Chapter 2 – Deutschland

Rogue arrives in Germany with Kurt. Little did she know what she's in for when she accepted her brother's invitation.

For once, Rogue was thankful for the bitterly cold weather and imminent snowfall. No one thought twice about a young woman wearing a long coat (an early Christmas present from Gambit, she assumed since it had arrived in the mail for her with no card and she hadn't ordered it) and gloves while she followed Kurt through the international airport. You really didn't want people to think twice about you when you were in an airport.

"C'mon," Kurt looked over his shoulder and grinned at her. He didn't miss a step, weaving in and out among the crowded hallways like he did this all the time. His face was shrouded by the hood of his oversized hoodie. Between his sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants, he looked like every other teenage boy who'd just gotten off an arduous international flight. He brushed through a particularly crowded section of hallway losing Rogue in the process.

Dread welled in Rogue's chest. Surrounded by a sea of people, she couldn't see Kurt anywhere. The last time she'd been somewhere this crowded, she'd not only learned that Risty was Mystique, Mystique was her 'mother,' and, therefore, Kurt was her brother, but her collection of psyches had taken over and she lost control. She'd avoided crowds since then, afraid of what might happen if she lost control again. And now, she didn't have any other option.

With the influx of holiday travelers there were people absolutely everywhere. She couldn't take a step without bumping into two or three people. While she managed to refrain from absorbing anyone new, the present voices residing in her brain took the situation as tacit permission to attempt a hostile takeover.

The mere thought about loosing control was enough to to send her into a panic. She tucked her gloved hands further into her sleeves and wrapped her arms around her, trying to make herself as small as possible. No matter how small she made herself, she couldn't become small enough. The world continued to press in on her, filling in the space she abdicated with more people. Her heart raced and she couldn't catch her breath. She couldn't remember which gate they'd departed from or the German word for 'exit.' Although pictograms accompanied the various languages on the signs placed periodically down the hall, the active confusion in her brain made it near impossible to interpret their meanings.

Desperate to figure out where she was going, Rogue grabbed at her psyches, trying to find Kurt's. But, it had been too long since she'd absorbed her brother. She couldn't find him amid all the louder, more demanding voices. The more desperate she became, the more every psyche, but the one she wanted, burbled to the surface of her mind and attempted to hitch a ride to the dominant position. With the world shrinking around her, it simply meant that the psyches pressed closer to her, filling in every otherwise unoccupied nook and cranny in her brain. She hated the daily—sometimes hourly—need to exert control over the sanctity of her own mind.

Breaking through the physical crowd, Rogue found an oasis of solitude in a small alcove. With her back pressed to the wall, she sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees. Burying her face against her legs, she rocked slightly as she tried to find her calm. Without the constant threat of accidentally absorbing everyone in the vicinity, Rogue started the tedious process of subduing her mental crowds. Though the voices began to clear, her head throbbed with the effort.

Ah can't do this. This is the stupidest idea Ah ever had. Why did Ah think she could manage being among normal people?

"Rogue?"

Beside her, Kurt squatted against the wall. He didn't make a move to touch her and inadvertently set off another attack, while he made it clear that he was there for whatever she might need. Rogue gave him a weak smile. A half-laugh, half-cough escaped from the back of her throat. "Ah thought Ah lost ya, sugah."

"Es tut mir leid. I forgot how busy the airport gets. Is this your first time?" He tugged the cuffs of his sleeves over his hands, hiding his unusual features.

"Yeah. Ah mean, Ah've flown before—obviously—but the X-Jet doesn't exactly make conventional landings very often." Her breathing was returning to normal and her heart had slowed back to a regular pace. She was still feeling slightly shaky, but at least the world wasn't trying to close in on her anymore.

"Right." Kurt grinned. "We're pretty close to the exit. Do you think you can make it? It's okay if you need more time."

"Just gimme a minute." She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. Since Kurt had invited her to join him for the Christmas holiday, something had changed between them. He been including her more in activities—seeking her out at meal times, making certain she was invited to movie nights, asking her opinion on music or books, that sort of thing. It wasn't that he ignored her before, it was more like he was intentionally trying to include her. She appreciated that. If he could make the effort, then so could she.

Opening her eyes, she gave him a weak, albeit genuine smile. "It's good, sug. Ah can make it. Ah bet you're excited to see your parent."

"Ja." Kurt jumped to his feet and offered her his hand in a single fluid movement. Not in the same lithe, boneless way that Gambit seemed to move, but in an equally acrobatic fashion.

Grateful for the unrestrained offer, but still wary of any contact, Rogue shook her head. She pushed away from the wall and stood. Scanning the crowd, she swayed as she visually followed the sea of people passing by in an unending rush. Even though she was simply standing still, she already felt lost. She couldn't recognize which way they'd been walking before she lost track of her brother.

"This way." Kurt pointed to their left. A sign with a pictograms of a suitcase hung from the ceiling. She could only presume the accompanying words translated into 'Baggage claim.'

"Oh right." Rogue fiddled with her hair, trying to hide how out of her depth she felt. She brushed the white behind her ears. Then, changing her mind, let the fringe fall in her face, providing a feeble layer of protection between her skin and the world. Previously, the only times she traveled to another country were when she was on a mission with the team, or she was possessed. Neither option allowed her much time for sightseeing—or even an instinctual knowing her way through an airport.

"Wait, Rogue..."

Rogue scowled as she turned around and found Kurt holding out his hand. There was no way in hell she was going to hold his hand like she was five.

At her scowl, Kurt almost pulled back his hand, but didn't. "I thought...well, I thought you might like a refresher in German. It's been a while since you've absorbed me." He shuffled in place, shifting his wight from foot to foot. His hand remained steady. "Anyways, you don't have to—if you don't want. My parents speak English too. Not as well as I do, but you should be able to understand each other. I just wanted you to know that the offer stands. It's okay with me if you want to...you know, absorb me."

"Oh." Rogue's face softened. How long had it been since anyone had freely offered to let her absorb them? She couldn't remember. Definitely no one since she lost control of her powers. Rogue twisted the fingers of her gloves. They inched up, revealing a sliver of wrist. "Are you sure Kurt? Ah mean, how am Ah gonna explain to your parents, let alone the authorities if Ah knock ya out? Ah could cause an international incident."

Kurt grinned and gave a good natured laugh. "Just don't teleport anywhere and we'll be good. I'm not important enough to cause an international incident and my parents will understand. Besides, I trust you."

Words stuck in her throat, they couldn't find a way around the lump in her throat. She swallowed hard and managed to eke out a soft, strangled, "Thanks, Kurt."

Ripping her glove off like a band-aid, she didn't allow herself a moment to second-guess her decision. Kurt didn't flinch as her fingers brushed over his upturned palm. A sudden rush of memories (primarily in Deutsch) filled her mind and her body felt as though each molecule wanted to be in a hundred places at once before coalescing in another location. She reigned in the instinct to teleport, and allowed the wave of memories flow over her.

In a surprisingly quick moment, Rogue was back in charge of her psyche with the only foreign memories remaining prominent were the German lessons. She turned to her brother who slumped against her with his arm wrapped around her shoulders for support. "Kurt! Wie geht's?"

"Ja, Ja. Mir geht es gut. Ich habe ein klein Kopftschmerzen." He stood, taking the weight off her shoulders. His smile was a bit weak, but other than a slight sway, he appeared in good health—and completely conscious. "Du sehest. Alles Besser."

Reassured that her brother was okay, Rogue laughed with a joy she hadn't felt in a long time. "Wir sprechen Deutsch!"

"Ich weiß." Kurt looked at his watch. "Let's go."

Rogue followed Kurt through the crowds with a new found confidence. She could scarcely believe that not only had someone offered to willing allow her to absorb him, that nothing bad had happened to either to them. If only her powers could always work like this. Though she continued to dodge slow moving travelers and wheeled carry-on luggage, Rogue's thoughts continued to mull over the experience. Why couldn't her powers always work this way?

The very act of asking the question changed something in her. Her powers were still potent and dangerous. But, they didn't need to only be a weapon, wielded with or without her permission. She used her powers once without harm, then maybe it could happen again.

Reaching the end of the terminal where the hallways opened up into the public portion of the airport, Rogue wrapped her coat tighter around her and tucked her face down into the collar of her coat. She was attempting to minimize the possibility of accidentally absorbing strangers. The milling crowds of travelers were paying less attention to the people nearby and were more focused on finding their luggage claim or hurrying by to greet their waiting friends and family. Every few steps Kurt would roll forward onto his toes and scan over the crowds for his parents.

After a few moments of searching, he touched Rogue's shoulder and pointed to a less crowded spot to the left. "Da! My parents are over there. Come on."

Without a moment to hesitate or second guess herself (again), Rogue followed her brother through the dwindling crowd. Stopping a few steps behind Kurt, she hesitated about what to do as he threw himself into the arms of the waiting couple. The Wagners embraced their son like it was the most natural thing in the world. Mystique and Destiny and had never been much for physical affection—even before everyone stopped touching because of her 'skin condition.' She swallowed the lump in her throat. It was harder to push aside the tendrils of envy clawing at her heart. She wanted what her brother had.

Before the thought could finish forming, Mrs. Wagner released her hold on Kurt and turned to Rogue. "Fröhliche Weihnachten, Liebling. We are so happy to finally meet Kurt's sister. He's told us all about you."

Despite knowing all about Rogue, Mrs. Wagner didn't hesitate to wrap Rogue in a warm, motherly embrace. The last person who held Rogue in such a fashion was the birth mother she could no longer remember. For the first time in ages, Rogue leaned into an embrace instead of pushing away. A small voice—her voice—echoed through her thoughts, This is what having a mother ought to feel like. The young woman could not hold back her tears. Soft sobs wracked her body.

"Shh, it will be okay, Liebling. Shh." Mrs. Wagner rubbed Rogue's back in soothing circles and swayed slightly as she comforted the younger woman. "You are family."

"Thank you ma'am." Rogue croaked.

Wiping at her face with the back to her hand, she was glad she decided to forgo her usual makeup for the duration of their travels. Her face would be a mess by now if she hadn't.

Mrs. Wagner tutted and handed Rogue a tissue. "None of that. I'm Helene. Or, if you like you may call me Mutter."

Rogue nodded, uncertain how to respond. Everything was happening too quickly. "H-Helene. Danke."

"Gut. Gut." Helen opened up the embrace and gestured over to the man who had an arm around Kurt's shoulders. His eyes twinkled with the same mischievousness which often fill Kurt's. "And this is my husband, Wilhem."

With one last sniffle, Rogue turned to meet Kurt's dad. "Hi. Nice to meet you, sir."

"Wilhem," he corrected as he also swooped Rogue up in a bear hug.

When he released her, Rogue finally came out of her shock and realized the couple had embraced her without hesitation. They really, really shouldn't be touching her. She shouldn't let them. Her breathing raced as she considered the consequences. She couldn't let anything happen to them because of her. She didn't want to hurt them. Kurt had told them all about her, that meant her mutation too. Right?

She turned to Kurt and switched to English. "Ya told them about my powers, right? You're parents know they shouldn't touch me...Ah'm dangerous."

"You're family. Your mutation is part of who you are and we're not afraid of it. We accept you, all of you," Wilhelm said with a finality which allowed no room for protest. He placed a large, work worn hand on Rogue's shoulder. "You are our son's sister—that makes you family. If you would like, Helene and I, we...we would be honored if you considered us second parents."

All Rogue could do was nod mutely. The desire for family winning out over her cynicism. Her brain swarmed, searching for an angle. Nobody ever just accepted her—mutation and all—without wanting something. Try as she might, she could decipher no reason why Kurt's parents would want her to be part of their family. She was dangerous and volatile. She didn't trust. She was abrasive and cynical.

Despite all that, the Wagners still wanted her. They were still willing to accept her as one of their own, no strings attached. It suddenly made sense why Kurt had wanted to try reconciling with Mystique. Not because he wanted or needed a relationship with his birth mother, rather he wanted to understand her actions and try to forgive her. If he could do that, then her influence would not continue to hang over his head. When the Wagners had adopted him, they had given him a better example. Nurture had won out over nature for her brother. He'd been raised in a home that accepted others freely with no other reason than everyone deserved to be loved. A family whose nature was to give, not simply take.

Before Rogue could start crying again (she was seriously sick of tears) or shield herself against the possibilities of acceptance by wrapping her protective, hostile layers around her, Kurt tapped her shoulder. "Rogue, sorry to interrupt, but I have another surprise for you. It's a bit of an early Christmas present."

She looked up at the trio of conspiratorial grins. Not the sly, smug smile Mystique got whenever things were going her way. These were more along the lines of Kitty's effusive smiles when she got good news and wanted everyone to know—immediately.

"What?" Rogue glanced around the area trying to figure out what she had missed.

"Over there," Kurt pointed to the terminal opposite the one they had come from.

Time seemed to stop, as a tall man with shaggy, auburn hair and long, brown duster made his way through the crowds with an uncanny grace. From the distance she couldn't make out his red on black eyes, though she could almost swear she saw them glow the moment their eyes met.

"What? How?" Rogue turned to Kurt, wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her after all. Maybe she had lost control of her psyches after all and was trapped in a world of her own making. It would certainly explain why suddenly all her fondest dreams were coming true.

Kurt blushed. "I may have left an anonymous message letting a certain Cajun thief letting him know you'd be spending Christmas in Germany."

"What? How?" Rogue blinked slowly. Her brain was having trouble keeping up with all the new revelations.

"Amanda helped," her brother admitted. The words came out in a rush as he hurried to explain. "We, uh, borrowed your phone and found his e-mail address. And then, we might have sent him an e-mail from her father's work e-mail account."

"Kurt," his mother chastised, though she kept a slightly exasperated smile on her face. Like she had faced many such shenanigans over the years.

Kurt had the good grace to appear sheepish about his 'theft' while he continued his story. "We tried to make it sound all official and vague. Like we were considering hiring him for a job. And, it, uh, worked."

"Thank you, thank you thank you," Rogue threw her arms around her brother, nearly crushing him in a bear hug. With the back of her hand, she batted at her eyes causing the tears gathered in the corners of her eyes to spill down her cheeks. "Thank you for everything."

Helene Wagner touched Rogue's shoulder. She smiled kindly at the younger woman and gave her a motherly prod. "Go to your boyfriend, Tochter, we'll be waiting for you both at the baggage claim."

"Danke," Rogue smiled at the woman before taking off running. She felt like she was one of those actresses in all those cheesy chick flicks Kitty liked to watch. And she didn't care. Today had turned out to be the best day in her life so far. It looked like she had the start of a family who wanted her without any Machiavellian reasons for her presence. For the first time in ages, someone had offered to let her absorb them without fear. And, he'd done so for her benefit, not because it was needed for a mission. And, she was able to see her boyfriend for the first time since she left him behind in Blood Moon Bayou.

As if sensing the dramatic meeting about to occur, the crowds parted, allowing Rogue and Gambit to move unimpeded through the hallway until they met halfway. Without hesitation, Rogue wrapped her arms around Gambit in a surprising hug. Not to be outdone, Gambit returned the embrace, picking her up and spinning her around. His arms gripped her firmly around her waist. She kicked up her feet and looped her arms around his neck. Half-closing her eyes, she tilted her head back, while he leaned his face towards hers as though he was considering kissing her.

In the moment of meeting, the cares of their worlds fell away. The weight of the Thieves Guild fell from his shoulders in her presence. He was no longer Gambit the thief or Gambit the Acolyte—he was simply, Remy. When their eyes met—his burning red to her cool grey—there was no longer any doubt about the status of their relationship. He was her boyfriend, and she his sa copine.

She laughed in joy as her own new found freedom could no longer be contained. She was no longer Rogue the X-Men, Rogue the untouchable. She was simply Rogue. A woman, a sister, a daughter, a girlfriend—someone who was wanted and loved.

"Joyeux Noël, mamour." He murmured in her ear in his deep rich voice.

She grinned, "Merry Christmas indeed, swamp rat."

In the end, it wasn't Remy who first risked a kiss. It was her. Finding boldness and bravery through Kurt's freely offered touch and the Wagner's acceptance without conditions, Rogue leaned in and kissed Remy. Her lips brushed against his in a fleeting, fumbling first attempt. He responded, deepening the kiss until her powers started to pull at his. Recognizing the sensation, she broke off the kiss with only the slightest buzz of his powers flowing under her skin.

Remy set Rogue back on the ground. It was Rogue's turn to be unsteady on her feet as her emotions mixed with a hint of Remy's and swirled around her mind in a rising contentment. Hope fluttered in her heart and expanded out into the rest of her being. Holding hands with their fingers interlaced, Remy gave her hand a squeeze. She rested her head against his arm as they made their way to the baggage claim.

Rogue couldn't wait. This was the first Christmas she could remember celebrating surrounded by family. They were a family by coincidental connections who became a family choice. No matter their complicated histories, they were family all the same. The Wagners had accepted her as part of their family long before they met her and she already felt more at home in their presence than she had anywhere else in years.

Suddenly her world was upside down. The fragile blossoms of hope were not immediately crushed. Cracks began to form in her defensive walls and she didn't automatically redouble her efforts to hold everyone at arm's length. Instead, she wanted to introduce Remy to Helene and Wilhem and receive their approval of her boyfriend. She wanted Kurt and Remy to become friends. She wanted to get to know Kurt better as a brother and a friend. She wanted to explore the limits of her powers with Remy.

"What are you thinking, ma chèrie," Remy asked as they reached the baggage claim.

Rogue smiled at Remy with the warm open smile she usually kept hidden. Normally it wasn't wise to let the world know she'd found something or someone to cherish. Her happiness was always stolen away before she could claim it. But, this time, that wouldn't happen. This new paradigm was something worth fighting for and, for the first time in ages, she wasn't alone in the fight. Kurt, Remy, and the Wagners—they were on her side and would fight to help her defend her fragile hope. She sensed, around them she could allow her walls to crumble, because they—her family—would be the steadfast wall protecting her fragile heart as it learned to grow strong. "Ah was thinking, that this is truly going to be the best Christmas after all."

And, she was correct. That Christmas was truly a Merry Christmas, a Joyeux Noël, and a Fröhliche Weihnachten for all involved.

~(x)~(x)~(x)~(x)~

Once again, the German I used is a mix of what I could remember from high school German class and looking up vocabulary (and spelling on-line). As is the case with relying on internet translators (and old memories), there are probably errors in the translations. I am sorry about that. I do hope the following translations help. I'm a bit more doubtful on some of the translations in this case (again, sorry) and tried to keep the German to a minimum in the story, but felt the sudden ability to speak German deserved a few sentences in German.

German:

Es tut mir leid. - I'm sorry

Wie geht's? - How are you? (informal)

Mie geht es gut. - I'm good.

Ich habe ein klein Kopfschmerzen - I have a small headache

Du sehest. Alles besser. - You see. All better.

Wir sprechen Deutsch! - We're speaking German

Ich weiß. - I know.

Da - There

Fröhliche Weihnachten, Liebling - Merry Christmas, Darling

Mutter - mother

Danke - Thanks

Gut - Good

Totter - daughter

My French is even less advanced than my German. It's a mix of the little bit I managed to learn over the past year and internet translations. I'm sorry about any errors. I am trying. (Thankfully, this story didn't require much French).

French:

sa copine - his girlfriend

Joyeux Noël, mamour - Merry Christmas, my love