AN: Phew! I know this is wordy but I had a lot to squeeze into one chapter. It should explain most things...hopefully I've not confused anybody.

xoxox Enjoy!

Can Sins Be Forgiven?

Rogue woke up in a dark room with four walls and a bed. There were no windows; she had no idea of knowing where she was. She ran to the door and started pounding on it.

"Hello? Is anybody there?" She resolved to continue banging on it until somebody answered her but after a few minutes she realised that it was futile. She tried to pull on the handle in the hope it might have been unlocked but no. She wasn't going anywhere.

There was an opening in the door large enough to slide a tray of food inside and an adjoining door opened to a very small bathroom.

Her bag had been thrown in with her although her phone had been removed. Rogue flopped back down onto the bed and waited.

Louisiana. Two opposing guilds. The infamous Johnny led the Assassins while a man named Adrian was in charge of the Thieves.

While Rogue sat captive in isolation Gambit had his hands full. Remy had left the Thieves Guild a long time ago, but when it came to two feuding factions that didn't seem to matter. He had gone quietly to Assassins headquarters considering they had his girlfriend. The group had traveled between two cars out to a building on the verge of a large Bayou. Now he was inside a large room with Carol Danvers, Johnny and a few dozen men all toting handguns. Most of them appeared to have itchy trigger fingers. They tossed Gambit to his knees.

Johnny addressed him. "You owe us some money Remy. We've been through this before. Do not make me ask again."

"Where's the girl?" He tried not to give away too much.

"She's unharmed; for now. But her fate is ultimately up to you."

"Gambit told you already...go ask Adrian for your money." Adrian was the leader of the Thieves Guild.

Johnny moved closer to Gambit as an act of intimidation. "I've already spoken with Adrian. I found it interesting that he is also missing a large sum of money. Money that he believes is in our hands, now tell me why he might think that?"

"Beats me mon ami." Gambit shrugged his shoulders which seemed to anger his foe even more.

"You tell Adrian that we have his money. You tell me that the Thieves have my money. Its not hard to work out that you skipped town with the lot."

"You can't prove nothing."

"Perhaps not. However I have invited your friends here for a little chat. Will the Thieves bail you out of this when I tell them about our little business arrangement?"

"Gambit ain't part of the Thieves Guild no more. Why would Adrian help? You got nothing Johnny."

"Once a Thief forever a Thief. Once an Assassin always an Assassin. That's the code. There's no leaving this life LeBeau. When Adrian finds out you've been working for me he'll have no choice but to gut you himself."

"You wouldn't." Gambit's eyes burned.

"Try me."

That back-stabbing bastard; Remy cursed under his breath.

Johnny had one last taunt. "But before I hand you over to Adrian I will drag that girl of yours out here and make you watch as I put a bullet between her eyes; for all the trouble you've caused me."

Remy was led to a holding cell the same as Rogues; four walls and a bed, which gave him a lot of time to think. His troubles began a few years ago. He was running with the Thieves guild alongside his best friend Julian. Things between the Thieves and Assassins were bad at the time, although they were always bad. The two factions had been feuding for so long now that nobody remembered why anymore.

Things turned ugly when he caught Julian sleeping with the daughter of the Assassin Leader; Vincent. His daughter Annabelle was beautiful, but the tryst was forbidden and would bring shame on both the factions. Julian told Remy that they were in love and begged him to keep their secret. They were going to run away together. Gambit agreed and even helped them to sneak around. The three of them were caught red-handed one night by Annabelle's father, who gunned down Julian in front of them. In a fit of anger Remy grabbed a gun and murdered Vincent in return.

Julian believed in the Thieves Guild, it had been his whole life. Remy promised his dying friend that he would look after his Belle; but later that night in her despair she mixed up a cocktail of high-class drugs and overdosed. It was then that he did the worst thing he could possibly do. He wiped his prints off of the gun and placed it in Annabelle's hands; framing her for her father's murder. Gambit felt like he had failed Julian, especially if war broke out between the two Guilds causing more bloodshed. The Assassins were high-numbered and had heavy artillery. They could easily reduce the Thieves Guild's numbers.

To make matters worse, Johnny was Vincent's son; which made Annabelle his sister. He had lost his family in one night. Vincent's right hand man took over leadership until Johnny was ready. If Gambit came clean about the romance the Thieves would seek revenge for Julian and the Assassins would want vengeance for Vincent and Annabelle.

Gambit decided the best way to handle things was to keep the two Guilds away from one another. If they each had their own money and own affairs to worry about they would stay out of each others concerns and wouldn't look into the killings. He wanted to set up an underground gambling circuit at the Casino's for the Thieves but needed cash to finance it. Remy broke every rule in the book and went to Johnny for help promising to set him up financially as the future Assassin Leader in return for his identity being withheld. They set up a drug-smuggling ring which turned over huge profits in very little time. Gambit used the cash to set up the Casino circuit which was what he was involved in the night he met Rogue. He knew by playing on both Guilds he would be caught eventually, so Gambit stole a large sum of cash from his gambling operation and his drug ring claiming it was the opposite faction who stole it. He took the money and ran. Perhaps not his brightest idea but as far as he was concerned he would be set up for life. Johnny's threat was no bluff...if Adrian and the Thieves found out Remy had been working alongside the Assassins the code would call for his blood.

Remy wondered what Rogue would think of all of this. He didn't want this life anymore since he had met her. He wanted out. He wanted to change. Maybe she would find the idea of him trying to protect the memory of Julian and Annabelle romantic, maybe she would understand. What he really felt guilty about was the drugs. It wasn't bad enough that he was neck-high deep in illegal activities, it wasn't just any high-end drugs he was making money off. The real cash came from selling off the mutant cure on the black market. It was exactly as he had described to Rogue. The first time they would hook the mutant with a low price. The next time they double it, and once they are addicted they skin them alive. His associate Ms Danvers had connections in the military; specifically the air-force. It wasn't just the police using the drug as a means of apprehension. Carol was his main supplier and had just as much to lose if she was exposed; which was why she needed Remy to sort out his problems with Johnny. The three of them were in it together and if one of them went down they all did. Gambit felt sick as he thought of Rogue; like he was betraying her. He was making a quick buck by exploiting vulnerable mutants exactly like her. There was no way she would forgive him if she found out. Not that her forgiveness mattered if he couldn't save both their lives.

Gambit wasn't sure how much time had passed locked away in isolation. It could have been days or it could have been hours but eventually he was dragged out into the hallway. He could see Rogue being removed from her room aswell. She had her bag with her...were they letting her go? Remy didn't think it could be that simple. They ended up walking next to one another as they were being forced down the corridor.

"Remy, what's going on?"

"Chere you need to listen to me...no matter what happens Gambit needs you to know. I've messed up. I've done some bad things. But I'm not a bad person; Gambit just made some bad choices."

"What are you talking about?"

"What would it take...for Remy's sins to be forgiven?"

"Sins? Whatever's happened it's all going to be ok."

"Rogue listen to me. If you get the chance you need to run as far away from here as you can. Don't look back." He told her.

She shook her head. "Not without you. I won't leave you here."

Gambit smiled sadly at her unwavering devotion. She wouldn't be saying that if she knew.

They were brought into the large meeting room that Remy had been in earlier. Only this time the Thieves Guild were in attendance, along with their leader Adrian.

These were men he used to call his brothers; before he took their money and ran. Before he deserted. Rogue was led over to stand with Carol off to the side of all the action. The Assassins stood on one side of the room while the Thieves stood on the other. Gambit was secured in handcuffs and thrown into the centre of the room.

Johnny and Adrian both stepped forward from their respective factions. Johnny was the first to speak.

"Remy LeBeau. Here you stand accused of stealing large sums of money from the Assassins and the Thieves Guild of Louisiana. How do you plead?"

Carol leaned over to Rogue to explain what was happening. "This is what we like to call a Cajun trial. There are no rules, no laws, except for the code set down by the Guilds hundreds of years ago."

"What will happen to him?" She whispered back.

"That depends on him." Carol replied.

"Va te faire foutre!" Gambit told his captors in fluent French. There was a few murmours from the crowd and Rogue noticed both leaders stiffen.

"Well that could have gone better." Danvers mused.

"What did he say?"

"To go and..." She paused, leaving out the expletive. "...themselves."

Johnny continued. "Very well, since you have no desire to follow proper protocol how about we get straight down to business." He looked over at his opposing Guild Leader. "Adrian your Thief here has been working for me on the side. You may want to consider that when you decide his sentence."

"Foutre le camp!" Remy cursed at Johnny.

Adrian spoke up. "What proof do you have?"

"He's been running drugs for me; the good stuff. Bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars a month for my organisation. He used his profit to set up your lucrative Casino Racquet. Which in turn makes it rightfully MY Casino Racquet."

"I did it for you Adrian. I needed money to set it up." Gambit pleaded.

"And in doing so you have put us in the Assassins debt."

"Non! Those were my profits. Mine. Nothing to do with Johnny."

"But now we are on the brink of war over money and business. Tell me why I should spare your life."

Gambit played the only card he had left. "If you kill me you'll never know the truth about what happened to Julian. I was there on the night he was killed."

Julian had been like a son to Adrian.

"Killed?" The Leader of the Thieves Guild asked.

"You'll get not another word from me until we cut a deal."

Adrian bowed. "You will not die this day LeBeau. Not by my hand anyhow."

"Julian was shot by Johnny's old man; Vincent. In cold blood."

"He's a liar!" Johnny argued. "He'll say anything to squirm his way out of this."

"It's true! Julian was getting his end away with Annabelle. He got caught. Vinnie was angry."

"Don't you dare speak of my sister that way."

"But it's true!" Gambit argued back.

Adrian stepped in front of Remy to address Johnny. "Your father killed my boy! LeBeau goes free!"

"Prove what you say is true. Why would Belle be with Julian, she was engaged to another."

"Make me! Not Remy's fault your sister was a little Putain!" He spat on the cold hard ground.

Carol winced. "He's not doing himself many favours." She turned and looked at Rogue. "What would you do to save him?"

Rogue was surprised but replied none-the-less. "Anything."

Carol spoke up. "The girl can reveal the truth."

Johnny looked over at them. "Carol? What do you mean?"

"She carries the mutant ability to steal people's thoughts and memories. She can get inside his head."

Rogue shook her head. "No; you don't understand..." She started but Danvers cut her off.

"Shut your mouth." She whispered. "He's dead if you don't."

Gambit spoke up. "The girl does this and she's free to go. That's the deal." He bargained with Johnny who nodded.

"Swear it!" Remy didn't care what happened to him anymore; just so long as she was safe.

"Upon my oath as Assassin Leader." He looked over at Rogue. "Step forward girl."

Rogue crossed the floor and knelt down to Remy. "I'm sorry. I don't want to do this."

"Don't be sorry Chere. Gambit's sorry, for getting you into this. For what you're about to see."

"Remy LeBeau...it might just be last night talking but...I think I'm falling in love with you." She whispered to him.

She was puzzled as she saw a single tear slide down his cheek. "Forgive me Anna."

"Shhh..." She put a gloved palm to his cheek and leant in to capture his lips with hers. He kissed her back for a moment until he felt the pull and his eyes shot open. The onslaught hit her like a punch to the gut. She pulled away and watched him fall to the ground. Rogue slid back on the cold stone floor and hugged her knees to her chest; trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Two men; a pretty blonde girl, Remy and blood. So much blood.

So Remy likes to swear in French. Google the phrases if you must but I dare not translate them here :-D