Due to requests to finish this story I've put up another Chapter. For the disclaimer refer to the first Chapter.
Chapter 2
Nearly two months had passed and there had been no word on Rogue. Gambit had pleaded the Professor to find her but he had refused. He had told Gambit that she needed the time and he would respect her wishes. When she was ready she would return. Gambit had never been quite the same since that day …
"What's eating you?" Logan grumbled as Remy pushed passed him and took a bear out of the fridge. Remy ignored him and took a sip.
"Nothin'," he replied. "Mind your own business." Logan growled something under his breathe. He started walking but stopped mid-stride.
"Now look here," Logan began. "You've been moping around for weeks. Frankly, I'm getting tired of it. If you care so much why don't you go after her?"
"She needs time."
"That Xavier speaking not you." Remy's eyebrows hiked up. "What? You think the Professor is right all the time? She's not coming back, not unless you intervene. So why don't you get off your sorry ass and do something about it."
Gambit stood there for a moment. Everything Rogue had told him spun through his head, while at the same time Xavier's words of caution tried to stop him. But Logan was right, he had to follow his heart in this – if he didn't he wouldn't be true to himself.
He smiled, handed Logan the beer and headed out. At that same moment Jean walked in. She frowned.
"That was the first smile I've seen in a long time," she said. "What happened?"
"He's going after her."
"Does he know where to find her?"
"I have a funny feeling that won't be a problem." Jean nodded in understanding. Xavier would help now, before neither Gambit nor Rogue had the will to face it, perhaps now they had. Even though the Professor wouldn't be keen on giving Rogue's location, the fact that Gambit was now going after her would imply a proactive resolution in Gambit's mind. Something that Jean thought Xavier wanted to see before he helped.
Rogue shivered. Her teeth chattered as she attempted to ward herself from the snow. It had been snowing steadily from last night and the white blanket of mush lay nearly ankle deep. She had braved the cold to her more wood but the stock of cut wood was a good hundred paces from the hut.
She had been gone from the mansion for nearly two months. She had found a secluded spot in the woods and built herself a cabin. She hadn't seen another living soul during that time. She tried not to think of her friends at the mansion, it hurt too much. She attempted to forget Remy, but the harder she tried the more she missed him. She kept telling herself that she had done the right thing, but now she wasn't sure.
Her legs were getting tired but at least she was almost home. Home … that was a strange word, considering that she had never considered anything as home before.
She stepped up and opened the door. The wind gushed from behind and flew her hair in her face. Dropping the wooden logs she struggled to close the door behind her. She barely managed and when she had her hair was in a mess. She tried to put them back into order but mid-way she stopped.
She looked up and saw the man looking at her. He had a half smile plastered over his face. She could feel her heart pump. She tried to steady herself.
"Is it really you?"
"In the flesh chere," he smiled.
"What are you doing here?" her voice was shaky. She tried not to look at him. Picking up the logs she placed them next to the fireplace. She threw one in and the sparks flew.
"Looking for you."
"How did you find me?" she asked.
"That doesn't matter."
"Remy I told you, I'm poison. Please don't' do this. It's hard enough as it is." He stepped closer. She was now stuck between the fireplace and him. Her heart throbbed. Why was he doing this?
He took her gloved hand in his. He stared into her eyes and she froze. She couldn't move even if she wanted to.
"I know that aint your heart talkin' chere," he said.
"Sometimes love aint enough hun."
"But this time it is," he countered. He drew her close and hugged her. He could feel her sob against his chest. A relieved sigh escaped his lips. He knew she had been as alone as he had been the last few months. "We'll find a way to make this work."
"Is that a promise?"
"You bet. Now don't cha think it's time to come home?" She smiled and nodded. They would find a why, he had promised. In that moment everything felt right and a universal truth had been revealed to her:
'Where there is hope, there is life.'
She would continue to hope but in the mean time she would have to deal with what she had. He took her hand and they left, together.