10

Rogue listened to the monotonous beep of the machine that indicated her sons' heart beat. Kitty sat across from her silently staring at the unconscious boy. The two of them had been sitting there in silence for nearly an hour.

Finally, Rogue let out a breath as she stroked the hair on his head "Go ahead Kitty. Ah know you're dyin' to."

"Oh my God!" Kitty gushed "What… what?! You have to tell me everything! I can't believe you kept this from me!"

Rogue frowned "Ah'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, just start explaining!" Kitty leaned in as if she was watching her favorite movie; and it was just getting good.

"Alright."

"And I want every detail." Her eyes bore into Rogue as she spoke.

"Kit, you're kinda creepin' me out…" She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair "Well, ah guess it all started the day that Joseph left..."

… 6 years ago…

Rogue peeked out into the hallway, biting her lip as she contemplated her next action. She could just hang around and hope Kitty would return, or she could set out and look for the girl, risking mild humiliation from her other house mates.

With a sigh, she decided she couldn't wait for Kitty to get back, and she had a very small chance of finding her anyways. She'd obviously forgotten about her helping Rogue find an outfit to wear. She gave herself
a once over in the mirror and shrugged. The short leather skirt was a stretch for her, but she'd been feeling adventurous. And her legs were pretty much covered with her high boots anyways. Her usual dark
makeup was in place, and it made her feel better. Like a weird sort of security blanket. If anyone so much as snickered at her, she'd just punch them in the gut. Problem solved.

She headed out into the hallway, pulling her long black gloves on as she walked. When she passed the rec. room, she doubled back with a smile.

Gambit sat on the couch watching TV with his feet kicked up on the coffee table.

"Hey." She announced her presence. When he craned his neck to look at her she nodded.

"You're close enough. How do ah look?"

He raised an eyebrow "Close enough t'what?"

"T'Kitty. How do ah look?" She smiled.

"Y'look fine chère." He looked back at the TV.

"Gee thanks." She flopped down next to him on the couch. "Ah was kind of hopin' you'd embellish a bit."

He rolled his eyes "Y'can't tell a guy he's close enough t'Kitty Pryde an' den expect a river of compliments."

She grinned, noticing him give her another once over. "If I didn' know y'myself fleur, I'd do you. Dat better?"

She kicked her long -nearly bare- legs up on the coffee table and shrugged "Ah kinda like the first one better."

The commercial they'd been watching came to an end and a buxom blond in a red bathing suit began running along a beach in slow motion.

"Ugh. Baywatch?" She grimaced, reaching for the remote.

"No one invited you chère." He held the remote as far away from her as possible. "Dis a good one…"

"Ah'm serious! Ah don't wanna watch this crap!" She protested.

"Y'wan' d'remote so bad, come an' get it." He grinned.

"Ah will." Rogue leveled her gaze at him "Don't test me Cajun."

He simply turned back to the TV, still holding the remote at arms length.

She reached across him, grabbing at the remote with a laugh. "This ain't fair! You know ah hate this show…" she pouted, stretching as far as she could.

"Non chère, Remy was watchin' it long b'fore you got here." He held her back, still trying to watch the TV.

She reached across him again, stretching her body across his, causing him to smirk.

"You're such a creep." She said with a sneer, realizing he was enjoying her compromised position far too much.

"Yet y'still persist."

"Cause ah told you ah don't wanna watch!"

"Does it make y'feel insecure chère?" he murmured when she came to a rest inches away from his face.

"Yeah, that's exactly it." She rolled her eyes.

Someone cleared their throat in the doorway and Rogue bounced to her feet instantly.

"Joseph!" She grinned "Y'ready t'go?"

The frown that was fixed on his face was unavoidable.

Her grin remained steady as she let out a light laugh. "Ah bet you're wonderin' what's goin' on."

He crossed his arms and eyed Remy silently.

"Joe..." Rogue let out a breath, letting her shoulders slump "You know that Remy an' ah are friends. Nothin' else. Nothin' more."

"Dat's right homme." Remy smiled "Nothin' more."

Joseph shook his head. "I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your hands to yourself…"

"C'mon Joe, don't start this." She rolled her eyes. "We were just playin' around. Right Remy?"

He leaned back propping his hands behind his head with a cocky grin. "Ain' Remy's problem if y'can't satisfy d'little woman…"

Rogue swatted him upside the back of his head and he jerked forward from his cozy position.

"Sorry fleur, but d'man needs t'face up to the truth."

"Knock it off Cajun." Rogue hissed before moving over to Joseph and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Look. Ah love you."

"I know." He nodded, his stern look softening.

"You wouldn't think Kitty was makin' a move on me, would ya?"

He looked down and smiled. "No."

"Just think of him like... a big sister."

Remy grunted and Joe's smile widened.

"Good. Then this is done?" She kissed his nose. "Right?"

He nodded silently "You still wanna go out or did I ruin it?"

She smiled "'Course ah do. You couldn't ruin anything." She nuzzled his nose, noticing Remy's face twist up in disgust through the corner of her eye.

"Okay." He grinned, running his hands up her sides. "I'll meet you outside in ten."

Rogue nodded and watched as he left, blowing him a kiss.

"An' you." She spun around when Joseph was out of sight. "What the hell was that all about?"

Remy shrugged "Jus' tellin' it like it is fleur. D'man can't do the deed with his woman fo' some pansy ass reason… don't give him the right t'take it out on those of us who-"

She pressed her hand against his mouth.

"Ah wonder if you could say that any louder?!"

He rolled his eyes silently as she let her hand drop. "Joe would flip if he found out ah told you about that."

Remy smiled "He's got plenty t'be ashamed of."

She flicked his ear "He respects me, dill-hole. More than you can say about any of your… endeavors."

He squared his jaw and focused on the TV.

"You ain't talkin' anymore? 'Cause y'certainly had lots t'say when Joseph was here." She crossed her arms expectantly.

He simply turned the volume up and continued watching.

"Y'know what Remy? Ah was wrong. Our friendship ain't worth fightin' for. When did you turn into such a huge ass?" She grabbed the remote from him and turned the TV off. "Look at me!"

"Anna," He shook his head "Yo' boyfriend is waitin'."

She set the remote down on the coffee table and shook her head. "Why don't you like him Remy?"

He let out a quick breath and frowned.

"We're friends… you're supposed to be there for me. Not try to sabotage the only healthy relationship ah've ever had." She frowned. "Why do you hate him so much? He's sweet, generous, handsome, charming...
An' ah love him." She took his hand. "Ah don't know what ah'd do if mah best friend hated the man ah love."

"Chère, if you an' Joseph weren't dating, would you… hang out?"

Rogue shrugged "Ah don't know."

"C'mon." He gave her a knowing look.

"What does this even have t'do with anything?"

"Y'don't exactly have much in common."

"So?" She furrowed her brow. "Opposites attract."

"Does it seem normal dat y'got good friends who don't get along with the 'man you love'?"

"What are you tryin' t'say?" She pulled her hand away, trying to read the look in his eyes. The attempt was useless. She could never figure out what was going on in that pretty head of his. After a moment of silent turmoil, Remy sat back and shook his head.

"Nothin' chère. Go have fun." He smiled "An' I don' hate him. Promise."

She pursed her lips and nodded. "Right. Ah'll see y'later then…"

She turned around and moved towards the doorway, giving him a quick look over her shoulder before leaving. She couldn't shake the feeling that there had been something Remy wasn't saying.

The concern followed her through her date, hanging over her like a black cloud. Finally after they'd headed back to her room, Joseph frowned.

"Alright. What's on your mind? You still upset about earlier?"

She smiled "No. How could ah stay mad at you?" She brushed her cheek against his neck before gently nibbling his ear, leading him over to her bed.

"So what's on your mind then?" He asked after swallowing hard in an attempt to distract himself from how good her mouth felt on his flesh.

She tugged him down to sit next to her. "Nothin'." She whispered. "As in… what should you be wearin…?"

He groaned and closed his eyes as she positioned herself on top of him. What nerve… the bastard, implyin' that Joe an ah are no good together. She thought to herself as she peppered Joseph with kisses. We're
perfectly fine when we aren't arguing about him. Maybe ah should just wash mah hands of him. Joe an' ah could be the best a'friends too. Right?!She gently pushed him back, crawling her way up his body until she
hovered just above his torso before proceeding to gingerly un-tuck his shirt and unbutton it slowly.

Honestly, if she'd ever given Joseph the chance to be her friend, she knew he'd be great.

But when was the last time she'd actually told him something that came from her heart, something that had nothing to do with her powers and how they made her feel? Had she ever really shared anything like
that with him? She wondered to herself, planting a series of kisses on his bare stomach.

She moved up his chest and stopped just under his collar bone before he rolled her over onto her back, taking the lead.

As he started kissing her neck and massaging his hand up her side it dawned on her. Joseph had never been jealous of Remy's reputation with the ladies… it was always her who assumed that was the case. He
was jealous of their friendship. It never had been that he didn't trust them; it was that he wanted to be the one she talked to. He wanted to be her best friend. Her Rock. Her confidant. Not Remy.

So why was that so hard for her to do?

She ran her hand through his white hair as he made his way down her chest, undoing each button with a kiss. When he reached the top of her skirt he froze, hovering centimeters from her flesh. She inhaled
sharply and swallowed back the urge to moan. When she exhaled, she whispered the word that would change all three of their lives instantly.

"Remy…"

"What?" Joseph sat upright.

"What." Rogue's eyes flashed open. "What is it?"

"You just said something Anna."

Her breath hitched slightly and she sat up. "No, ah didn't say-"

"Yes. You did." He squared his jaw and stared at her silently for what felt like a full five minutes before he finally shook his head."Look Rogue, I can't do this with you anymore."

"Joseph. Don't over react. It was just a slip! Ah could have said any name. Ah just have a lot on mah mind." She smoothed her hands along his chest.

"But you didn't." He took her wrists and moved them off of him "You said his name."

"Joe…"

"No. This… this is enough." He lifted his chin, trying to cling on to any shred of dignity he could grasp. "Me or him Rogue."

She blinked at him. "What?"

"I've been thinking of leaving for a while now… but I stayed because of you." He pursed his lips and looked back at her "You decide for me. Me or him?"

"Joseph, you can't make me do this."

"I believe I just did." He stood up "So which is it Rogue? Because I won't wait around forever."

"Joe... ah can't do that."

"Then your choice is loud and clear."

"What do you expect me to say Joseph?! You just asked me to pick between you an' Remy? Pick what anyhow? Who ah love more? Who a want?"

He shook his head "Who you'd be willing to give anything up for. It seems your mind is already made up."

"Joseph. Don't do this…" She shook her head.

He stood up and buttoned his shirt "You leave me few other options here Rogue." He moved over to the door and stopped just before leaving.

"I've already looked into the details. I won't be here in the morning."

"Joseph… Don't go." She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "Please."

He pressed his lips together and turned to leave. "Goodbye Anna."

He looked as if he wanted to say more, but he didn't. He simply left. Walking his way out of her life and closing the door behind him.

A/N - Again, thank you all for your tremendous reviews. To all of you who found humour in Kitty's line, thank you. There's no hiding the fact that I just can't help myself with Kitty humour... (Go read The Beautiful Mind of Katherine Pryde. You'll see what I mean. LOL)

TristeAlma asked how Cole got his powers at such a young age and my answer is this: do not worry child. This will be discussed. ;)

Keep them reviews coming! I loves readin' em! I really do! And make sure you VOTE VOTE VOTE for your favorite man!

P.S.

Dear Forrest:

Ah wish ah could explain it to yah better, but y'know what yo'momma used ta say.... Stupid is as stupid does. Ah don't git that sayin' one bit, but mah point is, you's kinda stupid...

;)