(Thank you so much to those who read and posted reviews! I really do appreciate them, they help a lot in writing. I do apologize for the delay in posting but life likes to keep me from the fun stuff. There is some Romy in this chapter! There will be more in this fic but there will also be a little more Roguepool as well.)

Chapter 3

The impromptu sparring session in the boutique had disturbed them all more than they admitted and Emma called in, with the help of Blankman, a few people to help them relax. She had to reiterate to Wade that the professionals she was calling in were not prostitutes but masseuses. Confident that Emma would be taking care of her younger self and any stray memories, Rogue allowed herself to relax a bit. After a massage, facial and mani/pedi, Rogue headed to the mansion in a town car that she hoped she wouldn't have to explain. As luck would have it, the mansion was quiet when she arrived; a few residents were out on a mission and Jean had dragged Scott out to work out some wedding details. If her memory served, they would come back with enough Italian takeout for everyone. Laden with shopping bags, Anna sent the car back to the penthouse and headed into her former home. Originally, Rogue had only bought a little black dress but Emma convinced her that she should not let the closet full of clothes in the penthouse go to waste especially when the personal shopper hired by Blankman seemed to be very fond of Free People. The little black dress from the boutique was also tucked into one of the bags. Nostalgia slammed into Rogue like a sledgehammer as she stepped into the foyer and she nearly dropped her bags, her breath catching in her throat. Tears burred her vision and she had to swallow the lump that had formed; blinking back the tears, she was grateful that she was alone then. She would hardly be able to explain her reaction to merely walking in the door. Relief, fear, joy, heartache… It all flashed through her faster than she could grasp the individual emotions so they all melded together and swirled around her. It made her dizzy with emotions and she once again pushed it all down. I won't think about it now, I'll think about it tomorrow. Ugh, she rolled her eyes at the thought. Okay, Scarlet O'Hara. Though she could now relate more than ever with the legendary heroine. Some of the tension the masseuse had worked out earlier was starting to creep back into her shoulders so she took a deep breath and headed up the stairs to put away her clothes. Kicking off her boots, she left her bags in her room and padded down to the kitchen in her socks, bringing along two bottles of wine she had brought along from the penthouse with her. Scott and Jean had brought home delicious food that day but they had forgotten the wine, Rogue brought along some Stella Rosa, which Emma turned her nose up at but the sweet, sparkling wine was a favorite of Anna's. Rogue also pointed out that she had not exactly been a wine connoisseur so her selections should reflect that.

A little after 6pm and it was already dark outside, they would all be home soon so Rogue set to work creating a few appetizers and lit a few candles. She couldn't explain why she was doing all that; perhaps it was that she wanted that first night back to be comfortable and cozy. Letting the wine chill, she started bringing the food out to the dining room. As she headed back to the kitchen, she realized that someone had laid a fire in the dining room fire place and a glow from the doorway told her that there was another lit in the living room. That meant the other residents were beginning to filter in so she hurried back for the wine and glasses. Once in the kitchen, she stopped short; the wine was already uncorked and two glasses had been poured. Staring at the glasses, Anna tried to figure out just how someone had gotten past her without her seeing them.

"Too much t' hope dat wine's just for us, hein?"

A thousand butterflies fluttered around her belly and heat spread through her at the sound of his voice. He was behind her she felt like he was all around her, surrounding her and she was desperately hoping that the flush that had climbed into her cheeks wouldn't be noticeable. Damn him, how could he affect her like this after all these years?

"A nice fire, a little wine," her feet felt like they were glued to the floor as he moved closer and came to stand behind her. "Very romantic, non?"

"Ya mean until th' entire household descends on us?" she asked him dryly, as soon as she managed to dislodge her tongue from the roof of her mouth and moved to set up more glasses without turning around to face him. "Yeah, very romantic."

"No one's home yet," he was right behind her now, taking down the glasses that were too high for her to reach without taking to the air and setting them down on the counter. As he set the glasses down, he brought his hand back to rest on her upper right arm and she suppressed the very pleasant shiver that ran along her spine. His other hand came to rest on her waist as his body was suddenly flush against her back. "Whaddya say, chere?"

Get a hold of yourself, gal.

"Ah say another set o' hands would help me get this all set up sooner," she pushed down that warmth that was stirring too low for comfort. Turning around, however, her bravado faltered as she locked gazes with him. Those beautiful ruby orbs that drew her in, hypnotizing her and that smile that turned her knees to jelly. She wanted nothing more than to plaster herself upon him and have her way with his mouth. A short sleeve shirt and a battered pair of levis, why the hell did he look so good in everything? And nothing… naughty memories danced in her mind's eye.

"So many other t'ings I'd rather do wit' dis set o' hands," a devilish gleam in those dark eyes, his gaze swept over her and she felt as though he could see right through the turtleneck sweater she wore. His hungry eyes roved, unabashedly over her chest and another shiver swept through her as her pulse began to race. His hands were on her sides, stroking up and down from waist to hip then back up again as his gaze swept up from her breasts to her mouth. "Specially when it concerns you."

"Fresh," she replied flippantly, attempting to deflect the situation since she didn't think she could trust herself if he kept stroking her hip the way he was currently doing. He let out a chuckle at her answer and her heart fluttered.

"Just hopeful, darlin'," he whispered, his face moving in closer

He must have heard the sudden hitch in her breathing because he moved in closer, pinning her hips against the counter with his own. Her eyelids fluttered closed as desire swept through her; it had been way too long. He nuzzled her silky mane and she could feel his hot breath on her neck. Her own gloved hands slid up his chest to his shoulders and she held them there, her fingers curling and fisting in his shirt spoke of her need. It had been way too long. There had been Erik and then Johnny but neither of them could ever compare to him. One of his hands slid up her back while the other continued to stroke her hip. She whispered his name and he straightened up; she opened her eyes, falling into his gaze. Those ruby orbs were ablaze with a desire that scorched her insides.

*SLAM*

The slamming of a door down the hall caused her to jump and shattered the moment; Bobby and Jubilee where bickering somewhere down the hall. "I was helping!" Jubilee was screeching. "You nearly set me on fire!" Bobby shouted back. Rogue turned back to the wine.

"Why don't ya take out the rest of these glasses an' Ah'll open up this other bottle?" Her voice took an almost chipper tone.

"Chere-"

"Please, Remy?" Her tone was strained and he knew not to push it.

"Yeah, 'course…"

His steps faded away and she could hear more voices out in the dining room. She had wanted to kiss him but what else was new; she had always wanted to kiss him and she almost had. She had become used to having control and she had desperately wanted to give in. Another moment and she would have happily let him bend her over the counter; not the first time they had done that in the past, er, future… but she couldn't throw that big of a monkey wrench in the timeline. She would give anything to crawl into her room until they all went to bed but if she hid herself away then they would become concerned. She had always been one to put on a smiling front no matter how she felt inside. Never wanting to see pity in their eyes; it was second nature to pretend that nothing was bothering her and she would have to do that now. Picking up one of the glasses that Remy had poured, she brought it to her lips and gulped the sweet liquid down. Though delicious, it was nowhere near as bracing as a good shot of whiskey but it would have to do for now. Refilling her own glass, she set it on the tray with the bottle and remaining glasses before heading out to the dining room with it. Looking back, she wasn't sure how she managed to keep from dropping the entire tray upon entering the dining room and making an uncomfortable scene. They were all there; laughing, teasing, chatting and enjoying each other's company; like an old home movie come to life. Warren Worthington the Third in all his blue-skinned glory laughing with Hank and Bobby; both Betsy Braddocks on opposite sides of the room but still enjoying themselves. Jubilee, in day-glo everything in a rather animated conversation, at least on her part with the stately weather-goddess. Making her stomach clench painfully was the sight of Scott and Jean, being horribly mushy while in deep conversation with Charles Xavier. The loss of her loved ones, especially that of Charles washed over her and she struggled to clamp down on her emotions; there were four powerful telepaths in the room now and she couldn't afford even the smallest projection. How the hell was she going to do this?! Busying herself with pouring the wine, she knew her walls were in place but she could also feel her panic rising. She would have to face them all in a moment, for the rest of the night and for however long it took to complete her mission. Rogue was never one to turn tail and run but her mind was whirling now, trying to think up a strategic retreat.

That's when she felt it; a cool, soothing sensation curl up inside her head and she began to breathe a little easier. 'Emma.' The blond telepath must have been monitoring her and decided to intervene before panic took hold. Taking a deep breath, Rogue plastered a smile on her face and joined the fray; passing out glasses to those who didn't have them, picking up conversations as if they had been left off hours ago, instead of years. Moving over to stand beside Remy, who had joined Ororo and Jubilee, offering him a glass along with a slightly apologetic smile. The Cajun returned the smile and took the glass from her as he slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close but keeping things in neutral territory.

"Rogue, this was perfect!" The southerner jumped slightly before she could help herself as Jean approached her. It went unnoticed by everyone except Remy who glanced down at her and gave her shoulder a little squeeze; probably believing that she was still a little unsettled by their tête-à-tête in the kitchen. Rogue turned her attention to Jean and hoped her smile wasn't too strained as she faced two dead teammates as Scott had now come to stand beside Jean as she continued: "We thought we were so smart bringing all this food home for everyone but we completely forgot about the wine!"

"Ah just ran into a store ta get some chocolates and the wine caught mah eye," Anna gave them a slight shrug. "Lucky thing, Ah guess."

"It really was," Jean said with a grin. "It was the perfect touch. I swear, trying to cram all this wedding planning into one month with Christmas right around the corner, what were we thinking?"

"Ain't that what bein' a team is all about?" Rogue said with a grin of her own.

"If we can get through this and only forget the wine then I'd say that would be the ideal situation," Scott said with a chuckle. "But it's good to know we can count on the team to have our backs."

"Always, shugah," Rogue gave them a wink and raised her glass at them.

The evening turned into some sort of idealized memory; after a dinner full of talking and laughing, they all crowded into the living room. They sat by the fire with hot chocolate and watched Christmas movies. She almost couldn't believe it; some might have accused her of looking back on her memories with the X-Men through rose colored glasses but as she sat in an overstuffed loveseat with her head on Remy's shoulder, nursing a rich chocolate drink; the night really was quite perfect. Though she made it a point to avoid being near Charles. That was one bridge that she just couldn't bring herself to cross yet. Remy walked her to her room a little after midnight and stopped at her door. Her heart wrung painfully in her chest; she wanted to hold out her hand and draw him into her room. Wrap her arms around him, stretch out beside him and lay in his arms… He held her hand as he bid her goodnight and kissed her gloved palm with exquisite intensity. She stroked his cheek and longed to kiss him. She wanted to feel him run his fingers through his hair, his hands over her body and make love to her until dawn.

"Remy," Anna began. "About earlier…"

"Hush now, darlin'," he closed both of his hands around hers. "Like I said, just hopin'."

Giving him a rueful smile, she kissed her gloved fingers and brought them to his lips. "Keep hopin', shugah," she whispered. "For both our sakes."

He held her fingers to his lips for a moment while he held her gaze; those eyes spoke volumes; they made her ache and quiver at the same time. "Doux rêves, mon chéri. "

Her heart twisted painfully as he took his leave and headed towards his room and Rogue backed into her own room, closing the door before leaning her back against it. It took a great deal of effort to push off from the door and head to the bathroom to wash up. Sliding into her cold sheets in an old over-sized t-shirt, she tugged her blankets around her to keep her bed from feeling so empty. Turning onto her side, she wasn't startled to see Emma lying beside her; merely a projection, it made Rogue feel a little better and not quite so alone. She knew that Emma was still grieving Scott and this mission had to be difficult for her as well. Neither woman spoke, they merely remained silent, just knowing that the other was there and that they were both hurting in their own way. Both mourning and although it was nothing that Emma would admit to ever happening later. This thought brought a soft smile to Anna's lips as her eyes finally closed and she drifted off to sleep.