A/N: Alright, a little happy interlude. You're gonna need it just to get through the next few chapters. And in case you forgot, Cruel Twist of Fate explained that Rogue's accent only comes out anymore when she's really upset, hence none of her dialect in this chappy. Enjoy!
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(X)---(X)---(X)---(Flashback)---(X)---(X)---(X)

Rogue had never been happier in her life than the last year. Not only was she making great strides in controlling her mutation, but she graduated from college a year early. To be perfectly honest, while those things were definite causes for praise, the real pleasure in her life came from the fact that the last twelve months had been spent with a man who showered her with attention, flirted with her shamelessly, and above all loved her unconditionally.

At first their relationship was one goading the other any way they could. As the teasing turned from name calling to double entendres, they realized staying apart was more work than getting together. After two months of the provocation, Rogue finally gave in to one Remy LeBeau. Her life had been a whirlwind ever since. Most of the time he had some exotic adventure planned for them, usually arriving on the back of his motorcycle. Occasionally, as instanced today, they just stayed around the mansion and enjoyed each other's company.

They each had rooms on the teacher's floor since both were too old to be in the students' dorms. Plus, they were full time X-Men so they served as mentors to the younger kids. His room was two doors down and across the hall from hers. Try as he might he just couldn't get her to agree to move in with him. He even used the argument that Jean and Scott lived together before they were married, not that he planned on boarding that boat anytime soon, but Rogue wouldn't have it. There was nothing more in the world she would have loved to do than spend her nights in the arms of the only man she loved, but until she gained full control she was unwilling to take the risk. So Remy gave her light kisses each night as they stood outside her room, leaving only after she was safely inside and the sound of her lock turning reminded him that she wasn't ready yet.

It was early in the morning when Remy woke her. He had yet to go to bed after their previous night's escapade. Easily picking her lock, he slid silently into the room to kneel at the side of her bed. She didn't know it, but he often came in to watch her sleep. It was one of his favorite things and something to which he never thought he would fall victim. No longer able to tolerate waiting for her to wake, he gingerly captured a strand of ivory, allowing the long ends to gently run across her lips. At first she didn't respond, but as the tickling sensation didn't fade she swiped her had at the offending object.

Remy smiled broadly, trying hard not to laugh. After her hand fell back to her chest, he resumed the delightful torture. As the sensation once again returned and seemed stronger this time Rogue's eyes flew open. When she saw that he was crouched down on the floor at her side with a lock of her hair grasped between his fingers, a soft smile rose to her delicate lips. However, as soon as she saw the time displayed in the green numbers of her alarm clock a frown creased her brow.

"You haven't been to sleep yet, have you?"

"Non. Too excited t' sleep."

"And what has got you so riled up already?"

"Not riled up, jus' got somet'in in mind fo' dis afternoon."

Sitting up to her elbows, she let the covers slide off her upper body, exposing the spaghetti strapped red negligee he had bought her a few weeks back. She didn't miss how his eyes gazed back and forth across her cleavage.

"Like the view?"

"Mmmm. I know how t' make it better."

Remy winked at Rogue seductively as a playful smirk rose to his lips. She just rolled her eyes and pulled on the matching silk robe before throwing back the covers to get up.

"Dat's not what I had in mind, cheri."

"Well, that's just too bad, huh?"

As she padded into the bathroom she called out to him. He flopped down on her bed while she got her morning primping out of the way.

"So what do you have planned for today?"

"T'ought y'd put on dat string b'kini I got y' yesterday an' we could swim a couple laps, non?"

"That's sounds fine with me, except I told you when you bought that thing that I wouldn't be caught dead in it, control or no."

Her swim suit was already hanging up in the bathroom from where they went swimming the other day. Checking to make sure it was dry, Rogue slid into the black, classic cut, one piece Speedo. To Remy's disappointment she stepped out of the bathroom all ready to go. Now that she had the opportunity to see all of him, she noticed that he was wearing his white with accented silver and black trunks. He had on a loose black tee, though it would only be a few more moments before he shed it by the pool and she would be able to appreciate his well muscled physique. Grabbing her towel she led the way out the door.

(X)---(X)---(X)

After playing in the pool for a couple hours, they both decided it was time to get something to eat. They changed out of their wet attire in the single person cabanas on the west side of the pool. Heading up to the kitchen, they made a couple hoagie sandwiches.

"C'mon, chere. Let's go t' ma room an' watch a movie."

"I don't know. What movie do you have in mind?"

"Y'll see. It's one o' m' favorites."

They climbed the stairs and ate silently in his room during the beginning of the action/adventure flick. Rogue savored her food a little longer than Remy, since he claimed he was famished. Thirty minutes into the movie, she finally finished her last bite and moved to sprawl out next to him. Several factors were working against Rogue as the movie progressed. First, she had only slept a few hours before Remy woke her up. Then, she burnt up all her energy sleep had rejuvenated into her. Now she sat with a satisfied appetite, snuggled up next to a warm body in a darkened room watching a movie that really didn't hold her attention though he claimed it to be one of his favorites.

"Remy, I'm getting sleepy."

"So take a li'l nap, p'tit."

"You know I can't. What happens if-"

"-It be alright. Promise I won' let nuttin' happen."

Slowly Rogue's eyelids grew heavy and before she knew it she was rolling onto her side so she could rest her head on Remy's chest. As he moved his arm from behind his head, he draped it over her shoulder. Her resolve to stay awake finally fell away and she drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Sensing her deep breaths and the stillness of her body next to his, Remy turned off the movie, kissed the top of her head, and fell asleep with a content grin plastered on his face. He had set out to prove to her that they could get closer than she thought possible and when she awoke in a few hours he would have the proof.

Later, Rogue would find out that he had the whole thing planned and she walked right into his setup. It didn't matter, however. She told him her answer was still no. After all, he would have to put his attention into other things like a nice diamond ring before planning a safe sleeping arrangement.
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R/R: I owe a super huge apology to a bunch of people. Normally, I thank everyone for taking a peak at my little fic, even if there wasn't a review. I have completely neglected that in the last few chapters, so: THANK YOU! I really do appreciate all those people stopping by. And if you'd like to be a Fix Feeder also, just leave a review:) Speaking of Fix Feeders:

WolvGambit Le Diable Blanc: Blushes Aww, shucks, ya didn' have ta go an' say all that now…:) Thanks for Feeding the Fix!

Brazos: Okay, is this hasty enough? Probably not, huh? I'll try quicker next time. : ) Thanks for Feeding the Fix!

ishandahalf: I don't know. He was pretty miffed when Rogue brought him back from the dead in X-Treme X-Men #19 and all he lost then was his mutant powers. I figured Hank would go into great detail to explain exactly what the diagnosis was. And no, none of that is very good at all. Critical, but stable. Don't know if Remy's gonna make it or not. Just gonna have to wait and find out. And no, no staging this time around. Don't think he'd want to go through all this, even if it's just pretend, in order to get Rogue back. Plus, I think she'd kill him for real if she found out he pulled all this on purpose. That's just too much stress and anxiety to be a 'hey, but I made you see how much you love me' kinda thing. :) Thanks for Feeding the Fix!

Prexistence: I'm not saying a thing! My lips are sealed. :) Although, Remy does deserve a hug after everything that's happened so far. Sorry for the mean cliffhanger. I knew when I was cutting it up in chapters, that I just had to end right there. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. I'd love a chipmunk to defend me! I promise I'll give it a good home! Thanks for Feeding the Fix!

MJK: Yeah, I thought Hank had a better vocabulary than I did, so I had to look a few things up to see what he would say. :) And see, the first flashback. Thought I'd keep up the flow since that's what I did in Cruel Twist of Fate. However, there won't be a flashback about how they ended up apart because it didn't exactly happen. You'll just have to wait to see what I mean…Thanks for Feeding the Fix!