Epilogue

Almost everyone had been happy to see Rogue when she returned home after being gone for almost three days. Kitty wanted to know what it had been like, living with the thieves for a time (although, she and many others weren't fully clued in that Remy's household was actually a thief's guild). Kurt wanted to know about Mystique and what the heck she had done to make impersonating him so easy. Scott had wanted to know why Rogue recognised Logan by the name Badger. It was all a little overwhelming at first.

The Professor asked to see Rogue in his office when she first arrived back. He explained how he wanted to see her every day for the next two weeks just to keep an eye on her memories and how she was doing mentally. He believed her, suddenly, losing all of her memories and then regaining them all at once in such a short space of time may have done some mental damage and he wanted to be safe rather than sorry. Rogue completely understood that and agreed to the Professor's treatment.

She also ended up explaining how she had offered Remy, Henri and Merci a place to stay if they needed it. She apologised for not asking, but since the Professor knew about everything that happened thanks to glancing in her mind. He reassured her that, if she hadn't extended the invitation, then he would have.

The Professor tried to address Rogue about her fears for Remy and Henri, but she'd picked up a few things from the thieves since living with them and getting out of topics she didn't want to discuss.

Every night though, before she went to bed, she would wonder after them. She would take the Queen of Hearts card that Remy had given her a while ago and hold onto it as she thought about him. She prayed to the high heavens that he and his brother were both ok and that she would get to see them both again.

Of course, her praying every night in silence didn't seem to give her any closure or answers. She didn't really have a way to contact them without having her contact being noticed by all the thieves and, as the Professor had reinforced, giving Jean-Luc any leads to her would be dangerous for everyone she cared about. All she could do was hope that Remy was right and that they would cross paths again.

And as luck would have it, he was right.

Rogue had been in one of her recovery sessions with the Professor to ensure that her mind was stable when she heard the motorbike approach. There had been a knock at the Professor's door and Storm advised that they had a visitor.

When the Professor and Rogue made their way to the front of the mansion, a large smirk danced across Rogue's face as she saw Remy parking up his brand new Harley in front of the mansion. She quickly tried to remove the smirk, but could only get it to a light smile.

When Remy took his helmet off and glanced up the stairs at them, he asked: "Dat invitation still open?"

After seeing Xavier's smile, Remy moved his glance on to Rogue, noticing her smile fading. At hearing Remy's question, her smile had wavered, worry setting in for Remy's reasons for being here. She tried to read Remy as best as she could, but she couldn't see any stress there. His face was as soft as it had been when they'd been alone together, his resting smirk growing into a content smile as he winked at her, trying to tell her everything in just that one wink.

xxxxx

Rogue had tried her best not to overcrowd Remy when he first arrived and went into the Professor's office to talk, but she was a nervous wreck. A few curious mutants like Kitty, Amara and the newly re-joined Tabitha hung around near the Professor's office and their questions put her on edge. When Kitty thought Rogue knew the reason why Remy was here, Rogue let her moody manner cover her and made a break from their questions to her bedroom.

She couldn't settle there either. She was pacing around her room, worrying about what had happened back with the thieves. She wondered if everything had gone wrong after she left and, if that was so, why had it taken him this long to come to them? Where was Henri, Merci and Tante? Were they safe? Were they on their way?

She was trying to maintain the impression among the fellow mutant residents that she was still the same, old Rogue who didn't care about anything or anyone. But Rogue, badly, wanted to burst into the Professor's office and demand to know off Remy what the heck was going on. When Rogue thought she couldn't take the suspense any longer, she marched to her door and opened it. Jumping, when she realised someone was stood right outside of it.

"Bonjour chérie," Remy said as he smirked down at her. "Y' miss moi?"

After regaining her posture, Rogue snorted at that, stepping out of her room and closing the door behind her.

"Miss ya sneakin' 'round all the time an' poppin' up outta nowhere? No. In fact, ah rather enjoyed the peace," she huffed.

Jamie and Rahne ran past them at that point. Jamie yelling out his laugher and Rahne barking as she chased him in her wolf form.

"I can see dat," Remy said, pointingly.

Rogue raised her eyebrow at him, warning him not to push her. She folded her arms over her chest, her expression becoming more sympathetic.

"So, ya stayin'?" Rogue asked.

"Oui, unless y' be takin' y' offer back," Remy said, raising his arm to lean against her door frame and trap her between himself and the door.

Rogue glanced away, feeling heat rise in her stomach at how close he was getting.

"It's the Professor's offer. Ah was just the messenger," Rogue said.

"Sure y' was," Remy chimed.

Rogue glared up at him, but she couldn't stay mad for long. Especially not the way he was smiling at her. She wanted to ask her question, why was he here, but, for some reason, the question was struggling to come off her tongue.

"So, if you're stayin', haven't ya had a tour?" Rogue asked.

Remy shrugged his shoulders.

"Skipped out on y' boy scout after he laid out de third house rule. He really can take de fun outta movin' t' a new place," Remy said.

Rogue tried not to smirk at that. She could just imagine Scott losing his mind at Remy slipping out from under him like that.

"So ya really stayin'?" Rogue asked, trying to get back to edging along the question she wanted to ask.

"Oui," Remy said. "As long as y' can manage dealin' wit' dis charmin' Cajun, dat is."

Rogue snorted at that, unable to help the smirk that grew.

"Ah t'ink ah'll survive. But if ya get outta line, ah ain't savin' ya from Logan's punishments," she informed him.

"Dat Badger don't scare moi," Remy said which had Rogue chuckling.

As anxious as she was to know the reason why Remy was here, she couldn't help but be happy he was staying.

"He's gonna eat ya alive if ya keep callin' him that," Rogue warned him.

"Let him try," Remy said.

"So, is Henri an' Merci comin'?" Rogue asked, finally making steps to find out why Remy was here.

"Non, they be stayin' back in Louisiana. Speakin' of, Merci. De femme, she insisted I give dis to y'," Remy said, pulling out a folded envelope and handing it to her.

Rogue took it from him, her eyebrow raising in question. She was sure this was his way of trying to skip out on answering her questions. She had a feeling that, if he wanted her to know, he would have told her by now. She decided just to go with it and took the envelope from him.

She glanced at the envelope for some time, quite fearful about what Merci might say. The last time they spoke, it wasn't under the best circumstances after all and guilt rattled her. She glanced from the letter up to Remy, hoping he'd elaborate. When he didn't, Rogue opened the letter and began to read Merci's curved handwriting.

Chére Rogue,

I hope this letter finds you well and that Remy ain't pulled some absurdités insensées! If so, be sure to hit him upside the head for me.

I just wanted to write to let you know that, although our last conversation might not have ended on a positive note, we still care for you. We all do! Me, Henri, Remy and Tante. And you best believe me when I tell you this because I'm not having this discussion with you again!

Merci warned which made a little smile grow on Rogue's anxious face.

I'm so happy you managed to get your memories back and see Jean-Luc for what he truly is. I hope, now that you know a lot more than you did, you realise that all we ever tried to do was protect you. If not, well, I still think you're a stupide morveuse!

Rogue chuckled at Merci's sentence, shaking her head as she could just envision Merci before her saying this straight to her face, only, with a Cajun accent that didn't much show in writing.

She ignored Remy, who tilted his head to one side. Obviously curious what Merci had wrote that made her laugh.

Since I know you're not that, I'll keep writing as if you've seen the light.

I'm sure Remy hasn't indulged you on what happened when he returned which I can understand why. You two living in a house full of mutants who don't know our ways or our secrets, it's not like he can just start talking freely to you about that kind of stuff. But, just encase you have been worrying and Remy doesn't get the chance to tell you, everything was fine after you left.

There were a lot of arguments and punishments handed out, but Jean-Luc backed down and publicly forgave Henri and Remy. He, somehow, managed to use your mère folle coming after you as a way to shift the blame. He's still hell bent on getting revenge on the Rippers, but, he's said that you're still one of us and that you have gone away to keep the rest of us safe. He's saying that he would welcome you back with open arms and that he would like you to know that.

But, since you have seen him for the monster he truly is now, I suggest you don't step foot in Louisiana for sometime or Henri and Remy will be busting you out of another tight spot.

Rogue snorted at that, guessing Merci had a point.

Tante wanted me to to tell you that she still sees you as her honey child and that you better not be getting yourself in to any more life-threatening trouble up north. She also warns that you best keep eating a hearty meal every day and gave Remy the same talk while he was back here. She wants him to carry on feeding you while you two be up north since she's not there to do it. She spent years teaching Remy everything she knows and he is actually quite a good cook, so make sure you bring out the whip there if he's not treating you right. If you don't, Tante will be down there with her own whip in toe.

Rogue found herself cracking up again as she imagined Tante just showing up out of the blue and ripping both their ears off.

Henri says to keep an eye on Remy for him and make sure he doesn't cause too much mischief. He's also glad you managed to get your memories back and go home to your family where you belong. He didn't say this in so many words, but I know my fiancé and he'll miss you. He wants you to stay in touch and reach out to him if you ever need us. We all do!

As for me, well, Tante and Henri have managed to say everything I would have. Only thing I think I'd have to add is that I'm pretty sure Remy has a crush on you.

Rogue's eyes near bulged out of her head as she read Merci's words. She glanced up at Remy, who seemed confused by her reaction. She hadn't noticed any tampering with the letter, so she hoped Remy hadn't seen what Merci had wrote. She was sure to keep the letter closer to her chest as she read on what else Merci had put.

Don't let him off easy though! Make sure he works for it and treats you right. You know what most of the men are like down here. Mostly good when they aren't gambling, stealing, betting or any other of the above. All he needs is a good femme to keep him on track and I have every confidence that you can keep that boy on his toes. If you ever do need advice on how to reel in a LeBeau, you know I'm your girl.

Wishing you two all the best in the future and looking forwards to when we next get to go on a shopping spree.

bien à toi,

Merci, Henri and Tante.

P.S. If you're wondering about your room and clothes back here, then don't worry! We've convinced Jean-Luc to keep your room just the way it is so you always have a home to come back to even though we hope you don't. Would rather you never have to face that homme fou again!

Rogue finished the letter smiling. When she felt her eyes watering up, she shut them quickly, reaching up and wiping one of the tears away.

"You alright there chérie?" Remy asked.

"Yeah, ah just have somethin' in mah eye," Rogue informed him.

Remy just smiled down at Rogue, only guessing what could have been written to make her react the way she did.

Rogue had her answers now as to how everything went down back at the thieves' mansion. She was rather glad everything went smoothly for them all, but she still felt pretty guilty for putting them in that position in the first place. She did realise that she still didn't know Remy's reason for why he was here, but she guessed Merci didn't know that either. She figured, Remy being here was his own call and that, if he wanted her to know, he'd tell her. She wasn't fully accepting that she'd wait for an answer that might never come, but, for now, she reckoned, she could be patient and wait until they were alone to ask him. And, if push came to shove, she could always just drop his arse and read his thoughts to know why he was there. But, after reading about Merci's hunch and having a little hunch herself, she really didn't want to push just yet to find out if Remy really was staying at the mansion for her. She just wasn't sure she was ready to handle that if that was so, until then, they'd just be residents in the same mutant mansion together.

"So," Rogue said, clearing her throat and trying to return to her usual front. "Merci told meh that Tante told ya ta make sure ah don't starve," Rogue said, smirking up at him as she moved them off Merci's letter and deflected onto another topic.

"Oui, got a good ear full 'bout dat 'fore leavin'," Remy admitted, his smile getting larger.

"Well, we're ya shown the kitchen?" Rogue wanted to know as she folded up the letter and kept it close to her heart.

"I t'ink I missed dat part," Remy said, tilting his head back to the side again as he smiled that relaxed, easy smile of his down at her.

Rogue rolled her eyes, but nothing could knock her current mood.

"'course ya did. Well, guess ah best show ya it seein' as ah'd rather avoid another ear waggin' off Tante," Rogue said, moving past him to walk along the corridors,

"Y' do know she still in New Orleans, non?" Remy asked.

"Yeah, but ah wouldn't put it passed that woman ta come on down here just ta give us both a verbal spankin'!" Rogue said. "Ya cookin' tonight swamp rat! New or not," Rogue said.

Remy just chuckled.

"Tante also tell y' t' put moi t' work?" Remy asked.

"It wasn't mentioned, but ah reckon she does. Now quit stallin' an' come on already! Ah'm stravin' here," Rogue said.

"Whatever y' need chérie. Whatever y' need."

xxxxx

French Translations

Bonjour chérie - Hello Darling
Oui - Yes
Non-No
Femme-Woman
Chére - Dear
Absurdités insensées - Foolish Absurdities

Stupide morveuse - Stupid Brat
Mère folle - Mad Mother
Bien à toi - Yours
Homme fou - Crazy Man