X-Men: If you love me

All I Ask Of You

This is the year where hope fails you

The test subjects run the experiments

And the bastards you know is hero you hate

But anything is possible if we try

There is no reason, there is no lesson, there is no time like the present

Tell me right now what have you got to lose?

What have you got to lose? But your soul?

-Pulse of Maggots by Slipknot

Note: Stan Lee owns the characters, I am just barrowing them for my own fun. The passage above comes from Slipknot; I thought it was interesting so I placed it within my story. They are not as bad as they seem; actually, their new CD Subliminal Verses Vol. 3 is actually a very good buy. I'm glad I got it!

Rating: R (Adult content, language and somewhat for violence)

Timeline: After X-Treme X-Men number 19.

Dedication: I dedicate this to the Rogue and Gambit fans out there, I've been a Rogue and Gambit fan since I was a little girl and now all these years later, and I hope I can do them justice with this story. This is also dedicated to my fellow X-Men lovin' friend and author Lunakaria, the runs to the comic bookstore are always fun when you have your best friend at your side. And to Jud, my fellow Rogue and Gambit shipper, you're my muse and I hope that you enjoy this.

New Orleans

Garden District

Remy LeBeau awoke in his bed alone, the large bed seemed so empty with just him in it. He rubbed his tired eyes and sighed as his vision stayed blurred. His failing vision angered him as he climbed out of bed.

"Chere?" he called, as he heard the shower start running in their master bathroom. He crossed the room and walked into the open bathroom. A smile touched his lips as his Devil Eyes caught the dark green eyes of Anna Marie. Up until recently she had only been known as Rogue, since her powers were gone, she'd insisted that he call her Anna. Stepping out of his boxers he opened the sliding glass door of the shower and climbed in. Anna stepped back and let him stand under the spray, the hot water warming his skin. He pulled her to him; the simple skin-to-skin contact meant more to them than words ever could at the moment. Without warning she burst into sobs.

"Shh, Anna, no need ta cry now. Dry dem eyes love," the Cajun whispered into her hair.

"Ah can't Remy, ah jus' can't."

"Why, mon amour?" he sought an answer that may not come.

"Cuz Remy, ah feel so guilty," confusion lit his dying eyes.

"Why?" he asked as he held his only love tighter to his water slick body.

"Ah'm selfish, tha only reason why ah'm in yah arms is cuz ah stopped yah from goin' ta Heaven. Ah forced yah ta come back when yah didn't want ta. Now yah goin' blind and its all mah fault. On top of that we're powerless, cuz we died an' came back. Ah'm too damn selfish for mah own good," she cried, he held her strong against him, seeking to sooth her sobs.

"Shh, dat's ok chere. Losin' mah vision ain't so bad cuz I'm here wit yah. I'm glad yah pulled me back, yah my savin' grace-"

"No! No, ah'm not!-"

"Yeah, yah are, amour, do yah realize what yah did fo' me? Yah died fo' me, do ya here me chere? Yah died fo' me! Dat is somet'ing dat only yah woulda done fo' me, I love yah Anna, an' no matta what, I will." Then he simply held her close and her sobs quieted.

"Sorry Remy, ah'm so sorry," he issued a small chuckle.

"Its ok, Chere, its ok, Remy don't mind a bit. Dats w'at I'm here fo'. I'm here fo' yah always. Dry dem eyes, Anna, I'll make yah some breakfas'," she laughed and buried her face into his chest.

"Oh, wat am ah gonna do wit yah Cajun?" she asked, laughing softly.

"Marry mio, chere, make me da happiest man in da world," Anna's jaw dropped.

"Doncha play games wit me Remy, it ain't wise," Remy laughed and kissed her on the lips.

"Nah, chere, I ain't messin' wit yah, I want yah ta be my wife," he said, Anna smiled.

"Ah thought yah wanted ta take it slow," she insisted, Remy smiled and kissed her again.

"Nevamind da, I realized dat de only way I'll be happy is wit yah at my side as my wife, Anna," she smiled warmly at him.

"'Course ah will, sugah. Ah wanna be yah wife but can we get otta tha shower? Tha hot wata jus' gave out," that only made him laugh.

They climbed from the shower and dried off, as Anna began to blow dry her hair, Remy headed from the bathroom. He returned a few minutes later holding an engagement ring. Anna set down the blow dryer and watched with tear-filled eyes as he slid the ring on her finger. They kissed again and he hugged her tightly then headed off to the kitchen to make her breakfast. The red eyed Cajun frowned as he began to search the pantry for ingredients to make any sort of breakfast and was lucky to find bread. He returned to Anna, frowning slightly.

"Chere, I gotta go shoppin' if we plan on eatin' any time soon. I'm gonna go get some t'ings an' I'll be back," Remy said, Anna smiled.

"'Kay Remy, ah'll be waiting'. Ah'm gonna do things 'round tha house," She said, Remy kissed her on the lips.

"Love yah chere, I'll be back soon, d'accord?"

"D'accord. Love yah too Remy," Anna said, speaking French, which was her little known second language. Remy smiled and left their home, a smile on his lips.

When he returned he immediately knew something was wrong. He set the bags down on the counter and called out for Anna.

"Anna!" there was no answer. "Anna!" he called again and headed for the balcony that wasn't opened when he left. As a breeze blew in a familiar scent caught his nose and he knew it all too well. The metallic scent of blood made his stomach turn as he bolted out onto the balcony. His dimming vision hindered him for a moment and faintly in the distance he heard jazz being played on a street corner. There was a lake of blood on the floor of the balcony and broken glass beneath his shoes. He began to follow the trail out of the house and to the large garden. In the center of the garden, Anna lay in a pool of blood not breathing.