Learning to Live Again
Revised Edition
Chapter 9, "Too Close For Comfort..."


"Joe, sugah, slow down!" Rogue was flying rather quickly, trying to catch up with the young, white-haired man.
"I asked you to quit following me Rogue." His tone was harsh, and caused Rogue to pause.
"Joe, please. Jus' talk t' me."
"How do I know the other X-men aren't with you?" Cold blue eyes turned to her, sending a shiver down her spine at the anger she saw in them.
"Ah know bettah. An' this is between you an' me…not th' rest of em." She hovered there, hoping he'd stop making her mistake…always running from her problems…
Joseph sighed and lowered to the ground, Rogue close behind. "Why are you being so persistent? Gambit's back, he still loves you, and you seem…better off without me."
"Joseph, you an' An may not be anythin' more than friends, but ya seem t' not realize how much Ah enjoy havin' ya as mah friend. Yeah, Ah love Remy, Lawd only knows why…probably always will love 'im honestly…but he don't control mah life. Ah want us t' be friends Joe…an'…well…Ah can't speak fo' everyone back at th' school, but if its enough fo' now that Ah trust ya an' care bout ya as a friend, Ah'd be more than willin' t' talk with th' rest of the team if ya come back…"
Joseph looked at her for a minute, trying to decide if it was worth the risk. "I don't know Rogue…would it be worth it? You've been spending your time with everyone else, and that makes it rather hard for me to trust what you're telling me."
Rogue sighed then looked around them. She knew he had a point, but at the same time, he was ignoring the fact that she had a point too. "Joe, please, Ah know it ain't easy bein' one o' th' newer X-men. They didn't trust me fo' nothin' when Ah first joined. Even Xavier seemed t' have his doubts. Some o' us, like me an' Logan, know kinda what's goin' on. So, jus' let us help would ya? We've been there…Ah've been there…"
"So you keep reminding me…" he looked at her for a minute; sad emerald eyes watching him too, seemingly begging him to stop running. "One more week…if things haven't changed, I'm gone."
A bright smile lit up Rogue's face and she hugged him. "Alright sugah…and thank you…" She grabbed his hand and was about to take off, but the pull of his hand kept her down. She turned around and looked at him. "What now?"
"Rogue, its late, and I for one am in no mood, or shape, to go back right this minute…for that matter…I honestly don't even feel like going back without a good night's sleep."
"Ok, sorry sugah…But Ah wanna call home an' let em know everythin' is alright." She looked at him expectantly, earning her a sigh and nod from him.
The next thing Rogue knew, they were checked into two adjoining hotel rooms there in a small city in Pennsylvania near where Rogue had caught up to Joseph.


"Hello? Xavier's School for the gifted…Jean Grey Summers speaking…"
Rogue couldn't help but laugh at the tone and content of Jean's sentence.
"Hello?" Jean repeated when she heard laughter on the other end.
"Sorry bout that Jean. It was just too hilarious…" Rogue said when she finally caught her breath.
"Rogue, is that you?!" When Jean said that name, everyone looked up from the war movie Logan had talked the group into watching. Gambit was off the floor and moving towards the phone.
"Yeah Jean, its me."
"Rogue, no offense hun, but what on earth made you run off like that?"
"Ah had t' talk with him…an' don't worry…everythin's fine. Joe's comin' back with me in th' mornin."
Before Jean could answer, Gambit grabbed the phone. "Chere, where de hell are you?!"
"Hi t' you too Remy. Calm down. Ah'm in Pennsylvania right now…Ah'll be home in th' mornin."
"Don' you tell me t' calm down Roguey. How'm I suppose' t' know you're alright eh?"
Rogue sighed. "Remy, please. Ah'm fine. But it's late an' Ah don' wanna fly home while Ah'm tired."
"So at a hotel wit' 'im eh? You even sharin' a room too? I t'ought you loved me chere."
"Lawd sugah, Ah do love ya. Ah'm in a different room from Joe. Ah made sure o' it. You should know Ah wouldn't do that t' ya."
Gambit sighed in a mixture of relief and frustration. "Gambit be sorry chere. Ya jus' scared de hell outta dis Cajun when ya left like dat."
Rogue giggled a bit. "That's sweet a' ya Remy. But Ah'll see ya tomorrow ok?"
"K…bye mon amour…"
"Bye sugah…"

She hung up the phone and was ready to curl up in bed when there was a knock at the door between her room and Joseph's room. "Hold on." She got up and slid on her uniform before opening the door, knowing Gambit would have a fit if he found out Joseph ever saw her less than fully clothed.
"Whatcha need?" Rogue couldn't help but notice Joseph was out of uniform as she had been, but since he'd packed a bag, he had other things to wear… Thank Gawd th' man has sense 'nough t' leave some clothin' on…Wait, Ah shouldn't even be noticin'…Shit…Jus' a good thin' Remy an' Joe ain't telepaths… Rogue thought silently as Joseph stood there apologizing for leaving like he did, not noticing Rogue wasn't paying complete attention. When he finished, Rogue was glad she'd heard some of what he said… "It's ok Joe…Ah said Ah understand remembah?"
Joseph nodded. "I just had to say it though. I guess I should let you get some sleep huh?"
Rogue nodded. "Night Joseph…"
"G'night Rogue…sweet dreams…" He slipped back into his room before she closed and locked the door, silently berating herself for her thoughts.
Damn that man. He knows Ah love Remy, so what does he have t' go an' do? Men… Rogue shook her head in silence a she climbed back in bed. Ah'm gonna have t' tell Joe what is an' isn't decent now that Remy an' Ah are back t'gethah…