Work of Art
Chapter Eight: From Those All Out of Love
By DamageCtrl

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

Blue eyes peered around the corner and scanned the rows of low lining cubicles for a familiar brunette with a white streak through her hair. After a few seconds, she let out a relieved sigh.

"Good...Rogue isn't here yet." Wanda breathed out relieved as she was about to take one step out.

"Oh, Ah'm here, sugh."

"AH!" Wanda threw her arms up in the air and with it, a few blue prints. The rolled up tubes rained down around Rogue was she stood, unimpressed by Wanda's reaction. "Rogue!" Wanda gasped. She took a cautious step back as she gave the green eyed woman a weak smile. "I...I didn't see you there!" She let out a nervous laugh as her eyes darted around.

"That was the point," Rogue told her blandly. She held out a folder and Wanda looked at it as if would bite her hand off. "Ah just thought that Ah'd personally give yah these papers..."

"Papers?" Wanda asked in a nervously high voice. Rogue raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah...yah know...the ones yah sent over ta meh Friday night...by a courier?" Wanda swallowed and she slowly reached out for the thin folder.

"Oh yeah...I...um...completely forgot!" Wanda gave Rogue a smile as she was about to grab the folder. As she took a step forward, Rogue pulled her hand back.

"Yah know...it was sorta funny what happened Friday night."

"Really?" Wanda smiled weakly. She looked at her wrist watch and let out a forced sigh. "Oh, darn! You know, I have a meeting-"

"Oh Ah'm sure it can wait just a LITTLE longer," Rogue said, giving Wanda a deadly smile. The red head suddenly began sweat. "You'll never guess just who the courier was."

"Uh...the mayor of San Francisco?" Wanda asked with a slight chuckle. Rogue looked at her before letting out a small laugh herself.

"Hahaha - no," Rogue cut her off and Wanda snapped her mouth shut. "It was Remy."

"Remy...?"

"LeBeau."

"Oh!" Wanda began to play with her fingers. "So...looks like Remy got a side job huh?"

"Yeah, and Ah'll give yah one red haired guess as ta who his employer was." Rogue took a step forward and Wanda too a step back.

"Ugh..." Wanda took another step back and ran into a desk.

"Hey! Watch it, Wanda!" a voice gasped behind her. She looked behind her as one of the clerks swore. She had knocked over their mug of coffee and they were trying to move their papers before they got completely soaked.

"Oh! Sorry!" They glared at her as she stumbled away and looked back at Rogue, who was following her. "Now...Rogue...don't be mad."

"Ah ain't mad, sugah." Rogue told her in such an eerily calm voice that Wanda shivered. She sped up her walk, but Rogue continued to stalk in her an easy predatory walk.

"Then don't be homicidal," Wanda corrected herself. Rogue merely lifted an eye brow. "Okay, so I sent Remy over," she admitted weakly. "But I swear it was because I had no one else to call!"

"Then explain the piles of paper on the top that Ah already have." Rogue stated. Wanda was walking backwards, her hands held up to ward Rogue off.

"I just thought that you might be missing them...yeah..."

"Then why the multiple copies?" Wanda opened her mouth, but nothing came out. "Cat got yer tongue, sugh?" Wanda whirled around to make a break for it, but instead ran into someone's chest.

"Wanda, this is not a play ground, honestly!" Pietro frowned as his sister nearly pushed him down. He looked at both women and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What are you two doing?"

"Yer sister set meh up this weekend!" Rogue said without hesitation as she pointing accusingly at Wanda.

"I did not set you up!" Wanda insisted. "I merely sent Remy over-"

"Remy?" Both women cringed as they realized who they were putting in the middle of their little debacle. Pietro tensed up, his blue eyes narrowing as he grit his teeth. His eyes slowly turned back to Wanda. "Explain."

"It's not what you think!" Wanda practically shouted. Several pairs of eyes landed on the trio as they stood in the middle of the office floor. Pietro sighed as Rogue ran a hand down her face.

"Into my office, now," Pietro grumbled. Like scolded children, the two women sulked into his corner office. He closed the door behind him and took his seat as his desk as his sister and Rogue stood in front of him. "Okay, what happened?"

"I had to drop off something for Rogue to sign Friday night and Remy was the only person I could find to do it since I had plans," Wanda said before Rogue could get a word in. "Whatever happened between them was PURELY unintentional."

At that, Pietro let out a snort of disbelief. "You really expect me to believe that you would do something unintentional?" he scoffed. He shook his head and turned to Rogue. "He didn't try anything, did he?"

"Let's just say Ah had a very dramatic weekend and that Remy was a big part of it." Rogue grumbled.

Pietro cast a curious look at his sister, whose mouth dropped. "What? I told him to go and explain himself...er...um..." Wanda groaned and fell on one of the seats across from her brother. She was caught. "Damn it."

"So you admit it!" Rogue shouted. "Yah did send him over!"

"You were moping around all week!" Wanda gasped. "All because of my incredibly stupid brother here..." she added as she glared at Pietro. "I had to do something!"

"So you sent Remy to Rogue's?" Pietro grumbled. "Wow, your brilliance is absolutely astonishing," He told her sarcastically. "In case you're forgetting, Remy and Crystal-"

"Aren't seeing each other." Rogue and Wanda froze and turned to look at each other was their voices answered at the same time.

Across from them, the white haired lawyer's eyes widened. "Wha...what?" His hands nervously fiddled with the papers on his desk. "But...at the Garden."

"Oh, don't tell me you fell for that, too!" Wanda rolled her eyes. "Honestly, no wonder you two are single..."

"She was using Remy ta make yah jealous after yah kissed meh," Rogue elaborated. "He explained all that when he came by."

"Well...how can you trust him?" Pietro retorted defensively. "I mean...he could be trying to see the both of you!"

Rogue immediately paled and Wanda sat up straight in her chair. She slammed her fist on the floor. "Pietro, get over yourself already! Both you and I know that Crystal still has feelings for you and she wouldn't have pulled that stunt with Remy if she didn't!"

"We also know what kind of man Remy is!" Pietro argued.

"And how exactly do you know that?" Wanda demanded.

"Luna says that Remy's been taking out to the park to paint." Pietro told her, completely satisfied with his answer. Wanda just stared at him stupidly.

"Are you serious? Pietro, are you forgetting that Remy is an artist? He was probably baby-sitting Luna and decided to teach her a few things!" Wanda sighed.

"Well..."

"Ah saw him at the park with yer little girl," Rogue said suddenly. "He was watching her paint," Two sets of blue eyes landed on the green eyed architect. She frowned at Pietro as she caught in him in a stern, self assured gaze. "Ah think yah should ask her more specifically if her Oncle Remy is seeing her momma, rather than assume it."

Wanda gave Pietro a smirk of superiority as she crossed her arms. Pietro took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. "Rogue...Remy is a very charming man. But you don't know him like we do and I've seen him break hearts left and right...and from your work last week-"

"What was wrong with mah work?" Rogue frowned as she straightened.

"At the meetings you weren't paying attention and were seemingly sucking the energy out of everyone the room," Rogue opened her mouth to argue, but Pietro cut her off. "You were completely distracted, it was a miracle you barely got those papers to me on time. Some of which were disorganized and stapled in odd places," he added. He sighed and looked at Rogue, concerned. "And speaking as a friend, not as a fellow employee, I don't want you to be another one of his victims."

Rogue jerked her head back as she gasped. "Victims?"

"Don't listen to him," Wanda reassured her. "He's just jealous."

"Jealous?" This time Pietro looked surprised.

"C'mon," Wanda said as she stood up and looped her arm through Rogue's. "Let's get some coffee and you can tell me what happened between you and Remy this weekend." She looked over her shoulder and made a face at her brother before closing the door behind them.

"You're very happy today," Jean Paul said as he had lunch with his friend at a bistro close the gallery. "Care to share?"

"Roguey isn't mad at dis homme any more, mon ami," Remy grinned, unconsciously, from ear to ear as he tapped his fork gently on the empty bowl that once held his creme Brule. "Got t' spend some quality time wid her dis weekend."

Jean Paul raised an eyebrow. "Now is this your usual kind of quality time or...?"

Remy immediately put on a highly unamused look as he shook his head and narrowed his eyes questioningly. "Non! Why d' y' always think dat? I'm no over-sexed pervert!"

The white haired man across from him rolled his eyes. "Sure..."

"I spent de night wid Rogue-"

"Oh, big surprise." Jean Paul cut in. Remy shot him an annoyed glare.

"It wasn't like dat!" Remy exclaimed. "Let me finish!" Jean Paul merely shrugged and leaned back against his chair, expecting to be regaled with some macho story of conquest. "We spent de whole night-"

Here it comes... Jean Paul thought expectantly.

"Talking."

"Oh, like that's any different..." Jean Paul trailed off in the middle of throwing his arms in the air and stopped to stare at Remy. The red eyed man leaned back against his chair, a satisfied grin across his face as the Canadian's mouth dropped. "Are you...serious?"

"Oui...more serious den I've ever been about a femme..." Remy grinned. "Rogue's special, mon ami. I can tell."

"Wha...how...pour quoi?" Jean Paul gasped. Remy laughed as he shook his head. "Remy, I don't know what to say... I've known you for years and you've never...I mean...A night with a beautiful woman and you just stayed up talking? That's so unlike you."

Remy rolled his eyes. "Think what y' want, mais I think Rogue is an interesting femme. Smart, too. Y' know she graduated from LSU and Berkeley?" Remy asked as he leaned forward. "Dose are impressive schools, non?"

"Well...yes-"

"And she was adopted, like Remy."

"It's good to have something in common-"

"She also likes-"

"Okay, I get it! You have it bad for her!" Jean Paul exclaimed. He sighed, defeated, and fell back against the chair. "So what are you going to do? Marry her?"

Remy raised an eyebrow. His eyebrows then furrowed as he rubbed his chin and leaned back against the chair, thinking. "Never thought about dat..." he mused quietly. "Remy likes her...a lot...but, too early t' tell."

Jean Paul sat across from him, a confused, worried, and shocked look on his face all at once. He stood up straight and leaned forward, catching Remy's eyes in a stern gaze. "Who are you and what have you done with Remy Etienne LeBeau?"

"Shut up, JP-"

"No, now I'm serious," Jean Paul insisted. "A month ago, you would've screamed bloody murder if marriage was even suggested," he stated, earning a cringe from Remy. "Now, you're actually considering it?"

Remy looked away and casually rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Well...I am getting up dere in age-"

"You're not even 30!"

"I don't know, okay!" the Cajun finally exclaimed. "All I know is dat I like Rogue. But we haven't even gone out on a date yet! Merde, JP, don't ask me dose questions yet...too hard t' think about." Remy settled back in his chair and Jean Paul gave him an apologetic look.

"Well..." the white haired man breathed nervously. "Haven't had a date, yet, huh?" Remy shrugged. "You confident enough to bring her to the park at the end of the month?"

"T' de winter art ting? Sure...first laid eyes on her at an art museum..."

"Good," Jean Paul smiled. "I'll grab you two some tickets an send them over. It'll be less awkward for you if you bring a date along." Jean Paul raised his hand to call the waiter over.

"Less what?" Remy frowned. "Why y' say dat?"

"Check!" Jean Paul signaled the waiter, who nodded. He glanced back at Remy. "What?"

"Why would it be awkward for me?"

Jean Paul stared at him. "Eh...you did read the newspaper on the showing there, right?"

"Non...just go when I feel like it. Don't really read much news...just a bunch of depressing stuff anyway." Remy shrugged as the waiter came by and placed the bill on the table. Jean Paul reached over to pay for it as Remy reached for his wallet. "Why?"

"You know how every year they have featured artists?" Jean Paul asked. He looked over at Remy. "Non, mon ami. This is on me."

"Non, mon ami, I suggested dis place-"

"You paid last time. It's my turn," Jean Paul insisted. He narrowed his eyes. "Don't argue with me, Remy. I sat through a whole meal with you grinning like an idiot and you didn't look at least a little interested in my new gallery exhibit."

Remy sighed and put his wallet back. "Next time, Remy pays." Jean Paul nodded and placed the American Express card on the bill.

"Well, next time make sure it's not so filling a lunch. I have karate practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, remember?" Jean Paul reminded him. Remy struggled to hide his snicker as he pictured the Canadian man in a white gi practicing empty hand combat.

"Still taking it with de Badger?" Remy grinned. Jean Paul rolled his eyes once more.

"His name is Logan, Remy. Wolverine was his army nick name. AND he's a good instructor. Trained in Japan and everything," Jean Paul snorted. "Plus he is a fellow Canadian."

"I fail t' see how y' and de Badger have anything in common t' talk about." Remy snickered. "Homme was a soldier, non?"

"I served in the military, too!"

"Don't think y' and de Badger are at de same level, JP," Remy chuckled. "Y' gotten over y'r crush on him?"

Jean Paul let out a shocked gasp. "For your information, I never had a crush on Logan! He is not my type anyway. Too gruff for my taste. But a nice man. Oh, and he's looking for more students, so if you're interested-"

Remy immediately shook his head. "Last thing I want is t' fight de Badger...I've seen him...mais, I'll see what I can do."

The Canadian nodded. "So...anyway, back to the park; the featured artist is some guy from New Orleans. Thought maybe you might know him," Jean Paul said. "Goes by the name JB."

Remy snorted and shrugged. "Non, don't know anyone wid dat name."

"Oh, but you will know his model," Jean Paul insisted. He glanced over at Remy who raised an curious eye brow. "Brace yourself."

"Just tell me, JP."

"Bella Donna Bordeaux."

"Anna Marie Raven Darkholme," Rogue shivered as she heard that name. She sat at the posh restaurant with her mother, who was holding the local entertainment magazine her hands. Rogue looked down at her sea food dish. Her mother was always upset with her when she used her full name. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Ah...um...Ah..." Rogue speared a shrimp and quickly put it into her mouth, pretending to be too hungry to talk.

"If I had known you modeled for this..." Raven looked down at the article that bared a painting of Rogue's face and read the artist's name. "Remy LeBeau person, I would've definitely gone to see the exhibit!"

"It was nothing, momma," Rogue insisted. "Just a painting, that's all."

"My dear, according to this article, Mr. LeBeau is a well known artist known for his impressionist and abstract works. And to think that he went out of his way to paint my daughter is more than a pleasant surprise," Raven said. She frowned and looked at Rogue. "I was completely caught off guard when Eric came by with the paper to show me and congratulate me on having a renowned artist immortalize my daughter. I didn't know how to react!"

Raven was the only woman Rogue knew who could be beaming with pride, but at the same time be annoyed. "Sorry Ah put yah in an awkward situation, momma. But Ah really didn't know how the painting would turn out." She smiled weakly.

How would her mother react if Rogue had told her that the 'transient slob' she had nearly told off at the art museum was the renowned artist and that he had painted Rogue without her knowing? Rogue bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud at the expression her mother would have.

"It's good that the gallery is still showing the exhibit," Raven said as she looked back at the article. "I should go tomorrow and check it out."

Rogue nearly dropped her fork. "Uh...momma, yah don't have ta do that." Rogue smiled slightly.

"Oh, non-sense," Raven assured her as she folded the paper neatly. "I would love to see the painting. I hope no one has purchased it yet. I'm sure your Aunt Irene would love it!"

Rogue sighed. Sometimes, Ah think momma forgets that Aunt Irene is blind... "Okay...but don't make a big deal about it..." She blushed and Raven chuckled.

"You've always been such a modest girl when it came down to it," Raved sighed. She began to eat her own meal. "So how was your weekend?"

"Tiring," Rogue sighed. Memories of Remy flashed through her mind and she quickly pushed them aside. She didn't feel like telling her over protective, extremely critical mother about him yet. "Jean...Jean left Scott."

"What?" Raven looked surprised as she looked up from her steak. "Well...that's a surprise..."

"Ah know..." Rogue trailed off. "She caught him cheating on her...in their home, too."

"That bastard!" Raven hissed. Rogue winced. Her mother had a short fuse when it came to men. "He's just like the rest of them! Disgusting pigs...Jean is a very nice young woman and that Scott boy probably had it well. Just like a man to dump a good woman for the sake of his libido."

"Momma-"

"Don't get wrong, darling. Men are good, but for short periods of time," Raven insisted, causing Rogue to shift uncomfortably in her seat. "Don't ever stick to one. Once they get tired of you, that's it. End of the fairy tale."

Dont' freak out, sugh...yah know momma's been through several marriages...and she still came out on top... Rogue thought to herself.

"I hope you never end up with a good for nothing man-"

"They're not all lahke that, momma!" Raven looked up from her meal as Rogue raised her voice. Immediately, the brown haired woman look back down and picked at her food. "Not all men are pigs...some of them are...are good."

Raven let out a heavy sigh and put her fork and knife down. She leaned over and put her hand over one of Rogue's as she spoke softly. "Darling, I know it's hard to see them in that light...but men can't be trusted. Look at Jean and Scott. Haven't they been together for ages and then suddenly, we find out that Scott has cheated on Jean? I don't want you to go through the heart break that Jean is going through. And from experience, I know men use women...they do...and either you let them walk all over your or you use them back. They're...they're inhuman, Rogue."

"They're not monsters, momma..." Rogue trailed off as she kept her eyes on her plate.

Raven studied her daughter quietly. She pulled her hand back and shook her head. "Do you remember Cody? And Freddy?" Rogue took in a sharp breath, as if she had been dealt a blow to the stomach. Raven could see that she hit a nerve. "What they did to you? How they left you? Is that how you want to feel again?"

"Momma, stop..." Rogue whimpered. "Please, Ah don't wanna talk about them..."

"I just don't want to see you like that again, Rogue. It hurt me to see you like that and be unable to do anything about it." Raven told her.

Rogue closed her eyes tightly as she put her fork down and pulled away from the table. "Momma, don't do this ta meh...yah know Ah don't like talking about them..."

"Rogue-"

"Just stop, momma!" Rogue snapped. She opened her emerald eyes that were rimmed with tears. "This is why Ah don't tell yah about mah relationships no more. This is why Ah wanted ta get away from 'Frisco and California and yah! Why can't yah just let it go?"

"Because you are my daughter and I love you!" Raven retorted proudly. Rogue snapped her mouth shut. Raven Darkholme never said those words. Raven took a deep breath to calm herself and looked away. "Do you think I want to see you like that again? Broken and hopeless? Crying day and night..."

"Do yah think Ah wanna be like that again?" Rogue asked, curiously. "Momma," She said as she shook her head slowly. "Yah can't stop meh." The two women sat there in silence. A few minutes passed and they ate their meals before Raven's abnormally muted voice broke through.

"Who is he, Rogue?" Raven asked quietly. Rogue went silent. "Rogue..."

"We're just friends so far..." Rogue told her reluctantly. She took a deep breath. "And that's all Ah'm giving yah," She reached down and gathered the cloth napkin that was on her lap and tossed it on the table. "Ah have ta go, momma."

"Rogue, wait-" Raven began, but her daughter was already standing, shuffling through her purse.

"Momma," Rogue said as she stood over the woman and gave her a tight hug. "Ah love yah, Ah really do. But don't try ta stop meh." She kissed Raven on the cheek and headed out the door.

"To the left. No...wait..." Jean rubbed her chin as she narrowed her eyes and looked down at the bed frame that was being moved around the room. It was queen sized bed and she was trying to find the best place to put it in the spare bedroom of Rogue's apartment.

After a few days at the Fairmont Hotel, Jean got bored and Rogue insisted that she should room with her. They had been roommates up until Jean married Scott, so it wouldn't be a big change. Not to mention that Rogue felt she could use a few extra dollars a month. Thursday, after work, they went to get Jean a bed. The room was already equipped with a dresser with matching night stands and a corner desk by the window.

All that was left with the bed and it had just arrived.

"Can y' please hurry it up, Jeannie?" Remy asked, breathless behind the mattress. "Dis ain't light!"

"Right! Right!" Jean exclaimed sheepishly. "Move it to the center!"

"Y' sure dis time?" Remy asked.

"Positive!" Jean assured him. Remy began to maneuver the bed frame with his foot before lifting the box spring and putting it on the frame. Jean frowned. "Hmmm..."

"No, hmmm!" Remy growled. "It's been twenty minutes, cher! De bed is fine!"

Jean laughed and nodded. "Okay, okay...I'll leave you to finishing the installation." She chuckled as she walked out of the bedroom and into the hall.

"Sugah? Yah home?" a warm voice wafted through the apartment just as Jean emerged from the hall. Rogue walked in the apartment and grinned. "Hey, making yerself at home? Yah know, yah left the front door wide open."

"Sorry about that!" Jean smiled weakly. "But the bed just came in and I was moving it into the bedroom."

Rogue frowned. "Sugh, Ah told yah ta wait until Ah got home and Ah'd help yah move the stuff around."

"Oh, it was no problem. I didn't have to lift a finger." Jean grinned.

Rogue raised a questioning eyebrow. "Did yah magically move everythang?"

"Nope, better." Jean smiled brightly.

"Dere! De damn bed is in place! Hope y're happy, Jeannie, 'cause I'm not gonna move anyting else!" Remy walked out of the hall way, his white t-shirt showing a few lines of sweat as he wiped his forehead.

"Remy?"

"Chere! Y' home!" Remy beamed her a brilliant smile.

"I got home from grocery shopping and he was knocking on the door," Jean laughed. "Poor thing didn't know no one was home!"

Remy frowned as Rogue laughed at the mental image. "If y're gonna laugh, I will be on my way..."

"Sorry, sugh..." Rogue chuckled. "But why'd yah come by so early?"

"Thought y' were done wid work already," Remy said. Rogue walked into the kitchen and got him a bottle of cool water from the fridge and tossed it over to him. "So I came by...been standing at de door for ten minutes before Jeannie came by."

"Figured that since he was here, he could help move some of the furniture so we don't have to," Jean said proudly as she sat on the couch and turned on the television. "The bed was delivered and he offered to help move it in."

"That's very sweet of yah sugah..." Rogue said with a slight blush as Remy grinned at her. "Yah didn't have ta..."

"Now, chere, y' know Remy'll go de extra mile fo' y'," He said in a low voice as he took a step forward and pinned Rogue against the breakfast bar counter. One arm was on either side of her as he leaned closer. "Y' wanna reward me for mah hard work?"

"Sure," Rogue grinned back seductively. She raised her hands and gently ran them over the defined muscles of his arms. "Whatcha feel like, Cajun?"

"Dat a trick question, mon chere?" He pressed his body closer to her and let out a low groan. Rogue blushed furiously as he craned his head down and whispered in her ear. "Next weekend...go wid me to de park. Dere's an art show dere."

The hot breath in her ear, the warmth of his body pressed so tightly against her...it all nearly sent Rogue into a pile of mush. She had expected some sort of proposition or at least an innuendo of sorts, but not an invitation to an art show.

Instead, Rogue jerked her head back and stared up at him. "An...an art show?" she gasped breathlessly.

A sly smirk crossed his lips as he tilted his head slightly. "What were y' expecting, chere?" he asked, teasing. "'Cause Remy can always ask for someting else..."

Rogue cracked a smile and rubbed his upper arms thoughtfully. "Ah'm up for a nice walk in the park, swamp rat," She grinned as she put her arms around his neck. "Is that why yah came by?"

"Sure wasn't t' move Jean's furniture." Remy grinned.

Rogue chuckled and kissed his cheek quickly. "Jean's gonna be mah roommate again. So we maght need yah ta come by and move more stuff."

"Glad t' know I'm wanted." he laughed. Rogue gently pushed him away and looked over at Jean.

"Yah two eat already?" Rogue asked as she leaned over the couch where Jean was engrossed in watching a Batman movie on television.

"Had something to eat on the way back from work since I was running errands," Jean said casually. She glanced up at Rogue with knowing grin. "You know...you look a little hungry...why don't you and Remy get something to eat?"

Rogue rolled her eyes. "Ah can tell when Ah'm not wanted...yah want meh ta bring yah back anything?"

"Nah, I'm set." Jean waved her hand to dismiss them and Rogue sighed. She turned to Remy.

"What do yah say, swamp rat? Wanna grab a bite?" Rogue asked. Remy nodded and offered her arm.

"I know a place y'r taste buds will love, chere," he said. He reached over and grabbed his coat as Rogue grabbed her purse and looped her arm in his. "Bye, Jeannie!"

"I'll bring yah back a snack, sugh!" Rogue called out. "See yah later!"

"Thanks, guys! Have fun!" Jean merely raised her hand wave them good-bye as the door closed.

Remy was parked on the street and the meter had long since run out, but he had yet to receive a ticket. Rogue proclaimed it a miracle, and Remy assured her it was pure luck. He handed her his helmet.

"Don't yah have a car, Cajun?" Rogue asked as she fastened on the helmet. "San Francisco ain't exactly famous for being a dry city."

Remy chuckled. "Non, de Harley is all I need."

"Hmm...always lahked a Harley man..." Rogue sighed. She sat down behind him. "Can Ah drive on the way back?"

"Next time, chere."

"Ah'll hold yah ta that." she grinned. The machine started up beneath her and wiggled herself closer to Remy. She wrapped her arms around his waist and smirked to herself. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she could feel rippling muscles that contracted with her touch.

Merde... Remy closed his eyes and tried to concentrate as he felt her rub up against his back. He swallowed nervously and took a deep breath. Her hands were dangerously close to areas she shouldn't have dared to go yet. Worse yet, he had a feeling she was doing this on purpose.

Rogue grinned as Remy tensed in her arms for a split second. He quickly regained his composure and pulled the bike out of it's spot. The roar of the engine echoed in the streets as they rode off.

Several stories up, a woman looked through the blinds of the window as she was on the cordless house phone. Jean smiled thoughtfully and snapped the blinds closed. "Sorry, Wanda, you just missed her. Where did she go...?" Jean grinned from ear to ear. "I think you mean who did she go with."

A.N. - I mentioned Logan! Slowly but surely, we're moving. Yayness. :) Thanks for reading!