DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Marvel Characters, etc. If you have most likely heard any of the subject content before, then I didn't make it up. Don't sue, I have no money.

DEAR READER: There are a few important things you should know...I'll make this as short as possible so you'll actually stop to read it.
I don't read many X-Men comics, so I did a lot of research to make this story work Therefore...
Set sometime around Gambit (3rd Series) #22, 24
Some storyline content has been tinkered with (ex, Joseph didn't die)
WILL BE A TRILOGY (this particular part is all pretty much angst, but sets the premis for the next two Parts, which will have much more substantial plots and intruigue...it all ties in at the end...you'll see!

Enjoy!

"C'mon chère, concentrate. You can do dis." Gambit urged Rogue, just inches away from her own face. Even being blindfolded, she couldn't help but feel comforted with his New Orleans drawl and his firm grip around her wrists. But a brisk wind that brushed across her face quickly brought her back to reality. She was standing atop the roof of the institute for Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, wearing a blindfold and no gloves over her hands, with Remy LeBeau gently gripping her wrists.

"Remy, this is stupid. It didn' work on the ground, and Ah don' see how it's gonna work up here. Now why don' we just quit before yah get hurt, hmm?" How could Gambit ask her to concentrate on relaxing when she was concentrating so hard on keeping her balance? She knew that just one slip and her skin could easily graze his hands. Although she was blessed with unimaginable strength and the ability to fly, she would willingly trade them both for skin to skin contact. This, however hard she tried, would never likely become a reality. Every time she touched someone's bare skin, she would feed on their energy and absorb their powers. This could either render them permanently powerless, weak, or possibly even dead.

"No, Rogue. We gonna work t'rough dis. De Professor believe dis will work, an' so do I. If we can jus' get you to trust me an' stop t'inkin' bout de bad stuff dat could happen, you might be able to control dem powers of yours. Dat's what holdin' you back, chère. You doubtful it gonna work, so it won't. An' if it mean dat we gotta stand on a roof for you to realize dat I ain't gonna let nuttin' bad happen, den so be it. We haven't fallen, your hand din' slip yet, chère. Now relax…"

Gambit slowly lowered his two gloved fingers over the palm of her right hand, which Rogue quickly withdrew in a heartbeat.

"Aw, now dat was just my gloved finger, girl." Gambit sighed.

"Ah'm sorry sugah. I jus' don't think Ah can do this right now. Ah mean, we've been up here for hours and Ah just seem tah be gettin' worse." Frustrated, Rogue tugged off her blindfold with her free hand and tucked it in Gambit's front coat pocket. She then wrapped her arm around his torso and flew him safely to the ground.

Being so close to him again felt extremely good, something that they had both avoided for months. What once seemed to be an innocent, genuine relationship was now pitted with lies and periods of deceit. Sure, she still had feelings for Remy, but she wasn't sure how she could base a relationship on mistrust. The topic of Gambit's alliance with Mr. Sinister was still an open wound, and the fact that Rogue had left Gambit stranded in the Antarctic was no better than salt. And really, that was just the beginning. Years of being an 'on-again/off-again' couple had left them both with some, shall we say, interesting stories. Basically, they both needed some time apart to sort through their guilt, and only then could they possibly find some solace in one another. It was a complicated story that still made Rogue's head spin.

"Why de hell she keep pushing me away? Remy know it just a matter of time till we work trough de kinks. Fine. So Remy give her de time she need, we take dis slowly." He thought to himself.

Gambit's lips broke into a wide, genial smile. "You don' give yourself enough credit. Gambit knows you got a lotta power, an' a lotta strength. You strong enough t'do anyt'ing you put your pretty little mind to. You'll see chèrie. You'll control your power one day."