Chapter 16
The first to wake up was Gambit. The sunlight got onto his face through the gap in the bored up window. He looked down at Rogue seeing they hadn't moved a bit since last night. His neck felt sore, but it was worth it. Seeing Rogue's angelic face and breathing so peacefully without a care in the world was well worth a broken arm and leg any day. For a while, he just lay there. He watched her as her nose started to wrinkle and she let out a little snore through it then started to move a little. Her grip got tighter as her hands explored the chest that was under them. Of course, Rogue thought this was the strangest bed she'd ever lay on. It moved gently in a rhyme underneath her and heat radiated off it. Then something moved from her shoulders and something heavyish came upon her hand. Rogue opened her eyes with them sticking together a little at first with sleep. Her first sight was the gloved hand over hers. It took her a moment, but then she looked up seeing a bright light highlighting his facial features and soft smile, but it was those sparkling red eyes that caught her. It struck her that she had spent the night curled up into Gambit...She was so stupid.
Rogue shot up looking at Gambit with panic in her eyes. Gambit's eyebrow rose in confusion as he looked down into his outstretched, empty arms. "Bonne matin, mon Chérie. How'd you sleep?"
"Remy... We slept so close tagether."
"Oui."
"... Ah coulda hurt ya."
"But ya didn't."
"Ah'm so stupid. Ah should neva of-"
"Ya ain't stupid Rogue. Come here!" Gambit took a hold of Rogue's shoulders and brought her back down to lie on his chest. Rogue tried fighting him, but he had trapped her arms underneath her body and inbetween his. When Rogue's panic finally drifted and she kept as still as a log, Gambit began to stroke her back and twirl a piece of her hair around his finger. "See! Dis ain't so bad, non...? I don't know how they've been treatin' ya in dat mansion, or here, or wherever, but I know they ain't been treatin' ya right if they haven't been givin' ya hugs. It's ok ta hug Rogue. Your not gonna hurt anyone. There's clothes between us and I promise neither of us are gonna be hurt by huggin'. Now, how did ya sleep?"
Rogue blinked. She wasn't used to hugs. Sure, she had hugged Logan and her friends and even Gambit a few times, but there was hugging, then there was long cuddling. Her hugs had always been short. Not an entire night long. But here, she woke up finding Gambit still alive and awake before her, without him even in her mind. Maybe long cuddling could be possible. "It... Was finah... Good. How'd 'bout you?" Rogue looked up to him.
"Well, the dreams were good, but wakin' up was even betta. They're right what they say, ya know. Dreams can come true. Cause ya right here in front of me." He grinned that cheeky smile down at her as she blushed and tried again to get up. "I don't think so chérie. For as long as I have hold of ya, I'm neva lettin ya go."
"Forevers a long time Remy. And ya gonna get hurt. Now let meh go." He didn't let go. She huffed and tried blowing a piece of hair out of her face. When it didn't work Gambit laughted heartily in his throat at her blushing red face and irritation and pushed the hair aside. "Did you get anythin' for breakfast last night?" Rogue asked.
"Oui. Got bacon, eggs, bread. Also got some flour. I'm gonna make ya your favorite dis mornin'. Pancake with golden sirup on top and three cups of ice cream at de side."
"How'd ya know dat was my favourtive breakfast?" She asked tessingly, with an eyebrow raised at him in question.
"Ya told it me, remember chére? Cause I remember your likes, dislikes and body."
"Excuse meh?"
"Oui, I learnt ya body. I know ya got a freckle on ya hip right here. And ya got another one on ya back here and-" Gambit said, touching the places of Rogue's body where her freckles were.
"Alright, alright, ah get it. stop!" Rogue said with a little laugh.
"Why? Are ya ticklish chérie?" Gambit said with a cheeky, raised eyebrow and a sparkle of trouble held in his eyes, as he moved his hands back to where Rogue's freckles were and began tickling. Rogue squeaked and wriggled and thought against him. Laughter escaped her. She hated being tickled. She punished Gambit in the chest, which made him sit up. Rogue still had her arms trapped between their chests and was panting for breath now. "Do ya give up?"
"Neva... Oh, alright. Ah give. Stop! Stop it! Remy, stoooop!" She said as she curled up on his lap after he'd continued to tickle her. He finally stopped, but his hands never left her body as they found their way down to her hips. They held her firm and close as Rogue tried pushing him away.
"Let meh go cajun."
"Neva." Gambit said, wrapping his arms more around her waist. It brought Rogue closer to his chest and trapped one of her legs in an uncomfortable position. She moved it without realising that ,if she moved it, she would be straddling him. But the two didn't notice the straddling yet. They were looking too deep into each other's eyes. Gambit thinking how wonderful it was to have Rogue back in his life and be able to have her this close. True, she hadn't said the words she forgave him for real, but he could tell she was coming around. And if patience was what it took, as Irene had said, then he was going to take things slow with her. He knew he wanted to be with Rogue again, but she still needed to forgive him and he guessed he still needed to be patient. Maybe one of the things Irene meant by patient was waiting for Rogue to forgive him fully before he tried pushing for a relationship. Only, it looked like he was pushing for more now as he noticed her position. "Erm chére. " Gambit chuckled a laugh, looking down at his hand which had moved back around to her hips.
Rogue looked down seeing what he meant. Rogue blushed even more as she jumped up off him. She had been thinking about the first time they'd had a morning like this in the hotel. Things had been simple then and incredibly fun just like they were this morning. Only, at that moment, things were definitely a lot more touchy-feely. She liked the warmth and feel of his body underneath her. She liked the way his hands had rubbed her back and played with her hair. Somehow, she was a little upset at a quick daydream she'd had where Gambit was actually rubbing the skin on her back instead of the top on her back. She'd thought it was strange of him knowing where her freckles were. And thought, as much as she knew she shouldn't enjoy this moment, she loved the fun they had as he tickled her. Then he'd mentioned how she sat and had jumped up onto her feet. It was then she realised how much they were pushing it when Gambit pointed out their position.
Gambit laughed at her reaction. He brought his legs over the sofa, watching her not meet his eyes from embarrassment. Not seeming to be able to control himself, he reached out, taking her wrist and pulled her towards him. She stiffened and he was sure this was where he'd have to be patient. His gloved hand came to hold her hand. He waited until her eyes found his, then, showing her a kind smile, he kissed the back of her gloved hand and rose from the sofa. "I'll make you that breakfast then." He said and walked towards the kitchen.
Rogue sat back down upon the sofa and wrapped herself up in the blanket. She wasn't sure what to do now. Especially with Gambit.
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Gambit brought Rogue a homemade pancake, thin and crispy with sirup all over it. He was a great cook and his food tasted lovely. He'd made himself French toast and came to sit next to her. He smiled at her silent hmmm, satisfied with her reaction. "So, what we doin' today mon chére?"
Rogue thought about this. The truth was she hadn't thought much about what she was going to do. She'd apologised to Cody, happy to have his forgiveness. Cody had asked if she was staying in town and if she was to let him know and stay in touch. He even offered her a place at his house, but she'd refused not wanting to push her luck with trying to get his parents forgiveness. So she left. It had been nagging at her that she was back in her birth home. She hated it. She hated her home. She didn't want to go back to it. There was a reason she ran away from it in the first place. She thought about ignoring Irene and just hitching a rid out of town. She was walking outward of it, trying to hide her white stripes and face as she heard the gossipers speaking of how she looked like that strange bastered's child from years ago. Then when she finally managed to get away from all the gossipers, and get a lift, she rejected it. Changing her mind at the last minute, she had slowly made her way...home. It was then she found her house much more damaged than what Gambit had found it in. Rogue had entered and found her father drunk and collapsed on the floor. It wasn't a pleasant reunion. Rogue tried not to think of what was said and what was done. Her hand moved up towards her neck, then quickly moved back down to her fork. After getting him back to bed, Rogue had needed a distraction and began cleaning up for an hour or so before Gambit arrived. She hadn't thought much to the future or how to help her father. Now that she was faced with it, she wasn't sure how to go about it. She knew from old habits that her father would wake up in the afternoon, be grouchy and cruel. He would come downstairs for food or maybe go out for it. Rogue thought that she didn't want him going out looking for food, so would make him something healthy to eat, even though she knew he wouldn't eat anything healthy. Rogue tried to think after that. He would eat, go back to bed and come out tomorrow afternoon after his hangover had fully finished. Then, he'd go out for alcohol again only to come back drunk. If he could make it back home, that was. If she was to help him, she had to stop him from drinking, but she had no idea how to get him to stop. She didn't think it was even possible to get him to stop now he had been drinking for years. But she'd have to try. Only she knew this would get ugly, and she didn't want Gambit to see it. Didn't want him to be apart of any of it. She also didn't want to go through this alone, but she knew that Gambit wouldn't stay after he knew what type of life this was. She didn't want him to see her break down again and again like she had done yesterday. She needed him out of the house and she needed to keep her father in. She had until the afternoon to make sure her father would not be able to leave the house for his own good and get Gambit out so he didn't see the vile she was hiding. At least not yet. She didn't want him to go yet.
"Erm... the doors need locking."
"I already bought some locks last night, and since ya got de prince of thieves here, I'll set em up so it'll be hard, even for de king of thieves ta get in to dis house."
"And how 'bout gettin' outta it? Will it be just as hard?"
"Not if ya have the key."
Rogue nodded. That sounded good for keeping her father in. "How long would it take ta set it up?"
"Not long. Mornin' maybe."
"Great. Do ya think you'd be able ta set it up this mornin?"
"Oui."
Rogue gave him a small appreciative smile. Then tried to think about what to do next. Her father would be locked up in the house which would be good. She needed to make him food while Gambit was doing that. He'd be down in the afternoon. Now she needed to think how to get Gambit out for the afternoon. "Then... How 'bout a picnic or sumthin' after that?"
Gambit gave Rogue a soft yet cheeky smile. "Dat sounds rather romantic. Ya sure bout dat chére?"
Rogue raised her eyebrow at this, not sure how it was romantic. Then it dawned on her. Him, her, alone, having a meal outdoors like they were...dating. It did cross her mind how having a picnic with him would seem more romantic than them just staying in, eating and watching movies. She realised, not much, but that just made things worse. What definetly made things worse was how it began to dawn on her that, to Gambit, it might have just sounded like she'd asked him out on a date. She still wondered how he could think that. They on fight, weren't they?
Rogue thought about how Gambit had wheezed his way back into her life. She guessed it had been her fault since she had let him stay and sit with her at Natalie's and make her eat like he was now. She guessed, from that moment, even though she had been cruel and distant, she had let him back in somehow. Why else would he follow her all the way home? Then she realised she had truly opened herself up to him and made herself vulnerable to him the first moment he stepped in her father's house. As she felt comfortable around him, she was able to forget everything horrible around her. He'd made her laugh and feel happy and safe when she felt scared. She loved having him around. Making her smile like that. But she knew she couldn't have him. He couldn't daty. She knew back then, all those times she'd let hm in and she knew now. She realised she had been leading him on and felt terrible. She looked away from him.
Gambit noticed the upset look as she turned away from him. He had a feeling this would be her true feelings. But he needed to know the truth, and if the truth was she didn't feel that way then he'd accept it. At least he'd know where he stood.
Rogue couldn't be with him. Right now she didn't really care about what he'd said to hurt her. She'd had more terrible things said to her. She thought she might of forgotten and forgiven him. She could see that he was really sorry about what he did. Why else was he here when he no longer had to marry Bella? Out of guilt maybe? She understood guilt. She understood what it was like wanting to be set free. Rogue looked to Gambit now. She saw the worry in his eyes. She wondered, if she set him free from that guilt, would he come back to her? No, she would ask him to leave. She wondered, would she be able to go on with her father without him here by her side? She didn't want to. She thought she was being selfish in keeping him here for that. Besides, if she did set him free and forgive him like she was sure she already had and he left, wouldn't that be what she wanted? No, but it was the right thing to do. Her father was her burden. She didn't want him around her father. She wanted to keep that part of her life secret.
After a moment more, she came to an answer, but knew she couldn't just come out with it now. It wouldn't be believable. So she gave a little humoured smile. "Ah wouldn't say it was romantic. More like a meal between friends. Unless, of course ya bought candles too? Oh, and spaghetti and meatballs like from Lady and the Tramp. Then it'd be romantic."
Gambit raised his eyebrow, puzzled at her. He was sure she was about to say how they were nowhere near romance. So it shocked him, but now he also knew where they stood. As friends. That was good enough, for now. He gave a little laugh in his throat.
"Damn, guess l'll have ta take does candle back then, non?"
Rogue chuckled too and they ate their breakfast.
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The day went as Rogue planned. Sort of. Gambit was putting locks on the doors and Rogue managed to make her father something to heat up in the microwave when he woke up. She was going to make food for the picnic too, but they didn't have the right type. Gambit saw Rogue stood there, in the doorway of the kitchen, leaning against the door frame and frowning at him.
"What've I done now?"
"It what ya haven't done. And what ya haven't done is get the right foods for a picnic. Or the right foods for people who are broke. Gambit, ya got all good brands."
"Oui, just cause we're low on money dun't mean we have to eat like pigs."
"Oh Remy, Remy, Remy." Rogue said covering her face with her hands. When she came to look at him she had an amused smile on her face. "Getting cheap brands doesn't make ya a pig. Remy, ya got the most pricey things in the store. Ya gonna run outta money before ya leave here. Ah'm gonna have ta make a quick run ta the shop ta get in some cheap food that people with little money need." Rogue took Gambits trench coat from the hook by the door and pulled it on.
Gambit raised his eyebrow at Rogue and came to stand in front of her, looking down into her eyes with a devil's spark. "What ya doin with my coat chére?"
"Gotta keep hidden and ya coat's large enough ta hide two of meh in here." Rogue said.
Gambit shook his head. "I think ya like my coat chérie." He grinned.
Rogue looked away from him, trying not to blush at that charming grin of his. "Maybe." She said.
"Then maybe I might have words back home and have Merci send a coat of your very own. Would you like dat?"
Rogue smiled at this then picked up a baseball cap that was on the floor. It was black and went with her dark clothes and the coat. She hid her hair under it. "Maybe." She said teasingly to Gambit.
Gambit rose his eyebrow at Rogue hiding her hair. He realised what she was doing. She was hiding. But why? "What are ya doin?"
"Goin' inta town ta get food. Even the Professor buys cheap brands of food, and ya know how rich he is. Just cause they're cheap don't mean it's not real food Rems." Rogue said.
"I didn't mean that Rogue. I mean why you hidin' in my coat and under dat cap?" Rogue looked down and away from him in shame. "I'm guessin' it's cause you don't want people knowin' ya here?"
Rogue wondered if she should avoid the question or answer it truthfully. She looked up into Gambit's eyes and decided on a half-truth. "Let just say mah family don't hava good reputation in town, and ah don't wanna give em somethin' to talk bout."
"How will you returnin' home give them sumthin' to talk about...? " Gambit could see the uneasiness in her eyes though and decided that maybe now wasn't the best time to talk about it. He was, after all, still trying to earn Rogue's trust and this seemed to be all a big shock to her. He'd never forget how she broke down crying in his arms and her lifeless expression looking into her old room. Gambit knew there was definitely more behind Rogue's past than she was letting on. But wounds took time to heal. It was clear Rogue was already hurting deeply by coming back here, so he'd wait till she recovered a bit. He didn't want to hurt her, but felt he needed to know what happened so he could know how to help support her in the best way he could. Gambit gave a little smile and went to open the door for her.
"Hurry back to me."
Rogue nodded her head, grateful he'd dropped the subject, gave a little smile, said "Ah will" and left.
Gambit shut the door behind her. And locked it. He turned around as if facing the house for the first time. And like the thief he was, he went in search for some kind of gem.
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Rogue had got back ten minutes later. She had ducked out of Mrs. Ark's questioning as to who she was and why she was in such a small town and if she knew her. Rogue had used her own money this time from what she had left from working for Tanya. During her time away, she wondered what it was going to be like facing Gambit again. He had dropped the subject of neighbors and hiding which she was happy about. But she had a feeling he still wanted to know. She thought it was going to be awkward going back to face him, then later at the picnic, telling him to go back home. He really did seem determined to help her.
Rogue knocked on her own front door when she couldn't get in and Gambit opened it for her with a small, forced smile on his face. "Well, hello there stranger. What brings ya ta my door?"
"It ain't your door, Cajun." Rogue said hiding a smile.
"Well, looks like I'm on de inside and your de one on de outside knockin' on de door I'm answerin."
"Oh shut it Cajun." Rogue said, rolling her eyes at him.
"De door? Alright." Gambit said slowly closing the door.
Rogue's hand shot out and stopped him from closing it on her.
"Ah meant ya mouth swamp rat. "Rogue stepped inside past him with the bags. "But ya can shut that too." Rogue said as she headed towards the kitchen.
Gambit shut the door and followed Rogue into the kitchen. He helped her pack away the food and prepare the food for the picnic. Gambit had plastered a smile on for Rogue. He had found the gem that he was looking for... And he didn't like it one bit. But, for Rogue, he forced a smile. "So, where we off to mon Chérie?"
Rogue hid a smile, but Gambit saw it pulling at the edges of her lips. He liked this look on her. A smile. A blush. Her happiness gave him reason enough to breathe. "You'll see swamp rat, you'll see."
