Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for the idea of the plot.
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"C'mon, cherie! I said desole!"

"Ya think sorry is an excuse for ya peekin' through my windows at night?!"

"I didn' do all mon peekin' at night. Sometimes in the morning o' afternoon-"

Remy quickly shut up as the look I was glaring at him with clearly told him that the new information was not helping his case. He had finally gotten the message that I did not want to talk about it anymore.

"…Annnnaaaaaa"

"Just drive the damn boat, Gambit!"

God, the infuriating rodent! Ugh. As soon as I' able, I'm going to microwave a bag of popcorn, go tell Wolverine what the swamp rat has done, and watch the Cajun's murder with glee.

Remy, after maneuvering around the underwater explosives, got us to the small dock in front of Blood Moon Bayou. The Assassin mansion looked rather ominous. The white paint on the pillars and the sides were chipped, the porch had uneven stairs. I'm not quite sure, but the fact that there were guards at the front door and at the balcony might have had something to do with the bad vibe that I was getting from the place. But, hey, who was I to back down from a fight?

I just hope Blondie Boy isn't up and around here yet.

Remy got out of the boat before I did. He looked around, to make sure we weren't noticed, before turning around to help me.

Needless to say, I was still a bit miffed about the whole watching me thing. So I slapped his offered appendage away from me.

"I don't need ya help."

I attempted to climb out, but was failing miserably. It was easier to get into the damn thing than it was getting out. Every time I attempted to remove my self from the boat, I had this feeling that I was going to end up swimming with the swamp gators.

"We don' have de time fo' dis, Anna."

I scowled at him.

"Don't call me that."

I tried again. I got a leg up on the deck before the boat began to shake and sway under my remaining leg.

Suddenly, I felt as if I was being lifted.

I looked down and saw that there were two unfamiliar arms protruding out from my armpits.

"Dere. Now, we can be on our way."

"I coulda gotten up by mahself."

Remy shifted behind me so he could see my face.

" Anna, are y' poutin'?"

"No! Ah don't pout! And it's Rogue- Not Anna!"

"Y' are poutin."

"Ah am not!"

"y' are."

I shoved myself out of his arms and turned around to glare at him for all my worth, hoping that some divine punishment would strike him.

…

Nothing.

Whatever Gods are out there must hate me because he's still standing there with that irritating, melt worthy smirk is still firmly planted on his face. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

"Ah hate you."

Remy laughed at me, most pleased with himself. He glanced quickly to the mansion and then grabbed my hand, dragging me closer to the assassins' headquarters.

"Non, I don' think y' hate me."

We were hiding behind one of the thick old trees that were at the side of the house.

"Yeah Ah do."

He turned to look at me. "Den why are y' still here?"

"Because."

He gave me a pointed look, daring me to explain it farther than that.

"Because Ah already said Ah'd help ya."

I hate defeat.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a person in the window next to us. I quickly dropped to the ground, grabbing Remy along with me.

"Oof! Damn Swamp Rat. Ya're heavier than you look."

"All muscle, chere." And he looked down at me and then I realized the how exactly we were hiding.

With him lying partially on top of me.

Awkward.

"If y' wanted me, Anna, all y' had t' do was ask."

Damn that smirk to hell.

"Get ya head out of the sewer."

"Y're de one who pulled moi on top o' y'."

"Ah did not! Ah was makin' sure we weren't gonna get caught!"

"An' de fact dat we were b'hind the tree- away from sight- didn' occur t' y'?"

"There was a person in that window!"

"I didn' see anybody."

"That's cause ya were looking at me!"

His smirked broadened. "Can y' hones'ly blame moi?"

"AH! Just get off!"

I shoved him forcefully off of me, but he was startled and reached down to steady himself and made contact with my exposed face.

Arguing on the boat. The impact of the hug. Seeing Julien with his hands on me. Teaching me poker. Waiting for me to wake up. Watching the blue boy keep his distance. A call from home. Seeing my tears. Spying for Magneto. Listening to me and Kitty follow him. Fighting the X-men. Recognition at the dock. Going to Bayville with the hope of finding her. More Research. Stealing. Five years of searching with nothing but two names: Irene and Anna. Mississippian accent calling out "Swamp Rat". Anna. Emerald eyes. Running and pulling. Gun Shots. Julien raising his fist. Julien knocked to the ground. Lapin and Etienne needing help. Belladonna calling about a trap...

Memories.

All these memories that I cant remember, but I can see and feel.

Memories that aren't mine.

Oh right, powers.

My powers.

His memories.

Wait… His memories.

I push the limp Cajun body off of me completely. As soon as he waked up-

"Ow. What de- Anna?"

Speak of the devil.

I grabbed the lapels of his coat and brought his face close to mine.

"Five years?! Five frickin' years?!! How dare ya!"

Remy just stared at me with utter confusion.

"I don' know what y'-"

I shoved him back towards the ground. He let out a slight groan as his head connected with the earth.

"Ya've been watchin' me for five years?! Ya researched me? May life, mah family?! Ya had no right!"

He got real quiet then.

He wasn't even going to deny it.

"Anna-"

"Don't speak to me. I'm going home."

"Anna- don' go. Let m' explain."

"Don't bother. Good luck with the rescue. Have a nice life."

"Anna-"

I ignored him and kept walking. I wasn't sure where I was heading, I didn't care either really. I just needed to sort out my thoughts. His thoughts. Our thoughts.

~)(~

Oh god. This is so confusing.

"Damn it all ta hell!"

Yeah, yelling that out loud did help. Remy's thoughts were so confusing. I stood looking over the swamp for five minutes trying to sort it all out. His memories and thoughts were confusing. But I didn't understand why he brought me here. Yeah- to save his father, but there was another reason. I knew there was one. I just can figure it out.

To play out his memories and see them were easy enough.

Some girl gave him a heads up that those two boys were in trouble. He found us got us away from Julien and his gun wielding crew. Then over the course of five years, he searched for me, and then found me. Well, found that I disappeared to New York. Then, When Magnet Brain came knocking on his door, looking for recruits to go to Bayville, he jumped at the possibility. He thought that in his spare time, he could snoop around, looking for the white-striped, green-eyed Anna he met.

Actually, if I dismissed the whole, invasion of privacy, and serious stalking on his part, it was kinda flattering.

Oh, who was I kiddin'? It's like a freaking fairy tell story. My "Prince Charming" -come to rescue me.

I couldn't keep the laughter from echoing across the lake. I can just picture it now, Prince Remy, on his gallant steed.

"What's so funny, chere?"

I whirled around to see a blond woman standing behind me, curious expression in her eyes.

To simply put it, she was stunning. Brilliant blue eyes. Perfectly curled blonde hair….

She was everything I wasn't.

Everything I couldn't be.

It's shallow of me, but it was right then I decided to hate her.

She was like the beach blond version of Jean.

"Who are ya?"

She raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at me. "Dat's what I'm suppose' t' ask y', seein' as y' on m' property."

"Sorry. I'll just be going." Something was off about this woman. I had the feeling that I knew her face…

"Not so fast now, chere."

I stopped in mid step. I looked over my shoulder to see she had a small handheld gun in her hand. Aimed at me.

Ah! That's why she's familiar.

She's the pretty, female version of Julien.

Boy did I feel stupid.

"Why are y' on m' property?"

"Why should ah tell ya?"

Her mouth curved into an amused smile. It was eerily creepy.

She looked like Julien.

I heard a slight explosion come from the mansion. I recognized it as Remy's power. I glanced through the windows, seeing if he was okay, until I realized what I was doing. I quickly re-directed my gaze to the woman. Her cruel smile had somehow changed from cruel and amused, to just plain amused.

"So y're with Remy, non?"

"Ah am not with the swamp rat." I think I may have said that a bit harshly, because I'm pretty sure it came out as a hiss…

She surprised me by laughing. And I mean, out-right laughing. She lowered the gun and hid it away again.

"Je m'appelle Belladonna."

Belladonna- the girl who called Remy about the trap five years ago.

And since she's related to Julien, that would also make her Belladonna, the assassin.

"Et y' are?"

"Rogue."

Well, I couldn't not answer her. She had a freaking gun on her.

"I assume y're here t' help Remy get his pere back, non."

Silence.

"If y' are, I suspect y' should go help him."

"Ya wont shoot me in the back?"

She laughed again.

I didn't see what was so funny.

Of course, if I had the gun, and she weaponless, I think I could afford to laugh in the situation too…

"Fille, I'm de one dat contacted de t'ieves guild dat we had de King o' T'ieves."

With that said, she sauntered off out of sight.

So, now I could either keep on my way- or go help the damn swamp rat.

Damn conscious.

I ran back to the mansion as fast as I could, knocked out the guards who were too surprised to get their guns up in time. I saw two shadows disappear into a hallway and followed them.

Jackpot. I pulled off my gloves and stuck them silently into my pockets.

"Well, well. This must be father- son day. Get back in dere!"

The man had barely gotten his order out before I placed my hands on him and the gunman's neck.

And down they went. Like a sack of potatoes.

And then I had to fight down the urge to throw up again.

Remy just stared at me in shock.

"Well are ya just gonna stand there, or are we gonna get the heck out of here?"

The man behind him was looking at me and then the bodies on the ground in front of me.

"Remy… Who de hell is dis?"

"Jean-Luc, dis is Anna."

I glared at him.

"How many times do Ah have to tell ya? It's Rogue, Swamp Rat."

"Dis femme is Anna?" I looked at Jean-Luc. He was now studying me closely.

It was irritating.

"Fine. If y'all want ta stay here, go right on ahead. Ah'm outta here."

I turned around and pulled out my gloves, heading back the way I came from. I peered around the corner.

As I was about to step out, Remy yanked me back behind the wall. Good thing too, cause I would have been toast. Stupid Assassins always having to try to friggin kill people.

"Careful dere, chere."

"Oh shut it Remy. Ah'm not exactly happy with ya right now."

Jean-Luc laughed at that.

I turned around to give him a glare too, but Remy beat me too it. Damn him.

I heard shouting come from a nearby hallway. My only option left was to call up the memories of the guys I absorbed.

After a few moments, I yet again fought the urge to throw up.

But now I knew the way out. Yippee.

"Follow me."

I took off through a doorway and found my way through some empty rooms until I finally reached a back door and was outside the mansion. I looked behind me to see that Remy and his dad were out here with me.

"So…. Dat was fun, non?"

I was about to pitch in my two cents about this whole ordeal, when suddenly bullets were flying past my head.

Again.

"Damn it! Why is it every time Ah'm near ya, people with guns are chasing me?!"

We ran. We ran as fast as we could back toward the dock where are dinky little boat was at.

Except now, in place of our dinky little boat, there was a nicer, larger, safer one.

The three of us ran across the horizontal planks of wood toward the boat when suddenly the wooden post to the right of me exploded into splinters.

I turned around and glared at the approaching assassins.

"Ya just gonna shoot somebody in the back?! Ya filthy cowards!"

I felt the sudden urge to run back towards the assassin's and drain them dry, when Remy's arms wrapped around my arms and torso, lifting me up off the ground.

"What the hell?! Let me go Remy! Ah'm tired of them shooting at me-"

He didn't let go. Instead, he carried me to the boat and dropped me down, soon following after me, ducking, as bullets whizzed above us.

"Are y' crazy?! Dey'll kill y' before y' took another step."

"So? Ah have Logan's healing ability."

Remy just ignored me and called out to his dad instead.

"Get us ou' o' here Jean-Luc."

The boat's engine hummed to life.

At least I'm done here and can go back home.

Bam!

"What the hell was that?"

Remy peeked his head above the boat side.

"It appears dat dey have foun' dey're own boat and are now chasin' us, chere."

I scooted over next to him and peeked my head over the boat side, too.

"Huh. Angry little guys aren't they."

As if hearing my comment, the water next to us sprayed from the bullets impacting it.

Remy pulled me down so I wouldn't wind up with a bullet between the eyes.

"Was it just me, or did it seem as if they're boat was coming closer."

We were about twenty to thirty yards away from the opposite edge of the water when the assassin filled boat was close.

"What de hell is dat?!"

I looked to Jean-Luc to see what else could possible go wrong when a familiar sight greeted me.

"That, Jean-Luc, would be mah family."

The Black Bird landed in the small clearing and as soon as it opened, I saw Logan walk out, claws exposed. It was a sight of relief.

Then, to my surprise, Kurt walked out after him, looking blue and worried.

He looked out and saw me on the boat. His face lit up with relief.

"Rogue!"

Suddenly, I see a guy out of the corner of my eye, I had barley enough time to register that it wasn't Remy or Jean-Luc before I was tackled and pushed over the edge of the boat.

The water was disgusting.

If I wasn't already a mutant, I could probably blame it on the water. It was just-eww.

I began swimming when I heard a slash and saw Remy and Jean-Luc enter the water headfirst.

"Rogue! Look out!"

I looked back at Kurt to see panic stricken when I heard a growl.

There was a mutant alligator looking at me like I was its next meal.

Thankfully, Kurt teleported to me before I could utter a girlish scream.

Whew that was a close call. I don't think I could have lived up to that.

I looked back to see that Cyclops and Storm had come with Logan and Kurt. And no Jean.

Yippee!

I saw Jean-Luc climb out, without tooth marks and intact.

But where the heck was Remy?

I looked back at the water.

Remy was looking rather isolated with a boat circling him. All a sudden, his hand struck out at the boat, touching in and the next thing there is, the boat is lit up like a Christmas tree. I saw the only occupant willingly leap into the water.

The assassin knew he was outnumbered and without a gun and began swimming away. Remy on the other hand, was greeted by Logan as soon as he laid a hand on solid ground.

I was tempted to watch- really tempted to watch as Logan ripped him to shreds…

But the Swamp Rat did save me from a bullet hole or two…

Okay, a rather large number of bullet holes.

"Logan. Don't kill the damn Cajun."

Logan glanced my way with a sad, hurt expression on his face. Without any words, just a growl, Logan dropped Remy on his arse and walked past me.

"Ya have a lot of explain to do, Stripes."

"Yeah ,yeah. Ah know."

I walked over to Remy.

He smiled at me. "Rogue."

"Don't. Ah don't want to here any more of ya're excuses or lies. Stop stalking me and leave me alone, ya hear?"

" 'M sorry. I jus' needed y' help-"

"- with ya're dad. Yeah, but that's not all, is it. I don't know what ya're playing at Remy, but make sure ya deal me out of it."

I turned away from him and walked towards my family when I felt his hand capture mine.

"I'm afraid, I can' do dat, chere." He said quietly so only I could hear. I turned around to demand what the hell that meant, when suddenly his mouth was on mine.

It was a brief kiss, yes, but not I the least bit shy or innocent.

It was stating a fact.

That he could physically touch me.

And I wasn't the only one who noticed.

I heard Logan growl, and his claws extend, and heard Kurt bamph next to me.

And then I was aware of the fact that the rescuing X-men surrounded me.

Remy's eyes never left mine.

And that smirk never left his face.

"See y' around, Anna."

That phrase. That same phrase he said to me the last time I was in New Orleans. He kept his threat then- and he wasn't about to break it now. He turned around to walk to where his father was, who was also staring at me, but with a knowing smirk.

Me? Well, I was glaring so hard at the back of Remy's head that I didn't even noticed that my hands were bruising- or that I was crumpling something in my hand.

Kurt however, did notice the sound of crinkling coming from my fist and saw a smooth surface protruding out.

"Rogue?"

I removed my glare from Remy's head to look at my brother. I followed his gaze to my fist. Unclenching it, I saw what it was and just stared at it.

Kurt gently removed it from my grasp and looked it over.

"What does this mean?"

"Hell if Ah know." I turn to Logan. "Can we go home now, please?"

I was mentally and physically exhausted. And it showed too, because Logan didn't even put up a fight about what the hell was going on.

I slumped into one of the open seats on the Black Bird, ready to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Scott was the one who just had to break the quiet. Couldn't keep his damn thoughts to himself.

"So… Anna?"

"Breathe a word ta anyone and ya will find yourself a newly made female. Got it?" I glared at him so hard, that he actually cowered away from me.

"It's Rogue, got that?"

Scott just nodded. Kurt glanced from me to Scott then back to me, wondering if he was possibly going to have to stop me from murdering Scotty Boy. Storm just sighed, and well, Logan just laughed.

I turned away from them all to stare at the window until I saw something outside.

Remy was standing out there, staring at the jet- or rather, he was staring at me.

Our eyes locked and his reply to my glare was an egotistical smirk. Then he slowly became a spec as we went up in the air.

It had been one hell of a day, and I was glad to be going home.

~)(~

"Oh my god! That is, like, totally romantic!"

"Kitty, it was not romantic. It was a low, deceptive lying stunt to kidnap me and then coerce me to help him."

"But he could have gotten Jean- she would have helped him."

"No, she would have told the professor and asked what he would think about it."

"Well, I still think its romantic. I mean, he like came and rescued you from here. And then he like inadvertently helped your problems with Kurt- who was like so worried about you when you hadn't come back from school. You are so lucky! You have your own Prince Charming!"

"Ha! Gambit- a prince. Yeah. Right."

I looked at the window, and saw the tree he had watched me from. I got out of the bed and drew the curtains closed.

'Try watchin' me now, Cajun!'

I turned off my light and got ready for sleep.

I was about to embrace sleep when I was suddenly reminded of Belladonna.

"Fille, I'm de one dat contacted de t'ieves guild dat we had de King o' T'ieves."

I bolted up right in bed wide eyed.

If Jean-Luc was the King of Thieves, then that would make his son, Remy – a prince of thieves.

Holy Crap.

What have I gotten myself involved in?

I knew that the swamp rat would be back soon.

Excuse me, I mean Swamp Rat Prince.

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Hey guys! Sorry that I haven't updated as frequently as the first few chapters. Classes are in full swing now, so I don't have as much free time to devote to this here story, but I will write when I can! Thanks so much for the reviews *hemhemcoughcoughMaya-chan2007coughCourtneySummershackChellerbellecoughcoughandalltheanonomysreviewerscoughhacksneeze* I must say, your reviews do strike me with motivation to write.
...Just incase it isn't clear, the paragraph of fragments (after Remy's hand touches Rogue's face) is the memories flashing from most recent to the very beginning. I figured that the memories in the foremost of his mind would be what had happened recently. Does that make sense?

If you guys see a mistake or think something needs to be clearer- or even have an idea to consider, it would be much appreciated!

Adios!