Note: Ok, this chapter may upset some of you guys - has triggers of physical/mental abuse. Just thought I'd let you guys know, and sorry if it does trigger.
Chapter 17
Gambit and Rogue had been teasing each other ever since they left the house. Gambit took the picnic blanket from Rogue and walked close by her side. Gambit had watched Rogue lock up the house, making sure that there was no way for anyone to get in. Or out. Gambit had asked time and time again, over and over to irritate and play with Rogue where they were going and joking about it being either a secret romantic place of hers or a cave full of bodies. Rogue had punched him in the arm, but then, when they grew closer, she told Gambit to close his eyes. But then, he teased her about it and wouldn't keep his eyes closed. He was too tall for Rogue to cover his eyes for him and led, so in the end, she grew angry and jumped on his back. Gambit laughed and asked what she was doing, as his free arm went around her body.
"Ya keep that handa yours away from mah backside LeBeau. Just focus on keepin' ya balance." Rogue said, wrapping her legs around Gambit's waist and covering his eyes with her leather gloved hands.
"Chére, dis is stupid. What are ya doin?"
"Ah told ya ta keep ya eyes shut, and ah mean it. Now go straight."
Gambit did as he was told by Rogue and followed her directions. Sometimes, his free hand would go to Rogue's thigh and she would yell at him. Other times, it would go out to a tree to find out where he was going. Finally, Rogue told him to "Stop! We're here." Rogue slowly removed her hands from Gambit's eyes and watched his face expressions from over his shoulder as he eyed the beautiful place. They had gone through a forest to come out to a beautiful clearing with bright green grass and a view of the sparkling Mississippi River with the setting sun behind the other side of the river. Gambit always thought it was supposed to be the man show showed the girl a beautiful time. Well his Rogue certainly surprised him. He looked to her, seeing she had a large smile of her own.
"A romantic hid away?"
"A place ta get away from everythin'." Rogue jumped down off of Gambits back and he turned around to face her. "Do ya like it?"
Gambit couldn't help himself. He brought Rogue closer to his body by wrapping his arm around her waist. Rogue stiffened a little, not knowing where to put her hands, then she settled for his chest. She didn't look into his eyes though. She felt too shy and a red heat in her cheeks. Gambit got close to her ear and whispered. "It's perfect mon chérie. But it ain't as perfect and beautiful as you."
Her checks burnt more and a smile thought against her lips. It was so cheesy. The sunset and sparkling river and being close like this and just everything. It felt perfect to her. Perfectly romantic. She thought, just an inch or so closer to Gambit's lips and it would be one of those romantic kisses that you'd see in movies and read in books and it would be everything she'd ever want... But she couldn't touch. It broke her smile. Rogue moved to take the basket out of his hand and said. "Well, we're here for a picnic, so how's 'bout we do what we came here for and eat tha food."
Rogue moved out of his grip. She pulled the blanket out from the basket and set it down. Gambit felt rather cold as she left him. But then he understood why she moved. Gambit came to sit down on the blanket as Rogue started pulling out the food. "Dis all looks good Rogue." Gambit said once all the food was out.
"Oh. Almost forgot." Rogue said. Gambit looked at her confused as she got up and sort of skip-ran towards a tree. Gambit looked at the tree and saw it was an apple tree. He watched Rogue stand on her tiptoes, then have to jump to pull a lovely grown apple from the tree. Rogue smiled as she got one, but then she couldn't reach any others, so she began climbing the tree. Gambit laughed at her and checked out her backside as she struggled up it. He finally got up and went to the tree, being able to pick apples more easily from it.
"What are ya doin'? Ah'm the one pickin' the apples here. Put that apple back and go sit ya backside back down." Rogue said in a huff.
This just made Gambit grin and look up to Rogue sat in the tree.
"Ya want me ta put the picked apple back. And how am I suppose ta do dat Roguie?"
"Oh screw you Gambit. And ya height." Rogue said, folding her arms and looking like a mad little girl who didn't get her own way. Gambit found this side of Rogue cute and playful.
"Ya can screw me anytime chére. I'm always up for it."
Annoyed, Rogue throw the apple she had picked at his head. It hit him spot on, and he couldn't move his arm in time to block it. It bounded off his head and to the ground. Gambit's eyes sparked with mischief and cheekiness.
"Hey, dat ain't nice."
Rogue picked another apple and threw it at his head. Gambit blocked it and began to reach up towards her in the tree. Rogue reached for another apple, but Gambit had her by the waist now and pulled her down to his shoulder. He lifted her from the tree, with her legs kicking and dangling as he did.
"Hey, put meh down. Remy. Put meh down!" Rogue started as Gambit moved away from the tree with Rogue over his shoulder.
"Non." He said placing his other hand on the lower part of her back, but soon it found it's way to her bum as he playfully spun around with her. She laughed and screamed at the same time for him to put her down. She kicked her legs and he could feel her hitting him lightly in the back (not harsh because she didn't want him to suddenly drop her on her face) and gripping onto his shirt.
"Do ya give up?" Gambit asked, stopping his spinning to hear her answer.
"Neva." Rogue said and the spinning began again. And she squealed and ordered him to put her down, and again, he didn't stop. " Stop! Ya gonna fall inta the river. Stop!" And as she predicted, Gambit fell into the Mississippi River. Of course, as he felt the fall, he pulled Rogue down his body so he took the hit instead of her. They resurfaced from the little bit of water they had fell in. Rogue was straddling Gambit again, but both were feeling a little dizzy to get their thoughts straight.
"Ah told ya you'd fall."
"Oui, sorry bout dat. But it was fun, non?" Gambit said, rubbing his spinning head and looking up into Rogue's eyes.
Rogue raised her eyebrow at this and a devilish smile crossed her lips. "Oh, really. fun. Ya want fun Gambit?" Rogue said As she began tickling him. Rogue trapped Gambit's hands under her legs and tickled under his arms and down his sides. Gambit laughed and a few times he let his head go underwater. But Rogue always stopped to make sure she pulled his head back up. Then she'd start tickling his neck.
"Do ya give up Remy?" Rogue asked.
"Neva." Was his answer, but after a bit longer of hard laughter Gambit said. "Alright, alright. I give. You win dis round."
"Oh, so we're playin' rounds now are we Cajun?"
"Course we are. Dis be a fun game of ours, non? And currently ya losin."
"What? How am ah losin?"
"Ya gave in to the ticklin' before and when ya were over the shoulder."
"Ah didn't give in over the shoulder. You fell, ah escaped and ah made ya give over ticklin'. We're even swamp rat."
"For now river rat. But not for long." Gambit said as he suddenly sat up and went to reach for Rogue still sat in his lap. But Rogue was too fast and less dizzy. She got up and ran to the other side of the picnic blanket to get away from him. Up Gambit was up and on his feet, chasing her around the little place, until he either caught her or they gave up.
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They'd lost track of time so neither knew when it was they'd both given up and returned to lie on the blanket and watch the stars come out. They both knew it was getting late and they were both shattered from all the chasing and laughing. Both were still damp from falling into the river, but sweaty from the running. Soon, they started to feel the cold. Gambit, being the gentleman, sat up first, picked up his coat which was dry (since he took it off before they fell in the river) and wrapped his coat aroud her shoulders.
"That'll keep ya warm mon chére." He panted to her.
Rogue looked him in the eyes. Her eyes were large with a touch of suprize.
"Thank ya." She breathed. "But won't ya get cold?" She asked.
"Don't worry 'bout me. I'll be fine."
But not believin' a word he said, Rogue moved a little closer to Gambit so their thighs touched and she moved a shoulder of his coat onto his shoulder. He smiled at her attempts to share the coat, wrapped an arm around her back and brought her closer. He brought her to sit in between his legs as the coat wasn't large enough to cover both of them. He took the coat back, wrapping it around his shoulders, then grabbed the long ends of his coat to wrap around Rogue. They were squashed together in cold and warmth, but they liked it. Rogue was careful not to touch him as she ducked her head down under his chin and Gambit rested his head on top of her hair, breathing in the sweet spices. That had come to be his favorite smell. They sat together like this until Gambit decided that they needed more warmth.
He left rogue in the coat for a moment so he could use his finger that he'd charged like a very sharp knife and cut down thick tree branches. He shaped them all into firewood and came back to Rogue with his arms overflowing with wood. He placed it down a little distance from the blanket and lit it with his powers. He came back to Rogue's side, taking his position behind her again and continued to cuddle her.
Rogue didn't object to him getting closer to her. If anything, she wanted it more now as she had been thinking about how it was time to say goodbye forever. She didn't mean to get so distracted or for it to get so late. She was going to miss how he was able to take her mind off her stresses and make her laugh like that. But he couldn't stay.
Gambit had been having some troublesome thoughts himself as he cut the wood. They sat in silence for a moment as it grow darker and the fire made them warm and dried off their damp clothes.
"Remy?"
"Oui."
"Can we lie back? Ah like watchin' the stars."
Gambit smiled warm-heartedly and lay back. Rogue lay back on top of him and he kept one arm wrapped around her waist; the other he used for behind his head. There was another moment of silence as the two just admired the beautiful night sky and how the stars just sparkled their way into existence in the darkness of night.
"Remy."
"Oui."
"... Ah'm Sorrah."
Gambit looked down at her confused.
"What you sorry for? Ya ain't got anythin' ta be sorry for." He said squeezing her tighter to him. Rogue's hands moved to his. She played with his thumbs and fingers, never looking away from the sky.
"No, ah'm... Ah'm just Sorrah...ah know ah ain't the easiest person ta get along with."
"I thought me and you were gettin' 'long just fine. More than fine." Gambit said with a dangerous, flirty voice. But he believed his words.
At least it made her smile slightly.
"Yeah... We have been... So great that I think ah've forgiven ya Remy."
Gambit looked down at her a little with a raised eyebrow. This was what he wanted, wasn't it? Her forgiveness. He didn't know why he felt surprised at her giving it. Guess because he thought it would take longer to gain. He knew they had been getting on well as if nothing had happened, but he thought that couldn't possibly be enough. He felt like something was missing.
Rogue looked up to him, her eyes half warm as she said, "Ah've forgiven ya Remy and ah think it's time ya go back home."
Hearing this made Gambit feel as if he'd just been dropped off a cliff. He didn't want to leave her. He sat them both up, and she turned to look him in the eye with that sad smile of hers.
"You've been so good ta meh. Comin' here afta meh and all. But ah think it's time for ya ta go home now. Ya've helped meh out, and mah papa who neva asked for ya help. Made meh laugh and been a shoulder ta cry on. Ya made up for what ya did Remy and ah've forgiven ya. Ya conscience should be clear now. And ya can go home. Go home Remy ta people who actually need ya help. Ya the prince of thieves and ah'm sure they're needin' ya back home. Me and mah papa will be fine now, but ya haveta go help ya own family. "
Gambit felt cold. Colder than the night air drying his wet clothes. He didn't understand what Rogue was getting at. She was trying to send him away. But why? Why would she want to get rid of him? Didn't she want him around anymore? No, her eyes told a different story. She put up a face, but he knew she was upset. He could see it in her eyes. Why was she doing this? Did she really believe his family needed him? Maybe, but he thought about something else. What he had discovered while she was out. Could she be trying to get rid of him because of that vile secret she had? Now he saw it. He saw it in her eyes. He saw the fear. He couldn't leave Rogue like this. It hurt too much just to see her like this. There was no way he could leave her now. He just had to convince her that he wasn't going anywhere.
"Rogue. I ain't goin' anywhere."
"But ya family Remy. Ya gotta go back ta your family. They need ya more than ah do. Your forgiven for what ya said... If anything, it was sorta true." Rogue said, starting to push free of his embrace. But Gambit's grip tightened around her waist.
"No it wasn't! Don't say-"
"But it was. I was marryin' ya for your money and usin' ya ta get away from the X-Men. Plus, ya were right. Ah can't satisfy ya needs. Ah don't think ya meant ta hurt meh. Ya've proven it. But it's time for ya ta go home Remy ."
Rogue looked away from him, the sparkle in her eye fading as she turned. Gambit wasn't having it though,. He took her chin in his hand and turned her to look up at him.
"Chére... Ya really don't get it do ya?" She just looked at him with those wide eyes of hers that were innocent and took everything in. "What I did. It was unforgivable. I cheated on ya when I shouldn't of. What I did was wrong. It was weak...I was weak... I was upset when you drove off in that taxi... upset because... I already explained this to you Rogue... I have strong feelings for you... I didn't know then but I do now... I was hurtin' cause I just wanted ya in every way...But I couldn't have ya... I had a few drinks ta try and numb the pain and when I found sumone who looked like ya, I just went weak. I wanted ya so badly Rogue. So bad I thought I was willin' ta cheat on ya."
Rogue looked away, feeling a little upset that he was reminding her that she couldn't touch so he couldn't be with her.
"But I just couldn't. I couldn't do it, Rogue. I couldn't cheat on ya... Cause it was then I realised, and knew... Ya were the only woman for me...I love you."
Rogue's breathing stopped in her chest. Rogue was unsure if to look up at him or not. What did she do now? So, she looked up at him, meeting his soft almost teary, but serious eyes. "I love you Rogue... I love you." He said again as if the words were hurting him but relieving pain.
For a moment, both just sat there looking at each other wondering what was going to happen next. It was comfortable, but awkward at the same time. Their eyes fell slightly down from each other's eyes to their lips as they noticed their breaths had become slow and heavy. Rogue stared at Gambit's lips for a time, then, something clicked in her brain.
Rogue broke the contact. She blinked a few times trying to realise her surrounding. When reality fully set in, she said: "No... No you don't."
She stood up and moved out of Gambit's embraces to stand at the edge of the river, watching the easy waves sparkle under the moonlight. Gambit stood up, not sure what to do himself, then he came to stand beside Rogue, looking out like she was. "You can't love meh Remy." Rogue finally said. Gambit looked to her, his breathing getting heavy and pain rising in him.
Rogue didn't want to look at him. This was making her too sad and upset. Gambit couldn't love her. It wasn't possible. No one could love her. She was untouchable. She blocked herself off from the world. She was a weapon. Something someone might like as a favorite choice of weapon, but really they were scared of it because they knew how much damage it could do and couldn't fully love it. How could anyone love her?
She'd had to look back into his eyes to see if it was the romantic love there or the friend affection love, but from those eyes, she was sure it was the romantic love. But how? How could anyone love her? Rogue didn't understand how to love herself, so how could anyone else? He must have been after something, she thought. But what? They already captured the thief that thieved the thieves. He knew it wasn't her, so he had no reason to be here spying on her to see if she had the money. Unless it was guild orders, but she was sure they wouldn't have let him out of the house. He was the prince and she was sure he had to be present at the meetings and trails. He couldn't be here because he still needed a way out of marriage. Bella Donna had been arrested and Rogue knew that now they couldn't get married. So if he wasn't here for marriage or guild orders then what else was there.
Guilt? Rogue had just said she forgave him. He couldn't feel guilty. Then what? Why would he possibly lie like that? Why was he saying something he couldn't possibly mean? Rogue really didn't understand why this beautiful man with money, wealth, beauty, and who could have whatever girl he wanted was here in this dumb with her saying he loved her. Her. How could he? He was used to mansions; her home was a rubbish tip. He was used to money, they had no money, they were broke. He was used to beautiful girls showering him with attention, and Rogue defiantly wasn't that much of a looker and couldn't give him what he wanted. How could he possibly be happy here?
Rogue came to the conclusion that, from all her years of experience, that no one could ever love her, so Gambit must have been lieing and must have something up his sleeve. Something he wants from her but she didn't know what. Besides, she was trying to get rid of him, so she wasn't going to let this... thing stop her. Even if it was something she always wanted to hear. Just thinking about what he'd said, made her feel something inside, but she wasn't sure what. It felt like something inside of her was breaking apart. Something cold like ice. She thought, it might have been because of her stupid dream to have someone who truly loved her in her life. Maybe, it hurt so much because reality was hitting her hard and her last few shreds of hope for that life were fading. She couldn't have that. It just wasn't possible.
Anyway, she had to tell him to leave. She had to get him to leave. But even as she tried to summon the words, she felt soppy emotions beginning to form in her gut and just bubble up like she was drowning in these emotions. She didn't want to show emotion. She'd look weak and he might get the wrong idea. So she reached out desperately for the one emotion that had been defending her for years: anger. The familiar anger which pulled at her whenever she felt weak in these situations. The anger that was her shield. She was going to give in to the emotion.
She turned to face him, thinking it would be the good decent thing to do, but she still couldn't meet his eyes. "Remy Ah can't... Ah don't do love." She snapped. She finally met his eyes, hating herself so much at the hurt she saw there. His face reminded her of something though. Reminded her of...herself. Of the hurt she felt on her wedding day. The hurt she wouldn't wish on anyone. Her anger started to slip away as she remembered how his anger had made things worse. If she was hurt being called a cutting, gold digger on her wedding day, then that was nothing compared to the look on Gambit's face right here and now. She didn't want him to feel what she felt on her wedding day. She lost all her anger, feeling defenseless now. But she was going to try and put him down easy as she didn't want him hurt. But if she was going to put him down easy, then she couldn't look him in the eye.
"Ah'm not sumone people love Remy... Ah wasn't meant ta be loved. Ah've been through three different families. All of which showed meh some sort of love, but couldn't give meh anything more than friendliness and maybe a nervous hug if the occasion called for it... Ah... Ah don't really understand love... Ah don't understand tha feelin' really or what ta do with it... But ah know that this ain't love. Ya don't love meh Remy. Ah'm 'bout as loveable as a gun ta people. Ya favour weapon, but ya still cautious of meh and something ya can't really love... Ah think ya might be gettin' confused Remy-"
"No...No..." Gambit said, his voice weak at first but getting stronger as he realised what Rogue was saying. He felt horrible at first because he thought she just didn't love him back. That she was rejecting him. He knew it might still be a possibility that she didn't feel the same way, but she thought she was unlovable. That wasn't true. He couldn't let her think that. "No Rogue. Ya are lovable. Ya not a gun or a weapon that can't be loved." He said taking her face in his hands, and turning her to look him in the eyes once more. "If you can't be loved then no mutant can. We can all be used as weapons Rogue. Dun't mean we can't find love. Dun't mean we can't be happy-"
"But others can touch. They can turn it off. Ah can't... Ah can't love you the way you wanna be loved. Ya can't love meh cause ah can't love ya and ya can't have what ya need from lovin' meh. There's another girl out there who ya can love. Who's betta than meh-"
"Why are ya so stupid woman? I already told ya there ain't no other woman for me. You're it! I don't care if ya can or can't touch. All I care 'bout is you Rogue. All I can think 'bout is you. You'd think I was crazy and a stroker if ya could look inside ma head . I love you and dat ain't gonna change. It can't change. Ya don't decide who ya love and who ya don't . Ya just love and ya fall and I've fallen head ova heels for ya ...please... Don't send me away... I don't think I'll be able ta survive without ya."
"... You could before... Ya can now." Rogue moved from out of his grip.
Gambit had turned into an emotional wreck pouring his heart out to try and get Rogue to look him. Rogue had turned into an empty shell. Gambit saw this in her eyes and could see how much she was hiding from this. He took a stronghold of her arms again, tighter than what he meant and bought her back to him, shaking her almost back to realisation.
"Before I asked ya ta marry me, I barely knew ya. Course, I couldn't have loved ya then when we first meet, but ya had my affection. My attention. Right from the very moment I set eyes on y'. From there, I couldn't turn away. Spied on ya, tried t' learn more 'bout ya an' when I got de chase t' whisk ya away, I weren't gonna let anythin' stop me. That time we spent together, it made me realise we're the same, you and I. Come from slightly different worlds, but been down the same paths. Paths I couldn't talk ta with anyone, 'cept ya. Hell, ya even went down one'a those with moi. Made sure I did de right thing. Had mon back without even needin' ta be asked or brided... First time anyone looked out for moi without expectin' anythin' in return. Then, ya left, and all I could think of was it felt like losin' mon lucky lady. Ya think I give out mon queen ta just anyone?" Gambit asked, trying to see into Rogue's eyes, but it was hard to tell if he was getting through to her.
"After ya went, I was still thinkin' 'bout ya from time ta time, wonderin' what ya were doin', what ya were thinkin', what rtouble ya mighta been in and if anyone had ya back. Had ya heart... I knew it Rogue. I knew it then. You were special. Someone I knew I'd see again. I couldn't find any way ta escape de thieves, but somehow, I knew I weren't gonna let it be de last time we spoke. Then dis whole marriage thing happened, and guess what? My mind went straight ta ya. Managed ta find an out from under de thieves and went ta find ya. Then I asked ya to marry me cause I didn't know no one else I'd wanna spend a life time learnin' 'bout. There was no one else I was thinkin' 'bout. It had to be you. You or no one. Not just cause of all the convincing stuff, but cause I just felt sumthing, even then." Gambit said, stroking Rogue's arms gently.
"Then we spent more time tagether. We got to know each other. Our likes and dislikes. We hurt each other, and I don't know 'bout you, but I started to fall for the woman I was supposed to spend the rest of mon life with. I still hope and pray that that can be, Rogue. I still hope that you won't send me away. Won't say goodbye. That I'll still be knowin' ya, holdin' ya til death do us part. Hope that I don't ever hurt you as much as I did so ya don't have reason ta send me away. Cause when ya did, I was in mourning. I stopped eatin', I stopped carin', I stoppin livin'. I couldn't stop thinkin' 'bout ya. I felt like I was drowndin' and there were times I just thought to take mon own life and stop the pain. But then I knew dat would be the cowards way out. I watched you the whole week we were part. I just couldn't stop watchin' ya. But then, watchin' ya just reminded meh of all de good things 'tween us and how I just kept hurtin' ya and that ya were better off without moi. I had to leave cause I didn't deserve ta be in ya presence. Rogue." Gambit fell to his knees in front of her.
He was pouring his heart out and, although it felt so go to get it all out, it made him weak in the knees until they gave out. Rogue's empty facade was breaking up. The ice inside of her was melting and her eyes were becoming filled with the warm emotions she was feeling, but didn't understand. Gambit took her gloved hands in his, bringing them to his lips and kissing them. He pulled her close to him, not being able to get enough of her.
"Rogue. It was killing me not bein' with ya." Gambit said looking up to her. His eyes watering too. "I'm so happy you've forgave moi... But I can't just go. You can't leave me, mon chérie. Ya can't send me away. Please. My feelin's for you are true. I never felt like dis before. It's why I know that I love you. Cause I neva felt dis strongly 'bout anyone before. If ya send me away, I don't think I'll know what to do. Rogue, chére please. I'm on my knees beggin' here. Answer me. Please tell me ta stay. Don't send me away. I know I promised ta leave ya when I earnt ya forgiveness, but I'm beggin' for mercy here. Ya might not feel the same as I do, but please... Don't send me away."
Rogue felt torn. Unsure. She had no idea what had happened or what to do. She was as vunerable as Gambit. So she fell to her knees too, coming eye to eye, tear to tear as one of those tears finally fell from her eye. Gambit moved his gloved hand up, with Rogue's hand still in his. He used his thumb to wipe it away. They never broke eye contact and, as Rogue tried to speak, her voice felt dry and husky.
"Remy... Ah... ah don't know what ta do... Don't... Know... What to say... Ah'm sorrah... Ah-ah neva meant ya hurt ya. Neva meant ta make ya cry. Ta make ya beg... Ah just wanted ya ta go home cause ah thought it would be best."
Gambit placed her hands on his chest where his heart was, and took her shoulders in a strong grip again, keeping her upright. "Rogue, do you want me ta stay? Forget everythin' else. Do ya want me ta stay?"
"...yes."
Gambit let go of a breath and smiled. It was as if he'd been waiting on news to hear if someone was alive or not and he got the good news. It was a relief. A lightweight. Something that gave him hope. Rogue saw his large, toothy smile which he couldn't control and she didn't understand. How could one word make him this happy...? And then she remembered something else. Or rather someone else. "But Remy... Ya've got to go home."
"No chére."Gambit said rubbing little circles into her shoulders which calmed her so much. But she still had to have him leave.
"Remy, ya can't stay here."
"Rogue, I ain't goin anywhere don't care bout what mon familie wants. I wanna be here for you. You are moi life now, and they're just gonna have ta accept it. Believe it or not the people who I really do care bout in mon familie already knew I was in love with ya before I did. They'll understand. They'll help me out. They'll let me stay. I'm gonna stay Rogue. I'm gonna stay with ya and I'm gonna protect ya. I ain't gonna let anythin' happen to ya. I'm gonna be here to protect and look after ya."
"But... Why...? Be truthful. Cause ya dun't know how ta live any more? Or cause ya don't wanna go home? Or Cause of... Love...? Or is there another reason."
Gambit's smile only grew more heartily. "Cause of you. Because of love. Cause your mon reason for existing. Because you have mon cœur, chérie."
Rogue lost her breath again for a moment. She wasn't quiet sure what he'd said, but everything else, everything he was doing was making her melt and turn into a soft gooey mess. So much so, that she fell from her knees to her bum, closer into Gambit. There chests touched and they seemed to breath at the same time. Gambit's arms moved down a little more to Rogue's waist and wrapped around her back, bringing her closer to his body, and to his face. There lips came closer and closer together. Rogue wished she could just give in to this wonderful man who turned her body to goo like it had now, but there was still one or two things bothering her. These problems brought on another tear. She shuck her head not believing how cruel her life was. "Remy... I don't know a lot 'bout... Love."
"Me neither." He said never losing his smile. "But we can learn. Together."
Rogue closed her eyes as the words stung. Again she shuck her head. Gambit lost his smile not understanding why she was saying no when she'd said she'd wanted him here. Not understanding why she seemed up upset. Why she was crying more. "Remy... You... You can't stay... Ah'm Sorrah... But ya gotta go home... It's hard ta explain... But... Ah gotta stay here... Ah gotta face... Help mah papa on mah own... Ya gotta go back Remy."
Rogue wasn't sure what she expected, but Gambits grip tightened on her. It was a grip that wasn't going to let go and it was also fuelled by anger. When she looked into his eyes they sparked dangerously red. He was angry. Angry at her, she thought. Rogue closed her eyes and turned away, not wanting to see or feel his wrath.
"Chére, I ain't leavin' ya with dat man alone." Gambit spat out.
Rogue opened her eyes and sneaked a peek up at him. Then she got it. He wasn't directing his anger at her. He was directing it at... Her father. "I ain't blind Rogue. I seen ya house. I seen the wreck it's in. I can see how hard it is just for ya to look in a simple room. I see how much pain just bein' back in the house ya grew up in brought. If dats how ya react to just a buildin', then I ain't leavin' ya to face the people or person who put ya through so much misery alone. There has to be a reason why ya left in de first place, and from lookin' at dat house, I'd say abuse... Ya might have come back to try and make amends cause Irene told ya to, and I can't stop ya if that's what ya want. But that dunt mean ya have ta go through this on ya own. I ain't leavin' ya, cause I dunt want ya hurt. I don't trust dat... Person ya call ya birth father. Not with you. I can see ya scared Rogue. Scared of him. And dats one major reason I ain't leavin'."
A moment after his speech, when Rogue had taken it all in, she finally burst into tears. Gambit hugged her close into his chest and let her cry again. There was no way he was leaving her. Not for anything. "Please...please, don't... Don't tell anyone... Don't... Don't think bad of meh... Please."
Gambit pulled her back and looked into her watery eyes of fear. Something clicked by her words and Gambit realised that Rogue hadn't told anybody about her upbringing. Apparently, not even the X-Men. He was the first to know her deep, dark secret past. For years, she had been carrying around this burden all on her own telling no one. Because she was scared. She was scared of what would happen.
"Chére, I could neva think badly of ya. Neva. I don't care if you were raised by a frog and a duck. I'd still love you no matter what. Your my Rogue. I couldn't stop lovin' ya even if I hated ya. I could neva see anyone else as glorious as I see you. There be only you who lights my world, chérie."
Slowly, as she took in his words, Rogue smiled. Then cried again into his chest. As the sky got darker Gambit held his Rogue, comforting her as she let out all the years and pain and suffering she'd had to endure to keep this secret of hers hidden. Atlas, she was finally free from judgement.
