Running from the Past

Chapter Seven: Unexpected Visitor

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."