2 years later.
Rogue sat in front of her vanity mirror staring at her reflection.
Times had definitely changed her.
Gone was the pale makeup and dark eyeshadows.
Gone was the teenager, the person who looked back at her now was definitely a young woman.
Placing the small pearl earrings on her ears she let out a long breath.
She was ready.
There was a knock on her door.
She looked at the clock that was on the wall.
7.45
He's a little early she told herself.
Running her hands through her long hair she gave her self one last look before turning away from the mirror.
Getting up she made her way to the door.
She opened it, already knowing who was behind the door.
But it wasn't who she thought.
"Logan, did ya need something?" she asked as he looked her over openly.
"Goin' somewhere kid?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes, Logan" she said shaking her head, while not believing that he didn't know. "Remy and I have a date"
"Shouldn't ya get dressed then?" he said eyeing her dress again.
"I am Logan" she said while narrowing her eyes at him.
"Your showing a lot of skin aren't you?" he said his words coming out bluntly- as usual.
Tears started to well up in her eyes but she pushed them back.
I am not going to cry she told herself. NOT GOING TO CRY.
She knew when she had picked out the dress that it was like nothing she had ever worn before. It was long and black, made out of soft flowing silk that seemed to barely touch her skin. It came with a small jacket that was worn over the strapless dress, but it still didn't cover up her very bare arms, and being that the top of the dress was fashioned like a corset, it showed more cleavage than she was used to. After trying it on in the dressing room though she knew right away that it was the perfect dress for the evening.
But now after seeing how Logan was looking at her outfit, she suddenly felt vulnerable and deeply depressed.
"Why is it that Jubilee runs around half naked all the time and I can't wear one simple little dress?"
"Little being the right word"
"Oh please" she said allowing the anger to replace her sadness. "I have seen people wear more revealing dresses at church."
Logan raised his eyebrow at that.
"Maybe so, but on you it's deadly"
"Just what every girl wants t'hear" she then glared at him openly "Are you deliberately tryin' t'ruin this evening for me or what?"
Logan combed his hair out with his fingers before answering.
"You know I have never liked the fact that you took up with Gambit" he said admittedly.
"Yes, you seem to always work that into every conversation we have."
Logan started to look guilty.
"I don't know about every." he finally said.
"Close enough"
She then started to walk out of the room, he grabbed her arm as she passed, Rogue was glad he was wearing gloves. She didn't want his thoughts at that moment.
She turned around.
"Watch it Rogue, we still don't know much about him."
"The same could be said about you" she said shaking his hand off her arm.
"Just be careful that's all I ask" he said not at all perturbed by what she had just said.
She looked down at her exposed skin.
"Believe me, I always am...I have to be."
Rogue made her way down the hallway and then sat down on one of the window seats.
Waiting for Remy.
She hadn't talked about it with any one.
Not a soul.
It was too personal when it first happened and still was...
The fact that they could touch.
For short times. But it was still more that she had ever had in a long time.
Some people knew of course, how could they not?
She still wasn't ready to talk about it.
Besides it was nobody's business but her own...and Remy's.
Not that them being able to touch made her rush into things.
Even after a year they were taking it slow.
She waited for Remy to try to get her to take things further but it never happened.
And she finally stopped expecting him to.
She found she was starting to trust him. Maybe not completely yet, but it was trust just the same.
It didn't help that people were always telling her what a mistake she had made.
Her being a girl who had never really had a romantic relationship, ending up with a "ladies man".
But they didn't know the true Remy.
The Remy behind the sarcastic remarks and easy going charm.
But she was starting to.
He still hadn't completely opened up about his past.- She knew whatever it was caused him pain, so she didn't press him about it.
But she still felt she knew him... What kind of person he really was.
As she waited for Remy to come out of his room and get her, she sat there and reflected...
It was after all her birthday tomorrow.
That was why Remy was taking her out, he wanted to be the first to celebrate it with her.
She was about to turn 21.
Strange, she thought the years went by so quickly, teenager, young adult and now I am soon to be an official adult.
Looking down at her rare bare hands she thought back to the very first day she stopped wearing gloves-at least when she was with Remy.
FLASHBACK
They were both sitting on the couch in the study room, alone due to the lateness of the day.
Rogue had her legs draped casually over Remy's lap.
She was reading a book for her college exam in English literature. It was going rather slowly. Remy just sat there in silence staring at her.
She didn't mind.
She had just flipped a page, glad that it was one less, since the book was so boring, when Remy suddenly grabbed her left hand.
"Chere" he said still holding on to her hand.
"huh?" she responded slowly, distracted by the boring literature she was reading.
"You don't have to wear gloves around Remy if you don't want" he said while starting to pull it off.
Her breath caught in her throat and she pulled her hand away.
"Remy, ya shouldn't do that...I don't want t'hurt you!"
"You won't hurt Remy Rogue, as long as we be careful, tings should be ok."
"Ya sure you want t'take the chance?"
"Remy tinks you deserve a break, Remy tinks you deserve t'be around someone un-gloved if you want and not have to worry so much 'bout hurtin' dem" he frowned.
And then picked up her hand again. Rogue didn't pull away. He took off her glove again, reached for her other hand and did the same.
"Remy also loves the touch of your smooth skin" he said bringing her hands up to his face and bringing them to his lips where he planted two soft kisses on them before letting go.
After that she found it a little hard to concentrate, and she had to finish reading the book later that night after everyone else had gone to bed.
END FLASHBACK
Rogues thoughts continued to wander and she found she was staring out of the window looking up at the sky , the bright stars and the darkness that surrounded them all.
She heard footsteps approaching her and thinking it was Remy she turned around, a smile planted on her glossed lips.
But for the second time that night her instincts were wrong. She was starting to get frustrated. Usually she had a sort of sixth sense about such things.
It was obviously taking a rest that night.
Her smile faded until one would never have believe that just seconds before it had even been on her face.
It was Scott.
"You looking nice tonight" he said while looking down at where she sat.
She would have blushed and maybe even stammered a couple years ago, but now she just looked at him, slight annoyance in her gaze.
"I suppose that your goin' to tell me that a girl with powers such as mine, shouldn't be lookin' like this" she said while jumping to her feet.
He seemed at a loss for words as he took in her now standing form.
Scott Realizing she was waiting for a response shook his head slightly as if clearing out some cobwebs and then opened his mouth to speak.
But no words ever came. Not his anyway.
"Der you are chere, Should have known you would be dere."
He reached out for her bare hand and she placed it in his.
Scott watched suddenly uncomfortable.
"Is Dis all for Remy? Gambit asked as his eyes rolled down the length of her body starting with her head down to her very rare high heals.
She gave him an almost bashful smile in reply.
"And it be your birthday, not Remys', Remy can't wait to see what you wear on his" Gambit looked at Scott as if he was just noticing him. "well don't wait up" He said with a wry grin and a chuckle.
Rogue then allowed herself to be led away, but she couldn't help but notice that Scott's eyes were on their still joined-bare hands.
Many, Many hours later Rogue and Remy entered the mansion, more silent than a pair of mice.
It had been a wonderful night. Rogues head was still spinning.
Remy had taken her to a quite little Chinese restaurant knowing that was her favorite food. The were led to a private room lit by candlelight where they enjoyed a vast variety of foods, Her favorite being the sesame chicken and cheese wontons.
He then took her to a play she had been wanting to see, but hadn't due to the cost and availability of tickets, she silently wondered how much he had paid for the tickets.
If he paid at all.
Their touches during the evening were brief but she relished ever one.
She made sure no one accidentally touched her, but she had many years of practice at that. Even in crowded hallways she could make it by without having to slow down or waver.
When it was extra crowded, like during the intermission at the theater, Remy lent her his jacket, and after placing her bare hands in the pockets she knew she didn't have to worry accidentally bumping in to anyone and absorbing them.
The last place he took her to was an ice cream shop where they shared a huge hot fudge sundae with walnuts sprinkled on top. When they got down the cherry Remy provocatively picked it up and placed it into Rogue's mouth, she decided then that she wasn't going to bother reminding him that she hated cherries.
As they made their way outside after they finished the desert he offered her his jacket again due to the now cool weather.
Entering the limousine that Remy acquired for the night she found they were heading back home.
She didn't really mind, she was feeling wonderful and maybe even happy.
So much so that she didn't even realize that she hadn't received a birthday present from Remy.
Now walking up the stairs toward Rogues room they both paused after reaching her door.
She unlocked it and they both entered.
She sat down on the bed and started removing her heels.
He sat down in a chair beside the bed.
"I had a wonderful night tonight Remy, thanks"
Of course Chere" he said his voice full of satisfaction.
"I know ya probably didn't want to sit through that play, but it meant a lot to me that you did." she started to rub her sore feet.
She stopped when she realized he was staring.
"Well petite" he said looking at her in a way that she couldn't quite decipher "Do you want your birthday present or not?"
Rogue opened her mouth slightly but then started to laugh.
"All that and a present to? Your too much!"
"Your more dan worth it"
She started to blush slightly. More than two years she had known him and he could still make her blush.
She found she liked that.
He got out of the chair and started to open her door.
"I'll be right back" he told her over his shoulder as he started to walk away.
So she sat there and waited. A couple minutes passed.
5, then 10 then 20.
She got up locked her door and started to change out of her clothes and into her pajamas.
She was expected him to knock to let her in but it didn't happen.
A couple more minutes passed, still no Remy.
Where is that Swamp boy? she asked herself becoming slightly annoyed.
Grabbing her bathrobe, putting her hair up into a comfortable pony tail she went to his room.
His door was slightly opened. She peered in an her eyes widened.
His room was a mess, papers and CDs, and videos all over his floor and bed. Drawers were pulled out at weird angles and some had been taken all the way out , which were now in the middle of his floor.
Remy himself was bent over and on the ground on all fours, his head under the bed.
"Remy your room looks like it has been hit by a hurricane."
She heard a slight thump and knew she made him bang his head against the bed.
Whoops she thought but out loud she let out a quick sorry.
He edged out slowly and then his hand made it's way to his head were he started to rub it.
He didn't look to happy, almost depressed, and she knew it wasn't because of the slight bump on the head.
He sat down on the bed ignoring the articles that lay across it.
He then looked up at her his eyes burning brightly, anger seeping out of them.
"Remy can't find it Rouge"
"Is that what all this mess is about? then seeing his look of extreme agitation she went to him, and sat down near him on the bed.
"It's ok Remy, I'm sure that it will turn up"
"Remy don't understand" he said his hands shaking with agitation. "It's nowhere t'be found"
"I.. " Rogue started to say but her words were left unfinished when she felt a slight prick on her finger.
"Ouch" Rogue said shrieking in slight pain, she brought her finger up to her face and looked at it, blood was slowly seeping out of two small cuts.
Remy didn't seem to hear her. Still lost in his own despair.
Then she looked back down at the bed where her eyes rested on the broken glass that seemed to be embedded into his mattress.
"Remy there is glass all over your bed."
"Remy knows"
"Ya know" she said her voice increasing in volume "And ya didn't tell me, ya want be t'bleed t'death!" she asked melodramatically, while pointing her bloody finger at him. He still wasn't paying much attention to her. Didn't even bother to look up at her.
"Remy made sure you didn't sit on any as you sat down"
"That still didn't stop me from cuttin' myself!"
She got up off the bed and after a little bit of tug of war she managed to bring Remy to his feet as well. He finally noticed her finger and went to his bathroom, returning moments later with a Band-Aid and some disinfectant to clean the cut.
"Remy real sorry bout your cut Rogue.."
"It's no big deal sugar, I'll survive." she said enjoying the babying.
"Remy glad to hear that." He said while looking up at her and giving her a warm smile, one that reached to his eyes.
He took the lid of the disinfectant, poured some onto a cotton ball and started to rub her finger gently with it. At first she pulled away from the slight pain but then she managed to keep her hand still while he completed that and then carefully applied the Band-Aid.
"Remy?..."
"Yea?"
"You didn't do this on purpose did you?"
Remy replaced the cap on the bottle and then made his way back to his bathroom.
"Why would ya say dat Rogue?" he asked from the bathroom, his voice coming back to her as a slight echo.
Rogue went to the bathroom and leaned against the door frame.
"Because, now that your room is a mess, your bed can't be slept in, you'll probably want to sleep in my room"
Remy closed the drawer shut and then turned around and leaned against the sink.
His expression sad and then the makings of a smile started to form on his lips.
"Now dere is an idea" he said. His smile turning to an outright grin.
"Remy Always wanted t'share his bed with you, although you sharing a bed with Remy is even better." But then his grin faded as he remembered. "But of course Remy can sleep in the spare room."
"No ya can't" Rogue argued.
"And why is dat?
"Because this morning the last spare room became occupied with a new student, so unless you want to sleep on one of the couches downstairs your stuck with me." Her expression then turned purely evil. "Of course Wolverine does have a spare cot in his room, sure he wouldn't mind you bunking with him."
Remy's face paled noticeably. Rouge started to laugh.
"Well hurry up and change and I'll see you in my room." Rogue said as she left Remy's room.
A couple minutes passed, in the time she was alone in her room she managed to brush her teeth, and apply some facial moisturizer.
She heard a soft knock as she was putting the lotion bottle back in the cupboard.
She opened the door and found she was staring at Remy.
He was in some pajama pants and his chest was bare.
He looked so good that it took her a second to open her mouth to speak.
"Well come in" she said suddenly quite shy.
He came in and passed her and waited for her to close the door.
He then turned back around to face her, a questioning look lining his rugged features.
"Thought dat we would be sharin the bed" he said as he noticed the blankets and pillow that was laid out on her couch.
"Remy ya know we can't, that would be dangerous" she said regretfully "Ah would hate it if anything every happened to you, 'specially if it was my fault."
"Remy understands" he said sadly, letting out what seemed to be a defeated sigh.
He then made his way over to the couch and started making ready to go to bed.
Rogue did the same as she got under he covers, and grabbed a book off her nightstand.
"You going t'be readin' dat for a while chere?" Remy asked from the couch which he was now sprawled out on.
"Yes, is that goin' t'be a problem?"
"No" he said as he started squirming under the blanket trying to get comfortable. "What ya be readin' chere?" he asked as if an afterthought.
"An Agatha Christie novel" she replied.
"What's it 'bout?
"Well let's see, uh, could it possible be a murder mystery!" she said mordantly.
He shifted again and the couch squeaked.
"Who gets killed?"
She put the book to the side and looked at him, she found his eyes were already upon her.
"Remy?"
"Yeah?"
"Do ya mind, I am trying to read here." she said while pointing at her book.
"Fine chere, don't let Remy interrupt your important readin' "
She waited and watched him knowing he was probably going to say something else. But he didn't. He flipped over and away from her his back now facing her.
She picked up the book and started to read it again. For A good 30 seconds.
"Chere?"
"Yes" she sighed loudly making her frustration evident.
"Ya goin' to kiss Remy goodnight or does he have to come over dere and kiss you.?" his body was now propped up on his arm as he waited for her answer.
"Remy!"
"It be a valid question." He said as he got off the couch, stopped in front of her and then without warning jumped on the bed.
"Remy!" she exclaimed as he continued to jump on it causing the book to fly out of her hands and off the bed.
He noticed and stopped.
"Who knew dat one day Gambit would have t'compete with a book for attention, must be loosin' it" he said while shaking his head.
She threw the covers off the bed and started to get up but he threw her back on the bed and pinned her down with his body. She started to struggle but then stopped when she saw the look on his face.
She knew what was about to happen.
This time her instincts were more than right as he leaned forward and kissed her, softly, gently...carefully, as if she was a porcelain doll that could break under pressure.
It didn't last long but when he pulled back she found she was still slightly breathless.
He then got up off of her, walked back over to the couch, laid down, brought the covers over him and then looked back over at her. Complacency clearly written over his features.
"Dat wasn't so bad was it chere?"
She looked at him and then down on the floor where her book now laid askew.
"Ya made me loose my place swamp Rat!" she retorted.
"But it was worth it non!" he said his manner as playful as ever.
She got out of bed and picked up her book. Deciding not to answer she got back into bed and under the covers.
Making her self comfortable she started to read again.
It took her a couple minutes to actually get back into the book. Rogue's heart beating so loudly that she was amazed that Logan hadn't torn through her door and demanded what was going on.
Ten more minutes passed in silence. And then...
Creak
She didn't pay much attention to the sound.
2 more minutes passed.
Creak.
She looked where Remy lay quite still, as if he hadn't been shifting around, thus causing the couch to screech annoyingly..
She started to read again.
Creak.
The Cajun lookin' for a punch in the nose or what? she asked herself while trying to continue reading, although she was getting more annoyed by the minute.
Creeeeeeeeaaaaaakkkkk.
That does it! she told herself.
"Remy" she half screamed "what da ya think your doin' ?"
He twisted under his covers until he was facing her.
"Dis couch may be great for sittin' on but" he started to shake his head. " Is definitely not for sleepin on."
He then got up, grabbed the covers and pillow and started to head toward the door.
"Where da ya think your going Remy!"
He looked back at her smugly.
"Goin' t'see if the cot is still available with Wolverine" he looked back at the couch " Better t'die dan to face a night on dat ting"
He unlocked the door and started to twist the knob, but was stopped before he could open the door, Rogue's voice hindering him.
"Fine ya win." she said somewhat exasperated.
"Remy wins what chere?"
She moved over on the bed and made room for him.
"Ill stay under the sheet you can sleep over it, that way I don't have t'worry about accidentally touchin you"
He got on the bed and after positioning his pillows and once again bringing the blankets over him, he turned out the light on the nightstand.
"I wasn't done reading." she told him annoyance dripping from her every word.
"Well relationships are full of compromises aren't they chere, ...Remy is tired, he need his beauty sleep"
In response she threw the book at the wall, pleased with the loud thump as it banged against the wall.
"Should have thrown it at you" she muttered under her breath.
"Dat wouldn't of been polite, 'specially wit it bein' our first night together and all."
She was about to say something when he leaned into her and pulled her snugly to him, his hand wrapped slightly around her waist.
"Dat's even better" he said seemingly to himself
He then placed a light kiss on her neck.
"Goodnight Rogue" he said while yawning.
Her anger seeped out of her before she replied, his closeness and warmth of body bringing her sudden contentment.
"Goodnight Remy" she replied, knowing she would have no problems sleeping that night.
Not long after the words were spoken they both fell asleep.