Rogue silently followed Remy into a small, decidedly cozy-looking house of wood situated in the heart of the nearby woods, keeping her senses alert every second. Ahead of her, Remy whistled on casually, taking very little notice of her, though there were times when Rogue thought she could detect him looking at her out of the corners of her eyes with an almost admiring look.

Geez! That horny fellow! Wonder if I've already made a mistake in agreeing to this?

"Now, do make yourself at home," Remy said amiably, pushing the door open and gesturing to Rogue to sit on a small chair by a small table. "Whatever you do, don't expect amazing hospitality here. This is about all I have."

"I didn't ask for some luxurious place," Rogue reminded him.

"Not much point in asking either," Remy remarked. "Now, just you sit here awhile, while I fetch something."

"Fetch what?"

"Something." Without waiting for Rogue's reply, he strode away into another part of the house, soon lost to sight.

Patiently and quietly, Rogue sat alone on her chair, waiting.

Remy, in the meantime, sought his own privacy in the room which he now used as a bedroom for sleeping. Even for a man like him, being around Rogue the entire time was never something easy, for the girl bore a certain nature which always somehow made dealing with her quite a colossal task. Even when she was not angry or upset, she bore an unusually prickly, over-wary nature which always had a tendency to bring up in her a more feral, dangerous side. And not even Remy was quite prepared to deal with that side of her – not just yet, anyway. Not until he had successfully tamed her.

Are you sure you're that willing to do this? his conscience demanded silently, at the back of his mind. Are you so sure, Remy LeBeau? Are you sure? Do you think this is one of Shakespeare's tales, where you're playing the part of that guy in 'The Taming of the Shrew', all ready to tame that tigress Katarina? Get real, man! Are you absolutely sure you're really going to get out of her what you really want?

"Oh, quit it," he muttered angrily. "You know I do, Mr. Conscience. Why don't you just shut up and stop bothering me for once?"

I don't think so! Just look at the way you were looking at her just now! As though you already harbour secret desires for her! Huh!

Remy growled with annoyance, and chucked his stick onto the floor besides him.

"Remy! Remy LeBeau!"

"Coming, missy!" he yelled back, bending down to pick up the stick from the floor. Goodness, what does she want already?

"Now, what's up?" he demanded somewhat ungraciously, returning to the room where he had left her sitting. Her arms were now folded across her chest defensively, her lips thin and wary, her eyes well-guarded. "Got some problem already?"

"Luckily, no. But, I do have questions, Remy LeBeau, which I expect to be answered."

"Ask on."

"Why did you take me in?" she demanded bluntly, getting straight to the point. "I don't know why, Remy, but something about this has suddenly struck me as false. Something just doesn't feel quite right. You certainly seem like the last man on earth to be concerned about someone's welfare. I'm honestly starting to feel you're simply trying to play some kind of game with me here."

"Oh dear me," he sighed, a mocking smile twisting his lips, "you offend me so, Rogue. Do I really come across as such a tyrant?"

"You know what I mean," Rogue said warningly. "Go on, Remy. Tell the truth! Why should you bother about me?"

"Because I don't want to see ya languishing with sheer agony and misery out there in the streets," he replied. "That would be such a waste of your life, isn't it? Is that what you want, eh?"

"A waste of my life? Wow. You actually care?" Rogue sneered.

"A waste of your life, and your powers."

"Oh? So, you only care about my powers. Thank you so much, Remy! I expected better!"

She rose stiffly, and made as if to exit there and then. Swiftly, Remy raced forward, and, bolting the door shut, blocked the exit instantly.

"Now, sit down, Rogue, and let's sort this out, once and for all."

Rogue simply stared back at him boldly.

"Sit down, Rogue. There. Just sit down…"

"You and your sorting out," Rogue growled, finally obeying.

"If I only were interested in your powers, I wouldn't have chosen you to be taken in," Remy said sensibly. "If power was my sole intention, I would certainly have taken in a far…tamer and more benevolent mutant, believe me. But I took you in simply because, as I've said before, I don't want to see you suffering out there in the streets alone, living a life of fear and loneliness, wondering how to deal with your awful powers. Remy here does have a heart, you know." Much to his own surprise, Remy found that he actually meant what he said; it felt sincere somehow, and not as though he was merely conjuring up tales to satisfy Rogue.

Goodness, before I know it, I'll have turned into some sentimental, woman-like man showing care and concern to every single sufferer out there in New York!

"You have a heart?" Rogue seemed to be almost smiling now, with a mixture of amusement and distrust.

"Oh, of course," Remy replied smoothly. "Why else would I care for you? Were I heartless, I would have left you out there on the streets to find your own road out, that's for certain."

"Huh!"

"It's true, Rogue." Remy's voice grew lower and silkier, as he took a step forward, and tilted Rogue's chin upwards with his gloved hand, so that she was forced to meet his eyes. "It's true. And I think by the time this month's over, you'll learn to accept me as a…friend, or someone close enough to fulfill that criteria."

"You really think so?" Rogue smirked, wishing that Remy's voice wasn't so close to hers; it made her feel extremely uncomfortable and peculiar inside.

"Oh, of course. We haven't quite warmed up properly to each other yet, that's all. But when we have, trust me, I think we'll get along better than you think we can."

"You can initiate that by letting my face go," Rogue suggested stiffly.

Slowly, Remy lowered his hand, casting her a weird sort of grin, making the insides of Rogue's body churn suddenly with an emotion she thought herself incapable of feeling.

Looks like life here is gonna be very eventful! two minds thought simultaneously.

Well, like it, guys??? Please review and tell me what you think!!!

Wooooh!!! Seven reviews for the previous chapter? Great!!! Thanks, everyone, for reviewing!!! Please continue reviewing!!! I'll try and put up the next chapter as soon as possible, seeing I'll be having a holiday very soon!!! Yeah!!!