As the Blackbird's engines cooled down, the door opened and Rogue was the first one out. She bounded down the stairs, rubbing her neck at their latest mission that had almost kicked all their asses. Coming out next, Gambit smiled as he glanced down at the bare skin that was exposed just below her left buttock and down her leg. Heading down the stairs, he walked up to her left.

"Look like y' got hit, chere." He said, seeing her look at him with a confused look.

"What?" She asked.

"I check yo' backside." He said, winking. "Got a nice size hole in de seat o' yo' pants."

Rogue slightly blushed. "Well, thanks for lookin' at my ass and lettin' me know, Cajun." She said, taking her jacket off and wrapping it around her waist.

"Anytime." He said as they walked in and down the hall toward the elevator.

Walking inside, Gambit hit the button, taking them up to the main ground floor. "How big is it?" Rogue asked, trying to look under her jacket.

Gambit made a gesture with his hand, showing her the size of the hole. "'Bout like dat." He said.

Rogue's eyes widened. "Oh my god." She said, covering her face.

"Ain't dat big o' deal." He said, putting his arm around her and hugging her. "Don' go getting' all uppity, chere. We all les adultes."

She smiled as she felt him kiss the top of her head. "Well, some of us are." She said, nudging him in the torso with her elbow.

He chuckled as he instinctively put his right hand on the spot she just nudged. "Still, dat hole ain' showin' not'in' but yo' beautiful, creamy skin." He said, seeing her blush deepen.

When the elevator opened, Rogue quickly walked out and headed upstairs. Gambit followed behind her and to her room. Turning to close the door, she saw he was in the doorway.

"Ain' gonna let me in?" He asked.

"Ah need ta change, sugah." She said, waiting for him to take a few steps back.

"So change." He said, looking into her room before looking back down into her eyes. "Remy won' touch."

"Not with ya here, hun." She said, looking down at his chest and shaking her head. "Ah don't feel comfortable. Not yet."

He smiled warmly down at her as he took a step back. "A'right, mon amour." He said, winking at her as he headed off to the left.

Rogue smiled. She loved it when he called her 'mon amour' rather than 'chere'. He had started doing that three months ago when they decided to try and have some sort of a relationship. Though her powers were still in full force, she was working hard with the Professor to try and control them.

Closing the door, she walked over to the dresser and took out a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. Before she could change into that, she needed a shower.

–

Closing his door, Gambit shrugged off his brown duster and draped it over the chair by the bed. Sitting down, he took his boots off and pushed them aside with his right foot as he moved his left in circular motions. He had twisted it out in the field. Stupid, really. It was his own damn fault. He couldn't help but laugh at himself when it had happened. Now, it hurt like a son of a bitch.

Getting to his feet, he stripped down before walking into the bathroom and taking a quick shower. After drying off, he walked into the bedroom and slipped some gray sweat pants on, along with a dark red Henley. Pulling the sleeves up to his forearms and pulling his hair back in to a ponytail, he stepped out and into the hall, deciding to go see what Beast could do for the swelling that was starting to do a number on his ankle.

Lightly limping down the stairs, he walked down the hall and into Beast's lab. "Hope de doc is in." He said, making his way over to a chair and sitting down.

"What's wrong?" Hank asked, looking over his glasses as he walked up to Gambit.

"Twist m' ankle." He said, putting his left foot up on the desk. "Swellin' startin' up."

"My goodness." Hank said, touching it to see if it was only a twist. "This looks like more of a sprained ankle to me."

"Mm!" Gambit grunted as Beast pressed on the sides of his ankle. "Maybe so."

"I can wrap it for you." Hank said, walking over to a cabinet and grabbing some athletic tape and a beige wrap. "You'll need to stay off of it for a while."

"Facile à dire pour toi." Gambit said, watching Hank open the bandages and tape. "Easy fo' you t' say. How long we talkin'?"

"Well, the least amount of time would be at a month." He said, seeing Gambit shake his head in disapproval.

"Non." He said. "Not happenin'."

"What's the problem?" Hank asked, beginning to cut strips with the athletic tape and placing them on his ankle

"How I s'ppose t' take Rogue out if I be hobblin' along on crutches?" He asked, seeing Hank smile.

"You think she cares about how unattractive crutches are?" Hank asked, finishing up the tape before wrapping it. "If anything, it should earn you some sympathy and a few more than willing hugs on her part."

Gambit smirked. "Beast, had no idea y' were so involved wit' de women." He said, making Hank chuckle.

"I've had my moments, Gambit." He said, fastening the bandage tight. "There. Let me grab you those crutches."

"Merde." Gambit moaned as Hank pulled them out of a closet.

–

Tossing the towel on the bed, Rogue slipped the yoga pants on before pulling a sports bra on and then the tank. Grabbing a light hoodie, she put that on before heading out and downstairs into the kitchen for a snack. All that fighting had made her hungry and she had gotten her ass kicked this time around. Not to mention, she received a large hole in her uniform.

Walking into the kitchen, she saw Gambit sitting at the table with Nightcrawler. "Howdy, boys." She said, walking over to the bowl of fruit.

"Hello." Kurt said with a smile.

"Hey, chere." Gambit said with a smile.

She looked at him and noticed him looking her over. "What are y'all up ta?" She asked, a slight blush creeping across her cheeks, as she grabbed an apple.

"Jus' talkin'." Gambit said, standing up and walking with the crutches over to her.

"Oh my god." She said, looking down at his foot. "What did ya do this time?"

Gambit chuckled. "Sprained m' ankle." He said, looking down as he lifted it. "Out in de field."

Rogue looked down the ankle again before trailing her gaze up his legs, then torso, chest, lips then eyes. "Is that when ya fell flat on ya ass?" She asked, flirting a she took a bite.

"Not my most graceful moment." He said, watching her lips as she chewed the bite she just took.

Rogue leaned against the counter and watched him take another glance over her body. She did the same as he walked up to her. It was noticeable that he was going commando under those pants and she felt her face flush.

"Wha's wrong?" He asked, stopping a foot away from her, getting her eyes to look up into his.

"Ya really should wear underwear." She said, trying to keep her composure. "It's disgusting when ya don't."

He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Is it?" He asked. "Y' seem pretty int'rested in wha' I be packin'."

"This isn't just ya home. This is a school. Ya need ta keep in mind that kids are here." Rogue turned and headed toward the back door.

"Aw, where you goin', Rogue?" He asked, following behind her on the crutches.

"Ya drive me crazy." She said, not looking back as she continued to walk past the pool and into the garden.

"Oui." He said, following close behind her, looking at her backside. "Somet'in' tellin' me you ain' wearing no underwear under t'ose yoga pants, eit'er."

Rogue stopped and turned around, causing him to almost crash into her. "Every time ya open ya mouth, it's like ah'm a dog being told ta stay while there's a delicious treat balancin' on my nose." She said, placing her hands on his chest. "Ya know we gotta keep our distance, sugah. Until ah can control my powers-"

"You t'ink I'm a delicious treat?" He asked, that cocky grin showing up again.

"Dammit." Rogue said, smiling back at him. "Yes. Ah do, but can ah please finish my point?"

"Don' gotta finish it. I know what you sayin'." He said, taking a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it up with the tip of his finger.

"Ugh." Rogue said, turning and walking away. "Ya gotta stop that."

"Like you ain' never smoked." He said, following after her.

"That ain't tha point." She said, taking a seat on the bench in the garden. "It's a bad habbit. Plus, stagnant cigarette smell is barf worthy."

"Barf wort'y?" He asked, taking a seat beside her, resting his hands on the crutches that stood between his knees. "I go from a delicious treat t' barf wort'y?"

"Listen." She said, taking another bite and looking at him as he took a drag. "When ah'm able ta touch, we ain't kissin' until ya've stopped smokin'."

Taking the cigarette out of his mouth with his left hand, he blew the smoke away from her. "Dat be a big t'ing t' ask o' me, mon amour." He said, watching her swallow the bite she just finished. "Been doin' dis fo' lots o' years."

"Well, if ah really am your 'amour', ya'd do it for me." She said, watching him flick the ashes to the ground.

"I try my best, chérie." He said, placing the cigarette back into his mouth.

"Well, ya ain't tryin' very hard." She said, taking it out of his mouth and throwing it on the ground in front of her, rubbing it into the stone blocks with her shoe.

"Ey!" He said. "Dat a waste o' money."

"Ya right. Smokin' is a waste of money." She said, standing up and walking back toward the mansion.

Standing, Gambit started walking after her, forgetting about the crutches for a minute, and suddenly feeling the pain. "Gah!" He said, placing the crutches under his armpits and quickly going after her. "Chere, can' jus' go cold turkey."

"Well ya could start today with smokin' less." She said, heading to the side door that lead to the library.

"Dat be my first smoke o' de day." He said, following her inside and down the hall toward the stairs. "I réduire de smokin'. Wha' be a good number t' start wit'?"

Rogue stopped and turned to face him. "Ya gotta be serious about this, Gambit." She said, as he stopped a few feet away from her. "Ah ain't playing around. If we're gonna make this relationship work when ah'm able ta control my powers, we gotta take inta consideration tha others feelings."

"Oui, chere. Okay, but wha' 'bout my feelin's? Y' ain' takin' into consideration, t'ose." He said. "I try t' stop fo' you. Jus' gotta let me do it my way. Ça va?"

"Alright." Rogue said, walking up to him and softening her mood as she looked into his eyes, placing her hands on his chest again. "Ah really want this ta work."

"Me too, Rogue." He said, seeing her smile and shake her head.

"None of this 'Rogue', mess." She said, as she buttoned the bottom two buttons of his shirt. "Ah want ya ta start callin' me by my name."

He smiled down at her. "Alright, chere." He said. "But you do de same wit' me, eh?"

She nodded as she pat his chest. "Ah'm gonna be in tha library." She said. "Ya can join me if ya want."

He shook his head. "You go on." He said. "I t'ink I take a nap an' rest my ankle. Been a long day."

"Alright." Rogue said as she watched him walk past her and make his way upstairs before she turned and went into the library.

–

Sitting on his bed, Gambit leaned the crutches against the nightstand before he swung his legs over and lied down on the bed. He could feel the throbbing in his ankle and knew it was from the wrap Hank had provided.

Putting his hands behind his head, he closed his eyes and tried to get some rest. The mission had almost been a failure and had them using all they had. It wasn't their first run in with The Juggernaut, but he had several allies on his side this time and they meant business. He smiled, suddenly thinking of how he sprained his ankle.

"Sloppy." Is all he said as he replayed the fight in his mind.

He wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep, but when he opened his eyes he saw it was dark in his room. Sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Gambit grabbed the crutches and headed out of his room and toward the stairs. The lights in the kitchen and hallway were still on, so it wasn't too awfully late.

Finally getting downstairs, he heard talking in the kitchen and decided to see who all was in there. Entering the room, he saw Jean sitting with Storm and Rogue. Rogue noticed him and smiled as she pat the table beside her.

"Come on over and rest that ankle, hun." She said, pulling the chair out for him.

He made his way over and took a seat, leaning the crutches against the table. "I t'ink I'm interrupting girl talk." He said, feeling Rogue take his hand in her gloved one.

"Nah, we're just talkin' about everything." She said, looking at him. "Did ya sleep all afternoon?"

"Mm hmm." Gambit said rubbing his eyes with his free hand. "F'got dat it get dark early now. T'rew me off."

"And it's cold." Rogue said, intertwining their fingers.

Gambit looked down at their hands and smiled before looking into her eyes. "We can go light de fireplace." He said, glancing at her lips. "Sit close."

"That sounds nice." Rogue said, smiling up at him.

"Wha' you say, chere?" He asked, leaning in and kissing her hair that lay on the side of her face. "Le's go cuddle under a blanket."

Rogue let out a nervous laugh. "That, sounds dangerous." She said.

"Only if you try anyt'in'." He smiled.

"If ah try anything?" Rogue asked, letting out a scoffing laugh. "In ya dreams."

"Always." He said, hearing Jean and Storm chuckle.

"Go on. Enjoy it." Jean said to Rogue. "You'll be fine."

Gambit stood, putting his weight on his right foot. "C'mon, chere." He said, looking down at her. "I go start de fire, eh?"

Rogue chuckled as she watched him hobble off and out of the kitchen on his crutches. "Already started tha fire." She said, making the girls laugh as she stood up fanning herself. "See ya gals later."

"Have fun." Jean said with a smile as they watched her leave.

Walking into the living area, Rogue saw Gambit knelt down in front of the fireplace. A soft orangey glow was lighting up the dark room as he stood and turned around, smiling at her. She grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and walked over, sitting down and smiling up at him. Slowly getting to the ground, he relaxed beside her and smiled as he lied his crutches on the couch. Taking the blanket, Rogue draped it over their legs and moved closer to him.

"Dere." He said, softly, draping his arm over her shoulder after pulling his sleeves down.

Rogue closed her eyes when she felt him kiss her head again before she heard him take a deep breath, breathing in her scent. "We're so close." She said.

"Mm hmm." He said, reaching over with his right hand and taking hers, rubbing his thumb over her covered knuckles lightly.

"Ah mean, ta physically touchin'." She said. "Ah've been working so hard with tha Professor. Ah think ah'll be getting tha hang of it soon. It just feels different now. My whole body just feels...different."

Gambit looked down at her. "Y' wanna try it, chere?" He asked.

"No." She shook her head. "Not until ah know for certain that ah ain't gonna hurt ya."

"Wha'ever y' want." He said, softly as he pulled her close. "Anna?"

She smiled at the use of her name. "Mm hmm?" She answered.

"Stay wit' me t'night." He said. "In my room."

Pulling away, Rogue looked up at him. "Remy..." She didn't know how to finish what she wanted to say, although she knew what she wanted to say.

"Jus' wanna feel you beside me." He said, still in that soft tone.

"Ah think it's a little too soon ta be talkin' about sleepin' in tha same bed." She said, bringing her knees up and hugging them.

Sitting up, he leaned over and looked at her face. "I keep my clot'es on, chere. I even stay on top o' de covers." He said, doing his best to persuade her.

She sighed, thinking about it as she felt his hand pat her hair. "Ah don't know." She said, feeling his hand trail down her back. "What if we accidentally touch? What if ah-"

"Hey." He said, combing the strands of hair that were in her face over her shoulder. "Not'in' gonna happen. Y' always be t'inkin' de worst. Live a li'l."

She couldn't help but smile back. Without giving him an answer, she moved closer and lied her head on his shoulder. They sat there for an hour, making small talk, before Rogue decided her backside needed to take a break from the hard floor. Standing, she helped Gambit up and they headed upstairs. When they reached the top, Gambit kept heading toward his room and noticed Rogue following him. Reaching the door, he opened it and walked inside, turning to see she wasn't following him.

"Ah ain't ready for this, sugah." Rogue said as she watched him walk up to her. "Ah'm sorry."

"Don' be apologizin'." He said, reaching out and taking her gloved hand, giving it a kiss. "Dere always be a spot fo' you."

"Goodnight, Remy." Rogue said, blowing him a kiss before waving.

"G'night, mon amour." He said, watching her disappear from the doorway before he closed it and head to bed.

A/N: And here's the first chapter! Short, yes, but I hope you all will enjoy it!