Just realised I haven't updated this story lately, have been paying more attention to my New Beginnings story. Sorry guys, hope this tides you over for now.

Chapter 7: Spiralling out of control.

Jubilee bolted and she would admit it if asked. She had run. And really, she knew it was cowardly, but she figured everyone would understand, if they had been in her position, they would have run too. She was out the door of the mansion and sprinting over the grounds in the quickest time to date, if she had time to think about it she probably would have been impressed with herself. As it was, her only thoughts were on getting down the driveway and out the gate before she was caught.

There was the steady thumping rhythm as her boots hit the hard packed earth of the driveway. She settled into her pace as the familiar noise calmed her. Her cut-off shorts allowed easy movement of her legs, and she stretched them to her limit. Her blue crop-top whipped around her ribs and she pumped her arms to keep up her deed sprint. She was almost there, just a bit further and she would reach the gate, then she was home free.

Yelling erupted behind her, followed by the roar of an engine and the skidding of tires on the gravel. Panic rose in Jubilee's chest and she pushed her legs into moving faster, feeling the burn in her muscles as she got closer and closer to the gate. She heard the engine roar closer, quickly covering the ground she had already sprinted. I whimper rose in her throat but she fought it down, she would face this like a women... If she was caught. The engine was right behind her now, and she almost sobbed with dread. Suddenly an arm wrapped around her waist, sweeping her up and back onto the motorbike. She locked her arms around her saviour, hugging Remy's waist and trying not to laugh for joy. She loved having friends.

"Hold on!" Remy yelled, and her grip tightened as he swung them out the gate and onto the road with a 90 degree turn.

Jubilee's hair whipped back from her face, streaming out behind her and her eyes stung as the biting air hit them. Yet she couldn't help the laugh that was ripped from her mouth, lost somewhere in their dust as they ran far from the mansion.

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A few hours and countless twists and turns later, they sat, laughing and panting for breath in a nameless bar surrounded by shady looking people and not giving a damn. Her laughter slowly turned to hysteria and from there into sobs. Remy held her quietly as she cried, murmuring soft words of comfort into her ear. Finally her crying stopped and she leaned against Remy's chest, completely worn out.

"Tell dis old Thief what happened, Chere." He murmured quietly.

"Bobby broke up with Kitty." She mumbled, hiding her face from him.

"Well what does that have to do wit you?"

"It's my fault. I made him do it."

Remy's face stayed carefully composed, did Jubilee want Bobby after all? Had he broken up with Kitty for her?

"Now what makes you think dat, P'tite?"

"I told him he wasn't treating her right and that he should think hard about what is best and make a choice. And he did. He broke up with her. Now Kitty is heartbroken, Bobby's gone AWOL and everyone is angry at me because it's all my fault!"

Her voice had reached a distraught pitch and Gambit shushed her gently, rubbing her back.

"Femme stop yo cryin'. This isn't your fault."

Jubilee gave a chocked laugh, "How you figure that one, Gumbo?"

"Well Bobby was treating Kitty bad, non?"

Jubilee nodded, sniffing back her tears.

"And Kitty was unhappy?"

"Yea." Jubilee agreed hesitantly.

"And not even one of Bobby or Kitty's closest friends did anything about it, right chere?"

"Right..."

"See. Not your fault." He brushed it off with his hand. "They shoulda all done summat afore now, but none of dem had de guts. So it fell to you. No need to feel bad for having de courage to do what no-one else did."

Jubilee stared at him as though her world had come alive again. "You really think so?"

"Corse Chere, would Remy lie to you?"

Jubilee grinned, "Yes, you most defiantly would."

Before Remy could formulate an answer to this they were interrupted by the bartender, who placed a drink in front of Jubilee.

"Here you are Lass. That's from the man in the corner, he says no pretty woman should be so sad."

Remy and Jubilee both turned to eye the man sitting diagonal from them. He tugged at his cowboy hat, bowing his head and managing to hide his features well still looking respectful. Remy glared daggers at the figure well Jubilee smiled and nodded her head in thanks. Then to Gambit's horror she swept up the drink and took a large gulp.

"Jubilee!" Gambit tried to snatch the drink from her hands. "What you playing at girl, you can't drink that!"

Jubilee blinked in surprise. "Why not?"

"It could be spiked!"

A moment of silence met his words and Jubilee blinked in shock. Then she collapsed into laughter. Remy looked horrified.

"P'titie?" He asked alarmed.

"Calm down Rem' I'm not drugged." She flicked her fingers at the mysterious man. "Don't you recognise him?"

Gambit turned to study the man again, identifying him but looking no less tense. In fact, to Jubilee's eye he seemed to grow tenser. She chose to ignore his strange reaction and got up, bouncing across the room into the other mans arms.

"Hey cowboy!" She crowed as she was swung around, "Long time no see. Where you been hiding yourself?"

Sam Guthrie grinned down into her smiling face. "Jubes, same as always I see." He nodded to Gambit, eyeing him in dislike. "LeBeau."

"Cannonball." Remy greeted, leaning against the wall. "What brings you to town?"

Sam smiled tightly and shrugged, "Can't a man come to visit his friends?"

Jubilee snorted, breaking the intense stare the two men had been locked in. "Brother, you aint a man, you aint nothing but a hound dog."

Sam shook his head and laughed. "Defiantly haven't changed. Well I'm heading on to the school. You want a ride, love? I've got a new car, she's fast." He winked invitingly but Jubilee had already stepped away.

"Na man thanks anyway, but me and Rem are hanging out for a while. I'll see your new car when we get back."

Gambit smirked at Sam as Jubilee leaned against his side and Sam shrugged. "Ok see you tonight. You had better save so energy. We got a lot of catching up to do, you and I." He winked again before strutting out of the bar.

Jubilee tugged Remy back to their spot sitting him down and placing her feet on the edge of the table. "So now that I'm no longer having a stupid woman moment, how are you?"

Remy shrugged nonchalantly, "Me? Fine. As always."

He smiled disarmingly and Jubilee let it drop deciding not to press the point. Instead she convinced the reluctant man to dance with her, in the middle of the shady pub, in front of a collection of shady dishonest characters, all who clapped and whistled at the end of their performance.

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By the time they got home Remy had almost forgotten about Sam. The bliss was short lived however as they were only halfway to Jubilee's room when Sam burst out of a door in front of them.

"JUBILEE! Finally! I've been waiting for hours! Come on, we're having a Buffy marathon! All night with just me, you, Buffy and junk food!" He grabbed her hand and tugged her excitedly down the hall, ignoring her attempts at speech.

She glanced back desperately at Gambit as Sam dragged her on.

"Honestly Jubes, it's been so long since we had a marathon. You can't miss this."

"Now hold on there, Guthrie." Gambit took hold of Jubilee's other hand, halting their forward movement. "De P'tite has had a big night, maybe she want to sleep. You t'ink of dat?"

"Sleep?" Sam started at Gambit incredulously. "There's no time for sleep. This is Buffy where talking about. Jubilee loves Buffy!" He tugged Jubilee's arm.

Remy watched as Jubilee blushed, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"Jubilee used to love Buffy. But that was when you saw her last. It's been awhile Guthrie. People change." Remy eased Jubilee back towards him.

Sam yanked her back strait away. "Some things don't change, LeBeau. Tell him Jubes."

"Sam..."

"See, let her go. She's coming to watch movies."

"Guthrie, just leave her alone, she's tired, can't you see dat?" Remy pulled the girl to his chest.

Sam dragged her back again and Jubilee started felling like a yo-yo. Really, Gambit was right, she wanted to sleep.

"Jubilee's never tired! This is the firecracker we're talking about." He tugged her again.

"Let her go, Guthrie." Gambit pulled her back.

"Sam...?"

"Make me, LeBeau." He yanked her arm.

"Sam..."

"Don't try me, boyo." Gambit held fast to her hand.

"What you gonna do about it, Cajun?" He dragged her away

"SAM!"

Both men started as Jubilee exploded. "Let me go right now!"

They released their hold as though burned and Jubilee wasn't completely sure if they hadn't been.

"I am NOT a yo-yo!" She took a deep breath, calming her inner storm. "Remy's right, I'm tired. I would love to watch a Buffy marathon with you but how about we do it tomorrow? Now... Well it's just not a good time. Now please excuse me, I'm going to bed. Goodnight." She paused then stood on tiptoe to kiss Gambits cheek. "Thanks for tonight Rem." She whispered before slipping past Sam and down the hall.

Both men watched Jubilee walk away. When she was out of sight Sam rounded on Gambit.

"What are you playing at LeBeau?" He growled in annoyance.

"I won't have you manhandle the P'tite Guthrie. She was tired; she's been too stressed lately. Have your marathon tomorrow, just let her sleep tonight." He turned to leave then paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "And Sam?"

"Yea?"

"Don't ever threaten me, homme."

He stalked silently up the hall, leaving Sam to shake his head. He would get the story behind Gambits actions. Just as soon as he could find Jean, she knew everything. He set out, knowing he would find the red-head sooner or later.

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Jubilee showered and changed into her favourite pyjamas consisting of a large t-shirt that once belonged to Logan and a pair of Remy's old boxer shorts. Sliding down into the soft sheets of her bed she sighed in satisfaction. Her earlier upset had worn her out, sleep was the thing she wanted most now... Well maybe it was the second thing she wanted most. The first thing... Jubilee shook her head to clear her thoughts. No sleep, that's what she would do, just sleep.

And sleep she did. She fell quickly into the embracing darkness, unaware of Sam's search for answers or Gambit's thoughts as he lay in his own bed.

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Gambit lay on his back, staring at the ceiling as images danced across his mind, the most vivid of these images involved sapphire eyes, a sparkling smile and the brush of soft lips on his cheek. Try as he might he could not push the thoughts from his head. And finally, unable to sleep, he left his bed and, wearing only the boxers he wore of pyjamas, he slipped out his window into the dark embrace of the night.

Climbing with practised easy he scaled the wall, moving soundlessly until he came to a balcony. He landed silently in its shelter, sliding open the door to the room it connected to and glided in as smooth as if he did it every day. Being careful not to make a noise he crept across the room until he could see the small figure curled up in bed. He smiled as he observed the sleeper, relief at knowing she was still there relaxing him.

"Checking up on me Remy?"

He almost leapt out of skin as her voice drifted across the darkened room. He regained his composure and chuckled. He should have known she would sense him.

"I didn't mean to wake you, Chere. Just wanted to make sure Guthrie had really left you alone."

"You didn't, I was already awake. But it's good to know you care. Why aren't you sleeping though?"

Gambit shrugged approaching her bed and sitting on its edge. "I couldn't relax enough to fall asleep, too much to think about."

She hummed in understanding. "Yea you and me both Gumbo."

He frowned, "You can't sleep? Why not?"

She smiled, though he couldn't see it. "Tell you the truth Remy, I'm kind of an insomniac, I have been for a while now."

"I never knew. How do you sleep usually?"

He heard her shift slightly, "Um truthfully? I used to crawl in with Wolvie, but... Well he's not really in the mood for my company these days."

That was putting it politely, Remy thought, everyone knew Logan had shacked up with Storm and she shared his bed on most nights.

"Ah dat is unfortunate. Is there any way I can help P'tite?"

There was a moment of silence that lasted so long Gambit thought she wasn't going to answer. Then out of the dark came a soft plea.

"Could you stay with me? Just for tonight?"

His breath hitched and he struggled to remain calm. "Of course, anything to help Chere."

She pulled the blanket away so he could slide in next to her, snuggling close as soon as he had. He hesitated, then wrapped his arms around her slight frame, pulling her close.

"Thanks Rem." She whispered, and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

Remy prepared himself for a long, uncomfortable night. Until he too drifted off into the usually illusive hold of sleep.

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And that's all for now. Please R&R.