"Vacation"
.
Jacques was being entertained by his grandfather today leaving ample time for Gambit and Rogue to go house hunting. Rogue wanted a place in Canada for various reasons besides the fact that Logan frequented there.
Canada was peaceful and it was far too easy to get a home that was not in the city for a normal price not that they needed to worry about money. Gambit's 'career' could handle that not that she wanted it to. Neither of them had an actual job. One that was boring and paid you far beneath what you deserved. It was unfair that they had to raise Jacques like this.
She loves her son, but she doesn't want him to turn to a life of crime all though she might be a little to late for that thanks to someone.
"Wat ya thankin bout Cherie?" he asked. Rogue had been unusually quiet as of late. He could see the hurt in her eyes he only hoped that their son didn't notice.
"Notin." She said staring at the road, but not looking at it.
"I know yer mad at Scott …" he prompted.
"Mad would be an understatement," she said darkly before she sighed, "But he has a point. I'ma danger ta everyone. I should jus leave yall wit ya daddy and carry on by myself."
"We're in this together Anna."
"Tat's what im afraid of.i don't wanna go home an find ya dead."
"Have a little faith in me petite."
She looked at his carefree attitude. It was one of his more subtle traits that she enjoyed. She wished her life was carefree. Life had been difficult as a child and if being imprisoned for seven years was bad enough add a child to the picture and a psycho mutant bent on revenge.
She looked away from him and once again stared blankly at the road. They'd be safe here she wanted to believe. She wanted to believe that no one would find them. She'd use a fake name is she had to. Anything to make life easier for her family.
"Here's home numbah 7."
They pulled up at a lake front residence in Lasqueti, British Columbia. Rogue fastened her scarf around her neck to prevent the morning chill from taking over as she stepped out onto the gravel path. Just from what she saw it was gorgeous. It was a mixture of timber, natural stone, and brick.
"Te website says te place has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, ample parking, fully furnished, and has 165 acres for roaming at te very humble price of three million dollars."
"Let's look round." She said as they walked up two flights of stairs shaped in an upside down L angle to the huge doors. The moment they walked in they were graced with a chandelier and a dark wood floor.
"Damn this place is big."
"Te website says it used ta be an inn."
They looked around the whole place then went out back to the lake and boathouse a few feet from the house.
"I love it Remy."
"Than you'll have it."
"Yeah ,but I thank we gonna need ta add a few thangs."
"Such as?" he asked confused. The house was plenty huge enough for the three of them which he could make into four or five someday …
"Let's just say I rather us know an enemy is comin than find out te hard way."
He nodded. She had a point. Just like the mansion they'd need to add a few specifications. The first thing he was going to do tomorrow was work out. There was no doubt in his mind that he'd have to work overtime to pay for everything.
"I know tat look. I'll get a job too."
"As wat?"
"That's none of your business mister."
After a few more minutes of arguing they called the realtors. With the economy in the state it is and that there weren't that many offers for this place since it was so remote they got the place for two and a half million which was well below the asked price.
…
"Did you find a home mommy?" Jacques asked.
"Yep yr gonna love it when we finish wit a few improvements."
"Can I help?"
"Ya can keep yer grandpa busy."
"Ok!" he smiled completely ignoring the fact that his father was home too. It had become a game to him to annoy his father to death in every way possible.
"Wat bout me?" Gambit asked the kid.
"Oh hi Wumbo." He said off handedly before giving his full attention back to his mother.
"Now there's something I want ta talk to ya about and its really important."
"Ok mommy."
"Yer gonna have ta go ta school."
"Are you going wit me?"
"No."
She tried to make kindergarten sound fun. She really did. But her son refused and had a tantrum. He knocked things over; he kicked his dad, and cried. Apparently she should had tried a different route. Good thing school doesn't start for him for the next seven months.
….
As time went by Rogue found it increasingly hard to get a job and she saw little of Remy. He was always gone. Always working. The poor man looked so tired. Even Jacques had felt sorry for him and started to be nice. She was starting to think the only job she's be able to get would be as a table dancer and if Gambit found out he'd be pissed.
Wait if he found out. Was she so desperate for money that she'd spend her nights dressed like a prostitute? She knew this life style would have some sacrifices. So later that night she went to see Crazy Jo. Crazy Jo eagerly gave her a job under the condition that she was not to be touched and until she found another job.
It didn't pay much. But the tips kinda made up for that. She worked on the nights she knew Gambit was never at home. It wasn't fun having all those surly men winking at you. It wasn't fun that they all assumed she was a ho looking to be laid. It wasn't fun that they'd sometimes throw drink on her to make her clothes transparent.
One such night it happened was a brisk November evening. It was raining and her bike was out of gas. She had to push the damn thing all the way home and when she did open the doors she saw him waiting for her on the couch.
"Where hav ya been?" he asked.
Whipping the mascara from her face, "Workin at getting by."
He gave a short humorless laugh at that before pulling her into his arms, "I saw y ate other evening. I know wat ya do. I know tat ya only dance."
"Remy i." she tried to talk but he hushed her.
"I'm trying so hard ok. I know I aint making this money fast enough. I … I don't want ya there again. I swear that I'll do better. So please. Please. I know we spent all my reserved funs on tat house, but I'll sell my bike. I'll do whatever it takes ta make some money ok?"
"Okay." She said crying into his arms. She didn't want him to work harder than he was. How was it that she kept hurting the people she loved in avertedly?
…
It was December when she had managed to get a job as a librarian in a library two hours away in Zachary. The librarian there had finally retired leaving the position open for Rogue. She happily accepted making sure to bring her troublesome son with her. Why not have him read while she worked?
It surprised her at how quickly the kid picked up the reading and that he actually liked it. His favorite book was Robin Hood. With his little library card he checked it out every time. He had even read the book to all the LeBeau's each a good five times by Christmas time.
"Wat's tat?" she asked Gambit as he went through the mail.
"Looks like it's for you." He said handing it to her. Written in fancy bold letters on the sender part was the name Kitty Pryde.
…
(Flashback)
"How could you!" Jean scolded Scott the moment she found that Rogue had been kicked out.
"Jean just don't please. Not now." Scott said with his head on the Professor's desk. The Professor had made it explicitly clear that if something happened to him that Scott would take charge.
"She belongs here with us!" she snapped.
"You're just mad that you can't baby Jacques anymore."
"Even still she 's one of us. Look I loved the Professor like a father too. Remember I was here since I was seven too."
"Don't lecture me Jean."
"This is not what Charles would have wanted!"
That caused him to sit up, "How do you know? He was MY father!"
"You don't have to be his son to know that he cares! That's what makes him so special. He cares about all of us. I know that he wanted Rogue here to keep her from being used against us, but I am 100% positive that he grew to care for her as well."
"And look what all that caring got him!"
"Dammit Scott the man's not dead!"
"Luckily. That girls been nothing but a menace since she was brought here."
Jean shook her head, "The Professor would not want revenge. Think with your heart not your hatred Scott. I am not sure if I can love the man that you are becoming." She said as she closed the door to the study.
Meanwhile Logan had rounded up a few of the kids to help him go searching for Rogue and bringing her back. Of course not everyone shared his idea.
"Why should we risk our neck to get that bitch!" Tabatha shouted at Logan, Kurt, and Kitty, "I lost a lot of my friends that day!"
"Like the only reason you lost your friends was because they like sucked. They didn't deserve to wear the XMEN logo!"
"But they died like XMEN!" Tabatha hissed.
"Like whatever Tabaho," Kitty pushed Tabatha back, "Like Rogue's a way better XMEN then you'll ever be and you liked her like what 48hrs. ago? There's no since in being upset."
"My friends died!"
"They were my friends too!" Kitty yelled back.
"That is enough Katherine." Kurt said pulling her back.
"Tabatha we know that you're upset, but we'd let their deaths be in vain if we keep arguing amongst each other." Logan said.
"A house divided cannot stand." Beast agreed.
"Where are you all going?" Scott yelled form of the top of the steps.
"To get mein sister back." Kurt said as they headed to the door.
"Stop right there!" Scott yelled running down the steps to stop them, "If you leave you are not welcomed back here!"
"Like what did we do?" Kitty yelled at him.
"Scott vat is vrong vith you man?" Kurt asked.
"Shades I know your mad …"
"No you don't know," Scott interrupted, "You heard me. Anyone who leaves and tries to bring her back can no longer call this place home."
At that an argument broke out until Jean came down the steps with a train of suitcases behind her, "You heard him."
"Jean what are you doing?" Scott asked.
"Showing myself out. By Scott."
"Wait you can't leave Jean!"
"Watch me." Jean opened the doors with her powers and the five of them left in search of Rogue.
(End Flashback)
Rogue opened the letter. It read:
Rogue,
We have been looking for you everywhere! If this is where you are please write us back at the return address. If not and this letter finds its way to someone not named Rogue then kindly disregard this message.
Merry Christmas,
Love Your Friends
After Rogue finished reading it she tossed it into the fireplace.
"Why ya do tat fer?" Gambit asked.
"Because they care. I will not ruin any more lives." She said with conviction, "Now let'sput those presents under the tree before Jacques wakes up."
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