A/N: Hello to everybody! By some mysterious reason my attention was grabbed by X-Men Evolution series, even if I am quite a fan of X-Men on the whole, it remained in shadows to me for quite some time. Anyway, Remy and Rogue are a match made in Heaven and the Evolution version of the X-Men gives it an interesting angle, which I decided to explore.

We all know that the authors here use the information from all X-men versions and I will be no exception. I will also use one of Remy's traits that aren't exactly popular with the Evolution fanfiction authors. I didn't even attempt to put Remy and Rogue accents, but I tried to put in most characteristic words that I picked from other fics.

I thought this fic was long forgotten so I didn't think much about editing it, but it is still read, which I am very grateful for of course. That's why I decided to repost all the chapters with correct name spelling this time. The complainers know what I am talking about.

Also, I am working on another Romy right now, so stay toned.

Disclaimer: X-Men and everything connected to them belong to MARVEL (They are truly marvelous, aren't they?), I humbly reserve for myself only the way Rogue's gets the control over her powers.

Pain of Happiness by Lady Arabella Malfoy

Chapter One: Surprises

A lot of things have changed in Xavier Institute for the Gifted in five years after the X-Men's defeat of the Apocalypses. First of all the X-Men as they were didn't exist anymore. The kids grew up and moved on with their lives and returned to their home towns, trying to adjust their special abilities to normal lives. But they were unable to, because with years the mutant genes were being found in more and more kids, with that grew the antimutant movement, which riots become more and more violent.

Despite the obviously aggressive opposition, professor Xavier continued to welcome kids with activated mutant genes and trained them to control the powers and use them for the benefit of humanity and not against it. Despite all his efforts violence was also the trait of mutants who formed gangs to 'protect' their right to exist.

It was obvious now that mutation wasn't just a temporary epidemic, but a new step in human evolution and somehow ordinary people had to come to terms with it. It wasn't that easy of course...

The Institute remained to be a shelter for everyone who wished to learn to control their power for whatever reasons. Professor knew that even if his students would be using their powers for harm, they at least will be able to control it, because the cases of mutant's power accidental use were even more dangerous to society.

With the constant growth of students' numbers the Institute was expanded to have several smaller schools across the world. All the older students that had completed their training become teachers in those 'academies' as they were called.

Every one of the former X-Men was somehow involved in something or with someone except for one. After all those years Rogue still remained in the Institute. She had no-one and nowhere to go, so she stayed to help teaching the fresh mutants to the extent of her abilities. Speaking of Rogue's abilities... Even if Rogue was considered to be the most powerful mutant on Earth if she managed to control her powers, she definitely wasn't anything near it. Rogue's highest achievement so far was the sorting out of her physics. In other words they weren't driving her mad anymore. As for other things... She still wore gloves despite the season.

...

One day in mid summer Rogue was walking down the hall, passing Professor's office. She was just going to her room when she heard Logan's rough bark coming from behind the door. She couldn't help but feel curious, because Logan was far from usual guest at the Xavier's.

"Why should we use him?" Logan grunted.

"Because, Logan, he has the best experience," Xavier answered in his usual calm tone.

"But we can ask Kitty. She is pretty good with computers too."

"This isn't just a petty hacking into another person's inbox, Logan. This is much more serious. We can't afford to make a mistake or be detected, which is even worse."

"But how can we trust him? He is as greasy as a slug."

"From his previous records I know that he is a businessman. We just need to seal the deal right."

"And how do you plan to settle this? Bring him here?"

"I don't think this is necessary, Logan. We can send someone to negotiate."

"Well, I am surely not going to volunteer."

"I have someone else in mind. Rogue, why don't you step inside?"

Okay, Rogue knew that Professor knew that she was standing there, yet she still pursued her curiosity. Who they were talking about? What could be so difficult and important to retrieve? Were they talking about someone whose mutancy was ability to hack into anything?

"Ah was just passing by…" Rogue began with finding something close to excuse.

"I was just thinking about summoning you," Xavier stated. "We have a very important mission for you. A lot depends on your success. Maybe even existence of the whole mutant kind."

Rogue started to feel uneasy. The fact that she had little field experience as of late didn't bother her, she could kick whenever whoever's ass. But the whole importance thing wasn't really good, tactfulness wasn't really a trait Rogue was praised for. And important things usually required tact, discreetness and no rush actions, which Rogue was definitely famous for.

"So what am Ah to do?" she asked.

"I want you to retrieve some very important and thus classified information."

"You know, Professor, that Ah am not really good at detective work."

"I know, Rogue, but you will hopefully have help. Help in the face of Mr. Remy LeBeau."

'That was definitely unexpected. But considering Logan's reaction... What was it, five years or more that we last saw each other? Ah wonder what happened to him. Well, he is alive as it seems. Maybe even married. Oh no, not this Cajun Casanova. This one will run after very skirt till he goes gray.'

"Hm, hm," Xavier coughed politely to catch her attention.

"So you want meh to talk to him?" Rogue asked. She didn't ask why she had been chosen. She was the only one from the X-Men who ever talked to the guy. The question was if she wanted to talk to him again.

"To work with him, to be more precise," Xavier answered.

Rogue wanted to growl. Logan actually did. "Can't you sort this out telepathically?" Rogue asked in hope she won't communicate with the Cajun for a long period of time.

"Unfortunately, I can't. It is a very delicate matter, Rogue. You know him better than any of us, so you'll surely find a way to make him cooperate with us."

'Yeah, Ah sure can,'Rogue thought with sarcasm. 'Whatever. You still can read my thoughts, Professor, so Ah surely don't see any point in hiding what Ah think of Gambit and this assignment.' "So where can Ah find this retrieving expert?" Rogue asked this time aloud, but with a good portion of sarcasm nevertheless. Professor chucked under his breath, which made Rogue roll her eyes. "N'awlins, here Ah come."

...

During the journey to the New Orleans Rogue had time to think about the upcoming meeting. She did have time, but somehow couldn't think of anything. Five years was a long period of time. A lot of things could happen. He might've even forgotten her completely. What was she to him? Another girl who he flirted with, nothing more. As if she wanted him to remember her as something special. No way! They did seem to have a connection though...

'Well, this is only an assignment. There and back in ten days. Nothing special.'

...

According to the latest information from Cerebro Gambit was living in New Orleans. The hard part was that he was located in the mansion of the Thieves' Guild, which was hard to get into, even if it wasn't as unpenetretable as the Assassins' Guild.

Rogue thought of different strategies of how to get into the building, but decided to go with the direct approach. That's why Rogue found herself in front of the gates in the fence that surrounded the Guild's territory.

"What do you want?" barked a male voice, after Rogue pressed the button on the intercom.

"I would like to see Remy LeBeau."

"What do you want?" the speaker asked again.

"I want to discuss a deal," Rogue said, adding a bit of mystery, as if the deal was very beneficial.

"Who are you?"

"Tell him, Ah am an old acquaintance."

"Are you stupid, little girl? What if you are form the Assassins? Even if everything is okay with them right now." The last part was muttered as an afterthought, but Rogue heard and couldn't help but wonder what it meant.

"Tell him it is Rogue."

The wait was surprisingly short. The gate opened and Rogue headed to the main door of the two store building. Another surprise awaited here when the door was opened by a sixteen year old boy.

"You came to Remy, non?" he asked, looking Rogue up and down with caution.

"Yeah."

"Follow me."

Rogue followed, for some reason feeling anticipation. The boy led her into a cabinet looking room, which was another astonishing fact to Rogue. The bedroom was far more expected. Not that she wanted to be in his bedroom...

"Rogue, what a surprise," came a masculine drawl.

"You finally addressed meh by name," Rogue responded, sizing up the man in front of her. Seeing him without the battle uniform was unusual, of course, but nothing exactly changed in the Gambit she meet almost six years ago. The same lean body and light auburn hair and of course those unusual piercing eyes, which at that moment weren't roaming around her curvy body, but were locked with hers.

"Emilien, you may go. And Remy means really go."

"Okay, okay, as if I watch you two through the key hole or something," the boy threw on his way out.

Rogue couldn't help but feel appalled. 'What was the boy implying? And who is this little squirt anyway?'

"What brings you to my humble bayou, chere?" Remy asked when Rogue remained silent for several minutes.

"Ah told you not to call me that," she spat in response. He only shrugged, sending her one of his smirks. "Professor sent me."

"Remy is not joining," Remy cut her off.

"He doesn't ask you to join. He wants you to steal something for him."

"Now that's more interesting... And you are here... to persuade me?" The implications behind the smirk were too obvious.

"Oh, shut it, Swamp Rat. Professor wants a one time deal, nothing more. You steal it, give it to me and Ah am out of here."

"So soon?"

'Huh? Is it longing that I hear?' "Ah was given ten days for everything."

"Deal."

"What? You won't even ask what needs to be stolen, conditions, anything?"

"What for?"

"Don't thieves, assassins or everyone for that matter care what they are going to get involved into?"

Remy made a dismissive gesture with his hand as if saying, "Why must I care about others?" Aloud he said, "Why doesn't Emilien show you to your room and we will discuss business matters, as much as Remy doesn't want to, during lunch?"

Before Rogue could show her protest to staying under the same roof with the Cajun, Emilien entered the room. 'So much for not eavesdropping,' Rogue thought with despise for the perverted boy.

"Please, take Rogue to the guestroom in the east wing."

"But it isn't near yours!" Emilien protested.

"It isn't near yours either so bit it," Remy chilled the boy.

The teenager shrugged, took Rogue's backpack and headed out of the room, Rogue reluctantly followed. Being in the Thieves' Guild for the first time, she couldn't help but look around. The building was surely several centuries old, but was well cared for and looked sound and comfortable, but at the same time modern and light. From a distance Rogue heard sounds of construction. And indeed in the next hall they passed several workers who were repairing the ceiling of the hallway.

"Remy is redecorating the house," Emilien explained, seeing Rogue's confused expression. "Hah, here is your room. I won't accompany you to lunch, if that is what you are afraid of."

"What? As if Ah want to be alone with that Swamp Rat! I've heard of hormonal teenagers that this is unspeakable! If Ah didn't know better, Ah'd thought you were Remy Junior!"

"Yeah," the boy drawled with a small smile and left Rogue to her own devices.

A/N: So what do you think so far? I have 14 chapters ready, but I seem kinda stuck, so… Give me inspiration with you reviews, why don't you?