Chapter Thirty-Eight:


Flying was like nothing else in the world.

Soaring above the clouds, the wind ruffling her hair, Rogue had never felt so free. The sun was just setting behind her, casting a pinkish hue across the glistening city below, which was dotted with sparkling lights as dusk began to fall over New Orleans.

She had always envied Storm and Jean's ability to fly whenever they wanted, though to be technical Jean didn't really fly so much as levitate. Whenever she had borrowed their powers, Rogue would always spend a little bit of time flying, just to enjoy the rare flicker of freedom it gave her.

Now that freedom was her own.

Thanks to me, don't forget.

Rogue grinned. How could Ah? Ya some kind o' back-seat flyer, ya know that? Always criticizin' mah flyin'.

Carol laughed. Well, I have been flying a lot longer than you, missy. I could teach you a thing or two about flying. Her smiled faded, and was replaced by a sad expression. Too bad I can't, huh?

Someday ya will, Rogue promised. Someday Ah'll find a way t' set ya free. An' then the two o' us can go flyin' t'gether, an' ya can show me up at every turn.

I'd like that, Carol said quietly.

Yeah, Rogue agreed in kind. So would Ah.

It was hard to believe that a few months ago they had been constantly engaging in angry, hateful arguments, when they were now able to have civilized, and friendly, discussions on a daily basis. It had been a little over two months since Carol had willingly let Tessa place her back in her own body, and Rogue was proud of herself, and Carol, for how far they had come over the past year.

Hard to believe it's been a year, huh? Carol asked softly, and Rogue knew she was talking about more than just their awkward fusion. It had been just a little over a year ago that the fateful battle against Magneto's Acolytes took place.

That Rogue was captured by Trask.

That she had seen her brother, her friends.

Those few months spent on the island with the Acolytes were a precious memory, for she had been with Evan and Hank, and she knew that they, at least, had not been killed in the Institute explosion. She had cherished their company, and the belief that they might still be out there somewhere gave her strength when her grief weakened her resolve. She could not know for certain that they were still alive, she didn't even know for sure if they had made it off the island or not, but at least she had hope.

Sometimes that hope was all that kept her going.

You miss them a lot, don't you? Carol asked.

Rogue gave a mental nod. Yeah, she replied. Ah do. Especially...

I understand, Carol assured her. I miss my brother, too, even after all this time.

Rogue's heart constricted in sympathy. From Carol's memories, she knew how painful Steven's death had been on the other girl. That was something they had in common now-they both mourned for the loss of their only brother.

Ah guess Ah jus' wish Ah'd known, ya know? Rogue sighed. Ah never got t' let him really be mah brother.

Carol nodded. I know. But, hey, at least you had a whole bunch of surrogate brothers in his stead.

Trust me, Ah know, Rogue rolled her eyes. Between Scott, Bobby an' the other Institute boys, an' the boys o' the Brotherhood, Ah could have unleashed an army on any guy who did me wrong.

Carol snorted. Imagine what they'd do to Remy.

Rogue laughed. He'd been runnin' fo' his life by the time they got through with him. An' if Logan was there, he'd never make it out alive.

Unless he called Magneto and begged him to save him, Carol said dryly. Although I'm sure Pietro would enjoy seeing him roughed up a bit.

True, Rogue agreed, her heart tightening a bit at the mention of his name.

You miss them, too, don't you?

Yeah, Rogue admitted. Ah do. Ah miss spendin' time with Freddie an' St. John, Ah miss jus' sittin' with Piotr. Ah miss bein' around Pietro. Hell, Ah even sort o' miss Magneto, in a twisted, crazy sort o' way.

You what?!

Ah said in a twisted, crazy sort o' way, Rogue protested defensively.

"Yo' a dork, y' know dat?"

Rogue blinked, shaking aside her reverie, and looked down at E\mil, who she was carrying by the arms. "What?" she asked, for a fleeting moment wondering if she had said that outloud.

Emil rolled his eyes. "Y' haven't been listenin' t' anyt'ing dat I said since we left de mansion."

"Sorry," Rogue apologized with a rueful smile. "Carol an' Ah were jus' reminiscin' 'bout the past."

"Pas de probleme," Emil shrugged. He shot her a playful glare. "Dis time, anyway. Next time..."

"Need Ah remind ya that Ah could drop ya at any time, Lapin?" Rogue retorted with a smirk. "An' it looks like a very long way down."

Emil shuddered slightly, not looking down. "Oui, dat it does."

He should have stayed home if he's so afraid of heights, Carol said, shaking her head in exasperation.

Ah bet he would have loved t', Rogue replied. Jus' Remy didn't wnat me goin' alone, an' Emil an' the others agreed with him. Mercy an' Henri are havin' a night t' themselves, Claude an' Lucas are out workin' the town-

Stealing, Carol cut her off.

Tessa is busy helpin' Tante Mattie with somethings, Rogue continued, ingoring her. An' Theo couldn't come, fo' obvious reasons, so Emil had t' come along, or risk Remy's wrath by lettin' me go off on mah own.

Carol rolled her eyes.

"Take us down, chere," Emil said, gesturing with his hand towards the dimly lit park below. "Dis is de place."

"Ah'll take ya word on that," Rogue replied, beginning the descent from the clouds. "How are we doin' on time?"

Emil glanced at the watch on his wrist and sighed. "Cuttin' it close, but we still early."

"Good," Rogue said as they touched down on the brick pathway. "Ah was hopin' we would be."

"T'anks fo' de ride, Rogue, chere," Emil said with a grin, obviously more at ease now that he had solid ground under his feet.

Rogue smiled. "Pas de probleme, Emil. Pas de probleme."

Emil glanced around, his eyes narrowed as he scanned their surroundings. "So what did y' an' Mercy do t'day?"

"Saw a movie," Rogue responded, running a hand through her wind-blown hair. "Jean-Luc thought it might do us both some good t' get outta the house, what with everythin' that's goin' on an' all."

Emil nodded in agreement. "Dat was a good idea. What movie did y' see?"

"Two Weeks Notice," Rogue replied absently.

"Oh?" Emil asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"What's so funny?" Rogue demanded.

"Not'ing," Emil answered, trying hard not to laugh. "It's jus' dat y' didn't strike me as chick flick kind o' girl."

"Well, maybe Ah am," Rogue said, crossing her arms.

"More likely Mercy dragged y' wit' her."

Rogue turned to see Belladonna Beaudroux coming towards them, dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a green top, her long blond hair falling free across her shoulders. "Bonjour, Bella," she called.

"Bonjour, Rogue," Bella replied with a nod. "Lapin."

"Bella," Emil said in kind.

"How is Remy?" Bella asked without preamble.

"Good," Rogue assured her. "He's restin' under orders o' Tante Mattie, but he's doin' fine."

"Already back t' annoyin' de hell out o' us all," Emil added dryly. "So we know he's goin' be alright."

"Dat's good t' hear," Bella said with a sigh. "Dis past week's given Julien plenty o' time t' heal up. De wound's gone, he's back t' full strength."

"Ah'm glad," Rogue smiled in relief. "How are things wit' ya father lookin'?"

Bella groaned, rubbing her forehead with her fingers.

"Dat bad, hahn?" Emil muttered.

"Mon pere is blème," Bella explained. "De only reason dat he didn't go an' put out a contract on Remy's head is dat Julien tol' him dat de fight broke out because he accused Remy o' not bein' good enough t' marry me, an' dat de argument got out o' hand. Mon pere is adamant dat I ain't gon' marry Remy, even if it does mean a war between de Guilds. He wants t' avoid dat if possible, but he refuses t' let me marry Remy."

"Which is why de meetin' wit' Jean-Luc has t' go well t'morrow," Emil said. "Dere anyt'ing we should let him know b'fore he walks in t' dat meetin', Bella?"

"Oui," Bella nodded. "Julien's been playin' up de story dat Theo tried t' break up de fight from de start, an' dat when swords were drawn, Theo tried t' defend Julien. It helped dat when Remy got injured an' y' had t' retreat dat Theo stayed behind t' tend t' Julien. Mon pere is indebted t' him now. Dat's why Julien is gon' ask if he can sit in on de meetin'. Most likely mon pere is gon' say no, but if Jean-Luc can get him in t' dat room, Julien is gon' suggest dat dey marry me off t' Theo instead, since it would still solidify bonds between de two Guilds."

"In other words," Rogue murmured. "Julien has t' be in that room when they decide what t' do next."

"Exactement," Bella confirmed. "Y' jus' tell Jean-Luc t' get him in dere, an' Julien will take care o' de rest. Wit' de way mon pere is carryin' on right now, de suggestion t' replace Remy wit' Theo is gon' seem like an answer t' his prayers."

"An' t' ours," Rogue said quietly. She looked up and her eyes met Bella's, and the other girl smiled at her. "All o' ours."

"Oui, all o' ours," Bella agreed.

The two of them just looked at one another for a long moment, understanding one another better than they ever had before. They both had so much riding on this plan, this one last attempt to claim the happiness they both so desperately wanted.

"We should be goin'," Emil said, placing a hand on Rogue's shoulder. "It's late, an' we promised t' be back b'fore dinner. If we're not, Remy will prob'ly send out de entire Guild t' search fo' us."

"Right," Rogue answered.

"I should be goin', too," Bella said. "Julien covered fo' me while I snuck out. Best be gettin' back b'fore anyone realizes dat I'm gone."

"Care t' give a guy a lift, Rogue?" Emil asked, holding out his arms for her to lift him up. She did so easily and floated up off the ground. "Time t' get back, non? I'm affamé."

Rogue rolled her eyes. "Ya always hungry, Emil."

"Can't help dat. I'm a growin' boy!"

"Ah've heard that one b'fore," Rogue muttered. She glanced back in Bella's direction and saw the girl was about to slip out of the park. "Bella!" she called suddenly.

Bella stopped and turned to look at her inquisitively. "Ce qui?"

"Thanks fo' the music box," Rogue said.

Bella smiled. "Vous êtes bienvenu, Rogue," she replied, and then she vanished over the wall and into the night.

"Ready t' go home?" Emil asked. "Y' know how Henri hates t' wait fo' dinner."

"Yeah," Rogue replied with a smile. "Ah do."



Translations:

pas de probleme- no problem
blème- livid
Exactement- exactly
Ce qui- what?
Vous êtes bienvenu- you're welcome