Hi again guys… I hate saying this every single time, but again sorry for the delay. It seems that from now on I'll be able to write only one chapter every 10 or so days. On the other hand there are only 3 more chapters left to go so the end is near. Yes… I'm going for a round number of 20 chapters, which is the reason of the varying sizes of each chapter (that and content). Anyways on to the good stuff (at least I hope you find it good… :) )

Tayrion

The Calm before the storm

Logan entered Rogue's room and found her sitting in front of her window looking out, obviously lost in thought.

"Penny for your thoughts darling'." Said Logan in a soft voice.

"Hey Logan" said Rogue without turning around. "Just trying to clear my head from all the fuss Remy's psyche is creating. Dat's all… Damnit!" cursed Rogue at the sudden Cajun accent that came from her mouth.

"I'm guessing you're not succeeding in controlling it completely."

"You're guessing right. As a matter of fact I can't control it at all. …How's Remy?" Asked Rogue hesitantly.

"Haven't you been to see him?" asked Logan curiously.

"No. Couldn't bear to face him. I mean what would I say to him if he woke up? What would he think of me? I almost put him in a coma." Said Rogue bitterly. "He won't want anything to do with me and I wouldn't blame him."

"He'll be fine according to Hank darlin'. But he better wish he's not up any time soon. Cause if I get my hands on him… It's not your fault what happened Rogue. He knew fully well what would happen and still he chose to act in the most reckless way possible, causing you more harm yet again."

"He's the one laying on our medical center's bed Logan not me! He's the one who got hurt."

"Yeah but look at the grief he caused you Rogue! You don't need to find excuses for him constantly. What he did was wrong and you know it."

"Yeah but I could have stopped him Logan. I could have broken it off, but I didn't. You know why? Because I wanted it to happen! And now he… he…" Rogue tried to refrain herself from bursting to tears.

"Darling that's the point. You were found in a weak moment. He knew that you had a weak spot for him and he shouldn't have done what he did."

"So you're saying that he couldn't have been caught in a weak moment? You're saying that I couldn't possibly make someone do something like that? That's what I always believed about myself and Remy is the first man to make me feel special; that he could do things for me that he wouldn't normally do. But I'm guessing that's just my little fantasy right?" said Rogue bitterly.

Logan sighed. She's totally taking this the wrong way. "You're a wonderful person and a beautiful woman Rogue. You know that's not what I meant. …Damn… I don't know… maybe I am trying to find excuses to blame him… Something about him… just doesn't feel right…"

"Well… you needn't worry about him and me any more…" said Rogue with obvious pain in her voice. "I'm sure that after what happened he won't come near me again."

Logan sat in silence. He hated watching Rogue like that. He approached her slowly and gave her a warm hug. "You know I love you, don't you kiddo? I would do anything for you…"

Rogue nodded her head and smiled weakly at Logan. "If I sound abrupt or seem unreasonable to you some times, it is exactly because I don't want anything to happen to you."

Rogue looked lovingly at the older Xman. "I know Logan, but I'm old enough to be able to make my own mistakes right?… I'm just glad to have you there after I make them." She said smiling.

Logan smiled back at Rogue. "Anytime sweetie. But I want you to do something for me. If you remember anything from the memories of Gambit swirling in your mind, anything weird or suspicious, I want you to tell me. Maybe I can make some sense about this guy. I'm sure the Professor could help you a lot in that department."

The Professor entered slowly and quietly the med room of the mansion, so as not to disturb Remy. Hank greeted him.

"Well Hank, how is our patient?"

"I think he'll be alright Professor. Luckily for him Rogue was able to break it off before any permanent damage had been done. It'll take him a couple of days though I reckon to fully recover."

"Hmm… Can he register anything at the state he currently is?" asked the Professor.

"I… I do not know Professor. Given that I've never been on the receiving end of Rogue's power and the variables of duration and intensity of the contact, I couldn't say for sure. But Remy is not currently in a comatose state. There is heavy brain activity and his body seems to react to various stimuli. So I'd say he is more likely in a form of a slumber."

The Professor approached the 'sleeping' Remy and looked at him intensely. "You know Hank… This young man has troubled me a great deal. His behavior is… strange to say the least. Although he has shown a great interest in joining the team, he almost always acts as if he won't be around for long. I can not figure out why. And of course there's the added mystery of the person he's so worried about."

"I know what you mean Professor. He really got me worried when he came last night and told me all those things. It's obvious that someone close to him is very ill, but I can't understand his stubborn refusal of disclosing any more information on the subject."

"I've come to a point where I've begun to wonder whether I made the right choice by inviting him to join us. But I don't like that about myself Hank. I don't like not being able to trust someone, especially someone so talented, who seems to be so heavily troubled. I want to trust him and I want to be able to help him. Because it has become obvious that he also has trust issues, which is why he kept from us the truth about being Gambit and why he is keeping from us the truth about this person he's so worried about. The kid obviously hasn't met with a lot of kindness and compassion in his life so far. That's why I want to believe in him."

"I understand where you're coming from professor and I admit that I feel the same way, but you mustn't be so hard on yourself. We must not forget that Remy has given us plenty of reasons not to trust him."

"I'm also troubled with his fixation on Rogue. I mean… I'd like to believe that he really cares about her, but I can't help but wonder… I mean… what was he trying to accomplish with what he did last night. He knew that this would happen, so why did he do it. Was it really that he couldn't resist his passion… I would love to be able to see what's going on in his mind right now…"

Remy found himself lost in a barren world. Anywhere he looked, he saw rock and sand. The landscape never seemed to change. Where am I? De heat is unbearable! I shouldn't be here… He started walking towards the sun, since it was the only visible and clear sign. He walked for what seemed like hundreds of miles, and yet the landscape remained the same. He could see nothing on the horizon. I shouldn't be here. Where am I? What am I doing? Desolation and ugliness all around him and no way to escape. Why? I don't belong here. I shouldn't be here. I'm lost! He tried walking a couple more steps, but he found his legs failing him. He stumbled to the ground. Maybe it's more fitting if I lay here and at least offer de vultures a good meal. He thought with bitterness, as a couple of the flying scavengers swirled above him. And as he slowly succumbed to the lure of easy defeat, he saw far ahead something small glowing in the sun. It glowed vibrant white filling his heart with hope and strength once more.

He urged his uncooperative limbs forward again, mustering all his will and strength. After a long and arduous attempt he finally reached his goal and in front of him he saw a little white lily, right in the middle of this hellish desert. It was beautiful. It filled his heart with joy and a sense of purpose. He would survive if for nothing else to just see and tend to this little miracle. He was blissful during the moments he stood there and looked at it, but then it seemed so fragile. And as suddenly as it appeared, it started to wither slowly. Remy panicked. He couldn't believe that this was happening; he was at a loss. He couldn't just let this miracle wither. He knelt down and gently pulled it out of the ground. He would find for this lily a better place to bloom, even if he had to endure this hell longer.

So carrying his treasure, he started walking again trying to find an oasis. He endured the heat and the desperation once more, but this time he would not give up. He would persevere for his miracle. After a while he saw from afar what seemed like an oasis. There where tall palm trees, a small lake and lots of green. He could not believe what he was seeing. He had done it! He found a safe haven for his lily. He ran the distance to the oasis anxious to see the lily safe again.

But just before he entered the oasis he met a snake. It was large and beautiful and as it looked at him, Remy thought he saw in the snake's eyes the wisdom of centuries.

"I've been waiting you Remy." Said the snake, and its ancient voice made Remy shiver.

"I… I have to get to dat oasis to save my… little miracle…" said Remy as he held out the little white lily he had, that was starting to wither.

"I can help you Remy, and I will. But I must ask of you something first."

"What? Anyting!" said Remy in an anxious voice.

"I need you to leave behind a piece of your heart."

Remy looked with disbelief and fear. How could he do something like that? "I… I can't do dis… Why would you ask of me such a ting?"

"It is not for my benefit Remy. It's just the way it has to be. I try to help all things, that's why I have this oasis. But you have to realize Remy that everything good comes with a price. To achieve something great you always have to sacrifice something else you value. That's the way things have always been. I do not make the rules Remy, I just learnt how to live with them. I wish it could be any other way Remy, but unfortunately this is the only way." The snake seemed very sincere to Remy and he realized that if he was to save his lily, he would have to do what the snake told him. But he still couldn't do it. The piece of his heart he would have to sacrifice was also filled with love, passion, desire, tenderness and hope. These feelings he knew, he would lose them forever. But he had no choice. Or did he? He was Gambit after all. Maybe… just maybe he could later on find a way to reclaim them. But for now he had to do it. It was the only way he could save his lily in time.

"D'accord. I'm ready." Said Remy determined.

And as he walked in the oasis, and the piece of his heart left his body and got left behind, he whispered to the wind. I love you cherie, I'm sorry.

As Remy stirred uneasy in his slumber, a single card lay outside the oasis in the hot desert floor. The queen of hearts.

Outside the mansion a dark figure stood. It looked on with intent and said: "It's time!"

To be continued…

Streetwise Girl- I've noticed that, but maybe it's because I continue to torture him in my story that you feel compelled to use these words. :-) Some more mystery in this one, although I've given a lot more clues as to what's going on.

Star-of-Chaos – Oh… That Mercy… well… I'm not writing Remy as he was written in the comics, and from what you might have seen so far that goes for his family as well. I've used a quite different origin than the one they used in the comics. As to whether he'll wake up soon… well the comments from Professor and Hank were hopeful non?

Ishandahalf- Glad you think so ish, this time around I tried divulging a little more of the story without actually telling anything specific. I don't know if I succeeded though. Even if I didn't succeed, well there are only a couple of chapters left, so you'll know pretty soon (hint hint)

Leann- Thanks for the compliment (about me being evil). I love being (pinky in the side of the mouth a la Dr. Evil) …Eevil… Do you know this song? If you know it and you know the story behind it then it is a very big clue… (hint hint)

Chronicles Bailey- What is not cool??? I hope it means that it is not cool in a … cool way … eh? :-)

Enchantedlight- Glad you liked it… If you know the song the same goes for you as I mentioned to leann above…:-)

Haruechan- Wow… Thanks a lot Harue… I appreciate the thumbs up. As to your critique, I agree with you, it's just that I have so precious little time for writing this story, due to work overload (which is the reason for the late updates) that once I finish each chapter I'm just so eager to post it that some times even when I read it again a lot of mistakes slip by me. I hate it because I find it unacceptable for someone who knows English as well as I think I do, to make such stupid mistakes when writing a story. I'll try to be more careful in the future. Thanks again for your kind words and beijos to you too. :-)