Work of Art
Chapter Five: So We Meet Again
By DamageCtrl

All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own the X-Men or anything associated with it.

Rogue stared at her calendar as she stood in her kitchen, dressed in comfortable black slacks and a sleeveless dark red blouse with a loose neck. Her feet were still clad in fluffy green house slippers as she lifted her mug of coffee to her lips.

Monday. Her heart skipped a beat as she lowered the mug.

Today was the day that she, Wanda's team, and Pietro's team would head over to the Xavier Institute for Higher Learner to get a physical overview of the current gardens. It was also the day they would meet the interior decorator and the artist Professor X hired, which included the infamous Remy LeBeau.

Rogue swallowed nervously. "Ah'm gonna need more coffee..."

The door bell rang and Rogue glanced at the thin silver watch on her wrist. Wanda was right on time and Rogue took a deep breath. She walked over to the sink and dumped her coffee in before walking towards the front door. She opened and found a beaming woman with red brown hair smiling brilliantly at her.

"Wear comfortable shoes," Wanda said, first thing. "We'll be doing a lot of walking in the current gardens."

Rogue nodded and slipped out of her slippers and into dark read boots. She grabbed her bag and followed Wanda to her car. "So how long are we staying there?"

"As long as we need to," Wanda replied. She unlocked the car and the two of them got in. "It's a multi tiered garden...gorgeous views. But it is old. The green house is so outdated..."

"Yah've been there before?" Rogue asked. Wanda nodded.

"Father send Pietro and I there for our formative learning years," Wanda told her with a snort. "But come high school, he shipped us off to England for an even more stuffy boarding school."

"Ah got ta go ta public," Rogue shrugged with a slight smile. "Momma wanted meh ta go ta a boarding school in Germany, like my brotha, but Ah protested."

"Raven doesn't seem like the type of woman to give in so easily," Wanda replied, impressed. "I would've thought she'd force you to go to boarding school."

"Ah'm adopted and she let meh stay in good old Mississippi until Ah was in high school...Ah came here for high school and college, then went back ta the South to get mah grad degree," Rogue explained. "But don't get meh wrong...it took a hell of a lot og convincing ta get momma ta ditch the boarding school idea. Thank Gawd Aunt Irene talked her out og it."

Wanda nodded. They turned into a major side street and Wanda casually glanced over. "So...you excited?"

"Nervous is more like it."

"To see Remy?"

"Who said anythang about Remy?" Rogue snorted indignantly. "So what? We'll be working together on a project. Ain't like Ah'll see him every waking moment."

"So...you want to see him every waking moment?" Wanda asked. Rogue blushed and shook her head as she turned her head to the side and looked out the window of Wanda's close topped convertible.

"No!" Rogue shouted. Wanda snickered and Rogue shot her a glare. "He's cute-"

"Remy's not 'cute', honey," Wanda corrected her. "Remy is a gorgeous man. He's...you know...oozing animal magnetism and sexual prowess."

Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Are yah sure YAH don't wanna go out with him? Yah sure sound interested..."

"I'm married."

"He don't look like the type ta care."

"Go out with him and decide on that," Wanda chuckled. "Besides, you think he's attractive...doesn't that satisfy at least one requirement?"

Rogue rolled her eyes and shrugged. "He's cute," she stated blandly. "Very forward, but cute. That's all Ah have ta say about him."

"Right," Wanda rolled her eyes. "So are you still getting that restraining order?"

"Ugh...Ah can't believe yah took Kurt seriously! Ah ain't getting anyone a restraing order," Rogue informed her loudly. "'Sides, Ah need a reason. It ain't like Remy's outside mah window when Ah open the blinds..." Wanda chuckled and nodded.

"Remy's a nice guy, great friend, but a horrid boyfriend."

"Speak from experience, sugh?" Rogue grinned. Wanda shook her head.

"Nope, but I know several women who could vouch for it. I've been lucky enough to watch from the sides," Wanda admitted. "Can't keep his hands and eyes...and other body parts to himself." Rogue laughed and shook her head.

"Don't worry about meh, sugah," Rogue said as they drove up a hill. "Ah'd play with him, but Ah wouldn't take him home."

"Hmm...just remember that," Wanda grinned. "Next time you see him."

Rogue let out a whistle as she wiped the thin sheen of sweat off her brow. "This place is huge!" she gasped as she reached the top step. She turned around and looked over at the sprawling grounds and shook her head. "We've got our work cut out for us!"

"The sooner we get started the better," Pietro said. "I need to get those blue prints to get approved by the city council and then go through all that paper work to get the proper documents."

"Blah blah blah," Wanda sighed. "We just got the information for all the ground work, so it will be a while, Mr. Speed Demon."

"I just like to get things done on time." Pietro snorted as he glared at his sister.

"Now kids," Rogue chuckled as the two siblings glared at each other. "Yah both are how old?"

"Mr. Maximoff," a voice said behind them. The trio turned around and met the gently smiling face of Xavier's assistant and one of the teachers at the private school. "Professor Xavier will see you now."

"Great!" Pietro said. He looked over at the two women. "Ororo, the rest of our staff is still wandering the gardens. Is it all right to let them? I wanted them to get a feel of the landscape."

Ororo was about to open her mouth with another voice cut her off. "That's fine, Pietro. The more study they get, the better those gardens will become." said a patient sounding male voice.

"Professor X!" Wanda beamed. "How good to see you again!" Rogue looked over her shoulder and saw the bald man sitting calmly on a wheel chair.

"Wanda, I'm glad you're working with us," Wanda walked over and leaned down to kiss the older man on each cheek before stepping back. "And who is this?" He asked, looking around Pietro's body as he shook hands with the man.

"Professor, this is Anna Marie Darkholme," Pietro said. "Just graduated with her architectural graduate degree. We just hired her and this will be her first project with the Lensherr Firm." He waved for Rogue to walk over and the brunette smiled as she shook the man's hand.

"Pleasure ta meet yah, suh," Rogue said. "Ah look forward ta working with yah on the gardens."

"Good to meet you as well, Anna Marie."

"Call meh Rogue, suh."

"Very well, Rogue," Professor X said. "I have yet to introduce you to my colleagues. This is Ororo Munroe, she's my assistant and a teacher here at the Academy."

Rogue and Wanda both shook Ororo's hand. "Thank you for taking time to come," Ororo said. "Now, please follow me. Our interior designer and artist are waiting inside."

The group followed Professor X and Ororo into the large mansion. Ororo explained that class was currently in session, so all the children were in class. They walked down a few corridors before arriving at a set of heavy oak doors. There was a tall, white haired man standing by the door. His well built figure was standing up straight and clad in a stiff dark gray suit. Dark sunglasses were resting over his eyes.

As they approached he turned and opened the door for Professor X. "This is Joseph, by the way," the professor told them. "He's my 'body guard'."

"You don't sound so happy about that." Pietro said as he looked at the man wearily. Wanda and Rogue gave him a slight smile as they passed, barely missing the blush that crossed his pale cheeks as Rogue stepped past him.

"One of the instructors here kept insisting that I get one," Professor X sighed. "So we hired on Joseph." He lifted his hand and Joseph closed the door and stood stiffly by it.

As they walked in, there were two people already in the room. The first person they saw was a red haired woman Rogue had never seen before. As soon as the twins saw her, Rogue felt the tension in the room sky rocket. She looked over at Wanda, who had paled and looked over at Pietro. Pietro stood stiffly at her side, his hands fists beside him as his eyes met the gaze of the woman across from him.

"The interior designer we were originally going to hire had to back out last minute," Ororo explained as she stood beside Professor X at his desk. "So she recommended another agency. This is our interior designer, Crystal."

Rogue's green eyes darted from her co-workers to the woman named Crystal. Her eyes were locked on Pietro's. "Crystal..." Wanda trailed off weakly. "Uh...good to see you again!" She offered the woman a smile and her hand. The red head shook herself out of her stare and returned Wanda's smile.

"Nice to see you, too, Wanda," Reluctantly she brought her eyes back to Pietro. "Pietro."

"Crystalia." he replied curtly.

Ororo glanced over at the Professor, who merely nodded for her to continue. "And of course, our newly hired artist. Remy LeBeau."

Rogue's head snapped up and she turned around to follow Ororo's gaze. Standing in the shadows, against a wall of books in the far wall was a tall, red eyed figure. Rogue felt her heart skip a beat as he seemed to melt from the darkness. His intense red eyes locked with her clear green ones as his lip curled into a smile. Rogue licked her lips quickly as she caught his gaze.

"Bon jour." he said coolly. Rogue felt her hands start to feel clammy as she tugged on the neck of her shirt. He wore black slacks over a white shirt. His tie had already been loosened around his neck as he held the dark jacket over one folded arm.

"Remy, Crystal," Ororo said. "These are our representatives from Lensherr - Pietro, Wanda, and the newest addition to their team, Anna Ma- I mean, Rogue." Rogue threw her a thankful smile as she was motioned to sit on one of the leather chairs in front of the professor's desk.

"Well," Professor X said as he cleared his room. He didn't need to read minds to know that half the people didn't want to be there. He took a deep breath and gave group a comforting smile. "Let's get started."

The meeting lasted nearly two hours and the entire time, Rogue couldn't concentrate on what Charles had been saying. She had stupidly sat on one of the chairs, not realizing that Remy was making his way to stand behind it. He had leaned against the shelf, just beside the chair the majority of the meeting and Rogue found it impossible to focus her thoughts.

She had a note book out and desperately tried to write down notes on what Charles liked, disliked, and certain ideas that were tossed around, but after she realized she wrote the same information down three times, she gave up. The entire right side of her body tingled just knowing that the Cajun artist was inches away. She could almost feel the heat from his body and the weight of his eyes as they casually traveled down her body.

At one point, Remy had knelt down beside her to look at some pictures of the building area Charles was passing around and Rogue nearly had a heart attack. His head was right next to hers, almost touching, as he studied the photographs. His ungloved hand had reached out to take one from her and brushed up against her soft skin, sending more tingling sensations up the length of her arm.

His breath was hot against her bare arm as he leaned forward. "Pardon Remy, chere." he had said as he looked up at her and gave her a devastatingly apologetic smile as a single touch from his hand on hers nearly send the photographs falling to the ground. Perhaps the only thing that could even rival her pounding heart and burning skin was the tension that filled the air.

Pietro hadn't said a word to Crystal the entire time and both seemed to be avoiding each other, physically and verbally. Which Rogue found odd, as usually Pietro would start running his mouth and ask questions about every little detail.

As soon as the meeting was over, he shot up and headed out the door, mumbling something about gathering his team up for a session to share what he'd just learned. Wanda watched him with a distressed look on her face and looked over at Rogue worriedly.

"We should go check on our team, too," Wanda said. "Let's go, Rogue."

"Right..." The brunette darted up quickly, knocking over her stack of notes. "Oh...sorry!" She knelt down to gather the materials just as Remy bent down.

"Be careful dere, chere..." he chuckled as he pulled together her notes and assorted sheets. Rogue blushed as she quickly snatched the notes from his hands and clutched them protectively to her chest.

"Ugh...thanks. Bye." Five seconds later, she was out the door and running down the hall after Wanda. Remy stood up and ran a hand through his hair as he stared out after her.

"Hey, Remy..." Crystal said as she approached him. "I need a favor." Remy just raised an questioning eye brow.,

Back outside, Rogue spotted Wanda running out the door they had came through. By the time, she caught up with the siblings, Pietro was pacing nervously at the top of the steps while Wanda was talking.

"No, I didn't know that Crystal was going to be working with us!" Wanda exclaimed.

"I can't believe this!" Pietro said. "SHE is working with us? I never even thought...I mean...I know what she does, but..."

"Ah know this ain't any of mah business, but what the heck just happened back there?" Rogue said as she approached the two. Pietro looked at her and ran a hand down his face.

"Damn it! Was it that obvious?"

"The tension between yah'll?" Rogue asked calmly. "No...not obvious at all except ta anyone within twenty feet of Charlie's office. Now are yah gonna tell meh what's going on?"

Pietro shook his head, but Wanda decided to take it upon herself and tell her friend. "Crystal is Pietro's ex-wife."

Rogue made an 'oh' sound and nodded. "Now it makes sense..."

"Okay, I admit, I'm not being professional," Pietro admitted. "It was just a shock. Next time it will be better. I'll be more mature about it." He stopped his pacing and took a deep breath.

"Sugah, yah don't have ta force yerself, Ah'm sure one of us can be the intermediary." Rogue assured him.

"No...no, I need to do this," the white haired lawyer asserted. "To get on with my life."

"Well, if yah say so-"

"Oh...don't look now," Wanda said as she straightened up. She looked from the door way to her brother. "Now's your chance, bro."

Pietro followed her gaze and paled once more. Crystal was on the tail of the tall Cajun. Remy was taking a box of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket as he shook his head.

"Non, Crystal. I'm not gonna play no stupid games between you two," he was saying as his red on black eyes squinted in the bright afternoon sun. "Y're adults now - no reason t' be hiding like dat."

Rogue heard Pietro let out a little gasps and turned her head. "Rogue," he said in a weak voice. "Forgive me for what I am about to do."

"Wha?" Rogue barely had time to get her question out with Pietro grabbed her arm and pulled her forward. Her eyes went wide as she slammed her body against his, knocking the wind right out of her. "Pie-!"

Wanda's mouth dropped open as her brother planted his lips on Rogue's. The brunette's eyes widened with horror as she froze in her place. Her hand rose and pushed itself against his shoulder until Pietro let her go. Rogue's face went red with humiliation as she diverted her eyes.

Oh, Gawd, Remy...Remy saw that... her heart was racing as she stumbled back and turned her head slightly. Part of her refused to see Remy's reaction, but part of her couldn't help want to see it.

"Oh...Crystal...sorry, I barely saw you there." Pietro said in a calm voice.

Behind him, Wanda lowered her head and let out a quiet swear. Rogue lifted her head up further and saw the red head recovering from the shock. Behind a few shocks of red hair, green eyes were smoldering as she grit her teeth.

"Please, Pietro..." she said in a low voice. "We're long over. You're free to see anyone you wish." she said in a self assured voice. Her eyes ran up and down Rogue's figure and narrowed.

The architect was about to protest the entire scene, when Remy's deep voice spoke out. "Well, chere," he said in a low voice as his rugged face remanded passive. Instead of directing his words to Rogue, he turned towards Crystal. "We have t' go check out de old buildings, non?" He offered his arm to the interior designer and Rogue's felt her heart drop.

She watched, unable to speak as Remy lead Crystal past them. "'Scuse us." he said as he past her coldly. Her blood froze in her veins as he walked right past her, not even once glancing down.

Silence drifted across the upper level of the garden as Rogue lifted her hand to her stomach. She suddenly felt as if a gaping hole had been blown right through her, making her feel empty and cold.

"What the hell was that about?" Wanda raged suddenly. Rogue heard a smack and turned to see Wanda hitting her brother's shoulder angrily. "What in the world drove you to do that?"

"I don't know I just..." Pietro trailed off numbly.

"Yah just WHAT?" Rogue growled as she joined in. Pietro turned to her, an apologetic look on his face. "Did yah even stop ta think about MEH? Ah never felt so violated in mah entire life!"

"Rogue, I'm sorry, I just-"

"No! Forget the excuses!" Rogue screeched. "The damage is done! Ah hope yer happy! Ah should report yah for sexual harassment-"

"I didn't mean to! It just happened! I wasn't thinking!" Pietro gasped. He looked over the stairs to the fleeting figure of his ex-wife and the tall, handsome Cajun and winced. "I just saw Crystal trailing after Remy..."

"Crystal isn't after Remy, Pietro!" Wanda hissed. "Why would she be after Remy? They're over and done with!"

Rogue stopped immediately and turned to Wanda. "Remy used to date Pietro's ex-wife?" Oh. This was just great.

"For like a week," Wanda exclaimed. "She and Pietro broke up for a few months and she went out with him for a few days. But it was over pretty quick."

Rogue fell back against the railing ran her hand through her hair. "Gawd..."

"Rogue, it's not what you think," Wanda said as she rushed over to her friend's side. "Remy's just friendly-"

"Yeah, Ah got that," Rogue grumbled bitterly. She closed her eyes and cupped her face in her hands. "Damn it! Ah can't believe this!" She looked up and glared hatefully at Pietro. "Yah should learn ta keep yer personal problems PERSONAL! Not bring other people into them!" She felt like crying suddenly and closed her eyes tightly to keep out the tears.

"I'm really sorry, Rogue," the lawyer mumbled pitifully. He stumbled over to the steps and allowed himself to crumble down on the first step. His eyes were glazed over as he stared out into the gardens. "I just go so jealous of Crystal..."

"That's no excuse," Rogue growled. She looked over at Wanda and shook her head as a bitter sweet smile graced her face. "That's mah luck with men, sugh...either they use meh or mess with meh."

"Oh, Rogue..." Rogue ran her hand down her face and gently pushed Wanda away.

"Ah'm gonna take a walk," Rogue mumbled as she stood up. "Just call mah phone when we're set ta leave, sugah..." she told Wanda weakly as she slowly walked down the steps. Wanda bit her lip sadly and nodded.

Remy lost himself in as far in the gardens as he possibly could. Pinned so tightly between his lips, he couldn't almost breath in the intoxicating aroma of his cigarette. After a few brief moments, he snatched it from his mouth and threw it on the ground.

He had known Crystal when he met up with the girl while she was back packing through Europe and he was in Paris. Nothing happened, but they hung out for a bit. They met up by accident at some gallery in New York a few years back at the time when Crystal was dating Pietro, future husband and father of her child. They had a brief fling for a week during a period where she and Pietro broke up, but only because he figured nothing would come out of it.

He never really thought that they would get divorced. Or that Crystal would be so desperate to get her mind off of her ex-husband she'd asked Remy to go out with her again. Or even that Pietro would actually try to get on with his life and date. Date ROGUE.

A low growl escaped his throat and he quickly caught himself.

Merde... He ran his hand down his face as he loosed his eyes and tried to get his thoughts in order. Don't be so jealous, homme...Y' didn't know Roguey was attached...

Not that it mattered. Not when from the first moment he saw her standing in front of that sketch, studying it thoughtfully, he had been completely enthralled.

The first thing that had caught his eyes was that white streak of hair amongst a sea of gorgeous brown locks. And then she looked at him and he was allowed to look into flawless emerald gems. It was physical attraction, he had convinced himself for the first hour. Just a quick distraction from his life. He had wandered around the museum, unaware that he as looking for her.

But every where he looked, he found her. And even after she left, his thoughts lingered on her. And she'd never left.

Suddenly, he grew angry at he. Why hadn't she said anything about a boyfriend when he had pinned her against him? Her body didn't protest at all. All she said was that she didn't like him and a few random things about the kind of man he was. But her body didn't lie...and he'd never read a woman's body language wrong in his life!

Just a pretty face...Dats all she is... he thought to himself. He leaned against a stone wall that went around the area and took a deep breath. He hunched over and lost himself in his thoughts, not hearing the footsteps behind him.

"Oh...sorry..."

"Rogue?" Oh...dat be great, homme...try t' write her off since de belle's taken and instead, y' call out her name...y'r so smart, Remy. He found himself turning around and coming face to face with the southerner.

Rogue stood nervously by the tall hedges that lead into that section of the garden. It was far beyond the old green house and there was an old fountain there that wasn't being used. It was over grown with vines and there was mud on the bottom of the fountain.

Rogue swallowed nervously. "Sorry, Remy...Ah didn't know yah were here...uh...bah-"

"Why didn't y' tell me y' were seeing Pietro?" Remy asked suddenly. Rogue froze in mid step and took a deep breath.

"Yah have some nerve asking that, swamp rat," Rogue said as she turned around and narrowed her beautiful eyes. "Yah are seeing Crystal and yah go and flirt with meh. Ah knew yah couldn't be trusted."

Remy frowned. "Y' don't know anyting 'bout me, chere."

"And yah don't know nothing about meh." Rogue retorted.

"Oui, dat be true...if I knew y' were seein' Pietro - wouldn' have..." he trailed off and turned his back on her. He leaned forward against the stone wall once more and glared out at the garden. Merde...I wouldn't change a damn thing.

"Wouldn't have what?" Rogue asked as took a cautious step forward. "What? Flirted? Painted meh? Pinned meh on the gallery railing? Wouldn't what, sugh?" She demanded, louder this time.

"I don-"

"Remy!" a female voice rang out and the two of them turned around. "I was looking all over for you!" Rogue paled as she saw Crystal walk in and beam him a winning smile.

"Crystal...chere, can dis wait a moment-" he began, his eyes darting quickly from one woman to the other. "I was-"

"You were my ride here, remember?" Crystal told him. Rogue tensed at her words. "It's almost three. We have to pick up Luna."

"Oh...right..." Remy said. He grinned lopsided. "Almost forgot..."

"We better be on our way," Crystal shot Rogue a superior smirk as she took Remy's arm and lead him out of the garden. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Darkhouse."

"DarkHOLME," Rogue hissed. "Rogue Darkholme."

Crystal merely nodded and disappeared around the hedges with Remy in tow. Rogue closed her eyes and fell down against the edge of the fountain, her face buried her hands. So...that was how it was going to be? Fine. Rogue swallowed down her anxiety and narrowed her eyes. She didn't want Remy anyway. Just thought he was cute.

Rogue bit her pouty pink lip and looked down at the mud in the fountain. After all...ain't like we had some sort of connection or anythang...

Glorious Ben & Jerry's. How it soothed the savage female soul. Rogue stabbed the nearly empty pint with her spoon as she shoveled yet another chocolate chip cookie dough incrusted spoonful of vanilla into her mouth.

Friday night and she had declined all the invitations from her friends to go out. Scott had canceled on Jean, so Jean wanted to go watch a movie. Betsy and Kitty were up for it, but Rogue claimed she didn't feel good and wanted to stay home.

Wanda had been worried about her. Rogue was spending a lot of time after hours at the office, meticulously going over designs and reviewing the plans over and over. Whenever Wanda suggested she go home, Rogue insisted she had more work. Pietro had apologize and Rogue said that if he ever tried it again, she had a big Russian body guard who would be more than happy to 'knock some sense' into him.

Rogue had called Jean to tell her about Remy as soon as she got home Monday, if only to emphasize that there was no way she could get him with now. Jean told Betsy, who shared it with Kitty, who theorized that Rogue was depressed. Kitty had told Bobby and Piotr, who told Kurt. All three men were happy, much to Kitty's annoyance.

"Ah don't need him," Rogue said as she scraped the last melted morsel of ice cream off the bottom of the bucket. "So what if he's talented...and a respected artist...and has a good sense of style...and rides a Harley..." She stared at the now empty bucket. "And has the finest set of buns Ah've ever seen..." She snorted. "He could be stupid! Yeah!"

The phone rang and Rogue hesitantly picked it up. "Rogue, do you mind doing a little bit work for the firm this weekend?" Wanda's voice asked.

Work getting mind off of Remy. "Sure! What can Ah do?" Rogue asked cheerfully.

"I'm having a courier drop off some designs. I need you to double check the measurements and get the estimates done by Monday." Wanda said.

"Great, no problem!" Rogue smiled to herself.

"Hey, Rogue..." Wanda said hesitantly. She took a deep breath. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Of course Ah'm okay!" Rogue insisted. "Ah wish everyone would stop asking meh that!"

"I'm just saying..." Wanda shrugged. "All work a no play is bad for you."

"Ah am not all work," Rogue grumbled. "Ah'm being a mature, responsible, and smart adult."

Wanda hesitated on the phone again. "Listen, about Remy-"

As expected, Rogue jumped on the name. "Ah don't want ta talk ta about him! The last thang Ah need while Ah'm working is some stupid man distracting meh!"

"In his defense, Remy's not stupid. Has a near genius IQ and graduated high school early." Rogue nearly swore. There went THAT theory...

"Yah...well..." Rogue grumbled. The door bell rang and she silently thanked God. "Ah gotta go! The courier's here!" Before Wanda could protest, Rogue hung up the phone and giddily ran to the door, dressed in loose, dark gray sweat pants, and a white camisole. The door bell rang again. "Hold on! Hold on! Ah'm comin!"

She unlocked the door and pulled it open. Her mouth nearly dropped as she met glowing red eyes.

"Rogue, chere...Remy thinks we need t' talk."

A.N. - Hi! Me again! Thanks for reading, everyone! Can't thank you enough for taking time out to take a peek at this story. I really appreciate it! I hope I can keep your interests. :)