Disclaimer: As always, these characters are not mine, save for Zaire who is in fact...mine.

Okay, here we have yet another filler chapter...sorry, they seem to drag. This one is FAR longer than the usual chapters, it's around 3000 words, sorry. Mostly background info, I've thrown in a lot from the comicverse here, simply because I was reading over my comics again. Anyway, ENJOY!

Part IX

"KITTY!" Rogue yelled through the house, running down the stairs to try and find the cheery girl. "Where are you!" Everyone who was in earshot, which was just around half of Washington, cowered in terror. An angry Rogue was a scary thing, and right now, no one knew just what it was that had Rogue so mad. Just that Kitty was a major reason for the rage. Remy raised an eyebrow when Rogue dashed through the living room, heading through the kitchen and out the back door.

"She always like dat?" Remy asked Logan, who was shipping through the channels on the TV. Logan looked up at Remy, shrugging his head before looking back at the TV. Remy looked at the spot Rogue had been in moments earlier before looking back at the book he'd been reading. Sitting around the mansion for the last week or so had really left the Cajun with an itch, needing desperately to do something. Dr McCoy hadn't cleared him for training, Logan had suggested a few danger room sessions to see what he could do, but there were still problems with his leg that had to be addressed first. Of course, Remy would rather have Zaire take a look at it; maybe he should ask her later.

"Have you guys like, seen Rogue?" Kitty emerged from the door leading into the garage, holding a bag in her arms and smiling wildly. Remy raised an eyebrow and pointed towards the kitchen where Rogue had ran. "Thanks." Kitty said, her smile broadening even further as if it were possible, and she ran off up the stairs.

"You shouldn't have gotten involved, Gumbo." Logan said, not even looking away from the TV this time.

"So, Kitty make Rogue mad, Kitty plays with Rogue's head, den she act like not'ing happened?" Remy asked, completely amazed at the strange behaviour of the girl he once thought of as an ice queen.

"Pretty much," Logan said, "they do it every other weekend I think. I tend not to pay attention." He muttered, flipping from one hockey match to another.

"Oui, I can tell." Was the Cajun's reply before returning his attention to his book and trying to ignore the next few minutes off insanity.

"When you getting another physical?" Logan asked suddenly. Remy looked up; eyes wide thinking he'd missed someone else entering.

"Umm, I don't know?" He said, wondering why it suddenly came into the conversation. Sure it had been mentioned that he should get a physical once every two days to see how his leg was healing, sure Logan had, in passing, mentioned Danger Room sessions so that the strength returned to the limb, but Remy wasn't so sure that they meant right then. Rogue and Zaire had been there during the conversation involving Danger Room sessions. Both saw it as Logan looking for fresh meat. Scott had however defended it later as a way to assess Gambit's abilities, and as a form of stress relief, anger management and physiotherapy. None of which Remy knew he needed.

"You should think about doing it soon then." Logan said, not even looking at him. Remy slowly nodded, closing his book.

"How 'bout I go see Dr McCoy now, mon ami." Remy made a hasty, yet dignified retreat from the living room, getting the anxious feeling that maybe Logan was pushing this. Why right now? Remy thought about it while making his way down to the Medical Bay, where Beast almost always was. When the doors opened the large blue doctor looked up expectantly then looked away again.

"Not who you were hoping for, eh?" Remy said, wandering in and noting the distinct lack of anyone else. "Well dis place sure is deserted."

"Yes, I was hoping that maybe Zaire had decided to return. Alas it is not." The doctor seemed to mull on that for a moment before turning back to Remy. "What can I do for you?"

"Wondering if I could get a physical." Remy said simply, no need to mention what had brought on the sudden desire.

"Of course, I was meaning to speak with you about that. Well, Ororo tells me that you are all going to the library tomorrow so how about Monday morning?" Remy nodded, filing it away in his head.

"One other t'ing." Remy said, still pondering the idea behind this. "Don't suppose you maybe have some t'ing to help me sleep, non?" Dr McCoy turned, smiling slightly and nodded.

"Yes, I do." He said sadly, clearly not all that enthusiastic about giving out the medication. "Take one with your meal before bed and it should help. I take it that the nightmares are what's keeping you awake." Remy nodded once, taking the bottle of pills from the doctor. "Well, maybe you should also try to address the issue of your nightmares."

"How?" Remy didn't quite understand the meaning.

"Talking about it usually helps," he was told, "if you talk it lets out some of your feelings and someone else may be able to help you cope. If you need to, I will be here and more than willing to listen. Anything you tell me will remain in strict confidence unless you are comfortable with someone else knowing. Please do not hesitate to speak with me." Remy nodded.

"Merci Dr McCoy." These people here, all of them, were willing to help? They had put the past in the past and were willing to help him through whatever they could, even the people who barely knew him.

"Please, call me Hank, or Beast. One more thing Gambit," Remy stopped his exit and turned to the large blue man, "if you see Zaire, could you tell her I would be delighted if she would visit me when she's ready?" Remy nodded.

"Oui, and call me Remy." With a small smile the Cajun left the Medical Lab, the sleeping pills going into his pocket.

- - -

Rogue was still fuming. She'd finally tracked down Kitty, who didn't have her stuff, and then found everything where it had been. Her make up, her brush, her books, all of it was back in her room where it belonged. She knew it was Kitty, it was always Kitty. Rogue made her way down the stairs, bumping into Scott as he went up.

"Hey Scott," she said, not showing her signs of frustration or anger.

"Hey, we missed you at breakfast." He said, stopping on the stair above her. "What happened?"

"Ah had training with Logan," she answered, a little exasperation creeping into her voice. "Ah seem to have a lot of them lately." Scott smiled; it was a smile that used to get Rogue's heart going a little faster, when she had been crushing on him hopelessly.

"He's just making sure you can defend yourself, what with your hesitation to use your powers, it's understandable."

"Yeah, ah suppose. But it doesn't mean ah can't still complain." After a laugh and a nod Scott continued to where ever he was going and Rogue did the same, heading into the kitchen to get a glass of orange juice. Sighing Rogue wondered where everyone had run off to, the place was nearly deserted, and it was only the start of the afternoon.

"Bonjour petite," Rogue smiled, enjoying the accent and language. "Where did everyone go?"

"Ah was just wondering the same thing." Rogue said with a smile, she hopped up on the counter, Remy standing across from her and smiling at her. "Well, we've got some time to kill. Whatcha wanna do swamp rat?" Remy seemed to ponder over the question for a while, biting his lower lip and watching the ceiling.

"Well, der are a few t'ings but I ain't too sure you'll wanna play." Rogue raised an eyebrow, gathering that he was talking about card games; it was his trademark, wasn't it? His smirk however told her something else.

"Like what?" Remy shook his head and smiled at her.

"Maybe later chere." He told her, his smile never wavering. The pair sat in the kitchen, talking about random things and discussing Remy's accelerating recovery with a few interruptions, one from Zaire, whom Remy told Hank was hoping to see when she was ready, at that the girls face and slightly paled before a small sad smile appeared on her face. Rogue had wondered what it was that had caused the strangeness in the usually carefree girl, but didn't get to ask as she left out the back door, she said she had some 'stuff' to take care of. The next interruption had been Scott, who stood at the door with a confused little look on his face.

"Hey Scott," Rogue had said politely, once more confused by her house mates reaction. "What's up?"

"Nothing," he replied a little too fast. "What are you two up to?" He asked, going to the fridge and coming out with an apple. He steeled them both with a gaze, the presence of his ruby quartz glasses not only saving their lives but also hiding their view of his distrusting glance towards Gambit.

"We were just talking. Ah was just saying how much ah miss home," Rogue said with a wistful smile, "what about you Scott, where are you from before you came here?" Rogue asked out of curiosity.

"I've always been here, Rogue. I can't remember my life before here." He said, forgetting that she didn't know about his lack of a past. The concerned look on her face reminded him and he flashed a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, this is my home and I've accepted that. Besides, I still keep touch with Alex. That's enough for me." Rogue's concern seemed to ebb away slowly, probably assisted by Scott's smile. "What about you Gam…Remy?" Scott asked, saving himself at the last minute.

"What?" Remy asked, not understanding the question. "What about me?"

"Where about's is it that you come from?" Scott asked, wondering if he was from the same southern area as Rogue or not.

"N'Awlings." He said simply, Scott picking out that he meant New Orleans. Of course, the whole thing with his kidnap of Rogue before the Apocalypse thing, while Magneto was missing.

"Do you miss home?" He asked, taking a seat at the table with the other two.

Remy shrugged, "Not really. Been around a lot, me. Never really thought of a home as anything more than a place to stay." He said, almost nostalgically. "Can't go back anyway." This peeked Scott and Rogue's curiosity.

"Why not?" Scott asked, taking a bite out of his apple.

"Long story short?" Gambit asked with raised eyebrows, "Two fighting Guilds, Remy ain't welcome wit' either of dem." That was when Rogue noticed the third person. It hadn't made an appearance in Remy's speech for a while, why now?

"Well, why not?" Scott asked, clearly not catching the defensiveness in Remy just yet. Rogue wasn't sure if Remy would answer, and if he did how much of it would be the truth?

"Responsible for a lot of stupid t'ings, me. De two Guilds be fighting a lot, me and Belle, she an Assassin, we try to bring de Guilds together. Didn't go too well and we ended up wit' another Guild. Now der be t'ree fighting Guilds. Lotsa people getting hurt. Remy be exiled and not aloud back wit'out a reason."

"Jean-Luc's kidnap be a reason?" Rogue asked carefully.

"Oui," Remy nodded, "de T'ief's an Assassins don't get along to well, but wit'out Jean-Luc to run half of N'Awlings den there be trouble. Dey t'ink Henri be de only one to fix it, Henri t'ink Remy be de only one to fix it. Dat why Remy aloud in there again that once, even then there was trouble." Rogue remembered that trouble, but she still enjoyed the outing all the same. Remy's eyes had dropped and well slowly dulling to the way they had been when the X-Men had found him, beaten and sore by Sabertooth. It was a way she never wanted his eyes to get again. Scott finally seemed to realise this was something the Cajun would rather not talk about, he excused himself but Rogue was sure Remy didn't even notice. She left the table, taking his gloved hand in hers and pulled him through to his room where she did something no one would believe she did. She turned him to face her and pulled him close, hugging him tightly to her, her head rested safely against the fabric of his coat's shoulder. Slowly his arms encircled her waist and held her to him with the same comfort she held him in.

- - -

Saturday night was very quiet, not something Remy's Saturday nights usually were. But he was glad to have this, Zaire was on the floor beside his bed, reading from a magazine and asking strange questions. Rogue laughed every now and then, the rumble of her laughter spreading through Remy's chest. They were both on the bed, Remy laying sprawled on his back, head over the edge close to Zaire while she chatted away happily. Rogue lay with her head on his chest, playing with the edges of his sleeve. They were the picture of contentment. Remy wished that this could have been his life. Two great friends, although Piotr and John were great they never managed to do this relaxing thing, and a somewhat safe environment. Rogue was strangely comfortable to be near him now; their touching barred only by clothing. She would skim her hands over his chest sometimes, the clothe of his T-shirt shielding him from her powers, although he couldn't care less about it, she did. And to think of it, having his memories in her head might be too much for the young goth to handle. Zaire was similar to what John was like; trying to get the insanity and normalcy evened out, balancing one another to times in which she can be mad but still sane. Eventually she had just let her nature take over, it made her far more comfortable to be around, much like John.

It occurred to Remy that John had been slipping into his thoughts far more, they would meet tomorrow to arrange what hopefully would result in Magneto and Sabertooth's downfall. Remy wasn't sure if he wanted it to be their end yet. They may have made his life hell for months but did he want them both dead? Losing Sabertooth wouldn't be hard, but what about Magneto? Although Magneto was a bastard there was still Eric. The man was different from the leader. He had shone through at brief moments, if they were injured badly then it was Eric who took care of the wound and helped them, not Magneto. Sabertooth was always Sabertooth, even when he was Victor Creed. Remy was sure the man and animal were one now, there was no way they could be separated, even within Creed's own mind!

"Okay, final question before I hit the sack. If you were stuck in a burning building, all exits blocked and the fire raging, what would be the last thing you do?" Zaire asked, chewing on her bright orange pen lid. "I think I would get the fire to go down. They really don't make these things for mutants do they? I mean, what would a mutant do? Use their powers to save themselves, obviously."

"Well, what if you have mah powers then? What would you do?" Rogue asked, looking down towards Zaire. "Ah would pray. Ah ain't one to believe in God right now, but ah would pray before ah died." Zaire seemed to think about it.

"Put my head between my knees and kiss my butt goodbye?" She said in a questioning voice. Rogue laughed and Remy smiled.

"Dat would be just like you petit, find humour in your demise." He said with a smile, she knew he was teasing.

"Well, what would ya do Cajun?" Zaire asked, rising to lean against her elbows.

"Dunno, I ain't never thought about it. How do you know what you're gonna do before you die? Nearly died twice me, did different things both times." Zaire raised and eyebrow in question and Remy knew by now to elaborate. "A building fell on me once, I t'ought 'bout mon pere and tante Mattie dat time." Remy said, remembering the collapse of the theatre around him. "The other time I nearly bleed to deat'. Cried then, mes ami had just died." Rogue's arms went around him again, her way of comforting him, and truth be told it worked. Zaire gave him a sad smile.

"You've been through way too much," she said, rising and folding her magazine into her pocket. "I'll see ya both tomorrow morning. Sleep tight kids." She said, petting both of them on the head. Rogue had scowled, but Remy smiled, his own arms around the girl on his bed to keep her there.

"You've made a lot of revelations today, ya feeling alright?" Rogue asked, half in joke and half serious. She snuggled into his chest, and Remy enjoyed the feeling of having her there.

"Oui chere, I'm fine." He said, he was very tempted to press a kiss against her head, but was worried about startling her and breaking the moment.

"You speak in third person when you're tense." She stated, not leaving much room for argument.

"Not so much when I'm tense as nervous or…when I don't trust. It's a way to protect myself." Remy clarified, knowing full well that Rogue would pick up on his hiding meaning.

"You trust us?" She looked up at him, those gorgeous green eyes peering at him. "You trust me?" Remy smiled at her, his eyes dancing with a gleam in the red orbs, she placed so much on the fact that he trusted her, he knew it meant the world that someone would trust her, that someone wouldn't flinch when she touched them, as uncommon as it was. But he did trust her. With a small nod of his head he answered both the questions, knowing they were both true. "Ah…ah trust you too." She said softly, a small smile on her tight lips. Remy ran a gloves hand through her hair, caressing her cheek and let his hand rest on her back, rubbing soothing circles along her spine. Rogue moved, pressing her hip against something in his pocket. "Remy?"

The scared look on her face made him laugh, shifting slightly he pulled the bottle of pills Hank had given him early, producing them to ease Rogue's discomfort. "Just somet'ing to chase away the nightmares." He said, not meeting her gaze this time.

"Maybe ah can chase them away for ya." Rogue said, looking more than hopeful. "You mind if ah stay the night?" She asked shyly. Remy shook his head, currently not trusting his own voice. "Ah'm gonna go and get changed. Ah'll be right back, Kay?" Remy nodded his head, letting her climb out of his embrace. He watched her slink out of his room, amazed that he had been given a chance with her.

When he first met her she had shown interest, he had thought of her as another notch for his bedpost, until he found out her powers. Then she was a challenge, something he liked very much. Eventually he had been intrigued, he wanted to help her, he saw her scared soul, the damage and hurt done to the heart of a young girl. She needed more than some attention, she needed protection. And so Remy took it upon himself to help her find her way, whether he was in her future or not. Maybe this meant he would be in her future, maybe this meant she'd be part of his.

- - -

AN: Okay, firstly, thanks to everyone! As in each review I think I got the info I needed on my roman numerals. Many thanks.

Second, John shall begin to feature drastically in the next few chapters and probably to the end. Cause yajust gotta love him. I was planning on having a John/Zaire angle work in here along with the Romy, which will be picking up nicely from now on, but only if people don't mind. I know myself how annoying OC characters can be, I really don't like them being paired up with character either. But if I don't get many complaint, John's heart might just be stolen.

PLEASE REVEIW! -far too long AN is now over....-