Ok so here it is! Its taken me soooo long but finally this chapter is done. I'm not happy with it but its done, so plz dont be too harsh with the reviews I already know its not that great =(

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men

It didn't take long to get to the mall and as soon as they arrived Rogue headed straight for her favourite shops. She wandered between the rails quietly, searching for any clothes that took her interest. Remy stood a few isles over, casual searching the racks like any other shopper. It was strange seeing him with 'normal' brown eyes (he had to wear contact lenses so no-one knew that they were mutants). Occasionally they would catch each other's eyes across the shop and for some reason Rogue couldn't help but smile. The image of Remy clothes shopping, in an alternative clothing shop no less, was just too funny.

Rogue shook her head silently and kept searching the racks. She'd found a few items but wanted some more before she headed into the changing room to try them on. After a while she noticed that Remy had gotten bored and was now chatting up the casher girl. Rogue rolled her eyes at him and tried to ignore the pangs of jealousy that stabbed in her chest. She knew it was silly, whatever was going on between Remy and herself could never amount to anything more than it already was. It would be selfish of her to expect Remy, of all people, to be satisfied with a 'no touching' relationship.

Now that she had depressed herself, Rogue couldn't stand to stay and watch the bimbo drool all over him any longer. She gathered the clothes she wanted to tr

y on and made her way to the small changing room at the back of the shop. One of the things she tried on was a black long sleeved top with beautiful embroidered roses climbing up the side, regrettably she had to dismiss it as she had failed to notice it had a large circle cut out of the back that exposed more skin than was safe for her. She looked at herself in the mirror sadly, the top was really very nice and it was the sort of thing she wished she could wear if it weren't for her 'gift'.

"Ooo, I like dat one." Rogue jumped about six feet and turned to find Remy looking at her over the top of the small door.

"What the hell are ya doing? Ya can't just peep over the top of changing room doors. What if Ah'd been in the middle of changing?" She fixed him with a death glare that would have made any other person shudder. Unfortunately this wasn't any other person, it was Remy and he just continued to smirk at her.

"But yo'r not."

"Ah could have been!" She protested vehemently.

"Yeah but yo'r not so it doesn't matter." She growled at him in frustration, how could one guy flip from being a gentleman to a pervert in such a short space of time?

"Just go and pay for these will ya." She threw a small pile of cloth at him over the top of the door.

"What? I don't get t' see y' try more on?" He pouted at her which just caused Rogue to roll her eyes at him.

"No, ya don't." She turned away from him organising her own clothes to change back into.

"Aren't ya getting dat one?"

"No, Ah'm pretty sure this counts as a health hazard." She said pointing to the lack of a back in the top. He looked at it thoughtfully for a moment then shrugged and walked away.

Rogue dressed quickly and threw Remy's coat on before leaving the small changing room. She shoved her hands in the pockets of the coat as she made her way over to Remy standing at the cashiers counter, once again talking to the giggling blonde bimbo. Rogue narrowed her eyes at the girl and she didn't know why but she decided that she wanted to make the girl feel the same jealously that Rogue herself had felt moments ago. She headed off to the 'underwear' section and picked out a beautiful set of stockings with black lace round the top and a matching suspender belt. She grinned cheekily to herself and started back towards the checkout.

"These too sugah." She said, thickening her accent in what she hoped was a sexy way, as she put the new garments on top of the pile Remy was about to pay for. Remy looked at her obviously confused and raised an eyebrow at her bold behaviour until he saw the way she was smirking at the cashier's expression. He grinned at her and took full advantage of the opportunity, easily sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to himself.

"Anyt'ing for y' mon amoureux." At this the cashier was practically fuming, she rang up the total with lightening speed and Remy gave her a wad of bills with a wink. Once he had collected his change and shopping bags they headed out of the shop with Remy's arm still wrapped around Rogues petit waist.

"Didn't know y' were de jealous type chéri."

"Ah dunno what ya talkin' about Cajun, Ah was just tryin' to save that girl from making even more of a fool of herself."

"Sure y' were." He stopped and pulled her close to him. "Admit it Rogue y' were jealous. Y' just couldn't stand t' see the man of y' dreams flirtin' wit' another woman." He said with a hint of mockery in his voice as he stared down at her.

"The only dreams Ah have of you would get an R-rating due to excessive violence and swearing"

"So y' do dream of me." He replied with a smile.

"Why are ya smiling? Are ya actually happy that Ah dream of doing bodily harm to ya? Isn't that a bit sadistic? Oh gawd, please tell meh ya not into any of that freaky sex crap."

"Would y' like t' find out?" His smile turned cheeky and he wagged his eyebrows at her.

"Urgh, definitely not." She pulled herself away from him and continued shopping.

"Mebbe later den." He said as he followed her through the mall.

xXx

Meanwhile on the other side of the mall two gloomy looking teenagers wandered between shops aimlessly.

"Das ist lächerlich! Rogue is out there somevhere all alone and ve're shopping!" Kurt threw his hands into the air in a show of exasperation, the small girl walking next to him jumped slightly.

"I know Kurt but we can't do anything for her until the Professor and Mr. Logan figure out where Gambit took her. It totally sucks but Jeans right we can't all sit around the mansion; we have no idea how long that might take." With her shoulders slumped, Kitty let out a sigh. Her theory that Rogue had run off with Gambit willingly was starting to wear thin; if it had been true then Rogue would have sneaked back into the mansion in the early hours, probably hoping no-one had noticed her outing, but it was now almost midday and there was still no sign of her. Kitty was really starting to worry.

xXx

After depositing their various shopping bags in the boot of the car, Rogue and Remy found themselves sitting on a bench next to the malls impressive water feature sipping milkshakes; well Rogue was sipping a milkshake, Remy had a strong aromatic coffee. She had returned his coat in favour of her new gothic cat hoodie, it even has little cat ears on the hood and paw mittens attached to the end of the sleeves; not her usual choice but for some reason she liked it. Each had a box of gumbo from the malls food court and neither was very impressed.

"C'est honteux! How can y' eat dat? Tastes like old socks and swamp water." Remy moaned before spitting a mouthful of gumbo back into his box.

"Stop exaggerating it ain't that bad," she said as she bit into a mouthful herself. She chewed on it thoughtfully for a moment. Yeah it was bland as hell and over cooked to the point of being a mushy slop but it was still edible. "Besides you're the one who insisted on gumbo."

"Yeah but I didn't realise any ol' ordures could be called gumbo." With a disgusted look he threw his carton in the bin sitting by the bench. " Remind me t' cook y' real gumbo sometime."

"Ya can cook?" Rogue looked at him with a startled expression; she just couldn't imagine the tall Cajun slaving away behind a stove.

"Oui, Tante ne'er would have let me move away if I didn't know how t' cook." He stated in a 'matter of fact' kind of way.

"Oh."

"Anyt'ing else y' want while we're here?" He said casually as he sat back on the bench watching as people buzzed about the mall.

"Nah Ah'm good."

"Y' sure? Y' don't want any books or anyt'ing?"

"Ah think you've already spoilt meh enough Remy." She thought back to the pile of shopping bags cramped into the boot of the car they drove to the mall in. "Seriously Ah could've managed with less than half of what we've bought."

"Mebbe I like spoiling y'," he turned and genuinely smiled at her, "a fille like y' should have everyt'ing she could ever want. Now I'm pretty sure dat we've missed at least one shop dat is essential fo' every belle young woman such as yo'rself." His smile turned mischievous.

"And what shop would that be?" Rogue asked concerned about the new glint in his eye. He extended his lean arm and pointed to an expensive looking lingerie store with a smirk on his face.

"Hell no! There is no way your buy me underwear from there." Rogue cried outraged.

"Why not? It's de best lingerie store in de area." He simply shrugged and continued to grin at her.

"Ah already got underwear, thanks." She replied a little snidely and turned away from him to hide the blush that warmed her cheeks.

"Rogue, lingerie is much more den just underwear. Now y' can come in t' de store wit' me or I can go in by myself and pick somet'ing for' y'. Yo'r choice."

"That don't give meh a whole lotta choice now does it?"

"Sure it does, y' can choose to have somet'ing y' like or somet'ing I like. Simple really."

She rolled her eyes and pushed herself off the bench before stalking away from him, heading in the direction of the lingerie store.

x

"Ah am not wearing that, swamp rat." She said for what felt like the hundredth time. So far everything he had held out to show her she had down right refused but she had to admit he had good taste. He never picked up anything too raunchy or anything too girly, all his choices were a balance between sexy and classy.

"Well you need t' sleep in somet'ing besides my shirt, and I t'ink dis lil' black nightgown would be de best choice." He pushed the garment in front of her again, trying to get her to consider it. She snatched it out of his hands and looked over the black silk thoughtfully. It was very luscious and very short with a floral lace pattern down the front that would lead nothing to the imagination if she wore nothing under it.

"Again, Ah am not wearing that ya pervert!"

"Aww, come on. It would show off your tres belle legs mon chère."

She rolled her eyes at him, this was going to take a while she just knew it.

X

Rogue exited the small shop in need of some fresh air. Lingerie shopping with Remy LeBeau, not something she ever thought she'd do. She rubbed her temple and let out a sigh waiting for Remy to finish paying and join her.

"Oh my God! Rogue?" The young mutant ran to her friend and wrapped her arms around her, nearly knocking them both to the floor.

"Kitty! What are ya doing here?" Rogue pushed Kitty back roughly.

"Vhat is she doing here? Vhat are you doing here? Everyone is worried sick about you Rogue. Ve vent all the vay to Philadelphia looking for you. Vhat happened? Are you alright?"

"I like told everyone they were totally over-reacting, that you just sneaked off for a night with Gambit but no-one believed me. Of course I knew I was right since you kept that playing card he gave you, Mr Romantic right? Anyway I knew you guys were totally hot for each other. But whatever, the main thing is your safe and we can probably get back to the mansion before Mr Logan gives himself a heart attack or something. Come on let's go!" She grabbed Rogues hand and began heading for the exit.

"Ah'm not going anywhere with you guys." She snatched her hand out of Kitty's grasp and glared at them, her eyes darting from one to the other.

"Vhat? Vhy not?" Kurt looked a cross between hurt and confused.

It was at this point that Gambit walked out of the lingerie shop and came to stand behind Rogue. He didn't appear surprised to find Kurt and Kitty there so Rogue could only assume that he had spotted the situation whilst still in the shop.

"Oh right, erm. What time shall I tell the professor you'll be back? 'Cause you know you're in big trouble right and it would probably be better for you to come with us now?" Kitty's wide eyes jumped from Rogue to Gambit and back again, unsure of what she should do.

"Kitty, Ah'm not coming back, ever." Rogue replied flatly causing Kitty's brows to know together on confusion.

"Of course you are Rogue, it's your home. You have to come back sooner or later."

"It's not my home anymore Kitty, and stop acting like we're friends. We both know you don't give a damn about meh." Rogue was beginning to grow irritated. This was a conversation she had hoped never to have and a headache was forming fast.

"Yes I do..." Kitty looked devastated but Rogue wasn't fooled she had seen Kitty play this trick many times before and the frustration it created just caused more pressure build up behind Rogue eyes.

"No ya don't and ya can tell the others to stop looking for meh 'cause Ah don't wanna be found. Ah'm not an X-Man anymore, so just leave meh alone." She snapped.

"Rogue, vhat is the matter vith you? You love being an X-Man and I know you care about people at the mansion. Vhat is making you say these things? Is it him?" Kurt turned an angry glare on Gambit who was still quietly stood behind Rogue.

"No-one is making meh say anything Kurt, just leave meh alone!" She shouted and stormed away from the pair, not turning back to see if Remy had followed and not really caring either. She just wanted to get out. The pressure behind her eyes was unbearable and she desperately needed some fresh air.

X

Kitty sat bawling her eyes out in one of the plush arm chairs in the Professors office, occasionally Storm would hand her a new tissue and pat the young girls back, vainly trying to calm her. Logan furiously paced behind them and Kurt nervously shuffled on the spot whilst sitting on the back of the other chair.

"Is it possible that there is any truth in what she said?" The Professor calmly asked the small girl from his position behind his desk.

"I don't think so," she sniffed loudly, "she seemed happy. Well, at least, she never said if she was unhappy." She tried to sniff again but ended up hic-cupping, "I know we were never best friends but I thought I was closer to her than anyone else at the mansion, why would she say I don't care about her." She broke down in sobs once more, burying her face in her hands.

"It's alright Kitty, calm down." Storm once again tried to calm Kitty, rubbing her back soothingly.

"I don't like it chuck. I was the last one to see her before she took off, she didn't give any indication that she was thinking about leaving or that something was wrong. If she had planned to go why didn't she have a bag with her? Why just jump out the window, without taking a pair of shoes even? It don't make sense." Logan paused his pacing in favour of cracking his knuckles menacingly. The Professor sat thoughtfully for a moment.

"Agreed. I think we're going to have to have a little chat with Rogue before we can let her go. Did you say she was still with Gambit when you saw her?"

"Da professor, she left with him too." Kurt nodded.

"Then, Logan, I think it's time you paid a visit to the Acolytes base."

Translations (roughly)

Das ist lächerlich (G/ this is ridiculous!)

C'est honteux! (F/ That's disgusting!)

ordures (F/ rubbish)

Whew, glad that's over. I will do my best to get another chapter up this week but I'm not promising anything, writing does not come easily to me, even though I love it, I'm a slow worker =( but anyway...

hope it wasn't too bad a chapter,

Aza x