A/N: First things first I would like to thank everyone who has been reviewing my story, I am thrilled that you guys like how its going so far. This chapter was not originally in my plan for this story but I became inspired, Thank you once again to "the-writing-vampire".

Rogue felt a rush of exhilaration for the first time since she found herself stuck in the past. She was crouched just within the thick line of trees that surrounded the Monroe plantation, Olivia right beside her. Their eyes were fixed on the plain white shacks that sat some distance in front of them. As they watched one by one tiny lights appeared in the windows. From what Olivia told her there should be fourteen in total. Each house had been given instructions not to light their candle until every member inside was completely ready to go, there would be no time to waste. This was a mission; this was something Rogue had been trained for.

Rogue could feel the evening damp seeping through the fabric of her trousers. She had absolutely refused to try to pull this off in a dress, so instead she had relieved Krispin's wardrobe of a pair. She had also absconded with a linen shirt and a sturdy pair of boots. The last touches of her ensemble had come from Olivia. Rogue pulled the sides of one of Rene's cloaks tighter around her, taking comfort in the faint tobacco smell that rose form it. Reaching up she also made sure her hair was tucked up under one of his hats.

Across the field she could just make out a small figure waiting in the trees at the opposite side of the property. It looked like Logan was all ready to go.

"Olivia, just what did ya tell that boy ta do?" Rogue whispered after counting ten candles now lit.

"Oh, well you see my brother does bring in shipments from time to time of interesting items to try to sell so that we can fund our operations. I merely told our young friend over there exactly where some of these items were stored. I told him to get as many as he could and stash them as far away from where we would be hiding as possible. I instructed him to create a diversion with them as soon as he saw us approach the second house."

"Ok, but what did ya give him?"

Olivia merely smiled and pointed back towards the houses. Fourteen candles now burned brightly in the night. "I think you will just have to see." Pulling a dark lantern out from behind her she opened a shutter just enough to let a pinprick of light trickle out. Rogue understood that it was time to move. Olivia would stay in the woods to light the way; Rogue would go to the doors.

Silently she slipped from the cover of the trees. Her footsteps fell lightly on the soft ground and her breathing came out as barely a whisper. Her heart though felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. The first door came into view sooner then she had expected, raising her hand she tapped lightly. The candle immediately was snuffed out, as the door inched open. Four frightened but resigned faces met hers. Rogue smiled to reassure them, pointing to the small sliver of light that could be seen through the trees. Without a sound the two adults and two children slipped from the house, running towards the light, as Rogue moved on to the next door. It wasn't until the fifth door that she felt something was wrong. She couldn't place her finger on it and she was afraid to slow down.

She was almost to the last house when it registered. It was too quite. There was absolutely no noise coming from any direction. Where was the distraction? Rogue could sense a problem crawling up her spine. Forgetting to slink in the shadows she made a mad dash for the last house. Turning her head as she ran she could see Logan's hiding spot, with two very large men standing there and one small little figure sprawled on the ground. Rogue was almost to the door when the first set of hands grabbed her.

There was no time to think of a battle plan; Rogue was just going to have to pray that all those Danger Room sessions paid off. Pivoting on her left foot she swung her right fist into her attackers face. The crunching sound satisfied her that she had connected with the man's nose. Immediately his hands fell away. Once out of his grasp Rogue could see two heavyset guys and a single spindly guy coming towards her. Blessing her foresight to wear pants, Rogue took out one big guy with a roundhouse kick. One heavy guy grabbed her from behind lifting her into the air. Rogue used the momentum to send the scrawny guy in front of her sprawling to the ground. Twisting she managed to get her elbow into her captors face causing him to let out a howl. Rogue dropped lightly to the ground rolling into a crouch, with one swift move she kicked her former captors legs out form under him. He hit the ground with a hard thud, not moving. Scrawny had managed to pull himself to his feet and was heading towards her again.

"You're going to pay for that you bast…."

He never got to finish his threat as all of a sudden the ground and the sky lit up and exploded. Both Rogue and the man turned to see the source of the commotion. Across the field fireworks were flying in every conceivable direction as a small figure delivered a stunning blow to the head of one of the two men who had been standing there.

"That is for messing with my boy!" Rogue could just hear Marion Howlett yell over the explosions. As she hit the man again with what from a distance looked to be a large frying pan. This time the man had the common sense to go down as his companion already figured out.

Rogue didn't hesitate. She tapped the man in front of her. "Sorry Sugah," she sneered as she dealt him a killer right hook. The man sank to his knees before falling unconscious to the ground. Rogue flew to the last house, yelling for the terrified occupants to run to the woods. Rogue sent one salute over her shoulder to Marion, who was waving as she half helped and half held a groggy little boy. Rogue made a mad dash back to the cover of the trees. Olivia waited with their stunned passengers. One little girl broke away from her mother's grasp and wandered over to Rogue.

"Can you do that again?" she inquired with large brown eyes.

Laughing Rogue picked her up and following Olivia began to lead her passengers to the waiting wagon that would take them to the docks, and to a boat that would take them to freedom.

OoooXXXXoooo

They had just safely gotten everyone on board the ship Pierre had arranged, when Olivia turned to Rogue.

"I am afraid we must leave New Orleans now," she gestured over her shoulder to where Pierre stood by the ships rail, "We will not be able to return. My brother and I made a promise that if you helped us we would help you. You have done more then I ever could have expected you too Annabelle, I know I speak for both my brother and Pierre when I ask you to please come with us now."

Rogue didn't have to think, this would be perfect. Annabelle would be free. If nothing else Rogue could make sure that happened. Pulling her cloak around her she began to walk towards the gangplank where Olivia stood. At first it seemed easy but the closer she got her feet felt heavier and heavier. "No" she cried in her head "it can't be possible. Annabelle please don't tell me that you didn't go." She didn't have to hear an answer to know, since the closer she came to the boat the more she could feel something holding her back

She met Olivia's expectant face and forced herself to say, "Ah can't. Please don't ask meh why but Ah can't." she could see the other woman's face fall in disappointment. Pierre pushed off from the railing and disappeared into the belly of the ship.

"Is there nothing I can say to change your mind?" Rogue shook her head no. Holding back tears Olivia said quietly, "Then I guess this must be goodbye. I had such hopes for you and …. but never mind. Please know I wish you well my friend and I thank you for all the kindness you have shown to my brother and me, especially to Rene. Is there anything you would like me to tell him?"

rogue could not miss the small hopeful tone in Olivia's voice. Rogue wished she could give her something to hope for, but she couldn't it wasn't her choice it was Annabelle's.

Straightening her shoulders she said, "Tell him ah'm sorry." With that said Rogue turned and walked away.

A/N: So that is the first time I have ever written a fight scene, I would like to state that I have never been in a fight before and the only ones I've ever witnessed have pretty much been over with a single punch so I didn't have a lot to go on. Trying to update quickly but will have a lot going on this week with getting my new home in order so hopefully I wont be gone to long if I am at all. : )