PyrusAngel: Shorter I know but you can't blame me, its getting to the good part. The next two will be longer and funner so be excited XD

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Rogue at silently as she watched them all chatting, tinkering, eating, burping, joking and unseen by anyone a small sad smile formed on Rogue's lips as her eyes grew sadder and darker. No surely her woes where much heavier.

Chapter 13: Friend Mothers

The days passed with bullshit from Raven, day in and day out, for the smallest and dumbest things. Rogue's wrists grew redder and redder not that anyone noticed, though a couple people like Kurt, Lexa, and Wanda did not like that Rogue was looking a paler. The biggest clue was when Kurt refused to let Rogue attend their Sunday night gathering the Sunday before the Carnival.

"You need to save your strength." Kurt explained though when Rogue gave him a skeptical look he added, "Look tomorrow Kit and them are gonna come over alright."

Rogue nodded before heading back up to her room, but the thought that they didn't want her to join them stuck in her head. Until the guilt, anger, and fear welled up and Rogue grasped for her pocket knife once again under the watchful waxing moon.

In the next few days Rogue walked in a haze. She remembered little of school, but little things stick out at her. Like the fact that Kitty and Jubilee had been spending a lot more time sketching with Piotr, while Piotr kept sketching elaborate pictures of dresses during art class and study hall. Wanda and Kitty on the other hand, with Kurt and Forge's help, occasionally had been found pouring over laptops for a least a week know during lunch and even after school at the coffee shop.

By Wednesday the halls were covered in brightly colored homecoming decorations, which made Rogue hate everyone and everything even more then usual. People were being overly welcoming and excited for the upcoming festivities, not that Rogue cared. It was just an excuse, a farce, to be fake and joyful, since no one would have to go to classes for two whole days.

Belladonna and company were all back together and in the center of all the planning and festivities. Even Remy had returned, which didn't improve Rogue's out look on her life. His mere presence caused hallway jams, which seemed to always make Rogue late for class. The jam ups tended to be more of Belladonna clinging to Remy's arm, while his fan girls fawned and tried to glomp him.

"Honestly I feel bad for him." Jubilee commented, as one of the said jam ups passed by their lockers.

"He doesn't look happy either." Lexa commented statically, Rogue just shut her locker door before heading off to English cursing herself.

"Honestly! Can Ah ask WHY yah thought he'd beh yahr friend?" Rogue's inner screamed.

"AH don' know!" Rogue interjected.

"Yah can be such an idiot blonde, sometimes you know that?"

"GAHH!" Rogue growled.

"Everything alright Rogue?" Ms. Monroe asked, causing Rogue's head to snap up so she was looking into the older woman's eyes surprised.

"Did Ah say dat out loud?"

"Yes. Yes you did." Ms. Monroe smiled warmly, "You wanna talk about it?"

"If Ah did, it'd beh a great book."

"I'd read your book. You should write one Rogue. You have a real talent, not as good as John mind you, but a good talent none the less. Now if only we could get John to stop writing about sex."

"Onl'y when he finally ask's Wands out, though that could just increase it too."

Ms. Monroe laughed at Rogue's comment before letting her enter the classroom before following herself. If Rogue could recall what she actually learned about 'Macbeth' it would have been an accomplishment, but no instead she let her mind wander away. It wandered out into the darkness where thoughts nor actions mattered, where death came easily, but something came out of that darkness. A pair of ruby red eyes that jolted Rogue back into reality to see Wanda and John waiting for her. She jumped up glancing at her watch... 2:28.

"Damn Ah'm gonna beh late." Rogue cursed softly as she ran though once outside she stopped seeing Kurt there waiting for her.

"Get on. Now!" he called.

Without thinking twice she hopped on behind him, putting her arms around his waist unafraid as he took off. This is where she belonged, passing everyone and everything the wind in her hair and the rumble of the motorcycle below her. Sadly Rogue's bliss was gone as they reached the coffee shop three minutes later. Rogue dismounts and races inside the kitchen door.

"At least dere arin't any red, gold, 'nd green streamers here." She grumbled as she dawned her uniform.

Rogue was out behind the counter just as the clock struck 2:31. Like clock work in burst Raven in her usual temper and Tuesday black suit. What was different though was the suitcase she was carrying in her left hand.

"I'm going to on a business trip." Raven announced to Rogue, Kurt, and the customers, "Due to the short notice, and this extended trip I have decided to close my shop as of this moment. So GET OUT!"

People scurried out the front door leaving nothing behind. Raven then turned and locked the front door and flipping the sign to closed, before rounding on the staff. Pointing a finger at Mia and Clara.

"The two of you will not set foot in this shop until my return do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am." the girls chimed heads bowed.

"AND you two." Raven yelled turning to face the siblings who where standing hand in hand once again, "I expect the two of you to have this place cleaned before returning home. You are to go to school and then go immediately home and clean the house from basement to attic. Throw nothing away and I expect you two to stay in the house until my return. UNDERSTOOD!"

"Yes ma'am." the pair said flatly.

With one last glare at the four of them Raven marched past them and out the back door. They stood there with their breath held until they heard the squealing of tires. After that it was rant city.

"THAT BITCH!" Clara yelled throwing her wash rag on the floor, "Where does she get the right to bitch at us like that."

"I can't believe we get time off!" Mia cheered "Now I can go hang out with Charles!"

"Speak fer yahrself." Rogue growled as she began to clean the front of the shop.

"What? Your not seeing Mr. Tall dark and handsome again?" Clara asked.

Rogue ignored her. Clara frowned and glanced at Kurt who just shook his head, while packing some of the sweets and sandwiches. Rogue noticed and threw him a curious look.

"Well Rogue time to head out. Clara. Mia. You guys don't mind do you." Kurt called.

"Not at all." Mia called, "Good Luck."

Rogue looked questioningly at all of them before her brother began pulling her out the back door and shoving the box into her hand before he mounted his bike.

"You coming?" Kurt asked.

Rogue smirked at him before arranging herself behind him on the bike awkwardly with the box between them. Thankfully the house wasn't that far away, if it had been Rogue was sure she would of fallen, or dropped the box. Silently Kurt lead her right up to the house and opened the door to...Mayhem.

Rogue was shocked at the scene before her. Fabric had been piled from the living room to the kitchen to the dinning room and even up the stairs. The noise from inside the living room was deafening, but oddly rhythmic. Rogue wasn't sure what was happening, but she knew from the look on her brother's face that it wasn't anything bad, but something he had help in planning.

Jingling caught Rogue's attention as Kitty slid down the banister to land right in front of Rogue. Kitty was covered hear to toe in bangles, bell anklets, bracelets, and headdresses, while no less then ten coin belts had been tied around the brunettes waist.

"OH Like Rogue and Kurt are here!" Kitty yelled.

"Well tell them to HELP!" yelled a voice over the loud rhythmic sounds coming from the living room.

Kitty pulled Rogue into the living room, while Kurt went to put the sandwiches and sweets in the kitchen. Rogue walked into what could only be described as a sweatshop. Wanda, Jubilee, Fred, and Forge were all working away on sewing machines, explaining the loud noises Rogue was hearing. Lexa meanwhile sat in a different corner embroidering with Tabitha, though occasionally Tabitha would look over at Piotr who was sitting beside her sketching in front of a closet door. Kitty skipped over to Wanda and took over, while Wanda stood and stretched before walking over to Rogue, allowing Rogue to glimpse Pietro sitting grumpily between Fred and Kitty.

"Hey." Wanda greeted happily.

"What' goin' on?" Rogue asked after contemplating which question to ask first.

"Costuming. Kitty signed us up for the Carnival after all. She, Jubs, and Piotr made all new outfits."

"'nd Pietro's here...why?"

"He lost a bet."

"W'hich bet?"

"The bet that he couldn't stick to one girl for a single week." Wanda said with a smirk, causing Rogue to send a shocked look in Pietro's direction.

"A week rea'ly? Yah couldn' stay w'ahth a g'ahrl fer a week?" Rogue yelled over the noise.

"OH SHUT IT FREAK SHOW!" Pietro yelled, though he was reprimanded when Lexa threw a large needle just above Pietro's ear causing the boy to jump and then shrink back into the couch.

"Lex please stop making holes in the wall." Kurt yelled over the noise.

Lexa just shrugged before continuing her work. Wanda shrugged before leading Rogue back to the sewing circle. Kitty hopped right up and then sat next to Rogue, showing her how to stitch bells and coins to the new outfits.

"See like my idea was to cheer everyone up. Piotr even offered to make you a dress, well after Kurt told him about the other one, which made us all sad and upset." Kitty rambled as she worked, "But Piotr won't let us into that closet. Like I think the masks and dresses are in there."

"Did yah eve'ah find a dress Kit?" Rogue asked, the atmosphere of the room getting past her cold exterior.

"No..." Kitty said with a sad look.

"Tell you a secret..Ah th'ahnk Petie migh'tah made yah one." Rogue whispered to the small brunette.

Kitty made a fish face and was stunned into silence at Rogue's statement making both Rogue and Wanda and even Pietro laugh. By the time Kitty regained speech Kurt and Pietro had begun to talk about staging ideas, while Wanda had finished a black skirt with flame details at the bottom of the dress.

"Mmm...Oi like dat on shelia!" John called as he walked in with more material for Wanda.

"Watch it fire bug." Wanda warned.

"LIKE WAIT! REALLY?" Kitty finally burst out causing everyone to stop and laugh.

"Dah Katya. A've made yah a dress."

"WOOHOOOO PETE YOUR THE BESTEST!" Kitty cheered, bolting up fom her station and tackling the silent artist.

"Wow you're all crazy." Pietro observed.

"Watch it Pie. Your related to one of those crazy people." Wanda warned him before throwing another pair of tan pants at her brother, "Now start working."

"So what's the show gonna be about?" Todd asked, as he came back a cookie shoved in his mouth.

"I was thinking of being the ring leader." Lexa said holding up the staff that was very intricate.

It was clearly made of metal and then sprayed gold, though it was the wing at the top that drew everyone's attention. Lexa smiled and hit the staff on the floor and to everyone's shock the wing spun and became two wings.

"WOOOOOW Lexa! That's COOOL!" Kitty and Jubilee yelled and clapped.

"Very good, but ever think of making a profit? Selling stuff? Being like 'real' gypsy troupes." Pietro offered.

"What did you have in mind?" Fred asked.

"Wait...Why should we listen to him?" Kurt interjected, "How do we know he won't just tell his crew what we're planning."

"Because I'm not even suppose to go tomorrow." Pietro explained jerking his head toward Wanda "This one has me enslaved until Monday."

"Then I say we listen to him." Kitty said sitting down with a piece of paper, "It couldn't hurt...could it?" Everyone looked at each other and for the first time in a long time it was Rogue who spoke next.

"Ah agree with Kit." Rogue announced leaving her current assignment to sit across from Pietro, "What did you have in mind."

They talked for hours and hour planning the routines, the shops, the little side acts, and even calling Mr. Maximoff for his help. Surprisingly he didn't reject them saying that if both his children wanted his help, and were working together on a project, then he would be more than happy to help out. Pietro set up what they would need and when they would set up, while Kitty, Jubilee, and Rogue worked on nicknames since no one actually knew they were putting on this booth.

It was actually Fred who found the gypsy name website near midnight, and after a little more debating and arguing over names, the team finally fell asleep right where they had been sitting. Rogue lay beside Wanda and Kitty her smile larger then it had been in many months. As she fell asleep Rogue couldn't help but think, "This is going to be an exciting two days."