A/N: I'm sorry for the late delay. I have no good excuse since my only real reason for not posting was Ultimate Annual #1 and Katrina, and since one is fiction and the other isn't going to affect me as badly as others, I have no defense. Coincidentally, if I don't post again for a while, you know my power/cable has gone out due to the hurricane. Oh, and for making you wait so long, I hope Afternoon Rain will make up for the angst of last chapter, so go check it out. Warning: it's not rated M for nothing!
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"Get the baise away from her, y' salope."

Gambit finished off his opponent with a swift crack of his bo staff to the man's knees before running over to a wickedly cackling Toxic. The woman was absolutely stunning. Her black hair was a dark contrast to her pale, icy blue eyes. It was a shame her beauty was spoiled by the fervent animosity twisting her soft, gorgeous features. Even coming into this battle with the best knowledge available, no one knew exactly what the woman's mutation truly was.

Rogue had been fighting another mutant when Toxic came up behind her. The woman had latched both hands at Rogue's temples effectively bringing the X-Man to her knees. Try as they might, none of her teammates could break away to save her. Gambit had to watch helplessly as Rogue's eyes rolled back into her head and a trickle of blood started to seep from her nose.

Now that his enemy was thoroughly dispatched he was able to sprint the short distance between him, Toxic, and Rogue. Seeing that her game was soon to be over, Toxic released the X-Man to seize the atrocious looking dagger at her hip. Raising her hand high in the air, she brought the weapon down into Rogue's chest. Toxic was able to repeat her action two more times before Gambit was finally able to fling a charged card at her. His ploy worked, and as the woman stumbled backward, Wolverine came up behind her to slide six Adamantium blades into her torso.

During the little skirmish Rogue had fallen from her kneeling position to lie on her side, crumpled in a bloody heap. Gambit dropped to the ground next to his severely wounded wife. In all the times he had fought with the X-Men, he never thought tragedy would strike so close, and if it did, he was sure Rogue wouldn't be the one to fall victim. As the others dispatched the remaining threats, Gambit reached down to hold her.

Wolverine paced the perimeter of the skyscraper's courtyard before letting his rage get the better of him. He pounded into the heavy steel girders supporting building's overhang while mentally beating up himself. Twice he had failed to protect Rogue when he promised he would. He was able to save her last time by touching her, but since she had gained control over her mutation there would be no reviving absorption this time. Extending his claws once more, he ran the indestructibly sharp razors back and forth against the closest block of cement. He could clearly hear Gambit over his destructive tirade.

"No! Marie! Marie!"

Even though he had dropped to his knees, Gambit felt as if he wasn't close enough to Rogue. He let his face hover over hers, meeting her eye to eye. She was still conscious, but from the blank stare gazing back at him he could tell she wouldn't be with him much longer. Pulling away from her just a bit he surveyed the wounds inflicted upon her.

"Chere! Oh…"

Blood slowly started to pour onto the cement below them. Gambit was straddling her body with his knees resting by her hips. The red liquid soaked into his uniform and the edges of his trench coat. Try as he might, he couldn't suppress the cry that escaped his lips. She was dying before him and there was nothing he could do about it. Laying his forehead on her collarbone, he snaked his arms under her limp body in order to bring her closer to him. His sobs only increased as the hopelessness of the situation became evident.

"I'm…"

Suddenly Rogue gasped as the last bit of air seeped from her lungs. Looking into her face his eyes widened as he watched her eyes slowly close.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Shadows started to block the sunlight that had previously been hidden behind Storm's dark clouds. Tearing his gaze away from his dying wife, he saw the other X-Men standing around. Someone had gone to get the X-Jet. It was landing just a few meters away.

"Chere, hang on, okay? Hang on, please!"

Gambit kept a tight hold on Rogue as he pulled her even closer to his chest. Rising from the ground, he carried her to the lowering ramp and the emergency on site care Phoenix and Beast could provide her in the X-Jet's mini Medical Sphere. As he set her down on the slide out metal table, he thought he heard her whisper to him, but knew it was impossible. Her last breath had already been released.

"Don't let meh go. Don't let meh go."

"I love y', Marie. Love y'. Promise, I won' let go."

As the others finished loading on to the Blackbird, the supersonic jet rose and started to make the short trip back to the Xavier Institute.
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R/R: As always, thank you to everyone reading! If you'd like to be a Fix Feeder (and Duckie Feeder, since the Fix now has a pet), just leave a review. :) And to my Fix Feeders:

ishandahalf: I am really sorry to keep your twitchiness in new heights for so long! Thank you about the medical stuff. I found a really nice article that described it all for me. :) So what is going on with this weird story? Any clues yet? What's real and what's fake? Well, explanations are just around the corner, so you won't be in suspense too much longer. Thanks for Feeding the Fix (and Duckie)!

VinGirl: But Remy's alive now! How can that be? Sorry, I didn't mean to make you start to cry. Guess I figured since I knew the end everyone else would too and not be sad by last chapter. I'm kinda dense that way. :) And I'm also sorry to keep the update so long. And there won't be a funeral, so you can't get any closure that way. Thanks for Feeding the Fix (and Duckie)!

Prexistence: Now we're even. You were mean in your fic and I was mean in mine, so no more being mean, k? Yeah, like that's going to happen:) And Remy won't be coming back to life. Confused yet? Well, don't be. Explanations are coming sooner than you think. And don't even think of sending Chipmunkdude over here. First, the Fix and Duckie will get him, and second, I won't update if Chipmunkdude comes here. Sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks for Feeding the Fix (and Duckie)!

SugahDevil: Okay, first, I have to tell you that I almost cried when I realized that second notice I got for your fic wasn't for chapter 8, but was a duplicate for chapter 7. I was so hyped up about getting two chapters and then only getting one…Ugh! So, you have to update soon. In fact, you need to update like right now! The Fix (and Duckie) were completely upset by everything and need answers, so hurry up already:) Alright, I'll lay off so long as you don't leave us hanging too much longer. Anyway, sorry to almost put you in tears. I guess I was meaner with that chapter than I thought. I'm glad it was tense all the way through. It was tense writing it! And thank you, I'm glad you are enjoying the story! Thanks for Feeding the Fix (and Duckie)!

MJK: You so have to tell me your theory before the end, even if it turns out it wasn't what I had planned! Now you've got me all curious to know what you think is happening. :) And I'm glad to hear you're convinced things aren't what they seem. Now you know why the fic has Toxic in the title, have you figured out the Hope yet? Thanks for Feeding the Fix (and Duckie)!

WolvGambit Le Diable Blanc: I know, I know and I'm sorry. But in all fairness, I had the angst written before you told me it made you feel bad. It's not over yet if that makes you feel any better! And your explanations are coming up, so you'll see exactly why Remy had to die. Just promise you won't eat anymore chocolate until the end. That is, unless you want to of course. LOL! When it's all over, you won't need the chocolate:) Thank you for Feeding the Fix (and Duckie)!