Disclaimer: The disclaimer and I are taking a survey today. How many of you nearly fell out of your chairs in shock when you saw the new chapter? It's been so very long, I know... but hey, at least you all know I'm still breathing... : )

A/N: Yes, I am still alive! Work has been slowly sucking my life away, but I finally got something down. Now if I only had the time to play catch-up with all the fics I was following! ARGH! Life sucks! No, actually work sucks, but the paychecks are nice... and so are the people... Except one, who is confusing the hell out of me... right, ish? wink, wink : ) ... Okay, we are so going off topic now...

Mag Carter, xxFleurdelySxx, Rehsh, Christy S, T., brattax23, Rogue151, melancholic, summer2004, Goddess Evie, Ledophole, Kanshisha Tenshi, Lil' old me, Ryoko Subaru, ladychopsticks, warknyte, Rogue Pryde, Kiki Lee, Wishful Thinking2, ChaosCat, PyroSprite - Thank you guys for sticking it out with me! Thanks for all the encouragement and even the death threats! Anyone got any suggestions for the freebies this chapter? ; )

RoryRogue - Thanks for the well wishes on my job. It's pretty good so far. I like the people immensely, so even though the hours are long and the work is maddening sometimes, my friends make it bearable... And even if sassiness wasn't a word, you could go ahead and make it one! Copyright, copyright, copyright: )

Misa1124 - That's actually a good thing because I don't have any idea what I'm planning for this story either: )

Panther Nesmith - grin Me, being predictable? Perish the thought. Ain't gonna happen, my friend... not while I still have breath in my body to fend off those damn plot bunnies!

Green Eyed Lilys Daughter - I know what you mean about fics and their sequels. And yeah, I hope that doesn't happen to Hazard. I do love how it ended, but it still feels unfinished to me. Hopefully, I can do something about that in the future. If my muse would just get his rear in gear...

Disturbed Courtney - Okay, I haven't been on the site that much in the past two months but as far as I know a certain someone hasn't updated anything either... Not that I'm pointing fingers or anything... holds up enormous neon sign with an arrow pointing to Courtney : )

KatLeBeau - Ahh, in a perfect world, there would be pizza and pasta galore, potato chips and ice cream that won't make you fat, paychecks that arrive at your doorstep without having to report to work, and yes, Rogue and Remy always ending up together... Where is that world and how soon can I move there?! ; ) ... Sam isn't 'loosely based' on Cannonball because he actually is Cannonball. I don't know why, but he's one of my favorite secondary characters to play with...

girl4chat86 - Whoa... kudos to you for trying that 50-times-brushing-your-hair thing. I think I tried that once, and then got bored with it... : ) Oh Lord, don't get any more members of the animal kingdom involved! Have mercy!

Lemon Parade - What?! NOOOOO! That's it? Where's the rest of it?! It's such a gripping review board-saga! I have to know what happens!

Warmer Than Fire - Hazard is supposed to have a sequel, but I'm working my way through this and Madness... first, before I go back to that one... Maybe if I got a clone that would help...

Makura Koneko - A temptress actually, not so much a devil. ; ) To be honest, my thinking at the time of the last chapter was that I wanted to get something up before I started the job, which began the day after the last post. It just so happened that that chapter ended in a cliffhanger. Or maybe the bunnies were scheming again...

Eileen Blazer - Do I need a job? No, not really... Do I need paychecks? Oh, most definitely! ; )

Scrambled Thoughts - First off, love your screen name! Second, thanks for the kind words, and I'll do my best about working on Madness... next!

Rupeshwari - Funny thing about my job is that I'm in front of a computer for the entire day but I have no time to read any fic! Can we say 'sucks beyond belief'?

katjen - "you can ask my chair." Would it be weird for me to admit that I was two seconds away from actually doing that: ) Thank you so much for the kind words! That means so much since I enjoy reading your work, as well. : )

Marie/River Rat - No! Hold the monkeys back! ; )

ishandahalf - 1) Logan is so not happy about being called Mr. Scruffy Puppy. He would like a word with you... 2) I think the whole 'ditch' thing must have been taught to our parents in their parents' training class or something. What other explanation could there be? 3) sigh If only that Mark scenario would happen. Unfortunately, it's another type of saga that's playing itself out...

Ning Ning - Although it's way overdue... WELCOME BACK! And there's a new chapter, so I hope that helps... : )

CHAPTER 5
Kidnaps and Captures

"Not a word," the voice breathed in her ear. He had whipped her around so fast that she hadn't gotten the chance to see his reflection in her vanity mirror. "Not a word," he repeated.

The hand at her mouth loosened somewhat, but another snaked itself around her waist, holding her firmly against him. A chill ran down her spine.

- oOo -

"Darlin', thought we agreed that work stays in the office," Logan grumbled as he watched Ororo thumb through the set of record books she had brought up to their room.

Ororo smiled. "As I recall, Logan, I agreed to nothing. It was you who assumed that I had done such."

"Well, I thought all the moanin' an' whimperin' was as good as any 'yes' was gonna get." He walked over and took her hands away from what they were doing.

"I beg your pardon, but I do not whimper."

Cocking an eyebrow, he smirked. "That so?" He easily pinned her to the bed, supporting his weight on his forearms and leaning down toward her until they were only a breath apart. "Betcha I can prove you wrong."

"You are welcome to try," she challenged. The tone of her voice was stern, but the ankle that was snaking its way up the side of his leg was sending off a different meaning.

He dipped his head to the base of her neck, lightly brushing his lips over her skin. The sound that escaped from her throat was definitely not a whimper, but more of a contented purr. Logan grunted in satisfaction.

"Li'l more o' this, darlin', an' you'll be - " His head shot up suddenly and he glared at the closed door of their bedroom.

Feeling the inklings of a spoiled mood, Ororo questioned, "What is it?" She watched as his eyes narrowed in concentration. He was listening for something.

"Thought I heard Rogue..."

Beneath him Ororo sighed heavily before she let herself fall back onto the bed. "Are we going to have this discussion once again?"

His gaze whipped back to her. "What's that s'pposed ta mean?"

"Need I remind you of what happened the last time your sister slept here and you 'thought' you heard something from her room?" When he didn't answer her, she continued, "You barged in on her while she was taking a bath, and the two of you began an argument that could have woken up the rest of the world."

"What, now there's a rule that I can't make sure the kid's safe?"

"She is safe, Logan, you already make sure of that. You do not have to go running to her side every time you believe she is in trouble." She smiled softly at him, taking the edge off her voice. "If you have not noticed, your sister is more than capable of taking care of herself."

He had to smile at that comment. Rogue was a good fighter; he'd made sure of that. There was no way he was going to let his baby sister grow up without knowing how to protect herself against people that were out to hurt her. Especially not when they spent so many nights in bars filled to capacity with alcohol and men with grabby hands.

But just because she was capable of literally bringing a person to their knees didn't mean that he didn't worry. Of course he did. He was her older brother. No matter how old she became, or how 'grown up' she thought she was, she would still be his kid sister. And that wasn't about to change anytime soon.

"It'll only take a minute, 'Ro," he said, already preparing to slid off the bed. "Down the hall an' back."

"Let us analyze your options here, shall we?" Ororo pulled herself back against the headboard, curling her feet under her. "You could remain here with me, enjoy what I promise will be an entertaining evening. Or..." She folded her hands in her lap. "You could crash into Rogue's bedroom, start yet another disagreement, and end up tense and angry for the remainder of the evening."

Logan studied her features. They were as calm and serene as always. Ororo wasn't giving him an ultimatum with her little speech; she was simply stating fact. When it all came down to it, those were his two choices: to pick a fight with his sister over what now seemed to be nothing, or to stay in bed with his girlfriend. It was a no-brainer to anyone who was breathing.

He grinned. "Entertain', huh?"

- oOo -

Ah never really gave personal space much thought until someone actually came up an' stole a li'l bit o' it from me. Ever notice how you don' really mind if certain people invade yoah space, but when other people do - people you don' really like - yoah like a bat outta hell? Guess it depended on who was doin' th' invadin'.

Take, fo' example, this man. Came out o' nowhere, invaded not only mah home, but also mah space. Bad move, mister. Ah don' take lightly ta intruders. First things first. Ah slammed mah heel onta his foot. Didn' really do much since he was still wearin' boots, but at least it distracted him enough so that Ah could bring mah knee inta his groin. That would keep him singin' a few high notes fo' a while. Two seconds later, th' heel o' mah palm was connectin' with th' tip o' his nose, an' he fell backwards onta th' bed. Logan would have been proud.

Ah, on th' other hand, was shocked.

"Remind me not t' get on ya bad side anytime soon, chèrie."

Ah must have blinked three times before mah feet would listen ta mah brain an' carried me closer ta mah bed. "Remy...?"

Th' corner o' his lips tugged inta a grin. "Or what's left o' me... after dat beatin'."

"What th' hell do you think yoah doin' here?!" Ah grabbed fo' th' box o' tissue on th' nightstand. It was kind o' funny actually; Ah was sittin' there scoldin' him an' nursin' him at th' same time.

"Midnight stroll around de block?" His grin grew wider.

"If Logan catches you here, he'll slice you - "

" - six ways from Sunday." Ah hated it when he imitated mah accent. He always made it sound dramatic an' Scarlett-O'Hara-like. "De t'ing is, ya brother's attendin' t' some other business at de moment." He winked cheekily. "He's gon' be busy f'r a while."

Ah shook mah head at him. "You shouldn't have come here."

"An' you should've gone home."

"Ah tried! You were there! You saw how Logan wouldn't let me leave."

"An' what about when 'Ro offered dat I take you home? Dat would've saved us some time, chère."

"So Logan an' 'Ro could get suspicious as ta why Ah'm all o' a sudden so eager ta get inta th' same car as you when we've been at each other's throats fo' th' past five years?" Ah must have dabbed at th' blood on his nose jus' a li'l too roughly 'cause he winced away from mah touch. Softenin' a bit, Ah continued, "That would've been too much o' a one-eighty, don'tcha think?"

He didn' say anythin'. He didn't have to. Ah knew what he was thinkin'. Remy wasn't too fond o' th' secret romance. Ta be honest, neither was Ah. But we didn' really have a choice. Logan's track record with mah past relationships had been - ta put it mildly - bloody an' chaotic. In th' history o' all th' world, Ah don' think there was ever such a protective older brother like Logan.

Now as a friend, Logan would easily put his life in Remy's hands. Trust in that respect was not an issue. Puttin' his baby sister in Remy's hands? Now that was a whole other ballgame.

"You can't stay here," Ah told Remy, tossin' th' soiled tissues inta th' trash.

"Jus' watch me."

Ah looked down at him lyin' on mah bed, lookin' all stunningly gorgeous. Damn th' man. "Ah'm serious."

"So am I."

"We're gonna get caught..." Felt like Ah was bein' pulled down t'ward him, but Ah could have sworn that both his hands were at his sides.

"Least we'll have fun before we are..."

"Yoah impossible."

"So I've been told."

"Ah should kick you out o' here."

"But ya not goin' to."

"How can you be so sure?"

"'Cause you want me as much as I want you."

An' o' course he was right. No doubt about that. Jus' th' sound o' his voice was makin' ev'rythin' on th' inside go topsy-turvy.

Two seconds later, his lips found mine an' Ah don' remember thinkin' anythin' after that...