By the time Remy had dropped Rogue off back at her house, she had agreed to see him the next night without anyone else knowing about it. After coming to the decision to put the bet on hold for a night, both had found a sense of ease and comfort they'd been missing the past few days.

They had agreed to meet outside the mansion's gates at the end of the street, late into the evening. Remy had nothing big planned, just a nice, quiet coffee somewhere that was open late. He was worried she'd be disappointed, but on the contrary she was ecstatic.

"That sounds great," she had agreed with a smile.

He had stayed in the driveway, watching her until she was safely back inside before he drove away. He couldn't believe his good luck.

Rogue kind of liked him back. It was a start; and all Remy wanted to do was swing euphorically around lampposts in a musical theatre sort of way. Naturally he didn't, but the urge to do it was still there. He had promised her a pressure free evening, so he had to be careful he didn't act too keen and freak her out. He could subdue his almost obsessive adoration with her for one evening. Besides, he reasoned, even if he was a little ardent, he didn't think she'd mind all that much. She was a pretty cool girl, and could dish anything he might accidentally throw at her right back. He liked that she could keep up with him. He hadn't met a single girl who could until he'd met her.

He continued plotting all sorts of casual make-believe conversations between himself and her for tomorrow. It was a chance to show her what a nice, normal, cool guy he really was. After all, a casual coffee between two people was a nice normal thing for people to do. He liked the idea that he wouldn't be scrutinized when he got back from tomorrow's date. Not like tonight.

He let out an unpleasant groan. He could already hear Lance's badgering when he walked in the door. Lance would be furious and berate him again for giving Rogue another point, but Remy didn't really care all that much now that Rogue had agreed to go out with him on the sly. In fact, for some reason, Remy had stopped caring and worrying about a lot of things concerning the Brotherhood since Rogue had said yes.

If he'd had half as much respect as he was supposed to, Lance wouldn't be nagging him and bossing him around all the time with this stupid bet. The more Remy thought about it, the more annoying it was. He was secretly pleased about telling Lance that Rogue had got a point. The idea of pissing Avalanche off was greatly appealing to him right now. Jumping through hoops wasn't Remy's sort of thing anyway. It was more Toad's style, and Remy was certainly above Toad.

When Remy arrived back at the dump he called 'home', at leastfor the time being, he was surprised to be greeted by an old acquaintance. He wouldn't go so far as to say friend, Pyro wasn't really trustworthy enough for that title.

"Gambit!" Pyro exclaimed in his raunchy Australian accent. "So, the rumours are true! You did manage to survive a Wolverine attack!"

The crazy man with ridiculously loud orange clothes laughed like a lunatic. Remy only gave a casual smirk. He wasn't sure how Pyro knew about his little run in with Wolverine back in New Orleans. He hoped to hell Pyro didn't know that the only reason he'd survived an ass kicking from Wolverine was because Rogue stepped in on his behalf and kept Logan at bay. Saved by a girl was not a very enigmatic story to tell—even if the girl was Rogue.

"Honestly, Pyro, I wouldn't hold a world class title in thieving if I could get caught," he answered with disinterest.

Pyro only laughed louder, and Remy found it amusing how the laugh seemed to unnerve both Toad and Pietro. Dukes seemed oblivious as usual, Lance was scowling with his arms crossed, and Wanda was nowhere in sight.

"Did you mange to 'get caught' tonight?" Lance demanded from his corner.

"Women are far better trappers than Wolverines," Remy answered in a roundabout way.

"Is that a 'yes' or a 'no'?" Lance elaborated.

"Yay or nay!" Toad chimed in like the idiot he was.

"A little of both," Remy answered with a remissive shrug. "She got a point, I got a point."

The floor shook a little.

"Damn it, Gambit!" Lance cursed. "She's still one ahead! You have no idea what Kitty's going to say to me tomorrow."

Remy advanced towards Lance dangerously, grabbing the arrogant bastard by the collar and charging the material slightly. "Seduce her yourself then," Remy snarled darkly.

Lance backed down immediately. "No one but you is crazy enough to try it. You know that," Lance griped.

"It's nice that you still remember that," Remy answered curtly. "Try not to forget that I am choosing to do you a favour. You'd think you'd be more grateful."

After reasserting his dominance over the group, Remy let go of Lance's collar and shoved him aside before leaving the room.

Pyro let out a low whistle. "He's a little ropable, isn't he?" Pyro stated with a hint of laughter in his eyes towards Lance. "Not a wise one to rile up there, mate."

Gambit charged and uncharged a few choice playing cards in his hand. He was sick of being undermined, and he was sick of Lance and his damn bet. It was making the idiot too cocky, like he had some power over him, and Remy didn't like it. Hopefully he'd put Lance in his place, at least for the time being. He didn't like being challenged, at least that was a plus to having Pyro around.

Pyro knew firsthand what Remy was capable of. They had run many a mission together with Remy as Magneto's right hand man. He had the deranged man's respect, although having Pyro around while he was in this thing with Rogue made him a bit edgy. Pyro was a bit unshackled and freewheeling, and Remy wasn't sure if that would create problems or not.

With nothing better to do, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it along with his pants to a pile of dirty laundry in the corner of his room. He headed to his en suite bathroom for a quick shower before he went to bed.


Jean was a girl on a mission. She had gotten up bright and early, wanting to leave for the Brotherhood house as soon as possible and with the least amount of interaction with anyone around the mansion. She didn't want to answer any questions, having so many of her own already in mind. She was rushing to the back door by the kitchen when Colossus' voice caught her.

"Good morning, Miss Jean Grey," he greeted, looking up from his sketchbook.

Jean had nodded briefly in acknowledgement as she rushed towards the door, halting to a quick stop as an idea hit her. She turned back to Piotr.

"Hey, Pete?" she asked. "Did Gambit ever say anything about Rogue to you?"

"No," he answered.

"You bet forty bucks on Rogue, stating he liked her... um, how do you know that for sure?"

The giant teddy bear grinned earnestly. "I am remembering when the Rogue was taken by Mystique and under control of other mutant."

"You mean Mesmero?" Jean asked, trying to follow his English as best as she could.

Colossus nodded quickly. "She—Rogue come to warehouse and steal from us all our powers."

"Yes, I remember that," Jean answered. Rogue had been under the control of Mesmero and had been used as a puppet to unleash Apocalypse. To do so, Rogue had needed all their mutative powers.

"I am remembering waking up to hearing Gambit speaking to Magneto in quiet voice. He say Sabertooth should not track girl and that he should instead."

"And Magneto ended up sending them both with Wolverine to find her in the end," Jean finished.

"Yes!" Piotr exclaimed. "Gambit, he is wanted to go. Which I think strange, because Gambit, he is never caring what happen to anyone before her. This is why I say he is liking her."

"Because he wanted to track her down?" Jean confirmed skeptically.

"Yes, this is exactly what I say."

"Thanks, Pete," Jean replied graciously anyway. "You may have given me an in!"

She continued on her way, leaving the large muscled sweetheart beaming at his helpfulness before turning his attention back to his sketchbook. He had no idea what he was helping with, but still had been happy to chat.

Piotr's story hadn't given Jean much to go on. There could have been any number of reasons why Gambit had insisted on going along to track Rogue. Still, it was a good bit of info to bring up if need be, especially if she suspected Gambit of lying, or she got desperate.

Jean arrived at the rundown communal living space of the Brotherhood, and knocked on the front door. Toad answered the door in his skivvies. Not really what Jean wanted to see this early—or at all.

"What do you want?" Toad asked her in what she wasn't sure was a come on or not.

"I'm here to see Gambit," she answered in a commanding tone.

Toad gave a shrug, letting her in.

"Ladies looove Gambit," Toad sang

Jean wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, whatever. Can you just go get him?"

"Follow the Toad, Princess!" he announced, hopping off down the hall.

Jean followed, careful not to step in anything. Toad led her to the kitchen where Gambit stood shirtless in pajama pants with his back to her, watching a pot of coffee brew.

Jean kept her face placid. It was very easy to see why Rogue fell for him; Jean had to keep herself from staring at the chiseled body from a dream in front of her.

"Yo! Boss man, hot broads are just lining up to see you."

Gambit turned with a scowl on his face while simultaneously flinging what Jean could only assume was mug he'd just charged at Toad. Toad leaped frightfully out of the way, only to run smack dab into the damn thing as it exploded in a quiet, warning pop.

Jean raised her eyebrows. Obviously the remark had hit a sore spot, or Gambit just wasn't a morning person. Toad scurried out of the room, clearly afraid. He lingered nosily by the open kitchen door though. Jean was not having any interlopers, and with a quick flick of her wrist, the door slammed in Toad's face.

Gambit casually glanced around the room before turning his eyes with intrigue towards Jean. "Finally ready to upgrade from your joke of a boyfriend, I see," Remy spoke in a low melodic voice.

"Not even in your wildest dreams," Jean shot back, already displeased with his attitude.

He smiled a slow, easy smile with a world hiding behind those eyes. He leaned languidly back against the counter top, jutting his perfect hip bones out seductively. "But possibly yours." He smirked.

Jean was taken aback. It was best she just get to the point. She'd make sure she worded her words carefully. With the way he was acting right now, Jean had very little hope his intentions with Rogue were noble.

"What's in this bet for you?" she demanded. At least his infuriating behaviour gave her courage to confront him. Gambit would find very quickly that Jean was not like other girls.

"Whatever bet can you mean?" he asked innocently.

"The bet with Rogue. We all know you're this great seducer, so why prove it with a bet involving her?"

"The brass ring, cherie," he answered in the smarmiest tone.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Jean asked irritated.

"Rogue's a brass ring. A prize. The ultimate notch on the belt."

Jean was furious. "So you don't give a damn about her at all?"

"Why would I?" he asked the question so casually that Jean had to ball her hands into fists to keep from hitting him.

"The truth, Gambit. You wanted to track her when she was under Mesmero's control? If you're so sure you don't care about her, why would you insist on going after her back then?"

His face didn't even change expression. "That's a mighty fine package of power there, thought I might be able to strike a bargain for an added cash bonus if I'd gotten to her first."

Jean narrowed her eyes. She had heard enough. "You're disgusting! You had better hope to Heaven and Hell that you never have to face me in a fight. Especially if anything, and I mean anything, happens to Rogue," Jean seethed in a dangerous threat before taking her leave of the slimy jerk. The idea that this…man was playing on Rogue made Jean angrier than she'd ever been before.

She was storming with rage back to her car when a hand unexpectedly reached out from the shadows of the house, and yanked her to the side and out of view before she could respond.