Author's Note: Okay, only one more chappy and then the epilogue. Finally we have the long awaited meeting between Rogue and Gambit. Be prepared… it doesn't go perfectly. Though, nothing does with those two. :P Anyway, hope everybody like this installment. Sorry in advance for the cliffhanger. And THANK YOU SOSOSOSOSO much to my reviewers. I love you guys. Enjoy the new chappy!!

Best Friends?

by, Caliente

Chapter 10 – Confessions Part 1

Rogue sat quietly on the roof reflecting on her dismissal of Joseph. 'Was he right? Did I do it because I want Remy instead?' She thought about Gambit. 'He's so sweet to me. Everybody's convinced he likes me. But… can I believe them? When every week he's banging a different girl.' She thought about the Danger Room exercises. 'But he always protects me. Even when I don't need it.' She laughed quietly. 'But he would do the same for any friend.' She sighed. 'Friend. That's all I am to him. That's all I could ever be. I know it.' Tears formed in her eyes and she willed them away. She heard a soft thump and turned her head slightly. She smiled to herself, 'Remy.' "We have got ta stop meetin' like this sugah. People talk ya know." Her voice was slightly choked and the tears were still in her eyes.

'Is she crying?' Remy thought, concerned. Outwardly he smirked. "Well as long as dey be sayin' nothin' but good t'ings, dat's fine wit' Remy."

"What about meh?" Rogue protested. "Ah have a reputation ta protect."

Remy slid next to her and whispered in her ear, "So does Gambit."

"So that's why ya an' Lorna are always doin' the nasty, Swamp Rat" Rogue smirked back at the Cajun, but her grin didn't reach her sad, tear-filled eyes.

"Non, chere," Remy replied quickly. "We were never hot 'n heavy. Haven' been wit' anyone since dat night y' caught me t' months ago." Rogue didn't respond; she just tried to absorb what he had told her. Remy watched her, feeling her internal struggle. "Rogue, chere, what be wrong?" he asked in a worried voice.

"Nothin'," she whispered back.

Gambit lifted her chin and looked deep into her eyes, "Why do y' lie t' Gambit? Tell Remy de trut'." She tried vainly to look away but his hold was as strong as iron. "What be wrong, chere?" he repeated softly.

That's when she cracked. Rogue broke down and sobbed. She just cried into Remy's chest. Finally she regained control and looked up into his demon eyes. Eyes that she loved so much. "All Ah ask, all Ah need, is somebody t'hold meh. Stroke his fingers through mah hair. Promise meh that everythin's gonna be fine… More than anything, Remy… Ah want that person ta be you." [1] Gambit stared at her in shock. 'Did she just? What just happened?' He continued to stare as she pulled herself away from him and slowly stood up. Mistaking his silence for rejection, Rogue turned away began to leave. Gambit stood up and watched her still in silent shock. "Ah shoulda known betta. Ah guess all of Betsy's psychoanalytical talk convinced me ta see somthin' that wasn't there. Ya just see me as a friend." Remy opened his mouth to object but Rogue continued, her voice thick with emotion. "An' that's fine. We can just pretend Ah kept mah mouth shut." Rogue seemed to be convincing herself as she nodded at Remy.

"Rogue, chere-" Remy tried to object but he was cut off by the Southern belle.

"No, no Rem, it's alright." She took a deep breath, calming herself. "Ah mean, with ya, relationships are a dime a dozen. When Betsy said ya keep comin' back ta meh, Ah thought that maybe it meant mo'. Now Ah get it, ya see me as a little sista o' somethin'. 'Specially since Ah can't touch. What kinda relationship would that be fo' an experienced man such as yo'self?"

"But, mon cher-" he tried again only to be cut off once more.

"Remy, really, it's fine," she assured him with a small smile that didn't reach her still sad eyes. "Ah'll be fine. An' we'll still have our movie night, right?" Gambit nodded dumbly. "Good. Well, Ah missed dinna so Ah thank Ah'll try ta find some food in the kitchen. Catch ya lata."

Remy watched as she rushed inside and sighed. "But chere, I do wan' t' be dat guy. I want t' be de one dat comforts y' and hugs y'. I wan' t' be lucky enough t' love y'." He sat down and looked out at the night sky. "Guess I messed dat one up."

"I'd say so," Ororo's voice interrupted his thoughts. "That poor girl just laid her heart on the line and you crushed it."

"But Stormy-" Gambit attempted to explain.

"No buts!" Storm chided. "And please refrain from referring to me as "Stormy". Now you listen, and you listen good. Rogue doesn't trust easily. It took a lot for her to admit to her feelings for you. You should have told her how you felt."

"Not like Remy didn' try," he argued feeling angry that he was never allowed the chance to finish a sentence. "Mon Dieu, it's like de whole world is agains' Remy. Nobody lets him finish a sentence. If de girl would have just shut up fo' one second, mebbe I coulda told her that I'm madly in love wit' her." 'Did I just say that?' Gambit realized in shock. 'First time I actually said the words. Wow.'

Storm and Gambit stared at each other for a moment. 'He loves her? Admitting it in the first person and all. Perhaps there is hope for young Gambit yet.' "Then why don't you go tell her?" the Weather Witch asked in a more soothing voice.

"Dunno," Remy mumbled. "Guess Remy's jus' 'fraid."

"Of what?" Storm pried further.

"Dat she don' really love me back," he muttered. "I mean, she wen' out on a date wit' Joseph jus' las' nigh'."

"Yes and she told them that they should just be friends today," Ororo informed him.

Remy's eyes brightened and he looked up hopefully at the former Goddess. "She did?"

"Yes," Ororo confirmed. "The attic is right above his room and I heard the conversation."

Remy stood up and smiled at the white-haired beauty in front of him. "T'anks Stormy." Ororo rolled her eyes at his use of her nickname. "Mebbe Remy go find Rogue now." He leapt off the roof and onto a balcony with the gracefulness of a cat. Storm watched with a knowing smile on her face. 'Maybe I'll go find Kurt and see if he wants to get some food,' she thought as she used the wind to lower herself onto the ground.

[1] The quote is from Uncanny X-Men #297, though I cut out the part in (parenthesis). The actual quote goes:

"All Ah ask -- all Ah NEED -- is somebody t'hold me. Stroke his fingers through muh hair. Promise me that everythin's gonna be fine… (that all the cuts and bruises are worth it in the end.) More than ANYTHING, Remy… Ah want that person t'be YOU."

Sorry 'bout the evil cliffy. Remember, reviewing is like Nike. Just do it. Adios y'all.