Chapter 3

Gambit was shocked at Rogue's answer. He thought they were going to get into another big fight, but she had followed him and was on the plane now with him. She'd even reminded Gambit that Logan would be able to smell them. So before they left to get on the plane they popped into a shop, buying a perfume bomb and some clothes for Rogue. Gambit had tried to make what they were about to do as fun as he could as Rogue had been quiet and miserable on the bike ride. He told her she could have any clothes she wanted and he'd pay, but he didn't like that she went for the plain clothes. They were all long sleeve, coving her so it worked for her skin. Gambit was the first to drop the perfume bomb sneakily and stood on them. Loads of people began coughing around them and they acted along with it, but at least now they smelled of the perfume and so did many other people.

"Alright, let's go." Rogue said. Gambit grabbed her wrist though and pulled her back into him.

In her ear he whispered;"We ain't done havin' fun yet." Rogue felt him put something in her hand. "It's your turn."

Rogue took what Gambit was giving her and felt his arm around her waist. She looked madly at his arm, but he only pulled her closer as they walked over a bridge inside the airport. Rogue pretended to be running her hand along the balcony, but dropped the bombs over the side. Rogue let a smile grace her face as pink clouds sored. Gambit and Rogue had to stop and watch like other people in the crowd and that's when Gambit noticed her smile. He went behind her more wrapping his arms tighter around her and leaning his head on her shoulder, "I like it when ya smile chérie. Shows ya playful side."

Rogue felt uncomfortable with how close he was, so finally pushed him away and stormed off. Gambit frowned, not understanding the girl but hurried after her. He threw more perfume bombs into larger crowds, mainly couples like they were to confuse Logan. Then they boarded the plane. Gambit had bought two first class tickets on the way to the airport and, like a gentlemen, he let Rogue sit by the window. Sadly, he had to leave his Harley parked up in the parking lot. Good thing he was a master thief and had hid it well and tied it up. It was a very quiet flight, but he left Rogue alone like she asked him to. He wasn't quite sure what to do. So he played with some of his cards and winked at a few air hostesses who ended up dropping a plate of food on the floor and blushing. It was more amusing than sitting in silence.

"Do ya have ta do that?" Came the voice from besides him. She had been so quiet, he'd forgotten Rogue was there.

"Huh? You got any other idea's on what I can do then?"

"Watch the movie."

"Bad movie."

"You don't like romances?"

"Let's say I prefer them in person."

"Yeah, cause marrying to save your self is so romantic," Rogue said snarkily. Leting her own words play out to her ear, Rogue sighed and said: "Sorry."

Gambit didn't say anything. She had been miserable ever since he came back. Hell, she was miserable the first time he met her and they were enemies and that wasn't because she was being tortured or anything. He didn't like it. If he was going to have to live with this for the rest of his life then he thought he'd rather be killed. So, Gambit got an idea and smiled divilishly.

"No problem chérie. You can insult dis Cajun anytime ya want, as long as it's you doing the insulting." He said placing his hand on her knee. She looked down at it in anger, pushed it off and turned away saying "don't touch me." That was the only reaction he got from her. It wasn't entertaining, but the anger was a little bit. He still felt bad for dragging her into this. Instead he turned back to the air hostess and gave her a million dollar smile as she came over then.

"Hi, my name's Lucy. I'll be your host on this flight. Would you like anything. Wine, beer, food?" She said to Gambit, ignoring Rogue. Rogue watched this and saw the way Gambit looked at her. She saw the glow of those red eyes behind his dark glasses. He really found this girl attractive. It kinda hurt. No one had ever looked at her like that, but Gambit was glowing just at the sight of this leggy blonde woman.

"Non merci. Mais vous pouves faire un peu de pole dance pour moi si vous voulez vraiment me servir." He said in fast french and winked at her, distracting her from what he had just said. She was drolling over him and could only blush red and smile. But Rogue knew what he'd just said.

"Really?" She asked Gambit. She turned to the blonde who hadn't even noticed her. Rogue's anger was noticed in her voice, but she kept it steady. "No, he doesn't want anything. Now go away." She folded her arms and it was then the girl realised Rogue was there. She didn't seem to have understood anything that had happened and looked to Gambit for help. He was holding back a laugh and shoed her away. He turned to Rogue with a smirk on his face.

"You were jealous."

"No Gambit, ah wasn't. Ah just didn't wanna see parts of her body that you'd have her show for 'entertainment'. Really, a pole dance?"

"Oui, a pole dance. If you don't want her to do a pole dance, then maybe you could give one or a lap dance, non?" He laughed in his throat. Rogue turned to him and shot him a disgusted look.

"Drop dead."

"Never. Too healthy and sexy to do that."

"Stupid cajun."

Gambit turned back to look at the air hostess. She was looking back at him and he wanted to make Rogue more jealous. He winked at her. He saw her heat up red in the face and the grumpy businessman she was serving was getting angry. She turned to him wided eyed and started apologising and asking him what he'd just said.

"Ah thought ah asked ya not ta do that. You're gettin' the girl in trouble."

"And I asked you for entertainment."

"Well, find something to do that doesn't cause trouble."

"Then entertain me?"

"Huh?"

"You heard me. Entertain me."

"Ah ain't entertaining you Gambit. Ah ain't a show girl."

"Shame cause you'd be one belle fille."

"Don't call me that?"

"Alright then cherie."

"Don't call me that either."

"Then what do you want me to call you pettie."

"Not that either. Just call me Rogue. Ma name."

"But dat ain't ya name." She growled in frustration, rubbing her hands hard into her face.

"Don't do that. You'll hurt yaself."

"Ah don't care. Ah don't care that ya bored. Ah don't care about this stupid marriage thing. All ah care about is getting this thing over and done with so ah can get on with ma life."

"Oh really? And what are ya gonna do after our marriage then, huh? Cause I'll be yours forever after that. And you'll be mine."

"Ah ain't anybodies."

"What do you think marriage is."

"Marriage is a promise two people who are in love and wanna spend the restta their lifes together make ta each other by law and in front of people they care for and don't wanna disappoint. This marriage is a shame and you know it. So might as well go the full way of makin' it a shame and not becoming the other half of the person ya make a promise to. At least then you'll be a free agent."

Gambit hadn't expected that to come from the Rogue. He sat back a little more thinking about Rogue and marriage. He'd wondered why she'd rejected him in the first place. He'd used all his charm and brought her something nice and made her feel special. He wondered why she said that one day she might get married to someone. The thought of her being with someone else almost made him jealous. Maybe it was because she thought that she really was gonna get her powers fixed and fall in love. But he already told her she wasn't going to get her powers fixed or fall in love, which was a shame he wasn't gonna get any on his wedding night. But in a way he hoped it was true. It was horrible, but he really wanted Rogue to be his wife. Didn't Rogue see that? She was right. He could have had any other woman, but he chose her. But then the reason he chose Rogue was because he knew a lot about her from spying on her and she knew a lot about him through absorbing him. And they needed a person to know a lot about him and ditto for her so that they could convince his family and other guilds they were really in love or whatever. If not then that could mean death for both of them. It irritated him now how she seemed to know a lot about what marriage meant, but wasn't putting any effort or excitement into actually getting married.

"Well, dis is a real marriage and I'll be ya husband who's gonna take care of ya. So ya best start getting excited 'bout dis weddin' like a real bride. Any other girl would be."

"Ah ain't any other woman! But if ya real want some girl whose gotta kiss ya feet and wait at home all day and night just for ya ta come home and 'entertain' em, then why don't ya go charm and convenience that air hostess over there. Bet she'll be a willing bride."

"Hey, you agreed to dis. Ya never hadta."

"Hadta? You were beggin' me too. Ya made me do it. Ya gave mah a choice of either marryin' you and savin ya life, or lettin' ya die. Ah had no choice-"

"And like you said, I could have had any other girl. But I chose you and you agreed to this. I gave you time and I was gonna ask you a second time, which I did, before I left ta go find some other woman who wouldn't be as bitter or stubborn as you are about marrying me, so stop actin like ya didn't hava choice. Ya did and you wanted ta be mon wife."

Rogue folded her arms and turned to look out of the plane. It was going to be a long flight. Gambit took out his cards from his pocket, feeling slightly bad now for upsetting her again. He wondered why they kept arguing instead of being on friendly terms like last time he took her to New Orleans. After a moment past he asked:"Do ya wanna play a game?

She ignored him. So he played solitaire for quite a while on his own till Rogue said. "I don't really play many card games."

Gambit grinned and looked to her, "Don't worry. I'll show ya how."

88888

By the time they landed, Gambit had taught Rogue almost all the games he knew and she was pretty good. During there time playing cards they had played twenty questions and Gambit had learnt Rogue's favourite band, favourite food, favourite pet, favourite movie, favourite game, favourite book, favourite thing to do as a child, learnt she had an imaginary friend as a child, learnt her favourite flowers, her favourite lesson, her favourite blood related person was, who her favourite non blood related person in the mansion was, learnt that she hated shopping because of Kitty, learnt she hated jean as the favourite, learnt that Bobby was the joker who could never trick her at the mansion, learnt that she couldn't dance, learnt her favourite colour, learnt who she hated most out of everyone she knew, learnt she used to sneak out of to the forest at night at her mother's house and steal the neighbours' bike and go for races, and he learnt that she actually liked romances. And Rogue learnt pretty much all the same about Gambit.

It was quiet between them after they got off the plane. They got their bags, which were two small bags with a few clothes in them since Rogue didn't want to go back home to get any clothes. He couldn't blame her. He was a dropout from school himself and he turned out to have millions saved up. Maybe even more. Definitely more than the Professor had. But then again, he doubted Rogue would pick pockets. He bet she would rather starve and die on the streets then do something like that. She might have put up this bitter act, but he knew she was kind on the inside. He knew, he saw it. And he liked that side to her. It was like he could actually relax and be himself when rogue let her guard down. It was like he was whole. He took her bag and an extra bag that had been waiting for him at the airport and got them a taxi. They were back in good old New Orleans.

"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea ta come here. The X-Men might start lookin' here."

"Yeah, but dat dun't mean they'll find us. New Orlean's is a big place ya know."

"But cerebro. They can find us with cerebro."

"Not if we don't use our powers." Rogue nodded and looked out of the window. Gambit was on his phone again making plans for the wedding.

When they got to the hotel, it turned out to be a five star resort which made Rogue's lower lip dropped. It took her a while to collect herself and Gambit was enjoying the look on her face. When she did get herself together she looked towards Gambit and said, "We can't stay here."

"Why not?"

"It's too expensive."

He laughed heartily."I can afford it."

"Well, ah can't accept stayin' in a place like this."

"Chére, you live in a mansion back in New York."

"That was… different."

"How was it different. You were taking advantage of the Professor. He was givin you a place to live, showin you how to live with ya powers and sendin you to school."

"Ah didn't take advantage. Ah had no where else ta go, and ah did ma fair share of chores and helpin out. Besides, most likely the students he helps will pay him back in little bits after they get a job..."

"You're gonna pay him back?"

"...Ah'm gonna try. But anyway, this is too much."

"Ya marryin' inta a rich family. Ya gonna have ta get used ta things like dis, and not payin' us back. Besides, ya marryin' a husband who owes you his life and is gonna spoil you with all the riches he can just to try and get that beautiful smile you have outta ya."she blushed red and turned away. "Come on." He said wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She moved out from under his touch, but he simply pulled her towards him by the waist. "We're suppose ta be a couple chérie, so ya gotta have ta get used ta this too."

"No, ah'm not, cause your just gonna have ta explain ta em that ah can't touch unless you want the life sucked outta ya." She tried moving out from his grasp, but he held her close.

"I ain't gonna touch ya skin and ya ain't gonna hurt me. Nothing bads gonna happen. Ya covered head ta toe and so am I. But the guilde won't believe a simple thing such as touch would stop moi from holdin' ya. Somethin' ya should already know 'bout me, is I love a challenge."

"Oh, so ah'm a challenge? Is that why ya wanted me instead of takin' the easy way out and going for some barbie like that air hostess?"

"You know dat ain't the reason-"

"What is it you want from mah Gambit? Ah know ya wanna get married ta save ya own skin, but what 'bout after? When ya get ya life back? Ya asked me what ah'm gonna do, but what are you gonna do Gambit?"

She tore away from him and he looked at her with wide eyes. He really didn't understand how he kept getting on her bad side. "Chére… I'll be a married man. A husband. A thief like I always have been."

"And where do ah fall into that? Ya say ya gonna be a husband, but how are ya? Ya can't touch meh. Ya don't love mah. I can't give ya kids. Whenever we talk ta each other we get in arguments, and you can't help yourself but flirt with other girls. How are we gonna convince your guilde we got married outta love?" Rogue asked sadly, but with anger leading her speech.

Gambit looked as if he'd just been told his dog had been put down, but he pulled up his poker face. He couldn't show weakness in front of Rogue. His doubt would only make this plan fail more. He wondered how she could get to him like this? She hadn't been able to see through his plan last time he used her, so how did she see through it like this now? Probably because she absorbed him and just knows. Maybe it was because he was honest with her and just told her the truth. He should know by now that the truth doesn't get him anywhere. But it did get her here and he doubted he would have got her here this fast if he would have just proposed. But he couldn't find a truth to tell her. He didn't know what was going to happen after they got married. Gambit planned that he'd go back with Rogue to the X-Men instead of being a thief. He thought he'd be able to have his family, and be away from them, but he guessed he couldn't have his cake and eat it. But right now, he needed to have Rogue with him and marrying him or else he was going to lose his head. Even if it was lies he had to make her feel like this was a good idea. Gambit stepped forwards with a serious face and took her hands in his.

"Rogue, we're gonna get married and gonna be happy. It might not seem like it right now, but things'll get better in time. We'll go back to the guilde and you'll be welcomed as family. You'll be able to start again. You can continue school here if you want, or start a business else where. Whatever makes ya happy, I'll make sure you get it. And that'll be mon job as ya husband. Ta make sure you are happy and not in danger. I'll be watchin' ya and kicking anybodies butt who gives ya a hard time. I'll be a thief and a husband who takes care of his wife. And you'll have your dreams come true. It dunt matter dat we can't touch. It dunt matter you can't give me kids. All I want, all I need is you. I like you for who ya are Rogue, and dats also one of the reasons I chose ya ta be ma wife. Now, please can we stop arguing' like dis? It's not gettin' us anywhere. We're not gonna be able ta convince people like dis. You agreed ta this so just enjoy the ride."

Rogue looked away and shook off Gambit's hands from her shoulders, but he brought her closer again. Picked up their bags, wrapped his arm around Rogue's shoulders and led her in to the front desk where they signed in, both got key cards and headed up to their room. This was going to be a nightmare of a wedding and it had only just begun.