Partners in Crime (X-Men ROMY)

Epilogue: One Year Later

Epilogue: One Year Later

Rogue looked at herself in the mirror, wondering if she was brave enough to leave the room. Remy came up behind her, wrapping his hands around her waist.

"You look stunning," he told her, placing a kiss on her shoulder.

She smiled and turned her head to kiss him properly, but the smile faded as she looked back to the mirror.

"I just don't know if I'm brave enough," she admitted.

Remy laughed. "Facing off against Juggernaut, no problem, robbing a museum of a priceless artefact, it's nothing, but suggest wearing one little bikini to a pool party, and she's as nervous as a virgin on prom night."

Rogue had to smile, because he was right.

"It's only been two months since I got total control, Remy, I'm just not..."

"Who would have thought that Remy LeBeau would end up dating a prude."

Rogue turned around and pushed him away.

"I am not a prude!" she told him, setting her hands on her hips.

"Prove it," he challenged.

Rogue narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Fine!" she stormed from the room and Remy followed behind her, enjoying the view.

He began to regret his decision to provoke her into overcoming her fears, when every guy in the mansion stared, slack jawed, as she strode out onto the patio and occupied one of the spare sun loungers.

Thanks to Rogue's indecisiveness, the others had already been out here a while, so the party was in full swing. Bruno Mars was singing about Grenades, Kitty was dancing in the pool, Laura was adjusting her swimming costume (clearly as uncomfortable as Rogue ), Kurt was putting sunblock on his non-fur covered areas and Jean was tidying up the refreshments table. The professor and Storm were sat at an umbrella covered table, talking.

"You're burning your burgers," Remy said as he came up beside Scott, who was operating the barbecue.

"Oh my-" he dragged his eyes off Rogue and quickly flipped the burgers over.

"Next time, keep your eyes on your own femme," Remy warned. Not that he really thought Scott would steal Rogue from him, or any of the men and boys in the mansion, but he just couldn't seem to stop his inner Neanderthal from surfacing.

He knew he had been right though. Rogue no longer had to fear her skin but she was having a hard time believing that.

"Hey, Bobby," Remy heard Kurt say.

"Yeah?" Bobby seemed to have paused in the middle of setting up a water volleyball net.

"You know that's my sister that you're ogling, right?"

"Sorry, man, but your sister is hot."

A glowing card landed at Bobby's feet but he didn't notice it. Kurt did, agreed with the sentiment and backed away. Moments later the card exploded. It wasn't a big blast, but it was enough of a surprise to Bobby to send him flailing into the pool.

Spluttering to the side, Bobby swam to the edge of the pool as Logan, with excellent aim, sent a basket ball at his head. The shock was enough to send him back into the water.

"That should cool him off," Remy said, stepping up beside Kurt.

Kurt giggled. "Where on earth do you keep cards when you're wearing only swimming trunks?"

"You really want to know, mon ami?" Remy grinned.

Kurt thought about it. "Maybe not."

Although initially hesitant, Rogue slowly began to overcome her fears at being uncovered, but it wasn't until after Jamie had splashed her, which caused a massive water fight, that she truly seemed comfortable. For the rest of the afternoon, she'd occasionally get that alarmed look on her face, or jerk away when someone touched her, but mostly she just had fun.