Leaves littered the walkway, bathing it in red and orange. His heavy feet stepped on them with a loud crunch. The porch light was on, and the familiar yellow glow made the house feel warm and comforting. He smiled, despite himself, grateful that he was that he had a family waiting for him to arrive home. A brand-new flower pot on the left window sill was filled with pink tulips. He smiled, feeling immediately foolish for doing so. Her little touches were everything in their home.

The fried fish smell filled his nostrils as he stepped into the house.

Their daughter ran into his arms as soon as she heard the key turning in the lock.

"Look!" She enthusiastically upheld her sloppy homework, hoping her smile would distract him.

"Well, that's-"

"Fifty points for Gryffindor?"

"Groundskeepers may not give points, Miss Granger."

"You should've told me you aren't Hagrid."

"I'm not? Then who am I?"

"Mad-Eye Moody. Isn't that what the 'M's for?"

He roared with laughter. One day she'd realize that despite her most ardent hopes, she wasn't Hermione Granger, either. The dark-skinned ballerina who rushed through her homework to look for fairies in the AC unit was more Luna Lovegood, but of course, they hadn't met yet.

"Fifty points if you tell me where your momma is."

"In the kitchen." She said. "Making the pots stink. Duh! That was a lot easier than subtraction."

He took off his gun holster and badge and put it inside a cabinet which he locked before turning his attention back to his daughter, who seemed used to that routine and watched on, unimpressed. He held her in his arms and made his way to the kitchen.

"Anna! I'm home."

"Lucas! Oh, sug, you startled me." She said. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at him. She had been lost in thoughts when her husband and daughter walked in, almost let the pan she was holding drop to the floor. Her heart raced and she knew exactly why. She was thinking of that man she saw at the school car park earlier. The man with the dark eyes that caused such an impression, his irises seemed to be stained by a single drop of blood. How could she forget? How it upset her! One single glance, it must have lasted a second, and it got her thinking, obsessively thinking of him.

It bothered her to no end. She was not that kind of person, she was not a cheater, nor a liar. But she hadn't done anything, she kept telling herself. They exchanged looks, for a brief moment. That was all. But, it was undeniable, there was some connection between them. He made her insides churn with excitement and warmth flowed through her. But, no, it was nothing. Just an idea in her head, she had done nothing wrong at all. There was no need to feel guilty.

'That's a lie, Anna. You lust for another man. A stranger. Whatever you do, you can't forget him, his eyes are imprinted in your mind.' She sighed deeply and commanded herself to look into her husband's eyes and smile. That man, he didn't deserve anything but honesty from her. He was the one who fulfilled her dreams, made her his wife, gave her a home, a child and placed his very own heart in her hands.

They lived in a little cottage in Mississippi, big enough for their family of three, also compatible with their simple lifestyle. He was a cop, honest and brave. A hard-working man and she admired him for that. In fact, what's not to love about such an honorable man like him? He loved her devotedly. Their sex was good. But that man she saw earlier... That feeling, the attraction she felt when she saw that perfect stranger, it was like nothing she had ever felt before.

'That hot dish wouldn't want me... and if he knew I was just a housewife for a cop, he'd spit in my food, too.' She thought.

"Anna? Did you hear me?" Bishop asked.

"This stupid recipe! I don't know why I bother! No, dear, what did you say?"

"Groceries are still in the car and I haven't hit the can all day. Do you need anything right now? Or can it wait?"

"No." She replied without thinking. "Well, yes, yes, sorry! I need the sugar and the... the... eggs!"

He glanced at her before he left through the kitchen door. His stunningly beautiful wife was not exactly acting herself that evening, he realized. However, he made a point of not making questions. He knew better than ignite the explosive temper he knew she had dormant inside of her. She seemed tamed of late, but he knew how fierce that woman was, quick to anger, her temper terrifying and unpredictable.

While he was outside of the house, she took the food to the table while her daughter helped set the table.

They had dinner mostly in silence, Lucas and their daughter talked casually from time to time. But no Mrs. Bishop. Her eyes were vacant, she picked on her food as she let her imagination run loose. After dinner, she cleaned the kitchen while her husband watched TV, his can of beer as his only company. She could hardly believe she had dreamed of being married for so long!

'Who knew? Marriage's not all it's cracked up to be, huh?' She thought as she emptied the dishwasher. Curiously, just the day before she felt completely at ease and content with her life.

They went to be early, as they usually did. She put her daughter to bed at eight and just an hour after that, it was their own bedtime. She had showered and just slipped on her nightgown when he entered the room.

"Anna, dear. Is everything okay?' He asked her, sliding a hand over her waist and planting a quick kiss on her cheek. A nod was all the reply he got in return. "You're different tonight."

"Just tired, hun." She spoke softly. He turned her around and as soon as their eyes met she knew what was about to happen. He scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing and carried her over to the bed. He laid her down and then moved behind her. With her consent, he started to undress her. His breath caught as he took one good look at his naked wife. His lips brushed her ear and he expressed his love for her. She said she felt the same way, not sure if she really meant what she said.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body close. His hips found their way in between her legs. Bending slightly, he tasted her lips and, finding them sweet, tasted them more, later moving on to taste all of her sultry, soft skin. That's when she closed her eyes and decided she'd keep them shut all the while. That way she could pretend it was the dark-eyed hunk who was making love to her.

She moaned and succumbed to pleasure as she thought of the beautiful stranger. Her husband thrust, holding her hips steady. She gasped loudly. Letting her imagination take over, she bucked and jerked and twisted, aware only of the splendid sensations washing over her body. Fucking her husband thinking of someone else made her feel so wanton!

Once it was all over, each of them rolled over to opposite sides of the bed and drifted off to sleep.

-O-

"It didn't work, did it, Betsy. Why haven't they woken up yet? What are they up to in their own little world?" He asked the lady with the purple hair. He stared at Rogue's sleeping form, his urge to protect and take care of her grew.

"I'm not sure you'll enjoy this, Remy, but... They are shagging right now, darling."

"I told you it wasn't going to work." He shook his head and paced the floor nervously. "Merde! We need them out of the astral plane as fast as humanly possible! The Shadow King wants us to fall for his illusions and perish as we get consumed by them. I thought Anna would see me and snap out of it. But she didn't."

"That's where you're wrong, darling. It is working and if I can take you back in there, for longer this time, you can actually break his hold over her." Noticing his puzzled expression, she continued. "Bloody hell, you don't get it, now do you? He's shafting her alright, but she's thinking of you, wishing it was you instead."

He still seemed unconvinced.

"If there's one thing that can cut through Rogue's mind control, it is you, Gambit."

"So, you're saying..."

"Yes, exactly." She said, reading his thoughts. "We try again."

-O-O-O-

I never did requests before, but OblivionX managed to convince me. He wanted Bishop, Rogue and Remy love triangle and the theme from Astonishing X-Men, which I am reading too, so I thought, that is actually a very good idea.

Thanks to Kataract52 who polished the dialogue in the first part of the fic. It looks much better now.

Please let me know what you guys think. I know, Romy fans will go like Bishop and Rogue... eeek! But bear in mind, it's just an illusion. ;)