Shock of acknowledgment

She wished she never picked up her phone now. Wished she didn't have a cell phone, wished she didn't work at this place. Taking a deep breath she was at the club she visited regularly. Well more then regularly, she worked there as well. The only people who new at the mansion was Xavier because she worked late nights, so she had to get his consent. Therefore she didn't expect anyone to be there when she was called up to be the act for that eveaning.

She really didn't want to be doing this not tonight but the Jazz band that was supposed to play cancelled because their car broke down three hours away. So this was her in the dressing room back stage still trying her hardest not to be nervous. She had sung in front of people before just not as many as where out there right now.

Closing her eyes as she tried to talk her self in to it for the last time. Opening her eyes she looked in the mirror that faced her. She swore she could still see the redness from her anger in her face that should have faded by now. She had split up with her boyfriend after being with him for six months that morning. It was his idea he said she needed sometime to think about what she wanted. So he wanted a brake. Why couldn't he just tell her it was over nicely instead of pushing it in her face like that.

She just screamed and shouted at him then left because she need time to think and calm down but got Sam's call so she really hadn't had time to think about anything that was said and now looking in to the mirror she realise. The one and only reason why it wouldn't work was the reason that plagued her life. How could you have a relationship without touch? But that was the thing she had just got control of her powers and was about to tell him when he broke it off.

"Rogue! You ready?" Sam the manager popped his head around the door to see her she turned and smiled at him "Good come on your on now." She just nodded at him. He smiled walking up to her and took her hair down from the ponytail so it was now framing her face. "There you go. You look pretty."

She was made to wear a silver glittery dress that hung off the shoulders and was very happy to show off her cleavage. She also had some white opera gloves on that where equipped with a glittery bracelet on one. The gloves where a part of her outfit because the manager new about her mutation. He was one of them humans that where fine with mutants he was one of Xavier's friends come to think of it. She would have felt self conscious if she hadn't got control of her powers but she still felt a bit nervous, it had been years since she had so much skin showing in front of people. She relaxed remembering she was going to be on the stage away from everyone at their tables.

She was walked to the stage and the audience where all told about the next act and how she was stepping in for them. Sighing to herself she would have a good time tonight no matter what. She had to.

She walked on to the stage smiling and she walked to the microphone and said the one thing that she could think of. She had a set list that Sam had made her read and she was all set.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman this first song is an old favourite and I'm sure you will all understand why. I hope you all enjoy your self's tonight and feel free to dance" she got a thumbs up from Sam who was back stage. As the music started an old blues song that everyone would know Fever she started to sing. Surprising everyone with her voice. Sam was shocked he knew she could sing often listening to her humming away at the end of the night when cleaning the bar or singing along with the song being played but he had never actually heard just her sing. Standing shocked he couldn't believe she had such a good voice for someone so young. Walking to the bad he thought he would do something while she entertained and enchanted the guests with her voice.

He found himself servings some guy who he had seen a couple of times in here. But he never really got his name but he looked like he was about to explode, like he had had enough for one day. When he noticed who was singing he seemed to swear at a hundreds of miles per hour and ordered another drink. He was drinking bourbon and it really wouldn't be long till he would be out for the count at the rate he was throwing his drinks back. Sam was surprised he was still sitting. But he didn't know that from where Remy came from the amount he had drunk was nothing and he wasn't even feeling the effects.

"Since when did Rogue sign up to sing?" he asked Sam sounding a bit annoyed.

"Well she wasn't suppose to be working tonight but the band I had lined up cancelled so I rung her knowing she can sing… but I tell you now I didn't think she was this good just listen to her" Remy new that Rogue could sing she would do it all the time when she was happy. "Asked well more like begged her to come down and sing for me and she said yes sounded a bit distant at the time." He eyed up the guy who sat there with a trench coat and sunglasses on. Sam new not to judge people so he didn't say anything just asked. "How'd you know Rogue?"

"Friends" he just simply said. An hour later and Remy ordered a triple and took it to a table at the back of the club where you could only just see him from the shadows if you squinted. He took his glasses off because he couldn't see other wise. And sighed a heavy sigh it had been such a long night.

"Ladies and Gentlemen this is the last song from me tonight. It is one of my own sorry if it sounds weird I only wrote this earlier. Its called Piece By Piece" (readers this song is by Katie Melua) She closed her eyes and sung…

First of all must go
Your scent upon my pillow
And then I'll say goodbye
To your whispers in my dreams.

She nearly chocked on her words remembering why she wrote this and what happened that morning because she had momentarily forgot.

And then our lips will part
In my mind and in my heart,
Cos your kiss
Went deeper than my skin.

Every word she was singing was true and it hurt even more. She opened her eyes and looked at the people around knowing they wouldn't see the pain that was within her eyes. Remy had to stop his contemplating to listen to this song and he could feel all her pain with his empathy. Why did he have to always make things harder for himself? He thought he would be doing her a favour if they had a brake he didn't want to break up just a week away from each other's constant company.

Piece by piece
is how I'll let go of you
Kiss by kiss
Will leave my mind one at a time
One at a time

She looked up and saw him then her eyes locked with his and he saw it all the emotion she had inside filling up her eyes with tears she wouldn't shed. These tears where his fault and seeing her eyes… Her beautiful green eyes swell up with tear that where his fault he new she wouldn't shed them at all with him there.

First of all must fly,
My dreams of you and I,
There's no point in holding on to those

When she noticed he was there she sung the words for him because they where about him. She let him know what she felt in a song knowing he new the true meaning. Holding back the tears she wouldn't cry not with him here.

And then our ties will break,
For your and my own sake,
Just remember,

Her voice threaded to brake but she willed it not to

This is what you chose

He bowed his head with those words; he couldn't look her in the eyes. He didn't chose to split up just to have a brake but it didn't come out like that. Why was this brake up hurting? Hurting more than before.

Piece by piece
Is how I'll let go of you
Kiss by kiss,
will leave my mind one at a time
One at a time

Sam noticed something was going on behind the scenes as he eyed her and the stranger up. That was an Upset Rogue and an upset stranger. Something went on there. He sighed as they say it was blind.

I'll shed like skin,
Our memories of lazy days,
And fade away the shadow of your face

She sung with her eyes closed not wanting to see his face.

Piece by piece
Is how I'll let go of you
Kiss by kiss,
Will leave my mind one at a time
One at a time
One at a time
One at a time

Ending slowly she said a quick thank you to the people before rushing off the stage. She rubbed her eyes and found her make up all over her hand. As the tears raced down her face now she was in the safety of four walls alone. She was all alone.

What was he doing here? Was a question that struck her as she cried trying her hardest to get dressed into her cloths while remembering some of the stuff said that morning. Words said lingering in the back of her head like ghosts…

"Its not like we could do any thing is it Rogue how could I ever hurt you? It's more like you hurting me! Denying me!"

"Your cold and bitter and here's an old Cajun thinkin' he could help ya out. I was stupid to think dat weren't I Rogue you never did have feelin's for me did you?"

"Ah try and try ta make yah happy Remy but yah are always wanting more an more of mah attention Ah'm not a lap dog, Ah'm not an object!"

"You're a player! A thief! An' a Liar! Why did ah ever think you could love meh!"

"I'm the king of hearts petite what you expect! You where a challenge for Remy he had to take it!"

Chocking back her tears that would have to wait she needed a drink and she would go and get one even if he is out there it wouldn't stop her. She would just avoid him. She had to for her own sake. She was glad she had worn her black and white pin strip trousers when she got up this morning and extra glad that she kept cloths at work in case a drink or something was spilt on her because she want wearing layers and layers of cloths when she left the room. She wanted to build her confidence just that little bit. She found her red long sleeved shirt and her bike gloves. So she put them on re doing her make up because it was all over her face. She would show him how strong she was. How he wouldn't get her down.

She went straight to the bar and Sam spoke "That was perfect! I know who I'll be coming to if I cant fill in the time table again" he laughed she smiled gently at him.

"What yah want me to do now Sammy?" she asked noticing that the club was still full and hearing the overhead music start up.

"Nothing your free to go for the night if you wish" she nodded "Let me guess…"he pretended to think "Double brandy?" this caused Rogue to laugh at his silly attempt to act.

"What else!" she giggled. She had a huge crush on Sam always had since she first met him but he was a bit old for her but then again Remy was 22 what was another two years. After all she was 19 going on 20. He had no problem with her drinking because she worked for him if she didn't he probably wouldn't allow it.

"I liked your song by the way. I found it very well written…" He said handing her the drink and watching he down it. "Looks like you needed that!" he smiled "Come here" he motioned for her to come round the bar because she was sitting at the end of it. She walked around and he motioned for a hug so she gave him a hug not realising how much she actually needed one. "He's an idiot and doesn't know what he's lost. Be strong Rogue and you will be fine." She held back more tears that treated to fall and smiled at him as they pulled away.

"Ah'll be fine as long as Ah'm not having coherent thoughts before ah go ta sleep tonight" they both cracked up laughing.

Remy watched them from where he sat feeling sick to the stomach with how she flirted with him. Was he jealous of that guy? What should he be he was Remy LeBeau could get any girl he wanted… only thing was the girl he wanted he had just lost. He scrolled at them when the guy hugged Rogue. He wanted to go over there and pull him off her and tell him where to go. He must be at least three years older then he was.

He would have to do something soon or he would die with the feeling of emptiness. When he downed the rest of his drink he got up and left not wanting to stay around long enough to maybe have another argument with her. As he climbed in to bed he silently asked him self a question one he would have to work for the answer. How was he going to get her back? Sinking in to his silk sheets he sighed he would start on a plan tomorrow right now he just needed to sleep. Not realising sleep wasn't going to come so easily not with everything on his mind.

She was completely drunk, and Sam wasn't to far behind her either. They decided when they had seen the last of the people out at 1 they would have a lock in.

"So Rogue you wanna come back to mine? Safe to say I think it's the best option at this time… " He went to check his watch but spilt his drink which made them laugh.

"Sam dat is the worst chat up line ah've heard yet! But your right." Because Sam owned the club he owned the flat above so he lived there meaning they just had to climb the stairs. Rogue lent over the bar to get a bottle of vodka but couldn't reach.

"What you doing?" came a slurred question

"Getting something for the journey!" she said holding it above her head as she got it. He laughed at her.

"Good idea the stairs don't look to good!" she giggled and then ran up then stopping at the top and watching him and his sexy smile and body walk up to meet her. He was around 6" 2 so taller then her which was a turn on. So when he stood over her she smiled sweetly. Leaning on the wall behind her as he leaned into her and said.

"Rogue your look so perfect what I wouldn't give to touch you right now…" she looked him in the eyes and smiled seductively saying.

"What would you do if I told you I want you to touch me right now?" he looked down at her lips and she could almost see the hunger in his eyes. "What if I told you could touch me right now?" That was it before she new it she was pushed against the door and kissed hard and it was like she was a puppet left for him to master. As he opened the door and shut it behind them all you could hear was a moan that left her throat as he played just the right strings and brought her to his room.