Full apology is at the bottom, but I would like to mention just how sorry I am. Two months is a hell of a long time, and I apologize. I shouldn't have made you guys wait. Thank you for your reviews and emails. I appreciated them all greatly. Now, moving on, scroll down and you'll see the latest chapter!

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WEIRD: adj. Of, relating to, or suggestive of the preternatural or supernatural; of a strikingly odd or unusual character; strange. n. Fate; destiny; one's assigned lot or fortune, especially when evil.

xxx

He was floating.

He was drifting upwards, towards a spectacular, beautiful, white light. In the distance, far off, in the misty fog, he could hear voices. No, only one voice. Tainted with a southern accent, urgent, shrill, and filled with concern.

"Remy! REMY!"

He began to move towards it. Closer and closer, his feet above the mist, he edged slowly, until…

BAM!

His eyelids flittered and then violently burst open. Bright lights… blue and some white. What the…?

He could hear high heels, a flash of red hair….

Where the fuck was he?

He was lying on something, looking up at a startling bright light. He wanted to sit up, butanother presence had became aware to him. A woman, clad in a white coat, was standing next to him She wasn't looking at him, however; seemed to be concentrating on something else. Her hand was stretched outwards, as if beckoning something.

He had to get out of here!

That was the first thought that sprung to his mind, and he was in no mood to disobey it. White coats only meant one thing. One thinghe hated, even as a child.

He closed his eyes quickly as the woman, turned and descended upon him. He waited until her could feel her soft touch on his arms, then froze as something sharp touched him…

A syringe.

Quickly he shot up, grabbed and held her around the neck, twisting some of the wires attached to him around it.

She spluttered, he held up, dragging him down towards to her, and then quite abruptly let go, racing through the steel doors, at the end of the room, without a backwards look.

The door slid closed behind him.

Breathing heavily, still amazed by what he had done, he regarded the scene meeting him suspiciously.

He was in a tube corridor of some sort. It was silver with white fluorescent lights lining the walls and ceiling. All the doors… if you could call them that… were dark gray with solid 'x's marking them. They had no knobs, and like the one he had just exited, were circular and smooth. They must slid open, but how to open them?

He glanced wildly around. Where to go? Annoyed, he pulled off the remaining wires attached to him and started cautiously down the silver tube hall. It reminded him of something straight out of a futuristic science-fiction movie. He felt suddenly cold and then realized he had no shirt on. He had to find some clothes.

He began to walk steadily, but slowly down the gray walkway.

Where's he going?

He turned wildly. A voice, kind of soft… But no one was there… With one last look, he continued.

At the end of the hall, he found himself, staring at a semi-circular wall, filled with tubes. In it were uniforms of some sort, lighted. They were composed of black leather and had the same 'x' logo. He decided to ignore him. This was getting way too weird for words.

Next to them was a set of cream closest. He pulled it roughly open, but only to find himself staring down at a pile of neatly folded jumpsuits, placed on even dividers.

Not very stylish… but beggars couldn't be choosers, non?

Where are you going?

The voice was louder this time. Like it was taking to him. It seemed to echo. He was seriously freaked out. The humour that normally inspired him seemed to all but disappear. And his leg was beginning to throb.

He quickly scanned around and hid behind a section of wall, that seemed to be protruding, and looked around.

Then there was a swish, and white light streamed through an opening next to him.

An elevator!

Over here!

"S'ut up!" he glared, edging along the wall nervously. The hesitating, he jumped in. What was there to lose?

A lot it seemed.

The door whirled closed before he could think, and then suddenly whooshed upwards. When it opened he was hesitant.

So slowly, he stepped out. His first thought was that he had walked straight into somebody's home. He was a in a corridor of some sort, wooden panel walls, shining tiles, mirrors, pot plants, many lights… It was such a stark contrast to the floor he had been on before, that he had to pinch himself to make sure he was not dreaming.

He began to continue his plight, limping ever so slightly. He had to get out here. He had to find her. Last thing he remembered was throwing those cards at that big feral man, her screaming through the locked door, him moving towards her, then being thrown…-

Where are you going?

This way!

That voice! Again!

He began to run now. Faster. His bare feet kicked the ground angrily.

He backed against a window, and spied a dark wooden door, framed by two vases. Could that be the exit? He sprung to it, but it was locked.

Then he heard noises. He ran, then stupidly realized he was running towards the noises, quickly stopped, and swerved behind a pillar. There was a flight of stairs, just across, and he could hear footsteps slowly descending….Until he could finally see whom it was.

Teenagers… kids around and under his age. God, he was being stupid. His body relaxed. It was nothing to be scared of. Yet, at the same time, something unnerved him. The simplicity of kids, joking, laughing, comparing notes, jostling down the stairs and past the corridor, while he was scared shitless, was weird.

Very weird. It reminded him of a school.

First a home, now a school….

He laughed softly, then, "A boarding school!"

Then he frowned. What the?

Cautiously he poked his head out. He blinked at the brightness of the sunlight filtering in through the windows. Where were his sunglasses?

The coast was clear though, and he slowly edged out.

He ran. Yet, again. And opened the first door he saw. He rushed in and closed it, before turning and examining the room.

He froze.

He stared.

He was is a study of some sort. There were large arched windows at the back wall, a blackboard near. Behind a curved desk filled with books, and what not, sat a kindly looking bald man in a wheelchair. Sitting on blue chairs, surrounding him, with books balanced perilously on their laps, were yet more students. But there was something about these students…

The students stared back, but the man in the wheelchair smiled softly at him, "Good morning, Remy."

Remy just continued staring back in complete shock. He was beginning to feel very much like Alice in Wonderland, tumbling through the rabbit hole, and into a very strange unknown.

"So, I'd like your definitions of weak and strong follicle principles on Wednesday. That will be all," the old man was saying to his students.

The students hurried to grab their belongings and left, each one carefully ignoring Remy on their way out.

A girl in a blue sweater reached the door, and then turned back, and grabbed her bag, "Bye Professor."

"Bye Kitty."

Then she proceeded to run through the closed door.

Remy's eyes widened. He opened his mouth and closed. He imagined he looked very much like a goldfish. And he thought he had gifts.

"Physics," the man held up a book and rolled out from the desk, towards him, "I'm Charles Xavier. Would you like some breakfast?"

Remy was still in too much shock, 'W'ere am Ah?" He finally managed to speak.

"Westchester, New York. You were attacked. My people brought you back here for medical attention."

"Remy doesn' need medical attention," he said haughtingly, just as his leg began to act up again.

"Yes, of course," Charles smiled.

"W'ere's Marie?" Remy asked rudely.

"Rogue? She's here. She's fine."

"Really?" Remy asked in disbelief.

For a second, Charles seemed to look slightly troubled. Then there was a loud clicking noise.

Remy turned around to see that the door had opened, yet again. Standing elegantly, framed in the doorwat, was an African looking woman with long thick white hair. Next to her stood an uptight looking guy, wearing red shades; his hands behind his back. Remy sensed something about him.

"Ah, Remy, I'd like you to meet Ororo Munroe, also called Storm. –

"Hello," the woman interrupted warmly. He voice was soft, tangible, and he couldn't help but smile back in return.

"This is Scott Summers. Also called Cyclops," Charles finished.

The stiff looking guy stuck out his hand. Remy didn't respond. Scott looked uncomfortable and withdrew his hand, with his head bowed.

"They saved your life," Charles reminded him quietly.

The soft clicking of heels was heard. Remy turned warily back towards the door, not sure if he wanted to know, who was coming to join them. The redhead woman was there. She didn't smile at him, and looked quite serious as she walked into the center of the room.

"I believe you've already met Doctor Jean Grey."

She raised her eyebrows, and he flushed slightly, remembering his attack, "Sorry."

"You're in my school for the gifted. For mutants. You'll be safe here from Magneto," Charles went on.

"W'at's a Magneto?" Remy asked stupidly, before he could stop himself.

"A very powerful mutant who believes that a war is brewing between mutants and the rest of humanity. I've been following his activities for some time. The man who attacked you was an associate of his called Sabretooth."

"Sabretooth?" Remy repeated unbelievably, "Storm. Cyclops." He clicked his fingers after every word.

"W'at do dey c you? W'eels?" Remy smiled but when no one else did, he shrugged, "Je'mapelle Gambit."

Scott sent Charles, almost as if to say, Remy imagined, who the hell is this freak?

Not that he looked like the type that would use that choice of words.

Remy chucked, "Dis is the stupidest ding Remy 'as ever 'eard."

"Do you have anywhere else to go?" Charles inquired gently, and when he did not answer: "And what about Rogue? Don't you want to see her?"

Remy didn't say anything. He looked towards the ground. The Professor had a point. He had nowhere to go. And if he did, he would not leave without her. But they were strangers to him. He did not even know if Marie was safe. Just because these people were mutants, did not mean they were friendly. He mentally shuddered at the image of the needle Doctor Grey had trying to enforce on him.

"Remy?" Charles asked.

He shook his head slightly, and bit his lip, "I don't know."

"Then, please let me at least show you around."

xxx

"This is your room."

Marie blinked her eyes and slowly turned to Kitty, "Mah room?"

"Well yeah, you'll be like sharing it with me and Jubilee like half lives here, but there is still like a lot of space, trust us. Uh, you okay?"

Marie felt like she needed a drink, and perhaps a cigarette. She wasn't too into those sorts of things, but sometimes a release was good for you.

Just as before, they had arrived just in time. The X-Men. Charged the door, red lasers everywhere. … Too hysterical too remember much…. Very unlike her.. Too worried about him though… Sabretooth just managed to disappear. She had taken a ride in the Blackbird. She could have flown it herself, actually, come to think of it, done the landing better than Scott… She could have shown the way into the mansion better than him even! There was a reason why the Professor often asked her to show new students around. Used to, she corrected herself, that was in the past.

After all, this was all way too strange. She had lived at the fucking mansion for three years! She didn't need anybody telling her where the bathrooms were, where the classrooms were, where the kitchen was, what the damn curfews were… and she especially did not need Katherine Pryde, out of all the people in the mansion, to be showing her these things. Kitty…

Aged fifteen and a half, code-named after a stupid mermaid, and still just as naïve, Marie missed her dearly. But she missed the old Kitty. And the good thing was that there was a somewhat noticeable difference between these Kitty's, meaning she could distinct that this was clearly not reality. The old Kitty said less likes for starters, and was more serious, with a slightly darker sense of humour. Same with the teachers; all seemed somewhat different, she had noted. They all seemed… well happier, she guessed, and less grim.

She had noticed that in class, as yet again, she painstakingly relived her education. Bobby was there too, to make matters even worse.

He had tried talking to her. She had ignored him, but he was so persistent, that she didn't how she was going to last another day with him around. Maybe she could tell him she was a lesbian. Except that would be way too weird.

But the strangest thing was anything but a thing. It was a person.

You see, Jean Grey was alive. Healthy, breathing… She was here. She was not dead. It was just… oh… she couldn't – didn't know where to begin. I mean, just yesterday she was at school, learning. Until Mystique had barged in… oh dear god, she had forgotten about that!

There was someone else missing, too. Logan. She mentally swore. She missed him so badly. How the fuck would this timeline turn out without him? She needed him!

She needed him.

She needed Remy. She hadn't been allowed to see him, but had not been expecting anything else. She wanted to know if he was okay, how he was doing, what was on his mind. More importantly, though, she had to talk to him. Marie had come to the conclusion that she couldn't do this by herself anymore. The time had come to trust him with her secret. They had gone through so much in such a little space of time, that it was right for her to be truthful. He would be mad at her for lying, but he would get over it, and he would support her, and help. Yes, that was it, she would go, now, find him, talk to him…

Then, perhaps she would talk to the Professor. He was a telepath; he would have to believe her. He could her get back. Maybe he could even explain what the hell she was doing here.

"You can decorate it anyway you like," Kitty grabbed her gloved hand and pulled her into the cramped room, as she interrupted Marie's train of thought, "Your bed, I mean. And the walls like around it."

Marie opened her mouth…

"Oooh, come on! Dinner starts like soon! I'll like show you the cafteria," Kitty gibbered happily, dragging Marie, once more, out of the room.

Marie sighed. If she wanted to see Remy she would have to sneak out tonight.

She knew what room he would be in.

xxx

"Swamp Rat?"

Remy muttered something incomprehensible under his breath and turned over. She clicked her tongue in irritation. The room was dark, however he had left the curtain open, and shadows lingered from the full moon reminiscing outside.

He, Remy LeBeau, lay curled up in his blankets, his hair tousled…

She shook her head. This was not the time for this. She had way too many things on her mind. She didn't know where to start.

Well, she could start with the fact that this was actually Logan's room. How many times had she been in here? It was exactly the same, even, because the wolverine never felt the urge to put up decorations. It was so unreal…

"Remy!" she snapped sharply, pulling off his covers off roughly. Anything to distract her.

His eyes opened suddenly. The red flickered in the hazy gloom.

"Chere?" he said weakly, blinking several times. Stretching, he slowly sat up. She noticed he had no shirt on. And then scolded herself for noticing.

Marie didn't bother to correct him, "Ah need tah speak tah you."

He smiled softly, though he was still trying hard to revive himself, "'Nything fah y'petite."

He lightly stroked her hair. She pulled away.

"No, this is important," Marie said firmly.

He brought his face closer to hers, "Really?"

She sighed. Just as she had decided this was the good time to start telling the truth, he had to go and confuse everything up.

In years later, she would often wonder why he did it. Was it because he was still half-asleep? Was it that he couldn't resist temptation anymore? Was it because of the way she was sitting on his bed? Because, at that precise moment, as she was fidgeting with her hands trying to ignore his close proximity whilst thinking of the right words to say, he –

He kissed her. Caught her by surprise. He kissed her toxic lips.

Granted, on reflex, she should have pushed him away. But, instead, she opened her mouth, pressing deeper. It just felt so right. Her hands played with his hair. His hands came up from under the sheets. She moved forward. He gasped…

Gasped?

Shit. She pulled away. Oh fuck…

"Remy?" she grabbed him by the shoulders, trying to ignore the bulging veins. How could she do this again? She had been so lost in the moment; no she couldn't use that as an excuse! She had been irresponsible! Fucking hell, couldn't she do anything right?

In response, though, the Cajun dropped towards the ground. It would have been funny. It would have been, had he been breathing.

She screamed, "Can anyone help me?"

Voices. Then feet began to pound towards the room. She desperately tried to revive him; yet couldn't even touch him.

A crowd arrived,at the door fronted by the three teachers of the school. The students stood helplessly, transfixed by the scene. Marie tearfully moved back, fearful of coming close to anyone else.

Jean immediately took control of the situation.

"Get a pillow," she instructed Scott sharply.

Storm turned and gravely looked at Marie, who had tears streaming silently down her cheeks.

"It was an accident," she whispered, "Ah never meant tah."

How many more times would she have to utter those words?

A/N: First I hope nobody misunderstood me with my last notice. I meant I wanted 100 reviews altogether, not 100 reviews for the one chapter! I'm sorry about the two-month wait, really I am, but a lot of things have been going on in my life, and this wasn't on the top of my things to do. Sorry. And I mean it, I shouldn't have made you guys wait so long. I didn't even think it had gotten to two months! God, I'm feeling really guilty. To top it off, when I did finish this chapter, wasn't working and I couldn't sign in. This chapter may not be as good as the others, mainly because of the slow beginning but also because I wanted to get it up as soon as I could, so there may be some mistakes, but I will go back and fix them, if there are any. Anyway thank you to everyone for your beautiful reviews! Oh btw, a special thanks to the person who mentioned that I had gotten a birthstone mixed up :-)