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Rogue snarled at her opponent, clenching her jaw firmly. The woman in black disappeared behind an obstacle. She leapt upwards, floating five feet above the ground to get a better look. Before she could spot her, AJ pounced, pulling Rogue to the ground.

Rogue's hands formed two fists that she held up menacingly. "Come get me sugah."

AJ went to make a move before stopping just as Rogue punched a car, hurling it at AJ with unbelievable force. AJ jumped up, grabbing onto a pipe above her head and kicked Rogue backwards.

Rogue stumbled back as AJ grinned at her. "Gotcha."

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"Alright ladies, that's enough for today." Cyclops' voice echoed in the danger room as the scenery around them disappeared.

AJ smiled at Rogue, pulling off her trademark black leather gloves. "You're good."

"You ain't so bad y'self sugah." Rogue said with a laugh, skipping through the empty danger room.

When they reached the control room, Scott smiled at her. "I'm really impressed Rogue. You're really getting the hang of your new powers."

"You're doing so well." Storm smiled, rubbing Rogue's arm.

"Thanks." Rogue grinned "Ah couldn't have done it without ya'll puttin' up with me."

AJ frowned and put a hand to her temple, rubbing in gentle circles.

"Are you alright AJ?" Jean furrowed her brow, putting a hand on her shoulder.

AJ jerked away slightly, staring Jean in the eye before a smile graced her lips. "I'm fine. Just… a headache."

Scott pressed his lips together. "Are you sure?"

AJ nodded, setting her gloves down on the counter before heading for the door. "Yes. I'm fine."

Rogue let out a sigh. "Ah don't know. She's been actin' weird lately. Not that ah'm allowed t'make judgments towards anyone…" she rolled her eyes knowing full well that Scott was about to say something along those lines. Over the past six months, Rogue had worked really hard with Professor Xavier. It had been very hard for her to get used to the idea that her powers had caused her to kill someone, and it certainly didn't help when that woman was living inside her head. The Professor had helped her form mental walls to keep Carol out of her mind. Since then, the other mutants in the institute noticed a vast difference.

Scott smiled. "She seems normal to me."

Jean elbowed him in the ribs with a laugh, catching the subtle joke.

Rogue rolled her eyes, announcing that she was leaving to take a shower.

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AJ squeezed her eyes shut, tossing her gloves onto her nightstand. She tried to shake the image from her mind unsuccessfully. There was no way on earth this vision could be right, but if it was, the phone was going to ring any second, and she sure had some questions for the person on the other end.

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Kitty kicked her feet up on the coffee table, watching Bobby play his video game with a smile. "I don't know, I just can't quite get the hand-eye coordination thing down."

Bobby ignored her, shouting something at the screen.

Jubilee shushed him, cradling baby Rachel on the sofa next to him. "You realize they can't hear you right!"

Bobby rolled his eyes. "Duh."

"Then shut up! Rachel's finally asleep." Jubilee muttered, rocking the nine month old baby gently.

The phone rang, causing Rachel to startle and begin to cry.

Jubilee sighed "Never mind."

Kitty jumped up and scurried over to the phone.

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Rogue enjoyed the feeling of the hot water caressing her skin, hugging her curves as the beads of water gently rolled down her body. When she was finished, she let out a sigh, hugging the towel around her body as she stepped out of the shower.

She let her dry hair out of the bun, allowing it to fall over her bare shoulders before pulling her clothes back on.

Nothing like a hot shower after a session in the danger room.

After applying her light makeup, a far cry from her old deep purple eye wear, she made her way down the hall with a grin.

She stopped in the doorway of the rec. room, scanning the occupants of the room quickly before taking a seat next to Bobby.

"Where's Kitty?"

Bobby shook his head, his eyes glued to the game intensely. "Phone." He said before shouting something angrily at the TV. He threw the controller on the ground before kicking his feet up on the coffee table. "The phone rang. Kitty answered it and then called Jubes."

Rogue frowned. "Ah wanted t'talk to her." After thinking for a moment she stood up. "Ah better go find her now, otherwise ah'll forget."

Bobby nodded, waving her off.

As Rogue walked through the hallway, Kitty jogged to a stop next to her. "There you are!"

"Cheese an' Rice Kitty y'nearly gave me a heart attack!" Rogue gasped, grabbing her chest.

"Phone." Kitty took Rogue's arm and led her to the telephone. Jubilee held the receiver against little Rachel's ear with a smile before holding it up against her own.

"You totally made her stop crying."

She paused, smiling at Rogue, nodding along with whatever the person on the phone was saying. "No, no… you were right! Anyways, there's someone else here for you…"

Jubilee handed the receiver to Rogue who took it with a frown.

Based on the smirk dancing across Kitty's lips, this wasn't going to be good.

"Hello?"

"Bonjour chère."

Rogue glared at Kitty who gave her a big grin. She pressed her lips together and turned her back towards her friend.

"It's Remy fleur."

"Ah know who it is. Did y'lose the number?"

He chuckled. "See y'didn' lose y'sense o'humor, non?"

She let out a breath "Why are you callin' here Cajun? It's been six months… thought y'forgot about us."

"Remy never fo'get mon belle fleur."

"Ah'm pretty sure ah asked you t'stop callin' me that."

She could hear him smiling as he spoke "Y'right chère. Jus' so good t'hear yo'voice."

"Y'never answered mah question. Are you in trouble Remy, cuz ah… ah don't know why else y'd call."

There was silence on the other end of the line before he let out a breath. "Dis is… hard fo'Remy chere… but ah don't think ah'll be comin' back. Jus' callin' t'say goodbye."

She squared her jaw. "Remy-"

"Ah ain' in trouble…"

"Ah don't believe you." Rogue let out a breath. "Y'know what Cajun? Ah don't even care anymore. Alright? You wanna say goodbye, then say it."

"Don' act like y'don' care fleur…"

"Don't act like ah should!" She huffed. "Listen t'me. Ah've been fine. Better then fine. Wonderful! So you ain't gunna hear what y'want from me."

She handed the phone off to the first passing person; the raven haired young woman that was partially expecting the phone as she walked by.

"You got her." AJ raised an eyebrow at Rogue who frowned before storming back down the hall.

There was a deep breath on the end of the line. "Bonjour."

"Well I'll be..." AJ put a hand on her hip "If it ain't my favorite ragin' Cajun callin'. 'bout time you called."

He chuckled "Been a while, non?"

"Oui. As a matter of fact, I was just thinking about you…"

"Really?"

"Yeup. Didn't exactly know whether or not I should believe it until I got a phone call..." AJ tucked short black hair behind her ear. "Just… didn't think your fiancée would let you call strange women in different states."

There was a moment of silence before he sighed. "It ain' what y'think…"

"Then fill me in Romeo."

"Remy's been betrothed since… forever. Y'remember Remy tellin' you 'bout d'theives an' d'assassins? It's d'only way t'make peace between d'two guilds." He paused and even over the phone, AJ could sense the sting in his voice. "Jus' wanted t'say goodbye."

AJ put a hand to her chest, feeling her heart break for the Cajun charmer.

"But that's not it, is it?"

He let out a breath "Don' know what y'talkin' bout chère."

She pressed her lips together with a frown.

"Don' give me that look." He said with a chuckle. Obviously he could tell she was giving him a scowl.

"Answer me Remy."

"Adiah, Remy don' have anythin' else t'say."

"Don't lie to me." AJ snapped.

He let out a short breath. "Alright… jus' please… don' tell Rogue."

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