So here's chapter two. If you have any questions or comments, just write them in a review and I'll see what I can do. (Actually it would be nice if you could review anyway, so I can improve my writing technique).

Thanks to all of you who have read and are currently reading this.

Disclaimer: Again, I do not own the X-men.

Chapter 2

"Professor?"

"Yes, Rogue."

"You know that vacation that we were discussing?"

"Yes. I recall."

"I'm thinking now is a good time."

'Yeah…smooth intro to that one,' thought Rogue, as she stared out the window of the X-jet later that same night. 'Well…one good thing, I didn't freak out earlier.' Rogue knew that if she had reacted in any way out of the ordinary (for her), Logan, Gambit, and Kurt would have forbidden her to go anywhere. Not that that would have stopped her. Their reactions had been bad enough when she had announced her plan to go back home to Mississippi.

Flashback

"What are you talking about ma chère?" Gambit asked.

"I need to go back home for a bit. Family business," said Rogue, thinking the mere mention of family business would throw off any more arguments to her leaving. After all, the men in the room all understood the need to care for family.

"What for, Rogue?" questioned Wolverine.

"Like I said, Logan, family business!" Rogue said heatedly.

"If it concerns your safety we deserve to know, Rogue," growled Wolverine.

"There's no danger in me visiting family, Logan." Rogue replied

"Yeah? What about Mystique?" bit out Logan.

"…low blow, Logan." Rogue said gently.

Quickly, the professor cut in before any mire harm could be done, "I believe it would be fine for you to go visit family, Rogue. When would you like to leave?"

"As soon as possible…as in tonight," Rogue replied. This statement was met with about two seconds of silence before all hell broke loose.

(Simultaneously)

"Now wait just a minute, Rogue" Kurt said.

"You're not going without Gambit, ma chère!" exclaimed Gambit.

"Absolutely not," Logan said.

After about ten seconds of listening to them argue about why tonight was a bad night to leave, Rogue was fed up. Just as she turned to head out of the room to pack, the professor jumped in.

'Enough,' Xavier commanded telepathically. Sure enough, all the men the room finally quieted down. "Now, let us proceed in a calm manner. I see no reason why Rogue can not leave tonight. The X-jet has been fueled and we have already been discussing Rogue's departure for many months now," the professor calmly told the silent group.

"What about the MRA? You know they're setting up a new base in Mississippi," Logan was quick to point out.

"I believe Rogue can handle herself," Xavier calmly replied.

"Well, she's not going anywhere without me." Logan bit out.

"I'm going too." Kurt said quickly.

"Well…wouldn't be any fun if Gambit didn't come. No?" Gambit said.

"No! This is my business. I don't need you all tagging along." panicked Rogue. The last thing she needed was those three getting involved in her business. It would complicate matters.

"Too bad Rogue. We're going," Logan responded.

"Yes, I believe that would be for the best, Rogue." the professor supplied.

'Great…just great,' Rogue thought.

End Flashback

'Now I have those three bozos tagging along on a mission I don't need nor want them on.' thought Rogue bitterly. It was now three hours after departure and they were still an hour away from their landing spot. The plan was to land in a secluded spot in the swamp far enough away to avoid detection, but close enough to walk to town. Scott was then going to take off in the X-jet, leaving Rogue, Logan, Gambit, and Kurt behind. 'Well…no point in worrying about it now,' thought Rogue, 'might as well get some rest, before we land.' So, taking out her ipod and turning it on, she did just that.

"Now, the communicator to the mansion needs at least two hours to fully charge every night. After that, it should only be used in extreme emergencies. We can't have the MRD tracking the signal either to the institute or to your position." Scott explained as he prepared to leave in the jet.

"We know, Scott, we went over this before we left the institute and again while on the jet." Rogue sighed.

"Yeah. I know. I was hoping telling you three times would help you remember because you seem to get into an awful lot of trouble Rogue," Scott retorted.

'Whatever,' thought Rogue.

"I'll be back in a week to pick you all up. Try not to get into too much trouble," Scott commanded.

"Will do, Cy," Logan supplied. Scott headed up the plank way and several minutes later the X-jet was gone.

"Alright, my sister, lead the way," Kurt cheerily joked with Rogue.

'This is going to be a long week,' thought Rogue with a small smile.

Several minutes later they had made it to the edge of Rogue's hometown. "This is it," Rogue said to the small group. The three men looked up and down the street. While the town wasn't that large of a city, it was still fairly decent in size and look. It was a town that, while everyone was acquainted with each other, there was still a sense of privacy concerning one's business.

"Where we headed?" asked Logan.

"Old friend of mine's bar," supplied Rogue. The three men snapped their heads around to stare at Rogue, "What?"

"A bar?" Kurt squeaked.

"Yeah. A bar…you know…where you dance, and they serve alcohol among other things," Rogue sarcastically responded, as she started heading down the street. The three men glanced at each other before quickly heading after Rogue.

Several blocks, three left turns, and one alley later, they were at the back entrance to a bar entitled Wicked Paradise. One lone security guard was standing outside on his 15 minute cigarette break.

As Rogue headed toward the door to go in, the guard reached out to prevent her from opening the door, grazing her bare skin. Luckily (for the guard) Rogue was prepared and in control of her powers. None of the men present were aware of the close encounter.

"What do you think you're doing, little miss?" questioned the guard.

"I'm going into the bar." Rogue replied back angrily.

"Good one, kid. You couldn't be over 20, let alone old enough to enter this bar," laughed the guard. Just as he said this, the back door shot open and out popped a 6-foot-tall man in ripped jeans and a short-sleeve shirt.

"Sunshine," yelled the giant as he picked Rogue up and swung her around in the air.

"Riley." laughed Rogue.

"Saw you on the cameras. What are you doing here? C'mon inside, sweetheart!" Riley said already heading back into the bar. Rogue, seeing the shocked look on the guard's face, broke out laughing, and motioning to the guys to follow, headed into the bar after Riley.

Inside there was loud music from a live band, flashing lights, and tons of dancers. They headed towards the office on the second floor, across from the stage. Inside the office, one could see the stage and the dance floor from the one way mirror that overlooked the bar.

"Place really picked up," commented Rogue as she stepped into the relatively quiet office.

"Yeah. All thanks to you, Sunshine. Your voice was the first thing that drug people here, way back when it was just beginning." Riley said.

"You sing petite?" questioned Gambit.

"Does she sing? Hell yes, she sings. Voice worth more than this here bar." Riley exploded. AS he said this, all eyes were on Rogue as she tried to think of a way out this situation without embarrassing herself. "In fact, why don't you give them a demonstration, suga'?"

'Hell no,' thought Rogue. "Actually, we came by to get information on what's been going on the past few years. We don't have time to fool around." This last comment was directed more at the three X-men, than Riley, because Rogue knew exactly what they wanted to here, and it had nothing to do with gathering information.

"Alright, Sunshine. What you want me to start with?"

"Anything new."

"Alright…Well let's see…there's Ally…she got married to Abby's boy. Then there's the Conway's. They had a baby boy last month. There's that new mining project down south by…"

"Mining project?" interrupted Rogue.

"Yeah. Started about four months ago. Some men in suits come up to the town, claim they own some land and want to buy some of the surrounding land. The people weren't having it, so the men went to the mayor. Two weeks later. Joey's land isn't his anymore and they kicked out all the neighbors from the area. Been doing construction ever sin…What's wrong Sunshine? You looked as if you've been sucking on lemons." Riley commented.

"You just described a huge problem for us, Riley." Rogue explained.

"Oh yeah."

"Yeah. Scott's going to be disappointed." Rogue remarked.

"Why's that Rogue?" questioned Kurt.

"Oh, no real reason. Except we just found ourselves in a whole heap of trouble."

"Quit being cryptic Sunshine. Give me the reason why."

"Oh…you just told us the MRD was building their new base less than five miles from our current position. Which means our situation went from moderately difficult to high risk."