Present Day- The Xavier Institute

"Anna, Stripes ya alright?" Rogue could hear from behind her door. It had been three days. Three long hard days since anyone had come into her room. She didn't leave it. It was safe to say she was depressed. The only thing she looked at was a crumpled up piece of paper with small scrawled writing. She slept with it, reread it every waking moment of the day and night even though she knew the words, the verses by memory. It didn't surprise her in the least that someone had finally gotten fed up with her crazy antics. Bobby had given up on trying to extract her from the room after day one. But then again all he wanted to do was have sex, so it didn't give Rogue much motivation to actually leave.

It had taken three days since her fall into depression for someone to actually give a damn. Although it wasn't fair to say anyone, as Kitty would have most likely been there for her, if she wasn't away on vacation with Lance. She had exactly one other friend in the dorms and he wasn't exactly her favorite person to be around when she felt like shit.

"Go away Logan, Ah don't wanna talk or see anybody," Rogue moaned from her bed as if she was deathly ill. For all she knew she was dying.

Rogue heard the door squeak under the man's strength before it was pushed open, past the lock and he stood breathing heavily and looking angrily at the young girl, a cigar hanging from his lips. Rogue stared at him for a moment lazily and then rolled over to face the opposite direction.

"Stripes!" Logan growled irritated.

"GO AWAY LOGAN!" Rogue yelled into her pillow kicking her feet in frustration.

"Come on kid, we're going to go see 'Ro and Chuck and talk this out," Logan stated plainly crossing his arms over his chest. The man was short and stout but pure muscle (that happened to be covered in hair); it was no wonder that Professor Xavier hired him for security for the Institute.

"Ah'm not goin' anywhere!"

"Darlin' you've been locked in this room for a week. Now I don't know what happened but I'm not letting this get any worse. You're going to see 'Ro and Chuck one of two ways: standing on your own two feet or over my shoulder. You get to choose."

Rogue muttered something under her breath and hid her paper beneath her pillow. The last thing she needed was Logan and the Professor to know about that. She sat up begrudgingly and glared at Logan with fierce, cat-like, bleary, tear-stained eyes a permanent scowl set on her lips. She stood up crossed her arms and stormed out of her room. The Professor was going to hear exactly how the Head of Security at his school had barged into her room without an invitation. She was going to bury Logan, she didn't need help, she needed a demon eyed man to let her go, to let her have her life back. He consumed her life, it wasn't the first time.

The walk to the Professor's office was silent and tense with both parties sending each other dirty looks. Rogue was fed up with everyone. She just wanted to curl up into a ball and die in some dark dank corner of the mansion where no one could bother her. This wasn't how she wanted to live, but she had no alternative, she loved him and she would never let go, could never let go, he had been a part of her for far too long know, the dormant part that had been reawakened. She wondered idly if it was the same for him.

They entered the Professor's office. It was small despite the fact that he was the Dean of Admissions and the founder of the institute. The man was anything if not modest but he exuded a presence of respect and dignity that made everyone listen, that made them give him respect without him having to earn it. Rogue had been somewhat fearful of the man for that reason, but he had allowed her to inhabit his school, had accepted her for who she was for only the second time ever in her life. He deserved her respect for that.

The room was taken up mostly by a large wooden desk and bookcases that bordered the parts of the office that weren't encompassed by large French style windows that held a view of the immense garden on the grounds. Rogue flopped down in one of the fancy leather chairs and glared one more time at Logan as she waited for the Professor to arrive. After a few moments a tall, beautiful, statuesque, mocha colored woman with long locks of white hair walked in pushing a prim bald headed man in a wheelchair that wore a three piece suit and gave Rogue a small smile. The woman pushed the man behind the desk and then took a seat beside Rogue giving both her and Logan a dignified grin and crossing her hands on her lap.

"Hello, Anna," the man stated with another smile from behind his desk.

"Hi Professor," Rogue let out, still irritated, her arms still crossed over her chest. She didn't even look at anyone in the room but rather stared at one of the bookcases on the side wall.

"Anna," the Professor said slightly sterner, garnering Rogue's attention. "It has come to my attention that you have been missing classes for the past week. I have called you in here to ask as to why you have done so?"

Rogue took in a deep breath. "Ah've been unda the weather."

Logan scoffed and Rogue spun around so quickly and glared at the man so intensely that even the visceral Logan could not help but be somewhat caught off guard.

"Is this true, Anna, because if something else has been bothering you, you know you can tell anyone of us. This is a safe place, we are all people who care for you deeply," the mocha colored woman stated taking Rogue's hand in hers.

Rogue shut her eyes tightly to keep the tears from falling. She remembered the last person who had told her that, who had told her she was safe, that she was cared for. He had left. She had pushed him away.

"Ah've been sick. There's nothing goin' on. Jus' been sick is all Ororo," Rogue said her eyes still shut, her hand quivering in Ororo's.

"I can sense that you're not telling us the full story, Anna," the Professor stated. "I urge you to let us know what is going on, if only so we can help you find your way."

"Ah won't be missin' anymore classes Professor. Ah won't be missin' anymore hours with Jean. Ah'm sorry ta have wasted ya're time," and with those words Rogue stood up and made for the door.

Logan tried to block her path but at the request of the Professor let her pass. Rogue rushed up to her room, past the various students who stared at her like they had seen a ghost. She tried to hold back the sobs, tried to dam up the tears but the fell freely as she ran to her sanctuary. All she wanted to be was left alone, to be by herself, with her thoughts, with him. She remembered when they had been alone. It seemed so long ago.

Five Years Ago

Rogue had never thought she would end up crying on the beach on her birthday while being consoled by her brother's best friend. She had cried many a time on her birthday but the other two were a first for her. She wanted to act like it wasn't a big deal that Gambit's arms were wrapped around her or that it was more than just comforting her. It was scary for her to think that things had suddenly changed between the two. They had both confessed parts of their lives that they had been keeping locked away for the majority of their lives. Rogue wished that she could tell him more, that she could do more than hold him and cry on his shoulder, that he could do more than console her.

After a long moment Remy pulled away somewhat to look down at Rogue's face. She had shed some tears but if anyone asked she could easily excuse her red eyes to being irritated by the sea water. He kissed the top of her head affectionately and then pulled away again, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and dipping his head to look at her face. She wiped away the remnants of tears and tried to put on a smile to hide the pain looking up at Remy with an expression that bordered on hopeful. She didn't want to dare give him the inclination of how much his little gesture had really meant to her, that it was the world.

"Come on chere, we best be gettin' back ta shore, it's gettin' late," Gambit mentioned as he began to guide her towards the sand. Rogue held her arm tightly around his waist, scared that if she let go she would disintegrate amongst the ebbing waves.

She hadn't realized how much time had passed. It seemed as if it was just past noon when they had arrived but the sun was far behind them now, sinking into the horizon, leaving behind streaks of soft pinks and oranges in its wake. Rogue was walking without knowing where she was going, letting her feet trail just behind Gambit's and when she felt the sand seep in between her toes it seemed somewhat foreign, the kind of real feeling that awakens a dreaming mind. She looked back up at Gambit absentmindedly taking in his sharp angular features, the perfect lips and ever brooding eyes and brow. The two reached the spot where they had made camp, nix a very obvious and noticeable Pyro. Gambit growled to himself as he dropped his arm from Rogue's shoulder and looked around for his orange haired friend.

"Johnny!" Rogue let out an exasperated groan.

"Where could he 'ave gone?" Gambit asked not really expecting an answer.

"Wherever there's booze an' girls," Rogue said taking a seat on the sand, bringing her knees to her chin and gazing out at the sunset.

"Should we look or wait fa 'im?" Gambit questioned still looking amongst the many parties leaving the beach or packing up.

Rogue looked up at him. The last thing she wanted to do was go home right now and if they found John that's exactly what they'd be doing. She just wanted time; time to adjust to these feelings swelling in her stomach, the pangs of pain and hurt that were somehow being quelled by Gambit's presence, by the simple actions and words that seemed to reassure her. The thought frightened her. This was not someone she should trust. Who was he to her? She didn't trust her own family, so why was it that she found herself wanting to confess to him so much more than she already had? She needed time.

"He'll be back eventually. Jus' sit down an' wait. He'll show up, he always does," Rogue said with a tone of indignance. As much as she loved her brother, she knew she couldn't count on him. Pyro was all about Pyro when he wanted to be and even though it was her birthday, it would be John's fun.

Gambit ceased searching the crowd after a couple minutes and took a seat next to Rogue in the sand with an aggravated sigh. More time alone with Rogue. His wish had come true. He knew this could only lead somewhere bad but after the moment they had shared he couldn't think of anything other than learning more about this mysterious girl. He knew there was something hidden behind those swirling pools of liquid emerald but he never would have guessed it was pain. She was so much more than anything he had ever encountered in a girl, she was only sixteen, barely that, and she already had seen so much. She was so innocent and yet so knowledgeable of the cruelty of the world, of family.

He wanted to reach out and hold her. Let her experience the natural highs of life. The thrills of adrenaline and excitement, the tingles of laughter and fun, the rapture of carnal pleasures. And something more. He wanted to be the one to show her what love was, but he didn't really know if he could, didn't know if he knew what that really was. Gambit laid back in the sand looking up at the sky for a moment thinking about what love he had experienced. He knew the pleasure found between the legs of women but that wasn't love, he knew that much. Sure, he loved his brother and his Tante Mattie, and even Jean-Luc to some degree but had he ever felt love that was pure and unadulterated, that was not convoluted by family ties, that just ignited from something more?

"Thanks fa this Gambit," Rogue said suddenly, Gambit hadn't realized that she was lying beside him and he turned his head to see her looking up at the sky as well.

"Fa what cherie?"

"For makin' this the best birthday Ah've eva had," Rogue's words were quiet, almost delicate enough to be washed away by the ocean breeze, but wrought with truth.

Gambit stared at her, her eyes still filled with that same pain. He knew what that admission was telling him, that she had found a connection in him, something that she trusted, and while he knew this was a horrible turn in the game he wanted it, had hoped that such an incidence would take place. Her hair was splayed out around her in waves of chestnut and white and her lips quivered with the words she had just said and the breath that was slowly leaving her body. He watched the rhythmic movement of her chest as the air went in and out. She was so much more than her body and he realized that this was probably the only time he had ever thought such a thing about any woman.

"Thank ya, Rogue fa makin' dis one of de best birthday's I've eva had," Gambit stated simply.

Rogue turned to stare at him her eyes clouded with confusion. Gambit gave her a wolfish smile, showing off a row of perfectly white teeth.

"What do ya mean?" Rogue asked, her brows furrowed in bewilderment.

"Mon birthday is in a couple o' days. So I guess dis be a birthday party fa moi as well. Quite enjoyed it aussi (too)."

Rogue smiled and slowly shifted her body closer to his, her head finding the small crook in between Gambit's arm and chest and nuzzling her body closer to his still staring up at the ever darkening sky. Gambit didn't push her way or even stiffen at her closeness and Rogue took it as a sign that they were now more comfortable with each other, had shared enough for this kind of thing to be normal. She felt his arm wrap itself around her waist again and smiled. This really was her best birthday yet, but there really was no comparison. This day would trump all others forever, she thought.

Gambit wasn't surprised that Rogue had moved closer to him but he was surprised that he hadn't stopped her. He wanted to say it was on account of her fragility but in all reality it was really because he had been waiting for her to make such a move, to bring her skin closer to his, to feel the subtle warmth of her against him. He pulled his arm around her somewhat worried that if he didn't she would disappear like some sort of wisp being pulled out to sea. Gambit thought for a moment about how much he wished they could stay alone in this moment, if only for a while longer. He knew it wasn't meant to be.

Remy's reverie was broken by the distinct sound of a drunk. A drunk he knew very well.

"Gambit! Gambit! Mate! GAMBIT!" Pyro slurred as he stumbled through the sand, his feet sticking and throwing him off balance as he tried to keep from toppling over and spilling the contents of the bottle in his hand.

Rogue wasn't surprised to see her brother staggering through the sand towards them, or to see a bottle in his hand and the wrist of a rather wasted woman either. She wished it hadn't been today, or that he had waited until after he had taken her home, but he didn't and she couldn't change time. She rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the sun as it set behind the ocean before clamping her eyes shut in hopes that she wouldn't start crying. She shouldn't have followed John, shouldn't have come here, it was just a recipe for heartache.

Gambit sat up suddenly and stared at Pyro before standing up and using a sturdy arm to keep his friend from falling. Sometimes John just didn't think.

"Homme where ya been, we been lookin' fa ya. We should get back, ya père's gonna be more dan pissed," Gambit said. He should have known better than to try and talk sense into a drunk.

"Well fuck 'im then, mate. Les jus party!" John slurred once more as he made a move to dance as if he was extremely happy.

"An' what about ya sœur (sister), huh, Pyro?" Gambit asked heatedly. As much as he loved his best friend sometimes the boy could be an idiot.

"Well…I dunno….she can wait in the car…or no….she can…fuck you gotta ruin everything Gambit," John yelled frustratedly as he threw his hands up in the air and knocked over the young blonde woman who had approached Gambit and Rogue with him, she fell to the sand with no grace and John sputtered out a laugh. "Les jus have fun mate! Celebrate!"

"Non, Pyro we gotta get back ta ya house, whether ya comin' wit us o' non," Gambit gritted out as he clenched his fists. He turned to see Rogue sitting in the sand her eyes shut and tears falling through the cracks. He shot John one last look that would have made any sane man shit his pants before he spoke to Rogue.

"Come on Rogue, I'll take ya home," Gambit put his hand out for Rogue and she grabbed it taking deep breaths to stop from sobbing out loud. She picked up her things and looked at John one last time before wrapping her arms around herself and walking quickly in the direction of Gambit's car. Gambit shot John one last look of disappointment before following her.

"Find then leave, I can have a good time without ya!" John screeched and the sound slowly became less and less as Gambit came to his car, opened the door for Rogue and started the engine, his headlights flashing along Pyro as he drove away, the night air nipping at the two passengers and anger finding a seat in their hearts yet again.