Work of Art
Chapter Eleven: Guilt & Shame
By DamageCtrl

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

"Alright, that's enough!" Rogue fumed. She wrenched her arm out of her mother's grasp and put herself between Raven and Julien. "Momma, this man is NOT Remy LeBeau! His name is Julien!"

Raven's eyes darkened as she turned to the blonde male. "Is that so?" she hissed in a low voice. Julien merely stood there, smiling. "And I suppose you have a good reason for impersonating Mr. LeBeau."

"Wid all due respect, madam, I am also an artist," Julien told her proudly. "And a better one dan LeBeau, if I do say so myself."

"Ah don't think mah mother appreciates being lied ta," Rogue snapped over her shoulder. She quickly turned back to her mother. "And momma, what in the world are yah doing commissioning another painting! Yah already have one of meh!"

"THAT one is for Irene. I wanted one for myself," Raven frowned at Rogue's tone. "Is there something WRONG with a mother being so proud of her daughter as to want a portrait for her own?" She asked defensively.

Rogue took a deep breath to try to calm herself. "No, momma...there ain't anything wrong with that," she admitted. "But Ah happen ta know that Remy...er...Mr. LeBeau has been contracted ta do private work, including a sculpture, so he doesn't have time right now ta paint meh."

Raven frowned and stiffened. "It doesn't have to be now, Rogue. I am not as impatient as you might think."

"Well, fine, then, momma! Ah'll tell him myself when Ah see him," Rogue sighed. "How's that?"

"I would still like to meet the artist." Raven insisted. Rogue mentally swore.

"What if he's already left or something, momma?" Rogue offered. "He seems like a busy man."

Raven narrowed her eyes and set a disapproving look at her daughter. "Are you trying to hide something from me, Anna Marie?"

"No!" Rogue gasped. "Ah just don't want yah ta be wasting yer time. Ah know yah're a very busy woman."

"Very well then," Raven said, still suspicious. "What about him?" Rogue had momentarily forgotten about Julien. She turned around and found the smug looking blonde still standing there.

"What about him?" Rogue narrowed her eyes.

"He was about to ask you something." Raven stated simply. She kept wary eyes on the man as he turned his attention back to Rogue.

"I almost forgot, chere," Julien smiled. The term of endearment from his lips made Rogue's skin crawl and she struggled to keep a disgusted sneer off her face. "Had a job offer for y'. Dere is an auction in January t' benefit de public schools in de area and I've been asked t' paint someting for de auction."

"Get ta the point." Rogue snapped impatiently.

"Will y' model for me?"

Rogue stared at him as if he had lost his mind. "Hell. No."

"Miss Darkholme, may I remind y' dat I am de guest of honor at dis here event. I am just as known as LeBeau and have much more experience painting humans den he does," Julien told her arrogantly. "If y' haven't noticed, LeBeau primarily works with abstract." He added as he crossed his arms.

"That's all well and good, but Ah really have no intention of modeling for yah or for Remy...er...Mr. LeBeau," Rogue told him sternly. "Ah'm afraid yah will have ta look else where for a model." She insisted confidently.

"You're the guest of honor?" Raven's voice seemed to smash Rogue's earlier statement to bits. She felt her body being moved to the side as Raven took her place. "Where is your work?"

"Right this way, madam." Julien motioned for her to follow him and, despite Rogue's complaints, Raven went off to see the man's work.

Rogue stood there, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She never listens ta meh...

A warm hand placed itself on her shoulder and Rogue jumped slightly. "Chere? Y' okay? Does y' head hurt?" Remy gently moved around her around to look at him and peered down at her face, his own etched with concern.

"Mah mother just went off with Julien to look at his work," Rogue said in an annoyed voice. "She's determined ta get someone ta paint me."

"Dats all?" Remy chuckled. "Why didn't y' just say so, chere? Y' forget what I do for a living? I can just give her de one at JP's gallery."

"Remy, momma just came from there," Rogue told him seriously. "She bought the painting already and is sending it ta mah Aunt Irene. She wants another painting commissioned for herself."

"She bought de painting?" Remy raised an eyebrow. He frowned. "Remy told JP not t' sell it unless someone offered a big old chuck of change."

Rogue groaned. "Congratulations Remy, yah hit the jack pot. Momma laid down several grand for the portrait."

Remy raised an eyebrow. "Chere, what does y'r mere do for a living?"

"She's an architect and the Mistress of Wagner Castle; momma's from a really rich family in Germany." Rogue sighed. She looked over her shoulder to see if her mother was anywhere to be seen.

"If I knew dat, he would've charged more," he grinned. Rogue didn't laugh and his grin faded from his lips. "Roguey, I can paint another portrait of y'," he told her carefully. "It would be an honor."

"Yah don't understand, sugh!" Rogue sighed as she looked up at him with pleading green eyes. "Momma is really over baring and demanding."

"I've worked wid worse." he assured her.

Rogue took a deep breath and bit her lip. She looked up at him. "Ah don't want yah ta meet her." she admitted finally.

Remy's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he gave her a weak smile. "Y' ashamed of me or someting, chere?" he joked. When Rogue didn't reply and looked away instead, his smile disappeared and his heart sank. "Y' are ashamed of me..." he murmured, sounding slightly hurt.

"No!" Rogue gasped. She reached out and grabbed his hand with both of hers. She clutched it tightly against her chest and looked up at him worriedly. "Remy, she will rip yah apart...momma...is over protective - yah have no idea just how much..."

"Well, den she doesn't have t' know about us yet," Remy answered easily. He smiled once more, believing the problem was solved. He searched her eyes for agreement and found hesitation instead. "Dat solves de problem, doesn't it?...Chere?"

"She knows Ah like someone..." Rogue admitted as she looked down at her feet. Her hands dropped down, but Remy held on them lightly. A full burning blush was on her cheeks as she took a deep breath. "She already chewed meh out about men and getting involved with them...doesn't want meh ta get hurt again..." she trailed off, not even aware that she was mumbling.

Remy stood in front of her and squeezed her hands gently. He pulled her against him, welcoming her into a comforting embrace. "I won't hurt y', chere..."

Rogue took a moment to just relish the feeling of being in his arms. So comfortable and natural. Finally she pulled away from him. "Remy, Ah ain't ashamed of yah," Rogue told him reassuringly. "But yah don't know mah momma. She's critical and...and..." Rogue couldn't find any other word for it. "An absolute bitch. Don't get meh wrong, Ah love her," Rogue added quickly. "But Ah know she won't like yah...especially if she thinks that yah're the man Ah'm in love with."

Remy's eyes widened and Rogue paled. A split second later, blood rushed to her head as a wave of embarrassment drowned her. She quickly snatched her hands away from his and took a step back. She broke eye contact with him, unable to even glance at his face as she nervously began playing with a lock of her hair.

Remy swallowed nervously as he heard her little confession slip. His heart was racing in his chest as Rogue pulled her hands away and stepped back. He watched as she crossed her arms over her chest, a defensive body movement, just before she pulled aside a strand of brown hair and began to play with it. He didn't care that she firmly believed her mother would hate him. That was nothing compared to the bomb that dropped right after.

Love was a very powerful and dangerous word. Depending on how it was felt and how it was used, it could elate a man to places he'd never thought existed or bring him crying to his knees. Right now, Remy felt elated.

Then the words hit him with full force. ...thinks that yah're the man Ah'm in love with. In one second he'd been near bursting with joy and then filled with sheer terror that she was referring to someone else.

"Rogue...chere..." he asked in a low, nervous voice. "Am I?" No third person. He was really serious this time. In front of him, Rogue looked nervous. She shifted from one foot to the other in painful silence.

Of course it's y'! a small voice in the back of his head yelled. Rogue's not de type t' be in love wid another man when she spends de night wid y'! Remy's eyes squinted slightly as he sucked in a distressed breath. Den why isn't she answering?

Rogue looked down at the floor. Stupid! Rogue mentally chided herself. How could yah go and ruin it all by blabbering it out! Sure, yah like him a lot, but love him? Anna Marie Raven Darkholme, have yah lost yer mind? Her hand rose and covered her face as she closed her eyes tightly as familiar emotions of guilt and shame began bubbling up. She was getting clingy, wasn't she? That's what Freddy always said...

She gasped for a shallow breath. "Rogue?" she could hear him calling out to her gently, but was completely ignorant of the concern laced within in.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Freddy hated it when yah cried...

Remy couldn't understand why she was suddenly covering her face or why her shoulders began to heave with every labored breath. Her eyes had shut themselves tightly and, despite the white bangs and had now fallen over her face, he believed she was on the verge of crying.

He'd seen women cry many times before for one reason or another. And all those times, he had been there to comfort them and tell them soothing things. But suddenly, when Rogue was crying...he had no idea what to d. He felt completely... helpless.

"Remy..." Rogue gasped out with a choked sob. "Ah..."

"What's wrong, chere?" Remy asked as he approached. He took one step forward and Rogue took a step back and shook her head. The confused look on his face turned helpless and pained as she rejected his comfort. Rogue lifted her eyes and he looked into tear rimmed emeralds. She looked absolutely regretful and hurt. "Rogue...?"

"Ah'm sorry, Remy...Ah didn't mean ta..." Rogue whispered as she sniffled. Her nose had turned pink as she wrapped her arms around herself.

Remy shook his head to dismiss the apology. "Didn't mean t' what, chere?" Remy asked. "Why are y' apologizing? Dere isn't anything t' be sorry for." He told her with a slight smile. Rogue still looked as if she'd done something horrible and Remy took another step forward. Once again she stepped back, but this time bumped into the table behind her.

"Ah didn't mean it, Remy, Ah'm sorry..." Rogue whimpered.

"Didn't mean what, chere? I don't understand," he persisted softly. Rogue ran hand down her face and looked away once more. Remy could feel his own anxiety reaching it's breaking point. "Do y' love someone else, chere?" God, it hurt just to even ask that.

"What...?" Rogue asked weakly. She looked up at him with a confused light in her eyes.

"Oh my goodness, Rogue!" Suddenly, the brunette was snatched from Remy's gaze and into the arms of the tall, dark haired woman he had seen at the museum. Impeccably dressed, Raven gathered the near tears Rogue into her arms and shot a furious glare at Remy. As soon as she did, she recognized the man and nearly dragged Rogue several feet away. "You! Get the hell away from my daughter!" She spat out venomously as she wrapped Rogue firmly in her arms.

"It's not what y' think, Mrs. Darkholme-" Remy began.

"Like hell it's not!" Raven growled. She turned back to her daughter as she gently soothed back her hair. "Rogue? Rogue, darling, it's momma..." she whispered comfortingly. "Darling? What's wrong? What did the man do to you?"

"Momma...it's nothing..." Rogue said. She rubbed her eyes and tried to pull away, but Raven's grip was like a vice. "Really, momma...Ah'm fine."

"You are not fine, Anna Marie," Raven said sternly. "What did he do to you? That wretched man!"

"Momma, stop it!" Rogue gasped. She pulled away slightly, but Raven still held on to her arm firmly. "Ah just lost it for a moment," She looked over her mother's shoulder and offered Remy pathetic attempt a smile. "Remy, Ah-"

"Remy?" Rogue let out a quiet swear as Raven whirled around and met the artist's red on black eyes. "YOU are Remy LeBeau?" she demanded to know.

Remy nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Darkholme," he said as respectfully as possible. "Rogue and I were-"

SLAP!

"Momma!" Rogue nearly shrieked. The dark haired woman stood just an arm's length from Remy, her hand still held up as Remy's head snapped to the right. Slowly his hand rose and touched his stinging left cheek. His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Rogue took a trembling step forward. "Oh, mah God, Remy! Ah'm so sorry-"

"Don't apologize to that creature!" Raven told her, her angry gaze not leaving Remy for a second. "I don't care who you are. I don't care what you do or how good you are. You could be da Vinci for all I care! But I swear, if you ever come near my daughter again, I will have you taken care of."

"Momma!" Rogue gasped. She grabbed her mother's arm and pulled her forward. "What are yah doing? Why did yah do that?"

"Look at you!" Raven fumed as her eyes narrowed. She looked up and down Rogue and settled on the younger woman's face. "Do you think I'd so easily stand back and watch a man bring my daughter to tears?" Raven demanded. Her arm shot out and grabbed Rogue firmly by the wrist. "We are leaving!" she announced.

"What? No!" Rogue yelled. She pulled her arm back and moved away from her mother. "What is yer problem, momma?" She shrieked at the older woman as her arms flew at her sides. "He didn't make meh cry!"

"Then where did it come from, hm?" Raven asked angrily. She crossed her arms and looked at Rogue with scrutinizing eyes. "Memories?" she snapped, making Rogue let out a muffled choke. "Is that it? Of THEM? What THEY did to you?"

"Oh, Gawd..." Rogue took a horrified step back. "Momma...do yah even realize what yah're saying?"

"Stay away from that man, Anna Marie!" Raven ordered. "He is nothing but trouble and will only break your heart!"

"Momma!"

"Dat's enough, Mrs. Darkholme," Remy's voice was deep and low, laced with a warning. His hands placed themselves daringly on Rogue's shoulders and pulled her back against him protectively. "Y' don't know anything about me, so y' have no right t' say dose tings."

"Oh, do I?" Raven scoffed. "Well, your little friend Julien sure had something to say about you."

Behind her, Rogue felt Remy's body tense up. His grip on her shoulders tightened. "What happens 'tween me and Rogue ain't any of y'r business," Remy told her sternly. Raven opened her mouth to argue, but Remy cut her off. "Even if y' are her mere."

Rogue watched her mother carefully. Raven straightened up and gave him a superior look as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I know enough to know that you are dangerous and will hurt Rogue," Raven smirked smugly. "Your history with women isn't exactly perfect."

"Momma, what are yah talking about?" Rogue frowned. "What does that matter?"

"I'm not blind, Rogue. I know how you feel about Mr. LeBeau," Raven told her, sounding bitter as she said his name. "You think I'm over reacting? Then I suggest you speak to Mr. Boudreaux. He seems to know a lot about that man's past. Including a string of lovers in Paris that he was quite close to."

"Why should Ah listen ta him?" Rogue demanded. "Besides, that is in the PAST." she stressed.

"The past? Well, then perhaps you won't care about this little fact," Raven locked eyes with her daughter. "Remember a few years ago? A friend of yours from Berkeley was staying in Paris to visit her family and died in that fire?" Rogue nodded, but didn't understand where her mother was going. "Remember on the news - an entire apartment complex caught on fire and all of it's inhabitants died. Your friend died in that fire by the train station that night. Because of his involvement, 125 people were killed."

Rogue just stared at her mother. "What?" she spat out in disbelief. "Momma, how could even stoop that low? To mention Calisto like that, Gawd rest her soul! That is the most absurd thing Ah've evah heard!"

"Then ask him if it's a lie." Raven demanded.

Rogue pulled away from Remy and turned to look at him. "Remy, tell mah mother that yah never did such a thing." She put her hands on his chest and looked up at him. He stood there, his eyes fixed out in front of him and his jaw closed shut. Rogue felt her confidence slowly drop. "Remy?"

"It was an accident," Remy said in a low voice. Beneath her finger tips, Rogue felt his heart rate speed up as his chest rose and fell heavily. "I didn't know what was gonna happen..."

"Remy?" Rogue's voice was quiet as her eyes squinted slightly. "Remy, what...what are yah talking about, sugh?"

"I tried t' stop them, chere," he gasped as he grasped Rogue's hands in his larger ones. Dimming red eyes looked down into hers, begging her to believe him. "I tried t', but dey were too strong...and I couldn't stop 'em..."

Rogue's eyes widened. "Oh Gawd..." she whispered as she lifted her hand to her mouth. "Yah really...?"

His eyes dropped and Rogue pulled her hands away from him. As soon as the pressure left his chest, Remy felt cold and weak. He lifted his head and watched as Rogue shook her head. "Rogue..." he gasped.

"I think you've told her enough..." Raven said as she put her arm around her daughter and turned her away. She gave him a haughty look as Rogue stared at him with regret on her face. "Good day to you, Mr. LeBeau. Come, Anna Marie."

Silently and without a fight, Rogue allowed her mother to turn her around and lead her out of the tent. Remy stood there, staring stupidly as he watched Rogue stumble out numbly. "Rogue..." he mumbled. "Rogue!" He shook his head and pulled him self out of his stupor. "Rogue, wait!"

"I don't think so, cher," Julien's fist came out of no where and slammed into Remy's gut, knocking the wind right out of the dark haired Cajun male. Remy stumbled back, clutching his stomach. He looked up and gave Julien the most furious look he could come up with it. The blonde man merely laughed. "Well, I'm glad dis day isn't a total waste," he grinned, almost maniacally. "De femme...now she knows all about y' LeBeau. Dat y'r nothing but a cold hearted, womanizing murderer."

Rogue laid in the spare bedroom in her mother's Sausalito home. The house was situated on a hill, over looking San Francisco across the Golden Gate. It probably cost an arm and a leg to buy, but Raven was never one to hold back when she was doing something. Besides, both Rogue and Kurt loved the view the house had of the city. That was it's selling point to Raven.

Rogue, however, couldn't care less about it's view or it's cost. She was laying on her stomach, her arms sprawled on either side of her as her head laid on a soft pillow, staring at the alarm clock. Glowing red numbers on a black surface reminded her of glowing red eyes on black velvet. Not the eyes of a killer...

There was a knock on the door. "Rogue?" It was Kurt. Their mother had probably called him. "Rogue, can I come in?" She didn't answer. She just kept staring at the clock. Kurt let out a heavy sigh. "I'm coming in." There was a pause before the door actually opened.

Kurt peaked inside and cringed as he saw his sister staring blankly at the clock. "It's ovah, Kurt..." Rogue mumbled before turning her head into the pillow. "Great, huh?"

She felt a pressure on the side of the bed. Kurt had sat down. "Vhat happened?"

"Messed it up," Rogue mumbled. "Ah messed it up...he messed it...we both messed it up."

"You'll need to be more specific, mein schwester." Kurt told her gently. Rogue pulled herself up into a sitting position. She curled her legs up in front of her and pulled the blanket up to her chest as she hugged a pillow. She leaned her back against the head board and looked at her dark haired brother.

"People were killed because of him, Kurt," Rogue said. Her eyes were swollen and puffy. She'd been crying. "And Ah found out taday..."

Kurt's eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. "How?" Kurt asked slowly.

"Turns out because of him, there was a fire in an apartment building...and everyone died," Rogue told him in long, drawn out breaths. "Including Cal...a friend from school..." Rogue shook her head. "Ah thought momma was lying when she said Julien told her-"

"Who is Julien?"

"Remy's ex-girlfriend's brother," Rogue shrugged. "Met him and his sister today."

Kurt winced. It apparently hadn't been a very good day for Rogue. "And then what?"

"Ah asked him ta tell momma that it wasn't true," Rogue stressed. She slowly shook his head. "And he said that it was an accident-"

"So he did kill all those people?" Kurt gasped.

"He said it was an accident, Kurt!" Rogue gasped. "Remy's not a murderer! He's not! Ah know he's not!" she shouted defensively. Kurt quickly shut his mouth.

"Okay, okay..." Kurt told her calmly. "You are zure about zhat?" Rogue nodded her head. "Zhen vhat is the problem?"

"He was guilty Kurt...he felt guilty...Ah could see it in his eyes..." Rogue mumbled as her eyes lowered. She looked down at her fingers as they twisted the fabric of the pillow. "And Ah didn't do anything..." she sniffled. "Ah just stared at him...didn't say a word..."

Kurt's eyebrows came together, confused. "I'm not understanding..." he admitted in his German accented voice.

"Ah might as well have called him a murderer, Kurt!" Rogue exclaimed as tears rimmed her eyes once more. "Don'tcha get it? He needed meh then and Ah left him high and dry! Momma turned meh around and Ah went willingly. Ah didn't even look at him! Didn't ask him ta explain or offer ta hear his side of the story..." Tears gathered at her eyes as she clutched the pillow on her lap tightly. "It's like Ah abandoned him...!"

Kurt immediately reached over and gathered his sister in his arms. "Rogue...Rogue, it's not your fault..." he told her softly.

Still in his embrace, Rogue shook her head wildly. "It IS mah fault, Kurt!" Rogue sobbed as her shoulders heaved. "It was mah fault this happened! If Ah didn't blurt out that Ah loved Remy this never would've happened!"

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Vait a second, vait a second," Kurt said with a grim look as he pulled away from her slightly. "You LOVE him?"

Rogue nodded her head miserably. "Yah, Kurt...he's great..." Rogue told him, completely forgetting that Kurt just met him the night before and still thought of him as her 'stalker'. She wiped her eyes and looked at Kurt earnestly. "Yah have ta get ta know him, Kurt...he's the sweetest guy in the world! He's funny and he listens ta meh and all the girls love him. Did Ah tell yah he cooked us all dinner once? He didn't even have ta!"

"Okay, zhat's fine..." Kurt grubbed his temples to try to get his thoughts in order. He really didn't want to think about that right now. "But go back to vhy you zink it's your fault. I really don't get it," Rogue sucked in a breath and Kurt immediately regretted his words. "Sorry, Rogue, I-'

"No, no...yah're right..." Rogue insisted. "We were getting off topic..." she agreed. "I accidentally told him Ah loved him...Ah think...and when he went quiet, Ah realized what Ah did wrong..." She shook her head and gritted her teeth. "It's just like what happened with Freddy!"

Kurt's face hardened at the sound of that name. His hands balled into fists at his side as he remembered what that man had put Rogue through. "Vhat do you mean like what happened vith...HIM?" he asked in a low voice, trying to be as calm as possible.

"Ah said Ah loved Remy," Rogue said slowly. "And...Ah know it was to soon...and that Remy probably didn't even feel the same way. Ah was being clingy again-"

"No, you vere not!" Kurt growled. Rogue jerked her head up to look at her brother, who looked angry. Kurt got off the bed and began to pace the room. "Do you still believe vhat zhat bastard told you all zhose years ago?" Kurt demanded. "Rogue, it is NOT clingy or obsessive or jealous to tell zomeone you love zhem! Freddy was a jerk! He was cruel and only used you! He used it to make you feel guilty and manipulate you!"

Rogue stared at Kurt as the man paced back and forth, fuming. "But Remy..."

"Vhat did he say?" Kurt asked with a frown. "I zwear if he zaid something bad-"

Rogue was ignoring him now. Remy hadn't gotten angry, just stood there. She hadn't seen his reaction as she had immediately withdrawn. Rogue shook her head. "It doesn't matter," she stressed. "If Ah hadn't said it, Ah wouldn't have started cryin'..."

"You vere CRYING?" Kurt gasped with shock. "I vill kill him-"

"Kurt!" Rogue shouted. "Are yah even listening to me? Ah told him Ah loved him and then Ah started crying because Ah was afraid he didn't feel the same. If Ah hadn't said anything Ah wouldn't have cried and momma wouldn't have seen meh and wouldn't have said those terrible things ta him! AH hurt him, Kurt! Not the other way around! AH hurt Remy! Ah abandoned him! AH DID!"

Rogue was sobbing now and Kurt stood in the middle of the room, looking down guiltily. Rogue wrapped her arms around her knees as her shoulders rose up and down with each labored breath. Kurt's hands tightened into fists at his side before he released them. He swore slightly.

"Zen go talk to him." he told her.

Rogue slowly lifted her head from her knees, tears still streaming down her flushed face, but she was trying to get her breathing under control. "What...?"

"Go talk to him," Kurt said. He dug into his pocket and tossed her the keys to his BMW. "It'll get late soon. You better hurry."

"But...what if he doesn't wanna speak ta meh?" Rogue asked, her voice trembling. "He probably hates meh for what Ah did ta him-"

"Are you going to spend ze rest of your life vhining and vondering or are you going to go and speak to him?" Kurt demanded. Rogue stared up at him, unsure of what to do. Kurt's face softened and he sat down on the bed next to her. "At least find out, mein schwester. Don't live ze rest of your life in regret, vondering 'vhat if'."

Rogue shook her head. "Ah don't want ta see him mad a meh, Kurt...Ah won't be able ta take it if he hates meh..."

"Rogue," Kurt took his keys and pressed it into her hands. He curled her fingers around them and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Go."

"Ah don't know where he lives..." Rogue stammered.

"He vorks vid you, yah? Check ze papers from your vork." Kurt told her. Rogue nodded numbly. Kurt smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead for luck before standing up. Rogue's hand shot up and grabbed his arm.

"Kurt," she said in a shaking voice as she looked up at him. "What if...?"

Kurt sighed tiredly and moved his hand over hers. "And vhat if not?"

Jean rushed to get the phone, her hair in a towel turban. "You could've gotten it, Betsy." Jean sighed as she passed the black haired woman sitting on the couch, watching a cartoon about mutant teenagers. Jean tugged her robe closed.

"And take over this household, luv? Never." Betsy told her coolly. Jean rolled her eyes and reached for the phone.

"Hello?"

"Jean?" The voice was definitely Cajun accented, but it lacked the vibrant, lively sound it usually had.

"Remy?" Jean asked, a frown going over her face as she realized something was wrong. "Is something the matter? Where's Rogue? Is she okay?" she asked worriedly. Upon hearing those two names, Betsy put the television on mute and turned around to look at Jean.

"Don' know...isn't she dere?" He almost sounded as if he were begging. Jean looked over at Betsy with a concerned look.

"No...why? Did something happen?"

"I need t' talk t' here, Jean," Remy said in a weak voice. "I tried her cell phone, but she ain't answering...I don't know where she is..."

"Where you in a fight? Where did you last see her?" Jean asked.

Betsy groaned. Rogue had a habit of running off somewhere when she was overwhelmed with something. Once, she'd been missing for a week after a particularly bad fight with her mother. She'd gone to hide out at her 'sensei's place.

"Golden Gate Park..." Remy trailed off. "Jean, if she calls, you'll tell me, right? Please?"

Jean felt her heart twisting at the sound of Remy's voice. "Of course Rem-" she began, when a little beeping noise sounded in her ear. She looked at the little LCD screen on the phone and her eyes widened. "Remy, stay on the line! Kurt's calling! Maybe he knows!" Before Remy could answer, Jean switched lines. "Hello, Kurt?"

"Jean, about Rogue-"

"Remy just called us, he's looking for her and is freaking out."

"Does he sound mad?" Kurt asked reluctantly.

"No...desperate yes, mad no," Jean frowned. "Do you know where she went?"

Kurt looked out one of the windows of the house just in time to see his dark blue BMW peeled out of the drive way. He cringed at the sound of his tires, but decided not to call Rogue on it. "Yah," Kurt told her. "She's heading back to your apartment. She just left our mother's house in Sausalito...I talked her into talking to Remy."

"That's great!" Jean piped before pausing. "Wait...YOU talked her into TALKING to REMY?"

"Let's not get into ze details," Kurt grumbled. "Just be prepared for her."

"No problem, Kurt! Thanks!" Jean said good-bye and the switched lines. "Remy? Remy, are you still there?"

"Oui. Any word? Is she okay?" Remy asked.

Jean smiled to herself. "Can you come over in a few minutes?" Jean said as she glanced at the clock. "Rogue's coming home."

A.N. - Am I making sense with the whole thing? I'll explain Rogue's ex-boyfriend issues in the next chapter. I hope this chapter made sense...Anyway, thanks for reading, everyone!