Title: Turning Point

Summary: When things get too much in the Acolytes, Gambit is forced to run. But can the past be dealt with, and how do you stop a powerful supervillian?

Warnings: Abuse, implied rape, child abandonment, violence.

Pairings: Remy/Rogue, John/OFC, hinted Scott/Jean and Kitty/Lance, Kitty/Kurt

Notes and Disclaimer in Part 1.

Part IV

Logan stopped dead in the parking lot when he spotted his jeep. Sitting in the back was Rogue; in the seat that he had been left in was Gambit although he had positioned his body so that he could see Rogue while she was talking. And talking she was. Logan couldn't remember ever seeing Rogue talk in such an animated fashion. She was laughing, using her hands to signify some things and sounding genuinely happy for once.

"You two having fun?" Logan asked, climbing in the driver's side. "You owe me ten bucks Cajun." Rogue stifled another laugh, seeing the expression on the Cajun's face.

"Logan, why you being like that? He drank one beer!" Rogue said, scowling slightly. "If ah didn't know better, ah'd say you were being a stick." Was Stripes teasing him? Yes, he was pretty sure that Rogue was teasing and acting very much out of character.

"Whatever," Logan replied, not bothering with any other comeback. "We have to get back. Half Pint will complain if we're late again."

- - -

That night was a most relaxing there had been for a while. The group of X-Men sat in the sitting room, enjoying a night of rented videos one after the other. Kitty and Evan sat arguing during the changing of one video for another.

"I'm telling you, there is like, no way, that George Clooney is better than Brad Pitt." Kitty argued. Evan sat three people down from Kitty, with Kurt and Ororo in between them.

"Please. You only think that cause you have the hots for Pitt. Clooney is totally the better actor. Kurt you agree with me?" The German was about to answer when a small growl from Kitty got his attention.

"I plead de fifth on de grounds dat, I don't want to die." The furry mutant said, holding up two of his three fingers. Kitty giggled, only just realising how cute Kurt looked when he did that little face.

"Well, Scott, Hank, you guys agree with me, don't cha?" Evan tried, convinced that he would get at least one of them on his side.

"I'm not getting involved with this one." Hank replied, turning his attention back to fast forwarding the video. Scott however, didn't reply. He was too busy watching Rogue, sit in between Gambit's legs with a blanket wrapped around her front and over his bent knees. She wasn't paying any attention to anything other that what Gambit was quietly saying in her ear.

It was a far cry from what the Cajun had been like that afternoon. He had been very distant, and didn't seem to be paying much attention to anything until Rogue and Zaire did some stupid stunts and teased him till he at least smiled. Although it had been funny to watch the two mutants, who normally weren't too friendly with one another, make fools of themselves just to see the depressed male smile; it had made Scott worry even more over the developing relationship between Rogue and Remy. Rogue was much more trusting with Remy now, before she would have just brushed him off, but now she seemed to spend a lot of her time with him, which was confusing considering that she had said she hadn't liked him before.

"Hey Scott." Jean's hand on his shoulder brought Scott out of daze. "Come on and sit down. The movies starting." He smiled at her and allowed her to steer him to a seat beside her. They were watching some thing that Zaire had picked out, she had decided they needed to watch a comedy and so they were about to watch LiarLiar. Something Scott really wasn't interested in.

About half way through the movie, the doorbell rang, which was strange considering the security system. Logan went to check on the camera system, Ororo went to check on the alarm system and Scott moved to answer the door, flanked by almost all of the X-Men.

"Be careful Scott," Jean warned, "it's pretty late." Scott nodded before opening the door. Kitty, Kurt and Evan glanced past Scott, curious to see who it was at the door. Scott raised his eyebrows, glancing back at Gambit, who was just now approaching the door after receiving the look, and back to the visitor.

Leaning against the hand railing, in a pair of worn jeans and a diesel stained shirt, flicking his lighter opened and closed, was Pyro. He didn't even look like he was on the land of his supposed enemy; he stood there, looking as if he were just calling in on a friend.

"What do you want?" Scott asked, his arms crossing over his chest. He tried to look intimidating, hoping that Pyro would just leave.

"Just stopping by for a friendly chat, mate." Pyro replied, a smirk over his tanned face showing that he was being as insolent as ever.

"John?" Gambit stood behind Scott, his eyes scanning over the Gardens of the Institute cautiously.

"No worries mate, Magneto thinks I'm with Piotr," Pyro said, noticing Gambit's movement, "he's up at the hospital visiting his sister." Pyro picked up a box that had been lying at his feet. "Came by with what was left of your stuff." The box was handed to Gambit, who moved in front of Scott to take it. "And your key." The Australian held up the small brass item, his face altering from his insolent smirk to a conniving grin.

"What you be t'inking now?" Remy asked, raising an eyebrow at the slightly crazed looking blond. The other's had now taken almost permanent places by the door, listening to the conversation between the two former team mates.

"Well, the 'Tin Man' wants to go home. His baby girl is getting all better now, and we both know that's the only reason he was ever even here. So, since I don't really fancy being left all alone with the furball and old loon there, I was thinkin' you'd be up for one last home coming? With fireworks and sparklers like?" Remy laughed openly as Pyro wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Remy shook his head slightly, "You be mad, mon ami." Remy's eyes flashed with something and Pyro's face seemed to harden. It looked like he was completely determined with this.

"What's wrong Pyro; don't you have something to burn down?" Scott asked, strangely worried over Gambit's silence on the matter. Pyro turned his attention to Scott, the smirk back in place.

"Well, no. I got bored last night. Spent the whole time wondering what I could get up to." John threw the key at Gambit, the Cajun catching it easily in his left hand. "See ya kids." Pyro winked before jumping down the stairs and taking off across the lawn in a run. He still managed to look arrogant as he did it.

Remy picked through the box, noting his wallet, a few pieces of paper, two decks of cards, his staff and a cell phone he didn't recall owning.

"What's up Remy?" Rogue asked, noticing his perplexed look.

"Remy be right back." The Cajun grabbed his trench coat, dropping the box and heading out after Pyro with a mutter of, "Je vais le frapper." Scott frowned, trying to remember his French lessons.

"Gambit!" Rogue went out after Remy, causing Scott to try and stop her.

"Rogue! This could end badly." Kitty slowly raised her hand, causing Scott to stop calling after Rogue and turn to her.

"I was just wondering what it was Remy said." Zaire sighed, annoyed by Scott's pessimism and Kitty's strange need to ignore important things and stick to the insignificant details.

"He's gonna hit Pyro." Zaire turned to the returning Logan. "Well, any big cat's on the ground?" Logan shook his head. "Right then, I'll go get those two back." And Zaire quickly left before Scott could object.

- - -

"John, attente!" Remy caught up with John at the gate of the Institute. John had started to climb the wall when Remy had called to him.

"What's up mate?" The blond asked, jumping down and leaning against the large wall.

"What's de phone for?" Remy asked, slightly suspicious.

"For me to call when it's time for the cake to be lit, of course." John said, as if it should be obvious. Remy shook his head, why did everyone he know have to be slightly crazy?

"Gambit, come back inside." Rogue appeared, standing beside Gambit, shivering slightly. Remy noticed and removed his coat, draping it around Rogue's shoulders, earning a smug smile from the firestarter. "Come on, it's cold out here."

"Well, that's what 'appens at night, Shelia." Pyro said, sniggering slightly at the gothic girl. Pyro then noticed the other female approaching, a blanket pulled tightly around her shoulders to ward off the cool air. "Is the whole family coming out to freeze their butts off?" He asked, becoming mildly annoyed at the entire entourage coming out.

"No, you two get back inside." The new comer said. John raised an eyebrow. There was no way she was older than himself, or Gambit. Was she one of the new teachers or something? Come to think of it, John had never seen her with the X-Men, of that he was sure.

"Well, you must be one of the newbie's, eh. They pick a lot of them up." John said, mainly to himself, while scratching the back of his head. However, the glare the girl shot at him shut him up quickly. Not because he was intimidated, but because she looked just too cute when she did that. Her eyebrows drew together, a few strands of her bangs falling in front of her jade green eyes. Said eyes were drawn to slits, the sparkle of green only just visible.

"John, what you plannin' now?" Remy asked, almost repeating his previous question. John tore his attention away from the streak haired girl; he smiled slightly, shrugging at the Cajun.

"Well, nothing much. Just really don't wanna stay there no more. Used to just be about the roof over my 'ead, but now, mate it's just got way outta hand." John said, letting the façade drop momentarily. "Piotr has already said, once his sister's better, that's him, he's going home. Well, I doubt Magneto is gonna stand for that, two of his henchmen leaving and what not." John pulled out his lighter again, flicking the lid on and off like he had done before. "I was thinkin' last night, what if he didn't have to bother with bucket head and fangs? Then there would be less confrontation." John explained. He didn't actually have a plan. It was all up in the air. If Gambit helped him, then he could iron out the rough draft of a plan he had. If not he was just gonna have to…what? Burn the place down?

"Second good deed this month, Remy t'ink you going soft?" Gambit joked, John smirked half heartedly.

"Nah, just can't stand those two no more." He replied, he had to shake himself before he turned completely soft and just didn't go back to the manor. "I'll call ya later mate, tell you what I'm up to and you can decide if you're gonna help or not." John said, slipping the lighter into his pocket again before climbing over the wall.

"Hey." John looked back at the sound of the girl's voice; Gambit and Rogue were already walking back towards the Institute. "Shower and change your clothes when you get back." John frowned, tentatively sniffing his sleeve. She laughed, a smile breaking out on her porcelain skin. "You don't smell bad, but Sabertooth will smell Remy off ya. Change and shower before he finds out. Or your goose'll be cooked." John made a face of realisation and once more she laughed, shaking her head. "You're hopeless." She waved a little before running off, John shrugged, running back off down the street, heading back to the hospital to get Piotr before going back to the manor.

- - -

"Do you think he's serious? About the whole leaving thing?" Rogue asked Gambit as they walked across the grass, his arm around shoulder while she leaned into his side to get some warmth from his body.

"John only be with de Acolytes to have somewhere to stay. Maybe t'ings get too bad for him there." Remy mused out loud. What if John was wanting out for a different reason? What if Magneto was taking his anger out on him? But then, would Piotr leave John alone there? No, the Russian had risked a lot in helping Remy leave, there was no way he'd just leave John to face the two bullies on his own. In a way John was probably the weakest of the three of them. Remy and Piotr at least had their powers to defend themselves, but without a source of fire, John was powerless. "Remy gonna help him." Gambit said, he had to return the favour; he had to make sure that John wasn't getting hurt.

"Cajun, ah'm not lettin' you go back in there alone." Rogue said, stopping in the middle of the lawn. She looked up at him, her hair falling around her face. Remy carefully slid his fingers across her cheek, hooking her white streaks behind her ears. She closed her eyes and leant into his touch, even though he wore his gloves once more. "Ah'll come with you. It'll be better if there's someone else." Rogue whispered.

"Sorry to break the moment," Zaire said from behind, "but I'm coming too." She stood there, her hands on her hips with her blanket pulled over her shoulders. "Like Rogue said, it'll be better with someone else there, and Rogue and I can be those someone else's." Gambit smiled at the pair gratefully, it was strange for him to have people who genuinely cared about him. It was nice to have Rogue care, having her there made it seem like he could turn his life around, that his fakeness didn't have to last anymore. "When John calls, ask him to meet in the library the next day. Tell Rouge and I when he does and we'll set things off so that everyone is there." Rogue nodded, Zaire standing beside her.

"Yeah, that way, if something goes wrong everyone is there, and if it's all fine then we can make the arrangements with Pyro while the others are wandering around." Remy smiled and shook his head. "What?"

"You two petite's, going to all dis trouble jus' for Gambit." Rogue and Zaire both smiled, Remy surprised that Rogue actually smiled at him. Zaire moved to the other side of the Cajun, both females wrapping their arms around his waist.

"Don't go getting any idea's Swamp Rat," the southern belle told him, "ah just think that Zaire would be very annoyed if somethin' was to happen to you. After all, she did mend you all up." Zaire laughed, her arm leaving Remy's waist.

"Yeah, and I think that if ya were to get hurt, then Rogue would be very disappointed." Zaire stopped, looked at the door to the mansion and then back to Rogue. "She'd have no one to drool over and cuddle with." Once she finished her sentence, the black and blue haired girl started to sprint across the lawn, leaving Remy with a blushing Rogue. Remy chuckled, noticing that Rogue wouldn't look at him while they slowly wandered back to the house. Zaire was long gone; probably back in the warmth of the living room watching the rest of LiarLiar with the others.

"You know chère, Remy never t'ink you be one to blush." Remy said, making her blush more.

"Ah'm gonna hurt her when ah get in there." Rogue said, the blush fading slightly, anger seemingly taking the place of her embarrassment. Remy hooked a finger under Rogue's chin, pulling her face to see him. Red eyes met brown, Remy growing far too comfortable in her gaze, this had never happened before; he had never felt like this with another person, least of all a female.

"Maybe you just say thanks." He whispered, Rogue didn't respond, she just stared at him. "See, now would be when Gambit kiss you, non?" Rogue managed a weak smiled, the blush returning slightly.

"Ah wish you could Cajun." She answered, her eyes casting down to his chest. Remy pondered something for a moment, before lifting her chin once more. "What?"

"Remy have an idea." The Cajun tugged at the collar of his trench coat around Rogue's shoulders, the flap of the collar cover Rogue's mouth and Remy quickly leaned down and placed his lips over hers and his collar. He pulled back and noticed the shocked expression on Rogue's face. She looked far too innocent like that.

"Cajun," Rogue seemed to struggle to find her voice, "ah…" Once more Rogue's gaze fell from Remy's. "Thank you." They wrapped their arms around each other, hers around his waist and his around her shoulder, walking back to the mansion in silence.

- - -

John walked out of his room, damp towel still over his head as he rubbed his sodden wet hair. It was just as well that chick had told him to wash and get changed. Other wise he'd have completely forgotten about Sabertooth and thus given the game away. Never knew I was so careless, he thought to himself.

He and Piotr had arrived back only moments before Sabertooth returned from where ever he had been that evening. The over grown kitty seemed to disappear constantly; maybe he had to run to the malls to get some cat-nip. So John had successfully made it to the bathroom, washed, shoved his clothes in the machine and changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

"Why have you showered?" Sabertooth asked, John turned, surprised at the beasts sudden appearance. He sniffed at John, growling at the young male.

"Hate the smell of hospitals. Can't stand smelling like a Doctor." The blond answered quickly. "Ha, can you imagine, me a doctor?" John made his get-a-way, heading towards Piotr's room, still laughing for appearances. Damn, that bloody idiot was really getting on his nerves. "Hey, Rasputin, you in here?" John slowly entered the Russian's room, wondering why it was so quiet. "You alright mate?" Piotr turned, sad brown eyes looking straight at the blond.

"What do you want?" He asked, slightly more deflated that John could remember him ever being.

"How's your sister?" John asked, trying to make polite conversation. The large male shrugged, clearly not really in the mood for talking. "You still gonna go when she's better?"

"You think I'm going to be able to just leave? Magneto will hold this over my head until he has completed what it is he needs me for." Came the reply, that must be what all this is about, John thought. His sisters' finally recovering and he's stuck here doing things for a mad man with a dorky helmet.

"What if there was some way you could get out?" John asked, sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed. "What if, when she was ready to leave the hospital and go back home to Russia, there was a way for you to go too? Would you take it?" John didn't look at the other mutant; he kept his gaze on the floor.

"What is it you are up to now?" Piotr asked, probably wondering why John was being so out of character.

"Nothing really. Well, nothing that you need to know about mate. Just let me know when your sister is ready for leaving, alright?" Piotr seemed very confused, but he nodded none the less. John smiled wildly, leaving the room in his usual troublesome nature.

Problem was that he walked straight into Sabertooth. Trying to laugh it off, John muttered something under his breath before heading back towards his room. Feeling Sabertooth watch him the whole way. Once in his room, he picked up the phone and dialled the number he knew was for the cell he gave Remy.

- - -

Kitty lay on the sofa, her head on Kurt's lap as she dozed softly. The German had his head against the armrest and Evan was sprawled on the floor beneath the other two, mumbling in his sleep. Scott and Jean sat talking in the opposite corner of the living room, the others already having excused themselves earlier.

"Look at Kitty and Kurt." Jean whispered, smiling at them wistfully. "Do you remember when you were that age? Trying to drop hints on your crush?" Jean questioned; Scott glanced over at Kitty and Kurt before looking away.

"I didn't really have a crush when I was their age." Scott said, not looking Jean in the eye. He wondered briefly if she would see if he was lying by going into his head, but quickly dismissed the thought. Jean wouldn't do that, not without his consent. "I was busy with my studies then." Scott said, turning to face Jean.

"Really? I had a crush on Gabe Mason when I was 16. It lasted about a month. Then I ended up dating Duncan." Jean sighed, thinking about her ex-boyfriend. "You know, I'm actually glad that everyone found out we were mutants," Jean said out of the blue, "it showed me who Duncan really was." Scott didn't care much about why Jean was glad people now knew what they were. He didn't like the way that the others were treated now at school. Although Kitty, Kurt and Evan seemed to fit in fine, Rogue seemed to distance herself more from the others now that Risty was gone.

"I don't know, I think maybe it would've been easier on everyone if we had been the ones to tell people who we really are." Scott said, glancing back to where the kitchen door was. Rogue and Zaire had dragged Remy in there once the movie had finished, talking about some strange ice cream challenge for him. "Did the Professor mention why Zaire wasn't attending school? She's the same age as Rogue right?" Jean nodded.

"Yeah, she's that age, but the Professor never said anything. Maybe it's because of her studies with Hank. That's pretty much what she's been doing since she came here. I think she might be attended next term though." Jean sighed, leaning to one side. "You know, I'm getting pretty tired. I'm gonna head up to bed." Jean stood, facing the three younger students on the sofa. "You want a hand with those three?" Scott shook his head.

"No, it's fine. You go and rest, I'll see to them." Jean smiled at him, leaning down to kiss his cheek.

"Thanks Scott." She walked away, leaving a blushing Scott in his chair. "Goodnight."

- - -

After three tubs of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Remy and Rogue had brain freeze and Zaire was hugging her stomach which now tingled every time she took a breath. The challenge had been to see who could hold the most ice cream in their mouth for the longest. Remy had won but both females were pretty sure he had cheated.

"Okay, so we need something to heat us up now." Zaire commented, opening the fridge, handing a bottle of beer to Gambit while getting two sodas for herself and Rogue. "What about pancakes? We could heat them up?" Zaire asked, turning to see if the others agreed.

"Ah don't know," Rogue said, "is eating out the whole fridge a good idea?"

"No." Zaire agreed, "But what else are we gonna do? Sleep?" It was half past one and not one of them were in a rush to sleep. Even if they were supposed to have a training session in the morning. Just as Zaire returned her head into the fridge there was a strange beeping sound. Both girls started checking all the kitchen appliances before Remy cleared his throat, holding up the cell phone John had given him.

"Oui?" He asked, still rubbing his temple.

"Good day mate." Even over the phone Rogue and Zaire could hear Pyro's voice. "So, you in or what?" Remy looked at the two girls, who were for some strange reason thumb wrestling before answering the Aussie.

"Yeah, we're in."

"We?" John sounded confused. "Mate, please don't tell me your little bunch of super hero friends are all involved." John complained.

"No, just Rogue and Zaire." At John's silence Remy remembered he didn't know Zaire. "The two girls from tonight."

"Ah, well, I guess it'll help." John said, as if committing himself to a life-binding contract of debt. "So, you wanna meet me somewhere or you wanna talk about this over the phone?"

"No, mon ami. You know what a library is?" Remy joked, hearing John's laugh.

"Is that the place with the books?" He said, chuckling slightly. "Okay then, well it'll have to be on Sunday, we're going on a family picnic tomorrow." John said, Remy could almost picture the roll of the eyes. Remy chuckled slightly, John usually caused some sort of bother when the team when out, but he always enjoyed the mischief he got into.

"Okay mon ami, we'll see you then." Remy hung up the phone, looking at Rogue and Zaire who were both sitting watching him. "Well? You heard." Zaire smiled while Rogue just mock glared.

"Well yeah we heard. But what day? We can't just go and hang out in the library everyday! Someone would figure that something was up." Zaire stretched and yawned while Remy spoke.

"It'll have to be on Sunday." He paused, "The library is open on a Sunday?"

"Well yeah, the city library is open everyday." Rogue said.

"Okay, I give in. I'm going to bed." Zaire said, clearing up her own mess. "You two sleep tight. Rogue, ya wanna talk to the Prof in the morning or afternoon?"

"Afternoon ah guess. Ah've got a training session in the morning." Rogue told them with a frown. "Wonder why ah've had so many of those damn morning training sessions with Logan. It's like ah'm supposed to be able to take on an army ma'sel." Zaire laughed, waving behind her as she left the kitchen and headed up to her bedroom.

- - -

"Hey Zaire!" The raven haired female stopped when she heard her name. Turning to face Scott with Kurt and Evan draped on his shoulders.

"Training for something?" Zaire asked, eyebrow elegantly curved upwards. Looking past Scott she noticed that Kitty was still in the sitting room, sprawled out on the sofa. "Want a hand with her?"

"Would you?" Scott sounded almost desperate. "I told Jean I could handle it but," he looked back over his shoulders to where Kitty was then down at Kurt and Evan, "I don't think I can." Zaire smiled, shrugging a little.

"No worries Cyke." She moved towards the sitting room, turning so that she was still facing the team leader. "I'll get Kitty Kat and you take care of the boys." Scott sighed, calling back his thanks before heading up the stairs slowly with Evan and Kurt. Zaire shook her head wondering why males were so stubborn. Shaking Kitty till she was half awake Zaire managed to get the girl up the stairs and to her room.

"You know, I never really thought about it but," Kitty started to ramble while Zaire got her bed ready, deciding to just let Kitty sleep in her already creased clothes, "Kurt's fur is the same colour as Scott's uniform." Zaire raised an eyebrow at this.

"Okay Kitty. Sleepy sleep time now." Zaire said with a laugh, putting Kitty in her bed and pulling the duvet over her smiling and half-asleep form. Zaire sighed and left the room, Kitty's mumbling following her out. So, Kitty had finally realised what a little cutie that fur ball was? Maybe now she'd stop this madness with that Brotherhood boy, she was always complaining about him, always going on about how he didn't appreciate her. Kurt already worshipped her. After everything that happened with Amanda, Kurt needed someone like Kitty. Someone who knew who he was, someone he already trusted with that information. With a smile on her face and a spring in her step, Zaire went to her room, hoping to catch a nice long sleep.

- - -

Rogue and Remy stayed in the kitchen, talking and laughing, for most of the night. Rogue enjoyed being with Remy while he was in the mansion. He seemed so much different than what he was like when they were in any sort of confrontation. Rogue liked him when he wasn't being someone else, when he wasn't having to put up a front. She could relax around him more, get to know the real him and maybe let someone in.

"Haven't you got a session tomorrow, petite?" Remy asked her after looking at the clock. Rogue smiled and shook her head.

"Nah, ah've got one today." Truly it was after two and perhaps she should be going to bed, but sitting with Remy was so much better than being in bed.

"Chere, as much as I like your company, maybe y' should be goin'. Don't want to be de cause of your trouble wit' the fearless leader, non."

"It's not Scott that takes the session. It's Logan." Remy slowly nodded.

"In dat case, please go to bed. De fearless leader is one t'ing. De Wolverine is another." This time Rogue laughed. He had a point; Logan was much more of a training Nazi than Scott ever was. Sometimes it was Scott who complained about the training before Kurt could get it in, usually because Kurt was yawning.

"Alright, ah s'pose your right." Rogue said, mocking her annoyance. "Ah'll see ya tomorrow then Remy." Blowing a quick kiss at him before heading up the stairs, Rogue managed to keep her grinning to a minimum. Why was she suddenly like this with him? Before she had been able to conceal her emotions rather well. No one but Kitty had figured out that she did like the Cajun. And that was only because Rogue had admitted it to her roommate.

Opening the door to their room Rogue saw that Kitty was already passed out, still in her clothes with only her shoes on the floor by her bed. Rogue hastily changed for bed, brushing her teeth and then her hair, before climbing into her warm bed. She decided to forget the reasoning behind her change in attention towards Gambit. The only thing that really mattered was that he was there in the mansion, and he was acting more like the person Rogue knew she could like. Maybe one day soon she would make a break through with the Professor on controlling her powers, now that she had some incentive to really focus on it properly, maybe she'd be able to kiss him without the coat next time.

With a smile on her face, and happy thoughts running through her mind, Rogue fell asleep thinking about the day she would be able to touch Remy.

- - -

At half two in the morning, Pyro woke up. His stomach was growling for some food and he had to answer its call. The Australian climbed out of bed, wandering slowly towards the kitchen in his PJ shorts and tank top. He couldn't really tell if anyone else was awake. Usually Piotr was doing something, the Russian never slept for too long at any one time, but it appeared that he was currently still dead to the world, for when he did sleep not even an earthquake could move him. Yawning widely, John wandered about in the kitchen for a moment, going through the fridge and cupboards before deciding on eating some ice cream. Picking up the tub, taking a spoon with him, he went to the living room, sitting in front of the TV and flipping through the channels to find something interesting, which was unlikely to happen considering the early hour.

John flicked through the channels quickly, hardly stopping to see what was on. When there was a creak on the stairs he paused to turn, wondering if he had woken up Piotr. Turning to the doorway and waiting, John didn't hear the noise again.

"Stupid old houses." He muttered, turning back to the TV and eating his ice cream. It was quiet for another ten minutes before there was a crash from the kitchen. John bolted up, hitting mute on the TV and putting down the tub of ice cream. Picking up a box of matches from the table John slowly walked through to the kitchen, his heart thumping in his chest like a marching band. A breeze blew through the room, the blinds at the window drumming off the frame, shattered glass sitting around the sink and floor. Someone was outside? Trying to break in? Why would anyone be trying to break in to…Remy?

"Bloody thief!" John sighed, turning around and heading for the front door; he unlocked it and stepped outside, locking it again after himself with the keys. "Gambit, if this is you I swear to God I'm gonna get the furball to ya!" John said nervously, the box of matches turning over in his hands. Walking around the house John couldn't see anything; there was no sign of anyone or any vehicles. There was no way Gambit would've walked here! Not from that stupid little mansion in the middle of no where, especially since this stupid mansion was in the middle of no where as well. "This is warped." He muttered to himself, heading the rest of the way around the house to the front door, intent on going in, finishing his snack and going back to bed.

That was until he hear another noise, right at the front door. It wasn't a bang or a crash. It was a low, constant growl that John was more than aware of.

- - -

Thanks for reading. Update on Monday.