---
She gently placed her hand on his chest, feeling his muscles ripple underneath her light, seductive touch. She was still wet from her shower and he was soaking wet from walking over in the rain. His lips touched her neck and she shivered from the electrifying touch. She grabbed his head and ran her fingers through his auburn hair, pulling his face toward hers. He pulled away after a minute then smirked.
"No one can beat my Roguey in a kissin' contest." She gave him a sly smile.
"Maybe you can."
"Mmm.. Maybe we should test that theory."
"I dunno." She leaned forward until he could feel her breath on his lips. "I don't think I can measure up to a wonderful French kisser like you." He grinned.
"I don't mean to brag-"
"Then don't." She cut him off, her soft fingers running down the middle of his back. "Just prove to me that you can do better."
"I don't think you're ready for that."
"You don't think so?" She asked, playing with the hem of her shirt.
"Well.. I.."
"Why don't we find out?" She whispered, her emerald eyes flicking to his brown ones for a moment. He grinned slyly.
"Sure."
-
"I hate you."
"I hate you, also."
"You're an ass." She was frustrated. She growled when he played with her white fringes.
"So true." He smirked. "I didn't know that after intercourse, you say 'I hate you' to your partner."
"Get used to it." She rested her head in the crook of his arm. "I'm dead tired and I have a headache."
"Could it be from falling off the bed and hitting your head on the nightstand?" He asked thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Captain Dipshit. Give this man a prize."
"No need to be moody."
"Shut your mouth."
"No." She sighed and closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to go to sleep. "I really didn't mean to shove you but you tickled my fancy."
"More like your stomach."
"That'll be our little secret." She smirked.
"If you don't let me sleep, then I'll blackmail you and tell everyone where you're ticklish and how to do it."
"I love it when you play dirty." He stayed silent and just let her sleep. When he was sure she wouldn't wake up if he moved, he climbed out of bed and got dressed in his still-damp clothes and left.
-
Rogue woke up and looked around, finding her room completely devoid of anyone else's presence. She let her head fall back onto the pillow and curled into a ball under the covers. Not like she expected him to be there when she woke up.
"Remy.." The pillow next to her still smelled like him. She reached up and grabbed it, pulling it to her chest. She didn't feel like getting up. Hell, she wanted to stay in bed all day. She knew she would get up anyway but she would hold it off for as long as possible. "Maybe it isn't so bad to wake up to an empty room." She wondered out loud. It felt good not having to talk to anyone. She buried her face in the pillow she was holding and fell back to sleep.
-
"Never knew you were a late sleeper." A masculine voice cut through her wonderful dream and she groaned, being brought back to the conscious world.
"Go away.."
"No."
"Five more minutes.."
"No."
"What time is it?"
"Two in the afternoon."
"Why are you here?" She lifted her head so she could see his blurry figure. He frowned.
"Are you all right?"
"Sure." She closed her eyes. Such a horrible headache.. "Just get me Aspirin."
"Why?"
"I have a headache." She didn't even bother to insult him? She really was sick. He left the room and she snuggled deeper into her blankets. She was so cold.
"Here." She felt someone's hands on her waist, picking her up and bringing her into a sitting position. He shoved a glass of water and two white pills, Aspirin, into her hands. She took them and drained the water then fell back down onto her pillow.
"Don't know how I got so sick.." She mumbled. Of course, all he could hear was "Donknowsosick."
"You don't know how you got sick?" Remy really is amazing. He understood! He deserves a cookie.
"Now isn't the time to stalk, DD. Go back to the Duck Cave." She said sarcastically. She ignored him after that and fell asleep but he stayed and kept watch over her.
-
"Being sick with you looking after me is absolute torture."
"You know you're flattered. I'm giving up TV time just to be with you."
"I feel so special."
"As you should." Rogue put her hand over her mouth and Remy sighed. That was the fourth time in the last hour. His poor Roguey had the flu. She stood up and ran from the room. He got worried when she didn't come back in two minutes. As it turned out, she was kneeling on the bathroom floor, holding her stomach. She looked so pale and fragile sitting there. "You okay?" She just nodded, afraid to open her mouth. Remy kneeled down behind her and started rubbing her back. She had dark circles under her eyes and she was shaking. "I'll take care of you, Ro'. Just relax. You'll get better soon." She smiled weakly and closed her eyes, feeling dizzy from her nausea.
-
"What time is it?"
"Midnight."
"You're still up?" Rogue looked up at Remy, who was wide-eyed, seeming to believe that if he blinked, he would fall asleep. "You can go to sleep, y'know. There are a few blankets in the closet if you don't want the bed."
"All right." He agreed, knowing she would hit him with something hard just to get him to give up. "Only 'cause you insisted, though."
"Mmm-hmm." She mumbled. Irene wasn't home so they didn't need to worry about her for a while. She went to 'visit an old friend.' He made noise for about five minutes and she wanted to unplug the alarm clock and throw it at him. Then he kept tossing and turning, making her irritated. "Stop making so much noise, will you?"
"Mmm-hmm." He mocked her.
"Rem?"
"What?"
"Go to sleep before I hurt you."
"Yes, ma'am."
-
Rogue tossed the groceries onto the counter. She started putting things away, having nothing better to do. She sighed and took a sip of water. Why in God's Creation did she feel bloated? Shrugging, she pulled shampoo, conditioner, and some other things that go good in the bathroom along with her as she went upstairs. She had somehow managed to get rid of Remy, claiming that she felt better, when, in fact, she didn't. It was just her way of persuasion. Hey, she had to get away from him somehow. Him being locked in his own bedroom wasn't her problem. She wondered how long he would be in there before he realized that the window and door were un-lockable from the inside?
"Hm." She felt very suspicious and so she knew she had to make sure.
"Rogue!" She blushed a dark red and stuck a box in the medicine cabinet and put the other things away in the cabinet below the sink. "Where are you?"
"Bathroom." She walked out and went downstairs. "What do you want?"
"You're sick and you ask me what I want?" He raised a brow.
"Heh." She gave him a look. "Come on, Remy. I can take care of myself. I'm not a child." She crossed her arms and scowled. "Besides, you have better things to do."
"No, I don't. Don't get all moody on me, Rogue. I know you.."
"Just go home, Rem. I'll be fine. I can handle this. It is only a flu."
"If you want."
"Yes." He nodded and left. She looked up at the stairs after he closed the door behind him. Was it just her or did the distance seem to get longer?
-
Rogue stared at the thing she held in her hand. Her emerald eyes filled with tears and she threw it on the floor, running out of the room. She wasn't ready, that was clear. Sure, she eventually wanted it.. but not now. She was too young, too inexperienced, too insecure.. And the truth was, she only wanted to cry and maybe cry some more after that.. then when she was feeling better, she would run away.
"It ain't fair!" She fell onto her bed and wrapped her arms around her pillow, crying into it.
-
Rogue was still awake when Irene walked in. She was speaking with someone. Rogue got up, figuring that she should have a mother-to-be talk with the woman. After all, Irene was her guardian. The only problem was, would the woman accept it?
"'Rene?" She called out softly as she walked gingerly down the stairs. She was shocked to find Raven there. To be honest, Rogue liked Raven. She had ever since she was a little girl. Should she tell her the news?
Might as well. Don't see no harm in it. I can't believe what I'm about to do.
"Rogue." Both women murmured in unison as she approached the bottom of the stairs. Rogue was wearing a baggy t-shirt and a pair of sweats that tied at the waist.
"I have somethin' to tell you." She sat down in the chair as they sat in the couch. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, looking at her hands as she clasped them together.
"What is it?" Irene asked, tilting her head to the side. Rogue opened her mouth while saying to herself:
Here goes nothin'.
"I.." She bit her lip. She couldn't even force the words out. They wouldn't come. She took a deep breath. "I'm.."
"You're..?" The two women stared at her in confusion.
"You can tell us anything, Rogue." Raven said in a comforting tone. Rogue only wanted to run from the room and keep it a secret but she had pride and she was determined to get some advice.
"I'm pregnant." She whispered in despair. She closed her eyes and hung her head, trying to keep her emotions at bay for as long as she could.
"Who is the father?" Irene didn't know about her and Remy, did she? Rogue had kept it secret.
"Remy." Her tears gave way and made sparkling trails down her face. Someone kneeled down in front of her and tilted her head up. Raven gave her a small smile.
"No need to be ashamed. He's a good boy, right? I have some good news that will cheer you up. He's behind bars on a life sentence for child abuse. You're free from him, Marie."
"R-Really?" Her eyes widened slightly. "That's great.."
"Isn't it? Now you don't have to worry about anything happening to this one." She gave Rogue's stomach a light pat.
"What should I do?" She asked, looking up at Irene.
"Take care of yourself. I'll be here to help, okay?"
"Y-You mean, you don't.."
"We accept it." They said in unison. (Wow, these women can read each other's minds, can't they?) The next thing on Rogue's mind was Remy. What would he say? What would he do? She smiled at them, not that it did much for Irene since she could see it anyway.
-
Remy lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He knew something was wrong. He sat up when he heard a light knock on his door.
"Come in." He stared at the door and was surprised to see Rogue standing there. She had her arms wrapped around herself and had a small frown on her face. "Ro'?"
"Rem.." She closed the door quietly so only a soft 'click' was heard. Then she walked over to his bed and sat down next to him. She stared into his eyes for about two minutes until he shifted and cleared his throat.
"Something wrong?"
"I have something to tell you." She said quietly.
"And that thing is..?" She looked away. She didn't really want to see his reaction because she couldn't exactly predict it.
"I'm pregnant." It was blunt, short, and she was proud of herself. She got it out without stuttering and without hesitation. Two thumbs up for Rogue. When she didn't hear a response, she looked over at him. He stared at her in disbelief. "Remy?"
"Are you sure? I mean.. No, it.." He stood up and went to the door, standing in front of it."I took a test. And I was wondering why I skipped my.. cycle." He shook his head, not believing a word of it.
"Rogue.. I.. No."
"What is it?"
"I don't believe it." Sure, she didn't like the thought of it either, but.. She stood up.
"If you don't want the responsibility, then just tell me right now so that I can go home." He stared at her.
"Rogue, don't.."
"I wouldn't lie about something like this. Remy, after all I've been through, you could at least tell me the truth right now! I don't exactly want this right now either but there isn't a way in getting around it. I'm gonna finish school then I'm gonna think about what I'm gonna do for the rest of my life. If you want no part of it, then just say so right now!"
"It isn't that simple!"
"No, you're right. It isn't." She glared at him. "I'm not going to run from this and pretend it isn't there. Tell me whenever you think you figure it out. I'm leaving so that I can get some sleep and get up for school." She pushed past him and left. He couldn't believe it. It just wasn't happening. It was all a nightmare.. right?
-
"Here again, Rogue? What for this time?" Mr. Evans looked up at her. "Oh, wait.."
"Yeah, that's what I'm in for. I figure that I should at least finish school so that I can end this part of my life." Rogue replied, knowing full well that she would be punished for beating Belladonna up in the school hallway. "What interesting things happened while I was gone?"
"There was basically.. no one to talk to in detention. I really need a better job."
"Heh." She closed her eyes.
"So, anything new?" Rogue thought about all that happened as she stared out the window. Then she smiled slightly and shook her head.
"No." Everything would be fine. Even if Remy didn't accept it, then she would take on the responsibility by herself. It would be hard in the beginning but she would live through it. She would be just fine.
-
Please review. Thanks to all those who already have. Cookies for you.
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