AN: Hey guys! hope you've been enjoying this story so far. Wanted to give you the heads up that this is a little longer Chapter so I hope you don't mind lol.

-X-

Rogue would consider herself to be a patient person- on most days anyways...on a Monday…standing next to Logan. But after she heard Remy groan for what seemed like the hundredth time since they went out searching for a gas station, it was beginning to make her twitch.

Never in her life had she ever met someone who expertly managed to push all her buttons this much while at the same time this guy seemed to enjoy doing it!

She had thought that this would be easy. Go there and back but no, any chance he seemed to get Remy just had to make things harder than necessary since the moment he stepped foot in the mansion. And if he could just stop trying to piss her off and stop getting them in trouble…then all would be fine. But here she was now…babysitting an overly carefree, arrogant, stubborn pain in the ass who could probably charm the panties of a nun if he tried. How was that even possible?!

"Somethin' on your mind?"

"Plenty." she huffed ignoring the overly cheerful voice coming from a few steps ahead. "Ah bet you don't even know where you're goin?"

"Gas station should be 'bout 12 miles from here."

"Oh yeah? And how would you-" biting her tongue she saw him pointing to a sign that told them as much. "Just lucky…"

"Not in de talkin' mood I gather?" he grinned while slowing down his pace to match hers.

"Oh so now you want me to talk?"

"I would prefer de sound of your voice any given day Chere."

"Well at least that's one of us." she deeply exhaled wishing they could just fly their way over there. The thought of having to spend another day wearing the same dirty clothes the whole trip there and back didn't sit well with her but the fact that her jeans still felt damp had Rogue on a whole other level. "Alright, look no offense and all but it doesn't seem like we're going anywhere today."

He was about to open his mouth to talk just for her to cut him off.

"Ah mean look we're stranded on an empty road!" She gestured around as she made a half circle. "With no gas, no one knowin' just where the hell we are!" Crap she definitely should call Bobby and Logan. "And on top of that we have no food, or water…" When she stopped talking the minute she saw him proudly pull out a twinkie from deep within his coat pocket she didn't hesitate to stomp towards him. "You had this the entire time?!"

"Well I could share it if you ask nice-" his proud grin vanished as quickly as it came when he saw the only woman who's constantly been on his mind ever since landing here shove the whole damn thing into her mouth like he hadn't been saving it this entire time. You would think that something like that would impress him in a not so innocent way, but the way she raised a thumps up as she tried to chew right in front of his very eyes had him thinking the opposite. "Nice Rogue. Very lady like." He sarcastically squinted his eyes in irritation.

"Ah don't care."

"What was dat?"

"Ugh just forget it." She huffed as she began marching away. She was trying to get one up on him but now found it difficult to talk with her mouth full, made only worse when he followed along with faint laughter.

"Pardon? I believe I didn't quite get that?" He mockingly leaned his ear closer when she tried to talk again with a furious blush on her puffy cheeks.

"You're…" Managing to swallow what was left she tried to keep the anger on her face while his lips began to twitch into a lopsided smile. A second of silence dragged between both of them before she busted out laughing with him following suit. "You're crazy."

"Believe what you want Chere but I ain't de one dat stole a starvin' mans snack." He said as he walked past her. "Just be lucky I ain't lookin' to quench my hunger another way." He quietly mumbled as he peeked over his shoulder to see otherwise occupied.

-X-

A few minutes later they came across a small family driving along the interstate before pulling over for them. Nodding his head towards it, Remy quickly pulled on his sunglasses and was the first to run and stop to see an older couple along with two children sitting in the back.

"Where you kids headed?"

"Nearest gas station s'il vous plaît." He charmingly grinned.

"You two seem pretty young to be out here." The woman remarked as she smiled back at them. "Are you lost?"

"Not at all, Madame." He chuckled pleasurably. "My sister an' I are just on our way home."

"Well hop on in, we'll give you two a lift if you don't mind the cramped space." The woman's husband Rogue assumed, quickly began to usher them in. "No need to have you kids out here without lending a hand."

"Merci."

"Thank you."

"Traveling all the way out here must be tiresome." The woman said once she saw them begin to open the door.

"Not at all, Madame. I am well accustomed to travelin' in de company of a crybaby." He shot Rogue a teasing smile that only made her silently stomp on his foot as she climbed in, smiling herself when she heard the satisfying painted grunt afterwards.

When she realized that cramped actually meant cramped, she began nervously looking back at him at the same time he began closing the door to try and wedge himself in somehow. When Rogue looked towards the other side, she saw the two kids curiously staring at them and waiting for her to sit. She didn't want to be rude and make them wait for her any longer than they already had, but how in the world was she supposed to wiggled herself in between Remy, the little girl and the baby?

He frowned at this but made no complaints considering themselves lucky since they didn't have to stop for them in the first place and with kids no less.

"If you're wondering…my wife's a really good judge of character." Her husband said as he proudly stared at his wife as if sensing what Remy was thinking. "Gotta help our kind any way we can, right?"

"You're mutants?" Rogue stared at them in surprise as she allowed herself to finally sit once Remy managed to make some room for her by basically tilting sideways against the door. She received her answer when the little girl grinned, and her eyes turned a reptilian yellow before going back to its normal blue.

"Only reason why we leaving." The husband said keeping his eyes on the road. "Don't need any more trouble from the Friends of Humanity than there already is."

Furrowing his brows Remy couldn't remember ever hearing that name coming up which he thought was odd considering whatever it was couldn't be good since it had these people feeling in fright.

He continued to uncomfortably move his position as they drove to try and get comfortable in the small space, which just made Rogue flinch and try and move further away anytime they drove over a pothole. After a while his left arm came up to rest behind her seat.

"Has anyone ever told you about personal space?"

"Kinda hard to do right now Chere." He sheepishly grinned at their predicament. "Unless I'm makin' you uncomfortable dat is?"

"If only." She rolled her eyes as she looked over the little girls' head and out the window." The car hit another pothole which only made Rogue quietly yelp and briefly jolt forwards. As if on instinct he wrapped his arm around her waist, instantly bringing her back with him. Breathing out a sigh of relief she kept her mouth open as she stared at him and froze when his face was only mere inches from hers.

Her heart began to speed up in that familiar way it always did around him and she began berating herself for even feeling this way when she should be thinking about anything else like her other problem. But as the seconds ticked by, she couldn't stop the panic from rising, hoping and praying, he somehow wouldn't notice.

He seemed just as surprised at their proximity since he kept his gaze on her without losing his grip.

"Remy?"

"Oui."

"You can let go now."

"Oh." Snatching his hand away he ran it through his hair before he too began to stare out the other window.

"Psst…Psst…." The little girl whispered as she beckoned Rogue closer. "You're brothers cute…" She shyly grinned which only made Rogue smile. "Does he have a girlfriend?"

"Ah don't know." Rogue playfully looked at him while the girl did the same. "But you wanna know why he probably doesn't?" She secretly whispered back, waiting until she got the girls full attention. "Because Ah think Remy's scared of girls."

"Why?" The little girl frowned as if not understanding.

"Because… he knows we can kick his butt." Her smile only widened when she heard the little girl laugh out loud and Remy's lips curl into a discreet smile as he remained looking outside, the sudden sound of them quietly laughing sounding pleasant to his ears.

-X-

The ride to the gas station wasn't too bad and the family decided to drive them all the way back in order to avoid them walking that far- much to their protest. They couldn't be more thankful to come across other people like them who wanted to help with no questions asked, which curiously made her turn to him after feeling up the car with gas.

"Why do you keep tellin' everyone Ah'm your sister?"

"Keeps people from askin' questions." He simply shrugged as he began driving.

As the hours continued to tick by, he began to notice her mood changing as well as her patience anytime she would readjust in her seat and played with the radio stations until she gave up on finding something good while in the middle of nowhere.

"Relax Chere de next towns not dat far off."

"Good." She frowned as she folded her arms over her chest.

"You alright?"

"Great." She sarcastically replied back.

She knew she was taking out her discomfort on him, so she tried to reel it back some as she let herself look outside where everything seemed like a blink in the road. "Haven't been around these neck of the woods since Ah came to the professors." She silently hummed to herself.

"Seems to me you're long overdue for a visit den non?" he raised a curious brow when she didn't respond. "You know if you want-"

"No." she quickly cut in. "It's fine. Besides…don't really think they'd throw out the welcoming mat for me."

He carefully watched the way she began playing with her gloves again, perhaps a nervous habit of hers. And that told him all he needed to know that she wasn't looking to stop home. Which he could understand to some degree. It's not like his own family were the warm cuddle type… but despite that he'd give anything to see them again.

He didn't say anything after that, allowing her time to gather her thoughts, and patiently waiting until she was ready to talk, which she was grateful for. Yet another one of the puzzling things he seemed to already know about her while she on the other hand didn't know anything about him.

As far as the thought of going home…truthfully, she never really gave it any thought anyways. And they still have plenty to go before they even hit Mississippi borders. But was there really any home left there to go home to?

"Can Ah ask you somethin'?" She warily asked as he nodded. "How do you and Logan know each other?"

"Wolverine…" he mused out loud. But by the sound of that question… he could only assume Logan himself hadn't told her anything, which wouldn't be surprising considering he was suffering from some kind of amnesia during the attack on Stryker. To which he still didn't even know the details himself.

"He says he knew you from a few years back…but that's it."

"Logan an' I do go way back." He agreed as he studied the road in front of him and knew she was hanging onto every word in hopes of finding out more about him and Logan. So, he had to choose his words carefully without her knowing any more information than was safe or didn't want her to know. Being imprisoned in the Island for a couple of years was not necessarily something he was proud of. Wasn't his finest moment going in…but definitely escaping was something that made his name stick out amongst the dangerous types. Types he didn't want anywhere near her.

"How far back?"

"'bout a year 'fore I jumped through time I s'pose." He paused as the memories slowly began coming back. "Helped him with a job back den. He'd been tryin' to find de people responsible for doin' what dey did to him. Guess he figured I could help him somehow."

"How would he know that?" she quizzically asked. But when it was obvious he wasn't willing to tell her anymore than he needed to, she dejectedly sat back in her seat. "Ah bet he asked real nicely." She chuckled which only made him smile back at her when he remembered his and Logans first fight.

"Dat he did." He tilted his head. "After dat…somethin' happened to him. An' when I found him, he didn't even remember dis one. Still don't from what I see."

She remembered the confrontation in the hall with them both, and she remembered the look on his face when he must've realized Logan didn't remember much of his past. And as she continued staring in his direction, she could tell that it still didn't sit well with Remy either.

"Ok so tell me somethin'…about bein' a thief."

"Wasn't aware we were still playin' Chere." He slyly smiled. "But what would you like to know?"

"Ah don't know…how about why you like it so much." She casually shrugged.

"I don't s'pose you would." He thought about how to explain in the best way he could. "Thievin' is like a work of art…you gotta know what you're doin', gotta know all de details, all de tools to use an' how to use dem at your disposal. Every line…every curve you gotta make it your own. Make it your own until it's perfect." After a brief pause, he slowly tilted his head as he continued. "How 'bout I answer de question you really want to know." He eyed her carefully before taking a deep breath knowing it's something she was hesitant to ask. "Been thievin' fo' as long as I can remember. Kinda a family thing if you will."

"What, you mean like your whole family?" she quizzically frowned. She wasn't even aware something like that existed.

"You could say dat." He thoughtfully nodded. "If I learned anythin' about life, it's dis; always play de hand you're dealt. An' in my case I was brought up a thief. Might as well learn everythin' dere was to know 'bout it." When he saw her nodding along but still confused he explained. "It's kind of like a game. An' de game is all 'bout subterfuge, theft an' sleight of hand. Any wrong move an' it could cost you your payment an' your life."

"Sound dangerous."

"Quite the adrenaline rush." He admitted, thinking about all his previous heist and now realized that it's been quite a minute since his last one. Pickpocketing wallets and change didn't really constitute as stealing in his eyes. Now the feeling of possibly getting caught...the rush that came along with getting your hands on the most valuable thing in the place, only to hand it over and start a new…that was worth every close call in his book. "Thieves where I'm from…de good ones anyhow, come from a line of thieves 'fore dem an' de ones 'fore dem."

"So what? Your family's part of some big occult of thieves?"

Proudly smiling, Remy actually found her keen interest in what he did for a living quite amusing and his stories "Believe it or not Chere it's not so much as an occult… but more of a family. Now we may be thieves, but we still look out fo' on 'nother." He shot her a stern look before continuing. "An' it ain't always 'bout life an' death, if you know what you're doin' dat is. But I'm also not sayin' it ain't dangerous either cause it sure as hell is." He smirked as if he could still vividly remember everything he had ever stolen. And call her crazy but the way he continued to talk about this…about things he was so passionate about, had her smiling and wanting to keep listening and hanging onto ever word.

"Go in an' out with your prize, without ever runnin' into trouble…"

"And that's what you do?"

"Non." Shaking his head he eagerly continued. "Dis one can get in an' out with thousands of people in one room without bein' caught." Raising his finger he lightly taped it on the steering wheel. "Now dat ma Cherie, makes de difference between a good thief an' a professional like myself."

"Do…do you ever miss it?" she found herself asking.

"It be like forgettin' to breath." He confessed. Any previous enthusiasm slowly fading away when he remembered how much he's lost. "Doubt de Professor would look too kindly with me pickin' dat habit back up."

"Ah guess not." She agreed. "But…but you've traveled?"

The hopeful tone in her voice had him raise a questioning brow. Had she never left Mississippi before going to the Institute?

"I have."

"Must be nice." She forced herself to smile as she looked down at her hands. "Ah had always wanted to travel."

"You still could."

"No Ah can't." Adamantly shaking her head she instead decided to look out the window as the fields and fields continued to pass them by. "That's not me anymore."

"Could be." He suggested and it didn't take a genius to know that she was still holding back herself. "I mean…what's so wrong with bein' yourself Rogue? I know I can't speak fo' all of us but…de past is part of us Chere. It molds us into de person we are good or bad. Dere's no avoidin' dat. An' I for one would rather live my life like it was my last den have regrets."

What was wrong with being herself…? Plenty of reasons came to mind. If she allowed herself even a moment to let her guard down her powers could take someone's life in an instant. It was horrifying from the beginning…to think that with just one touch you could rob someone of their life. In that way she could consider herself a thief in that aspect as well.

"One of de greatest pleasures in life if you ask me. To be free an' do what you want…dere's no price in dat."

"And here Ah thought bein' a thief was exactly that." She said watching the way he silently remained staring at the road.

"You'd be surprised."

All of the earlier attitude about thievery from moments ago twisted into something she couldn't quite understand. When he talked about being a thief he seemed to love it, but then why did he seem so…sad when the topic of being free came up?

"I'm very good at readin' people too Chere." He suddenly said and she wasn't sure whether it was directed at her earlier question or herself. "I know how dey tick, what makes dem do what dey do an' how to make all de cards always come out in my favor." He paused as he took a quick glance her way. "You always have to love what you're doin' Rogue. You need to become a master at it. Know it inside an' out like de palm of your hand. So when somethin' unexpected should come up, you know exactly what to do. An' how to handle it.

"Is that with everyone?"

"Non…" Shaking his head and gripping the steering wheel, he gave her a discreet once over. "Not everyone."

"Well who's the exception?"

Silently smiling, he shook his head once more, only offering a vague reply. "Now dat is somethin' I ain't inclined to share."

"Fine don't tell me." She grinned as she leaned against the window.

"Guess we can stop for de night.' He said it more to himself than her when they came upon a small sign letting them know to take the next exit. "You hungry?"

"No." she was quick to say and knew he could see right through her lie.

"Chere you need to eat somethin'." Something in her stomach did a little flip at the concern he showed for her well-being. "Other den my last snack you ate of course."

He just had to add that last part, didn't he? she thought while she rolled her eyes.

"Don't wanna stretch your legs none?" he asked when she still wouldn't meet his eyes. So instead, he carefully parked the car next to a small drive-in diner much to her dismay.

"Ah rather just go and find a place to stay for the night."

"Well I need to stretch my legs." He opened his side door and got out briefly stretching his legs like he said he'd do before briskly walking towards the door of the diner.

"Remy. Remy!" Regretfully unbuckling her seat belt when her stomach painfully groaned, she quickly made to catch up just as he opened the door for her. "We're takin' it to go right?"

"What?" Confusingly frowning, he didn't know why all of a sudden she started nervously looking around and fidgeting on the spot next to him.

"How many?" The gentleman asked.

"Deux Monsieur."

"We'll take it to go." She abruptly cut in making the man confusingly frown at the two. "Excuse us." Swiftly grabbing Remy's arm, she moved them aside so as to not be overheard.

"Rogue?"

"Ah already told you Ah'm not hungry and if you are we can just take it to go." She whisper shouted just as another group of people walked behind them and she flinched away.

"Très bien, but only if you're willin' to share what's wrong." When he saw her stubbornly shaking her head while averting her eyes he continued. "Ne pense pas que je n'ai pas remarque Rogue. You've been crankier den usual today."

"Yeah well it's because Ah'm not!" She nervously continued to avoid staring at everyone, which seemed to fail since with her harsh whispering it turned to attract more attention than she would like right now. 'This can't be happening…'

"You're not…?" Shaking his head in utter confusion he couldn't understand what she was referring to or why the blush on her cheeks deepened. "Chere-"

"Underwear." She embarrassingly admitted finding the heat on her face intensify. When all he did was blankly stare back at her she slowly explained. "Ah'm not wearin' any alright. So can we please go?!"

When she found the courage to finally look up, the sudden flushed look on his face was priceless, which made her desperately try to suppress a smile, never having expected that out of him. Someone like Remy surely had heard or seen way worse but she wasn't necessarily in the mood right now to ask anything more from his personal life. She just wanted to get out of here. And out of all the constant attention.

'Oh shit was she going pantiless this whole time?!' And in that instance, it took everything he had not to find out for himself whether it was true or not. And God how much he wanted to find out…

"Um Sir?" the waiter asked still waiting on them to see if they were staying or leaving.

"Changement de plans." Remy mumbled before ushering her out and doing his best not to try and get a clear view of her rear.

He didn't dare speak since he didn't want anyone else other than himself to know what was in fact not underneath the jeans she currently wore, and why oh why the hell did she feel the need to tell him something like that!

Didn't she understand that he was a guy, a guy who very much couldn't stop his thoughts from drifting to where they really shouldn't right now.

"Remy?" she tried to wiggle her arm free as he led them to Scott's car until he opened her door and practically threw her in. "Hey!"

"What is wrong with you?!" he finally said after slamming his door shut and facing her.

"Well Ah'm sorry, but unlike you Ah don't have any extra clothes on me. Or did you forget?" Her anger suddenly made an appearance after his attitude. Was she embarrassed? Yes! But he had no right to get upset at her. "Ah'm the one who's been uncomfortable this whole time. Ah'm the one with a pair of wet panties and pants this whole time! So don't get mad at me for ridin' pantiless this whole-"

"Rogue for de love of God please just stop talkin!" Snapping his eyes shut he tried to remove the image from his mind as he lightly tapped the back of his head against the headrest.

Nodding, he quickly jammed the keys into the ignition and hurriedly began speeding off in search of the nearest motel before he would take her shopping. "D'accord. We find a place to rest, den fix dat problem of yours."

"My problem?" she offendedly repeated.

"Trust me." She watched him deeply inhale never once looking to check on her. "It's for your own safety."

-X-

Walking into the lobby of the motel, she surveyed the place until she felt her phone buzzing and stared at the screen.

Craning his head to try and see her checking her phone it didn't take him long to understand who it might be. "Dat boyfriend of yours again?"

She sighed, breaking eye contact with her screen before answering as brightly as she could. "Hey Bobby."

"Rogue what the hell?!"

Wincing she abruptly turned her back on Remy as she moved a little farther away in hopes of keeping whatever was being said between them privately.

"I've left you like a hundred messages with not so much as a call!"

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she was already expecting her boyfriend to be this angry. Anyone honestly would if they found out their significant other was traveling with another man. A man they made no secret in hiding that they disliked. "Bobby…" When she opened her eyes, she could see Remy smugly smile at something in the distance that she couldn't quite see before he turned to her to let her know he was going to the front desk clerk a few feet in front of them. "Bobby Ah know you're mad and have every right to be-"

"Is he there?" Bobby cut angrily in, and she could even feel Bobby's glare all the way over here. "Gambit, is he there?"

Looking over her shoulder she could see her travel companion still talking to the receptionist to get their rooms as he lazily leaned against the counter. "Bobby whatever it is that your thinkin' please don't." she calmly said.

"How could I not. I mean my girlfriends only off to who knows where with a guy who sleeps with girls and steals for a living-"

"Bobby stop." She began rubbing on her temple. "If Ah didn't know any better Ah'd say you don't trust me." At his silence she quickly continued. "Look Bobby Ah'm sorry Ah didn't call you back right away. It's just a lot's happened since Ah left-heck Ah didn't even know we were leavin' New York-"

"What do you mean leave New York? Rogue where are you?" his voice came out urgently as if he was about to board the next flight out to wherever she was. Glancing over again she almost jumped out of her skin when she saw Remy's hand wave the keycard in front of her from behind. 'Keycard…'

That's when it suddenly occurred to her. "Bobby Ah've got to go. But Ah promise to call you back ok."

"Rogue don't'-"

Hanging up the phone she turned in time to see Remy hide his smirk. Wondering just how long he'd been standing there and if he heard anything. "Ah'm just goin' to assume you already have your own key." She unamusingly said, trying to snatch the card out of his hand as he moved away, seemingly pleased with the outcome.

"Sorry to disappoint Chere but seems we may need to share again."

"By sharin' Ah hope you mean this building." She furiously blinked as she followed him out, walking like he owned this place. "Remy!" When she made another go for the card once he stopped in front of a door, he expertly moved it out of her reach and sheepishly hid it behind his back.

"Yeah, real mature of you." She scowled right as she saw him reach for the doorknob and swiftly moved herself between him and the door to try and get in first. "Ah believe this is my room."

"Your room?" His brows shot up. "May I remind you a room I paid fo'."

"But did you really?" she squinted her eyes in mock disgust.

"Don't matter how I paid for it, it's still mine an' you best be grateful I'm willin' to share again." He took a dangerous step closer as she took one back and felt her body stiffen. She didn't like the way her body kept reacting towards him. It was as if she didn't even have control over it anytime he was too close and could feel the electricity bounce between them. And she had a feeling he felt it too when his eyes shifted, and he began to lean closer. "Don't tell me you're nervous to share another room with me?"

"And you seem to think pretty highly of yourself." She fired back. "For someone who's as sure of himself like you…" It came to her then when he briefly looked away. "You don't seem to like the idea of sharin' this room with me anymore than Ah do."

"Come again?" his brows raised as if he didn't quite hear her right or maybe he did but found the idea laughable.

"You heard me." Defiantly raising her chin, she crossed her arms and planted her feet firmly on the ground. She wouldn't allow him to try and rile her up any more than she already was. Not that she'd give him the satisfaction of knowing that of course. "What's the matter Cajun? Didn't really think you'd get this nervous around any gals."

The dangerous glint in his eyes that seemed to burn through his dark shades made her fight back a small shiver, feeling his eyes all over her. "Careful Chere…don't start somethin' you can't finish." His voice was smooth like whiskey over ice. And she was trying not to melt into it.

"Who says Ah can't? Last Ah recall you were the one chokin' on your own breakfast."

His devilish smile turned mischievous as he leaned closer to her ear to unlocked the door. "Trust me Rogue…you don't want what I have to offer." He seductively murmured before turning the knob and letting them in.

'What did he mean by that?' she thought as she closed her eyes, counting to three before she opened them again in time to hear him approvingly whistle at the small room that held two beds.

"I will admire that the beds nice." He made himself comfortable on one. "Kinda gets a man wonderin' what he can do on it."

"Sleep." She quickly answered as she walked past him.

"Anythin' else?" he teasingly asked as he leaned back and placed his hands behind his head receiving an annoyed stare in return. "Look Chere I'm sure dere's certain urges you t'ink you feel towards me…."

"You mean other than the urge to strangle you? Nope." She quickly answered as she looked out their window where she could see a very questionable pool.

"Give it time. You'll warm up to dis one. I'll even have you beggin' fo' it." He tilts his head to one side, a hint of a smile playing across his lips. He knew she would eventually give in. Hell, he hoped she would since he himself wasn't even sure what the hell he was doing anymore. But she'd eventually drop the attitude of hers and quickly turn to begginglike they always did. He just had to bide his time.

So why did that thought of Rogue sound even more appealing than any of the others? With any other woman he couldn't complain when he eventually got his prize, but now even the thought of someone as alluring as Miss Frost or any of the other women he's come across possibly sharing a bed with him…wasn't as tempting as anytime he was around her.

So caught up in his own thoughts he hadn't noticed her walk back over and reach for his sunglasses that now lay resting on the nightstand.

"Ah still don't get why you keep these." She said mostly to herself as she began walking around the room as he eyed her.

"Alright hand dem over Chere." He slowly sat up when he saw the challenging gleam in her eyes.

"Why?" Stepping back, she hid them behind her back the same way he had while he briskly walked over. "Call it payback for not lettin' me know in advance Ah'd have to share another room."

"Give dem back." Any and all playfulness quickly vanished when she pivoted her body to keep them out of his reach. Could he have easily grabbed them with their size difference? Definitely, but he didn't want to be responsible for any harm coming to her anymore then he already did just by letting her come along.

When he tried to make another go, she moved away by jumping on the bed but wasn't prepared for him to yank her down by her feet and tackle her. "That was a dirty move Swamp rat!"

"So is takin' what don't belong to you." He glowered back, which he found ironic considering his profession.

Trying to wiggle herself free and failing had her snap her eyes open when his grip on her wrists tightened. "What are you…" The flush on her cheeks was instant when the realization of how close his face was to hers made her heart briefly stop. The sensation of his chest rising and falling along with hers had her stunt as he stared down at her with an unreadable expression.

She tried speaking, needing him to get off. But when all words seemed to fail her, she felt she was lost staring at the way his forehead creased in the middle. "Rogue…" he murmured so soft she barely heard him as his eyes lazily trail down to her mouth before they briefly darken in a way that made her nervously swallow.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting but was thankful nonetheless when he dismissively shook his head and jumped to his feet.

"Would you hand me my shades?" he asked, dragging a hand through his hair while taking a few more steps away from her.

Her eyes darted between his sunglasses still in her gloved hand and his outstretched one before she handed them over. "Ah still don't get why you want to hide them."

"Well Chere not everyone's as nice an' understandin' as you." His tone was hard and cold, but she knew it wasn't directed at her. Couldn't blame him if he did. Who knew all the things he had to go through in life with eyes like his despite what she may think of them.

So, once they headed out in search of any store nearby, she busied herself with going through the clothes rack and mentally jotting down the cost of everything since there was no way she'd let him slip by without her paying him back for everything, regardless of how he managed to get his hands on it. He on the other hand could be seen lazily scanning the row of small jackets before he raised his eyes just as she looked away as if sensing it.

The last thing she needed was for him to see her secretly looking through some bras and matching underwear's which she tried to keep hidden underneath the small pile of clothing in her hands. Even if he was the one paying, that didn't mean he'd get the privilege of seeing any of her more sensitive items.

"So Chere, what'll it be?"

She should have known she wasn't that lucky, knowing whose voice it was instantly as she snapped her head to the left. She found the source of the teasing voice as he casually looked at the rack in front of them before he grinned playfully.

"What are you doin here? Shouldn't you be off gettin' food?" she irritatingly asked while he raised a small bag up for her to see. "Fine you got food, so can you please go?"

"Wouldn't wanna rush you when purchasin' somethin' as important as dis now would I? Wouldn't make me a perfect gentleman." He smiled towards a few girls as they passed by before returning his attention to her.

"Wait, this doesn't bother you?" she warily eyed him. Usually by this point Bobby would turn the other way when it came to shopping, but of course it didn't help that Kitty basically made it a day trip for them all. Whereas Remy seemed to feel at ease right, even in this section of the store.

"Any reason why it should?" he quirked a questioning brow as he raised a finger to look at a pair of red bra and panties on one of the racks before she swatted his hand way. That grin on his lips turned wicked, and he began circling her like he'd found the perfect prey. "De way I see it, nothin' more important dan helpin' a lady find what her heart desires."

"And that crap really works?" she frowned in disgust which only made him bark out a laugh. She shook her head with disbelief before walking briskly back to another rack to see if there was anything she could find there. After another half hour she was surprised to see that Remy was indeed pretty helpful when it came to shopping and could give good advice when being asked for his opinion while never once complaining about the time they'd spend here.

So after grabbing a couple of clothes, she still was stuck trying to avoid him looking at the underwear and bras she had set her eyes on and wasn't at all surprised by him still standing there.

"How's 'bout dis?" he seductively grinned as he let his fingers trail along the green lacy babydoll nightgown hanging next to her, completed with a matching pair of underwear.

She was about to tell him that there was no way she was going to let him buy here anything like that-hence putting the ongoing thought of him already buying her undergarments already aside- she considered those things necessary right now, were as this was considered more…intimate.

But when she turned to tell him so she was caught off guard when his smile eased up into something a little more meaningful which made the blush in her cheeks a little more obvious.

"Not in your life Cajun."

Having no other genuine reason to keep staring at her longer than he had to, he turned to look back at the green garment. "Non? Seems very pleasin' to de eye to me."

"Yeah…yeah you know what? You're right." She approvingly nodded. "Ah'm sure Bobby wouldn't mind me wearin' somethin' like that." She smiled as she continued browsing.

"As I'm sure he would." He grumbled as he followed her and saw her lift a dark purple sweater which he thought was off considering it was still hot outside. "Here Chere." He gently moved her aside to find the same sweater she had picked but in the correct size.

"And how on earth do you know my size?" Her puzzled expression was enough to make him give her a slow growing grin. But she didn't give him the chance to answer when she dismissively shook her head. "You know what? Ah don't wanna know."

-X-

As they tiredly trudged back to the motel, she was ready to shower and turn in for the rest of the day, not caring in the least that it was only now getting late.

"Ah don't know about you but Ah'm callin' dips on the shower." She absently said as he walked next to her passing by the pool. "Ah don't care what you do."

Quirking a challenging brow Remy gave her a sideways glance. "Oh no?"

She was so busy looking down at her phone that she didn't see it when he snatched it from her grasp a second before shoving her into the pool, successfully eliciting a loud shriek from her.

She gasped and pulled in long breaths of air as she emerged. "Oh my gawd! Gambit!"

"Thought you didn't care what I did." He tried to keep a straight face; he really did, but when she shot him a murderous glare, he couldn't stop himself from doing just that.

"Remy Ah swear to gawd…"

Shaking with laughter she saw him close his eyes and hold onto his stomach as he tried not to keel over. She should be pissed and normally she would since she hadn't expected him to pull something like that. But when she saw him looking like this…genuinely laughing out of joy, stripping him of all the cocky, confident, flirtatious bravado he normally wore…she couldn't find it in herself to stay mad for long. This was a side of him she definitely didn't expect seeing. A side of him where he acted his own age.

Acted like any other teenager instead of someone who constantly seemed to be carrying the burden of something else on his shoulder, despite what he wanted everyone else to think.

There was another side of Remy LeBeau she truly did enjoy, but she wouldn't dare mention it for fear that hearing it out loud would mean something else… and that was something she wouldn't allow herself to.

"Ah'm tired of you doin' that to me!"

"Well maybe I just like to see my little Roguey all nice an' wet." His smile was infectious, and she had to force herself to look away. "Consider dis as payback for de uncalled-for wake up call dis mornin' Chere." He managed to calm himself down long enough to crouch down in front of her. "So I believe we're even."

"Not even close." She seethed remembering how she had doused him with water earlier.

"Careful now. Not a nice thing to say right now, especially to someone who just so happens to see an' buy your fresh delicates if I may add." He playfully wiggled the bag he managed to somehow swipe out of her hand along with her phone before he pushed her in. "You know what? I'm goin' to enjoy dis." He shouted over his shoulder as he continued to leisurely walk back to their room and the sound of her shouting lingering in the background.

-X-

Furious wasn't even the word she was looking for at this point as she silently remained buried in the safety of her bed. She had given Remy the silent treatment after getting back into their room and after her shower. She knew it would be harder to do given the annoying reality that they still had to get to New Orleans, then head back to the many questions and punishments they were sure to get from everyone back at the mansion.

Maybe she should consider asking someone to come get them after all and then all this would be over.

Glaring at the still empty bed next to her, she was also now stuck wondering where he was and where does he go every night?

-X-

It wasn't until close to morning that he stopped in front of the room he and Rogue shared, hesitant to even step foot in there.

At first, he was tempted to go back to the front office and ask if any other rooms became available but then decided that the night wasn't over yet. Hell, there was still plenty of time for someone like him to enjoy the rest of the night and he really needed to break this tension between them. So he did the only thing he could think of at the moment.

Until he found himself needing to go back that is and standing at the same door.

The sound of him silently opening the door and quietly moving around the room had her fighting the urge to turn her head to see what he was doing or where the hell he was this whole time. But she wasn't his damn keeper. Remy could do whatever the hell Remy did, and she couldn't care less.

Deciding to leave it alone she forced herself to try and get back to sleep even as he slowly removed his boots and began shuffling around. That was until the moment she could hear a belt unbuckling. "Oh lord…please don't let it be what I think it is!'

There was no way she was going to just sit still and listen to Remy undressing. Who in their right mind would do that?

After a long pause which felt like eternity since she didn't dare breath for fear that she might choke and show him she was indeed still awake, she began to hear the unmistakable sound of a zipper being pulled down and she had to squeeze her eyes shut to try and drown out the rest of the noise.

Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought something as simple as that would make her want to be a pair of pants.

How in the world was she supposed to get any sleep now?! No matter what she tried to do or how much she tried to control her breathing after she was sure he was asleep…it did little to stop her imagination from drifting to where it really really shouldn't.

-X-

Furrowing his brows Professor Charles Xavier Tiredly removed the helmet from his head before carefully placing Cerebro back down.

"Anything?" Emma hastily asked when he didn't answer right away. She had heard about Cerebro any good telepath had, but to actually see it had her mind wondering what it would feel like. She was torn between wanting to try it out but at the same time unsure of the impact it would have on someone's mind.

"Not as of yet." He sadly admitted and the exhaustion of trying to find out what all those voices meant was starting to show. "I can't pinpoint who or what they are."

"And Jean?" When the professor seemed hesitant to acknowledge what they both felt. Whose voice it belonged to. Emma knew that he was second guessing it.

"I dare not hope." He quietly said. If he let himself or anyone else hope that she may in fact still be alive somehow…then he wasn't sure if his heart could take it. Losing her twice was hard enough on everyone here. To lose one of his first students was like losing your own child.

"Charles, I understand how much she meant to you. To all of you." Emma carefully said. "But if Jean is in fact alive you do understand the repercussions of what this might have on us. On all of mutants." She didn't want to remind him how Jean was responsible for murdering countless people, both mutants and humans alike, and how her presence would impact them in a negative way.

"I do." he nodded before placing Cerebro back on his head. "But I also know I won't abandon my students if they need me. It doesn't matter who they are."

"Should we say something?" Emma looked back at the closed metal doors. "Should we tell the others?"

"No. Not without definite proof first."