Okay so when I started writing this I meant the guys to have a quick game of poker but I ended up going into a lot more detail than I'd planned for as my bf taught me how to play lol (im not very good at it) but anyway here you go my longest chapter yet I think. Enjoy x

Disclaimer: I don't not own the x-men and don't come to me to ask how to play poker I suck at it =P

Remy lay in his bed, unable to sleep. His body was sticky with sweat and he'd tossed and turned so much his legs had become tangled in the sheets. Every time he closed his eyes images of pearly white skin clouded his mind. He looked at the clock on the bedside next to him: 3:00AM. He groaned to himself and sat up, throwing the sheet to the side as he got out of bed. He walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, it helped a little but he still couldn't shake the lustful images from his mind.

Remy never had this problem. Normally if he wanted something, a woman to be more specific, he just had them. Women very rarely said no to him and if they did he just found another to satisfy his needs but Rogue was something else. He doubted that any other woman could satisfy the lust she inspired in him, especially after seeing so much of her exposed. His thoughts drifted back to the med lab; the creamy white of her back was beautiful and he could feel how soft her skin was even though he had been wearing those stupid latex gloves.

The action itself had been innocent enough but he'd taken his time healing her back so he could relish the feeling of her skin and memorize the curves of her body; he particularly loved the sexy little dimples at the base of her back. However, when she'd taken her jeans off he'd nearly lost it. Her legs were incredible and just begged for him to reach out and touch them. The urge to grab her and wrap those luscious legs around his waist was overwhelming; he'd had to distract himself by thinking of Toad and the Blob to prevent himself from jumping her. He was sure she had noticed the change in his attitude but she hadn't commented.

He sat on the edge of his bed and ran his hands through his already messy hair, wondering what his frère would say if he saw him this messed up over a femme. He'd probably tell him it deserves him right for being such a womanizer all these years; karma was bound to catch up with him eventually. Sighing he reached for his bedside table and opened the lower drawer, revealing a small bottle of bourbon and a whiskey glass. He didn't usually drink unless he was at a bar but he kept a bottle for bad days when he needed something to stop thinking. It wasn't easy being a servant for Magneto, sometimes he had to do things he didn't agree with and so he turned to bourbon for comfort. He would only have one glass tonight though, just to take the edge off so he could sleep.

xXx

Logan sat on the front steps of the mansion silently, tension knitting his shoulders together tightly. A frown was set deep into the burly man's eyebrows and he scowled at the quiet morning scene in front of him as he slowly puffed on his cigar. He heard Ororo approach long before normal human's ears would have; he growled to himself in frustration and stubbed out his cigar, knowing that it bothered her, putting it into his shirt pocket for later. Reassuring words were not what he wanted to hear right now. He needed the anger and tension; it kept him strong and focused. He hated sitting around, doing nothing, while Rogue was out there somewhere, in God only knows how much trouble.

"Logan, are you alright?" Storm asked as she came to sit next to him.

"I'm fine." He answered a little blunter than he meant to and she turned to look at him with a sympathetic stare.

"We will find her." She sounded so certain and positive as if nothing bad could ever possible happen.

"I just wish we could get out there already, sitting around like this is killing me."

"We cannot just run out into the world looking for her, we need to know where to start. The Professor is doing everything he can to find her. He has even asked Nick Fury at SHIELD if they can find anything to suggest where Gambit took her. It is just a matter of time Logan."

"It's what's gonna happen to her between now and then that worries me. It's already been almost 12 hours, they could be just about anywhere in the country by now. I let that swamp trash go before, not this time." He tensed his fist and his three adamantium blades shot out with a satisfying 'snick'. "This time he's gonna regret the day he even looked at that girl."

He felt a warm pressure on his shoulder; he turned to see Storm's delicate fingers attempting to comfort him. "Logan, Rogue is a tough kid and you have trained her well. She can take care of herself."

"She shouldn't have to, like you said she's just a kid." He drew the blades back in slowly, watching the three small cuts they left behind heal without even a hint of a scar.

"I do not think Gambit has any intention of hurting her. From what Kitty said ..." Logan let a growl ripple through his chest. He had not liked it when Kitty suggested that Rogue may have gone with Gambit willingly but he remembered her in the danger room session and even he had to admit it could be possible but he wasn't willing to believe that Rogue would have taken off without saying anything.

"Really not helping my mood here 'Ro. Beside's I could smell her blood at the station, I know she's hurt."

"She was hurt in training earlier; Beast said if she had tried to fight Gambit she may well have ripped her stitching, even if it was a small scuffle. Gambit may not have known."

"Why are you defending him? He kidnapped her again! It doesn't matter what his intentions are, he's putting her in danger. If he's taken her to Magneto..." he paused unable to say he fears out loud. "You think she won't get hurt there?"

"I did not mean to upset you but I do not think we should be jumping to conclusions. For now all we know is that Gambit took her somewhere, he has done it before and he did not harm her. We have no reason to believe he will now. We can assess the situation further once the Professor is able to locate her but I know one thing for sure Logan, we will get her back." She watched him steadily with her soft blue eyes.

"You bet we will darlin'." He gazed back at her with a half smile. There was just something about Storm, her calm control seemed to rub off on him making him unable to argue or stay mad at her.

"Now come inside and get some breakfast. You're of no use to anyone without your strength." This earned her a real smile as he stood up and offered her a hand. They walked into the mansion together and headed for the kitchen, hoping to share a quiet breakfast before the rest of the residents woke up.

xXx

Rogue awoke confused and disoriented. She was groggy but she felt liked she'd already slept too long yet when she opened her eyes it was still dark in the room. The only light source came from a small red nightlight that was glowing dimly in the corner. She wondered what time it was, she couldn't have slept through the entire day; surely it could be only morning by now. Checking the room, however, she found that there was no window (well that explained the darkness) and no clock that she could see. It was strange, a building with no windows but then she remembered that Magnetos base was an impenetrable sphere made entirely of metal. She didn't think she'd ever get used to that, it was one thing about the mansion she had always loved; looking out over the grounds, especially on a clear night.

Getting out of bed, she made a quick stop in the bathroom before heading out in search of the kitchen. She paused at Remy's door unsure if she should knock and get directions or just see if she could find them on her own. She gently put her ear against the door. Silence. If he was in there he was still asleep and she didn't want to wake him so she decided to navigate the corridors alone.

It turned out not much navigating was needed as a few doors down Rogue could hair the manic laughter that was typical of Pyro. She wandered to the door to investigate further and found Pyro and Colossus playing cards at a round table in a modern kitchen. On the wall above them was a large clock that read 10.17am. - Good Ah haven't slept the entire day away then.-

"Read 'em and wipe my friend, Flush." Pyro laid his cards down on the table with an idiotic smirk. He reached forward and began to rake in the poker chips from the middle of the table.

"Not so fast Pyro, I believe my Full House beats your Flush." Colossus raised his eyebrows at the pyromaniac who was frozen mid-way through gathering his winnings. Colossus laid his cards on the table in front of him. Pyro's face fell and he dropped back into his seat defeated.

"Ah dammit, you been playin' with Gambit too much mate." Pyro looked past the Russian's shoulder and noticed Rogue hovering in the doorway. "Well g'morning Shelia, fancy a game?" He nodded his head to the cards.

"Ah dunno, Ah've never played before." She shuffled on the spot nervously, now wishing that she had gotten dressed instead of wandering around in Remy's pj's.

"Good, be nice to actually have a chance at winning for once, come on I'll teach you." His hyper mood seemed infectious, she smiled at him and took a seat between the two men.

"I am thinking that you are not the best teacher if she wishes to ever win anything." She had never really heard Colossus speak before and she noticed that he had a calm way of saying things and an usual accent that she could only assume came from his Russian origins.

"Nonsense, I can give her the basics. She'll be beating me in no time." Rogue genuinely laughed at this and watched as Pyro gathered the cards together and began shuffling. He handled them with skill, quickly mixing and splitting them so they were ready to be played. It was similar to the way Remy did it, only when Remy shuffled it was more like art. His hands were faster and more graceful than Pyro's and he didn't need to watch the cards as they moved; it was fluid and effortless. As if the cards were dancing in his hands. Rogue doubted anyone could handle cards with the same finesse as Remy.

"Texas hold'em is easy enough. We'll show ya without the bets so you get the hang of it first." Rogue nodded to show she was listening. "Dealer gives each player two cards to start." Pyro dealt a card to Colossus, then herself, then himself and back round the circle again so they each ended up with two cards."Now, don't let anyone else see those cards, okay? And don't show it in ya face what you got. Three cards in the middle," He lay three cards face up in the middle of the table: three of spades, ten of diamonds and the king of spades. "You try and make the best hand with your cards and the cards in the middle, got it?"

She looked down at her own cards hidden behind her hands: the nine of diamonds and the king of hearts. For some reason the last card brought her thoughts back to the absent Cajun. She supposed it was because he was such a ladies' man, commanding the hearts of any girl he looked at but her heart kept reminding her of the queen of hearts he'd given her, the kings matching partner. She was his lucky lady but had he meant the card or Rogue?

"Okay, Ah think Ah got it but what are the hands?"

"Err...right. Well lowest winning hand is highest card, then one pair, two pairs, three of a kind. Then it a straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush." He explained rather briefly which only confused Rogue further.

"Ah understand the pairs. Three and four of a kind are three or four of the same numbers right?" He nodded enthusiastically. "What's a straight, flush and full house?"

"Straight is where the numbers follow each other, counted up like 2,3,4,5 and 6. A Flush is where all cards are of one suit and a full house is three and a pair. Straight flush is pretty much a straight but all of one suit."

"Right, Ah think Ah've got it." She smiled satisfied that she knew enough not to make a fool out of herself. She had one pair with the two kings in play, not a great hand but she didn't care.

"Crackin'. Right, after the dealer puts three cards in the middle, the first round of betting is done but don't worry 'bout that for now. Dealer then puts another card in" he placed a fourth card in the line in front of her: ten of clubs, "then another round of bets and another card from dealer." Nine of clubs was added, giving her two pairs in total. "Then another round of bets. Then it's time for the big showdown!" He waved his hands dramatically another crazed grin spreading across his face; it was really rather cute in a childish sort of way.

"Pete please tell m' Pyro isn't teachin' her how t' play poker? Dis I've got t' see." Rogue turned to see Remy leaning casually against the doorframe watching the group with humour in his eyes. He still wasn't wearing a shirt and Rogue found that it was a sight that couldn't be ignore. She hoped it wasn't a regular thing for him to walk around half naked all the time because she was sure her sanity couldn't take it, not without doing something she would later regret at least.

"Watch it mate, I ain't just a pretty face ya know." Pyro sat up straight and pulled a serious face as if he were a teacher at a stuck up English school. Rogue couldn't stop herself from laughing at him. Remy smiled too but he was looking straight at her and it wasn't a humorous smile it was one of... affection. But that wasn't right, she reasoned, just her mind playing tricks on her surely. She turned away quickly and concentrated on her cards only to find that Remy was walking around the table to take the last seat available; the one right opposite her.

"Yes in Pyro's defence, he is doing a good job."

"Really, well let's see just how good a teacher y' are den shall we. Deal de cards, mon ami." Remy said as he relaxed into his chair making even casual look sexy. Rogue silently chastised herself for letting her hormones get carried away; she wasn't allowed to think these things. She was Rogue, the untouchable and nothing was ever going to change that but her mind kept saying it was harmless flirting. That it was okay to look without touching and if Remy wanted to play with fire that she might as well relax and have fun too.

"We ain't taught her the betting yet." Pyro actually looked upset by this and Rogue was starting to wonder how many of Pyro's actions were genuine and how many was just him playing the fool.

"I'm sure she'll pick it up as we go, right chérie?" She was really starting to hate it when he said things like that. It wasn't the words themselves but the way he said them; causing her spine to tingle and butterfly's dance deep within her belly. It made it hard to concentrate on something, anything to comeback with.

"Ah don't have anything to bet with though."

"Hmm, how 'bout dis? If y' win y' can keep de money, if y' lose y' have t' do one thing de winner asks." He watched her steadily as she contemplated his words.

"How much money do Ah get if Ah win?"She narrowed her eyes at him.

"What y' say mes amis? Twenty dollar's each?" He looked at Pyro and Pete in turn waiting for their answers.

"Sound's fair to me." Pyro chirped in happily.

"Yes, I will also play. If Rogue is willing." She smiled up at the tall man, he seemed like a sweet guy but she still wasn't happy about this bet.

"Ah'm not agreeing to do something for one of y' guys blindly. Gawd alone knows what you'll ask of me." She said as she raised her eyebrows at Remy. He was the only one she was concerned about; well no actually she was kind of worried about Pyro too but for a different reason. He'd probably have her dancing on the table to YMCA dressed in a pink tutu.

"Pyro, what do y' want Rogue t' do if y' win?"

"Let me see... make my breakfast tomorrow mornin'." Well that wasn't so bad. It wasn't the YMCA and had nothing to do with tutus.

"Pete?" Remy turned to face the big man raising one eyebrow as he waited for him to decide Rogue's next possible fate.

"Take my turn of wash-up tomorrow." Again something she could easily live with but it was what Remy wanted that bothered her and she had a feeling that he would likely win. She hoped that by saying in front of the others might make him behave.

"And what about you, swamp rat. What do you want?" she asked terrified and yet secretly hopeful of what his answer would bring.

He smiled at her innocently, "another game o' poker, tomorrow nigh', just you and me."

"Is that it? A poker game?" She hadn't been expecting that, maybe she had judge him wrongly. Maybe he wasn't as interested in her as he had seemed.

"Oui, one game o' poker." He said again with a perfectly innocent face. One way to find out she guessed.

"Fahne, let's play."

Okay I rushed the ending again I'm sorry, I just wanted to post it tonight! lol

R&R, no review is too small or too large. Any thoughts, just say it! =D

Aza xx