They made it to their floor, and stood by the stairs. In a few minutes, she would go right, and he'd go left, but neither wanted to say goodnight just yet. There was so much on their minds, so much they wanted to say, but they didn't know how to express it all.

Remy swallowed hard, his throat parched already. "Well... I guess I'll be headin' dis way," he said, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder toward the direction his room was in.

"Ah guess so," Rogue answered. "Um... g'night, Remy."

"Sweet dreams, chere." Remy turned, and walked toward his bedroom, his shoulders slumped. Why didn't he talk things out with her, like he'd wanted to? What made him keep quiet?

Rogue watched his back, and finally snapped into action. "Remy, wait!" she called, running after him. Remy stopped, turning to see what Rogue wanted. "Sugah, Ah gotta ask ya somethin', somethin' real important, okay?"

Remy smiled slightly, enough to make Rogue's heart do flip-flops all over again. "I'm all ears."

Rogue took a deep breath, ran her fingers back through her hair as if trying to gather her courage, then finally asked, "Do ya love me?" She didn't know why she was so scared; with the spell she'd cast, he had no choice but to tell the truth.

Remy's smile softened as he considered the question. Such a simple one, and yet, the answer would always be the same. Why did she need to ask? "I love you, Rogue," he told her, looking in her green eyes deeply, knowing he could so easily get lost in them. "You made dis Cajun's life wort' somet'ing. It hurts knowin' dat you might not want me around sometimes, but... I can always say dat I know I found my soulmate. Not many people can claim dat dese days."

Rogue could only smile at his words. What she'd give to simply throw her arms around him, kiss him breathless, and show him how much he means to her and how much she loves him. Unfortunately, all that could be lethal to him. Instead, she said to him, "Oh, sugah, ya jus' made mah life. Ah love ya, too, like nothin' Ah've evah felt before." Suddenly, she whapped him on his clothed chest with her gloved hand. "So what were ya doin' flirtin' with them girls!"

He laughed after getting over the initial shock of her sudden mood change. "Chere, Gambit only did dat t'make you jealous," he answered, turning on his charm. "He knew you was watchin', and decided t'see how you'd react t'him movin' on."

"That was a horrible thing, Remy LeBeau!" she retorted, but didn't really mean it. Her smile gave her away.

They were interrupted with an animalistic growl sounding from Remy's room. Both looked at one another with quizzical looks on their faces, then Remy turned to his bedroom door, trying to open it; it was locked. "What da hell..." he mumbled, then started pounding his fist on the door. "Hey, open up!"

It was a few minutes before the door unlocked and opened. Out stepped a disheveled Logan and Jean, both adoring great big grins. "Sorry 'bout that, Cajun," Logan rumbled, running his hand down Jean's back to squeeze her ass, making her giggle. "Your room was closest." The two headed in the direction of Logan's room.

Remy's and Rogue's eyes were wide as they watched the pair head off. "What in da world is goin' on here?" Remy asked, shaking his head as he turned toward Rogue.

She immediately answered, "Ah cast a spell ta hear the truth from ya, an' it hit the entire house, too. Ev'rybody's been spoutin' out the truth when asked a question." Immediately, Rogue clamped a hand over her mouth, realizing too late the spell's effects were at work again.

Shocked silence followed. Remy's brows furrowed as he thought, then asked, "Did ya think Remy would lie to ya, chere? After all dat we've been t'rough?"

Rogue didn't want to answer, but the spell was stronger than she was. She pulled her hand down, and replied, "Ah jus' wanted ta know the truth, an' the only way Ah could be absolutely sure was ta cast that spell."

Remy desperately wanted to cradle her face in his hands and wipe that sorrowful, scolded look from it, but he didn't have gloves on. Instead, he took her gloved hands in his, and raised them to nestle them on his face. "Ma cherie, I can't ever lie t'you, ever," he firmly stated. "I never had intention t'do dat t'you. You're all dis man could ever hope for, and more than I feel right askin' for." Tears collected in Rogue's eyes. God, she loved this man, more than even she knew. "'Cept one t'ing..."

Rogue sniffled before giggling. "What's that, sugah?"

"Looks like Gambit be needin' a room somewhere's else," he returned, a wide grin spreading across his lips. "Remy ain't sleepin' where da runt was gettin' some wit' Jean. Dat just ain't gonna happen." He carefully settled his hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him. "Mebbe he can stay wit' you tonight, non?"

She laughed again. "Ya're still'a charmah, swamp rat," she declared, swatting his arm as Remy chuckled. "C'mon then. Ya can have mah bed." She took his hand in her's, and led the way to her bedroom.

"And where're you sleepin'?" Remy asked her as she turned down the covers on the bed after she changed into pajamas and he stripped down to his boxers.

Rogue stood upright, and carefully maneuvered around him to avoid touching his flesh with her's. "The carpet's soft enough," she reasoned, shrugging one shoulder. "Should be jus' fine."

"Non, non, non," Remy returned, tugging on her sleep tank, making her turn around again. "You sleep in da bed, too, chere."

Rogue lifted an eyebrow. "An' jus' how do ya think ya're gonna manage not gettin' yarself drained or worse?" she demanded to know, her hands on her hips.

Remy was already putting on his jeans before Rogue finished her question, and then slipped on his long-sleeved T-shirt. "Hop on in dere, Rogue," he told her. She did, settling herself under the covers, and Remy followed, settling in behind her and sliding his arms around her waist.

Rogue wasn't satisfied, though. "What 'bout yar face, sugah?" she asked. "An' yar hands?"

Remy simply smirked as he rested his chin against the back of her head, over her hair, and returned, "I'll take my chances, chere."

The next morning's dawn brought a grin to both Southerns' faces. Remy hadn't gotten absorbed, and Rogue didn't have more of him in her mind. Remy left to go down to his room to dress, allowing Rogue her privacy. After she dressed, she realized it was rather late. She met Remy in the hallway, and the two of them ventured downstairs together.

As soon as they entered the kitchen, they were greeted with "Good morning" from the rest of the team. Sitting down, they ate with them while listening to the conversation.

"You came in kinda late, Jean," Scott said softly, rubbing her back.

Jean nodded, and replied, "I don't know why, either. I guess I was real busy in the medlab or something." She tossed down the napkin in her hand, and scooted backward in her chair. "Speaking of, I should probably go check to make sure."

"I'll come with you," Scott said, and got up. The married couple left the room, Jean walking a bit funny as she went.

The others soon departed, leaving Rogue and Remy alone in the dining room. Rogue burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. "Oh, the poor woman don't remembah..." she said through gasps.

"Why don' she remember, Rogue?" Remy asked, looking at his lady love. "I sure remember seein' her and Logan leavin' my room da way you did, and that it was da spell's doin'."

Rogue suddenly stopped laughing. Remy remembered? Everyone was supposed to have forgotten what happened during the time of the spell. "Ev'rybody's supposed ta forget what happened when the spell was active," she answered, then furrowed her brow. "Why do you remembah what happened?"

"Prob'ly because I wasn't in da mansion when you cast it, chere," he slowly replied, as if thinking. "I left right aftah I saw ya turn and head up da stairs yesterday mornin'."

"So ev'rythin' ya said last night... ya were tellin' the truth?"

Remy smiled, and leaned close enough to whisper in her ear, "Da trut' straight from da heart."

Fin