Disclaimer : I didn't create any of the characters, I just stole their personalities...

Author's note : Christmas Madness is officially upon us!! That's why it took a little longer for me to post another chapter. This one is a bit longer, it was going to be longer than that but I cut in two and the rest should follow within a day or so. Jsut to keep you waiting a bit more.

Warning! Major Ultimate X-Men spoiler for issue53 at the end....but if you're a ROMY fan, got toshare it!

So....

The right thing for the right reasons...chapter six

They walked out of the elevator, down a short corridor and into the Danger room itself, meeting up with the rest of the training team. Beast and Wolverine were in the control room, overlooking the training area. Wolverine's voice was heard through the intercom

"All right kids. Listen up. Today's training session is going to be an obstacle course. Team one will be; Rogue, Kurt, Kitty and Gambit. You guys have to make it to the end. Bobby, Amara, Jean and Storm, you have to keep team one from reaching the end. Simple enough. The only rule I'm insisting on is that you have to work as teams. No going off on your own. If your teammates are in trouble, get them out. If the whole team doesn't make it to the end, training session failed. Got it?"

They all nodded and moved in position.

XxxxX

When they walked out about 30 minutes later, team one was washed out. Gambit and Kurt nearly had to drag Rogue all the way through the obstacle course. Her concentration was completely off and they eventually made it through thanks to Kurt's teleportation and Kitty' phasing. But they made it anyway, feeling rather proud of themselves. Strom and Jean had put a lot of effort into it, but Booby and Amara didn't stop picking on each other and that gave team one an advantage.

They were catching their breaths when Wolverine walked up to them.

"Can't say that was the best I've seen but you made it, so you get your points. Bobby and Amara, you two are going to work a bit of overtime tonight, just to learn the meaning of team work."

Both teens walked away, mumbling.

"The rest of you are off the hook for today, except for you Rogue. I want to have a word with you"

Kurt and Kitty shot her a sympathetic look and walked away with Gambit. She braced herself for the lecture she knew was coming. Witch is why she was fairly surprised when Logan spoke to her in a concerned tone, one she wasn't used to.

"Is everything all right Stripes?"

She looked up at him but quickly looked back down.

"Yeah sure…why?"

"You seem a little spaced out. I've seen you worried before but you were down right dangerous today. I'm worried about you kid. You know you can come to me with anything right?"

Logan was the tough guy. The one that never broke down, the cement pillar you could lean on. To hear him speak with such concern and kindness had the strangest effect on her. He watched her fight back the tears until she finally broke down and started sobbing. Logan didn't really know what to do. He didn't usually deal well with women in tears. But this was Rogue. So he reached out to her and wrapped her in his arms, careful not to touch her skin. She cried there for a few minutes, until she calmed down and pushed him softly.

"Thanks, I didn't know it but I needed that."

"Nothing like a good cry," he answered, still a little uneasy. "So, want to talk about it? It's not that low life Gumbo is it?"

"What? No of course not!"

But he did notice how she flushed.

" So what is it then."

She started to tell him about what the Professor had told her. How she might have a chance at finally controlling that curse of hers. How she was afraid to get her hopes crushed again. How she didn't really know what to do and couldn't really think about anything else.

"Listen kid," he told her "I'm not the one to give good advices. But I'm gonna tell you this. They say that the beginning of wisdom is to accept the things you can't change and change the things you can. You can't change your powers, but you can change the way they affect your life. Whether you do this thing or not. You're one of the strongest person I know, Rogue. And remember one thing. If you do fall, if your hopes get crushed as you say, you got people here to catch you this time."

She took in a deep breath. "Thanks Logan. That actually does make me feel a bit better."

"I can't take the decision for you, but whatever you decide, I'm backing you up."

She gave him a quick hug and went back to the elevator. By the time she reached it, her decision was made.

XxxxX

"I'm glad to hear that Rogue," said the Professor. "I'm sure you'll learn a lot with him."

"I hope so Professor. But I'd like to wait until the end of the school year. It's only a month away."

"That goes without saying. I'm not going to let you fail a year, even for the sake of this. You know how much I value your education. As soon as you've graduated, let me know and we set up a meeting. I'm sure you'd like to talk to him before the two of you start working together."

"Absolutely."

She stood up and started to make her way to the door. "And Professor, thank you again. For everything."

"You're most welcome Rogue."

XxxxX

She was walking down the hall, looking for Kitty. They both had planned to go to the Mall, along with Jubilee and hang out there this afternoon. Not like there was anything more interesting to do on a Sunday afternoon in Bayville anyway. She felt good, as if a weight had been taking off her shoulders. Making up her mind had lifted it. She hadn't realised it was there until it was gone.

When she got to the rec room, she stopped at the door and watched as Gambit played his little charm number on some of the girls. They were all laughing and hanging at his every word. "What is it about him?" She stood there and detailed him. She had to admit, he was good looking. Ok. Understatement. He was gorgeous! And those eyes! She remembered a certain Jazz bar in Louisiana… "Snap out of it girl!!"

Just on cue, he slowly turned his head towards the door and smiled at her, as if he knew she was there the whole time, staring at him. She felt her face getting burning hot, but didn't look away. Instead, she lifted her chin, smiled back and walked up to him. He watched her come with a little grin, casually leaning back on a pool table.

"Hey, Swamp rat!" She said with a wide, falsely innocent smile.

He laughed and shot back; "Bonjour, cherie!"

"Stop calling me that, I hate it!"

"A une condition, ma belle," he answered with a smile. (Under one condition, beautiful)

She looked at him, inviting him to continue.

"Call me Gambit, sounds a lot better than Swamp rat, non?" he added with a little smirk

"Let's make a deal. I'll only call you Swamp rat when you annoy me, ok?"

He scratched his head and shot her a funny look. "That'd be all the time huh?"

She finally let out the laugh she was holding back. "Keep working on it Cajun!"

He laughed along with her, all the other girls forgotten. Not that he was trying to seduce them or anything but as soon as he had sensed her by the door, all that was not her just blurred out. He was surprised to see her come to him like that. And that smile!

She took him by the elbow and led him a little further away. He let her guide him, curious to hear what she had to say.

"Listen Swam…Oups! Sorry" she said with a grin.

"No you're not, but go on…" He was smiling.

"Ok, I did that on purpose. Can't help it. I just wanted to know if you'd seen Kitty. I was supposed to meet her but…well, you were there. And then I had to see the Professor so I ran pretty late."

" She left with Scott and Jean a little while back."

Rogue frowned a bit. "I guess she got tired of waiting for me."

Gambit made a little smile. "She said she was going to the Mall. If you want, Gambit can give you a ride on his bike."

"You'd do that? Why are you being so nice to me? I haven't really been nice to YOU."

"And miss out on a chance to have you arms around me?" He shot back with a wide smile.

"Cut it out, Swamp rat!"

He laughed. "Ok! I deserved that one!"

"I mean it. Can you give me an honest answer?"

"Oui, I can. Gambit figures he owes you."

"Owes me for what?"

"For coming back for him, down in the Bayou. Even after you knew he tricked you. You came back and helped."

"Is that why you're here? Cause you owe me something?" she asked, very surprised.

"Not only that. Mais oui, it helped my decision. That you were here."

Rogue was left out of breath by that. She just stood there, not knowing what to say.

"So, what about that ride?"

XxxxX

She was holding on to him, her face leaning on his back. He was driving fast, but he was a good driver. She just let in the feel of the speed and the smell of him. They eventually reached the Mall, way too soon for her.

"Thanks for the ride, Gambit," she said as she got off the bike.

"Anytime."

She looked at him as he drove away. Something was bothering her a little. She had noticed how is behaviour was different when he was with her. He wasn't as cocky as he was with the other girls. She could tell he was putting on a mask, playing a role. But not with her. He seemed more open, more…natural. She sighed and walked in, looking for her friends.

XxxxX

There you go! You know the drill...Feed me!! Feed me!!

By the way, I just finished reading issue 53 of the Ultimate X-Men...AND ROGUE AND GAMBIT KISS!!! I just had to share the joy! The image is awesome, if you have a chance to take a look at it. They kiss under the rain sssoooo romantic!