A/N: It makes me so happy to see that most of you liked the fight scene, since those aren't really my strong point. Oh well, I tried and I'm glad to see that it paid off! :)

Grace-Peace-and-Cat-Fights: Gee, I don't know....*assumes an innocent expression*. X )

Color Coated: It seems to be an annoying talent of hers, ha! I'm thrilled that you liked my "Trade secret" line. Oh yes, this should be good. XD

Lucida Lownes: She is definitely out of the way. Where? Who cares, hehehe... I think at this point, he would rather endure a three hour DR session with Logan on Level 10 than explain this mess to Rogue. ;)

Anna Marie and the Purple Rose: Thanks sooo much for adding this to your faves. I'm glad you thought it was hilarious. :)

xdreamernumbuhfour: She's gone, and yes, you did. It's always worth mentioning again, though. Haha! Bella getting her butt kicked is always good reading. XD

Chellerbelle: Thanks! :) That was the part I got stuck on.

Ratgirl1: Okay, here ya go. I read your profile and I'm a Christian, too. :D

Musik Drache: You're welcome. ;) I'm that way with the dialogue myself. Now, whenever I read something, I can hear the accents in my head. Aaaaaahhh.... Yes, now they have to work it all out. ;D

roguelover321: Yeah, poor guy. Don't worry though. ;)

Madame Star: *bows theatrically* Thank you so much! I enjoyed writing her beating. Her getting slammed against the rail was my favorite part, along with Remy dumping her on the nearest train out of there! XD

Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: They sure did! Read on and see. :D

Rogue runs home and shimmies up the tree branch into her room. She locks the door to her balcony and changes into her uniform. Going downstairs, she notices that no one is home. Well, except for Professor, who wheels right out when he catches her brain activity.

"Rogue! Where have you been? Everyone has been searching for you all day, ever since Kitty couldn't seem to find you this morning." Professor gazes at her with concern.

"It's a long story, Professa. Let's jus' say I got kidnapped, but I managed ta escape. I'm really not ready ta talk about it right now. I jus' wanna go down ta tha DR an' work off some excess energy." Rogue gives him a desperate look.

"Of course. Just know that when you are, my door is open to you." He reassures her.

"I suppose ya haveta let 'em all know I'm safe an' at home." Rogue surmises resignedly.

"Yes, that would be the best course of action." He answers with a smile. "But I can tell them to give you some space." He adds, seeing the fleeting obstinate expression cross her features.

"Thank ya, Professa." Rogue answers with a small grin.

"You are most welcome. Now, I'm going to inform Logan of your return, so he can contact the others. You'd better get down there before they get home." Professor gives her arm a slight squeeze and winks.

Rogue grins at him and rushes downstairs as he heads back to his office to contact Logan.

Remy paces his apartment, his thoughts all in a jumble. He knows that he should have told Rogue about Bella, but all thoughts of her fled whenever he was in Rogue's presence. Why did Bella have to follow him here? He thought he made himself crystal clear when he met her that last time and told her that the wedding was off. Then again, Bella was always one to do exactly what she wanted, no matter who or what happened to get in the way. Today is proof of that. What hurts the most is the way Rogue ran off without giving him a chance to explain. Naturally, he can understand how shocked she would be at discovering that he was engaged, but knowing Bella, she would think of it all in present-tense, making Rogue believe that it is a reality about to happen.

He takes out his cell to call Rogue, when it rings.

"Talk t' me." He answers.

"Like, hi Gambit. Just wanted to let you know that Rogue's totally safe at home."

"Okay, Chaton. T'anks f'r lettin' me know."

"Like, no problem and...thanks for helping us try to find her."

"Was no trouble."

"Gambit, are you, like okay?" Kitty asks with a tinge of worry.

"Jus' 'ad some pas' stuff come up, is all. I'd bett'r go now."

"Oh, well...okay, I guess. Bye, then."

"Bye." Gambit ends the call and enters Rogue's number. He gets her voicemail, so he leaves a message.

Rogue shuts down her sim and prepares to leave, when she finds her way blocked.
"So who kidnapped ya, Kid?" Logan wastes no time in asking.

"Logan, I don' wanna talk about it now." Rogue states firmly as she tries to move past him.

"C'mon, Stripes. This is me, here. You've always been able ta talk ta me about anything."

"Not this time, Logan. I need ta think this through for myself." Rogue says as she looks at him, wanting him to understand.

"Who hurt ya?" Sometimes Logan is so perceptive, it's scary.

"Logan, please! I can' talk about it." Rogue manages to shove her way past him and runs upstairs to the sanctuary of her room. After a relaxing shower, she emerges from her bathroom, combing out her hair. Her phone begins ringing and she moves over to check it. Seeing that it's Remy's number, she presses ignore.

"Ya ain' gonna make a fool a me again, Remy LeBeau." Rogue mutters to the phone as she shuts it off and sets on her night stand.

Unbeknownst to her, Remy has no intention of giving up. Pondering the possibilities, he sets up a conference call with Kitty and Wanda.

"Okay ladies, w'at c'n I do t' get Rogue talkin' t' me again?" He inquires, after spilling the whole situation to them.

"That's a tough one, Remy." Wanda tells him.

"Yeah, like why didn't you tell her in the first place? She probably totally feels betrayed." Kitty sticks up for her friend.

"It's not dat I didn' wan' t'! I was 'opin dat Bella would take de 'int an' stay away. T'anks t' Jean-Luc, she foun' out w'ere I am." Remy replies angrily. "I was goin' t' tell Rogue."

"Okay, okay. That's enough, both of you." Wanda intervenes. "Any way we look at it, Rogue knows about your previous engagement and obviously jumped to conclusions about the situation. Now we have to find a way to get you in to talk to her and set all this straight."

"Like, I think I know of a way that would have you around a lot more and would make it more difficult for her to get away from you."

"'M followin' y', Chaton. Been t'inkin' on it since I wen' back wit' Jean-Luc. Dat was a big mistake dat won' be 'appenin' again!" He states vehemently.

"You know, that's a pretty good idea, Kitty." Wanda says shrewdly. "Having him around her constantly will definitely bring something about."

"Yeah, and I know just the guy who can get your foot in the door!" Kitty is getting excited.
"Who dat be?" He asks a tad suspiciously.

"Like, an old associate of yours. Piotr just joined yesterday." Kitty tells him as she bounces up and down on her bed.

"Y' mean Petey's back fr'm Russia?" Remy queries, beginning to catch her excitement.

"Yeah, I could give you his new number if you want." Kitty offers hopefully.

"An' w'at would y' be doin' wit' 'is number, Chaton?" Remy inquires teasingly.

"We, like all have everyone's numbers." Kitty informs him, slightly imperiously, even though there is a blush staining her cheeks.

Remy chuckles knowingly. "Don' doubt dat, Chaton." He says lightly. "Oui, give me de giant's number. I need t' talk t' 'im."

You'd think they would learn about conspiring behind Rogue's back...hehehe.... Next chapter: A long-overdue conversation takes place.