OK, in response to Lady Mr's (thank you!) suggestion I have re-written and reposted chapters 1 and 2. Not completely, but after re-reading chapter 1 I realised how bad it was anyway so a few changes, mainly at the beginning. I also juggled all 3 current chapters cos they were all different and cut off in weird places. They still do but it's a bit better.

Thank you so much to all the people who reviewed, I never thought people would actually like it! Whoever told me to make sure that my spell-checker knows who's boss (me!), I have taken your advice and it seems to be behaving better now. Many thanks. Wiccamage, I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and Rads AU, I'm on your favourite's list? sniff Wow!

Well, enjoy!

Chapter 3

Remy LeBeau, former ally of Magneto and enemy to the X-Men, had now become their newest member, and life at the institute was certainly going to be interesting from now on.

Despite herself Rogue gave a grudging smile at the memory, she had had no idea!

As soon as the professor had left Storm had made the introductions, leading Remy around and telling each person's name and power and describing his. Apparently he was able to 'convert the potential energy of an object into kinetic energy which is then released in an explosion of varying severity' which impressed most of the mansion's male population. Remy himself, meanwhile, quickly wormed his way into the hearts of the females, starting with a kiss on the back of the hand. Her smile changed to a smirk as she recalled the look on his face when she had yanked her hand away before he could deliver the same to her. Ha, looked shocked that a 'femme' would evah turn him down. Well he got a lotta that since then. That was certainly true. Ever since that day he seemed to have made it his personal mission to flirt with her, or maybe just to piss her off as much as possible. She was sure by a few of the looks the other guys had given them that they were wondering how he had lived this long. Sure, he said he liked to live dangerously, but there were limits. Ticking off Rogue was universally known as something which could seriously shorten your life-span.

Rogue sighed, the shock of her discovery was wearing off and she was starting to tire again, four hours of sleep a night were definitely not enough to survive on. She had been watching Remy nearly an hour now and was still no great revelations about him. Hell, Ah've had six solid months o' th' guy and Ah still ain't got a clue about what goes on in that head o' his. She scowled again. Jerk. She had tried several methods to try and make him keep his distance, most of them involving yelling insults in front of as many of the mansion's inhabitants as possible, but it hadn't seemed to make him back off at all. If anything it had encouraged him further. He was always there, at school, at home, at the park, she couldn't get away from him. It was her ingrained response to push him away, to push everyone away. It was like breathing, she had trained herself to make sure no-one ever got close, it could get them hurt. Especially now. But he was always smirking and trying to touch her, put his arm round her. Apart from annoying the hell out of her, didn't he understand how much it hurt? Why did he always play these games?

Unless, maybe, it wasn't a game anymore. There were a few times when he had seemed almost, sweet, considerate. Now hold on there sugah, sure he done a few nice thing, that don' mean th' boy lahkes ya o' nothing, ya jus' somethin' new. What did he say th' first tahme ya asked him why he wouldn't leave ya alone? "Gambit always love a challenge chere." That's all he thinks o' ya as, a challenge.

Then why does he always come back to you? A little voice at the back of her mind asked her quietly. Why does he keep coming back even after all your rejections? Why is he asleep on your bed? Rogue violently squashed thoughts before they could go any further, but the damage had been done and the hope had blossomed. Maybe there was a chance that... Stop that, no one 'd want a gal they can't touch,' specially as screwed up as ya'. Rogue suddenly found herself fighting tears, the moisture clouding her vision.

Where the hell had all of this come from?

Rogue's eyes widened slightly as she roused herself from her thoughts, fear tracing an icy finger down her spine as she finally felt the movement in her subconscious. Tired and sleepy as she was, she had been caught unawares, caught with her defences down. She bit her lip trying frantically to stop the flow, but it was too late. The hope had hit her harder than it had in a long time, dredging up all the pain and self-hate she had tried to keep down for so long. The swell of negative emotion gave…them, strength, fuelling the hatred, offering a foothold, and before she knew it the dam had broken.

Images, memories, sensations forced themselves into her mind, aggressive and violent. It was like a tide, breaking her walls and flooding her thoughts. The attack was so sudden, so unexpected, she feared she would lose all control and drown in her own mind. Rogue curled into a ball, gripping the sheets in desperation, trying futilely to shield herself from the attack. Squeezing her eyes shut she searched desperately for something to hold onto, some anchor to stop her being swept away.

Among the swirling chaos of her mind, a memory surfaced.

Flashback

Rogue's twisted round in alarm, she had heard something, she was sure of it. Narrowing her eyes she searched the shadows lurking around the roof, behind the chimney, in one of the many recesses or sprawling shadows cast by the many different levels and peaks. Nothing.

"Looking' for somet'ing chere?"

Rogue started at the sound, whirling back round to her previous position to locate the source. Her brow lowered in a scowl as she met the eyes of a cocky teen leaning lazily on a convenient chimneystack, red eyes burning from his shadowed face.

"What 'ya want Cajun?" Not exactly the most original comeback but that was the best she could come up with under the circumstances.

Remy pushed himself away from the chimney and stepped towards her in one fluid movement. Watching, it almost impossible to see where one move ended and the next began. Walking towards her with a distinct swagger he smirked as he answered.

"Gambit came to see what de most belle femme in de mansion be doin' dis…" Remy stopped. He had come close enough to notice the red eyes and damp cheeks answering his unfinished question. His brow furrowed and his deamon eyes glowed with concern, he had meant to sneak up on her, maybe play their little game a while, but he had not expected to find her crying. Seeing his reaction Rogue quickly lowered her head in a vain attempt to hide her previous occupation. Miserably she thought please go away, just go away, turn around an' walk away an' pretend ya' never saw nothin', please. Ah really don't want t' have t' deal with this now…

"Rogue, what's wrong cherie?" Remy closed the distance between them in a few strides, crouching down before her. Rogue kept her head down, fighting her thoughts and her tears, and shook her head.

"Jus leave meh be Cajun. Aint nothin' ya could do even if ya cared ta. Jus go back down an' tell 'em ah'm fahn an' foh Gawd sakes leave meh alone." Remy opened his mouth but before he could speak Rogue added, "An' don' even try an' tell me they didn' tell ya ta come up here an' check on me cos Ah've lived with 'em 2 years an' Ah know perfectly well how they work." Remy shut his mouth again.

For a moment they just sat there, Rogue curled up with her head bowed fighting to maintain her control, Remy crouched before her, frozen in indecision.

Finally, unable to take the tortures stillness any longer, Gambit shifted. Rogue heaved and inward sigh of relief; he was leaving! But instead, he reached forward and gently brushed away strand of hair behind her ear, then traced her jaw line forward with a gloved finger until he reached her chin he pushed her head up to meet his eyes.

He stopped, his face was completely unreadable. Staring into his eyes she felt the slight pull that all the other girls seemed to find amazingly attractive, but before she could rip herself away he spoke again, his voice softer this time.

"Talk t' me chere." Again, she tried to felt the slight pull, but this time the insistence and concern in his eyes stopped her from fighting. Instead, she sighed heavily and shook her head in defeat, keeping an iron grip on the remaining tears. When she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Ah don't know how much longer Ah can fight it." Rogue lowered her head again before she could see the confusion or, worst of all, pity in his eyes.

"Mebbe it's time y' talked t' th' Professor" he suggested quietly. Rogue's head snapped up to look at him in amazement. He was supposed to react with bewilderment, and maybe take the opportunity to flirt outrageously after a comment like that, he wasn't supposed to be understanding. Could he know? If so, how? She searched his eyes for a clue.

Remy just gave a gentle smile before he dropped a kiss on her hair, turned and disappeared over the edge of the roof. Rogue stared after him, eyes wide and mouth open, for a good 30 seconds before she got over the shock. When she finally did react it was to lower her shields, donning the scowl and bitchy attitude with barely disguised relief. How the hell were you supposed to react to something like that?. Still, she couldn't resist a grudging smirk and a "Stupid Cajun" before returning to her room for some much needed sleep.

End

Rogue lay tensed on the bed, eyes tightly closed and breathing shallow as she clung desperately to the memory, her mind flailing helplessly as the tide washed over her. She bit her lip, the sheets still gripped in her shaking fists, she was going to lose her hold any second…

Gradually, though, the swirling faded and the currents settled. There was no energy left to fuel it, so they sank beneath the surface and the fight was over as quickly as it had began. Thankfully, she didn't have to worry about another attack, at least for a while, that one had tapped all available reserves and they would need time to be replenished.

Rogue took several minutes to steady her breathing and heart rate before opening her eyes. Then she just lay watching Gambit sleep, her body and mind weak with relief and exhaustion. That had been very close, she had almost lost it. And, ironically, it was a memory of him that had kept her from loosing all control. Rogue snorted quietly, so far tonight Ah've scared mahself senseless wakin' in th' lab, found Remy 'Jerk' LeBeau asleep next t' mah bed and nearly lost all control of mah mind. Again. Is this some strange alternate reality? No, just another normal day in the life o' Th' Rogue, she thought sarcastically. Ah hate mah life. Then, before she had a chance wallow in self pity, and Ah definitely need more sleep.

Deciding that certain mysteries could be left until morning, she allowed her eyes to close, feeling the pull of sleep almost immediately. Her last thought before the darkness claimed her was well, maybe he ain't that bad…

Well, tell me what you think, please? The next couple of chapters will be more from Remy's point of view, which is why there isn't much detail on his thoughts etc. in this part, cos Rogue wouldn't know. I'm afraid it will be more of the same because I like writing like this and I really can't write with lots of the characters, mainly cos I don't really know any of them.

Oh, tell me what you think of the revised chapters 1 and 2. I was going to offer to put them back the way they were if people preferred them the way they were, but I just realised I deleted them so I'm afraid that isn't going to happen, sorry! Please review!

Thank you!

Vagabond