"Where is she, we can't waste time like this," Scott said impatiently.

"Will you shut up," Remy spat, "Egypt isn't going anywhere."

He looked up as she appeared at the top of the steps. He raised an eyebrow at her choice of attire. She wore a red, leather halter top that was basically backless matched with a pair of black, almost yoga looking pants and a pair of boots. She pulled at the fingerless black, leather gloves as she reached the bottom step. He looked over at Scott, expecting him to have a comment about her lateness but he just stared wide eyed. Remy wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked to the jet. He held her hand tightly as they sat in their seats, not ready for what was about to happen.

She rubbed his forearm, "Try to relax. You aren't going to focus as well if you're worried about me the whole time."

He gave her hand a squeeze, "You're right. I just want you to be safe. You're my world, Rogue."

She couldn't help but smile, he was always looking out for her. Rogue took a deep breath as she looked out the window. In a few hours the three jets would be in Egypt and the fate of the world would pretty much be in her hands. She thought about the rest of her team, her friends and her brother (who was in the other jet with Beast and a few other teammates). She also thought about Nick Fury, who was in the third jet with the Sentinels. She felt Remy rubbing her back, she leaned against him. He kissed her forehead and whispered "relax" in her ear. She closed her eyes. Rogue took another deep breath. This was going to be like nothing they'd ever experienced before. No amount of training could prepare her for an enemy of this magnitude, could prepare any of them. She looked down to see pyramids and sand. God, why did she have to do this? She looked at the man sitting next to her, wishing she had more time. She couldn't help but laugh a little, no extra amount of time would be enough. She gave his cheek a quick kiss before disappearing.

"What the…," Remy looked out the window to see Rogue falling to the ground, "Merde, Logan!"

Logan looked out the window, "Jesus Christ! This kid is trying to kill me!"

"Kitty," Lance called.

They looked out to see Kitty falling as well, her hands cupping her mouth. Rogue looked up and reached for her fast-descending best friend. They locked hands before they fell through the ground, reappearing a few moments later. They stood back to back, looking as a cloud of smoke appeared in front of Kitty. Kurt stood before them with Scott and Jean. They heard the voices of Warren and Wanda above them, followed by Bobby and Remy. The jets from the mansion landed close by, Fury's circling the area, at the ready to release the Sentinels. The rest examined the area as they climbed out of the jet. There was nothing, no movement of any kind. Logan sniffed the air and growled as Saber Tooth snarled. The sky became dark. Evan looked up at Storm. Bobby and Ray nodded, following to help Evan. Wanda and Pietro's eyes followed their father. Lance and Kitty followed them. Jean spotted the Professor. Rogue nodded to her before she left. Rogue watched Colossus follow closely behind Kitty.

Remy smiled as Mesmero appeared in front of them. He had some unfinished business with the man that had taken his chere once before. Rogue watched as he pulled out his bow staff. He quickly kissed her hand and gave her a wink before taking his leave. Logan and Kurt had followed after Mystique along with Saber Tooth. Tabitha and Scott went with Warren to fight Emma. The rest of the group began to fight mutants they'd never seen before, leaving Rogue alone. She took to the sky, looking around for any sign of Apocalypse. She let herself focus for a moment on Remy. He was tag teaming Mesmero with Pyro.

"Come out you coward," she screamed, "It's just me and you left."

"As you wish," he said before striking her from behind.

She flew forward a bit but recovered quick enough to dodge as he flew towards her. He grabbed her by the ankle, hurling her towards the ground. She left a crater where she made impact, shaking her head as she stood back up. She went after him, her body turning into diamonds. She landed several powerful blows, smashing him into the ground. She pulled back, one hand producing magma as the other produced ice. She cooled the magma around him quickly, not wanting to give him a chance to get up. She felt the wings sprout through her back. He laughed as he broke through the molten earth, catching her by the throat.

"Pretty," he commented, "Not that they'll help you much."

He lifted her into the air with him, flying straight for the Pyramids. They crashed into them with earth shaking force. He pulled away as a disoriented Rogue tried to collect herself. He grabbed her by her neck again and repeatedly slammed her into the hard stone of the Pyramid. She kicked him in the stomach, causing him to release her neck. She smacked her hands together, sending him flying with a sonic blast. She took a moment to catch her breath. The next thing she felt was a fist across the face. She slammed back into the Pyramid.

"I grow tired of your hesitation," he confessed, "What is the point of holding back? Maybe," he smiled as a fire ball appeared in his hand, "you just need some motivation."

"NO," she screamed as he directed the ball towards Remy.

He grabbed her by the waist, "I think you should just watch for a moment."

She phased out of his arms, "REMY!"

He looked up, her calling to him catching him by surprise. His eyes grew wide at the ball od flames hurdling towards him. He wouldn't be able to dodge it in time, his only hope was to turn his back to it and pray it didn't kill him. She reached out to him as he curled into a ball, his hands covering his head. He felt something wrap around him as the temperature rose around him. To his surprise he felt no flames touch him. He understood why as he heard her pained screams. He opened his eyes as he felt the temperature cool again, only to find himself surrounded by blackness. He turned as he felt her grip loosen around him, her breathing a bit labored. He turned to face her.

"Are you insane," he helped her up, "Don't risk yourself for me. Jesus Rogue," he touched her face, "Are you alright?"

She smiled weakly, giving him a wink, "You've given me rug burn that hurt worse," she teased.

"How sweet," Apocalypse chuckled, "All these years later and you're both still disgustingly in love. It makes me sick, seeing you so infatuated with someone so weak."

Rogue ground her teeth, "Maybe I'm mistaken but he outlived both of us last time around. He is far from week," she flew up at him, "And you are as good as dead!"

Remy watched for a moment before turning his focus back to helping Pyro. All around them energy burst through the sky. Apocalypse had really beefed up the powers of their former comrades, mentors and friends, it seemed the X-Men were having a hard time keeping up. However, he could feel how weak she was becoming, the amount of power she was using slowly draining her. He wasn't sure how he was able to feel such a thing but it weighed heavy on him. He now understood why she wouldn't make it out of this fight. If Apocalypse didn't kill her, all the power she was using would. It didn't matter how much control she had. She phased him through the Pyramids, leaving only his head showing. She placed a hand on either side of his head, her eyes going white. They both screamed as she electrocuted his temples. He broke through the Pyramid and punched her in the face, sending her flying backwards. She repelled off a nearby Sentinel and fell to the ground. She tried to get up but flopped back to the ground. Her clothes were torn in several places, her body covered in cuts and bruises. She spit out blood as she finally got back to her feet. She knew using this much power mixed with the rapid-fire attacks had caused her healing factor to slow. She could feel his worry but unfortunately, she had to push that from her mind.

She laughed, "Is that all you got?"

Her hands glowed red as he charged at her again, only to be shot by the Sentinel. She huffed as she teleported into the Pyramid. Apocalypse's tomb sat in front of her. This had to work, she'd be completely tapped out if it didn't. She placed both hands on the "prison", taking a deep breath before teleporting them both out of the Pyramid. Apocalypse glared at her as he noticed the open tomb now sitting next to her on the ground. She stood in front of the tomb as he charged at her once more, levitating a few inches above the ground as he grew closer. She caught him by the waist, turning to body slam him into the bed of the tomb. She felt the familiar pull as she absorbed enough of his strength to keep him still for a moment. She quickly closed the tomb, sealing it with magma and levitating it and herself into the air before he recovered. In that moment the battle seemed to halt, all eyes focusing in on her. She took a deep breath, hoping her power mixed with what she'd just taken from him would be enough.

"Rogue," Jean yelled, "Rogue, no! Don't! That's too much power!"

"Rogue," Remy called, "NO! PLEASE!"

She placed her hands on the tomb, charging her hands as she took them higher into the sky. She pushed the charge around the tomb as she heard Apocalypse pounding on the inside. She knew she only had a few more moments before his power would fully return and it'd be too late. Rogue pushed the last of her power into the tomb and let go. It exploded into a million tiny pieces, taking Apocalypse with it. The blast pushed Rogue towards the ground, no power left to slow her fall. Jean turned around in time to catch the Professor. Wanda and Pietro grabbed their father while Evan caught a falling Storm. Rogue closed her eyes, not wanting to see the ground that was fast approaching. She felt a pair of arms grab her, pulling her into a warm body. She opened her eyes to see Remy staring back at her, both of them being placed back on the ground by one of Fury's remaining Sentinels.

He laughed lightly, "You really just can't stop falling for me huh," he joked as his legs seemed to give out.

She touched his face, "So stupid. But we won."

"Yes we did," he took her hand and kissed it before cradling her in his arms, "And now we get to go home in one piece. We can take a nice bath after getting you all patched up."

She took a labored breath, "You should probably take a nap."

"We," he corrected, "You are going to be fine. Just have to get you back to the Med Lab. So you have to hang on just a little longer. Take some of my power, it'll hold you over."

She smiled sadly, "I have no power let Rems," she took another labored breath, "I'm sorry for everything I put you through. I…love…you."

"Don't," he choked, "Don't be like that. You can't give up, you're gonna be okay. I promise you're…Rogue," he shook her a bit with no response, "Rogue? Come on, that's not funny, you're okay," he patted her face, "Come on wake up. Baby, please, open your eyes."

"Remy," Jean sniffled, "She, there's, I can't feel any brain activity."

"Non," he shook his head, "Rogue, come on, you have to get up," he began to cry, pulling her closer to him, "Please Rogue, please. I need you, I can't do this without you. You have to get up for me. Please," he shook her again, "Non, no, no. Rogue, please," he sobbed even harder, "I love you."

Kitty began to tear up, "She's…" she sobbed into Lance's shoulder.

"What," Remy watched as Rogue's body slowly faded, "Wait, no, Rogue. No, don't leave."

They watched as Rogue's body disappeared. Logan looked around in disbelief as Remy sat there completely paralyzed with shock. Kurt wrapped his arms under Remy's armpits and teleported him to the jet. Remy looked down at his empty hands, where had she gone? The ride home was quiet and full of tears. Emma, Mesmero and Mystique disappeared with the remaining unnamed mutants before anyone could take them in. Once back at the mansion Remy went straight for his room. He looked at the pictures of the two of them that he'd wedge into the frame of his mirror when something caught his eye. On his desk sat the ring he'd gotten her for Christmas. He picked it up, his hand balling into a fist around it. His fist connected with the wall, leaving a decide sized hole.

He fell to his knees, "Why? Why did you have to…? I could have blown it up," he sobbed, "You didn't need to use all that power. You knew I could have…and you didn't have to protect me. Damn it Rogue," he cried even harder, "What am I supposed to do without you?"

It had been almost a year since their final battle with Apocalypse. Remy and Logan had made sure that no one had touched Rogue's room. Everyone had done their best to move on but the gap she left could never truly be filled. Remy still woke up every night from the nightmares, her ring always on a chain around his neck. He had made an honest effort to move on, even tried to date but he couldn't bring himself to do it. If he wasn't training, on mission or drinking, he was out at the Gazebo where they'd made a memorial for her. Sometimes he'd sit there for hours staring at the ocean, other times he'd talk to it as if she was still there. He was on his way there this particular day when something Logan said caught his attention.

"Are you sure," Logan questioned Beast, "but no one's been in her room since she died."

Remy didn't stop to hear the rest, sprinting up the stairs and to her room. He'd throttle anyone that dared enter. He turned the doorknob and burst into the room. He looked around and noticed the French doors were open. He searched the room and balcony but found nothing. He glanced at the bed before quickly exiting the room, too many memories starting to flood back. He walked to his room, pausing when he noticed his door was slightly open. He walked in quietly, closing the door behind him. He froze when he looked at the threshold of his balcony doors.

"Oh my god," Jean gasped downstairs, dropping the glass she'd been holding, "She's ..."

"Hey there stranger," she stood in a strapless, backless, floor length green dress with a slit up the side, "You miss me?"

He watched as she walked towards him, frozen in his spot. His knees felt weak. She stopped an arm's length away from him. He reached out, touching her face. She smiled and leaned into his hand. He blinked a few times, trying to figure out if this was a dream or reality. He'd watched, he'd held her in his arms when her body disappeared. How was this even possible? Not even Mystique would be cruel enough to impersonate her. Had he missed her so much that he'd finally started hallucinating?

"Rogue," he asked, "Is this real? Is it really you?"

She placed her hand over his, "It's real, I'm real. Please don't cry."

He pulled her into him, the smell of strawberries filling his nose, "I'm sorry, I'm just so…I thought you were dead."

"I thought I was too," she hugged him tightly, "It feels so good to touch you again."

"You can't ever leave me like that again," he said between kisses, tears coming down his face.

She savored each kiss, "I won't, I promise. You have all of me, however you want me."

"I told you that night that you'd owe me," he teased, "I plan to collect that debt."

Jean burst through the door, followed closely by Logan, before she could come up with a witty comeback. They were shortly joined by the rest of the X family. Remy released her long enough for everyone else to give her hugs and kisses. Professor and Beast stated in their typical fashions that they'd like to run some tests but it could wait until another day. Rogue smiles as she hugged Logan, who was uncharacteristically teary eyed. Everyone had many questions for her but Kitty, with the help of Colossus, shooed everyone out of the room, insisting she needed a moment to breathe. Remy pulled her back into him, smoothing the back of her hair. She pulled back to look at him only to be met with another feverish kiss. One hand placed on the back of her head, the other pressing into her lower back. She was his from now on, as long as he would have her. Judging by the need in his kisses he had no arguments against it. He stepped back and placed a hand on either side of her face. His thumbs stroked her cheeks as they locked eyes. He rested his forehead against hers.

"I love you, Rogue," he whispered.

"I love you too, Remy," she kissed the tip of his nose, "In this lifetime and the next."

Fin