Chapter 8

Gambit had showered off like his brother made him and tried to think straight although that was hard to do with a hard hang over. But gambit trusted his brother and while he took the day trying to sober up and think straight, his brother took over the wedding plans and making sure the groom and the bride got to their wedding. When gambit finally thought things through he was stood in the door way of the church feeling the same shame hed been feelings all day. That was when a friendly large woman caught him off guard, hugging him tight.

"My boy. Why am i only hearin bout dis gaul of yours till now? I here shes a fine fillie n that she n merci really hit it off. Why remy,whats the matter boy?" the woman known as tante mattie stepped back but kept hold of gambit in her embrace. She knew this boy as if he were her own. And she knew when he was upset.

Gambit stepped out of her grasped and breathed out a heavy breath. He knew that he could trust tante with anything and shed help stire him in the right direction, only he couldnt tell her in detail. "oh tante... I dont think i can marry dis girl."

"oh Remy. Why boy? I thought you liked dis girl. She is dis girl dat saved you n your pere from de rippers non? Is she a better chose than Bella?"

"tante... It aint dat she aint good. Shes brilliant. Shes amazin. Shes loyal, came back for moi n moi pere when de assassins had us. N shes kind hearted and fun. She came all dis way ta help moi outta a stupid rut again. Shes doin this t save ma life... N i cant give her anythin. She lost everythin tante. Her home, her education, everythin. But now shes already found a job down here n willin ta move on. Shes so strong n brave, but fragile. N like ya say tante. Im a bull in a china shop. Too wreckless for moi own good...ive...ive done something stupid...something dat i thinkd hurt her n i dont wanna hurt her tante. Really. Dats the last thing i want tante... I dont know what ta do."

"oh remy." tante said tking his face in her hands. "now y listen ta me boy. Eveeyone makes mistakes n it seems yave made a big one. But dis big mistake has seemed ta make ya see how important dis gorl is ta ya. My boy, we live n learn til tha day we die. Now ya bout ta be married remy. Bout ta male dis girl a promise. Dis is your chance ta start again. Ta make things better. Now i might not have met dis girl but i hear shes been through a rough time, n for her ta marry you it aint gonna get any easier for her. So ya gotta stop dis self centred n self pity act n start thinkin bout ya wife ta be. Think how scared she might be huh. Shes marryin into a family n life she doesnt know or understand. Shes gonna be watched n pestered by ya father n others n ya gotta take it easy with her moi boy. I know you. You like control. You like puttin people in der place so that they do what ya tell em. But ya cant do this ro tha girl. Ya gotta be the shoulder remy. Ya got to stand by your wife n be kind ta her just as she has done you this kindness."

And that was the kick up the backside gambit needed. This woman knew just what to say without knowing anything. This is why he loved her. He gave her a small smile as she straightes his suit. " im proud of ya my boy. Proud of ya takin ya own destiny in ya oen hands. I just hope and wish you and dis fillie the best."

Gambit nodded and hugged tante mattie. "thank ya tante. I owe ya one"

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Rogue was feeling butterflies as she and merci pulled up in the limo gambit had wanted for her but henri had ordered (rogue didnt know though).

"nervous?" merci asked.

Rogue breathed out heavily, looking away from the church and at her bridesmaid. "that obvious."

"yeah. Same for every bride. But ill tell ya somethin. Everythin is gonna be fine. Were gonna go in der n the scariest part is walkin down the isle. But once ya get that over with n ya holdin his hand everything just seems ta go away. The stress. The nerves. All thats left is u n henri... i mean remy."

Rogue smiled at her new friend. she was very sweet. Not like cute sweet like kitty or kind sweet like jean, but just in the middle. She had kittys excitment but was calm like jean,always wearing a smile. But the best thing about merci which she felt wouldnt have happened with jean or kitty was that merci looked out for rogue. Like at the dress shop kitty would have been picking and demanding what type of dress she wore where jean would have been lecturing her about tradition and wearing something senseble. But merci, she was neither. She stopped a few dresses, took them off the rack and asked rogue, "hows bout dis one? Do ya like somethin like dis?" and if rogue said no there would be no bickering. And ifshe said yes merci worked harder to find rogues dream dress and atlas she found it.

Now she sat in her dress looking at the big white church feeling that shed rather be facing apocolyse again one on one. The door was openned for her by the limo driver and rogue stepped out. She held the flowers tight to her chest which she had in her hand and waitted for merci to come to her side. The two girls giggled as they looked at each other. Was this really happening? The rogue was getting married?

Then she heard the sound of a bike pulling up further in front of the church than the limo. And off pulled the hemlet to reveal an angry looking logan. Rogues heart stopped in her chest, and her body froze to the stop as utter fear and shock filled her body.

"rogue, what r you doing?" logan asked, but rogue was too taken back to hear. Logan growled low and took a step towards her. "i asked ya what are you doin? And why you dressed like that?" no answer. "rogue, im gettin very sick of not havein any answers-"

"hi there, ma names merci LeBeau, rogues maid of honnor. Ya must be her father." rogue felt very greatful to have merci as her friend and hopfully sister in law, but logan shot merci a scary look to silence her before turning back to rogue.

"answers kid, now!"

Rogue stumbled to find the right words

her bottom lip trembled. And Logan finally lost it. He growled "fine" and headed off into the church.

"Logan? No, wait! Logan stop!"

But he was already inside. Rogue chased after him having returned to reality. By the time rogue had gotten to the start of the isle she saw Logan had gambit pinned against the alter, his claws out and by his throat.

"Logan, stop please!"

Gambits head turned to her voices, and he melted. For a moment there he was sure she had found out about everything and had called Logan to chop his head off. But hearing her protest and yelling at him to stop made him realise she hadn't found out, but they had been found. He melted at the sign of her. She was beautiful. In a tradition white dress with a corset and long flowing skirt. Her arms were covered by floral lace which started at the cleaver age of the corset and kissed her lace gloves. Her hair was tied up in a bun on top of her head with a tiara and veil in it. But there was one small piece of white hair that fell in her beautiful dark eyes. She had gone for a simple bridal glow; a bit of eyeliner and red lipstick which make him want to sink his teeth into those juice looking lips even more.

Logan growled as he turned away from gambit but never let go of his neck. "Him again rogue? What's he got you doin now? Made you elope? Can you see he's using you strips."

"Yeah Logan. Ah know what he's doin. N ah know what ah'm doin. Ah'm gettin married Logan. So do ya mind letting go of ma groom please."

"Married. Out of the question. Your not getting married to this-"

"Logan!" Rogue yelled finally having had enough. She noticed all eyes were on her as she walked down the isle and learned that Merci was right. It was the most terrifying part. But she was close behind. Rogue came to stand in front of Logan and gambit, placing her hand over Logan's which had hold of gambits neck. "Logan ah know what ah'm doin. Ah'm eighteen now. Ya can't stop meh."

"Oh I can stop you alright-"

"But not without hurtin meh. Let im go Logan. Please." And Logan let go at rogues fair voice

"I want answers rogue. And I want em now."

"You'll get em."

"No rogue. I mean it. You said that the last time this low life kidnapped you n I never got a straight answer. Now you better tell me now and tell me fast if you don't want gumbo."

Rogue looked at gambit who was watching her giving nothing away. She was looking for an answer to her question of if she could tell him. But he didn't answer. Rogue swallow hard not liking having all the eyes on her. "Alright. Finah, but can we take this in a'other room?"

"You can use the sacristy." Said the shaking present behind the alter. the poor little guy was terrified at the sight of Logan, but Logan just grabbed rogues hand and dragged her in the door behind them.

"What the hell is goin on strips. The professor gets a phone call saying you've been exspelled for attacking students and ran away from school. I track you down to the airport and you smell of that no good Cajun out there. But you didn't want me to know you were with him did you? You used those perfume bombs to try and put me off, didn't you? So what? You eloping with this guy Rogue? Cause I'm tellin ya, this aint gonna work."

"N how do ya know that Logan. Ya've not even given em a chance. Ya don't know im. Look, ah didn't elope right? Well, not at first, but he did ask meh ta marry im before ah ran away."

"So you have been seeing him? He's the reason why you attacked those people-"

"No, well, yes, ah have been seein' im, but no. Ah didn't-"

"He's been twistin your mind Rogue. Trickin ya into marryin him. Trickin like he did last time."

"N why would he try trickin' meh inta marryin' im Logan?"

"...I don't know, but he's still using you Rogue."

"Ah know Logan. Ah know why he wants ta marry meh."

"N whys that? Cause he's told you he loves you?" Rogue couldn't believe what Logan had just implied and Logan looked guilty as soon as he realised what he'd said."I didn't mean it like-"

"No Logan. Ya did. But your wrong. You wanna know why ahm here? Why ahm marryin im? It's because at least he gives a damn enough ta ask what happened before goin' on tha war path. At least he asked what happened in school instead of just hearin' one side of tha story n believein that idiot school. At least he asks meh what ah want. That's why Logan OK."

"Because he gives you choices? Rogue that aint no reason to marry someone. I understand I was wrong in coming here and kicking off and not listening to your side of what happened at school, but you can't possibly be so dumb as to see that theres a hidden agender behind this?"

"Oh so now ahm dumb."

"No. You know what I mean kid-"

"Don't call me that. Ah aint a kid Logan n soon ahm gonna be a married woman. Ah know what Remy's gettin outta this. He's gettin a life."

"N what r you getting out of this Rogue? A thieving husband who's just going to break your heart. I don't want you hurt Rogue. It's too soon."

"This cant wait Logan. There aint time. But ahm tellin ya Logan, if ya knew the reason behind this then you'd be thinkin good of meh."

"Then tell me Rogue. Why are you marrying him?"

"...Ah can't?"

"Why?"

"Cause...cause..."

"I'll tell you why. Because you know that my mind will still be the same. I'll still be tellin ya not ta marry him."

"Alright Logan, ya wanna know so badly. A few days ago, before ah got kicked outta school, Gambit asked meh ta marry him ta save his life. His daddy wants ta marry im off to this assassin woman and theyre gonna kill Remy if he does, but he cant get outta it. If he doesn't marry Bella Donna he'll be forced to, and if he runs he'll be tracked down and made to or worse. He asked meh ta marry im cause he trusts me. Outta all the girls in tha world he trusts me."

"He's using you Rogue. You can absorb him and know all about him. You'll look like a normal wife who knows her husband, but it wont work once these thieves find out ya cant touch."

"We'll get ta that when we get ta it. But Logan ah'm doin this. Ah'm gonna save his life Logan. N you cant stop meh."

"Oh yes I can."

"The stop meh, but ahm tellin ya Logan. Ah wont ever forgive you if he dies."

Logan let go of a breath. He was proud of Rogue for trying to save someones life, but this wasn't right. "Stripes, come home. There'll be other ways to help the Cajun if he means that much to you-"

"Come home to what? Bein' an X-Men? Sorrah Logan, but ahm not sure ah even wanna be an X-Men anymore. Ah don't wanna go back ta a place where the professors gonna lectura meh for hours for fightin n runnin away. Ah can't go back ta school meanin ah've lost ma education, n ah can't just hang around the mansion all ma life. Just sittin on the side lines waitin for when theres some mutant in trouble that the X-Men need ta go help. Watchin everyone else go out get educations and jobs n ahm stuck in time just growin old n watchin life pass meh by. Logan ah wanna do something with ma life. Here ah'm back home in good old south n ah can get an education. Ah already hava job here, n ahll hava family. Merci is really nice, ma bridesmaid, n ahm sure so is Tante and Henri. Remy loves n adores em. They help set this up. They helped im get away so he could come back ta Bayville n ask meh ta marry him, cause they love him n don't want him ta die. they've looked at all the ways out of this n there isn't any. This is his only chance Logan. For us both. We can both start new lifes once were married. Both do what we wanna do and be what we wanna be."

"And what about if either of you fall in love with someone else? What then?"

"Then we get a quite devorce. It's only ta convince the guide Logan." Logan ran his hand down his face struggling to think of a come back.

"Do you love him?" Logan asked Rogue. Rogue didn't expect that question and stood there dumbly. Rogue looked away unsure what her answer was. Logan folded his arms. "Well?"

"...Ah...Ah don't know...But ah must care bout im if ahm doin this for him."

"Or you just don't want a death on your hands."

"No...If it was someone else...Ah would have helped em find someone else who they could marry."

"Then why haven't you done this for Gambit? You don't know if you love him Rogue. A marrage isn't just a piece of paper rogue. It's a promise. A promise between two people who love each other. It aint something you can just break whenever you feel like it."

"Ah know that Logan. Ah know it's a promise two people in love make ta show their love ta one another. A promise that means theyre taken for the rest of their lives...And he's promised me his life Logan. N ah promise him ahll be here and marry him."

"That's different Rogue. Theyre unconditional promises. This is different. Are you really going to give your life for that low life?"

"...Ah already have. Ah went back for him last time... N ahm here now."

Logan let out a little frustrated growl. He knew there was no way of getting through to rogue like this. She had made up her mind and she wasn't changing it. Finally Logan straightened himself, nodded and he'd for the door. Before he turned the handle he said back to Rogue. "If you ever need us, or me, were still here for you Rogue. I just hope you know what your doing. And that Cajun knows it too. If he ever treats you wrong." Logan held up his fist which had three shiny claws sticking out of the knuckles. Before Logan could turn the knob, Rogue spoke up.

"Logan... Will you stay for the weddin...? Give meh away?"

Logan let out a low sound, which sounded disappointed.

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Gambit had become nervious and worried as soon as the door closed on the wolverine and rogue. He was worried Logan was going to convince Rogue to leave with him and he was going to be left behind to die. But then that feeling from before came back to drag him down again. Rogue didn't deserve him. It would be better if she left. Better if Logan could convince her. She'd be better off.

Logan came out of the room first, his face dark and full of disappointment. He sent Gambit a glare as he passed. He walked down the illie and out of the building. Gambit looked to Rogue who was now stood in the door way, looking upset after Logan. He realised what had happened. He'd seen the look in Logan's eye, It was the sae one he got from his father. And Logan had given it to Rogue. Logan was like Rogue's father, he knew that. And looking at her now, he saw that Rogue was hurting badly after choosing him over her family. Is this what it had come to? He had ruined Rogue's family? Her relationship? He was making her give them up, or lose them for him when he didn't even disserve her?

Merci had been the first by Rogue's side to comfort her, but now she was stood in front of him, trying to force a smile. Gambit made up his mind. He took hold of Rogue's wrist and led her back down the isle. Rogue questioned him, but he ignored her, telling everyone else not to follow them and leave them alone. Outside Rogue asked what was wrong.

"I can't do this Rogue. We can't do this..." He couldn't look her in the eye. Why was this so hard to say?" We can't get married."

Rogue's eyes widened in hurt and horror. "W-what?"

"We can't be married."

"W-Why? B-because of Logan? He's gone. It's finah. He's not gonna stop the weddin."

"Non Rogue. There aint gonna be a weddin'"

"...But, Why...? You need this. You need to get married. You need to marry me so you wont die. So you wont have to marry that Donna woman... Remy, answer me!"

He finally met her eyes, and did the only thing he knew would work. "Why? Why don't I want to marry you? Look at yourself Rogue? Your beautiful. Hot. Sexy. A temptress, but you cant touch. What's the point in marryin someone as beautiful as you n not bein able ta touch em? N ya know what Rogue, your right. I can't live without it. N I can't live with you!"

"...So...this is bout ma skin-"

"Not just that. You wanna know where I was last night Rogue? I was out havin fun. I was out at a club, drinking and laughing, and I was with a girl. A smokin' hot girl who could touch n who did want me. Not just some miserable brat like you. Not just someone who wants me for ma money. Not a good digger. Not someone whos a goody two shoes. Not someone who moans about their existences and most likely cuts themselves cause they can't even give out a decent handshake without sendin em inta a coma. Not just some dick tease like you. You wanna know why I don't wanna marry you Rogue, It's because your sensitive, up tight, and broken. Your broken Rogue. A broken girl who's never known love and never will and will cry and cut herself over it. The only thing your good for is ya powers Rogue. Nothin else." Gambit finished coldly and cruelly.

Rogue wasn't moving. It took time to sink in and by the time it did, she was overwhelmed with tears which physically stung at Gambit's insides. Her anger and fire were lost to the urge to break down and cry. Never had someone talked to her like that. Never had someone hurt her this badly. Gambit couldn't bear looking at her anymore. It hurt too much. "Why you still here. I told ya I didn't want ya. Now fuck off."

Rogue wasn't sure what to do. She wanted to stay and fight and defend herself, but the shock hurt too much and she didn't want to cry in front of Gambit, so shakingly she turned on her heels and walked away from the church.