Blaze It Up!

by AmberEyes

My version of the classic Romy. Rogue and Remy getting together...

6. Can We Never Have A Normal Holiday?

Author's note: I had a lot of positive comments for Unexplainable, my previous Romy fic, saying that readers like the whole bit with Rogue wearing Remy's necklace from the Thieves' Guild, even when they weren't together. So I decided to include it in this story as well, because I liked it and I like writing about it. Enjoy!

P.S: I just wanted to say to readers, the Isis necklace I describe Rogue wearing is an actual necklace I own and wear every day. It was given to me on my seventeenth birthday by a close friend (That's all I'm going to say.) and it means quite a lot to me, which is why I decided to include it in both stories as well.

VI

"I don't get it." Scott said as he looked at his watch and then back at Jean. "They were supposed to meet us down here twenty minutes ago, where are they?"

He glanced over to where Jean was sprawled on the nearby couch, reading the local paper and sighed as he brushed his hands off on his pants and stood. "That's it I'm going to see what their up too, we'll never get a seat in town for dinner if we don't leave now." He strode past Jean, heading for the stairs and was surprised when she snagged him as he pasted her and pulled him down beside her.

"You don't want to do that honey." She said mildly, never taking her eyes off the paper.

"Why not?" Scott asked.

"Trust me." Jean said as she drew him close and kissed him. "You don't want to bother them right now, it's better for us all if you don't."

"Oh," he said clueing in. "Thank you for sparing me the nightmares."

"That's what I'm here for." She said patting his leg as she continued reading.

"Really?" He said "I thought it was for something else." He mentally sent her a graphic image of what he thought it, knew full well that she would pick it up as clear as day.

Without a word Jean tossed the paper over her shoulder and over the back of the couch, grabbed him and kissed him hard, giving him a clear mental picture of what she thought they could being doing at that moment.

"What about Remy and Rogue?" he wheezed as they broke apart for air.

"Their not coming down any time soon," Jean assured him as she began to draw him down onto the couch. "Now as to coming…" she grinned up at him. " That's an entirely different issue to address."

"Now that's a way to start a vacation chere." Remy said with a sigh as he rolled onto his side and tried to catch his breath.

"That's a way ta start an addiction." Rogue informed him as she snuggled closer to him. "Ah may never let you out of bed again Sugah."

"Sounds like a plan." He said as he drew her hair between them and kissed her. "Remy could stay here forever like dis if you want."

"It is tempting." She agreed as she looked up a t him. "But..."

"But?" he cried. "There's a but here Coeur, oh no!"

She laughed and swatted at him playfully. "Ah was going ta say, but Ah'm starving, how 'bout you?"

"Ah ha," he said wagging a finger at her. "So Remy's found your weakness, food."

"That's right," she said with a grin. "If Ah ever leave you, it'll be for a corn beef sandwich, face I'm in love with food."

"My heart is broken," he said dramatically as they both laughed. "So ya wanna get up and get something to eat huh?"

"Ah'm thinkin on it." She said with a nod.

"Den ya better put some cloths on, cause if ya go down stairs like ya are, ya might scare da hell out of Scotty." He said as he caressed her under the covers.

"Speaking of," she said as they both listened to the sounds of harsh breathing coming from just under them. "Sounds like Scott and Jean are kicking off their vacation with the same regards."

"Maybe we ought to wait a while to go down." Remy said with a shudder, "Cause I'm willing ta walk through hell for ya but the nightmares I'd have from seeing Scott in da throes of passion with Jeannie, ain't worth it. Sorry Rogue."

"Ah'm hurt," she said with mock serious as she heaved a heavy dramatic sigh. "Now… what can we do to pass the time while we wait."

"Remy has an idea he think you'll like," he said with a grin as he pulled her close. "After all it won't be too long, dis is Scott we're talken 'bout.

Much later they snuck downstairs clad only in robes (And that was to appease Rogue's sense of modesty, Remy would have been fine naked.) to find the downstairs abandoned and dark, the only light the dying fire in the grate. "Huh," Rogue said as they looked around. "Ah was sure they'd be down here asleep after all that."

"Tell me 'bout it." Remy muttered. "Ya wouldn't know by looking at him dat Scott has dat much in him." He snorted. "No wonder Jean always has a smile on her face."

"Really," Rogue said then a startled look crossed her face. "Wait a minute Sugah, you mean that's why ever time they started to... you started to...were you all competing with Scott?"

Remy smiled at her guiltily as he looked around. "Maybe day be in bed in da back non?" he suggested cocking a thumb in that direction.

"Remy," Rogue said as she went and wrapped her arms around him securely. "You're ten times the stud he is, trust me you don't have anything to worry about, Ah know.

"Really," he said, raising an eyebrow as he pulled back to look at her, startled. "You and he…"

"Once," she said. "It was along time ago at Christmas time, Ah had way to much egg nog and it always makes me horny, Jean and he were fightin and it just happened." She frowned. "It doesn't bother you does it Sugah?"

"No," Remy said unconvincingly. She could tell by the look on his face, it did bother him a lot.

"Good," She said with a perfectly straight face. "'Cause Ah'm kidding."

"Your…" He said as she laughed and took off for the kitchen. "You naughty girl you!" He caught up with girl and grabbed her, giving her bottom a playful swat as he did so. "Don't scare daddy like dat, you'll give me a heart attack!"

She laughed and twisted around, glad for the shield of her hair as they kissed and he bent her over the island in the middle of the kitchen. She stuck out her arm for support and her arm came in contact with a piece of paper on the island. She laughed and broke away from him as she brandished the paper. "Look honey, they left us a note."

Remy took the note from her and perused it light before laughing loudly. "What's it say?' She asked as she swiped at it.

"Hold on, listen" he said as he read it to her "Dear guys, gone out to dinner, didn't want to disturb you. Be back soon. Jean and Scott. P.S Stay away from my goddamn pool table! I just had it re-felted. Scott."

Rogue laughed as she took the note and looked it over. "Typical Scott, if Ah do say do." She sighed mildly. "This mean Ah may well have ta kill Jean for blabbing. So what do you want to eat?"

"Remy don't know," he said "What do you want him ta cook for ya?"

"Really?" She said "You'll cook for me?"

"Remy said he would earlier." He reminded her as he began to open cupboards and rifle through them.

"Yeah but ya'll said Ah had ta be naked." She reminded him.

"So?" he said as he began to gather the ingredients together for a salad and pasta. "It was just a suggestion chere." He stopped for a moment and thought about it. "On da second thought it's not a good idea, one look at you and food will be the last thing on my mind."

"Just tha way Ah like it," She said playfully as he made a face at her.

"You know," she said half an hour later as they dug into the heaping plates of pasta he'd made for them. "It occurs to me this is how we met, in a kitchen, eating food you cooked."

"Your right." He said with a grin. "And look how far we've come since then."

"And come and come and come….," she said with a groan as she rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. "And all because Ah let you seduce me on Logan's prize pool table."

"Yeah, all that work." Remy said with a mock sigh of frustration.

"Work," she said with a sexy grin of her own. "Ah don't call that work Sugah."

"What da ya call it den girl," he asked as he scooped up some more pasta.

"Play with attitude," she informed him as he choked on his food and gulped some of the wine she'd poured earlier. "Ah consider makin you scream mah name the best type of play there is Remy."

"Touché," he said as he tried to stop coughing and focus on the food on is plate. "You want some more?" he offered seeing she'd cleaned off her plate.

She shook her head and sipped her wine as she watched him eat." No thanks, Ah'm saving room for dessert."

"Please God let it be what Remy thinks." He muttered as he pressed his hands together in a prayer potion and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling.

"Oh, not that again," She said in false dismay. "Sugah, Ah'm gonna be bowlegged if we keep this up."

"And keeping it up is exactly what Remy had in mind." He said smartly, laughing as she tossed a dish towel at him.

"Ah'm serious Ah won't be able ta walk tomorrow." She laughed. "Let alone do anything else fun."

"Good, it's an excuse for us to stay in bed again." He said "So Remy can keep you all to himself."

"You've already got me." She told him as she slid off her stool and onto his lap. "And trust me; ya'll got nothing ta worry about."

He didn't say anything just wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair and breathed in her scent. Then he leaned in and kissed her through her hair as she wound her arms around him and kissed him back.

"What was that for?" She asked him as she brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"For being you," he said "And I really wanted to do that the first time we were in the kitchen together but I didn't get the chance."

"Why didn't you?" she asked.

"Because Remy was afraid you'd kick his ass." He told her.

"Ah would have too." She agreed." With the frame of mind Ah was in."

"And now?" he asked as he held her.

"It still hurts sometimes." She admitted as she leaned against him" But not like it did three months ago. Not since Ah have you."

"Good." He said, not letting on how much it meant to him to hear her say that, moving to rise as she hopped up off his lap. "Now how about some dessert?"

It was over fudge ice cream a few moments later as he watched her eat that he knew for sure he was falling in love with Rogue. It wasn't like he hadn't felt it before, he'd known he was falling for her but it hadn't been as clear like it was at that moment. He'd loved women before, he'd loved Bella until he'd found out what she was like, but this was different, this was stronger somehow. It scared him how much he suddenly needed her to live his life, the way he wanted it to be.

Especially since there were details of his life he'd never revealed to her and wasn't looking forward too.

Rogue looked up and saw him watching her and smiled a smile that charmed him like nobody else's could. " What?" she asked she set her bowl down. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, chere" he said as he took a spoonful of ice cream and nearly missed his mouth.

She laughed softly and shook her head. " You've got fudge ice cream on your face Sugah," she said as she reached out and touched a smudge at the corner of his mouth.

He reached up and took hold of her wrist as he pressed a kiss to her open palm. " I'm in love with you."

The words were out of his mouth almost before he realized he'd spoken them and all of a sudden, nothing matter except knowing how she felt. The world could fall away to nothing and the only thing that would matter was what she said next.

There was silence for a moment and he jumped in before she could speak. " You don't have to stay anything if you don't want, its ahright Rogue."

" No," she said with a smile " Ah'm just surprised is all, I mean you took me by surprise. Ah thought it was just me and…" Her voice trailed off.

" What?" he said as he cupped her face with his palm." What do you mean?"

" I mean Ah love you too," she said and her next words were rushed. "And Ah thought it was too early, it's only been three months. Ah was sure that you couldn't be in love with me yet and it was just me, being me."

" Chere," he admonished gently as h hugged her. "How could you think that." He grinned sheepishly. " Remy's love you since the first time he laid eyes on you, even if you were still getting over Ice Cube."

" Really?" she asked. "Even with mah mutation?"

" Because of." He told her and he watched her eyes tear up as his own emotions over whelmed him. " I love you Rogue, because you're you."

" Ah love you too," she said as they held each other and she knew as cheesy as it sounded that she had never loved anyone before like she loved him. What she'd had with Bobby hadn't been love like she'd thought and yet it amazed her that even with that blunder under her belt, she'd still managed to find the real thing somehow.

They let peace hold rein for a moment as they held each other and let even thing sink in. After a moment Remy spoke and broke the silence...

"Does egg nog really make you horny?"

The sun from the skylight above her woke Rogue the next morning as she rolled over in bed and automatically reached for Remy, only to find his side of their bed empty and almost cool to the touch. She sat up in bed, the covers pooling around her waist as she realized she was alone in the room and had been for quite a while. She looked around warily as the memories of making love with Remy the night before came back to her and she blushed, dropping back against the pillows as her worries fell away to be let with euphoria. They had made love almost all night after returning from the kitchen, sleeping and waking each other when ever they pleased.

Rogue snuggled against the pillows, letting her eyes close as sleep began to take her again, even as she heard the bedroom door open and knew he had returned to her.

"You're awake," he told her even as she kept her eyes closed. "Remy can tell because you're smiling."

She opened her eyes to find him standing by the beside, clad in his black silk bathrobe, holding a tray of food as he smiled down at her. She sat up against the pillows as she pushed her hair out of her eyes. "What's this?' she asked.

"What does it look like?" Remy said as he set the trey down on her lap and climbed down beside her. "Breakfast of course." He surveyed the trey with wary eyes' "Let's see, we've got fresh fruit, bagels with cream cheese and lox, coffee of course, eggs and bacon and grits."

Rogue jaw dropped, "Honey it's just the two of us, not the whole invading Roman army." She shook her head and laughed softly as she saw his crestfallen expression. "That being said, thank you." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him quickly through the sheet of her hair before moving to attack the plate of food he'd made for her.

"Your welcome," he said he passed her a cup of coffee and snagged a sausage of his own.

"Are Jean and Scott up?" She asked as she by passed the eggs and went straight to the grits.

"Remy heard da water running in their room as he passed, and judging by the laughter he heard, their up and keeping it up. Remy thinks we're on our own today Amour, at least for da morning." He said as he fed her a piece of bacon.

"And ya'll managed to make this without them noticing you were cooking?" Rogue asked as she tried to swallow it.

"Remy's very good at what he does," he said wiggling an eyebrow. "And he… left some for them as well."

"Good man," she said with a giggle as she picture the pair walking in on the spread Remy had left them.

"So," Remy asked as they lounged together in bed, comfortable for the moment but willing to move at any time should the interest arise. "What do you want to do today, Ski? Jean said on the plane last night, the best place to ski is only a ten minute drive by jeep, some sort of public resort. She said it's possible to ski here in private but it's not as fun"

"Ah don't ski." She told him.

"Okay, how 'bout sledding." He said, "Or hiking they could be fun?"

"Ah don't sled or hike." She said taking a sip of coffee.

"Skating?"

"Nope."

"Snowball fight?"

"Uh huh." She said with a shake of her head.

"Den what you do, exactly on a winter themed vacation, might I ask chere." He said in exasperation.

"Ah sit in the lodge and read magazines, drink cocoa and stay warm." She told him as she rose and headed for the bathroom to shower. "Ah'm, a lodge bunny, Sugah, and that'll never change."

"Oh really?" He said as he rolled onto his side and rested his head on his hand. "Is that a challenge? Rogue

So that was how two hours later, Rogue found herself standing at the top of an impressive ski hill, staring down at Remy from where he was at the bottom. She shot him a dirty look she hoped he could see (but that she doubted he could) and tried to stall a bit longer. Visions of spending Christmas in traction began to haunt her, the only consolation was in, she was never the one in traction, the smart ass glaring up at her with the I'm-a-proficent-skier-aren't-I-sexy-godamn-crazy-cajun, grin on his face was.

"Come on Rogue!" Remy said. "Ain't nothing to it, you'll learn it up, in no time at'll."

"Ah don't want to learn." She cried back. "Ah'm only doing this so you'll tell me where in the house, ya'll hid all mah panties!"

"Dat's right," he called back with a truly demonic laugh as she struggled with the urge to fly down the hill and beat him to a pulp with his own ski pole. "Ten pairs for ten trips down the slopes or sum such, dat's the only way your gonna get them back."

"Remy, Ah'm a southerner!" she wailed "Ah got no use for skiing, and ah hate the cold. Ah'd much rather be in the lodge reading my new Vanity Fair."

"What's that?" He called, oblivious to the fact others were staring at them and laughing as the scene played out. "You don't want dem back, dat's fine with me chere, makes things a hell of a lot easier on dis Cajun's part." He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "And you know what part Remy means."

"Ah, hate you!" She called cheerfully as she started to ascend seeing she had no choice.

"Remy knows." He called back, just as cheerfully as he stood at the bottom and watched her.

"That your girlfriend?" One unfamiliar young man asked as he stood by Remy and watched Rogue wobble down the slope.

Remy nodded. "It's her first time on da slopes."

"Your lucky." The man said. "My wife would kill me if I pulled anything like that on her."

"Oh she will." Remy said. "Remy'll just make sure he runs faster den she can catch." He turned his eyes back to Rouge, noticing something before her inexperienced eye did.

"Rogue honey!" he called but it was too late, she was already in the air and he knew he'd probably spend the rest of the vacation on the couch. "Watch out for da moguls."

"Ah'm gonna get you, goddamn crazy Cajun!!!"

Remy winced as she watched her hit the snow and roll and bounce the rest of the way down, cursing a streak so blue it was cobalt as she did so.

He was so screwed when she caught him this time and not in a good way.

Cursing he bent down and unhooked his own skis and began to jog towards her to help her up from where she'd crashed and stopped, lying in the snow glaring at him from a hundred feet away, spitting snow out as she violently cursed him and his ancestors with curses so foul he was sure Mama Lalaia in New Orleans would have been proud of her.

And the young man he'd been talking too, one Bobby Drake, AKA Iceman watched him go with a jealous and devious smirk on his face before turning and starting back for the lodge . The last thing he wanted to do was have Rogue find out he was there, watching her.

Yet.

"You did real well," Remy said as he helped Rogue to her feet. "That was great for your first time!"

The punch came out of nowhere and Remy was lucky, he saw it coming so she just grazed him. If she hadn't she would have broken his nose and possibly other venerable( Not to mention valuable) parts of his male anatomy.

Well not that part at least, that part of him was safe. She liked it to much to hurt it.

At least he thought so.

He wasn't really willing to take that chance though, so he thought it best to try and fix the situation.

However the situation wasn't over though, not by far. Because he ducked Rogue's fist kept going, sending her in a spiral (Much to her surprise) and then back onto her ass in the snow, sending up a cloudy of puffy white dust as she landed.

Far from being mad that his own girlfriend had tried to clean his clock, Remy squatted down on his haunches and offered a hand to help her up as he tried to stop the laughter inside from bubbling up and getting him shot, stabbed, castrated, tortured, poisoned, draw, quartered and eventually killed.

Rogue accepted with a sweet smile that should have tipped him off, but didn't and he suddenly found himself down in the snow beside her as she playfully rubbed a glove full of snow in his face as payback.

"Okay! Okay Arreter! Arreter! S'il Vous Plait!" He yelled with a laugh as he tried to get away. This resulted in a tussle between him and Rogue in the snow as she tried to for ( for all intents and purposes) bury him up to his fine Cajun ass in fresh snow.

" Still hate me?" he asked as he rolled to his side in the snow and looked down at her. She responded by smiling demurely at him, and dropping a hand full of ice cold snow down his back as he yelped and twisted away. " A yes would have sufficed darlin!"

He climbed to his feet and offered as hand cautiously After a moment she accepted and he pulled her to her feet, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they started for where he'd let his skis. " So what's next?" he asked as they started to walk towards the lodge with their skis slung over their shoulders. "Skating, hiking?" he hugged her and kissed her hair. "Or another trip down da slopes maybe?"

Rogue gave him a sideways glance from under her now sopping hair and he coughed, knowing that if looks could kill he'd be as cold as the snow now falling around them.

"How 'bout some lunch chere?"

"So dis is how you like to spend your vacations?" Remy said as he took a sip of his coffee and set it on the low table in front of them. He lounged back against the couch and glanced down at her, to where she was lounging curled up against his chest. She smiled at him contentedly and he began to feel a heat that had absolutely nothing to do the fire roaring the grate in front of them.

"This is perfect for me, Remy," she said as she gazed at the fire. "This is what Ah call a good vacation, something where Ah can relax and enjoy mah self." She reached out and tipping his chin down, kissed him through her neck scarf. "And do things like this."

"This." Remy said as they broke apart. "Remy could get used to, Amour."

"Good," Rogue said as she sat up to take a sip of her cocoa and then sat back down again. "Does that mean ya won't drag me back out in the snow after lunch?" She grinned. "We'll stay here?"

"Not a chance." He said, delighting in the severely annoyed look she got from his response. He laughed " You really don't like the cold do you?"

"No," she said sulkily "Ah don't."

"Don't worry, Remy'll keep you warm." He said snuggling against her suggestively, biting back his much wanted question of, if she didn't like cold thing how could she have dated Bobby for so long? The boy must have been like kissing an ice box.

Suddenly it occurred to him exactly why she avoided any situation where she was exposed to ice, cold and snow and he understood. He hurried to cover what he'd almost said. "And Remy means, during the day and at night."

" Ah'm counting on it Cajun." She said as the light on the table blinked indicating that their table was clean and ready for use. " Until then, let's eat!"

The waitress showed them to their seats at a cozy secluded table, and Rogue smiled as she ordered an Irish coffee and then a bowl of clam chowder for lunch while he ordered the gumbo and another coffee.

Rogue looked around, smiling at the red and green décor that hinted, that Christmas was right around the corner, as well as the nine foot Christmas tree decorated to the nines with lights and decorations. Around the lodge decorations hung, while colored lights dotted the windows. The entire lodge looked like Santa's village and she couldn't have been happier.

The holidays were Rogue's favorite time of year, apparently Remy wasn't quite as chipper or in the holiday mood.

" Damn lodge looks like Santa's place on crack." he muttered and she felt her good mood dissipate a bit.

" It's almost Christmas Eve." She said. " Aren't ya looking forward ta it?"

" Not particularly." He said with a shrug. " Why?"

" It just," she said. " It's one of mah favorite times of the year. Why don't ya like it?"

" Guess Remy don't have many good holiday memories like you do chere." He said. " Until I was older Remy never really had anything ta look forward to on Christmas morning, suppose its jus stuck with me." He said.

" Well it'll be good this year, Ah'll change your mind about it you wait and see." Rogue said as she picked up his hand and kissed its palm affectingly through his gloves. " Ah promise, Scrooge."

" Don't know how." He said as he held her hand in his. " Remy already got the best gift possible."

" What's that?" she asked as the waitress brought their food.

" You, chere," he said seriously as he kissed her hand. " You. Remy couldn't ask for anything more dis year."

Rogue smiled as she felt tears prick her eyes, and he reached up and wiped them gently away before starting to eat his meal.

"So really," he said as they ate. "What do you do after lunch?"

"Ah don't know," she admitted. " Ah guess Ah'll have ta put mah self in your capable hands Cajun."

"A dangerous thin ta do," he said softly and sexily. "You sure it's something you try?"

"Of course," she said with a laugh "Ah trust you implicitly, ya'll know that." He wondered if she knew just how far, she'd come in the months he'd known her. He'd never felt so proud of anyone in his life, or so worried that if she found out about his past he'd lose her forever.

"How 'bout skating?"

"What?" he asked as he jarred his thoughts away from the dark and dangerous path they were heading down. Those thoughts, he knew, were best left in the dark cavern where he'd pushed them since he'd left New Orleans's. He hadn't allowed himself to think of them since he'd met Rogue and he didn't know why they were popping into his brain now.

Because he loved her.

Because he didn't want to lose her and he knew that if he wasn't completely honest with her soon, when the truth came out he would…and it would kill him, especially now

She'd bared her heart and soul to him from the first moment they met, even as total strangers and he really hadn't. He'd carefully omitted the details of his life he didn't want her to know, hadn't thought she'd needed to know and now he knew he should have been totally honest with her from the start.

He just didn't know how to be honest with her, at that moment.

"Earth to Remy!"

"What?" he asked as he zoned back into what Rogue was saying and saw how worriedly she was looking at him.

"Are you ahright Sugah?" She asked as she laid her gloved hand over his.

"I'm fine Rogue," he said as it occurred to him fully, how badly he'd wronged her by not telling her everything about him when he had the chance. It was like a veil had lifted from his face as soon as he realized he had her implicit trust, and given him a moment of clarity to what he hadn't yet told her.

The truth about Bella and himself.

And it wasn't a pleasant moment at all.

"Ah was gonna suggest skating on the lake," Rogue said as she stared at him. " But maybe we should jus head back ta the cabin and see what Jean and Scott are up too, you look like ya might be coming down with something Sugah."

"Remy's fine." He said as he steeled his resolve and pushed his errant thoughts aside. He'd be damned if he'd be even more of an ass then he'd already been and ruin the first decent vacation she'd ever been on. He' waited a long time to tell her everything, it would kill him to do so but he could wait a bit longer. "Skating sounds good, chere." He cleared his throat. "And to answer your question Remy saw Jean and Scott heading for da riding trails awhile ago, he thinks we're pretty much on our own today."

"Good." She said as she motioned for the check. "'Because that's just the way Ah want it."

Twenty minutes later, hand in hand, they walked down the path to the skating pond. The land around them was a sparkling white, and while Rogue knew it was mostly artificial it was still beautiful and it still took her breath away. "Sure is pretty here," she said as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"That it is," he said as they flashed their day passes at an attendant and proceeded down the slope to the lake. It was fairly crowded with people and Remy winced. "Dis might be a good time ta bring up da fact…Remy's a terrible skater."

"Don't worry." She teased. "Ah'll watch and catch you if you stumble sugah."

"That's supposed ta be my line." He said playfully as they sat down on a bench to throw on their skates.

"Oh well," She said as she leaned in and kissed his cheek quickly, before her powers could kick in. "We are the last people ever accused of being conventional, after all."

"True enough." He grunted as he wobbled to his feet at the same time she slid gracefully to hers.

"Hey!" he said indigently as he watched her glide effortlessly onto the icy lake. "Remy thought you didn't like skating."

"Ah don't normally" she called back as she spun in a graceful circle with her arms out stretched. "Doesn't mean Ah'm not a damn good skater though."

"Apparently." He called as he watched her. "Wait up for me chere!"

He wobbled forward, cursing as he did so, and tried to catch up with her. "Rogue," he called as he stumbled along and tried not to fall on his ass on the ice. "Remy's not so good at dis."

"You're doing fine," she assured him as she started to glide back to his side.

"Bullshit." He called merrily. He was not encouraged by the fact a six year old girl with Barbie skates, skated by him with enough grace to put him to shame easily.

"Da Remy's a land creature by nature." He called as his feet began to slip out from under him and he began to wobble precariously. "He don't do well on da ice, it ain't his natural habitat." As he spoke he could feel himself begin to fall, and he prayed he would have some dignity left afterwards.

Just as he was about to hit the ice, a pair of arms grabbed him from behind and pulled him back up, thus by preserving both his ass and his dignity. He looked over his shoulder and straight into Rogue's eyes as she set him back on his feet, "Ah told you Ah'd catch you Cajun." She said as she wound her arm through his and began to guide him along. He hadn't even noticed she'd circled around him to catch him until it was too late for him not to fall.

"Dis is better." He said as they coasted along and he began to get his feet, feeling steadier and steadier as he did so. "Remy could get used to dis if he tried."

"Ah'm glad." She said as they made a short loop around the pond and then back again. They skated together for a few moments, laughing at the kids playfully skirting around them and the dirty looks Remy was giving them as he wobbled past.

"So," she said finally. "Are you ready to try on your own?"

"Not a chance in hell." he said as he tried to grip on to her arm but she slid away, leaving him to stand on his own to feet. A cold breeze blew by him and he shivered and pulled his coat around him as he started forward, amazed at how much easier it got once he got the hang of it. She was just ahead of him, smiling as she waited for him, and a stronger breeze blew past him again, causing him to look around to see where it came from.

This caused him to go off balance and he stumbled, trying desperately to get his footing and failing as he pitched forward and the wind blew again. It was strong, cold and bitter, and much to Remy's surprise it held a rage he'd never felt before. He knew right away, this wasn't nature, not at all.

This… was an attack.

Across the ice, Rogue watched as Remy skated towards her and then stumbled, catching his foot in the ice as a frigid wind blew across the ice towards them from the shore. She started forwards to help him; not noticing the wind seemed to be leaving everyone alone, except them. The cold wind hit her again, so strong it nearly knocked her off her feet as she tried to stay up right and make it to Remy's side before he fell. It was almost like she could feel a familiar malice in it.

A malice she knew all to well from her past.

She looked around as she tried to make it to Remy's side, searching the shore for a familiar face but seeing none as the wind hit her again, lifting her off her feet as she struggled to free herself from it and move forward to Remy's side where while he was still on his feet, he was losing ground fast.

"Remy!" She called as she pushed forward.

"Rogue!" he called back as he fell to his knees. "Stay back girl."

"Ah can't," she said as the wind slammed into her again. This time however she was unprepared. She'd been focusing on Remy, and it caught her off guard, the hostile wind picked her up easily and before she could use her powers of flight to try and escape, slammed her into the ice hard, knocking her out cold, before dissipating like it had never been.

Remy looked up as the wind disappeared and breathed a sigh of relief… until he saw Rogue lying on the ice a few feet away. With a petrified curse he began to make his way to her still form as people began to gather around her.

He pushed past the crowed, and dropping to his knees, gathered her in his arms. He checked her over, noting the bleeding gash on her temple and the bruise that was already forming, as her eyes began to flutter and open again, looking at him cloudily. "Remy," she whimpered softly. "What happened?"

Before he could answer ,she passed out again, going limp and still in his arms, far too still for his liking and he knew she was badly hurt. He got to his feet as quick as he could on his damn skates, holding her tightly in his arms as he stumbled for shore. He needed to get her off the ice, away from people who could be hurt by her mutation. He needed to get her help.

He needed Jean.

Fast.

On the other side of the gathered crowed, Bobby watched as the fool Cajun carried Rogue off the ice and away. His little wind hadn't worked as well as he'd thought it would but he wasn't discouraged, he had plenty of time to figure out a way to get to them.

He turned and began to walk away, heading in the opposite direction of the two southern lovers.

This might turn out to be a very satisfactory vacation after all.

" Well," Jean said as she stepped away from the bed, after assessing Rouge's injuries. " You two certainly managed to do it this time."

" How bad is she?" Remy asked from his position next to Rogue on their bed. It was the longest sentence he'd uttered since calling mentally for Jean almost an hour and a half before. He was lucky she and Scott had been eating in the lodge and could get to him quickly, from where he was waiting by the edge of the lake. Jean had rushed her to the car while he'd ripped off his skates and then met them a scant moment later.

Jean sighed, and wiped her hands off on a cloth before turning to face him. "She's got a concussion, and some badly bruised ribs but given the fact she's invincible, I'd say she'd going to live.

"Good." Rogue said groggily. " Cause while Ah could handle being killed by Magneto or Sinister, Ah think a winter wind would be a little much."

Jean laughed and shook her head. "You're going to be fine but that concussion means you're going to have to take the meaning of vacation and relaxation to the extreme, at least two days in bed and then we'll see how you feel. I bound your ribs up, that should help them heal faster but your still going to have trouble breathing, and it's really gonna hurt for a couple of weeks, at least" She picked up her medical bag, glad she always kept a spare at the cabin and moved to leave the room. She could see Rogue was upset as well as feel it and she figured that she'd want to be alone with Remy. "I'll check in on you a bit later, be more careful in the future okay?"

She turned and left the room, dragging Scott with her as she did so and shutting the door behind her as she went. When they were gone, Rogue let out the shaky breath she'd been holding and struggled not to cry as her ribs and head throbbed. "Great, what the hell are we going to do now?" she whimpered as she turned her face into Remy's chest, and tried to curl into his arms, finding it painful and difficult because of her ribs.

Without a word, Remy kicked off his boots and curled up in the bed beside her on top of the covers; stretching his legs out so they lay along side hers. He rested his head against the pillows beside her and after carefully placing his arms around her, pulled her close to him, as close as he could get, given her mutation. " What your gonna do, Belle Cherie." He said as he looked down at her. " Is rest and let Remy take care of you until your better."

" But that's no fun for you," she protested. " Ah've ruined your vacation!"

" No, you haven't," he said with a laugh, " Don't talk dumb, let Remy decided for himself what's fun or not."

" But it's true," she whispered as her voice broke and tears started rolling down her cheeks.

" No it's not," he said seriously. " Rogue, I can't think of anything else I'd rather do den take care of you, 'sides it's only for a few days and den you'll feel better and we can finish our vacation."

" Ah love you." She said as she leaned against him.

" I love you too." He whispered as he kissed her hair. " Now get some rest, so you can get better, fast!"

Later, after Rogue was asleep, Remy slipped quietly down the stairs from the loft, hoping to catch Jean for a moment before she retired for the evening.

As luck would have it, she was coming up the stairs to check on Rogue as he was coming down, so he caught her while he had the chance to actually talk to her.

" How's Rogue?" Jean asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and stopped her procession up the loft steps.

" Good," Remy told her as she nodded her approval. " Resting at the moment.

" I was just on my way to check her out," Jean informed him. " But if she's sleeping…"

" Can Remy talk to ya'll for a moment?" he asked as he moved them down the stairs.

" Sure," She said as she followed him to the living room. " about what?'

" Oh, nothing serious," He assured her. " Just wanted your opinion on something, Remy had in mind is all…"

When Remy left the living room a few minutes later, he was feeling much better, better then he had in along time. His talk with Jean had given him some idea of what he could do to make Rogue feel better and he was ready to get to work.

He was just reaching the stairs to the loft when Scott's voice called out from the kitchen, making him wince. " Honey, why is there pair of black thong panties in the freezer?"

Remy winced as he remembered another task he had to do. With a curse in French, he stalked back to the kitchen, only to find Scott still standing stock still, staring at the panties dangling from between his fingers in horror and dismay.

" Do you mind!" Remy said with an over exaggerated huffy sigh as he snatched the panties from his hand.

Without another word he turned and stalked back out of the room, hearing Scott sputtering behind him as he watched the Cajun storm off in mock indignation. Remy struggled not to laugh as he headed for the bedroom, with Rogue's panties dangling from his hand casually.

He just prayed to God that Scott wouldn't look in TV cabinet or the ball rack of his pool table.

"ARRGHHH, LEBEAU!!!"

Too late.

"A surprise?" Rogue asked as she lounged in bed beside him the next afternoon. "What kind of a surprise?"

"You jus wait and see chere." He said as he patted her leg reassuringly. "Gambit has taken care of everything."

"Everything what?' she asked, a little exasperated. " Aren't you even gonna give me a hint of a clue?"

"How are you feeling today?" he asked as he snuggled against her.

"Fine" she said huffily. "Just like the last time you asked me!"

"Define fine," he asked. "And better don't count as an answer!"

"Better," she said watching as he snorted and rolled his eyes. "Mah head hurts less; I'm not dizzy like Ah was. My ribs still hurt pretty badly though."

"Dat's normal according to Jean." Remy told her as he stroked her covered arm softly.

"So you're really not going to tell me anything?" She protested with a yawn.

Remy laughed and kissed her hair as she yawned again. "Time for your afternoon nap, li'l River Rat." He adjusted the covers around her and kissed her again. "You rest now, and when ya wake up Remy'll have da first part of your surprise ready for ya."

"Ah'm not tired." She said groggily as she drifted off and he held her as tightly as he dared.

"Sure." He said with a snort as he watched her. "And most gators in da bayou are vegan."

He held her close for a few moment, savoring the heat of her body as she slept soundly. He wanted tonight to be special, just the two of them together alone. Remy wasn't sure how he'd managed to fall so in love with her but as he watched her sleep he knew he needed her, that for the first time in his life he gave a damn what somebody else thought of him and what he did…and he knew he didn't want to lose her.

Rising from the bed, he moved to the door to leave but stopped for a moment to watch her sleep, he still had something's to do to make sure that night went out with a hitch and Rogue enjoyed herself.

Because tomorrow it would end.

When Rogue woke a few hours later, she yawned and stretched gingerly as she opened her eyes. To her surprise and delight, a single white rose rested beside her head on the pillow. As she rolled over to retrieve it she met a pair of smiling eyes twinkling back at her. Remy was stretched out length for length with her, one arm propped on his head as he watched her sleep silently.

" Have a good rest P'tite?" he asked as he watched her.

" Very," she said as she picked up the rose and sniffed it nonchalantly, noticing he was dressed in a pair of dress pants and a button down dress shirt.

" Good." He said as he pulled her close. " Ready for da first part of da night den?" he kissed the top of her head. " Cause it'll be waiting outside for you in a little while."

" Do Ah look ready?" she asked as she gestured to the fact she was only wearing a body stocking and one of his button down shirts.

" No," he agreed as he laid a box down on the bed. " You'd look better if you were wearing this, Remy thinks."

Rogue opened the box with shaking hands to reveal the most beautiful black lace dress she'd ever seen, there was even a pair of black lave gloves and a lace body stocking to go with it. " Remy," she breathed, knowing it must have cost him a fortune. " It's beautiful."

" Not nearly as much as you are," he said softly. " Do you need help putting it on?"

" Definitely." She said as she fought back tears. "But what ah really need is a bath… Ah've been in bed all day."

" Remy thought as much." He said with a laugh. " Dare's one waiting for you in da bathroom." He cleared his throat. "Do you need any help, getting in the tub, with your ribs?"

She nodded miserably, waiting for the inevitable fact to surface that he couldn't help her bath, not the way she wanted him too.

" Remy thought of that too," he said and she watched as he slipped on a thin pair of soft gloves. He flipped back the covers and offered an arm to her as she tried to get out of bed. "After you."

When she had bathed and carefully slipped on her body stocking, Gambit helped her slip on her new dress; she sat on the end of the bed gingerly as Gambit ran a brush through her hair. It was soft and springy from the bath, and she couldn't express how good it felt to have him run the brush through the silky strands again and again.

"Do you want it up or down?" he asked as he ran the brush through it again.

"What would look better?" she asked, trying to look over her shoulder at him and wincing as her ribs pulled.

"Up." He said with a nod. "But it's what you want, chere."

"No," she said with a nod as she reached for a nearby clip. "Up is fine, can you pin it up for me?"

He took the clip from her hand, and pinned her hair up so half was caught by the clip and the other half fell in natural curls around her shoulders. "There." he said as he tossed the can of hair spray aside and held a mirror up for her to see. "Volia!"

"It looks good," she approved with a smile. "Where'd you learn to do long hair like that Sugah?"

He muttered an answer she couldn't hear as he took a bobby pin from his mouth and slid it into her hair.

"What?" she asked innocently, although she'd caught some of what he'd said.

"Remy said, he used to have hair longer then yours." He said in an exasperated tone. " So he knows how to put it up."

"Really." She said, raising an eyebrow as she picked him with long curly hair and laughed.

" Don't laugh ,Rogue." He said as he helped her with her make up. " And don't tell any one, okay? Especially not Scooter."

"Why can't Ah tell Scott?" She asked as she picked a color of lip stick and he helped her smooth it on.

" Because if you do, Remy'll have to tell him exactly where on your body you've got that birth mark, you know the crescent moon shape on the inside of your…"

" Done!" Rogue said as she caught on, she knew he was dead serious and she didn't like it one bit.

" Good." Remy said as he put her make up away. She watched in amazement as he pulled a blindfold and a plush white velvet blanket out of the closet . " So are you ready for part two?"

A moment later, with the blindfold in place, and wrapped in the blanket for some unknown reason, Rogue let Remy carry her down the stairs out of the loft. " Where are we going Sugah?" she asked as she clung to his neck.

" You'll see." He said with a laugh. " Trust me."

She felt herself being carried, and a cold breeze told her that they were heading outside. She shivered, more in anticipation then cold and tried to see around the blindfold but it was no use. She was completely at the mercy of Remy LeBeau… and it thrilled her to the core. She felt herself being lifted and the blankets smoothed around her as she was set down, sitting up.

Her curiosity was just about to get the better of her when Remy spoke again. " Ready to see?"

" Yes!" she practically shouted in his ear as he moved to take the blindfold off and he laughed.

" Ahright, ahright. Dare's no need ta deafen Remy." He said with a laugh as he whisked and she gasped in shock and delight as she took everything in around her.

" Remy." She breathed, not quite believing what she was seeing. Rogue was seated in a bright red old fashioned sleigh, or cutter she supposed it was called, pulled by two pure white horses. As she watched they tossed their heads in unison, their manes flying as they pawed the ground eager to go. A driver sat on a perch, dressed in a top and tails, as he watched he tipped his hat and smiled at her.

Without a word Remy began tucking another heavy fur blanket around her carefully, before hopping up in the cutter himself. " You like?" he asked as he slid under the blankets with her and pulled them around them for warmth against the cold night.

" Ah love." She said as she leaned against him. " But what 'bout mah ribs, won't the sleigh's movements jar them?"

" Don't worry." He soothed. " Remy checked thins out with your Doctor and she said everything would be fine if we was careful. Dat's why you're wrapped in da white blanket and da fur blanket, we don't want da night ruined because da sleigh hurts yours ribs, do we?"

" Ah love you Cajun." She whispered, touched he'd thought of everything.

" Remy loves you too but we ain't done yet, girl." He informed her as he motioned for the driver to start moving. " In fact, we're jus getting started."

" Remy." She said with a laugh as the cutter started moving. " What did you do?"

" Nothing teach, really." He said with mock innocence. " Remy just knows how bad you felt 'bout getting hurt this vacation, and he knows how much you like da holidays, so…"

His voice trailed off.

" So?" she said as they started to round a bend.

" So he thought," he said as he took her covered hand in his. " Dat a romantic sleigh ride 'round da lake might make you feel better?"

" This would be the same lake that," her voice trailed off and became a squeak as they fully rounded the bend. " Tried to kick my ass."

The path ahead of them was light with Christmas lights as far as she could see. Tiny twinkling lights of various colors adorned the landscape, on the trees, strung between them, adorning the edges of the covered path as far as she could see, lighting their path. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and it took a moment for it to sink in that he had arranged it for her, because he knew she would like it.

" It's beautiful." She breathed as they both looked around. " How did you manage…?" she couldn't find the words to finish as she looked around in amazement

" Don't ask questions." He said with a soft laugh. "Just enjoy it Rogue, tonight it's for us, dat's all dat matters."

She nodded silently and he could see she was at a total lose for words.

" Remy's glad you like it." He told her as he kissed her temple through her hair and they both settled back to enjoy the ride around the lake together.

For a few moments, nether spoke, they just enjoyed the ride as they snuggled together against the cold wind until Rogue spoke. "Look at that," she said pointing to a cluster of bright blue lights. "Isn't it pretty."

"Like Remy went and said before, it's beautiful non? But not as beautiful as you are." He said as he grazed her cheekbone with a gloved hand and he kissed her through her hair.

"Flatterer." She said, although she blushed profusely as they continued around the edge of the lake.

"Around you, chere," he said as he kissed her again. "Definitely."

"So where are we headed?" she asked a few moments later, as she leaned her head against his shoulder and glanced up at the starry sky above them.

"Just up head." He informed her, knowing that he had her full attention. "But ya got ta close your eyes for a minute, till we get there okay?"

"Again?" she said but obligingly closed her eyes.

"Yes again, naughty girl." He scolded. "Remy'll tell you when you can open them. Don't peek now, or you'll spoil the third part of da surprise"

It seemed like an eternity of darkness before he spoke. "Okay, amour, open your eyes."

Rogue obliged, and was thoroughly surprised for the second time that night. A head of them a spectaular white glassed in gazebo was coming into view. Light with white twinkle lights, it shone out like a beacon against the dark winter sky and Rogue couldn't help but let it take her breath away. "Is... that for us?" she breathed as she took in the softly light scene.

"But, of course." He said as the sleigh began to stop. "Just for us, just for tonight." He smiled at her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Leased for da night, and catered by, by da best." Remy leaned in close and kissed the base of her throat through the blanket.

"Merry Christmas Rogue."

When the sleigh stopped a moment later, Remy hopped out onto the cleared path and offered her a hand. "Ready?" he said as she stepped down.

"Most definitely." She said, not alarmed when he scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside.

Rogue looked around in amazement as a footman opened the door for them. Inside, amid the soft candle light and music was a romantic table set for two with a bottle of wine waiting for them. The table was flanked by two overstuffed chairs, because Remy knew that she wouldn't be able to stand sitting in a hard back chair all night, with her bruised sides.

"This is perfect." She said, watching as he pulled a playing card from his pocket, charged it and lit the candle in the center of the table before letting the card disintegrate with a light puff of smoke.

"Remy's glad you think so." He said as he opened the wine and poured her a glass.

Rogue hesitated for a moment, she'd taken some pretty heavy pain killers earlier and she knew she really shouldn't drink anything with them as much as she wanted too. She opened her mouth to speak but Remy cut her off.

"It's non-alcoholic." He informed her mildly as he looked up and met her eyes with a ragged grin. "Remy didn't want ya ta get all loopy because of da pain pills." He grinned again. "Remy wants it to be him, dat gets ya dat way."

"Oh yeah right," she said as she waved a lace clad hand at him. "You'd relish a chance ta get me loopy and vulnerable, so you'd have the chance ta take advantage of me."

"Damn straight." He said mock seriously. "But dat'll come later."

She tossed her napkin at him playfully and he tossed it back as at her as a waiter came up and stood silently for a moment watching the two banter before speaking. "Do you care to eat now sir?"

"Yes, definitely." Rogue said, not caring a whit that she couldn't decide what she was eating. "What are we having?"

"Caesar salad and bread to start off." The waiter informed her. "Followed by a smoked salmon dish and potato's scalloped Au Gratin. That'll be followed by the main dish of Crawfish Etouffee and then a dessert of chocolate fudge mousse and éclairs."

"All mah favorite food." She said with a laugh as she smiled a Remy as the waiter went to get the salads. "What's the occasion?"

"No occasion really," he said as he sipped his own wine. "The holidays Remy guesses."

Rogue nodded, appearing to take what he said in stride then a look of horror crossed her face. "Ya didn't bring me here ta break up with me did you?"

"No!" he said quickly with a laugh. "Chere, how could ya think dat?"

She looked down and shrugged and he leaned over across the table, catching her chin on the tips of his gloved fingers and forcing her to stare him in the eyes. "We're hear to enjoy da night together." He said softly as he brushed a kiss lightly across her forehead before sitting back again in his chair. "And dat's all."

Rogue opened her mouth to speak, tears again fogging her eyes and was relived when the waiter brought the salad so she could focus on eating. She just hoped he didn't see the tears that were falling lightly as she ate and wondered how in the world she'd managed to find a man like Remy Lebeau.

An hour and a half later as the waiters were taking the dessert dishes away, Rogue leaned back in her chair with a contented sigh and wiped at the corners of her mouth with her napkin. She was beginning to think she was dreaming, the food had been perfect, the music divine and she couldn't believe the night wasn't going to fade away like a wisp of smoke from a summer night camp fire.

"Happy?" Remy asked as he watched her.

"Blissfully Sugah." She informed him then smiled and said seriously for a moment "Thank you for tonight Remy."

He smiled at her and patted her hand. "It ain't over yet Rogue, reached under the table edge and see what's there."

"Another surprise?" she said as she felt along the table's edge and under it.

"It was supposed ta be a Christmas gift." He confessed, watching as she came way with a small leather box that he'd hidden there earlier. "But Remy couldn't wait for you to have it." Rogue stared at the box for a moment then her eyes flashed back to him in question and he chuckled softly. "Go ahead and open it girl, its ahright."

Rogue opened the box, and gasped softly as she lifted a gorgeous sliver pendent on a slim sliver chain out of the box and dangled it off her hand. The pendent was of a women, (or more correctly the Egyptian Goddess Isis) sitting with outstretched wings touching each other softly. Above her head she held aloft an orb, her arms out stretched to the sky.

"It's beautiful." Rogue told him as she held it aloft to catch the light of the candles. "What does it mean Remy?"

"It's the symbol of the Thieves Guild, my guild." He explained softly. "Don't ask me why, Remy really don't know." He cleared his throat and tried to calm his nerves. He'd never in his life thought he'd be giving anyone his necklace and it was an emotional experience. "Anyways, in da Guild when you care for someone... when you love someone Rogue, ya give them your necklace."

"It means you belong to someone." She said softly.

"Exactly but more." He said. "It means you're always in their thoughts, you're always part of them, with them even at the worst times. It means you'll never be alone again Mon Belle Chere."

He'd debated whether or not to give it to her, especially since he planned to tell her the rest of his past first thing tomorrow morning, but he just wanted to see her wear it for one night. One night was all he asked and he could be content, no matter what happened.

"Will you wear it?" He asked, afraid for a moment she'd say no, feeling as awkward as a teenager again for a moment. "Will ya be my girl from now on?"

"Of course, Remy." She breathed as he moved to help her put it on. "Ah already am, you should know that by now."

Once it was around her neck, he stood back to look down at her. "It suits you." He informed her as he kissed her hair.

"Ah love it already." She said as she leaned against him. "And ah love you."

"Remy loves you too." He said as he watched her toy with the sliver chain around her neck.

"What?" she asked after a moment. "What is it?"

"Nothing." He said as he motioned to the open floor beside their table. "Dance with me, chere?"

She nodded and rose to meet him as he extended a hand, and music softly began to permeate the air around them as he led them to the floor. Once there, he wrapped his arms around her and she around him, and they swayed softly to the music as the candles flickered around them.

Rogue leaned against his chest, feeling the cool metal of his necklace around her throat and smiled as she curled into him, burying her face in his shoulder as he held her tightly against him, wrapping his arms around her waist, letting his hands splay across her back. As they moved together, she noticed through the glass of the gazebo that outside that, like the night on the pool table, it had begun to snow softly and she knew it hadn't been a dream after all.

Just as close to one as she ever needed to get.

"And so, I'm yelling at Scott, 'blow up the trees in front of you! Blow up the trees in front of you!'." Jean said with a laugh as she refilled her wine glass and passed the bottle to Rogue. " And of course, 'Mr. calm and cool' is having a spaz attack as he flails his way down the Triple Black Diamond hill, heading straight for the corps of pines off to his left."

"I wasn't flailing." Scott protested as he took a sip of his own wine and leaned against the edge of the couch. "I'm a very competent skier."

"You keep thinkin that honey, we've got good insurance." Jean said as she kissed his cheek. "Anyways, so 'Four Eye's here, is panicking, trying to get his skis under control and failing miserably, and I'm at the bottom of the hill, wondering just how fast I can get up to where he's going to crash, to stop the trees from falling on him if he hits them. All of a sudden he got a hold of his glasses, and he tries to take the trees out but some how despite all his training in the Danger Room, he manages to miss the trees by a mile… and he takes out the Hot Chocolate stand at the bottom of the hill instead!"

"And then I crashed into the threes and knocked myself senseless." Scott said with a rueful smile as everyone burst out laughing. "Oh yeah!" he said as he touched the bandage over his left eye, just below his sunglasses. "It's real funny guys."

He turned to Jean. "And for your information honey, while the Danger Room provides many useful battle stims, I don't think attacking Norfolk's is one of them!" He laughed. "Come to think of it, I also scared the shit out of the old lady running the concession stand."

"Scared?" Jean said as she cuddled up beside him. "Scared is not the word Scott, if she didn't have white hair before she did then." She turned to Rogue. "No offense."

"None taken Sugah." Rogue said as she leaned against Remy and smiled up at him, noticing he again looked distracted like he had ever since the night before.

"Are you okay sugah?" She whispered. "Ya seem like something bothering you."

"Remy's fine." He assured her as he kissed her forehead but he knew he was lying to her. He'd been planning to tell her that day, the rest of the story of Bella and himself, he'd been resolved too but the night before, dancing with her, with the feel of her in his arms, and later when they'd made love, had changed his mind selfishly he knew. He just couldn't bear to lose her, so he'd deiced to wait to tell her, at least until after their vacation was over.

When the holidays were over.

He couldn't bear to think of running her favorite time of year.

So instead he lived with the constant feeling of guilt in his stomach, and even though he kept pushing it down it still bothered him more then he was ever willing to admit to anyone but himself.

"You couldn't tell she was scared by the way she acted." Scott went on drawing back Remy's attention, guiltily as he put the thoughts out of his head. "I've never heard anyone curse a blue streak like that before… and that cane she had wasn't pretty either."

"She hit you with a cane?" Remy said with a laugh.

"How the hell do you think I got this?" Scott said as he jerked a thumb towards his bandage. "You think Jean caused it?"

"It's quite possible with her temper." Rogue informed him as Jean laughed and whipped a pillow at her head.

"Wait a moment Mon Amie." Remy said holding a hand. "Are you saying you got your ass kicked by a little old woman?"

"No!" Scott said. "She just hit me a couple of times, that's all."

"So, Gambit's right, you got an old lady ass kicking." Rogue said.

"No!" Scott insisted as he looked at Jean.

"Give it up, Honey," She informed him with a mild smile. "Don't worry I won't think any less of you."

"Anyways." Scott said. "Thus ends the story of how Scott and Jean got themselves banned from the ski resort for the rest of the season, and we have to pay to rebuild the Hot Chocolate Hut."

"It's not as bad as the Jet ski you blew up in New Zealand." Jean offered.

"Or the hot tub in Milan." Rogue said.

"Or the rental car in Athens."

"Or the…"

"Alright." Scott boomed and they all laughed. "I get the damned picture!" he sighed. "Can we change the subject please?"

"Ah can't believe this is our last night here." Rogue said with a sigh, not missing Scott's grateful look. "It just seems to have gone by so fast." She sighed. "Beast is gonna pick us up early tomorrow morning because of the part tomorrow night, so we've really only got one night left."

"Half a night." Jean said as she topped off her glass again. "Beast is always early." She shook her head. "I don't feel like Scott and I have been very good hosts, it seems like we've hardly seen or been around each other since we got here, with a noted few exceptions."

"Don't worry about it." Rogue assured her. "We really didn't expect you to be our hosts."

"Yeah." Remy put in. "Besides Rogue and I found ways to amuse ourselves, don't think we didn't have fun or nothing Red."

"Besides with me getting hurt…" Rogue said with a sigh. "We didn't really do much, we stuck close to here until last night, and it wouldn't have been much fun with us anyways. Trust me, you were better off on your own Sugah."

"If you say so, "Jean said as she set her empty glass aside. " So next vacation, together again?"

"Sounds good." Remy said "Right, Rogue?"

"Yeah," Rogue said. "Ah just have one request."

"What?" Scott said.

"Can we go someplace that isn't going to be able to kick my ass severely?"

"Someplace warm, chere?"

"Bingo, Cajun!"

"Your back! your back!, your back!

Rogue was barely in the mansion door when Jubilee tossed herself at her and gave her a bone breaking hug. She laughed and embraced the exuberant young girl. "Ah missed you too Jubes." She said with a laugh. "But ya gotta let me go so Ah can breathe."

Not to mention what the hug was doing to her still tender ribs. She was exhausted after the two hour flight in the jet, and even though it was barely Eight o'clock in the morning, not even, she was fully ready to go back to bed and rest.

She knew the day head would be a busy one though, tree's to decorate, last minute, gifts to wrap and by the time it was over she'd have just enough to get dressed and enjoy Xavier's Christmas party tonight.

"My lord." Rogue gasped as she stepped inside fully and looked around at the mansions interior.

"Well, will you look at that." Gambit said as he stepped into the wide foyer beside her.

In their absence the mansion had been decorated for the Holidays, and bright colored bows and ribbons dotted every surface as well as colored lights and fake snow. It was elegant and simple but still beautiful, typical of Xavier's tastes but pleasing none the less.

The highlight of the Mansion was the huge Christmas three in the foyer, which Rogue and Gambit were currently looking at. It stood over nine feet tall, decorated professionally for looks. This year, clearly white had been the theme colored because everything o the massive pine was crystal and pale, with white lights twinkling everywhere.

Like the gazebo, it took Rogue's breath away and she took pleasure in the fact she knew she wasn't the only one.

" Looks like dare's nothing left to decorate." Remy said as he helped her lift her bags.

" Don't kid yourself Sugah, there's plenty left to do." She warned him with a wagging finger. " The Professor always waits for the teams to get back before he trims the trees around the mansion, that's our job and some other decorating as well."

" Da tree's already decorated." He said as he gestured to the one in front of them.

" That?" she said with a laugh. " That's just for show, they'll be quite a few other trees for the students and teachers to trim today, us included." She yawed as she took off her coat. " It does gonna be a hell of a long afternoon."

" Remy wants ya to rest dos ribs for awhile first before you join in." he informed her as the rest of the team began to stream into the foyer to meet them.

Apparently, Rogue realized, she, Gambit, Jean and Scott were the last to arrive home. The others had been arriving since early the day and night before.

"Yes, boss." She said cheerfully, giving him a mock salute as he laughed and swatted at her behind playfully. She skirted away as Xavier, and Jean entered the room and watched them play.

"Now Remy." Jean said as she wagged a finger at him, "What have I told you about mauling Rogue?"

"I know." He said like a little boy as he made a jump for Rogue again. "Never before dinner else, I spoil my appetite."

"That's right." Rogue said with a gasp for breath as she darted out of his way. As she was about to speak again, a shot of pure pain sparked up her ribs, she gasped and doubled over, clutching at her side as she fought the wave away. A curl reminder that her ribs were still broken and healing from four days before.

"Rogue!" Remy said as he dove for her side. He caught her in the shelter of his arms, still bent over, and held her gently as the pain very gradually began to recede. He could feel how tight her body was as she fought against her injury and it pained him to think what she was going through.

Aware of the concerned stares of their teammates and the professor, he guided her over to the main staircase, and gently down onto one of the stairs. "Here," he said as he settled down beside her, watching as she leaned against the stair rail to try and ease the pain. " Rest here awhile."

"Feel any better?" Jean said as she handed her a glass of water and two mild Morphine pills a moment later. Rogue nodded, accepting the pills and taking them with a gulp of ice water. "I told you to take it easy on those ribs for a few weeks, which means no foreplay in the front foyer."

"Damn, just when things were starting to get good." Rogue said with a wane laugh.

"What happened to her ribs?" Logan asked as he wrapped his arms around Jubilee's waist and kissed her dark hair.

"I'll explain later." Jean said, "After I've gotten a chance to unpack and get something to eat."

"I think we should go for a rest." Remy suggested to Rogue.

"I agree." Xavier said, and she knew he'd already picked up what had happened from her mind.

"Those pills will make you sleepy." Jean offered.

"Ahright, ahright I'll go." Rogue mumbled, knowing she'd feel the effects of the pain pills soon.

It was all Remy needed to hear as he scooped her up gently and headed for her rooms, while she curled up in his arms and succumbed to a pain free sleep.

A few hours later, Rogue crept from her room, feeling better although not totally pain free. Knowing the team would be in the lounge, she headed for that direction, smiling as she passed the students decorating the hallways with mistletoe and other holiday decorations. She knew tonight there would be parties and gatherings in the dorms but Christmas was the one time Xavier saw fit to look the other way, as long as the students controlled themselves and their hormones.

She reached the lounge and, found the door open, seeing Remy and the others inside. They were laughing about something as she came in and immediately caught Remy's attention. "Hey, you're up Amour." He said as he moved to her side. "Feelin any better?"

"Much." She said as he kissed her forehead. 'Hardly any pain left at all."

"Good." Remy said, "Then you can come and help me out." He pulled her over to the couch and gently down onto it. "Our job is to make popcorn and cranberries chains for da tree. It was Jubes and Logan's job but dey kept eating da popcorn. H leaned in close to her ear so only she could hear. "Remy never wants to see them feed each other popcorn again; it's like somethin out da Wild Kingdom."

Rogue laughed, and leaned against them as Jean passed her a mug of spiced cranberry cider. Rogue took a sip and nearly choked it was so strong. "Jean, honey, what did you spice this with?"

"Rum, lots of it." Jean said bluntly as she began taking ornaments out of the boxes. "And little else."

"So we're getting sloshed early?" Rogue gasped as her insides boiled.

"I thought that was what the party tonight was for." Jubilee said as she tried to untangle a box of garland.

"Not unless you want a hangover reliever in your stocking tomorrow." Scott said as he and Logan tried to untangle box after box of Christmas lights.

Rogue look at Logan, and then had to take a double look, thinking at first that Jean's rum kicker had reacted with the last of her pain meds.

After all, it wasn't everyday you got to see the Wolverine, sitting on the floor with a Santa hat on, a cigar hanging out of his mouth red and green garland around his neck and pink,(yes, pink) Christmas lights strung across his shoulders, neck, and crotch as he tried to untangle them.

Rogue looked at Remy, and he shook his head lightly as if to both confirm what she was seeing and to say, don't ask at all if you want to live to see to tomorrow.

Looks like Jubes was at it again, Christmas style.

"Okay." Rogue said as she pulled the popcorn and cranberry bowl closer, then threaded a needle for both of them to use. She picked up the needle and a piece of popcorn and cockily tried to put it on the string, to show how easy it was.

It broke in half, and dropped back into the bowl defiantly as she stared at it.

Determinedly she picked up another piece as did Remy and tried again, and again it broke and dropped back into the bowl. "Okay." Rogue said in a ragged tone. "That's it; this bitch food is going down!"

"Damn straight." Remy said as his fell off too. "If we can beat Magneto, and killer ice winds, we can beat this!"

"Not, likely, why do you think Logan and I were eating it Chica?" Jubilee put in. 'It was damn easier then putting it on that string!"

Three hours (And five mugs of Jean's wonderful cider later.) and not a single kernel of popcorn was on the strings. And while Remy and Rogue had eaten three bowls themselves, they really didn't considered that progress. Their was only the two of them and Logan still trimming the tree, the others having gone off to wrap gifts and other part preparations.

" Ah give up." Rogue said in disgust, as she tossed the empty string down in frustration, missing the bowl completely as she hit Logan on the head.

" D'accord." Remy said as he tossed his down as well, and reached into the bowl for another handful of corn.

" Remy, Sugah, no!" she cried but to was too late to warn him that there was only Cranberries left in the bowl as he casually popped a handful in his mouth and crunched down on them.

For a moment, Rogue could have laughed at the comical look on his face as the taste of the berried hit him, until he bolted for the staff bathroom at a rapid pace to spit them out, along with the rest of what he had in his stomach.

" Poor, baby." She said sympathicly as he emerged from the bathroom a few moments later, pale and shaky. " Ah tried ta warn ya."

She stroked his head as he crawled into the couch beside her and closed his eyes for a moment. " You gonna live Cajun?"

" Remy'll be fine." He said as he rested his face between her breasts comfortingly.

Rogue tapped him lightly on the head. " Remy?" she asked sweetly.

" Yes, Rogue."

" Those aren't pillows you know."

" Remy knows." He said, his voice muffled, as he looked up at her with a grin. " These are warm, these are firm, these are…better."

" Ah'm so glad you think so." She said wryly, just before she jumped up off the sofa and dumped him on his face in the cushions. Without a word she went and picked up a box of ornaments and began to decorate the tree.

Logan laughed at Remy's shocked look and went back to testing the lights. " Serves you right Cajun." He said as he shook his head and fitted a working light onto the string.

Rogue picked up an ornament, and placed it on the branches, while Remy stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close. " Merry Christmas." He whispered as he hugged her intimately.

" Merry Christmas Cajun." She said as she leaned into to him. She glanced at the clock and winced. " Ah've got ta go and start getting ready for tha party." She said as she kissed him briefly on the shoulder.

" Me too." Remy said with a sigh.

They both turned from the now almost fully decorated tree, and turned to leave when from the floor, the short hairy man with the Santa hat, and the pink Christmas light covered shirt spoke.

" Wait a minute." He said as she tossed the Christmas lights down and rose to meet them. " Now that I've got you alone."

" What?" Remy said.

" We need to talk, all of us."

" 'Bout what?"

" About what?" Logan said as he began to stalk towards them. " About what?" He snorted. " How about you two, defiling my Rosie?"

Remy grabbed Rogue by the hand, praying the door behind them was open.

" Run!" he murmured in a loud stage whisper just before he grabbed her gloved hand and bolted for the(thankfully) open door. As they fled the enraged Wolverine, Remy pulled the door closed behind them and they took off down the hall as fast as they could for Rogue's room and the safety of a locked door, passing a startled Jubilee as they went.

" Why is it," She said with a sigh as she moved to the door. " That where ever my boyfriend is, there is always people fleeing in terror for their lives?"

The answer came in the form of a Wolverine, as he came barreling out of the lounge sniffing the air around him. " Which way did they go?" he snorted. " I know their around here somewhere."

" Who?" Jubilee said as she stopped him with an arm across his chest, something know one else would dare to do. " Rogue and Remy?"

" Who else?" He snarled. " I've got to catch up to them, Jubes."

" Why?" Jubilee asked.

"Why?" Logan asked. " You know what they did on Rosie."

" So?" Jubilee said as she wrapped her arms around him casually.

" So?" Logan said in disbelief as she laughed.

" Honey," she said with a laugh as she took him by the hand. " Do you remember why, you bought that pool table in the first place?"

Jubilee could have sworn, she saw Logan blush faintly and look around to make sure no one else was in the hallway. " Because it was the first place we ever…" his voice trailed off. " And the first place you, ever, ever…"

" That's right." Jubilee reminded him as she glanced up at him. '"At that little B&B you took me too, just outside of Boston." She smiled. " It winter and it was freezing, remember?"

" Damn straight, the place's furnace had broke, most of the clients were leaving but you insisted we stay anyways. We had to do everything we could to stay warm." Logan muttered.

" We went out to dinner and got back late, after everyone was asleep, the pool table was as far as we made it…" She said.

" You had on that rose colored dress." He said " The one I bought you for your birthday."

" And that's why you call the pool table Rosie." She reminded him.

Logan coughed. " It doesn't change what they did."

" The same thing we did?" She said with a laugh. " Had their first time on it?" She began to lead him away from Rogue and Remy's direction towards their room. " Come on." She said. " It's Christmas, don't impale them, call it an act of good faith."

" Alright, alright." He muttered " But I'm gonna spend the rest of the night glaring at them."

" Fair enough, dear." Jubilee said. " Now come on, you can help me pick a dress to wear tonight."

" Oh goody." He said sarcastically as he let her lead him away.

" Hush." She admonished him lightly. " And if you're really good, I'll show you what I'm planning to wear tonight, after the party."

Logan raised an eyebrow and began to follow her willingly. " Sounds good to me, darlin." He said. " Sounds good to me."

Later that evening, Rogue was putting the final touches on her outfit when Remy knocked and came in. He was dressed in a dress shirt, a tie and dress pants, and carrying a dozen red roses in his arms. " For you, Mon Belle Chere." He said as he held them out.

" Thank you, handsome." She said as she gave him an appraising glance. " Looking good, Cajun."

" Your not looking bad yourself chere." He said with a low whistle as she took her hand and twirled her around so he could get a full look.

" Thank you." She said.

Rogue had chosen a form fitting burgundy colored dress that hugged her body and dipped low over her shoulders. The full tight sleeves were snug but for her, that was an advantage, it meant not having to worry about accidentally touching anyone while she dance and enjoyed herself. She'd paired it was a pair of cranberry colored silk gloves and piled her hair up in curls on her head, leaving her skunk stripe free in curls around her face.

She carefully took the flowers from him and went about putting them in water before allowing him to lead her out of the room and down stairs to the same ballroom where the Halloween party had been held two months before.

While the Halloween party had been about fun, the Christmas party was more about elegance the anything else. The room was done in traditional Christmas fare, right down to the massive Christmas tree holding court in the center of the room but added to that was the elegance of the crystal chandlers glowing down on the room and several massive ice sculptures around the buffet tables.

At one end of the room was the dance floor, already brimming with couple's dance, while tables were set at the other end by the buffet tables for people to socialize at. There was a donation booth so people could donate money to their favorite charities, and a place set up where pole could have their pictures taken with the Jolly Elf, himself.

" Dis is a lot like Halloween." Remy muttered as they moved among the crowed.

" This is exactly like Halloween." Rogue informed him as she moved to where she saw Jean and Scott standing. " But that's aright, it gives us a chance to relax and party after exams."

" Fair enough." He said as Jean noticed them and beckoned them to come over. " Remy'll go get us some drinks."

" Ahright." She said, watching as he navigated the crowed.

She turned to Cyclops as she made it to where he and Jean were standing. " This place looks great, you guys really did a great job this year."

"It does." Scott said with a jovial look in his eye…glasses. " But the ice sculptures cost us a fortune this year because we had to buy them for the first time." He shook his head in mock anger. " You couldn't have waited a bit longer to keep Bobby around, could you Rogue."

" Oh Ah'm sorry mah scarring, painful, emotionally draining, breakup caused you financial troubles Summers." She said wryly with a shake of her head and a laugh. " Ah'll try to do better next time."

" Hopefully there won't be a next time." Jean said as she gave Scott an elbow in the ribs for making such a tasteless comment.

"What?" Scott said with a wince as Remy reappeared with their drinks.

"Here you go." He said as he handed her a glass of red wine.

"Thanks Sugah." She said as she watched Logan glare at them from where he was dancing with Jubilee.

"He's glaring at us." Remy muttered in her ear.

"Be thankful, that's all he's doing." Rogue said. "It could be worse."

"Do you think Jubilee had anything to do with that?' he asked as he sipped his brandy.

"Ah think she had everything to do with it." She informed him with a nod. "Although Ah hate ta think of how she stopped him."

"Me too." Remy said with a shudder as he gave a wave to them and then turned back to Rogue. "We're better off over here."

"Totally." Rogue said in a deadpan tone as she took him by the hand. "Look there's Colossus and Siryn, let's go say hi."

Before he could respond, she dragged him off to make the rounds and he almost wished he had to face the scowling Canadian instead.

Much later that evening, after most of the guests had left and the ballroom was almost abandoned, Rogue and Remy found themselves on the dance floor alone as they danced. Remy had tossed his tie aside and opened the top button on his shirt while she'd tossed her purse and heels away as they swayed together.

"This was a good party." He whispered to her as he kissed her hair.

"Too good.' She murmured sleepily. "Your, holding me up Sugah."

He laughed "You ready for bed den girl?"

"No." She yawned as she snuggled close to him. "Ah'm happy where Ah am."

"We're alone here." He said as he stroked her back and held her tightly.

"No, Wolvie and Jubilee are still here." She said.

"Yeah." He said as he caught the couple, sequestered in a corner intimately as they kissed. "But their lost to each other."

"So are we." She whispered.

"Completely" He agreed as he kissed her through her hair and then swept her up in his arms unexpectedly. "So let's go to bed and get even more lost, non?"

She nodded without a word and let him carry her off, knowing that everything was, at least for the moment as good as it ever would be and that she couldn't ask for anything more for Christmas.

"Remy…Remy?"

Rogue poked at the inert form of her boyfriend casually with a gloved finger early the next morning. As if that would bring her crazy Cajun out of the coma he called getting good nights sleep.

"Remy." She whispered again. "It's time to get up."

Remy groaned as he rolled over on his side and caressed her breast casually. "Now, baby." He muttered as he cracked open his eyes and yawned. "You know if you want it, Remy's always willing to oblige but ain't it a bit early?"

"Wake up," She said with a laugh as she playfully hit him, nearly knocking him out of bed. "It's Christmas morn'in."

"Oh is that it?" He said with a smile. "And here Remy thought you wanted to usher Christmas da proper way."

"Well." She said as she cuddled up close to him and bit his shoulder lightly. "Now that you mention it…"

"Has Remy ever told you, he loves the way you think?" He murmured as he pulled the covers back over them and then after a moments thought retrieved a condom from her nearby night stand.

"Grab a few Sugah." She gasped as she felt him slid inside of her easily an instant later and she gripped his forearms lightly as she cried out.

"Why?" he said through gritted teeth as he began to move slowly and she ground her hips to meet him.

"Because Ah have a feeling ta usher in the morning properly, we're gonna need more then one Sugah, in fact bring the whole damn drawer."

"Mon Dieu, J'adore dis Fille!!!"

When they finally emerged two hours later, showered and famished, they headed for the staff breakfast room, knowing that's where Xavier was setting up a Christmas breakfast for the staff and students.

"So what's da drill for today?" Remy asked once they were seated over a plate of fresh strawberries and croissants along with a good strong cup of Café Au Lait.

"We eat." Jean informed him from across the table. "Then the students go open their gifts with their friends and we go open ours with the team."

"Then later this afternoon." Jubilee put in. "We all get together in the gym and the students exchange gifts with their teachers and Charles, and we have a big dinner in the banquet hall."

"We have games, sing carols, and socialize, ect." Scott said as he passed Jean another pastry.

"Sounds like fun." Remy said.

"It is." Rogue said. "Ah look forward to it every year."

"Speaking of," Remy said to her. "How did you get any shopping done, what with us being away, and den you getting hurt and all. Remy barely had time to get his done at all and you were worse off den I was."

"With the exception of our gifts, Ah had a personal shopper," Rogue said as she flashed Jubilee a grateful smile. "Yours, Ah had before we went ta Colorado."

"Shop early do we?" he asked casually.

"Very." She said. "Ah like to avoid the crowds, to much possible skin ta skin for mah liking."

"Remy understands." He said with a nod as he took another sip of coffee.

"So plans for New year?" Jubilee said. "Anyone?"

"Not really." Jean confessed. "Scott and I spend so much time on Christmas; we usually flake on New Years."

"Me too." Rogue said.

"I third that." Storm said as she leaned back in her chair with a sigh.

"Oh, come on!" Jubilee wailed. "Have some fun for a change!" She snorted a Logan like snort. "Old people!"

"I'm not old." Jean protested. "Just tired is all."

"Besides my young friend." Beast put in. "What exactly where you expecting?"

"Yeah, what'cha have in mind?" Rogue said.

"I don't know." Jubilee said with a sigh. "Let's hit the clubs as a team, and then go watch the ball drop in Time Square or just hit the clubs. It's New Years, there are tons of parties. Dazzler is having one, we could go to that!"

"Actually." Jean admitted sheepishly. "That doesn't sound too bad."

"No." Rogue agreed. "It actually seems like fun, Ah've never been ta Time Square on New Years before."

"Then it's agreed?" Beast said. "We'll head into the city that night?"

"Sounds good to us." Scott said as Jean smiled at him.

"Us too," Remy said. "If dat's what you want chere."

She nodded around a mouthful of food and then spoke as she swallowed. "It is Sugah."

"I'll put the word around to the others." Storm offered. "See what they think?"

"Good." Scott said as he pushed back his chair and rose. "Now that, that's settled. Why don't we head for the staff room and see what's under the tree?"

"Sounds good." Jean said with a laugh as everyone jumped from the table and headed for the door.

Apparently even adults could act like children on Christmas morning.

Seated in the staff lounge a few moments later Rogue watched as Scott and Jubilee began to hand out the gifts to everyone.

"This one's for Storm from Rogue." Jubilee said as she handed her the box. "And this one's for Remy" She said as she handed him a small box.

"What's this chere?' he asked as he began to tear the wrapping off.

"Look and see Cajun." She said as Logan handed her, her own gift from him and Jubilee. She grinned as she watched the look of surprise and delight as he pulled a slim silver man's I.D bracelet from it's box.

"Rogue." He said, surprised to find himself chocked up. "It's stunning, where did you get this?"

"It was mah father's" She said simply, rocking him back on his heels. Rogue had never mentioned her family or past to him at all, or to anyone for that matter. She kept her past secret for her own reasons, and yet she was willing to give him something that held a key to her past. "It's the only possession of his, of anyone in mah family, that Ah took then Ah left home so long ago."

"I can't accept this, it means to much to you." He protested even as she undid the clasp and fastened it on his wrist.

"Nonsense." She said. "Ah want you to have it Remy, Ah wear something of yours and now you wear something of mine. It' seems only fitting, don't it?"

He nodded silently as he pulled her against his chest and hugged her tightly. "I love you, girl." He whispered into her hair.

"Ah love you too." She said as she hugged him back.

"Jubilee darlin, what's this?' Logan's befuddled voice crossed the room, drawing Rogue and Remy's attention from where they where seat on the couch.

He and Jubilee were seated on the floor, beside the tree. Logan was currently starting at something that he'd just unwrapped, something that fit on the end of his finger easily in perplexity. It took Rogue a moment to realize it was a tiny knit blue bootie and she smiled at she realized what it meant.

Now if only Logan was that perceptive.

Apparently not, Jubilee was going to have to help him along a bit.

"Surprise." She said uncertainly as she searched his face for an answer when he hadn't spoken for a few moments.

"You mean…" He said, jerking a thumb at her still flat abdomen, under her silk pajama bottoms. "Your…we're…I'm…"

"Something like that." Jubilee said as everyone laughed. An uncertain look crossed her face. "Your okay with this honey?" She laughed shakily. "I know it's ...a surprise and totally unexpected."

Logan's response was to bowl Jubilee over, beside the tree and kiss her senseless, much again to the amusement of the team. "I take that as a yes." She said with a laugh as they came up for air.

"Hell yes!" Logan said as they kissed again and Remy shut his eyes tightly.

"Wake me up when it's over." He said and Rogue elbowed him with a laugh as the team began to congratulate Jubilee and Logan.

"I only found out two days ago" Jubilee said. "I figure it was the best gift we could get for Christmas, so I decided to wait and save it for today." She grinned. "The bootie was something I saw in town yesterday and couldn't resist wrapping up."

"Speaking of gifts, sorry to interrupt Jubes." Jean said, turning to Scott. "I think I forgot one of yours up stairs. I'm gonna go get it."

"Alright." Scott said as she kissed him and left the room, only to be back and instant later.

"Remy?" She called, as he looked up. "Could you come here for a second?"

"Sure." He said, kissing the top of Rogue's head as he followed her out of the room. "What's up?"

"Oh nothing," she assured him. " But there's someone here to see you."

"What?" he said, not sure he'd heard right. "You sure?"

Jean nodded, "Yeah, I just let her in; she's waiting for you in the front foyer." She shrugged her shoulders at his clueless expression. "I don't recognize her; you'll have to go see who it was."

Remy felt his stomach drop, as a dread overcame him, right down to his bones. He headed for the foyer, on shaking feet, hoping that this wasn't what he'd been dreading all along would happen but knowing it probably was.

He didn't like how this was playing out.

At all.

He into to the foyer, praying to every Voodoo god he knew, it wasn't who he thought it was, only to have his hopes dashed as he stepped through the doorway and recognized her instantly.

"What are you doing here?" he said coldly as she approached him.

"Remy," Bella said with a sigh and a sugar coated smile. "Aren't you glad to see me cher? it is Christmas after all."

"Since when's that matter to you?" he said harshly. "You act like spoiled child all the time anyways."

"Ouch," Bella said with a wince. "So no, hello kiss then?"

"More like a hello shot of arsenic" He said. "You've got no place here girl."

"Maybe not." She agreed "But I'm here anyways."

"Why?" he asked.

"My own reasons." She said. "Reason's that concern you of course."

"Of course." He said.

"We need to talk." She said. "Now!"

"You've got five minutes." He said. "And not a minute longer."

As it turned out he didn't she didn't even have that, because it was at that moment Rogue came looking for Remy, having wondered where he'd gone off to in such a hurry.

"There you are Sugah." She said coming up behind them. "What's going on?"

"Nothing chere." He said as he cleared his throat. "Nothing important anyways."

"Oh I think it's important." Bella said as she appraised Rogue. "You must be the new one. Your prettier then I thought you'd be, I'll give you that."

"Really." Rogue said icily as she wound her arm around Remy. "And just who the hell are you?"

Bella laughed, and Remy knew it was all over, much to his devastation.

He hadn't wanted it to be this way when he told her the truth.

"Who am I?" Bella said with a laugh a she stuck out a hand to Rogue and approached her. "Allow me to introduce myself dear, I'm Bella Lebeau."

She cocked a thumb casually at Remy, and where he stood with his arms around Rogue.

I'm his wife…"

To be continued…