Well, I'm back, FINALLY. It's taken me forever, but Romy's are my favorite and I really don't wanna screw this up! SO , here goes nothing! ;o)

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He was staring at her again. Self-consciously she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Why did that stupid Cajun get under her skin so much? * Because nobody has EVAH looked at ya the way he does. * Her honest self answered. She felt her mind drifting back to when she had answered the door. After his greeting he had seemed to expect an answer, but all she could come up with was-

"You're late."

He had smiled that annoying lazy you-know-you-want-me smile of his and answered, "If I'd known you'd be here chere, Remy woulda came a lot sooner."

"And if Ah'd known YOU'D be here, Ah wouldn't have bothered ta come."

Rogue was proud of the way she'd handled herself. That Cajun was too cocky for his own good. But he hadn't reacted like she'd expected. Instead of frowning, or at least ignoring her, he had smiled.

"Remy's just gonna have to make it worth your while, chere."

The way he LOOKED at her. She couldn't decide whether to slap him like any decent southern woman, or kiss him--- to hurt him of course, not for any other reason! *Suuuure * that stupid inner voice mocked. She had walked away from him, and that had been a good ten minutes ago, but she could still feel his eyes on her. She looked down at her empty pop can. It was as good a reason as any to get out of the living room and AWAY from him.

She did her best to ignore his penetrating gaze as she nonchalantly rose and headed towards the kitchen. Once safely out of sight, she tossed her can into the garbage and ransacked the fridge for another Dr. Pepper. A few seconds later she slammed the door shut. All they had left was diet and pepsi 1. It didn't matter if they tasted the same as regular pop. It was the principle of the matter. Nothing "diet" or "light" was going into her system. Oh well, she could make do with water if it came to that.

"Got a light, chere?"

She whirled around to see Gambit, smiling lazily and holding something long and skinny between his fingers.

"Ain't nobody evah told ya Cajun?" She glared at the cigarette in his hand. "Smokin's bad for ya."

"Oh chere," His smile grew broader. "I didn' know ya cared!"

She was well aware her mouth was hanging open. How could he manage to twist everything she said and make it flirtatious?! She jerked open the drawer next to her and produced a box of matches. "Light up sugah." She tossed it too him. "In fact," she pulled out another box and threw it in his general direction. "Keep 'em comin." She slammed the drawer shut and stalked out of the kitchen, trying to ignore the nagging suspicion that he still wouldn't take his eyes off her.

She hadn't even taken 3 steps into the living room when Kitty latched on her arm. "Come on Rogue, we're gonna like, play a group game." Rogue obediently let the brunette lead her to the center of the room. Everyone was already in a big circle so it required a bit of shuffling to fit in Rogue and Kitty. Remy managed to barely squeeze in after he came out from the kitchen. He also just *happened* to be sitting across from Rogue.

For the millionth time that night, Gambit found himself memorizing her features. Everything about her, from the style of clothing she wore to the fire in her eyes said hands off, but Remy wouldn't be Remy if he didn't take that as an invitation. And for all her trash talk and tough act, he knew there was more to her than met the eye. He'd known a lot of trash talkers and tough girls. None of them had regarded him with as much disinterest as this fille. He found himself wanting to know what made her different . . . And what made her tick. She noticed him staring at her and shot him a death glare before looking pointedly away. He grinned. This was gonna be fun.

"Okay!" Lance clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention. "Before any of you tell me how 'lame' group games are," He looked pointedly at Pietro, who rolled his eyes. "Let's give it a chance and come up with some suggestions."

"Charades!"

"Pictionary!"

"Pie eating contest!" That was Fred.

"I know! I know!" Everyone turned to stare at Toad, who was eyeing Wanda dreamily. "How bout spin the bottle, yo?"

"Gross!" Wanda used her power to push him away, grimacing at the mere thought.

"Besides," Pietro yawned. "There's only so many girls. I'm not kissing my sister, Rogue's kiss is lethal, Tabby-not tabby, and Kitty? Does she even know HOW to kiss?"

Kitty shot him a murderous look. "It's not a question of whether or not I know HOW. What makes you think I would WANT to kiss someone like you?!"

He put his arms behind his head. "Everyone does."

"That's not true." Fred interrupted. "I don't want to kiss you Pietro."

"Don't worry a bout it Freddy," Kitty was still glaring at Pietro. "I'm sure Pietro's used to people not wanting to kiss him. If he says otherwise, it's just to cover up his insecurities."

"I'm the insecure one? What about you, Pryde?"

"What about me?"

He tossed his hand and pretended to flip his hair. "Like totally, I mean, seriously, I might, like, want to do that." He looked at her disgustedly. "Are you trying to give yourself time to think, or do you really have a problem speaking English?"

She flushed. "The way I talk is none of your business, Maximoff!"

His mouth dropped open. "Did you just like, say a sentence with out like, the word "like" in it?" He asked sarcastically.

"You are such a jerk! I don't know why people waste oxygen talking to you."

"The GIRLS like talking to me."

"I'm a girl, and frankly, I can't stand you!"

"Your loss."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, poor me. I'll have to go through life without some heartless hottie breaking my heart and moving on to girl number four thousand and fourty-two.

He grinned.

"What's so funny?!" She demanded.

"You called me a hottie!"

"I--, I did not!" She was blushing hotly. "I said you were heartless, and-- , and--"

"And a hottie." He finished for her.

"You're still scum. The point is, I'd DIE before dating a moron like you."

"Well I'D die before asking a valley girl like you."

"Hallelujah!"

"I couldn't have said it better myself."

"Of course you couldn't have," She smirked, something she'd been doing a lot lately. "You can't do ANYTHING better than me."

"If I recall correctly, you were eating my dust on the dance floor."

"Dream on! You were so totally--"

"Uh, guys?" Lance interrupted, looking back and forth between them. "The game?"

Pietro's smile was venomous. "You're going down Pryde."

"Oooh, I'm like so scared Pietro."

"You guys!" Rogue cried out exasperatedly. "Save it for the game!"

The two teens glared at each other, but neither said a word.

"Mah word," Rogue put a hand to her forhead. "And I thought having EVAN and Pietro in the same room was bad."

"Chere," Gambit called from across the room.

*Oh no ya don't!* Rogue refused to let him flirt. "Shut up Swamp Rat, Ah'm not interested." *Sure you're not.* That little voice was back. If she didn't know better, Rogue could've sworn Remy heard it. His smile grew broader, if that was possible.

"I love a challenge chere."

What was she supposed to say to that? Suddenly she noticed his hands were empty. "How come you're not surrounded by a cloud of smoke yet?" His eyes met hers, and she could have kicked herself. Why did her stomach have to flip-flop like that every time he looked at her?

"Remy got tings to live for chere." His eyes never left hers.

*Ah will not blush. Ah will not blush. Ah will not blush.* Against her will, she felt her face heat up. Life was not fair.

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Okay, so what do you think? I know, I totally butchered Remy's accent, but I'm trying here!!! Thank you so much for the reviews everyone!!!! And I promise, chapter 5 will be up SOON. I promise.