Disclaimer: Nope, still don't know own nothing…
Author's note: Well, would you look at this! I wrote another chapter! It took a really long time, but not as long as the second chapter, am I right? Sorry about the wait, everyone.
Well, anyway, just to let everyone know, I am planning to change my name from 'Blades' to 'AracTheDragon' in a few days and I just wanted everyone to know that.
And, so enjoy the chapter!
"Rogue," Remy said. He got down on one knee, and reached behind him to his back pocket. "Will you do me de honor of becomin' my wife?" He pulled out the small, velvet box, and held it up. He could already imagine the look on her face…her eyes wide with shock, her mouth hanging open, and then she would take the box from him and open it, gasping in surprise at the beautiful ring that rested in the minute silky pillow.
He looked up, expecting to meet her soft green eyes…and only saw his demonic red and black ones staring back at him in the mirror.
He frowned at his reflection, before glancing over at the digital clock that sat next to the bed that he shared with Rogue. It read 1:23 PM, which meant that he had been practicing proposing to the gorgeous Southerner in front of the mirror for the past hour and a half. And everything that had come out of his mouth during that time either sounded sickeningly corny, not romantic at all, or just…stupid.
"'Do me de honor of becomin' my wife?'" he repeated softly, his mirror-self copying him as he wrinkled up his nose in disgust. "De hell was dat, LeBeau? You tryin' to make Rogue t'row up?"
It had been two days since he asked Rogue on the big date, and he felt like he was going nuts. All these questions, all these worries, all this…stuff was just slamming up against the sides of his brain, making him feel like he was going crazy.
"Mebbe I shoul' tell someone 'bout dis," he grumbled to himself.
No! A voice shouted in the back of his head. No, you can't! Word will get out in a matter of minutes! Your cover will be blown! That's not a good thing!
But you're going nuts, another voice yelled back. You have to tell someone or you're going to be locked up in an insane asylum before Saturday even comes! You gotta do something!
No, you gotta do nothing! The first voice countered. Besides, you're Gambit! You're the Ragin' Cajun! Master thief! You've done worse than this!
Oh yeah? When?
There was silence. Um…
All right, that settles it! You're going to tell the next person you see all about this! No ifs, ands, or buts about it, pal!
Remy scowled and shook his head. Now there were voices in his mind telling him what to do. Maybe he was going insane.
Without really thinking, he opened the small box again, and allowed the frown to disappear for the moment. He picked up the delicate ring between his thumb and forefinger and lifted it up to get a better look.
It was a beautiful ring, made of the finest gold filigree. Instead of the traditional diamond, there was a small heart shaped rock, made of the brightest red ruby he'd ever seen, and surrounding the rare jewel were minute emerald stones, as brilliant green as Rogue's eyes.
His smile became rueful as he thought how much this ring cost him, when he could have easily sneaked into the jewelry store and stolen it without anyone ever knowing. But he quickly tossed that idea at the thought of what Rogue might do to him if she ever found out. On top of that, everything he wanted to do for Rogue, he planned to do it in the most honorable way possible. In other words, no more stealing. At least, no more stealing when it came to Rogue. He could steal a few things for himself every once in a while.
Truth of the matter was, he actually bought this ring a few years ago. He wanted to give it to Rogue as more of a promise ring, not so much an engagement ring. But then…there was that whole…trial thing…and then Antarctica…and he couldn't exactly find a good moment to give it to her. But that was all in the past now, he was not going to focus on it anymore. Remy had much more important things to pay attention to at the moment.
"OK, LeBeau, loosen up," he muttered to himself, as he shook his arms and legs, releasing some of the tension in his body. He took a deep breath and concentrated on his reflection again, struggling to come up with yet another way to propose to Rogue.
Then there was a sudden knock on the door.
Remy jumped and spun around to face the door, his eyes widening. He froze at the sound, wondering who could possibly be knocking…he sincerely hoped that Rogue hadn't returned from her training session in the Danger Room.
"Remy?" Ororo's soft voice was muffled by the door. "My friend, are you in there?"
"Uh…" Remy began, then he finally realized he was still holding the ring in his hand. Merde, he needed to hide it! "Jus' a minute, 'Roro!" He turned around quickly and snatched the velvet box off his bureau, stuffing the ring inside it, then snapping it close.
Ororo knocked again. "I need talk to you, Remy, it won't take too long!"
"Jus' gimmie one sec!" Remy looked frantically around the room, wondering where he could hide the ring. His eyes came to rest on his bed, and he sprung across the room and jumped onto the mattress, shoving the piece of jewelry under his pillow just as he heard Ororo open the door.
"Remy, I just wished to ask if you can give me back the Nat Kind Cole CD that I lent to you," she said as she stepped into the room, but she stopped when she noticed Remy lying stomach down on the bed, his hand under a pillow.
Remy looked over his shoulder and gave Ororo a smile. "Hey, 'Ro," he said, rolling over onto his back. "How's it goin', padnat?"
"Fine," she answered, before she raised a curious eyebrow at him. "Am I interrupting something?"
"What? Non!" he answered, a little quicker than he would have liked to. Stay cool, LeBeau, else 'Roro might suspect somet'ing. "Why?"
"Because it appears that I did."
"Well, ya didn'."
"Oh," she regarded Remy with the same avid look, before saying, "Well, Remy, I just stopped by to ask you for my Nat King Cole CD back."
"Right," he said, pointing at the desk behind her, "it be right on dat table over dere."
"Oh, wonderful," Storm headed to the desk and picked up the CD, before turning and heading back towards the door. Remy sat up, hoping that she was going to leave so he could get back to practicing, but then Ororo stopped and turned around.
"Forgive me, Remy," she began, but then paused, looking as if she didn't know how to say what she wanted to say next. "But…I have been in your presence for over five minutes, and you have not once called me, 'Stormy.'"
Remy smirked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Do ya want me t' call you 'Stormy'?"
"Good Goddess, no!" Remy laughed at her reaction, feeling some the tension in his body melt away. Ororo had to be Remy's best friend, and being with her was always soothing. Remy always did think that Storm was the sister he never had.
"Den what's de problem?" Remy asked her, and Storm sighed.
"Well, Remy," Ororo stopped, then sat down at the edge of his bed, and Remy scooted up closer to her, "I have been worried about you for the past two days."
"Pourquoi?" he said, confused.
"You have not been acting like yourself. It seems like…you are hiding something."
Aw, merde, is it dat noticeable? Remy groaned in his mind, but said nothing. He flashed Ororo his usual charming grin, hoping she would stop worrying about him. "Well, don' worry, chere, I ain't got nuthin' important to hide."
"Are you sure, my friend?"
"Oui, 'Roro, I'm fine."
"All right," she reached out and took Remy's hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. "But if you ever need to talk, you know I am always here for you."
"Yeah, I know, padnat."
Storm smiled, then stood up to leave, heading towards the door.
Remy moved to get to his feet as well, when suddenly those last few words seemed to hit him like a ton of bricks.
Gambit couldn't even begin to count how many times Storm told him that she would be there to listen, and he always kind of just brushed it off, not really believing that it would mean something. But that last sentence triggered something in his head, and his mind suddenly went into overdrive.
'If you ever need to talk' – you need to talk now!
Damn, one of those crazy voices was back…
Ororo wouldn't tell anyone, would she? You could tell her about your whole plan, talk to her, get all that crazy stuff off your chest and she would listen and give advice and she wouldn't tell anyone! She can keep a secret! She's kept plenty of secrets! You could tell her – you could tell her –
"IwannaaskRoguet'marryme!"
The words tumbled out of his mouth so fast that it took him a moment to realize that he said it. But Ororo heard him. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned slowly around, staring at Remy with a look of shocked confusion on her face.
"I'm sorry, Remy, I must have misheard you," she said slowly. "What did you say?"
Tell her!
Non, I can' –!
Stop being such a friggin' idiot and just tell her!
"I," Remy sighed, then shrugged his shoulders, "I wanna ask Rogue t'marry me."
Ororo stared at him with wide eyes, looking absolutely shocked. "Why?"
Remy looked at her, startled. "'Why?'" he repeated. "What de hell is dat supposed t' mean?"
Ororo blinked, then shook her head as if trying to clear it. "I'm sorry, Remy, I did not mean it like that," she crossed the room and sat down on his bed, looking at Remy like he just grew another head. "It's just…it's not like you –"
"Not like me?" Remy said, sitting down next to Ororo. "I've been married once b'fore, y'know!"
"I know that, Remy! But, well, that marriage did not go over too well –"
"Are y' sayin' dat what happened t'me an' Belle is gonna happen t'me an' Rogue?"
"No!" Ororo exclaimed. "Goddess, no, Remy! It's –" Ororo continued to stare at Remy, that stunned look still on her face. "I do not even know what to say! This is such shocking news – when do you plan to do this?"
"Saturday."
"Saturday?"
"Oui, dis Saturday."
"This upcoming Saturday?"
"Is dere an echo in here? Yeah, dis upcomin' Saturday, 'Roro."
It didn't seem possible for Ororo to look more stunned, but somehow she managed it. "Are you certain about this, my friend?" she asked. "Do you have a ring?"
"Yup. Wanna see it?"
Before Ororo could reply, Remy leaned back and slipped his hand under the pillow, pulling out the small box and sitting back up, facing Ororo. He carefully opened the box, and Ororo's hands flew over her mouth as she caught sight of the small piece of jewelry. Remy watched her with some amusement as Ororo stared at the ring with wide eyes for a few quiet moments.
"Oh, Goddess, Remy," she breathed, before she reached out with one hand and took the box from him, bringing the ring closer to her for a better look, before she turned her attention back to Remy. "You are serious?"
Remy nodded, a small grin forming on the corner of his lips.
Finally, Ororo's mouth slowly creased into a smile, and she suddenly threw her arms around his neck, catching Remy off guard. "Oh, Remy, I'm so happy for you!" she cried excitedly, before pulling away and taking his hand in hers, squeezing it gently.
"T'anks, 'Ro," he replied, his smile nowhere near as big as the one on Ororo's face. "But y'can' tell no one, OK?"
"Oh, no, Remy! I wouldn't dream of doing something like that!" she replied.
"Promise?"
"Of course!"
"Good," Remy's smile became a little sheepish, and he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, his other still grasped in Ororo's. Ororo recognized that look, and she asked playfully, "Are you nervous, Remy?"
"Non."
Ororo gave him a look that clearly said, "I know you're lying."
"OK, mebbe I am, a li'l."
Ororo continued to stare at his skeptically, not saying a word, as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"All right, fine!" Remy said. "I be scared outta my frickin' mind, ya happy now?"
Ororo laughed. "I would not worry, Remy. I'm sure everything is going to be fine."
Remy cocked an eyebrow at her. "Ya really t'ink so, Stormy?"
"I know so, Remy. Trust me," Ororo replied, giving Remy a warm smile. "And do not call me that," she added.
"Call you what?" Remy asked innocently, an impish sparkle in his eye.
"That infernal nickname!"
"Ah, c'mon, Stormy, y'know ya like it!" Remy teased, poking Ororo in the side, causing her to jump.
"You are hopeless, my friend," Ororo laughed, playfully shoving him.
"Ah, Stormy, y' break dis Cajun's heart," Remy said sadly, placing one hand over his chest, which caused Ororo to laugh that much harder, drawing a grin from Remy. Ororo took a glance at the clock and let out a soft gasp.
"Oh, Goddess, it's almost two!" she exclaimed. "I have to go find Logan."
"Why?"
"He and I were going into town to see a movie." She paused. "Would you like to come, Remy?"
Remy shook his head. "No, t'anks, 'Roro, I t'ink I'll stay here, work on my proposin' to Rogue."
Ororo beamed at him, before leaning over and planting a light kiss on his cheek. "We'll talk later, all right, Remy?"
Remy nodded, then Ororo stood up and left the room, shutting the door behind her.
The moment she left, Remy flopped back on his bed with a loud sigh. Well, he thought wearily, best get back t' work. He hauled himself off the mattress with a groan, then stepped in front of the mirror, once again trying to think up another way to ask Rogue to marry him.
****
Ororo gently shut the door behind her, and it was all it took for her not to start jumping up and down excitedly. Remy was getting married! He was getting married! Well, he wasn't getting married yet, but just as soon as Rogue said yes, which Ororo was positive she would, Remy was going to be getting married very, very soon. Ororo was so thrilled she just wanted to run through the mansion and tell everyone she could find, but she promised Remy that she would keep it a secret. And a promise was a promise, so she would have to keep her mouth shut.
"Hey, 'Ro!"
Logan's call snapped Ororo out of her thoughts, and she turned to see him standing at the end of the hallway, his arms folded across his chest, not looking too happy at the moment.
"C'mon, 'Ro, we're gonna miss the movie if we don't leave now!" he said.
"Coming, Logan!" she hurried down the hall, a huge smile still on her face, and Logan cocked an eyebrow at her.
"What're ya so happy 'bout, 'Ro?" Logan asked, as they walked down the corridor together.
"Oh," she began, waving her hand dismissively, "it's nothing."
Logan shrugged. "If ya say so."
Ororo took a quick glance behind her at Remy's door, the smile on her face widening even more, as she and Logan headed towards the garage.
To be continued…(I hope I hope I hope!)
Author's note: So is this chapter OK? Truth be told, I think this is some of the worst stuff I've ever written, and I think that Storm is a little out of character, but I felt like this chapter had to be written, you know what I mean? Anyway, if you want me to write more, not only do reviews help (hint hint, nudge nudge, wink, wink) but good Rogue and Gambit fanfics or comic books help, too. That means, if you know a good story or X-Men issue about Rogue and Gambit, TELL ME! It'll inspire me to write more.
Oh! And I almost forgot. To answer Jalla's question, the New Couple I'm into now is actually Storm/Wolverine. So you'll probably see them interacting every now and then in this story. :-) And, yes, I have heard of X-Men: Evolution, but I gotta be honest, I am not too thrilled with that cartoon…
So, see y'all later…