Chellerbelle: Oh, just you wait and see! ;) Now we play catch-up with Remy.

Lucida Lownes: Yeah, her friends mean well, but....you know how it is. :)

ColorCoated: Awesome to have this in your Story Alert! Get ready, cuz' you will in this chap!

Team-JEdward2010: Okay, here ya go! Wouldn't you? ;) Of course, one has to reason whether they would've let him go in the first place. I know I wouldn't, but that's just me! Hehehehehe......

scotthasapoleuphisass: How's this for a quick update? Haha... I will try to make this as long as I possibly can. We'll see how it turns out. :)

Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: *wicked laughter* Oh yes, there will be trouble! ;) True, their hearts are in the right place, they're just not thinking right, is all.....hehehehehe.....

Funny how a man thinks he is making the right decision, only to be constantly reminded of how wrong said decision really is. Remy shakes his head ruefully, tuning out Jean-Luc's voice as they sit in yetanother briefing for his next job.

At one time, thieving was all he knew in his life, being raised in that profession. He used to get such a thrill out of breaking into top-secret facilities who called their security systems 'fool-proof'. Yeah, right. He'd proven them incorrect, time and time again. A song comes to mind as he grins wryly to himself: The thrill is gone.....

Then there was the whole fiasco with Bella Donna. To say that she was persistent in marrying him was putting it mildly, at best. After years of her attempting to get him to the altar, she thought she had finally succeeded, only to have those plans canceled once and for all when he'd informed her that he was moving away to take an offer that had been extended to him and he didn't know when, or even if, he would be back. She was furious. The Thieves Guild made the decision that it would be in everyone's best interest if she didn't find out he was back. He agreed wholeheartedly, for it was while he was on assignment in New York, that he met her.

He remembers their first meeting as if it were yesterday. Mags had pitted his 'Acolytes', as he called the four men working for him, against the X-Men and Brotherhood. He'd noticed her with her team-mates. She had an unforgettable figure and that hair! Auburn with white streaks framing her emerald eyes, set in a porcelain complexion. Easily the most beautiful creature he had ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. He thoroughly enjoyed watching her fight. The femme could move, he had to give her that! Then she'd decided to come after him. Now that was fun. He knew she would realize that the King of Hearts card he'd given her would detonate in a matter of seconds. He'd nearly given into temptation then and there and kissed her, but quickly remembered what would happen if he did. He did find out eventually, when she broke into their place and kissed him, stealing his abilities. The girl was a knock-out kisser! He definitely wouldn't mind feeling those full lips against his again. It was well worth being rendered unconscious.

After that whole mess with Apocalypse being released, he watched Rogue from afar, just to make sure she was doing alright. Something about her drew him to her. He didn't know how to explain it, wasn't sure he wanted to. All he knew was that he saw her withdraw even further into herself. This deeply concerned him. He wanted to help, but knew he wouldn't be welcome at the Institute by anyone, including her. So he took matters into his own, more than capable, hands.

The opportunity came about, when word came from Henri that Jean-Luc was abducted by the Rippers. A plan took shape in his mind. Rogue could absorb the information he needed in order to rescue the patriarch. He had no idea what he was thinking in rescuing the bum. The only reason he kept Remy around was for his powers. All Remy knew, was that someone had to do it. It would also serve the purpose of getting her away from everyone, if only for a short time, just to have some fun and relax a bit.

Anyway, he waited until Rogue was on her way to school. He heard what Kurt said to her and saw the hurt on her face, as well as felt it. He had to restrain himself from leaping out from his place and punching the guy, but decided to stick to the plan at hand. After being sure that she was alone, he waited until she walked by and grabbed her, giving her a good dose of knock-out gas that would make it easy to transport her to the freight train, due to arrive at the station in half an hour.

He smiles, recalling her ire as she woke up and found herself with him. After their little tete a tete, with her attempting to throw him off the train and him responding by threatening to blow the boxcar up, they'd actually had a semi-normal conversation. He saw her face brighten as he informed her that they were headed to Louisiana and allowed himself a self-satisfied smirk. As they walked along the streets of New Orleans, alive with the Mardi Gras festivities going on around them, they'd had more time to talk and just get to know each other. If these were more normal circumstances, he'd definitely enjoy her company a lot more. As it was, he had a lot on his mind with his mission.

Just as he thought, Julien and his goons were out for the night at their favorite spot. Predictably, the second they saw him, they'd started a fight with him. Of course, according to his plan, Rogue touched Julien, absorbing everything he needed to know.

He surmises that they'd really found common ground while cruising Blood Moon Bayou to get to the Rippers' stronghold. Both were adopted into homes with less than honorable intentions. He knew all about the incident with the Mystique 'statue'. She isn't aware that he was there that night, keeping an eye on her, as usual. Remy understood where she was coming from. She'd been used by the woman more times than she could count! But then again, he was using her, too. She was angry when she'd made that discovery. So angry that she walked away from him. He didn't know it would hurt so much, having her leave him like that. Imagine his surprise when, after freeing Jean-Luc, Rogue came back at just the right moment to help them get away. Then the X-Men showed up. She'd decided to go back with them, but he stopped her at the last minute to give her one of his Queen of Hearts. It would give her something to remember him by. He wonders, not for the first time, if she still has that card. She'd given him something to remember also, when she forgave him and told him that "...he'd done the wrong thing for the right reason."

Jean-Luc clears his throat, bringing Remy's thoughts back to the present.

"Alrigh' Remy, w'at's goin' on in dat min' o' y'rs? Seems like y'r wand'rin' mo' an' mo' lately. Did y' ev'n 'ear w'at I was sayin'?" He inquires in a peeved tone.

"Desole. Oui, I 'eard. Y' wan' me t' break in an' get de blueprints, den explode de computer lab wit' de rec'rds. Oui, I know w'at y' wan' done." Remy answers, boredom evident in his voice.

"D' y' t'ink y' can keep y'r min' on it, o' do I 'ave t' get someone else t' do it?" Jean-Luc asks scornfully.

Remy pauses a moment before answering. This would give him the perfect reason to leave. He's been wanting to for some time now. The Guild life just isn't the same for him, anymore. He formulates his response carefully.

"Oui, I s'ppose y'd bett'r fin' someone else." At the other man's shocked expression, he continues. "I can' do dis anymo'. I 'ppreciate all y've done by givin' me a 'ome an' all dat, but I gotta go fin' m' own way."

As Remy rises to make his exit, Jean-Luc queries slyly "Dis wouldn' 'ave anyt'in t' do wit' dat femme who was down 'ere not t' long ago, would it?"

Remy gazes at him cryptically for a moment, then turns to go to his room and pack. He's going to do what he should have, long ago.

I know, I know, the end part isn't characteristically Remy. I was just trying to justify his leaving, although he doesn't really need a reason. Please don't shoot me for that! XD What will the next chapter bring? Who knows, hehehehehe.........