Epilogue

9 months later…

"I'm surprised y'called, chere," Remy told her earnestly.

Rogue nodded. Truth be told, she had been surprised too. "Ah guess Ah just wanted a little more closure. An' ta explain myself a little bit more."

"I'm all ears, p'tite," he said calmly. "What do y'want t'say?"

Taking a deep breath, she decided to just lay it out there. "Ah know everythin'. All the girls, all the one night stands, everythin'." Remy looked like he wanted to comment but she waved him off. "An' when Ah couldn't touch, Ah accepted it. Ah thought it was only fair. Yer a man, ya have needs." She paused for a moment to take a breath. "An' since they were all one night stands, Ah figured they were meanin'less. Never the same girl, never any emotion. At least on yer part." Remy fought the urge to smirk. "After we lost our powers, thin's changed. We became lovers in the literal sense, not only the figurative. Ah mean, sure we had been able ta be together a few times 'cause of power suppression devices o' whatever. But it wasn't the same. But like Ah said, after we lost our powers, we were finally able to be true lovers. An' Ah assumed that made us both monogamous. Stupid o' me really. Shoulda remembered ya were commitment-phobic. Ah first discovered ya secret hideaway two months before Ah left ya." Remy seemed surprised at this revelation. 'Must have thought I would have split the moment I found out,' she thought wryly. 'Guess he doesn't realize how much I loved him.' "Ah tried to convince myself that Ah should investigate further. Make sure my mind wasn't playin' tricks on me. Ah went through phases. First Ah wanted ta know what she had over me. Why she was better. 'Cause she's the only one ya ever returned ta, besides me. An' then Ah was angry, irrationally angry. Ah wanted to get a horrible revenge. Ah tried everythin' Ah could think of an' some thin's people suggested that last week. But ya still went ta her. That's when Ah had an epiphany." Remy looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to reveal her realization. "Ya didn't love me. Ya loved her."

"Non!" Remy cried, interrupting her train of thought. "Dat's not true, chere. If y'just let me explain--"

Waving her hands to settle him, Rogue smiled slightly. "It's okay Remy. Ah'm fine. Really." She smiled to prove her point. "Happy even." She picked up her water glass and something sparkling like the water caught his eye. It was a ring. A diamond ring. A diamond engagement ring. Judging the size, style, and flawlessness, as a thief should, he realized it was quite an expensive right. Noticing his less than furtive glances toward her ring, she let out a soft laugh. "An' Ah've moved on. That's part of the reason Ah wanted ta see ya. Ta say a formal 'Adieu'." She looked at him carefully and sighed. "Ah still love ya. Always will. But Ah needed somebody who could love me too."

Before he could stop himself, Remy's fists hit the table. "But I do love you, chere. I told you all the time."

She let out a small laugh. "Ya always do this." She looked away from his intense gaze. "Ya never tell me ya love me unless yer about ta lose me. Those are the only times." Her deep green eyes met his demon ones once more and she continued. "Do ya remember what ya said ta me? After ya asked me out fo' the first time. Ah didn't want ta go 'cause my powers. But ya said…"

"…don't nobody know how Gambit loves a challenge," he finished for her. This time it was he who looked away, ashamed of his actions. [2]

"That's right," Rogue said softly. "An' after ya won that challenge, ya moved on. Ah can accept that. Honest. An' Ah can even forgive it. But Ah won't ever forget it." Remy nodded slowly in understanding. "Ah have ta be goin', sugah. Come ta the wedding, it'll be at my house in the Garden District. May 12th at 3pm. Ah'll send ya an invitation." She smiled as she stood. "Good-bye Remy. And good luck."

For a moment he couldn't say anything. She turned away and he sighed quietly. "Au revior, chere." He watched her exit the terrace of the café and sighed. "I'll miss you." He closed his eyes, fighting any emotional response. "I still love you too," he murmured. "But you deserve t'be happy. And I could never deny you that pleasure."

[1] All dialogue from that section (6 months ago) was taken from X-Treme X-Men #18

[2] That line was from X-Men #4, after the basketball game

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