Note: Sorry this one took time to upload. Have an exam tomorrow so just stayed up finishing this chapter off. You've gotta love Romys. Keeping me so calm before my exam, lol. Also writting this chapter and the next one kinda made me feel pitiful and a little hapiper about how my life is and has turned out. So yeah, that's kinda a warning. The next chapter will have some abusive/upsetting scenes, but that doesn't mean there isn't a bright side. After all, this is a Romy XD.
Chapter 12
Rogue had done what Gambit had taught her and jumped on a train in secret with all her bags. By early the next morning she had finished work, she had arrived back at her home town and was walking towards the hospital. But she was in for a surprise. When she asked about Cody Robinson being in a coma, the nurse had told her that Cody had gotten out of the hospital years ago. Rogue left the hospital in confusion and distress. The Professor had lied to her. He had lied about Cody. Why did he lie?
"Don't be mad, Rogue. The only reason that Professor of yours never told you about Cody getting out of the hospital was because he wanted you all to himself." Came a familiar sly voice. Rogue turned to see the blue mutant known as Mystique waiting for her by a bench in front of the hospital. In a fury, Rogue started to hurry away, not caring how Mystique knew what she was thinking. Only Mystique had other ideas.
"Irene told me you'd be here Rogue. Please wait. I'm here for Irene. She's dying."
Rogue stopped where she walked to turn around and listen to what Mystique had to say.
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Gambit got the first plane he could to Mississippi without telling anyone. When he arrived at the hospital though and asked about Cody and Rogue, he left with the same confusion as Rogue did. And the same voice answered his question.
"She isn't here Gambit."
He turned to face Mystique. She didn't look very happy to see him. In fact, she was looking him up and down and behind those yellow eyes, he could see she had already made up her mind that she didn't like him.
"Come with me." She said in a harsh command.
She turned on her heel and began walking away in a huff. What did her daughter and Irene see in this boy? Mystique thought. He was a scrounging, little thief who was only out for himself. Mystique didn't like the thought of that low life, good for nothing scandal getting close to her daughter only to set her up and use her. Ironic wasn't it? Not knowing what he had to lose, he followed the blue mutant.
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Gambit knew where he was from the pictures. There were pictures of Rogue and the blind woman hung up all over the place. There were no baby photos though. There were only photos of Rogue looking as young as nine or ten, but that was about it. Mystique showed him into a bedroom where an old, grey haired woman lay. Mystique left them alone and Gambit felt awkward.
"Come closer." The woman said.
Gambit took the seat that was besides her bed. The woman coughed a lot while she was talking.
"My dear child. Remy LeBeau... I'm happy... I get to meet the man in my only daughter's life... Who she loves... My names... Irene... I and Raven took care of her, since we found her... Rogue's had a rough life... Her powers... They've confused her and cut her off from people... There are other reasons why she distances people... But you'll learn them in time... She reminds me of another woman I love... Remy... I've had a vision... My power is seeing the future... And I've seen yours and Rogue's... Yours and my daughters future can go many ways... But I believe... That you would like to travel... The path I offer... If you would like me to tell you."
Gambit thought about this. He wasnt' sure why this felt quite intimidating. He had a feeling there would be huge conditions for knowing his and apparently Rogue's future. He would like to know if Rogue ever forgave him, but then he'd hate to find out that she might never forgive him. Gambit looked to the woman wondering if she hated him just as much as Mystique. The woman didn't look like she hated him but she had dark glasses on too and was dying.
"Why do you wanna help me?"
"I love Rogue, Remy... She's the only daughter... Me and Mystique have ever had... She has touched both our hearts... Although, it doesn't seem it... Mystique normally being out of the picture while growing up... And me not being there to help her learn to control her mutation... We really do love her... Mystique thinks of her regularly... thinking of her actions... How she's treated Rogue. She's trying to change for her... Does less sneaky jobs... I've always wanted what's best for her... It's why I left her with Charles Xavier. He knows how to help her... I've seen it... And I've seen what makes her happy in the future. What's best for her... What she wants most... And to make her future the best for her, it will involve you...You could be in her future, if you wanted to...But the road to happiness isn't an easy one... And it may involve you giving something's up and learning something new... Also know that if you agree to accept my advice and guidance, it may set you on a one way path which you might not be able to change... Are you willing to take the gamble?"
Gambit was sure now and more confident then he'd ever felt about Rogue and him. He'd already gave up his life for her in the promise that he said he would make if she'd marry him, so he wasn't afraid to change a little either. He just hoped Rogue's future was what he wanted too. He nodded his head. "Oui."
"Rogue has gone back home... Back to her birth place."
"You mean... It wasn't here?"
"It is in Mississippi... But not this town... In... In that draw you'll find an address... Go to it... You'll find her there... She arrived here yesterday morning... I've told her what she needs to do to have a happier future. She is already set up and waiting for you... She is taking a trip back in time. Trying to correct it if possible... Just the other day... After our conversation. She rekindled with Mystique... It's made me so happy that we are, once again, some form if a family. But unhappy that I must leave them so soon As things have just started going right for us... but, my death will make Mystique more attached and willing to protect her children... Especially Rogue as they share a similar struggle in knowing who they really are with having their powers change how they look or think... Mystique will be just as protective and judgeing of you as Logan will be... It is because they fear for her... Please don't let them stop you from making Rogue happy... I made her leave yesterday afternoon. So she won't have to watch my life slip from my body... But she'll feel upset she wasn't there in my final breaths. Comfort her... Remy... She's going to need you now more than ever... She's gonna need a husband who'll... Put her first before himself... Remy... She's a very scared girl... Go to her... Protect her... And be patient with her. You must be...patient... She'll push you away... Because she doesn't want to be hurt again... But if you leave her... She'll die."
Gambit sat up straighter for this. "What do you mean? Why will she die? Is she in danger?"
"Maybe... Or maybe... She's just tryin... To do what she does best... Save a life... You've not got much time... Go." Her cough turned violent. Soon Mystique came in taking Irene's side.
"Whatever she told you to do, do it." Mystique yelled at Gambit. Gambit stood there for a moment, unsure about what to do to help. But Mystique was pushy and yelled at him to get a move on. He moved over to the draw, took out the map with a marked address and hurried out of the house.
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Rogue had gotten a lift off a stranger. It took all night, but she had finally gotten back to her birth place. For a while, she just walked around. Then she came to the address Irene had given her. His house was a pretty white one with flower beds and a blue door in the heart of the small town. At first, Rogue thought to just walk up to the door and knock, but she didn't want a hysteria uprising. She remembered this little town could get like that. So she climbed a tree and looked in through the windows to see if she could see him. She'd found a boy's room with trophies in it and she was sure it was his room. She didn't think Irene would steer her wrong. She just didn't know what to do. Then she saw him.
Cody walked passed the window with only a towel wrapped around his waist. He had just got out of a shower. Rogue stared at him at first as he walked past thinking he was hot. But then, she found herself comparing him to the other guys she knew. Scott and Kurt were kinda scrawny with muscles, Logan and Hank were built with muscles, and then there was Gambit who was thin, but not as thin as Kurt and Scott and had perfect muscles just like Cody. Or did Cody have perfect muscles like Gambit? Then she looked away, blushing, and thinking how stupid and stalkerish she was being. Cody had looked casual and content. Why should she ruin that just to say sorry? Rogue decided that she would climb down the tree and never bother Cody again.
That was, until the window opened and she heard a small gasp. Rogue's eyes shot wide open and she shyily looked at Cody. He was looking back at her with those good, shiny blues. In fact, he rubbed his eye lids before looking at her again with the same suprise. "You? Wow, it is you right?"
Rogue was stunned silent for a moment before her bottom lip started shaking and she replied, "Y-Yeah... Rogue... The... The girl who... You danced with... Hi"
"Hi... I'm not hallucinating, am I?"
"N-No... Ah'm just... Ah'm just passin' by... That's a lie... Cody, ah came here ta say ah'm really sorrah for what happened... Ah didn't know and, if ah had, ah definitely wouldn't have danced with you. Ah wouldn't have even gone out. Ah would have locked myself away just so ah didn't hurt you." Rogue said. She saw the upset in Cody's face and she began climbing back down the tree. She knew it was a bad idea. She had to leave now. She kept apologising as she climbed down the tree, but what she didn't know was that Cody was actually upset at seeing how upset she was.
"No wait. Don't leave."
Rogue froze. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. So she looked up at Cody for answers. He offered her his hand. "It's alright. I'm not gonna hurt ya. I just wanna talk... 'bout what happened... And where ya disappeared to." It took a minute for Rogue to remember she was wearing gloves, before she finally reached out and took Cody's hand.
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Gambit arrived in the same town as Rogue in the late afternoon on the same day he had met Irene. Rogue had been in this small town since morning, he thought. He thanked the guy who gave him a lift and had to ask around for the address Irene had given him. A few people didn't know where it was. That was because it was outside of the heart of the small town. The person he had asked had made comments like: "Don't know why ya wanna go up there. Place is abdominal. " But Gambit went up there anyway.
When he saw the house his heart sunk. The place did look abandoned. It was dirty and unkept with weeds and things like tires and wooden panels lying around. Gambit made his way to the door, finding the lock broken and entered. Inside was worse than outside. It looked like a donkey had gone wild and had run through the house. Things were broken and knocked over. The walls didn't look healthy and the place suck of smoke, sink and alcohol. Gambit passed a living room that looked just as bad and smelled more strongly of sick. He passed a room under the stairs that had a metal door and made Gambit feel like he didn't want to know what was in there.
He heard a clanking of dishes and sneaked into the kitchen to find Rogue washing dishes. Before she noticed him stood there he noticed she still looked thin and paler than when he'd saw her last. Like she was in shock. Her hands were shaking as she washed the plate she was holding and her breathing was jaggared. Gambit stepped in, not liking how white her eyes looked. When she turned to see what was moving in the corner of her eye, she jumped and dropped the plate. Rogue looked like a deer caught in flash lights. "Rogue?" Gambit said not knowing what else to do.
"Gambit? What are ya doin' here? You shouldn't be here."
"I...I came to see you... Irene told me where you were."
"Irene told you. Why?"
"She didn't say anythin 'bout me to you...?" Gambit was made to wonder about this. It made him question Irene and her visions. But he was more distracted about what was happening around him and, most importantly, the girl in front of him." Rogue, did you really live here?"
Rogue looked around the kitchen as if trying to find answers. When she saw the brush and shovel she went for them and cleaned up the plate. Gambit watched her and wanted to snap at her and ask what she was doing. But then, he remembered what Irene had said. To be patient. So he watched her put the pieces of plate in the bin, then she seemed to be lost once again.
" What are you doin' here? Why are you here? You follow meh?"
"Not exactly. I wanted to tell you something and went to your flat. Natalie told me you went back home, then Irene told me you were here."
"Well what do you wanna tell me? What's so important you had to follow me here? Why are ya even in this house? Ah never heard a knock. Did you ust walk in?"
"There's no lock on the door. It's broken."
"Oh... Ah forgot 'bout that..." Rogue said, seeming to go off somewhere in her own head.
"I can fix it for you if you like."
"No. No, you've gotta go. Your-your gonna leave now." Rogue said still not meeting his eye.
"Rogue, why do you want me ta leave so fast?"
" Ah, hmmm, ah... You just can't be here, ok? You've gotta go."
"Non. I ain't leavin' ya without answers."
"You sound like Logan. Who are you ta demand answers anyway? Ah'm still hatin' ya for leavin' meh at the alter and callin' meh a gold digger." Gambit looked down to the floor.
"I know. And I'm sorry. But I'm gonna try and make it up ta ya Rogue. I'm gonna try and show you just how sorry I am. All I want is your forgiveness. "
"Finah, ah forgive ya. Now get gone."
Gambit raised his eyebrow at her. Why was she trying so hard to get rid of him? "Non, I ain't stupid Rogue. Ya haven't forgiven me. Ya just tryin ta get me ta leave. But why?"
"Gambit." But Gambit pulled out a chair from the table in the kitchen and sat down. It was a statement that he wasn't going anywhere. Just then, a thud came from upstairs. Both Gambit and Rogue looked up to the celling. Gambit noticed Rogue seemed on edge more and talked more quietly" Gambit, please. Just go."
"Who's upstairs?"
"Gambit." But all he did was fold his arms and give her a look of determination. "Mah birth father, alright? He's tryin' ta sleep and he can't find ya here."
"Why?"
"Cause he just can't! Please Gambit. Remy. Please just go."
"Rogue." Gambit said in the softest voice he could. He stretched forwards, over the table to hold her hand. He brought her closer to him and he could see panic and fear in her eyes. "I'll be quiet. Just don't make me leave. I'll be gone 'fore he wakes up. Just tell me, why did you come back here? No offence chére, but your home is a dump." Rogue seemed to give up fighting him. She looked defeated and wouldn't meet his eyes. He pulled her towards him and let her sit in his lap. She didn't do much objecting. Maybe it was because she was tired. She looked wiped out.
"Ah know." She said.
"What you doin' back here?"
"Why do you care?"
"Cause I care 'bout you. I already told you I have feelings for you. Stronger than I've ever had for anyone. Besides, I made a promise dat, after were married, I'll be by your side always."
"We ain't married, Remy."
"I know. That was my fault. It was all my fault. And I'm so sorry Rogue. I'm always gonna be sorry for hurtin' ya. I'm gonna die old and still be feelin' sorry 'bout what ah did. Even if ya forgive me, I'm gonna hate myself more than you ever can for ever hurtin you like dat."
Rogue didn't know if it was an act or not, but right then and there, she truly wanted a shoulder to cry on. So she lay her head on Gambit's chest and quietly let out a few sobs while Gambit ran his fingered threw her hair.
