Red Skippy: Remy makes me laugh all the time! It might be lame, but I laughed a lot while writing that last chapter. Remy and Logan just play off each other so well! And even though life isn't rosy yet, I really needed the tension break of those two bantering. Thanks so much for reading and your review. I hope this next chapter works for you!

Bologna121 – I'm so thrilled I could make you laugh, with *ahem* the help of our resident scoundrels. I really needed Logan to go along to break up some of this really heavy stuff. I'm glad you enjoyed the hilarity! I really miss the Romy moments too. It's really hard not to just give in and give those two what they both want, and what I want too, but I think what I have planned will make up for the heartache. I really hope so at least. We'll both try to be patient for a little bit, non?

MDD – Wow I am really enjoying getting reviews from you! I'm really happy I could suck you back into the fanfiction world! I am ever at its mercy. Lol. The idea that I actually inspired someone to write is such a huge compliment, like you wouldn't believe. Thank you for that. As far as continuing chapters, I had estimated 30-35. I was wrong. I figure it'll probably be at least 40. I think. We'll see. Lol.

Sweetcornbee – I love getting addicted to reading, and so I'm positively thrilled that you find this story addicting! I gotta say, when I started doing this story switching between perspectives it was a little jarring, but now it's become totally natural. Now that this chapter is done, I just expect the Cajun to show up in my head with something to say. Lol. I hope you enjoy this chapter, even though it has a little bit less hilarity than the previous one. Thanks for reading and the review!

Part 30: Puzzle Pieces

Ah avoided Ororo. The rage was too tempting, the only color in a world turned black. She would be seeking a way to see me alone, to explain herself. Her explanation would be perfect, reasonable, and undeniable. That's who she was. Ah knew that, and ah didn't want it. All the negativity, all the pain and confusion and frustration that beat me relentlessly had up til this point been chaotic, a shifting pandemonium that was out of control and had me hopelessly at its mercy.

In bringing Marrow, involving herself in mah perfect mess, Ororo had gotten more than she bargained foah. It was just bad luck on her part. Ah liked 'Ro, but ah had no particular attachment to her. In mah little play she was an expendable character, through no fault of her own. It was cruel, but so was everything. Why shouldn't ah join in the fun?

Storm had provided something on which to pin the anarchy of emotion: she herself had become the focal point. Foah whatever reason, mah relatively small frustration with her had given me resolve, put everythin' in a narrow tunnel. Ah had some "oomph" back. Ah wouldn't let her come take it away with a thing so merciless as rationality.

Jubilee turned overnight into mah unofficial sidekick. Back during mah little stint in New Orleans, the room next to Piotr's had opened up and ah'd lost mah roommate. Kitty and ah were on better terms, but the awkwardness of our sudden 180 had been difficult to get around. Her attachment to me had more to do with redeeming herself than any real affection. Ah was glad to have her in mah corner, but the space had made things a little easier.

Unfortunately, now ah didn't have the excuse of a roommate to get away from Jubilee. She treated mah room like it was hers, walkin' in whenever she felt like it and stayin' til she was good and ready. Ah liked Jubilee more every day, but this particular habit grated on me, though in hindsight it was probably helpful. As usual when ah felt things falling apart ah was desperate foah alone time: Jubilee's constant presence was an irritation, but it kept me from sinkin' too deep into the dark pit inside mah head.

Ah had confronted Jubilee at one point, when the claustrophobia had become almost suffocatin'.

"You do realize that ah have mah very own shadow, ah don't need you to provide one."

She grinned at mah distemper. "You prefer having the more discreet kind, huh? Well, that's not my style. I just feel creepy lurking around like Team CajunClaw."

Ah narrowed mah eyes. "What are you talkin' about?"

"Pssh, you always have an extra shadow or two. They're just not honest about it. I figure they'll both owe me big if I manage to keep you healthy and happy. Face it, you need a little sunshine in your life, and I wear a yellow coat for pete's sake! And besides, you get yourself into interesting situations. If I hang around you, the excitement should be enough to distract me from everything else. Just think of me as a more visible Logan. Except a girl. With great hair. And a sense of humor."

A startled laugh made its way out of mah chest. Jubilee thought she was lookin' out foah me?!

"Sugah, you do realize that Logan asked me to take care of you while he was away, not the other way around."

Her face scowled. Clearly this concept hadn't even entered her consciousness. "What?! Why me? I can take care of myself, thank you very much! Does he not recall who it was that did the saving when his scruffy butt exploded?! Ugh!"

Ah laughed at her guiltily, ah couldn't help it. "That's Logan foah ya. Take it or leave it."

Jubilee composed herself again, realizing she'd let me one-up her and feelin' sulky about it. "Whatever. Doesn't change anything. It sucks to feel like I have the words 'innocent child' scribbled across my forehead all the time, but you and me are on the same team now and we're all that's left of it, especially with Storm being all hoity-toity."

Ah sighed. No getting out of it. Ah could've continued the conversation, but the truth was neither of us really had anything better to do. And while Jubilee seemed to wear her thoughts on her sleeve, she was really perceptive and most of the time she was exactly the kind of company ah needed.

Work time was full of complications now too. We all needed to focus and honestly tried to, but it was impossible not to be distracted by the names we didn't say. We were not at our most unified and you could practically hear the mental skips when everyone tried to play nice.

Ah think we were all hopin' that Marrow would be more problematic than she was. It seemed that Storm was standin' alone when it came to wantin' her here. Maybe if Marrow had been a real pain it would have given us some shaky common ground to grab, but she was surprisingly cooperative. She didn't talk too much, but took every task we gave her without any sign of disdain, performing to the best of her ability. There was no hostility or objection.

The only disconcerting thing about her was her attentiveness. Her eyes stayed constantly alert and she would occasionally ask questions, though she never gave any visible response to any answer. She watched me a lot. Every time ah was in the room with her the weight of her gaze settled heavily and gave me the creeps. Still, it was never overt enough to call her out on. Mostly she slipped increasingly out of our awareness.

Surprisingly, in the face of all the adversity the mission was starting to become more and more feasible. The suits had finally found an acceptable balance between insulation and maneuverability: we could function in the danger room version of Antarctica foah a few hours at a time. It wasn't comfortable, but it was doable.

The team assignments were out. A-team would be Scott (of course), Storm, me, Betsy, and Hank from the X-men, coupled with Mystique and Pietro from the Brotherhood. All hopes were pinned on the fact that A-team would get in and take care of everything, making B-team nothing more than a precaution. To this end, the team had a smattering of powers that would hopefully cover any unforeseen need we might have: strength, speed, climate control, psychic abilities, shapeshifting, ranged optic blasts, mimicry and flight. X-men outnumbered Brotherhood to hopefully keep them from trying any funny business. They didn't like it, but since we were funding this little expedition they couldn't say much. The A-team also had a nice range of technological specialties, though ah didn't contribute to that much.

B-team would be only be utilized in the event of A-team failure, capture, or otherwise incapacitation. For this reason, it was loaded with meat-trucks: Colossus, Bishop, Sabertooth, and Blob would be taking punches for Jean, Bobby, Jubilee and Magneto. Though the X-men still had the advantage here with numbers, Magneto counted more than twice, especially since none of our typical team leaders would be present to counteract his natural leadership. If B-team was called out, we would just have to trust in our integration training, or hope that the leadership training would be enough to keep things going our way.

Team C was going to stay at the base and head up communication, and was composed of the good Professor, Toad, Wanda and Warren. Though X-men and Brotherhood was evenly matched, there was no real opportunity for mischief in the control tower, and the Professor would certainly hold his own. Besides, Wanda hadn't given anybody a speck of trouble.

Not everyone was pleased with the team divisions. Warren didn't like sittin' in the background: he'd taken special time away from his day job in order to take part in a real adventure and was going to get left coolin' his heels. Unfortunately, we couldn't figure out a way to keep his wings warm enough without makin' 'em totally useless. Sabretooth took it very personally that he was put on B-team: he loved to charge in first, and now it looked like his chance to draw blood was slim. Jubilee was also livid at being on the B-team: we would be separated. Moreover, she suspected her demotion had more to do with her age than her abilities. Ah had to admit that she was probably right, but ah secretly agreed. We didn't know what we were up against entirely, and Jubilee can be a little overconfident sometimes. Moreover, she was actually the youngest member included. This way ah could carry on with the mission and not have to worry about her safety: Logan and ah were square.

Ah had no problem with the job ah was assigned, but ah sure wasn't thrilled about mah teammates. Storm was officially the placeholder foah mah least favorite teammate, and Mystique and me got on about as well as milk and vinegar. Not only that, but Besty had been in Britain foah most of the past several months on her alternate business: ah didn't really know where we stood about the whole Gambit thing. Ah didn't really know where we stood befoah, and there was a big question mark between me and Remy these days. Ah have very little experience with boyfriends, and even less with catfights. Ah mean, sure, ah could take Betsy at arm-wrestling, but one big pimp-slap from her psychic powers and ah'd probably just curl up in the fetal position.

Ah needed the mental focus mah Storm-grudge provided, and there was no easy fix foah the whole Mystique business. Foah the sake of the mission, ah thought ah better try to smooth things over with Betsy. Ah quickly learned that mah worries were completely unnecessary.

Ah managed to corner her in the locker room after the first round of A-team trainin'. Suckin' in a big breath, ah walked up and squared mah shoulders off.

"Um, Betsy? Could ah talk to ya foah a minute?"

She raised an eyebrow in surprise. We had always been a little indifferent to one another, respectful, but distant. The truth was ah had always liked her: she was a strong and assertive woman with a lot of style and a beautiful accent that always made her sound like an intellectual to me. All those things rolled up in a pretty little asian package, although it wasn't technically hers, had always intimidated me.

"Sure, Rogue. What's on your mind?"

"Ah just wanted to…well seeing as we're going to be workin' together on this mission and everythin'…" Ah had meant foah mah start to be stronger, but no matter which way ah lined up the words they sounded just awful.

Both Betsy's eyebrows shot up, taken completely offguard by mah strange behavior. "Please do come to some kind of conclusion, dear, I have no idea what you could possibly have to say, though I must say I'm tempted to try and find out. Oh god, this isn't one of those 'if I die' speeches is it? There's hardly any call for dramatics."

"No!" Ah sighed, "Look…ah wanted you to know that if there are any hard feelin's between us…"

Betsy's face scrunched up in confusion. "Hard feelings? Whatever about?"

Ah hated it, but ah felt mah face flush. This was just so not me. "About Remy."

Her face blanked. "Who?"

Mah jaw dropped. "Remy Lebeau? Uh, Gambit?"

Recognition sparked on her face. "Oh yes! Now I remember. I don't recall anyone calling him Remy, in particular. He's not around anymore, is he? I haven't seen him since I got back: I didn't even think to notice. Good heavens, why on earth would there be hard feelings about him?"

The idea that someone could be so blatantly unaffected by Remy was a foreign concept to me: it was like watching a pig fly.

Ah was a little bewildered by the direction this conversation had taken. Ah had expected anger, awkwardness, maybe even some condescension, but not this. "Ah, uh…he and ah are…were…well, are sorta together. And you and he…" Ah trailed off.

Betsy's eyes opened wide as she caught mah meaning, and then she started laughing uproariously. "Oh Rogue darling you are too funny!"

Ah stuck mah chin out defiantly, confused by her response. No one likes bein' laughed at.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, truly! You've just taken me by surprise is all. I had no idea! Gracious, I think we maybe went out, what, twice? Certainly Gambit was quite a dish, but to think I would still be pining away after all these months?" She stopped a moment, allowing herself to catch her breath and giggle some more.

"So…yoah really not mad?"

Betsy guffawed. "Oh of course not! I wouldn't have even thought about it if you hadn't said something. I've had men since, you know. And I had suspected just a little that he may have been eyeing you before I left. I'm not stupid enough to think I had captured the totality of his attention: he's not that kind. Quite frankly I thought it served him right, finally finding a woman he could never ever have. That must have really put a cramp in-,"

Her eyes popped as she cut herself off, realizing that she may have said somethin' uncalled foah. Fortunately, ah still had that mild anesthetic running through mah system these days, helping me to stay focused on the task at hand when the rage wasn't enough, and banishing the questions ah would eventually have to ask, even though ah didn't want the answers.

"Oh…I'm sorry, Rogue. That was cruel of me to say. My mouth just ran away with me."

She watched me warily, wonderin' how ah was gonna take it. Ah shrugged. "It's ok. It's true enough."

Betsy frowned. "No, that was wrong of me. You must understand, I do have a rather vindictive streak at times. I really wasn't surprised that Gambit had other interests, I just expected him to pretend better, you know? But still, I shouldn't be so insensitive, particularly not now, when I'm happy enough that his welfare makes absolutely no difference. Do say you'll forgive me?"

Her remorse seemed genuine, and ah had just come to patch up an imaginary rift with Betsy: ah didn't need to go and make a real one over such a small truth. Ah smiled at her.

"Really, Betsy, it's no big deal, don't be worried. Let's just forget it ever happened, ok?"

She smiled gratefully. "Though totally unnecessary and more than a little silly, it was really very decent of you to try and make amends. We've never been terribly close, you owed me no explanation."

"That didn't really matter. Ah hate feelin' like people are slipping around behind mah back, bein' dishonest and disrespectful. Ah don't want to make anyone else feel that way. Ah don't think ah'd feel to keen on a teammate just swoopin' right in on mah ex."

Betsy giggled again. "Gambit doesn't even rate as an ex, dear. Just because something is mildly romantic doesn't mean it needs to be terribly serious. There was never any real attachment between us, and there's no grudge at all. If you can be happy with him, go with my blessing."

She went back to packin' the rest of her things up, and ah nearly left it there, but thought it might not hurt to cement the brief little bond that flickered.

"If you don't mind mah askin', is there any reason we never got terribly close? Maybe the Brotherhood thing, somethin' else?"

Betsy smiled a little sheepishly. "I think it had mostly to do with time; we simply haven't had much time together. But then part of the reason for that is because you give me a bit of a headache."

Ah raised an eyebrow and she continued, bashfully. "I think it has to do with your mutation. You just have too many psyches in one location…it's like riding in a car with five different radio stations playing at the same time. Most of the time I can ignore it, but it takes greater concentration."

"Oh."

"But that really isn't your fault, and I have nothing against you. Perhaps with a little more practice I might improve. We are going to be teammates after all."

"You know, ah'm startin' to think ah'm just not a big hit with psychics."

Betsy giggled one last time. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm no big hit with Cajuns."

We smiled at each other, and ah was relieved. That was one less teammate to dread in Antarctica.

And truthfully, it was nice to know that this attractive, self-sufficient and otherwise totally desirable woman had no desire to sink her claws back into Remy. It was absolutely ridiculous that the thought should have been anywhere in mah head, considerin', and ah certainly didn't admit it to mahself, but still it was nice to know.

The truth was, despite the numbness that ah clung to like a life preserver, despite the 'Ro hatin' ah used as reins on mah twisted feelin's, despite the huge workload of the team, despite the constant company of Jubilee…ah thought about Remy all the time.

It was like the slow drip of a faucet in the back of mah mind, each drop carryin' a memory, or a worry, or an image. It was like a stain ah kept wall paperin' over, only to have the paper fray and peel. Ah had to be diligent, keep the next piece ready to paste over the spot as soon as the current one fell. Still, it was always there.

Logan had called the day after they left. When the number came up on mah cell phone mah heart skipped a beat.

"Logan?"

"Hey darlin'. Just callin' to check in."

"Thanks, sugah. How's life on the open road?"

"Quiet. I'm still tagging Gumbo. We're headed south. He's in one piece so far, but I'm getting real tempted to change that. How bout you girls?"

"Jubes is still mad, but she got assigned B-team."

"Good. You?"

"Tankin' foah the A-team."

"I figured. Be careful. I really hate you guys going out there without me."

"Ah can take care of mahself, and the worst Jubilee will probably deal with is jetlag. We're all missin' ya though."

He grunted. "Well, yer Cajun isn't too happy about having a babysitter. He's gonna try to split at some point. I've got it under control fer now."

Ah swallowed. "Is he there?"

"No. He's in the station. I decided to take advantage of the moment alone. You want me to pass along a message?"

"Not really…just…how's he doin?"

"My guess? Bout as well as you. I gotta go now, we're getting back on the road. You let me know if anything changes?"

"Yeah."

He hung up without another word. Logan's not really a phone type. Neither am ah, truth be told. Once again ah felt a little flush of relief, knowin' that Logan wouldn't let anything happen to Remy, at least nothing worse than him.

About a week after our resident scoundrels took off, we got our ship date. We were really going. Two weeks. We had estimated about 10 days once we finally reached the icy wasteland we'd all been dreadin'. There was still a naïve hope that this would be a reconnaissance mission, that we would find a clue or a message that we could report to the proper authorities, you know, the people who were not us, and they would take it from there.

Ah'd always wanted to travel…but Antarctica had never been in mah top ten list of vacation spots. It was hard to believe we were really goin'. Ah had sent Logan a text. Ah knew he would be grumpy, knowin' that this really meant we were goin' without him. He didn't respond, so ah figured ah guessed right.

We trained exclusively in our assigned groups, and we trained hard. It made it a little trickier to avoid Storm, but ah managed. Hank was backup muscle, his strength less impressive than mine but enough that you didn't want him to sucker punch ya if you could avoid it. Ah was glad foah that. It's impossible not to get along with Hank. Scott held his usual status in our group, which simplified things. Ah was used to him and knew what to expect. Betsy and Pietro hit it right off, both super competitive types, and pushed themselves to the max at every opportunity with no encouragement. They were showin' off, but their little game kept everythin' bearably lighthearted. Overall we were a nice team, and complimented one another well in combat.

Of course ah hadn't known what to expect from Mystique. Ah figured she'd want some kinda sabotage, but she didn't try anything. Then ah expected snide bait, like maybe she'd want to lure me into some kinda confrontation, but she kept to herself. Ah gotta say, ah was really relieved when ah realized that she was givin' me the silent treatment. She only interacted with me as much as she had to, and otherwise kept her distance. Ah thanked mah lucky stars.

Jubilee was perpetually unhappy with her team. Apparently she was relegated to the demeaning task of charging Bishop. She kept a steady flow of energy directed at him so he could use it against anything else. Ah couldn't help but be amused: what had she expected? To lead the charge with Sabertooth and Magneto on her flanks?

Soon after the ship date, something else weird started happenin', as though a trip to the south pole, complicated boyfriend, team friction, and a touch of multiple personality disorder wasn't enough. Wanda started bein' really nice to me. At first ah thought it had somethin' to do with her brother bein' on mah team. It was obvious that the two were tremendously close: ah figured this was all gonna lead up to some kinda "please look out foah Pietro" plea. Ah love how everyone is so sure ah can take care of other people when ah'm such an obvious disaster most of the time.

Still, after a few days of her bringin' me coffee, helpin' grade papers, and general niceness ah was getting a little suspicious. Ah decided to ask Pietro about it one day befoah trainin'.

He rolled his eyes. "She's such a brat." The word held no spite, but instead was laced with an interesting mix of irritation and affection.

"Thanks foah that little gem of information, but it's not terribly helpful at explainin' her behavior."

He let out an exasperated sigh. "Wanda just can't seem to mind her own business. Apparently she decided as usual not to listen to me. She better be careful, too. Magneto…well, father's not a huge fan of you just at present."

"Ah can imagine, but you still haven't told me what's up with yoah sister."

"Ok, well, don't get mad, but Wanda thinks the whole thing is incredibly romantic. I know it sounds really juvenile, but with the Brotherhood and our father and all that we don't have a whole lot of time to develop many personal relationships. Sometimes it just feels like everyone wants to fight us, and there's not a whole lot of good stuff left to find, y'know? Can you blame her for liking to live vicariously sometimes?"

Ah stared at him blankly foah a moment while ah tried to comprehend. When ah did, ah was still confused. "She thinks what happened with me and Gambit is romantic?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. That's just Wanda. The untouchable girl and the renegade, how could she resist? She thinks of it like Robin Hood or the Highwayman or something."

The wallpaper peeled back from mah stain, and ah didn't have anything ready to cover it with. A memory bubbled up, unbidden yet undeniable.

"So…why don't you like bein' a thief? From what I gather ya weren't bad at it or anything."

He looked almost curious foah a second. "You want me to go back to stealing go' a living?"

"Not if you don't want to. Ah just wondered what yoah problem is with it."

"You don' have a problem wit' it?"

Ah considered. "Not really. Ah've known lots of people that have done lots of bad things. Lord knows Ah'm no saint. From the time we spent with yoah family, they never seemed to take things from anyone who'd really miss it. In fact…" Ah trailed off, not sure if Ah should say what Ah was thinkin', but his eyes pressed me. "Ah kinda thought of it like Robin Hood or somethin'." Ah looked down, embarrassed.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a small smile returnin' to his lips. "Robin Hood hahn? Sounds dashing. Guess I'll just have to sweep some maiden off her feet to make de impression complete."

"What am Ah? Friar Tuck?"

He laughed loudly, and Ah started to feel a little more confident.

He wiped at a corner of his eye. "You always surprise me, chere."

"Why?"

He gave me one of those glances that makes it hard foah me to breathe, those red eyes of his borin' into me like fire. "All de t'ings dat uddah people hate about me, you like, or at least don' seem to mind. Like right now. When I look at you, you never look away. S' like you don' care what I look like, or what I do. Jus' who I am. It surprises me always."

It never in a million years would have occurred to me that Remy Lebeau would be self-conscious.

Pietro's voice called me back. "Look, um, I can tell her to lay off if you want."

Apparently mah face was not coverin' me as well as ah might have hoped.

"Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal. Ah wanted to know why, and now ah do."

"Geez, you've really got it bad, huh? That's terrible. If you want to talk or something…" he trailed off, trying to be friendly but really hoping ah wasn't gonna cave on him.

"Thanks Pietro, but no. What ah need is to focus on this mission, and to have everyone around me acting normal so ah can."

Pietro smiled gratefully and nodded that he understood. Ah wished ah'd met him when ah was a less troubled version of mahself: it was clear that he was easy to like. Bein' a crazy person all the time was startin' to lose its charms. At least Wanda wouldn't be with us in Antarctica. That was another small breath of mercy in a sea of relentlessness.

Two weeks went by quick. It felt like barely any time had passed befoah ah found mahself settin' an early alarm to catch our flight down to South America. It felt surreal. Ah was goin' thorough mah bags, makin' sure ah had packed everythin' ah'd need, when a single knock came at the door.

At first ah assumed it would be Jubilee until ah remembered that she never knocked. Must be Scott with some lack minute instructions.

Ah went to the door and opened it. On the other side, a sharp pair of eyes regarded me with curiosity. The consistently stern face was framed by close cropped magenta hair, and ivory spikes jutted out of her back as aggressively as ever.

"Marrow."

"Rogue."

Ah squinted at her, as though if ah looked hard enough ah'd see someone else. "Can ah help you?"

She kept her face composed, but paused a moment befoah answerin'. "Would it be all right for me to come in just a moment?"

Ah waited, hopin' maybe she'd change her mind, but in the end ah stepped aside and let her enter.

"Do you want to sit down?"

"No thank you. I'd prefer to stand."

We stood across from each other, weighin' each other again. She seemed every bit as wary of me as ah was of her.

"Are you afraid?" she asked, though there was no threat in this question.

"Of you?"

She smiled, "No. I am quite certain you are afraid of me. I was referring to your mission. I have never heard its equal."

Something about her nature had me feelin' honest. "Ah know ah should be, and ah think maybe as it becomes tangible ah will, but now no. Ah don't."

She cocked her head to one side. "I believe your answer. I have watched you as you prepared yourself. You have not shown any sign of apprehension or nervousness, not like your teammates. There is a constant calmness around you as you work…resolute. I would like to know why."

Ah raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to know? What difference does it make?"

She crossed her arms. "Perhaps I am curious to test my theories."

Ah blinked. "You could share them, and ah can let you know."

She smiled again. "It would be easier for you to simply lie to me than to dodge this way. Why not just tell me that you don't know? Or that you love the thrill of a challenge? Why be honest?"

"Most conversations follow a question-and-answer format. Question-to-question will eventually just spin us in circles. How about we just stick with the easiest reason: ah'm not very good at lyin'."

Marrow fixed me with a piercing stare. "You don't fear the thing you need. I think you need this mission. You need the work, because it keeps you from your thoughts of him."

Ah backed up, surprised by her accuracy. She nodded. "How do you think I rose so quickly among my people? At so young an age? It is because I have been working ceaselessly, taking any task I could find: the more difficult the better. I keep myself occupied to get away from the very same man. I wonder, are our reasons the same?"

Ah kept backin' away from her. "Ah don't know and ah don't care."

"Now that was quite a lie."

"Leave. We're not talkin' about this."

She seemed unaffected. "You know, I think you're all going to die."

Mah eyes popped. "What?!"

"I think you're seriously underestimating the potential of evil. You all have a very naïve idea that having 'right' on your side gives you some kind of mystical advantage. It's actually a handicap. I don't see any reason why you should be so confident in a safe return."

"Is that what this is? You want me to be afraid?"

Marrow shook her head. "No. I am simply explaining what I think. You see, I suspect this will be the last time I see you. For this reason, it is my last chance to say whatever I need to say. It is rare that people get this knowledge: that something is happening for the last time. I don't intend to waste it."

Ah was borderin' on desperate. This woman had the power to undo what little was left: ah'd known that from the moment she showed up. Why hadn't ah sent her away when ah had the chance?

"What could you possibly have to say to me? Ah had nothin' to do with anythin'!"

"Of course not! But your misery is every bit as sharp as ours, because you love him. And, you might have some answers that I need."

"Ah don't have any answers Caliban doesn't. Ah only saw his version of events, ah have nothin' to add, and ah don't want to relive it."

"I don't want to know about that! Don't you think I remember well enough? I want to know…about him. I need to make some sense of the man that saved my life."

Ah dropped. Fortunately ah landed on the bed, havin' backed so far away from Marrow that ah was standin' right in front of it.

Marrow kept her eyes on me, and ah felt like she knew every thought, every feelin' ah was havin'. That was impressive, considerin' that ah didn't.

"It has been a constant paradox for me. The man who took away my life is the very man responsible for my survival. Where does that leave us? How should I feel? He has been like a great fissure, separating who I was from who I became. It is impossible for me to connect myself. I am fractured by him."

Through the haze of shock, ah felt like ah knew exactly what she meant.

"It is easier to hate than it is to love. No one ever tells you that. To love someone truly is to forgive everything. I cannot forgive him, so I must hate him. Still, I cannot forget that he saved me, so I cannot hate him entirely."

Ah tried to draw a breath. Ah felt like ah mouthed more than whispered, "What do you want from me?"

She ignored me foah the time being, lookin' at the floor thoughtfully. "I think I would be glad, to lose my hate, but I don't know how. I feel guilty for even thinking it, remembering those who died. It seems like the hate is all I have left of them, the only evidence that they ever really lived."

Her eyes came back to me. "But you have no hate in you. You have only love. To lose the hate would be to finally heal. To lose your love would be to break entirely. So we come to rest on either side of him, our situations exactly reversed, and equally hopeless."

Ah repeated mah question a little more forcefully. "What do you want from me?"

"I want to free myself from the debt I owe. It complicates everything."

"What debt?"

"He took my soul, and gave me my life. If he fails in the bargain he made with Storm, I will have to take his life. Most of me will want to. But if I can give him his soul back, I will have given him much more than he gave me. That will settle the good between us. Then, perhaps, if he brings the others to justice, he will have settled the bad. I can give up my hate, forgive him both for hurting and saving me, and finally forget."

"Ah don't know what yoah talkin' about. Ah don't know what it has to do with me."

"I don't know if I can make you understand. Could you really explain to me, if you had to, everything you feel about him? I may be the only other person alive who is as complicated over…Remy…as you are."

Ah felt mah eyes prick as Marrow acknowledged all mah private pain. The drip of the faucet in the back of mah mind became a torrent; the stain crept out and colored everythin'.

"Please…" ah started, but didn't know what to ask foah.

"I've seen from this place, from the people that miss him that he has tried to make a better life for himself: perhaps he is trying to undo his wrongs. Maybe he deserves to be redeemed. I don't know. But I know that you might be the key. I need to know one answer: does he love you?"

Ah can't explain how it felt to have her ask me that, not fully. It was bloody.

His eyes danced in front of mah face, materializing as the sum of each time his gaze had fallen on me; from the first time he came to the mansion, to playin' rummy, all the fights and closeness and worry and uncertainty all melded together into one image.

"Yes." Ah felt the first tear spill, droppin' quickly and silently down mah cheek like it was tryin' to escape from everythin' it had seen inside.

Marrow watched me, a look almost like sympathy on her face. "Then you have become his soul."

She walked over and sat beside me on the bed. Ah could only watch her in bewildered anguish.

"And if I can help you to love him again, then maybe I can free us both."

Without hesitation, she put her fingertips to mah face.

Ah was small and terrified. Ah didn't understand what was goin' on. Ah didn't understand that people could really hurt each other this way. Of course I had been told there were bad people in the world, but they couldn't really be like this.

Ah held onto Annalee's blood soaked dress, unable to comprehend that she was dead. Tears ran ceaselessly down mah face. This just wasn't real. It couldn't be real.

Ah don't wanna die, please god, ah don't wanna die.

Berzerker had always said he wasn't afraid to die, and that no one should be. He said it would be a great adventure, and that he hadn't seen a Morlock yet who was so cowardly as to fear death. Ours were a great people, a people set apart by our courage.

Ah wished he was here to make me feel brave. Ah was very afraid to die.

A dark man with beady eyes stared at me. He was short, with slanted brown eyes above the large flat planes of his cheeks. He wore a big brown suit, fur lined at the sleeves and hood. He pointed a long weapon at me with a sharp point. Ah was scared of how much it would hurt, if he stuck me with it. Ah wondered if he'd just do it once, pokin' it all the way through, or if he'd do it lots of times. Ah choked on the terror and the tears came faster.

Finally, the dark man spoke, but not to me. "Scalphunter. Do something about this."

Another man, this one tall, but with the similar flat, dark features turned and scoffed. "Everyone wusses out when it comes to the kids. I don't get it. They're just small, stupid versions of all the people you've already scored."

He pointed a big gun at me. Ah looked into his eyes foah a second and saw somethin' horrible there. He was a real monster, and he was gonna kill me. He didn't care if ah was scared, or small, or hurt. Ah squeezed mah eyes shut tight and wailed.

Something impacted me, but it didn't hurt as much as ah thought it would. Ah heard a loud bang just afterward. That confused me: how had ah been hit befoah he pulled the trigger?

"Gambit you idiot!" the monster called. Ah didn't understand the words.

Ah tried to move, but mah arms and legs were pinned. Mah eyes flew open as ah flailed to be free.

"S' ok! S' ok! I got you!"

Ah looked up, but red, demon eyes glowed down at me. Ah'd gone to hell. Ah'd gone to hell foah bein' a coward. Ah shoulda listened to Berzerker. Ah wailed again.

"Shh! Shh, bebe! Dey'll hear you!"

"I don't want to go to hell!"

His eyes grew wider as he looked down at me, and there was such concern in them that ah started to feel incrementally better. Maybe demons weren't so bad.

"Yo' not going to hell, petite. Yo' not gon' die. I'm gon' get you out of here. I swear it, I'm gon' get you out!"

Ah sniffled, tryin' to quiet mahself. Suddenly ah remembered the red eyes. Ah started hittin' him.

"Put me down! Put me down! You're with them! You brought those bad men in! Put me down!"

He had been runnin', but he stopped, and his face crumpled in pain. Tears welled up and spilled over at the same time, and his arms shook around me. He felt really bad. Ah felt bad foah makin' him cry.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn' know!"

Ah patted his face, his tears made me scared again and ah started cryin' too. "It's ok. It's ok. Don't cry." The words had very little meaning. It was just what you said to someone when they were crying.

He took some shuddering breaths. "I'm gon' save you, bebe. I promise."

"Ok." Ah replied simply. He smiled at me gratefully, but it was a fake smile. It was the same smile Annalee had given me just befoah they broke in.

He pulled me back close, and it felt like he was huggin' me. Ah held on to him tight, and it was comforting. Ah was glad he was holdin' me. It made me feel safe now. This one wasn't bad like those other men.

After a while, ah heard rushin' water, and the air grew fouler and fouler. When he finally stopped ah looked up and saw the dirty sewer water.

"Bebe, can you swim?"

Mah face screwed up. "I don't wanna swim in that!"

He smiled again. "Me neither, but s' de only way to get away from dose bad men."

"But it stinks!"

"I know, petite. But we got to be brave, non?"

He sounded like Berzerker. Ah nodded gravely.

"You got to hold onto me, ok? De water will get fast, and it will be dark, and den we'll fall a little ways out into a beautiful lake. We can get all clean from the dirty water there, and we'll swim to shore and be safe. But de water will try to separate us: you got to hold on tight!"

Ah drew his shirt into tight little fists and looked at him seriously. He smiled once more, and then we jumped in.

The water was terrible, thick. He had his arms pinned around me tight, kickin' and kickin' and tryin' to keep to the surface. He managed to get us to the surface and we both took a big, acrid breath befoah we got sucked back under. Suddenly, we were sucked to one side. The water thinned, but sped up. It felt like we were bein' dragged behind a boat.

Our bodies started to twist apart, and ah clenched his shirt all the tighter. Every so often ah could feel his arms flail, tryin' to keep hold of me.

As the water sped and sped, it was only mah small hands twisted in the fabric that kept us connected. Eventually ah felt a strange pull, and then the tension on the shirt slipped away: it had torn free. Ah kicked mah arms and legs in the water, tryin' desperately to find him.

Suddenly ah was in the air, fallin' and fallin'. Ah screamed and got a mouth full of water.

Ah hit the surface of the lake, and plummeted forever down under the water, choking. Ah kicked and kicked and kicked. Just when ah felt mah lungs about to explode, ah broke the surface. Ah tried to see through the darkness on every side, but ah could only see the inky black of the sky, and the obsidian sheen of the water. Ah saw the reflection of mah tear stained face.

The moment ended. Marrow had touched me only a second and managed to stay conscious as she doubled over on the bed pantin'.

Finally ah recognized her face. Ah had seen it in Remy's memory a long time ago. Marrow was the little girl who was so important. He had captured her child-face in precise detail.

Ah had absorbed one other useful thing from Marrow. All mah confusion about Remy was new and overwhelmin': she'd had years to cope her with hers. Ah was able to compose mahself. Ah was able to pull up a mask much heavier and more durable than mah old flimsy one had been.

Ah watched her as she slowly started takin' deeper breaths. Ah was surprised. Mah touch is not usually a quick experience.

"Caliban did not exaggerate your touch….like I was hoping he had. It is something else. I feel like my very life is…diminished."

"It was a small dose. You seem to be comin' around in record time."

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded from mah back and hands. Ah cried out a little, surprised, but almost as soon as the pain came it started to pass, the wounds from mah new bone spikes healin' shut. Then, the spikes dropped and new ones came juttin' out. This time ah managed to grind mah teeth.

Marrow looked at me wide-eyed as ah generated bone spur after bone spur, finally expendin' the last of her power as my most recent wounds closed.

Now ah sat pantin', tryin' to recover.

"I didn't realize that you…I'm sorry. That must have hurt."

"You have a regeneration factor. That explains yoah recovery. Ah guess that's pretty fortunate foah us both."

Our eyes met in quiet acknowledgment of our shared memory.

"Does it…help?" She asked hesitantly.

"Ah don't know yet." Ah answered honestly.

Ah waited, but she didn't say anything. "Ah recognized you."

"Really? I'm told I looked different as a child than I do now."

"Ah recognized you because ah've seen you through him."

Her eyes popped open and her jaw dropped. "You already knew?!"

"No. Ah only saw a glimpse. Just yoah face, and the way he feels when he thinks of you. He must think of you often, to have remembered so perfectly."

Her face contorted with somethin' ah didn't recognize. Foah some reason, ah thought it was important she should know. "He loves you, you know. He hopes yoah ok."

Marrow stared at me only a moment longer befoah she jumped up and fled the room.

Ah went to the dresser, got out mah cell phone, and dialed Logan. There was no answer.

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