Rouge found herself loosening up and enjoying herself after a few more songs and was surprised to see the same guy still standing next to her seat.

"New here, right?" he asked gesturing around the club with his almost empty drink.

"What gave me away?" she exhaled, her eyes never leaving the dance floor.

"Come on I don't know anything about you." He grinned as he leaned sideways to shout over the music. "So how about you tell me?"

Sweetly smiling she turned her head to see his interest piquing when she finally showed him some kind of attention. "My interests involve havin' my personal space."

The guy only smiled and was about to respond when he felt a sharp kick to the back of the chair head been leaning on, barely managing to keep on his feet. "Hey man!" he growled making Rogue curiously turning to see who the intruder was.

"Remy?"

Flicking his eyes between the two, the man slowly raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry man. I didn't know she had a boyfriend."

"Well you do now so how's 'bout you get lost." Watching the guy quickly make his exit he quickly pulled the chair out and sat next to her. "So, one must wonder what you've got planned fo' de night."

Repeatedly blinking, she was startled that he was here instead of talking to that Tanya woman or whatever the heck Remy always did. "What are ya doin' here? I thought-"

"Not a fan of big crowds?" He wondered out loud as he let his eyes roam around.

She shrugs, taking a long sip of her drink. "Ah don't know. Ah guess Ah've never really been..." She trailed off.

"Wanna leave?"

She was surprised by the question and at first thought he was only kidding, but when she looked at him he seemed genuine about it.

"I don't mind Chere." He sincerely said, leaning forward. He could always come back tomorrow if it meant getting her out of an uncomfortable situation she wasn't used to.

"Ah'm fine." She lazily waved off with her hand and couldn't help but be touched by his concern for her, but frowned when another thought occurred to her. "I miss Bob."

"Is dat so?" he quietly chuckled finding the way her rosy cheeks and gleaming eyes seemed to smile up at him with amusement from all the drinks she must've had.

Nodding she slowly jabbed a gloved finger at his chest. "And would ya stop tellin' people Ah'm your dang sister?!"

"Well what would you like me to call you?" He studied the way her eyes crinkled as she tried to shot him a mean scowl, but all it did was the opposite when he couldn't help but smile at her antics. "Enjoyin' yourself Chere?"

"Ah'm havin' a great time." She proudly grinned, bopping her head along to the music now. "Nothin' Ah can't handle. So fill me up Cajun." She waved around her now empty glass.

Smiling to himself it took him a moment to come up with a respond that wouldn't immediately result in her kicking his ass no matter how tempting that sounded. "Normally I wouldn't dare decline a lady's request Chere…'specially one such as dis. But how many of dose have you had?" When he saw her confusingly stare down at her glass he nodded. "Alright, dats one too many. How's 'bout we get you a nice cold water hein?"

"Sounds good." She hummed still wiggling her glass. "So long you can fill this gal up, Ah'll be a happy X-man."

"Keep talkin' like dat Chere an' we might have ourselves a problem." He whispered under his breath as he ran a hand through his hair. "Tell me Chere, what was it dat really made you come here tonight?"

"Not you if that's what ya sayin'." She snorted into her hand when she saw his face drop into a playful hurt.

"Ouch." He chuckled grabbing his chest. "You really know how to hit a man where it hurts."

"All part of my charm." She briskly waved off before adding. "Kind of like yours."

Silently dropping his head, he had a feeling she would catch him talking to that woman earlier.

"How was she?"

"May I ask what it is your implyin' Chere? Dat dis one will sleep with her or any one of dese here femme dat would throw themselves at me?"

"Wouldn't you?"

"Never said dat either." He cockily shook his head and watched as a woman smiled at him before walking past them. "But once I set my eyes on a prize, it'll be damn hard to look elsewhere."

"And what prize would that be?" she playfully teased but stopped when she merely saw him look down at his own drink before turning away.

"Not sure yet. But some things are worth waitin' fo'."

"Well whatever it is, don't think Ah'm goin' to throw myself at you like the rest of these clueless bimbos."

''Well sleepin' in one room together do count as bein' introduced, non?''

"Nice try Swampy Rat but Ah ain't fallin' for it.''

"See that's what I like 'bout you Rogue." He acknowledged. "Don't care 'bout hurtin' anyone's feelin' an' just be yourself." He meant for it to come out as a compliment since he admired that about her, but when the joy in her eyes suddenly diminished into something he couldn't put his finger on he was just about to correct whatever mistake he may have made. "Rogue-"

"You're wrong about that Cajun, because Ah do care." She set her jaw as she looked towards the dancers.

"So den tell me Chere, what was it dat really made you come out here tonight?"

"Just wanted to forget…" She sullenly whispered looking down at her glass before forcing her eyes forward to where she could still see people dancing together in ways she never did. "Just wanted a moment for myself. To know what it's like for once…not to care." When she turned to him, she could see him studying her face, so she made it a point to look away with a timid smile. "Ah'm just tryin' to have a good time that's all, aren't you?"

Parting his mouth to respond he saw Tanya walking back over to the bar. "Chere…"

"Don't worry about me." She grinned already knowing he had things to do.

"Whatever de lady wishes." He dramatically bowed, intent on grabbing her gloved hand just as she jerked it away.

"Don't get cocky on me Swamp rat." She smiled as he moved closer to her.

"Kinda makes it hard when you keep shuttin' dis homme down. Constantly feel like dis one's ego keeps gettin' bruised."

"Trust me Cajun, with that ego of yours, knockin' you down a peg or two might do ya some good." She genuinely laughed when he pulled his sunglasses down enough to shot her a small wink before he moved back towards the other side of the club.

She returned to watching the people dancing and enjoying their night the same way she should be doing. But no matter what she tried, her eyes kept searching for the familiar dark brown trench coat as he continued to briskly move withing the crowd until she saw him leaning forward in the bar to talk to that Tanya woman again.

Whatever it was that had him so on edge since they arrived at this club, as well as the serious expression on his face after she saw Tanya shaking her head at something he had said kept piquing her curiosity.

But it really wasn't any of her business what they were talking about, unless the occasion called for it. Otherwise, she should just worry about having fun tonight.

When she saw a full glass placed down in front of her, she whipped around to see the same blond woman from before that spoke with Remy smiling back at her.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." The woman sheepishly smiled as she leaned on the table with her own drink in hand. "But I couldn't help but see you talking to that guy."

Confusingly frowning Rogue followed her gaze to where she could still see Remy talking to Tanya. "Who Remy?" she asked watching the way the woman embarrassingly nodded.

"He is a quite a looker." The woman sing songed as she gestured to the drink in front of Rogue.

Rogues frown deepened as she studied his face for a moment. The way his brows seemed to relax for a minute as he allowed one of his charming smiles to appear as he continued talking. "Ah guess so…" Rogue said more to herself than anything, but that answer alone made the woman raise an intriguing brow. "Ah mean if you're into that sort of thing." She quickly added before reaching for the drink, refusing to acknowledge the growing blush on her cheeks.

"And you're not?"

Rogue adamantly shook her head. "Never. Ah already have a boyfriend."

Nodding the woman gestured for one of the waitresses for another round of drinks before smiling down at Rogue. "I'm Grace by the way."

"Rogue." She squinted her eyes at the woman. "Have…we met?"

"Maybe." Grace shrugged her shoulders after asking to get their drinks refilled. "I suppose I've got one of those faces."

Hestitantly nodding Rogue raised the glass to her mouth, finding that this Grace woman might not be bad company atter all.

-X-

Dragging his hand down his face after hearing that Tanya was still waiting to hear back from her informant, Remy frustratingly looked back over his shoulder to see Rogues seat now empty.

Every alarm went off in his head knowing that this couldn't be good. Jolting upright he quickly took a careful sweep of the place when Tanya spoke up from the bar. "If you're looking for your friend don't worry, she seems to be having a good time."

Following to where she was pointing at, he could see the very girl in question leisurely dancing on the dance floor with a group of people he didn't know. Typically, he wouldn't mind sitting back and enjoying the show, especially since she seemed to be feeling carefree at the moment. Not to mention the way she continued to sway her hips to the beat had him momentarily forgetting what he came here to do. Any and every memory of watching her seductively dance the other night coming to the forefront of his traitorous mind.

But something about the way she continued to smile up at one of the people she was dancing around just rubbed him the wrong way.

"Relax Gambit, so the girls having a little…" Trailing off Tanya momentarily blinked when she saw him there one minute and gone the next.

Pushing his way through the crowd he briefly stopped, trying to see past the herds of people who continued to grind on each other until his eyes zeroed in on her.

-X-

Time seemed to blur together in a circle of never-ending music as the room continued to spin around her. This is exactly what she wanted. No worrying about her powers, no worrying about being a mutant, and no worries about anything other than allowing her the chance of freedom she was now experiencing.

She envied Remy for that. Someone like him probably never had to deal with the cons of her life. Never was constantly restricted to the prison that was her own skin, the same way she had and would be again.

"You should come here more often!" One of the new friends she had made shouted as she leaned towards her. After that woman Grace excused herself, Rogue managed to make friends with a small group of people around their age who asked her to join them out on the dance floor.

The girls were fine and pretty chatty, but when one of the guys lightly placed his hand on her hips again she was starting to become annoyed. She had already told him twice that she wasn't interested, but this guy seemed to have gone deaf or just didn't take no for an answer. So when she felt him begin to move closer she quickly grabbed his hands off and moved back when she accidentally bumped right into another hard body right behind her.

Great. That's just what she needed, being sandwiched between two knuckleheads who didn't know the meaning of backing off.

As she turned to see who had the damn nerve to sneak up from behind her, she was frozen on the spot when she caught the angry way Remy continued to glare at the guy. Never once acknowledging her as he remained fixed on the man. "Remy…?"

"I told you to stay close." He lowly growled, never removing his gaze form the guy. Only when he saw him reach for Rogue again was he sure that someone was going to get hurt tonight.

"Ah was." She defended herself only to realize how far she had actually wandered off.

"Hey man, maybe the lady wants to continue dancing." The guy slurred but stopped, painfully wincing when he felt Remy's hand grip his wrist before he roughly shoved it off. "What's your problem?"

Widening her eyes in shock, Rogues eyes instinctively went to Remy's hand when she saw the barely visible movement of a card already being held while his other hand clenched into a tight fist. "Remy listen to me…don't." she warned.

"I ain't doin' nothin' dat dis fool ain't asked fo'." He forced out while working his jaw, still not satisfied even after the guy began backing away. Remy thought that that was a wise move on his part since he was about to rip his hands clean off if he so much as attempt to put his hands on her again.

"Gee sorry. Didn't know she had a boyfriend." The guy watched Remy pull her closer to him.

"Make sure you remember dat next time you try an' hit on a lady not interested." He spat back, ignoring the way Rogue accusingly stared at him after he made no attempt to deny it yet again while he pulled her away by the hand.

"What is with you?" she irritatingly asked as she snatched her hand back and they were further away. "Ah was just dancin'."

"Yeah, well dat asshole seemed to want to do more den just dance Chere." He bit back still looking past her shoulder.

Dumfounded, she blinked back at him unable to make sense as to why he suddenly looked so pissed. Which only made her think that perhaps he hadn't received the answer he came here for. "If this is about Bobby-"

Bitterly smiling Remy swiftly turned to continue escaping the many people still dancing around them. He knew he shouldn't be mad - hell he knew there was no reason to get this angry at a girl who was free to do as she pleased. But just hearing the reminder that she was in fact well out of his reach just made his blood boil more.

"Ah just wanted to dance." She honestly admitted as her shoulders sagged, watching him briefly pause to regard her for a moment.

He didn't say anything for the longest time as his eyes took in their surroundings before hesitantly moving towards her and extending his hand. "What are you…?"

"Well in dat case, who am I to deny such a lady's request."

"Ah don't think so." She stubbornly shook her head as she made to leave but felt him grab her gloved hand before she was able to make her escape.

"Dance with me?" he murmured, gently pulling her closer before caressing his thumb on her knuckles. He could sense her reluctance even without his empathy as she tried pulling away again. "Rogue..."

Something inside her told her not to. That this wasn't a good idea. That if she accepted…then it would be harder to pull away from the way he constantly made her feel, and that alone stroke fear inside her that she wouldn't allow him to see. But the pleading sound of his voice as he stared at her had her grasping for words she no longer knew.

"It's just dancin' Chere." He tried to reassure her as she silently took a deep calm breath to try and calm her racing heart.

The ongoing pull towards him was something she never felt with anyone before. Not even with Bobby, and she supposes that that's one of the reasons she shouldn't be near him.

Her breath hitched as he slipped his arm around her waist to draw her a bit closer to him while his other hand securely still held onto hers.

"De trick is to relax." He chuckled enjoying the way her cheeks began to burn when she realized how stiff she had been this whole time. "An' always let your instincts guide you. Once you let yourself surrender to what you truly want…you'll never want to go back." When that managed to catch her attention, he allowed his eyes to briefly take in her eyes, face, trailing down to her plump lips. "…never would want anythin' else."

"Are we still talkin' about dancin'?" She softly whispered feeling him instantly tense while his movements slowed down a bit, his shaded eyes never leaving hers. There was no hiding that this man was having an obvious effect on her and she was sure he knew it too when the corners of his lips raised, but what surprised her more was that she seemed to be doing the same to him.

"Not sure." He admitted with an unsure chuckle.

"Ah never pictured you as the dancin' type."

"Plenty you don't know 'bout dis one yet."

"Yet?" she teasingly smiled, allowing him to lead them around as their bodies swayed to the music and he began to playfully turn her from time to time.

"So, we've fought, got along, fought some more, got lost, met some strangers along de way, you got a nice dip in de pool, not to mention had myself a nice little treat at Jacques place…" he pleasurably grinned as his eyes took in the kissable blush to her cheeks. Dipping her back his grin only widened when he heard her laugh out in surprise "An' have us a nice little dance to finish off de night. Dis trip doesn't sound so bad now does it?"

"Speak for yourself Cajun." She smiled up as he leaned down. "Because unlike you, Ah could do without the stress of chasin' after a Swamp rat like you."

Pulling her back up, he slowly pulled her in closer as they continued to dance. "Don't gotta do too much chasin' when I be right here Rogue."

He saw the way her smile nervously faltered as she turned to look away, watching the nearby dancers instead.

His hands were surprisingly gentle as he cupped the small of her back to keep her steady, and at that moment she was very aware of his fingers gently pressing into her as he leaned close to her ear so she could hear him over the music and the air leave her lungs as she feels the heat from his body radiating to hers.

"So you ain't got a problem dancin' on stage an' if I ain't mistaken…it seems you haven't danced with anyone else. Least not fo' a while."

"What makes you think that?"

"Call it a hunch." He casually shrugs.

Was he right in assuming that? Quite possibly. As much as it saddens her to think about it, there wasn't a moment she could recall where she and Bobby even shared a single dance. The only person she could remember dancing with was Cody, and that was when they were younger, and he had made it a point in convincing her that he could dance.

As the overwhelming scent of her shampoo continued to send his sensors into overload, he tried to convince himself that he should let go. That the dance was getting too long…but time seemed to be standing still as he continued to sway with her in his arms. There was so much he wanted to say, so much that he wanted to ask her, but he couldn't seem to form the words or whether he should even try.

It was all too much for him to think about right now as the music continued to play in the background, he could see the ongoing battle in her own eyes and decided that maybe there would never be the right time to say what he wanted-or enough time.

But in the end despite what may happen…he couldn't stop himself from wanting to hold her a beat longer than he should.

"Remy?"

He was startled when he heard his name being called by her so softly that it made him nervously swallow.

"You alright?"

Nodding he slowed down his movements as he tilted his head. "Are you Chere?"

Parting her mouth, she was about to respond that she was too but didn't trust herself enough to sound convincing enough.

"Rogue…are you happy you came?"

"O-Of course." She smiled surprised and frankly taken off guard by the sudden question. "Ah just miss the others that's all."

"De others." He knowingly smiled to himself, understands that to mean she probably wished she was dancing with Bobby instead.

She began to pull away again, but he grabbed her hand to pull her closer to him. "Well den why are you here with me instead of with your boyfriend?"

Finally meeting his eyes, she couldn't help but wonder the same thing.

Profusely blinking she stopped when she could see Tanya by the bar gesturing towards Remy who had now turned to see Tanya too.

He really wanted to know her answer but understood better than to poke his nose where it didn't belong. He gave her a long close look before nodding in understanding and inclined his head towards the bar. "I'll be back Chere. Stay put."

Before she had a chance to argue she saw him briskly walk away.

-X-

Begrudgingly sitting down on the bar stool Remy settled Tanya with an irritated glare. "Dis better be good."

"My aren't we in a foul mood." Tanya bristled as she began filling an empty glass in front of her which he absently waved off. "This wouldn't have anything to do with your friend now, would it? You two seemed pretty intimate back there."

"What have you heard?" he wanted to get straight to the point since they've already been here longer than he'd originally planned.

"Not much I'm afraid." She offered. "But there is more talk about these Friends of Humanity. Supposedly gearing up for something big."

Nodding he glanced down at the bar, fearing what they had already suspected.

"You misunderstand me Gambit. When I say they're gearing up for something big that means in both sense of the word." She leaned in to make her point across. "Something's got them spooked my guy says. Something that seems to have them on edge and preparing to go on the offense first."

"Dat doesn't make sense." He mumbled to himself before he asked. "An' what of de guilds? Have you heard anythin' 'bout my family?"

"Best to my knowledge is for you to go home Gambit. You might find the answers there, but…I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. As for the Assassins…" she pursed her lips trying to explain the severity of the situation. "It's best if they know you're not here Gambit."

He understood the underlying meaning of that which only raised his suspicions that he may have not been the only ex-guild member here and Tanya decided to keep that part hidden. For whose benefit, he wasn't sure nor did he want to find out. Although he was grateful that she tried to find as much as she was willing to discuss, she was still an ex-Assassin and that was something he could and would never trust.

Which now only left him one more place to search for answers.

-X-

Stepping out of the bathroom Rogue aimlessly began walking closer to the dance floor, careful not to bump into anyone as she did so but didn't account for the man who suddenly collided with her on his way out of the men restrooms.

"Hey watch where you're going!" The man yelled before he took a good look at her. His expression automatically went from annoyed to interested.

"Sorry." Rogue apologetically smiled not entirely sure whose fault it was at this moment since everything continued to get a little hazy. The man she had bumped into wasn't entirely bad to look at but as his smile turned sly as he gave her a once over again, his tongue gliding over his bottom lip in a way that she thought was supposed to be seductive only managed to gross her out instead.

Wrinkling her nose in disgust she abruptly made to move past him until he attempted to grab her wrist so they could keep talking. Luckily, she succeeded in sidestepping him while she turned to face him.

"Easy there girl, I just wanted to talk since you weren't watching where you were going." He shrugged as he made to get closer as she stepped away.

"I do believe de fille wasn't de one at fault homme considerin' you were de one to bump into her."

Was that what happened? Closing her eyes she reluctantly began to turn only to spot Remy standing outside the bathroom doors leaning against the wall and shuffling a deck of cards like he'd been waiting for her all this time. "Of course you're here…" She quietly muttered.

"I believe apologies are in order non?" Tilting his head sideways Remy eyed the guy next to her and she could've sworn she saw his eyes glowing red through the dark lenses which she thought was part of the side effect of the alcohol, but when she heard the man next to her audible gulp before scrambling off, she wasn't so sure anymore.

"What is it with you and lurking around the shadows? Why can't you be like the normal people?" She said still keeping her eyes on the man's retreating form. "Ah could've handled it you know."

"I bet you could." He chuckled as he neatly tugged the cards back in his pocket and slowly walked up to her as he kept his hands behind his back. "You seem keen on puttin' yourself in dangerous situations Chere. But how 'bout de next time you try to hide from me-"

"Hide from you?" She amusingly scoffed as she finally whirled around to face him.

"I told you to stay put." He firmly said.

"That's not hidin'." She argued.

"It's not stayin' close either."

"Well Ah was in the building." She frustratingly crossed her arms over her chest knowing that that was a weak argument on her part, but she wasn't going to stand there and wait for him all night long either.

His brows scrunched together in a 'are you serious?' expression before he abruptly shook his head, gabbing her hand and leading them down the hall, pushing his way through the herds of people dancing clearly irritated.

"Where are we goin'?"

"We leavin'."

"What?" She squinted her eyes, barely able to hear him over the extremely loud music playing as he continued to drag her towards the exit. She glanced at him as they passed by a few girls, already expecting him to greet them or shot them one of his famous smiles but was shocked that instead she found his hand still firmly on hers as he led her closer to the door.

She could only come to the conclusion that he was either really mad for some unknown reason or-

"Wait!" Yanking her hand away she dug her feet onto the ground and waited for him to stop. "Why are we leavin' now? Did you get what you came for?"

"More or less." He said looking anywhere but her as his jaw tensed.

"Fine, if you won't tell me then I'll just meet you back at the hotel." She logically said as she attempted to go back the way they came. Just because he was done doing whatever it was he was doing didn't mean she had to continue to follow him like one of his stupid groupies right?

"Oh no you don't." he bitterly smiled to himself as he made quick work in following her since she wasn't thinking clearly. "Rogue!"

"What now?" she tiredly turned, slightly flinching when she could feel his dark and dangerous eyes as he stops so that his face is only an inch from hers.

"Chere me an' you are gonna have us a little chat."

Narrowing her eyes she desperately tried to ignore the instinctive reaction her body continued having in his presence, almost like a primal response she could barely control. When she saw the slow wicked grin edged its way to his face it told her that there would be consequences if she didn't leave with him right now.

"You wouldn't…" she growled already fisting her hands a second before he raised her hand and with lightning speed lifted her up and over his shoulder.

"Remy!" She embarrassingly yelped as the crowd around them momentarily watched them with equally shocked eyes as he briskly began walking towards the exit. "You no good Swamp Rat put me down!"

Was this really happening?! Her cheeks suddenly grew with all the immediate attention. "Remy! Oh my gawd!"

"I'm tryin' to be noble here Chere so don't push me otherwise I have no problem droppin' you." He pressed his lips together when he felt her try and wiggle herself free by kicking her legs and attacking his back.

"Ah bet you don't! Now let me go!" when she heard the metal doors open right before the cool air hit her that's when she knew they were already outside. "Alright you made your point put me down!" she demanded.

"No."

"No?" disbelieving choked out.

"What if I don't want to?" He playfully chuckled looking over his back to see her icy glare which only made him want to hold her for a bit longer.

"Gambit Ah swear if you don't-"

"I don't belive you're in any position to make demands right now Chere." He laughed as he began jogging down the street. "Beside's, I don't believe at dis point you could put one leg in front of de other."

"Ah could crawl back for all Ah care as long as you put me down!"

Although the thought of her on all fours did sound exciting, he could put good money of the fact that that's probably not what she had in mind. "Alright…" Cursing under his breath when she succeeded in landing a good kick to his ribs he slowed his pace to a stop. "Alright you're goin' to stop fightin' me…an' I'll put you down ok?"

"Ah'm not responsible for what might happen to you." She indignantly huffed before finding herself back on her feet as he raised himself to his full height with a cocky smile.

"Believe it or not Chere I was goin' easy on you an' doin' you a favor."

"How exactly is carryin' me out like a caveman doin' me a favor?" she asked as he walked around her and towards their hotel.

"Why? Would you rather stay in dere with…" Biting his tongue he frustratingly glared back at the doors to the club. Just the thought of one those assholes trying to get their hands on her again made the blood under his skin boil. "Trust me Chere it's safer fo' everyone."

That seemed to hit a sensitive spot for her when he saw her eyes momentarily gleaming with unshed tears. Was she that upset about not going back? Did she have any idea how hard it was not to snap at any man in that place whenever he saw them leer at her?

"I know what you're tryin' to do an' trust me when I say you've succeeded."

"Succeeded in what?" she confusingly asked. "Ah was just havin' a good time. So what? You can and Ah can't?"

"Dat's not what I meant." Remy looked a little surprised as that. "Who said anythin' 'bout…all I'm sayin' is-" Parting his mouth he inwardly kicked himself remembering that perhaps she hasn't had the options to do things like this often living at that school.

Normally whenever she would talk about the sense of freedom he seemed to have, he could only scoff at the idea since it was something he wasn't always allowed to do under his father's watchful eyes. Now that's not to say that he listened to any of that and still did as he pleased -which obviously was one of the reasons why he and his Père didn't see eye to eye most of the time.

While on the other hand you had someone like Rogue who has stayed in the mansion for lord knows how long and with the constant nurture and care of Logan…who knew what this poor girl had to go through all this time.

Not that he knew much about her to start with except the little information he found on her on the mansion's computer or what she decided to disclose.

"Rogue I didn't mean-"

"You know…you're such a mud stick! That's what ya are!" she angry pointed her finger at a puzzled Remy whose beginning start of an apology swiftly went out the window when he looked at this woman as if she had grown three heads.

And who knows maybe she had; she was too dizzy to know for sure.

"Pardon?" he raised a confused brow.

You know that time in the heat of the moment when you're arguing with someone and your own words don't begin to make sense or they come out like a big jumbled embarrassing mess? Yes, that's exactly what she was feeling as she confidently stared back at him. Only confirming that perhaps she could feel the alcohol already starting to hit her more than she thought. "You know what I mean!"

"I really don't." Raising his lips into an amused smile, he wasn't sure whether to laugh or be insulted at her attempt at an argument when in all honest all he wanted was to make truce with the woman who was currently staring at him like HE was the one who wasn't in his own right mind. "Perhaps you mind explain it to me Rogue?" He really had no idea what she was talking about.

Oh so now he was making fun of her?! "A stick in the mud! A Spoilsport!"

"Alright…you made your point Chere." He frustratingly pinched the bridge of his nose as she continued poking him with insults that at some points made no sense to him at all- or maybe he was so out of touch with everything in this time that maybe it was just him? Despite what it could be, never once in his life was he called any of those things since he always seemed to be the life of the party. "How 'bout you do us both a favor an' just stop talkin'."

"You would like that wouldn't you?" she dangerously narrowed her eyes remembering all the previous times he told her that.

"As a matter of fact right now I would. Clearly you're not in your right mind if you t'ink goin' back dere's a good idea Chere."

"Why?" She dramatically asked. "Suddenly you're actin' like an overprotective boyfriend-which you're not." She frustratedly waved her finger which only made him angrily glare at it. "Like you're jealous-"

"I ain't jealous." he stubbornly shook his head. Never once in his life could he remember a time when he was until he landed in front of that stupid school. Now he was finding himself constantly at odds with this weird feeling that he didn't much care for. Usually, he would be at the other receiving end of it not the other way around. Even with Bella Donna he never felt any of this since their relationship was pretty much known to be open until the engagement was forced on him. Which didn't seem to bother either party involved.

Rogue on the other hand already had a boyfriend long before he came into the picture so he couldn't understand what made him constantly question the same thing.

When he saw her unconvincing expression as she placed her hands on her hips, he let out an annoyed groan. "I'm not! Look you can either come with me willingly or I can carry you by force. So what's it gonna be Rogue?"

Instead of saying anything else he just stood there, staring at her waiting for her responds. Daring her to choose another option which she was oh so tempted to do right about now.

"Chere…" His warning tone told her that he could tell exactly what she was thinking as she hugged herself to try and keep some warmth to her body.

"Fine." She defeated huffed understanding that she probably wouldn't be able to avoid running into him again if she even attempted to go back. "Ah just feel sorry for the gal that gets stuck with someone like you."

Watching her furiously stomp away in the direction of their hotel made him laugh out before jogging to catch up to her. "Who knows Chere…you could find yourself bein' de lucky lady to run away with dis dashing cajun. Not dat I'd mind."

"Keep dreamin'." When she felt something gently being placed on her shoulders she briefly stopped to looked up and see he had placed his trench coat around her to help keep her warm. "Thanks." She timidly smiled as she buried herself deeper in the coat, blaming it on the alcohol she'd been drinking.

"Trust me Chere, if you were with me I can guarantee that you wouldn't want to leave de hotel room…ever."

His voice was smooth as silk as she briefly stammered over her words. "W-well Ah'm not." She defiantly raised her chin as she continued walking, hoping it was the right way. Yup defiantly the alcohol.