Disclaimer : X-Men is Marvel's; 'Oops! I Did it Again' belongs to Britney 
Spears.  Notice a pattern dere?  Yup, dat's right.  Ah own nothin'!  btw, 
Remy might be slightly out of character, but chalk that up to caffeine 
overdose (Caffeine is heaven!) and Joseph might be too...  Ah haven' seen 
Joe in a comic, so...  Feedback welcome, enjoy de story!  --KM - 7/'00

Thinking Out Loud
by Autumn

	I think I did it again

	The docks were silent as two mutant forms sat on the wooden boards, 
completely lost in their own worlds.  The Southern Belle, known as Rogue to 
the people who knew her, stared into the blue depths of the water, unsure of 
her feelings, uncertain of her future--if she even had one--, and confused 
over her present case of jitters in life.
	The second figure, male, sat a small distance away from her, doodling on a 
note pad as he stole glances at Rogue.  Joseph, formerly Magneto, was 
confused.  He knew his feelings for Rogue were true; they had to be!  Who 
else could make him stop in his tracks and then feel suddenly more insecure 
around her?  No one, at least that he could remember.
	"Rogue?" Joseph quietly broke the silence.  Her expression worried him.  
Her eyes were glazed over in thought and she had a 'I'm far away from 
here--and you' expression on her firm lips.
	"What, Joe?" Rogue shook her mop of curls as she glanced over at him.
	"Are you okay?" She nodded and he gazed at her doubtfully.
	"Jus' thinkin' 'bout thin's," she murmured, her accent even more pronounced 
in her mumble.
	Joe nodded, "What things?" Scooting closer to her, he gave her a friendly 
smile, "want to talk about it?"
	"No," she sighed.  "Ah can't talk to ya 'bout it."

I made you believe we're more than just friends
Oh baby
It might seem like a crush

	"Are you sure?  You know I'll listen and won't judge you..."
	She nodded again, and brightened her smile, and quickly changed the topic, 
"what are ya drawin'?"
	"Drawing?" he stared at her in confusion, before remembering the sketch pad 
in his lap, "Oh, nothing.  I was just doodling."
	She nodded slowly, already losing herself in her own world again.  He 
studied her quietly, taking in her dazed expression--down to her curls of 
brown hair with the badger stripe and her dazzling emerald eyes.  "Rogue?"
	"Hmm?"
	"Would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"
	"I..." she stared at him, taken by surprise, and stuttered on her reply.

But it doesn't mean that I'm serious
'Cause to lose all my senses
That is just so typically me
Oh baby, baby

	He waited, gazing at her with his sincerity, and praying she would accept 
his offer.  It was a bold move on his part, but he wanted to show her that 
he was serious.  He wanted to show her his love.
	"I... don't know."
	His expression fell, but nodded.  "I understand."
	"It's," she began, "not that I don't appreciate your offer, but..."
	"You don't have to explain it to me." he told her with a forced smile, 
repeating his earlier words, "I understand."
	"On second thought," she smiled timidly, "Ah'd love to go with ya, Joe."
He stared disbelieving at her, then smiled when he realized she was serious. 
  "I'm glad.  Can I... pick you up at... Seven?"
	"Sounds... Great."
	He stood, "I'll go make my plans." His grin was stronger then before when 
he tossed a departure over his shoulder, "See you at seven!"
	"Bye..."
Oops!...I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops!...You think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent

	"What have Ah gotten mahself into?" Rogue groaned to herself, staring at 
the water.  She shivered, suddenly chilled by the wind that had picked up.  
She stared at her reflection in the water, noting her miserable expression.  
"Ah wish... Ah wish..."
	"Wish for wha', chere?"
"Ah wish Ah had never agreed," she mumbled out loud.  She paused, as she 
started.  She turned, glancing over her shoulder.  "Remy."
	"Oui." Remy LeBeau smiled slightly down at his former girlfriend.  "Min' if 
I sit, chere?"
	"Go ahead." Rogue shrugged, turning the jade orbs back to the water.  
"Anythin' ya wanted?"
	"To talk."
	"'Bout...?" she prompted as he carefully sat down next to her, his own legs 
dangling over the edge of the wooden docks as she waited for him to begin.
	"Ya don' want to go wit' de ex-villain, non?" Remy started, fixing his gaze 
onto the water below them.
	"How much did ya hear?"
	"Everytin'," he admitted.  "Chere, I non dat I usually keep my feelin's for 
ya silent, now dat ya like Joseph, but..." He paused, carefully selecting 
his words, "I don' want ya ta go wit' him."
	"Why?" She demanded, "Ah don' belong ta ya, Remy.  Ya can' tell me who ya 
want me ta date or not."
	"I non." he nodded in agreement, "but... Chere, will ya call off de date 
wit' Joseph so I can show ya what I mean?  Go wit' me to ah res'aurant and 
let me explain?"
	"Ah... Ah don' know Remy."

You see my problem is this
I'm dreaming away
Wishing that heroes, they truly exist

	"Please, chere?" Remy gazed at her with a hopeful look, complete innocence 
etched in his flashing eyes.  It wasn't very often when Remy would talk 
directly to her after he had consented something, even when it broke his 
heart.  This caused her head to swim with uncertain feelings, as she forced 
her eyes apart from his.
	"Ah'm so confused." she blurted.
	"Confused?"
	Suddenly, she didn't care who heard her talk.  The dam was broken and there 
was no time to correct it.  Almost to herself, she started rambling slowly, 
her thoughts coming clear out loud.  "Ah don' know who Ah love.  It's so 
compl'cated an'...an'... Ah feel love an' lust but I don' know how to 
correct this..." Her eyes went closed, as she mumbled lower, "Wit' Remy it's 
more.  Years of friendship an'..."
	"Rogue?" Rogue's mouth slammed shut at the sound of the voice.

I cry, watching the days
Can't you see I'm a fool in so many ways
But to lose all my senses
That is just so typically me
Baby, oh

	"Joe..." Rogue knew who it was before she turned around.  Slowly, and 
almost unstable, she turned, her eyes catching his.  His eyes were full of 
hurt and confusion.  Sadness stood out the most as he gazed from between the 
two.  "Ah can explain."
	"You don't need to." he told her curtly.  "You don't have to worry; you 
don't have to choose between us anymore..." Joseph glanced at Remy.  No 
hatred was in the gaze, just a huge amount of sadness.  "Treat her right, 
Cajun, or you'll answer to me."  Joseph spun on his heel before another word 
could be said.
	"Joseph, wait!" Rogue staggered to her feet, but was stopped by Remy.

Oops!...I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops!...You think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent

	"Let him be, chere." he told her softly.  "Gettin' over be non easy 
task..."
	Rogue nodded, glancing back at Remy, and smiled.  "Well, now that Ah've 
broken one heart, Ah don' thin' it could get worse tahday, so how 'bout your 
talk now?"
	Remy nodded slowly, "Are ya sure, chere?  Gambit non wan' to rush ya."
	A genuine smile crossed her face, "Ah'm sure.  Ah've never been more sure 
in mah life."  Taking his hand, Rogue pulled him to his feet, and they 
walked towards the Mansion.
	Two dark eyes silently spied on the pair, tears creasing his face as he 
walked into the opposite direction.

Oops!...I did it again to your heart
Got lost in this game, oh baby
Oops!...You think that I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent...

- End -