Rogue and Gambit
Gradually they pulled away from their kiss.
"Somet'ing wrong Cheri?" asked Gambit.
"Ah just... Ah feel kinda bad..."
"Oh?"
"Ah mean, Ah... Ah know that you're not exactly welcome at the mansion... but Ah've been feeling like Ah don't belong there much anymore either. And Ah feel especially bad because Julie... Julie..."
"Yes?"
"The whole... thing... she didn't... She knows what's happened and all, and no one's really blaming her right now, but she's in the medlab... And Ah'm worried that when she gets out..."
"That she'll have to deal with a bucketload of hatred?"
"Something like that."
"Well, I t'ink dat Julie's capable of dealing with that -"
"She got raped and now she's pregnant!"
"Again, I t'ink she can deal. And I t'ink dat the others... well it's easy to blame someone who isn't around for somet'ing isn't it? Easy to blame Julie while she was in the coma. I t'ink it'll be harder for them now, to really be hostile towards her, as a whole. Besides, she like yo' have a big support system. Yo'll get dere."
Rogue nodded slowly.
"Ah hope so."
"I know so."
She smiled and Gambit kissed her again.
"Ah've just... Ah've been thinking... of leaving once Ah've finish this year. Some stay, y'know, to do further study, and/or to actually join-join the X-men. But Ah don't think Ah will."
"Why? Because of what happened?"
"Partly."
"Rogue, Cheri, yo' can' let one little t'ing dictate what yo' do for the rest of yo' life. I know yo' wanted to continue study."
"Ah can continue elsewhere... or..."
"Or what?"
"Or Ah could... live with you."
Gambit smiled.
"Cheri, I woul' love dat, but I don' t'ink yo' woul'."
"Why?"
"Because dere is nothing here fo' yo'. If yo' don't find something fo' yo'self, den yo'll only get sucked into what I do. And I... I love yo' too much to drag yo' into dis. No, Cheri, you continuing schooling after high school, and find somet'ing dat yo' really love ta do. Don' let what other t'ink to dissuade yo' from dat."
Rogue smiled faintly.
"Okay," she said softly.