We would never go to New Orleans. Not together anyway. Remy and I wanted to leave right away but with midterms coming up just before Christmas vacation the Professor wouldn't allow it. Honestly, there was no way in hell I was going to screw up school so late in the game. Senior year was chill but it wasn't that chill. I would have to put in a little more effort before break or it was going to cost me. You can bet that I am going to be wearing that cap and gown come graduation day. But New Orleans wouldn't wait.

The Brotherhood was busting up the mall. Kitty and Bobby were there earlier in the day and saw the gang scoping out the place. It was so obvious. Too obvious. We should have known it was a trap. Mystique was who I wasn't expecting. She was leading this troop and they were after Remy. The Brotherhood was out matched and out numbered but Remy was the one being double-teamed. Kurt had his back until mommy dearest shows up. He was stunned. He watched as Mystique shot a punch at Remy's jaw, knocking him out. He watched her whistle to Pietro who came to help her drag Remy's dead weight.

All he could say to me was, "I'm sorry." Over and over, "I'm sorry." He wouldn't look me in the eye and I'm glad he didn't. I was more than angry. This was Jean-Luc. This was Jean-Luc and my mother pairing up. He hired her for a job, probably a big payout, and she would be happy to oblige. She never liked me with Remy. She always said I was silly for pining for him, he was nothing special… a swamp rat. And why would he ever want to be with a girl like me? Timid and reserved. A part of me always listened to her. Her nagging voice kept me in my place for so many years. I did what she said, robbed when she wanted me to and hurt people when she didn't want to do the dirty work. Kurt was lucky not to have her in his life but now she was manipulating him just as she manipulated me for so many years. She showed her face, teasing him. He would want to know why she left him. He would want to know about her and I wasn't going to let him fall into the dark chasm that is Mystique. I wouldn't let it happen.

But right now I need to get Remy. There was nothing in the world that mattered more. That night I headed to the airport to catch the last flight out to Louisianna. Unfortunately I wasn't as sneaky as I thought. Jubilee was in the back seat of the taxi when it arrived a block away from the mansion. I told her to go home but she replied, "Lets go knock some heads!" I could use that gusto so I let her tag along.

I wanted to knock some heads. I knew where he was. I just had to have a plan. I can't just go storming into Cajun Country. Guards will be everywhere. Remy could be in any one of their hideouts and I would have to get some intel first. I think I had some reliable sources still in my pocket from the French Quarter.

The redeye arrived to New Orleans early. Too early. I would need my strength and that included coffee. I took us to Café du Monde where we munched on beignets and chickory coffee. I didn't realize how much I missed my city, a city that I spent so many years. It was my blank slate but now it seemed haunting. Jean-Luc would have eyes everywhere. He owns half the city. The other half belongs to the Boudreaux. I would have to be careful not to make to much of a footprint as I make my way through the city.

Jubilee and I headed to Esplanade Ave, where the city became less touristy and more seedy. I stopped into a bar spoke to a man named Paul. It was my mom's usual hangout but he never much cared for her getting into fights and ruining his barstools so I knew I could trust him. He said Mystique had come in with a load of cash, bought everyone a drink at the bar and then took off. He didn't know where Remy was but there was something big going on at the LeBeau mansion today and everyone was there.

So maybe they weren't trying to hide him after all, but I know Remy wouldn't be taking this sitting down. With this timetable, we would have to act fast. I headed back into the heart of the Quarter knowing it was my best bet.

The church across the street was calming as was the hustle of the busy street but I wasn't expecting it to bring another unwanted visitor. I was already on the lookout after speaking to Paul so spotting the red head who darted into a gift shop was easy to recognize.

I followed her, "Jean!? What the heck are you doing here!?"

I looked to Jubilee who shrugged, "I thought we might get into trouble. It'd be good to have some back-up."

"It's a good thing that she did! You could use me."

"No you are nothing but trouble in this situation. Jubilee is already one person too many."

"Well, I'm here so there isn't anything you can do about it. And Logan is on his way with the X-jet."

"What!?"

"He is going to help and I am going to help. I can find out where Remy is."

I whispered through gritted teeth, "Will you shut up! This is a secret mission, okay? Can you take this seriously?"

"I hardly consider your boyfriend being kidnapped by his own family a serious situation."

"It is serious and I don't need you messin it up!"

"I'm not going to mess it up." She tugged a black beanie on her head and yelled out to the salesman, "How much?"

"Fourteen dollars."

"I'll take it! I just love the fleur de lis." Whispering to me, "I'm just a tourist…. So where we going?"

"Swamp land."

"I will tell Logan to meet us there."

I could barely contain my sarcasm, "Yeah, make it a party while you're at it."

Remy's mansion was on a island in the middle of a the swamp land and I assume that's where this party is going to be at so it was a good thing Jean was here to levitate us across because we couldn't exactly use any type of loud boat transportation. We needed to be quiet for Jean's concentration, which was finally a breath of fresh air not having to hear her voice. The noise could be heard as we got closer. I pointed to some brush to the right of us that we hid behind.

It was chilly at one in the morning. The house was booming with raucous noise. Laughter, music, talking… I could see the guests passing in front of the windows of the living room and kitchen but none of them were Remy. A speedboat whizzed by us but we stayed hidden. After the boat parked on the dock at the back of the house, I finally saw what we came for. Remy walked by the living room window and went upstairs. He turned on the light to his bedroom and I knew this was my chance.

"Okay, now."

I mentally spoke to Jean as she levitated me toward the window without a sound. It was weird not having control of your body and I was squirming a little bit as if I might fall.

"Stop wiggling or you will fall!"

My landing wasn't at all graceful. I lost my footing when Jean let me loose and nearly fell but I made it in through the window.

"Rogue! How did you-"

"Well, someone needed to rescue you."

"I'm so glad you're here chere."

When he hugged me I could smell the liquor on his breath. "Or maybe you don't need rescuing," I said as I pulled away.

Remy was disheveled in his rich suit. His slicked back hair was coming undone and his eyes seemed redder than usual with a glossy look to them. Not to mention his sweaty palms. Remy LeBeau never gets nervous.

"Its not all rosey chere."

He lifted up his shirt to reveal his black and blue abdomen. I touched the bruises with my gloved hand, "What happened!?"

"You mean after Jean-Luc's shake down? He thinks he has me convinced tah marry Belladonna but I was planning to escape tonight if I could… but what is mo' important is you gettin out of here safely Ro."

"Well you're coming with me."

"It ain't that easy. You think we could just waltz right on outta here?"

"Like I just waltzed right in here sugah?"

"Jean-Luc won't have me leave Belladonna Boudreaux at the at the alter."

"So what are you sayin? You're gonna marry her!?"

"NO!" He lowered his voice, "But she is the only one that can put a stop to this. You have to go talk to her."

"I don't think she will listen to me. She was frightened of what might happen if ya'll didn't go through with this whole thing so what could I say to make her change her mind? Do you think she could really put a stop to this?"

"If she doesn't dis will never get left alone. Jean-Luc always wants family responsibilities first. This is big Rogue. Bella has a huge dowry and my father ain't gonna pass dat up."

Jean-Luc called out to his son in French from downstairs, "Remy? Where you at boy?"

"Is this like a bachelor party?"

"Close as its gonna get… Rogue you have to get out of here. Talk to Belladonna. Please."

Jean-Luc was coming up the stairs. "Where is she?"

"Out on Bourbon street, but it ain't not'ing crazy. The girls keep it subdued. Go on."

Remy turned to cover the window and I crept out just as Jean-Luc was coming inside. "What you doin up here son?"

"Gettin' some air."

"Ain't gettin' cold feet are you?"

"No, I just don't have half the liver you do."

"Aha! Dat's my boy!"

"Jean! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

I didn't think Remy was right on this one. Usually he is the brain of these sorts of operations but something just didn't feel right. Jean and Jubilee looked to me for the next step and I had no clue but finding Belladonna would be the first step so we headed back to the French Quarter where Bourbon Street would be bursting with life even at this hour of the night.

But where would they be? Do you know how many bars are on Bourbon Street? That's why it's called goddamn Bourbon Street! Couldn't Remy give me any other clues to go off of? He just said they'd be keeping the get together classy… which joint is classy? We stood at the entrance of the first bar I thought wasn't as scandalous as the rest of 'em but as soon as we entered a girl with a low cut top was offering me a shot from a test tube. With no ID's being checked I took a swig. I figured we'd fit in more if we were drinking and besides I could use it.

"You know its getting late… maybe they aren't even in a bar anymore. They are probably heading back home by now."

"Jean's probably right Rogue."

"We can't stop looking. We'll split up."

"Why couldn't Remy just leave with us when you were upstairs with him!?"

"Jean-Luc wouldn't give up that easy. It ain't no game of capture the flag. We aren't gonna be playin tug of war with my boyfriend and if he thinks that talkin to Bella is the best thing to do… then we are going to do it."

"Fine. You head left and we'll head right. Meet back here in thirty minutes and if there is no sign of her then we go back, get Remy and leave. Logan is at a hotel waiting for us and if we come any later he'll come find us himself and you don't want that."

She made it sound so easy. Just get Remy… "Agreed."

Everyone had silly smiles plastered on their face. People were bumping into me, drinks sloshing out of their extra large cups and they just laughed. I love this city but right now I was getting frustrated with every passing drunk.

Ten minutes went by and I finally caught a break. I saw a white poofy veil being followed by ten other giggling women. Jean had bought us Mardi Gras masks which seemed like a good idea, we wouldn't be recognized, but it also made it a bit harder to see. It might have been her and it might not but when she turned around there was no mistaking it. There was the bride-to-be.

The group was picked up by a limo on the next street over and I pulled over a nearby taxi and pointed in the same direction. The taxi took to snooping very well. It obviously wasn't his first time. He followed two cars behind and didn't make things too apparent. The limo dropped off guests just outside the city and then they started to go farther out. I urged the driver to keep going even though the fellow cars were beginning to thin out.

"Turn off your lights," I ordered. The driver did as I commanded after I handed him a hundred-dollar bill.

We were nearly back in Remy's swampland when the last of her party was dropped off but not Belladonna. She sat in the limo until her female friend entered in the house. I think I recognize it as her cousin's. Belladonna tip-toed out of the vehicle with no shoes on and went to the passenger side window. She slipped him some cash and waved as he drove off.

Another limo drove right behind us and over to Belladonna where she jumped in and the car sped off. Where was she going? Think she could be skipping out on this whole wedding too? Maybe she cared for Remy more than I thought. Maybe she finally found an out. I thought there was hope as we followed the limo, barely trying to keep up with it lest we draw more attention to ourselves.

But it wasn't heading on the highway. It was heading back into the city. The airport is thirty minutes away from the French Quarter so maybe a train station? Leave less of a footprint? No, there wouldn't be any trains at this hour and by the time there were she would be found out. Where are you going Belladonna Boudreaux?

Updated sooner than you thought huh? Just been in the writing mood ever since my novel has been on the backburner.

Keep the reviews coming! Love the constructiveness. Is that a word? Ha well thanks anyway:

Nefertiry and Dark Lord of the X-men

Song: Radioactive by Imagine Dragons