Street Livin'

Chapter 25

Remy found himself practically sprinting to the dining room, hoping to find Rogue in there with Kurt already. As expected, she was in there, with a crowd of people around her asking if she was alright.

"Ah'm fine," she insisted to everyone at once, aggravated, with a blush on her cheeks. "Ah jus' had a momentary lapse in judgment, that's all. Ah can't be the only one who needs to get away here, can Ah?" she joked.

Ororo occupied Rogue's left side, while Kurt stood to her right. "She is fine, as you all can see. Don't you think it would be better if you spent your time congratulating her on her quick recovery instead of embarrassing her in such a manner?"

People began listening to Ororo and backed off, slowly and reluctantly retreating to their seats. While a couple glances were stolen at Rogue, people began to go back to their own business.

Ororo sat down, leaving the seat to Rogue's immediate left empty. Rogue smiled appreciatively to Ororo. "Thank ya," she whispered under the hum of the dining room chatter.

"Don't mention it. It is the least I could do," Ororo smiled warmly back. Her twinkling blue eyes caught sight of Remy coming into the room. "There's Remy now." Kurt had told the two girls that Remy was expected to come back here first. However, Piotr had found Jubilee, and Jubilee had informed Ororo of Remy's whereabouts.

Remy made his way to his seat, smiling gratefully at Ororo. "I saw what y' were doin'. Merci."

"It is only fair that she not be viewed as a victim or as a culprit. She has come a long way in the last week and we cannot let one incident ruin her welcome back."

"I agree." He took a sip of his gumbo and made a face. "Not'in' worse'n cold gumbo." He started glancing around, trying to find Amara. She had the ability to basically create fire due to her connection with the earth and the magma flowing underneath the surface. It wasn't the most indoor friendly power, but the young woman had pretty good control over it.

"Amara!" Remy called. She was sitting across the table from Kurt. She looked up, her face regal. She was nice, but she definitely had a snootiness factor about her. Everyone thought she and Emma would get along due to their princess attitudes (Amara's being more real while Emma's was more of a mindset), but the two clashed worse than the colors blue and orange.

"Y' mind tossin' a flame ball dis way? M' gumbo got cold."

She smiled, and it reminded Remy she still had a lighter side despite being almost twenty-one. "Sure!" She stood up and leaned in the direction of Remy's bowl. She placed her hands together, forming a small ball of flame in her palms. Once it had been created, she tossed it lightly into his bowl.

"Merci, p'tite." She nodded, sitting back down and continuing her conversation with Allison.

Remy swirled his spoon around in the gumbo to disperse the heat evenly. "That's not goin' ta burn it?" Rogue asked.

"Nah. Amara's been workin' on dat. Not dat she's jus' gon' use her powers f'h de good of cooled soups everywhere, but it's good t' find different ways t' use an' ot'erwise destructive power."

Ororo laughed. "What I don't understand is why you used Amara's abilities instead of your own for that. I assume that you could do that with your powers…?"

He smirked, "I ain' no cook. De last time I charged food it ended up all over someone's face," he glanced sideways to Rogue.

"An' Ah'm lucky Ah had Logan on tap or Ah would'a scarred!" Remy was referring to a time about two years beforehand when they were eating ramen noodles while playing cards. They were so focused on their intense game of Spit, they ignored their simple meal. Remy used his brilliant idea of charging some heat back into the noodles and they exploded out of the bowl and partially onto Rogue's face.

"Yeah… so after dat, I never tried it again. Don' trust myself."

"I'm sure you will figure it out soon enough. You just need practice in less dangerous circumstances," Ororo replied.

"I jus' t'ink my powers are too much on de explosive level. No big deal."

"Ororo's raht." Rogue piped up from beside him. "We'll work on that foh ya. Ya said Amara worked on her destructive power, an' we'll do the same foh you." She smiled brightly.

"Merci, chere."

Dinner continued uneventfully… well, whatever was considered uneventful for the school of mutants anyway. Kitty and Jubilee began a mini food fight, although most of the food made it onto Bobby. Kitty easily made herself intangible every time food flew in her direction, so it simply phased through her onto her poor unsuspecting boyfriend.

Dessert was served shortly after that, but it was much less formal. People grabbed whatever they wanted – ice cream, pie, cake, cookies, etcetera – and departed from the dining room.

Rogue made herself a mini sundae with cookies and cream ice cream, and lots of caramel, whipped cream, and rainbow sprinkles. She grinned as Remy dropped a cherry on top. "It's perfect," she beamed at him.

Remy nodded, agreeing full heartedly. He helped himself to three different slices of pie and a handful of cookies. "Where do y' wan' t' eat?"

"How about in the den? Ah'm sure the rec room is gon' be full of people. Ah wanna sit by the fireplace, too."

"Sounds good t' me. Lemme go tell Kurt an' 'Ro we'll be in dere."

"Actually…" she placed her free hand on his arm. "Ah jus' wanted ta talk ta you 'bout a few things."

Remy blinked. "Sure. Let's go." Her face remained calm, but Remy could feel the oncoming of a blush tinting her pale cheeks.

They made it into the den and Rogue sat on the floor near the fireplace. Remy followed suit and sat a comfortable distance away from her. "What did y' wan' talk about?" He asked after they sat in silence for a few minutes. Rogue was staring into the fireplace with a faraway look in her eyes. Remy could feel a myriad of emotions, many of them vague.

She turned to him slowly. She had tears brimming in her hopeful green eyes. "Ah've jus' been thinkin' an' wanted ta tell ya about it."

"Sure. I mean, I'm happy y' wan' talk t' me. I know y' goin' t'rough a tough time an'-" In the middle of his nervous spiel, Rogue had crawled over next to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. As soon as Remy realized where she had moved to, she began to sob.

"Ah'm sorry," she whispered after a full minute or so of crying loudly. Remy had embraced her all the while, stroking her hair and her back, telling her to let it all out.

"Why, chere?"

"Because ya've been mah human tissue too many times ta count today."

"Y' know I don' mind, dough. I jus' wan' be dere for y' as much as y'll let me."

She pulled away enough to look him in the eyes. A small smile graced her face. "You're the best, Remy." She leaned her head back onto his chest. After sighing deeply and breathing in his scent, she whispered, "Ah can't imagine livin' without you in mah life."

Remy smiled, remembering his conversation with Xavier. He'd basically said the same thing about her. He wanted to tell her how much he cared, that he had sorted out his mind and knew how he really felt, but he didn't know how she would take it. He just had to keep in mind that action spoke louder than words. "I feel de same way," he settled for saying while giving her a gentle squeeze.

Rogue smiled against his chest, basking in his bodily warmth. "Ah'll always have Kurt but sometimes Ah'm jus' not comfortable around him with some thin's…" She didn't elaborate further.

"I c'n see what y' mean." He did not go on either. A few minutes passed. Rogue didn't care that her delectable sundae was melting in front of the fire. She lost herself in the warmth of Remy's embrace. She remembered telling him that she didn't want to discuss what was said that fateful night – that she wanted to take it one step at a time. Now she wasn't so sure what she wanted to keep at the forefront of her mind.

When Remy had observed her, she had been thinking of her mother. Her mind had gone back to a time where Rogue had disliked her for the most part.

They had been walking through a department store a couple towns over from Caldecott County. It was one of the few times Victor had allowed Rogue out with her mother. After all the fights she'd gotten herself into at school, Victor had grounded her for a good portion of her third grade year.

"Momma, it smells in here," she whined as she pinched her nose with her free hand. Raven was in the process of walking her through the perfume department.

"Beth, it's not that bad," her mother replied, although her pale nose was wrinkled in disgust. "Ah jus' have ta buy the scent Victor likes."

"That scent's icky though. You should buy somethin' ya like instead."

Raven smiled wearily. "It's not that easy, sweetie."

Rogue pulled her hand out of her mother's grasp and crossed her arms over her chest. "Ah don't see how it ain't. Ah don't like him. He's mean ta me."

"He is not an' ya know it!" Raven hissed indignantly. It sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than her daughter.

Rogue pouted. They'd had this screaming fit many times before, but in the privacy of their home. Then again, it always ended with the both of them being shut up by Victor when he came home from work and heard them screaming. Raven never hit her daughter in these fights, though. She would shift from form to form to frighten Rogue enough to stand down, but only the sight of Victor completely terrified her. And Raven could never change into Victor for the sake of scaring her only daughter. The look in her green eyes ripped Raven's heart out of her chest. But then, she never attempted to do anything to help when she saw that look in Rogue's eyes.

Raven's face fell and Rogue's arms dropped to her sides. "Ah don't want ta do this anymore," her mother said.

"Then don't," Rogue replied softly.

"I wish I couldn't." Raven's pseudo accent faded. Her face fell and she avoided looking at her daughter.

Rogue suddenly dug into her pocket and pulled out a handful of loose bills and change. She reached for her mother's hands and put the money in her open palms. "Ah was gonna buy mahself some snacks later, but Ah want ya ta use it an' get yoahself somethin' you want."

Raven looked between her hands and Rogue disbelievingly. "Where did you get this?" There was about ten dollars in her hand, but it was a large amount for an eight-year-old, especially one who didn't receive a regular allowance.

"Ah've been saving," she said in a small voice. She blinked up at her mother, wondering how she would react.

A small smile reached Raven's face and for a moment her eyes flashed their natural gold. She knelt down to her daughter's height and pulled her into a gentle hug. "Thank you, Bethany." She stood up again and gave the money to Rogue. After the change was back in her pocket, Rogue took her mother's hand. "Ah want ya ta pick me out a scent. You'll know what's good foh me." Her accent was back, but the smile on her face was new and genuine.

Rogue grinned. "Okay." Moments like these were rare for both of them. Rogue pulled her over to one of the counters and began pulling out different colognes.

"Honey, these are men's perfumes," Raven explained.

"But Ah like the way they smell."

"Don't ya want Momma ta smell like a lady?"

Rogue seemed to weigh the options in her head. "Ah guess…" She was still holding one particular bottle of cologne. "This one smells really good though." She held it up for her mother to smell.

"You're raht. Maybe Ah could get it foh Victor foh Christmas."

"No! He can't wear this. It'll be ruined."

"Beth… Ah thought we were beyond that," she half groaned.

"Ah'm jus' sayin' Kurt should wear it instead. Ah want him ta smell like this."

Raven smiled again. "Then Kurt will have it. Ah hope he likes it as much as you do." Then she put the bottle back down and led Rogue to the women's fragrances.

Kurt didn't like the scent. When Rogue came to the institute, she found the bottle still in the box with only a few drops missing. Kurt said it wasn't for him, so instead, he gave it to Remy to wear when he got older.

And now Rogue was breathing in the subtle yet spicy scent of the cologne off Remy's shirt. She thought about it and realized how perfect the cologne was for him. She tried to remember if she was a big believer in fate. It seemed too good to be true that something as simple as cologne she'd picked out seven years prior would be perfect for her best friend.

But then… was he still her best friend? What was he to her now? What was she to him? When did they cross that line? Had there ever been a line to cross in the first place? Was it always meant to be just them, holding each other by the fireplace like she'd seen in so many movies and read in numerous books?

Then she thought: If Ah were ta die raht now, would Ah be completely happy? The answer became painfully obvious: no. What could Ah do ta make mahself happy? It wasn't too difficult to think of that answer either, but how would she verbalize it? Her confusion was frustrating and she wished she could find some simple way to erase it.

"Y' okay, Rogue?"

An' the empathy strikes again. "Ah have too much on mah mind."

"Wanna talk 'bout it?"

"Not yet." What is wrong with you? Ya wanna be able ta say it ta him, so say it!

Remy rested his chin on her head and smiled into her hair. "Den we'll jus' sit here a bit longer, neh?"

Why is he so patient with me? Ah would've snapped mah own head off by now!

Suddenly he felt her anger and frustration as if she had been attempting to hold it back. Luckily, Remy knew his empathy well enough to not allow Rogue's anger to become his own. "What're y' doin', chere? I'm tryin' t' help y' out but dere's somethi'in' y' not tellin' me." He said all those words without raising his voice above a warm, gentle and consoling murmur.

"Why are ya bein' so nice?" The words came out shaky and small.

"Why shouldn' I?"

Rogue sighed. "Ah don't know. Mah head is such a mess between mah powers an' mah momma…"

"I know, chere."

"But mostly it's a mess with you."

He blinked. "Me?"

She nodded. "Ah know Ah said Ah didn't want ta discuss what happened an' what was said… but mah head won't stop bringin' it forward."

"I know what y' mean."

"Ah guess Ah'm just confused as ta what we do now. How are we supposed ta act towards each other… ya know?"

Remy nodded. "I t'ink… we should jus' act de way we always have. I'm not comfortable around a lot of people, chere. If I lost dat wit' you, I don't know how I'd function in life."

"But… Ah don't know how ta say this without soundin' incredibly naïve…"

"G'head, Rogue."

"It's always been in mah mind… about touchin'." Remy nodded, urging her to go on. "Ah always thought love grew through physical contact. Jean told me one time that it's important foh mental growth when yoah mind is developin' but it's important after that, too."

"Are y' tryin' t' say y' don' understand how y' could love me, let alone anyone, if y' can' touch?" She nodded somberly against his chest. "Have y' ever tried control, chere?"

"Control?" Had she ever spoken of it, let alone thought about it? It was easy enough to just hide behind a layer of clothing and leave it at that. Her life may have been complicated, but she could hide behind her powers. They hadn't failed her until Victor had negated them. It was then she felt vulnerable, when she was without them, when she couldn't bring up the psyches of the people she'd absorbed to keep her safe.

She liked her powers, but maybe Remy was right – she never thought of control. She felt no need to.

"No," she finally answered. "Ah may not be able t' touch, but Ah like the safety of mah powers."

"Den who needs touchin'? I'm comfortable wit' y' right here like dis."

Rogue smiled and snuggled further into him. "Maybe this is all Ah ever needed."

"Jean was right, I guess." She looked up at him quizzically. "We've been doin' dis since we were kids, Rogue."

"What?"

"Dis. Cuddlin', f'r de lack of better terms."

She giggled softly. "Ya're raht."

"Direct skin t' skin contact is overrated, anyway."

"Oh is it now?" Her voice held a slightly amused tone.

Remy thought about it. "Maybe when y' not touchin' de right person."

Rogue's smile brightened. Was it selfish of her to be so happy to hear him speaking so negatively about his previous relationships, mainly Sarah? Her selfishness felt justified though. "Ah wish Ah could touch ya though," she whispered.

"We'll work on dat, chere. It ain' everyt'in' dough, 'member dat."

"Ah know," she sighed. She pulled away for a second to snatch her melting ice cream. "So… we're gonna act like we've always acted towards each other?"

"I don' see why anyt'in' should change. We… fell in love by bein' ourselves wit' each ot'er f'r so long an' I t'ink we should jus' continue doin' dat."

Rogue's heart soared. He said that we fell in love with each other… it's like one of those sappy romance movies Ah'd watch with Betsy and Kitty… but real. "Ah understand whatcha mean… one more question."

"Sure, chere."

"Does this mean you're mah boyfriend now?"

Remy smiled. "Why not? I can' imagine bein' wit' anyone else but y' now."

She giggled. "Ah never had a boyfriend befoh."

"Now, Rogue. Don' go t' town wit' dis," he snickered.

"Ah won't," she promised. "Ah'm jus' really excited this worked out. Ah wrote about it in mah journal an' it didn't make any sense… befoh everythin' happened, Ah mean."

Remy decided to skip over the fact that he'd read that portion of her journal when he'd found it by the woods. "It took me awhile t' get it sorted in m'head. Xavier told me t' wait until y' were ready t' talk about it."

"Ya talked ta the professor about it?"

Remy smirked. "Oui. Dat was random but good f'me."

It overjoyed Rogue even more that he had been as conflicted about it as she had been. "Ah'm so happy raht now." She took a bit of her ice cream before putting the bowl back on the floor.

"I know y' are."

"Are ya happy too?"

He held her closer. "Course I am." I couldn' be any happier right now, he thought to himself. Being able to tell her was so much easier than keeping it bottled inside. It helped that Rogue was bubbling with joy. She fueled him with her happiness, much like she'd done when they first moved to the institute.

-----

Time passed. Remy wasn't sure how long he sat there holding her. It felt like a dream. He felt afraid that at any moment he'd wake up, alone in his bed, cold from the loss of heat emanating against him from Rogue and the fireplace. He glanced down and noted she had fallen asleep, an angelic smile curving her lips slightly. A few loose tendrils of white hair framed her face, adding to her child-like beauty.

He didn't see her as a fifteen-year-old though. He saw Rogue. Age was simply a number. It meant nothing about mental maturity. And as far as Remy was concerned, Rogue's mental age was older than his. But everything was an estimated number and Remy disliked numbers. Math was his least favorite subject, remember?

"Momma…" he suddenly heard her murmur. Her eyes were still shut and she still had the smile gracing her face. She was dreaming.

-----

Rogue was again in the department store, posing slightly in front of a mirror. She reached for the cologne bottle off the counter next to her, showing her mother again. Raven was in her natural form, looking at Rogue from inside the mirror.

"Yes, sweetie?"

She sprayed the cologne into the air and sniffed it, smiling. "He loves me."

"Aww, honey, that's wonderful." Raven appeared very enthused and genuinely happy for her daughter. "Do you love him back?"

"Ah do."

"Then life is well." Her dark blue lips curved into a simple smile that reflected Rogue's own expression.

"Momma…" she stepped up to the mirror and placed her hand on it. "Did ya really love Victor?"

Her mother's smile faded and her head dropped. "I did… in the beginning…" she trailed off.

"There's somethin' ya're not tellin' me," Rogue prompted.

"There was someone else…"

"Someone else? Who?"

"Ah don't know if Ah should say…" Her voice leaked of Rogue's accent. Her appearance in the mirror was fading.

"Momma, tell me!" Rogue demanded.

Raven shifted quickly into the person for a split second before disappearing. Rogue gasped loudly and it echoed in her dreamscape. She woke up with a shake and startled Remy. Immediately he asked "Y' okay?"

She glanced around wildly and connected her gaze with Remy. She calmed down after staring into his mesmerizing red eyes for a few moments. "Ah need ta talk ta Kurt."

"'Bout y' dream?"

She nodded. "How did ya know?"

"Y' were talkin' in y' sleep." She hadn't spoken a word aloud after 'momma' had escaped her lips, but it was fairly obvious who the dream had been about.

"Oh." She didn't know if she usually talked in her sleep. Maybe it was something she'd picked up from her mother.

"C'mon, y' should go find him." He steadied her as she stood up and then got himself up as well.

"Ya don't wanna come along?"

"Y' want me to?" She nodded shyly. "Sure. Let's stop off at de kitchen t' drop off dese dishes an' we'll find him."

"All raht." She extended her gloved hand after she had picked up her bowl with the other hand. Remy took it, smiling. They left the den, noting people were still around. They greeted several people and were congratulated for their recoveries. About ten minutes later, they finally made it to the kitchen. Jamie, Allison and Lorna were working on cleaning up the dishes and putting away leftovers.

"Hey, y'all," Rogue greeted. Allison was the youngest of the three cleaners, having moved to the institute only a year or so after the southerners. She was a few months older than Rogue, but their close ages allowed for the two to have a small friendship. They weren't the best of friends, but on occasion, Allison would invite Rogue to go out with her and a couple other people. Rogue usually turned down any offers to leave the institute, but the thought was always appreciated.

The blonde turned and smiled. "Hey." She was in the middle of rinsing off a plate and putting it into one of the few dishwashers in the kitchen.

There were three Jamies milling about the kitchen, one putting food in the refrigerator, another helping Allison with dishes and a third carrying food and dishes in from the dining room with Lorna. All three turned to the southerners and waved shyly before returning to their separate duties. Jamie was 21, but still had the cuteness of a 12 year old.

"What did you need?" Allison asked after she accepted more dishes from Jamie.

"Lookin' foh mah brother. Have ya seen him?"

Lorna spoke up from the doorway. "Saw him with Alex and Ororo about five minutes ago. They were heading towards the rec room." She began floating silverware from the dining room into the kitchen with her magnetic powers, wary of the other students present. She gently placed them down in the sink for Allison to take care of.

Rogue smiled in her direction. "Thanks."

Allison dumped the silverware into the holder in the washer, her eyes fixed on Rogue and Remy's clasped hands. Her eyes flashed a quick grin at Rogue before turning back to the dishes. "Let them know I'll be down for karaoke in a few minutes," she called over her shoulder.

"Sure." Rogue squeezed Remy's hand in her own and then turned to leave the kitchen. Her pace quickened as they walked to the rec room.

"Y' sure y' okay?" Remy asked as he matched her pace.

"Ah just need ta talk ta him. Ah rather say it once instead of repeatin' mahself, ya know?" Remy nodded, keeping pace with her at no trouble.

They entered the rec room and Rogue all but leapt across the room onto Kurt. "Ah need ta talk ta you," she panted after she'd scared the hell out of him.

Kurt blinked once at Rogue, then at Remy in the doorway. "Sure…" he glanced to Alex and Ororo, excusing himself. Rogue took his hand hastily and all but dragged him off the floor and onto his feet. Once they were out the door, Kurt asked "What is this about, Rogue?"

"When ya came ta visit, did anyone ever come down with ya?" She asked in return bluntly.

Kurt thought for a moment. "Logan usually came down with me for supervision, but he usually wasn't around when I was at home with you."

"Where was Momma when you would be playin' with me?"

Kurt opened his mouth to answer, but then shut it. "Wait. You can't possibly mean-"

"Unless mah dream is lyin' ta me," she replied softly.

"But that doesn't make sense! And it was just a dream, Rogue."

"Momma is with me in mah head, Kurt! She wouldn't lie ta me!"

"Mon ami…" Remy began saying to Kurt. "Remember what y' told me 'bout when y' were outside dat night with y' maman's body?"

Kurt blinked again. "But… why would she do that? Why would he do that?"

"Only one way ta find out." Rogue began running from them.

"Where are you going?" Kurt yelled after her.

"Findin' Logan!"

BAMF! "It'll take you forever to find him," he responded after teleporting in front of her.

"Ah've gotta know though. Ah won't be able ta rest until Ah find out foh sure," she wrinkled her nose as the smoke around her dissipated, but otherwise didn't react to her brother's sudden teleportation.

Remy jogged up from behind them. "I haven' even seen him since my session earlier t'day. He was pro'bly involved in de search for y', but now dere's no tellin' where he might be."

Rogue thought for a moment. "Where was he sent to when it came ta lookin' foh me?"

"Xavier said he was gon' send him outside t' by de woods incase y' teleported dere."

"Chances of him still bein' out there?"

"That particular spot? Pretty slim."

"But where else," Rogue hinted, hoping the boys would soon catch on.

It occurred to Kurt first. "Mom's grave?"

"Why not? He'll have already been outside, an' if he's mournin' like ya say he is, then why would he have come back inside ta deal with people?"

"She's got a point, mon ami." He placed his hand on Kurt's shoulder. "Do y' mind takin' us out?"

Rogue froze for a moment after her brother extended his hand towards hers. "Ah haven't seen it yet."

"De grave?" She nodded somberly. "Now dat y' mention it… neit'er have I. I never made it out back dere."

Kurt's golden eyes became downcast for a moment. "Xavier made sure that it would be the best burial he could give her. The ceremony was really nice as well."

Upon hearing this, Rogue's eyes filled with tears. "Do ya think he's out there?"

Kurt thought a moment before responding. "He has been brooding more than usual these days. I wouldn't be surprised if we went out and he was there."

"We should go then," Rogue decided, sliding her gloved hand into her brother's.

The three teleported outside a moment later. Kurt had taken them to a place not too far from the grave site. The form huddled near the tombstone was unmistakable, especially when he whipped around at the sound of their arrival. Remy could see anger in Logan's eyes at Kurt's apparently rude intrusion, but when his cold eyes fell on Rogue, fear and sadness Remy was not prepared for belted into him. He gasped at the intensity of the sudden emotions.

"Remy?" Rogue asked, concerned.

"I'm fine. Go."

She nodded and turned back to Logan. She took a deep breath and began walking slowly towards the older man. He had been about 30 feet away and it seemed to take forever. When she finally reached him, she looked past him to her mother's tombstone. It was simple, though the white and black marble glistened in the moonlight. The white snow surrounding the area reflected the light in such a way it seemed like the slab of stone glowed.

Her eyes couldn't help but pool with tears at the sight of her mother's resting place. No one had known her with the exception of those standing in the yard at that moment, and yet, she'd been given the space to rest in peace. It moved Rogue deeply and her guilt at not talking to her mother sooner took over.

Her tears spilled onto her cheeks, shining in the same light that brought so much heavenly radiance to the grave. She walked past Logan to stand directly in front of the tombstone. Remy and Kurt took a few steps forward to close the space between the quartet, but gave Rogue the space she needed.

She ran her hands across the name engraved into the marble. Raven Darkholme. Her birth date and date of death underneath. And in smaller letters, the words Mother, Lover, and Friend. The last word made her smile. So maybe more people had known Raven at the institute. Rogue knew she'd love to hear stories if there were any to be told.

"Look… kid," Logan tried to begin.

"Don't call me 'kid'," Rogue said softly. He only nodded in compliance. "Why didn't you ever say anythin' about it?" she offered instead of the awkward silence that threatened to follow.

However, Logan was silent for awhile. Remy and Kurt found themselves holding their breath. They were afraid they would have been slaughtered by Logan if he even heard the slightest exhale from fifteen feet away.

Rogue tore her gaze away from the grave to stare at Logan coolly. She was beginning to tremble, realizing that coming out into the dead of January with just a long sleeved t-shirt and jeans was not the brightest idea. Her socks were saturated with freezing water from the snow she'd stepped in. She didn't need to glance to the boys to know they were feeling the same way.

"Do you want to go inside and talk about this?" This was the most calm Remy had ever seen the older man, and to be honest, it was frightening him a bit. Logan was never one to speak with a soft voice, or be cornered, let alone by a 15-year-old girl.

Rogue nodded, shivering. Logan extended his hand to her, and she took it, realizing how cold she really was. Logan's rough hand was warm and inviting around her freezing appendages despite her gloves. With a last gentle glance to the grave, she mentally promised her mother she'd be back, better prepared for the outdoor conditions of the season. Her teeth were chattering by the time they'd reached Remy and Kurt. Remy was rubbing his arms to keep warm while Kurt seemed perfectly fine. An advantage to having soft fur, he'd always told Rogue.

"But it must be a pain in the summer, Ah'm sure," she'd counter right back with a gleeful smirk.

And of course, she was right.

They were inside of few minutes later. Kurt had teleported inside to grab Rogue warmer clothes. He had offered to take everyone indoors, but Logan had declined. And Rogue wasn't about to let him out of her sight, so she trudged through the snow as well. Remy was undecided about going with Kurt, so instead he opted to follow Logan and Rogue.

Once indoors, Kurt was waiting with socks, slippers, and a robe for his sister. With a grateful smile, she peeled off her saturated socks and with help from Remy so she wouldn't fall over, replaced the socks with new, dry ones. She quickly slipped the robe and slippers on while Kurt tossed socks at Remy. He nodded his thanks and changed his socks as well. Kurt had already put on new clothes in his search.

"Oh," Kurt suddenly said and disappeared. About ten seconds later, he was back with a tray of mugs and a bottle of beer, wearing a sheepish grin. "I asked Jean to make cocoa… She suggested the beer for you, though," he motioned towards Logan.

"Thanks," he said roughly, but did not take the bottle.

Rogue reached for a mug and held it with both gloved hands. She smiled up at Kurt. "You didn't opt for a beer?" she asked, knowing that even though he was months away from turning 21, he still enjoyed a beer here or there while hanging out with his friends.

"Nah. Cocoa would hit the spot right now."

Remy took his mug and sipped the hot liquid. "Definitely hits de spot." He handed Logan his beer so Kurt could take the tray back.

"So where do you want to talk?" Logan asked.

"Some where no one would think of going right now," Kurt mused.

"I'd say de danger room den." Rogue and Kurt gave Remy a strange look. "What? De only person dat goes in dere on his own is Logan. An' I doubt Scott would be runnin' a session now."

"Good thinkin', Gumbo," Logan commented gruffly. The awkwardness radiating off the older man was filling the room with an uneasy tension that Remy wasn't the only one bothered by. Rogue was shifting back and forth on her feet and looking down at her cup of coca. Kurt was sipping the cocoa to look calm, but he couldn't stop his tail from anxiously twitching.

He lifted his attention from his mug and asked "Should I take us down?" All three expressed yes. Logan was obviously contemplating exactly how he was going to explain his relationship to Raven Darkhome to her children, so his response was a simple nod.

Rogue carefully held her mug in one hand and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder. Logan and Remy gently grabbed his other shoulder as well.

Kurt concentrated and with a thought, they disappeared.

TBC…