They hadn't realized how much timed had passed until there was slight knock at the door. Remy's eyes adjusted, the same dim light that had been breaking through the curtain when they had come back from breakfast was there only mildly brighter. He moved only marginally, Rogue's breath was covering his chest in warm waves her hair splayed out against his shoulder. He definitely did not want to get up. Rogue heard the knock but was much too comfortable taking in the sweet scent of sweat tinged skin to move. Her leg was wrapped over and under both of Remy's legs and she gripped it tighter mumbling in her half sleep for him to stay. He chuckled breathily into her hair pulling her closer into his chest. Their hands still interlocked, he broke it to move his hand down her back, tickling her skin pushing her hair out of the way for his touch. He rested his hand on her hip. He swore there was a place made just for his hands there.

There was another knock, this time louder.

"Stripes, get your ass up, you missed your Danger Room session this morning," Logan growled from behind the door. Rogue's eyes shot open as she leaned her head up to look over at the clock on the bedside table.

"Remy it's nine!" she whispered to him with wide eyes as he grinned wolfishly flashing his teeth with that sideways smirk his eyes glinting in the semi darkness.

"Oui."

"We spent all day in-"

"Oui," another glint and she couldn't help but smack him playfully.

"Logan's gonna kill me, Ah was supposed ta be at the Danger Room at six this morning. Ah can't believe we spent the whole day-"

"I can," another wink and smile and Rogue had to pull herself off of him or this was going to lead to another whole day lost. She knew they had gone more than a couple of rounds but she for some reason couldn't put together that they had spent more than twenty four hours locked in their room exploring each other. Then she remembered. Just like the dream

There was a torrent of limbs and faces and Rogue saw nothing but flesh and skin.

Tan and milky white.

A pair of plump red lips.

A pair of firm rough hands.

A creamy thigh.

A browned muscled arm.

A toned stomach pressed against a soft back.

A snowy white backside.

A pair of golden flexed calves.

An ivory chest flushed pink.

Rolling valleys of skin mixed together.

A sudden merging of bronze with alabaster.

The flurry ended suddenly with a cry of ecstasy.

Except this time she had actually lived it, and the cry was actually cries, as in multiple, as in everything was repeated more than once. She blushed as she sat up in the bed collecting the sheets around her. This was too much to process this early with an angry Wolverine at her door.

There was another loud pounding.

"Stripes I know you're in there. You better get out here and tell me why you missed your Danger Room session. Just because Gumbo is healin' doesn't mean you need to be at his beck and call twenty four seven and forget your responsibilities," Logan grumbled through the door.

"He really does have a thick skull, huh chere," Remy commented, how could he not get it through his head what was really going on.

"All that adamantium sugah," Rogue said as she searched for her clothing.

"Roguey let me take care of dis," Remy said standing up from the bed before Rogue could protest. He slipped on his boxers and went straight for the door.

"No Remy! DON'T!" she whispered angrily. It was too late the door was already opened a crack, thankfully Remy's body blocked Logan's vision or he would have seen a half naked Rogue in Gambit's bed. Not exactly something she wanted her surrogate father figure to see.

" 'allo, Wolvie, what can I do ya fo?" Remy yawned.

Logan narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed.

"Looking for Rogue, I know she's in there. I can smell her on you."

"Oui, dat's because me and Roguey spend a lot of time together mais she's not here right now. Did ya check her room?" Remy suggested in faux politeness.

"I know she's in there Gumbo, so tell her to get her ass out here, bub," Logan grumbled again, he attempted to push past Gambit but he stopped Logan before he could get too far.

"Now Wolvie, do I try ta barge my way into ya boudoir?"

Suddenly Rogue was pushing past Remy, fully clothed and somewhat done up. He smiled at her, she was definitely talented in more ways than one; he could recall that from last night.

"Gotta go Swamp Rat don't want ta miss mah make-up Danger Room session," she pecked him on the lips before pushing Logan down into the hall. "Come on Logan, Ah overslept so let's get going before Ah fall asleep again."

Remy chuckled as he watched Rogue make her way down the hall pulling Logan as he stared back at him with seething eyes.

"Meet ya fa lunch on de porch Roguey!" he called after her. He had something special in mind.

Rogue hated Danger Room sessions with an angry Wolverine; not that most people didn't. He was taking out frustration from something on her but she couldn't put her finger on it. She dodged a stab, rolled out of the way of a jab, jumped over a lunge, it was all instinctual. Logan was getting frustrated. The rule was he wasn't supposed to use his claws in the Danger Room unless it was a group session against the computer but he usually bent the rules with Rogue because she didn't care. He lunged at her again with his claws and she narrowly missed it.

"Hey watch yaself, Logan. Ya almost sliced and diced me," Rogue said out of breath.

"Come on kid, you're getting lazy!" he yelled jumping off of a wall and towards her.

The simulation ended suddenly and Rogue was thankful as she stood breathless and sweaty. Logan growled.

"I should give you an extra hour for wasting my time this morning."

"Like ya had anything better ta do," Rogue replied sassily. Logan grumbled.

"I actually…" he was going to say he had plans with Jubilee but decided he better not. People might get the wrong idea, Rogue quirked an eyebrow waiting. He gruffly replied "never mind," and she laughed.

"Doesn't matter I should make you stay."

"Sorry sugah, ya couldn't make me stay if ya had ta. Got places ta be, and people ta see," she smirked as she made her way to the showers, she was looking forward to lunch with her lover.

Remy had prepared their usual lunch, sandwiches with homemade sweet tea; hers turkey with and swiss and his bacon lettuce and tomato. He sat on the porch his hand in his pocket fondling the small object. He had had it for two months. Had had Henri mail it to him the second he got back to New Orleans. He knew he wanted to do this, wanted to finally make that decision but was unsure of how to go about it but after yesterday he knew for sure how he was going to do it.

Rogue showered quickly and rushed upstairs to the back porch watching as Remy nervously sat on the patio furniture, turning back automatically with a wide grin the second she walked in. She was wearing a green off the shoulder blouse with long sleeves and a pair of skin tight jeans, her hair put up in a messy ponytail, the white strands framing her face as usual. Mon Dieu she was gorgeous. She sat down next to him and watched as he took a sip of his tea. She smirked at him, he was being awfully quiet.

They ate mostly in silence, which wasn't unusual but for some reason seemed off to Rogue. He seemed different today, as if he was not telling her something. She sipped her tea and stared out at the grounds, empty for the most part except for the occasional squirrel or bird that passed by. The children were all in class at the moment, all probably waiting for the moment they could be released into the warm sun and expansive garden. Rogue smiled, she remembered why she loved this place so much.

"Cherie wanna take a walk down by de boathouse?" Remy suggested idly as he sipped his tea. Rogue was somewhat caught off guard. They had only been to the boathouse once prior together and she never got the idea that Remy had had that great of a time.

"Sure, why not."

The stroll was peaceful; the air was warm and seeped into her skin perfectly. She held Remy's hand in hers, no gloves, no barriers, just them. They walked for a long while again in silence, but it was less contrived this time, more natural for them both. Remy stopped for a moment and took a seat on the edge of the dock taking off his shoes and placing his feet in the cool water.

"Merde!" he yelled.

"It's cold?" Rogue asked as she took a seat next to him rolling up her jeans and taking off her shoes.

"A li'l," he responded trying to disguise his previous outburst. Rogue giggled, he was so silly sometimes.

"Ah don't know what ya talking 'bout Swamp Rat but that water is freezing," she said pulling her feet back out immediately, laughing to herself. He mimicked her with a chuckle.

They sat once again in silence. This wasn't exactly how he pictured it, but hell if their relationship was perfect. He loved her, so what did it matter how he did this next thing, what did it matter as long as she knew he loved her with all of his heart. Remy anxiously took Rogue's hand in his as she looked out over the water of the lake, spotting a couple of fish in sun that broke past the surface.

"Anna Marie," Remy started almost silently and let the words hang in the air. Rogue turned to face him a wistful smile on her face. He was nervous for the second time in his life. When it came to her everything was so new, was so fresh, so innocent.

"Mmm."

"I been wanting ta ask ya something fa awhile now. I know it might soun' sudden mais after what happened wit Magneto I been thinking I don't wanna waste anymore time," Remy was staring down at the water he didn't know how to get these words out. He had been planning this for weeks but it was so much different now that it was actually happening.

"What's goin' on Rems, ya soundin' weird," Rogue questioned as she squeezed his hand in encouragement. Remy brushed the hair out of her eyes, his fingers shaky and nervous, his eyes glinting with anxiety.

"Anna Marie," he turned to look at her taking her cheek in his hand she placed her hand over his. He was staring into her eyes for the millionth time but it felt like the first. The first time he had really seen her for what she was, what he wanted her to be with all of his heart, his friend, his lover, his. Her emerald orbs held his ruby gaze and for a moment he couldn't think of the words to say because the beauty of her face so close to his, her eyes speaking volumes of the love they both needed, both died for in a small way. He loved her, he knew that now, and he wanted to make her know that it would be forever.

"I'm tryin' ta ask ya…if ya…will ya…"

Rogue finished his sentence with a simple kiss on his lips. He hadn't noticed her tears until after, when he felt the damp residue on his cheeks. Rogue broke the kiss, her hands cupping his face. The smile that was gracing her lips was serene and exciting and they once again were lost in each other for all but a moment. Remy placed a kiss upon her lips once more before breaking away and making to finish his sentence. Rogue put a finger to his lips.

"Remy Etienne Lebeau, Ah love ya and yes Ah will marry yo crazy Cajun ass!" she stated laughing as she pressed her lips against his again. Remy felt his body turn into nothing but bliss at her words, she loved him, she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Rogue was overcome with joy, she hadn't expected him to say that but god was she happy that he did.

Remy slowly extracted the small velvet box from his pocket and opened it to her. Inside was beautiful diamond cut in a tear-shape, bordered by two small emeralds on a silver band. She began to cry more as she threw her arms around Remy and pulled him close to her, he had to unwrap her arms from him just to grab a hold of her hand and slide the ring on to her delicate finger. Rogue looked up at him and saw for the first time that he too was crying and she smiled wiping the tears from the edges of his eyes.

"Anna Marie Lebeau, you are gonna be mine foreva," Remy whispered into Rogue's ear and it sent shivers down her spine. That was the sexiest, most loving, most perfect thing he could have ever told her.