And now for your amusement, some romantic fluff. Oh come on you really didn't think there wouldn't be any in this fic now did you?
Happy Birthday Rogue
Rogue sat alone in the garden. She felt like crying. Everything had gone wrong. She knew she was at that age where everything seemed like a crisis, but in her case everything was a crisis. Some birthday this is! Makes me feel like I wish I've never been born, but that's such…a cliché or something.
She heard a rustling behind her. She stood up and whirled around. "Who's there?" She snapped. "Show yourself!"
"Gambit knew he find you out here," Remy said as he appeared.
"Well I'm not going back in there so forget about it," She snapped.
"No problem with Remy," Remy shrugged. "Remy not want to go back in there either. Besides, the view out here is much nicer."
Rogue decided to let the innuendo slide for once. "Yeah well, it's also a lot less crowded out here. Nobody to stare at me."
"Rogue about that tape…" Remy started to apologize.
"Calm down Cajun," Rogue sighed. "I ain't gonna kill you. In a way…it was kind of sweet. I know you didn't mean for that to be shown to everyone. If anyone deserves to be killed its Sam and Roberto."
"What about Jamie?"
"He's too young. Maybe I'll just scare him and make him my slave for life," She snickered.
"That sounds like a plan," Remy chuckled. "Pretty unforgettable birthday, no?"
"I couldn't forget this party even if I went down on my knees and begged the Professor, Jean and Mastermind to wipe this night from my mind at the same time," Rogue groaned. "Well maybe not Jean…she may want her own mind erased."
"I'm real sorry Jean went all crazy like that," Remy said.
"Actually part of me kind of enjoyed that," Rogue sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it. I had no idea she felt that way about me. You know what's funny? Here I am jealous of her and what she has and everything and all this time she's been jealous of me! Weird."
"Well you know what they say about the grass being greener on the other side," Remy said. "But man is she going to have one hell of a hangover when she wakes up tomorrow."
"I know I should have done something more to stop her antics, but to be honest I did not want Jean's thoughts in my head."
"I don't think Jean will want her thoughts in the morning either," Remy chuckled.
"Thanks for coming out here," Rogue said softly. "I appreciate you…ya know. Checking in now and then."
"Well it's about time we had some time together," Remy said. "Remy thought he'd never give you his present."
"But I thought…" Rogue started to say.
"That was just for show," Remy gave her a wooden box with a ribbon tied around it. "This is from my heart."
Rogue looked at him and untied the ribbon. She opened the box and gasped. Inside was a gold necklace with a golden rose pendant. "Remy…it's beautiful."
"A rose for a Southern rose," Remy took it out of the box and put it around her neck. "When you wear this, you think of Remy. And that way Remy will always be with you."
"Why do you stay with me?" Rogue's eyes were filled with tears. "You know there can't possibly be a future with us together?"
"Who knows?" Remy's eyebrows arched. "Maybe it's Remy's nature to want what he can't have? Or maybe he loves a challenge?"
He put a gloved finger to her lips. "Or maybe…" He whispered. "Maybe he knows a good thing when he sees it. And when Remy sees something worthwhile…he never lets go, no matter what."
"But you can never even kiss me or…" Rogue asked.
"Oh Chere," Remy shook his head. "You the one always going on about hope and living for another day to see what will happen. Why don't you practice what you preach?"
"Come again?"
"Let Remy put it to you this way," He sighed. "Did you ever think that you would ever gain the ability to fly?"
"Well no," She said.
"Did you ever dream that one day you would be a heroine saving people?" Remy asked.
"Not really," Rogue said. "I don't really see myself as that."
"Did you ever think you would find yourself a family, albeit a strange one but still a family?"
"No."
"SOMEBODY HELP ME! AGGHHH!" Duncan ran by them with Lockheed on his tail, singing his butt all the way.
"Did you ever think that you'd ever live with a real live dragon?" Remy asked.
"No I can definitely say I did not," Rogue sighed.
"So what makes you so sure that you'll never touch anyone?" Remy asked. "You have to have hope Chere. Hope is what life is all about. That one day will be better than the next. That's something worth living for. Even if we never do touch with our lips, you've touched me with your heart."
She gently hugged him. "You got a real way with words ya know Swamp Rat?"
"Every now and then Remy does say the right thing," He grinned.
"AGGGHHH! HELP MEEEEEEE! MOMMY!" Duncan's voice could be heard.
Rogue groaned. "We should help him."
"Do we have to?"
"Yes, come on," Rogue led him further back into the yard. Duncan was precariously holding onto a tree limb for dear life. Lockheed however had flapped right in front of him and looked like he was about to set the tree on fire. "Lockheed! Down boy!"
"Call it off!" Duncan whimpered. "Call it off!"
"Okay now that is just plain sad," Rogue sighed. "Hey what's this on the ground?" She picked something up at the base of the tree.
"It looks like a flask," Remy said. He took it from Rogue and sniffed it. "Smells like the extra ingredient in the punch. I think we have our culprit!"
"You're the one who spiked the punch aren't you?" Rogue said angrily.
"I'd answer her if I were you," Remy folded his arms.
"I don't have to say…" Duncan started to speak when a growl from Lockheed made him rethink his decision. "Okay, okay! I did it! I admit it!"
"I should have known!" Rogue snapped.
"It was just a little fun!" Duncan said.
"Oh really?" Remy snarled. "Fun eh? You wanna know what Remy think would be fun right about now?" He took a card from his pocket and charged it.
"You wouldn't!" Duncan squealed.
"Wanna bet?" Remy growled.
"Hang on Remy! I got a better idea! Lockheed!" Rogue ordered. "Keep him there! If he even tries to get down, burn that tree until it's the size of a toothpick!"
"You can't leave me here all night!" Duncan yelled.
"I'm not," Rogue turned around and started to leave. "I'm gonna find Mr. Logan. You know, the one with the temper and the claws. I'm sure he'd like to have a nice long conversation with you."
"On the other hand it really is a nice night," Duncan gulped. He looked at Lockheed. "Nice…dragon. Good boy…"
"Grrrrrrrrr," Lockheed growled.
"Oh god I'm dead," Duncan moaned.
"Something tells Remy that it will be a very long time before Duncan ever spikes the punch at a party again," Remy chuckled.
"Remind me when we find Storm to ask her to make a nice loud rainstorm," Rogue grinned. "Come on, let's get back to the party. If there's anything left of it that is."
