The smoke was the first thing to assail her senses as Rogue made her way through the front door. Coughing, she lifted her head and tired to appraise her surrounding through the haze. She was standing in the middle of what once had been a large foyer. Doors branched off along the walls on both sides and a sweeping staircase lay directly in front of her. Which direction she pick? Rene could be anywhere within this place and she didn't have time to check every room. Glancing around she could already see the smoke getting thicker and tiny licks of orange flames beginning to eat at the wooden walls. She would just have to pick and pray that her guess was right.

Rogue decided to try the side to her left, which had four doors leading towards a narrow hall. Quickly she flung open the first door, calling into the darkness. Her eyes did a brief scan, finding nothing but an empty sitting room, the far walls of which were already in flames. She raced to the next one, once again coming up with no result. Her heartbeat was pounding loud in her ears, she couldn't risk being wrong, and time was already running out.

Coming to the third door she found it slightly ajar. Stepping inside Rogue was shocked to see this room already burning faster then the other parts of the house; the far wall was already in flames. This room had been set on fire before the other parts of the house and the reason why was lying unconscious in the middle of it. She ran and dropped down beside him.

"Rene," Rogue called, "Rene. Ya gotta wake up come on."

She began to reach out, but stopped when she saw exactly what Colin and his cronies had done. They had beaten him repeatedly, for his face and chest both bore the marks. Fresh blood was everywhere, seeping from beneath his prone form. They had taken his shirt and gloves, leaving his torso and arms bare. With sickening realization she saw that they had wanted to make sure no one could possibly help him, not without causing themselves to be burned by his powers. Wrapping her hand carefully in the folds of her skirt she tried as gently as she could to shake him awake.

"Swamp Rat if ya don't answer meh," she was to panicked to think of a good threat, "Dang it ya aint allowed ta die on meh."

She was choking on the smoke when she heard a faint reply.

"Annabelle?" he looked up, pain evident in his face.

"Thank Gawd. No time for talking sugah we got ta get out of here."

Rene's eyes widened in alarm as he took in the smoke floating around Rogue's head and the orange glow invading the room. With obvious great pain he began to lift himself, only to fall back to the floor.

"Do ya think if ah helped ya up ya can walk?"

"Chere, hate t' point out dat y' have no way of helpin' without touchin' me."

Rogue could hear the groans of the house as the fire consumed it. Soon they would die of smoke inhalation if they didn't get out of here soon. Suddenly an idea occurred to her, and she began to fiddle underneath her heavy skirt. Turning she saw Rene staring at her with interest.

"Not a good time chere, but de thought is appreciated."

From beneath the fabric she pulled out one of her large white linen petticoats and thrust it over his head. "Get ya mind out of the gutter for now Cajun. Let's get out of here."

Wrapped in the fabric she placed one of his arms around her shoulders and pulled him to his feet. They stumbled towards the door and out into the hall. Rogue looked desperately from side to side. Flames were everywhere now blocking there way out both the front and the back. The only place the fire had yet to consume was the stairs.

"Dat way, chere, it' de only way."

She didn't like the way this looked but she figured if they had any shot at all it was up. As fast as she could supporting his weight she began to navigate the stairs. They seemed solid enough, but with each hurried step they gave dangerous creaks and groans. She was almost to the top when she felt him tense. She didn't have time to react as she felt him push her forward to the top of the stairs just as the staircase gave a loud cracking groan. Pulling herself up she saw that it had caved in and Rene was barely hanging on to what was left of the top few steps a few feet away from her.

"Annabelle," he struggled to say, " find a way out. Get out of here don't worry 'bout me."

She looked down into his eyes. They were different, they were no longer the chocolate brown she was used to seeing, but the burning red-on-black she wanted so bad to see. It only lasted an instant, when she looked again they were brown, but that instant made her see everything. This man no matter what he was in this life was Remy. Their souls were one and the same, each part of the other. This was a man who would spend lifetimes protecting her and risking his life for her. A man that in her own time showed no fear at her mutation, was willing to face his own death just to hold her. She had given him nothing in return but fear and mistrust. In her mind she could see the cards in S'ayapo's, the Queen of Hearts, her card, and for the first time she remembered the last one turned, the King of Hearts, his.

She crawled to the edge of the staircase.

"Give meh ya hand," Rogue demanded, stretching her hand out to him.

"Non chere, y' know I can'. Now go while y' still can."

"For Gawd's sake, just trust meh. Reach up and take mah hand. Ya not gonna hurt meh and ah aint afraid of what ya can do, never have been. Please ya have ta trust meh."

She held out her hand, pleading with her eyes. She could see he was starting to slip, the steps giving out from under him. His eyes showed fear as he debated with himself. Slowly he began to hold his hand out, shaking as he reached it up to her. For once she had no such fear as she grasped it. For a moment she waited for the burn of his powers, but the only heat she felt was of his hand. With all her strength she pulled him up onto the landing. He simply stared at her the enormity of what had just happened sinking in.

"How did y'…." he began but his question was cut of by the crack of the floor below them. Together they looked around trying to find a way out. Rene's eyes landed on a large glass door at the end of the hall, leading to the outside. Without thought he grabbed Rogue's hand and tried to hurry her towards the door.

"What are we doing?"

"Chere, aint got much time t' explain but 'm hopin' dat's a balcony."

"Ok, and if it is then what?"

"T'hink it better if y' don' know."

His idea became all to clear as they got through the doors and the house began to rumble and shift beneath them.

"Hold on Annabelle," he called as he grasped her around the waist.

"Ya can't be serious if ya think…." But that was all she managed before the balcony began to fall in and with a strong painful leap Rene sent them sailing into the air over the side.

A/N: Wasn't planning on stopping this chapter here but I think I am going to since it is two in the morning and I really should be sleeping. I won't leave you hanging to long though so don't' worry, and for all those who were curious Rogue will be heading home soon. : )