Chapter 4

Author's note:

"Indicates thought"

'indicates thought of character when speaking'

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"To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved."

–George Macdonald

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In the women's locker room down the hall from the Danger Room, Ororo shut the water off to the shower and rubbed her eyes, listening to the trickle of the water from the showerhead. The past ten minutes, she remained fixated on her training session with Remy. She had half a mind to ignore them and kiss him anyway, but the sensible side of her self, as always inhibited her. She was beginning to loathe her sensibilities. She no longer desired to be the well poised ice goddess she had struggled to maintain for self control. No, she wanted to be Ororo, the woman.

Sniffling from the steam, she grabbed her towel and began drying herself before wringing her platinum hair out. She wrapped the towel around her body and walked over to the mirror on the wall, rubbed a hand across it, removing the filmy vapor, and stared at her reflection. "Ororo… you have nothing to be afraid of. Grow up."

"Huh?"

"GODDESS!" Ororo jumped backwards, nearly dropping her towel in fright. Her eyes widened at the person before her, and ice ran through her veins. Her hand remained poised over her heart, as if she feared the other woman could read her desires. "Anna, what are you doing here?"

Anna Marie, aka Rogue, removed herself from the half open doorway to the locker room and sat down on the counter. She had her brunette hair pulled back in a pony tail, one white strand framing the side of her face. She was wearing blue cut-off shorts and an amusing blue t-shirt with the words 'Neighborhood Watch- We'll get you suckas!' "Nice t' see you too, hon." She smiled warmly. "I'm stoppin' in for a visit. Been gone so long, I began to miss y'all." Her voice was soft and wistful.

Ororo nodded dumbly, "You have been missed as well. How is Mississippi?" She went over to her locker and began changing behind the door.

Anna's eyes fell to the floor, "Boring as Ah'll get out. Ah thought Ah wanted normalcy in my life. It's funny, you get so used to the X-men's way of life that it becomes difficult to get up and face a day of grocery lists, phone calls and busted cars."

"You've been working on cars?" Ororo managed, wriggling into her gray t-shirt.

"Yah… almost got fired though. Mah boss told me ah should wear uh, somethin' more flattering for mah figure. Ah told him t' go to hell. Mah fist did most the talkin'." Both women laughed nervously, Rogue curious how this unspoken tension came between them.

Fully dressed, Ororo shut her locker door. "Who all have you seen so far?"

"Kurt greeted me almost as soon as ah landed on the front step. Jubilee pried herself from the tube long enough to say hey. Piotr, Bobby, and Jean all got their rounds in. Ah was told Betsy and Logan were in the Danger Room and you were down here. Figured ah'd bother you first. You're the least loopy of the bunch. How've you been Ororo?"

Ororo summoned her wits about her, looking into the woman's eyes, "I've been wonderful, Rogue. Thank you. I've just kept myself preoccupied with my gardens as usual, training in between missions…" lusting after your ex like an adolescent… she thought before continuing, "Playing surrogate sister to Remy. The usual." She smiled and she resented the fakeness in it.

"Remy's here?" Anna's eyes lit up. "He holdin' up?"

"He's standing." 'Is that why you came here? Is that why you're making small talk with me?' Ororo thought bitterly.

As if reading her mind, Rogue continued, "He's the main reason Ah'm here. He's been on my mind a lot." Her voice wavered. "It's silly but that boy is impossible t' get out of my system, Storm. Do you think he'll consider me again? You've talked with him, right?" She searched Ororo's eyes with her own. Ororo was Remy's best friend, she would know his feelings better than anyone else.

"I… I don't know, Anna. There are things even Remy doesn't share with me." She said it because even she didn't know. At least let Anna share her torment at him thinking of another woman. 'Goddess… why is my jealousy infecting me like this? She is my friend!'

"If you'll excuse me, I have to… 'cry in my pillow' close the sky light in my room. It's raining." She turned her back to Rogue.

"It was crystal clear when ah arrived…" Thunder cut the young woman off and Ororo hid her face, ashamed of her lies. "Ah guess you're right, 'Ro. See you around." Anna said dejectedly as Storm exited hastily.

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Remy emerged from the men's locker room, heard her voice and immediately felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He ducked behind the corner until she entered the women's locker room, no doubt to see Storm. Seeing his chance, he ran past the door and bolted upstairs, panic in his body. "Why did she have t' come back? Why now?" His good day was suddenly going downhill.

He successfully managed to evade every member roaming the mansion between himself and his bedroom, breathing a sigh of relief as he shut the door and collapsed against it. "Merde, dat couldn't have been mo' gut wrenching if I had de Mission Impossible theme playin'." He sighed, heart pounding. He winced at the sound of thunder overhead.

He tried to tell himself it didn't make sense, her finality with the break up and now this. But it did. Their relationship was a yo-yo. On, off. Hot, Cold. Push, Pull. The only constant being it came back from the dead.

Not this time.

Rogue had a special place in his heart, sure, but things were evolving around him. She had set him free though. The best thing she ever did for him.

Rogue's voice traveled down the hallway to his ears, "Thanks, Hank. It's great t' be back. See ya'll later tonight!" It sounded like she was at the stairs. Which gave him about 8 seconds before she would reach his door. Pouring rain be damned he wrapped his coat round him and within seconds, was out the window and scaling the rough stone wall to the roof.

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"Remy? It's me…" Rogue bit her bottom lip. She knew he was in there. He was avoiding her. She took a deep breath. "Girl, he's goin' to take time. Y' dumped him like a hot potato an' you shouldn't be so optimistic." "Remy, I'm gonna count t' three to get yourself decent. One… two… three…" She opened the door slowly, expecting to see him sitting on his bed, maybe even at his desk, but immediately felt foolish having talked to an empty room.

A breeze ruffled the curtains of an open window, her eyes narrowed, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She shut the window, noticing the sky was clear blue once again, humidity from the fresh rain filling the air yet his floor wasn't wet. Something was going on. He had been here. He was only making this harder on her. She needed to know.

Quietly, she sat his bed and glanced around the room, feeling out of place. Remy had redecorated considerably. Everything was new.

She tried not to take it personally, having helped him with the previous decorating, and observed the changes with wide eyes.

The once red walls had been painted white. Gone were the black curtains, now red velvet panels and white sheer curtains draped from the three windows, gold tassels tying them back, matching the red and gold jacquard comforter. Mahogany crown molding, once white, had been sanded and polished to its original luster. Sadly, she felt as if she had been sanded away as well. Even the carpet had been ripped up, revealing unmarred, beautiful rich Mahogany wood beneath.

Here eyes rested on the marble fireplace. The only wall that remained red, creating a focal point. "Damn, I have to use his decorator." She mused silently. Avoiding her reflection in the mirror, her eyes rested on the pictures on the mantle. There were just two of them.

Both were of Ororo.

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Remy slipped on the roof and caught himself by the edge of the propped open skylight. Steadying himself, he stood once more and crawling inside the two foot opening, slid onto a beam on the ceiling, relief setting in.

Ororo was mindlessly tending her plants below when her attention turned to him. "You're dripping on me. And that thump was loud enough to wake the dead."

"Well someone felt de need for a flash flood n' I got caught in it." He jumped to the floor, landing much quieter now. "Dat better?"

"It's acceptable." She avoided his gaze and walked over to her bed.

Remy noticed it was in disarray and couldn't resist himself, "Rough night, Stormy?"

"You could say that." She said quietly, beginning to make the bed, mechanically avoiding his gaze. She was blushing, she knew it, but she couldn't help it.

"Rough fo' whom?" He grinned, removing his soaked coat and hanging it over the railing of her stairs.

"Me and my non-existent lover," She rolled her eyes, and he whistled at her. "Grab that corner over there please and help me straighten this."

He complied, tugging on the white sheet. His mind flashed back to the previous night once more and just as suddenly, the vision disappeared when Ororo spoke.

"Rogue is looking for you." She tossed the comforter on the bed. He helped her pull it up the top of the bed and fold it over slightly. It was a pretty comforter, simple and pure like her. Unstained white surface with delicate hand embroidered green vines and red flowers.

"I know." He sat on the bed and she threw a pillow at him, barely missing his head. He fluffed it at the top and laid his head on it, staring at the rafters in the ceiling. Usually she would have joined him but he noticed her keeping her distance. "What's de matter 'Ro?"

Her blue eyes were partially clouded with… "tears?" He thought. "Why y' cryin'?"

"I am not." She sniffled and rubbed her eye, "I think some dust got in…"

"Whatever, chère. I know y' long enough t' know dat's a lie. Y' worried bout me. I'm flattered." He reached a hand over and placed a lock of silver hair behind her small bronze ear. "I don' t'ink I wan' t' go back t' dat life."

"Then why don't you tell her? It is wrong to avoid her. I love you both but you hurt each other so much." Ororo tried to maintain her old convictions, even if now she had a more personal stake in the matter.

"Nah, Remy tol' y' dis mornin' he's got a femme on his mind."

"Ah yes, the mystery woman." She hugged the pillow close to her, for once happy at the thought there was a woman Remy was seeing. At least it would keep him from falling into old habits. Something she evidently couldn't do.

"Y' seem more dan happy bout dat."

She plastered on a blank stare, "As your friend, why shouldn't I be happy for your happiness?"

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Rogue found herself at a loss when she saw the photos where her pictures once rested. The one, she almost bit her tongue over, realizing who the decorator was.

Gambit, Storm, Iceman and an unknown photographer were in his bedroom, painting. Ororo was going over decoration plans, deep in thought and oblivious to Remy suppressing a laugh as he painted her rear end white, Robert mere feet away exhibiting the contortions of a strangled laugh.

The other was an old time photo she assumed was a souvenir from one of their vacations to New Orleans. He was dressed as an early twenties mobster, tommy gun in hand. She was crouched beside him in an old time dress, neck loaded with pearls, and beret tilted slightly on her white mane. One hand was around his waste, the other concealed in his front pocket. He held a smug expression while she held an 'o' of surprise with her mouth, eyes wide, the source of her surprise.

Rogue set the pictures back where they were, her confusion replaced by anger. Her friends had been avoiding her for a reason. They were involved with each other and didn't want to tell her. She was being made into a fool over it.

She opened Remy's window again and climbed out, soaring into the air to the roof. She knew exactly where they were and headed to Ororo's loft.

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The woman would not budge, refusing to admit her feelings. He couldn't tell if it was because of fear of their ruining their friendship or Rogue that still held her back. He decided to take it a bit further, "Yeah, but I don' know… Rogue n' I have a long his'try t'gether. Dis woman is so new t' me… and y' know how great relationships are built out o' history, chemistry, and friendship. Why don' I go back t' her?"

She glared at him. "Because it would be a bastard's excuse to break her heart that way. Stringing her along like she's the world and then going back to misery would be like a slap in the face."

He wondered if she were referencing the invisible woman or herself now. He moved over next to her, head resting on his hand. "How would you propose I remedy dis situation?"

"When you see Rogue, really think hard and weigh your options Remy. Is the unknown really so scary you have to repeat past mistakes?"

"There you are, swamp rat!" Rogue smiled from the skylight, trying to remain composed. She hadn't heard anything of the conversation but 'repeat past mistakes' and she couldn't help but feel that she was referenced. It didn't take a genius to see what was going on, Remy escaping from her, Ororo's awkwardness earlier, and now this. She did not like being played. That was the one thing she now remembered that had been such a hassle in the mansion- the secrets and the tiptoeing.

"Rogue." He said neutrally, watching as she used the same entrance he had.

"Ah've been lookin' for you everywhere and I didn't even think that Ororo might have you holed up here to herself. Shame on you, Storm. You knew I was lookin' for him." Her words were civil but her green eyes flashed irritation at the weather witch. She never figured Storm for the deceitful type. But a lot of things change in six months, she'd learned.

"I did not have him holed up here. He just arrived, Anna, and by all means, you're free to do as you wish with Mr. Lebeau. I have no use for him right now."

Rogue smirked.

"Excuse Moi? Did I miss some'ting here when I signed my life away? I c'n t'ink fo' myself."

Rogue crossed her arms across her chest. And Ororo looked away. Remy sighed. Ororo had been right. Avoiding Anna was wrong. And unfair. He ran his fingers through his hair, desperately wishing for cigarette, "Fine, Anna. Let's go somewhere and talk."

The brown haired woman smiled triumphantly, "Good we can do it over drinks and dancing."

"What!" he said incredulously, which she ignored. She had come here to be civil and only had it thrown in her face, by two people she once considered friends and trusted, that they were having an affair behind her back. She could tell by the way Ororo avoided her gaze, Remy avoided her, and she resented the pictures he had of her in his room.

"The others thought it would be a good idea to go out for mah visit. We're goin' to Harry's tonight. Ororo, you're more than welcome to come."

"I have—"

"She'll be there." Gambit interrupted, shooting Storm a pleading look.

"Let the lady speak fo' herself, Sugah." She turned to Storm, "If you have other plans, that's quite alright. I understand I came by unannounced…"

Ororo considered her situation and decided she could go to the 'party' to help support Remy silently. Besides, everything was adding up to one fact: they had all the points to form a love triangle but no lines connecting the dots. She smiled with relief, making the other two uneasy, "Rogue, I wouldn't miss it for the world."

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Note: Rogue's shirt is very real and I love it. It's at the clothing site delias dot com.

Also, this chapter hasn't been proofread and I'm much eviler for having published it that way.

Fixed Chapter 3's mistake too.