Finally got around to finishing this chapter. It was written weeks ago, but just got around to editing it. Sorry about the wait.

Once Gambit was sure there were no prying eyes he made his way up to the cabin. He would have made his presence known right away, but he wanted to see what Rogue was doing. He peeked through the side of the window and saw her sitting on the small sofa reading a book. She looked happy and content at that moment. Did she just decide that it was better to live on her own? This place was fairly far from the city of Richmond, but not so far that she would have a hard time getting supplies. He was so close to her, but still so far away. He thought it was time he stop sitting on the sidelines and enter the scene.

He ducked under the window not wanting to take a chance that she would see him until he wanted her to and quietly stepped onto the porch. A waited a minute or before knocking, just standing here thinking about his chere.

He could hear commotion inside and knew she had to have heard him. "Who could that be?" he heard the faint sound of her voice. Before long the door opened. "Beverly, did you...?" Rogue stopped speaking when she looked into Gambit's eyes realizing it wasn't the person she thought it was. "Why....? How...?"

"Nice to see you too, Chere," he said and walked inside.

"What are you doing here?" she asked demandingly. "An' ah never said you could come in."

"I saved you the trouble," he said and came to sit down on the sofa. It was the same spot she had occupied minutes before. "Now, you want to tell Gambit what you're doin' here?"

"None a your business, now get out!" she shouted. "Ah wanna be alone."

"Why?" he asked and she turned away. "I t'ink I deserve an answer after the all the trouble went t'rough t'get here. Hate ridin' on buses."

She turned around with a look of anger on her face. "You were on the bus. Ah didn't see you."

"Yeah, I made sure, but I saw you. Dere you were in de back corner sleeping like an angel. Dat was after I chased that nightmare away."

"Why did ya follow me?" she asked in a quiet tone. "Why do ya care?"

"'Cause you needed someone. Tears me up inside t'see you like dat. Like dat night your powers went crazy, tried t'help den dat night, but Claws showed up so Gambit stay out a sight."

"You were there then too," she said with a look of shame about her face and tried to turn away from him so he couldn't see her. "Never wanted you t'see me like that."

"Ain't nothin' to be ashamed of, Chere," he said as he stood up next to her as she turned back to look at him. He tried to put his arms around her, but she backed off.

"No!" she yelled. She looked down at her hands and saw that they were uncovered and hid them behind her back. "You can't touch me!"

"I know that, Rogue," he said softly. "Don't you t'ink I don' know what your powers can do? I ain't afraid."

"Ya should be," she said walking away from him. He chased after her untill she stopped. "Don't ya see, ah destroy everything ah touch. It's best if ah'm alone, so please leave before ah hurt you too."

"I ain't goin'," he said and came closer to her. She wanted to flee at that moment, but part of her didn't. "Besides, runnin' away like you did, all by yourself, anyt'ing coulda happened. Girls like you get snatched all t'time."

"Ah can take care of myself," she said defiantly.

"Oh, really, chere, you didn't even know I was in de woods during your hike." She had a shocked look on her face. "Dat was me you heard. Lucky I was dere t'look after you."

"I never asked you to!" she shouted at him. She just stood against the wall with tears flowing down her face. "Just, go, please," she pleaded but in a much softer voice.

He pulled out a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. There was enough lose cloth for her to take it from him without actually touching his skin. "You t'ink I'm gonna leave when you're dis upset."

"It's better that ya leave while ya still have the chance."

At her last word, thunder could be heard outside along with lightning and faint sound of rain showers. "Can't go now, anyway. Rainin'. You wouldn't want ole Gambit to catch his death."

"It's your fault for followin' me," she said in protest.

"Oh, come on, Chere, you don't really want Gambit t'go, do ya?" he asked in a quiet voice. He looked like he was raising his hand to touch her face which made her gasp, but he just lightly glazed over her bottom lip with his gloved finger. "Can't Gambit stay?"

She hesitated speaking and looked over at the window's open curtain. It already had water dripping down from the outside. She looked over at him and saw the sorrow in his eyes. "Okay," she said as he gave her a smile. "Just for one night, then ya go on and let me be."

"Whatever you say, Chere," he said moving away from her. She let out a breath of relief when he walked back over to sit on the sofa.

"There's only one bed," she said walking over to where he was sitting on the sofa. "You take it. Ah can sleep here."

"Non, you paid for dis place, you take de bed, unless dere's enough room for both of us." She backed up a little with a look of fright in her eyes. "Gambit only jokin'."

"Good," she said and looked out the window again. Sun's goin' down. Ah always loved a good sunset."

She raced to the outside door and opened it. She stepped outside on the porch a smile plastered on her face. "Chere, it's raining out here," Gambit said, trying to urge her back inside.

"Ah know, but look at the sky," she said, extending her arm pointing to the sun that was only half visible. "All those different colors it creates. Don't ya think it's beautiful?"

"Sure, and so are you," he said which made her blush.

She turned to him and looked him his eyes. "Why'd ya say that?"

"'Cause it's true," he said, reaching his half gloved hand to her shoulder and trailing it down her arm. She jerked away from him.

"Ah guess it's time to come inside," she said and walked around him and walked through the front door of the cabin. He followed her inside and noticed how nervous she suddenly became. "Guess it's time for bed."

"Guess so," he said as she walked towards the closet. "What you lookin' for?"

"Just some extra blankets. Don't want ya t'freeze on that sofa with nothin' t'cover up with."

"Gambit slept in worse places," he said and she looked over at him to see a solemn expression on his face.

"Here we are," she said and walked over and handed him two blankets, one thin one and one thicker, but not by much. "At least you won't freeze." He took the blankets from her and spread one out onto the small sofa. Looking at the length, Rogue was feeling guilty about him having to sleep on this tiny little couch that barely accommodated two people. It was more made for her size, not that the bed was super big, being only a twin, but still had plenty of room for a body to sleep in. "Are you sure you wanna sleep there?"

"Non, but Gambit ain't taking a soft warm bed away from a lady. Can't let dat get around."

"Fine, then, but don't say ah didn't offer," she said and reached into her bag for her night clothes."

She walked around the room past the kitchenette to a small door that Gambit guessed was the bathroom. He lay on the sofa with his legs dangling off the edge with his eye on that door. She came out in a few minutes wearing a pair of pajama bottom and a green and gray nightshirt.

"Real sexy, Rogue," Gambit said sarcastically.

"It's what ah always wear t'bed."

"T'ink you look better in somethin' lacy," he said as she slipped under the covers.

"Very funny," she said and thought about throwing a pillow at him, but something told her that he may not give it back. She then abandoned the idea. "Just go t'sleep," she said and turned off the lights. The switch was on the wall on the left side of the bed.

The room was dark, and she laid there for the longest time. Knowing Gambit was in the same room with her caused her some anxiety, but she was so exhausted from the trip that she was soon sound asleep.

Next chapter is almost finished, so it won't be a long wait. If you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments. See you next time.