Down on Bourbon Street

[Gambit]

Remy and Anna decided that getting out of New York was the best solution to the nightmare that had become the Hellfire Gala, and Gambit knew just where to go. A semi-short plane ride later, and the duo was in Gambit's favorite place in the world--New Orleans. Now he just had to pray that Belladonna didn't jump him with Guild business before he and Rogue got in some proper downtime.

"Chere, dis is the part of town where de..." Gambit said as he made his way through the crowds of tourists until he got to the doorway of a club he had long called his second home. "Huh?" he asked as he got to the door and looked inside. The place looked a bit more deserted than usual. Then again, it wasn't Mardi Gras or any of the other numerous festivals that marked the Crescent City's calendar in a given year. "Open de damn door, Marcel!" the Cajun shouted as he banged on the deep red, painted wooden frame of Le Jardin. It sounded more like a snooty restaurant than a bar, but it was the partying home to all the mutants and children of the night that his beloved NOLA could pack into its borders.

Gambit looked at Rogue as a couple of members of the local wolf clan passed them. They knew him all too well as the head of the Unified Guilds, so they gave him a bit of a wide berth. "Crescent wolves. And I know. Dis sounding like an episode of Buffy. Trust me. Marcel is an old friend. And a vampire. And before you ask, yes, we have an agreement. I get him things, and he doesn't cause trouble for de X-Men. Same for de wolves. Elodie Desmarais is de wolf leader, and Marcel Brisbois is second in command among de vampires. But partying? Dey got that down to a science."

[Southern Belle Rogue]

  " Sugah, after all our time in da X-Men, seein all da wolves and vampyrs ain't even shocking ta this southern belle." Anna intertwined her fingers with Remy's. It may of seemed simple to most, but for her it was much more than simple. For most of her life and their long battle tested relationship, she could't even touch him.  There were times it almost ending things for the two of them, but somehow they always ended up back with a love that never lessened.  

 As they waited for the door to be opened, Anna leaned on Remy a bit. " This is nice, just ta finally feel ya touch muh skin, just ta finally be in ya arms."   She half snuggled into Remy's shoulder in the fall air.  " All ah ask, all ah need, is somebody ta hold me. Stroke his fingers through muh hair. Promise me that everythin's gonna be fine... that all the cuts and bruises are worth it in the end. More than anything Remy... ah want that person t' be you."   

 Anna reached her free hand up and gently touched Remy's cheek.  " Yah always been da best thief ah've ever known, cuz ya the only one ta ever steal muh heart."  She smiled as she watched more individuals pass by, with that same sort of look. While there may be an alliance, it didn't stop the stares and uncomfortable vibes they gave off.  

[Gambit]

There was a lump in Remy's throat as Anna pressed closer to him and told him what was on her mind. He knew he was damned lucky that she didn't walk away from him after his little deal with Nathaniel Essex. It may have been done to save her, but it was still a deal with a devil the X-Men really could have lived without. But the thing was, Remy could not live without his Anna, and he'd have gone to Hell itself to save her.

"Chere, I know I am a lucky man," he started to say as his voice cracked just a tiny bit. "I know I am de king of screw ups when it comes to love. I've blown things, and even if I did things for de very best of reasons, you still would have had de reason to walk away. Merci, ma chere, for having faith in me and faith in us."

Remy leaned in and kissed Anna. It wasn't some slight glance of the lips this time. He didn't have to worry about having his powers or his life force taken from him in a moment of passion.  Anna was truly in control of her powers now, and that made things so much sweeter for the two of them.

There were mutterings from the passersby about them getting a room, but Remy just laughed them off as they broke their kiss. "Let'em be, Anna. Ain't got a clue about us." Remy then turned back to the door as he pulled Anna close again. "Marcel's taking a nap, I guess," he said as he rapped on the door again. "Or he got his bartender Sophie out back doing spells. She's a witch. Another one of them ol'Nawlins families. Does make a mean Hurricane, though."