A/N: I re-edited this chapter, because I realized that my work is more of a script format rather than prose format. Sorry! I'll try to be more descriptive and what not. I made some changes, just things that have been bugging me. So, now, I can really start on the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own the x-men or anything except fanciful and fantastical ideas.
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After spending the entire afternoon and majority of the evening shopping with Kitty and Jean and a few other girls, my mind was a bit clearer and I could think logically.

And I think I may have overreacted a little bit.

Okay.

I overreacted a whole hell of a lot.

As soon as I was home and away from nosey ears, I was going to call him and say … something.

It felt like hours upon hours were passing me by as Kitty and Jean dragged me through what felt like thousands of stores before finally calling it quits. And seven bags full of 'stuff' later, we were in our cars and headed back to the institute.

As soon as I parked the X-Jeep, I leaped from the car and stormed the Institutes front door. I glanced quickly around the place.

"Hey guys."

I didn't wait for a reply and just went on my way to the stairs.

"Hold it, Stripes."

I glanced back at the people I greeted, and noticed that they all looked… distressed.

Sigh.

"What's happened this time?" I dragged myself down the stairs so that I stood in front of them.

I really wish I hadn't.

Logan gave me a brief glance that told me I would not like this one bit.

Xavier wheeled out from beside Logan and Ororo as Kitty and Jean walked though the door. It was a rather comical sight: Kitty's arms were loaded with bags full of clothing and accessories and was waddling her way toward us. "Like, where's the fire Rogue? You could have at least, like, offered to help."

"Girls," professor Xavier cut in, "we have something to discuss."

Kitty gave a confused look to the Professor, but shrugged her shoulders and delicately placed her 'precious purchases' on the gorund, relieving herself of the excess wait. To be frank, its abnormal how much she can hold when it comes to shopping. I'm pretty sure she could lift the weight of Logan if it were in jeans and shirts. Jean on the other hand, gripped her two bags tighter in worry. Her eyes locked onto the professor's, probably having a mental talk, because she remained quite for a few seconds before nodding her head somberly.

I, on the other hand, was beyond confused.

"What happened?"

Xavier calmly placed his hands in his lap after he looked each of us in the eye. "Magneto has made a full recovery since Apocalypse. We had hope that his view on the situation would change, but it appears that he still believes that mutants have a superiority over humans."

"Okay, that's nothin' new." I was about to turn around when Logan spoke up.

"Stripes, Mystique's with him." Again, I waited for something starling. "I've been trailin' her the past few weeks and she's been lookin' for recruits."

I froze, with one foot on the bottom stair.

"Who've they got?"

"Looks like the brotherhood," he paused, the looked at me pointedly for a brief moment, "and maybe a few of Magneto's old Acolytes."

"…Oh." Was that why mystique was there today? If that's the case, maybe he said no… but then there was the handshake… maybe it was a gretting. Like a 'nice to see ya again' type of handshake. Somehow, I really don't think that was the case. But what if Logan is wrong? What if I was still just overreacting? "But ya aren't positive?"

"Not yet."

"Like, Lance is back with Magneto?" Kit asked, sounding like a kicked puppy.

The professor turned his eyes to Kitty leaving only Logan's gaze on me. We stood there for a few seconds before he gave me a slight nod, giving me permission to find out more information from a more direct source.

I disappeared up the stairs into my room and locked the door. Once it was locked, I swiftly pulled out my cell phone and hit the redial button.

I heard the dial tone start and for the few seconds I had to myself, I calmed myself. I was probably overreacting- everyone was probably overreacting- and Remy was just… umm...chatting with Mystique.

Yeah. Just chatting.

Click.

"Anna?"

"Remy… Ah was at the park earlier."

"Den why didn'-"

"Why was Mystique there?"

He hesitated. For five whole freakin' seconds he hesitated before answering me.

"Chere-"

Ah wasn't going to give him the chance to con me out of an answer.

"Remy." There was again a weighty silence. "It's a simple question, Swamp Rat."

I heard him sigh on his end. Probably feeling cornered and frustrated. I could just see that hand of his running through his auburn hair, too. I was slightly in awe that I could read him so well. Like now. He does the frustrated sigh and fingers his hair when he's uncomfortable. Or when he really doesn't want to explain something.

"Chere, 'M a t'ief. I'll always be a t'ief."

"That doesn't answer mah question, Swamp Rat."

Don't say it. Don't say it. Please oh please don't say it.

"Dey made a convincing pitch. If I go an' work for dem, I'll be blowin' up labs dat dose people use t' experimen' on mutants."

"Remy, that is not the way ta go about all this!"

"Chere, 'm sorry, mais, 'm goin' t' help bucket head and Mystique. I already said dat I would."

It felt like the wind was knocked out of me. And everything was falling around me. I'm pretty sure that's when Ororo's psyche reacted to the pressure and I just started to feel constricted in my room. I pressed the phone further into my ear and tried to concentrate on not panicking and just breathing.

Well, I did, before Remy's voice on the line snapped me out of the panic funk I was in.

"Anna? Chere? Y' still dere?"

And all at once, I felt nothing and everything. I felt the anger and betrayal at the foremost and was just fed up.

"It's Rogue."

Click.

As soon as I snapped my phone shut on him, I threw it against the wall… repeatedly. Then, I threw the crushed pieces out the window until I heard them shatter against the cement walkway below.

Just breathe. Take a big, deep breath.

Once I had control over my seething anger and damned other emotions, I swiped my bangs from in front of my face and unlocked the door and stepped out into the hallway and calmly made my way down the staircase. At the bottom, I saw that the professor was still in conversation with the rest of the team. Most likely preaching the same old song and dance of 'protect people first and foremost' and 'stop Magneto without causing permemant damage'.

Logan on the other hand, was watching me with critical eyes, reading the set of my jaw and my stiffened stance.

"Stripes…"

I really didn't want to hear him say something like "I'm sorry", or, "I wish I was wrong". Or even "I told you so", if he had the audacity to go that far. Frankly, I just didn't want to hear anybody.

"Ah'm gonna need a new phone. Ah killed mah old one." I glared once at everybody in the room, before my eyes settled back on Logan. I saw his tired eyes warily observe me. It was unspoken, but right then, I knew Logan wished he was wrong. It was nice to know I wasn't the only one who wished that.

But we both knew that there was nothing else to be done, and so I just walked back up the stairs.

Thankfully, everyone here knew better than to get in my way when I was in a sour mood.

~)(~

The next couple of days went by and I didn't see him.

Not for his lack of trying, though.

That same night, after I hung up on Remy, Logan told me to go upstairs. At the time I was chilling out in the rec. room with the other kids, so Logan's request was more than a little odd. I was about to protest and deny any wrongdoing, but then, the doorbell rang.

Ding Dong.

"Stripes, if you don't want to see him-"

I was out of the room before he could finish his sentence. I made a b-line towards the staircase, which resulted in a few moments of sliding around in my socks without control. I would have laughed had I not been a bit preoccupied with escaping the eyes and ears of Remy. I was almost at the top of the steps when I heard the pounding on the door.

"Chere? Can we jus' talk? S'il vous plait?"

I froze on the steps. I turned wide-eyed to Logan, frozen with mixed feelings.

Logan seemed to understand, though, and reassured me that I could go and hide. "Go. I'll handle him."

I gulped down the large lump in my throat and started forward again, but instantly turned around to face Logan. "Just don't kill him, alright?"

I saw him heave a sigh more than I actually heard it. "Fine."

With that said I made my way off of the staircase and hid behind the wall, just out of sight. Just because I didn't want to see him, it didn't mean that I didn't want to hear what he had to say.

Remy's pounding started up again, but abruptly ended when I heard the lock unlatch and the door creak open.

There was a quiet moment of uncertainty and I could almost hear Remy's mental debate on what he should say in order to not get himself killed.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Wolverine-"

"What do you want Gumbo?"

Well, there went formalities.

"Is Rogue aroun'?"

"No."

There was a heated silence between the two of them. I was almost tempted to take a peek. Maybe Remy believe Logan and –

"Rogue?!" he called out loudly.

I cringed inwardly. The boy had no tact when it came to secrecy.

"Look, Gumbo. I said Rogue aint here, and she aint here-"

"What is he doing here?!"

Oh lordy. Scotty-boy just had to stick his nose in to this. Crap.

"Is Rogue here?"

Say no. Please say no. Please oh please oh please oh please say no.

"What's it to you?" I mentally applauded Scotty for his macho answer. My mental victory dance, however, came to a tragic halt as I hear Kit's voice enter the scene at the bottom of the stairs.

"Guy's? Like, what's going on? Oh! Gambit! What are you, like, doing here?

Oh fuck.

"'M lookin' fo' Rogue. She here?"

"Um, like, yeah. You want me to, like, get her?"

"Oui, s'il vous plait."

"Kitty! You will not! Gumbo- Leave now!"

"Non. Not till I speak wit Rogue."

Snikt.

"She doesn't want to speak with you, Gumbo."

"Like, oh my god!"

I groaned quietly. I had a feeling that I would not be getting to sleep so quickly tonight.

"Monsieur, I need t' see her."

"Gumbo, the only way you're going to see her is during a fight. Now get out."

"Rogue?" he called out again. "I know y're dere."

Damn empath.

"Chere, I jus' wan' t' talk."

"Go ta hell!"

"You heard the girl, Gumbo."

"Chere-" he tried again.

"It's Rogue! Get it straight Swamp Rat!"

"Gambit, I think you should leave."

Thank you, Scotty-boy. Maybe we should change you're code name to Captain Obvious.

I heard Remy's stressed exhale. "Fine. I'll go. Chaton, could y' please tell Rogue dat 'm sorry?"

"Umm….sure."

"Merci."

And with that, I heard the door shut. I poked my head around the corner to see all three of them looking back at me.

I laughed nervously.

That's when kitty squealed.

"Like, oh my god!" Before anybody could stop her, she had rushed up the stairs and grabbed my wrist as she dragged me behind her. "You have got, like, a lot of explaining to do!"

Damn that swamp rat.

~)(~

The day after he knocked on the door, I found a letter on my pillow. I thought that it might be from Remy, but as I was unsure, I took a peek at the handwriting.

Yep. Remy's. Without reading it, I placed the letter back in the envelope and dropped it back on my desk.

I think it's safe to assume that it had a request to meet, because the next day, Kitty phased into our room holding a vase of white calla lilies.

My favorite.

I only told one person that those were my favorite.

"Rogue! This is, like, so sweet!"

"Kitty. Ya are not helping."

"Oh. Right."

When I told her everything, as she would not settle for less and threatened to help Remy if I did not tell her, she quickly took the position of defensive best friend. Although, apparently she was still the ever hopeful romantic because she set the vase on my nightstand.

"I still can't believe that he's, like, an honest to god prince!"

"Ya do realize how oxymoronic that sounded?"

She ignored me, and continued on as if I hadn't said a word.

"You are living a fairytale!"

"What? Ya think that this will end in a happily ever after? I hardly doubt that."

"You never know! You might end up being like a princess and get the perfect fairy tale ending!"

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"What? It could, like, totally happen!" I just laughed.

And laughed and laughed.

"Kit, sometimes, Ah think ya're crazier than me."

She just smiled and left me in the room.

With a vase full of lilies and a letter from a lover.

~)(~

"Everyone, suit up."

All of us looked up from our places in the rec. room and at Logan. We had decided to enjoy our time free from the danger room and watch a movie. This time, it was Kitty's turn to choose and she decided to watch Robin Hood.

It was kinda amusing how hard she was pushing the fairy tale scenario. Everyday she came up with some completely ridiculous theory on how was like a fairytale princess. And truthfully, I didn't stop her. I wasn't going to be the one to crush her hope, no matter how far fetched it was. And besides, it kinda became our inside joke.

But when Logan came in all serious and battle ready,Jeannie immediately snapped to attention, just like Scotty-boy.

"Why? What's happened?"

"Magneto and crew are creating a disturbance."

"It's the day before graduation!" Kitty whined. "Can't they, like, do it tomorrow night?"

"Sure kitty, go ahead and ask magnet brain that. I'd love to hear his response."

Scotty-boy snorted. "Well, I'm sure if somebody would ask Gambit to call it quits for a few hours, he would."

It got really quite after that. Everyone had heard about Remy's little visit, and his reason why.

I sat there stunned, unable to talk. Fortunately, Kitty was there to stick up for me with Kurt not far behind her.

"Scott, that was totally uncalled for."

"Yeah man."

"Come on, Rogue, let's like, go suit up."

I stood and followed kitty.

Well, at least I know who my true friends are, right?

~)(~

"Rogue, I'm sorry for the comment I made back there."

"Sure ya are, One-eye."

I took a seat next to Logan as we closed the ramp to the Blackbird.

It took less than fifteen minutes to arrive at our destination. If that was what it was anymore. The street was littered with debris from the explosion of a building to our left. Papers were everywhere, charred bits and pieces lying about. You could tell that Avalanche had been there by the shape the street and surrounding ground was in.

Maybe we were too late. Maybe they had already left and we could just go –

"Hey mate! Lookie there! We got company!"

Oh great. The fire teletubbie was back.

God, he was hard to look at. He was so bright and colorful that it hurt.

"Ah, X-men. How pleasant of you to come."

Magnet brain floated up above us, looking as nerdy as usual. He levitated the Black bird up and brought it smashing down to the ground, and then went off to go do some more metal damage.

Well, there goes our ride home.

"Jean, can you and Rogue get Magneto?"

Jeannie and I shared a look.

We both nodded at one another and soon drew back from the rest of our members.

As the rest of our team charged into their own battles, Jean and I found Magneto again.

"Jean, do ya think that ya could levitate me up there? If anything, Ah could try ta get that helmet off and ya could attack him that way."

"Okay. Remove any metal you got on you."

I checked over my outfit and removed anything that looked like it was metal. I then grabbed.

"Ah think Ah'm all good and ready ta go."

"Let's do this."

Jeannie stood back and closed her eyes in concentration.

I felt myself become unbalanced as my feet lifted from the ground. Jeannie was doing a damn good job of keeping me steady. I causiously removed my gloves, not wanting to put Jeannie under any more stress and let them fall to the ground bellow. I was almost to Magneto. Just a little bit further…

Boom.

Just as I was about to reach out and surprise Magneto with a touch of my hand, I began falling.

Fast.

I closed my eyes tight and hoped that I would be knocked unconscious before I felt the full extent of all of the damage.

However, I heard and felt the sound of my body colliding with something else at the same moment I heard "Gotcha."

I peeled open one of my eyes.

And saw Remy's smirking face was looking back at me.

I snapped my other eye open and looked around.

I noticed a few things that I didn't like: Magneto was still hovering about, doing damage and Jeannie was lying unconscious with a few burn marks around her.

Didn't take a rocket science to put two and two together: Gambit.

So, as soon as Remy placed me back on my feet, I punched him hard on the shoulder.

"Swamp Rat! What did ya do?!"

"Hello t' y', too, chere. I missed y' too."

"Damn it, Remy! This is not the time or place!"

"Well, how was I suppos' t' know?! Y' haven' been answerin' mon calls, or meetin' me!"

Calls? I thought, I hadn't gotten any calls- oh right. I murdered my phone.

"Well, whose fault is that?"

He ran his hand through his hair, frustrated.

See! I knew his habits! I felt the rush of pride and giddiness… but quickly reminded myself that we were not on friendly terms at the moment.

"Anna, I don' wan' t' argue wit' y'."

"How many times do Ah have ta tell you its Rogue, Gambit?"

I glared at him, hoping that he would get the message.

He glanced at me and stared. Then a smirk formed on his mouth. "Did I e'ver tell y' how belle y' look when y' angry?"

I'm pretty sure I looked like a belle and angry fish then, with my mouth opening and closing.

His smirk broadened to an outright grin as I felt heat flush my face.

I scowled and glared at him with all my worth.

"Really not the time, Gambit." I hissed.

I heard explosions and shouts further off, I looked down to see that Jeannie was gaining conscious now and heard the yells too. She got to her feet and hurried off.

I would have joined her too, if the damn Swamp Rat hadn't grabbed a hold of my arms and pulled me farther away from my team.

"We're not done talkin', chere."

His arms held me firmly against his chest as he dragged me farther away to a more secluded spot.

"Swamp Rat, let go of me!"

"Non."

That's it. I'd had enough. I was beyond pissed and tired of trying to break free without hurting him. I kicked backwards and my heel connected with his shin.

Hard.

Remy immediately released his hold on me and as soon as my feet touched the ground I turned around and faced him; fighting stance at the ready.

"'M not goin' t' fight y'."

"Then it'll be an easy win for me." I aimed a punch to his nose, but he dodged out of my way, and moved behind me. I jabbed my elbow backwards and made contact with his abdomen; receiving a grunt of pain in reply.

He hunched over a little, and I was kinda worried that maybe I broke his rib or something.

Well, I was, that is, until he pulled out his bo staff.

Never taking his eyes off of me, he shrugged out of his trench and let it fall to the ground.

"Don' make me fight y', Anna."

"Ya make ya're own choices, Gambit."

I threw a punch at his head, and didn't close as his staff knocked my arm away from him. I dropped to the ground and tried to kick his legs out from under him, and he jumped.

It was infuriating.

Everything I did, he counter-acted.

Punch. Block. Jab. Twirl. Kick. Jump.

And repeat, and repeat, and repeat.

Knowing Remy, I should have recognized the tactics. I should have seen it coming, but before I could acknowledge what he was doing, Remy already had me maneuvered back against a wall and cornered.

"Will, y' listen now, chere?"

Another boom shook the ground and, as I peered over Remy's shoulder, I saw a huge ball of flame rise up in the air. I made another attempt to run and help my teammates, but Remy pushed me back against the wall, hands on either side of my face.

"Non. We talk."

"But my team-"

"Dey can take care o' demselves."

I huffed at him. "What do ya want?"

"What do I wan'? I wan' y' t' listen t' me! Give moi a chance t' explain and f'r y' to stop ignorin moi!

"Ah'm not going ta keep seein' ya after Ah find out ya helpin' ta hurt people!"

"Dose people don't deserve y're help! Dose people are monsters!" He shouted at me.

"There still people, Remy!"

"Dey don' think o' us as dat!"

"With people lahke Magneto and Mystique and ya trying ta kill them, Ah don't blame them!"

"'M not tryin t' kill anyone!"

"Ya could have fooled me! How do ya think it looks lahke ta them? Ya blow up their buildins, with them still inside?"

"'M doin' dis to protect mutants lahke us."

"Protect mutants by helping them! By helping us help them! Not by destroying building's and hurtin' everyone else."

"What if I did? What if I did, an' one of dose bastards gets t' mutants? What if dey get t' y'? Y' think I'm just gonna sit back an' let dat happen?" I saw his eyes implore for me to understand.

"No, because that aint gonna happen."

"But 't could, Anna. It could!"

"Is that what this is all about? Are ya making this all about me? Remy, this has nothing ta do with me!"

"It has ev'rything t' do wit y'! 'M not gonna let a homme like Trask get his hands on y' again. 'M not gonna loose y', Anna. Not t' people like Trask, or because o' dis."

"That aint all ya're choice! What about what ah choose!?" declare

"Do y' love moi?" he asked suddenly, throwing me way off topic.

"What?! Ah'm not getting inta this now! What are ya? Bipolar or something?!"

"Non. 'M serious. Do y' love moi?"

"Remy- I'm not joking."

"Neither 'm I, Anna. Je t'aime" he stated. He moved closer, cupping his hands against my jaw. "… I love y'."

"Jesus, Remy. Can't we discuss this some other time?! We're in the middle of a friggin fight!"

"Anna, marry moi."

It was deathly silent despite the constant booms in the background and Pyro's maniacal laughter. For me, I could hardly focus on anthing at the moment. I felt butterflies. Thousands of them, all jittering around inside of me.

"Anna?"

Pyro's laughter abruptly stopped, I don't think Remy quite noticed that yet.

"Anna? Say somethin', s'il vous plait."

I gulped down dry air. And opened my mouth to speak.

"Remy, I-"

"Stripes?" Logan shouted loudly. Thank god they haven't seen me yet. "Stripes, where are ya?"

"Anna-"

I did the only thing I could think of to get out of this situation. I kissed Remy.

And after a moment, he kissed back fiercely.

He pulled away from me so we could breathe. "I'll take dat as a yes." He smiled down at me brightly, eyes shining with adoration and love.

And then I punched him.

Hard enough to knock him down and shake him up.

And as soon as he was down, I grabbed his bo staff and ran.

I ran all the way back to my team mates that were waiting near the new jet that Ororo flew in here.

"Get in! Get in and let's go!"

"Jeez, Rogue what's the rush? They, like, all left."

"Anna!"

I cringed as I, and everyone else, looked back to see Remy stumbling towards us, holding the back of his head.

"Damn girl. What did you do to him?"

I guess he must of hit his head on the ground when he fell.

"Guys, can we please just go?"

Logan must of smelt the panic radiating off of me because he took action.

"All of you, get on the jet now." Nobody dared challenge Logan's order. "Close the ramp."

I looked at Remy as the ramp rose up.

He finally regained his composure and was running at full speed toward us.

Oh crap! He's going to come here. Oh crap. Crap crap crap crap!

The ramp finally closed, just in time for Remy's fist thump loudly against the metal. Everyone could hear the sound of muffled shouting come from the outside the wall.

Thank god they only heard muffled shouting.

His shouting didn't stop when the engines roared to life.

"Can this thing go any faster?!"

Logan just laughed at me as the jet finally lifted into the air.

I glanced out the window to see Remy just staring up at me, just like he did back on Blood Moon Bayou. Only this time, he wasn't smirking.

"Rogue?"

I met Kurt's questioning gaze with scared eyes. He couldn't possibly know, could he?

"Yeah?"

"Vhy do you have Gamvit's metal staff?"

"What? Oh!" I looked down to see that I still had the bo staff clutched in my hands. "Ah thought that- that it would be funny if Ah stole something from a thief, ya know?"

Kurt gave me a look that expressed how brilliant he thought I was and laughed. Thankfully, mostly everyone in the jet believed it.

But the glances I got from Jean, Kitty and Logan stated otherwise.
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A/N- again sorry for the false hope of a new chapter! I'll get started right away!