DISCLAIMER: If you recognize it, I don't own it- just so there isn't any confusion.

Chapter Eight-

  They slept for the first time in days in each others' arms on the forest floor, and it was the most peaceful, satisfying slept either ever had- which was almost fitting. And when Rogue and Remy woke up they were just happy to be together, uninterrupted even now, six hours later. Rogue stirred and shifted more comfortably against him, making him aware of the strength in her body and the amazing softness of it. "The rest of the team will be back from school any minute now and I know they'll be looking for me."

  She yawned, "I think Xavier expected that we'd at least get together today, so he held Logan and the younger students back from the woods, but knowing them we won't have much longer. Remy yawned himself and pulled her closer, glorying in the feel of her and how beautiful she looked. "Do you really care if they find us?"  She laughed quietly, "Not anymore, but we might want some clothes on before they do." Rogue was somewhat embarrassed by all this, but then oddly not as she pulled on her rumpled outfit, not caring that he watched. She was more happy that they could touch without getting hurt and that this felt so right.

  Remy grinned unrepentantly as he put on his own clothes and she leaned back on her hands, staring at him with her gem-like eyes. "How do you do it?" she asked as he brushed her hair back. "Do what?" Remy questioned, pausing in his study of her to meet her gaze. "Make me feel strong and leave me weak. Empty me out and fill me up again with just a touch."  His smile faded into a serious, tender look- his eyes intent as he regarded her. "I could ask de same of you, petite." She sighed. "Do you think we'll ever find the answers?"

  He grinned again slowly, "Maybe we already have. Je t'aime, ma chére." She looked at him, almost surprised despite what their hearts and minds have already shared. But maybe it had always been a fact, so the words hadn't been necessary. Rogue smiled and kissed him, "I love you too, Remy."

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  With no responsibilities or obligations since Magneto was gone (maybe forever), Remy insisted he accompany her back to the lions' den- back to the mansion (she'd said he shouldn't because she was unsure of what her team would do). So after they straightened their disheveled appearances, Rogue concentrated on Kurt's powers and teleported them back to the mansion, then inside to her room, by holding his onto his arm. She'd gotten over her surprise at her new abilities to use the powers of those she'd absorbed (still locked into individual cells in her mind) real fast, and Remy wasn't too affected by it. But when he took her hand without warning and she felt that familiar pull she panicked.

  "Trust yo'self, chére, an' trust me," he said, refusing to let go of her hand. "Focus." Desperate not to hurt him now, she did, and to her great relief she temporarily shut her powers down again. "Let's go," she said, nodding. She'd have to face everyone sooner or later so they could all just get over it, but she would do it on her terms. Holding his hand now, skin to skin, she teleported them right to the middle of the kitchen. "How 'bout some breakfast?" she asked nonchalantly, smiling at Remy. He raised an eyebrow in question, but shrugged, "Sounds fine, chére. Might as well enjoy de rest of our mornin' before we face de cavalry."

  Amazingly, they managed to finish a box of frozen waffles and a glass and a half of orange juice before the group came in, headed by an angry, righteous looking Jean. Scott was behind her, but more because of Jean than how he felt. "We were waiting for you for fifteen minutes at the entrance, Rogue," the red-headed telepath admonished tightly. Then she heard the soft *snickt* of Logan's claws. "What's he doin' here, Stripes?" he growled. She raised a brow coolly and Remy watched the whole thing with slight amusement, wisely not saying a thing. "He's with me, the professor didn't tell you?" The Wolverine looked ready to kill after a second, "No, but I can smell the swamp rat all over you." He raised his claws in the subject's direction.

  "Put those away, you'll hurt yourself," Rogue said just as dangerously, giving him a small hint of the powers she still faintly had from Magneto. His jaw tightened a bit at the slight pain, and his eyes showed his surprise and hurt that she'd use her powers on him when they'd had such a close relationship. But it helped him understand the depth and the seriousness of her feelings though he could sense the truth and knew she never lied. Remy's hand brushed hers, filling her with a sudden surety and strength and Rogue clasped it briefly as they stood to face the X-men. The gesture didn't go unnoticed.

  "You didn't, like, tell me you could touch!" Kitty cried, hurt. Her brother echoed her as they stared. "And what's with the powers, kid?" Logan asked roughly. "I just found out I could touch, maybe thanks to Remy, and my powers are sort of… an evolution," she said quietly, glancing tenderly at Remy before looking to the man she considered a father figure. "Rogue..." Jean started warningly. She could feel all of the red-head's dark emotions bubbling below her perfect surface. Frustration, anger, jealously for more reasons than one, hatred… fear? It was giving her a headache, a bad one. Remy clasped her hand again. "I thought…"

  "You thought you talked to me about this?" Rogue finished with sugary false sweetness, "Well I guess I wasn't listening, or I didn't care. I don't need another lecture, Grey, because you said it a million times and it won't change a thing. You're the one wrong here. Magneto's gone and the Acolytes are history, get over yourself." The tide of anger and negativity rose up in the older girl, intensifying Rogue's headache, and the darkness on Jean's face was clear for everyone to see now. The stood frozen in shock and even Scott stepped back. Rogue felt the force, the cruel, ice cold assault as Jean tried to use the force of her mind on her. Rogue set her down with her own telepathic shot. "Your tricks won't work on me, Jeannie, you should know better than to try."

  Before she could think to retaliate, she suddenly went very serene and relaxed then sighed, slipping to the floor. The question forming in them was answered when Xavier wheeled in, looking calm and happy as he often did. "Scott, will you take Jean upstairs to her room? I don't think she's feeling well." Hesitating like he sensed what was going on and wanting to stay, he sighed and nodded, his sense of respect (and his concern for Jean) outweighing his curiosity.

  "Well, I'm, like, glad that you can touch; and that you have Gambit if you really love him," Kitty said honestly, looking at the couple with a smile and coming forward to hug Rogue. She strengthened her focus so she wouldn't hurt her younger friend. "I do love him," Rogue replied, wanting everyone to understand- especially Kurt and Logan. "If you all can try to accept that." The Wolverine retracted his claws, but not before holding them up to Gambit, "I can't make any promises, but as long as he watches himself and doesn't cause any trouble…" She smiled, getting the message when Logan met her gaze, his fondness and protectiveness of her plain. Things would be okay with him

  Kurt was next. "If you hurt her, I'll teleport you to ze desert and leave you with ze scorpions- but otherwise I'm okay," he said in a protective, brotherly way, eyes glowing. Remy just laughed, looking to Rogue, "Den we're fine, mon ami, because I would never hurt ma chére." They shook hands in a truce. "She's not goin' anywhere, so you better join ze team," Kurt added, crossing his arms with a slight smile. "Yes Gambit, if you wish to stay, you will always have a place here with Rogue," Xavier smiled, steepling his fingers. "Just not in the same room, or the same hall way," Logan added gruffly, his look daring the Cajun to challenge that.

  Remy just grinned, "Me an X-man? Who would've thought?" "So you'll stay?" Rogue asked, almost unsure. He touched her cheek lightly and kissed her, "Was there ever a doubt?" Someone cleared their thought and they looked towards the doorway of the kitchen to see the team leader standing there. "I believe I haven't said my piece said," Scott said, sauntering over. Rogue watched him carefully, wanting him to be happy for her too but unsure why his opinion mattered so much to her. Then he flashed a grin at her and she felt a surge of hope as he held out his hand to Remy. "Welcome to the team."

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    That's the end, what d'ya think? I hope you like this one as much as my last story, it was fun writing this at least. I don't think there will be a sequel for this one, but you never know if an idea might come along, I'm already thinking one for 'Destiny', since the way I ended it was kind of ambiguous, I guess. Anyways, r&r, Cajunbelle.