Note: To guests, thank you for pointing out some of my spelling mistakes. I'm so sorry that I can't spell-.- I will go back and correct them, just after I finish my story. I've already corrected Calisto's name now in chapter five and it'll help for further chapters. But thanks again, it really helps. Hope I've not annoyed you too much. Again sorry. What does the name Calisto even mean anyway? Again sorry -.- ok on with the story.

Recap Storm visited the Morlocks and her nephew, worried that they may be in danger from the Fiends of Humanity, and these people who are kidnapping mutants. She finds that they have hidden themselves well, and won't leave their new home. Storm leaves upset that she couldn't convince them to come back to the mansion with her. Evan gives Storm his phone and says to call. Storm then climbs out of the sewers and is attacked by a figure watching her from the shadows. Rogue wakes up after having a nightmare about Storm. She is comforted by Gambit and falls back asleep after telling him what happened in the dream. Logan listens to Rogue when she says Storm was being attacked and searches the mansion for her. When he can't find Storm, he takes a team out with him to the Morlock tunnels where Rogue said Storm would be. Logan goes down with Scott, Emma and Kurt and they find Evan who tells them how Storm got attacked and what the woman looked like who attacked her. He explained that the woman was beautiful, strong, fast, could fly, and heal, but couldn't go underground. Logan leaves Storm with the Morlock's thinking she'll be safer there and hurries back to the mansion, with his X-Men to set up their defences.

Chapter 6

They had been left alone for a few minutes, but now that peace seemed disrupted. Gambit glared at the entrance to the med lab where Joseph stood with his arms folded. He entered slowly and a cold breeze followed him in, making Rogue shudder and move deeper under her covers. Gambit noticed the movement and pulled them up around her shoulders and stood up with Rogue still holding onto his hand, faced Joseph who was now stood in front of him. Both men glowered at each other, neither one saying anything yet.

"Is there going to be a problem here?" Joseph asked coldly.

"You tell me. Is there?" Gambit asked keeping his voice just as quiet, careful not to wake Rogue.

"I believe so. I've seen the way you look at her, however she is off limits."

"Why? You got some little game you playin' with de fillie? 'cause if ya haven't noticed, she ain't interested."

"How's your head LeBeau?" Gambit stilled hearing this question and Joseph saw this. A smile crept onto his head. "How's your gift?" Gambit's poker face fell as he thought that he knew.

"How'd you know?"

"I know a lot of things about you Gambit. Things you don't even know yourself. Things that would make you a hated man. Make you lose the trust you've gained so far from the X-Men. Make a heart break." His steel cold eyes shifted passed Gambit towards Rogue. Gambit followed his gaze. Rogue looked so innocent and peaceful. He couldn't have that ruined now.

"What do you want?"

At this moment a small figure carrying a tray of food for her friend whose nickname came from a baby cat, stood in the corridor and listened into the conversation intensely, as the two men hissed quietly at each other.

"I want you to leave and to never see Rogue or the X-Men again."

"You think you'll win Rogue's heart even with moi not bein' 'round? Dat ain't gonna happen."

"Yes, it will. She'll choose me over you, always."

"Ah doubt that. She moved away from ya before. Was tryin' ta tell ya not to touch 'er, but you didn't listen. 'cause you didn't wanna hear it. You didn't want ta hear 'er say the words-"

"Do not question us LeBeau! We have more than what you will ever have with her."

"And what might dat more be, cause it ain't love."

"And you love her? She detests you. Hates you being around-"

"Dat's not what's comin' across here hommie."

Kitty moved her head around the corner to see Gambit motion to how Rogue still grasped his hand while she slept.

"That's only reassurance for her. You think there haven't been nights where I've entered her room, finding her having a nightmare. I've woke her up and stayed the night with her in her bed just to make sure she sleeps."

"Ha. Did you force your way into her room and bed like you forced the hug and kiss? No wonder she has those bags under her eyes. You're makin' her sick!"

"I've been there for her and stopped her from becoming more ill than she would be without me. Where've you been huh? Selfishness kept you away and now you're paying the price-"

"It ain't like dat-"

"Now, you can't be with the girl you love, because you made those stupid mistakes. Now you'll have to watch while somebody else does what you can't. Make her love them back."

"You'll stay away from 'er, ya piranha!"

"Leave this mansion now LeBeau!"

Kitty finally stepped out from the wall seeing that their voices were growing and Rogue was starting to stir. She didn't want her friend waking up to two guys fighting over her, even though that would be like totally cute and sweet. Rogue wasn't well enough to be put through emotional stress. "Hey." Kitty said, making her presence known. The two men heard her and stopped their arguing, but didn't back down from the fight.

"By midnight." Was Joseph's time for Gambit to leave. He turned to leave himself, leaving Gambit glaring after him and Kitty stood awkwardly with a tray of food in her hands. When she saw Gambit's dark eyes she couldn't bear to look at them. They were worse than Rogue's glare and that was saying something.

"Hmmm, you alright?"

"Oui petite. What can ah do for you?"

"Oh, I just came to leave Rogue some food. She likes to eat, so I made her all her favourites. Well, Kurt was like making them before he left, I just put them on a tray and stuff." Kitty moved to put the tray down on the draw next to Rogue's bed. Gambit had sat down and was watching Rogue sleep again. He looked down, Kitty noticed, even though he had his poker face on. She'd heard the argument and didn't fully understand, so she pulled up a chair on the opposite side of Rogue's bed and watched Gambit.

"Sooo... You like like Rogue huh?" Gambit looked up to her giving her a confused look. Kitty had a small smile on her face. "I like heard you talking to Joseph before."

"How much did you hear?"

"Oh I, errr, didn't mean to earwig or like anything. I just heard Joseph telling you to leave and you telling him that Rogue isn't like interested in him. Errr, why was he like telling you to leave anyway? As if he'd have the power to make you leave. He knows that's up to the adults to decided and right now you've like got Ororo and Hank on your side, so that's two out of three adults that want you to stay. So it like doesn't matter if anyone wants you to go, you can stay if they say so. And if you like wanted."

Gambit was satisfied with the girls answer. She didn't seem to have heard all the conversation or else she would be asking about his powers and what Joseph meant by his head. Gambit still didn't know how he knew about that. He'd have to do a little digging around on him. For now he looked up to the petite who was babbling on about him staying. He smiled softly at her, seeing how it appeared she was on his side. He was glad somebody was.

"Do you wanna stay?"

Gambit looked down at Rogue and answered that question in his head before looking back up to Kitty. "Ah can't petite. Ah've got a few things ah need to do. Dis was just a social stop."

"You came here for Rogue, didn't you?"

"...Oui."

"I like totally knew it. You like her, don't you?"

"...Yes, petite...Ah like the Rogue... But that is all. Don't tell her dat Cherie. Ah ain't sticking around, 'n' ah don't think ah'll be comin' back...Don't wanna hurt the girl."

"Oh come on. You can't like just give up and leave just because Joseph said so. I mean sure he might like be a little threatening and... scary with that power to control metal of his. But explosions are scary too. You've got some awesome power too. You could like totally take him on and then like Rogue could see that and totally fall for you. Then maybe after that-"

"Kitty, non? Listen, ah ain't leavin' cause that of that idiot. Ah'm leavin' cause ah got other stuff."

"But then like after that other stuff is done, you could come back. Right?"

"...Ah don't know petite...Ah don't know... But ah don't wanna get any one's hopes up."

"But you wouldn't be. It'd still be like a maybe, but it's still like an option."

"Maybe petite. Maybe?"

Gambit smiled at the girl. Maybe she was right. Maybe when he did finish these little jobs he was doing, he could come back to the mansion and try and get that sneeze ball away from Rogue and out into the forest and kill him, by smashing that no good head of his against a rock. He looked down to Rogue, hope almost reaching the surface for him. He hoped that she would never find out.

XXXXX

Logan had worked through the rest of the night. Setting up traps and installing new defences for the Mansion. He may not have agreed with all Forge's inventions, but he agreed with a few of what he had made. Scott and a few of the other men had helped Logan put up the defences, but night had come and made them sleepy. Logan just finished placing Kurt's sleeping body back in his bed when he remembered someone. Logan walked down the hallways until he came to the room. It was dark, and could make out one figure one of the beds, but the other was neat and empty. Logan growled, not liking, how he hadn't noticed Gambit slip out. But he wasn't about to go chasing after that low life while there was still defences to be put in place to keep his X-Men safe. Moving over to the side of Rogue's bed, he sat in the chair and let his bare hand stroke Rogue's check. The pull was instant, but he didn't flinch. After a minute Logan let go and fell asleep in the chair for two hours, noticing before he blacked out, movement in corner of the room.

XXXXX

Gambit had jumped the walls of the mansion and looked back at it. He missed her already. But he had to keep going. He hated Joseph now more than ever. He wasn't sure what to do about him getting close to Rogue. Not without his secrets being revealed. He wondered if he should have just told her. No. He could hand the pain of keeping secrets from her and suffering with them, but he couldn't cope with her reaction if she knew. He couldn't cope with himself so how would she cope?

Gambit found his bike and was just about to take off into the sunrise when a shadow stepped out from a tree.

"Well well LeBeau. I wonder what you're doing back here? Apears you've fallen head over heels for a girl." Gambit frowned recognising the voice.

"What do ya want Morth?" The dark haired mutant stepped out from the shadows with a grin too large for his face. He stood in front of Gambit's bike, preventing him from leaving.

"Now now, is that any way to talk to an old buddy, ah?"

"We ain't friends Morth. Now what does he want?"

"Well aren't we grouchy? And what the boss wants is for you to stick around for a while."

"What?"

"You heard me. Don't go far LeBeau or else there may not be a Bayvillie left to run from."

Gambit growled at him as he laughed. How could this person find destroying millions of safes, including his own funny? It was sick and twisted. The same as him. What did he want him to stay around for anyway. Gambit thought while Morth laughed and it didn't take that long to put some of the pieces together. "He wants' me to stay with the X-Men? Why? What's he got planned for Rogue? Why's dis Joseph sticking 'round her like glue...? He's workin' for 'im isn't he. I swear Morth, ya better tell me or else-"

But Morth had already took off into the forest, after throwing a cell phone on the floor in front of Gambit. Gambit jumped off his bike and ran after Morth, but he'd lost him. He took out his frustration on a tree before returning back to his bike and picking up the phone. There was a message on it. Gambit opened it and it had the same instructions Morth had given him, but only in more detail.

Gambit,

Stay away from the mansion for twenty-four hours before returning. Cover you're scent so the Wolverine cannot find you. Drive to 47 ever street and use the key under the mat to enter. Bring what you find back to the X-Men and earn their trust this way. Do not let on to Joseph or give any indications that you know him. Do not let Rogue absorb you, but become close to her and the weather witch. Hide this phone and do not use it. I will send futher instructions to you when the time is right.

S.
Gambit closed the message in a huff and after staring at the mansion for a while, finally set off to 47 Ever street where he'd find a shock surprise waiting for him.

XXXXX

When she woke up, it was from a nightmare. This one was different, however. It wasn't the nightmares she had been having lately. It was an old one. A very old one. One of Logan's memories. The memory which he despises. Rogue jerked up just as in the dream Logan finally gained full consciousness in the tank full of green liquid and unleashed his claws. Rogue looked down at her hands when her eyes opened. She was sat up in bed with Logan's titanium claws coming from her knuckles. She was breathing heavily as she stared at them in horror. She didn't understand how they were there. How she had got them. She looked around the room, which was slightly dark, but the sun was rising and the clock on the wall said it was four o'clock in the morning.

"He was in here last night." Rogue's head spun to see Joseph stood in a dark corner of the room. He approached Rogue slowly, placing a cup of steaming warm coffee on the side for her. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Logan was in here last night. He lent you some of his powers. I believe they just haven't worn off. How long do you usually keep hold of someone's mutation?"

"Joseph... Ah...Ah don't know. It depends how long ah hold on to them for."

"Let's say if you hold on to them for a full minute."

"A minute? It'd only take me a few seconds to get someone's powers. Ah get there powers for at least an hour after touching someone for a few minutes. A minute. Well, that would be a few hours, ah guess." Looking back to her hands, Rogue crushed them up into fists and watched the claws retract." Rogue continued looking around the room, feeling something wasn't right. Something was missing. "Where is Logan?"

Joseph took hold of both of Rogue's fists and began rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles. "He's finishing off the new defence systems." Rogue tried to pull her hands away feeling irritated, but he wouldn't let her. Rogue sat back in her pillows and tried not to pay any attention to Joseph. There was still something missing. Someone missing. "Why didn't you drink the coffee I had you the other day?"

"Where's Gambit?" Rogue finally realised the empty bed and looked Joseph in the eyes. Her eyes were wide and full of emotion and Joseph felt her body tense. Rogue hoped that swamp rat hadn't left like he said he would. Hoped he hadn't left her forever without saying goodbye.

"He left." The emotions burst in Rogue's eyes, and slowly she sat back into her pillows again. Had he really left her willingly without saying goodbye? No, she didn't believe that. Rogue moved her hand so suddenly that Joseph let her hands slip. She threw the covers at Joseph and stood up, quickly dashing out of the room. She was so grateful for Logan for leading her healing powers for the night. The bullet hole in her leg had fully healed, but still had the bandages wrapped around her leg. Rogue didn't care much and just ran looking for Logan. She may have been grateful to him, but if he had forced Gambit out of the mansion or done anything to hurt him, then there would be trouble.

Rogue found Logan up in the loft. He had worked his way from underground levels to the top of the mansion. Rogue entered finding Logan hanging down from a vent. "Strips? What you doin' up. You should be in bed."

"Where's Gambit?" Rogue asked. Logan jumped down and came to stand in front of Rogue.

"Dune a runner. I came in your room last night, but the bed was made and his scent led to an open window."

"Did ya scare him off or show him the way out?" Logan growled at her. "Ah mean it Logan, if you're the reason he left then ah'm gonna make sure you're in a coma for a week."

"Ha, I'd let you off training sessions for the full week if you could get close enough to touch me. And I don't know what this Cajun's done to have you wrapped around his little figure, but I don't like it. If ya wanna search for him, then you can search my memories and see that I had nothing to do with that sneeze ball getting away. Good riddance I say. Just a shame I didn't get to him first. Then it would have been an even sweeter send off with him leaving in pieces."

"LOGAN, Stop it. Why do you act that way towards him? What's he ever done wrong to you."

"I'll tell you what he did. He was with Magneto-"

"The acolytes aren't together anymore-"

"He was with them. And not only did he set the X-Men up, but he kidnapped you-"

"For a good cause. And besides, you can't use the acolytes against him. You ain't got a problem with Pete and he's been here ever since Apocalypse. 'n' Gambit meant well by kidnapping me. Without him ah..."

"What? You what?" Logan didn't like that saddening distancing look in her eyes, or how she suddenly went quiet.

Rogue thought back to New Orleans. There was a moment before the cafe where Rogue had let a secret loose that not even the Professor knew about. It had been just after Gambit had placed those necklaces around her neck.

His abs felt strong under her hands and that look in his eye was just dreamy. Rogue couldn't believe this. Couldn't believe how much fun she was having. Couldn't believe that this acolyte, Gambit had whisked her away back home where everything just felt right and normal. But things weren't normal. She wasn't normal. They weren't normal. Rogue realised how close Gambit had gotten to kissing her and it was then that she pushed away from him, remembering her skin and was swept up in the lively crowds. She lost sight of Gambit again. Maybe it was for the best if she just ran away from him. She was sure that he couldn't be the price charming that saved her. She wasn't sure why he was doing this, but something wasn't right. Rogue ran away and found a way out of the crowds into a quieter park, where she found a bench to sit on.

Why was it that everything she did, everything she was near, everything she touched just went wrong? Rogue curled herself into ball thinking about how un normal she was because of her skin. How she could never have a prince as charming as Gambit sweep her off her feet. First off Gambit must have had some evil plot to use her just like everyone else not making him the good guy to her, but then again, he was charming and good looking. They had that part of the story right. But Rogue couldn't touch. What sort of princess can't touch he prince? None. And she wasn't a princess anyway. She was death. Horrible horrible death. Thinking of her skin made her think about all the people she'd hurt and all the people who were going to be hurt, because she was so uncontrollable that she was used to reawaken the most powerful mutant who ever lived. Who knew what he was plotting, but it was something big. Something that was gonna most likely destroy the world, and it would be all her fault because she let him out. Just like it was all her fault that Mystique was dead. She actually caused that death on purpose. It felt good at the time being in a rage and finally having control, but then afterwards she just knew she couldn't do it. She couldn't kill anyone. She couldn't be what she was. Death. She couldn't handle it anymore and if it wasn't for him whisking her away, then she would have...Wanted to...

"Cher?" Gambit said as he approached her. She was curled up on the bench with her head between her knees and shaking. There was something wrong. Gambit could feel the sadness coming off her. So much sadness that it almost made him depressed. He came to sit on the edge of the bench with Rogue. Why was she crying? Was it something he had done? "Cher, what's wrong? Why you cryin'?"

"Ah ain't cryin'. And it ain't any of your dame business, now leave mah alone." He felt slightly hurt by this, but knew that she was just trying to block everyone out so she didn't have to deal with her problems. Was that why she ran away from him before? Maybe his plan wasn't such a good idea and he should let her off. But...He couldn't. So he'd have to stand by her and see what the problem was. Wrapping his arm around her, he felt it being hit away and watched Rogue storm off. He followed her.

"Ah ain't leavin' ya Rogue." He caught up to her quite quickly and pulled on her wrist. She tried fighting him off her, but he didn't let go off her wrist and blocked the punches that came at him. Finally he caught her punch and pulled her around so that her arms were trapped around her body and her back was against his chest. "Let go of me."

"Non. Not till you tell me what's wrong?"He felt her kick come up, but luckily she only kicked his knee and not anywhere else. But the kick was hard and he ended up losing his balance. Not letting go of Rogue, they fell over and went rolling down a grassy hill into the forest. Rogue's fist had gotten loose from Gambit's grip and she tried punching him off her. Seeing it coming Gambit quickly dodged it and spun her around so she was no longer straddling him, but he was lay on top of her with her hands pinned by the side of her head. "Get offa me!" She struggled.

"Non, not till you tell me what's the matter. Why'd you suddenly run off like dat?"

"You were gonna kiss me."

"And ah would have enjoyed it too, even if ya did knock me unconscious. But that wasn't all was it. You weren't just running from that kiss. You're running from something else. Maybe someone else..." Rogue stilled a little bit, and looked away from Gambit. How was it that he could read her like an open book? "You runnin' away from Mystique?" She didn't answer. "Or something more than her?"

Rogue closed her eyes and let a tear fall down the side of her check. Why was this happening? Was Gambit really this charming prince who had come to sweep her off her feet and make everything better? No, he couldn't be. She'd seen the way he winked and flirted with other woman. He wasn't interested in her. Only her powers. Seeing the tear Gambit loosened his grip and using one of his gloved fingers scooped it up and throw it away. Rogue closed her eyes and let out a breath. Gambit hated this. He didn't normally get close to interrogating woman like this, so he sat up figuring what he was doing wasn't working. She sat up after him and looked ready to take off. "You gonna run again?"

"What's it to you?"

"Like ah said on the train Rogue. Ah know what it's like to have to get away from everything. Running away from problems. Thing is, it doesn't work. It bids you time, but they always come after ya... You've just gotta face them... It's what ah'm gonna have ta do soon."

"You got problems?"

Gambit nodded his head. "Family. Like you."

"...Not all ma problems are...with Mystique?" She said curling into a ball again and looking away from Gambit.

"That brother of yours?"

"No..."

"What's the matter then Roguie? What you tryin to run from?" She didn't answer. Maybe she just didn't trust him enough. Then again why should she? "The thing... Ah so badly wanna run away from... It stays with me wherever ah go..."

"...You're skin?"

"Yeah. But it's not just that, it's all the hurt and misery it brings... Sometimes ah think it would just be best if..."

"Don't you dare t'ink like dat. Not now 'n' not ever again, do ya here me?" Rogue looked to Gambit and he saw how delicate her eyes were. Putting down his pointed figure, he knew the way to get through to Rogue now wasn't through yelling at her or forcing her, but by opening up to her himself. He pushed back his hair and looked down to the grass. "...Sorry. But you shouldn't be thinkin' like that Rogue. It's wrong. It's not your fault you don't have control over ya powers yet."

"Ah hate those words." Gambit looked back towards Rogue who now seemed to have anger following through her eyes again. He was losing her. "It's not your fault. Those are the stupidest words ah ever heard. All ah've been hearing over and over again are those same darn words."

"...This more than just your skin then?"

"It's everything. Everything ah do. Everything ah touch, it all just blows up in ma face."

Gambit smiled sadly and turned away. "Ah remember the first time things blow up in my face." He rubbed at his cheek and Rogue saw this. She then remembered his powers of kinetic charge which caused explosions. "You...charged something?"

"Oui. First thing ah 'ver charged was a playing card." He reached into his pocket and picked out his cards. He picked one out in particular. "Ah picked out de joker. Ironic really. Ah was messing about with ma cards when ah didn't notice one of them started to glow red... It blow up in ma face and ah was hospitalised for six months."

"...Ah'm sorry."

"Ah hate those words. You couldn't have done anything to stop it cher. You weren't there. Ain't your fault."

"Ah hate those words."

"How 'bout a truest den? You don't say ah'm sorry to me when there's really nothin' you could have done to stop it, and ah won't say it's not your fault."

"Deal... Ah just... ah'm used ta sayin' sorry. Very time ah absorb someone and they enter ma head, ah say sorry to them before ah lock them away in ma mind. It doesn't matter how many times ah apologise, people still don't forgive me. They stay trapped instead ma head, yelling at me that ah destroyed them. Ah try to block them out, but sometimes ah just can't. Ah try to say sorry to the person in real life afterwards if ah can. But then ah just stopped. Ah hated hearing those words from everyone, cause in ma head, ah knew that it wasn't true. Ah know it was ma fault."

"Oui. It was you cher, but it isn't a fault. You haven't done wrong. Ya don't use you're powers wrongly so how can it be your fault. Believe me cher, if that red head was to use her powers to move a ton of people out of the way of a falling building, would she say sorry?"

"That's completely different."

"Non, it's not cher. Ah watched you on TV when Jugganort was let loose. You absorbed him and saved a lot of peoples life's by using his own powers against him and throwing his away. Ya see? It might seem bad, your powers and all, but that doesn't mean they're not good." Gambit caught another tear coming down her face. He was sure he was going to have a collection in no time.

"But ah hurt people when ah drain them. All ah do is hurt people. Ah hear how people ah touch 'r' hurtin' instead ma head all the time. 'n' look at what ah've done lately. Ah freed the most powerful mutant that ever lived and who knows what he's gonna do 'n' there's no way ta stop him."

"Now that really wasn't your fault cher. That was mesmero's. He tricked you into doing that and on top of that there was mystique and Apocalypse who were playin' ya too. Either way Rogue, if we would have caught ya or not, you'd still have been forced to let Apocalypse out. 'N' your wrong about him being unstoppable. They say jugganort is unstoppable too, but you proved that was wrong on live Television. You'll find away to defeat him Rogue. Ah know you will... So stop beating yourself up. You're a good person Rogue who uses her powers, which seem a bad thing, as a good thing. Ignore those voices in your head. They're just bitter 'cause they're in your head instead of inside their own miserable minds. You do more good than bad Rogue. So don't go throwing your life away like that... 'cause those X-Men won't be the only people who miss you."

Rogue looked up to Gambit, not caring anymore about the tears in her eyes. What he said was sweet and did make him seem like a prince come to save her. But was he right?

"But ah hurt Mystique... Ah killed her, and she ain't coming back. Ah can't cope with the way Kurt looks at me. 'n' every time I see him, ah see her. Then ah think about how she just used me like a weapon. Just like all the others wanna use me as a weapon. Ah was used to free Apocalypse and ah'm sure there's someone out there wanting to use me again to hurt innocent people. Sometimes ah just think that ah could spare a lot of people just by giving up."

"If you gave up then it would be your fault. It would be your fault that the X-Men and many other people would be in so much pain just 'cause you were worried 'bout bein' used... You ain't the only mutant in the world that's been used as a weapon cher."

"...You've... been used."

"Oui...Being used. Betrayed... It hurts... Ya wonder if ya can ever trust that person again. Wonder if you can ever trust anyone... But then you met someone who's goin' through a similar thing to ya, and then..." He looked up into her glassy eyes. They were still watery, but were clearing and the light of the moon was shining on them. They were the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen. Emerald green was now his new favour colour. "Everythin' just feels... right."Rogue noticed Gambit leaning into her again, but didn't move away this time. His eyes had gotten so hearty and light and the way he talked was deep and full of understanding. He was so moving and he was right. Everything just feels right.

"Hey, what you two punks doin' down there." Came a yell and a flash light. The two looked up to see a cop coming down towards them with a flash light. When they looked to each other, Rogue was blushing red and Gambit was grinning his cheeky grin as he replied. "Nothin' officer." He grabbed hold of Rogue's hand and pulled her up. "Just goin' to de party." He led a giggling Rogue past the police man and back to the entrance of the park. They looked around at all the bright colours and people still dancing around. Then they looked at each other. Rogue smiling shyly and blushing at the almost kiss, twice and Gambit grinning at her cuteness.

"Thanks... Ah guess."

"What for cher?" She looked back out to the celebration and smiled. It's funny that there seemed to be a war going on someplace else in the world and in Rogue's life, but these people danced happily and didn't have a care in the world. And right now neither did she thanks to Gambit giving her hope that things will all turn out alright in the end.

"Everything."

Logan was still staring at her intensely when Scott entered the room. He was followed by other sleepy X-Men that Rogue stormed past."Rogue?" Logan called after her, but Rogue didn't listen. She walked past everyone and went straight back to her own bedroom. She slammed the door shut, hating Gambit for leaving her like this. Why did he have to go and leave her on her own? She paced around her room for a while, not sure what to do, about this empty sinking feeling she had. Finally she sat on her bed staring into her hands. All that hope he'd given her seemed to fade in a matter of two seconds. She couldn't believe that swamp rat just popping in giving her hope that she won't always be alone because of her stupid skin, and then he up and left stealing something precious. Guess he wasn't the charming prince after all. Or maybe he was just the charming prince she couldn't have.

A little breeze blow in from her window, but she couldn't remember opening it. Moving towards the balcony she looked out hoping to see Gambit. When she saw nothing but an empty garden she frowned, feeling that sinking feeling again. How could he just leave her like this? Without even saying goodbye. Closing her windows, she turned to look in her room, noticing something she hadn't noticed before. Rogue moved back over to her bed and picked up the card that was on her pillow. It was crumbled and in bad condition, but the woman on the front of it made Rogue smile.

Recap - Gambit and Joseph argue over Gambit staying. Joseph reveals he knows about Gambit's power and mental issues, which scares Gambit, but he doesn't back down. Instead the topic changes to Joseph wanting to win Rogue's heart and Joseph accusing Gambit being in love with Rogue. While arguing about love and Rogue, Kitty overhears them. Joseph tries to prove that she doesn't love Gambit back and that she loves him for being there for her, but Gambit says that he's the one making her ill. When Kitty enters, Joseph leaves giving Gambit till midnight to leave. Kitty and Gambit talk about him liking Rogue, but Gambit avoiding saying he does. He also makes Kitty promise not to tell Rogue anything. Kitty tries to make Gambit stay. Later, Logan enters the medical lab, finding Gambit's bed empty and Rogue asleep. He has finished putting up defences and lends Rogue his healing powers. Before he falls asleep because of Rogue's powers, he notices movement in a dark corner. Gambit is leaving the mansion, when he is stopped by a man named Morth who gives him a phone and message telling him to drive to 7 Ever street and to earn the X-Men's trust. Having no choice he leaves for the house. Rogue wakes up having a nightmare, and having Logan's claws. She finds Joseph in her room. He makes Rogue a coffee which she doesn't drink. Joseph questions Rogue on her powers and how long she keeps them for. When Rogue asks where Gambit is noticing his empty bed, Joseph says he left. Rogue takes off looking for Logan and accusing him of scaring Gambit away. Rogue almost lets a secret slip to Logan when she is defending Gambit to him. She has a memory of New Orleans and how she had opened up to Gambit about not only her feeling bad about killing Mystique, and blaming herself for awaking Apocalypse, but she also blames herself for hurting everyone and everything she touches and that sometimes she thinks of just ending things so she wouldn't be used. Gambit talks her out of it saying that he's been used too and that she just has to keep going because she does more good than bad. He feels guilty though about going to use her powers. After the memory, Rogue runs back to her normal room, not only missing Gambit but feeling as if she's losing the hope he gave her, but then she finds the old queen of heart's card he gave her on her pillow and realises that there's still hope.

Quick Note: I know I haven't been saying when I'll be posting updates of my story, and I'm sorry. I'll try to upload one every week, but not sure what day or time. But I know how annoying it is when you get into a really good story and you wait ages for the person to update (I'm waiting for a good few fabulous stories to update now), so I'll try to update frequently, that way all I'll have to worry about will be the spelling mistakes. Oh, but I think I best let you guys know now before I go any further, this is gonna be a long story like 20-30 chapters and I don't know how long each of them will be. At least now you know if you don't like long stories, but if you do and your gonna keep reading my stories YAYYYY! Ok thanks for reading this far anyway now I'm off to dream world XD