Chapter 13: The New Year
"Mercy had been keeping an eye on Marcus the whole time," Gambit said in the kitchen at Xavier's. "She was on the move when she saw Marcus approach Rogue, although Aimee and I got there first. I guess none of us really considered that Marcus might try to use Rogue to get to me."
"Knowing you it would have worked too," Storm said. "Dating or not."
"If I'd realised we were going to have a combined Guild Christmas party, I wouldn't have invited Rogue to come along with me."
"Aww, but it turned out pretty good," Rogue said smugly. "Marcus avoided both of us for the rest of the evening like we were carrying the plague."
"Actually he was avoiding you," Gambit said with a grin. "I just stayed with you."
"It was pretty funny. You should have seen the look of sheer horror on his face."
Rogue and Gambit were not long back from New Orleans after the New Year and they were sitting at a table with Storm, Hank and Logan.
"I knew Rogue going with you was a bad idea," Logan muttered.
"Come now Logan, I think this story proves Rogue can manage herself," Storm said with a smile.
"I learned from the best," Rogue said.
"Do people often tell unwanted suitors they're hermaphrodites?" Logan asked.
"You taught me that when someone is trying to force you in a particular direction, sometimes the best way to throw them off balance is to go with them." Rogue replied seriously. "Albeit this wasn't physical combat, but you could say it was another form of combat."
"I could at that," he conceded with a grin.
"He wasn't expecting me to kiss back, let alone suggest we continue in private," Rogue said smugly. "And then just as he was getting all excited... whammo! The bomb drops. Good thing for me he wasn't the curious type, right?"
"Oui, you would have been in trouble if he had called your bluff," Gambit agreed. "Just how would you have gotten out of that one, chère?"
Rogue shrugged.
"Decked him one once we'd got into a more private place? Hoped that someone intervened before we got that far? Maybe I should have told him I had an STD... eh too late now. It worked anyway."
"Oui. Marcus practically stuck to Bella Donna and Mignonette like glue after that."
"I taunted him a couple of times by winking seductively at him."
"It was hilarious to watch him cringe," Gambit said gleefully. "And the party went pretty well afterwards. On the way home Mercy told everyone what happened. We all had a great laugh, although Rogue did have to clear up with a couple of others that she wasn't really a hermaphrodite."
"Ahh, it doesn't really worry me if people still think I am," Rogue said with a shrug. "Unless Remy decides to invite me back next year, I'm hardly going to see them again."
"What if I do and everyone's convinced that you are?" Gambit asked.
"I'm not going to pull down my pants to prove otherwise."
"I should hope not," Logan said.
It happened a couple of weeks later after school started again and everyone had returned to their regular routines that Rogue found herself on night duty. She was curled up on the couch, a book in her hand and a mug of hot chocolate on the table when she heard the front door open. Reluctantly, she put her bookmark in her place and made her way to the door.
"Bobby?"
"Ahh!" He exclaimed. "Oh... hey Rogue, what are you doing up?"
"Night duty. I didn't realise you'd gone out."
"I wasn't on a date!"
"Oookay..." Rogue said, giving him an odd look. "I never asked if you were."
"Oh, uhh right, I umm—" he stammered.
"Were you on a date?" Rogue asked, regarding him curiously.
"Uhh..."
Bobby looked very much like a deer caught in headlights and Rogue looked at him expectantly.
"Well, yeah..." he finally admitted.
"How'd it go?"
"Oh good," Bobby replied then added quickly: "Well not y'know, good. It was fine. Adequate. Y'know."
"Right. Think you'll see her again?"
"Yeah. Well, I mean I kind of have no choice in the matter. Samantha goes to Uni with me."
"Ahh. I mean on a second date."
"Umm, well, maybe yeah."
"Well, I'm glad things went well. Good night Bobby."
"Thanks. Good night, Rogue."
The two looked at each other in silence for a moment, then Rogue returned to the couch and her book, while Bobby headed for his room. However, Rogue found herself unable to concentrate and kept rereading the same paragraph over and over. With a sigh she put it back down again. Who was she kidding? It had been almost two whole months since their break up and he'd already found someone else. Her dating pool was pretty much non-existent, unless she decided to date someone online and where was the fun in that? It wasn't that she was the 'I must have a boyfriend' type, it was more that she enjoyed romance. Rogue smiled wryly as she looked at the cover of her romance/adventure novel. Yep, she was unhappy about the lack of romantic opportunities in her life for the next five years, no doubt the same way Gambit was feeling about the lack of sex. It was all very well and good to say she could use this time to study and prepare for the third manifestation of her powers, but work was no substitute for love.
Rogue glanced up at the clock. Noting it was time for her next set of rounds, Rogue finished off her hot chocolate before it could get cold and began on her tour of the upper floors of the mansion. Her route took her through the teachers wing—more as a shortcut than any reason to be concerned—and as she approached Gambit's door she noted the light shining through underneath. She paused for a moment, then knocked. There was no immediate answer and just when Rogue was deciding not to worry about it and continue on her way, the door opened. Gambit leaned on the partially opened door, bedecked in only a pair of pajama pants.
"Roguey?" He asked curiously.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," she said. "I just saw that the light was on."
"S'fine. What can I do for you?"
"Well, I..." Rogue paused and took a deep breath before she continued: "I've decided to go ahead with the new identity thing."
"Okay," he replied solemnly. "Have you spoken to Logan yet?"
"No. I will tomorrow."
"Okay then. What brought this on?"
For a moment Rogue was silent and she looked away.
"Bobby just came back from a date. Last straw, I guess," she shrugged. "Anyway, thanks. I'll let you know what Logan says."
She started to walk away when Gambit reached out and took her hand.
"So, I'm thinking I might actually step foot in the church on Sunday..." he said.
Rogue giggled.
"That would be novel," she replied. "Plus, Kurt's been missing me."
"I look forward to meeting him."
"It's your own fault you haven't met him already, you big wuss."
Gambit poked his tongue out at her. Rogue chuckled.
"I have to continue on my rounds. Good night, sugar."
"'Night chère."
He gave her hand a kiss before letting it go and closing the door. Rogue continued her way down the hall and as she approached Logan's room wondered if it was too late for her to talk to him about it now. However, as she approached his door, she heard a thump and some growling noises and decided against it. Last time she'd interrupted one of Logan's nightmares, she ended up with his claws through her chest and this time she couldn't borrow his powers to heal herself. Morning would come soon enough.
Rogue looked at Logan expectantly across the table the following morning.
"Anna Marie Howlett, huh?" he asked.
"Yeah."
He nodded slowly.
"Okay."
"Okay, really?" Rogue asked hopefully.
"Sure. I'd be honoured, kid. Just one question," Logan replied seriously.
"Yeah?"
"Who was your mother?"
Rogue giggled.
"I think they're just going to make up a name for my mother," she replied. "Thanks so much for this."
"No problem."
"I'll tell Remy when I see him. By the way, did you sleep okay last night?"
Logan paused in the middle of his mouthful of breakfast, nodded, and went back to eating.
"Oh well, that's good," Rogue said cheerfully. "I was going on my rounds and I heard some noises coming from your room. Figured it was another nightmare."
"Ahh, well... thanks for your concern, but I was fine."
It was Rogue's turn to pause. All of a sudden Logan was avoiding her gaze and... Rogue clamped her hand over her mouth and smothered a giggle.
"Oh!" she exclaimed gleefully. "It wasn't a nightmare, was it? You were... You had a visitor!"
Logan coughed and concentrated on his toast.
"Oooooh!" Rogue said, grinning delightedly. "C'mon tell. Who is it? How long has it been going on?"
"Would you ask your real father these questions?" Logan asked uncomfortably.
"Nah, I already know the answers: Mama and they were high school sweethearts," she replied and batted her eyelids at him. "C'mon Logan, I have no love life any more. I need to live vicariously through everyone elses."
"Morning," Storm said cheerfully as she walked into the dining room. "Rogue. Logan."
"Morning 'Ro," Logan replied.
Rogue's eyes lit up as she looked between Storm and Logan.
"Ohmigod! It's Storm isn't it?" Rogue exclaimed.
"What's me?" asked Storm, looking perplexed at the two.
"Rogue's decided to change her identity to one that matches her physical age," Logan said.
"Okay we can change the subject," Rogue said gleefully. "I won't tell anyone."
"Won't tell anyone what?" asked Storm.
"Just let me ask one thing: How long have you guys been seeing each other for?"
Storm looked from Rogue to Logan, who shook his head with a low growl.
"Since Christmas," Storm admitted.
"Aww, that's so sweet," Rogue said, sighing happily. "Okay, I'll just leave you two alone now. I have to track down Remy anyway to talk to him about my identity change. See yas later."
Rogue stood with Gambit at the doors to the church, their elbows linked together. Rogue turned her head and grinned at Gambit.
"So this is the closest you've ever gotten," she said, her eyes alight with mischief. "You actually gonna step inside now, wuss-boy?"
Gambit closed his eyes briefly, then turned his head to look at her.
"Don't call me that," he said, his eyes narrowed slightly at her.
"Don't give me a reason to."
Gambit put his hand on the door and pushed it open. He could see everyone inside mingling and taking to their seats. He lifted his foot and stepped over the threshold. His second foot followed soon thereafter. Rogue applauded.
"Yay! You did it," she cheered. "And look! You haven't been smited either."
"Roguey?" Gambit said tolerantly.
"Yes Remy?"
"You are so lucky we're in church right now, or I'd..."
"You'd what?"
Gambit paused, then changed his mind about what he was going to say and instead muttered: "Give you a right good spanking." Rogue laughed.
"C'mon," she said. "Let's get us a seat. Up the back perhaps? Where you can make a quick getaway in the event of lightning strikes?"
"I don't think it's very Christian of you to taunt me in Church, chère," Gambit replied reprovingly.
"But you're just so tauntable, Squeaky."
"Just a few months and I won't be 'squeaky' any more," Gambit said as they sat down on a couple of chairs. "Which brings up the question: when are you going to stop being a skinny, flat stick insect?"
"I'm a late bloomer, so sue me."
"Late bloomer in powers, late bloomer in boobs—"
"I don't see you blowing any thing up."
"You've never seen me blow anything up."
"Right, so I'm starting to wonder if you're capable of blowing anything up at all."
"You can talk to me about blowing things up when you can hold a beer can between your boobs."
"Hey!" Rogue objected and whacked him across the shoulder.
"Chère, violence in Church? For shame."
"I'll 'for shame' you, you perverted—"
"And now name calling," Gambit interrupted with a sigh. "You know chère, I think if anyone has to worry about God smiting them, it's you."
Whatever retort Rogue would have come up with was interrupted by the lead singer of the band calling for everyone's attention. Gambit was rather impressed by the sight of a full band. They played a few songs—of which he knew none of the words, but he did enjoy listening to Rogue sing along beside him. The announcements were made and then Communion, and Tithes and Offerings. As the stewards went around with the Tithe bags, Logan moved to where he could keep an eye on the Cajun thief. Gambit spotted his dark look and smirked before making a point of sitting on his hands. Logan didn't stop his menacing glare until after the steward had passed.
Then the message started and Gambit found himself remembering why he stopped going to church in the first place. One of the reasons why anyway. His attention drifted off and he started shuffling his playing cards. One of his legs insisted on bouncing up and down. Rogue, well used to Gambit's sheer inability to sit still, only smirked and tuned it out. After what seemed like forever from Gambit's point of view, the pastor finally finished and the band got up to sing a final song.
"C'mon restless boy," Rogue said as the last song finished. "I'll introduce you to Kurt."
"Okay then," Gambit replied and allowed himself to be hauled out of the chair.
With her hand in his, Rogue drew Gambit down the aisle to the front where Kurt was busy chatting to the pastor. Gambit had to admit he could see Rogue's point about this Church being definitely mutant-friendly, given Kurt's resemblance to a blue demon, complete with prehensile tail. Although he did lack horns and hooves, so, perhaps not that much like a demon. Kurt spotted Rogue and Gambit, and finished his conversation quickly.
"Fraulein Rogue," Kurt said, giving her an enthusiastic hug. "It is good to see you."
"Good to see you too," Rogue replied. "It's been awhile huh? This is wuss-boy, erm I mean Remy. See? We didn't stay in the bus or at the doorway this time."
Gambit coughed uncomfortably and held out his hand.
"A pleasure to meet you," he said to Kurt. "I've heard a lot about you."
"And I you," Kurt replied, shaking his hand. "I was beginning to wonder if I would have to teleport you in here."
"Oh you're a teleporter? Nice. I blow stuff up."
"Apparently," Rogue teased. "I have yet to see him do it."
"Beer can, Rogue. Beer can."
A couple of weeks later, Ray and Amara brought in the mail from the box out the front and upended the bag on the table. Before there were pigeon holes for everyone living at Xavier's and the two began the tedious task of sorting the mail.
"Bonjour mes amis," Gambit said. "Having fun?"
"Oh, so much," Amara muttered. "Wanna help?"
Gambit didn't reply at first, then grinned and picked up a brown package with his name on it and post-marked "New Orleans".
"Sure," he said. "I'll take this one off your hands."
"Thanks a lot," Amara replied sarcastically.
"You're welcome," Gambit answered with a sincere grin.
Barely half an hour later, Gambit located Rogue in the sun room where she was busy meditating. Normally she would have gone outside, but it was far too cold for such things.
"Chère?"
"Oh, hi Remy," Rogue replied, opening her eyes. "What can I do for you?"
"Actually," Gambit said as he sat down next to her. "I came to offer my condolences on the passing of Marie Skye D'Ancanto."
Rogue caught her breath as Gambit held out her death certificate. Her hands trembled a little as she reached out of the paper.
"And to introduce myself to Anna Marie Howlett," Gambit added softly, holding out a birth certificate. "Bonjour Anna. I'm Remy."
Rogue looked up from the papers and gave him a slight smile.
"So...it's all done then?"
"Oui," Gambit said, patting a box beside him. "All the rest of the papers you need are right here."
For a moment Rogue didn't say anything.
"Thanks, Remy," she said softly.
"No problem, chère," he replied.
Rogue looked between the birth and death certificates, trying to wrap her head around it. It was one thing to make the decision, but quite another to have the tangible results of that decision in her hands.
"They changed my birthday," she observed.
"Yeah, mine got changed too. Didn't want us to be too similar to our previous selves," Gambit said. "What date?"
"21st of April."
"I picked the 6th of the 9th."
Rogue blinked then looked up at him.
"The 6th of the 9th," she repeated.
"Oui," Gambit replied with a grin.
"You are such a pervert."
"What? It happens to be exactly a week after my real birthday."
"Uh huh, and that's the whole reason why you chose it."
"Never said that."
"I repeat: You are such a pervert," Rogue said disgustedly. "Wait so, the 30th of August?"
"Oui."
"That would have been close to when you got, umm, Cured."
"It wasn't just close, chère. It was the same day," Gambit said quietly. "There I was, enjoying my birthday with a few drinks with mes amis and the next thing I know I've been shot in the neck with a Cure bullet. There was even a little note attached. It said: Happy Birthday Sucker."
"Wow."
"I suspected it was Julien—looked like his handwriting—but it wasn't confirmed until he bragged about it to me two days later," Gambit paused for a moment, then the solemn expression changed to a smile. "Actually, it hasn't turned out that badly. Sure, there are a few setbacks right now, but they'll pass in a few years and in the meantime I have my eyes back, not to mention the chance to re-live twenty-six years of my life. In fact, I'm kinda sorry I killed him now. I would have loved to rub this in his face."
Rogue laughed. She put the certificates down on top of the box and gave Gambit a big hug.
"Not such a bad birthday present after all, huh?" she said.
"Sure beats getting socks."
"Or underwear."
"Underwear's not such a bad birthday present, depending on who it's coming from. I think I'd be a little worried if Julien had ever gotten me any," Gambit replied cheerfully. "Actually, come to think of it, I kinda wish I'd gotten him some just to see the look on his face. Darn, now I really wish I hadn't killed him. Why is it you always think of the best lines after it's too late?"
Rogue laughed.
AN: I think that Remy's birthdate of choice is funnier if you come from a country that writes numerical dates as DD/MM/YYYY as opposed to those who - for some weird reason - like to write it MM/DD/YYYY. You know, because then it would be 6/9 not 9/6 ;)