Gambit didn't know her name. All he knew is she had green eyes and she was in his arms. He kissed her, touched her, all the while just calling her "Chére." He led her over to the bed of the cheap motel. She was just another woman. There had been plenty before her. It would be good for both of them, but mean nothing. The easy way…

He lay on top of her, kissing her and making her sigh. Remy LeBeau was charming. Women willingly fell into his arms. This one was no different. He told himself this over and over again, but it wasn't convincing. She was different—different from what he wanted. She wasn't Rogue.

He got up and sat on the end of the bed, hanging his head in his hands. "What's wrong, Handsome?" the woman asked.

"I can't do dis," Remy said.

"Why not?" the woman asked, adjusting her shirt. "Is it me?"

"Non, not you."

She moved over to sit beside him. "What then?"

"'Not'er woman."

"You married or somethin'?"

"No, but she's about to be."

"Ouch."

Gambit snorted. "Yeah, ouch."

"You love 'er?"

"Yeah. Have for a while."

"So tell her."

Gambit looked at the woman like she was crazy. "How would dat do any good? She's marryin' some rich psychiatrist guy who's 'respected in de community.' What do I got to offer dat's better den dat?"

"Well, you're a guy passing up a chance at cheap, meaningless sex, so I'd say you have a lot of love to offer."

"Dat's never been enough for her. She was always wantin' more den I could give."

"Then you don't need her."

"Wish it was that simple."

"What's so wonderful about her that you'd pine like this even when she's with another man?" the woman asked.

"I don' know how to describe it," Remy said. "Dere's jus' somet'in' I feel when I'm wit' her—like no ot'er feelin' in de world. We been t'rough a lot, an' even t'ough it's been over for a while, I haven't been able t'let go. Findin' out she had hit me hard."

"So you guys had something once?"

"Yeah. Long time 'go. We had our ups an' downs—lotta downs, but de love, it was dere. Least f'me it always was."

"So talk to her. Tell her how you feel. Sure, there's always the chance she'll confirm your belief that it's over, but that sure beats spending the rest of your life wondering what could've happened if you'd just taken that chance."

Gambit stood up. "Maybe. I don' know. Look, I need t'get goin'. You okay wit' me jus' leavin' like dis?"

The woman shrugged. "Sure. It would've been fun, but I understand. And really, talk to the girl. I bet you're better than that psychiatrist anyway. Respectable men are so overrated."

Gambit laughed. "T'anks, Chére. I'll keep in mind what you said."

She grinned. "You do that."

Gambit left, and she flopped down on the bed, wondering if he'd pay for the hotel room the remainder of the night or not.

*** *** ***

Rogue wasn't really paying any attention as the planner went over the current color scheme with Rogue, Zander, and Zander's mother. She just nodded at the same time the others did and tried her best not to look bored. After all, this was her wedding. Still, there was no way she was going to go against any of the decisions made by Cordelia Hayes. In Mrs. Hayes's eyes, Rogue was nothing but a, ill-bred hick, despite all she'd done to make herself look good on Zander's arm.

"Well, I guess I'll send these colors to the florists and decorators right away and have them begin," the planner said. She looked over at Rogue. "Unless the bride has any complaints…you've been awfully quiet today."

"Oh, no, all this is just fine," Rogue said. "I've been quiet because everything you've chosen is so lovely."

The wedding planner beamed at the praise. "I'm glad you think so. Everything set here then?"

"Yes, this will do quite all right," Mrs. Hayes said. "And we still have our appointment tomorrow to decide on the catering?"

"Of course, Cordelia."

"Then we will see you then. Good day." She stood up. "Come alone Zander, Rogue."

Rogue stood up to follow them out, although the way Mrs. Hayes said her name reminded Rogue much of the way someone would call to a dog. "Probably one of those little yippy ones, too," Rogue thought.

"Is that all we have to do today?" Rogue asked Zander once they were alone in his car.

"Yes." Zander frowned. "Aren't you enjoying planning our wedding?"

"Of course," Rogue said. "It's just your mother, she…"

"You don't like my mother?" Zander cut her off.

"No…no, that isn't it at all. She just seems to be, very, um, controlling."

"She knows what's best," Zander said. "All she wants is for us to have the perfect wedding. This is the most important day of our lives."

"I know," Rogue said. "Just some things…like the church where she wants us to get married…"

"What's wrong with that?" Zander asked. "People from my family have been getting married there for generations."

"I know, and it's a beautiful church. It's just, well, I always pictured myself getting married at the mansion," Rogue said.

Zander sighed. "Rogue, the mansion really wouldn't be a plausible place for us to get married. I mean, many of my family members would probably not want to be on the grounds of the Xavier School, and well, it isn't like you'll be spending much time at that mansion once we get married anyway."

Rogue's head whipped around to look at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Rogue, you didn't actually plan on saying with the X-Men, did you?" Zander asked.

"Zander, the X-Men are my life. I can't leave them completely."

"You can't exactly be a wife and a superhero at the same time."

"Jean's been able to handle it just fine."

"I'm not living at the mansion, Rogue. And we're not Cyclops and Phoenix by any stretch of the imagination," Zander said. "Besides, I doubt their marriage has been exactly perfect, either."

"Zander, I'm not talking about us living at the mansion or me being on permanent active duty, I'm just saying that I'm not going to stop being a member of the X-Men completely. The Professor took me in at a time when I had no one else to go to. If they need me, I'm not going to turn my back on them. The X-Men are my life."

"I'm your life now, Rogue."

"Zander, being an X-Man is a part of who I am."

Zander pulled the car into the mansion's driveway. "Rogue, there's no point in discussing this. It's time you moved on and had your own life, away from this…school."

"Zander, these people are my friends, my family."

"I'm not asking you to cut them out of your life, I just don't want you running off to save the universe at every possible opportunity."

"You've never minded me being an X-Man before."

"You weren't my wife before."

Zander stopped the car, and Rogue got out. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she walked off.

"Rogue, wait," Zander said as he ran out after her. "I don't want us to part like this, my darling."

"I'm not mad, Zander. I just don't want to give up the X-Men like that."

"Rogue, you have to realize it's for the best. We're going to start our life together—I can't be always running the risk of losing you the way I would if you were an X-Man"

"Zander, I'm not exactly at risk of getting killed in battle anytime soon. I'm invulnerable, remember? And I'm not going to be always running off, I'm just going to go when they need me."

"I don't like it, Rogue."

"Zander, I…"

"So dis is Zander?"

Rogue whipped around to face Gambit. "Remy! What are you doing out here?"

"I was about t'go out, an' I heard de two of you. Figured I'd come an' meet dis Dr. Zander Hayes I'd heard people mention."

Rogue sighed. "Fine. Remy, this is Zander—Zander, Remy LeBeau."

Zander's eyes grew wide as Rogue introduced him to Gambit. He took his outstretched hand and shook. "Nice to meet you, Mr. LeBeau," he said, regaining his normal calm, suave attitude. "I've heard much about you from Rogue, but I didn't know you'd come back to New York."

"Only been here a couple of days," Remy said. "An' de chére's been too busy plannin' de weddin' to bot'er with an' ol' t'ief like Remy."

"Zander, why don't you go on home?" Rogue asked.

Zander didn't like the idea of leaving Rogue alone with the charming Cajun she'd spoken of so much in the past. He looked like the kind of man who could easily sweep a woman off her feet, and with the history he had with Rogue, that could be even simpler. "Actually, I think I might stick around a while longer," he said.

Gambit smiled. "Well, in dat case maybe I could have de chance t'get t'know you a little better, Zander. You say you've heard a lot 'bout me, but I'm afraid I can't say de same t'ing 'bout you."

"Rogue hasn't told you about me?"

"Only dat you're her fiancé. Ot'er den dat, I'm 'fraid your name hasn't come up."

Rogue felt a wave of nervousness. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she knew she didn't want Remy and Zander spending too much time together. Zander had always been the jealous type, and although Remy had made it clear he was over Rogue, she was sure he would be more than willing to bait Zander.

"Maybe we'll have to talk some then," Zander said, trying to puff himself up.

"Come in den, have a drink wit' me."

"I don't know how good of an idea that is…" Rogue said.

But neither man was listening to her. They were already making their way towards the mansion. Rogue sighed and reluctantly followed them.

*** *** ***

"So you're gonna marry Rogue?" Gambit asked, handing Zander a drink.

"Yes, we're getting married at the end of the month," Zander said.

"Well, be careful wit' dat one," Gambit said. "Make 'er mad, an' ya might find yourself stranded in a frozen wasteland…"

"Remy…" Rogue said her tone warning.

Remy smiled. "Jus' givin' de man a little warnin', Chére."

"What is he talking about, Rogue?" Zander asked.

Gambit raised an eyebrow. "Keepin' secrets from someone you profess t'love, Rogue? Ain't dat de cardinal sin in your book?"

"Remy, stop," Rogue said.

Gambit felt a sudden wave of anger at Rogue that he knew wasn't completely rational, but present nonetheless. She'd often been cruel to him during their relationship, and now here she was marrying another man. "Stop what, Rogue? Tellin' de homme what you do t'lovers dat don't keep ya happy?"

"Remy, dammit, ya know what happened there!" she yelled, her accent heavier than it had been in years. "An' I doubt Zander's gonna turn out t'have once worked for a man like Sinister!"

"Oh, of course—as usual, I was always de bad one in everyt'ing. You're not'in' but an innocent, Rogue."

"I never said I was innocent!" Rogue yelled. "But not every bad thing between us was my fault!"

Zander watched in surprise as the two debated. It was obvious they'd forgotten he was even present. Rogue had told him about her frequent arguments with Remy LeBeau, but he'd never expected to see one up close.

"Maybe not, Chére, but you never accepted any of de blame, did ya? Even Antarctica—you did dat 'cause my voice was in your head tellin' ya to. Everyt'ing' Gambit's fault. It was always you bein' gracious 'nough t'take me back in de end, too, no matter what you'd done t'me."

"Remy, Antarctica wasn't your fault, okay? And I made mistakes in the relationship, I know that."

"Not my fault, non? Your fault, den?"

"No one's! It was just, somethin' that shouldn't have happened."

"Oh really? Nice of you t'be so calm 'bout somet'ing dat nearly killed me."

"It was years ago!"

"An' all dese years been ones Remy almost didn't have!"

Zander stood up, deciding he'd listened to them bicker back and forth for long enough. "Would somebody please explain to me what happened in Antarctica?"

Rogue blushed, remembering that her fiancé was still in the room. "It's just something that happened between Remy and me years ago that he seems to have not been able to get over yet."

"Who gets over de woman he loves leavin' 'im in a frozen wasteland t'die jus' 'cause she finds somet'in' out 'bout him she don' wanna hear?"

"You left him to die?" Zander asked. That certainly wasn't something Rogue had mentioned in the past—even during their therapy sessions.

"I didn't know what I was doing. There were these voices in my head and…"

"Voices in your head," Remy cut her off. "You're a psychiatrist, Zander—maybe you can check dat out f'her."

"Remy, you know damn good an' well I'm referrin' to the effects of my powers."

Gambit just rolled his eyes.

Zander put his arm around Rogue's shoulder. "Darling, maybe we should leave. He seems very upset and…"

"Don' take 'er anywhere cold," Gambit muttered. "Maybe keep her 'way from clones of psychopat's, too. She can't resist 'em."

"Stop it!" Rogue yelled. "Zander, I want to leave."

"Yeah, let's go."

Gambit just sat down on the couch as they walked away.

*** *** ***

"Zander, I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am about that," Rogue said as they went back out to his car.

"It's all right, my love. Ex-lovers never take too well to new fiancés."

"I guess you're right," Rogue said with a sigh. "And Remy can be rather…immature at times."

"You two were together for a long time, weren't you?" Zander asked.

"Off and on, yeah," Rogue said. "We called it off so often it became a joke around the mansion."

"Is he back for good?" Zander asked, opening the door of his car for her.

"He says he is," Rogue said. "And he never really was one to leave a lot before. I mean, he'd go home to New Orleans fairly regularly, but those were more like vacations than anything else." She looked forward, away from Zander. "I used to make him feel guilty about them anyway."

Zander shut her door and went around to get in on the driver's side. "You have a lot of repressed guilt about the relationship it seems," he commented.

"Yeah, and apparently he's got some repressed anger…"

"You said he just left one day, about what—three years ago? It's normal for there to be unresolved issues between the two of you."

"I was thinking something like that," Rogue said. "Lack of closure."

Zander frowned. "Do you feel in need of closure for that chapter of your life? I mean with our wedding coming up…"

She gave him her most convincing smile. "For the most part, I'm over anything that happened between Remy and me. I guess stuff just starts to rise to the surface when he's around and baiting me like that."

"All the more reason for you to leave the X-Men once we're married. Such emotional stress isn't healthy, Rogue."

"I know…I'm beginning to think maybe quitting is the right thing to do."

"It is."

"It's just hard."

"I know." Zander started the car. "Where to?"

"Can I just stay at your place tonight? I don't feel like being under the same roof as Remy."

Zander reached over and gave her hand a quick, loving squeeze. "Anything you want."

*** *** ***

I posted this one in a timely fashion! I rock! Anyway…I'm trying to focus on this one and get it done. And reviews make me want to write even more, so leave lots of them!!!