Flashback

Rogue's new teacher leaned on her desk, "I want no shenanigans from you two peas in a pod. Do you both understand?"

They both shook their heads, looking her straight in the eye. Remy moved his seat closer to Rogue's, making sure he was as out of the aisle as possible. She moved her chair too, allotting him more desk space. They stayed silent the entire time the helpers were in the room, doodling on a piece of her notebook paper. The teacher would come by occasionally, nodding her head in approval. Halfway through the period a boy came by and snatched Remy's glasses before Remy could react. One of the girls screamed while others gasped or moved away from him as they looked at his eyes.

"He's a freak," the boy yelled.

Rogue stood up, "Shut up and leave him alone," she snatched back the glasses, handing them to Remy.

"Look at Anna defending her boyfriend," another boy called, "You like a freak. He's weird and so are you!"

A pencil whizzed past the boy's head, exploding behind him. They all turned and looked at Remy. Rogue's eyes widened as she took a step away from him. How had he done that? She looked back towards the pencil, all that was left was a black spot on the wall. She then turned back to face Remy. He was different but she never realized just how special he was.

"Anna please don't be scared. I won't hurt you," he reached out to her.

He dropped his hand just as quickly, not giving her time to respond. He moved back, tripping over his chair. Everyone in the classroom burst into laughter as he landed on the floor, everyone but her. It broke her heart to hear them laughing at him like they'd done so many times before. She looked back at them, so afraid and quick to judge yet now so merry at his expense. She moved towards him slowly, extending her hand for him to take. He reached out to grab it.

"Don't touch him," Belladonna yelled, "He might make your hand explode."

She ignored Belladonna. No one else came close to her. She gripped his hand and pulled, helping him to his feet. She didn't let go even after he was standing. She just looked at him. He wasn't sure what to do, so he remained completely still. She reached up with her other hand and took off his glasses again. He didn't try to stop her, fearing sudden movement would scare the young girl away. She smiled as she looked into his eyes, mystified. They held so much sadness in them, yet they seemed to glow.

"I think they're pretty," she said sweetly, "just like you."

She sat back down as if nothing had happened. The other children stared as he sat back down next to her and continued to doodle. She smiled as they doodled together. She laughed when he accidently burned to corner of the paper with his hand. The other kids resumed what they were doing, keeping their distance from Rogue and Remy. In Remy's mind this school day was the longest day of his young life. It was the first day and he'd managed to make some kind of scene.

He lowered his head, starting to walk home alone. He figured Rogue was just being nice in class and wouldn't want to be seen with him unless she absolutely had to. He'd managed to lose the one true friend he actually had. He heard footsteps behind him, they were approaching fast. He spun around, ready to fight and almost collided with Rogue.

"Why didn't you wait for me," she asked between breaths.

"I figured you wouldn't want to be seen with the freak of the school," he lowered his head in defeat, "plus I didn't want you around if anyone gave me trouble."

She looked at him, "Well I think it's kinda neat. Like a little firework show in your hands. Besides, I like you just the way you are."

He looked up at her, a goofy smile painted on his face, "Really? You mean that?"

She laughed, "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

She grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight as they walked home in silence. He said good-bye to her when they got to her house, turning to go home when he felt something hit his head. He turned around to find a silver necklace with a little dog tag on it. He picked it up to see the word BEST was engraved into it. He looked up to see Rogue holding one in her hand. He smiled as she put it on. Following her lead, he put his on too and tucked it under his shirt. She waved to him then pulled her head back through her window. He smiled to himself. No one had ever given him a gift before, well not friends anyway, and the gifts he received from his family were all gifts that could be used when robbing someone. Henry looked at him as he walked through the door.

"The school called about the little mishap today," Henry said, "Dad isn't too happy. But I want to make sure you're ok. Should we be expecting a call from Anna's parents?"

"Non," he said while walking up the stairs, "She's cool with it. She said that she likes me just the way I am. She even gave me a present."

He turned and proudly showed his dog tag to Henry. Henry examined it. It was a nice necklace. He noticed the BEST engraved in it, assuming that Rogue had the friend part. He smiled approvingly, handing the necklace back to Remy. Remy took it, turned back around and walked up to his room.

Henry shook his head, "Eight years old and the boy's in love. What are we gonna do with him?"

"These school years keep going by faster and faster. Pretty soon that boy will be in High School," Jean Luc shook his head, "Girls will be all over him. Well, all but one girl."

"What girl won't," Henry asked, watching Remy and Rogue play outside.

Jean Luc gestured to the window, "The girl outside with him. She's gonna have enough boys chasing after her that she won't have time for Remy."

Henry laughed, "You're joking right? You really think Remy won't be the first boy in line? You really will hope for any way for those two not to be together. I remind you again that the little girl playing in our front yard is the only real friend he's got."

"That doesn't mean anything," Jean Luc waved his hand, "In another year or so it'll be 'Anna who'."

Henry patted his father's shoulder, "You keep telling yourself that old man. In the meantime, Mercy and I will be taking Anna and Remy to the fair."

He left the kitchen before his father could object. Mercy was already rounding Rogue and Remy up, helping them into the car. Rogue's mothers went out for the night, thanking Mercy and Henry for the much-needed break. It took about twenty minutes to get to the fair and six hours to come home. Rogue and Remy went on every ride possible, not caring how fast or how high it may be. They slept soundly the entire car ride home. Mercy smiled as she tucked them into Remy's bed, kissing them both on the forehead.

The next morning, they both came running down the stairs, the smell of pancakes and French toast waking them. They each had three helpings, topped with fruits, powdered sugar and whipped cream. After eating Mercy walked Rogue home to get showered and dressed. They were being taken to the zoo today, to see the new reptile exhibit. Rogue showered quickly and ran back across the street to Remy's house. Everyone was already in the car. Rogue handed her gift shop money to Mercy who knew she'd lose it if she kept it. Jean Luc stayed in the kitchen, unhappy that for a second day both Henry and Remy were not doing their jobs.

"I liked the snakes the most," Rogue yawned as Irene tucked her in, "and the frogs."

Irene kissed her head, "I'm glad you had a good day sweetie. Now try and get some sleep."

Rogue was asleep before Irene left the room. She carefully walked down the hall to the bedroom she and Raven shared. She closed the door behind her, changing into her pajamas and laying down. Raven lay on the other side of the bed, turning her attention to Irene as she climbed into bed. They both let out a deep sigh. This friendship with Remy was causing many problems in their plans for Rogue. Irene shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. She was torn between which mattered more, their plans or Rogue's happiness. She tried to relax but couldn't.

"We're going to have to move again," Irene said, her voice sounding defeated, "He's becoming too much a part of her life. If we stay here, he could ruin everything."

"I know," Raven agreed, "It's going to break her heart to leave him though. But things must go as planned if we want the future to be as we wish. Magneto is growing impatient. Her powers are taking too long to manifest."

Irene rolled to her side, "And he will keep waiting. You can't rush the development of a mutation. Each child varies."

Raven sighed, "I know. There is another mutant he wishes to collect, but at a later point in time. Magneto refers to him as Gambit, have you ever heard of him?"

Irene shook her head, "No, I'm not familiar with the name. Has Magneto given you any background information on him?"

"No," Raven lay her head on her pillow, "We'll worry about all of that later. You of all people know that the future is constantly changing. You can't possibly keep tabs on everything and everyone."

Irene simply nodded, feeling exhausted. She'd had three more visions today. Each having a different outcome. The visions drained her; she needed her rest if she could even hope to keep up with the energetic little girl down the hall. She smiled, adopting that bubbly little girl was the best decision she had ever made. It made her feel good to have that child in her life. No matter what Ravens motives were for adopting her, she loved the girl and if going again both Raven and Magneto meant she'd survive, them Irene would do it. Deep down she had a feeling that's how things would play out at some point anyway.

They decided they'd move the day before Rogue's seventh birthday, giving her a few more months with Remy. After they moved all communication with him would be cut off completely. If he gave her his contact information, they'd claim it simply got lost in the move. Rogue would object to the idea, but it was for the best. She needed to focus on herself, not some boy with unique eyes. Rogue was told three days before her birthday that they were moving. It broke Irene's heart to hear the little girl beg and plead for them to stay here. She cried for hours, asking them to stay the entire time.

Rogue knocked on Remy's door the day before she had to leave. He answered with a smile that immediately disappeared when he saw her face. They both walked to the tree house, hand in hand. Once inside the tree house Rogue began to cry, hugging Remy as tight as she could. He didn't know what was going on, but he did his best to sooth her. She pulled away a few moments later, her eyes puffy and red.

"I'm leaving tomorrow," she said between sniffles.

"Well that's okay," he smiled, "I'll just see you when you get back, nothing to cry about."

"No," she shook her head angrily, "I'm leaving, like moving away. I won't be coming back. This is my last day here. It why I haven't been in school. My mommas needed me to pack my things."

Remy's eyes started to tear, "You can't move. You're the only friend I've got. Can't they stay here, or they can move and leave you here with us?"

She shook her head, trying her best not to cry. Remy hugged her, allowing her to hug him back. When they pulled away he grabbed her face and kissed her. Her eyes widened as he pulled away. He said he was sorry and had no idea why he did that, it only made them both cry harder. Rogue heard her name being called. They both climbed down the tree house, walking through the lawn hand in hand.

"I'm gonna miss you Remy," she whispered.

He buried his face in her strawberry scented hair, "I'm gonna miss you too Anna."

They gave each other one final hug before Rogue left. She was halfway across the street when the car came flying around the corner. Remy's eyes widened as the car tried to stop but hit her. The driver jumped out of the car as Raven and Remy came rushing towards her. She looked around until she found Remy's face.

"Anna," she heard him say, then everything went black.