Epilogue

Two months later:

Rogue, who had been about to drift off to sleep, frowned and turned towards the window as it opened. Up popped Gambit's head and a moment later he was climbing inside.

"Okay..." Rogue said. "Not that I'm not happy to see you sugar, but why are you coming in through the window and not through the door? You do remember you live here, right?"

"Oui," Gambit replied. "But it's been twenty years - more actually - since I last had to sneak home late at night and I wanted to do it again for old times sake."

"Sneak home huh? Stealing stuff on the side, or sleeping around?"

"Why do you think a teenage boy was doing that time of night?"

Rogue laughed and Gambit started getting undressed for bed. Rogue put her bear on the bedside table.

"You still sleeping with that thing?" he grumbled.

"You've been gone two months leaving me all alone in this bed. I wanted some company."

"Damned opportunistic bear."

Rogue giggled.

"How much of this course is left?" Gambit asked.

"One more week and then the final exam."

"Bon. I missed you."

Rogue snorted.

"I did!" Gambit insisted as he laid down next to her.

"I just... you were only here a week and then you took off - for two more heists."

"Désolé, I know you think I'm probably being silly but beating that record gave me something to aim for instead of moping over being exiled."

Rogue sighed.

"No," she said. "I don't think you're being silly. I know how excited you are about this being your record breaking year so... I just missed you too and I..."

"What?"

Rogue took a deep breath.

"I just got some news the other day."

"Is everything okay?"

"Remy, I'm..." Rogue began, took another deep breath, then continued in little more than a whisper: "I'm pregnant."

For a moment, Gambit didn't reply.

"I guess we did have an awful lot to celebrate that week," he said finally. "My birthday, not being exiled any more, you stealing the Assassins Guild."

Rogue laughed nervously. Gambit wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and he moved her head so she had to look at him. Neither said anything and Gambit gently kissed her lips.

"So, pregnant, huh?" he said.

"Yeah, I... I don't know what to do."

"Well," Gambit said slowly. "We've got trois choices. Abortion, adoption or keeping."

"You said 'we'," Rogue said with a relieved smile.

"Of course I said 'we', ma chére. You were planning on giving me a say in it, weren't you?"

"Well, yes but I... I have trust issues, leave me alone."

"Nu-uh, not leaving you alone. Every time I leave you alone that stupid bear ends up in bed with you."

Rogue poked her tongue out at at him and he grinned at her.

"So I don't mind saying that I think adoption's out. Let's face it, we're both mutants so the odds are our kids are going to be mutants too so they're probably be better off with mutant parents. Especially if our kid ends up with my eyes. They think my eyes were the reason why I was abandoned at the hospital as a baby. Don't want our kid being ashamed of his eyes."

"Your eyes are gorgeous," Rogue insisted.

"Merci."

Neither said anything for a moment.

"I want to be a père."

"You do? Really? Rogue asked hopefully.

"Oui," Gambit replied, grinning back at her. "Besides, I need an heir anyway."

"Oh you," Rogue said, slapping his arm affectionately.

Gambit chuckled and kissed her deeply.

"Okay," Rogue said. "So we're keeping it. Him. Her. The baby."

"Oui," Gambit replied with a smile. "Does anyone else know?

"No. Well, I think Tante Mattie might suspect."

"You can never hide anything from Tante Mattie."

"I've noticed that, myself."

Gambit grinned and gently caressed Rogue's face. She smiled back at him.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too."

"Marry me."

"What?"

"Marry me. Be my wife."

"Remy, marriage is a serious thing."

"I know that."

"It's a huge responsibility."

"So's raising a baby."

"Yeah, but you don't make vows when you raise a baby."

"No, but it is a lifelong commitment."

"I don't want you proposing just because I'm pregnant."

"Chére, just because I'm asking you now because of this does not mean I never would have asked you at all."

"I just... I just don't want you making any promises you can't keep."

"Bon. Same applies to you."

Silence.

"Okay," said Rogue.

"Okay what?"

"Okay, I'd love to marry you. But only if you're sure."

"Never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you Roguey, and I honestly can't picture living the rest of my life without you."

"I can't really picture the rest of my life without you in it either," Rogue admitted.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him sweetly.

"Roguey?"

"Mmm?"

"Just one thing."

"Yeah?"

"Lose the bear."

"Aww."

"You're way too old for sleeping with a stuffed toy."

"Am not."

"I don't like the way he looks at you. And he has these beady little eyes."

"His eyes are beads."

"Exactly my point."

Rogue giggled.

"Compromise?" she asked.

"Mmm?" Gambit murmured non-committally.

"I keep the bear until the baby is born and then the baby gets him."

"Seven more months and he never gets his paws on you again," he considered.

Rogue laughed.

"Okay, done," Gambit agreed finally.

"I can't believe you're jealous of a bear."

"Not jealous. Protecting my interests."

"Whatever you wanna tell yourself, sugar."

End!

I hope you guys all enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. A big, heart-felt thanks to everyone who reviewed, it has been much appreciated.

Yes, I am planning on writing a third story. I'm having way too much fun with this series :D Of course so far I only know three things about it: The title will be "King of Thieves", Rogue and Gambit get married and the baby is born. That's about it hahaha.