Recap: Gambit ends up smashing up his room later that night mad at everything that happened to Rogue and the X-Men that he feels responsible for and now pissed off that Rogue is marrying someone in the guilde she doesn't know or love so she can keep her life. He goes out drinking. Rogue asks Theodor if she can see Gambit, but he says no. Theo asks how they met and Rogue tells him the story. Rogue ends up telling Theo about her lost family. Rogue asks about Gambit and Belladonna's marriage and if he really loves her. Theo says he doesn't know. They end up going back to talking about Rogue marrying into the guild and how it wouldn't be hard to find a beautiful spit fire like her a husband. Rogue tells Theo about her powers and how she wouldn't tell on her partner if he did decide to cheat on her and have kids with another woman. Theo seems to admire Rogue for her strengh. The next morning, Gambit comes back home and walks into the room Rogue's staying in to find Jean-Luc, Henri and Theo there. They all tell Gambit that they're making plans for Theo and Rogue's marriage. Rogue leaves heart broken.

Chapter 22

Like Theodor promised and Jean-Luc promised before Gambit interrupted them, some thieves had set off in all different dirctions all over America to try and find the missing X-Men. Rogue was bounded to the mansion till she was wed so she was bored. She still wasn't up to 100% strength even though whatever tante Mattie was doing was working wonders. So Rogue had the pleasure of having Merci visit her with wedding magazines and planners for the past three days in a row. As they flicked through them one by one, Rogue didn't take in any of the wedding dresses as she just didn't feel like it mattered what she wore. She liked Theodor, but again, she didn't love him and could never give him what he needs and wants. She felt like she'd taken advantage of Theodor's kindness and at that moment all she could thnik about was apologising to him until she was red in the face.

"Oh, then there's this one that... That would mean you'd be walkin' 'round in a on fire bikki with a clown's wig on...Rogue?" Called Mecri.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Your not in ta this are ya?"

Rogue just stared at Mecri, the obvious answer already being on her face. Merci exhaled loudly as she shut the magazine.

"You and Remy had a fall out over this marriage haven't you." Said Merci. Rogue cringed in pain as if Hank was inserting a needle into her. Rogue hadn't seen Gambit for three days now. "Ya know Rogue, t'inks aren't that bad. Theo's a nice guy who'll look after ya."

"Yeah, I know." Said Rogue dully, feeling worse now. Rogue throw the blanket off her legs and twisted till her feet touched the ground. "I'm gonna go look around."

"Oh, OK, I'll come with you. Show you a few secret-"

"Thanks Merci, but no thank you." Rogue stood up and moved slowly towards the door. "I'm gonna find my own way 'round."

Rogue left the room, walking blankly down the corridors, not really taking anything in. Her mind was else where, on regreats, heart breaks ovr loses, worries and fears. Everywhere she turned just seemed so small to her even though the mansion was huge. Rogue noticed that the thieves were somewhat friendly with her, but walked around her more, or would turn the other way as they saw her coming. It wasn't like living with the X-Men where everything was up in havoc. Rogue missed how things used to be.

Rogue had reached a large stair case and as she was coming down them, he was coming up. She stopped at the top of the stairs looking down at him and he near the bottom. There was a silent moment between them where they just looked into each others eyes and they each questioned 'what?' 'What happens own?'

Rogue decided to make the first move and stared moving down towards Gambit.

"I haven't seen you in a while" She said quietly.

Gambit's confusion left him as he straighten up. "I've been busy. I've been accepted back into the guilde, that means I got responsabiities."

Rogue had reached the bottom of the stairs. "I see that. But ya really been too busy to pop in and just say hi ta me?"

"I'd think dat Theodor would be keepin' ya company."

Rogue felt like she'd been slapped. But didn't show it. "Yeah...He has...Listen, Remy-"

"I've got to go. They want me for arrengments." And Gambit was up the stairs and gone before Rogue could continue.

Rogue watch him pace the stairs taking two at a time, feeling, worse than her powers could ever do this to her, avoided. Rogue slowly, turned and moved on, soon finding the gym. In there she found Theodor. He was with some of the other thieves, but they were just finishing off their training. So was theodor by the looks of it. Theodor was shirtless and sweaty, wiping his sweat away with a towel. Rogue had to admit, he was hot.

When he saw her, he asked, quietly, if the other two could leave. They left, giving raised eye brows and knowing looks to Theodor as they did. Rogue moved closer towards him, wrapping her arms around her body for comfort and protection.

"You OK?" Asked Theodor.

"Yeah." Said Rogue. "Just got bored, listenin' to Merci go on and on 'bout weddings and stuff. Thought I'd explore the place a little since I can walk now without feelin' much pain in ma side. Tante Mattie's a miricale worker."

Theodor chuckled. "Oh, she's good alright. So, your worryin' 'bout them again aren't you?"

Rogue put her head down. She woundered how Theodor had come to learn to understand her so fast. Maybe it was because she was faced with the same problems and feelings everyday and he was just there for her to talk to and be a shoulder to cry on. She'd lierery told him everything from Joseph to her feelings for Gambit. And he just listened and even when she talked about having had liked Gambit at one point, he didn't seem annoyed by it, but understandable. But maybe that was because he'd had to watch someone he love marry another. Maybe he really did understand most of how she felt.

Rogue felt Theodor move away from her then come back, and fingers, cupping her chin, raised her head to look at him. "If it's really worrying you that much cheire, then I will go to New York too and I'll help the search for your family."

Rogue felt touched by such a gesture. Touched by everything Theodor was and what he was doing for her, and it ripped her apart knowing she didn't feel for him in that way. A tear filled her eye. "You'd do that?" She whispered. Theodor nodded his head and wiped the tear away with his gloved hand.

"Yes, I'll ready my stuff and leave tonight after the ball tonight."

"Ball?" Rogue questioned.

Theodor looked somewhat confused why she didn't know. "Yeah. The thieves have been planning this for over the past three days now. Apparently there is some special announcement the thieves and assassin's have to make. I would have thought Merci would have told you this?"

"I-no. She didn't. We just planned to stay in and watch movies all night. Besides, I wouldn't think I'd be invited anyway, considering I'm not a thief yet."

"No, we've been invited together. They're already viewing us as a couple now Rogue, even though we've not got married yet. The way the guilde sees it is they don't like errors in their business so they try and sugar coat things that bother them and as your a problem that's already been resolved as to what they're gonna do with you then they just act like things have already worked their way out."

"Oh." Said Rogue. "OK. So, wait, are you sayin' we have to go this thing?"

"Most likely, yes. So you can meet and greet people and be welcomed into the family with more ease."

Rogue stopped moving.

She wasn't sure what she was feeling. She felt...cold and numb. Nothing was seeming to make sense in her mind at that moment. There was just a small spark in the back of her mind which warned her that something was wrong and to feel hurt. But her cold front masked her and, deciding to move on with what she was doing, Rogue moved down the stairs with Thoedor.

"OK. So, we go together."

Theodor nodded his head. "Together. I'll come by your room at six to pick you up and we'll go then. By nine, I'll leave for New York. Hows that sound?"

Rogue was taken back then as she realized what was going to happen. Theodor, one of her closet and only friends in this house was going to be leaving her on her own. Rogue felt torned but nodded her head and braved a small smile. It wasn't till Theodors hand left her back when she realised that it'd been there and how much colder she felt now that he was gone and dissapearing down the corridor.

XXXXX

Rogue had asked Merci for help getting dressed up for this ball (as she knew nothing about the theives style) and questioned why Merci had not told her about it. Merci seemed flustered as she had said that the things were stupid and boring and that she had a feeling that Rogue wasn't a people person and would just want to avoid it. Somehow, Rogue thought she was lieing. Merci had chosen a Emerald green ball gown for Rogue with frills and had a real old southern lady side to it. Rogue had her hair up high in a bun with her two white pieces falling in curls by the side of her face. Rogue felt beautiful and strangly glad to be a girl as she looked at how beautiful she really was in the mirror and wondered if she was even looking at the same girl she had been before all this had started. When this had started or when she had changed she had no idea, but she knew she was and would never be the same girl she remembered being when she was still with the X-Men. Merci had explained to Rogue there would be dancing and a lot of people whom she didn't know asking her about who she was and her wedding to Theodor. Rogue listened to all of Merci's advice about how she should smile and wave, but Rogue didn't know how much had actually sunk in.

Later, there was a knock at the door and Theodor was there ready and waiting for her in his suit and tie to take her downstairs. Rogue saw how handsome he looked and was saddened at how another girl would have appreshiated his beauty and kindness so much more than she did and would have loved him back. But sadly he was stuck with her, but he still smiled at her and took her covered arm, leding her downstairs.

The ball room was already full of people and made Rogue nervious. At the far end of the room, Rogue saw there were seven thrown like chairs against the wall and had a table in front of them with glorious food and wines on it. There was a square like shaped table that went all around the room, circling the ballroom and the dance floor, but these throwns were up lifted and over saw the whole huge room. Rogue saw that Jean-Luc was already up there, sat in the middle next to the assassin leader. The other throwns were empty.

"How about a drink?" Asked Theodor.

Rogue turned to look at him and nodded her head, yes. As they made their way through the packed dance floor, Rogue grasping hold of Theodor's hand just to not get lost in all the dancing, a body bumped into hers and knocked Theodor's hand out of hers. Rogue was about to fall on her backside (which would have been very embarrising) but a hand shot out and caught her from behind. Rogue looked up to see black and red eyes and instantly felt so much better and saver as Gambit pulled her upright and into his chest.

"Careful. These things tend to get a little wild." Smoothed Gambit, whoms breath already stunk of alcohol.

Rogue was dumbstruck and didn't know what to say so just shuck her head in agreement. Next she looked around to try and spot Theodor. She saw that he'd bumped into Merci and Henri and had begun talking (deeply) to them. Theodor had noticed Rogue was gone as he glimpsed towards her and Gambit, but he didn't seem to mind her being with him.

"I've lost Theo." She said to Gambit, whom she realised still had hold of her. As she looked up into those large than usual eyes of his, she was struck by an emotion in them that she didn't understand. She couldn't decide if it was good or bad, but it seemed wanting. Rogue had become nerious as she'd never seen Gambit drunk before. Not like this. The smell of honey whisky on his breath was making her feel a little sick.

A new song began and Gambit step forwards. Rogue, in reaction, stepped backwards and let Gambit led her into a free spot on the dance floor where they joined a group of dancers that were walzing. "Gambit?" Rogue questioned. But Gambit had already taken her hands, placing one on his shoulder and taking the other in his hand. Gambit grabbed hold of Rogue's side and her hand and began walzing with her.

"Just dance with me." He said, bringing her in closer. Rogue was unsure what was going on. This morning he seemed so cold and distant and now he seemed to hold her close as if he was about to lose her. Rogue tried focusing on where her feet were going, but was struggling to find her rhythm. Gambit had to help out a lot more than nessersy, even going to left her a little to get her clumsy feet off the floor as they danced. Rogue could no longer see Gambit's face as it was lost over her shoulder as they came to be literally chest to chest. Rogue felt like crying that they were so close, but held back her tears to avoid a scene. She could smell the cigerettes on Gambits clothes stronger than usual, but she could still smell his natural scent and deoderant lingering from his skin. The smell was so warm and comforting, it was hard not to relax with him. Gambit was taking in her natural sweet scent too lined with Merci's apple shapoo and conditioner. It was new and different, but it was still the Rogue he once knew.

When the music stopped, they stopped. Rogue waited for Gambit to release her, but when he didn't she moved back out of what seemed to be a long hug with Gambit. He moved away too, not saying anything but just looking at her. He looked like he was going to say something, but then a girl came and took his arm, pushing him away from Rogue. "Stop flirting Remy." She heard the blonde woman mutter to him before leaving her behind.

Rogue felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to find Theodor stood there with two cups in hand. Rogue gave him a light smile and accepted one of the drinks. She wondered if he'd seen them dancing together. If she'd hurt him by dancing with someone else. They may not have been in love or anything, but she was soon going to be his and she thought it might hurt him if something that was his perfered another and seemed promisious.

"Thought I lost you there." Said he.

"Yeah, me too." Said Rogue. Feeling her checks redden from guilt and embarissment, Rogue was about to ask, "Do you wanna-"

There was a dinging of a metal fork on a glass and the room went silent. Rogue turned to look at the throwns where everyone else was looking too. Rogue saw that the other seats had been taken up now by Julian,(whom sat besides his father) Henri, Merci, Remy and that blond woman who sat very very close to Gambit, hugging his arm( who all sat to Jean-Luc's left). Rogue questioned who she was, but felt as if, in her gut and something nagging at her in her mind (that wasn't this purple cloud for once) that she should know who this girl was. Rogue felt cold and sick for some reason and very confused. She had not heard the begining of the speech, only the last lines Jean-Luc had to say.

"...Marriage. Lady's and gentlemen, thevies and assassins, I give you my son, Remy LeBeau and his future wife, Bella Donna Bourx."

It felt as if a large chunck of ice had just fallen into the persific ocean, Rogue being both the falling ice and the sea having something hitting her hard. Rogue felt cold and very numb. Remy was engaged. He hadn't looked up from the table once, he just clutched his wine glass more. That look in his eye when he danced with her had been guilt? Remy LeBeau, Gambit, was engaged and going to marry Belladonna, daughter of the assassin king, the woman he'd tried so hard to avoid. This didn't make any sense. Why, after everything, was he marrying her?

Rogue didn't realise how unsteady she was on her feet till she felt Theodor's chest hit her back. He'd had a hand on her back, but now used his full body to make it look like she was stood up right. Theodor turned her chin so she could look at him. "Rogue, Rogue listen to me. Just smile and pretend to be happy for him yeah. Just smile-"

But Theodor's words were cut off as Jean-Luc's belting voice could be heard saying, "But before that we have our loving cousin, Theodor's wedding to attend with our newest family member to our theives guilde, Rogue. Give the two lovers a warm hand now."

The spot light had been put on them two. Rogue looked around and everyone was looking at them. She must have looked like a girl with her hand caught in a cookie jar or something like that shocked face. It was passed off by the crowd though as nerves, which was good for the time being. When she looked to the thrown table and saw Gambit, saw that he'd finally peeped up to look at her with those cold unfeeling eyes, Rogue did as she was told by Theodor. She put on a fake smile to fool the crowd and smiled straight at Gambit. Having Gambit look at her in that way, it had been the switch she needed and the reality slap to just woman up and stop being a moany bitch. She could be upset later, but for now she'd use her anger towards Gambit and his to-be-wife Belladonna as reason to act like a loved up fieance.

Rogue soon realised that people had started approaching her and Theodor, asking questions about how they meet, how many children they were planning to have and what their wedding theme was. Rogue realised that Theodor still had his arm wrapped tightly around her middle and was trying to protect her from these vultures. Rogue thought he was a brilliant man whom was suffering for her and Rogue decided to step up and start making up lies with Theodor. They had talked about what story they would tell the theives as a front to look like a happily normal wedded couple. As Theodor answered saying they'd meet in a bar down in New York when he was on a job (like they planned to tell), Rogue added in by answering they were planning to have two children, hoping one was a boy and the other a girl, if not then they'd try for a third and leave it at that. It was so had to put on a fake smile, but she did it and for the rest of the night Rogue hid her agony and tears at how hurt she was by Gambit and just stayed close by Theodor's side; dancing, eating and drinking.

XXXXX

Belladonna had moved to the other end of the table to talk to her brother and Merci saw this as the perfect time to hit Gambit upside the head.

"Ow." He muttered."Merci, what do you think your doing?"

"Giving you a reality check!" She hissed. She'd been waiting for this moment for a while. To get Gambit away from his father or Belladonna to tell him a few truths. While Henri was talking with Jean-Luc and Martin, Merci quicky said, "Your such a cruel mean idiot."

"What? What I do now?" Gambit hissed, confused.

"She loves you Gambit."

"Who? Bell? I know she does-"

"Not Bell you muppet. Rogue."

Gambit looked away from Merci and back out to Rogue who was smiling and laughing while leaning into Theodor and talking loudly with others. He took another large gulp of his wine, finding himself drinking more heavily than most nights he'd spend at these balls. "Dun't look dat way." He spat with disgust as Rogue laughed at something Theodor had said, and placed her hand on his chest, flexing the dimond on her wedding finger which Gambit thought was cheap and tacky.

Gambit got another hit upside the head.

"Ow. will you stop-"

"No! You listen to me LeBeau and you listen good. That girl is going through hell and back and you've just hurt her feelings more by tellin' her 'bout this ball tonight! Rogue told me all about this mornin' 'bout you being cruel, cold and heartless and telling her 'bout this ball, but not telling her about Belladonna and your marriage. That girl's been crying her eyes out every night about having to get married to Theodor and not you. Theodor's told Henri, whos told me. She's only doing this to help save her friends Remy and you've made this more painful for her by putting her on show like dis while telling her that the man she loves is going to marry somebody else so she can never be with him-"

"I could never be with her anyway!" Gambit hissed at Merci. "You think dis hasn't been killing me too? I care for Rogue too, but how the hell could I ever be with her if she's marrying Theodor, huh? And it ain't my fault or choice to marry Bell either. If you got a problem, you take it to Jean-Luc and you tell 'em you got a problem with his match making skills, 'cause he's de one whos making us suffer. Not me!"

Merci was quiet for a moment as Gambit spoke some truth about who was really at fault to blame here. But she couldn't let him blame everything on Jean-Luc.

"You can't do anything to stop her getting married Remy. But the difference is, she's marrying Theodor for her friends and unselfish reasons. Your marrying Bella out of spite and hurt of rejection from her. I know you two can't be together and it's really sad, like Romeo and Juliet, but I just thought you oder to know how stupid you were being thinking Rogue doesn't care for you when she clearly does. What she's doing now, smiling and laughing, it's all an act. All an act just to cover up the pain you brought her by telling her about this ball and putting her on stage. I hope now you see things clearly, you can start trying to make things right and less painful for the both of yas... Neither of you deserve this pain."

Merci turned away as Bella returned to her seat besides Gambit. She took up his arm again, but Gambit was too busy focusing on Rogue and how she dance almost robotically with Theodor (there being no passion or chemisty there as there had been when they had danced together). Gambit picked up his wine glass and finished it.

XXXXX

It had been an hour since Rogue had gotten escorted back to her room by Theodor and an our since he had left for New York. Rogue had locked herself in her room and just cried at everything. Cried at missing the X-Men. Cried that Theodor,one of her only friends and allies had left her. Cried that she was being forced to married and her freedom was being taken away from her. Cried that Gambit had moved on so quickly from her after playing with her heart back in Bayville and making her think that he'd actually cared for her. Rogue was so lost in her own world that she never heard someone pick the lock and slip into her room. It wasn't until a hand touched Rogue's shoulder that she reacted, using a move Wolverine had taught her and would be proud of her if he knew she was using it, she twisted the persons hand and arm, kicking out her leg and managed to pin them chest first into the floor. There was a muttered 'ow' and Rogue reckonsed the long slender figure beneath her. "Gambit?" She questioned.

Gambit scrormed underneath her, but was too drunk to fight her off properly. "Chere, ya mind letting go of me?"

Rogue let go of Gambit and moved back to sit on her bed. Out of all this time, he'd never once come to see her and now, that it's been annoanced that he's engaged, he comes to see her. "Why you hear!" Rogue yelled at him, turning her tears into rage quickly to hide her true feelings from him (like shed always done with every body).

Gambit shhhed her even thought the loud music from down stair most likely cancelled out their noise. "Came to talk." Gambit said still crouched on the floor. It looked like he was off centre, moving dizzily around in circles on the floor where he sat. He was really drunk, Rogue could smell the alcohol from his breath from high above where she sat away from him.

"About what?" Rogue bit out.

"'Bout...I don't know. Just talk." Gambit said, sounding frustrated.

"Oh, now ya wanna talk? You've been avoiding me all this time, now ya suddenly wanna talk?-"

"I know, I know. I missssed ya-" Gambit tried to say.

"Why ain't you down at your engagement party with Bella?" Rogue spat. "She is de girl your marrying after all, isn't she?" Rogue hissed, folding her arms and crossing her legs on the bed as she twisted her body away from Gambit.

Gambit let go of a breath. "Yesss, she is."

"Then why ain't you down there with her?" Rogue snapped.

"Cause... I don't r-really wanna be with 'er Rogue. You know that."

Rogue took in how Gambit looked. He was on his knees, staring down at the ground looking like a defeated man. Rogue remembered these feels of Gambit's that he had of Bella from when she absorbed him, but just seeing them so close together tonight, it just made her stop thinking. Made her not remembering that Gambit hates how clingy Bella is and how lovely duffy she could be. That hopeless lost look on his face made her want to forgive him and tell him things were ok, but her other emotions of anger and hate won out, as logic sided with them and said if she was angry with him, she wouldn't care for him and if she didn't care from him, it wouldn't hurt so much that he was marrying someone else.

"No, I don't know!" Rogue spat,pulling her legs up together and hugging them to her body.

"Well, I don't!" Slured Gambit as he tried to yell at her. "I don't care for Bell o-one bit. SSShe just a t-title name. I gotta have as princcce. I don't l-love 'er Rogue. Never 'ave. Just... bein' forced."

"You could have said no!" Spat Rogue again.

"C-Coulda, b-but what's the point when y-your marryin' s-someone else?" He said.

Rogue looked at him from the corner of her eye. He wasn't looking at her, but there was a tear cascading down his left check.

It hurt to watch, but Rogue was confused. "W-What do you mean?" She asked.

Gambit looked at her, and if she was saddened by his tear before, than that was nothing compared to what that red gaxe did to her now. "Y-Your gettin' married R-Rogue. W-What's the point of f-fightin' it anymore. J-J, he'sss just gonna keep pushin' 'n' pussshin' 'n' threatenin' 'n' threatenin' till he getsss what he wantsss. Like he pussshed you into marriage... I'm sssorry Rogue. I'm r-really sorry." Gambit said, another tear escaping his eye.

It was imposible to stay mad at him when he was breaking down infront of her. She hated him for being able to make her not mad at him. Rogue curled in on herself more and held herself tighter. "I know." Was all Rogue could mutter. Gambit turned to look up at her. She was looking straight ahead, but not at him. Her eyes were still red from where she had been crying. They looked puffy like she was going to start crying again. "Your such an idiot for agreeing to marry her Gambit." Gambit couldn't agree more. Gambit, clumsily, grabbed hold of the wooden bed frame and matteress and tried pulling himself up onto the bed. He managed it and came to sit down in front of Rogue. He reached out a shaky hand towards her, stroking her hair as clusmily as a child as his sensery moment was a little off from the alcohol. Rogue watched him touch her, but soon hid her eyes in her knees as that defeated kind look was driving her crazy.

"Why?" Rogue questioned. Gambit didn't quite understand. "Why'd you agree to marry her this time?" Rogue muttered.

Gambit shrugged his shoulders. "Y-Your m-marrying Theo f-for your friendsss, non?" Rogue nodded her head. Gambit seemed even more upset now. "Then, guesss I'm marryin' Bella for de guilde." Rogue closed her eyes tight, a tear slipping out of them. She nodded her head, then wiped it away. Gambit felt more depressed. "I don't want to marry 'er. I wish I could marry-... someone elssse..." He never took his eyes off Rogue even though she wasn't looking at him. "With a strip in 'er hair." He added quietly. But Rogue heard it and it made her gasp and cry out loud. Gambit's hand moved to stroke her back as she shuck more with tears.

Rogue looked up. Wiping at the underneath of her red eyes."I...I guess I'm kinda glad though...About marrying Theo. He's a nice guy and... I get to be a part of a family again... With someone I know and care about in it... I don't know where the X-Men are." And Rogue began crying again, this time not being able to control it.

Gambit hated seeing Rogue cry. It made there situation all the more depressing. Gambit awkwardly lay besides her, pulling Rogue down and into his chest. She leaned into him as she cried and Gambit leaned back against the head bored as she did. He just held her and stroked her hair until only light breathing could be heard coming from Rogue.