Disclaimer: You guys have heard it all before. "Ah don't own em!" Got it? So unless you really like useless pieces of paper, forget suing me. Have a nice day!

Side Notes: I heard rumors that Gambit was possibly gonna end up with telepathic like powers (empathy) but since I haven't had time to catch up fully with the comics, I don't know if he has it or not! Either way, he does in this story!




Learning To Live Again
Revised Edition
Chapter 1, Unpleasent Reunion



She woke up sweating profusely; breaths short and quick. She didn't scream despite the haunting realness of the dream. Yawning, she checked the time on the clock…4AM. She knew she couldn't go back to sleep so she slid out of bed and into her emerald robe. Auburn tresses fell down lightly onto her back, the unique white streak which ran through her hair gave her a very identifying trademark. She padded into the war room and flicked on the early morning news as she plopped down into a chair. She feel back asleep after a while. The dream started up again…she could se those red on black eyes of his flaring with anger, "You left me chere…big mistake…" he'd always say. A glowing knife was held to her throat as she scooted away from him into the icy Antarctic waters. That's when she always woke, but this time she screamed. The X-men came running…her foot had hit the intercom button as she woke, allowing them to hear her scream.

"Rogue! What's wrong?!" all asked as the got to the war room. No answer. Rogue was huddled up in the chair. Fear filling those emerald eyes of hers.
"Rogue…" Joseph said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
She looked up finally, uttering one thing…"Remy…" before tears started falling and she curled up again. The X-men looked at each other in confusion.
He awoke at 5:30, her screams pounding inside his head. "Rogue…chere…" he whispered as he struggled out of bed only to collapse on the floor. "Damn…" he cursed silently. His limbs were still to worn from helping him get out of the Antarctic to hold him up. He forced himself to his feet after a bit, grabbing on to anything he could to keep from falling. He managed to get to the shower and get cleaned up as he finally woke up.
He got in contact with some of his friends and then changed into a suit and got to the airport only to hear "Flight 526 to New York now boarding!" booming over the speakers. He rushed to get to the flight He took his seat by the window and looked out of it. "Hold on chere, Gambit comin…" he whispered to himself almost.
She laid in bed reading, doing anything to keep from going to sleep. Her eyes drifted to the open window and she watched the curtains blowing in the breeze for a moment before looking back to her book with a sigh. Sudden motion at the window caused her to look up again.
"Bonjour mon amie," a familiar Cajun accent said.
Rogue gasped. "R…Remy?!"
"Oui, what wrong chere?" he asked as he climbed in the window skillfully.
"Whatcha mean?" she asked as she sat up.
"You screamed, non? Dat normally means dat somethin be wrong Rogue."
"How did ya…?" a puzzled look crosses her face.
"Gambit be empathic chere. Well…I guess dat I'm kinda telepathic or somethin too if I heard ya screamin, but dat not the important thing here," he said running a hand through his auburn hair carelessly. She slid off of the bed and moved to him slowly.
"Then why ya here?" she asked as she closed the distance between them.
"I care bout ya chere. You know dat."

He sniffed as he walked down the hall. "I smell Cajun," Logan muttered as he walked past Rogue's door.
"What?" Joseph responded.
Logan growled lowly, not enjoying the fact that Joseph was eavesdropping, or worse…trying to follow him. "Nothing helmet-head" he finally responded.
Joseph shrugged and moved to knock on Rogue's door. Wolverine pushed Joseph away. "No ya don't bub."
"Don't push my hand Logan…" was Joseph's cold response.
Logan pulled Joseph away right before the door opened. Rogue poked her head out the door, looked around, then led Remy out of the room. Joseph's face went pale. "What the hell?!" he whispered.
Logan smirked. But Joseph was ticked…he leapt out from the hiding place where Wolverine had pulled him.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Joseph demanded to know. Gambit turned and looked at him blankly. Rogue turned too and looked to Joseph.
"He's gonna explain in a minute…just meet in the War room."
Joseph shook his head. "NO…he explains NOW." Rogue opened her mouth to speak again, but Joseph lunged at Gambit, his fists swinging at Gambit's face. Joseph kept using Gambit as a punching bag till Rogue whipped around at the sound of Gambit crying out in pain of the unexpected blows.
"Joseph! What the hell???!!!" she yelled as she lunged for Remy pushing him out of the way of the blows, only to end up on the receiving end of Joseph's fury herself.
"Rogue…no…" Remy managed to choke out hoarsely as she slumped to the floor. Despite her invulnerability, the blows had shocked her system enough to lower her defenses. Joseph stopped his beating and his eyes went wide when he realized what Rogue had just done for Gambit. The four X-men were soon joined by the other X-men.
"Gambit? Home?! Oh my god! What happened to you two?!" Storm said, summing up the feelings of the other X-men.
Wolverine answered the question since the two "lovers" were too stunned/hurt by the blows, and Joseph was still in shock of what he had done. "Just another day in the life of the X-men.." he started. "Helmet-head, or hot head rather…" he motions to Joseph, "got mad cause he saw Rogue escortin' Gumbo there outta her room. Guess he thought he'd settle this here 'n now, but Rogue saved the Cajun's butt and ended up receiving a beating herself." He finally finished.
Joseph finally realizes the intensity of the damage he inflicted, and starts to move towards Rogue who is finally coming to. She nudges Gambit who's laying on the floor next to her, and waits for his response, but she gets none. Her eyes go wider as she tries again unsuccessfully to wake Gambit.
She turns to look at Joseph, her emerald eyes flickering with anger as she speaks in a tone cold as the place she had left Gambit… "Ah swear Joe…if he dies, or if something's wrong wit' him, you're gonna be wishin' that it was ya'll who took the blows instead him…" She now looks at the other X-men as she stands. "Fo' god's sake, don't tell me Ah'm gonna hafta nurse him back mahself!" she says earnestly. The other X-men finally snap to attention and soon, Remy is recovering from the attack in the med-lab.



Rogue woke as she almost fell out of her chair by the bed where Remy slept…she looked at the clock. 5:47 AM. She had been there all night, and most of the day before, not wanting to leave his side till he finally woke up. But Cyclops would be there to take over watching him in a bit like he promised, since he didn't want any of the X-men, much less her too exhausted to help out if the need arose. She gently pushed Gambit's hair away from his closed eyes with one of her gloved hands, taking no notice of the cold, steel blue eyes that watched her from the darkness of the hallway. "Remy?…if ya c'n hear me, Ah…Ah just wanted t' say that ah…"
Her words were cut short by Gambit's gloved hand over her mouth gently.
"Shhh…I know chere." he whispers before moving his hand.
"Oh Remy…" came her relieved reply as a soft smile forms, "Ah'm glad you're alright."
"So is I. What or who was dat who knocked me out Roguey?"
Its now that she realized that Gambit doesn't remember seeing Joseph's face, and she knows that things are bad enough between the two men without adding this to the list. "Uh…well…"
Joseph finally moves from the shadows to keep Rogue silent for now… "Am I interrupting something?" he asks though he knows the answer already.
Rogue turns to see Cyclops walking in behind Joseph, and Wolverine is in tow. "Having a party
without us huh?" Logan asks gruffly, which ends in an icy stare from Joseph. Logan just smirks, almost as if to taunt the younger, white-haired mutant.
Cyclops just shakes his head and looks to Rogue. "Go ahead and get some sleep Rogue. I'll watch Gambit for a couple of hours."
Rogue nods and looks to Gambit, gracing him with a quick smile and a squeeze of the hand before getting up and walking out the door. She grabs Joseph's ear in the process, pulling him out of the med-lab behind her.
"Ow! Rogue!" he yells at her death-grip. She pulls him a few feet away from the med-lab and pushes him to the wall across from her, and puts her hand to his chest, pinning him there.
"What the hell did you think you were doing earlier?!" she yells at him, now that she knows Gambit will be ok. She was too worried about Gambit to care about Joseph's reasoning before. He doesn't quite know what to say.
"I…I guess…I just…" he sighs. "I don't know what I did that for Rogue."
"Joseph, you know that ain't the way to stay an X-man…" she starts.
"What the heck do you care for?! Your Cajun 'lover' is back, and sure as hell no one is gonna kick him out of the X-men." Joseph responds coldly, despite the fact that her pinning him to the wall is getting very uncomfortable.
"This ain't 'bout Remy. Its bout why ya been actin like this all damn week!"
"What? You never had a few bad days Rogue?"
"Yeah, Ah've had more than mah fair share Joseph…but ah rarely go and take it out on someone just for the hell of it!"
"You still haven't answered my question Rogue."
"Huh?"
"Why do you care about what is wrong with me?"
"Joseph…de reason Ah care is cause you're an X-man, and Ah thought you were my friend too…"
Joseph sighed and nodded, not wanting to be part of this conversation right now. "I gotta go…"
Rogue shook her head. "Joe, wait…" Its too late. He's already disappeared down the hall way. She's tempted to go after him, but decides to let him have some more time to cool off…for now.


"Rogue?"
"Yeah?" She looked up from the book she was reading and into those red on black eyes of his.
"Ya alright chere? Ya're kinda quiet." There was a definite hint of worry in his voice.
"Just readin…dat don't require much talkin."
He looked at her, then reaches for her gloved hand. "Somethin be wrong, I c'n tell."
She sighed and closed her book. She knew Gambit was right. Ever since Joseph had talked to her like that, not to mention the sudden lashing out at Gambit, she had been worrying that there was something she did to cause this change.
"Its Joe…"
He raised an eyebrow. "Joseph? Why dat helmet head getting t' ya Roguey?"
"He's just been actin so weird lately, and Ah'm 'fraid it got somethin to do with me."
"Why do ya think its got anythin t' do with you mon amie?"
She shrugged lightly. "Ah dunno. Just da way he went after ya when he saw me lead ya outta my room. Da way he looked at me as if Ah'd committed a federal crime or somethin…"
Gambit sighed. "Rogue, don't worry bout it. He'll get over it chere."
She raised an eyebrow. "How c'n ya be so sure Remy? Ah mean…ya never was too fond o' Joe."
"That don't matter Roguey…I can jus' tell k?" His fingers interlaced with her gloved ones as she nodded.
"Thanks sugah…" Rogue smiled. "Ya'll always did know what t' say." She squeezed his hand lightly.
Her words brought a smile to his lips. "Tell ya what chere…when I'm outta here, we go somewhere for a nice French meal k?"
She nodded again, still smiling. "Sounds nice Remy…sounds real nice."
"Good. I was hopin ya'd say dat mon amie." He released her hand slowly, but not without kissing the back of her gloved hand gently. "I t'ink I'm gonna get some sleep."
Rogue smiled softly, "K, Ah'll be back later t' check on ya."
He was already half-asleep, and she left the room quietly. She bumped into Wolverine out in the hallway as she made her way upstairs.
"Hi Rogue," he said gruffly. It was obvious he had just come from the Danger Room due to the beads of sweat on his forehead, and his slightly dirty uniform.
"Hey Logan."
"How's the Cajun?"
Somehow, Rogue thought she heard a hint of friendly concern in Wolvie's question. "He's fine…Stayin' awake longer n' everythin'"
Wolverine nodded. "That's good." With that, Logan walked off. Rogue stood there a moment, a smile creeping across her lips. Finally she continued upstairs to her room for some much needed time alone before dinner.
"Rogue?" Storm knocked on her door, waiting for a response for the past minute had made her curious as to what the younger woman could possibly be doing. Finally, the door opened.
"Whatcha need Ro?" Rogue asked. She was dressed in her uniform still despite the fact she'd been resting or at least sitting since her drills in the Danger Room that morning.
"Gambit's been asking for you," Storm said. "Oh…wasn't Joe watchin him after dinner?" This got a nod from Storm. "I told Joseph to get me if Remy wanted me down there dang it…" was Rogue's almost angry response. She sighed.
"Well, I'm sorry Joseph didn't tell you sooner child. But I do recommend you get down there quickly. I believe Hank is ready to release our Cajun friend." Storm walked off finally, leaving Rogue to go down alone. Rogue turned off her CD player and headed down to the med lab to see Gambit.


"You're going to regret coming back here Gambit…" Joseph was in the Danger Room fighting a new simulation. The voice of Gambit sounded too real.
"Oh really mon ami?"
Joseph turned to the door as the simulation shut down. Rogue was standing by Gambit, helping him stand, a very discouraged look on her face.
"Rogue.." Joseph began.
Her eyes narrowed almost dangerously. "Don't bother Joe. Ah ain't gonna listen to your damn excuses anymore."
She turned and then helped Gambit turn as well, not noticing the charged Ace of Spades he threw
over his shoulder at Joseph. They walked down the hall, leaving a dumbfounded, and soon injured Joseph behind.
"Remy?"
"What chere?"
"What was dat blast in th' Danger Room?"
Gambit grinned. "Just a lil' surprise I left for dat white-haired pain in my butt."
Rogue actually laughed and just helped him upstairs.
"Thanks for helpin me chere." Gambit said as he sat down on his own bed for the first time in too long.
"It was nothin sugah…jus' glad dat Beast said ya was well 'nough t' leave d' Med Lab." Rogue smiled.
"Well den, I guess we c'n go out for dat dinner I promised ya non?" A hint of hope flickered through those red on black eyes.
"Once Hank says ya c'n leave th' Mansion den we definitely gonna go out for dat dinner Remy. Cause that sounds really nice." A smile was threatening to take over her lips as she watches him watch her.
"Make sure dat ya wear somethin really nice k chere?" The smile forced its way onto her lips as she nodded.
"Whatevah ya say ya Swamp Rat." She squeezed his shoulder gently before leaving him to do whatever he needed.


She (Rogue) thumbed through her closet, and pulled out a dress for Jean and Ororo's approval.
"Too flashy" was Storm's response to the short, crimson, low-cut number Rogue was holding up for judgment.
Jean nodded. "She's right…too eh…little and much at the same time." Rogue couldn't help but laugh as she looked the dress over.
"Yeah, guess so. Ah'd have quite the time keepin Gambit off me if Ah wore this."
Both of the other, older women smiled, glad to see their friend returning to her normal self. They'd spent most of the past hour talking while giving opinions on every dress Rogue owned that she felt might be special enough for her night out with Gambit. "But, ladies, you just turned down the last NICE dress Ah own. Guess that means that Ah gotta go shoppin eh?"
"We can all three go tomorrow if you'd like Rogue. Scott's giving everyone the day off." Jean grinned before adding, "FINALLY." All three laughed at the last comment. Cyclops had always been the uptight leader, and that seemed to be why he bore the most of the jokes around the mansion.
"Who knows, maybe everyone could go." Storm added.
"Sounds great. Maybe Ah aughta call up Jubes and see if she'd like t' come wit' us. Bet she'd like t' see a certain resident Cajun eh?" Rogue smiled, and got a nod from Storm and Jean.
"She probably would like to see Gambit. That's a nice idea." Jean nodded her agreement to Storm's last comment.
The next morning, the X-men and former member Jubilation Lee (Jubilee) all met at the local mall. Most of the girls set off to find something for Rogue to wear on her date with Gambit, while the remaining girls and all of the men were content to look around the mall and enjoy the day off.


"Perfect!"
"I agree!"
"Gambit won't know what hit him!"
All of those comments got Rogue to blush slightly as she looked in the mirror at the dress which the girls were complimenting. It was the last hope she had plucked off the racks before coming to the dressing room. "Ya'll really think he'll like it?" Rogue looked again in the 3-way mirror most women avoided like the plague. Then again, she noted to herself, most women didn't look like Rogue.
"Gambit will most certainly like it Rogue," came reassuringly from Storm, causing Rogue to finally admire the way she looked in the mirrors.
The dress was a pure black, skin-tight (but still slinky) dress that showed off most every curve. That was one feature Rogue knew Gambit would love. Emerald silken straps and accents brought out her eyes.
"Um Rogue…" Jean's voice brought Rogue back to the real world.
"Hmm?"
"You do have some gloves to wear with that right?"
Rogue sighed. She had a pair that would work just fine, but she hated to have to wear them. Finally, she nodded. "Yeah Jean, Ah have a pair of emerald one's that'll work." She forced a smile. "Ah guess this is the dress then eh ladies?" She turned and received nods.
"Hurry! Gambit's coming this way!" Jubilee's exclamation sent Rogue almost diving back into the changing room before Gambit saw the dress she planned on wearing. She laughed, then got ready to make her purchase..


Later that night, the other X-men had already eaten dinner, and were sitting in the living room watching, or rather, arguing on what to watch on TV when Storm announced to the waiting Cajun that his date was ready. All eyes turned to look as Rogue came downstairs, and the room fell silent. Rogue walked downstairs slowly. Gambit stared at the vision that was his date for the evening. The long dress moved with her every step. Long auburn and white tresses pulled into a bun with stray strands hanging down around her neck.
"Ya ready sugah?" she smiled at the tongue-tied Cajun. Could it be he's stunned silent for once? she thought sarcastically.
"Oh…yeah…Course I'm ready chere," he finally blurted before moving to escort Rogue out the door.
"Oh mah Lawd!" her eyes went wide at the sight of the waiting limo. "Remy…ya didn't have t'.."
He smiled. "Dat's why I did mon amour." He took her gloved hand in his and help her into the limo, calling to the other X-men who were assembled around the door, "Don't be waitin' up for us mes amis" With a final grin he got in the limo and they took off.


"Dinner was great Remy…" Rogue smiled at him as the stepped out of the limo and started up the stairs to the mansion.
"Well, I was hopin' ya enjoyed da theater and dancin' as well, but if dat's too much t' ask…" he responded with his characteristic, lop-sided, but still charming grin.
"Yeah, but Ah bet Cyke ain't gonna be happy we're getting home so late." She had noticed one of the clocks read that it was after 2 in the morning. Damn…this ain't good at all. Ah sure hope Scott ain't up waitin' for us.
"We deserved a break." Just after he said that, the alarms went off.
"Ya were sayin' sugah?"
They dashed to the War Room and were soon met by the other X-men who gave the two Southerners a look over when they noticed they were still dressed for their date.
"Late night huh?" Scott asked with what could almost be classified as a disapproving look. Although, through the ruby quartz glasses, it was hard to tell. He got no response…not that he had really expected one. The were informed of some renegade mutants breaking into a government facility. It wasn't long before all of the X-men were re-dressed for battle, and seated on the Blackbird.
"Somebody tell me why Ah've got a weird feelin' bout dis…" Rogue said as she took the seat by Gambit.
"Scared of a couple of bad guys all of a sudden darlin?" Logan said with a smirk.
"No, just got a feelin dat somethin' ain't right…"
"I hope you're wrong Rogue." Scott said plainly.
Gambit noticed the look on Rogue's face and took her gloved hand in his, no trace of a smile on his lips. "Chere, don't' worry. Everything gonna be fine." he said, but she noticed the look of uncertainty flicker through his eyes.


Rogue's suspicions had been right and that was obvious half way through the battle. Already, Gambit had a black eye and some cuts, Strom had a bruise forming on her arm and a cut lip, and the rest of the X-men had similar injuries, and even Logan was getting tired. But when Joseph's aim was negotiated due to a bright flash of light from Pyro's flames, he hit Rogue, who was currently aiding Gambit. The blast was hard enough to knock her out cold…or so everyone thought as she fell to the ground.
"Rogue!" Gambit yelled as he tried to keep her from having another jolt, and hitting the ground.
It wasn't too much longer before their reinforcements, X-Force and X-Factor, showed up, causing the renegades to retreat.
"Perfect timing mes amis," Gambit spat as he picked Rogue up off the battlefield were he had laid her gently after being hit. Mystique looked at her foster daughter then to Gambit.
"What the hell happened to her?!" she demanded to know.
"Ask Mr.-I-don't-care-where-I'm-aimin' over there." he said, nodding to Joseph.
Mystique's yellow eyes narrowed dangerously. "Why'd you do that to her?" Her tone was icy, and filled with obvious anger.
"I…I didn't see where I was aiming…I'm sorry…I…" he said hurriedly, backing away from Mystique who had pulled her gun out as a warning, and right up the steps of the blackbird. He stumbled and ended up on his back and found a very angry Cyclops looking down at him.
"Next time, if you don't know where you're aiming, how about you don't shoot."


Back at the mansion, a few hours later, Rogue finally came too. Gambit was at her side, and he smiled at her. She looked at him from the veil of auburn and white that she annoyedly brushed away. "Did ya get the number of dat truck dat hit me?" she asked jokingly as she put her hand to her head lightly. He frowned at the joke, causing her to worry. "What's wrong Remy?"
"De number of de 'truck' dat hit ya be unknown, but de name of de driver be Joseph, chere." he said in an almost bone chilling tone.
"What? Why did he…?" she looked puzzled.
"Says his aim was off…" his tone softens, knowing Rogue doesn't need any added stress.
"Oh…" her voice hinted with a mixture of concern and exhaustion. "Remy?"
"What?"
"Mind getting' Joe down here? Ah think its bout time he n Ah talked."
"You sure bout dat Rogue?"
She nodded.
"Get some sleep first chere. Ya sound tired." A noticeable look of concern on his face. She smiled weakly and held out an ungloved hand. The Genoshan collar on her neck kept her powers from getting to him. "Jus' go t' sleep chere…I'll stay a while longer." he whispered softly to the already half asleep Queen of Hearts…Queen of his Heart.


Rogue woke up quickly when she heard Beast drop something with a loud clamor in the next room. "Hank?" she sat up as best she could, looking around. "Everything ok?"
A few seconds later, his head poked in the doorway with a smile. "Everything's fine Rogue. Would you like for me to call Storm or Gambit to come down here?"
"No…but Ah would like t' have a talk with Joseph."
Beast raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I don't believe any of the other X-men would quite approve, and I'm not so sure I do either quite frankly. He is the one who put you here."
"Ah know that Hank, and Ah thank ya for worryin' bout me, but Ah need t' talk t' him. Remy'd understand…and so would th' other X-men if they'd jus' listen t' me." She sighed, and waited for his response.
"Alright. I'll call him. But, if you need anything else, call me."
"Ah know the routine sugah, now if'n ya don't mind gettin Joe down here…"
Beast nodded and went to call Rogue's requested visitor to the med-lab.


He silently walked down the hallway to the med-lab. She wanted to talk with him, but why? Ever since the accident, no one had really spoke to him at all…much less informed him on Rogue's condition. He walked into her room only to find Wolverine was in there. Logan glared at Joseph from the moment he walked in.
"Logan?"
"Yeah?" Logan turned his head to look at Rogue.
"Mind lettin me talk t' him alone?"
"Sure…Call if ya need me though." He then walked out without a word to Joseph.
"You wanted to talk to me Rogue?" he asked as he sat down by the bed.
"Yeah…thought maybe ya'd tell me what was goin' on with ya. Sure ain't actin' like ya'self lately." her tone was gentle, but with the same concern and slight exhaustion hanging on her words.
He lowered his head, not looking at her anymore. She knew him…or who she thought he was. She'd had dealings with Magneto before, but if only she knew Joseph wasn't Magnus. "Joseph…just talk with me…please?" she begged. Emerald eyes watched him carefully.
"I'm starting to wonder if being an X-man is such a good idea. I mean, seems like you're about the only one who trusts me at all around here." He looked at her , waiting for a reaction.
Her eyes filled with surprise. "What? Joe…Ah…Ah know that ya think ya ain't trusted, but 'magine how Ah felt when Ah joined th' X-men." He looked as confused as she had.
"Rogue, what are you talking about?"
"Joseph, when Ah joined th' X-men, Ah had jus' quit bein' their enemy. Jus' like you. Before Ah was an X-man, Ah tried t' kill those who were X-men at th' time, an' Ah put their friend, Ms. Marvel, in a coma cause Ah stole her powers, and mind, permanently. No one wanted t' trust me. Heck, sometimes Ah wonder if all of 'em, mainly Scott, really do trust me now. Jus' give em a lil more time ok? Please Joseph? Fo' me?" she looked at him, waiting for an answer.
"Rogue…"
"Joe, please…?" she pushed aside her bangs, still watching him.
He sighed. "Ok…OK…I'll give it some more time."
A smile formed on her lips. "Thanks…"
"No…Thank you Rogue."
"Fo' what?"
"Believing in me no matter what." he ran his hand lightly along her cheek.


Red eyes burned in the dark…Gambit had been watching silently from the hallway ever since Logan had informed him that Joseph was down seeing Rogue. He continued to watch as Joseph said goodbye and walked out of the room. "Stay 'way from dat femme…"
Joseph turned to see the red on black eyes staring at him from the dark. "Who do you think you are telling me what to do, huh Gambit?" he retorted. "She's about the only friend I have around here. Well…at all really…"
Gambit grinned. "Dat's too bad. Den again, since when does a friend knock out another friend when dey're in a battle on de same side?"
Joseph's eyes narrowed. "That was an accident."
"Remy?"
Both men spun to see Rogue standing in the doorway.
"Rogue?" Joseph's eyes lost the iciness that had filled them as Gambit talked.
Gambit looked at her, worry flickering through his eyes. "Chere…I…"
Rogue signed and looked between the two men, Joseph needed her support, but at the same time, she needed to make it clear to Gambit that he needed to quit picking on Joseph. "Remy, Hank says Ah can go t' mah room."
He nodded. "Want me t' help ya chere?" When she shook her head, he raised an eyebrow. "Ok…"
"Ah would like ya t' help me t' th' kitchen though…"
Gambit nodded again. "Anythin' ya say Roguey." He smiled and moved to aid her in walking up the stairs.


Jean and Scott looked up from their cooking when Rogue came in, Gambit still aiding her.
"Feeling better, huh Rogue?" Scott smiled.
"Yeah…Hank says Ah'll be back to mah normal self soon enough…" She too flashed a smile.
Jean nudged her husband then nodded to the arm Gambit was keeping around the Southern Belle's waist. When she spoke, he hugged her gently.
"You want to stay here for dinner rather than having to go up and down the stairs hun?" Jean asked as she cut up some vegetables.
"Sounds good t' me." Rogue answered as she sat down in a chair Gambit had pulled out for her. He was about to sit down, then thought better of it.
"Ya want anythin' t' drink chere?" He moved towards the fridge.
"A soda sounds good…" Gambit nodded and got her one. He held up the root beer where she could see it. "Dis ok?"
She nodded. "Yep."
After handing it to her, and grabbing himself a beer, he took the seat next to her. "Thanks Remy…"
"Welcome…"


At dinner, there was the usual commotion, but whenever Rogue asked for something, everyone tried to help. She was getting sick of it too…Only Joseph was treating her like she was a "normal" person who could do things for herself.
"Ya'll, Ah c'n fend fo' mahself" she finally said when it became too much. She looked around the table.
"Rogue come on, don't you like the special treatment? I would!" Bobby joked, smiling.
"Not funny." She looked at Bobby seriously, but suddenly she looked a bit sick.
"Chere? You ok?" Gambit turned from his spot beside her and looked at her with a mixture of worry and curiosity.
"Ah'm fine. That's the whole point…" Rogue responded. Before she could add anything else though, she doubled over. "Ow!"