Logan leaned against the outside of the jet, by the loading ramp, puffing at a cigar and watching the woods. He could feel the impatience of the passengers and he did his best to ignore it. Two times his ears had pricked at noise coming from the woods, but once it was a squirrel and once it was a nighttime trapper who declined to ask why a supersonic jet was parked in a swamp.

When Remy finally exited the wood Logan righted himself, catching the young mutant a few paces from the jet.

"How ya feel?"

"Not as good as I thought I would."

"Never does." The sounds of birds and creatures began filling the air, dawn was close. Above, the sky lightened to purple and the stars began to fade. On the streets of New Orleans the tourists would be filling the streets soon, blissfully unaware of what had transpired over the night. They'd wander from bar to bar, chugging Hand Grenades and Hurricanes with no idea who really ruled the city or what had happened.

"He killed himself. I asked him why and he killed himself rather than answer."

"The last act of a selfish man." And the two fell silent again. Remy lit a cigarette and for a beat nothing passed between them but blue tendrils of smoke and the sound of inhalation. Remy gave the butt of his cigarette a light charge and flicked it over the water.

"So, what's going to happen now?"

"Well, first I'm going parrot Chuck, and I'm going to tell you all mutants have a place in his house. It doesn't have the same ring when I say it, don't know why, I think the British accent makes it sound more dignified. After that, I'm going to tell you that the mansion has a clean bed, a hot shower, and a free meal. Hell, I'll even let you come in through the front door this time," Remy nodded his head but didn't respond. "But, you know something, I think a lot of people have been telling you what to do, and I'm not going to be another one. So, I'm gonna put this cigar out and walk on that jet, and I'm gonna make Scott wait five minutes, and then we're gonna fly back to Bayville. You can be on it, you can stay here, it's no skin off my ass. But it's your decision." Logan dropped his cigar at his feet and trudged up the ramp of the jet. On board, Peter had fallen asleep with a book in his lap, and Scott and Wanda were doing a terrible job of acting like they hadn't been standing near each other. Logan thought about saying something but didn't and took a seat next to the lightly snoring Russian.

"So, are we ready to go," Scott asked, hurriedly wiping dark lipstick from his mouth. "Where's Gambit?" And with the mention of his name he appeared, sauntering up the ramp like he didn't have a care in the world.

"Bonjour, mes amis! We got an in-flight movie this time," Remy took a seat between Logan and Peter and grinned. Scott snorted but smiled and took his place in the cockpit with Wanda taking a co-pilot seat. As the jets began firing and they took to the air, Remy leaned into Logan and whispered, "What kinda free meal we talking?"


The flight was quiet and without incident. Wanda and Scott had made small talk away from the rest of the group, though occasionally a laugh could be heard from one of them. It briefly stirred Peter, who each time would shake his head, pick up his book, and the fall asleep again.

The jet settled under the mansion and Scott killed the engine. Peter awoke with a start and the book in his lap fell to the floor. The ramp extended and the jet's occupants shuffled off, their skin thick with sweat and grime and sleep clawing at their eyes.

"Mes amis, Remy yelled, echoing off the smooth metal walls of the hanger. "I just want to thank y'all for what you did. I might not have made it through without your help, and I'm going to find a way to repay each and every one of you. I'm in your debt, and I'm never going to forget that." Scott was the first to speak, though even he could feel sleep clawing at his eyes.

"It's no problem, Gambit. It's what we do, we help people. But, right now I think everyone could use some sleep." Remy and Scott shook hands, and everyone pretended not to notice Scott and Wanda took the same direction upstairs as Kitty Pryde entered the room with a young toddler in tow.

"I got her to sleep for a few hours but she snapped awake once she heard the jet, Peter. Oh, you're getting heavy." Kitty hoisted the toddler into her arms. Peter scratched the child under the chin and covered himself in his organic steel. Illyana giggled and said some small Russian words as Peter took her and placed the toddler on his shoulders.

"She says thank you, Ms. Pryde, and she is getting big because she eats all of her vegetables. Now, young girl, it is time for you to go to sleep and dream of being a doctor like Mr. McCoy." Illyana yelled the Russian word for blue as they left the room, and Kitty acknowledged the other two mutants.

"How was the trip Logan? And, um, hey Gambit, uh, what are you doing here?" Remy opened his mouth but Logan cut him off.

"Don't worry about it, half-pint. Chuck opens his doors for anyone." Kitty nodded and smiled at Remy, slightly forced.

"That's true. Well, Gambit, welcome to the X-mansion. Logan, I'm going to sleep. Kurt has the new students in the danger room in the morning and he wants me running the simulation." Logan waved her off.

"Well, if you're lucky and she's as tired as she says you might have until noon before everyone knows you're here. Key word being might."


Stuffed into a linen closet, Scott and Wanda pawed at each other. She pushed her hand up his shirt and drew her nails down his abdomen. She heard a shudder in his breath and bit on his lip. He had one hand on the top curve of her hip and another on her back, pushing its way up her corset. She moved down to his neck and her hips bucked, instinctively. She felt beads of sweat at the top her head and wrapped her hands him and pulled him close so she could put her lips close to his ear.

"Good vacation?"

"The best. I should vacation more often," His hands moved around front and his thumbs massaged her toned stomach. She gasped, and smiled, turning to hide it and pressed her ass against Scott. "You have a cute smile."

"Ugh, thanks. I don't do it often."

"You should."

"No. I like scowling more. It makes the smile all the more special for those who get to see it. So are we counting this as the first date?" She asked as Scott bit the top of her ear, then began softly biting her neck. She rubbed his thigh through his pants.

"Vacation to New Orleans? Come on."

"Oh you certainly can show a girl the sights."

"I have a bed."

"Nope. That counts. Closet doesn't." She grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled.


After maybe five hours of sleep Remy found himself summoned to Xavier's office, a cavernous study lined high with leatherbound books that somehow never accumulated dust. The morning sun shone brightly through the massive window behind Xavier's desk. Logan sat against one wall, flipping through the sports section of the paper.

"Gambit, how did you sleep?" Xavier wheeled himself up to the desk the stood perpendicular to the high plate glass windows letting in the growing tendrils of morning sun. Remy chose to stand and played with a card between two fingers

"Not long enough, if ya want me to be honest. Gotta say it's the most comfortable sofa I been on, at least this week."

"We can get you set up in a room later today. Now, Logan briefed me earlier, but I wanted to hear your side of the story, I understand the last twenty-four hours have not been kind to you." Remy recounted the events that had led him to Xavier's office, finishing up with this summation.

"Professor, I was raised my whole life to believe that family comes before anything. But if I learned anything from the last couple days, it's that they never deserved my loyalty. I'm coming to you a man without a home, and I'm in your debt as I understand it."

"I don't traffic in that sort of thing, my mission is to help all mutants. Though, given your age and skill set, I'd like you to run missions."

"Again Professor, I'm in your debt. I ain't got much up my sleeve right now. But, how do you feel about folks earning a little something on the side?"

"If you're referring to plying your trade, I'd prefer to not know. Otherwise, a small job in the city can always be beneficial. We can discuss boarding and a team outfit later, for now, make yourself some breakfast in the kitchen. You've had a long night and an early morning." Remy nodded and left the room. "Well, Logan, what do you think?"

"He's cocky, but his back is against the wall and he knows it. "

"His head in a very dark place right now. He'll be dwelling on it for a while." Logan folded his paper and placed it on the chair.

"We all got secrets. Even in this house."

"I cannot argue. Speaking of which, how about our other guest?"

"Oh yea, her. Cyke still thinks he can sneak something past me. I'm not sure if I should be insulted. I'd get used to seeing her."


Remy dug through the pantries, he had found butter and eggs but was searching for lemon juice. Scott came in, mussed and half-asleep and sporting several dark marks on his neck. His shirt was on inside out He clumsily pulled at the coffee pot and, standing over the sink, managed to fill a mug.

"You don't look like a man that spent the night sleeping." Remy found a old bottle of lemon juice and turned the stove burner on, cutting the butter into small chunks

"I probably look like someone that spent the night in New Orleans."

"Actually you look like someone who spent the night in the arms of a beautiful woman," Scott nearly choked on his coffee, spitting out the hot liquid over the sink. Remy slapped at Scott's back as he coughed. "You covered in bite marks, and that shade of lipstick just doesn't work for you. You ok? Hollandaise sauce never turns out right if you don't whisk the hell out of it." Scott coughed out a reply and asked Remy to not tell anyone about this discovered tryst. Remy turned back to the stove and whisked his sauce with furor

"Who the hell am I going to tell? I lived in your house for five hours, Summers."

"Sorry, I'm just used to news travelling fast around here. It's a lot easier to figure out what this is if people aren't constantly asking about it."

"But you gonna have to tell eventually. Think about it, maybe y'all start dating, things get serious? When you gonna tell them, the wedding day? These folks supposed to be your friends, they ain't gonna interfere if someone makes you happy." There was a silence that fell over the kitchen for a beat, the only sounds the gas from the burner and the whisk in the pan

"That is very profound, Gambit. Thank you." Scott looked at Remy with a slight awe.

"Y'all had sex yet?"

"What-No! Why are you asking?"

"Just making conversation. I'd tell you if I had sex."

"I didn't ask you."

"You should." Scott looked again, the awe was gone, but he reminded himself not to let it dampen the earlier statement.

"I told her I want to take her on a date."

"That's a good start, got a place you thinking of yet?"

"Well, I was thinking of this spot I used to take Jean to-"

"No, I'm gonna stop you right there. Don't do that on your first date. You go to a place you and Jean used to go, guess what you gonna talk about? Jean. You might not mean to, but you will." Scott poured himself another cup of coffee, mixing in cream and sugar as he spoke.

"Alright, so where would you take Wanda? I understand I'm in your area of expertise." Remy took the pan off the burner, setting it aside and putting a pan of water on to boil.

"Well, I took her to help me break into this house, then blew up her car, then New Orleans with y'all. And I ain't talked to her yet, but I don't think she enjoyed it that much. So do the exact opposite of that. Wait a minute,I know a great pasta place in New York, matter of fact the owner owes me a favor. Just don't ask him why he's got a Rembrandt hanging in his apartment."

"I can't imagine why that would come up. But how am I supposed to pay for a trip to New York? Xavier is generous in his pay but not that generous."

"I told you, he owes me a favor, and I owe you a favor. Bring some cash to tip the server and I promise you gonna give that girl a night she ain't going to forget. Plus, y'all never would have met if it wasn't for me, makes me feel responsible for you."


Finished with his eggs benedict, Remy walked into the cavernous dining hall. Most of the students were out by this time, leaving the dining hall an empty, cavernous place. Remy pulled out a random seat and the legs echoed off the vaulted ceiling and ornate crown molding. Massive oil paintings stared down on Remy as he ate, looming large in their silent immortality. When Remy heard the door open he perked up, he hadn't seen anyone since Scott had gone back upstairs.

"I'd heard you were moving in here, swamp rat." Oh, that voice. Remy had known this was going to be the awkward part of joining the Xmen but he'd hoped to delay it as long as possible. He shrugged.

"I am, it seems" He leaned back in his chair and readied himself for a fight, or a screaming match, but Rogue simply shrugged in response.

"Logan told me what happened. Your own dad?"

"He was the man what raised me but I never called him dad."

"But you still came when he was in trouble, and dragged me along for the ride."

"Look, Rogue-"

"I'm gonna stop you there, I didn't want an apology then and I don't want one now. I stick by what I told you in the swamp, you did something wrong but deep down, your heart was in the right place."

"But that's the thing, it wasn't the right reason. I risked my life, and yours, all to rescue a man who tried to kill me the minute I stood in the way.

"I thought family was supposed to stick together, turns out it was just another lie I got spoon-fed. I shoulda let him rot when I had the chance." Remy let his fork clatter to the empty plate.

"Well, Gambit, if you let it, we could become a family to ya. Trust me, it takes some work, but they're worth it."


Lance unlocked the front door and stepped inside, greeted by the stale bo smell that had settled into the walls. The brotherhood house was quiet, all the trash was right where they left it, but still something felt different. Fred and Todd followed behind him, carting most of the camping equipment, plus a "really cool log" that Todd had found. Pietro followed afterwards, carrying his own bag and nothing else.

"Wanda, we're home! Is Gambit gone?" No one returned an answer so Lance yelled again. Todd came hopping up with a note, Lance grabbed it and began reading to himself.

Hey Jerks

I'm moving into Xavier's. I moved most of my stuff out. You guys can keep the bed, as long as Todd doesn't sleep on it. That's weird. Peace.

Wanda

"My sister moved out?

"Does this mean I can eat her cookie dough?"

[A/N: Please leave a review. Scott and Wanda's date will be published as an epilogue.]