Disclaimer: I own nothing! Not the X-Men, not even the computer I'm typing this on… How depressing.
A/N: Ahh, seems like everybody loves a dead Belle. Glad I could make the world a better place. ;-) Onto the reviews…
Calliann, Orage, demiducky25, ASGT and Kat Maximoff, PomegranateQueen, EviltwinAlix, Pyro Lady, TheRealMai, Rogue14, darkstorm5000, Vivid Butterfly, Ms. Rogue LeBeau, enchantedlight, texasgrrl,Anamaniax, and Dreamcatcher89 – Oh, your kind words make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside… So have a snowglobe. I don't know what relation there is between those two thoughts, but I just like them.
Lady Aurra – I have read it, and wow, that's the greatest compliment I've ever received! Unless this fic reminds of you if it in a bad way… I sure hope not. ;-)
flowerperson – ETA in present time is about 10 chapters or so, give or take a few. Depends on how much I ramble and how many new ideas I get. So yeah, we've got a bunch of stuff to cover!
SweetRevenge151 – Update twins, eh? So, where's yours? ;-)
melancholic – You should feel guilty! And such a short review… I've got nothing to work with here! ;-) Shmeh, blame the math. It's always the math's fault, it's clearly the work of the Devil.
Alyxandria – Hah, a Remy vs. Jean-Luc smackdown? I'd pay to see that… Especially if Remy was wearing those tiny spandex wrestling outfits! Not so much Jean-Luc, cuz that'd just be kinda creepy.
Star-of-Chaos – Well, could you really blame them for wanting Remy? I mean, he is one sexy muffin!
Peace215 – Yeah, it did burn, I couldn't stand writing that… Oh, the things I do for the sake of plot! Thanks for the cookie. I call them bakies, cuz you don't cook cookies, you bake them! It's false advertising.
Lightspeed Suzuka – Hey, I did respond to your review in Chapter 5! So there. (ish sticks tongue out at Suzukas, but can't stand to see them cry)
heartsyhawk – Hah, ugly tree. And then after she fell out of it, she got beaten with an ugly stick! Oh yeah, definitely no sympathy for her… Wench. Glad I could spread the hatred. No, you're not a dork – and as for your brain pain, he won't remember that he forgot her cuz he's only remembering that he's forgetting her because he still remembers some of her, but when she's completely forgotten he can't possibly remember that he forgot her because there's no her to remember! Hah. That made sense in my head…
Okey dokey! Have some in-flight peanuts to much on, and off we go.
Loved and Lost, or Never At All?
Chapter 8 – Leaving
"Never forget me, because if I thought you would, I'd never leave." – A.A. Milne
The few things Remy had packed were now in his duffel bag, tied onto the back of his motorcycle. It was parked outside the Xavier Institute, his last stop before New Orleans. He sighed. He couldn't believe what had happened, that things could go downhill so quickly… He honestly couldn't believe he was going back.
He climbed a tree, dropped down onto the property, and stealthily made his way past the cameras, sensors, and motion detectors – if Rogue had told anybody what had happened, he didn't want their looks of anger and disgust too. He had a feeling that he would be getting enough from her already. He just hoped he could make her understand…
Making his way onto her balcony, Remy peeked in through the door. The room was dim, with only her bedside lamp giving light, but he could see her lying on her bed, head buried in her pillow. Thankfully, her roommate wasn't in – now he had a chance to talk to her and explain things without her running away.
Reaching for the doorknob, Remy frowned when he found it was locked. She never locked her door, even after jokingly complaining that he snuck in all time… She was furious at him. Skilfully picking the lock, seconds later he entered her room.
Rogue still hadn't noticed he was there, she hadn't moved from her position. Making his way over to her side, Remy reached out a hand and gently placed it on her shoulder.
"Chère?" he asked in a soft voice.
Startled at the intrusion, Rogue gasped and rolled over on her bed. Catching sight of her tear-stained face wrenched Remy's heart even more.
"Don't 'chère' meh, Gambit," she said coldly, glowering at him and inching away from where he stood.
He winced at her frosty tone of voice, and the fact that she called him Gambit – she never used that name, except when she was mad at him. Then again, he supposed he deserved it.
"Please, Rogue, let m' explain…" Remy begged, walking around the bed towards her, reaching out a hand.
"No! No, go away, just leave meh alone!" she exclaimed, back up from him again.
"Rogue- " he tried again, but to no avail.
"NO!" she screamed. "Don't come any closer, don't yah dare touch meh!"
Remy stopped in his tracks, stinging from her words. "Fine," he sighed, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture. "But 'm not leavin'. I need t' talk t' y'."
"Ah don't wanna hear anythin' yah have to say to meh!"
"Dat's too bad, cause 'm not goin' until y' hear m' out."
Rogue gave him a glare that chilled him to the bone – she hadn't even bestowed one that hostile upon him when he was first trying to woo her. "Talk fast," she spat out. "Yah're really not mah favourite person right now."
His hopes rose at the fact she was actually giving him a chance. "Rogue, chère, listen, I swear, I didn' mean f'r dis t' happen," he began, but she interrupted him.
"Yah mean yah just didn't wanna get caught!"
Remy took a deep, steadying breath – this would take all of his patience. As much as he admired Rogue's fiery spirit and determination, sometimes she was a bit too stubborn. "No, chère, dat's not it."
"Then what is it?" she scoffed, crossing her arms and looking down at the floor.
"It was an arranged marriage, t' ensure peace b'tween de Guilds. Dat's why I came t' New York, t' get away from it. I don' want t' marry Belladonna, I never have. I don' love her."
Her breath catching in her throat, Rogue looked up at him with suspicious but hopeful eyes. "Really?" she whispered.
"Really," he affirmed, nodding his head. "I love y', y' know dat."
Her eyes darkened at his words, and she looked away again. "How can Ah believe that?" she cried. "You've been lyin' to meh this whole time!"
"Non, chère, I wasn' lyin', I just didn' tell y' about her…" Remy started in an ashamed tone.
"Same difference," Rogue snorted.
"Can y' blame me? Look how y're reactin'!"
"Can yah blame me? Ah just found out that mah boyfriend is engaged to another woman! People don't exactly take that kind of news well!" she screeched.
"Dat's why I couldn' tell y'!" he yelled back, and then tried to calm down. "I couldn' tell y'. Y're de best t'ing dat's ever happened t' me, Rogue. I couldn' risk loosin' y'."
"Yah should've told meh! Yah tellin' meh would've been better than meh findin' out like Ah did!"
"I know… 'm sorry, 'm so sorry. I was scared, chère. I love y', I didn' wan' t' tell y' an' ruin what we had."
Rogue sniffled, but still wouldn't look at him. "How am Ah supposed to believe that, Remy? How am Ah supposed to trust anythin' yah say?"
Remy winced at the hurt her words sent through him, but tried to push it aside. She had called him by his real name - that was a positive sign. He slowly inched towards her, but Rogue moved backwards. He kept going until she reached the wall, and had nowhere else to go.
Stepping right up to her, he reached out a hand and put it to Rogue's chin, tilting her head towards his. "Look at me, chère," he softly requested.
She did, her watery eyes looking into his own apologetic ones, as he bared his soul for her.
"I love y' Rogue, mo' den anyt'in'. I t'ink in yo' heart y' know dat, just like I know dat y' love m' too. Dis is real, chère, what we have b'tween us. Please don' let m' mistake ruin dis," he confessed passionately. Cupping her cheek with his bare hand, Remy continued. "I know I was wrong, I screwed up, but please don' doubt m' love f'r y'. I'll prove it t' y' if I have t', jus' don' doubt it, don' doubt me."
Rogue's green eyes widened in realization, as the meaning behind his words sunk in. He was offering to let her absorb him, so she could know the truth. Remy stood there patiently, unafraid, staring directly into his amour's eyes. His thumb stroked her soft skin as he waited for her to turn on her powers – if this is what it took to convince her, he'd do it willingly, he'd do anything for her.
He braced himself as a tear trickled down her face and she closed her eyes, assuming that she was about to begin – he was utterly surprised when instead, Rogue flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and burrowing her head into his chest, sobbing. Remy sighed in relief, and he wrapped his arms around her tightly in return. He couldn't believe the faith she had in him…
"I love y', Rogue," he murmured gently in her ear, running a comforting hand up and down her back.
"I love yah too, Remy," she replied, answer muffled by his shirt and trench coat.
They just held each other like that for a long time, neither wanting to let go. Eventually Rogue pulled back and looked up at Remy. "Ah hate to ask," she mumbled with an apprehensive expression. "But what are yah gonna do about Belladonna?"
He grimaced, hating to give her more bad news. "I have t' go back, chère."
Remy couldn't bear the look of disappointment on Rogue's face when he spoke those words – the sparkle of life and passion she always had in her eyes dimmed, like a flame had just been extinguished. She took a step away from him and wrapped her arms around her body, as if in a futile attempt to comfort herself. "Course yah do," she muttered, eyes downcast.
"I don' wan' t', believe me, but I have no choice," he told her, running his hand up her arm to rest on her shoulder. "'M gonna go an' settle dis, call off de arrangement, an' I'll be back, I promise."
"Sure," came the wholly unconvinced response.
"I swear, I'll come back f'r y', Rogue," Remy declared, but then furrowed his brow as a thought struck him. Then he quietly grumbled, "Not dat it'll do much good."
"Huh?" questioned Rogue, raising her head. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothin'," replied Remy, withdrawing his hand and stepping away with a scowl. "Just dat I wish I didn' make dat promise - I wouldn' have had t' come back t' y' not rememberin' me!"
"What th' hell are yah talkin' 'bout?"
"Y' erased m' from yo' memories, Rogue," he informed her resentfully. "So much f'r all dat 'love' crap, henh? Guess y' didn' love me as much as I t'ought."
"Hey, don't blame this all on meh!" she exclaimed indignantly.
"Why not? Y're de one who erased me, so now 'm doin' it t' y'!"
"Serves yah right! Look what yah did to meh first!"
"I told y' dat I'd be back, I apologized! I t'ought everyt'in' would be okay!"
"How could it be okay? Yah crushed meh an' headed off to a marriage with another woman! How can yah blame meh when yah're th' one who broke mah heart?!"
Remy stumbled back at those words, stopping their screaming match. He had broken her heart… He had swore that he'd never hurt her, but he did, and it appeared to be beyond repair…
He looked up at Rogue, her angry green eyes blazing. "Y' broke m' heart too, Rogue," he divulged dismally, turning around and walking towards the balcony door. "I guess we're even den."
Jumping off the balcony, Remy dejectedly walked back to his motorcycle, just as he had that night. Stopping at a batch of trees at the end of the property, he turned and took one last look behind him. He saw Rogue staring out the window at him, hand pressed to the glass, as if trying to reach out and touch him. He could have sworn his sharp eyes saw a tear rolling down her cheek, but when he looked again, he couldn't make anything out. The fog was rolling in – it blocked her from his view, and soon surrounded him.
- X -
As Remy walked by the playground, he frowned and looked at the children playing. He thought he had just heard someone scream something about a broken heart… No, that was silly. He continued along the path, and the thought was pushed out of his head as soon as he saw his chère.
She was lying on one of the park benches, stretched out and looking up at the clear blue sky. He stopped to admire her for a second, but then the melting substances in his hands prompted him to hurry up.
He silently crept over to her and leaned over the bench, gazing into her eyes.
"Yah're blockin' th' view, swamp rat!" Rogue complained good-naturedly as she pulled herself up.
"I am de view, chère," he smirked, and sat down beside her.
"Now why would Ah wanna look at yah all day?" she mused jokingly, pinching his cheek like an elderly lady would a grandchild.
Remy gasped dramatically. "Y' wound me! Y' should be mo' polite, or y' won' get no ice cream," he teased, as he held the cones in his hands just out of reach.
"Ooh!" squealed Rogue as her eyes lit up, following the frozen treats as he moved them from side to side in front of her. She was just about to grab one when Remy pulled it back.
"Nuh-uh, y' weren' very nice t' poor Remy, why should he give y' some ice cream?"
Desperate for her snack, Rogue decided to play along. "Fine. Ah'm so sorry, Rem, of course Ah'd wanna stare at yah all day," she told him sarcastically.
"Dunno, dat didn' sound too sincere…"
She mock-glared at him, and he knew better than to continue teasing her. If he did, he would probably end up with ice cream dripping down his face… Grinning, he handed over one of the cones, and the pair began to eat them in a comfortable silence.
Glancing over at her, Remy began to regret his choice in desserts. Watching Rogue run her tongue slowly up and down the cone was causing him to become more than a little excited…
She looked over at him intently watching her and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What?"
"Nothin'," he smirked, not tearing his vision away from her mouth. "Just t'inkin' o' some better uses f'r dat tongue…"
Rolling her eyes, she smacked his shoulder and continued eating – this time sending him a suspicious stare every few seconds. Chuckling, Remy turned back to his own cone too.
"Well, ain' dis quaint?" a scornful voice suddenly piped up.
Remy started in realization, instantly recognizing it. He paled as he looked up and saw Belladonna standing in front of them, dropping his ice cream in shock. Jumping to his feet, he swiftly charged a card and held it out in front of him – at the same time he moved in front of Rogue, ready in case the Assassin would make a move.
She didn't budge – she just remained in place with a disdainful expression on her face, eyeing Rogue with distaste, like she was muck at the bottom of the swamp. "Nice hair," Belle snorted derisively, looking the other girl up and down.
"Aww, thanks sugah, Ah grew it mahself," replied Rogue in an insincere saccharine tone, narrowing her eyes. Despite the gravity of the situation, her spunky attitude made Remy smirk within.
"What de hell are y' doin' here, Belle?" he then demanded harshly, internally panicking at the sight of his fiancée and what she might say or do.
"Came t' take y' back home," came her response, complete with a sly smile. "Y' know why…" she continued in a sing-song voice, clearly enjoying the little game she was playing with him.
"Belle…" he told her warningly.
"Dat de reason y're stickin' around here?" she jeered, tilting her head towards Rogue. "Don' know what in de world y're t'inkin'…"
"Who do yah think yah are?" Rogue sneered right back, getting up from the bench in anger.
"'M his fiancée," she enlightened her with a malicious grin, before Remy could stop her from speaking.
"W-what?" stuttered Rogue in shock, stumbling back a few steps. He automatically reached out to steady her, but she raised her hand to stop him.
"Rogue, chère, it's not what it sounds like," Remy stammered quickly, extending an arm out to her, but she slapped it away.
"Is it true?" she whispered, looking at him with tearful eyes that pained his heart.
"De weddin's bein' planned as we speak," Belle informed them gleefully.
"Remy," Rogue stressed, and repeated her question in a quiet, almost defeated voice. "Is it true?"
He looked at her regretfully, and sighed. "Oui, chère, but- "
He didn't have a chance to finish as Rogue abruptly took off running out of the park.
"Chère, wait!" Remy cried off and dashed after her.
"See y' back in N'Awlins, Remy!" Belle called out cheerfully after them, a wicked smirk gracing her face.
Remy had to fight the urge to turn back and throw a charged card at her, but explaining this fiasco to Rogue was more important. "Rogue, please, stop!" he yelled as he continued to chase her. "Dis ain' what y' t'ink!"
She didn't stop, she never even looked back, she just continued to run away from him. Remy followed her through the park, shouting to her, but it did no good. As he kept after her, he noticed the trees around him blurring – a few strides later he realized what was happening, and stopped.
"Y' know what? Fine!" he bellowed, watching her grow smaller and smaller in the distance. "Just run off, run away from yo' problems like y' always do!"
He stood there, watching her go, watching everything around him fade. "I'm erasing y'!" Remy screamed, a tear escaping and falling down his face. "I hope y're happy now, cause I will be!" he added, unsure if it was an attempt to spite her or convince himself. He just hoped she would turn around and come back, but she didn't – she was too far gone, she had disappeared.
Sigh…
Next chapter – What you've all been waiting for! Finally, some Romy happiness. We'll see how they were before all the angst and badness.
I've got a confession to make… My name is ishandahalf, and I'm addicted to reviews. I need them to live! So please, please, won't you let me live?! ;-)
Toodles,
- ish -