Hi everyone! I've been slowly working on a second chapter to "Of Emeralds and Embers", but I got this idea while brainstorming, and haven't been able to get it out of my head.

A "What If…?" scenario for episode 2 of X-Men '97…

Enjoy!

Washington DC…

It felt like everyone was on a hairpin trigger while listening to Magneto give his testimony to the UN judges—contextualizing his change of heart and his reformed stance on human-mutant relations. Everytime a judge interjected with their misguided accusations, Erik did what he could to stay calm and to convince them that mutants had every right to defend themselves from provocation and oppression.

Rogue's chest felt hot; like a fever. She worried about what might happen to Erik—and by extension, all mutants—if he were found to be guilty of terroristic acts. And certainly, if he wasn't, what the crowd outside might do to them if they felt justice wasn't carried out.

She reminded herself to breathe, doing her best to appear unbothered on the outside.

"Not the worst thing, this don' go Magneto's way, don' y' think?" she heard Remy say under his breath, but she could only avert her eyes away, hiding her secret wish for Erik to be exonerated, and do what he claimed he set out to do; continue on with the Professor's dream to find coexistence between humans and mutants. Even if she no longer had feelings for Erik the way she once did, that didn't mean she didn't want to see him become the man she always knew he was capable of being.

They didn't have much time to contemplate it further before the guard's radios ignited with chatter. There was a breach at the gates of the building and security was being overwhelmed.

If the room had already been tense, then this nearly sent everyone into a state of panic.

Police and guards rushed up towards the judges as they took defensive positions, explaining what was going on, and how the crowds were coming for Magneto and the judges.

Rogue's fear had become reality.

The team mobilized swiftly as Scott started organizing them. He turned to Rogue, "Rogue, watch Magento and the judges." She nodded as she flew towards them, landing on the platform. Scott continued, "The rest of us will back up the guards in the lobby. Our goal is de-escalation."

She spotted Remy as he gave her a look… something in his eye that she didn't quite know how to pin down. Maybe worry…? It wasn't often he looked like that. She didn't have a moment to think more before he ran off to join the rest of the team outside the chambers.

They could hear the crowds getting louder as they got closer, and echoes of explosions she was sure were her friends doing their best to hold them off. The people in the chambers became restless, some panicking more than necessary as Rogue did her best to quell their anxiety.

It wasn't long before Rogue heard Scott's voice over their comms, "Storm, Rogue; Jean's in labor."

Storm answered quickly, "Morph, can you fly Scott to the hospital?"

Morph replied without hesitation, "Consider it done."

"The rest of us will hold the line," Storm continued.

Rogue added, "Magneto and I will protect the judges."

She could hear Scott's trepidation, "Be careful, Rogue. It's still Magneto."

Rogue turned to Erik, who could hear their conversation, "Don't really have too many options now, do we? Now hurry! Jean needs ya. We'll take it from here."

"Thanks, Rogue," he ended their comms.

Rogue turned to the judges, an authoritative look on her face, "We're gonna need all the hands we can get. Station yer men at every entry way and free Magneto."

"Are you mad?!" one of the judges cried.

Rogue almost snarled at the comment, "If y'all wanna see another sunrise, y'll do what yer told! Magneto's yer only shot at survivin' this, so do it!"

The rumble of the UN building startled everyone in the room, so the judges instructed the guards to remove the collar and shackles from their prisoner.

Rogue approached Erik as he flexed his wrists, saying to her, "I don't believe I've ever seen you so commanding, my dear."

"Don't get smart, Erik. And don't make me regret this…" she threatened him.

"You have my word," he offered sincerely.

They didn't have any additional time to plan, as the doors were breached, and swaths of the invading civilians crashed into the chambers like a tsunami, causing the various UN members to take cover under their desks and chairs.

Magneto raised an electromagnetic shield around him, Rogue, Val Cooper, and the rest of the judges, protecting them from the weaponry they were being using against them. Rogue watched as he started to pull metal from every available source, and colliding them together, forming rough amalgamations of fencing that entrapped the mass of people.

"Be animals… and be caged!"

They had nowhere to go, so Rogue flew higher to get a vantage point on the chaos.

From her peripheral, she spotted a lone figure on the upper balcony levels, taking aim with a large weapon like a sniper, targeted straight for Magneto.

"Erik!" she cried, flying down to intercept him, hoping she would reach him in time.

Every second felt like it was stretched out into eternity; like she wasn't able to move any faster, even though she knew she was pushing herself to fly as fast as she could.

She cried out to him again, seeing Erik's eyes flash up to hers as she dropped into his line of sight, but before she could reach him, she was shot from behind. A bright flash of light blinded everyone in the room, and Rogue went limp. She'd expected an impact, but when she didn't hit the ground, she tried to orient herself. She could feel Erik holding her. He'd caught her.

"Rogue!" She heard him cry out for her in a way she'd never heard from him before, but she couldn't see him. She couldn't see anything, though her eyes were wide in shock and pain. Her vision had temporarily gone black, and the wind knocked from her lungs as she struggled to breathe.

The room had gone silent, but it didn't last long.

Rogue blinked fervently to regain her eyesight, as tears started streaming down her cheeks. It was like her body was shutting down. She had no idea what was happening to her and it frightened her.

She felt Erik's hand on her cheek to wipe away the tears, but she could only mutter, "E-Erik… I… I c-can't…"

She didn't need to say another word before she could feel the waves of Magneto's powers moving around her. Her vision started to return slowly, as she watched Erik pull the shooter towards them and pinning him against the large metal seal of the UN, the weapon he'd used slowly gliding towards them as Erik looked between it and Rogue.

She tried to steady herself to take deep breaths and feel her limbs and body once more. She tried to move, to float off of the ground, like she'd done hundreds of times before… but nothing.

"Wha-what?!"

"Rogue…? What is it?" she heard Erik ask intensely.

She shook her head in disbelief and panic, "My powers… I-I can't fly! M' strength's gone…!"

Rogue raised her hands, wrapping her arms around herself as she sobbed. The helplessness she suddenly felt subsumed her. Her powers were her defense mechanism. They were what made her be invulnerable; impervious; untouchable, "What… what's he done t' me?!"

Rogue sat weakly on the floor as Magneto turned to face the judges. She could faintly hear Ms. Cooper and Magneto talking, but beyond their words, Rogue could only hear Erik's anger—his vitriol.

"Magneto… this is not what we wanted!"

His voice was laced with venom, "Lies! This is your dream!"

Rogue's hands covered her face as she sobbed, weeping openly.

Erik continued, his seething rage mounting, "All the X-Men have done is use their powers to protect a world that hates and fears them. And this is their reward?! To be left powerless and vulnerable?! At the mercy of humans who would seek only their destruction?!"

His voice almost quieted in a way that could only be seen as threatening, "What must we do to be good enough? Is this high road's destination? If so, I say, as I have too many times before… never again."

Rogue looked back up to Erik, the hum of his power vibrating throughout the room. She reached up for him, "Erik, no!"

She watched as he turned back to her, again threatening, "They will pay for what they've done!"

"Don't!" she begged him, "Don't be the villain they expect y' t' be… Ya promised me!"

She watched as his eyes softened a little, but she could still see the rage buried beneath as he his attention turned back to the judges and Ms. Cooper, pulling the shooter between them, "You lot of bigots… sycophants… I should smite you like the worms you are for what you've done to our kind."

Rogue could see the fear in all of their faces as Erik spoke.

He bit out, "It is only because of mutants like Charles and Rogue—mutants that choose peace, even in the face of horrific violence—that you all will live to see another day. We should be reminded in times like these of their endless compassion and desire for coexistence. Let this be the moment where we put aside our weapons and hate, and find tolerance for each other. To, at long last, find common ground in the realization that we share this world, and we do not expect your love or acceptance, but we do expect to be treated equally and fairly."

The judges looked between one another nervously as Magneto raised the X-Cutioner to the police officers to take them into custody, along with the rest of the civilians who'd raided the chambers.

As they took him, Magneto let out a final warning to the judiciary in a voice that promised something darker, "Do not… make me regret this."

Erik returned to Rogue's side, helping her stand as the rest of the X-Men rejoined them in the chambers, now that the police had arrived to start making arrests and dispersing the protesters. She leaned on Erik for support as she regained her balance, but soon felt eyes on her as she looked up, seeing Remy running towards her.

"Rogue!" he shouted as he saw the burn marks on her chest and back, along with the tear-stained skin on her cheeks, "Y' alright?"

She felt like she could cry all over again as she reached out for him, "Remy…!"

It didn't take long for her to feel Remy's arms wrapped around her as she cried into his shoulder.

"It'll be alright, chère," his voice was soft and soothing, and it was the warmth she needed to feel after what she'd been through.

Westchester, NY…

While there was much to be happy for—the arrival of Scott and Jean's healthy baby boy, Nathan, and Magneto's vindication and acquittal after the insurrection, along with the promise of Genosha being welcomed into the UN—the team was also mournful as news of Rogue's powers was discussed in the debriefing. Hank immediately offered her assistance in figuring out what caused her to lose them and if there was any way to reverse it. The weapon used by the X-Cutioner was in their custody and he already made plans to assess the device.

She agreed to an initial physical, and for Hank to take some samples. However, while Rogue was grateful for all their support, she opted to be alone for the next few days after the incident instead. She laid in bed, curled up in her sheets, trying her best to slow her racing mind.

The event of losing her powers had been intense. Traumatic, even. But there was a part of Rogue that was secretly happy that her powers were gone. She didn't know how to handle this revelation. From the moment she realized it until now, she was wrestling with how to express that she wasn't as devastated by it, or as invested in trying to regain her powers as perhaps some of the others might be, had it happened to them.

She'd always wondered what it would be like to be a normal human…

But at the same time, she was a mutant… she was an X-Man… and that was so much part of her identity that she felt lost, unsure of how to move on from a life that she'd grown so accustomed to and a family she wasn't sure she could live without.

Would they let her stay? She wasn't sure if she should. It felt like every opportunity that she'd ever been denied in her life was now available to her… but was any of it what she really wanted?

Rogue grappled with these thoughts for days, and early on the third day, she woke up before the rest of the house and decided she needed some fresh air, in the hopes of clearing her thoughts. She went for a walk outback and down by the lake, watching as the sunrise started to peek over the horizon.

She sat at the end of the dock on the lake, still reeling from her confusion and uncertainty, the air doing nothing to calm her mind.

It wasn't long before she could hear the faint creak of the dock giving under someone's weight. No matter how careful they walked, those weathered wooden boards would always betray them.

She turned to look over her shoulder, feeling a sense of joy and relief at seeing Remy standing there, as if waiting for her permission to join her.

"Remy…" she breathed out, a quick approval of his presence.

She sat up straighter as he made his way over the dock, taking a seat beside her. Facing off into the sunrise, he asked earnestly, concern obvious in his voice, "How y' feelin'?"

The malaise of her response communicated everything, "Numb… like I have no idea what t' do with m'self."

"Y' don' have t' do anythin' fo' now, chère. We all here when y' wan' help figurin' it out."

She smiled weakly, "Thanks, Remy. I know it's silly. I just… I don' know how t' cope with this. I've never been without m' powers fer most my adult life."

"Ain't nothin' silly 'bout any of it, Rogue," he nodded his head in her direction, "There ain't no playbook fo' how t' deal wit' this sorta thing, and there be no right or wrong answer."

She took comfort in that, "Yer right. I know it…"

She looked up at him, and could see that same worry in his eyes from that day at the UN. She didn't have to ask him what was on his mind before he asked, "Can I ask y' somethin'?"

" 'Course," she answered.

She could tell he was struggling to ask, like he might say something offensive if worded poorly, "Chère… I know y' always had complicated feelin's 'bout y' powers. Y' ever wondered what y' might do if y' didn' have 'em no mo'?"

Was she that transparent? Or maybe he just knew her too well, "Can't say it never crossed my mind. I used t' daydream about what it'd be like t' be… normal, I guess. But after a while, y' stop dreamin' 'bout stuff like that. What's the point when there's no chance fer that to be the reality…?"

After a short pause, Remy probed, "An' now…?"

She looked down between them, seeing his hand supporting his weight against the dock as she slowly reached out for him, her bare hand hesitant after years of restraint. It felt strange to earnestly reach out for someone, to have that small comfort that she hadn't felt in almost a decade.

She didn't have to say anything for Remy to know what she needed, reaching his own hands out for hers, taking them between his bare hands and Rogue almost sighing in contentment at the feel of his skin. It brought a wave of emotion over her.

"Chère?"

She let out a strangled sob in reply. With a soft smile, she said, "Fer now, sugah… this is all I need."

Remy was quick to hold her as she felt the true joy and elation of being held by the person you love and trust most in the world; held honestly and openly, with nothing between them.

"Y' don't know how long I've wanted this," she confessed, "How many times I'd wish t' just… be… like this."

"I have some idea," he replied, a knowing tone in his own voice that communicated everything she needed in that moment.

They sat on the dock for a long while, holding onto each other like a lifeline.

As the morning hours passed them by, Rogue told him about every thought that she'd had over the last few days; her conflicting emotions between losing her powers and wanting to try for a more normal life, contrasted with the fear of losing her family, her ties to the X-Men, and their shared dream. Remy understood her, probably better than most of the others would, having felt torn between two sides of his own life before.

He offered, "Could always try it out, chère."

"Try what?" she asked.

"A normal life…" he replied, repeating her own words, "No reason y' couldn't give it a try fo' a while. See how it goes."

"Y' think?" she asked.

He shrugged, "Why not?"

"But… what about the team?" she asked earnestly, turning to look up at him, "What about you?"

He brushed his thumb over her cheek, an obvious sadness to what he was saying, "Rogue, none of us should stand in the way of whatever makes y' happy… and if that means movin' on t' somethin' better fo' you, then who are we to say 'no'?"

"But…" she interjected, "I am happy here. I know I am… I just… I just need time, I think. Time to know if this is somethin' I want fer m' life."

"Then why not take some time off then? Nothin' permanent, jus' a temporary leave, 'til y' find what y' need t'…"

She thought about it. There was still something that made her heart sad by the thought. And the longer she sat there with Remy, the more she started to realize what it was, "Would you… come with me?"

His eyes widened at the question, like he was surprised she'd even ask him to join her, "Y'd want me with you?"

She smiled at him, "Ain't no one else I'd rather have with me than you, sugah. Need someone t' keep me grounded, after all."

He chuckled at her answer, "Good, 'cause you know this Cajun fool would follow you anywhere… right, chère?"

She laughed for the first time in days, "I know… and I wouldn't have it any other way. No matter where I end up… all I know is I want you t' be the one with me through it all."

He said confidently, pressing a kiss to her temple, "Je te jure, I'll be with ya so long as y'll have me, Rogue."

She sighed in relief, starting to feel like her future wasn't as dark or murky as before. Like she'd been drowning underwater and now, she could finally breathe freely... It was in that moment that Rogue realized just how much Remy meant to her, and how much she knew she needed this man in her life. Complicated mutant powers aside, she'd always had feelings for him, and she considered him her best friend. He'd always been so careful with her, mindful of how her powers made her feel different, and yet doing his best to treat her like how any woman would want to be treated. And while he had his tendencies to be a little extravagant—which she had secretly found endearing—, he knew when to give her space, never pushing her so far as to genuinely invoke her distrust or rage. Sure, she'd been frustrated with him at times, but a lot of it was more at the situation than him specifically.

He'd always let her be the one to lead the dance between them, and now, more than ever, she was going to have to take a leap that scared her like nothing else, but knew it would be worth it. Now, realizing she wanted him beside her through this transition, and to explore what a life could look like for them… it came over her in a flash.

"I love you, Remy," she said it like it was second nature, despite it being the first time she'd ever spoken those words to him.

Before he could register what she'd said, Rogue tilted her head up to him, raising her hand to his cheek as she lightly pulled him down to meet his lips with hers. Time paused in that moment, the world no longer real outside of them and this lake. Even if Rogue had no clue what lay ahead for her, she knew this much; she loved Remy LeBeau, and she would go to hell and back to be by his side.

As their lips parted, Rogue's cheeks a little flushed at the brazen act, Remy couldn't help himself as he brushed her hair from her cheek and pressed his forehead against hers, "Mon amour, y' don't know how long I waited t' hear ya say that."

She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her, echoing his sentiment from earlier, "I have some idea…"

Remy gently kissed her again, like he was already addicted to her, and she knew she'd made the right decision.

The mood was slightly somber as Rogue and Remy finished packing their things into her car and hitched Remy's motorcycle to a small trailer on the back. They'd announced Rogue's decision to leave the team for a sabbatical a few days prior, giving them all chances to have some meals and conversations with the couple about what they were planning next. She and Remy were going to head out west; maybe to a spot on the coast, and find a beach town somewhere where they could enjoy some time together before they decided on any next steps. At the very least, they were going to treat themselves to a well-deserved vacation.

Otherwise, everything was up in the air, and Rogue was kind of excited about that. She was choosing to see the whole situation as a blessing in disguise, but wanted everyone to know that she would forever be an X-Man; that nothing would ever stop her from coming back home to be with her family.

The more they talked about it, the more the others could see how much this meant to her, and ultimately, they all supported her taking time away to find herself.

That was, however, except for one person…

While Storm and Remy were talking, Rogue eyed the mansion from the driveway, spotting Erik looking out from a window. She excused herself, leaving the two friends to say their goodbyes while Rogue made her way inside. She found Erik in the hallway, still looking out the window, watching Remy and Ororo.

She didn't have to announce herself as he asked upon her approach, "I suppose there's nothing I could do to convince you to stay?"

She met his eyes in the reflection of the glass as she sighed, "Erik…" he turned to face her, a sadness in his eyes she'd grown all too familiar with seeing. She continued, "I need this… we need this. I've been a X-Man for nearly my whole adult life… and before that, I was in the Brotherhood since I was a teenager. I think it's long past due fer me t' find out if this is where I truly belong, or if I'm meant fer somethin' else."

"Like living amongst… ' normal' people…?"

She could hear the disdain in his voice at the idea of Rogue choosing to live like a human, almost disgusted that she could ever possibly want that for herself, "My powers have always been a barrier b'tween me and everyone I ever cared about. I have a chance t' forge somethin' that's completely mine, and t' be with the people I love—"

"I love you, Rogue…" he said desperately, cutting her off as he reached out for her hands, like it could possibly change her mind.

"Erik…" she whimpered, almost begging him to stop.

"Does he know?" he asked.

She looked up at him with wide eyes, seeing his questioning her in return. She answered honestly with a shake of her head.

He held her hands a little tighter, "Will you tell him?"

"I… I don't know," she stammered, "I guess that's part of why he's comin' with me… so we can figure this all out together."

"And you believe that can only be accomplished by leaving the team?"

"No, but all I know is that he's the only one I'd want t' go down this path with; without any hesitation or fear. And I would hope… that if y' cared about me the way y' say you do, then you'd be happy for me."

His eyes were practically burning through her, "I won't deny my selfish desires, Rogue. Part of me wishes for you to stay because it's what I wish for. But beyond that, I cannot endure the thought of you throwing away everything you've built to live a life that is less than what you deserve.

"You could be a leader… a queen to your people! But instead, you'd rather play house with a backwater thief who's only ever pretended to be a he—"

The smack to his cheek echoed in the mansion. Had she still possessed her superhuman strength, Rogue was sure she'd have sent Erik through the wall.

Her voice was lethal, "Don't you ever talk about him like that again… ya hear me?"

Erik slowly turned back to her, his cheek now bright red from her slap, and his face utterly bemused the act.

She continued, her eyes narrowing, "I always believed you could become a hero, Erik… I saw what Charles saw in you too; y' have good in ya. It's because of men like him that we all have the chance to prove ourselves worthy of heroism. You and I were both villains once, and look at us now…"

She looked out the window to see Remy, Erik's gaze following hers.

"Remy… Remy's a victim of circumstance. He never got t' choose his life, but he's more than earned his stripes as a hero, regardless of his past. I'm sure he's got just as many skeletons in his closet as I've got in mine… like most of us do. But that never mattered… because we both decided we wanted somethin' different fer ourselves. It's that choice that makes us heroes, Erik."

She could see him start to absorb what she was telling him. He took a step back as he spoke meekly, a tone in a far contrast to his usual commanding vibrato, "I do love you, Rogue…"

She shook her head in disbelief, "In all honesty, Erik… I'm not sure if I ever really loved ya," she could see the shock in his eyes as she continued, "I was barely an adult when we met. I was young; naïve. I hadn't lived a life o' my own. I was lonely and scared… and you were too. We both had our demons, and while it felt right at the time, I know how much those ghosts o' yers still haunt ya."

It was finally starting to click in his head; she could see it in how his shoulders slumped.

She stepped forward, reaching out to hug him in comfort, "In many ways, I don't regret what we had when we had it. It's part of what made me int' who I am t'day, and fer that, I'll always be grateful t' ya. But it's in the past, Erik. Our affair… it was convenient, and it was comforting fer us both… but it wasn't love."

There was a quiet beat before Erik dared to speak, "For what it's worth… I am sorry, Rogue. It should have been me who was hit by that weapon. The only reason you're in the position you're in now is because you took the hit for me. It should be me leaving… not you."

There was a moment of clarity for Rogue, as she looked up at him, "Maybe so… but this is how the cards played out. And even if things had happened differently, I know in my heart… I'd always choose Remy."

She struggled to hold back the tears as she explained, "I now have a choice t' be with anyone… and even with every option available t' me, I'll always choose him, because what Remy and I have… it's deeper than skin. I could get my powers back t'morrow, and Remy…" she let out a stupefied laugh for a second, "...foolish as he is, he wouldn't bat an eye. He'd still be right there next t' me… and I love him fer that."

Erik brushed the tears from her cheek as he said, "Then, at the very least, I hope one day I can be the kind of man you seem to think exists within me."

She reached up to him and planted a short kiss to his cheek before pulling away, saying softly, "I know there's a trustworthy hero in there, Erik. Now, y' just have t' prove it."

The faintest of smiles on his lips, he replied, "I hope you find what you're looking for, Rogue."

She nodded as she said, "And I hope that you can find some peace."

She turned and left the man without another look.

"I still have a hard time believing it's really happening," Ororo mused, "That you two are really leaving us…"

Remy finished tying off the tarp that was covering his bike and some extra baggage in the trailer, "Now don' go gettin' all weepy on me, Stormy."

"I may even miss hearing you call me that," she joked sardonically before continuing her wistful diatribe, "It feels like it was just days ago that you and Rogue had joined the team. I remember you being absolutely smitten with her from the instant you first met her. Even if you never said it aloud, I could tell she meant more to you than anyone."

Remy chuckled, "Always thought I had a good poker face."

She laughed vibrantly as she shook her head, "Not when it comes to Rogue, my friend. She is your tell."

Remy tried to hide his mildly gleeful expression, but he knew Storm was right. From the moment he'd met Rogue, it was like the whole world had shifted under his feet.

"As much as I had hoped you'd joined the team because you really believed in the work we were doing, I knew, deep down… part of the reason you stayed was because of her."

Remy leaned against the trailer as he looked back up at the house, "I'd been on my own fo' years by then, chère. Figured that was m' path. Lost m' home, m' family, m' dignity, any sense of pride… just kinda drifted… existed. When y' brought me here, it was nice fo' a while t' feel like I could have some roots again; some kinda purpose. But it wasn' 'til Rogue showed up that things jus' felt… different."

"Like a real home?" Storm asked.

With a soft smirk, he nodded.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, "Home isn't a physical place, Remy. It's your people, the ones who love and care for you without hesitation. So no matter where you two go, know that you'll have a home with each other, and you'll always have a place with us."

Remy pulled her in for a hug, which she gladly returned, "'M gonna miss ya, chère."

She laughed a little, "Just be sure to visit from time to time…?"

"O' course," he replied easily, "Even Rogue knows this will always be home fo' us. This ain't fo'ever, jus' a fo' now."

The two friends pulled away just as Rogue approached from the house, "There you are, chère! Was startin' t' wonder if y' were gettin' cold feet," Remy joked as Rogue rejoined them.

She came up to his side, hugging him as he kissed her cheek, the pair still getting used to showing more physical affection over the last few days, "Just had some loose ends t' tie up, Cajun. All good t' go."

She looked to Storm, who was starting to get a little teary-eyed—whether it was from seeing them being more physically connected or at their departure, it was hard to say in the moment, "Oh, Storm, don't you start! Yer gonna make me cry!"

Storm scoffed as she brushed the small tear away, "Can you blame me?"

Rogue reached out for her and hugged her tightly, "I promise, we'll be back. Y'all ain't gettin' rid of us that easy."

"You had better! I already threatened Gambit that you need to make regular visits, or so help me, you'll both face my wrath," the weather goddess said with a mock authoritative tone.

Rogue laughed, "Wouldn't want that now, would we?"

"Absolument pas," Remy replied unseriously.

Just as Storm and Rogue pulled away, the others started to make their way out to the front to see them off. Rogue and Remy had already said their goodbyes, but it felt nice to have one last look before they left.

Rogue turned to Remy, a nervous smile on her lips, "Ready, sugah?"

"Born ready, chère," he answered, brushing his hand over her back as they waved to their fellow X-Men before getting into the car.

With one last look in the rearview mirror, Rogue started the car, driving her and Remy off the estate, and onto the lengthy highway that was set to take them across the country.

After they'd made their plans for pit stops along their route, it was quiet for the first little while of the drive; only the lull of the radio playing as they got settled in, with Rogue's mind running at a matching pace of the car. She was steadied when Remy's hand reached out for hers, as if able to sense her anxiousness. His thumb brushed the back of her hand, calming her and reassuring her it'd all be okay, so long as they were together. She laced their fingers together, and in an instant, she was reminded why this was the right decision.

I was fully prepared to abandon this fic when I was getting frustrated with some of the dialogue I was writing.

Luckily, roguegambit97 on Twitter/IG convinced me the idea for the fic was worth writing, so I came back to it and started trying to write basic outline, which then resulted in some better dialogue, and is now why it's getting posted! So if you enjoyed this fic, go thank her for encouraging me to continue writing this.

There is a small, teeny, tiny chance that I write a second chapter for this. No guarantees, but if you'd like to see a follow-up of Rogue and Remy on their new adventure (likely something more NSFW), then subscribe to the fic so I know if you'd like to see that! Otherwise, I hope you all liked it and please leave a kudos/like if you did! Help motivate me to write more!

Until Next Time…