Okay, I've decided to screw the "try-and-salvage-what-Marvel-has-done-with-its-characters-in-the-X-Men-movie" approach. Instead, I'm making this AU that is loosely based on Movie-verse. I figure it'll probably be a lot more interesting for you guys this way.

Also, after watching Bobby never get a decent girl, I've resolved to get him a chick. He definitely needs one. The problem is, I can't use any of the X-Girls for him in this one because I already have plans for them. Either that or I really don't like the coupling. So I'm think I can introduce an OC. ::watches as readers run off screaming:: Wait, come back! If I promise that a) She will definitely NOT be a Mary Sue, b) she won't be a main part of the story, and c) She'll look nothing like me, will you approve? Otherwise, I'm thinking of putting in Lifeguard…but I don't know much about her (seeing as she's only been in a few comics). I don't want to lose what few reviewers I have over something stupid like this, so when you review (like I know you will, being the good little reviewers you are), just let me know what you think.

Also, thanks to the SEVEN people who reviewed. Please, more people review. Don't make me beg.

Last thing: I'll be adding fave quotes from comics, XTAS, Evo, whatever (for obvious reasons not the movie). If you have one that you absolutely adore, put it in a review, & CITE IT!! I'll try to work it in. ;)

On with…

Chapter 4

          After showing Remy the kitchen, the gym, and some of the other rooms, Rogue walked him to the male dormitory.

          "Heah's yoah last stop, Cajun. Ya know wheah yoah room is?"

          "Oui, ma belle. Mais I didn' see 'Roro yet, et elle me manque."

Rogue wrinkled her nose distastefully. "English, Swamp Rat."

"Desolé. Je veux dire 'I miss her'."

"Try'n ta piss me off, Cajun?"

"Course not, petite. If I wanted t' do dat, I'd have asked y' why y'r laying y'r accent on extra t'ick 'round de ot'ers." [A/N: Did anyone else notice that?]

A look of enraged shock passed over Rogue's face, but she quickly seized control over her emotions. Not receiving the expected reaction, Remy tried to read her empathetically. What he discovered almost made him laugh out loud.

"Japanese calming techniques? Where'd y' learn t' use dose?"

Rogue shrugged defiantly. "A secret an old friend taught me." At the thought of Logan, Rogue involuntarily winced with emotional pain.

Remy looked at her with concern in his eyes. "Y' want t' tell me 'bout him?"

Rogue started. "How did ya…?"

"Empat'y," he stated simply.

"Heh. Oh yeah," she breathed, looking down quietly. "Why do Ah want ta tell ya about him so bad? It's like Ah'm yearnin' foh it. Is that part ah ya empathy, too?"

Remy smiled sadly. "Norm'lly it would be, 'cept Remy isn't usin' it on y' now. Could be the bond we have."

Rogue laughed. "Don't tell me you still believe what Tante Mattie said 'bout us."

"Dere was a time when y' believed it too." He lightly traced her face with a gloved finger. "Y' know I nev'r stopped lov'n y', n'est pas?" Rogue nodded. "Den tell me 'bout him."

"What 'bout 'Ro?"

He shrugged. "Den tell me later. Y' can show me t' y'r room while we're nearer to 'Roro's room, an' I'll stop by aft'r."

A wan smile crept on Rogue's face. "Ah'd like that."

*          *          *

"Kitty, is it just me, or is the temperature dropping?" Jubilee inquired of her friend suddenly.

Kitty Pryde glanced around the rec room until her eyes found the thermostat. "Well, the thermostat is set at seventy. But you're right; it is getting pretty chilly in here."

Sam Guthrie rolled his eyes. "Cue the Iceman."

"Crap!"

The occupants of the room turned their heads to the closet door as Bobby strolled out, hands in pockets.

"Man, you're nineteen for God's sake! Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Aww, shut it Jubes. Your just angry 'cuz I wouldn't drive you to the mall yesterday."

Jubilee pouted. "Yeah, well you've been in a huff ever since Lorna dumped you to join Alex Summers in X-Factor."

Bobby shot her a dirty look.

"You got ta watch out for those older chicas, mi amigo," Angelo Espinoza chuckled. "Twenty-two has a little too much brass for you. Try someone younger, like sixteen."

Bobby raised an eyebrow. "Any suggestions?"

Angelo scratched his chin in a mock-thoughtful manner. "Well, Kitty, for instance."

Kitty stuck her tongue out at him.

Bobby made a face. "Besides the fact that that's pedophile, Kitty's still pining after our resident Russian painter. I'd have better luck with Jubes. Especially since you don't have the balls to ask her out."

"Watch it man," Jono Starsmore sent out telepathically. "You know how Angelo gets when anyone threatens anything he has absolutely no hold on."

The whole room burst into laughter with the exception of a very annoyed-looking Mexican mutant. His mood changed, however, when Jubilee winked and blew him a kiss. Suddenly he became inspired. Jumping up from the couch, Angelo strutted across the room until standing directly in front of his ladylove. Kneeling down, he took one of her hands in his own and kissed it. "Since my secret's out, what do you say, chica? Want to go out with a cute mutant for dinner and a movie?"

Jubilee, despite her bewilderment, managed to sputter out, "I just have one question, 'Lo."

"Ask away."

"Does all of your skin expand? I mean, everywhere?"

Kitty, Bobby, and Jono all burst out into laughter simultaneously. Sam just looked confused.

Angelo, not missing a beat, winked at Jubilee. "Every last inch."

Sam, furrowing his eyebrows, demanded an explanation, but no one could answer him, for they were all laughing too hard to speak.

*          *          *

"This is it, Sugah. She should be in there now."

"Merci, cherie. Remy be much 'bliged."

"Don't mention it. An' remembah: mah room in two hours."

"Wouldn't miss a rendez-vous in votre chamber your room f'r de world," Remy leered.

Rogue rolled her eyes and left him to do a few things before meeting him.

Remyb watched her sashay down the hall until he turned to Ororo's door and leaned against the jamb, knocking lazily.

A muffled "Who is it?" was his reply.

"Remy, chère. Mais he c'n come back later if his best friend be too busy f'r 'im."

"Nonsense!" she cried, opening up the oak door.

He was taken aback slightly when he noticed her blotchy eyes. "When did you start gett'n allergic t' y'r own plants, Stormy?"

She smiled weakly. "You know I hate when you call me by that infernal nickname."

"Y' avoid'n de question."

She shrugged noncommittally.

"Don' give me dat. Give Remy son nom his name name, and he'll break l'homme's ribs."

Ororo smiled at the thought. "I doubt you could. But thank you for the gesture." She kissed his cheek and ushered him into her room.

"A bit dark, eh Stormy?"

Ororo shrugged again and clapped her perfectly manicured hands lightly, prompting the overhead lights to illuminate the room.

Remy glanced up to the skylight with the recessed lights between the glass panels. "Nice set up y' got here."

"Yes, it is, is it not? Xavier let us all decorate our own rooms."

"Y' mean Remy gets t' decorate his own chambre?"

Ororo smiled. "If you wish. Will you furnish it to be similar to your room in New Orleans?"

Remy's face hardened. "New life; new beginnings. Might as well g't a new style."

Ororo, seeing his distress, took his arm and led him to her bed. "Here, child. Sit."

Remy smirked. "Y'ain't got de right t'call Remy un enfant. 'Member how old y' were when he found y'?"

"The Shadow King altered my age. I am still older than you."

"Y' don' look it, chère."

Whether he meant that her youthful beauty made her look young or his hardened visage made him look old, he did not say, and she did not ask.

For some time they sat in comfortable silence. After a little while, Ororo turned her head toward her friend.

"Remy?" she inquired.

"Hmm?"

She bit her lip. "Why did you come here?"

"M' p'wer's evolv'n, chère."

"A certain southerner had nothing to with your decision?"

He visibly stiffened . "How'd y'know 'bout Rogue?"

"Jean-Luc asked me to make sure that nothing recommences between you two."

"What did y' say?"

She looked him squarely in the eye. "I told him that I am neither a babysitter nor his spy. His son can do whatever he wants as far as I am concerned, and if that includes resuming a healthy, loving relationship with one I consider a sister, then so be it."

"Score one f'r Stormy!"

"Do NOT call me that."

"Merci, 'Roro, jus' de same. 'Cept f'r une chose one thing: if y' t'ink de relationship 'tween Rogue and m'self is in any way healt'y, y' be much mistak'n."

Ororo looked at him sharply. "I love both of you very much, but Rogue is an emotional mess, to put it lightly. Do not hurt her, Remy. If you do, you are also hurting me."

Remy hugged her close. "Dat not go'in to happ'n, chère. Not f'r a million years."

*          *          *

A couple of hours later, the pair quit chatting, and Remy left Ororo's room to head back to his own. "Quick shower and change, and den off t' Roguie's."

He entered his room, stripping down, and got into the shower. After fifteen minutes, he got out and dried himself off, thinking about how he would begin the conversation with Rogue that he had wanted to have since that night when she…"Got t' stop roll'n dat ov'r in y'r head, homme. Ugh, now y'r talk'n t' y'rself."  He was in the process of drying his hair with a towel when he walked into his room. Suddenly the towel dropped. Sitting on his bed was a note in black scrawl:

"I know your little secret, LeBeau, and there's no way to run from it."

Dun, Dun, Dun. Oh, the drama. So, how many of you knew it was 'Ro who was crying? Be honest. But in the review, don't give it away. Not like anyone is reading anymore. ::breathes in and out while chanting "I'm not bitter.":: Seriously, I'm really encouraged to write more when I know people care. ::nudge, nudge:: So, please review. :)