"Rogue? I'm headed off now," Gambit said.
He walked into the room and stopped short as Rogue looked up with a partially guilty expression on her face. His eyes looked down at the cook book on the dining room table.
"Please tell me you're just looking at the pretty pictures."
Rogue giggled.
"Don't worry Shugah," she grinned. "Ah wasn't plannin' on cookin' you anthin'. This is for the X-men."
"Yo' mean dey haven't banned yo' from the kitchen there yet?"
"They like muh sandwiches. Oh and salads. Ah can make those too. Okay well, it's not exactly for the X-men. Just for some friends."
"Cherie, I love yo' but if yo' poison your friends you'll soon run outta dem," Gambit said teasingly.
"Well, they were the ones who specifically asked for bad Cajun cookin'," Rogue nodded. "Bad, late night Cajun cookin' ta be exact. They wanted me ta get you ta cook somethin' up, but Ah told 'em you were incapable of cookin' anythin' bad. Now, awesome Cajun cookin's anothah story."
Gambit gave her a perplexed look.
"Why do dey want bad Cajun cooking?"
"So we can make the Ghost of Elvis."
Gambit opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and shook his head. Rogue laughed.
"Bobby put up these joke kitchen rules, including this crazy one 'bout a green tupperware bowl containin' the Ghost of Elvis. Well, not containin' the Ghost of Elvis. Actually it's not so much a rule as a stupid story. Although there is that part about not givin' the Ghost of Elvis sideburns... Anyway, the latest craze at the mansion is ta break all the kitchen rules."
"Yo' have some very strange friends, Cherie."
"Ah know, but they're fun. Besides, it drives Jean and Scott insane. Especially Jean."
"Well... can't argue wit' dat I suppose... Just don' bring home any leftovers. Are yo' sure dey really want bad Cajun cookin'?"
"Yep."
"Try not to turn them off Cajun food altogether, Cherie."
Rogue giggled.
"Ah promise ta make sure they know it's 'eat at your own risk'," she grinned at him. "Oh, while we're on the subject, Ah'll be late home tomorrow night, 'cause that's when we're doin' this thing. It's gonna be nice to da somethin' silly after the last few weeks Ah've been havin'."
Rogue rolled her eyes a little and shook her head.
"I'd noticed yo' seemed a little preoccupied wit' somethin'," Gambit observed.
Rogue looked up at him and smiled a fraction. He had?
"Yeah, y'know, work. Some big changes comin' up, and whole lotta preparation ta go with it. Ah think muh brain is set ta explode."
Gambit chuckled.
"I'm sure it'll work out fine, ma chere," he said, and after a pause, touched her face and kissed her softly. "I'll see you later."
"Have good night," Rogue smiled. "Ah love you."
Gambit smiled back. He loved the way her face lit up like that.
"I love yo' too, Cherie," he said.
He turned then and made his way to the garage while Rogue smiled happily after him. After he'd left her sight, she went back to going through the cook book, feeling brighter than she had in weeks.