Storm sighed and punched her pillow irritably almost mutilating it; Remy and Rogue were at it again. She'd never realized how thin the walls of the mansion were until she heard Rogue screaming Remy's name in a wail of pleasure, pleasure she had yet to experience in her life.

To tell the truth she'd never thought she would ever have to face the day when Remy would be able to consummate his love for Rogue in a physical way and for that she had been ..happy. But everything was different now. Now Remy was able to touch and caress the woman of his dreams in any and every way his mind could conceive, and knowing the Cajun the way she did it Rogue would not be disappointed.

No.disappointment was meant for only her and her alone. It was like a living organism inside her with a mind of its own, just growing and swelling from life's let downs. Sometimes she feared she would drown in the swell of it whenever it crashed over her. As it were she barely kept her head above water.

Ever since Rogue learned to control her powers both she and Remy had been unable to keep their hands of each other, not caring who they tormented with their public displays of sickening affection. Most of the time the public didn't exist for them as they went about in their own cocoon of sickeningly sweet affectionate displays. If she was honest Storm would admit that she couldn't blame the other girl for the way she acted.

For the past few years she'd been practically starved for human touch and affection. Now that she had unlimited access to it so was gobbling in up greedily. And as for Remy he didn't seem to mind for he gave her as much as she wanted.

Lying there listen to the groans from next door, Storm remembered the day vividly when Rogue first realized she had mastered her powers. Everyone had been so ecstatic. Jean and Scott were grinning like fools and even a stoic Logan had a smile on his face. If you could call it a smile, it looked more like a distant relative of a smile but yet still it was better than nothing.

The professor was beaming like a proud grandfather. He kept on hugging Rogue, whenever an exuberant Jubilee gave him the chance. And Remy. well Remy was ready to spirit Rogue away, have his way with her and do things he'd thought about for years in his most erotic dreams. His impatience was written all over his face. In fact she half believed he would just throw Rogue over his shoulders right then and there and to hell with the rest of them.

It was a momentous occasion and everyone was joyously happy, well almost everyone. Storm was sure she was the only one less than thrilled. In fact she was downright scared. This was the day that she had been dreading ever since she realized that she was hopelessly in love with Remy LeBeau.

Even though her stomach was feeling like it was full of lead, Storm made a real effort to look happy and even managed to hugged Rogue a bit stiffly. The sound of her private dreams being flushed down the proverbial drain was loud in her ear.

As she embraced Rogue the other woman smiled and whispered somewhat maliciously in her ear, "No more late nights with my man Stormy".

She'd swallowed and spoke past the lump in her throat with some degree of difficulty "I'm happy that Remy finally has gained his heart desire", which wasn't exactly a lie.

Storm desperately wanted Remy to be happy it was just that she felt.no she knew that Rogue wasn't the one to make him happy. After leaving him in Antarctica, alone and defenseless, Storm felt that Rogue had given up any claim she had on Remy's heart. Unfortunately Rogue didn't feel the same way.

It wasn't long after Remy's wary return to the group that she decided she missed having him around and did everything she could think of to get him back in her clutches. Remy though disillusioned was happy to let Rogue back in his life if only for the reason that he needed someone to understand. Either Rogue just wasn't capable of forgiving or forgetting or she simply refused to and that sad fact led Remy to Storm's bedroom many nights to pour out his heart and soul.

Storm alone knew how much Rogue rejection of his past mistakes was killing Remy slowly but surely. The blatant disregard she treated him to sometimes wounded him even though he would rather die than say anything to her. Throughout it all he refused to give her up swearing that he would become the man she wanted or he would die trying.

And that was what Storm was so desperately afraid of.

It was in this careless manner that Rogue progressively won the hatred of the Windrider, though Storm was careful to never let it show. Sure she hated Rogue, Storm was not afraid to admit that to herself and Rogue's callous treatment of Remy wasn't the only reason why.

Deep down inside Storm, even though she refused to admit it to herself, hated Rogue for the simple reason that she was the one who Remy loved. Storm hated knowing she had stooped to petty jealousy but she was unable to direct her feelings. The only concession she made was to make sure no one knew how she felt.

Storm knew that if she asked him, Remy would admit that he loved her but it wasn't in the way that she wanted to be loved. She wanted Remy to hold her and make love to her, to whisper sweet nothings in her ear and to hold her oh so tenderly. The way he did with Rogue. While there were times that Remy did hold her and whisper in her ear, it was not what she wanted.

Not that she had a problem with his teasing or his sometimes risqué jokes; she just didn't want them to be the only thing he whispered in her ear. She wanted to be loved the way a man was made to love a woman, the way Remy loved Rogue.

With a sigh of disgust aimed at the moans of unadulterated pleasure Rogue was making, Stormed rolled out of bed and made her way to her balcony whose doors were open. There was a time when she had slept with them closed, that was in the time before Remy as she jokingly referred to it.

Ever since Remy had started to make his late night forays into her bedroom she started to keep them open for him, it was out of habit that she had them open now. She told herself she shouldn't bother; he was otherwise occupied and wouldn't need her counsel tonight.

Floating a bit she coasted over the top of her balcony and gently settled on the soft fragrant grass that surrounded the mansion. Deciding a walk would do her good she headed across the neatly manicured ground of the mansion.

Her thoughts were a mad jumble in her head but they kept her company as she walked. She had no idea exactly where she was going nor did she care, she simply wanted to get away from Rogue. And Remy too she admitted silently.

She was just so angry with him for bring so foolish and so willfully blind where Rogue was concerned.

"Oh Goddess why can't he see she's not the one for him" Storm agonized out loud.

"Because that stupid Cajun's got a blind spot where Rogue is concerned." The gruff male voice came from deep within the shadows.

With a startled gasp Storm whirled around to find Wolverine lounging against a tree, a cigar in his mouth and a thoughtful look on his rugged face. "Don't beat yourself up over him Roro he ain't worth it"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Storm said stiffly appalled that Logan had overheard her and knew what or more importantly who she was talking about.

"Suit yourself" and with a shrug of his massive shoulders he was gone, leaving Storm to watch his retreating form

"What's wrong with me?" she asked quietly, almost desperately, knowing that even though he was already a few feet away he would hear her. She blinked her eyes furiously, trying to keep the tears of disappointment away.

Logan stopped and turned back to her, crossing the distance between them in a few strides.

In gruff voice he said "Nothing's wrong with you Ro, it's that dumb Cajun who can't see something great in front of him", his calloused hand came up. To Storm's everlasting surprise he brushed away a teardrop that she hadn't even noticed with amazingly gentle thumbs.

"Want me to go beat some sense into him?" Wolverine asked bringing a small smile to Storms face.

"No you'd probably get too carried away and he'd be useless to me afterward" Storm replied her humor returning slightly in the face of Wolverine's candor and understanding.

"Give him time Ro, he's been in love with Rogue for so long that he doesn't know how to fall out of love with her" Logan advised suddenly "stop being there for him and he'll realize what you mean to him. You can't baby the Cajun forever."

"I do not baby him Logan" Storm was taken aback by Logan's statement. Sure she was there for him when he needed her, no matter what the problem or situation may be but that was because he'd been through such a harrowing time on Antarctica.

"Yes you do Ro. He runs to you with his problems and you are always there to make it better, then he leaves you to go back to Rogue. It ain't fair to you Roro and he's never going to stop unless you stop him."

Logan drew Storm to him unexpectedly and wrapped one arm around her "Let him choose Ororo, or else you're bound to hurt forever. If he chooses her you'll get over it eventually and if he doesn't choose her then." He shrugged not finishing it, he didn't have to.

Storm nodded her head listening to the wisdom Logan was dispensing. She honestly couldn't go on like this, not doing anything but pinning and waiting, making herself extremely miserable.

She would make him choose. First she will make herself unavailable to him so that he would think about what she really meant to him. Storm hoped she meant something to him. She hoped that her presence in his life was important enough to him that he would miss it if she weren't there.

"Thank you Logan" was all she said before she made her way back to her room. Her mind was full of resolve. She was so busy mulling things over in her head that she didn't even know he was in her room until he spoke as she came through the balcony doors.

"Where in the hell have you been Stormy?"

"Don't call me Stormy" her response was automatic.

"I was worried sick about you"

"Really? She asked with an arched eyebrow and a slight smile, "I was under the distinct impression you were too busy to notice anything but Rogue a few minutes ago." At his scowl she continued blithely, "It's really nice to know someone cares."

A frown marred Gambit's features as he mulled over her nonchalant tone, "Of course I care.what's gotten into you."

With a wicked smile Storm answered "Nothing yet.but I'm working on it."

"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?" He practically yelled at her.

Wincing theatrically Storm put her hands over her ears "Honestly Remy do you have to shout. Why don't you just wake up the whole mansion and let them know you're in my room in the middle of the night one time and be done about it."

"I'm sorry" he said grudgingly and his voice went back to normal "it's just that I got worried when I came to you and I didn't see you and." he added in a suspicious voice "knowing you're not one to go around wandering in the middle of the night I panicked"

"I was wasn't wandering, I was talking."

With whom" he demanded, only to flush slightly at the look she gave him.

"None of your business."

"Of course it is my business.were you meeting someone?"

"Remy I'm tired it's." she looked at her bed side clock "four o'clock in the morning can we finish this some other time?"

"Who were you with Stormy?" He asked stubbornly not moving and she got the distinct impression that he wouldn't either until he was satisfied.

Tough. Tonight would be the beginning of a new era with them both. She refused to give into his every whim and desire just because she loved him.

"Someone who definitely wasn't Rogue, now goodnight Remy" she said surprisingly hard voice. She turned her back to him, not wanting to see his reaction to her statement. She had the feeling that it would be a bit volatile.

"What's that suppose to mean Storm?" he reacted angrily just like she'd figured. Grabbing her arm he spun her around much to Storm's surprise and secret delight. She loved the feel of his hand on her, angry or not calm.

"It means" she said through clenched teeth as she pushed at his chest, which felt like a living wall beneath her palms, "that the only person whereabouts you're allowed to question in asleep in your bed. Mind. your. business..."

She trailed off as she noticed him sniffing her. His eyes narrowed and he snarled out one word "Wolverine".

Storm stilled as she watched rage and some other emotion she couldn't name flit across Remy's face. Anger she'd expected but the not the rage she saw reddened his face.

"Remy" she called his name uncertainly wondering if she had somehow gone to far. She searched her mind for some reason why Remy would be so upset with her meeting Logan. While the fact that he and the other man didn't particularly care for each other it wasn't like they were mortal enemies. Were they? The look on his face seemed to say so.

"Remy." she said his name again, her voice was filled with unease and his red on black eyes met hers finally. Everything after that seemed to slow down and she watched as his head slowly bent towards her and before she knew what she was doing she was swaying towards him, her eyes closing.

Suddenly he pushed her away from him. An embarrassed flush flooded her mocha cheeks and she looked away from him unable to believe what she'd nearly done.how close she'd been...

Remy paced the floor and said in a jerky voice "I'm sorry Storm. I don't...something came over me. I'm sorry" he ran his fingers through his hair and looked at her.

She averted her gaze she didn't want him to see that she was anything but sorry.

Walking over to her he reached her face with his hand and stared into her eyes and whispered "You're my best friend Stormy and I don't want to lose you so whatever's going on between you and Logan I'll mind my business and stay out of it."

With that he kissed her forehead and left leaving Storm with an almost comical look of disbelief on her face. Fearing she was about to break out in hysterical laughter Storm covered her mouth with her hands.

Remy thought something was going on between her and Logan.

"Oh Goddess what next" she moaned as she sat down on the floor