Hey Everyone!

I'm sure this chapter made a lot of people jump right in! The name gives a little bit away, but I think you guys will like it either way.

Okay, so Gambit has a theory about Rogue's power that I have theorized about for a long time. Maybe she gains more control of her power the more she uses it? Makes sense, right? Her lips are barely ever touched and so they taken only a few seconds to work and then her hands take longer. Following? I know, it's a long shot, but for this chapter, it the way things are.

Read on, and enjoy!

~Zari

Chapter 10: Kiss.

"Okay. You said your hands take longer to use your power than your lips, no?" Remy asked her.

Rogue sat in the floor, cross-legged, in Remy's room. She figured it would be easier for her to leave his room than to get him to leave hers. "Yeah."

Remy looked as though he was thinking carefully about how he worded everything that he said. "Maybe dis because you used your hands more?"

Rogue thought for a minute. The idea had merit. "Okay," she said, "Ah'm following."

Remy shrugged. "So, all you really need is to use your power to make it lessen."

Rogue considered the idea. "That might work."

Remy smirked at her. "I'll be right back." He left quickly into the bathroom.

Rogue sighed. Was that it? He had a theory for her? At least it was something. It was more than him saying, 'Control, Rogue. You can control it.' The Professor made a great cheerleader, but not such a great coach. Logan seemed interested in helping her, but he also seemed to accept that there was nothing he could do. She was screwed.

Remy returned to the room and sat down across from her. "I want to try something."

Rogue looked at him warily. "What is it?"

Remy smiled at her. "You won' have to do anything. I'll do all the work."

Rogue lowered her eyebrows in confusion. "Ah don't know if Ah like this."

Remy took her hand. "I would never hurt you."

Rogue thought for a minute. His ideas have been hair-brained so far, but at least he had ideas. She didn't have any. "Okay, what do Ah do?"

Remy smiled at her. He drew closer to her. "Jus'… don' move."

Rogue watched as he came closer and closer to her, and her life-draining skin. He did have guts. She had to give him that.

Remy watched her eyes until he came so closer that their faces were almost touching. If Rogue didn't know better, she'd say he was trying to…

Rogue pulled back from him. "What are you thinking?"

Remy placed his hands on her shoulders. "Rogue, I'm sure this will work. I'm just going to kiss you."

Rogue pushed him off and stood over him. "You are crazy, you know that!"

Remy looked up at her for a minute and then stood to face her. "I told you I had an idea."

Rogue folded her arms over her chest. "Ah wouldn't have agreed to this, if Ah knew what it was."

Remy sighed. "At least I'm trying."

Rogue raised her eyebrows at him. "Trying to what? Trying to kiss the unkissable? Good luck!" She turned and headed toward the door. "You'll have to find another life-draining mutant."

Remy ran to the door and blocked her way. "You trusted me enough to come in here, but you don' trust me enough to kiss you?"

Rogue looked at his face. He didn't seem so menacing. He had a point too. She had trusted him enough to come in here. Of course, she had only agreed to his room because she thought she would be able to storm out if he tried anything. Now it wasn't an option. "Ah don't like being pushed in any direction. You already know that."

Remy nodded. "I'm not pushing you, Rogue. I jus' want to try this. It be fast. I promise."

Rogue sighed. She looked away from him for a second. "No more than three seconds," she told him.

Remy smiled at her. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her face for better access.

Rogue swallowed the lump of nervousness in her throat. Never mind that this was her first kiss, she could easily kill him if they held it for too long.

Remy moved his face closer and placed his lips on hers. He gave her one soft kiss and pulled back a little to see her reaction.

Rogue felt her stomach jump inside her. That had felt good. His lips were so smooth.

"Say something," Remy told her.

Rogue looked up at him, and she kissed him again, this time a little longer. She moved back and took a breath. Did that just happen? Was she even in control of her body on that one?

Remy took her shoulders in his hands and pulled her close to him. He put his lips to hers again, holding her tightly with his hands.

Rogue breathed in his aroma as she gave in to the dreamy feeling of his kiss. His lips were so smooth and strong.

Remy wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body into a close hug, as he came down for another kiss.

Rogue had almost forgotten what her power was when she finally felt it, the undeniable trace of her power. She could feel his thoughts and memories flooding into her, followed close behind by his power and life-force. She pulled her face away and pushed him back.

Remy took an involuntary step back. His eyes were wide with fear. He must have been able to feel it all being pulled from him.

Rogue took a few steps backwards toward the door. "Ah'm sorry. Ah got carried away."

Remy pulled himself back to reality quickly and turned toward her. "I's all right, Chère. Remy is alive."

Rogue shook her head. "It's not all right. Ah shouldn't have-"

Remy stepped toward her. Even after being drained he had some guts to be so willing to jump back into it. "I's all right, Rogue."

Rogue opened the door and moved toward the outside. "Ah'm sorry."

Remy closed the door and looked down at her seriously. "Rogue…"

Rogue pressed herself into the wall to escape him. "Training over, Gambit! We're done!"

Remy put his hands up in surrender and opened the door for her.

Rogue stepped outside and turned to walk away. What had she done?

Remy held the door open for an instant and said, "It was worth it," softly before closing the door.

Rogue swallowed the lump of embarrassment and nerves as she made her way back to her bedroom. What was she thinking? Well, at least he would stop chasing her now, right? He got what he wanted.

A memory of Remy's came into her mind uninvited:

I was sitting in my room playing with my cards. I shuffled them while thinking. She'd do anything to get away from me, wouldn't she? Was I really so bad? Maybe it was just because she was young. That must be it. She's used to boy, the high school flirting where they carry her books and ask her to go out right after. Those were the easy days. Maybe my approach was too strong.

I lifted one card from the top of the deck and looked at it. It was the five of spades.

I decided to leave fate up to the cards. I placed my fingers on the next card. If it was lower than the five, I would give up and leave Rogue alone. If it was higher than the five, I would continue to try.

I flipped the card and looked at it, positive that it would be higher.

It was a two of diamonds.

Damn…

I grabbed the next card to flip. Best two out of three.

Rogue shook herself out of the memory. "He actually likes me? I thought he… But he was so… I can't…" Now she understood why he hadn't bothered her all day. Darn him! She hugged herself and made her way out of the boys' dorm hall. She felt bad for everything now. It was like she was leading him on. She would have to set things straight tomorrow.

"Hey, Rogue," Bobby said, as he exited Sam's room.

Rogue gave him a false smile. "Hi."

Bobby smiled at her oddly. "So how about Friday night?"

Rogue lowered her eyebrows at him. "What about it?"

Bobby ran his ringers through his hair. "For the movie?"

Rogue then remembered. She did tell him that she'd watch a movie and that he could pick the day, didn't she? Darn! At least it wasn't with Remy. "Yeah. Friday is good. I think Kitty and Amara have a party that day though."

Sam snickered behind him.

Bobby turned and glared at him. "Shut up!" he hissed his friend silent. He turned back to Rogue. "That's okay. I was thinking of an action movie. Sound good?"

Rogue didn't even have to think about it. She didn't care. She'd shove that other movie back in right now if it would get her out of this hallway. "Yeah. Action sounds great."

Bobby smiled. "Cool!"

Sam snickered again.

Bobby turned and glared at him once more. "Well, I'm going to finish my homework. I'll see you Friday around eight?"

Rogue nodded to him. "Okay. Eight."

Bobby slowly closed the door. "Night then."

Rogue watched as he closed the door, remembering that he was just walking out of there before he started talking. She wondered when he would remember that. She continued down the hall, grateful that Remy hadn't decided to come after her. She wondered if he was playing High Card to decide if he should come after her. She almost laughed at herself. This was pathetic.

Well, it was worth the try, right?

In the next chapter... You find out just what the heck is Bobby's deal, the return of persistent Remy, and more confusion for poor Rogue.

Thanks to all my readers that have favorited this story, especially my faithful reviewers! I really love reading what you all have to say!

DontMessWithAnime - My wrist is feeling better, but I have to take the wrapping off to type, and that HURTS! It's doing better other than that, so I should be back to normal soon! Yay! The doctor says, at least. I hope this Remy/Rogue action in this chapter was good. At times, I felt I was overdoing it, so I'm going to slow it down a bit for the next few chapters, but it will still be present. Thanks for the review!

Chellerbelle - I know, right? Darn that distracting Cajun! :D Thanks fro reviewing!

tfobmv16 - Thank you! I like to hear when my work is appreciated! Let me know if this chapter was overdoing it a little bit. ;) Thanks for reviewing!

blackberryhunttress - Thanks for the get well wishes! It's getting better, just with ice and wrapping on it. :p I think this chapter cleared up our curiosity as to why Remy gave her the space and security. What shall he do next? Mwahaha! That crazy Cajun...and where is the duct tape? Bobby needs some! Thanks for the review and get well wishes!

Rogueslove22 - I wonder how good we have to be to get Gambit for Christmas? Darn Santa and his naughty/nice list! It gets me every year! I wouldn't have naughty thoughts if freaking Remy could just keep his shirt on... or not have his accent... or not be so charming and sexy... or... aw, heck, I'm screwed no matter what he does. Dang. Thanks for the get well wishes, and the review by the way!