--

            The howling of the wind from outside rattled the windows. Rogue sunk deeper into her bed, pulling the sheets up higher.

            "It's all right." She whispered into the darkness as she stared up at the ceiling to see light flicker, from the lightning shooting place to place outside. "You don't have to answer."

            He stared at her; his eyes glowed dimly in the darkness of the room. Open mouth. Insert foot. He said to himself as he shook his head, "I don't know, Ro'. Life has screwed us over several times in the past few years. Who knows how we'll end up in the end?" There goes our partly optimistic Remy.

            "We're together."

            "This isn't the end." He reached over and cupped the side of her face. When her eyes watered up, he grimaced. "Don't look at me like that."

            "You're cravin' a cigarette." She stated simply, ignoring his statement like she hadn't heard it.

            "Now that you bring it up.." He leaned in, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm cravin'.. you." He lowered his head for a simple kiss, but Rogue jerked away in the other direction and ended up falling out of the bed.

            She lay on the floor, her legs propped up on the bed. "Wow. It's much cooler down here."

            Remy, however, cocked a suspicious and confused brow. "Rogue?" On his hands and knees, he crawled off the bed and collapsed on the ground next to her. "Remember when I hid under your bed?"

            Rogue was silent for a moment before the corners of her lips tugged back into a smile. "Yeah. Ya waited until I stepped down an' grabbed my ankle. Ya scared me shitless."

            Remy reached over and tugged a ringlet of hair. "Remember how you got me back?"

            Her smile widened. "I tied ya to a chair an' applied make-up to your face. You looked so pretty." A small laugh escaped her pink lips. "An' the make-up wouldn't wash off. Your face was so red from the rubbin' of the make-up and from blushin' when Irene walked into the bathroom to see what all the commotion was."

            He smirked as he rolled over onto his back. "The 'commotion' was you yellin' 'hush' and me screamin' bloody murder. You were a violent ten year old; you nearly scrubbed all the flesh off my face."

            "Hey," She yawned, glancing over at him, "Your face turned out all right, didn't it?" Sliding her legs off the bed, she turned around and sat with her back pressed up against the bed. "Remember the time when someone put green dye in Bella's apple shampoo an' conditioner?"

            Remy just smiled as he stared up at the ceiling. "She blamed me for that, y'know. She tried to throw the bottle at my eye when I said the color brought out her eyes."

            Rogue chuckled as he brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them, "Yeah. Your eyebrow was dyed green for a week. Good thing her aim sucked." Grunting, Remy sat up and slid over next to her. "Wow. Usually when we discuss Bella, you usually look like someone just tickled your fancy the wrong way."

            "'Tickled my fancy the wrong way'?"

            "Oh, shut it. I'm kind of tired." Unwrapping her arms from around her legs, she elbowed him. Lightly laughing, she leaned against him. "Remember when—"

            "You knocked out my last baby tooth?" He finished, glancing sideways at her.

            She elbowed him, again. "Only 'cause ya flushed my bear necklace down the toilet."

            "An' I only did that 'cause you pushed me into the swamp."

            "An' Ionly did that 'cause you put a scoop of ice cream down the back of my shirt."

            "Good memories, neh?"

            In response, Rogue let out a loud yawn. "Yeah," She agreed sheepishly. "Some more than others."

            "Like the time we got locked in the basement overnight?" Slowly, he put his arm around her shoulders and just let it lay there. "An' like the time Jean-Luc told me I was goin' to marry Bella?" He wrinkled up his nose at that memory.

            "What do you think she'd do if she saw us now?"

            "Probably chase us with a fryin' pan."

            "We could always stick Pyro on 'er." Rogue started to trace patterns on his side as she rested her head on his shoulder. "They'd probably like each other; they're both insane an'.." She started mumbling something about 'antipsychotics' as her eyelids started closing.

            Remy grunted as he slid out from under her, while keeping a firm grip around her shoulders so she wouldn't fall over. Smirking, he slipped his other arm under her knees and picked her up. "Got sleep?" He joked, half-heartedly as he set her down on the bed.

            "I ain't tired.." She muttered; her eyes still closed as she patted the empty space next to her, on the other side. When he laid down next to her, she turned over onto her side so she was facing him. "Ya should write your father a letter."

            "You must be delirious. Go to bed." Supporting himself on his elbows, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "G'night cherie." 

            "Manger merde et mourir."

            Remy chuckled, lying back down. "Do you have any idea on what you just said?"

            "No." She answered, yawning, "Enlighten me." He reached over and whispered in her ear. In a beat, her eyes popped open, "I didn't mean that." 

            "Then what did you mean?" He asked, amused. Rogue just cupped his cheek, brought his head in closer, and kissed his lips.

            "Goodnight, cher." With those words, she rolled around, with her back facing him, and closed her eyes. She heard him chuckle and roll around, onto his stomach, which she knew was his favorite sleeping position.

            After a few minutes of hearing him inhale and exhale, Rogue realized she wasn't as tired as she was just minutes earlier. Things just seemed so different.

            First Kitty dies, then Scott and Jean overdoses on pills. We lost three X-men all in the matter of two days. Kitty had been like an annoying younger sister to her, while Scott was like an annoying older brother and Jean was like the annoying older brother's extremely annoying wife. What a dysfunctional family. I just hope Kurt can at least be saved. She bit down on her lower lip. What would have I done if Remy died? That was something she didn't want to think about.

            "Go to sleep, Ro'." She heard Remy mumbled. Rogue could sense the smile lingering on his lips. "Remember, no sleep and a lot of worryin' leaves Remy with a cranky Rogue."

            She scrunched her nose up as she kicked him. She'd get him back for that—tomorrow.

            --

            The next morning, John sat out in the hallway of the room he was staying in, trying to tie his shoelaces. He was hunched over, staring down at the two long strings on his left shoe. "Somethin' 'bout bunny ears goin' around a tree.." He was trying to remember the rhyme his mother taught him when he was a wee little Pyromaniac to tie his shoes but, evidently, it never worked. "Maybe.. two bunny ears.. went around a tree.. and lit it on fire!" He then proceeded to laugh hysterically. After several minutes, he realized he wasn't getting anywhere so he stood up and dragged his feet over to Rogue's room.

            --

            "Ahh! Your bed is on fire!" Pyro screamed when he got into Rogue's room to see the two Southerners soundly sleeping. When Remy sat up and looked around, Pyro walked over to him. "Will you tie my shoes?" He asked, giving the Cajun a pleading look. "Puh-lease? And please don't blow 'em up."

            "Can't you get him Velcro?" Came Rogue's muffled voice from under her pillow, which her head was buried underneath. "And make him go away!"

            Remy just grunted as he tried to tie John's shoes as he shoved his untied shoes into his face. Since he had his shoes on his feet while he shoved them into the Cajun's face, we should now be able to determine that the pyromaniac is talented.  Gritting his teeth, Remy tied both shoes.

            After John happily skipped out of the room, Rogue sat up and stared at Remy with amused eyes. "Puttin' your skilled hands to use, eh, Mistah LeBeau? I hope you'll be my shoe tier."

            "Shut up."

            "But I can't tie shoes as great as you can!"

            "Shut up." He reached over and grabbed the pillow she was holding in her lap and hit her with it.

            "Hey!" She glare at him, her hair sprawled across her face. "It's not my fault you're such a great tier. Can you lace up shoes too? 'Cause I have a bunch in the closet that need to be laced up."

            "Just for that, Ro', I'm—I'm—" He was cut off when Rogue grabbed him by the shoulders and yanked him forward. She pushed her weight against him so he hit the bed first, underneath hers, and she rested her upper body on his upper body.

            "You're what?" She asked sweetly, running her hand back though her wild mane of hair so it wasn't in her face anymore. "Gonna tie my shoelaces in a double knot I can't get out?"

            He just smirked. "I don't know how I ever put up with you."

            "Ahh, must be love." She rolled off him and laid there next to him, on her back. He turned over onto his side, facing her.  

            "Things sure have changed, haven't they?"

            Rogue nodded solemnly, glancing sideways at him. "And it all started with your eyes."

            "And then a big explosion."

            "And then the X-Men."

            "And then Magneto."

            "And then.." Rogue rolled her eyes as she folded her arms underneath her head. "It's more like, 'I left you to go join Magneto.'"

            Remy reached over and placed a hand at the side of her face. "It was a mistake."

            "And if you leave.." She bit down on her lower lip. "I won't even say it."

            "Tryin' to make me feel bad?"

            "Yes. Is it workin'?"

            In response, he laughed, which wasn't the answer she was looking for.

            "Are you two goin' to sleep around with each other for the rest of the day?" Pyro asked, yelling from outside the room.

            Rogue sat up, "That's it. The red hair boy is mine."

            --

            It was all a dream.

            At least, that's what it was like in Rogue's head. Nothing seemed real. All the powers she absorbed from mutants were erased, but not forgotten, thanks to the Professor.

            Three X-Men had died, two from the virus, one from suicide.

            Nothing would ever be the same.

            Irene and Mystique had disappeared, possibly never to be heard from again. Maybe not, only the future can tell.

            "Uncle, uncle! I won't call you Super-Absorbant Girl anymore, I promise!"  

            Remy sighed, walking away from Rogue, who had Pyro in a headlock. "'Lo Piotr." He greeted, seeing his friend standing outside the medical wing.

            "Good morning, Remy." The Russian said, staring at the grey doors leading into the medical wing. "This is quite an awful thing, is it not, comrade?"

            Remy's brows just rose a little. "Thinkin' 'bout Kitty?"

            Piotr gave him a curt nod. "I was told never to hate anyone, but against those wishes, I have to admit I hate Trask. He killed innocent mutants." He glanced over at Remy, his dark eyes flashing with anger. "It is not fair."

            "Life ain't fair." Remy glanced back at Rogue and Pyro. He made a mental note to stop Rogue when blood was shed. "Are you joinin' the X-Men?"

            "Yes, I am."

            "And John?"

            "I am not quite sure of what John wants, or what he does."

            Remy scratched the back of his head. "I don't think any of us are either."

            "What about you? Are you going to join the X-Men?"

            "Ain't sure. I don't really like joinin' sides."

            "You'll stay." Piotr stated, "You know you will. Unless Rogue is leaving."

            "Nope, she's stayin'."

            Piotr just gave him a small smile. "You know you will be staying here."

            "I have a hankerin' he will." Rogue slipped an arm around his waist. His arm rested alongside her shoulders as he stared down at her.

            "Oh, really?"

            "You'll suffer separation anxiety if you leave me." She stated, sticking her tongue out at him.

            "Notice how they always act so nice and childish around each other but when they're not together they'll all mean and sarcastic?" Pyro pointed out, making a face at the couple as he rubbed the top of his head. "I'll never understand 'em!"

            "It's love, John. It's not meant to be understood." Piotr stated, looking down at the ground. He was surprised when Pyro patted his shoulder.

            "Don't worry, Pee-oh-taur. You'll always have me."

            Colossus smiled over at him, "Thank you."

            Rogue looked up at Remy, "So?"

            "So what?"

            'X-Men, guests, please report to my office.' Xavier's voice penetrated their minds.

            "The voices are back!" Pyro squealed, falling to his knees.

            --

            Rogue and Remy stood next to each other in the cramped office. Remy was holding Rogue against him, his cheek pressed up against the back of her head.

            "Ray, you're standing on my foot!" Amara accused, pushing Ray away from her.

            "That's not me, It's Roberto!"

            "It's not me, man. It's Jamie!"

            "It's not me.. oh, wait.. yes it is."

            "I never want to have kids." Rogue mumbled as Rhane, in her werewolf form, raced past her.

            "You won't be sayin' that when you hold a little tyke in your arms." Remy smirked, "But I agree, none less."

            "I have some good news." Xavier announced, all the talking stopped as he spoke, "Hank made an antidote and Kurt is doing fine."

            'Too bad Hank is two people too late.' Rogue said to herself, and then mentally kicked herself since Xavier most likely read her projected thought.

            "There will be a memorial service for Kitty, Scott, and Jean." Xavier sounded sad, but he has a good reason to sound sad, right?

            The Professor said a few other words, but Rogue had barely paid attention.

            --

            "I ain't leavin'." Remy announced to Rogue as he walked outside where Rogue sat, skimming through a magazine. It had been several hours since the meeting in the office and both Southerners had left mansion ground but now, both were back.

            "I know." The Southern belle stated without much thought. "So, you're stickin' 'round here?" She asked as he sat down next to her on the grassy ground.

            "Talked to the Prof. Told 'im I wasn't interested in joinin' his team of spandex super mutants. He took that quite well an' told me he understood that I wanted to stay here with you."

            "Well, he's a telepath. He knew you were thinkin' that." Rogue closed the magazine and took out a bag from the pocket of her brown leather jacket. "I got ya somethin'."

            "I got ya somethin' too." Remy said, reaching into his trench coat inside pocket. "I even paid for it," He stated proudly as he handed her a small jewelry box. Rogue placed the bag on his lap and opened the box to see a small bear charm on a chain.

            "I can't believe you," She laughed, her green eyes sparkling with happiness. That's the look Remy had wanted to see. Smiling, he picked up the bag and opened it.

            "I can, however, believe you," He laughed, holding the box of nicotine patches in his hand.

            "You're not getting cancer on my watch, Rem-Rem."

            --

            I decided to end it there because of the starting line in the first chapter. All done. –blinks-

            All done?

            Yes, this was the epilogue. Which is why it is entitled, 'epilogue.'

            Will there be a sequel?

            Maybe. This was my last project since my computer got reformatted.

            And yes..

            Ding-dong, Jean is indeed dead.

            Thanks for putting up with me, guys. And thanks for reviewing! Cookies for everyone!

            By the way, if I don't have anything new up in a few weeks, will any of you send me threatening e-mails telling me to post something? :) I'd appreciate it.