AN: I tried to post this earlier, but it wouldn't work... I couldn't believe how many reviews came in yesterday! You guys are awesome! Keep them coming because I'll probably write the sequal to this next week while I'm on vacation. That'll give me something to do. It might take me a while to post it, though. My laptop is dead so I'll have to write it all out by hand and then transcribe it later...
Enough of my rambling...
Enjoy! And thanks again!
Chapter 8: Abandoned the dream
It was early afternoon by the time Rogue awoke. She felt like staying in her room, sleeping the day away. I don't even wanna think about that witch. She rolled over trying to avoid the window and the sun casting its light in the room. Then she saw him.
There was Remy, curled up in the chair by her door, asleep. The room was so silent she could hear his gentle breathing. Has he been here all mornin'? she thought.
She got out of the bed, still wearing the same clothes she was hours ago. She opened the door slowly, as she didn't want to wake the sleeping Cajun, and left the room.
She carefully slinked around, trying not to draw any attention to herself. She managed to get all the way to the gardens without being noticed.
She came out here often. If she didn't, the hole in her heart where Jean, Scott, and the Professor would feel completely empty.
She kneeled in front of the Professor's grave. She closed her eyes and hung her head as a tear snuck its way between her shut eyelids.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Her voice was shaky. "I'm sorry I took the easy way out. I know it was against everythin' you ever taught us. I just didn't know what else ta do." She sat there a moment in silence. All she could hear was the chirping of the birds.
It's alright.
She thought she heard a distinct male voice from behind her. She whipped around to see no one there.
There ya go again, she mused. Gawd, girl. Ya are goin' crazy.
"I missed you, you know," an all too familiar voice said from a far.
"I don't wanna talk to you out here," Rogue said, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face Mystique. "This is a place of peace. Not for you to start a war."
"I don't want to fight, Marie."
"It's Rogue."
"Rogue," Mystique kneeled down beside her. "He was a great man. And he was right. I know that now."
"Sure ya do," Rogue said sarcastically.
"I came here to warn you, honey." She pulled Rogue's chin lightly making the girl face her.
"Warn me not to trust ya? 'Cause I already knew that part."
"The cure isn't permanent."
"What!" Rogue's eyes went wide. "Why are you tellin' me this? If this is some-"
"They used their weapons against me, Rogue. I'm powerless. The same as you."
"But your eyes-"
"It's coming back."
Rogue sighed. "I guess I'm sorry about before."
"Me too, sweetie." Mystique smiled and wrapped an arm around Rogue's shoulders.
Rogue shifted away from her a bit. "I s'pose you're gonna go back to Magneto now?"
"I'm not going anywhere." Mystique took her hand and led her back towards the mansion, leaving Xavier's funeral pyre still burning behind them.
The fire burned steadily for a moment, it's flame barely moving. It suddenly grew brighter and larger.
The waiter handed Rogue a menu. "Thanks," she mouthed.
"So 'ow y'like dis place, chere?" Gambit asked. He was dressed in a collared shirt and a pair of slacks. Rogue wore a green dress, a trinket hanging from her neck.
"It's nice. I've never been here before." She smiled at him.
"Well, I doubt dat ot'er guy could afford dis," he said with a chuckle.
"Prob'ly not."
They sat in silence, looking over the menus for a moment.
"I gotta say, chere," he said. "You do somet'in' t'me dat I can't quite explain." He looked at her gravely. "And I don' say dat t'all de girls, either."
She stared at the menu, not really sure what to say. He sensed you last night, and now he's playin' off it.
"I'd be lyin' if I didn't say the same thing." She put her menu down on the table. "'Course, I think ya already knew that."
"Quoi?"
"I know about your empathy thing."
"I can't read y'chere."
"What?"
"Your mind got dis wall on it. I already tried it." She stared at him in disbelief.
"What about your 'charm' thing? Did you try that too?"
"I did when y'answered de door. It's an easy way t'make friends."
"So, I'm probably just pickin' that up, right?"
"Nope. Dat was the only time I used it. Pretty much stopped after I kissed your 'and." He smiled. "Anyt'in' else, you felt all on your own, chere."
She blushed and reached her bare hand across the table, covering his hand with hers. Might as well enjoy bein' human while it lasts.
