Hey there! Sorry this update has come so late! Life has really gotten in the way. And I can't tell you how many changes this story keeps going through. Whatever is in my head never seems to make it to the page. Anyway, I hope to be wrapping this up soon... just a handful of chapters left. Let's keep our fingers crossed just in case; this story has already turned out a lot longer than my original intention. So keep reading and don't forget to leave your words in a review!

Just Another Day

Kitty Pryde studied herself in the mirror. The bags under her eyes were a ghastly sight. She looked nothing like her usual pert self. It had been days since she had a decent night sleep. Her training, along with the rest of the team's, had been stepped up. And it did not help that she had her guard up all the time; it was hard to relax with Bella Donna trolling around. She did not trust the woman one bit. But as hard as the situation was on her, she knew that it was ten times worse for her friend, Rogue. It would be hard for her to face Gambit's past everyday. She contorted her face into a scowl. Bella Donna, the scab that would not go away.

They all just needed a break. And that's why she told the boys that she was not going to train, plan, or do anything mission related today. She was going to have a day to herself. She was also going to take Rogue and Jean with her. Storm opted out; wanting to spend the day with the Professor. Oh well, her loss.

Kitty ran a hand through her thick, shoulder length brown hair. She pulled it away from her face, but quickly decided she would leave it down. She looked like a typical post graduate- dark rinse jeans, a pink and white striped oxford, pearls in her ears, and green flats on her feet- cute enough to snag some phone numbers, but also comfortable enough to wear all day. She looked around her room for a purse. One day she would get around to cleaning it, just not today. She was halfway hidden under the bed when the door to her room flew open.

"Kitty, gal, wut's takin' so long?"

Kitty hit her head on the bottom of the bed. "Sorry Rogue. I was just looking for my bag. I can't seem to find it anywhere."

"I don't know how you can find anything in here. Kitty, this place is crazy."

"I know Jean," she groaned. "I seem to remember a time when you weren't the neatest person in the world. You know all those clothes you had thrown everywhere. And don't even get me started on the drawers overflowing with beauty products."

Jean's cheeks grew hot, matching the color of her hair. "Yes, I will admit that I used to be a little disorganized, but I have come to see the good in a little order."

Rogue snorted. "Yeah, Scott's order."

From under the bed, Kitty broke out into a fit of giggles.

"Yes, Scott is a little rigid. And yes, I made some adjustments to my life when we got together. But he did too. You have to if you want any relationship to work. Relationships are like fluid— always moving, always changing. If it stays still it will become stagnant."

Kitty was now out from under the bed and clutching a purse. She looked over at Jean and then at Rogue. Her companions wore somber expressions. She knew that both of them were in the midst of their own relationship drama. She was not exactly sure what was going on with Jean and Scott, but she sort of had an idea. Kitty accidently phased in on Jean and Logan having a very heated conversation. They both had tried to convince her that their conversation had been about nothing important. Kitty knew otherwise. They were arguing about something, and it was something huge because she had not seen the two together since.

And everyone knew why Rogue had spent the past few days sulking. But if there was any good that came out of Bella Donna's stay it had to be the fact that it seemed to push Rogue and Gambit together. Kitty witnessed things she thought she would never see, but secretly wished for her friend. She saw the sidelong glances. She saw the hands joined together. She even spied them in an embrace. Even though they were taking steps forward, Bella Donna was a constant reminder of a love and a life Gambit had; one that he could hold and touch with no restrictions.

Kitty sighed. She could not wait to fall in love.

xXx

"Xavier, I am not sure if we are doing the right thing in trusting Bella Donna."

Xavier lifted his gaze from his book. He steepled his hands and took a breath before speaking. "I understand your concern, Ororo." And the concern was plain to see; written all over her face and dulling her usually warm brown eyes. "But it is not about trusting Bella Donna, but about trusting Gambit."

"Yes. And of course I trust him. I trust him implicitly. If only we knew more." She took a seat across from the Professor. Sunlight poured in through his newly repaired window. She let it warm her face and calm her frustrations. Her past with Gambit would always keep them connected. She did not want to see him hurt, but she knew that it was probably inevitable.

"Yes, I could not agree with you more. All we can do is prepare for every possible scenario, including ones in which we are crossed. We will be prepared for whatever is thrown our way."

"Of course, Charles. We will have to take extra caution because we are not only dealing with Bella Donna, but also with Candra and her mysterious mission. What is it that she could possibly need that she needed to come to us for help? It can't just be about Gambit; otherwise she would have bypassed us completely and just sought him out. How could she have known that we would agree to help her, and on these terms? We are on a need to know basis, which is unacceptable. She needs to tell us more."

"Ororo, it will not do us any good to get worked up over the circumstances that are beyond our control—"

"They aren't beyond our control. We could make her tell us the truth— force her hand."

"Now that sounds like something I could get behind," a gruff voice confirmed. "Just tell me where she is and I will get the answers we all want." He expelled his claws and watched them glint in the light. He grunted, admiring the metal protruding from his skin. "She'll spill her guts."

Ororo glanced back at Logan, wondering if he would literally slice her open and watch her organs ooze to the ground. She shuddered at the thought. But like her friend, she too wondered where their visitor was today. "Yes, Xavier, where is Bella Donna today?

Xavier's brows knit. He had no idea of her location. He had been unable to sense her using his telepathy ever since her arrival. "I am sure she is enjoying the respite you have been afforded today, and I must insist that you both do the same. After today we will be stepping up our preparation. We shall strike soon."

xXx

Sometimes a man needed to be alone; alone with his thoughts and a bottle of bourbon. He rode his bike, trying to forget all that had happened to him over the past couple of days. The bright afternoon sun neither lightened his mood nor deterred him from seeking out his favorite dive bar on the outskirts of the city.

It was a small, rank place. Dingy to perfection. It reminded Remy of the bars back in New Orleans. Not the tourist traps, but the ones all the locals stumbled in to forget their troubles. There were a couple of people scattered about, but given the time of day, they had probably been there since the night before.

He sought out a stool on the end of the bar. The seat was all too familiar. It was shrouded in enough darkness to keep people away, but it allowed full view of the entire establishment. He ordered a double and told the bartender to keep the glass full. He fished in the pocket of his long trench for his cigarettes. What was a drink without one?

After a few pulls on the cigarette, Remy willed himself to relax. He tried, but his mind was racing. He would not think about the up coming mission, but trying not to think about it only made him think about it. He had the sneaking suspicion that his part was bigger than what he had been told. He was ready though. He was going to roll with the punches. You had to if you did not want to get hurt, and Remy was not in the mood to pick himself up off the floor. He looked down into his glass, swirled it before downing the rest. He motioned for another. He would need a heck of a lot more to forget the predicament he was in.

What was that saying about the cooks in the kitchen? Well, Remy knew the one about having too many women around— they spoiled a man. He had not felt like himself in days. He was unsure of where he stood with the team. And he never had quite the right words for Rogue. He was on edge. They were on edge. Everyone was walking on egg shells.

As for Belle, he tried to stay clear of her; he wanted to keep their interactions to a minimum. There was nothing that could top an ex wife showing up on your doorstep asking for help. Remy was in an impossible situation. He could not refuse her, even though he desperately wanted to. That part of his life was over. He had buried it in the past, and that was where he wanted it to stay. Right?

The doubt was there; was always there when it came to Belle. There was no mistaking that his life would have been different if he had made different choices. He would have had a life with Belle. But what kind of life would that have been?

He was certain, that if circumstances had been different, Rogue would not have been a part of his life. Remy was not sure if a life without that green eyed girl was even an option. There were days when the need for her overwhelmed him. Suffocated him. Never before had he felt that way about a woman. Everything about her drove him crazy. He could not think of one woman who he enjoyed having under his skin. She was the only one.

He shook his head, as if that would rid it of all thoughts of her. But he shook it to no avail. He could see her now, just as clearly as if she had been standing before him. One look from her emerald gaze had him melting. And he could not resist her pouty lips just begging to be kissed. He could hear her soft voice tempting him to touch her. All he wanted to do was reach out and let his fingers glide over her creamy skin. Her cheeks would flush and her lashes flutter. She would breathe his name and…

Boom!

Remy was shaken from his reverie by an all too familiar sound; the sound of something exploding. He looked down to see shards of glass stuck in his glove. The tumbler exploded in his hand. Remy had no idea that he had loss control of his ability. For a moment he had lost touch with the world around him. Luckily, none of the glass pierced his skin. All eyes were on him, a feeling that made him squirm. He did love to be the center of attention, but this was not one of those times. He tossed a couple bills on the bar and staggered out. He jumped on his bike and dashed off into the night, back to the mansion, back to his reality.