Author's Note: The eight, and final installment. Like they say, all good things must come to an end. This chappy, I PROMISE R&R interaction. Cross my heart, hope to die, etc. After all, how else would ya get resolution?? The section intro is in Rogue's voice, but there is a line after the break (like halfway through) that is in Remy's voice. Might be a li'l confusing but you're smart people. You read my fics after all. :P Also, the intro might look familiar, check chapter one if ya want to see the connection.

Disclaimer: I own… well, what is own anyway?? Nothing but an arbitrary term. Yeah.

"talking" - 'thinking' - section intro/foreign languages

Sometimes

by, Caliente

Sometimes

S'funny. How thin's end up sometimes. Ya think everythin's goin' fine. Yer finally happy with yer life. Then one day… it all changes. No reason. No purpose. Nobody knows why. Ya just know that nothin' is ever gonna be the same again. Guess it's true what people say. Sometimes thin's just don't work out.

"Sure thin'," Rogue replied with a bright grin. "Ya are my date an' all."

"That I am," Jean-Paul agreed with a slight nod. "And since Iceman left–"

"Ya don't have anymo' eye candy ta watch. Ah see how it is." Rogue pouted, crossing her arms. "Ah'm just sloppy seconds. Ah thought we were closer than that."

The French Canadian shrugged noncommittally. "Whatever you say petite."

"Everyone ever told ya, yer the livin' end JP?" the Southern belle questioned with a smirk. Her companion shook his head and her smile grew. "F.Y.I. They probly never will."

"That wasn't very nice Rogue," her friend scolded. "See if I dance with you now."

"Well, if Ah recall correctly, ya asked me ta dance, not the other way 'round," she pointed out.

Jean-Paul sniffed indignantly. "See if it happens again."

Letting out a melodious laugh, Rogue dragged her reluctant friend onto the dance floor. They were surrounded with other couples, just having fun. Unfortunately for the Southerner, watching Ororo and Logan, Scott and Jean, Kitty and Piotr, even Sam and Jubilee hurt just a little bit. She forced herself to smile at her friend, who was kind enough to take her, and not his new boyfriend, to this event. "Ah can see yer skiin' grace show through," she complimented over the music. "The boy has moves."

"Oui," he agreed matching her smile, he really had been much happier ever since he found himself a boy to dote on, and vice versa. "But don't sell yourself short Rogue. You have a move or two yourself."

"That she does," another voice agreed, from behind Rogue. A voice the woman knew as well as her own.

Whipping around, she stopped dead at the sight of him. Remy. "Can Ah help ya?" she asked coolly, already feeling the sting of tears in her eyes. Embarrassed and hurt by their earlier conflict, she wanted nothing to do with the Cajun.

Remy almost winced at the way her green eyes flashed at him. Filled with pain and anger, glistening with tears. He felt like a jerk, but he just couldn't help himself. Watching her from afar just wasn't enough. He had kept quiet too long. But somehow, he couldn't force the words he wanted to say out. So he settled on, "Wan' t'dance?" Hearing the question, he cursed himself for allowing his accent to grow thicker. A sure sign of his nervousness.

For her part, Rogue barely noticed his accent grow. All she could do is stare at him dumbly, as if she didn't comprehend. Snapping out of it, she glared at her ex. "Ah'm dancin' with my date right now," she replied nonchalantly. "Ya can ask him if he minds…"

"Do you mon ami?" Gambit interjected with a pleading look.

Northstar gave the thief a quick once over, recalling his words from Lorna's bachelorette party. 'A spicy Cajun dish with some serious hot buns.' Yep. That said it all. "Only if you save one for me ami," he bargained with a wolfish grin.

The shocked expression on Remy's face was quickly replaced by a smirk. "If dat's what it takes," he agreed with a shrug. "Had worse looking men ask."

Jean-Paul's grin grew as he gave Rogue a quick peck on the cheek. "Keep this one," he advised quietly. "He has potential." Raising his voice he added, "I would cher, but I am spoken for at the moment. Luckily, the lady is not."

"But she can speak fo' herself," Rogue spoke up, frowning at her date's back for abandoning her. "An' Ah'm not really interested in dancin' with ya."

"Please chere," he begged slightly. His demon eyes caught hers and she felt glued to the spot. Those beautiful, emotional eyes seemed to see right through her. "I jus' want t'talk t'you."

She willed herself to move, to run away, but her body wouldn't respond. Something in his eyes… longing. The longing she felt for him as well. But the prospect of being in such close proximity to the object of her affection was not a pleasant one. Not if she couldn't have more. "No," she stated finally. "Ah– no."

"But Rogue…" he pleaded with her again. This was his chance, and he was going to take it. He wanted to talk with her but she kept avoiding him. For a full week. For the rest of her life if he let her. He knew it. And that wasn't what he wanted. Unfortunately for him, she wasn't making this very easy.

"Ah said no," she repeated, raising her voice slightly. Seeing the furtive glances the other guests were sending them, she sighed slightly. This wasn't going to be a show for Mutant Manor if she could help it. She moved towards one of the large doors, which lead to the gardens outside. Casting a glance at the handsome man watching her she let out another sigh and motioned for him to follow her. She watched him make his way out to her with a grace that only the thief seemed to possess. When reached her, he found her looking at him expectantly. 'This isn't going to be easy,' he thought wryly. 'Then again, where would the fun be in that?' "Well?" she prompted testily. "Yer the one who wanted ta talk. Ah was perfectly fine avoidin' the situation, but–"

"Get it chere, thanks," he interrupted with a small frown. After another moment of silence, consisting mostly of Rogue glaring at him, Remy finally turned to his ex-girlfriend. "I jus' wanted to apologize," he started carefully, "f'r hurting you."

"Gee, thanks," she remarked sarcastically. "That fixes everythin'. Ah'm all better now."

"It's de truth Rogue," he argued with a serious expression. "I never wanted t'hurt you. I never want t'hurt you again."

"Then why Remy? Why didn't ya come home?" Rogue's eyes pleaded for the truth. Her glistening green orbs held his red on black ones with stubborn vigilance. "Why didn't ya come back ta me? Didn't ya know that would hurt me? That it would kill me inside."

He wanted to lie. Tell her it wasn't his fault. That circumstances had kept them apart for so many years. But he couldn't. Something in her eyes refused to let him lie to her. To hurt her again. It had to end. "I couldn' Rogue," he whispered finally, averting his eyes. "Not at first, at least. De mission… well, it took longer den I expected. An' den…"

"An' then what?" Rogue pushed, capturing his gaze again. "An' then ya realized ya didn't love me anymo'? An' then ya found someone new? Someone better?" Tears rolled down her cheeks, at the mere thought that she might be right. "Somethin' better? What Remy? What's the real reason ya didn't come back?"

"Non," he denied instantly. "Dere's no one better Rogue. Y'know dat. An' it wasn' dat dere was somet'ing better. It's jus'… we weren' ready. Y'know we weren'. We both needed t'grow up. T'learn how t'trust. How t'forgive each other."

"Ah trusted ya," the Southern belle insisted. "Ah forgave ya. Ah thought we were happy. Ah thought we were over it. All of it. Antarctica, the Massacre, Sinister. Ah thought it was gone."

The charming thief let out a small sigh. "It could never be gone. Not really. But dat's not 'xactly what I meant. We were jus' two stupid kids, head over heels in love. But dat's how it was with Belle, an', well, y'saw how well dat turned out." In spite of herself, Rogue let out a small snort at that statement. "Exactly. I wanted us t'be able t'find happiness in each other. Forever. Or not at all."

"Ah was happy," Rogue said sadly. "Happiest Ah ever been, in fact."

Remy cupped her face gently and looked deep into her eyes. "Me too," he confided. "Been with a lot o' women Rogue, but none measure up t'you. But I knew dat de mission would give us time. Space. I knew I loved you an' y'loved me but, well, sometimes love jus' isn' enough." Rogue moved to argue but he silenced her by placing his finger over her lips. "Non, y'know it's de truth."

"Yeah, Ah guess Ah do," she agreed reluctantly. "We're a livin' example o' that."

Remy nodded, taking a moment to look out at the large estate. Upstate New York really did have its own beauty. "Dere's somet'ing else I want t'tell you." This caught Rogue's attention. What else was there? "I checked up on you."

"What?" her voice was a mixture of emotions. Surprise, outrage, and maybe a little happiness. "When? Why?"

"After I got out o' Black Air," he replied, still gazing at the trees and grass. "When de mission was over. About six years ago. Didn' let anybody know 'cause I didn' want you t'know. I jus'… wanted t'be sure you were all right. An' mebbe a little t'see if y'missed me. After dat, I came every two years. Jus' t'be sure y'were okay. An' if you'd moved on."

"Oh," was all the green eyed woman could manage. She wasn't sure what to make of his confession; she was having difficulty processing it.

"Each time, it was harder an' harder t'leave again. Without saying anyt'ing. Without being near you. I came because I missed you but it was never enough." Remy let out a small sigh. "Tried everyt'ing t'get over you chere. But every two years, dere I was. Like clockwork. A real masochist."

"Then why didn't ya just come back?" she implored, feeling more confused than ever by her Cajun compatriot.

"Jus' couldn'," he told her with a shrug.

"Ah guess it's true what they say," Rogue remarked sadly, turning her gaze to the large mansion estate. "Sometimes thin's just don't work out."

Remy finally turned to look at her again. Moving closer until their faces were merely inches apart, he whispered, "An' sometimes dey do." With that he wrapped her into a tight embrace, kissing her. Skin to skin. Finally. With no boundaries, no consequences. Pulling away he confessed, "Always t'ought I'd get over you. But I never did. See Rogue," he brushed away a strand of her white hair, "I still love you. Never stopped loving you."

"So, where do we go from here?" she asked breathlessly. "Ah don't want ta be alone anymo'."

"Neither do I," Remy concurred. "I'd love t'stay. If you'll have dis poor ol' t'ief."

"O' course Ah will ya stupid Swamp Rat," she said, tears of joy rolling down her face.

Wiping away her tears, Remy's lopsided grin returned for the first time in years. "Don' cry chere," he murmured. "Dere be no need f'r anymore tears."

Sniffing slightly, she buried her head in his shoulder. "Promise ya won't leave me again, 'less it really don't work?" she questioned, her voice muffled by his jacket.

"Never. Not 'less you ask me," he reassured her. "I never want t'leave you again."

"Good," she said softly as she pulled back a little bit to inspect her Cajun. Her Cajun. That had quite a ring to it.

"Good," he echoed as he moved closer, capturing her lips once more.

"Aw, they're so cute," Kitty told her companions, who were spying on the Southern couple.

"It's about damn time," Bishop muttered.

"Said the man who took about ten years to hook up with his crush," Jubilee quipped

"Heh. Ah'll say," Sam concurred.

"Here, here," Jean-Paul chimed in.

"The Southerners certainly took their sweet time," Jean muttered.

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Tessa stated.

"Da," Piotr contributed.

"So does that mean Remy will be returning to the X-Men?" Scott inquired.

Kurt shrugged. "Who cares? They're happy."

"Yeah, we are," Rogue whispered to Remy as he held her. "Think we should yell at 'em fo' spyin'?"

"Nah," he replied. "We can get 'em back later. F'r now, let's jus' stay here."

"Sounds good ta me sugah," Rogue agreed contently.

.·°¤°·.·°¤°·.·°¤°·.·°¤°·.·°¤°·.

An' sometimes dey do. (About six years later…)

"Get out!" Rogue stated, pointing towards the door of their room. "Now."

"But, chere –" Gambit tried to placate her, but to no avail.

"Out. Now," she ordered with a glare on her face. "An' don't try none o' yer funny business." He refused to move. "Go!"

"C'mon Rogue," he all but whined. "Don' make me."

"Ah'm sorry, but ya dug yer own grave," she told him matter-of-factly. "Yer not gettin' out o' this one. Period."

Resigning himself to his fate, Remy slowly made his way to the door. "Are y'sure?" he tried one last time.

"Look Gambit, ya helped make the li'l buggers, so yer gonna take care o' 'em too," she replied calmly. "Ah told ya if ya weren't gonna change diapers durin' the day, ya were gonna be the one ta get 'em at night. Those are the breaks hon."

"You're no fun," he grumbled as he exited the room.

"That's not what ya said last night sugah," she called after him with laughter in her voice.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered as he made his way into the next room. Inside the room, there were a bed and a crib. The little girl in the bed, Gabrielle, who was just about three, didn't so much as stir in her sleep. Remy stumbled to the crib and saw two bright green eyes look back at him. His mother's eyes. "So you don' want t'sleep no more?" he asked the baby boy. "Okay. We find somet'ing else t'do." Lifting the small child, he crept out of the room so as to not disturb the little girl. "Don' want t'wake up yo' sister. She'll be grumpy if we do. An' don' nobody want dat. The fille has her maman's temper. Dat's just plain scary." The little boy gurgled his agreement. Remy continued down to the rec room, knowing if he didn't want to be sleeping on the proverbial couch, he better let his wife sleep. "So, how y'be Luc?" he asked the baby, who just happened to be named after his grandfather.

"Fine thank you, and yourself?" a new voice supplied.

"Robert, what're you doin' down here?" Remy asked the prankster.

"Angelica wanted some milk," he replied with a shrug. "And I told Emma I'd take her so she could get some sleep. I figured since the students sleep through my class, I may as well too." Remy rolled his eyes at the younger man's logic. "She's in the kitchen with the insomniac crew."

This the Cajun had to see. He poked his head into the kitchen, chuckling at the sight. Inside were two of Beak' and Angel's children who were around seven, eleven year old Rachel, four year old Karri Bishop, nine year old Mikhail, fourteen year old Carter, six year old Angelica Drake, and five year old Alana Monroe. Random X-Children were convening at two in the morning. How odd. Turning back to the Iceman, Remy took a seat next to him, still cradling his son, coaxing him back to sleep. "So, where are de rest o' deir parents?"

"Told 'Ro, Tessa, Beak, and Petey I'd take 'em back to bed when they were done," Bobby explained. "Ray and Carter are old enough to take care of themselves."

"Makes sense t'me." Looking at his son the Southerner sighed. "Robert, when did I get so old?"

Bobby took a good look at his companion and, seeing that he was serious, burst out laughing. "Don't know man," he managed to get out between laughs. "But when I figure it out, I'll let you know."

"So, how're t'ings with yo' wife?" Remy inquired, ignoring his outburst.

"Good I guess," Bobby answered, immediately sobering. "I mean, we have Angelica and Richard but…" Gambit was tempted to prod him but didn't want to appear gossip-hungry. After Rogue and him had the second one, they decided to move back to the mansion because they needed the family support. Working full-time with a kid was hard, but with two… it was damn near impossible. But when they returned, Remy found that, though the walls still had ears (sometimes literally in Kitty's case), they sometimes seemed to have lost their mouths. "…I'm not sure we work anymore. I mean, I love her with all my heart. I would do anything for her. But she… she just doesn't know how to be faithful. And old habits die hard."

"I'm sorry mon ami," Remy told him honestly. "Dat's gotta be hard."

"Yeah well…" the accountant frowned. "How did you do it? Commit to Rogue, I mean."

"I –" Remy cut himself off. How had he done it? Suddenly it dawned on him. "I couldn' live without her. An' I knew dat if I wanted t'be with her, I had t'be faithful. Simple as dat. So, if Emma really loves you, she should be willing t'make de same sacrifice f'r you."

"I'm afraid to ask," Bobby admitted. "Because I'm afraid she might say that I'm not worth it. That would crush me. I really do love her."

"I don' doubt it," the demon eyed mutant agreed. "People do crazy merde f'r love. Jus' make sure it's wort' it. Nobody deserves t'be hurt." Seeing that his son had fallen back under the spell of the sandman, Remy shifted him and rose. "Now dat he be sleepin', I'm gon' t'see if I can do de same. Pleasure taking with you Robert."

"Yeah," Bobby muttered. "Good-night Gambit."

"Bon nuit." Walking back up to his children's shared room, Remy gently placed his son into the crib. With a quick kiss on both of their foreheads, the man left with steps as silent as a thief's. Quietly he pushed his way into his room. There, in the middle of the bed, lay his wife. Rogue. Sprawled out and snoring ever so softly. With a grin, Gambit slid next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Yer hands are cold Swamp Rat," she complained groggily.

"You gon' t'warm dem up?" he questioned with a wink.

"Depends, ya gonna change some diapers?" she asked with a smirk.

"'Night chere," he said instantly, rolling over.

"Oh hush up an' come here," his wife ordered, pulling him towards her.

"P'tite, did I ever tell you how lucky I am?" he inquired as they moved closer together.

"Don't tell me sugah, show me," Rogue responded before their lips met. Number three was on its way to existence.

The End.

Review Responses: Aw. Happy ending, for R&R at least. I'm thinking about a companion piece called "Frosty" about Bobby and Emma, but I'm not sure yet. Randomness. Anyway, don't forget to tell me what ya thought. Last chance after all!! And, like Madeline's narrator said, "That's all there is, and there isn't anymore." ^_^ - Remy's ange: Okay. Whatever floats your boat babe. :P Yep, I'm an Emma/Bobby lover. And they shall forever be tormented, just like R&R. BWAHAHA!! Basically her whole breakdown thing was done because, 1) she's scared, 2) she doesn't know if Bobby loves her or the baby, and 3) she's pregnant. Does she need any other excuse?? About Emma and Scooter, I feel the SAME WAY!! EEEEEWWWWWW!!!!!!!! *hyperventilates* And… just… ohmigod… *passes out* Okay, I'm back. Tho, in his defense, Jean did tell him to move on a la NXM #154. Still… *barfs* Anyway, SAME goes for Paige and Warren. EEEEEEWWWWW!!!!!!!! But I don't always put in couplings that I love. After all, I put Alex and Annie in. *gags* Yes, poor Jono. A moment of silence for the formerly face and chest-less boy. *silence* All righty then. Bishop and Tessa… I had to do it. I couldn't help myself. What can I say?? They just need to make out already. *authoress lets out frustrated scream, much to her roommate's chagrin* Glad you liked the KIOTR, I miss Petey pureheart. Poor guy. *cries* Why Marvel?? WHY?? :'[ Onto Jubes and Sam. Both had their moments in the pre-wedding stuff, they're just fun characters. 'Specially my Sammy boy. And I figured, Jubes doesn't have a boyfriend and would be around 25ish in the story. Plus Sam shouldn't date Lila 'cause I hate her, she's not good enough for him, and he'd probly be around 27, so yeah. It works, right?? Sure it does. They'd be fun. The loudmouth mallrat and the quite Southern gentleman. Opposites attract, right?? Right. ^_^ Lorna and Remy, scariness. 'Tis true. Just my version of him telling her no. 'Cause he damn well better say no if she hits on him. Grrr… home wrecking bitch. *glares at anybody with green hair* Yes, poor Cece. I feel for her. I just wanted to make her a more human character than what I've read of her. Less impatient, bitter, and detached. So, I figured this was the way to go. *shrugs* Poor Hank had to die in the process. Uhm, they call it a cliffy for a reason. But sorry just the same. REALLY long review, so thanks!! :^D - Panther Nesmith: Ew. I hate caramel. See, I had braces for three LONG years, and caramel was the enemy then. So now I can't eat it. Isn't dental care a bitch?? Random, sorry. :) Yes, Bishop especially needs some action. I'm pretty sure Sage got some in the Hellfire Club… but the last chick the cop had was Deathbird from forever ago. *shakes head for Bishop's pathetic love life* I don't think Rogue would turn down jewelry. But he hasn't offered any. Yet. ^_~ Interesting assessment of heroes. The sad truth. - Katrina5: That's our Gumbo. A funny guy. :^D I think Sammy was scarred. *shakes head* Scandalized at the very least. You were right about the breakdown affects. *claps* You go girl!! They were a plot device after all. YAY!! - Jukebox: Tessa and Bishop, they just need some lovin'. IMHO at least. ^_~ Remy's still the ragin' Cajun, but Lorna is kinda… psycho, ya know?? Wedding drama is the best. This is true. The word of Caliente. Beast is NOT dead for real. Colossus is the one who died to distribute the Legacy virus. And Cecelia was never sick with it. *shrugs* Call it creative license. I'm entitled after all. :P - Star-of-Chaos: Damn. I thought I was so slick. *snaps fingers in disappointment* Glad you like the Tessa/Bishop stuff, they belong together. It's just… right. - Kitsu Black: Aw, shucks. You're TOO kind. *blushes* Thank you. It's a lot to live up to. *sweats profusely* You're makin' me nervous!! :P Glad there is understanding in my crazy fic!! YAY!! ^_^ - Ishandahalf: Sorry to disappoint. I thought about not adding the part about none of it involving R&R, but I didn't want to receive a bunch of angry reviews about how all the readers wanted me dead. I'm a bit paranoid as it is, considering what I did in the Chronicles story. *authoress checks over her shoulder, just in case* Well, now that you know Remy's reason, what do ya think?? Good or bad?? I hope it wasn't TOO corny, I just couldn't torture them any longer. Bunny ref rocks!! And I like your incoherent ramblings. Highly entertaining. ^_~ Lucky 13, eh?? Yeah, that says it all, huh?? Emma and Bobby, they have issues. It was mostly a plot device, but eventually they did tie the knot. Too bad things are still hard for the Iceman. *shakes head sadly* Caught the parallelism… nice. *applauds* That makes one. :P So, Rogue accepted… too bad it was Northstar asking, huh?? I'm evil like that. And there was fluffy goodness, yes?? Yes. I'm answering for you. Thanks!! - Risty: Yeah, well. I write a good drunk Remy, but I'm not so sure about the others. :P Plus, it was still early. Tessa and Bishop… just gotta love 'em. Or at least, I do. You don't. Not really anyway. *reader gives authoress strange look* Moving right along, table thirteen was just me having fun with random characters. Fitting in all the people I could, just for kicks. *shrugs* I'm the author, I can do that. And I'm glad you thought the foils were successful. YAY!! Thanks!! - Aro: Don't feel stupid!! I LOVE reading your reviews. They're UBER tight!! :^D Breakdown goodness, huh?? :P I want Remy (or Sam) to ask me to dance too… but he didn't ask Rogue. Not initially at least. I'm just evil like that. BWAHAHA!! *reader rolls eyes* Heh. Yeah. Thanks for commenting!! - DemonicGambit: She did, she did. "Him" just happened to be Northstar, but still… :P I think Lorna's become a complete psycho, very unfun. I'm no longer a fan. At all. Emma's just preggers and emotional. Plus she's scared. And not sure Bobby loves her. Yeah. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ^_~ Thanks!! - Spankychaff: Glad you're enjoying it!! *beams* Banging their heads together… hmm… violent but probly not too ineffective. It has possibilities. :P Thanks!! *raises glass in toast* Here's to progression!!