Hello again, this chapter is brought to you by Pennylane87 and Fostersb. Pennylane87 wrote the first part, Fostersb contributed the second. Hope you enjoy!

Rogue squirmed a little in her plane seat and closed her eyes, trying to get some sleep. But the events of the last night kept running through her mind, replaying over and over in her head. No one had stopped her from leaving, and to be honest, she had expected Logan to be a little more understanding. However, the only person who questioned her decision had been the one she'd least expected, Katherine Pryde.

Rogue clearly remembered the look on Kitty's face last night, the kind of look she would've never expected.

Flashback

Rogue had taken a look through the window; Storm was talking with a group of new students. Amongst them was the little girl that had reminded her of a younger Kitty Pryde, the one that had asked her a few days ago why she was there if she was 'human'. A sad half-smile spread slowly across her face at the mere thought of the word. Technically she wasn't a mutant anymore, but did she feel human? Even after taking the Cure, she had kept her low profile and her lonely manner. What kind of human life was that?

Rogue had seen the kids showing Storm their powers and then had lowered her eyes to her own bare hands. Biting her lip, she had tried not to think about her powers; after all, they weren't there anymore so there was no reason to think about what could have been. It wasn't a secret that ever since her powers first manifested, Rogue had always seen them as a curse, not a gift as Professor Xavier insisted. Her life had never been the same since the day she absorbed Cody, and since taking the so-called Cure, she felt just as lost and lonely as she had that day. In Rogue's eyes, her mutation was something that not even the miraculous Cure had been able to remedy.

Lost in her thoughts, Rogue hadn't heard the slight footsteps behind her.

"So, the rumor is true," Kitty Pryde had said as she walked in Rogue's bedroom, while nodding at the packed bag on the bed. "You're leaving."

The green-eyed girl had turned around to find the one person she'd least expected, looking at her with questioning eyes.

"I really think I just need to get away from everything," Rogue had replied. "I've been thinking about this for a while now, you know." It had sounded dry but she didn't have to explain—especially not to Kitty Pryde. "And now... Now, the timing simply feels right."

"But you're coming back right?" Kitty had asked and Rogue noticed a hint of guilt in her eyes. "I mean if this is about Bobby, I never meant to—"

"It isn't," Rogue had cut her off abruptly. Kitty had lowered her eyes and Rogue had felt a little bad. After all, it hadn't been her fault...at least not entirely. "Look, Kitty. This ain't because you're dating Bobby. Things between us were over long before you came here."

"Is it because of the Cure?" Kitty had asked. "Because no matter what, you'll always belong here, Rogue. You're one of us and always will be."

"Yeah, I guess..." Rogue had replied rather sadly. "However, sometimes I feel that inside the Institute's walls we're living a dream, a dream that I'm not sure is worth fighting for. Sometimes I feel I don't fit in this place anymore."

"And so you're leaving?"

"Look, Kitty. When I decided to take the Cure I made my choice. I took it because I wanted to, because I wanted to have the closest thing to a normal life...I just was too scared to actually do it. Now I think I might have that chance. I just want some time alone to find it myself, to live the life I always wanted."

Kitty had given Rogue a sincere smile and then did what Rogue least expected. She had thrown her arms around her and hugged her. "Take care, Rogue."

"I will," Rogue had replied.

Yes, she was leaving. Leaving for good.

End Flashback

Rogue leaned against the window and took a look out of the plane, enjoying the tremendous view before her. She smiled. There was just something magical about the South, and even though New Orleans wasn't exactly her neck of the woods, she felt like she was home. As the plane finally landed in the Louis Armstrong International Airport, Rogue smiled contently to herself. She had made the right decision, and even if being by herself for the first time in years scared the hell out of her, she firmly believed that this was just the thing she needed to gain back her lost self-confidence.

Remy had not moved in hours. It was hours after getting the call from Etienne and he was still sitting at his desk, slowing shuffling his trusty deck of cards in his hands. Every so often the cards would slip, a sign of Remy's fatigue and the cramp that was now in his left hand. He had been shuffling for six hours in the hopes that the repetitive motion would help him solve the problem of the lost chalice. It didn't help. The only ideas left in his head were:

The chalice was gone and Remy was screwed.

Remy hated being the Patriarch.

Remy needed a drink.

Remy set the cards down and walked out of his office towards the living room. This was where Jean-Luc kept his best bourbon. Remy hoped that after some liquid nourishment, he would have the energy to think properly and devise a plan.

Walking into the living room, Remy spied Henri sitting in a leather high-back chair, reading a book and swirling a class of liquer.

"A little early for alcohol, mon frère, n'est-ce pas?1" Remy chuckled. "What? Did Mercy give you an earful last night?"

"Ah, Remy. You know that it is never too early to enjoy a fine cocktail." Henri grinned, raising his glass in salute.

"Well, if you are going to take my alcohol, do you want to take my job as well?" Remy asked with exasperation as he plunked himself in another chair.

Henri studied his brother for a few moments and could tell that Remy was worried. Though the signs were small, they were telling: his eyes seemed less bright, his skin a little pale, his shoulders hunched. All pointed to there being a huge problem in Remy's world.

"Remy, what be the matter? Did a woman finally turn you down?"

"I wish, Henri. I wish. Non, this problem is real bad," Remy softly replied in a monotone voice.

Henri was instantly on edge, Remy only used that tone when he was worried. "What, Remy? Tell moi," Henri insisted.

"He failed," Remy replied.

"What?" Henri asked with a confused expression.

"Well, no. He didn't fail," Remy started.

"You mean Et?" Henri interrupted. "That's great if he didn't. Then we can have the welcoming ceremony soon. Felicitations,2 Remy. You were..."

"He lost it, Henri," Remy interrupted. "He lost the chalice after he stole it."

"What? Weren't you with him? How could this happen? Where could it be? Why didn't you take it?" Questions were flying out of Henri's mouth and Remy was convinced that his head was starting to spin.

"Arête!3 Henri, I saw him with the chalice. We went out drinking as a celebration afterwards. I sent him home to sleep it off and this morning he called me in a panic. He told me he couldn't find the chalice."

"Well, did he check everywhere? The house, his bike, the bar?" Henri responded.

"Yep," Remy replied, his voice full of resignation. "You know Etienne wouldn't have called me without doing those things first. He is too thorough."

"Oh, Remy. Cela n'est pas bon.4 It has been decades since a Thief failed his Tilling and you know that this failure must result in his banishment. This does not reflect well on him, and it does not reflect well on you as Patriarch."

"Je sais!"5 Remy yelled at Henri. He didn't need his brother to remind him that he was a failure. As leader, Remy was responsible for the success of the Guild and therefore any Thief's failure was his own. He didn't want to think about how he had weakened the Guild, dishonored his family and gotten his cousin exiled from their family. It was all too much and Remy felt trapped. He leaned back, raking his hands through his hair, tugging the roots in frustration, hoping that he could extract the answer from his brain if he pulled hard enough.

"Mon frère, if you pull any harder you will become bald," Henri joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Remy stared for a moment and then smiled. Remy knew his brother's teasing was his way of demonstrating his love. It was Henri's subtle demonstration of his devotion and, for Remy, a sign that his brother would be there to support him.

"Henri, I would never do that, you are bald enough for the both of us," Remy ribbed, pointing to Henri's head, which was as smooth as a cue ball.

"Hey, Remy. Don't joke. This head has gotten me a beautiful woman. Mercy loves my simple look, says that it looks distinguished and loves to stroke her fingers..."

"Too much information, Henri," Remy stated, raising his hands in supplication.

"Remy, really you know that I will help you in any way that I can," Henri gently promised and Remy couldn't help but feel touched and grateful by his brother's words.

"Je sais, mon frère.6 Right now I am just not sure what to do. I have never failed before and so I have never had to plan for this circumstance. I didn't know what to tell Et, so I just have him sitting in his apartment waiting for my instructions."

"All right. Then the first thing that needs to happen is that Etienne needs to go to the safehouse," Henri said. "Hiding him away is the only way to ensure that questions will not be asked."

Remy raised his brows. "You mean we act like he is still on the job?"

"Exactement!" Henri exclaimed. "We keep Etienne out of sight at the Adler house and the Thieves and Assassins will not know a thing. We use the time to find the chalice and when we find it, Etienne can return home and we all celebrate his Tilling. He did technically steal the item so he does deserve his membership."

"Okay, but how do we find the chalice?" Remy asked, unable to hide the desperation in his voice.

Henri laughed, leaned in and touched Remy on the knee. "Boy, this stress has really knocked the sense out of ya. Remy, you and I, we be two of the best Thieves in the world. There ain't no way we can't find that cup. Think of it as our greatest heist yet."

Remy nodded in reply. The more he thought of the plan, the more excited he became. This would be a grand challenge and Remy always loved those. He could feel his inner Thief come out as his skin began to tingle in anticipation. Suddenly, all his nervousness and anxiety was washed away and replaced with exhilaration. One thing about this job, Remy could never say it was boring.

"But, Remy," Henri stated, pulling Remy out of his daydream, "I think that you should tell Theo. He deserves to know since he is Etienne's brother and guardian." Theo and Etienne's father, Belize, had died over five years ago. Since then, Theo had become his brother's keeper and was quite devoted to his safety.

"Bon." Remy nodded. "I will do that tonight, after I call Etienne and send him to the safehouse. I want him to get away as soon as possible. It is key that we start the search. If too much time passes, any leads might be lost."

"I will begin contacting some of my sources and spies to see if they have any knowledge. I should be able to gather information in the next couple of hours," Henri stated as he rose from his seat and headed to the door.

Remy followed quickly, anxious to get to Etienne and tell his cousin to move over to the Adler house.

As he was leaving, Henri turned and placed a hand on his chest. "Remy, you know that it will be okay. But I warn you, be careful of Bella. She doesn't need any more reasons to hate us and want to skewer you. Don't be foolish. Now is not the time to be overconfident and take chances. We can't afford to lose."

"Don't worry, Henri. I know what I am doing. Am I not the great Remy LeBeau?" Remy smirked.

"Glad to see the old swagger is back. I was almost afraid that I might have lost the arrogant bête I had so come to love. Though I have to admit that the women of New Orleans might have been a lot safer."

"Jamais, Henri.7 I could never deny my greatness. I am just too talented, too beautiful, to lie to the world." Remy smiled.

Henri scoffed and rolled his eyes. "One day, Remy, you are going to run into someone that doesn't fall for your charms, and mark my words, I am going to laugh as you fall on your ass."

Remy chuckled and started walking towards his office. He flipped out his phone and began dialing Etienne's number. As it was ringing, Remy turned and remarked, "I met a lot of women in my day, Henri. If I haven't met her yet, she don't exist."

1 Is it not?

2 Congratulations

3 Stop it!

4 This is not good.

5 I know

6 I know my brother.

7 Never Henri.