Chapter Five

Anne turned and waved bye to Becca as they drove away for Suzanne's house.

"I don't like leaving her." Anne said, biting her bottom lip.

"She be okay. Don't worry any. If need be you can keep track of her. That is if you still use that head of yours."

"I keep in practice. I could read your mind right now if I wanted too. But my power doesn't reach that far. Wait how did you know about my powers? We have never really ever talked about them."

"You're still listed in the computer at the mansion and they haven't changed any codes since I left. It surprised me to find out you were a member of the team before you joined up with me. Most X-men come from that kind of thing, not the other way around."

"Hey, who was it that told me work is work?"

"My own words. They always come back to haunt me." He grinned.

"Then you know I am only a short range telepath."

"Missed that part. I was only able to read bits and pieces of your file. Do you realize how hard it is to hack into Cerebro from a cyber café?"

"Not really."

As they reached the edge of town Anne asked, "Where are we going?"

"Some place special." Remy replied with a grin.

"Will it be much longer, Remy?"

"Shouldn't be."

"Shouldn't?"

"I haven't been there before, but I have been told it is great."

"Uh, okay. Remy why are you taking me there?"

"Because this is a special night."

"Why?"

"Because at midnight Becca is all yours. And..." Remy stopped as he pulled into a parking lot. The building was nicer than he expected. He quickly parked the car near the exit. He was always ready to make a hasty exit. Old habits died hard.

"And what?"

"Well this is our first official date. That is if you want it to be. Do you? You know I want it to be."

Anne turned and looked Remy straight in the eyes.

"I would like that very much."

Anne slowly reached and cupped Remy's hansom face. She pulled him to her as she leaned forward.

"Very much." Anne whispered as she placed a light kiss on his lips. She let go of him and went to open her door.

Anne could be a real vixen. Remy recovered and stopped her.

"Let me." He said and quickly exited the car to open her door.

"Thank you." Anne said. Remy gave her his arm.

"Shall we go in?" Gambit asked laying on his charm. Now that the hard part was over he was feeling more like himself.

"Yes let's."

They walked into the front of the restaurant. It was beautiful. Anne had rarely seen anything like it, especially away from L A or New York.

Soon they were seated and ready to order.

"I can't believe you found a place that serves Cajun food. I love Cajun food." Anne said.

"I'm glad you do. But I must confess I was just being selfish in choosing this place. I've been dying for Cajun."

"I know you can cook it, so why haven't you?"

"Didn't think Becca would appreciate it."

"True. It would probably be a little hot for her. I confess sometimes it's a little hot for me."

The waiter interrupted to take their order

"Remy why don't you order for me." Anne said.

"Sure Belle."

"Anne."

Remy ignored her and continued. "Would you please bring us a bottle of your best red wine? We would like to have shrimp cocktail to begin with then perhaps the shrimp jumbo. What do you think Belle?"

"Sounds fine." Anne said stunned that he had called her Belle even after she had corrected him. He was the only person that had ever had the nerve to keep calling her that. She didn't like it but for some reason she had always let him get away with it.

"Shrimp cocktail before shrimp jumbo? What were you thinking?" Anne asked when the waiter left.

"That you love shrimp and would eat a ton of it if you could. Am I right?"

"Yes you are."

After they had eaten Remy decided it was time to have a serious talk.

"Belle, would you like to dance?"

Remy took her hand and led her to the hardwood floor. They danced silently for some time while Remy collected his thoughts and prepared for the up coming conversation.

"Anne there is a couple of things I want to talk to you about." Remy said importantly.

"Okay Remy what is it you want to talk about?"

"First of all I have a present for you." Remy stopped dancing and led her back to the table where he handed her a beautifully wrapped box.

Anne slowly and carefully unwrapped the package. She wasn't sure what to expect. She knew it would be unusual and special. A gift from his heart. When she removed the tissue paper from the box she found three airline tickets in the bottom. The tickets were dated for tomorrow morning. They were tickets that would take her home to the mansion. To the X-men.

"There are three tickets here; does that mean your going back too Remy?"

"If you are I am. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes, of course. You are too much apart of our life to leave behind. We need you. But only if you are ready to return. Are you ready?"

"I am as ready as I ever could be. I'm glad you want me to go. That brings us to the second thing I wanted to talk about."

"And just what is that?"

Gambit then reached across the table and took Anne's hand.

"Us. I want there to be an us. I know it's probably too soon, but Anne--no Belle, I think I'm in love with you. Don't say anything. I want to finish. Belle with you at my side I feel like I can do anything, be anything. You make me a better man. You make me strong, confident. In a few short months you have came to mean more to me than anyone. I know what you're thinking. But even though I still love Rogue and always will I love you too. Differently. Better, I think. I want you in my life and I'll go anywhere and do anything to have you."

"Can I speak now Gambit?" Anne calmly injected herself into the one-sided conversation.

"Yes."

"First of all I think I'm falling in love with you too. Even if it scares me I am willing to let you be apart of our lives. Mine and Becca's. I know you care for her too. You're a good man. And if things don't work out with the X-men we can find ourselves another place. We could even come back here."

"See you are the woman in every man's dreams."

"Cute, Remy, very cute. Can we leave now? We have a lot of packing to do."

"Okay let's go."

They left the building arm-in-arm.