Chapter 7

The next day Rogue walked into the studio with her bruise barely concealed by make-up. Remy walked up and put his arm around her shoulders while whispering in her ear, "Remy hopes you are ready for some extra attention because everyone wants to know what happened last night."

Rogue nodded. She had already been through this with Lexa when she saw the bruise this morning. Walking into the meeting room she was quickly swarmed by her friends with questions.

"What happened?"

"Are you alright?"

"Did you get the license plate of the car that hit you?"

Everybody turned to look at John. "What? I was just trying to lighten the mood. You guys act like she almost died. Now how about we back off and let her tell us what happened?"

"John's right. Ah'm fine just a little bruised. Joseph decided to come back and pay Remy and ah a little visit. Ah just happened to get between the two of them when Joe went to hit Remy. It's not as bad as it looks. By the time the competition gets here ah should be able to cover it up with some make-up. Now let's get today started because ah have a lot of work to do with my students and my partner."

Ororo nodded before giving everyone their schedules for the day. "Don't forget that Friday night is a little party for the contestants. Everybody should be at the hotel at 5 p.m. to help set up. Any questions?" When everybody just shook their heads she finished off her list of things to discuss and dismissed them to get ready for their days.

In the changing room Kitty walked up to Rogue who was putting her practice shoes on. "Are you like really alright Rogue? You were pretty shaken up last night."

"Ah'm fine Kit. Remy got me home and stayed until Lex got there. What happened last night was a mistake and it won't happen again."

"I know that it won't happen again because it Joseph so much as shows his face around any of us they are going to have to call in a dentist to identify the remains. Especially if Remy sees him." Wanda muttered as she gave herself a final look before heading out the door for her first lesson.

Rogue just shook her head and got up to follow her. "Don't worry about me Kit. You know it takes a lot more then a bruise to keep me down. Remy and ah will give you and Pete a run for your money this weekend." Giving Kitty a wink as she walked out of the room she told herself that she really would be fine. After all she had Remy to watch out for her. And whether the others knew it or not she could take care of herself. She had trained with Logan who had taught her self-defense.

XxX

The rest of the week went by in a blur of activity getting ready for the competition and still trying to fit in all their classes. Before anybody knew it, it was Friday and they were all getting ready to head over to the hotel where the party for all the entrants to help them relax before the big day.

"Wow, I can hardly believe that the competition is tomorrow. I am like so nervous."

"Don't worry about it Kit. Ah've seen you and Pete practicing and ah know that you are ready for that competition."

"It's too bad that the others couldn't come. It would be a lot of fun for Bets and them to be here with us."

"I have to agree with Kitty. It's too bad Betsy and Warren couldn't at least make it. Betsy always makes it a little interesting with her sarcastic little comments on the side." Wanda said as she walked in with John. They all started working on the seating arrangements knowing that they had to be careful who they sat beside whom to keep cat fights from breaking out. As Remy was setting out some table decorations he noticed one of the names on the cards. 'Merde, Remy was hoping never to see her again. Wonder who her unlucky partner is.' Turning around he almost collided with Rogue. "Sorry chere wasn't paying attention to where Remy was going."

Rogue smiled at him and then noticed that he looked a little distracted. "What's on your mind sugah?"

"Nothing chere, Remy just noticed dat he knew one the contestants dat were going to be here tonight."

"Really? Should ah be worried?" Rogue teased trying to lighten the mood a little.

"Non chere, you never have to worry about Remy wandering. If you would like we could slip in the back and Remy could show you how little you have to worry about it." Remy smirked at the blush that colored her checks at his little suggestion.

"Swamp rat ah have work to do so you should get your mind out of the gutter and get back to work yaself." With that Rogue turned and headed back to the kitchen to pick up more decorations.

Knowing that he was pressing his luck he followed her into the kitchen. Looking around he noticed that there was nobody else there for the moment. Taking advantage of her distraction Remy walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Remy would like a kiss from the belle femme dat is going to win the competition tomorrow."

Turning around in his arm Rogue looked up into his beautiful red and black eyes. "Have ah told you how much ah love your eyes?"

Taken a little by surprised by the comment Remy thought back. "Non, Remy don't tink dat anybody has ever said dat dey liked Remy's eyes."

Rogue looked a little saddened by that comment. "Well, ah love them and think that they are absolutely beautiful." After saying that she rose up and kissed him. Remy was taken by surprise by her comment and then the kiss but he quickly got over it and deepened the kiss. They were still kissing when Wanda walked into the kitchen.

"Ahem. There are other people here. Maybe you would like to get a room for before the party?" Wanda asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Rogue pulled back looking a little flustered while Remy just grinned at Wanda. "Dat, chere, is a wonderful idea. Would you mind covering for us with Stormy?"

Rogue hit him in the arm. "He's just kidding Wanda. We have work to do and ah think that it is past time to get back to it." Rogue turned and picked up the decorations she had come for and walked back into the dining room.

Remy scowled at Wanda for a second before saying, "You have rotten timing." With that said he grabbed some stuff to put out and walked out of the kitchen to follow Rogue.

Wanda smirked knowingly and then collected what she came for and headed back out to finish helping set up the dance floor and music for tonight. 'Tonight should be an exciting night,' Wanda thought as she walked up to John.

Kitty walked over to where Peter was walking around looking a little lost. "What's on your mind?"

Peter jumped like somebody had just shot him. When he spun around he saw Kitty standing in front of him. He walked over and gave her a quick hug and kiss. "Nothing is wrong Katya. I guess I am just a little more nervous about tomorrow then I thought."

Kitty just nodded and looked up at her boyfriend. Without knowing why she did it she reached up a put her hand on his cheek. "You know I love you right?"

"Da Katya, I know that. I love you too." After saying that Peter leaned down and pulled her in for a sizzling kiss.

Wanda saw this from across the room and turned to John, "What is with all the mush going on around here. Every time I turn around somebody is kissing somebody."

John looked over at her and asked, "Jealous Sheila?"

"No, just getting tired of people's PDAs."

John shook his head and said, "I think that you are jealous and I should fix the problem." With that he reached over and pulled her in for a kiss. When he broke it off he was surprised when Wanda hit him across the chest.

"I told you that I was not jealous."

"Well, not anymore because I took care of the problem," John said with a shake of his head and smug smile on his face.

Wanda shook her head and noticed the time. "Alright people," she called out, "the others will be arriving soon so let's get the finishing touches on the tables and get ourselves changed." At that everybody finished what they were doing and were heading towards to rooms reserved for them to get changed in.

As the party went on everybody seemed to be having a good time. There were always some people who thought that they were better then everyone else and tended to flit from group to group bragging about the contests they had won since they last saw them. As the night progressed Peter was looking for the chance to talk to Kitty alone. Finding a balcony that wasn't taken by someone else Peter quickly asked her to join him for a breath of fresh air.

Kitty walked out onto the balcony and looked around at the city outside. "It's wonderfully quiet out here compared to in there. I'm glad that you suggested that we come out here for a while."

Peter nodded as he wrapped his arms around her. "Katya, you are a wonderful person with a very large and loving heart. You have become a very important part of my life and I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

Kitty turned around to look into his blue eyes. "Peter I love you and you don't have to worry about losing me because I am not going anywhere."

"I am so glad to hear that Katya because I have something I want to ask you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Piotr asked as he took out a ring box with a beautiful heart shaped diamond set in yellow gold.

"Oh Peter it is absolutely beautiful and of course I will marry you!" Kitty exclaimed as she looked at the ring and then gave Piotr a big kiss.

Piotr grinned at the petit brunette as she put the ring on her finger. It really was a beautiful ring. He had had to have it specially made for her because he couldn't find one in the stores that he wanted to get her. It's was a ¾ carat diamond and the band was wider then a normal engagement ring order to get a little swirl down each side with three tiny pink tourmalines decorating the swirls. Kitty admired the ring a little longer before exclaiming, "Oh, I have to go tell everyone the good news and show off my ring come on Peter!" Smiling at his fiancé he let her drag him over to the table that was housing their friends.

While the girls drooled over the ring Peter was getting congratulations from the guys. Since everybody was busy looking at the ring and congratulating the couple they didn't see the redhead that walked up to Remy.

"Hi Remy, long time no see."

"Rose what are you doing here?"

"I thought that would be obvious love. I'm here to dance and I was hoping to convince you to be my dance partner again."

"We've been trough this. We don't dance well together. Why can't you accept dat?"

"Maybe because I have always been so attracted to you."

"It's just lust petite. Nothing else. Remy's sure that you will find someone else that can satisfy that need."

"Nobody as talented as you." Rose said as she tried to sidle closer to Remy. Unfortunately for her Rogue noticed somebody talking to Remy at that particular moment. "Hey Remy ah thought that you said you were going to dance with me before we left tonight," Rogue said as she walked up and took his hand. "Oh sorry, were you busy?"

Remy grinned at her. He knew that she was jealous even if she didn't want to admit it. "Chere Remy was just finishing this conversation. Rose here was Remy's old partner in N'Awlins and she just wanted to say hi."

"Well, if you are done how about that dance?"

"Sounds like fun to Remy. What dance are they doing next?"

"Ah believe it's a samba. Are you up to it?"

"With you chere Remy be up for anything."

Rogue looked over her shoulder with a smug look at Rose as they walked to the dance floor to have a fun dance with some other couples.

"Remy didn't know you cared chere." Remy said with a smirk on his face.

"Who said that ah did? You looked uncomfortable back there and ah thought that ah would rescue you from the slut," Rogue said with a teasing smile.

Remy laughed at her and gave her a quick kiss before the music started. "How about we go to Remy's after this and finish that dance we started at the beginning of this week?" Remy asked with a sly smile on his face. He really didn't expect her to accept his offer but surprised him when she said, "That sounds like an idea ah could agree with. We could get out of here after this dance."

Their night ended on a very good note and started on a good note as well when they woke up in each others arms.