A/N: I know, I know, we're horribly awful people who deserve to be tarred and feathered for our scarcity in updates. Though I feel the need to inform you that if you did attack us, we wouldn't be able to update AT ALL. Junior year is slowly killing DOJ, so we're not going to make any promises regarding updates, but we do intend to see this story through to the end . . .which, unfortunately, may be sometime soon. (Once we decide exactly HOW it's going to end . . .)

Thank you all for being so patient with us. HUGS to all the reviewers. You guys rock our small, Evo obsessed world I hope you all enjoy this bit . . . some of the promised JOTT and Romy for all of you who have been clamoring for it (and slight Lancitty and Kurmanda)

One last note: We both feel absolutely dreadful for poor Evan Daniels and his lack of appearances in the story.

All thoughts are italicized.

XxX

Slap. The sound reverberated through the room, stunning everyone into silence. Amara stood, her body stiff and rigid, glaring at John who was now wincing as he tenderly brushed his fingers across his stinging face. "Oy, wot was that for?"

Amara responded with another slap. "That was for being as presumptuous as to call me your girl and the one before was for hitting Roberto." There was a slight tinge of pink in Amara's cheeks but she held her head high as she turned on her heel and stalked to the other end of the room, regally dropping herself on the bed beside Amanda.

John glanced around at the X-men, trying to gauge from their shocked faces if any of them felt the least bit of sympathy for him, but they all seemed to be mentally applauding Amara. Gingerly touching the bruising area, John warily rose to his feet. "I think I'm gonna go see wot ol' Remy's up to."

"Where is Gambit?" Kitty questioned curiously.

John shrugged, already halfway out the door. "Don' look at me, Sheila, 'e left 'bout an hour ago, said 'e was goin' to check on room service. That bludger over 'ere," John cocked his head towards Lance, "thinks that means – ey! Wot, is it shove John day or somethin'?" He glared up from where Evan had just conspicuously knocked him to the ground.

Kitty sidled over to her boyfriend, coyly sliding an arm around his waist. "And just what, exactly, did you think Remy was going to do?"

Before Lance could answer, Amanda suddenly looked up, eyes wide with comprehension. "Didn't Rogue leave about an hour ago?"

XxX

Rouge watched uninterestedly as Remy deftly shuffled his cards between his hands. Though the lights had come back on, the elevator had still refrained from moving.

"So," Remy asked curiously, "have you ever been kissed?"

"Once," Rogue answered, "Before ah got mah powers."

"How old were you?"

Rogue shook her head, "That's not how the game goes, no additions to questions. It's mah turn."

Remy waved his hand in defeat, motioning for her to continue.

Rogue paused for a moment, gazing intently at the Cajun. She hadn't actually had a question in mind, but she was willing to do anything to deflect the conversation away from her. The game had been Remy's stupid idea in the first place, something he'd picked up in a book he said. Rogue's comment had been that she was surprised to hear he actually had the literary skills required to read, yet she'd somehow allowed herself to be roped in anyway.

She rolled her eyes, casting her mind around for the edge of a question she could grab. "If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?"

Remy's eyes slid to the wall in thought. Slowly, he shook his head. "I can't think of anywhere else."

"What?" Rogue's eyes widened in disbelief. "We're trapped in an elevator, an' ya can't think of anywhere ya'd rather be?"

"Non, I'm quite content right here."

Rogue regarded him with a look akin to that which one would give a mental patient. "You're really strange, ya know that, right?"

Remy simply smiled.

XxX

"Okay, is it just me, or has the elevator been stuck somewhere between floors 6 and 7 for a quite a while now?" Kitty shivered rubbing her hands over her bare arms. Lance slipped his arms around her and pulled her close, blocking the draft from the Hotel's air-conditioning. "Thanks," she smiled up at him.

"Yeah, I don't think it's moving." Tabby cocked her head to the side, stepping closer to Amara.

After John's sudden outburst, Kitty had been bent on finding her friend and, followed by Amara and Tabby, had left with John. Not wanting their girls to be alone with the pyromaniac, Lance and Roberto had quickly followed.

Making a split second decision, Kitty turned towards the stairs, only to find herself restrained by the arms around her. "Hey, where are you going?"

"To see if I can find Rogue or Remy. I'm, like, worried about them."

"Hey, I know I didn't live with her very long, but I think Rogue can take care of herself."

Kitty grimaced, "It's not Rogue I'm worried about."

Lance released Kitty, suppressing a chuckle at the idea of what Rogue could do to the Cajun. "You sure we shouldn't just leave them there?"

"La-ance," Kitty tugged at his arm, suddenly aware of how cold the hallway seemed without his warmth.

"Alright, alright, if it means that much to you, we'll go." His arm circled around her shoulders again, and they headed for the stairs.

"You really think it's smart to let those two go off alone?" Tabitha whispered to Amara who giggled.

XxX

"I hope Rogue and Remy are all right," Amanda Sefton frowned.

"You worry too much, liebeling," Kurt pulled his girlfriend onto his lap, murmuring the words into her neck. "Zey are X-men, zey can care for zemselves."

"I hope so," she murmured, distracted by the soft kisses Kurt was placing over her cheek.

Evan Daniels stared in mock disgust as the remaining X-men entertained themselves with their significant other. "Man, I am so outta here."

"Where are you going?" Scott glanced up.

Evan waved him off, "I'm gonna go catch up with the others."

Jean laughed softly, turning to face Scott. "I think he got sick of us."

"His loss," Scott wrapped a strand of silken hair around his finger. Softly, he began to trace the contours of her face with his hands, smiling to himself as he noticed Jean's breath catch in her throat. Her cheeks were flushed and warm beneath his cool hands. His lips brushed her forehead and her nose, finally coming to rest on her own. Her arms snaked around his neck and his slithered down to her waist.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to this," she breathed, resting her head on his shoulder.

"What do you mean?"

Jean nearly laughed at Scott's worried tone. "I just can't believe we're finally together, why did it take us so long?"

"We're just both very stubborn," he reasoned, "neither one of us wanted to admit what was right in front of us."

Jean smiled, "Whatever the case, I'm glad I have you."

"You always had me, Jean," Scott whispered between kisses, "You just didn't need me to be anything more than a friend."

"Well, I need you now," she whispered.

"And I, you."

XxX

Restless, Rogue stood and began pacing the small width of the elevator, trying to get the feeling back into her cramped legs. "Ah don't understand, the lights came back on so the power must be workin' . . . why aren't we movin'?"

Following her lead, Remy stood and began surveying the small compartment. "You really want to get out of here, cheríe?"

Rogue stared at him in disbelief, "Ya don't? Wait, never mind, don't answer that." She shook her head. "Yes, Ah want ta get out of here!"

Remy sighed, walking over to the corner where Rogue had been sitting only moments before. Gently, he began tapping the ceiling with his staff until a single tile finally shifted. Prodding the space a bit harder, Remy was able to push open the escape hatch.

Once again, Rogue's eyes widened in incredulity. "Why didn't ya do that before?"

Remy shrugged, "You didn't ask. Besides, I told you I was quite content in here."

Rogue blinked furiously, trying to summon words to express the rage building within her. Finally she sighed, trying to release her emotions in the exhalation. "Ya want to boost me up there?"

Remy grinned, realizing for the first time that Rogue was really too short to reach the hatch on her own. "On one condition,"

"And that would be?" Rogue braced herself for the worst.

Remy stepped forward, letting his staff fall to the side as he placed two gloved hands on her shoulders. Hesitantly, Rogue looked the Cajun in the eyes, fearing she wouldn't be prepared for what she saw there. Their faces were mere inches apart and Remy closed the distance, his breath hot on her face as he tentatively placed his lips to hers. A pleasant shock traveled through Rogue and her eyes widened in surprise. Before she could even entertain the idea of responding, Remy had pulled away and knelt before her, outstretched hands cupped in waiting for her foot. "After you, cheríe."

XxX

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