A/N- Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! I honestly didn't expect such a great reception right away, but it seems like people really like the story after only 2 chapters! Yeesh! I'd like to make a special shout out to my man Val Kilmer; your future is so bright, you have to wear shades. And by future, I mean teeth. ;)
I also forgot to mention in the first place that my version of Joseph has nothing to do with Magneto in any way shape or form. No clones here. :( - Insert obvious Michael Keaton refrence here.-
(If you don't get that... I'm sad in my heart for you.)
Anyways... on with the show! Continue to show your love by donating to the review section after reading. :)
3
The knock on the door was a very unwelcome way to wake up. She sat up, squinting at the sun that streamed through the slats of her shades, frowning when she realized she'd fallen asleep in her clothes.
"Come in." She grumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
The door swung open. "Hey sleepy head. Rise and shine!"
"Ah can't even describe how much ah missed you Kitty." Rogue said with a dry laugh, leaning over to look at the clock.
"Guess where we're goin' today?" Kitty flopped down on the bed next to Rogue with a smirk. "We're going to get fitted for our dazzling wedding attire!"
"Ah'm sure you'll have fun with that." Rogue covered her mouth as she yawned.
"Actually..." Jean stopped in the doorway "I was hoping you'd come with us." She gave Rogue her cheesiest grin. "See... my little sister is in the wedding party... but she won't be around until the night before the wedding, so I have Sarah acting as a body double for the fittings. She's exactly the same size... six feet tall itty bitty waist..." Jean tossed a hand in the air. "Anyways, my point is. Kitty's in the wedding party already, Sarah's coming as a body double... I need a completely non-objective opinion."
Rogue frowned. "You're kiddin' me... right?"
"Nope. Not at all. Besides it'd give us some time to catch up." Jean smiled, leaning her forehead against the door jamb and giving Rogue her best puppy dog face. "Please?"
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Alright... ah'll come."
"Good! We can help you pick something out too." Jean grinned. "Now get dressed. We're off in a half an hour." She instructed looking at her watch.
Rogue nodded before shooing the two women from her room.
Within twenty minuets, she'd met the girls down in the foyer. They all piled into Scott's precious convertible, speeding off to the tailors.
Sarah twisted in her seat, looking at Rogue and Kitty in the back with a grin. "So, you need an outfit too Anna?"
Rogue nodded. "Wouldn't hurt."
"Awesome. We're gunna have so much fun today. Once Jeanie's baby sister's dress is fitted... it's all about us." Sarah winked. "I have great taste. Just you wait."
Rogue chuckled.
"So you wanna fill us in on the whole… Joseph situation?" Kitty asked with a smirk "Or y'gunna leave us hangin'?"
"Leave y'hangin'." Rogue grinned. "'Sides, as far as ah know, there ain't nothin' t'tell."
"Oh no y'don't…" Jean looked at her through the rear view mirror. "We want some answers missy."
Rogue looked out on the scenery speeding by. "You'll get 'em. When the timin' is right."
---
Remy wandered downstairs, making his way into the kitchen only to find Logan nursing a cup of steaming hot coffee. Black no doubt.
"Where is everyone?" He furrowed his brow at the stocky mutant, sitting down at the island in the center of the kitchen.
"If by everyone you mean Marrow an' Rogue... they're out."
He raised an eyebrow. "Together."
Logan gave him a wicked smirk. "Yup."
Remy ran a hand through his hair, scratching the back of his head with a sigh. "Remy's gunna be bored t'day..."
Logan shook his head. "Don't care." His look turned angry "But don't pull anything stupid Gumbo. If you hurt her... so help me..."
"Which one mon ami?" Remy smiled, causing Logan's angry look to intensify. Remy held his hands up in self defense. "Remy don' plan on hurtin' no one."
"That's the thing. You never plan on it."
"Ahh... Wolvie needs t'lighten up. I'm a grown up now... non?" He smiled, slapping the burly man on the back.
"Touch me again and I'll rip your arm off."
"Keep m'hands over here den..." Remy stood up, moving over to pour himself a cup of coffee.
---
"Wow." Rogue shook her head as Jean did a small spin for her.
"Really?" Jean smoothed her hands over the satin fabric of her off white gown. "Yeah?"
"Just... wow." Rogue shook her head, reaching out and slipping the hem of her veil through her index and middle fingers. "You look amazin' Jean."
"Thank you." Jean looked back at the mirror with a smile, her delicate skin darkened from the blush that spread across her cheeks.
"Well what about me?" Kitty extended her arms dramatically. "Doncha think I look great too?"
Rogue touched the capped sleeve of Kitty's lavender bridesmaids dress with an approving nod. "You always do."
The seamstress finished pinning the hem of the gown Sarah was wearing, popping the excess pins in her mouth. "Alright ladies, we're done. Take em off. Make sure the pins stay in!"
Jean nodded. "I know this really nice dress shop just a few minuets from here. We can start there."
"Sure." Rogue smiled taking a seat in one of the plush chairs provided for guests. Sarah was the first to emerge, heading over to Rogue with a grin.
"I can't wait. I know it sounds funny... but I just love shopping."
Rogue smiled. "Funny it ain't. Weird... maybe."
Sarah laughed. "So what kind of dress are you looking for? Oh! I know the perfect thing... I can totally see you in a strapless... cut maybe right about here..." She motioned just above her knee. "Show a little skin."
Rogue scrunched up her nose. "The skin thing... ain't exactly mah deal."
"Oh... right." Sarah shrugged, sitting back in the plush chair with a sigh as they waited for the other two to finish changing.
"So... Why the name Rogue, Anna?" Sarah crossed her arms, turning in her seat slightly to face the fair skinned woman. "If... if it's not too personal."
Rogue shrugged. "Ah don't even know anymore. Ah started callin' mahself that so long ago."
"Is it hard? I mean... not being able to touch?"
Rogue let out a small laugh. "What do you think?"
Sarah smiled. "Yeah... sorry. I guess that was a pretty dumb question."
"It ain't so bad once y'get used to it." Rogue shrugged.
Sarah nodded, enduring a few more moments of silence. "So what was Remy like before?"
She looked at the blond for a moment, studying her expression silently. It was just an honest question.
Rogue shook her head. "Ah'm not sure... you wanna be askin' me that question."
She furrowed her brow "Why not?"
"Ah was Remy's best friend. But if you want to continue datin' him... y'probably wanna hear the good things." Rogue said with a grin.
Sarah smiled "Oh... we're not dating. Like... dating dating or anything." she shook her head. "Neither of us are too good at the whole... commitment thing."
Rogue snorted.
Sarah laughed and shook her head. "Besides... I have a feeling he still has feelings for his last woman. He almost got married you know. He gets all quiet when I try to talk to him about anything prior to our meeting."
Rogue furrowed her brow. Almost got married? As far as she knew, Remy had left for the sole purpose of getting married. She was going to ask Sarah about it, but decided against it. She didn't want old skeletons falling out of any closets during any conversations she had with this girl. She made a mental note to ask the Cajun about it later, cringing at the idea of how that particular conversation would unravel.
"How did you two meet?"
"Well, I was with the Morlocks for a while. Things started getting stale there, so I found my way to Xavier. Totally nice dude." She nodded and Rogue smirked. She'd never heard anyone refer to Xavier as a 'dude' before.
"I was thinking of leaving when Remy showed up. Made it worth while to hang around a bit longer." She grinned.
"So, what's your mutation?"
Marrow gave her a demonstration, producing a slab of overgrown bone from the palm of her hand with a wince.
"That's handy." Rogue raised an eyebrow. "No pun intended."
"You bet." Sarah nodded with a wide smile.
---
After a long day shopping, the ladies made their way back to the mansion. And not a minute too soon as far as Rogue was concerned. While she enjoyed catching up with Kitty and Jean, and getting to know Sarah better, she couldn't wait to kick her feet up and relax.
"Ah'm not used t'takin' an entire day devoted t'... doin' not much of anything." Rogue shook her head as she walked through the garage with her dress bag in hand. "An' ah couldn't tell you the last time ah bought somethin' so expensive for me."
Kitty put an arm around Rogue's shoulder. "I missed you."
Rogue stopped and turned to face Kitty with a frown. "Ah missed you too Kit."
"Why Rogue? Was it... really that bad here for you that you-'
"Kitty... no." Rogue shook her head, offering her short friend a smile. "Sugah... ah had t'move on."
"You couldn't have kept in touch?"
Rogue let out a breath, walking through the door to the mansion. "It's complicated."
"Really? Cause I don't think it could be that complicated." She lowered her voice an octave, looking around to ensure her next question wouldn't be overheard. "Was it Joseph? Gambit?"
"No." Rogue shook her head. "Ah'm stronger than that. You know that Kit."
"Then what?"
"It wasn't one thing in particular Kitty." Rogue lied, giving her head another shake. "Ah... ah don't wanna talk about it right now okay? Ah just... would like to enjoy bein' back here without thinkin' about mah past... transgressions."
Kitty nodded silently, letting Rogue head upstairs to put her new purchase away.
She opened her bedroom door, tossing the bag on her dresser before flicking her light on.
"Holy Lord!" She gasped, her hand clutching at her heart before frowning. "What the hell Remy!"
He smiled. "Sorry fleur... figured dis was d'only way y'd talk t'me."
"Breakin' in?!"
"Door wasn't locked." He kicked his feet up on her bed with a cocky smirk.
She crossed her arms giving him that look that let him know she wasn't about to take any crap from him. He never realized how much he missed that look.
"You undressin' me wit'yo' eyes, chère?"
Her stare didn't waver. "Gambit. What do y'want?"
"Dat's pretty obvious." He winked.
"Knock it off." She frowned.
"C'mon. What happened to d'friendly banter we used t'be known fo' chère? All y'can say is knock it off." He scoffed.
Her mouth tightened in a small frown as she stared at him expectantly.
She really wasn't about to take any of his crap. Apparently she really had changed.
"I wanted..." He sat up, letting out a sigh. "Dis is hard chère..."
"Spit it out already. Ah ain't got all day." She put a hand on her hip.
He smiled, his eyes wandering down to her gloved hand that rested on the easy curve of her hip. He raised an eyebrow as his smile became a cocky grin.
"If you came up here t'mock me Remy... t'rub in the fact that you know somethin' that no one else does... ah swear t'God..."
"No... belle-"
"Ah didn't know you an' Joseph were gunna be here, other wise ah wouldn't have bothered with…" She held up a hand.
"Fleur. Dat ain' why Remy's here."
"Ah just... ah wanted to come back an' have people remember me for what ah was. Not... what they think ah might be..."
"Chère. Relax. My lips are sealed." He locked his lips with an imaginary key. They stared at one another silently before Rogue finally nodded, accepting his promise as the truth.
"I came up here... to apologize."
She frowned. "Apologize."
"Oui." He smiled at her. "I know. Yo'askin yo'self 'what ever for'... non?"
She suppressed a smile at the sound of him imitating her accent. "Sure."
"I shouldn't have left like dat. Not without..."
"Sayin' goodbye?"
He frowned. "Yeah."
She nodded slowly, moving over to her suitcase that was propped up against her dresser. "Ah know you were..."
"Crazy."
She stared at him silently. She bit back the urge to voice the sarcastic remarks running around in the recesses of her mind. She didn't care anymore. She'd spent too many years caring.
Eventually she shook her head. "Ah was going to say preoccupied. Or possibly even 'being responsible' yet that one's still up for debate. Regardless, it's all water under the bridge. Alright? Clean slate."
"Clean slate?"
She nodded, crouching down to rummage through her suitcase. "Ah assume you know what that is... despite your given track record."
He smiled. "Heard 'bout it before... but I thought it was just an urban legend."
"You comin' down for dinner?" Rogue asked as she stood up again, crossing her arms.
He nodded.
"An' maybe you should stop by t'see your girlfriend too." Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Ah don't want her gettin' the wrong idea here Cajun."
"She ain' Remy's girlfriend chère. An' besides, you an' me?" He scoffed as he stood up, moving towards her. "Who'd believe dat?" He stopped behind her with a smile. She turned around to face him, and he was shocked to see her expression match his.
"I meant what I said Rogue." He brushed a white hair away from her face, tucking it neatly behind her ear. "It's good t'see you again."
"Wish ah could say the same Gambit." Her smile grew as she shoved him backwards. "Now scram."
She watched him leave, pulling the door shut behind him. It had taken everything in her to not rip his face off. She let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. With that simple act... reluctantly forgiving him for running away, abandoning her without so much as a goodbye; she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. They say laughter is the best medicine, but she disagreed. Forgiveness is the best medicine.