Rogue went on the hunt for Jean. After an hour of fruitless searching, she decided the best thing to do would be to wait for lunch time, and waylay her then. That decision reached, she found she still had time to kill, and nervous energy to burn. Her restlessness wouldn't allow her to sit quietly enough to read, or watch a movie. She figured this was probably the perfect time to test out her promise. She headed for the last spot she'd seen another person.

Storm was on her hands and knees, weeding out her garden. Rogue stood back, out of sight, deciding on the best way to approach her. She and Storm had never been close, and Remy's leaving had widened the rift substantially. Storm had never said anything, nor did she ever imply anything with her actions, she'd simply, withdrawn from Rogue. There were no more teasing comments, no more spontaneous shopping trips. Storm was still a teammate, but not a friend.

"Are you planning to stand there all day, Rogue?" Ororo asked, without turning around. The anger she felt towards Rogue for driving away her Remy was still there, chilled, but smoking like dry ice.

Rogue reminded herself of her promise to think first. "Ah, um, Ah was wonderin' if you could use some help?" Not exactly what she wanted to ask, but she was going to have to work up to that.

Storm didn't even blink at the unexpected offer. It was fairly obvious that Rogue wanted something from her, she would simply wait it out. "You may assist me with clearing out these beds."

"Sure. Which ones ya pullin?"

"Preferably the weeds." Ororo felt a glimmer of amusement at the younger woman's uncertain look at the flower beds.

Working side by side with Storm outside of the Danger Room or a mission was something new for Rogue. Working alongside anyone outside of those parameters was new to her. She turned over and over in her mind possible ways to begin a conversation with Ororo. Finally deciding on one, she spoke.

"Didja ever wonder what you're life would be like if'n you'd made a decision sooner, Ororo? I mean, if you'd decided you liked bein' a Goddess more'n you liked bein' an X-Man, what would your life have been like?"

"Dull." Ororo saw no need to indulge Rogue's rambling. She simply waited for the important question.

Rogue wanted to call it quits right then. She felt her temper flare at Storm's refusal to respond to a perfectly civil question. A deep breath, and a reminder of her promise kept her where she was. Remy'd had to put up with this kind of thing on a continual basis with everyone on the team, and he'd managed. She had been given the example; she only had to follow it.

She slammed a steel plate over her temper, and tried again. "Ah guess what Ah was really askin', is what you think of Remy? Ah mean, Ah know you an' him are friends, and all, but why? Ah mean, he weren't that nice a person way back when. Why did he change? And why do ya like him so much?"

Ororo sat back on her heels and stared at Rogue with cool eyes. "I like Remy LeBeau because he cares when noone else does. How many of us remind ourselves of our life's mistakes every day? How many of us are here for no other reason than they are trying to pay a price? We are the X-Men. We are hated, feared, admired, all manner of descriptions about us are everywhere we appear. Which of us has never said he was an X-Man? And yet, which of us has stayed, despite knowing he was here on sufferance? I like Remy LeBeau for all these reasons, and more I will not share with you. Most of us were invited to join with the Professor's dream, but not Gambit. He stayed because I would not let him leave. As a child, I had no concept of the life he'd led before he rescued me from the Shadow King. A thief was merely another job occupation to me. As an adult, I do not question his life's choices. I accept Remy for who and what he is. And who and what he is is someone I greatly admire. As to why he changed, that you will have to ask him. I have never known him to be other than himself." Ororo looked at Rogue for another long minute, before she released her gaze, and returned to clearing weeds.

Rogue felt Ororo's attention leave her completely, as if she were no longer there, or no longer important enough to rate any attention. Her temper spiked again, and this time she bolted the steel plate down. **I can do this,** she reminded herself.

"Thanks, Storm. You've given me a lot to think about." Even though she was keeping a stranglehold on her temper, she responded politely, and honestly. "Ah wanted ta tell ya," she paused and took a deep breath, "Ah've done a lotta things Ah'm gonna be trying' ta do some makin' up for, but Ah want ya ta know, Ah'm right sorry for makin' Remy leave. Ah'm gonna go find him, and Ah'm gonna try to bring him back. And if'n Ah can't, it's gonna be my turn ta leave. He deserves to have friends, and what with Jean fixin' everybody so's they don't hate him anymore, he's got his right here. Ah'm sorry for how what Ah did hurt ya." Rogue's voice drifted into silence, as she waited anxiously for some response.

Storm's hands stilled, and she spoke without turning her head. "I believe that is the first time I've ever heard you apologize. I find that I have one to make as well. While what you did must have deeply hurt Remy to make him leave, and I am greatly angered at you for being so thoughtless. I am angry at Gambit as well for leaving without saying a word to me. To hurt me like that was as if he was saying I didn't matter. I did not want to be angry with Gambit, and so I directed that anger as well at you. I cannot say I forgive you, but you have shown me I was wrong in allowing you to take the blame for all of my anger." Storm's voice gave no hint of her emotions; it was as if she were reading her words from a book.

Rogue wondered how Ororo could really be that angry and hurt, and yet sound like she was discussing how to color Easter eggs. She almost opened her mouth to ask, but she remembered that promise, just before she got herself in trouble again.

"Look, let me go find him, and if Ah can bring him back, Ah want to try to fix things, allright? Ah know there's not much Ah can say, and Ah know it's gonna take some time, but can we agree to try?" Rogue bit the inside of her lip, hoping Ororo would bend a bit.

Ororo's gaze once more met Rogue's as she searched the redhead's eyes for sincerity. A small breeze rustled through the treetops as her face relaxed slightly, and just a hint of a smile teased the corners of her eyes. "Agreed," she replied. "Now, are you going to help me finish this, or not?"