Summary: Based on The Reunion pt. 2 from "X-men the animated series."

Disclaimer: I must give credit where credit is due, that being said, X-man does not belong to be but to Stan Lee, Marvel and the other creators.

Authors Note: This is one of my favorite episodes from "X-men the animated series." Actually, all my favs are the ones that feature Gambit and Rogue and have them interacting in some way. (Sigh) Gosh I love Romy! Anyway, I started this story many many moons ago, and finally decided to finish it. (there are so many stories I've started and need to finish). I have to give a special shout out to SeptemberGirl84 who wrote a story based on this episode as well. See, further proof that this is a great epy.

I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think!

My Cherie

By: Nicole

Part I:

The blue rays of lightning shot forth from the machine and collided with Magnetos body, electrifying every cell of his anatomy, forcing a painstaking cry from his throat as his body convulsed under the unrelenting hand of the blast. His legs gave out, unable to bear the pain he lost consciousness, now only held erect by his bound arms held captive by the vines protruding from the wall. Sinister reached forth to turn the machine off before it stole the last breath from the magnetic mutant. The fiery blue glow dissipated from Magnetos unconscious face, leaving a mere shadow of what was once a great source of strength.

They all looked on with fearful eyes at what was to come as Sinister demonstrated the power of his machine. Vertigo removed the helmet from her white hair and rose from the chair, marveling in the newfound power that now ran through her veins. The tall slender woman could hardly contain herself, finally realizing the capabilities of Sinister's master plan. "Magnetos strength flows through me!"

"Show them." His voice was laced with anticipated amusement.

Eager to please her master and demonstrate her powers, Vertigo did not hold back as she released an energy blast, on the imprisoned X-men. The incredible force paralyzed them where they stood, and try as they might to fight it, it was to no avail, as their weakened forms sank to the floor.

Before she fell, Rogue reached for Gambit's jacket lapel, holding on to it for dear life, wanting desperately to be near him if this was to be their last moment together. She breathed his name through a painful gasp, as her limbs were no longer able to hold her weight and she collapsed, succumbing to the cold, hard stone of the prison bottom. She heard the others join her on the floor shortly thereafter, but the forthcoming terror she expected inhibited her from even tilting her head in the slightest direction.

She felt someone crawl over her weakened body, as a pair of arms wrapped around her torso, pulling her against a broad chest as a hand gently cradled her head. She found herself peering into a bed of red roses against a midnight sky, the familiar red on black eyes were a soothing site, even now, even in this nightmare. She knew that she would not ask for anything more, but the presence of the man who held her now. Gambit. Her Gambit.

As she began to lose herself in his eyes, she noticed that they did not hold the same gaze they usually possessed. That fire, confidence, brilliance that she loved was gone; and in its stead was a deeply rooted amount of concern that could not be put into words, but only spoken through the depth of his eyes. He cared; he cared more than she would know.

She opened her mouth to speak, wanting to ease his pain by feigning her pain and clouding her fear. But she could not. "Ah, Ah'm frightened Gambit."

She wanted to be brave for him, for her friends, for the X-men. She had always been so strong, practically invulnerable, but that was before, when she had her powers. But now, now she had nothing. "Ah don't know how to fight them without mAh powers."

Gambit saw the detailed portrait of fear plastered on Rogue's porcelain face. She was confiding in him, trusting him completely with her thoughts and insecurities; something she had never done before, at least not completely. Two things occurred to him in this moment, one, he would sacrifice himself before he would let anything happen to her, and two, he utterly, and completely loved her.

"Take her next." The sinister words were spoken as his black lips seemed to twist upwards into a smile and his words echoed throughout the room.

All heads in the room toward to look at Rogue, knowing that in a matter of seconds she would suffer the same fate as Magneto, if not worse. Storm, Jean, Cyclops and Beast were too weak to make a move, knowing that nothing could be done without their powers. Professor Xavier, held captive next to Magnetos form, was about to witness the possible destruction of one of his pupils in which he was powerless to stop.

Gambit automatically tightened his grip around her waist as he lowered his head inches from her face, with an almost pleading look. "Be brave, chere." He paused only briefly finally ready to confess the contents of his heart openly and say the words that he's always known to be true but never voiced. "Gambit never say dis to anyone before. Gambit, loves you."

His lips found hers, and because they did not have their powers, they were not denied the comforting touch of a sweet kiss.

Before she could fully relish in the glorious feeling of his lips upon hers, a pair of rough hands yanked her from Gambit's embrace and before she knew what was happening she was on the other side of the prison, being dragged towards the vacant wall next to Magnetos limp form.

"No!" Gambits cry went upon deaf ears as his hands flung upon the black bars and his muscles struggled against them in vain. There was nothing that he could do.

The green vines tightened around Rogue's hands, stealing her movement and abating the fleeting fight she had left. Sinster's chalky hand caressed her check, causing her to freeze with fright underneath his cold touch.

"So beautiful, yet so strong."

Gambits eyes glowed a piercing red that seemed deadly enough to burn a hole through the iron bars that imprisoned him.

"Ready the machine" Sinister commanded.

Professor Xavier turned his head, not able to watch one of his students suffer possibly a worse fate than Magneto had. He could not help but blame himself for summoning his beloved X-men into the death trap that they now found themselves in. He had failed them.

Storm, Cyclops and Beast averted their eyes as well, not able to witness the forthcoming action that would be rendered unto Rogue, and soon themselves as well.

Only Gambit's eyes remained locked on the scene in front of them all. Only his eyes stayed glued to the beautiful woman known as Rogue; the woman he had just professed his love to. He was about to witness her destruction and he was powerless to do anything about it.

But hidden in the room were another set of eyes glued on Rogue and the machine that was slowly turning to align directly in front of her.

Snkt. Six adamantium claws sprung out of Wolverine's clenched fists in his crouched position near the entrance.

Sinister's faithful midget minion, Brainiac, danced eagerly in his seat with his hand hovering above the button on the machine.

"Now." Sinister's word was final.

It all happened in a flash: The blue light illuminating upon Rouge, the painful scream, the horror behind Gambit's eyes, the sound of adamantium slicing through the genetic thieving machine, the collapse of Rogue's body and the release of Morph and the Professor, courtesy of Wolverine.

The imprisoned X-men's cards had now turned, as Wolverine ran towards the prison door, ready to free his comrades. He raised his right arm high ready to make contact with the metal bars, but was instantly brought down by the violent wrath of Sinister's blast. Wolverine plummeted to the ground by the prison doors before he could make so much as a scratch.

Gambit cursed aloud.

Professor Xavier, newly freed by Wolverine turned to his old student. "Morph, you free Magnus and Rogue. I'll destroy the machine that controls our powers." Using the newfound use of his legs, due to their powers inhibition, Professor Xavier was ready to take action.

Morph cut through the vines that held Rogue erect whereupon causing her to fall like a rag doll into his open arms.

Gambit could no longer just sit there and wait to be rescued. He needed to get out now and get to Rogue, only then would she truly be safe. He stretched a long arm through the bars, grabbing a handful of Wolverines uniform and pulled his unconscious body in close proximity to the prison. "Now is not da time for a nap, mon ami." Gambit picked up the X-man's right arm, carefully bypassing the sharp claws, and taking a solid grip he forcefully slammed the claws through the bars, cutting them easily. The door to the jail cell creaked opened, relenting from the might of Wolverines cutting blades.

A blast from Vertigo sent Professor Xavier to his knees, prohibiting him from destroying the machine and returning their mutant powers back to the X-men. Morph picked up a lone gun from the floor, while still cradling Rouge in his other arm. He took aim at Vertigo, but before he could pull the trigger, a sudden pain bombarded his head, causing him to drop to the ground in agony, as a voice clouded his mind and echoed in his head. "They left you. They abandoned you. Your only mission is to destroy the X-men. Destroy the X-men."

Cyclops threw his body into Vertigo before she could get another shot at the Professor. "Quick, everybody, destroy the machine!" commanded the leader of the X-men.

"Mutates, stop them!" Sinisters command called attention to his green henchman Amphibious, the four armed looking caveman, Barbarus and the white wolfman, Lupo. Lupo launched himself at Beast, creating a cloud of white and blue flying pieces of fur. Amphibious hoped towards Storm who easily dodged the green amphibian, while gambit had to fight off four different fists belonging to Barbarus.

The eyes belonging to Morph, darkened to their familiar navy hue as he smiled wickedly and aimed the gun at Cyclops and took a shot, only to miss as his fray with Vertigo was becoming intense. Morph grunted in frustration silently willing the commander of the X-men to hold still so he could get in a decent shot. "I'll teach you to leave me," he snarled angrily, the power of Sinister's control written all over his face.

Morph felt something grasp his leg and he turned his attention to the floor, where he made out a faint plee from a woman he used to call friend.

"Morph. Please. Don't do it." Rogue's voice was lacking in strength, but it was sound. "We are your friends."

Morph swerved the gun towards Rogue, the pistol trembling in his hand from frustration. "Friends! What kind of friends would leave a man behind –"

"One of the X-men" Morph grabbed his head again, but this time not due to pain, but just due to another presence. "You are still one of the X-men, one of the X-men."

"Professor?" Morph questioned as he fell to his knees trying to make sense of all the thoughts swirling in his head, not knowing what was real anymore. The gun bounced to the ground as he grabbed the temples of his head in confusion.

Rogue, understanding what was happening, knowing the signs of having multiple voices in your head, managed to acquire a sit up position and crawled over to Morph.

Gambit had gained the upper hand (or rather the upper four hands) with Barbarus by knocking him out with a metal pipe. "You never told Gambit he had to play fair." When it came to helping Rogue, he would do whatever he had to do in order to ensure her safety. When it came to Rogue, all bets were off.

Cyclops seemed to be losing his upper hand against Vertigo, who had delivered a heavy blow to him. Quickly regaining his footing Cyclops, hoped back up, unwilling to let his team down and be deterred from his objective of destroying the machine. Grabbing a metal pipe he made it up in his mind to not stop for nothing until he made it to the machine. Veritgo seeing the determination in his eyes, delivered a fire blast aimed at the usually visor wearing mutant. Cyclops barely bypassed the blast that now found its way heading past him towards the balcony. Towards the balcony lay a confused and mentally pained Morph. Towards the balcony, was a crawling, wounded Rogue, now at Morph's side. The blast was headed towards the balcony.

Two images were seen at the same moment, both different, both from two perspectives. Rogue saw a blue fire ball coming in the direction of herself and Morph. Without a second thought Rogue laid her body atop of Morph, protecting him like a mother protects her young. A blue fire ball was seen through the pair of green eyes.

Gambit saw his heart being ripped out from inside his chest, which is what would occur if the blast hit the woman it was headed towards, the woman who he was designed to be with.

The blast smashed into Rogue, throwing her off of Morph and flinging her over the balcony, disappearing from everyone's line of vision. The moment the blast hit Rouge, Gambit's feet were moving. As she tumbled through the air Gambit's heart was racing. As she fell over the balcony, swirling downwards from the high tower into the murky waters of the Savage Land, Gambit was jumping readily going wherever Rogue had gone. And so it came to pass that he too had now disappeared from everyone's line of vision as he had thrown himself over the balcony to go after Rogue.

Sailing through the air at such height and such speed was nothing to him as he prepared himself for the impact of the river. The water was cold. It was like a hundred needles were stabbing his skin, penetrating through the sensitive layer as he was submerged far deeper than he had anticipated. He fought against the waves that seemed to pull him back as he surfaced straining his eyes and neck for any hint or sign of movement that would identify his beloved.

"Rogue!" The sound seemed to be lost in the mist of this savaged land as the waters were too loud to allow any verbal pleas to be echoed forth. He splashed around, doing a desperate panoramic survey of the raging river, hoping for a hint of the woman he loved.

How long could one survive underwater he wondered as panic began to seize every muscle in his body. Minutes? How much time had now passed? For to him it seemed that every second was an eternity, and it was seconds that were ticking by and prohibiting him from the thing he needed most.

What if he couldn't find her? What if she were already swallowed by the monstrous waves and taken from him forever? If that were the case then he would allow himself to be taken as well, devoured by that which he fought to stay afloat in. All he had to do was let go and the watery grip would tighten its hold and pull him down to the abyss.

It was a hand that ceased these thoughts and made him spring to life again; Rouge's hand, bobbing on the surface a short distance away. Her head was not visible, only her hand and he had to get to it before it disappeared and all view of her would be eradicated from his sight. He swam with all his might, using every muscle his body possessed until he was able to reach out for her hand and pull her head above water.

She was unconscious, almost lifeless as he secured a strong arm around her waist clinging her body to his, as he fought the waves back to keep them both afloat. Land. Land is what he needed and in the direction that he swam. The river had drained some of his energy in his search for Rogue, but once their bodies connected again, it was like a burst of new life suddenly flowed through him providing him with the needed strength to get them both to shore.

He carried Rogue in his arms, thankful to be upon dry land. Her body hung languidly in his arms, dripping sprinkles of water as he made his way towards a cave opening. Gambit gently laid her body against a wall at the entrance, brushing the wet hair out of her face. He put two fingers to her pulse on her neck and let out a sigh as he felt a faint pulse. Bending down he rendered a tender kiss to her forehead. "Be back in a moment chere."

No answer preceded from her lips, as she laid like a corpse against the sturdy wall. It only took Gambit a moment to gather dry logs, twigs, pinecones and grassy moss material to start a fire. He was thankful for stumbling across two rocks of similar size that were perfect for sparking a fire.

He had no time to lose, as he was already beginning to shiver from his wet clothes. Hitting the rocks together relentlessly, a spark suddenly caught, starting a makeshift campfire. Gambit dropped down on the ground and carefully begin to blow on the moss, that was glowing orange from the sparks, trying to get it to spread to the logs and pinecones. Slowly, they began to catch, and soon the fire would be big enough to heat up the whole cave entrance.

Gambit, proud of his fire, hurriedly went to Rogue's side. "Don't worry, Gambit'll get you warm Cherie. Gambit'll get you warm."