Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.

Notes: Glad you guys are liking the more flirtatious Rogue. She doesn't exhibit herself much in this next chapter, but that doesn't mean she is gone! And Pandora's Sorrow, I'm going to have to agree with you, the depressing, stubborn Rogue can get very old. At least that depressing Rogue seems to have disappeared slightly in the comics. It took Remy almost dying for that to happen though. Anyway, thanks for the reviews!

The song in this chapter is Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh, by Bright Eyes.

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"I remember everything, the words we spoke on freezing South street, And all those mornings watching you get ready for school.

Six months had passed since Rogue had joined the team. As Rogue sat around the breakfast table with the rest of her teammates, she had to admit, she finally felt at home. She had never had a real family like this, and she found that over the months, her temper and her patience had calmed themselves. She had finally discovered what it felt like to care. To love.

A hand crept its way onto her thigh, and she smiled looking towards Remy. He was still talking to Kurt, but his empathy must have picked up her forlorn thoughts, as he slightly squeezed her leg.

Remy. They weren't an official couple. Well, sometimes they were. Rogue wasn't really sure. It was their friendship that had grown the most over the months, and although they were practically jointed at the hip, they had not put a seal on anything yet. It was almost as if they were afraid to ruin what they had. The team certainly enjoyed their closeness: Remy had become less egocentric and had even showed up on time to several training sessions.

Rogue heard the Professor address the team, before everyone headed in their own directions. A new team member was expected on the grounds today. A few people began to whisper. It was always exciting gaining a new member. A new addition.

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"In this house, I don't understand that sound no more, It seems artificial, like a T.V. set.

Rogue, Remy, Kurt and Bobby had headed to the basketball courts after breakfast to play a quick game of two on two. Rogue and Remy had been separated, because together they were an unbeatable team.

Rogue was attempting to make a shot when Remy jumped up to intersect her. Somehow they clashed, causing both southerners to fall to the pavement, Remy on top of Rogue.

"Y'ok chere?

"Ah'm invulnerable Remy. Course Ah'm ok." Rogue moved to get up, but noticed Remy's attention was drug elsewhere.

"Whaddya make o'those two chere?

"Ah don't know swamp rat. Why dontcha get offah meh so Ah can see who y'all are talking about?

"Or get up so we can finish the game!" Bobby yelled in the background. Kurt picked up the discarded ball, and began shooting on his own.

Remy looked slightly flustered. "Oh. Sorry petit." Rogue didn't really want him to get up, and she sighed as he removed his weight from her. Their physical relationship had not progressed, as the control of her powers had yet to be really worked on. Rogue was beginning to wonder if Remy was bored with her.

Rogue rotated her head in the direction Remy had been looking in before. Jean and Scott sat snuggled on a bench, whispering in each other's ears. It was like a scene from a movie. It was just that artificial.

"Ah don' make anythin' of them Cajun. Except that Jean could do bettah.

Remy laughed. "So glad y'share de same love of Cyke as I do chere." Remy put an arm around Rogue, pulling her closer. "Besides, dey may be de quintessential couple cherie, but de ain't got nothin' on what we have.

Bobby chose that moment to throw the basketball at Remy's head. "What de hell Bobby!" Remy playfully yelled, sliding his arm away from Rogue to scoop up the ball and jog after Bobby.

Rogue sighed, thinking of Remy's last words to her. Quietly she mumbled, "At least what they have is solid. At least they can touch.

Rogue turned around and headed back to the game.

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"You offer only one reply, You know not what you do.

Later that evening, Rogue, Remy, Kitty, Kurt, Jean and Scott were seated around the television, watching a movie. Bowls of popcorn and various other snacks were littered around as the team zoned out.

"And this is the team, hard at work." The team that Storm had just referred to looked in her direction, only to discover a very beautiful Asian woman, no older than Rogue at her side.

"X-Men, I would like you to meet your new teammate, Betsy Braddock." Everyone muttered a hello, some rising to greet her. "She is from England, and since she is a long way from home, I hope you can make her feel comfortable here.

"Well chere, care t'join us now?" Betsy's head spun to meet Remy's sultry voice. She took in his relaxed appearance, sprawled on an overstuffed chair, a girl with white stripes in her hair seated on the floor below him. He was definitely sexy, she noted.

Betsy walked slowly to Remy's position, making sure to sway her hips along the way. He gave a little grin at this. She leaned in, placing a hand into the popcorn bowl in Remy's lap.

"I sure would Ôdear'." She removed her hand clutching a few kernels, and slowly she put each one into her mouth.

Tension began to rise in the room. "Uh. Well, have a seat Betsy. I'll introduce you to everyone." Scott: always the team leader. Remy would actually have to thank him later for this one, as Betsy moved from his side to sit on the couch. Rogue sent death glares to Remy throughout the rest of the movie, which he tried desperately to ignore, while Betsy sent him suggestive glances, which he also tried to ignore.

For one night, Remy cursed his Cajun charm.

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"Except we keep coming back to this meaning that I lack.

Rogue sat in Professor Xavier's office, Hank McCoy in the chair to her right, the Professor himself seated before them.

The Professor sighed. "Rogue, is there a reason you have finally chosen to come talk to us about controlling your power?

"Yes, both the Professor and I expected you months ago," Hank added with a slight chuckle.

"Look, Ah don' really wanna explain it. Ah just wanna fix it.

Clearing his throat, the Professor replied. "Rogue, in order to do this, we may need to ask questions about your past training with Mystique. Will you be alright with this?

Rogue blinked several times, but kept a stone cold expression on her face. In that moment she looked alarmingly like Mystique, regarding her mannerisms. The Professor tried to push that from his mind, focusing on the issue at hand.

"Ah'll be fahne with it Professah. So long as Ah gain bettah control.

Hank spoke then. "Well, Rogue, I am going to suggest meeting with me twice a week. During our sessions we will discuss and look over the enigma that is your power. Would you like to start tomorrow?

"How bout today Hank?

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"But now we speak with ruined tongues and the words we say aren't meant for anyone, It's just a mumbled sentence to a passing acquaintance.

Gambit exited the danger room, sweat dripping from his forehead, trench coat thrown over his shoulder. He heard the danger room door whoosh open seconds after him, but no footsteps proceeded the sound.

Spinning fast, Remy came face to face with the new recruit.

"Well, they weren't kidding. You really are fast." Betsy purred, maintaining her closeness.

Remy backed up a step. "I was a thief in my last life Betsy." He left it at that before turning around and continuing in his direction.

Betsy followed him, jogging up to his side. "Hmm. Really? You must have been good, not many people can pick up my footsteps.

Gambit gave her a quick grin. "I was a master chere." A glint caught in Remy's eyes, one that Betsy did not miss. "But how do you move de way you do?

She gave a sly smile. "Well, I wasn't a thief.

"Is dat de only clue I get?

By then the two had reached the bedroom halls. Remy stopped a few paces from his door. Betsy had yet to answer his question.

"So, are you and that Rogue girl an item?

Remy narrowed his eyes. "Why y'wanna know Betsy?

Betsy took a few steps forward, placing herself in Remy's view. Her long purple hair was let down, reaching the waist line of her tight black uniform.

"Its just," Betsy began, "I noticed she can't touch.

Remy stretched his hands above his head, pulling his hair back. He didn't like the direction this conversation was going.

"Good observation petit. Did y'notice de white streak in her hair too?

Betsy turned to face him, a smirk on her face.

"Surely you must be craving more than she can give you Gambit." She stalked towards him then, placing her hand on his lower abdomen.

Remy grabbed her wrists, pulling her in tight, his red eyes gleaming. "Y'wouldn' even have de slightest chance o'giving me what dat girl has," Remy hissed.

Betsy gulped. "Maybe Remy," Betsy whispered, slipping from his grasp. "But I really doubt it." She kept her eyes locked with Remy's as she walked backwards down the hall, then disappeared into the shadows.

Remy released his breath. Six months ago he would have taken Betsy's offer no question. Maybe, just maybe it was time to re-think his feelings for Rogue, because they just might mean more than he realized.

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"You combed your hair inside that mirror, The one you painted blue and glued with jewelry tears.

Remy walked into Rogue's room two weeks later. Things had been tense between them, and he hadn't seen much of her. She claimed she had been busy. At the present moment she stood in front of her mirror in full uniform, pulling her hair into a pony tail.

"Mornin' chere," Remy stated in the midst of a yawn.

Rogue gave a quick glance over in his direction. "Oh. Hi Cajun." She looked back towards her mirror, but said nothing else.

Remy remained in the doorway. "Rogue, I was just wondering if maybe we could do breakfast or lunch-

"Remy Ah'm running late for a training session with Jean and Betsy. Ah really gotta go, can we talk later?" She said all of this as she rushed for the door. Remy grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her to him before pressing her against the wall.

"Rogue. I'm gonna take y'to dinner tonight chere. I don't like dis uneasiness dat's been between us de last couple weeks." Rogue felt her knees going weak at his insistence. He began running his fingers through her hair, leaning heavier into her. Rogue let out a slight moan at his intoxicity, placing her hands on his hips, in what she thought was an effort to push him away. But she didn't really want that. Not when she had been craving his touch, his attention for weeks, if not months.

"Ah don' like it either Remy," Rogue belatedly answered, as she ran her hand up his back, pulling him in for a tight hug.

Remy pulled from her grasp, looking her deep in the eyes. "Chere," he breathed, "I think we've been denying ourselves a whole nother aspect o'this relationship. De thing is," Remy paused, choking on his words as he realized what he was about to tell her.

"What Remy?" Rogue asked, eyes wide but slightly groggy.

Remy grinned, holding her by the shoulders. "Nothing chere. We'll talk at dinner. Wear somethin' nice and I'll come by at 7:00.

Slowly Rogue stepped away from Remy, her emotions consuming her, her need for him entirely too strong. "Sure thing Remy." Rogue headed out her doorway, waving as she left. Remy simply stood in her empty bedroom after she was gone, organizing his thoughts.

He had almost told her he loved her. It wasn't planned, but it had felt so right. Yet, at the same time he couldn't tell her. He was too afraid of her response.

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