They used to be friends, had much in common, from unrequited love to uncontrollable powers. Still times change, and now Blaze has everything Rogue ever wanted, including Gambit. But what if the roles could be reversed?

Disclaimer: Don't own the X-Men. Do own both Blaze and Raven.

A/N: Flashbacks used in this part of the prologue are from my other works, identified below.

02

Prologue

Previously…

"Hey, Blaze. I'm Bobby, you wanna soda?" So that was why Logan had got four bottles out not three, Bobby realised, he hadn't just been being greedy.

"Thanks," Blaze perched on a stool and accepted the bottle. Anxious to state her claim to Bobby, Rogue introduced herself.

"Hiya, I'm Rogue. How are you feelin'?" She practically draped Bobby's arm around her shoulders, just in case Blaze had any doubt.

"Much better, thank you." Blaze looked confused. In a school as big as this one seemed, how come everyone knew who she was? As if he was telepathic, Bobby tried to make her at ease.

"Don't worry about everyone knowing your name. News travels fast round here, and we've had a few days since you arrived to prepare."

"Prepare for what?" Blaze smiled honestly, almost relaxing for the first time in a long while.

"Well… I guess…" Logan smiled at Bobby's uncertainty, but he could see why the boy was getting flustered. And Rogue for that matter. The newcomer was pretty, with deep brown eyes and auburn hair, button nose, rosebud lips and high cheekbones. And she did have a charming smile. But there was something about her that Logan just couldn't place; something untrustworthy that spooked him. And she smelt of fire, more so even than Pyro had done. Logan had never liked the smell of fire.

(From Dark is the Hour)

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"So, what would happen if Gambit touched you?" He asked quietly, eyes narrow and dark. Rogue met his gaze with slight fear she couldn't place and a flush of excitement.

"Don't. I don't wanna hurt you." Her sweet southern tones barely made a whisper. He ignored her warning, reaching out with a finger to brush a strand of white hair away from her face. Suddenly she could feel her power kick in, drawing Gambit's energy into herself, dragging his power out of him and into her. He gasped involuntarily, but didn't pull away.

"Rogue, you in here? Wolverine said…" Bobby! Rogue pulled away from Gambit and glanced guiltily towards her boyfriend. Iceman glared at the pair, hurt and anger both equally visible in his expression. Without a seconds warning he was across the room and pushing Gambit manfully away from Rogue, slamming him into the wall. Gambit's head slammed against the plaster, Bobby's fist slammed across the other young man's chin. Rogue screamed for Bobby to stop, but he didn't, he couldn't! The door slid open again and Wolverine was on Bobby in a breath, pulling him away and pinning his struggles.

"If you don't want Ilehana's claws sunk into you, you'll leave the Cajun alone. She's not spent so long patchin' him up for you to go knockin' him down Bobby Drake." With a sudden movement Bobby wrenched himself free of Logan's grip and headed out the door. Rogue instinctively ran after him, calling his name.

"I thought I could trust you, Rogue!" He turned slowly to face her. "But it looks like I was wrong! Its over, just…stay away from me…" He stalked off like a wounded tiger, crestfallen and broken hearted. Rogue choked back a sob as a strong hand rested on her shoulder, supporting her. Thinking it was Logan; she turned to bury her tearful face in his chest.

"It okay chere," A soft voice, definitely not Wolverine's, comforted her. "There be plenty more rats in the swamp…" Embarrassed by her mistake, Rogue pulled sharply away from Gambit, and ran sobbing down the corridor…

(From Dark Elements)

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"Je suis vraiment désolé…" Blaze, Laura apologised sincerely whilst avoiding Remy's eyes. French seemed so much more suitable than English, how they'd conducted their first conversations so many years ago. "Je n'avias pas l'intention de…"

"Don't apologise Laura." There was so much feeling in his tone that he forced her to look at him. The second their eyes met, Blaze felt her breath dragged out of her. Was this how it was to end? Friendship destroyed by the clumsy words of their own daughter?

"But I…" She tried to speak again and so quickly ran out of words. Seventeen years and now she ran out of things to say, of clever replies, easy dismissals, and sharp responses to cover how she felt, to protect the man she loved and was so afraid to lose. The first cut is the deepest, and Gambit was scarred beyond belief even before Blaze had met him. She knew with death-like certainty he could not return her feelings.

"Shush." Remy told her gently, steeling himself to move closer to her, take her shivering hand in his, drink in her deep brown eyes as if for the last time under the cruel starlight. "Don't try an' explain. Don't try an' do anythin'." What now, he thought, stalling for time. Seventeen years and he'd never prepared himself for this night. Sure, they slept together, but it was an infrequent and almost distant affair. Never in so many years had they woken the following morning besides each other as a couple might. Never would they admit how much each had transformed the other. Why? Fear? If so, of what? Men like the deceased Alessandro Jacobi who would try to use their feelings as weapons against them? It had driven them apart when they were so close to a mysterious truth before. But what of now, tonight? What was he afraid of?

Blaze's eyes dropped to the floor and she withdrew her hand from his grasp with practiced ease. Give Remy a second; he'd come up with some reason for him to be leaving. Let him go and she'd never see him again, but what else could she ever do? Become so bitter she'd do anything to destroy him and any girl who ever got close to him again? She wouldn't be the first, second or third to try it. But after a few moments that lasted as long as the earth he was still stood there. So close, almost close enough to hear his heart beating, almost close enough for her to begin to hope… But she couldn't allow herself that luxury.

"If you're leaving, then go." She stuttered, through her mutation always so emotional and now so near to breaking down. "I won't blame you, you owe me nothing. You were always going to find this out sometime, that I love you."

"Chere…" He started, longing that she'd look at him. "Laura, Gambit know for ten years… L'amour pas par degré…" She glanced up as he quoted the words she'd used almost as a weapon against his ex-fiancée Belladonna. Love not by degree. He held her eyes again, captivated her like a frightened deer facing the headlights alone. "But you left then and Gambit never got a chance to reply. All these years since, you bin so hurt I'se thought there nothin' left for me."

"Now you know why." Laura whispered, not able to breathe in the closeness of the night, the nearness of his body, the longing for his kiss.

"Now I know." He echoed in a heartfelt whisper of his own, lowering his lips to hers as she reacted and tilted her head to the stars, eyelashes brushing her cheek, hair so soft to his touch. In the second before his lips brushed hers he admitted so softly "I love you too."

And they understood, for the first time, what was meant to be between them. Falling in love was just part of the plan. A kiss so tender passed between them they half wondered why this had taken them so long. But then all thoughts were lost as his hands stroked her spine and hair, her long elegant fingers found their way to run over the back of his neck. Gasping breath clouded the cold air, ribbons of ardent fire wrapped around both their bodies like ancient magic, demanding they both surrender…

(From Belonging)