Crystal nodded. "Yeah, I will," she said quietly. "No guarantees I'll stay as long as you do, though."

"No objections t' that, chere," Remy replied. He put an arm around her gently. "But Gambit thinks maybe you need t' get away from here for a bit, and there's nothin' wrong with some wanderin'."

Crystal nodded, leaning into him just a little. "Right. Well, we'll go at the end of the week, then. See how things go."

Remy nodded, letting her get comfortable.

"Sounds like a plan, then," he said. "Pack light, chere, only what you can comfortably carry. The rest'll be waitin' for you when you get back."

Crystal nodded. "That won't be a problem." She knew how to pack light. But she didn't make any move away from him.

"Good." Remy didn't make any move to let her go, either, even as they ended up moseying their way back to the mansion.

Going up the stairs and into the mansion was awkward so Crystal moved a bit away for that, heading back into the kitchen to fix tea.

Remy reluctantly let her go, heading in to see if the children needed entertaining.

By the end of the week, Crystal was pretty well prepared to go. She'd stuffed things in a duffel bag that Charles had given her and baked some goodies for them to munch on.

Remy packed even lighter than that: he had a single knapsack that held just about everything he owned. Of course, he was much more used to wandering, and he didn't let Charles try to give him things.

"Ready, chere?" he asked, slinging his bag over one shoulder.

Crystal nodded. "I'm ready," she agreed, motioning for him to lead the way.

Remy grinned and headed out the door. It felt good to start traveling again.

"So should we do this the easier way," he asked, "or Gambit's way? It's possible to catch buses all the way to New Orleans, but Gambit's hitchhiked the whole way before, too."

Crystal shrugged. "Either way," she said. "Maybe start on a bus and go part of the way that way." Since she wasn't used to traveling, much less hitchhiking.

"Sounds good," Remy said, changing course slightly so they were headed for the bus station.

Crystal followed him, letting him decide where they went. But she did stick decently close to him anyway, just in case.

Once at the bus station, Remy managed to get his hands on a pair of bus tickets to South Carolina.

"Takin' the bus usually takes a buncha stops," he said, handing her one of the tickets. "Gambit usually gets off anywhere from Richmond to Atlanta. These'll take us as far as Raleigh, we can decide where t' go from there."

Crystal nodded. "Sounds good," she said, taking her ticket and examining it for a moment. Their bus hadn't arrived yet, so she stretched briefly. "And once we get to New Orleans?"

"We have some fun," Remy replied. "Wander around, visit th' good places t' eat, just take it all in."

Crystal nodded. "Okay. Sounds good to me." She looked over when their bus arrived. "Shall we?"

"After you, chere," Remy said, grinning and gesturing to the bus.

Crystal hopped on, showed her ticket, and headed to the back of the bus to find a decently comfortable spot to settle down. She did leave room for Remy though, if he wanted.

Remy followed her onto the bus, stowing his bag and settling into the seat next to her.

"May as well get comfortable, chere, it's a long ride."

Crystal nodded and relaxed there. She could deal with a long bus ride.

"Is this how you got back to Charles's?"

"Nah," Remy replied as he settled in. "Hitch hiked, mostly. Lotsa truckers willin' t' take a passenger a little ways."

Crystal snorted. "And of course you're not worried about serial killers or anything." She could understand why but still.