Seven o'clock came quickly the following evening. After cleaning both bathrooms twice, scrubbing the kitchen floor, vacuuming, waxing the furniture and doing laundry, Rogue felt she had finally burned enough nervous energy to get ready for her date with Chris. After taking a long, hot shower she chose her outfit for the evening, spiked out her hair and chose red manic panic to streak through it. It was almost a just a habit anymore, she thought, looking in the mirror. Originally she had just done it to become someone else while she was onstage. "Someone without a broken heart," she muttered to herself as she quickly applied her makeup. She took one final glance in the mirror, satisfied with what she saw as the doorbell rang.

"Coming!" she shouted as she hurried down the stairs. She flung open the door, somewhat breathless after her little sprint, and there he stood. Had she really forgotten how blue his eyes were? He looked even sexier tonight than he had last week, if that was possible. Black leather pants, almost identical to the ones she was wearing clung to the hard muscles of his legs. A sliver-blue shiny button up shirt completed his outfit. Rogue licked her lips: he looked good enough to eat. He smiled slightly and leaned against the doorframe.

"I thought I'd lied to myself," he said with a grin. Rogue smiled back.

"About what?"

He slowly reached out and ran a fingertip gently down her cheeks. "You're actually even more beautiful than I remember." Rogue ushered him inside, brushing off the compliment.

"Yeah, I get that all the time," she said sarcastically, closing the door.

Chris frowned.

"Just let me get my purse and I"ll be ready," Rogue tossed over her shoulder, walking down into the den. Chris looked around the large, comfortable room.

"Nice place," he said, wandering over to the collection of family photos on the mantle. He picked up one of a younger Rogue, looking much happier as she smiled up at a dark-haired man.

"That's my father," she said from behind him. Chris turned, smiling at her.

"I can see the resemblance," he said, setting the picture down. "Are you close to him?" Rogue smiled sadly.

"I was. He passed away four years ago: lung cancer." Seeing the pain in her eyes made Chris want to pull her into his arms and hold her til the pain went away. He had already decided, lying awake the past six nights thinking about her, that there was something special about this woman. He reached out and ran his hand down her arm, taking her hand in between both of his.

"I'm sorry."

She looked sad for just a moment longer, then smiled. "Enough sad junk. Shall we go?" Sensing she didn't want to talk about her life, Chris grinned and tugged her towards the door.

"I'm ready. And you WILL notice that I passed on the pink and sliver tights for the evening." Rogue laughed, leaving a note for Storm and locking the door behind her. Chris took her hand in his as they walked to his car. "By the way," he said, rubbing his thumb softly on the back of her hand, causing her to shiver, "you look fantastic tonight." HIs eyes trailed leisurely down her curvaceous body, taking in her snug black leather pants and red and black wraparound shirt. She'd done something to her eyes, smudging them up to look even larger and more luminous. Her full lips were slicked with a lightly tinted, shiny gloss making her look as though she'd just been kissed. The realization that that's just what he wanted to do, startled Chris. Rogue smiled tightly, pulling back her hand as they neared the vehicle.

"It's okay Chris. I'm already going to dinner with you, so you don't have to lay on the phony compliments so much, huh?" Chris opened his mouth to object when Rogue interrupted him.

"Great car! Rental, right?" she exclaimed, sliding into the passenger seat of the 2003 Hummer. I'll figure it all out before this is over, Chris thought to himself, dropping the subject for the time being. He climbed into the driver's seat before answering her question.

"Yeah. it's just not economical own one and drive to all the ....wait. How did you know it was a rental?" Chris asked as he moved a CD folder out from between the seats and started the Hummer.

"What, you're gonna carry a Hummmer on a plane? she teased, taking the CD folder from him and flipping through it. "I don't think that would qualify as a 'carry on'." She apparently found what she'd been looking for as she popped in a Dave Matthews CD, immediately setting the song to repeat on "Grey Street". Chris looked over at her.

"I'm glad you agreed to go out with me tonight." He reached across and clasped her hand. "it gets really boring hanging around with the same people all the time." Rogue shrugged. She'd known that she was just a temporary diversion, but hearing him say it, well.....it just didn't make her feel any better.

"You seem like a nice guy," she smiled, although pulling her hand from his and sliding closer to the passenger door. Respecting her obvious reluctance to get close, Chris opted for the safest topic to discuss.

"So, let's see if I remember correctly. You have two older brothers, Xavier and Gambit. Two younger sisters, Storm and Jubilee. And you stand a very proud five feet four inches. You drink Killian's red beer, but only out of a bottle : no glass. How'm I doin' so far?" Rogue looked at him with astonishment clearly written across her face.

"You remembered all that?" she asked incredulously. "We only spoke for maybe ten, fifteen minutes, tops and it was last week!" Chris shrugged, a small smile curling the corner of his mouth.

"Well, when I'm interested in something --- or some ONE as the case may be," he said with a wink, "I make it a point to remember everything possible about them." Rogue looked abruptly out her window.

He's just making small talk, she told herself. "Well that's more or less it." she shrugged. "My mother left shortly after Jubilee was born and my father raised us. Chris didn't miss the pain that filled her eyes. "He passed away on my 23rd birthday."

They sat in silence for a minute while Rogue regrouped: it was obviously difficult for her to talk about her father. She took a deep breath and sighed, turning to Chris and giving him a small smile. "So what about you? What's your family like? Any siblings?" Chris nodded, acknowledging the change of subject.

"Yep. I have a younger brother and two younger sisters," he smiled, thinking of his siblings. "Camryn turned 28 last week and Cara and Carla are 23."

"What about your parents? Where are they?" she asked, curious to know about this man beside her.

"They still live in Winnipeg, where I grew up. They've been married 37 years in August." As they continued toward their destination, they talked more about their families, lives, likes and dislikes. At a lull in the conversation, Rogue reached over, turning the stereo up. The song was still repeating and Rogue sang along quietly.

Oh looks at how she listens

She says nothing of what she thinks

She just goes stumbling through her memories

Staring out onto Grey Street

Chris glanced over to see Rogue finally relaxing, blending her voice with that of Dave Matthews. Her amber eyes seemed sad as she sang along with the song.

But she thinks 'Hey'

How did I come to this

I've dreamed myself a million times around the world

But I can't get out of this place.

Oh there's an emptiness inside her

And she'd give anything to fill it in

And while it's red blood bleeding from her now

It felt like cold blue ice in her heart

When all the colors mix together

To grey

Trying to stay focused on his driving, Chris couldn't help but hear the earnestness in her voice at the last verse of the song. He chanced another glance in her direction, once again startled to realize how beautiful she really was. His mind wandered back to their earlier conversation and his face creased in a frown. What had she meant by 'phony compliments'? "You have an amazing voice," he said quietly waiting for her reaction. She didn't disappoint him as she turned to him and shrugged.

"I'm okay. Now Storm, she has a voice....."

"Why can't you accept a compliment?" he asked gently. She looked at him, startled.

"Huh?"

He reached across the seat, this time not letting her pull her hand from his grasp. "No, don't. I want to know what's happened in your life that won't allow me to compliment you without you feeling like I'm lying." Rogue sighed deeply, allowing her head to fall back against the seat. A minute passed while Chris patiently waited for her to speak.

"Look, Chris " she began tiredly. "It's a long story that happened an even longer time ago and I'd really rather not spoil your evening by delving into it, okay?" she finished as they pulled into a crowded parking lot. As he put the car in park, he turned to Rogue, gingerly cupping her cheek.

"Okay, " he said, brushing a thumb across her smooth skin. "Not tonight. But soon, Rogue." he slowly slid them towards one another until he could feel her warm breath mingle with his. "Very soon." He closed the space between them with agonizing slowness, allowing Roge ample time to resist.

But she didn't. She'd been wondering about this....the gentle slid of his lips on hers, since that night at the Pink Flamingo. Her imagination wasn't anywhere NEAR this good! she thought. His mouth was faintly moist and incredibly soft. His tongue probed at her lips sweetly, begging entrance to the moist cavern of her mouth. A small sigh escaped her as she complied, parting her lips to allow him in. Chris took that as a signal and deepened the kiss, groaning inwardly. He couldn't remember the last time he'd tasted anything so sweet. His hands slid from her face to tangle in her hair, pulling her as close as he could within the confines of their seats.

They broke apart at the same time. Chris leaned his forehead against Rogue's trying desperately to catch the breath she'd stolen from him. He opened his eyes and watched as she slowly opened hers, revealing the cloudy amber orbs.

"Mhmmmmmmmm...."

Chris chuckled. "Yeah, me too." He leaned back, running the pad of his thumb against her swollen bottom lip. A frown crossed his face as he realized that he'd just assumed she'd want to kiss him. He took a deep breath, knowing he needed to apologize. "Rogue, I'm sorry....."

She shot back like an arrow, all traces of passion leaving her face. Of course he is, stupid! she inwardly scolded herself. I all but threw myself at him and he had no choice... She shrugged and undid her seatbelt. "I'm still not telling you about my past Chris," she said, reaching for the door handle. "So don't torture yourself by trying to kiss it out of me,,,it won't work." With that, Rogue slid out of the car and slammed the door, leaving an angry Chris sitting behind the wheel.