Downstairs everyone was crowded around an attractive blonde-haired girl. She was pale and had the most striking ice blue eyes. She was breathtaking. Rogue's jaw nearly dropped when she saw her. Her white shirt and pants clung to her, pink lips smiling at the people surrounding her. She looked like an angel. Rogue glanced quickly at Remy, who seemed rather unimpressed.

"Rogue, Remy," the Professor sat next to the girl, "This is Emma Frost."

Rogue smiled and extended her gloved hand, "Hi, I'm Rogue and this is Remy. Welcome to the Institute."

Emma shook her hand, "Hello, it's very nice to meet you both. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone," she looked Remy over, "especially you."

He wrapped his arm around Rogue, "Sorry, I'm already spoken for."

She smiled, "For now," then walked away.

Remy smirked and kissed Rogue's forehead, "Well she's confident, I'll give her that. We should probably grab a shower, I need to finish setting up my room. Then maybe we can relax. I'll cook us some dinner since the Chinese didn't agree with you last night."

She smiled, "That sounds nice."

He began to massage her shoulders, "You alright? You've seemed a little out of it today and you left bed pretty early this morning."

"Yeah," she sighed, "I just needed to talk to the Professor about some things. No need to worry yourself. Come on, let's go shower and finish up your room."

They lay on his bed. It took a few hours, but all the furniture had been put back in place. The carpenters had laid come while they were in the Danger Room. Rogue inhaled deeply, feeling mentally and physically exhausted. Remy lay next to her, fighting the urge to sleep. She didn't think her stomach could be fuller. Remy had made the most delicious slice of Southern comfort that she'd had in a long time. Rogue let her mind wander, some of Remy's memories flashing through her mind. She knew she shouldn't but this aching feeling inside of her begged her to ask.

"Hey Remy," she spoke to the ceiling, willing herself not to look at him.

"Yeah chere," he responded, half asleep.

"Was it really your job," she asked, "To try and charm me so I'd join Magneto?"

He hesitated for a moment, "It was one of them, yes."

"Is that," she paused, "That's not still your job, right?"

He sat up, "Come again?"

She sat up as well, "I just, it'd make sense if…"

"If what," he cut her off, "If I'm sleeping with you for the kicks? If I get a bonus should you fall in love with me? If I joined the X-Men against my better nature? Go to that mutant hating hellhole of a school just for added effect? If all of this is a giant lie just to gain your trust? That's a low blow, even for you Rogue. If that's how you view this, then please just…just leave."

She stared, wide-eyed, "Leave?"

"The fact that you would even ask that shows how little trust you still have in me," his hands bawled into fists, "and if that's the case then I don't know what else to do to prove anything to you."

"Remy, it's not like that," she signed, "I just…I feel really uneasy right now and I'm having a hard time knowing what's real and what's not."

"I can't pretend to know what you are going through," he sighed, "but this, these feelings I have for you, they're as real as the flesh on my bones. But if you can't see that by now then I don't know if you ever will."

She let out a deep sign, hanging her head for a moment. She slowly got up from the bed, pausing for a moment before walking towards the door. He made no attempt to stop her, said nothing as she stood in the doorway. She turned and looked at him again, not sure what to say to make this better. She crossed the threshold into the hallway. She turned and grabbed the handle of the door, preparing to close it. He still said nothing. Not that she expected him to.

"I'm sorry," she said before he heard the door click shut.

She stood on the other side, waiting for him to open it. She left after a minute when he didn't come. She slipped into her room and plopped herself down at her vanity. She reached out and grabbed the Queen of Hearts that sat wedged in her mirror. She flipped it over in her hand, remembering the days she spent wishing that he'd come back again. If only for a little while.

She was on her balcony, staring absently at the sky. Her mind drifted to him, as it did every night. He was handsome and mysterious. He was devilish, the enemy yet he'd never tried to hurt her when they fought. He'd always just dodge her kicks and punches, letting out a few pick-up lines that always made her blush. She hated him for that. She shook her head. Why? Why did he have this effect on her? She was Rogue, the girl that no one could touch, the girl that let no one into her heart. Yet here she was swooning over some stupid, flirtatious Cajun.

"You're out here again," Kitty asked, "It's like the fourth night you've been out here since you got back from Louisiana. What happened down there?"

"What," she said absently, "Oh, nothing. Gambit just needed my help with something."

Kitty shifted her weight from one leg to the other, "Right and he means so little to you that you keep playing with that playing card?"

"Well," she thought for a moment, "It was a gift. It's rude to just throw away a gift. Besides, he said it's gotten him out of a situation or two, maybe he'll need it back someday. I'd hate to leave him out to dry like that."

Kitty nodded, "Yeah that like does make sense. Anyway, I'm going out with Lance tonight so I'll be home late. Would you mind covering for me?"

Rogue smiled, "You know I'll always cover for you Kit. Have a good time."

Kitty hugged her friend, "Thanks Rogue, you're the best."

The perky brunette giggled as she left the room. Rogue sighed. She couldn't believe Kitty had bought her story. She would never tell the real reason she kept the card. Somewhere between their first meeting and their trip to Louisiana she'd developed feelings for him. She knew he was a player and the chances of him viewing her as more than just a challenge was a long shot but she couldn't help herself. She looked out again, meeting a pair of black and red eyes. She smiled and walked inside, closing the doors behind her.

She sighed, "What am I gonna do with you?"

He made a move for the door but stopped, letting his pride get the best of him for a moment. He took a deep breath and opened the door only to find that she wasn't there. He heard the faint click of her door closing down the hall. He closed his door again. He kicked the wall twice then punched it, letting out a frustrated sigh. He ran his hands through his hair. There was a light knock on the door, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Rogue," he said as he threw open the door.

"Sorry, just me," Emma smiled brightly, "I heard you yelling and just wanted to make sure everything was alright."

"Yes, everything's fine," he kept his hand on the door.

"Alright," she stood for a moment, "Would I be allowed to come in?"

Remy shook his head, "Non, thanks for checking but I'm fine."

"Are you always this stubborn," she purred, "Because I can be stubborn too."

"Look, you seem like a nice enough girl, but my interests lie elsewhere," his frustrating growing, "so it'd be best if you just turned around and walked away."

He slammed the door in her face as she was about to speak again. He took a few calming breathes before opening the door again. He knocked lightly on her door with no answer, but he was sure he heard movement on the other side. He looked down when he felt something hit his foot. He picked it up the playing card, already knowing what would be on the other side. It was confirmed when he flipped it over, the Queen of Hearts looking back at him.

He banged on the door, "ROGUE! Don't do this!"

Logan ran up the stairs, "What's wrong? Is Stripes okay?"

Remy lowered his head, "I messed up Logan."

He walked back to his room, leaving Logan alone in the hallway. He grabbed the back of his neck. Talking about problems wasn't exactly his strong suit but it didn't take a genius to see that Rogue was struggling with something. Big enough for her to be willing to put her relationship at risk.

"Stripes, it's me," he knocked on the door lightly. "I can tell something is up. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not right now Logan," she said through the door.

He nodded to himself. She'd come talk to him when she was ready, like she always did. He walked towards Remy's room then stopped. If she didn't want to talk he doubted the Cajun would. He shook his head as he walked back down the stair, teenagers.

Remy tossed and turned, sleep dodging him every time he closed his eyes. He got up for about the seventh time that night and looked out his window, into the darkness. There was little movement besides the occasional animal and Kitty who was pulling Lance towards the mansion…again. He shook his head knowing the Professors lecture would only get him so far. The light coming from the room a few windows down caught his eye. He stuck his head out the window, wondering what was keeping her awake. There she stood, like she did so many nights prior. Just staring off into the distance, dreaming of lord knows what. He watched as her porcelain skin glowed in the light while her black, silk nightgown blended into the darkness of the night. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, while the white framed her face. She was perfect, even at night. She moved her head so she was looking in his direction. Her emerald eyes sparkled as they met his. She nodded to him, beckoning him to come to her. He closed the window and noticed her lights when out upon doing so. He left his room quietly, creeping down the hall to her room. He grabbed the handle and twisted it. The door opened with a gentle click. He looked around, where had she gone? A feeling gathered in the pit of his stomach before he noticed the figure on the ground. Two more figures grabbed him as he lunged for her. A fourth figure placed a cloth over his mouth. He struggled but began to lose consciousness. His eyes fell to the girl passed out on the floor.

"Did you really think you could betray us," were the last words he heard.