Frustrating. That was the only word for all of this. Constantly hearing from her, yet not finding her. He thought she'd have given up her little game by now, but the lady was still as elusive as smoke. Who was she? Where was she?

Ah. There was Logan, walking down the hall. On impulse, Remy hailed him. "Hey, mon ami, got a moment?"

Logan frowned. "No. I ain't gettin' involved."

"Care to make a little wager on it?" He held his favorite deck in his hand.

Logan crossed his arms and asked, gruffly, "What kinda wager, Cajun?"

"Oh…say, a game of cards?" He ruffled the edges with one finger.

Logan snorted. "No."

He didn't need Logan, anyway. "Never mind, mon ami. Gambit doesn't need your help. He'll find her himself."

"Good." Logan walked away. "You should have already figured it out anyway."

"I will!" he called after Wolverine. After getting one thing straight, he amended.

He headed straight for Rogue's room.

******************

She called out, "Who's there?" as she heard the knock.

"Can…can we talk a minute, chere?" He corrected himself. "Rogue?"

She paused, then moved to the door. It opened, and he saw her standing there, slightly rounded with her pregnancy. He took a step or two back. She smiled tentatively at him, and his heart gave a pang. "Hi, Remy. How's it goin'?"

He forced his body to relax, crossed his arms, and smiled back. "Goin' good…well, not as good as Gambit'd like, but pretty good."

"Oh." She leaned against the door and caressed some hair away from her face. "She's still hiding from you? That's too bad."

"Yeah." He tried to bring up some of the usual Gambit charm, both out of habit and to give himself the confidence to ask her…

"So, some people think it's been you writing to old Gambit. But it, it couldn't be, right, chere? Pete still treatin' you good, right?" He watched her as she squirmed a little and gave a little laugh.

"Some people will think anything, won't they, sugar?" Her eyes were sad, but her mouth was smiling. "No, Pete and I are still … happy. We're good. Thank you."

He shrugged, trying to remain casual. "Remy thought so, but you know how people talk." He held his arms out, and with a moment's hesitation, she moved into them for a brief hug.

They released each other after a few seconds. She looked deep into his eyes and saw a reflection of how things could have been there, then gave a real smile. "Remy? I hope things work out for you and this person. I think she really loves you."

He nodded and closed his eyes. The past was the past. "Thank you, Mrs. Rasputin. Gambit wish you well, too." He walked away into his future, and the door remained open for a few seconds, then closed after him with finality.

***********************

"I apologize profusely, Gambit, but I cannot assist with your request. 'The course of true love ne'er did run smooth,' after all."

"You sure?" Gambit had thought Hank wouldn't help him find the mystery lady, but he had to ask. He also had to get one little thing without Hank noticing…

"I am quite sorry. However, I am also certain your beloved would rather have you find her on your own, and would be quite impressed by your efforts, so in a way, I am giving you the truest aid I can." Hank smiled happily at him, and Gambit raised an eyebrow.

"Hank, you give someone the brushoff, you do it wit' style," he said, admiringly, as he pocketed the key to Forge's lab. "Gambit gonna remember that 'givin you the best aid' stuff."

Hank gave him another happy smile and saw him to the door of the lab.

*************************

The Author had completed another poem, which she was going to write on the whiteboard for general comments again. Charles had put the bulletin board off limits, and Remy had nearly caught her last night when she gave him her latest effort under his door. She had hidden it in a pocket in case someone else was there.

Good. She was alone…but there was something wrong. She walked up to the board, feigning interest in the messages there (Wanted: Usher CD that used to be in my car. Come on, Jubilee! I need it…) until she figured it out. There was a smoke detector above it, where there had been nothing just two days ago. She smiled briefly and walked away. Probably his door was trapped, too. She'd have to be even more careful to keep from being caught.

************************

He'd kept an eye on things all day through the device above the whiteboard. Nothing suspicious. She hadn't left another message taped there. Everything was normal, until someone knocked at his door.

"Yeah?" he called, waiting. No one was at the board now.

"Hey, Gambit, it's me." Jubilee? He opened the door and she stood there, rocking back and forth.

"What are you doing here now?" She eagerly craned her neck to see past him, and he stepped in her way and closed the door.

"Never you mind," he said hastily. "Why you comin' to see me?"

"OH! I got this shoved under my door." She handed him a long white envelope. "Gonna open it? Who's it from? I bet it's her again."

Gambit took the envelope and nodded to himself, then opened his door again and shut it, leaving the chattering Jubilee outside. Inside, he read this.

You ARE good. But I saw it.

He cursed, then read on.

The road led straight through

The barren, wintry trees.

The road went on.

Weary traveler

Believed its promise and

Walked straight between.

Stars lit, moon rose. The

wind howled in anger. Owls

called left and right.

Dark came to the road

And he walked it, seeing

At last, the light.

She held the door wide,

Waiting still, watching as

He, slow, came home.

He had to come up with something better. He had to find her. Maybe if he went back to the lab again…no. No. He had an idea. He smiled, then laughed, then sighed. This one had to work. He couldn't take much more of this.