Yawning in her seat the next day she tried to get comfortable but after an hour decided to just give up. It didn't help that she continued to berate herself for even remotely having any thoughts she shouldn't have been feeling the other night, especially with someone who wasn't her boyfriend and someone she had no interest in whatsoever. Not at all. Remy was her classmate, teammate, someone she was forced to be around for the sake of being an X-man and nothing more. She convinced herself that if she said it enough, that any unwanted feelings from the other night would evaporate as fast as they came.

Besides, she already considered herself being an awful girlfriend when she decided to leave with another guy-even though this wasn't anything romantic. And could only imagine how Bobby must've felt after hearing it. But regardless of what he or anyone might think at the moment, she wasn't the cheating type. Nor would she start now. No matter how tempting the situation could be she wouldn't do that to him.

In all her life she's only ever had two boyfriends considering she was more of your typical tomboy growing up and didn't mind getting her hands dirty every now and then. While some of her other friends were busy with their hair, she was off riding horses and getting dirt under her nails instead of applying nail polish. But once she started getting older, she understood that not everyone would look at her the way she wanted them to, especially Cody. Once she realized that their friendship began to bloom into something more, she wanted to make him happy, the same way he did for her.

And despite him constantly telling her that she was perfect the way she was, she knew that further on down the road she would have to learn to tone it down some since where she was from, it wasn't proper lady like behavior. Even more so when her mutation manifested. She couldn't be the same careless Rogue she had always been. Hell, she couldn't even be around those she cared without fear of killing them. That's why she had to leave.

But not before hurting the one person she cherished more than anything.

Cody.

Closing her eyes she took a shaky breath in before forcing herself to look at her travel companion as they drew closer. "You miss them?" When all she received was a brief questioning gaze she explained. "The people you left? your family?"

He slowly nodded soberly before answering, a sad smile taking over his face as he continued to keep his eyes forward. "Like hell."

She could relate in a way. More often than not, especially lately she wondered what it would be like to ever go back home. To face her past.

As if reading her mind, he suddenly broke the silence that followed. "You know, we could still turn around…"

Understanding that he was asking if that's indeed what she wanted to do, she only shook her head as she turned her attention outside. No there was no going back for her. Mississippi was in her past and unlike him…a past she rather wants to forget.

His brows scrunched together at her reply but didn't comment on it.

After a while he seemed to be growing antsy, however. Lightly drumming his fingers on the steering wheel for the next half hour until she opened her mouth.

"Can Ah ask you somethin'?"

"Course."

"Where are we goin?"

His lips curled when he realized she already knew where they were. "Relax, we almost dere."

"We should have been there a while ago."

"We takin' de scenic route Chere."

"Meanin' that you're lost again?"

"Never lost in dese parts." He said with a distance look in his eyes that were fixed on the road ahead as he turned into some backroads. "Just don't like surprises is all."

That she could understand, but what kind of surprises he was referring to that made Gambit this nervous only made her uneasy. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know.

After another few minutes she could see the city of New Orleans slowly approaching as he took a deep breath to admire the view in front of them. "We here."

Eagerly smiling she leaned forward in her seat before she turned to him and was shocked to see the emotionless look on his face. Wasn't he happy to be back? To finally be back home? Wasn't this the whole point of this trip? "Now what?"

"Now we get settled in an' find someplace to lay low."

"Lay low?" confusingly blinking she saw him turn into an exit before parking the car further away in front of an older looking hotel. "Why here?" She quickly stepped out of the car when he did, instantly greeted by the heat and humidity surrounding her like a blanket she wasn't used to anymore and could already feel her clothes begin to cling to her. "It's hotter than blue blazes if you ask me."

"You really weren't kiddin' when you said you ain't been back in a while." He raised his lips into a lopsided smirk as he watched her look around with excited eyes. He placed his arms on top of the roof of the car as he observed the way her smile grew when she saw all the busy people rushing about. "Nothin' beats a good southern weather if you ask me."

"Yet Ah still see you wearin' your coat." She raised a humorous brow.

"Ain't no way dis be comin' off." He admittedly shook his head before another thought occurred to him. "Unless…"

"How about you keep them dirty thoughts to yourself Swamp rat. That way Ah won't have to worry about explainin' how Ah'm the only one that made it back."

Clicking his tongue he only nodded before turning to head inside. Little did she know just how right she was by saying that since coming here wasn't his only agenda. "Well in dat case, welcome to New Orleans."

Once inside their room- much to her protest- she was startled to find him persistently asking for one room this time with two beds, even though they had plenty of single ones available. And whenever she opened her mouth to refuse, all she would hear him say is. "Later."

At this rate she was getting real tired of many unanswered questions and with him bossing her around without any explanation. She was about to let him have it once they were inside but didn't get the chance when she noticed he didn't even bother to unpack before heading straight into the bathroom before scouting the rest of the room.

"Should Ah be worried?" she folded her arms over her chest once he moved back to the bathroom.

"Non." Shaking his head he exited the bathroom, never meeting her eyes as he turned towards the dresser, allowing his hands to feel for anything out of place. "Habit I s'pose."

"Ah bet.' She mockingly narrowed her eyes as she calmly sat on the bed focusing on browsing through the channels on the TV instead. When he started to pull out his phone, keys, wallet and other things from his pockets, she found herself staring at his back and quite possibly his butt- which she would deny a hundred times over but couldn't deny he had a nice butt. When she realized what she was doing she ignored the heat on her cheeks and made her eyes drift upward when he removed his trench coat next.

She could see the muscles on his back shift as he made sure everything was removed before she deeply exhaled and returned her attention to the TV again. Maybe a little television would help calm her nerves.

When she heard the familiar sound of him removing his boots, followed by him fiddling with his belt buckle, it instantly made her wide eyes snap back towards him again as if they had a mind of their own. No. Nope. No no no no no! Licking her sudden dry lips, she forced herself to speak. "What-what-what do you think you're doin'?" she embarrassingly sputtered.

Halting in his movements he must've been so caught up in his own head that he looked like he wasn't even aware of her presence anymore when he raised his eyes only enough to look at her reflection in the mirror.

So, she was rather insulted…intrigued…flustered…and annoyed that he already managed to ignore her in the small amount of time they were here. She decided to stay insulted and annoyed so that way it bordered on the line of anger which she preferred to deal with right now instead of anything else.

"Dis one got things to do." he mumbled with his back still turned towards her as he checked his pants pocket.

"Well, why are you changin' here?" she frustratingly asked which made him frown and turn to face her.

"Well Rogue dis here is my room too." He shrugged. "'sides I paid for it."

"With dirty money." She reminded him, which only made him stare at the ceiling as he muttered something in French she couldn't quite catch. "There's a bathroom over there." She firmly pointed towards the slightly parted door.

"What if I wanna change here?" There it was. There was that damn devil may care smile he shot her as he teasingly tilted his head sideways.

"You're kiddin' right?" she incredulously scoffed. He had to be kidding.

"Thought so." He hummed, keeping his eyes on her for a minute longer before he placed his sunglasses on the dresser next.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She folded her arms over her chest. "Not like you're the first guy I've seen." Which wasn't necessarily a lie. One of the many perks about living in a house full of X-men who preferred at least keeping in shape and on some occasion shirtless. Not to mention having men like, Logan and Piotr walking around wasn't displeasing to any person's eyes, not to mention the other guys in that place.

"I see." He turned his head away as he good naturally chuckled. "Well do you mind?"

"Not at all." She confidently smiled even though inside she was screaming. 'What the hell am Ah doin'?!'And it wasn't like she wanted to watch him change, it really wasn't! But it kept frustrating her how so at ease and confident he always seemed to be, like nothing ever bothered him and she wanted to know if it was all talk. "Go right on ahead Gambit. Unless you're worried."

"Not me I'm worried 'bout Chere." His eyes locked onto hers and she felt her lip's part when his eyes slowly racked over her body before he turned his meaningful gaze on hers again.

"Then what are you worried about?" she found herself asking, finding her confidence growing when she forced herself to meet his challenge. She knew it. She knew it was all talk and there was no way he'd dare do this.

He draws in a breath at her question, carefully eyeing her before he slowly began finishing to unbuckle his belt with his eyes never leaving hers.

He thinks he's so slick and that she won't see right through his bullshit. Well Remy LeBeau had another thing coming because there was no way she'd give him the benefit of watching her back down from this. If he wanted to be an ass and pretend like this didn't bother him then why couldn't she?

After every second he continued to stare her down as if telling her to back down for her own good, but when he started pulling his zipper down, he couldn't help but smile when he saw her snap her eyes shut.

"Remy gawd!" she shrieked as she jumped up from the bed and turned her blushing face away.

"Thought so." He repeated, silently laughing as he shook his head.

"Ah just happen to have common courtesy which apparently you lost somewhere along the road."

"Hey now I did warn you." He returned to check the time on his phone before pulling his zipper back up. "An' I wouldn't be quick to judge anyone 'bout any common courtesy Chere." He said as he walked over to the bathroom in time to see her turn to glare at him. "What's de matter Rogue? You didn't seem to mind last night." He raised his brows just as her mouth fell open.

'That slimy rat knew I was awake last night!' She fumed. 'Great now he must think I'm a damn pervert or something.' Not a minute later she heard the shower go on and was really thinking about flushing the toilet, but then decided she wasn't particularly eager to go anywhere near the bathroom right now.

He tilted his face under the shower head and allowed the cold spray of the water to calm his racing and inappropriate thoughts. He didn't normally take cold showers, never feeling the need to. But this was an exception he really didn't mind making. Even the thought of being in the car another minute with Rogue had him fighting the urge to pull over, throw her in the backseat and have his way.

But would she let him? He didn't think so, at least not right now.

Never in his life had he been so on edge just by the mere sight of a girl. Usually anytime certain… urges manifested themselves he could find relive easily in the form of another warm body. But now it seemed that even with just the mere glimpse of her eyes had him mentally fighting with the thief in his pants that recently decided not to listen to him and try and make his grand escape.

What's even worse was that he suddenly felt like a damn hormonal teenager incapable of controlling his own body's reaction to her. Allowing another deep breath to fill his lungs he willed every part of him to keep under control as he turned to stare at the closed door.

What the hell was wrong with him?

-X-

By the time she finished her own shower she was still drying her damp hair with the towel as she walked out of the bathroom to see him rummaging around to put his things back in his pockets.

"Where you goin'?" she asked as he stopped what he was doing by the window to see him give her a once over. She wasn't wearing anything revealing only a long-sleeved green shirt with light blue jeans.

"Someplace I need to be."

She could see him abruptly looking away before finding his eyes drifting towards her again as if he couldn't help himself.

He let his eyes drag down her body without caring if she saw him or not.

"Are you done?" she irritatingly asked fully aware of what he was doing.

"Just…give me another minute." he slyly grinned. He hadn't noticed before, but ever since they'd gone off together he realized that her hair did have some wave to it when she didn't have access to any hair straighteners.

"Didn't your momma ever teach you some manners?"

"Dat she did." He nodded thinking back to Tante since she was as close to a mother as he could remember anyone ever being. "She did also teach dis one to appreciate a good woman when I see one."

Her stomach did a little flip but was proud that she managed to at least seem unfazed on the exterior. 'Damn him.'

With a ghost of a smile, he briskly moved past her to head for the door. "I'll be back. Don't open de door for anyone."

"Wait what?" She forced herself to follow him to the door. Who the hell did he think he is? There was no way she was going to be locked up in here while he went God knows where again. "No."

"Rogue-"

"There's no way Ah'm stayin' here while you go off-"

"Trust me it's saver here." He spoke over his shoulder.

"Then how come you get to leave?" she huffed. Did she sound like a toddler throwing a tantrum? Maybe. But that still didn't give him the right to tell her what to do. If she wanted to leave, then she would.

"Got me a hot date." He merely grinned.

"With who? The waitress?" she narrowed her eyes when he slowly turned to her with with his brows raised in surprise. "Look Ah don't care what you do." she quickly added making sure he didn't read too much into it, but all she got in return was an unconvinced nod. "But Ah'm not goin' to stay here like some child."

"Right now you will." He sucked in a breath of air between his teeth before placing his hand on the doorknob to leave until her next sentence stopped him short.

"Fine. So Ah'll just have to find my own way around." She casually shrugged, deciding that that's exactly what she'll do. It became even more amusing when she saw him frustratingly clenching his hands in the air in frustration before calmly whirling around on her.

"Fine!" he furrowed his brows not at all pleased with the situation. "But it be best if you stick close to me, got it?" he pointed a stern finger at her like she was in fact a child.

"And if Ah don't?" She challengingly grinned right before putting the towel away and with her chin raised high walked right past him. "Come on Cajun we don't have all day."

"Pourquoi cette femme doit être si difficile…?" Inhaling calmly through his nose he slammed the door closed behind him, carefully locking it and stomping past one smug Rogue.

-X-

As they walked around the sound of slow jazz lazily drifted through the streets, signaling the promise of what's to come when the sun went down. There were people walking around eager to try some of the nearby restaurants while others were in search of gifts to purchase for perhaps loved ones back home.

While she excitedly took everything in after not having experienced things like this for so long, she kept finding herself having to take sharp steps sideways to avoid directly colliding with anyone while Remy on the other hand continued to effortlessly move around and blend in with the crowd like it was second nature.

He kept a careful eye on everything around them though. Steering her in a way that made her think that perhaps he was worried they were being followed. Or maybe it was just paranoia settling in because why would someone try and look for him here when they were miles and miles away from New York?

"It's beautiful." She happily smiled when they passed by a vendor selling ice cream as he shouted over the noise in the air.

"Changed some since de last time I was here." He absently responded with a small frown, never removing his eyes from those around them even as he went over to the vendor and bought some ice cream.

"Thanks." She timidly smiled when he handed her one of the two ice cream cones before they casually continued walking next to each other. "So how has it changed?"

He gave it some thought, and she could see the internal battle going on in his head before he shrugged offering a simper reply. "Hard to explain if you haven't lived here your whole life."

"Ah supposed it would." She let her eyes drop down.

"Ever been here durin' Mardi gras?"

She noted the quick change in topic but nonetheless shook her head. "Always wanted to, but my parents were in no rush to take me."

"Oh Chere…" He dramatically placed his hand on his chest. "You ain't ever experience anythin' like it."

"Is that so?" she mused out loud as she continued eating her ice cream. "Are we speakin' business or pleasure here?"

Laughing, he couldn't help but enjoy her company as well as her quick wit, and the fact that she seemed to relax more around him had him questioning if she felt the same. "Both actually." He confessed. "Some people become enamored with dis place because of its rare an' enticin' culture dat allows dem de freedom dat dey can't experience anywhere else." Shoving his hand in his pocket he studied the way she continued smiling, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners as her eyes shone bright in excitement. Something that he wanted to see more often. "Especially at night. Now dere's a sight to see."

"And Ah bet it makes it easier for you too." She gave him a playful wink before looking at another vendor.

"Somethin' like dat." He said as took one of the napkins he held when he saw a smidge of ice cream on the corner of her bottom lip. He caught the involuntary flinch she gave as she jolted back with shocked eyes. "Ain't gonna hurt you none Chere." He gestured to her lip so she'd understand that he didn't mean anything by it. Unless you wanted to count the fact that he was fighting the urge to wipe it off with his own lips instead.

"Thanks." She mumbled before continuing to walk along the path before finishing her ice cream and tossing her trash away. "So, when you say pleasure…you like some kind of male escort or something now too?"

Dropping his mouth open he began walking backwards as he eyed her. "Whoa now de thought of you t'inkin' dis one's a male whore is already well beyond obvious Chere; you said so before. But far from de truth might I add."

Chuckling, she found it funny how easy it was to fall into comfortable conversations with him and continued to enjoy these little moments they seem to have if they weren't arguing of course. Which made her wonder if things would still be like this once they got back to the mansion...

Part of her already knew the answer, but that didn't mean she would allow that thought to dampen her mood right now.

As a couple of girls passed by and he turned to give them an approving smile, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. It wasn't that she was jealous, she just found it astounding how someone like Remy could easily grab the attention from those around him without even trying. While at the same time he managed to run under anyone's radar if he chose to. "Ah don't think it's that far."

Following her line of sight to the girls that just passed, he regarded for a minute before taking a step closer. "Yeah well I like my women feisty…quite possibly with a sharp tongue." He watched the way her mouth opened and closed before she briskly brushed past him.

"Yeah well Ah happen to like my men well-mannered and handsome. Guess we both can dream can't we."

"Hold on now." He hurriedly stopped them in front of another building. "You don't t'ink dis ones well mannered?"

"Or handsome." She didn't have a problem adding.

"Oh now, we both already know de answer to dat. No need in denying de obvious."

Oh how she wanted to slap that arrogant smile right off his perfectly chiseled face until a small sign caught her eye.

Glancing over his own shoulder to see what she was looking at, he mocking raised a brow when he caught the sign. "Really?"

"Ah don't know. Ah always wanted to try it out." She embarrassingly admitted hoping that he wouldn't laugh at her for it.

"D'accord." He gave a faint nod before briefly pulling her arm to gesture for her to follow him down another more secluded street. "Allons-y!"

"Wait Remy! Where are we goin'?" She laughed as she tried to match her steps with his quick ones. The sudden adrenaline of not knowing where he was taking her made her smile grow.

"You'll see." He let his eyes look left then right before running down another alley like he was trying to remember where they should go.

"What is it?" she asked when she noticed him stopping in front of an old wooden door that had seen better days. Next to it she could see a sign with the name Labossière written in white chalk. The rest of the alley seemed somewhat deserted so she couldn't help but quizzically look back at him. "Where are we?"

"Well you said you always wanted to try it out non?" Raising his eyes he wondered if this place was even still open, but regardless he still wanted to find out. "Dis here be one of de best places fo' it."

Glancing over his shoulder to give her a reassuring smile, he led them inside only to be greeted by a girl sitting at the desk. "Bonsoir, we be here to see Madame-"

"She'll be out shortly." The girl said giving him a once over. "She's with a client right now."

Rogues' eyes grew wary as she allowed herself to look at their surroundings to find a small room that had a nice-looking couch and chairs to sit in, making her think that this person still managed to get a good number of customers despite the hidden location. No wonder Remy took her here. This place had a different aura to the usual places she'd always passed by. This seemed more intense…more private. Letting her know that this business wasn't made for the money, but rather the joy of doing what they did.

She blinked a few times to try and see through the small, beaded curtain covering the entrance of another room she hadn't seen when they first walked in.

"Relax Chere." Remy drawled from behind her before walking over to the couch. "Nothin' to it."

"You've been here before?" she curiously asked as she continued to eye the rather intricate framed pictures on the walls.

"Yes an' no." he pressed his lips together just as some footsteps could be heard coming from the other room. When he saw Rogue's confusion he explained. "Never been fond of gettin' a readin' done."

"Then why bring me here?" she quietly asked and saw him open his mouth to respond but stopped when the curtain was pulled back.

"You come back now an' let me know how she's doin'?" An older woman smiled as she helped the other woman out the door. "Boy that was a tough one." She loudly exhaled before she turned to the girl who nodded in their direction.

She seemed friendly from what Rogue could tell. Her hair was braided and pulled up to an elegant bun, wearing a lavender veil that she quickly moved aside when her eyes landed on the two of them. Wisps of white hair poked out from under the lose bun with different colored beads and charms decorating her leather necklace.

Perhaps it was the dress she wore that matched her veil or the atmosphere in the place Rogue did not know. But she felt an odd sense of magical air to this woman which made her uneasily fidget in her spot.

Gasping the woman placed both hands on her mouth as her eyes remained glued to Remy lazily sitting on the couch as he raised a hand in greeting. "Oh lord could it be?" she whispered while he slowly got to his feet. "Remy?"

That at least answered one of Rogues questions confirming that they must know each other, while on the other hand it only succeeded in more questions when she saw the older woman's lip begin to tremble and eyes gleaming with tears.

"It can't be…" she whimpered as she took quick strides to wrap him into a warm hug which was swiftly interrupted when there was a sharp WHACK to the back of the head.

Ok that right there Rogue was not expecting.

"Ow!" Wincing Remy rubbed the sore spot on his head before looking at this woman again.

"What's the matter with you boy?! What, they ain't got phone's where you're at?!" she scolded as she placed her hands on her hips. "Just be grateful that that's all you gettin' because this has been a long time comin'."

"Missed you too." He scowled at the woman before discreetly watching as Rogues eyes turned form shock to amusement and then satisfaction. "Rogue dis here be one of Louisiana finest fortune tellers Madame Labossière."

Blinking Rogue had no idea whether she should be scared of this woman, but quickly relaxed when any previous hostility towards Remy was swiftly forgotten as she warmly smiled at Rogue.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Rogue." She smiled before it vanished once she set eyes on Remy again. "Which is more than what I can say for this scoundrel." She pursed her lips before shaking her head and pulling him into another warm embrace. "Remy Lebeau as I live an' breathe. Lord how much we've missed you."

"Didn't seem dat way a minute ago." He chuckled but nonetheless returned the hug.

Smiling to herself, Rogue couldn't help but feel more out of place. Like this moment was meant for people closer to them that shared such a bond she couldn't even begin to understand.

"Oh look at me. I'm a hot mess." Madame Labossière good naturally chuckled as she placed a fond hand on Remy's cheek, patting him fondly twice before giving the last pat a little slap.

"Shi-"

"Don't you dare be using them words in my house." She sternly cut him off before ushering Rogue over as they made their way through the other door.

The room was full of cool colors and misty smoke helping with the heat from outside, but the smell itself was rather sweet. Everywhere she looked there were candles illuminating the room as well as one on the round table situated in the center with two chairs. The table in the center held a small crystal ball which only made her look back at Remy who comically shrugged having the same thought.

"This here mostly for the tourist." Madame Labossière explained as she removed the crystal ball to another nearby table and removed as well as her veil and beads. "Gotta admit, I've been expecting Remy for some time now."

"You did?" Rogue was taken aback by admission as the woman nodded.

"Lord knows I've been tryin' to get him to come knockin' on my door for the longest time." She then raised an inquisitive brow towards him. "Why now?"

"Ask her." He waved his hand towards Rogue.

"No worries, knew that boy would eventually come around." Madame Labossière chuckled and Rogue found herself smiling to. "I suppose it was only a matter of time 'fore he did." She allowed her eyes to wander between the two before smiling.

"I'm here ain't I?"

"Oh hush child. Do you have any idea what it takes to raise a little ruffian like you? My poor cousin just 'bouthad a few heart attacks with this boy three times over."

"She's kiddin'." He jokingly shook his head before Rogue had a chance to ask. "Have you seen her?" his eyes grew hopeful as he waited for her responds.

"I sure have." Madame Labossière sadly smiled. "Ma cousine… Mattie she always be with me. Always watchin'." She lightly patted his hands before she moved closer to the table. "You an' I have much to talk 'bout Remy. But all in due time I suppose."

"Wait what?" Rogue quizzically frowned.

"Her mutation." He informed. "It allows her to see things." He smiled before looking at her. "Yet she was always complainin' 'bout de things we did as thieves."

"Hey now there ain't no law that I know of where I can't use my gifts to help pay my rent while helpin' people in the process." She quickly said.

"I'm sure dere is." He playfully narrowed his eyes.

"Well I chose to ignore it. How's that?" She fired back as she sat down and waved her hand for Rogue to do the same but just as quickly her smile vanished into a menacing glare. "Boy if you even think 'bout puttin' your dirty feet in my new coffee table you must be mistaken!" she hissed as she snapped her head around to see him barely beginning to sit on the couch.

"I wasn't-" Staring opened mouth he quickly snapped it shut before rolling his eyes.

"Remy Etienne LeBeau you keep that up an' lord help me I'll make sure your eyes stay that way."

"Etienne?" Rogue snorted before quickly covering her mouth with her hand as he cursed under his breath.

"Why am I even here?" he groaned.

"Because it's about time Ah visited one of these places." Rogue flashed him a bright grin. "And because you agreed to take me here."

"Ooh Remy, I like her." Madame Labossière approvingly nodded. "Should come here more often Rogue."

She thought about whether it was worth coming all the way down here again if it meant watching Remy being picked on by someone other than Logan and that thought alone made her consider it.

"What are you doin'?" Madame Labossière frowned when she saw him get comfortable against the wall since apparently he wasn't allowed to dirty up her couch or coffee table. "Pull up a damn chair like the decent human being Tante raised you to be. You lose you manners or somethin'?"

"Ah think he did. Ah've been tryin' to knock it back into him but that stubborn head of his is harder to crack than Ah thought." Rogue replied right before Tante shook her head disapprovingly at him before they both broke out laughing.

Frustratingly rubbing his hand through his hair, he considered leaving until his eyes met Rogues and the way a child would, begrudgingly pulled another chair out to sit next to her. This wasn't something he normally did. Hell he never wanted to step foot in any of these places because he didn't need to know his fate. In his eyes it was a roll of the dice and let the outcome play itself out.

He was never going to admit that part of him did feel uncomfortable at the thought of ever getting his fortune told, because he didn't need someone to tell him what he already knew in the end anyway.

With the surprised look on the older woman's face, he could tell she was just as surprised by his action as he was.

"Well, I'll be..." She astonishingly grinned. "Ok so shall we begin with a joint reading then?" she asked the both of them.

"Non."

"Oh no." Rogue suddenly felt herself flush at the assumption.

"I'm sorry?" the woman puzzlingly asked.

"It's just for her." He sternly raises his brows. "She's already involved."

"Involved?" Madame Labossière frowned looking from one to the other.

"Ah have a boyfriend." Rogue explained with a small smile.

"Involved." Remy repeated and the uneasy look in his eyes before he looked away let Madame Labossière understand the hidden meaning behind his behavior. Only proving her suspicions right. "I see. Well there's no harm in doing a joint reading if friends are involved yes?" she asked for both of their hands. When she saw Rogue hesitate, she allowed a small smile to appear. "It's alright child."

Inhaling deeply Rogue hesitantly removed her right glove before timidly placing it in her warm hand.

"Remy?" Madame Labossière now turned to him.

"No." He stubbornly shook his head.

"Boy it took me decades to get you to sit here, the least you could do is hold this old woman's hand."

"It's ok." Rogue quickly cut in. "Ah can go first."

"Don't know why you still carrying around those anyhow." Madame Labossière mumbled when he put his sunglasses in his coat pocket, until she tilted her head towards the girl next to him. "You told him that too I suppose?"

"Ah did." Rogue began to giggle as Remy pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Could we get on with dis please."

"Alright alright." Madame Labossière took a deep breath before closing her eyes. A minute passed in silence before she released Rogues hand and placed a deck of cards in a neat pile in front of Rogue.

Remy curiously looked over at the pile before flicking his eyes from Rogue to Madame Labossière.

"Clear your mind child and I want you to pick the cards up and shuffle them well."

Remy watched her timid soft fingers begin to do what was asked of her and was actually impressed with the way she shuffled them. It briefly made him wonder what else they could do until he heard a throat clearing in the form of Tante's cousin.

Turning her head Rogue found it odd how Remy began to suddenly look around the room and away from the other woman's gaze.

"Remy…" Madame Labossière shook her head. "This is a place of worship, if you can't behave-"

"With all due respect Madame, you take people's money fo' readings an' your own profit. Dere's nothin' worship worthy here."

"Well, you should come by on Friday and Saturday nights, then you can tell me I don't have any worshipers." She proudly raised her chin. "Besides, I'm workin' right now so you need to hush. You don't see me tramplin' all over your thievin' now do you? Which I have half a mind to do just so you can get some good sense knock into you in the form of the law." She raised her brows before turning to Rogue. "Ted, was it?"

"Oh my gawd." Rogue tried to suppress her laughter when she remembered their little argument on the side of the road. How did she know that?

"Real professional." He remarked while Madame Labossière dismissively waved her hand.

"Lord you kids should come here more often." She chuckled before calmly herself enough to continue. "Alright baby now this part will be a little different the way I do my readings, because I'm gonna to need you to fan out the cards and pull out three cards. Only three. Make sure you don't turn them but place your hands directly on top, face down can you do that?"

"Easy enough." Rogue nodded and began to do just that.

Once that was done Rogue apprehensively placed her fingertips on each of the three cards while Madame Labossière did the same.

Rogue felt the woman's eyes boring into her right as a slight tingle could be felt on the tips of her fingers.

"It's just her powers." Remy reassured her as he leaned forward.

"You've got a lot of questions." The woman smiled but there was a crease on her forehead which made Rogue wonder what it was she was seeing. "Questions about things that have and have not. Try to take your mind of the problems Rogue and don't allow negative thinking to overcome you. Instead look for the positive and focus on the solution instead of the problem. If you don't…it will consume your very being."

"Ah don't…" She felt her throat constrict as she tried to swallow down her fears.

"Remy…" Madame Labossière said without once removing her eyes from Rogues. "Could you make yourself useful and tell Clarissa out there to hold my next appointment for a few minutes?"

Furrowing his brows he was about to protest but knew better than to argue with her at the moment.

When it was just the two of them Madame Labossière looked down before she outstretched her hand to her. "May I?"

Unable to do anything but nod, Rogue watched her grab her right hand before the woman's eyes widened in shock.

"Madame Labossière…?" Rogue worriedly asked, trying to pull her hand away. It wasn't her mutation that was taking a hold of this woman she knew that much, but when the woman looked back at her, she could see the sympathy in her eyes that was worse than anything she expected to see.

"Pain…death…oh so much pain…" Madame Labossière whispered as she closed her eyes. "Rogue…"

"What is it? What do you see?"

Hurt, shame, resentments, dreams, disappointments, self-doubt, fears, longings, truths, or desires. They are all things we'll eventually encounter in our life, but the things she's seen in this girl's future was something she wouldn't wish on anyone. Not to someone as genuine as Rogue.

"Your instincts will tell you to move away, to run…because betrayals are like razors slashing away at your heart. The wounds will seem so deep at times but remember Rogue…you have to allow yourself to feel pain instead of running away from it. Allowing yourself to feel pain will also help you heal. From yourself and those around you."

"Ah…" Snatching her hand away she felt the panic rising to her throat unable to understand what that all meant. What could Madame Labossière have possibly seen that made the fear, pain and hopelessness in the woman's eyes make Rogue feel like something terrible was going to happen. Something that didn't allow her to keep still as she jolted from her seat.

"Rogue?" Remy walked in in time to see the panic in her eyes as she stared at the woman.

"Ah'm fine." She managed to breathe out before bolting out of the room.

When Madame Labossière saw him whirl around to follow her, she quickly called out to him. "Remy!"

"What happened?" he worriedly asked as he walked to the table.

Shaking her head Madame Labossière only regrettably looked at the door. "I'm afraid I can't say. It is for Rogue and Rogue alone to understand. It's not my place to reveal someone else's destiny.

"Madame it's me." He said making the older woman frown.

"So? You think just because I know you since before you grew that smart mouth of yours mean your special?" she scoffed before smiling. "Regardless of how much I care for you Remy, this ain't somethin' I can tell you. Just promise you'll be there for the girl ok."

"I don't know how I can do dat." He followed her line of sight. "Not now."

"Don't tell me you're gonna do what I think you are?" She deeply exhaled already knowing the answer. "Remember Remy, no matter how beautiful of a rug we've woven… or how good we are about tidying it up and tucked away…the things we've swept under it will affect us every day as well as the ones we love. And in the end…there's only so much we can sweep under it, before it piles up and you find yourself trippin' on your own mess to clean up." she pointedly stared at him. "Truths don't just go away child, and until they are given their proper place in the light…they'll cause us great pain. Remember that."

"Why are you telling me this?" He frowned.

"Because you and I both know what could happen if you don't."