Disclaimer: The disclaimer is disco dancing. Someone please hand me a spoon so I can gouge my own eyes out...

Tammy, T., ness345, Rogue14, Reluctant Dragon, Kitsu Lebeau, WildRaven, Sabeybaby - As a thank you for the wonderful reviews you all left, you all will be spared the horrific sight of watching the disclaimer dance to disco. You lucky people, you...

ishandahalf - You're blaming me for distracting you from writing! Well, I blame you! You and every other writer here on FF.N! Couldn't even find the time to sit down and write because of you people! ;) ... HAHAHA! I just can't imagine who you were referring to when you made that comment of shaving heads and then wearing a cap over it. Who on earth could you mean? ;)

IvyZoe - Welcome to the Madness! Oh wait, no... My mistake. That's a whole other story all together! ;) Thank you for taking the time to review! And no, that wasn't the end of the story. Unless... oh man, the plot bunnies didn't eat the next chapter again, did they? ;)

EmeraldKatsEye - Yeah, Eileen's great! Thanks for trying the fic out. It means a lot since I'm enjoying your Living Dead Girl story, and it's always nice to hear from authors whose work you read. Glad I was able to surprise you a little with the secret romance!

Roguechere - Yeah, just wait a while. I'll probably throw in a number of embarrassing or stupid things that happen in my life. It's my way of laughing at myself, I guess. But hey, it sure beats paying hundreds of dollars for a therapist! ;)

missy42 - Missy! Hope life's not crap anymore for you. If it still is, get the dragons to do something about it... You kidding me? Remy not being in a chapter? Not possible. Mainly because he won't let it be possible. He threatens me with a plot bunny if I even think of not putting him in! And hey hey hey! Stop pulling my ideas out of my head, you mind-reader you! And what's this about homework? Nothing should come before fan fiction! Not even bathing or eating or sleeping! ;)

Mag Carter, Goddess Evie - Just like missy42! Will you guys stop pulling ideas from my brain! I don't have that many brain cells left for that kind of thing! ;)

wildcardrose - Well, thanks for putting words in the review! ;) As for Hazard, I do have ideas on the general premis, but sadly no plans of starting it up anytime soon. I will let you guys know, though, when I do start it!

Minnaloushe - Thanks for the wonderfully long review! I love it when new readers come in and they read the exsisting chapters as a whole, because they're the ones that get a better 'feel' of the story. Whether or not it's making any kind of sense! ;) Would you perhaps be interested in a plot bunny as a thank you? ;)

SLH - I'm glad I was able to surprise you somehow! Lord knows from you I consider that a compliment! Thanks, btw, for also taking a crack at Madness in Evo!

Mythical Blue - Wow... uh... wow... Thanks for the analysis! Great to know that the story's coming across that well! Much obliged for the great review!

Eileen Blazer - First off, thanks for referring this fic to EmeraldKatsEye! I feel so warm and fuzzy all over! But that may just be because of my bathrobe... hmm... ;) Am I that predictable! You're like the fourth person! Grrr!

FreakyXGoth - Eight reviews! Whoo-hoo! Multiple reviews are the best! Thank you! And as you requested, here is your update!

CHAPTER 8
Silver and Sunlight

"There's only us an' the kid livin' in that house, 'Ro," Logan said, strategically trying to position four grocery bags in his arms. "You got enough food here ta feed a third-world country."

Ororo strolled lightly in front of him, only one paper bag weighing her down. "You're forgetting all of our guests and friends that move in and out of our home like it was their own, Logan. It's better to be prepared than have nothing at all when you need it."

"Darlin', that's what the delivery menu on the fridge is there for."

She glanced over her shoulder to look at him. "That is disgusting. Do you know how much fat and cholesterol that so-called 'food' is saturated in?"

"How else are they gonna get it ta taste so good?" An odd sound met his ears. Logan frowned. "Did you jus' snort?"

"I most certainly did not."

"Yeah, you did."

"I did not."

"Turn around an' tell me that then."

She pivoted on her heel to face him. "I do not snort."

He smirked at her. "You did, didn' you? Ya jus' snorted at what I said."

She was indignant, pulling the house keys from her purse. "I may have scoffed at your comment, but I most certainly did not snort."

"You might as well confess ta it already, lady. I heard it with my own ears." The grin plastered on his face seemed to annoy her even more.

"You are impossible, Logan."

"People often mistake that for being part of his charm," a third voice interrupted. "Isn't that right, Logan?"

Both Ororo and Logan turned toward the source behind them.

Logan cocked an eyebrow. "What the hell are you doin' here, bub?"

- oOo -

Rogue blinked.

A minute ticked by.

Then she blinked again.

She couldn't possibly have heard Bobby correctly. He couldn't have... No, it wasn't possible. They had been careful! They had been so careful, the most secret of secret services wouldn't have known she and Remy had been seeing each other. Then how did Bobby...?

Rogue blinked again.

"How?" she asked simply.

Bobby stood, collecting both his and Rogue's ice cream dish, and carrying them to the sink. "What, you didn't know about my direct connection to the psychic hotline?" He began washing the bowls and then placed them on the small drying rack nearby.

"Bobby..."

"Or maybe a little bird came over one day and started spilling the beans." He shrugged. "'Course that might make you wonder where a bird would get beans..."

"Robert..."

He turned to her, abruptly asking, "How long have we been friends, Rogue?"

She stopped, more than a little taken aback by the sudden change in topic. His expression looked almost... pained? "Ah... Ah don' know... It's been a while now..."

"It's been seven years."

Mentally counting back, Rogue realized that he was right. They had met the very first day of freshmen year in high school. At the time, she had been walking toward the school's main entrance, minding her own business. She noticed a small group of teens off to one side. It turned out to be Bobby, who had mustered up the courage to talk to one of the more popular girls from the junior class. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't known about her senior class boyfriend, who was not too happy with Bobby's "innocent" conversation.

Even though she hadn't met Bobby before that day, Rogue felt the need to try and save him. Jumping headfirst into the fray, she started going off on Bobby like the jealous girlfriend she was pretending to be. Once the senior jock of a boyfriend saw that Bobby was getting an ass-whooping far worse than what he could dish out physically, he allowed Rogue to drag Bobby off without incident.

She smiled at the memory, recalling how Bobby was torn between gratitude for the save and embarrassment at the fact that he needed saving in the first place.

"Should I be worried that you're sitting there smiling to yourself like the town idiot?" Bobby asked, snapping her out of her reverie.

"No, Ah..." She mentally shook her head to clear it. "Ah was jus' thinkin' 'bout high school, is all."

"And the best friend you had all throughout?"

"Bobby, you don' have ta make me feel guilty 'bout - "

"Good morning," Ororo greeted pleasantly as she entered the kitchen, placing the grocery bag in her arms on the countertop. Logan followed only a few paces behind her. "We have a guest today."

Rogue's eyebrows rose slightly. They rarely had company that stopped by earlier than four o'clock in the afternoon, much less eight-thirty in the morning. "That's a first. Who is it?"

"You get three guesses," a deep voice from the entryway said, "but you'll probably get it in one."

Following the sound, Rogue looked over to a tall man with skin the color of red mud. His hair was straight and dark, tied back from his face in a long ponytail ending at the middle of his back. The smile on his face was both warm and inviting.

"Oh, mah Lord - Forge!" Rogue jumped up and threw her arms around their visitor. "Ah haven't seen you in ages! Look at you! Where have you been?" She grinned as she pulled back.

"Around," he replied vaguely, but still managed to return her smile. "You look so much older than when I last saw you."

"That's 'cause Ah was sixteen when you left. Lot goes on in five years. Lot o' growin' up happenin'."

Forge grinned once again and shot a glance in Logan's direction. "I bet your brother was thrilled about that."

The older man merely growled in response.

"Oh, please... If Logan had his way, Ah'd be a perpetual six-year-old with mah hair up in pigtails an' a lollipop in mah mouth."

"'Least I wouldn't have to gut all the potential deadbeats poundin' down yer doorstep," her brother snapped back, retrieving a beer from the refrigerator and tossing one to Forge. He ignored the disapproving look Ororo was burning into the back of his skull. "Better fer ev'ryone all 'round."

Forge took a seat at the kitchen table next to Rogue. "Still overprotective, I see."

"Try smotherin', you'd be more accurate."

"Hey, watch it, kid. I still pay yer tuition, y'know."

Rogue stuck her tongue out at him.

"Real mature." Logan took a swig of his beer. He leaned back against the countertop, crossing one leg in front of the other. "So, why're you back in town, Forge?"

"I'm just passing through, actually. I thought I would stop by and see how everyone was doing."

"Well, you're welcome to stay with us for as long as you'd like," Ororo offered. She used her powers to conjure a small rain cloud and poured herself a glass of water. She rested her hand on Logan's arm before he could object to her statement. "We insist."

"Thank you. That's very generous of you." He turned back to Rogue. "Do you still have that bracelet I gave you?"

Bobby snorted. "You kidding? She never takes it off."

"Ah do too!" she retorted hotly, then mumbled, "ev'ry once in a while."

"Yeah, like every once in never."

"Shut up, Bobby." She lifted her right wrist, showing Forge the slim silver band dangling there.

Taking her hand in his, he inspected the shining metal with interest. "Hmmm... It hasn't tarnished at all?"

Rogue shook her head. "Not a bit. Jus' like you said. Adamantium lasts fo'ever."

"... apparently..." He gently turned her hand over to examine the other side. "The circuitry is still intact? The electrical current hasn't been disrupted?"

"Ah wouldn't know 'bout that stuff, sugah. Ah jus' wear th' thing. Hasn't failed me since."

"Interesting... Can I ask you to remove it for a moment?"

"Sure thing." Rogue pulled a thin silver chain from beneath her shirt, and then up over her head. At the end was a small cross-shaped pendant that fit perfectly into a similar groove on the bracelet. A tiny click was heard before the bracelet snapped open and fell from her wrist. "Too bad you couldn't make th' key out o' th' same material as th' bracelet, Forge. Ah have a hard time keepin' it from gettin' all faded an' tarnished. Have ta take it off ev'ry time Ah'm in th' shower."

This time it was Logan who snorted. "I ain't no Donald Trump, kid. You know how much it cost ta get enough adamantium together jus' ta make that bracelet-doohickey?"

"Maybe should've jus' chipped some off o' that skeleton o' yoahs then, huh?" She smiled sweetly in his direction.

"You ask me, we should've stripped his bones clean years ago and made some good money off of it," Bobby jumped in. He quickly shut his mouth when Logan unsheathed the claws on his right hand.

"Fabulous..." Forge breathed as he scrutinized the band only a few short inches from his face. "It looks almost exactly as it did when I first gave it to Rogue."

"How wonderful it must be to admire your own invention," Ororo teased.

Embarrassed by his overt act of vanity, Forge abruptly lowered the bracelet and cleared his throat. "Yes, well..." He turned to Rogue. "Have you been able to control your power without the suppressor?"

"No such luck, sugah. Ah'm as dependent on it as a baby jaybird on its momma."

"That's unfortunate. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to help more."

Rogue shook her head fervently. "Don' even start, Forge. You've done a whole lot fo' me as it is. If it weren't fo' you, Ah would've spent th' rest o' mah life never touchin' anyone."

"Still... You would think that a man who can create anything with his hands could come up with something to permanently control your power."

"Th' bracelet is enough. Believe me." She smiled gratefully, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "Thank you."

Breaking into the tender silence that followed was a loud exhaling sound, as Bobby blew his nose obnoxiously into a paper towel.

"It's such a Kodak moment," he bawled, dabbing at nonexistent tears in the corner of his eye. "It's so precious..." He crumpled the napkin into a tight ball and dunked it into the trashcan. "And while I'd like to stay and take pictures that we can cry over in the years to come, I actually have a mundane life to get back to." He smiled crookedly and mock-saluted the occupants of the room. "See you all later!"

"Dammit! Bobby!" Rogue cried, getting up from her chair and hurriedly collecting her things. "Ah gotta go, too. So great seein' you again, Forge. Ah'll catch up with you later at th' bar." She dashed out the door. "Bye!"

Forge shook his head in amusement. "Five years later and they still act like kids. I remember the crush Bobby had on her back then... Are they together now?"

"Rogue's been permanently branded single by her 'loving' older brother. Perhaps you should ask him," Ororo stated.

Logan merely growled in response, sheathing his claws and taking a swig of his beer.

- oOo -

"Robert Drake, you stop this instant, or by God, Ah'll snap those chicken legs o' yoahs in half!"

Bobby rolled his eyes as he halted and waited for her at the side of the street. "A little louder, Rogue... I don't think the rest of the female population on the other side of the planet heard you." Under his breath, he added, "That chicken legs crack will definitely make finding the future Mrs. Drake a whole lot easier, thanks."

"You an' me ain't finished yet." She snapped her bracelet back into place and slipped the key/necklace securely around her neck. "If you hadn't noticed, we were havin' a conversation."

"Really? Thought that horrific part of my life was over already."

She ignored his sarcasm. "How do you know 'bout me an' Remy? An' don' go gettin' all guilt trip-y on me 'bout our bein' best friends an' all." She forced him to face her. "Jus' be straight with me, Bobby, all right?"

"Yeah, like you've been straight with me," he mumbled, dropping his gaze to the ground. "I have a source, okay? Someone who would know what they're talking about."

Rogue's heart seemed to skip a beat at his words. Oh, dear Lord, please don' let it be Logan... she silently prayed. Though she knew in the back of her head that her brother wasn't Bobby's 'source.' If Logan knew that she'd been seeing Remy secretly for the past two years, he would have made it known, in no uncertain terms, how he'd skewer the Cajun into shish kebab and then invite the entire neighborhood for a barbeque.

"No, it's not Logan," Bobby assured her, reading the clear expression on her face. "Remy wouldn't still be breathing if it was Logan." He started down the street, instinctively knowing she would follow suit. "Look, there's this guy I know. He's in my Dance Movement class."

She raised an eyebrow in silent question.

"It's an elective, okay?" he shot out in his own defense. "Trying to broaden my horizons here."

She raised the eyebrow even higher.

"All right, there's this really hot girl that looks smoking in a leotard and tights - so sue me! You gonna let me finish or what?"

Rogue shrugged her shoulders innocently. "Ah didn' say anythin', sugah."

"Yeah, like hell you didn't," he grumbled, digging his hands into his pockets. "Anyway, a bunch of us went out for coffee after class one day and this guy was complaining about one of the neighbors in his building. Tall, lanky dude that was 'sexy as a banana split with all the nuts you could want.'"

"Ah'm guessin' this friend o' yoahs is gay?"

"As all get out. Then he went on and on - for nearly fifteen minutes, mind you - about how 'fabulously delicious' this guy was: the color of his hair, the sculpted pecs, the washboard abs, the shape of his butt..." Mild annoyance and disgust painted Bobby's features, coupled with a mock-gagging sound. "Then he mentioned the dude's red/black eyes in between gushes about 'oh so sensual' charm and a 'bedroom voice' accent. Gotta tell you, once I figured he was talking about Remy, I was pretty much ready to shoot myself." For emphasis, he lifted his thumb, index and middle finger, in the shape of a gun, to his temple and imitated the motion of firing. "I was just about to tell him that I knew the bastard he was so hung up on, when he started complaining that his new obsession wasn't even a single drop of gay. And the reason he knew this was because his Adonis and some 'bimbo with really bad white highlights have been going at it like bunnies for the past two years.'"

He fell silent.

"Bobby, Ah... Ah..."

"Yeah, that was my reaction, too." Bobby continued walking, one foot in front of the other, keeping his eyes on the steady movement. "Imagine being told by a guy you hardly know that your best friend of seven years is screwing around with a guy you thought was her mortal enemy. A guy that, for the past five years, has been nothing but a thorn in her side... supposedly. But turns out was actually the guy who she was 'getting it on with' for the past two years. Imagine that."

Rogue couldn't bring herself to look at Bobby's face. She didn't want to see the expression of hurt and disappointment that was no doubt mirroring the emotions she heard in his voice. She didn't want to have the physical proof of seeing what she knew she had caused.

"Ah don' know what ta say, Bobby," she whispered, tentatively slipping her hand into his, waiting to see if he would reject her touch. He didn't pull away. But then again, he didn't return her gesture either. He simply let his hand rest in hers. "Ah'm sorry. Ah was jus' scared that Logan might find out, an'... an'..." She sighed. "Ah should have trusted you, Ah know. Ah don' have any excuses that would make ev'rythin' all right again. Jus' an explanation that Ah was scared..."

"That's what a best friend is for, you know. To be there for you when you feel like the rest of the world won't."

"Ah know… an' Ah'm sorry."

"Kind of feels like we aren't as close as we used to be."

"We still are. Yoah still mah best friend. Ah jus' screwed up this one time. Ah'll do better, Ah promise."

"And you'll make it up to me?" he asked hopefully, finally meeting her gaze.

"Defin'tely."

"We'll get together more often and do stuff like we used to?"

"Sure."

"You'll take your clothes off and walk around naked while in my presence?"

"Bobby!" She smacked him upside the head.

"What!" he demanded innocently, raising his arms in question. "You can't blame a guy for trying! Who knows, you just might feel guilty enough to do it!"

"You are such a dork!" She smiled playfully, grabbing his arm and pulling him close to her, forcing him to follow her down the street. "C'mon, you anti-Casanova. You can walk me ta mah first errand o' th' day."

He grinned. "Yes, ma'am."

- oOo -

Now I knew how mannequins felt like.

Rubbed one o' de many weary muscles in my arm while rotatin' my shoulder clockwise t' get some feelin' back inta it. T'ink I'd been stakin' out Piotr's buildin' f'r more dan four hours already, like some lovesick puppy - which I was not. Or some deranged stalker - which I wasn't either. Was jus' a concerned boyfriend who was lookin' out f'r de woman he loved... who jus' happened t' have a full deck o' chargeable cards in his pocket t' rearrange someone's face wit', if it came t' dat.

Checked my watch. A quarter past two. How long after lunch was Rogue's 'after-lunch' appointment? Could be here all night f'r all dat girl cared 'bout keepin' up wit' her schedule. Would t'ink dat she had de courtesy t' show up already, so dat I could storm in an' bash dat punk's face in.

O' course, was ignorin' de fact dat de 'punk' in question was a good five inches taller dan me, an' had 'bout a hundred-pound advantage. Conveniently ignorin' dat fact, most defin'tely.

Sudden tinglin' sensation in de vicinity o' my pants got my attention. An' no, a mental picture o' Rogue in de shower did not jus' pop inta my head, thus causin' a whole diff'rent kind o' tinglin' sensation. But since I was t'inkin' 'bout it... I smirked. Damn, dat girl looked good...

Shook de image out o' my mind, sad as I was t' see it go. Remembered de original tinglin' sensation. Pulled out my cell phone. It was vibratin' like a jackrabbit wit' cayenne pepper up its behind.

"Allo?"

"Gumbo."

Logan. "Oui?"

"One o' the boys got a tip from downtown. Vic's up ta somethin'. Check it out, will ya?"

Merde. "Get de boys t' go. I'm in de middle o' somet'in'."

"Boys have got their hands full. What's so friggin' important you can't let drop till later?"

Oh, I don' know, Logan... Jus' keepin' an eye on ya baby sister - my lover, by de way - an' makin' sure she keeps her clothes on 'stead o' posin' nude like some playboy bunny in a centerfold.

"It's the middle o' the afternoon, Cajun. Yer panty raid can wait. Get downtown now."

Sigh. De joy o' talkin' t' Logan. Not even an au revoir.

Slipped my cell back inta my pocket, checkin' up an' down de street. Still no Rogue. Should buy dat girl a watch f'r her next birthday.

No gettin' out o' it. Duty calls.

Behave yaself, chèrie. I'll be back.

- oOo -

Ah am so late, Rogue thought frantically as she rushed up the last flight of stairs to Peter's apartment. She wasted no time in knocking on the door, and then trying to make herself look half decent as she waited.

Knew Ah shouldn't have let Bobby talk me inta orderin' another round o' chicken fingers. No good could have come from that. Ah don' care how lip-lickin' delicious that garlic mayonnaise dip was...

She smiled, combing her hand messily through her hair in a futile attempt to eject style into her tresses. Spending the morning with Bobby had felt great, like finding a long-lost relative again. They had even made plans to hang out later in the week, though they knew they'd be seeing each other that evening in Logan's bar. At least they were reconnecting, which was the important thing.

She looked up when she heard the click of the door's lock releasing. "Hey, Pete," she greeted, showering her friend with an apologetic grin. "Ah am so sorry Ah'm late, sugah. Ta be honest with you, Ah got no excuse. So, Ah brought you a peace offerin' instead." She thrust a white paper bag into his hands, before trooping into the apartment.

He grinned at her frankness, closing the door behind her and taking a peak into the gift. "Spasiba. What is it?"

"Only the best chicken you've ever tasted outside th' great state o' Mississippi!" Twirling around slowly, arms outstretched, she surveyed the flat and breathed a low whistle. "This is some place, Petey. You part o' th' mob or somethin'?"

Chuckling, he shook his head. He placed the chicken on a small table in the kitchen before answering. "I'm subletting from a gentleman, who is interning in Paris for a year. This is his décor, not mine."

"Still..." she said, running her fingers down the length of a beautifully carved end table next to the sofa. "Pretty good racket you got goin' here. Ah bet this joint impresses a lot o' ladies, right?" She teased him with a knowing smile, and if she hadn't known any better, she would have sworn that comment brought a blush to his cheeks. "Ah'm guessin' you still haven't brought Kitty here then."

"She has been here, yes."

"But nothin' has happened...?" she guessed when he seemed reluctant to continue.

"There have been some... things."

She tried to rein in her grin at Peter's shy manner. "So, what base are we talkin' here?"

His eyes looked to her in confusion. "Base?"

"Baseball," she clarified, giving him her full attention. "You know, first, second, third base, home?" At his blank stare, she said, "Okay, not a baseball fan... Shortcut version then. First base: holdin' hands, peck on th' cheek. Second base: Frenchin', mild pettin'. Third base: really heavy pettin', poss'bly discardin' o' clothin'. An' home is... well, th' big bang."

"How romantic."

"Isn't it?" she agreed with a sarcastic smile.

Peter sighed. "I suppose that would place Kitty and I at third base."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you. Though..."

"Candlelight, soft music, an' a table fo' two set up right over there," she instructed immediately, pointing to the northwestern corner of the apartment, where two large windows were allowing most of the afternoon sun to spill through.

He folded his arms across his chest. "You have spoken to Kitty about this, haven't you?"

Rogue grinned. "Little bit. You might want ta sprinkle rose petals on th' floor, too. That's always a nice touch."

"Is there nothing that you two do not share?"

She shook her head unabashedly. "Nope. Oh wait, yeah... Ah draw th' line at sharin' underwear. That's jus' unsanitary."

"Are you finished?"

"Hardly. Ah got th' number o' a really good florist..." She fished into her bag for a moment, pulling out a calling card. "Look fo' Patrick. He'll take care o' you." She straightened. "Now. How much do you know 'bout cookin'?"

"Stop," he commanded, though Rogue could still see the twinkle in his eyes. "You and Kitty need to stop meddling into my love life."

"Oh, Ah'm not meddlin' in yoahs, sugah. Ah'm meddlin' inta Kitty's."

He cocked an eyebrow at her, wondering if there was a difference. Deciding he was better off not knowing, he gestured to the area that he had set up for the original intent of their meeting. Arranged in the corner Rogue had mentioned earlier were folds and folds of a soft pink cotton fabric, draped over a fairly large ottoman. The light poured in from the windows like a natural spotlight, bathing the area in a warm glow.

"So, where do Ah change?"


Oh boy, this fic is getting a lot longer than I originally thought it was going to be! When the plot bunnies get inspired, they really get inspired! Why can't they ever decide to get inspired in the Caribbean or the Bahamas? Weird little fluff butts...