Disclaimer: I do not own the x-men; I just own ideas.
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To say I was weary the next few weeks would have been an understatement.

I was paranoid.

Every morning after I woke up, and every night before I went to bed- I checked out side my window to see if he was there; watching for me. I got distracted at school, too. In the middle of class- I'd think that I'd seen a familiar flash of brown leather whipping around the corner and I'd be on the edge of my seat, ready to take off.

I was scared.

Now, to make myself clear, I was not scared of Remy LeBeau. Heavens, no! Remy LeBeau, I could take care of. I could smack him one on the head, make him sweat, and stutter.

What I was scared of was what Remy LeBeau is capable of.

He had tracked me down and followed me for five years. He'd been watching me. Studying me.

If that isn't creepy, I'm not quite sure what is.

But nothing was ever outside my window. Nothing except for the traitorous tree he used to get a good view into the room.

Maybe I could get Logan to cut it down.

After weeks of looking out my window, terrified I'd see those red and black eyes staring back at me, I decided I was going to take action.

I meandered down the halls of the institute, looking for Logan. I got to the lower levels when I heard his voice.

"Hey, Logan? Can Ah get ya ta cut down-"

I never did get to my request. The grave look on Logan's and Ororo's face stopped me dead in my sentence.

"What is it? What's goin' on?'

"Call the rest of the team. We have a debriefing in the war room in five."

~)(~

"We need to bring Apocalypse down as quickly as possible. If we give him anymore time, he will end up killing and ruling whatever is left alive- mutant or human."

I sat there in shock. It was too soon.

Despite my frantic thought patterns, Scotty-boy was getting into his role as leader.

"How long do we have to get there? Can we enlist the help of the Brotherhood?"

"Logan has already contacted the Brotherhood, and they are on their way here as we speak. We don't have much time so I suggest we leave today."

I listened to the graveness of Ororo's words. I knew what she was thinking. If we don't go, we fail for what we stand for. If we do go, we might fail in stopping Apocalypse.

We've been training no stop for weeks. There was no doubt in my mind that we were as ready as we'd ever be. But looking at these faces, sitting next to me and across from me, I couldn't help but think that after this, I might not see them again.

And by the looks on some of their faces, I knew they were thinking the same thing.

After a pregnant pause, Cyclopes spoke up.

"Team. Go get suited up."

That was all that needed to be said. No one uttered a word as they left to change.

It was absolutely silent in the girls' changing room. It was eerie knowing that I was in the same room with Kitty and not hear her chatting about. Frankly, I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand the heaviness in the room that was on all of our minds.

So I did the reasonable thing. I got dressed as quickly as possible and got the hell out of that room. It was psyching me out.

"Stripes."

I turned around to see that Logan was walking toward me.

What I was curious to was why there was a guy following him.

"Who the hell is that?"

Logan just gave me a glare. However, the guy behind him stepped forward, hand outstretched.

"You must be Rogue. I'm Fury. I'm the head of S.H. I. E.L.D. We've figured a way to take down Apocalypse."

"Ya know how ta take down Apocalypse? Then why in Sam's Hell are ya standing around here for?!"

"Because you are the major component to the plan."

~)(~

"Let me get this straight. Ya want me to absorb a mutant who can turn off powers? An' then use it on Apocalypse?

"Yes?"

"If he can shut off powers, how do ya know he wont turn off mahne?"

Fury didn't even bat an eyelash. "Because he can't control it yet and doesn't stay on long enough."

"Fine. Ah'll absorb the guy and get on with it."

Fury nodded. "Good. We'll be arriving at the apartment complex shortly."

We fell back into a silence. It was awkward. I wasn't with the team. For all I know, they could be battling the big bad Apocalypse already and here I am, waiting in a plane.

I felt like I shouldn't be here, I should be out on the field in some far away place, fighting next to my team mates.

But Logan was here. He believed that Fury's plan would work.

And I trusted Logan.

Suddenly the plane gave a jerk and the door opened up. I looked outside and saw a woman gripping a little boy to the side.

"Ms. Leech. We talked over the phone. I'm Nick Fury."

The woman looked scared, but nodded at Fury. She gripped the kid to her side tighter. Nick, un-perplexed by her nervousness continued to talk.

"This is Rogue." He pointed in my direction. I gave a small nod in acknowledgement. "She needs to borrow Dorian's power when we arrive-"

"What?!"

My little outburst caught everyone's attention.

"Yaw never told me Ah was going at be touching the kid! No! I'm not doing this!"

That slimy bastard! How dare he! I stomped back on the helicopter. Like hell I was going to hurt a child.

I sat down and glared at Logan. "Did ya know what he was askin' of me?!"

"Yeah, I did kid."

I gaped at him. I wanted to start screaming and yelling, but the site of Ms. Leech and Dorian stepping into the Helicopter stopped the outburst in my throat.

I was even more surprised when Dorian's mom struck out her hand to me.

Please, don't do this.

"Why? I am going to absorb your kid, knock him out cold for hours. You don't have to do this."

Please, don't make me do this.

Dorian peered around her leg and looked at me. For the first time I noticed his skin had a slight green tinge to it.

"Miss Rogue?" Oh no. The kid's talking. To me.

"He said you'd help make me a hero."

That when I really looked at him. This little green kid was looking at me with hopeful eyes.

And it was killing me.

I glared at Fury.

Ms. Leech stroked her son's hair affectionately. If having a kid makes you do stupid things, I'm so happy I'm never going to be able to have them. She looked down directly at my eyes. "I didn't want him to do this. But he wants so badly to finally be the hero. Please, don't take his hope away."

I sometimes really hate having compassion and understanding. I should be a rock. Hard and unmoving to the core.

Damn it. Why couldn't I be a rock?

I barely had time to register that I nodded my head before I felt the impact of a body on mine. I looked down and saw that Dorian had flung his arms around me in a hug.

Oh god.

"Thank you miss Rogue."

And he looked up at me, eyes shinning with joy and undaunted happiness.

Who was I to deny him this?

~)(~

"Okay, Rogue, now would be the time to absorb Leech."

I took one last look outside at the chaos. Then I pried Dorian's limbs from around my leg and squatted down to look into his smiling face.

"It's okay Ms. Leech. This is as far as Dorian has to go."

"Dorian, ready to save the lives of millions of people?" He nodded at me. "Okay, kiddo. This is gonna hurt a little bit."

For the millionth time, Dorian just hugged my leg again in response.

I looked at Logan for help.

The damn bastard was laughing at me. Not once during the whole helicopter ride did he help me when the little kid climbed over me. He was enjoying this!

"Dorian. If you want to be a hero, you need to listen to me."

He gave my leg a squeeze before he released me. "Okay, miss Rogue."

Strange creatures, kids. I'll never understand them.

I took off one of my gloves and gently pressed my hand to his cheek.

Nothing happened.

"Kiddo, ah need ya ta turn off ya're power." Dorian just nodded.

A few seconds later, my mutation kicked in.

"I'm going to be a hero!" Hugging Miss Rogue. Looking out the window and seeing the Scary guy in the sky. Grabbing Miss Rogue's hand. Miss Rogue talking to Mr. Logan as I tugged on her white stripes. Miss Rogue is my friend. Miss Rogue asking me questions. Miss Rouge not yelling at me when I hugged her. Momma talking to the guy with an eye patch. A big helicopter in the street. Being picked on by bullies. The kids calling me names in school. Miss Cathy always scowling at me…

I felt the memories wash over me as I released Dorian. His mother took his unconscious body back to the seats and sat down with him, sleeping in her lap.

Bamf!

"Stripes, Kurt is going to take you in."

I was still reeling back from the memories of Dorian as Kurt grabbed me around the shoulders."

"Ready, Schwester?"

Deep Breath. Big Deep Breath.

Cough. Cough.

Bad idea when Kurt teleported not five seconds ago. Ugh. I have rotten eggs in my nostrils.

"Yeah Kurt. " Cough. "Lets go."

Bamf!

I waved away the blue smoke and inhaled when I thought it was clear.

"Kurt? Kurt, Where are ya?"

"Ugh."

I looked down and saw that Kurt was lying on the ground.

"Kurt! Are ya alright?"

"Ja. Go on ahead. I'm too veak to move right now. I'll catch up vit you later."

I raised my eyebrow at him before I began towards the capsule that Apocalypse was lying in.

Here we go.

I grasped on to Dorian's power.

And watched as the power beam falter in front of my eyes. I could hear the cease of explosions from outside the temple.

It was working.

This wasn't t' hard. All that hard work fro nothin'.

I made my way to where Apocalypse was lying.

"Ya know, for being the big bad mutant ruler, ya sure don't pack much of a fight."

Before I could get away, the blue thing latched on to my arm. I hit him over the head a few times with my fist. Apparently that shocked him enough for me to be able to pull the walls of his little ship pod down on him. I hurriedly did the same to the other sides, trapping him inside of it.

And out of nowhere, Logan comes flying across the room and jumps on the top of the portal.

I just about lost it.

Scratch that. I did.

I was laughing my arse off at the absurdity of it all. I don't know why, but the way he was hugging the huge ship thingy was freaking hilarious.

"Rogue, get ya're damn act together and turn the damn power back on!"

"Righty-o, Captain!"

Dorian should be damn proud. Not only did he stop Apocalypse's power, but also he used Apocalypse's power to trap him in his own device.

As soon as Apocalypses' ship was sealed, Logan grabbed my arm rushed towards the steps. That's when I noticed something odd.

"Logan?"

He dragged his claws through the control panel. "What?!"

"Um… are the walls getting closer or is it just me?"

…

"Run!"

We ran at the steps and dove down just as the stairs were rising up. A second later, we would have been locked inside with Apocalypse. Logan grabbed my arm and dragged me with him as a bright light grew behind us.

With a flash, the light was gone. I looked behind me.

"Where the heck did he go?"

"I don't care as long as it ain't here. Get Elf, and let's get out of here."

~)(~

A few days later, we found out that Fury had brought a camera man with us on the helicopter and sent the footage to all the news sources he could find.

Then, school became the most awkward thing in the world.

People began fawning over us.

It was disgusting.

Duncan Matthews was groveling at Jean's feat, spewing out praise and adoration.

Good thing Jeanie wizened up, because she ignored his advances and stuck with Scott.

But I guess things went back to normal. The majority of students no longer made snide comments about mutants. Especially about the ones that saved them. It was a small step in Professor's dream, but it was a step never the less.

A few weeks after, Jeannie got reinstated on the Soccer team. Everyone was excited about this and decided that we should all go support her on her big comeback game.

I tried to get out of it.

"Professor, could I please stay here? I'll watch the mansion or something."

"Rogue, we all should be there to show support for one another."

"But-"

"It would be greatly appreciated if you were there."

He turned around in his wheelchair and headed out the door.

Friday Night came around and Scott drove all the high school students to the game. Ororo drove everyone else.

I took one look at the bleachers and paled.

Too many people. Too many accidents waiting to happen. I stood down by the fence.

The girl's soccer team entered the field and the stands roared with cheers.

It was going to be a long, annoying night.

The game started and I saw the professors and x-men watch Jeannie with pride.

And then I looked at Jeannie, her long red hair swaying with her every movement. I saw her glance to the sidelines. And then I saw Scott smile back at her, cheering her on, his ruby red glasses following her back and forth on the field.

Somebody give me shot. I should not be here, watching this sap story sober.

I gave up trying to represent one of the supportive members of the x-men and snuck underneath the bleachers.

Aw. Peace and quiet.

I leaned against the cold metal framework and relaxed.

"She rejected me. She rejected me for Scott Summers. Damn mutants."

I laughed quietly to myself as I heard Duncan complain to Tayrn.

"Hey mutie!"

I turned around to see a guy with a few of his buddies hanging around him. I scowled.

Of course, there had to be something to ruin my peace and quiet.

Was it too much to ask? I mean I freakin saved the world from the Apocalypse and I cant even get some alone time?

What. Gives.?!

"What the hell do ya want!?"

"Ooh, mutie has a temper. I like it."

"Shove it and get lost. Ah aint interested."

"Well, maybe I am."

I would have given the creep a piece of my mind if somebody didn't beat me to it.

"I b'lieve de femme told y' t' get lost."

I froze at the sound of the voice behind me.

Crap crap crap crap crap crap crap

"Hey, guys- look what we have here! Another mutie freak."

I needed to get away. Fast.

I decided the safer rout would be to go back the way I came. I just had to get past the punks who were blocking my exit.

Maybe if I just, go around them?

Nope. The main creep's buddies just blocked my path whichever way I went, sneering at me.

Fine then, I'll shove through.

The main creep that talked grabbed me around the waist as I tired to past him. He turned me around to face him.

"Woah, woah, woah, honey. We haven't had-"

I never did get to hear what he hadn't had yet because I punched him in the nose.

"Do not touch me, got it?"

It took them a few seconds to realize that a mutie freak had just punched their ringleader when his goons acted.

Why did I always end up in situations like this? Do I have a sign plastered to my forehead reading, "Attack Me"?.

I got in my fighting stance, ready to kick some arse when I was pulled back by my jacket.

Then, all I could see was Remy's broad shouldered back. Not a terrible view, but not the one I really wanted.

I saw the reflection of a magenta glow in the surrounding metals, and heard the collective intake of air.

Maybe I could see something good after all.

I peered around Remy and immensely took delight in the scared faces of the four thugs.

I one of them even peed their pants.

"I sugges' y' leave now."

His voice didn't leave any room for argument. It was laced with threats if they didn't do as asked.

Then I realized that if they left, I'd be alone.

With him.

I pushed past Remy, and hissed a plea into the main creeps ear. "Don't leave me here with him!"

I would have begged, if I had a chance. But I didn't get to. The guy looked at me, terrified, and said. "We are so sorry to bother you, miss" and took off running.

I stared after them, willing them to come back and help me.

"Chere."

They weren't coming back. They had abandoned me to my fate.

"Damn cowards!" I yelled after them as their backs faded into the night.

I took a deep breath and turned around to face him.

"Bonjour, cher-"

"Don't ya 'chere' me, Gambit. Ah don't want nothing ta do with ya."

"Is dat de way y' speak t' y' the homme dat helps y'?"

"No. It's the way Ah speak to the pedophile that stalked me for five years."

"Pedophile? Now dat's not true, Rogue."

"It is when ya stalk a thirteen year old!"

"I didn' find y' till y' were fo'rteen."

"Like that's much of a difference."

Remy sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Cher, can we talk, s'il vous plait?" He took a step towards me.

I automatically took a step back. "Why? We aint got nothing ta say ta each other."

"Chere, now we both know dats not true." Again he took a step forward.

And I took another step back. I glared at him.

The crowed cheered loudly, drawing my attention for a moment.

That was all he needed to get a good few steps closer, placing him directly in front of me. I stumbled and fell backwards. I knew he was going to offer a hand, but I panicked when he leaned down.

"Don't touch me!"

Remy stopped everything and took a step back as if I had just landed a punch in the gut to him. He stared at me for a moment as I gathered myself up and stood on me feet. His voice was very quiet and sad when he finally spoke.

"Are- are y' scared of me, Anna?"

Part of me remembered that this was the guy who taught me poker in the boxcar; that rushed to help me when Julien was cornering me. And then another part of me remembered that this was the guy that watched me, stalked me, kidnapped me, used me, and lied to me.

"Ya haven't given me a reason ta not be."

I saw the hurt in his eyes. I actually thought about apologizing. I didn't know what to say. He was staring at me, guilt written across his face and he took a step closer.

"Anna-"

"Remy, please, don't come closer. Ah will scream if Ah feel the need too."

He stopped where he was. With that simple statement, I turned his guilt into frustration. He turned away from me and paced back and forward.

I stood there, watching him, waiting for him to give me an opening to escape.

He never did. Even pissed at himself for something, it seemed like he knew I would bolt at any second and stood just in the way where I couldn't reach my family.

"I tried, Anna! I tried to forget!"

"What?"

"I've tried t' forget abou' y."

"And what? It's mah fault?"

"Non!"

"Then what are you getting' at Cajun?"

"I'm trying t' make y' understand, Anna." He took the risk and stood in front of me. He placed his gloved hands on my arms, forcing me to meet his gaze. "I tried to forget y'. Y' think I wanted t' spend five years looking for y'? I had jobs t' do and guild life to focus on."

"This sound an awful lot like ya're blamin' me again, Swamp Rat."

He sighed, obviously not satisfied with his own words.

"Anna, I don know how t' explain e'vry thing t' y'. I don' think I can." He moved one of his hands off my arm and placed it against the side of my face. "The only thing dat I can say for sure, is that when we were friends, something just clicked."

"Maybe that's because ya were actually talking ta me instead of spying on me." It was really hard to speak right now. I was trying not to concentrate on his hand touching me, but it felt good to be touched. I should have been biting his hand and yelling for help.

Remy chuckled, amused at my statement.

"Oui, dat may be 't, mais, I think that 't was more dan jus' dat."

"I'm not followin' ya, Cajun." I was surprised I could follow anything that he was saying, much less his meaning.

He looked perplexed.

Like he wanted to do something but shouldn't.

That alone should have warned me.

Stupid brain for not working.

"Anna, please don' hate me for dis."

I inhaled deeply and exhaled. "Remy, Ah don' t hate ya-"

His lips were on mine. An arm snaked around my waist, pulling me closer to him as a hand found its way to cup my head, unrelenting in it's release. I uttered a gasp, which was then followed by his tongue finding mine. I felt him walk me backwards so that I was pressed against the cold metal of the bleachers. I felt my own hand travel to his hair, gripping him so he wouldn't pull away. I felt my own tongue mingle and play with his own.

What I didn't feel was his memories.

For a second I thought I was dreaming.

That was before Remy was pressing my back painfully against the metal structure. I tried to speak, but, well, with Remy on my mouth, that was rather complicated. So I opted for another way to get his attention- I shoved him away from me.

Hard.

A dazed Remy, breathing hard, just stared up at me from the ground. He didn't make a move as he watched me shake. Slowly, as if not to fright me off, she stood up.

"Anna?"

I tried to process everything in my mind. I had absorbed him at Blood Moon Bayou, but not this time.

Nor did I recall absorbing him the first time he kissed me.

"Anna?"

I stared at him.

"Oh mah god. Why aren't ya dead or something?!"

"Mon power."

"Make some sense Remy! How- How can you touch me?!"

"After learnin' abou' y'mutation, I came up with a few theories."

Silence.

I stood there staring at him. I could feel my mouth opening and closing constantly, but the words never coming out. He decided to continue on.

"I- I thought dat since y' absorb people's energy, an' dat I produce energy, dat if I produced enough as I touched y', y' wouldn't absorb anything else."

"… So, ya are saying that it wasn't an accident and that ya can touch me."

"Oui."

"And ya aren't going to fall dead when ya do."

"Oui."

Remy stared at me waiting for me to explode or something.

"Huh."

"Huh? Dat's all y' got t' say?"

"Um… yeah?"

I'm not sure how long we stood there, staring at each other, but it felt like a good long time before my brain started to kick in.

Remy could touch me.

Only Remy could touch me… and only when he decided to turn on his powers.

I couldn't keep my glare from forming.

"What? What is dat look fo'?"

"So, basically, ya're telling me that the only time Ah can touch is when ya feel lahke it. "

"Anna, dat's not-"

"How dare ya take advantage of me lahke that, Remy LeBeau!"

He made a move to catch my arm, but I swatted it away. "Don't ya dare touch-"

He kissed me again, but this time I was prepared for it. I shoved him back and slapped him across the face. "Don't ever force yaself on me again. Ya're no better than Julien."

Wrong thing to say.

Very wrong thing to say.

Remy grabbed my hold on my wrist and forced me to face him. "Don't ever compare me to him, Anna. Ever." He stared straight into my eyes with such anger that a lesser woman would have cringed. Those eyes, despite the anger, were begging me to see that he was nothing like Julien.

So I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. Remy visibly relaxed, but did not let go of my hand. "I didn't kiss y' t' hurt y', Anna. I jus' wanted y' t' know dat y' don' have t' worry abou' touchin' me."

"Ya couldn't have just said that?"

"Would y' have taken mon word?"

He had a point. I probably wouldn't have believed him if he had just told me.

"Ya could have just touched mah hand or something."

"I wasn' thinking clearly at de time. Plus, I don' think y' would have stuck around long enough fo' me to take off une gant. Y' probably would have run off."

I accepted his answer. It was right. As soon as I saw his exposed hand coming near me, I would have taken off like a bat out of hell. Still…

"Ah have a lot of questions for ya, Swamp Rat."

He smiled down at me. "I know. An' y' will get y' answers in time."

"Ya making it sound lahke we'll be spendin' a bunch of time together."

Again he just smiled.

And I decided to not fight it and smile to.

We spent the rest of the game under the bleachers, just listening to everything around us.

We also played a few games of cards, but what else was I expecting? I mean, the man carries about ten decks on him at all times.

When finally the announcer gave the final score, I had to go back to the others.

"Ah got ta be headin back, Cajun. See ya around."

"Anna?" I turned back around to him.

"Yeah, Swamp Rat?"

"We're amis, non?"

I stood at the foot of the bleachers, deciding if that was the smart thing to do.

"Yeah, Swamp Rat. We're friends." I turned around and headed back toward the others, who were congratulating Jeannie on a game well played.

But not before I saw a real, true smile grace Remy's face.
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Why hello there! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. You finally get to see the story link back to the first chapter! I'm actually proud of my self for this. I must admit though, I'm not quite happy with the first half of this chapter, but seeing as it is a major event, I needed to put it in. But I am rather pleased with the second half.

Again, if there is something you don't quite understand or I have any misconnecting ideas, point them out, please!

And many, many things to Hbhorselover, Cherebelle, Maya-chan2007, nightwish635, and SilverWolf77 for your encouraging reviews. It really does make the difference!

Ps.: I know that Rogue runs hot and cold in this chapter, but in her defense, she is completely and utterly confused and angry and happy at the same time. She just found out she can touch, but she's used to people taking advantage of her and therefore cannot take things as simple as others. There usually always is an ulterior motive.

Hope to see you all for the next chapter!