**Disclaimer** -- I don't own Gambit or Rogue (sigh), or any of the X-Men although I wish I did, along with many other people. Marvel owns them, blah blah blah. I'm not making any money from this so don't sue me! Song is "Saved the Best for Last" by Vanessa Williams.
**Distribution** -- Although the characters belong to Marvel, the story is mine. It may be distributed only with prior permission from me, and may not be posted to any archive, ftp site, or web page without written permission from me. (All you have to do is ask!!!!)
Song lyrics in bold.
Flashbacks in italics.
As always please Read & Review!
HERE IT IS, THE FOLLOW UP TO "LEAVIN' ON A JET PLANE". IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET, IT MAY HELP.
Sometimes the snow comes down in June.
Sometimes the sun goes round the moon.
Faith sat at the bench seat by her window, looking up at the full moon glowing in the dark starry night sky. The stars were so numerous that they looked like snowflakes hovering in space. She looked out her window with her emerald green eyes and watched the breeze blowing gently against the large oak trees surrounding the mansion. A sudden breeze blew into her room, lifting the white strands of hair from her face and lightly ruffled her silk green camisole. Giving a deep sigh, Rogue closed her eyes as her thoughts drifted back to harder times, about Genosha and her homecoming, almost two years ago.
**Two years prior**
She spent three rough years in Genosha, but the last year and a half were the hardest. Her cover had been blown and she had been held captive by the Genoshan government who accused her of being a terrorist spy. Meanwhile, culminating factors such as her inability to report back to the mansion, the Genoshan government reporting her death, and Xavier's unsuccessful attempts to find her using Cerebro, led the rest of the team to believe she had, in fact, died. This had come to be devastating news to all the X-Men, especially Remy Lebeau. For months he spent much of his time in his room, grieving the death of his love. But time can always heal even the deepest wounds.
Rogue eventually managed to escape her prison, and quickly made her way back to Westchester, NY. All she could think about was getting back to Remy, to hold and kiss him, as soon as she saw him. As her taxi pulled up to the mansion gates, Rogue told herself that their time apart had finally come to an end. She walked up to the front door, thinking that she finally made it home. She slowly opened the front door looking around for a familiar face.
"Hello, anyone here? Ah'm finally home!" It didn't take long for someone to respond to her call.
"ROGUE!" yelled a familiar voice which came from the staircase. It was Jean, who was soon followed by Orroro. The two women walked over to their long lost friend. "How? When?" Were the only words the red haired telepath could say.
"Relax gals, there'll be plenty o' time for questions later. Ah missed y'all so much!" The three shared an embrace in the middle of the room. They eventually made their way into the rec room to catch up on old times. Rogue explained her capture, imprisonment, and eventual escape. However, as Rogue sat explaining everything that had happened to her the past year and a half, she couldn't help but wonder where Remy was. She decided that she couldn't take it any longer and needed to quench her curiosity.
"How's Remy been?" Rogue excitedly asked the women. "Ah can't wait t' give him a great big hello!"
The two other women looked at each other, as the color rushed out of their faces.
"Oh Rogue, no one's told you?" Jean asked sincerely.
"Told me what? Is he alraght? Did anythin' happen t' him? Oh God, please tell me he's okay..."
"Oh no, I didn't mean it that way. No, Remy's as healthy as ever. It's just that... well..." Jean couldn't get the words out. She looked to Storm for some help.
"Perhaps you should hear it from him my friend. Remy is upstairs in his old room."
I see the passion in your eyes,
sometimes it's all a big surprise.
Rogue knew something big was up and she also knew that she would not get any answers from either of the women. She stood from her seat, not saying a word and made her way to Remy's room. She walked slowly up the stairs and down the hall. The moment of their big reunion had finally come, but a cloud of uncertainty hovered over her head. What had Jean and Orroro meant? Did Rogue really want to find out? She stood at the door to Remy's room, hearing some footsteps on the other side. She took a deep breath and gave the door a light knock.
"Come in! De door's open." Remy said in a loud voice, sending shivers through Rogue's body.
Rogue slowly turned the knob and open his door. "I'm in de closet chere. I'll be ready for our date in a minute." Rogue walked over to where Remy was standing. It was obvious that he wasn't talking to her. Not saying a word, Rogue just stood behind the man she loved. Remy, on the other hand, kept talking.
"So did y' decide what y' want t' do tonite petite?"
"Ah don't know sugah, haven't really thought really about it." Remy's heart stopped at the sound of her voice. It couldn't be... Remy turned his head, and saw that Rogue was standing behind him.
Rogue looked straight into Remy's eyes, which were glowing in the shadows of his closet. "Surprise sugah..."
"Chere, it's really you." Remy quickly took her into his arms, giving her a warm embrace.
"Yea, so it is." Going against all her desires, she pulled herself out of his embrace and looked into his eyes once again. "So ya got a date huh?"
"What? Oh..." Remy looked down with shame.
Right at that moment, a beautiful woman entered his room. It wasn't anyone that Rogue had ever met before. She had short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. "Sweetie, are you ready to go yet? I'm so..." She stopped as soon as she noticed Rogue standing next to Remy. "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here."
"Rogue, chere, dis is Melanie, she's m'.."
"I'm Remy's fiancée." Melanie interrupted. "Nice to meet you, Rogue was it?" She gave Rogue a friendly smile as she walked over to Remy, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Fiancée?" Rogue looked over to Remy then to Melanie. This was what Jean and Orroro were talking about. This was the big secret. Fighting back her tears, Rogue offered her hand to congratulate the couple. "Ah'm so happy for the both o' you. Ah won't keep ya any longer. Just wanted to stop in and say hi t' ya Remy. Ah'll see you guys around, okay?"
"Y' okay chere?" Remy knew how much this news was hurting Rogue. He could see the pain in her eyes. She continued to make her way out of his room, stopping just short of the doorway.
Rogue slowly turned her head, "Ah'm fine sugah. Goodnight" She continued with her exit and made her way straight to her old room, tears running down her cheeks the entire time.
'Cause there was a time that all I did was wish,
you tell me this was love.
The news of Remy's engagement had been a tough pill to swallow for Rogue, but she couldn't be angry at him. After all, everyone thought that she had died in Genosha. Rogue certainly didn't expect Remy to be single forever. In addition, Melanie was not only beautiful, but a genuinely nice person. Rogue found it hard to hate her, despite the fact that she was marrying Remy.
After many awkward weeks of running into each other at the mansion, Rogue and Remy sat down and had a heartfelt conversation, which resulted with the agreement that the two would remain best friends. Rogue figured that having Remy as a friend was better than not having Remy in her life at all. They both knew that Remy was getting married soon, and Rogue would not do anything to disrespect his relationship with Melanie.
However, that did not mean Rogue ever stopped loving Remy. In fact, the more time she spent with him, the more her love for him grew. She could never tell him that though. He deserved to be happy, even if it meant that he was happy with Melanie. Rogue even tried dating other guys, but her heart always remained with the Cajun.
Many of her days with her laying in bed, dreaming of how it would have been if Remy were marrying her instead.
It's not the way I'd hope or how I planned,
but somehow it's enough.
**A year and a half prior**
It had been 6 months since Rogue returned to the mansion from Genosha, and learned that Remy was to marry another woman. Their agreement to remain friends had been working out pretty well. So well, that it no longer hurt Rogue to think about the wedding.
Unfortunately, Remy and Melanie had been having problems lately. Melanie had recently gotten promoted and her new job would require her to be away for long periods of time. Soon after her promotion, Melanie began doubting if getting married would be the best thing for her career. Rogue would often hear Remy and Melanie arguing in their room about their future together. Remy insisted that they could make it work, but Melanie kept expressing her doubts. Rogue decided that she would stay neutral in the matter, trying her best not to interfere in their love life. She feared that her feelings for him would only cloud her judgment.
It was a cold winter day in Westchester, so Faith decided to stay in her room and read a book. She was dressed in a pair of flannel pajamas and had her hair up in a ponytail. Just as she was about to begin reading a new chapter when she heard a knock on the door.
"Faith, chere, y' in dere?" It was Remy knocking at her door.
"Ah in here Rem, come on in."
His chestnut brown hair appeared, followed by his handsome face. She could tell that there was something on his mind and she was curious to find out what it was.
"Anythin' wrong sugah?" Rogue patted a spot on her bed next to where she was sitting.
Remy walked over to her and plopped heavily down on her bed.
"Alright, now Ah definitely know there's somethin' wrong." she raised an eyebrow and gave a small smile. "Care ta talk 'bout it?"
Remy kept silent for a few minutes and then suddenly turned so that his face was inches away from Rogue's. "If Remy were t' ask y' how y' really felt 'bout me..." He stopped and looked away. "What would y' say?" He stood from his spot and walked over to the window. "And remember, chere, I want d' truth."
Not knowing where this was going, Faith's mind raced for an answer. After about a minute of silence, Rogue spoke out. "Ya want the truth? Are ya sure y're ready for it?"
Remy nodded and began to pace in Rogue's room. "Been havin' lots o' problems wit' Melanie lately. I need t' know dat if I go through with dis weddin' I'm doin' it for de right reasons. Y' know?" He stopped his pacing and looked right into Rogue's eyes. "I need t' know dat if I'm gonna get married... I'm marryin' de right woman."
"Well Remy, the truth is that Ah love ya. Ah love ya with all mah heart... you're mah best friend." She stopped for a moment and turned away. After a deep breath, Rogue spoke up again. "But Ah love ya as mah best friend... and that's all."
Remy looked down as he heard her words and made his way to the door. "T'anks chere. I'll let y' get back t' y' book, g'nite" He quietly shut the door behind him, leaving Rogue alone with her thoughts.
Why didn't she tell him the truth? Why didn't she tell him that she loved him more than she ever had in the past? Why didn't she tell Remy that every night since she returned, she's done nothing but dream of the day when he would once again sweep her into his arms and kiss her passionately? Rogue pondered the answers to her questions and she cried herself to sleep that night.
As he walked back to his room, Remy thought about Rogue's answer. He knew that she was lying; he always knew when she was lying. Melanie was waiting in his room when he got back.
He looked into her blue eyes. "We need t' talk..." Remy said, shutting the bedroom door behind him.
And now we're standing face to face
isn't this world a crazy place.
Just when I thought our chance had passed
you go and save the best for last.
To be continued....
Don't worry folks, the second half is much happier!! I'll post it up soon! But in the mean time, please read and review!
