Chapter 22

Gambit woke up in a hospital bed. For a moment he wondered what had happened, then as soon as Rogue came to mind he cursed under his breath and jumped out of bed. The nurse who had been monitoring him jumped, scared by his flaming eyes.

"Where's Rogue?" He questioned.

The nurse only asked him fifty questions in return to his own.

"Rogue, the- never mind. How long I been out?"

"Errr. Since you were brought here? About seven hours."

"Merde." He said picking out the needles in his arms. "Where my clothes?"

"Errr, sir, your not fit to go anywhere-"

"Where are mon clothes? Dis be important." Gambit growled. The nurse, being terrified, led him down the hall to a closest where spare clothes were and where he found his trench coat. He quickly changed out of the hospital gown, thanked the woman and hitched hiked a car in the car park, driving like a maniac to get back home.

XXXXX

Rogue was sat down inside a jail. Her hands were handcuffed together and there were assassins and thieves stood outside the cell watching her. Rogue swallowed down hard. She was terrified, but knew their was no turning back.

XXXXX

Rogue had arrived early before the beheading of Bella Donna. Rogue had had to track them all down using Gambit's memory and mind to try and figure out where they were and found that they had closed off one of their old meeting areas inside the swamp. Rogue had had to be sneaky in getting past the thieves and assassins who were on guard and preventing anyone from getting past them.

Rogue hid up in a high tree and watched the people below stand around. They seemed to be parted into two separate groups like the setting of a church. The assassins on one side the thieves on the other. Rogue watched and shuck as she saw everyone settle as the higher court which was made up of nine members and were dressed in head to toe in dark robes so no one could recognise them took to the man built stage which had been set up just for this special occasion. They stood in a lie and the person in the middle spoke, stating what this meeting was about and declaring what was to happen. As the main counsil woman declared Bella Donna's sentence, the exerquesioner stood up onto the stage with an axe, stand and bucket for Bella Donn's head. The muscular figure began setting up. As he did, a car pulled up behind all the assassins and thieves, and out came Bella Donna. She was covered by a long black robe covering her from shoulders to toes. Her blonde curls were still beautiful and although her eyes sank with sadness, they were big and blue and beautiful. She held herself well, presenting a girl who was not afraid to die even though Rogue could see in her eyes that she was. Her hands were bound together and she was led forwards to the stage.

Rogue had frozen where she was in the tree. Each step Bella Donna took up those steps at the side brought Rogue closer to the edge and made her want to jump and run in the opposite direction. Then they made her stand and stare out at the crowd. Rogue noticed a man with blonde hair being restrained and pulled back. She remembered him as Julian. He was scared for his sister as the higher court said their final words and told the exsorcutioner to proceed. But Rogue was still frozen. The black robe was removed from Bella Donna's shoulders to reveal she was wearing a red Victorian frock. Red, the colour of blood to show she was going to die. She was knelt down and her neck placed on the stand. Rogue felt like life itself had left her as she saw and realised what was going to happen. It was like death had touched her. But then she saw Bella's eyes. They weren't watery and weak like Rogue thought they might be. No. Instead they were open and strong. She really wasn't afraid to die.

And that was what made Rogue stand up clearly in the tree and shout, "Wait! Stop! Ya got the wrong person!"

XXXXX

So Rogue had jumped down from the tree, gotten up on stage besides Bella and admitted it was her who took the money, not Bella. She had been arrested, placed into hand cuffs and taken someplace (where she had been blindfolded in the car so she did not know where). They bombarded her with questions, such as who are you? Why did you do this? How did you do this? Why did you put the blame on Bella Donna? And of course, Rogue had to twist the truth a little. She was being questioned by all nine of the higher court, Jean-Luc and Henri, who both recognised her and wondered of what to think, along with Marcus and Julian.

"Ah,erm, ma name is Rogue..." she didn't see the point of bringing in the X-Men until Jean-Luc brought up her family when the higher courts asked more information on her. "Ah used ta be an X-Men, but ah quit. Didn't want that life anymore. Ah left the X-Men not too long ago, bout a month or two... They, errr, didn't agree with who ah feel in love with."

"And who did ya fall in love with child?" Asked one of the higher court members. Rogue was sure she recognised that voice.

Rogue felt like she had to included the idea of the wedding as she knew from Gambit that he had already told his family about it, and she didn't want to get in any more trouble with Jean-Luc saying other stuff. And she didn't want Remy in trouble. That was the most important thing. She already knew her fate. "Ah fell in love with Remy LeBeau, prince of thieves."

"How did you meet? Tell us the full story of you miss Rogue." Said one of the higher court members.

"Ah,errr. Mah full story? Ya mean mah life story or just bout Remy?"

"All of it." They replied.

Rogue swallowed down hard and looked down at her hands as she told them everything. Everything more than she had ever told anyone, apart from Gambit She told them about being born out of wedlock to her mother running away, to her father abusing her, to running on the streets and needing to pick pocket and steal for a while, to running into Mystique who was disguised as a friendly mother figure, to Irene looking after her, to her discovering her power, to her running to the brotherhood, then her betrayal which led her to the X-Men. It was here though as she continued with her actual life story that she slipped in a little white lie.

"Shortly afta ah joined the X-Men was when ah met Remy." She used Gambit's memories to make her body obey her so it didn't look like she was lying. She told them of their on and off relationship like Gambit had told her they'd tell em, to losing control of her powers, to awakening Apocolypse and having Gambit come after her to save her, to having Gambit have her help out his father, to locking Apocolypse away to meeting up once more with Gambit in Bayville after Apocolypse. From there she told a little more white lies, such as they'd been seeing each other and how Gambit had proposed to her. She told them how she felt miserable with the X-Men after the whole Apocalypse thing and how she really did love Gambit and wanted to be with him, so ran with him back to New Orleans. She told then of how they had planned to be married in secret. For this, she looked to Henri for a moment, before turning her attention back to her hands.

"At the alter... Remy admitted everything to me... He admitted already being engaged and that he was ordered to do it... Then ah guess ah just lost it."

"What do you mean, lost it?"

"Ah just lost it. Lost mah sense... Ah was hurtin afta... Ah'd just lost the man ah loved to an arranged marriage his father had set him up. The marrage ta Bella Donna, so there'd be peace. Remy tried tellin meh that he didn't wanna do it, that he didn't love tha woman, that his père only wanted him ta marry Bella Donna cause he knew her brother, Julian, would lose it an kill em, meanin they'd getta kill Julian, the next heir to the assassin thrown."

Everyone was stunned by this. Rogue hadn't talked about knowing anything about the thieves or assassins or even being an assassin or thief, so hearing that she knew the rules of what would happen and most of all the revelation shocked the entire higher court.

"What's dis LeBeau?"

"She lies!" Jean-Luc said, but it was clear on his face that he had not expected that either. His face told that he was lieing.

"Jean-Luc LeBeau, we agreed with your option to marry the two second heirs off to create peace, but if what this girl is saying is true that you have only plotted to marry your son off as a way to kill out of hatred then this will not be tolerable. You shall be arrested and investigated until evidence is proven for or against you."

Then two bigger and, most likely, stronger people came up behind Jean-Luc, tying his hands back and sitting him down in a chair besides Rogue. Jean-Luc glared at her, and she removed her gaze from him to look at Henri who just seemed surprised and unsure. Then she looked back to the higher court. She never wanted to get someone else in trouble. Well, she wanted to out how horrible Jean-Luc was as a father to Remy, but she didn't know until it was too late that he'd be put on trail too.

A question rolled on Rogue's mind which she felt needed to be answered.

"What's the feud about anyway? Remy says nobody knows. Why do y'all still fight over sumthin that's pointless?"

"That is not up for discussion with you." Said one of the higher court members in a snappy mood.

"However, she has presented a good discussion." Said the one close to the end who seemed to pity and like Rogue "Perhaps we should talk of this."

"She is not a member of either assassins or thieves."

"But the heads and future kings of the assassins and thieves are here, so we can discussion this with them. And I feel it only fair that we answer this girl and all of them truthfully as she has been so truthful with us and brave. And tolerable of that son of yours LeBeau."

"But she is still not an assassin or thief and we cannot tell secrets to outsiders. And not all heads are here. Bella Donna is not and either is Remy LeBeau. Where is he girl?"

"This is not fair! We all know that this girl will not make it out of this here meeting alive. Why do you refuse her her answer? And it does not matter that neither of the other heirs are here. We have here who really matters, and at this moment in time even I am wanting to know the answer to this woman's question. What Is this feud about and if no one can remember than why is it still continuing?" The woman replied back.

Now Rogue really liked this woman at the end who defended her. Even if she was saddened that her only connection to power in this room even said that she was a dead woman walking. It brought down Rogue's hopes about. The room remanded silent for a moment.

"Perhaps this woman is a blessing in disguise. No one has ever talked of the feud in the way she has put it without arguing like we have just done. Perhaps she is an eye opener? For us to see that our actions are wrong. That the idea of forcing two people to marry for the best of the guilds was and is wrong." Stated the woman.

"We are becoming distracted from what is needing to be done." The person who had been arguing with the woman stated. Their hooded figure now turned round to look at Rogue.

"Why are you avoiding this?" The woman asked. All the other members now seemed uneasy and perhaps were questioning this too.

"What happened girl, after you realised you were just a pawn piece in LeBeau's plans to be freed from this marriage."

"Ah am not a pawn. Ah see, now that Remy loves meh and always has done. Yes, he left meh for another woman at the alter, because he was forced to. That dunt mean he dunt love meh. He's told meh he loves meh. He's protected meh and been there for meh. Ah love him and he loves meh."

"These are lies!"

"They're not lies!" Rogue argued back with this person who hated her. Well, she was really hating them back.

"Show us your ring!" Said the woman at the end.

"What?"Rogue questioned.

"Show us the engagement ring Remy LeBeau gave to you when he asked you to marry him."

"Honestly Mattie, what does a ring have to do with dis? Is it proof to show that the boy was eloping? Prove that he has rebelled against not only his father's orders but the guilds and higher court?"

"It is neither of them. And from the information of Jean-Luc's intentions to kill two heirs then I believe what Remy LeBeau did,or was doing was right if he really did love this woman. There is one thing I know though about Remy LeBeau and I'm sure his family will back me up on dis. Remy LeBeau has a ring with him dat he always carries round his neck on a piece of string. That ring was his birth mothers ring and it is de closest thing he has to that woman who he still loves and holds dear to him even after leaving. Now, Remy LeBeau would never part with dis ring, unless he finds de woman, the other half to him. The one he loves more than his own mother and self. Then he'd give her dat ring. Am I right child?" The woman known as Mattie asked Henri.

"Oui, dat be right Tante." He said and Rogue was stunned still. Mattie. Tante. Tante Mattie was one of the women from Gambit's family who loves him. She was apart of the higher court? The large, dark woman who was at their wedding? She was defending her? Rogue didn't know what to say or do. So took off her glove to look down at the engagement ring.

"Can I see dat child?" Asked tante Mattie. The ring was passed to her and she smiled once she saw the words engraved in the ring. "Henri, you were at dis filles and ya brother's weddin', was dis the ring she wore?" Tante asked, passing it to Henri.

Rogue didn't even know how the woman knew she had the ring. She'd been wearing gloves over her ring. Rogue watched Henri now with fear. He wouldn't of seen the ring either. Henri looked at it and saw the writing in it.

"It has the engravings." He stated for everyone, then looked to Rogue. He wondered what to say. On one hand, he knew he hadn't seen the ring and he knew he could get into trouble for being found out for lieing. If he said that though or that she was lieing then he could get revenge for his father who now may lose his life because of her. Henri loved his father to bits. He was good to him. Better than he was to Remy. Henri looked between his father and Rogue But Henri also loved his brother. He recognised the ring from how old and dirty it was. If he said it wasnt his now then Gambit would be hurting even more than when he finds out the woman he loves is dead. Where was he anyway? That stupid boy. He looked to his Tante Mattie then and also realised that if he spoke the truth in saying that he did not see the ring because of her gloves, then his Tante Mattie would get into trouble. It was his father, or Tante Mattie, his brother's heart and Rogue's sentence.

"Oui, dis be de ring mon frère always carries. He gave it to Rogue. De woman he loves."

"This is ridiculous! The girl could have bought a ring similar to it. She's already told lies and stolen from us. Besides, It does not mean dat the boy loves her. Now, I suggest we go back to her stealing from the higher courts." Yelled the man in the middle who hated rogue.

"Stole from us, Malcolm? The child has not stole from us, but from de thieves. Are you stating dat all de thieves money is our money? "

"No, I am not Mattie, but dey pay us. If she steals what the thieves pay us then she steals from us."

"I hoped that was what you meant Malcome, otherwise, it would be worrying if you believed to have more access to the thieves money. Very worrying in deed as money has been missing before this girl even arrived on the scene."

"Are you accusing me of stealing woman'?" Yelled the man in the middle.

"I am not accusing anyone. Simply stating-"

"How do we know this girl hasn't been stealing from the guild all those other times? She be the one on trail Mattie, not me. Why do you constantly question me? Do you seek to over thrown me? Is that it?"

"In deed not Malcome. I am only reviewing all the possibilities. Anyone, no matter what status can make a decision or action that is wrong. I am simply giving equal justice by questioning all ranks of authority. Do you have a problem with justice being prevailed Malcolm?"

"No." Malcome gritted throw his teeth. Then turned back to Rogue. "What happened after the wedding?"

"Well, like ah said, ah was upset, and ah was hurtin' and confused. Ah though he loved meh and ah was angry. Jealous. Blinded by ma own stupid, hurt feelings. Then, before ah knew it, the same night ah'd been left at the alter, ah'd plotted and was havin' ma revenge. Ah've told ya bout ma mutation, right? When ah touch someone ah absorb their life force into meh. Their thoughts, memories, abilities. They all become mine. So ah ended up absorbin Julian and Remy and that's how ah knew so much bout each guild. Ah knew lots bout Bella Donna cause ah absorbed Julian and knew what he knew. Ah knew how ta get inta their home cause of Julian's memories too. So ah did. Ah got inta em, got bank information by absorbin' Bella in her sleep, and a few other assassins, and took some of her hair ta plant in the thieves mansion. Then afta the assassins, ah went ta the thieves and broke inta their place. It was hard but ah did it. Ah stole all their money, got the thieves bank details, and the same night, ah snuck inta a bank and made the transfer; all the thieves money split up inta the assasins."

"You have quite a... Skill there. You were able to bypass all the thieves and assassins security systems and not to mention the thieves and assassins themselves, create a lie which we all would have fallen for and would have proceeded in punishing someone who appears innocent. If you weren't on trial I would believe you to be the greatest thief and assassin that ever sat in front up of us. What happened after you stole from the thieves and framed the assassins? It was reported that Remy LeBeau questioned you about the robbery, and you slipped past another legendary thief in the making. How did you slip past him?"

"Ah lied ta him. Told em ah didn't do it. He was hurtin just as badly as meh afta the weddin."

"It's true. We couldn't get em ta eat anythin." Stated Henri.

Rogue nodded her head in his direction in a thankful way, but in a small way so nobody noticed. He winked back at her when attention went back to her.

"Ah know thieves dont stick round in the same place they're robbin afta they robbed it, but ah knew if ah ran then Ah'll be found out. And ah didn't wanna spend the rest of ma life runnin. So ah stayed. Ah used that point against Remy too. Ah found out from Remy dat he'd been storkin meh afta the break up. Afta ah stole the money and framed the assassins, ah went ta mah firends. Ah already had a job here in New Orleans, so ah kept doin that and moved in with ma work mate. Remy watched meh just have a normal life. Well normal as in ah went ta work, did ma shift, went back home, sat in front of the TV watchin crappy romance films and cryin' mah eyes out while eatin or not eatin... The normal heart broken things. Durin that week, he watched meh ah neva once went ta the bank or any shops or anythin. Ah got paid ma wags and ah gave em ta ma friend who went out and got meh food and paid rent with it. Ah don't have a phone or ah neva answer it and he knows it, so he knows ah hadn't been in connect with anyone. He knew ah hadn't been talkin ta anyone at work cause he'd been spyin on meh and all ah'd ask was orders and give em out. Didn't even say hi. I was literally goin work, goin home, cryin mah eyes out, then sleepin til it was time ta do it all again.A week afta ah lived a normal heart broken life, he came ta see meh, questioned meh and believed meh when ah proved ta em ah couldn't have dun it. Plus we were pretty messed up with seein each other 'gain... By the relationship..." Rogue gave a little smile."He was really annoyed at meh for not eatin right and refused ta move till ah ate sumthin in front'a em."

"Then what happened? You had gotten away with stealing and framing the assassins, but were still heart broken. What did you do next? Why save Bella Donna's life? You could have had Remy all to yourself. Why not let Bella die for your happiness which you don't seem to have gotten much of? I don't think anyone would really blame you for letting Bella Donna , a cold blooded killer who's rich and been spoilt all her life getting everything she's ever wanted no matter if she needed to kill some else in order to get what she wants, die so you can be happy." Asked one of the unknown members who hardly spoke.

"Ah, erm. Ah went back home."

"What do you mean home?" Asked another quiet member.

"Back ta ma papa."

"Your père? But you were abused by him! Why would you ever go back to that ghastly human being?" Another silent member asked.

Rogue looked down into her hands again in shame. "Ah,erm..." Rogue hadn't even thought of her father til now. She felt so bad. So horrible. Her father was dead and all she'd been thinking off was Remy. Her father was dead. Rogue thought back the tears in her eyes. She had to close her eyes and hold her snivelling breath. But tante saw this.

"So child..." Tante said.

Rogue lifted her head up after she knew her eyes had stopped being as watery as they were, but her eyes were red. She cleaned herself up though, not wanting to cry and look weak.

"Tha friend ah was livin with, she has'a boyfriend that reminded meh of ma first kiss. When ma powers first started a boy ah was crushin on and who was crushin on meh, well we were dancin at a party and he fell on meh and kissed meh. Ah ended up puttin him in a coma for a month or three. Ah thought that he was still in it or that he was dead, but he wasn't. Ah went ta tha hospital he was in, hopin ta say Sorrah or somethin. Ta try and make up for what ah did. Ah felt so guilty. So bad when ah saw Nats boyfriend and thought of Cody. Well, ah was feelin rotten and guilty anyway, but this was sumthin ah could actually do ta make things betta. So ah went and found out he wasn't there, and the nurses pointed meh ta where he was."

She didn't want to give any information for either assassins or thieves to hunt down and possibly hurt Mystique or Irene. Well... Irene was dead... She just didn't want them disturbing her grave. Rogue had to fight back more tears.

"So ah ended up goin back ta mah birth place and findin him there. Ah-ah didn't know what ah was doin. Ah knew ma papa was there but at first ah didn't know if ah wanted ta see em or not. Ah didn't even know if ah wanted ta see Cody anymore and ruin his life like ah seemed ta do everyone else's. But he found meh. We talked and he forgave meh. It was so nice bein back with him, ah even started t'inkin that ah could start fresh with em. But then ah thought 'gainst it. Like ah said ah didn't wanna ruin his life, ah mean who wants a girl who can't touch? Then cause it was a small town and ma family had da bad reputation ah didn't want em ta know bout it. Didnt wanna walk round in shame all tha time just cause of ma family... Ah was gonna leave,but... Ah don't know ah just... Ah couldn't do it. Ah couldnt leave. So ah went back home... Thought ah'd try one last time ta try and make things right."

"So you went back, knowing you'd face abuse?" Gasped a silent member.

"Child that was brave of you. And noble, not to forget loyal. Child you have so many good qualities and characteristics. Please, tell us what happened?" Asked Tante.

Rogue shrugged her shoulders.

"Ah walked in findin em passed out drunk as normal and the house a mess... Ah had ta put em ta bed and tidy up... Then Remy came." Rogue's small smile, yet enlightening smile effected all the people in the room."He came lookin for meh. He really cared bout meh."

"Course he does child. Your the one he loves. I'm quite suprized he isn't here now. Where is that daft boy anyway?" Tante asked.

Rogue looked down to her hands, the smiled fading from her face to a broken one. "Ah, erm, ah knocked em out."

"You knocked him out? You mean you touched him. Why did you do that?" One of the quite members asked.

"It's... Complicated... He was great. He was there for meh, holdin meh when ah needed a shoulder ta cry on, and helpin meh clean and buy food and he put ma papa in his place when he was callin meh and gettin ready ta attack meh... Remy was brilliant ta meh. Best t'ing that ever happened ta meh... But like all things in meh life, it didn't last... Remy went out ta get some food and ah stayed in with ma papa who we thought were sleepin, but he wasn't. He came down and we started talkin... Yellin bout Remy. Yellin bout mama. Yellin bout meh... Then it came out that ah was a mutant... He despises mutants... Ah ran when he picked up a metal pole he used ta beat meh with... But the house was locked. Ah couldn't get out... Ah managed ta dodge the hits, but he hit the stove instead and gas started lekin... Ah ran upstairs, but got trapped... He catch meh and beat meh. It was kinda good though that he didn't have the mental bar now though and just used fists... Then set ma room on fire... He wanted ta burn meh like they used ta witches... Ah t'ink he dropped the lighter though and it caught the gas and...the house went up in flames... Ah was so scared... He'd locked the door so ah couldn't get out. Ah thought ah was gonna die... Then Remy came." Rogue gave another light smile which warmed hearts." He saved meh. He ran throw fire and broke through the door and got meh outta that burnin house mah papa died in, but Remy saved meh..." Then she frowned."Then when we got clear he gotta call off Henri, tellin em bout Bella Donna...And ah couldnt do it... Ah couldn't let an innocent person die. Ah thought she'd just get arrested...Ah didn't know she'd get sentenced ta death. Ah just thought itd be like a normal sentence like prison, not death... Ah saw Remys reaction and... Sumthin ma papa said... Sumthin... Ma mama did... Ah just couldn't do it... Ah wasnt tha person who'd get an inocent girl in trouble and killed... Ah didn't wanna live ma life, even if Remy didn't know, ah'd know that and ah couldn't live with maself knowin that ah'd did that just ta have Remy. Ah wouldn't be the girl that Remyd fallen in love with. Ah just couldn't do it... So ah kissed em afta ah told em. Ah told em ah was Sorrah and that ah was gonna out t'ings right... But he didn't want meh to, cause he knew ah was gonna die. Ah couldn't risk em stoppin meh, so ah kissed em and left him ta the hospital. He should be alright. Ah t'ink he'll be wakin up round now or maybe tamorrow. That's from experience, am roughly guessin... So here ah am. Ya know the rest."

Everyone was quite as they looked from Rogue to each other. Nothing more was said to her, and she was placed in a cage while the others talked and decided her fate. That was where she waited now. Rogue sighed as time seemed to be so long, yet so little as she waited for them to come and tell her that. It was torture. But all she could do was wait.