Rogue woke up the next day and considered skipping school, it was her "birthday" after all, but she would have to explain herself to the adults and she didn't want anyone to know it was her birthday. She decided to bite the bullet and head to school. Kitty was already up and getting ready, so Rogue had a little time before she could take a shower, anyway. Should I or should I not do something for my birthday? Aww, screw it. What's a birthday anyway? All it means is that you're getting old, why should anyone celebrate that? Rogue got up and started getting ready for school.

Halfway through the school day, Rogue got a surprise in her locker. She opened it and there was a necklace on top of an envelope. When Rogue opened it she couldn't believe what she read. It was a birthday card, from Destiny. There was a note written inside the card:

Dear Rogue,

I hope this reaches you on your birthday. I wanted to give you something on your special day. You always loved this necklace and I always planned on giving it to you on your eighteenth birthday. I've really missed you, little possum. I know why you're angry with me and I don't blame you, but I would love to see you Rogue. There's a plane ticket inside this envelope. I was hoping you could come see me this weekend. I would come see you if I could, but I don't think the X-men would allow that. Honestly Rogue, I don't want anything from you. I just want to see you and know that you're all right. I asked Raven to put this in your locker, but she has nothing to do with this. This is about me and you Rogue and I want to see you. Please, don't ignore this. I love you little possum.

Love,

Destiny

Rogue couldn't believe what she read. She didn't know how to feel. How dare Destiny try and contact her? She lied to her, she made her think she loved her when she was just a pawn in her and Mystique's game. But Destiny had been her mother for years and years. I can't deal with this. I can't deal with any of this. I have to get out of here. Rogue stuck her school stuff in her locker, grabbed the necklace and the card and walked out of school, well, more like she ran out of school, and she kept running. She ran down Main Street and kept running until she got to the residential district and realized she didn't know where she was going, so she walked back and sat on a bench in the town square. Her hands were shaking, her legs were shaking, and Rogue was on the verge of tears. That's when Rogue heard a voice.

"You all right, chere?" asked a familiar Cajun. Rogue looked up, but couldn't speak, and she couldn't stop shaking. "Chere, what is it? What's wrong?" Rogue still couldn't speak, so Gambit sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders trying to comfort her. Rogue calmed down after twenty minutes, but felt like an hour to her and Gambit. "Come on, chere, talk to Remy. What's wrong?" Rogue still wouldn't answer. It seemed like she didn't even know Gambit was there. Gambit noticed the things in her hands and decided to investigate. Rogue was so out of it, she didn't notice Gambit slipping the note out of her hand. Gambit read the note and put two and two together. Then he took the necklace from Rogue and examined it. It was a beautiful piece; a jade pendant on a black beaded necklace. It looked hand made, and Gambit's experience as a thief meant he could tell a cheap necklace from something worth a lot. After examining the necklace, Gambit turned his attention back to Rogue, who was now looking at the necklace in Gambit's hands. Gambit handed it back to her. "You all right, chere?"

"I don't know what to do," Rogue whispered.

"Do you wanna see her?" Gambit asked.

"I don't know."

"You want Gambit to take you home, chere?"

"No, I'm supposed to be in school."

"It's already 3:00, chere, school's out."

"Oh."

"Come on, chere, let's go some place more private," said Gambit. Rogue gave Gambit a strange look. "I'm not gonna hurt you, chere, I just wanna help."

"Okay," Rogue whispered.

Gambit walked Rogue to his motorcycle and helped her climb on. They took off and rode into the city. Bayville is a suburb of a small industrial city. Gambit rode into a parking garage and parked his bike, then he led Rogue to his apartment building. It was a nice loft on the top floor. Gambit sat Rogue down on his leather couch.

"You all right, chere? Feelin' any better?" asked Gambit.

"I don't know," answered Rogue.

"You want Gambit to get you something? A soda? Some water?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Come on, chere, let me do something?" asked Gambit, "You don't want Gambit to feel inadequate, do you?" Rogue smiled.

"You can get me a soda, then."

"Good," said Gambit, as he went to the kitchen and brought back a can of Coke. Rogue opened it and took a sip before she started to talk.

"I didn't know you lived in the city."

"Magneto wanted all of us close to the X-mansion, but now that he's gone, well, I've got no where else to be."

"Are the other Acolytes here?" Rogue asked warily.

"I honestly don't know. They had their own separate apartments here, but I don't know if they've stayed or left," said Gambit. Rogue decided she didn't want to know how Gambit was financing himself without Magneto. Then she smiled. "You're smiling chere, that's good, but what's so funny."

"You said I."

"What?"

"You said 'I' instead of 'Gambit' or 'he'."

"Really, Gambit must be losin' his touch or maybe I'm just comfortable wit' you." In spite of herself, Rogue grinned. "And look, I got you to smile again," responded Gambit.

"Thank you for trying to help me."

"No problem, chere, but you still haven't told me your decision."

"I still don't know what it is."

"Do you want my advice?"

"Sure."

"Go see her."

"Why?"

"'Cause you're hurt, and ignoring it won't make you less hurt. Chere, I know what it's like to be betrayed by a parent. I know how that affects a person. It's hard to believe you can trust anyone else when you couldn't even trust the person that raised you and claimed to love you. Now in the circles I run in, being suspicious isn't necessarily a bad thing. But people love you chere, lots of people. And you need to let them love you. Go see dis woman. Tell her you hater her, tell her you love her, tell her you'll never forgive her, tell her you already forgive her, but talk to her. If it doesn't make you feel better, well, it can't make you feel worse, now can it?"

"You actually make sense Gambit."

"Surprised?"

"No, maybe I will see Destiny."

"You know, chere, you gotta first class ticket in there. What say we exchange that for two coach tickets, and you won't have to go alone?"

"And who would I ask to come with me?" said Rogue.

"Maybe someone useful, who likes you, likes to travel, owes you a lot, has red eyes, a penchant for card playin', and happens to be devastatingly handsome."

"I don't know anyone like that, but I'd like it if you came with me."

"Well, who am I to say no to a lady in need," said Gambit. Again in spite of herself, Rogue giggled. "So, when do you plan on leaving, chere?"

"Well, after school on Friday would be best? I'll just pack some stuff and keep it in my locker all day."

"Den Gambit will pick you up from school."

"Sure, but this time we won't be traveling by freight train."

"You're friends at the mansion be okay with dis?"

"Well, they don't have to know until after I leave."

"Won't dat upset 'em? Gambit don't want dat wolf man on his trail again."

"Logan's not a wolf man. He's Wolverine."

"Either way he's dangerous. And Gambit don't wanna be messin' wit dat again."

"You afraid of Wolverine?"

"Gambit ain't afraid of nobody, chere. I just wouldn't wanna hurt him."

"Yeah, I'm so sure. He'd slice you into little pieces. But don't worry, I'll protect you."

"My hero, or heroine I suppose."

"I prefer she-ro. But no one's gonna think you kidnapped me this time. They won't even know you're there. I'll just call the mansion right before we board and tell 'em I'll be away for the weekend. By then, it'll be too late for anyone to try and talk me out of it."

"Clever girl. Unfortunately, I have to take you home, unless you really wanna protect me from Wolf man . . . I mean Wolverine."

"I don't have ya number, Gambit." Gambit was a little surprised by the Rogue's boldness, but he appreciated it. Truth be told, Rogue was a little surprised herself. She had spent an extended period of time with Gambit, but she really didn't know him all that well. And after that whole Scott fiasco she was over "crushes," or at least that's what she told herself. Although in her defense, what she felt for Gambit wasn't a "crush," and it was very different from what she felt for Scott. Scott made her nervous and uncomfortable because she wanted to be liked. Gambit made her feel at ease and safe; ironic considering he kidnapped her once.

"Well then here you go, chere," said Gambit before he found a scrap of paper and wrote down his number for Rogue, "and by the way, you can call me Remy."

"Remy?"

"Remy LeBeau, at ya service."

"Well Remy, I guess we should get going."

"Let's go," said Gambit. Gambit got Rogue home after dinner. Coming in late two days in a row did not go unnoticed. When Rogue came home Wolverine was waiting for her in the kitchen.