Another dive of a diner. Remy had been eating at one after another of those ever since he'd started his journey from Louisiana back to Westchester. If he'd been able to he wouldn't have stopped at all, but he knew that was impossible.

Still, every moment he spent off his motorcycle was another moment he wasted getting back to Rogue.

He waited impatiently for the waitress to bring him his order. Under normal circumstances, he would've flirted with her—she had made it obvious that she would be more than just a little receptive to such attention, and she was definitely attractive—but the only woman he wanted to talk to was Rogue. Anyone else would just slow him down.

Gambit didn't know what exactly had given him such a sense of urgency. He hadn't seen Rogue in three years—what were a few more days? And what had brought on his desire to see her anyway? Until recently, he hadn't even cared.

But rhyme and reason no longer mattered to Gambit. All he knew was he needed to get back to New York—back to Rogue—and he was going to get there as fast as he could. He'd figure out where to go from there when the time came.

Remy frowned. What would he do when he got back? Would there be anything left of the pseudo-relationship he'd once shared with Rogue? Did he even want there to be? Would he see her again and realize that he still loved her, or would he learn that there had never really been anything there to begin with?

Before Remy could ponder the future any longer, his food arrived. The waitress gave him a dazzling smile, accompanied with her batting eyelashes, but Remy only gave her a curt nod in return. He began to eat almost mechanically and the waitress left pouting.

Gambit's mind was focused on Rogue and the road ahead as he ate, and his thoughts only wavered when he stood up to leave and caught sight of the waitress, watching him. He noticed the disappointment in her eyes and left her a large tip, hoping maybe that would do away with some of it.

It wasn't long before Remy was again speeding down the interstate towards Rogue and whatever destiny she may have held for him.

*** *** ***

Rogue woke the next morning feeling somewhat foolish for refusing to answer the phone the night before when Zander called, as well as for her subsequent tears. What was she so afraid of? She had spoken to Zander a million times before, and she knew that he would never make her feel bad for her uncertain emotions.

And Remy… Rogue sighed at the thought of the man she had once loved. Remy. She knew he would never come back to her after the way she'd treated him in the past. Jean had told Rogue that she was sure Gambit didn't hold a grudge, but Rogue disagreed. How could he not hate her for all that she had done to him? He had loved her so completely—even with her powers creating a barrier between them. He had accepted every part of her, and she had never done the same for him in return. He had given her his heart, and she had only given him scorn and mistrust. Rogue knew that she did not deserve forgiveness and that Remy would never give it to her.

After all, she never would've forgiven him if it had been reversed.

Rogue looked over at the telephone and sighed. She knew she couldn't exactly hide from Zander. Besides, refusing to answer the phone simply because she hasn't been in the mood to talk when she knew that Zander needed to hear her voice would've been something she would've done to Remy—and Rogue had sworn that she wouldn't make those mistakes in another relationship. She'd pushed Remy away. She wouldn't do that to Zander.

She wouldn't lose someone like that ever again.

Rogue picked up the phone and dialed Zander's number from memory.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sugah."

Zander paused for a second at the sound of her voice. "Rogue?"

"Does anyone else call ya 'Sugah'?"

Zander laughed. "No. So why are you calling?"

"I need to talk to you."

"We are talking."

"Not over the phone. It needs to be in person."

Zander didn't say anything but Rogue could still hear him breathing.

"Zander? You still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here. Rogue, can you tell me something now?"

"I…I guess."

"Is this going to be a bad talk?"

Rogue tried to think of the best way to answer his question and decided just to respond as honestly as she could. "I don't know. I just know I need to talk to you."

"Do you want me to come over there?"

"Yes, if you could, that would be nice."

"Just let me find my keys then and I'm out the door."

"Find your keys?" Rogue asked, her tone slightly teasing. "You mean they aren't hangin' by the door as always."

"I had a rough night."

Rogue felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay…really. I'll be over there soon and we can talk then."

"All right. I'll be in my room. Just get someone to let you in, then come on up."

"Okay. I love you," Zander said, hanging up before Rogue had a chance to saw anything else. She knew it was because he was afraid of how she'd respond.

Rogue hung up and looked over at the closed box on her desk. She walked over and opened it, taking the ring out and holding it in the palm of her hand.

She knew now what her answer would be.

*** *** ***

Sorry about the huge gap between this part and the one before it. I'll try to be quicker with the continuation this time. Especially with that nasty cliffhanger I left y'all with…