Shit, you guys! XD Now I have ideas for this story! Seriously, I've been writing for this nearly non-stop since Sunday afternoon. It'll be a correlation story I guess. We see what's going on with Rogue and Remy in the present, but also how they met before the events of Wolverine and the X-Men.

But yeah, you can expect a few chapters in the next few days (so long as I don't get too much homework from school).

BTW, for this chapter, I might recommend listening to Josh Groban's "Remember When It Rained". It gives this chapter a much more sensual feel then sexual.

Disclaimer: Marvel owns all X-Men related things, though I own this fic and the general concept for it.

Rating: Rated T for language and subject matter. *EDIT* Now Rated M.

Enjoy the story!!!

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The night had gone spectacularly more successful then Remy had hoped for, considering he came up with all of it on the fly. Simple dinner and dancing was an understatement to his current involvement with the lovely southern belle. The night had been a game for them. The first time in a long time they both were able to cut loose for a bit. Enjoying the life they had been missing out on for the last year.

Rogue was currently swaying her hips to the Latin music playing at the salsa club they had found in the city. It was like she was born to dance to it. She knew the salsa, cha-cha, mambo and meringue, and somehow, all dancing them in such a way that would make any man drool. Not to mention she had had one too many drinks at the bar. She was completely lost in the music and probably would not have stopped until the music did. Thank God Remy wasn't a weak dancer by any standards, but he certainly didn't know how he was keeping up with her. How she had tossed her hair, now free from the bun she had it in before, and rolled her hips without any restraint or hesitation. She was the reason why they called it the Dirty South.

Every man in the room wanted her and every woman wanted to be her. Not even the pros that were on the floor would dance with such brazen courage the way Rogue was right now. She was on time with the beats, but could move with such a slow pace that it'd be torture for a man. Which was very close to describing Remy's current state. No, it wasn't torture. Rogue was practically killing him. He suddenly became territorial over her, seeing her dancing like this with so many men watching. But it also made him swell with pride that she would never be like this with another man; Remy knew that for a fact. Rogue had run her hand firmly over Remy's chest towards his shoulder as he held her other hand, letting his own run down her feminine curves. She would turn out and away from him, his grip spinning her back to him as he immediately dropped her into a dip as the song ended, the crowd bursting with applause. Rogue was almost completely unaware of the people around them, only staring into his eyes the entire time they danced.

As Remy pulled her back to her feet and they walked off the dance floor, exhausted, Rogue could only hold her arm around his as she giggled from the alcohol and whispered to his ear, "Ya dance divinely, suga'h."

Remy felt a shiver run down his spine, her heavy drawl and swagger not helping him. He could only whisper back, playing the same game they had been all night, "And you dance like a temptress, chere. It outta be illegal," he said, running his hand down her back and pulling her even closer to him. They sat down at a booth across from the dance floor, hoping to calm themselves a little. However, it did very little to calm their hormones.

There had been plenty of handsome and beautiful men and women at the club that had asked to take the couple away from each other to dance. They only had eyes on each other however. They barely acknowledged any other person there. Rogue sat unashamedly close to Remy, crossing her legs and pressed against his side, again playing with the lapel of his button-down shirt. Remy was dying. She was looking up at him through her long dark lashes and that dazzling smile never faded from her as of yet that night. Rogue moved her hand from his lapel up around his neck and into his hair as the other became friendly with his leg. Remy easily wrapped his arms around Rogue waist and pulled her close to him, massaging her through her clothes, putting them only inches apart from a kiss. Her chest became noticeably pronounced, their breaths barely brushing each other. The sexual tension was so strong it was practically piano wire.

Rogue was biting her lip again, which drove Remy even more crazy. Maybe using the collar wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Ah gotta surprise fo' ya, Cajun," she murmured to him, almost moaning it with how hot this was getting.

He didn't turn his attention away from her, "Is it a good one?" he asked, tempted already to push her onto the booth seat and have his way with her.

Rogue pressed up closer to Remy's ear, "It's a great one," she replied with a giggle, making Remy groan in agony, "Let's fahnd somewhere a lil' mo' private."

Barely after the words left her mouth did Remy pull a giggling Rogue from the booth, grabbed their coats from the coat check and left the club, heading for the closest hotel they could find. They didn't have to go far before one came into view.

~A year and a half ago~

Rogue wasn't at all regretting her decision to take up the offer of a stranger's for a place to stay. He had been down right polite. Of course, he was a flirt, she could tell that from a mile away. But he wasn't probing, invasive. He was just some good company. Something Rogue had felt like she had been missing.

They talked briefly over a beer or two at a bar three streets over. Conversations were short and sweet. Though her anger over the incident at the motel was still evident, the man she now knew as Remy easily dissolved her anger. And it was just as evident from him that Rogue's company was something he sorely needed as well. He had never been so drawn by a woman's brass and crass nature before. She was feisty and independent. Not to mention she could handle her liquor for being so young. She didn't talk much about who she was or about her family. He figured she probably had some hard times that she preferred to forget. Remy knew all too much about that as well, so he knew not to press it.

But they were both from the south, enjoyed the same food, liked the same music. There wasn't much they disliked about the other.

The bar was shutting down for the night and Rogue decided it was better to leave, "Well, we bett'a head out, Swamp Rat," Rogue said, standing from her seat to leave.

"Swamp Rat?" he questioned, highly amused by the nickname.

"That's what ya are, ain't it?" she replied with a smirk.

Two could play at that game, "Den I guess dat makes you de Riv'a Rat?"

Rogue's jaw dropped, "Ah swear ya call me that again, Ah'll break yo' neck," she threatened teasingly.

"I'd like to see you try, chere," Remy replied, leaving more then enough cash on their table for the drinks as the two headed out.

"So what kind o' place ya livin' in?" Rogue asked, "Not some rut, Ah hope."

"Beggers are de choosers now, eh?" Remy joked, earning a look from Rogue that said 'I'm not amused'.

"I's decent. A loft I have to get away every now an den," he answered more seriously.

"What's so bad on yo' lahfe that you need to get away from?" she asked.

Remy looked back with a grin, "All de femmes dat chase me around for my dashin' good looks and charm."

Rogue laughed and hit his arm jokingly, "What charm? Honestly, ya got less charm then a rabbit's foot."

"Ah, but I do get lucky, chere," he replied with a wink.

Rogue turned away, "Don't need tah know the details, Cajun."

Soon after, they arrived at the loft, the elevator ride quiet until Remy slid open the heavy steel doors to reveal a spacious open concept loft. Rogue was in awe. This guy had some serious money if he could afford a place like that.

"How on earth did ya pay fo' this? You work for the mob or somethin'?"

At the time, Rogue didn't realize how close to the truth actually she was.

"You like it, chere?" he asked, his face not showing any truth as she entered the loft in shock and awe.

"It's amazin'!" she replied, "So… where can Ah sleep?" she asked him, noticing that the open concept loft WAS very… open.

"Sure you don' wanna sleep in my bed? I's much mo' comfortable," he said with a wave of his arm and with a wag of his eyebrows towards the massive bed that lay at the other corner of the loft.

"Yeah rahght, Remy. Seriously," Rogue asked again. Remy laughed at the look she gave him.

"De couch is a queen sized pull out," Remy replied, moving towards the couch in question and began to pull off the cushions as Rogue set down her duffle, "You need anyt'in' to sleep in?"

"Nah, so long as ya keep yo' distance, Ah'm fahne," Rogue replied, helping Remy to pull out the heavy bed frame and the mattress.

As they set the mattress down, Remy asked again, "You sure? If yo' not comfortable sleepin' normally wit' me around, you can borrow a shirt o' somet'in'."

Rogue considered it as she fixed the sheets and placed one of the couch pillows near the bead of the bed. All she had with her was her thin t-shirt that she was okay sleeping in alone. But with Remy around, maybe it was a better idea.

"Okay, can Ah borrow some sweats and a t-shirt?" she asked.

Remy smirked, "Why de sweats, chere? Lil' warm, ain't it?"

"Ah'd just feel mo' comfortable," she answered. Why take the chance.

Remy didn't question her as he went to a drawer and found a pair of grey sweats and a sport's jersey. He brought it back over as she was kneeling over the bed and smoothing out the sheets on the other side. Remy almost didn't realize he was staring at her until he heard her, "Ah hem!"

Remy's focus resettled as Rogue rolled her eyes at his slightly perverted act, "Enjoyin' the show?" she rolled sarcastically.

"Oh, you have no idea," Remy replied seductively, but jokingly.

Rogue only rolled her eyes as she accepted the pieces of clothing Remy offered her, "Thanks. Ah'm gonna go get changed." Rogue bounded towards the visible bathroom and changed into the sweats and the jersey, both obviously two sizes too big for her. But they were cozy and comfortable. She quickly took a look in the mirror. The little make up she had on was now faded, undoing her hair, now frizzy from being greasy and up in that ponytail. She hadn't showered since the night before last and she felt disgusting.

She emerged from the bathroom, finding Remy also changed into some sleepwear, though not as conservative as Rogue. A white wife beater and similar sweats to the ones she wore, Rogue could easly see the muscle he had been concealing earlier under his heavy duster. He was fit, no doubt about that, but not in the terribly massive way like Scott or Logan. More trim and lean, but still rugged in a way.

But unlike Remy, Rogue was able to look away before he noticed she was staring. She put her jeans and shirts back into her duffle, keeping her gloves on until she actually got into bed. Though when she turned back, there he was staring again.

It was like he couldn't help it. She looked damn good in his jersey.

Rogue rested on one leg with her arms crossed, "Do ya mahnd?"

Remy again was snapped from his stupor, "Sorry, chere."

"Ah'd appreciate it if ya'd stop leerin' at me lahke that," she said, pulling the covers out of the corner of the bed and slipping under the sheets.

Remy suddenly felt the need to keep Rogue awake. He enjoyed talking with her, even if it was banter, "Hey, you feelin' tired?"

Rogue looked over to him, "Not really, but the earli'a I go tah bed the soon'a Ah can get outta ya hair," she replied, peeling off her gloves and setting them beside her duffle.

"Well, dere ain't no rush," Remy started, "Wanna play a few rounds o' poker?"

Rogue looked at him confused, "Yo' kiddin', rahght?"

"Nah, I can teach you a few tricks, if you wan'," Remy shrugged, trying to convince her to stay awake for a bit longer.

Rogue bit her lip, the first of many times Remy would be tempted by that motion, "Oh alrahght," she caved, pulling her gloves back onto her hands, making Remy confused by the action as he grabbed a pack of cards by his bed side.

"Why you wear dem gloves?" he asked blatantly, shuffling the deck and walking towards the pull out.

Rogue had used the same excuse for years to avoid talking about her mutation, "Skin condition. Ah try tah keep mah hands covered as often as possible."

Remy sat on the pull out and started dealing out the cards, "It serious?" he asked, his voice concerned.

"Depends, Ah guess," she answered, keeping it vague.

"Not'in' I could get, oui?" Remy joked.

"Hm, doubt it," Rogue replied, picking up her cards as they started a good hour long game of poker.

As the game progressed, they continued the banter they had at the bar, not dwelling on more serious topics. However, Remy did end up on a sensitive subject for Rogue, though common for most.

"Got any boyfriend's back home, chere?"

Rogue tried to not let the question affect her, "Why? Afraid of gettin' pummeled by some oversized jock 'cause Ah spent the nahght with ya? " she countered, avoiding the question.

Though Remy caught the slip, "Dat don' answ'a my question, Riv'a Rat."

Rogue's eyes looked at him with a glare that could kill, "Well now Ah ain't gonna tell ya, since ya called me that awful name again."

Remy laughed it off, "Oh come now, chere. Let me guess. Old'a? Got a bike?"

She looked at him confused.

"Y' look like de type," he continued. Rogue shook her head in annoyance, "Tell you what. Let's add to de ante. You win dis hand, I leave ya 'lone fo' de rest o' de night so you can get yo' beauty sleep."

"And if you win?" Rogue asked, thinking it was too good to be true.

"You tell dis Cajun if you got a boyfriend. If not, den how's about a kiss?"

Rogue's eyes grew wide at the request, but with the hand she had, she might just get out of this unscathed, "Alrahght, then Swamp Rat. Bett'a get ready tah pack up the cards," she answered, playing her hand, "Full house. Beat that!"

"Oh chere! Dat was harsh," Remy bemoaned, "If only I had somet'in' bett'a den a Straight Flush," he said woefully, laying the row of an all spade Straight Flush. Rogue's jaw dropped in shock and instantly regretted her wager.

"Ah hate you, Remy," Rogue said in a sorrowful tone, hanging her head in shame hearing the low chuckle of the man on the other side of the bed.

"Pay up, chere. Wha's his name?" he asked, leaning forward in eagerness.

Rogue had to think of something fast. She could always lie. Said she had a boyfriend. Rogue sighed in defeat, "Cody. And he doesn't have a bike."

Remy actually recoiled in shock. He was not expecting that response. She had acted so defensively about the topic, and he deduced early on that if she did have a beau, why wasn't she staying with him instead of with a complete stranger? She was lying.

"Now Rogue. Lyin' don' suit you," he said in a false mocking tone.

Rogue again jumped, eyes wide in surprise. How did he do that?

"Ha! Knew it!" Remy continued, "So let's have dat kiss, eh?"

Rogue shoved a hand in Remy's face as he tried to get closer to her, "Think again, Cajun."

"Aw chere, dat ain't playin' fair," He continued to tease, getting too close for Rogue's comfort.

"Ah don't care! Back off!" she exclaimed, stilling Remy's movements in an instant. She was clearly uncomfortable with the situation as she had backed up against the couch away from Remy and an expression her face that could only read as scared hostility. Though Remy felt he deserved some sort of token for being such a good Samaritan to the girl, Remy wasn't the type to force himself on a woman; he never had to. He just wasn't used to women turning him down either.

Though like any child would, he stood with a huff and left Rogue alone for the rest of the evening. Remy yanked the sheets on his bed and shuffled under, turning to the opposite corner and refusing to look at Rogue again with that shocked look on her face. Rogue was surprised by his sudden change in mood and felt like she should have just explained herself. What harm was there really? He clearly wasn't going to make a move on her again, but she somehow felt guilty about it. He didn't know about her powers, and all he had done was offer her a few drinks and a place to stay. Man, Rogue really was a jerk. Was this why the X-Men had avoided her after the explosion? No one could stand to be around her long enough because she was so defensive?

But as much as her guilt began catching up with her, it was getting late and Rogue was tired. She would apologize tomorrow morning, when they had both cooled off. Maybe they'd both be able to act like adults.

But when Rogue awoke the next morning, the sun coming through the massive windows by the far wall, she was completely alone in the loft. Remy's bed was made and clean. No dishes indicating he had eaten there. It was like he hadn't even slept there last night. Rogue was ashamed with herself. No wonder she traveled alone and couldn't find any life to settle with. Rogue got changed into her normal clothes after having a quick shower, cleaning up the space she had occupied during the night and folding the couch back to normal. As she packed her bag, Rogue noticed a small note pad by the side of the couch, a pen nearby. Nothing was written. But maybe she should at least make some amends, so she could feel better about this and maintain some of her dignity.

She wrote a quick note, attached it to the fridge and left the loft as Remy had, like she was never even there. She would only travel the way she had been for the last few months now. Head to the station, find some other town to rack up countless nights. Rogue just hoped that she wouldn't find anymore kind strangers, in fear of coming out the jerk once again.

Remy would return to the loft after a day of meetings with the Guild, which had been pointless and boring when his thoughts kept drifting to the girl still sleeping on his couch. Like Rogue, he felt badly about what happened and wanted to talk to her about it when he got back. Why he felt this way was beyond him, though. He was the man that used to love 'em and leave 'em. But for some reason, he couldn't stand being away from her, even in sleep he was restless. However, when Remy slid open the elevator shaft doors, he found an empty and cleaned loft, no trace of the auburn haired beauty anywhere. He really had screwed things up. First decent, interesting, beautiful girl he'd met in a long time and he had to go and make her mad at him. Any game he could've mustered up for any other girl just seem to fail around this one. She was impervious to it. Maybe that's why he saw her so differently then the others.

But it wasn't like it mattered anymore anyways. Rogue was gone from his life. Remy wandered into the kitchen and pulled open the fridge for a cold beer, hoping it would do him some good. As he opened the bottle, he noticed the little note and started reading it.

"Hey Swamp Rat,

I just wanted to say I was sorry about last night. I've just had a lot of problems to sort through lately and I took it out on you. I decided it was better that I get out of you're hair now before we killed each other. Thanks for being such a gentleman and helping out such a stupid girl.

Rogue."

Remy was suddenly renewed with some semblance of hope as he dashed out of the loft. Pulling out his bike from the underground garage, Remy rammed down the streets of Baton Rouge to find a trace of where she went, tell her that he wasn't mad at her. His first instincts told him to head towards the bus station. He knew that's where he would go if he wanted to get out of town without a ride. When he got there, buses were being loaded at the top of the hour and he quickly had to find out where she was going.

"All buses for Huntsville, Alabama now boarding," The announcer broadcasted.

Remy took a quick look around. He had to start somewhere. And with his luck, in the crowd of people rising to board the newly announced departure, he saw the green-eyed beauty. She stood from her seat just as an older man walked by, bumping into him accidentally. But Remy saw that slight of hand. So that was how she was getting around, she was hustling like a common thief. And for some reason, that made Remy all the more happier that he found her. He approached her as she resettled her duffle and when she looked up, her jaw visibly dropped from seeing him.

Rogue couldn't move. She felt her cheeks get hot at the embarrassment of seeing him again, especially after that note she wrote. She knew this could come back to haunt her.

As Remy stood before her, his gaze unwavering as she attempted to seem distracted, he asked her the least important question they were both thinking, "So… what's in Alabama?"

Rogue looked at him through her lashes, ashamed of her meager escape plan. She was no good at this, "Nothin' special."

As a few moments passed, the line for the bus shrinking as they stood there, they both finally blurted, "Sorry…"

They stared at each other with a humored expression, not being able to help the laughs that soon came. Moments after the giggles subsided, Remy took the duffle Rogue was holding and with a gentlemanly bow and nod and a smile on Rogue's face again, they both walked out of the bus station. Rogue would continue to stay with Remy for weeks. They explained various parts of their lives to each other, keeping no secrets as the living situations became prolonged. They both came clean about being mutants, Rogue with her life as an X-Man and Remy with his in the Guild. They felt they could trust each other as they continued to live together, though Rogue would mention many times about leaving, thinking she was an annoyance. But Remy would have none of it. Some how, between all the banters and stories and drinks at bars, the two southerners fell in love. They never knew exactly when it happened. Remy always thought it was probably when they came back from a night of hard drinking and Rogue could barely stand on her own two feet. Even as disheveled and horribly wasted as she was, Remy thought she had never looked better in his eyes. That tint of red along her cheeks, the way her eyes were constantly hooded and glazed, or maybe it was that she couldn't stop smiling or laughing. But something in that moment made it click in his head that there was no other woman then Rogue. For Rogue, however, she thought it was the night Remy made dinner, though there had been many nights of that. That night was different though. After they ate, Rogue had gotten sleepy earlier then usual. They had started watching a movie on TV on her make-shift bed, but before her eyes had thought about closing, Remy had fallen asleep on her shoulder, still resting against the back of the couch. Rogue was absolutely content in that moment. She was happy, happier then she had been with someone in a long time. She would only rest against his chest, the TV still on, as they both slept peacefully with the other. It was this way for weeks, months even. They acted like they were college roommates, but to any other, they were made for each other.

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Okay, so I had started writing the portion after this little flashback bit, but I couldn't get it done and I wanted to get another chapter up since I have homework to do for Monday.

There is now a format to this story, I have decided…

In chapter 1, it was the meeting again portion of the story in the present. However, a majority of the story now is going to be composed of flashbacks to when the two met and were in Louisiana, leading up to Rogue's departure and possibly there after. I haven't decided yet. But since so many of you seem to like the past story, that's what I'll do. The present storyline is going to be simple, corresponding to what's happening in the past story, but it'll mainly be interactions with the two lovers and the X-Men.

So, now that that's been cleared up, PLEASE read, review, comment and critique! I want to know what you guys think! ^__^

Until next time…