A/N: Recently revised, formally known as "Dealing with Life". New modifications and revisions have been made since 11-18-08. Thank you for reading. -xLebeaux

xXx

The Sudden Lull

xXx

X-Mansion

Dinner time at Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters was always a fairly hectic portion of the day considering that the Instructors and students, both older senior X-men and the new recruits, had to sit at one very large table in the mansion's dining hall.

Everyone was finally semi- situated with their food on their plates. While some were actually eating their food, others were throwing it across the table in hopes that they may get the attention of one of their friends.

Professor Charles Xavier had watched his students grow and change over the course of two years. Jean and Scott decided to stay at the mansion as senior instructors while they both commuted to attend the college university in the city. Hank, Logan and Ororo continued to upkeep the mansion and its students, along with the activities that took place inside. Charles was led to believe that they had each become severely attached to the mansion and the students that resided within it. Both Kitty and Kurt were working hard to finish their senior year at Bayville high. He had to mentally applaud them for doing so well with keeping up with their classes and team responsibilities

The younger students were still as rambunctious as ever and continued to cause chaos and mayhem wherever they went. The Professor had taken note on each student growth through the course of time and was surprised by the most unlikely of students. Bobby had shown to be a seemingly fine leader in training sessions, despite his infamous light hearted humor.

In terms of new recruits, the mansion had gained a few newer ones over the course of time. Just last year Gambit joined their ranks and proved to be an asset when helping and instructing Danger Room sessions. Being twenty-two did make him slightly older than his other senior X-men, but Remy had proven to have a somewhat teaching nature to him. Not long after Gambit joined, Piotr Rasputin and John Allerdyce came following.

And of course, there was Rogue. The Professor had seen Rogue grow and mature in many ways. All of nineteen years old, though still rather feisty and not exactly cool with her temper, she had definitely shown a leap of maturity over the course of time. She worked hard to make it through her senior year and managed to receive a few honors and several scholarships. He had noticed that she had taken a liking to Literature and the Fine Arts. After graduation she announced that she was going to take time off school and look into other opportunities. Charles also noted that Logan had never looked more proud of a student then when he watched Rogue received her Diploma.

It was not long after Rogue's graduation until Gambit had joined the team, a surprise to most considering the last time they saw him was down in New Orleans when they went to rescue Rogue. Indeed, he had watched the two interact over time. Of course their relationship first consisted of Remy constantly irking Rogue and Rogue constantly yelling at Remy. However, they seemed to have surpassed the annoyances. They were now one the other official couples along side Jean and Scott, not as much as a shock to the students as it was to Logan. No, Logan had no intention of ever giving Mr. Lebeau an easy time.

Rogues powers had also evolved to great heights. She had many sessions with both the Professor and Jean in order to learn more of mental control and stability along with mental blocks and walls. Yes, some sessions were more difficult than others…some were more emotional than others. Their recently new matter of focus had been on Rogue's skin and absorption abilities. It was a long and draining process and took many sessions and long hard nights, but she finally succeeded in channeling certain energy throughout her body to suppress her abilities of absorption through skin on skin contact. Though it was an utter success, it still came with its flaws. No certain kind of control is perfect, and as such one must be able to recognize certain limitations as well as dangers. They had learned through their sessions that just to hold back the act of absorptions was a physical and emotional endeavor within itself. Charles remembered comparing it to a channel built to hold back a tremendous amount of water and the waters need to exert itself and flow. If it is held back too long the water builds, if the water is not tended to and continues to build up, it will inevitably burst causing catastrophe. He had warned her to take caution and continue to tend to her "channel".

It was clear the Professors Xavier's X-men were following a fine road, each and every one of them. 'Oh, what a delight to watch them mature—'

Splat!

"Haha! Bulleseye! Right in the face!"

"Bobby I'm gunna kill you!" shouted an angry Sam as he launched a spoon full of mashed potatoes to Bobby's side of the table.

-and partake in mischief'

Kitty noticed an empty seat next her yet again and let out a sigh. She turned and tapped Remy on the shoulder in order to get his attention.

"What is it petite?"

"She's not eating again?" she asked already knowing the answer.

"She said she was busy…again." Remy responded in a somewhat dissatisfied voice.

"That's the fifth time. Is she okay?" the girl asked with slight concern.

"Don' know why she wouldn' be petite."

In a defeated manner, Kitty shrugged and went back to eating her food.

Remy rested his chin in his hand and turned back his head back.

'What could be wrong?'

xXx

After Dinner had ended Remy wandered up to the girl's dormitories and headed towards Rogues room.

Once Remy got to her door he could hear music playing on the other side, he recognized it as Light Outside by Wakey! Wakey!. He knocked on the door lightly but she did not answer.

'Mah Chere wont mind if I come in' He thought.

Remy opened the door and saw her lying on her bed with her back facing him. He smiled at first. He remembered when he kidnapped her and took her to New Orleans, Her hair was longer now, it went a little bit past her shoulders, and lightly curled at the ends. She wore a pair of jeans with a black sweater.

Remy went up to her stereo and turned the volume button to lower the music. Once Rogue heard the music's change in volume, she turned her attention over to Remy.

"We missed y' at dinner Chère." He told her with a friendly smile.

She did not answer at first but she slowly sat up and situated her legs so they were hanging off the bed.

"Sorry. Ah didn't really feel up to it."

Her response was just as he predicted.

Remy took a better look at her and he could tell that her head was someplace else then on the current situation in time.

Remy walked over and sat next to her on the bed.

"Chère, y' o.k.?"

Rogue nodded and gave a semi semi-reassuring smile.

"Ah'm fine" She told him

'Non, y' ain't'

Remy cupped Rogues chin and made lightly "So 'dis is the fifth time 'dis week y' not eat wit' us. Y'not hungry?"

"No. Not so much." Her answers were short and her attention was clearly focused elsewhere. He watched as she stood up, stretched and walked to her balcony.

"Well if y' say y' okay, Rey will just leave y' be." He made to leave for the door but stopped once she called back at him,

"Actually, Remy…Ah wanted to talk to you…"

He made his way back over to her; up close he could tell she looked distraught.

"'Bout what Rogue?" He asked slightly concerned.

"That night, y'know when we went out on your birthday. When we, well, when we-"

He smiled at her.

"When we had sex fo' the first time." He stated bluntly.

She was hesitant, but nodded.

"Is 'dat what 'dis is about?" Remy let out a relieved chuckle "Chère, y' don't have t' be shy or embarrassed about it." He brushed a few white strands behind her ear.

"'Dat night was amazin'."

"Ah'm not sayin' it wasn't Rem. But that's not what Ah'm trying to say." He eyes turned from hesitant to nervous.

Remy, realizing that she was nervous, became slightly concerned by the tone in her voice.

"What do y'mean 'den?" his red on black orbs quizzically gazing at her emerald ones.

"Ah really don't know what to say Rem. I think we've been moving really fast. Ah mean…Ah did not plan for that night to happen…"

"'It was a bit spur of 'da moment. Are y' talkin' bout regrets? Rogue, y' don' have t' turn 'dis into somethin' it's not. I wanted to be wit' y' as much as y' wanted to be wit' moi."

"Remy, the more Ah think about it the more Ah think Ah wasn't ready for that…" she began to twist and turn a piece of her hair with her finger, apprehensive of the next words she might say.

She was struggling to get the words out, and he knew it…He did not know what to expect from her right now.

"Ah think Ah need some space."

But to be fair, he honestly did not expect that.

Remy blankly stared at her. About ten minutes ago everything was fine as far as he was concerned, and now his girlfriend tells him that she "needs space"?

Taking in his reaction she quickly tried to defend herself,

"Remy don' be mad. Everything happened so fast, all ah wanted was to take mah life at a slower pace for once. And now Ah feel like in some way that moving too fast is makin' everythin' end before it even started."

End? End of what? Remy's brow furrowed with confusion and concern. Where was this coming from? Did she just start doubting everything after they slept together? That would be fairly ironic considering that Remy felt like that night was so right, all doubts completely gone and off the table.

"Rogue, what's going on? Where is all this coming from?"

She was unable to answer so he only continued to question.

"We were fine, y' were fine and now 'dis all of a sudden? What's really goin' on?"

"Rem-"

"If y' worried about keepin' y' powers in check, it'll be okay. Y've been doin' so great."

She shook her head and ran her hand through her hair in a frustrated manner.

"If y' scared y' can jus' tell Remy instead of pushin' him away." He watched as she kept her gaze away from his. He took her hand and put it on the upper left side of his chest over his heart.

"We have somethin' here. I feel somethin' for y'. This old Cajun cares about y' very much. Y' be so right fo' me Chere."

She slowly took her hand back and looked at him

"Remy, Ah can't."

Remy was now becoming frustrated with her and her vague responses.

"What Rogue? What can't y' do?" Remy asked firmly clearly frustrated with the situation.

She was slightly taken aback by his severe tone, but refused to lose her composure.

"Don't be mad—"

"Don't be mad? Rogue! How could Remy not be mad when y' bein unreasonable?"

"Ah am not!"

" Yes y' are, What's goin' on wit' y'? Is it that y' afraid t' care fo' another? How about acknowledge y' feelings instead of pushin them back? Huh, what is it?"

It was only after he said the words that he regretted them…that was not what he meant to say. Damn he was so frustrated that his words were leaving his mouth before he could think reasonably. He could see the stunned look form on her face and became aware of how hurtful his words must have actually sounded to her ears. Her shocked expression turned to a more irritated one.

"Remy stop assuming idiotic things -"

Idiotic! Man this girl was getting to him right now.

"Idiotic? I'm serious Rogue! What's the matter? Y' can't just lead me to believe that everything is okay and then just suddenly reveal that it's not!"

"Would y' just-"

"I don't know why y' actin dis' way, y' not makin' any sense."

"Remy-"

"There was no warning Rogue! It's like y' only givin' Remy half 'da story-"

"Remy, shut up!" Rogue shouted. Remy finally went silent and watched as she rubbed her temples clearly infuriated with him at the moment.

"There's no point in talkin' to you. You're just going to assume what you want and then not let me get in a word edge wise."

It was Remy's turn to be infuriated.

"Y'must be kiddin', you're really just loosin' y' mind-"

SMACK

He touched the tender spot on his face where her hand had slapped him. He looked at her, completely dazed and was only met by a pair of hurt and angry emerald eyes.

"We always fight Remy, Ah was just hoping that maybe for once we could talk like mature adults, but clearly that was just stupidity on my part. Ah can't talk to you anymore. You're just going to make me blow up and Ah can't deal with that right now." She walked over to the door and opened it.

He was livid

"Rogue, you started this! Now y' want me t' go-"

"Remy Ah have a headache and mah stomach is killing meh, please just leave." She asked seriously.

Remy refused to walk out the door. Instead he went over and held her shoulders.

"We are NOT done here. Remy don't care if it takes all night. It kills me that y' think I'm just gunna walk out on y', as if y' don't trust me, as if y' be thinkin' I don' care"

"Well Ah am done. Now get out" she responded in a harsh tone.

"Y'sayin' that y' really that insecure about opening up t' me-"

"Ah said get out!"

Remy let go of her shoulders and looked at her straight in the eyes.

"Y'know what, I thought we were fine. But that was a goddamn foolish thing fo' me t' think. Y' ain't bein' fair Rogue! I don' know where any of 'dis came from and I really don't know how 'dis is gunna work if y' don't open up t' me." He stared intensely at her waiting for her reply.

Instead, she glared at him and walked past him and into the bathroom connected to her room. Once there, she began rummaging through the wastebasket. She picked up a small item and walked back over to Remy.

"Y' know what? Ah did 'open up'. In fact Ah was open wide enough for this to happen." She threw something his way.

Remy grabbed the small plastic stick and looked down at the object in his hand. He did not know what to be more shocked about, the item itself or the sign etched on the tip.

"How's that for being open enough for you Remy?" with that said she stomped away from Remy's statue state towards her bathroom and slammed the door shut.