Author's Note: Okay. This is my first Evo fanfic. It's set three years after Ascension. Since Gambit's age was never really mentioned and all the profiles I could find of him put him somewhere in his early 20s, I'm going to guess that he was about 22 or so and go from there.

Ages of original characters:

Gambit-25

St. John-23

Scott, Jean, Lance, Fred, Pietro, Wanda, Piotr, Rogue-22

Todd-21

Kitty, Kurt-20

Tabitha, Bobby, Ray, Sam, Amara-19

Roberto-18

Jubilee, X-23 (Laura), Rahne-17

Jamie-16

All of my OC's will have their age mentioned when they are introduced in the story. Oh, and they do belong to me. Yay, I own something.

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution or anything in it. Marvel does.

At ten the next morning, Henri went up to get Remy. He knocked quietly on the door, not wanting to wake up Rogue. When there was no answer, he carefully opened the door. Rogue was still asleep and there was no sign of Remy. The bathroom door opened and Remy came out in just a pair of jeans. He frowned when he saw his brother.

"What ya doin here?" Remy whispered, pulling on a shirt.

"Mercy sent me t' get y'. We need some help with decoratin an' y' the tallest," Henri whispered back.

"I'm comin," Remy grabbed a card from he deck in the drawer and wrote Rogue a note. He put the card on the nightstand next to her and kissed her forehead before following his brother.

"I figured y' still b' sleepin."

"Non. I'm used to getting up early."

"Y' missed breakfast."

"I know. I'll eat something later." He yawned. "Any coffee left?"

"Should b'. Y' want me t' get y' a cup?"

"Please. Where are ya decoratin?"

"Ballroom an' outside."

"Thanks." Remy walked toward the ballroom. He could hear Mercy's voice giving instructions. He wrapped his sister-in-law in a hug. "Mornin, Mercy."

"Mornin, Remy. Bout time y' got up. Henri didn' wake Rogue did he?"

"Non. She's still sleepin. What d'ya need me to do?"

"Hang up stuff. No one else is tall enough."

"'Kay." Remy climbed on a ladder and followed Mercy's directions. Hr didn't notice when Henri came into the room with his coffee.

"Perfect, Rems." Remy climbed off the ladder and took his cup from Henri.

"Thanks."

"Y' welcome." Henri glanced at his watch then looked around the room. "I think y' done. Y' might wanna go check on y' wife. I ain't seen her yet."

"What time is it?"

"Eleven."

"Let her sleep," Mercy said, her eye never leaving the maids that were helping set up.

"She's usually up around five, Mercy."

"She'll be fine."

"I don't want her wanderin round the house and getting lost."

"I still need y' help. Send someone else t' check on her." Remy sensed that this was an argument he was going to lose.

"Fine. Where's Lapin or Etienne?"

"What y' need, Remy?" Lapin asked from behind him.

"Can ya check on Rogue for me. If she's up, bring her down here. If not, let her sleep. Mercy won't let me leave."

"Alright." Lapin disappeared down the hallway. He wound through the maze of hallways that led to Remy's room. When he got there, he knocked softly on the door. He heard movement inside, but didn't get an answer.

Lapin carefully opened the door and stepped inside. He didn't see Rogue at first. Then he turned his head and his jaw dropped. Rogue was standing in front of the closet in a pair of jeans and a black bra. Lapin cleared his throat and Rogue jumped. She slowly turned to look at him.

"Lapin, ya scared me." She let out a sigh and went back to looking for a shirt.

"Um, Remy sent m' t' get y' if y' were up." His eyes roamed her body for a second before he tore them away to look at a poster on the other side of the room.

Rogue glanced over at him to see him studying a poster of a Harley. She almost laughed at the blush that stained the man's cheeks. She pulled on a black t-shirt to spare the man any more embarrassment. "Ya can look, sugah. Ah've got a shirt on."

Lapin glanced back over at her. "Sorry f' walkin in on y' like that."

"Don't worry bout it. It ain't the first time someone's walked in on me. Now where's Remy?"

Lapin chuckled. "Helpin Mercy. Last I saw, she had him on a ladder in the ballroom."

"Lead the way." Rogue looked around as she followed him through the maze of hallways. The house clearly spoke of wealth. There were people rushing around everywhere, getting things ready for that night.

"Here we are."

Rogue looked around the large room. She spotted Remy with his back to her. Rogue smiled and snuck up behind him. He was too involved in a conversation with someone to even notice. She wrapped her arms around his torso and stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear.

"Mornin, sugah."

Remy smiled at the man and twisted so that Rogue was forced to let go. Before she could move, Remy wrapped his arms around her waist and trapped her back against his chest. "This is my wife, Rogue. Rogue this is Jacques. He' one of the elders of the Guild."

"Nice t' meet y'." The older man offered Rogue a smile, which she returned. "Jus' between us, how did y' get Remy t' marry y'?"

"Ah didn't. It was his idea." The man looked at her in shock. Rogue game Remy a curious glance, which he avoided by looking at something across the room.

"Y' know dat y' husband b' de best t'ief de Guild has had in years?"

"Non, I'm not. I'm not a thief anymore. I walked away from this life."

"Nice meetin ya." Rogue got out of Remy's grip and took his hand. "Let's go find Mercy and see if she needs any help." Remy allowed her to lead him away.

She led him across the room and out onto the veranda. Remy leaned against the railing and looked out across the swamp. Rogue laid her head on his shoulder contentedly.

"This is why I hate comin back here, chére. This ain't my life anymore. They always want something from me."

"Rem, they're yah family. There ain't nothing ya can do to change that. If there was, Ah woulda done it when Ah found out that Mystique adopted me."

"I know, Rogue. But down here I'm the 'Price of Thieves'. One of the heirs to the Guild. Hated by people because of the past of a family that I wasn't even born into. They don't even remember why they're fighting with the Rippers. They've just gone along with a three hundred year tradition. Rippers kill Thieves, Thieves kill Rippers. It's pointless."

Rogue was silent. She had seen it all when she absorbed his memories. He was right. No one had any idea anymore. She decided to change the subject, hoping to bring Remy out of his dark mood. "Hey, Rem?"

He glanced at her. "Yeah, chére?"

"Ya forgettin something?"

"Not that I can think of." He looked confused.

"What bout my good morning kiss?"

"How could I forget that?" Remy shifted to wrap his arms around Rogue and draw her into a passionate kiss. Rogue relaxed into him as she felt the tension leave his body. They were oblivious to anything but each other. Neither noticed Jean Luc when he walked out the door.

"Mornin." Rogue and Remy broke apart to look at the Guild leader. He smiled at them. "Sleep well?"
"Yes, thank ya." Rogue relaxed against Remy's chest as Jean Luc looked them over.

"Remy, somethin I should tell y'." Remy raised an eyebrow in question. "Some o' the Rippers been invited t' the party. Namely Bella and Julian. Me an' Marius got business t' discuss. I want y' t' keep an eye on her." He nodded to Rogue. "I don't know if they b' planning anything or not, and I don't want t' see her hurt. There shouldn't be any trouble, since we came t' a kind o' truce, but keep an eye out."

"What kind of truce?"

"Bella married a one o' y' cousins. It united the families. But y' know Bella. In case she b' out for revenge, keep the petit close."

"Oui. She's spiteful." Lapin came out on the veranda and blushed when he saw Rogue. Remy gave him a curious glance as Rogue started laughing. Lapin just got redder.

"Jean Luc, there's a phone call for y'." Jean Luc followed Lapin back into the house. Remy glanced down at Rogue.

"What's so funny, petit?"

"Yah cousin."

"What'd he do now?"

"When ya sent him to get me earlier, Ah didn't hear him knock. He just came in and ya'll so damn quiet, Ah didn't know he was there. Ah was lookin for a shirt and he scared me. He got embarrassed when he saw that all Ah had on was a bra and jeans. His startin blushin and wouldn't look at me." Remy was laughing along with her.

"I'll have to get him for that later. But, chére, ya quite a sight in a bra and jeans." He gave her another kiss.

"Here y' are. Remy, I need y' help again."

"Can't anyone leave me alone when I'm tryin to get some alone time with my wife?"

"Non. Jus' like with me and Henri. Now come on."

The rest of the day passed quickly. Before long, it was time to get ready for the party. Rogue showered and was flipping through her clothes when Remy came in.

"Chére, no wonder Lapin walked in on ya. Ya just stand around in ya underwear."

"I'm tryin to find something to wear, Swamp Rat."

"A dress."

"What?" She looked over her shoulder at him.

"Wear a dress. It's always a safe bet around here." Remy put on the black pants he had brought for the occasion. "Hand me my shirt, chére."

Rogue handed him the red button down. "Ya sure?"

"Oui. All the femmes wear dresses when we have a party here." He tucked his shirt in.

"Alright." Rogue grabbed the black dress she had packed at Remy's urging and put it on. It was a floor length sheath gown. The top was a halter with silver and diamonds at the front where it plunged. The dress showed off Rogue's figure and showed some cleavage. When she walked, you could see the slit up one side the her mid thigh.

"Ya look tres belle, chére."

"Ya think Ah should wear the shorter one instead?"

"Non. Ya look great."

"Thank ya, sugah." Rogue put her hair up in a French twist, leaving the white bangs down to frame her face. Her makeup was light and accentuated her beautiful face. As a final touch, she pulled on a pair of black elbow length gloves.

"Ya ready, chére?"
"Ready as Ah'll ever be, sugah."

"One more thing." Remy pulled out a diamond bracelet and put it on over her glove.

"Remy it's beautiful. Thank ya."

"Anything for mon chére." They shared a kiss before Remy offered his arm to her.

"Thank ya." Rogue took Remy's arm and let him lead her down the hallways to the ballroom. Since the party didn't start for another ten minutes, there weren't many people occupying the large room. Jean Luc saw them and came over.

"Y' look tres belle, petit." He took her gloved hand and placed a kiss on it.

"Thank ya." Rogue smiled at her father-in-law. "Ya don't look to bad yaself." It was true. He was impeccably dressed in a black Armani suit. If it weren't for his white shirt and his tie, he would have matched Remy.

"Merci." Jean Luc bowed to her and went to talk to someone else. Rogue turned back to Remy. He was talking to another member of his family. Rogue couldn't remember the man's name, so she took the time to study her husband.

His hair fell casually over his forehead, still the same style as when she met him. He was dressed in a black Armani suit, but his build and the blood red shirt made him stand apart from the other men in the room. His lack of a tie made the suit look more casual than it was supposed to be. His white gold wedding band was a sharp contrast to his tan.

Her matching band was settled over her glove along with the diamond ring he had given her before he left. Rogue's eyes were drawn to the diamond that was glittering in the bright light of the room. It had been his promise to come back to her.

"Rogue? Ya alright, chére?" Remy's voice brought her out of her memories. She looked up into his concerned eyes.

"Ah'm fine, sugah. Just thinkin." She gave him a bright smile to prove her point.

"Ya wanna dance?" Rogue hadn't noticed the soft strains of music that had begun floating through the air from the band that was now playing on the veranda.

"Sure." Rogue allowed herself to be led outside. There were already a few couples dancing. Remy pulled Rogue close as a slow song played.

"What were ya thinking bout in there, chére?"

"You. Me. Our lives."

Remy gave her a small smile. "Sounds complicated."

"Not really. Ah was lookin at ya and yah father and comparing ya. Then Ah looked at yah ring and started thinking back. The ring ya gave me just drug me deeper into my memories."

"Good ones, I hope."

"Yeah. Except for the reason ya gave me the ring. That one's always been bittersweet." They danced in silence for the rest of the song. Both felt that words weren't really needed. They knew each other well enough to pick up on feelings without saying anything. They broke apart when the song ended and headed back inside to find something to drink.

"Merde." Rogue heard Remy's soft curse as soon as they set foot back inside the mansion. Rogue followed his gaze to see a blond a few years older than herself in an elaborate navy blue dress. She recognized her from Remy's memories.

"Belladonna?"

"Oui." Remy offered his arm to her. "I believe that I need a drink, chére. Care to accompany me?"

"Of course." Rogue saw the blonde's glare as she took Remy's arm. It was filled with hate and something she couldn't quite place. She decided not to think about it and moved closer to Remy.

They got their drinks and turned to leave the bar when a voice stopped them. "If it ain't Remy Lebeau. T'ought y' left N'Awlins?"

Remy tensed at the voice coming from behind him. Rogue remembered the voice from her first trip to Louisiana. Remy slowly turned, unconsciously putting a protective arm around his wife. "Julian."

The man gave Rogue a quick glance. He took a second look when she struck him as familiar. "Y'."

"What about me?" Rogue fixed a glare on the man that had tried to kill her and Remy.

"What y' doin here?"

"It ain't none of your business, homme." Remy's voice was filled with venom.

Julian's eyes traveled to Remy's arm around Rogue's waist. He noticed the slight bump that her dress all but hid. "De fille's here wit' y'?"

"Oui." They turned to leave when Julian's voice stopped them once again.

"Y' crazy 'nough t' bring her back down here wit' y'?"

Remy stared to turn around. Rogue laid her hand on his arm. "Ignore him, sugah."

Julian's eyes caught the sparkling of a diamond when Rogue moved her hand. "Y' married de fille?"

"He what?" a shocked voice said from behind them. Remy winced and turned to look into furious blue eyes. Remy sighed.

"Bonjour, Bella."

Belladonna's eyes traveled over him before her attention turned to the girl by his side. She was obviously surprised at Rogue's appearance. Rogue smiled at the older girl.

"So you're Belladonna. Ah've heard yah name mentioned a few tahmes." Rogue held out a hand, making sure that it was her left hand with her rings. "Ah'm Rogue LeBeau, Remy's wife." Remy, Julian, and Belladonna looked at her in shock. Nobody dared to flaunt something Bella had wanted like that.

"Thought y' weren't de marryin kind, Remy."

"Ya talkin bout when he was here before? He was already married, sugah. Sorry, but we've been married two years."

"What? Y' lyin. Me and Remy been engaged since we were young."

"Ya know, it ain't attractive for a married woman to be jealous of a pregnant woman."

"Y' got her pregnant?" Bella's shock was steadily growing. Remy was trying not to laugh at the way that Rogue was manipulating Belladonna.

"Sure did, sugah. Ah know that a lady with any class wouldn't be looking at a pregnant woman's husband. It just ain't right."

"But…"

"Ah gotta thank ya for cheatin on him years ago. Ah wouldn't have him if ya hadn't done that."

"How the hell d' y' know bout that?"

Rogue smiled at the blonde. "Ah know a lot more than ya think."

Bella drew back at the look in Rogue's eyes. She could tell that she wasn't going to win this one. She may be a trained assassin, but she wasn't stupid. "Nice meetin y', Rogue. If y' will excuse me, I'm gonna find my husband."

"Nice meetin ya too, sugah." Bella hurried off. She was confused about what had just happened. No one had ever manipulated her. She was always the one doing the manipulating.

"What'd ya do to her, chére? I've never seen Bella back down."

"Me neither. An' I've known her since she was born."

Rogue shrugged. "Ah found her weak spot."

"Rogue, I've know her for a long time and I've never seen anyone manipulate her."

"She was easy. Ah'm used to Logan." Rogue smiled and turned as Mercy and Henri came into the room. "Come on, Remy. Let's go talk to yah brother." She took Remy's arm and walked toward the smiling couple.

"Rogue, y' look lovely."

"Thank ya, Mercy. So do ya. Congratulations to both of ya."

"Thank y'." Mercy looked at Remy, who had yet to say anything. "What's wrong wit' him?"

"Ah think Ah surprised him."

"How?"

"Mercy, ya ain't gonna believe it," Remy told his sister-in-law.

"Believe what?"

"She got Bella to back down."

Henri looked at Rogue in surprise. "How'd y' get dat bitch t' back off?"

"Is it really that hard?"

"Oui," the three Cajuns replied.

"Oh." Rogue smiled at the couple. She turned to Remy to ask him if he wanted to dance when Henri's voice interrupted her.

"Y' care t' dance?"

"Ah'd be honored."

"Henri, if ya dancing with my wife, I'm dancing with Mercy."

"Fine wit' moi. I jus' wanna get t' know y' fille better." Henri led Rogue onto the floor as the band struck up a waltz. "Y' know how t' ballroom dance?"

"Yeah. Remy taught me. He figured Ah might need to know how eventually."

"How'd y' meet Remy?"

"How much d'ya know bout him goin up north?"

"I know dat he worked for a Magneto when he first left. An' dat now he works wit' y'."

"Well, when Ah found out that Ah was a mutant, Ah joined Magneto's first team, the Brotherhood. Ah didn't know it at the tahme, but my adoptive mother was the one leadin the team. The Brotherhood was weaker than Magneto wanted, so he recruited his Acolytes. Ah switched sides to fight with Xavier against Magneto. In our first battle against the Acolytes, Ah ran into Remy. Ah was so bust starin, Ah didn't notice when he first handed me a charged card. Ah threw it once Ah realized what it was."

"So mon frère tried t' blow y' up? An' y' married him?"
"Ah couldn't get him outta my mind after that. He made me want what Ah couldn't have at the tahme. Ah still couldn't touch anybody without my gloves back then. His cocky attitude annoyed me when we'd run into each other. Then he used me when we were down here. Ah knew his reasons, since Ah absorbed him that night. When he came to the Institute wantin to be an X-Man, we startin datin. We dated for over a year before Remy asked me what Ah thought bout getting married. It was the night before Ah turned twenty. Ah said why not, left a note sayin that me and Remy were goin out, and married him."

"Merde. Dat's quite a story."

"It's my life. Nothin simple ever goes on in it."

Across the room, Mercy was interrogating Remy about his wife. "How old is she?"

"Twenty two."

"An' y' already got her pregnant?"

"She had a part in that." Remy grinned down at his siter-in-law.

"Remy, behave y'self. Jean Luc said that she helped y' save him."

"Oui. And she saved me from her team after we got away from the Rippers."

"Y' disappeared for a week when y' were here. Y' went back t' see her, non?"

"It was our anniversary. I couldn't stand bein away from her for any longer. I'd already been here for six months."

"Y' know the other guild members wonder why y' brought her."

"Ain't none of their damn business."

"Calm down. Y' know dat. I know dat. But y' also know how suspicious they are."

"Unfortunately."

"Did y' really lie t' protect the fille?"

"I love her more than anything, Mercy. I'd die t' protect her."

"I know. I see how y' act wit' her."

The rest of the night passed quickly. Rogue was dancing to nearly every song with either Remy, Henri, Jean Luc, or one of Remy's various cousins. She even danced one dance with Julian, who had a new found respect for the one person besides Marius that cold put his overbearing sister in her place.

"That was fun, Rem." Rogue snuggled into her husband's side as they walked across the ballroom. Remy smiled down at her. He noticed the tired look in her eyes. Without a word, Remy picked her up. Rogue squealed in surprise, earning her glances from the people still in the room. She blushed and relaxed against his chest.

"Ah can walk, Swamp Rat."

"Y' figure she'd b'too tired t' fight wit' y'." Henri pushed himself off the doorway and walked toward them. He smiled as Rogue yawned. "She's still feisty when she's tired, no?"

"Ya think I would have a femme any other way?"

"Non. Now get t' bed before Mercy sees y' an' needs y' help cleanin up."

"Thanks, Henri. See ya in the morning."

"Night, Remy."

One more chapter down. There'll probably be another chapter or part of another chapter with Rogue and Remy in New Orleans. Then they head back to Bayville and the other couples come back in. Then the story will pick up. You know the drill. R&R. And thanks to my reviewers so far! This has become my most reviewed story.