfully, "That Rogue moved on. Perhaps you should be happy to have your friend back."

Nodding his head absently Remy couldn't help a frown; Rogue had moved on. She was a whole new person while aside from the responsibilities of fatherhood Remy was still the same as he had been. She was practically a stranger now, a very beautiful stranger at that. Not that she hadn't had the ability to be so before-it was more the fact that the sullen, reclusive girl had grown into a woman at peace with her place in the world-it made all the difference in the world. Scratching his head Remy looked up at Piotr, "Dis fiancé of hers…what he like?"

The large Russian sighed in a way that spoke volumes before pointing to a chair, "You may want to sit."

"Dat bad?" He narrowed his eyes, "Dat putin don treat her right?"

"No," Piotr interjected wearily, "Joseph worships Rogue. He'd never do anything to hurt her."

Nodding Remy still couldn't figure out what was so bad about the guy then, "Den de problem is?"

"He's Magneto's clone."

"Pardon?"

Okay okay I know this took a while and it's not really all that long but I was having a mini-crisis...well okay full blown crisis. But I digress. Now the shout outs.

Simba317 - I know...but oh well we'll keep our civil liberties, gay marriage and a sensible Thanksgiving to ourselves. Yeah I liked doing the whole friend thing...they work so well as buddies that I can totally buy one of them not really getting that there could be more...or them being ansty about pushing for more. It's a scary thing...I did it myself not long ago...crashed and burned. Sometimes it's better to stay just friends.

Naemis - I like cliffhangers. See.

Ishy - I know...best thing in the world is to mock pagents...I've done it for like Mr. South America...only we were trying to figureout who wasn't gay...and what they were saying cause it was in Spanish. I love Monty Python. Oh yes. When your sis isn't looking burn her slippers...I would. Well as i'm fond of ending things badly...here's another example...think of it as your bday gift.

Rogue14 - I've had lots of people not realize until they met me. Of course I also have a very Anglo-Saxon name...but they laugh cause I can order in hindi when we eat in Indian resturants. Hmm...karma will get them if an angry mob doesn't I suppose. So yes...after all that no Remy/Rogue in the same room... but oh well right.

IvyZoe - Slapped...no...but the cold shoulder is better.Oh he'll work for it no worries...and yeah...I'll get to Rogue and Belle.

AMBookworm - hehehe...thanks. Lol...good try...I'm Canadian...I have no idea how to get around New York state...never been there. Though I have been to New Orleans. Meh...I loved working in theatre...but yeah.

Hippiegurl - Ahh the cliffhanger paradox. Hope you enjoy this one.

EeSkysong - All good. I'm a little blonde sometimes. Well as blonde as a red head can be. I'm good at angst...that's about it.

The Rogue Cajun - Who ever said I was fair?