Once, Twice, three times he blinked. The light penetrating his eyes and hurting his head. But on the third time he managed to keep them open. He wouldn't have bothered at all if he hadn't noticed that someone was holding his hand.

Rogue.

She was looking at him concern spread across her pale face and he could see that she had been crying. Strange he couldn't remember a time that he had ever seen her crying before.

"Remy, Remy your awake!" she exclaimed her face going from worried, to anxious to slight excitement.

"Of course chéri, although Remy's head is poundin' so that he is tinkin' he shouldn't have woken up at all"

"Don't say that Remy, your lucky that your even alive!"

Gambit tried to smirk but the pain at trying to do that caused him to grimace instead.

"Told dem dey weren't takin' Gambit anywhere."

Rogue shook her head in slight disbelief at his playfulness.

"Well they almost did Gambit! If it wasn't for you wakin' the professor up from the pain you were letting out telepathically we might never had seen you again!""

"What happened t'the men who were..were.." he found he couldn't finish the sentence.

"Beating the crap out of you?" Rogue offered.

"Remy had it all under control." He protested.

"Right, that is why ya look like you have been run over by a car...twice, have 2 broken ribs, and bruises over half your body."

"How d'you know there are bruises over half my body?...you be takin' advantage of Remy's condition?" He looked at her slyly waiting for her response.

"Oh please," Rogue rolled her eyes and gave him a frustrated look "You sure are full of yourself."

"Dat's just one of Remy's more charming qualities that made you fall for him."

Rogue gave Remy a heated look.

"If anybody has done any falling that would be you." She said while looking pointedly at his bruised body.

"In more ways then one." Remy said, this time managing to give her small smile without causing himself too much pain.

"You really scared us you know?" Rogue admitted readily.

"Remy glad that people care for him"

"Of course people care for you..Even I..."

"Love Remy?"

Rogue stood up and dropped his hand and edged away from him.

"You wish." She said her back turned to him.

"Remy will if it means gettin' you."

Rogue shook her head and let out a soft chuckle, she then turned back around to face him.

"You really are unbelievable ya know?"

"Remy knows, he amazes himself sometimes too" His hand made it's way to his face where he started to rub his throbbing temple. "So how long has Remy been here?" he asked Rogue who was still standing away from him, out of reach.

"A couple days.." she started, her words edged with concern "when they brought you in you were pretty bad, but luckily for you, you heal pretty fast, should be able to leave in a week or two"

"Remy been asleep for days, how come he don't feel that rested?" He asked more to himself than her.

"Ah don't know Remy, I.."

"Want to give Remy a welcome back kiss?" He said finishing her sentence with his own.

"Where did that come from?" Rogue asked slightly taken aback.

"Well it is the least you can do for Remy" he said while managing to give her a suggestive wink.

"Ah have been staying here with ya for the last 2 days, not even going home t'sleep in a comfortable bed, been worrying my self crazy, and you call that nothing?"
she said angrily her voice rising in anger.

"Remy appreciate that he does, but...

"But!"

"A Kiss from my amour would be even better."

"Yours, I am not yours!" Rogue argued as she shook her head profusely.

"Sure you are, you have been since the first day Gambit laid eyes on you."

"Why of all the self-centered things to say!" Rogue said as she clenched her fists to her sides.

"Remy know y'care for him, probably more than y'want ta believe" He stared at her intently letting a couple seconds of silence pass before he said anything more.

"Come here." he asked hoping that she would comply.

Rogue shook her head. "No."

"Why not? Remy in no condition to do anything."

"Oh really!" Rogue said while backing up two more steps.

Remy's voice softened.

"Please Rogue." he said using her name for the first time which caused her frustrated look to disappear. "Please." he repeated.

Rogue took three small steps forward.

"A little closer." he instructed.

She complied still hesitantly.

"Give me your hand." he said bringing his left hand up so that he could take hers.

She finally did.

"See that's not so bad." He said, clasping her hand in his gently, he then brought it to his bruised lips and kissed it softly.. Rogue let out a small contented sigh that Remy didn't fail to pick up. But her features still remained worried.

"Do ya need anything?" she suddenly asked as if afraid of the silence that had somehow fallen upon them.

"Remy has all he needs right here." he said indicating Rogue with a nod.

Rogue lowered her head in slight embarrassment her face turning a soft shade of red, then a small smile made it's way on her face. She looked up at him the rare smile still there, causing Remy's heart rate to increase. He hoped she didn't noticed the beep on the machines pick up their pace.

"Ah'm just glad that your ok."

"Danks, chere Remy know you are." he said yawning with his words.

"Your tired...I'lll leave you alone, should probably inform the others that you are awake."

She started to pull her hand out of his but he held on more tightly.

"Please don't go chéri, stay with Remy for a while, you better than any medicine this hospital could have to offer."

"Ok", Rogue said somewhat reluctantly "but on one condition."

"What's dat? he asked.

"That ah can sit down." She said and for the first time he noticed that she looked as exhausted as he probably felt.

"Remy don't mind if you sit on the bed with him." he told her while knowing she wasn't going to.

"No the chair is fine."

"Remy don't mind sharin' his bed with you, that chair look mighty uncomfortable." he said while glancing at the chair. He then tried to move over to allow her some room but found the effort too tiring and painful.

Rogue noticed.

"It's not that bad, kinda getting used to it." Rogue then sat down not letting go of Remy's hand throughout the short process.

"Do one more ting for Remy?" he asked while still taking comfort in their simple touch of hands, even if hers were gloved.

"What's that?" Rogue Inquired.

"Be here when Remy wakes?"

Their eyes met and he knew what her answer was going to be.

"Of course." she said without any hesitation whatsoever.

Remy made himself comfortable and then started to drift off. Right before he fell asleep he felt a soft texture make it's way down his face to his chin. It was the soft caress of Rogue's gloved hand. He never felt so at peace as he did when he finally drifted off to sleep.

Knowing she would be there when he woke.