A big thank you to all of you who had read, reviewed and added this to your alert list. I'm happy to know you're enjoying this story as much as I. Still learning English, so you know I hope everything turns out well, especially that it makes sense...

A/N: italics for French and thoughts.

Disclaimer: I do not own them, X-men are Marvel's!!!

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Chapter 10.

The next morning was rather uncomfortable.

Rogue woke up and noticed Remy's trench coat wrapped around her body, keeping her warm. She laid still, not wanting to get up, closed her eyes again and hoped that everything was just a nightmare and when she would open her eyes; she wouldn't be feeling like this. It was like she saw all recent events in slow motion. The black mascara streaks left on her cheeks and his pillowcase from her dried tears proved her wrong, though. After she quickly got ready, she hesitantly opened the door and found he's already up. Breakfast was waiting for her, but there was no sign of him, so she made her way towards the kitchen's breakfast counter a little disappointed that he wasn't there. Maybe he had done what she said and he'd indeed left her.

A slight sound came from the balcony and Remy stepped back in the apartment. He plainly explained that he was having a smoke while waiting for her to wake up, that he'd already bought the plane tickets and that he would pack his things quickly. Rogue nodded silently.

"I called Storm," he said making his way towards the bedroom.

"Is she going to pick up us at the airport?"

"Non," Remy replied coldly without looking at her. "I told her dat de Senator's kidnapping threat has been just an Assassins' scheme, not'ing more-" a deep sigh escape his lips before he added. "Don' worry petite, I didn' mention anyt'ing else... not'ing about Belle, nor mon frere's death, if you want to tell dem somet'ing else dat's your choice."

Rogue nodded in response and sighed as Remy disappeared behind the door.

...

Back in the Institute, Professor Xavier asked Rogue and Remy to meet him at his office. Storm had already told him about the results of the mission but there was something that didn't make sense and he wanted to talk with them personally.

The meeting, however, turned out to be pointless and lasted just over 15 minutes. On one hand Rogue seemed distracted, absent minded, and even uncomfortable; on the other, Gambit talked a lot but said nothing. Xavier noticed how hard the Cajun thief tried to keep his demeanor and his own mind locked to the telepath. Rogue's mind -which Xavier did try to take a look at- was a mess, to the say the least. The Professor dismissed the young mutants and asked Ororo Munroe telepathically to meet him at his office as soon as possible.

...

"It's great to have you back Rogue," Kitty Pryde smiled showing her perfect white teeth. "I really missed you. And with that I mean not only because of your trip, but the way in which we have like drifted apart these last months."

Rogue smiled back but said nothing.

"We used to be good friends and I missed that… I know that now with your own room and all those mind sessions with the Professor after- well you know what I'm talking about, however what I want to say is that you can tell me anything Rogue… you can count on me for whatever you need, like in the old times. I promise to never take you shopping with me again," Kitty smiled. But, realizing Rogue needed some time alone, she made her way towards the door. "Anyhoo, we can just grab some coffee and like, I don't know maybe go to that little bakery on the corner of St. Marks Place you like so much and get one of their caramel latte, huh?"

Rogue, who was lying on her bed, staring into a blank space, smiled and raised her face towards her friend. She had to admit, annoying as Kitty Pryde could be, the little brunette was a pretty good friend and really cared for her.

"Kit," Kitty stopped on her tracks and turned around. "Thanks and sorry Ah guess, Ah have been such a bitch lately and... well-"

"It's ok Rogue, I totally understand, you've been through a lot and-" but then it hit her. Despite all that Rogue had been through, the last weeks before her trip to New Orleans she seemed to be better, like somehow happier. But now, she was the same sad depressed non-talkative Rogue, rings under her eyes and- "Rogue did something happen in New Orleans?"

"What do yah mean by that?"

"Like, I don't know... you don't look good and-"

"It's nothing Kit, just the fatigue from the flight." Rogue said turning around to face the window.

"I guess it is."

"Ah think, Ah will just go for a walk, need to stretch mah legs."

"Well, I'll be in my room."

Katherine Pryde was no fool. She knew Rogue very well -for God's sake she was her best friend- and she knew when she was lying, and now, now she was lying big time. She didn't buy the southern belle's words. After years of friendship, Kitty had learned to read her friend's face and gestures like an open book, those big green eyes of her spoke more than words, which was very useful since Rogue was the few-words kind of girl. Something was wrong with Rogue and that worried her.

...

Ororo Munroe, best known as Storm or 'Ro as her friends used to call her, left Xavier's office and went to kitchen. She was supposed to supervise dinner tonight since Jean was visiting her parents along with Scott to tell them about their engagement, but week had proven to be a tough one and the last thing she wanted was to spend making dinner for dozens of starving kids. She had been busy enough doing her own classes and covering for the couples' ones she decided to let the kids order some pizza instead. Besides, she'd something more important to do. She went upstairs and made her way towards the red-eyed Cajun's bedroom.

"Remy?" a woman voice came from outside his room followed by a slight knock on the door. "It's me Ororo, can I talk to you?"

Remy let out a deep sigh and responded to the knock by saying. "Yes 'Ro, come in."

"It's everything ok?" Storm asked closing the door behind her.

"What do y' mean chère?"

"Well, Charles has a bad feeling about your trip to New Orleans with Rogue, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Non, tout va bien." Remy replied a little sarcastically. (No, everything is fine)

Storm wasn't old, but she was a couple years older then him and she knew the reason for his reticence. She was well aware of the Cajun's true feelings towards Rogue.

"Then why I'm not buying it?" Storm smiled at the young man walking towards the balcony where he was standing.

Once the meeting with the Professor ended, Remy had gone back to his room and took a cold shower in order to clear his mind and fight the need to talk with Rogue about them. His hair was still wet from the shower and drops of water were running down his neck when he'd stepped into his balcony and sat down on the stone rail to have a smoke. Immediately, his crimson eyes caught her wandering through the lawns of the Institute gardens. Unable to remove his glance from her, he stayed there just looking at her, sucking his cigarette down to the tip when Storm knocked on his door.

Standing next to him, Storm turned to look at whatever that was capturing his entire attention and saw Rogue sitting by a big oak tree. The light breeze swept her auburn hair and those distinctive white locks dangled around her face despite her efforts to keep them behind her ears.

"You can trust me Gambit," Storm said placing a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."

"I don' know what y' talkin' about Storm."

Storm sighed. "Charles noticed the tension between you two, he tried to take a glimpse inside her mind but it was in vain. I'm a woman, though, and I don't need to be a telepath to know what's happening here."

"If y' know it already, den why you are here?" Gambit asked rudely.

There were few things that made Gambit, Prince of Thieves, uncomfortable and talking about his feelings was probably number one. He was after all, a well-trained thief, used to keep his feelings aside, or even had them at all. Forced to never show any kind of weakness. Ever, since he was just a pup he'd been taught to hide them, and so he had no desire to share them.

It was hard to deny them though, to ignore them. Today, Gambit, Prince of Thieves, was a man with fears and doubts. Fears of the coming unknown, doubts of the future and, for the first time in his life, the once selfish thief, was worried about another's person feelings instead of his own. The suffering of the southern green-eyed belle fell heavily on his shoulders and the feeling was killing him. Yes, it was hard to ignore his feelings, and even harder to watch Rogue cry and being unable to comfort her, to take all the pain away.

"Je suis desolé Storm, I-"

"What happened Remy," Storm used his real name to make him feel as comfortable as possible, her voice as soft as usual. "You can tell me that everything is okay a hundred times, but that does not going to change anything... I can see it in your eyes, and certainly in hers."

Remy lowered his head and closed his eyesand a deep sigh escaped his lips.

"I thought you trusted me."

The weather goddess was right. He indeed trusted her; amongst all the mutants at Xavier's Institute she was one of the few persons he trusted. After living for months at the Institute, Remy had built a special bond of friendship with the white haired woman, finding in her the big sister/motherly figure he never had. He'd Tante Mattie, of course, but there are certain things a young man cannot tell his aunt and he thanked Storm for that, for being there, for listening him, and for being his friend. Surrounded by mutants who distrusted him because of his past and secrets, and against all odds, Ororo Munroe -once a thief herself- chose to trust him. She trusted and befriended him when most of the others, except for Rogue, had stayed clear. And now because of all his stupid lies and those desires of revenge he couldn't let go, he'd lost her, Rogue, the woman he loved.

Other thing Remy still find remarkable, was the way Xavier interfered without interfering really. He was rarely there telling his students what to do and not do. He wasn't their father; he was just their mentor, someone to turn to if they felt like it. However as the wise man he was, he's always watching over them, and he always knew who to send to help another one, and in Remy's case that 'one' was Storm.

"I lost her Storm." Remy went straight to the point. He knew she was already well aware by now of his feelings for Rogue, so why beat about the bush?

"Well, then fight for her... by how little I know, she kind of did for you Gambit."

"I tried. I failed."

"Well, then try again Remy. She saw something in you that none of us saw," Storm spoke wisely. "As your teammates we all saw your strengths and weaknesses, your faults and virtues; but Rogue... Rogue saw right through it, to the darkness it hides but also to the humanity inside you. She saw beyond the thief, she saw Remy LeBeau, the man."

"I wouldn' be dat sure 'Ro... after what she learnt in New Orleans-" Remy shook his head as if to clear it and leaned back against the wall. "I wouldn' say dat if I were you... merde, I wouldn' even trust m'self if I were y' chère."

"She's just scared Remy... maybe even as scared as you."

"I don' know 'Ro, I failed her. I've proved I'm not good enough for her."

"A man is not measured by how many times he falls, but how many times he stands up."

"Now y' sound like de Beast 'Ro." Remy joked.

"Remy, you know what I meant. You're good enough for her and more."

"I just want her..."

"Then, as I said before, fight for her. I know Rogue doesn't like to be seen as weak, that's one of the main reasons she always plays tough, and that I am nobody to talk about the way she is, her past or the choices she'd made but..." Storm sighed. She cared deeply for Rogue. "When the pleasure of the simplest bare skin contact has been denied to you, when the permanent fear of damaging anyone you touch haunts your life it's understandable you drift away from everybody. Remy, unlike many of us Rogue's mutation is literally the worst kind of isolation and yet she let you in, with you she somehow felt a little less lonely. You have proved that you deserve her."

Remy smiled. Storm's words sounded so nice but he was hesitant. She didn't know entirely what had happened in New Orleans, even when she had an idea, and therefore she could never imagine how much he had hurt Rogue. Remy shook his head again. "Don' say dat chère... Rogue deserves so much better dan dis Cajun, she's très magnifique et I-"

"And you know what she needs, what she wants," Storm cut him off. "If you want to be back in her life, make her feel safe. You know what to say."

Storm placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a friendly smile before she turned around and made her way to the door.

"Maybe I shouldn't be saying this but I believe in both of you," she called over her shoulder. "I'm sure you will make the best decision..."

Remy stepped back into the room slamming the French window behind him. Storm's words might be right but he wasn't so sure about Rogue's feelings anymore. He'd lied to her, broken her heart and thus lost her forever.

...

The days went by, and as days became weeks, Rogue just drifted more and more away from him to the point of avoiding him completely and talked with him just the strictly necessary. Everyone in the Institute were well aware of it but were reluctant to do something. Danger Room sessions were becoming impossible and the X-men leader couldn't afford one single mistake in a real battle. Therefore, in an attempt to amend things, and without being completely sure of what had caused so much tension between them, Scott decided to entrust them a mission. It was simple and didn't require that much effort or big team, all they had to do was to observe an apparently abandoned warehouse that seemed to be the headquarters of an anti-mutant group.

"So Rogue," Scott spoke. "You and Gambit are going to leave tomorrow first time in the morning and remain there, aware of any strange people that might look suspicious. We're not sure what we're dealing with here so be prepare for anything. You must go unnoticed so, Gambit, take the SUV," Scott looked at the two young mutants and asked. "Is everything clear?"

Gambit nodded but Rogue seemed lost somewhere else.

"Rogue?" Scott insisted. "I asked if everything was clear."

"Uhm, yeah Scott sure... now if yah excuse meh, Ah'm really not hungry so Ah'll just skip dinner... Ah'll be in my room, guess Ah see yah tomorrow Gambit."

And with that she walked away.

...

Rogue made her way to her room determined not to let Scott's decision affect her in anyway. Some part of her was sure that all this hadn't been just Cyclope's idea. However, she was sure that she could do it; for God's sake, she had a life before Gambit ever came to the Institute and she will go on with life after everything that happened between them. The best proof of that were her remarkable achievements gaining control of her powers.

After the temporary lost of her mutation, Xavier had found so much 'easy' to deal with her mind and all the psyches within it by working on different levels. Thus, the telepathic sessions along with Hank's medical supervision had proved to be an almost entirely successful test. Rogue was so close to gain full control over her powers and that had since become her only goal. However, pleasing her wish neither Charles nor Hank had told anyone about it. And now, here she was, about to be trapped in Jean's SUV for who knows how long with none other than Remy. The one person she was dying to test her progress with.

"Stripes?" Logan's rough voice came from outside followed by a knock on the door. "C'mon kiddo it's me, let me in."

"It's open Logan."

Wolverine entered the room and closed the door behind him. Rogue was sitting on the window seat and looked at him walking towards her. A little hesitantly, Logan sat down on her bed as he had done many times. Noticing, however that this time Rogue wasn't going to say anything he decided to start the conversation.

From the moment he entered her room she knew why he was there and as Logan sat a sour look swept across her face. Without saying a word her intelligent eyes studied him, and if not for the circumstances he would have been proud of her. Logan realized it was pointless of him to give her a fake reason for being there, so he spoke loud and clear.

"So, you and the Cajun, huh?"

"Yes... that it seems."

"It might seem simple but you better be ready for a fight."

"Am Ah not always?" Rogue smiled.

"You surely are..."

"Go ahead Logan, ask me... ask what you came to ask meh."

Logan chuckled. She was certainly a smart girl. "Are you comfortable with this?"

"Ah'm not gonna lie to yah... Ah'm not dancing with joy, but he's part of the team and- well, Ah guess something like this would happen sooner or later. Ah'm a big kid Logan, Ah'll be fine."

"Rogue, listen to me," Logan said in a deadly serious voice, she could tell. "I know what it's like to feel betrayed and upset, I've been there many times, trust me. But it's not like you to let-"

"And what would be like meh Logan?" Rogue cut him off. "Ah'm sick and tired of hearing everybody talk about it... about meh and him, Ah hear them all the time."

"I know living in a crowded Institute ain't exactly the best way to deal with it... that's why I take off from time to time."

"Ah don't need to Logan, Ah'm fine."

Rogue turned around to look through the window and Logan sighed. He wasn't going to leave without telling her what he had came to tell her. What he knew for real and what he presumed.

"Listen to me, I won't lie to you kid, getting over this ain't gonna be easy... something about betrayal always stick with you. Trust me, you learn to deal with it and you move on." (1)

Rogue turned around to face Logan again, her emerald eyes filled up with tears as she stared blankly at him.

"Ah just- Ah'm so tired and..."

"Let me finish Stripes," Logan said moving towards her, smoothing his hand over her shoulder and tightening his hold to comfort her. "As much as I don't like to admit it, Gumbo has real feelings for you, I can smell them... and as a man who has been in love, I know he loves you kid."

"It's just too much Logan, too much to handle."

"I have done terrible things in my life too darling, yet here I am... you don't hate me."

"Ah don't hate him either." Ah could never hate him, Rogue thought to herself.

"Forgiveness is hard to grant Stripes, and harder to mean. He's not seeking yours, he knows you too well for that, he's seeking his own... and that kind is even harder to get."

"What should Ah do?" Rogue asked hopelessly.

"It's up to you kid. I'm not your father, I'm your friend." (2) Logan smiled.

Rogue smiled back.

"I'm just going to tell you one thing," Logan said as he made his way towards the door. "You can't escape your past kid, no matter how hard you try or how far you go, trust me, been there many times. Your past is as much part of you as your present, and so is Gambit's for him."

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I hope you liked it, please don't forget to tell me what you think, so go on... click that little review button!! and yup, still learning english so, well you know, all corrections, comments are gladly welcomed. Thanks!!

(1) I won't lie to you, kid, getting over this ain't gonna be easy... something about betrayal always sticks with you. Trust me, you learn to deal with it, you move on.
X-men Evolution. Self Possesed

(2) I'm not your father. I'm your friend.
X-men: the last stand.

Love you people, take care you all :D
::pennylane::