Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I can't claim any of this. It all belongs to Marvel *pouts* The greedy bastards! And when I say greedy bastards, I actually mean fantastically creative people.

;) Also, I don't claim any rights to anything by Evanescence, and that's a good thing, cuz if I did, they would suck horribly.

Warning! Warning! Fluff alert! Fluff alert!

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Remy had been sitting by Rogue's bed since the accident. He had left briefly after Andrea had died out of respect, but secretly, he was glad she was gone. Especially after what Logan had told him after her body was removed. Served her right.

He had also left occasionally for bathroom breaks, but that was it. He ate, drank, and slept by Rogue's side. He wanted to be here when she woke up, to see those beautiful emerald eyes of hers. Unfortunately, that meant that he wouldn't smell or look to great when she woke up either. He had realized this only a few moments ago. He managed to glance in mirror and noticed that he had awful stubble and his hair was so mussed and tangled that he looked like a wild man. At least in his eyes, but he knew he could never look as bad as Logan, and that gave him some comfort. However, he decided that waking up to a very messy and smelly Cajun was not the best thing for Rogue so he went to the bathroom and shaved, washed his hair, and put on a faint cologne. He even put on a clean shirt. He wasn't sure why he did this when he did, but something deep inside him told him that she would be awake soon and he should at least try to look decent.

When he came back, he noticed that Rogue's right arm had slid off of her stomach and onto the bed. He thought maybe he had done it by accident and dismissed it. He sat back down next to her and continued his vigil. Sometimes he would read to her or play music for her. Other times he would just talk to her about what everyone else had been doing. Anything that might reach her. Beast had thought it a lost cause, that she would probably never wake up, but Remy knew better. He couldn't quite explain it, but he just knew. Today, he decided that he would read to her. He was halfway through a stanza of early romantic period poetry when he heard a strange blip coming from the life support. He looked at the heart monitor and noticed that it had picked up. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing and Beast was currently out on lunch break. He did the only other thing he could think of. He hit the comm and announced to the whole school:

"Hey everybody, I t'ink Rogue be awake!"

It was a beautiful fall day outside and everyone was having lunch out on the patio. Scott and Jean were sitting off to themselves, speaking quietly about what appeared to be very serious things. Storm was sitting with Logan and Bishop talking about life and what they were planning for the evening. Xavier and Beast were sitting with a group of students, tutoring them in physics. Kurt, Bobby, Warren, and Stacy-X were playing a game of basketball. Xavier suddenly had a feeling that something was odd. Not good or bad, just out of place. He stopped his conversation briefly and sent a telepathic signal to Storm.

Why don't you go inside and fix some lunch for Gambit? He's probably forgotten to eat again.

Storm nodded and stood up, "If you will excuse me gentlemen, I think I'll go check on Gambit and Rogue."

They looked at her sadly, sending an unspoken message to one another. She understood the message clearly, Rogue would probably never wake up and that would crush poor Remy, but still, she admired his devotion. She turned and walked inside. Only to turn right back around a few minutes later.

"Everyone, inside quickly! It's Rogue!!!"

The X-men, sat there, stunned for a moment and then sprung from their chairs and rushed inside.

Gambit stared back and forth between Rogue's still form and the machine. It continued to speed up and finally steadied out. A moan issued from the bed and Gambit turned his attention back to Rogue. She turned her head to the side and opened her eyes.

"Remy?"

"Oui, chere. It be me," he answered, grinning from ear to ear.

"Where am Ah?" she asked, trying to sit up.

"You be in medbay, Rogue. You had an accident," he said, easing her into a sitting position.

"Accident?"

"Oui, what's de last t'ing you remember?"

"Ah was...oh no...Andrea!"

"Don' worry 'bout her right now, chere. It's alright. Everyt'in's okay."

She nodded weakly. "How long I been out?"

"'Bout t'ree days."

"Three days?!"

"Oui, it's okay," he consoled her, squeezing her hand in his left and brushing the hair from her face with his right.

She looked down at his hand, "Remy, mah hands are bare."

He looked down, "So dey are, chere."

"But nothin's happenin'!"

"No, it's not," he smiled.

She placed a hand on his face, still nothing. "Are you doin' this?"

"Non," he shook his head, "You are."

Hope shined in eyes for a moment and then she flung herself around him, laughing and crying. Gambit couldn't help but laugh with her. He picked her up from the bed and spun her around. He set her down on her feet and pulled her in close for a tight embrace. They were still laughing when the rest of the X-men arrived.

"What in the name of the Goddess is going..." she stopped when she saw them. She stood still for a moment and ran over, somehow managing to pull Rogue away from Gambit. She held her out at arm's length.

"Rogue, my friend," she exclaimed, "you are awake!"

"Awake an' feelin' wonderful, Storm!" she said as she hugged her friend.

"And your powers!"

"Gone as far as Ah can tell!" She turned, a little unsteadily, to look at the other X-men, and grabbed Gambit's arm for balance.

"Le's put you back in bed, oui?"

She nodded as he lifted her and set her gingerly back in bed.

He shook his head and turned to the others, "An' you all t'ought she'd never wake up."

"Is that true?" she asked, looking at the others, shock on her face.

Bobby wrung his hands, "It was pretty bad..."

"Don' matter," Gambit interrupted, "she awake now."

Everyone nodded and expressed their gratefulness that she was okay.

"But what about Andrea?" she asked again.

Everyone looked away from her, trying to focus on something else, even trying to change the subject. Logan stepped forward.

"She's dead, darlin'."

Rogue gasped, "Ah didn't mean t'. Ah mean, Ah just..." she started to cry a little.

"Don't worry about her, darlin'. She killed herself, poison capsule in one o' her teeth, kinda cliché really. Downright cowardly if ya ask me. She was an assassin."

"An assassin? Who for?"

"Mois," Gambit answered.

"Why??"

"Apparently, not everybody's happy with him bein' the patriarch o' the New Orleans guild."

She stared at Remy, a look of complete shock on her face. He brushed back her hair.

"Don' worry 'bout it, Rogue. It over now. Get some rest, we talk more later."

Despite being in a coma for three days, Rogue was exhausted and soon fell into a deep sleep. The X-men exited the medbay quietly, even Gambit. Beast had insisted. He could see her when Beast gave the okay.

Gambit walked to the boathouse and went upstairs to his room and opened the top drawer of the dresser. He pulled out a small black box, turning it over in his hand, thinking.

"Is that what I think it is?" Storm asked, interrupting his train of thought.

"Hmm, dis? It be not'in'. Sumt'in' for de Guild," he said as he tried to put it back in the drawer, but Storm was quicker and took it from his hands and opened it. She gasped. It was gold and diamond ring, formed by two angels, back to back, with their wings wrapped around a single diamond.

She looked at him, "You are serious?"

He shrugged, "I was, but now..."

"What is troubling you, my friend?"

He sighed, "It's just after evert'in' dat's happened lately."

"Andrea," Storm stated.

"Oui, Andrea, if dat even was her real name. Dat happens all de time in de Guild an' I don' know if I wanna bring Rogue into a life like dat. I don' want her t' always be on de run. Dat's no kinda life fo' her."

"Don't you think that's something she should decide on her own?" she asked, placing the box on top of the dresser. She turned to leave, "It is her life, she has the right to choose," she said as she walked out of the room.

Gambit simply stared at the box, still thinking, letting Storm's word's sink in fully. After a long while, he made his decision. He took the box from the top of the dresser and put it back in the top drawer. He took his coat from the bed and left, without a second look back.

Once Rogue had recovered, she spent everyday of every week, training. Xavier wanted to see if her powers were truly gone and if she could somehow reawaken them. Rogue didn't really care. She was glad they were gone and if they never came back, well that was just an added bonus.

"If they do come back Rogue, you need to be prepared," he had explained. So, she trained. Mostly it was just to keep herself in shape, but she kept Xavier's words in the back of her mind. She spent ten minutes each day focusing on using her powers. Today, as she always did, she practiced with Gambit, Storm and Wolverine. She felt more comfortable training with them. She knew that if she fell, they would catch her, as would any other member of the team, but she felt that they would especially.

Wolverine was standing beside her, coaching her. Gambit was in front of her and Storm off to the side. She place her hands on Gambit's face.

"Alright, darlin'," Wolverine began, "focus on his powers. Think o' them as yours. Just relax an' think."

Rogue closed her eyes and exhaled. She opened them again and looked at Remy. Every time they did this exercise, she felt she knew that her powers would come back. It scared her beyond belief, but each time she was wrong. She felt that same dark fear looming in her mind again. She knew they would come back this time, just like she did every time. Still, three months of being to interact as a human being had been worth it, hadn't it?

She focused intently on his powers and using them as her own. She thought of taking a card and charging it in her hand. She thought so hard on it, that she believed it and then she felt the familiar tug, surprising her. Remy slumped to the ground and Storm caught him. Rogue sighed inwardly and picked a card from the deck at her hip and charged it. She threw it and watched it explode into hundreds of tiny little pieces. She knew it was too good to be true. Her powers were still in full gear.

"Okay, now try and give his powers back to him like we talked about."

She took a deep breath again and imagined Remy's powers flowing from her and back to him. She took another card from the deck and watched as nothing happened. A few moments later, Remy awoke as if nothing had ever happened. He smiled at her.

"Good chere. Le's try it one more time, t' see if dey be back fo' good."

She nodded to him, but she knew deep down that they were and she was forever isolated. She reached up and touched his face again and expected the familiar tug, but nothing happened. She looked, wide eyed, at Wolverine.

"Try thinkin' of his powers like ya did before."

She nodded and concentrated on Remy's powers and that was when she felt the tug. She charged the card in her hand and then expelled his powers a second time. She stared at her hands, stunned. What had just happened.

Logan moved next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "Now don't quote me on this Rogue, but I think you just might be able to control yer powers now, but that's my opinion," he smiled.

Rogue was ecstatic. She all but ran to medbay to find Beast. She explained everything to him and after hours of rigorous tests and days of waiting, he confirmed Logan's suspicions. Rogue was so happy that she hugged the first person she saw which just happened to be a very confused, but happy, student.

She ran to tell the Professor only to find him smiling outside his office.

"I know," he told her.

"Y'see now that's thah problem with telepaths! No surprises!"

Xavier couldn't help but laugh. Other people had filled in to see what the commotion was about. As soon as she saw Storm, Rogue gave her a huge hug. She then found Logan and Gambit and gave each a kiss on the cheek.

"What was that for, darlin'?"

"Foah helpin' me. Ah couldna done it without you."

Logan and Remy smiled. "Always happy t' help, chere." He winked at her.

"I believe this calls for a celebration," Jean stated.

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, but Rogue hesitated.

"No, not on account o' me. Really, y' don't need to."

"Oh yes we do," Jean said. "You've wanted nothing more nearly your entire life than to be able to touch without hurting anyone, and you've done it. You've reached your dream, and we're happy for you."

"An' that means that you're gonna have a good time tonight," Logan grinned.

Rogue couldn't help but smile back, "Ahright, just this once."

Ororo and Jean took Rogue shopping for evening wear while Warren made reservations at one of the finer New York restaurants. They were pulling out all stops for Rogue tonight. Whether she like it or not. The restaurant was booked, but when he said that it was for Worthington, party of twelve, a spot miraculously opened.

Dress was semi-casual and Rogue donned a beautiful emerald green, sleeveless silk blouse and a pair of black leather pants with open toed sandals and a black leather jacket to match. Gambit had to try hard to keep himself from staring.

The dinner went well with much laughter and curious looks from the other patrons of the restaurants. Which wasn't surprising since their table include a huge 600lb blue cat, a small fuzzy blue elf, a winged man and a black woman with glowing white hair. After dinner the group headed out to one of the clubs to continue their celebration. Around one o'clock, most of the team decided to head back. Gambit and Rogue both stayed. It was actually Storm who brought up the topic of going to bed, just to give the two some private time.

Now they were sitting at a small table on one of the balconies of the club. Music was playing softly in the background now. It was a slow piece, by a band neither of them had ever heard of.

Can't wash it all away, Can't hope it all away...

"Rogue," Gambit started, "we need t' talk."

She nodded.

"It's jus'," he struggled to find the words, "Wit' everyt'in' dat's happened lately..."

The pain that grips you, the fear that binds you

releases life in me

In our mutual, shame we idolize

To blind them from the truth that finds a way to who we are.

"Wit' Andrea, an' you gettin' sick, we haven't had much a chance t' talk."

She nodded again.

Please don't be afraid when the darkness fades away

The dawn will break the silence screaming in our minds.

My Love for you still grows, this I do for you

Before I try to find the truth, my final time.

"I love you Rogue, really, I do. I know it might not seem like it all de time, but it's dere."

Can't wash it all away, Can't wish it all away

Can't cry it all away, can't scratch it all away.

"Shh," she place her hand on his, "Ah know Remy, Ah know an' Ah love you too. Ah think Ah always have, Ah just never wanted t' admit it."

He looked at her, and smiled a little.

Lying beside you, listening to you breathe

The light that glows inside of you, burns inside of me.

Hold and speak to me of love without a sound.

"I know sometimes, I push you away, but dat's because I'm use t' bein' on my own, y'know? Fendin' fo' myself. But it's also cuz I wanna protect you."

Tell me you will live through this and I will die for you.

Cast me not away, say you'll be with me

I know, I cannot bear it all alone.

"I love you, an' I wanna protect you. T'ings like what happened wit' Andrea happen all de time in my life. Whet'er it's a guild war or jus' an outsider dat's not happy wit' de way we do t'ings. It'll always be dere."

"Ah know that Remy, an' it hadn't stopped me yet, has it?"

"No, no it hadn'..."

Can't fight it all away, can't hope it all away

Can't scream it all away, it just won't fade away...

Can't wash it all away, can't wish it all away

Can't fight it all away, can't scratch it all away...

"I love you, an' I jus' don' wanna see you hurt, dat's all. I..."

"Yes."

"What?"

"Ah know what yoah gonna ask, and mah answer is yes."

Gambit looked up at her, shocked. He didn't even ask.

Can't fight it all away, can't hope it all away

Can't scream it all away, can't hope it all away

Hope it all away

Hope it all away...

"We have a connection, me an' you swamprat. Ah can't ignore it an' neither can you. We just gotta take things as they come and find out where we're goin'."

Gambit moved to her side of the table and kissed her as he put the ring on her finger.

They didn't get back to the mansion until early the next morning, they had stayed up all night, talking. When the club closed, the went to the riverside and watched the sunrise together. Gambit dropped Rogue off at the mansion and then drove back to the boathouse. Rogue walked through the doors and was met by Logan.

"Have a good night, darlin'?"

She nodded and yawned a bit.

"Y' mind me askin' what you two were doin'?"

Rogue had to laugh at his fatherly tone, "We just talked Logan, Ah promise."

"I see," his attention went to the ring on her left hand, "You sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Did he steal it?"

"Ah don't think so. He knows Ah wouldn't take it if he had."

Logan laughed, it was a full hearty laugh, "Looks like ya tamed the Cajun, girl. I'll give ya points fer that." Rogue couldn't help but laugh with him and their laughter filled the entire mansion.

End.

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Well folks, that's it. The end. The name of the song was "Wash it All Away", by Evanescence. There's also a shorter version of it called "Understanding". I want to do a sequel to this story, but I have to get response from all my reviewers. I want to know if this is worth carrying on. Let me know will you? Also, I would appreciate some suggestions on what to cover in the next story arc. What would you, the readers, like to see? I'm not promising I'll do it, but every little bit helps. =)