Marie barreled in through the mansion's front door with Logan carrying Remy and Lady Mastermind behind her. It was enough of an entrance to get everyone's attention. Hank looked a mixture of relief and concern. Relief because they'd all arrived back, and concerned because Remy was flopped down on a nearby chair like a giant, oversized doll. Logan had dumped Lady Mastermind in Hank's arms, mumbling that she needed medical attention.

Marie hadn't had time to try and pull Remy from the illusion Lady Mastermind had woven him into, since shortly after Logan pulled her away from the now unconscious woman, they had heard the sirens of the police approaching. One of the neighbors must have phoned the cops. Leaving no evidence behind, they stole away through the back entrance, escaping safely back to the mansion.

She was walking towards Remy now, kneeling down to look at his face. With Lady Mastermind's power coursing through her, she could undo the illusion. It was surreal to her, like watching a movie. Mind you, a very graphic, dirty movie that she just happened to be the female lead in. It was not all that off from the illusion she'd been previously placed under.

It was easy to see why Remy couldn't resist the illusion and wanted to stay put within her wanton arms. She could see the illusion version of herself doing all the things she'd only ever dreamt about doing with Remy. Things that were impossible to do with her mutation. It stung a little to know that Remy didn't want to leave, didn't want to wake up.

She'd been given a very clear view of what Remy was giving up to be with her. Things he'd be able to get from any other woman but her. It was no wonder he was willing to stay in an illusion and indulge his baser male needs. The more she watched, the more painful it became for her. He was giving up a multitude of things he obviously enjoyed just to be with her.

It was startling to realize that while she was slowly unwinding the intricate illusion that was spun around him, that the illusion version of herself only every whispered or moaned or sighed three little words to him.

I love you.

"I love you," she caught herself whispering, trying to comprehend why in this illusion he needed to hear it constantly. He was already in an eternal state of physical bliss and the things they were doing were based more on lust than love.

He blinked as if woken from a trance or startled awake. He jerked his head around in confusion, trying to take in his surroundings in very much the same manner she had with Logan. He didn't stay nearly as confused as long as she did. He was able to comprehend much quicker what had happened to him.

"Son of a bitch," he swore under his breath. "Where is she?"

"Hank's taken her to the medical bay," Logan answered gruffly.

Remy gave a slight nod, understanding perfectly. "I owe you my life, Logan," he answered quietly, something of remorse and disappointment lacing his voice. Regan's betrayal had hit him hard.

"Sorry, Cajun, but I ain't about to let you acquire any new debts."

Remy gave him a small, guilty smile and turned his attention back to Rogue, who was still kneeling beside him. She hadn't hugged him immediately when he'd awoken, and as he looked at her now, she had a painful, lost expression on her face. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know he'd screwed up.

"Rogue—" He started, as she gave him a weak smile that never reached those sad, lost eyes.

"We need to come up with a new plan," she addressed quickly as she got to her feet, turning away from Remy. "Magneto has hired the Marauders to take us out so he can take over the school."

"What?" Storm cried. "That's completely ridiculous!"

"I know it sounds crazy, but that's what's going on. There are no hits on the students, only those of us who've already become X-men and he knows won't join his Brotherhood," Marie answered. "He sees it as a compromise. A twisted way to honour Xavier, by carrying on with the school, but also as way to find and train new recruits for his Brotherhood. The head of the Marauder's, a Mr. Sinister, is intrigued with the idea of so many fresh, new mutants all in one convenient place—"

"For genetic sampling." Remy added quietly, running his fingers through his hair. "He's obsessed with mutant genetics."

"Alright," Storm said. "Anyone got any ideas on how to stop them?"

"Take out the money," Remy answered. "Go after the Brotherhood and cut off Sinister's cash flow. No merc works for free, especially Sinister's. It might even make him angry enough to draw him out of hiding."

"You're a Marauder and you're saying you don't know where your boss is?" Hank asked with a floored expression on his face.

"If I knew where and how to find Sinister, I'd have gone after him myself ages ago," Remy answered darkly. "I suspect some of the other Marauders feel the same way. We may be a bad lot of people, but nobody likes to be controlled for too long."

"Fair enough," Logan answered. "We deal with the Brotherhood first, then go after the Marauders. I'll lead the attack."

"You can't," Remy answered immediately.

Logan let out a low growl. "And why the hell not?"

"You're supposed to be dead. No need to waste that surprise on the Brotherhood, save it for the ones that matter. The Marauder's, including Sinister, all think you're dead. It'd be a real shame to waste that element of an attack," Remy reasoned smoothly.

"He's got a point, Logan," Hank agreed. "It'd be far more useful for us to bring you in when we go after the Marauders. We've all fought the Brotherhood before, we can do it again."

The team bickered and argued over the best way to take down the Brotherhood, and Marie's thoughts drifted carelessly away. The woman, Lady Mastermind, whom Remy had called Regan with such a familiar tone, circled through Marie's mind like a shark. At first she had been intent on locking the woman away in her mind as soon as possible, but through her memories Marie would catch glimpses and feelings about Remy.

For Regan Wyngarde, it had been love at first sight. Unfortunately for her, it was one-sided love at first sight. The moment she met the charming and charismatic Gambit, she was in love. She quickly realized why Remy was so charming and so smooth. He was a player, a womanizer, and it pained Regan to no end that Remy seemed to search the world out for meaningless, sex-based relationships with women. He never once stayed or made any emotional connection with any woman he'd slept with.

So Regan set herself apart from the rest and became his friend. His confidant and comrade. She truly believed in time, once Gambit got to know her, the connection would be there. In the meantime, she too took up meaningless, random physical relationships with men, weaving herself into elaborate illusions that she was with him instead of some nameless man. In the end, she was so disgusted with herself and that she often punished the men for leaving.

She had tried early on to catch Remy in her illusions. He never stayed. To him, it was simply a training game to help her improve her gifts. To her, it was an attempt to make him hers.

Regan's breaking point was when Rogue entered the scene. He had broken his promise to her. One she thought for sure he'd keep. It went worse on from there.

Marie could see Regan's hatred and jealousy towards her balanced out evenly by her unrequited love for Remy. She had saved Rogue for Remy at his apartment. She had done it for him, but Remy didn't notice. Didn't care, and selfishly stated that he was going to kill whoever had Rogue's hit. Regan had asked him on two separate occasions what he would do; knowing full well all the time that she had Rogue's hit. He had chosen Rogue over her. All the years she had been by his side, he picked someone else. Someone he couldn't even touch properly.

Rogue forced herself to put Regan away, and after a few more agonizing minutes she did, although she could not shake the compulsion to go and visit the woman in the medical bay. She wasn't so confident in her feelings for Remy right now. Not after she'd seen the illusion Regan had made especially for him. Doubt crept in from every crevice of her mind. How long would it be until Remy started to crave all the delicious sexual encounters he so clearly adored?

Marie couldn't compete with the illusion Regan had created and that was part of the woman's wicked genius. Regan had done it on purpose, and not only as a perfect means to ensnare Remy, but also as a pleasant reminder of what he could never get from Marie. She felt like she was in that damn lingerie store's change stall all over again. Hot tears welled up, stinging her eyes, and as usual she willed them to go away. No one had noticed her anyway; they were all still arguing over how to stop the Brotherhood.

It was better this way. She couldn't deal with Remy right now. He was a Marauder and he'd never told her. He had gotten a hit for Logan and had never told her. Then he staged Logan's death and never told her, and really, what did it matter? She wasn't that seductive, little sexpot that had him shuddering in absolute, perfect pleasure, so perfect that he didn't want to come back to the real version of her.

Making up her mind, she slipped away from the crowd and went straight to her room. Suddenly, she was just tired. Exhausted, like nothing really mattered anymore. She snuggled up under her comforter and tried to let her mind settle. She tried not to think of anything or anyone. A few moments of peace was all she wanted, just a few moments away.

Her mind couldn't help but drift back to the illusion Regan had given her. It was strange that Regan would give her such a pleasant illusion. Married to Remy, allowed to touch. It was probably meant as yet another reminder of what she could never have.

In the darkness of her room, time seemed endless right up until there was a soft knocking at her door. She begged silently that it wasn't Remy.

Her prayers were answered as Logan quietly opened her door, carrying a tray of supper. She hadn't realized she was hungry until she smelled the warm aroma of chicken and gravy filling her room.

"Thought it might be a good idea for you eat," Logan said as he set the tray down on her desk.

"I suppose it's best not to be hungry while fighting the Brotherhood." Marie sighed while crawling from her bed to sit at her desk.

"The team left hours ago, Marie. You fell asleep, and I insisted they leave you."

Leave her? Oh, great. Now she was stuck here with Logan and Remy. She had wanted to go, wanted to occupy her mind with something else.

"Why?" she asked a little offended.

"Because, you've been acting funny since I snapped you out of that illusion."

"No, I haven't."

"You've been living inside your head since we got back, and you've also been avoiding Remy since you woke him up."

"So you kept me behind to talk to him," Marie answered dully. Of course Logan would be getting involved now of all times.

"No, Remy's left with the team. I kept you here to get some rest, and talk to me if you felt like it," Logan answered briskly. "That damn Cajun is head over heels for you Marie, and suddenly you're pulling away."

Marie picked at her chicken. She knew Logan wanted answers, and she knew he was also there to try and smooth things over. He was well aware that the scheme he and Remy had cooked up was quite possibly beyond forgivable to her. Strangely though, after absorbing Lady Mastermind, she understood Remy's concerns about Sinister.

The X-men were sorely lacking in a psychic, and had taken a serious blow in losing two of the world's most powerful psychics to death. Sinister was also a very powerful psychic, and she knew Remy couldn't bear to have her in on the plan, just in case Sinister found out. She couldn't hate Remy or be angry with him at all knowing that everything he and Logan had done had set their team up with an advantage.

As for Logan, she could never hate him. They were family and that bond ran deep. As much as she hated to admit it, it was something she'd expected from Logan anyway. He had his wild streak, and it had never been completely tamed when he officially joined the team. In fact, she'd hate it if he were ever tamed. He had penchant for running off on his own and doing his own thing, and she was accustomed to that behaviour in him.

"I haven't been avoiding him, really," Marie finally spoke up. "It's just that I know how Regan caught him. She used me as the basis of an illusion to trap him. She admitted to me that she's never been able to trap him until now. He's always been able to wake up on his own, until today. He didn't wake up because he didn't want to. He wanted to stay there."

Logan cleared his throat uncomfortably before speaking. She had hoped her brief explanation would make sense to Logan, and as always, it did.

"Marie," He began softly. "It took me over twenty minutes to get you to wake up from whatever she put you in, and I'm sure you fought to stay almost every second of the way."

She sighed mournfully. "We could touch, Logan. We could touch without any clever planning or gimmicks, and I can't help but think that I made a mistake."

"You didn't make a mistake."

She shook her head. "I should have taken the cure when I had the chance."

"Marie—"

"She showed me a normal life! I was married, I was happy! She showed me all the things I can never have! What good is saving the world if I'm not happy? What kind of a life is that?"

"Everyone wants what they can't have. Nothing about your mutation is set in stone. Who knows? Maybe someday you'll have absolute control, and you will have all those things you're missing out on, but right now you've still got something, Marie. You've got him."

"I thought you didn't like him?"

Logan shrugged, giving her wry smile. "He's starting to grow on me."

"Starting to?"

"Alright, fine. I like him. I still don't trust him, he's a little too devious for me, and he always seems to have a hidden agenda. But you were right, he is rather likeable when you get know him."

Marie smiled. "Are you openly admitting that I was right?" she teased, her bad mood fading away.

Logan playfully rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but don't expect it to become a habit."

Their laughter was interrupted by the sound of the team returning from their mission.

It reminded Marie of something she wanted to ask Logan. "Did you send him along with the others just so you could talk to me in private?"

"No. I sent him because I wanted to find out how he worked with the rest of team."

Marie's eyes lit up. Logan was thinking about recruiting Remy.

"Well, he won't be a Marauder forever," Logan explained, as if he needed to.

"Lady Mastermind said that Sinister wouldn't let him go, even after he's paid his debt," Marie answered in worried tone.

"That's part of the reason we're going after the Marauders, Marie," Logan replied. "From the moment I knew what sort of organization Remy was working for, I knew they wouldn't let him go that easily, he's a bit naïve in that respect."

"How did you know, if he didn't?"

Logan gave her a wolfish smile. "Been there, done that, kid."

Of course somewhere in Logan's past he would have been involved in something that wasn't so easy to get out of. Marie felt a little stupid not realizing earlier the comparisons between Logan and Remy. Perhaps that was part of her attraction to Remy.

She grabbed her plate of dinner, now lukewarm, and followed Logan down to meet the others. By the sounds coming from the doorway, it sounded like whatever it was they had planned worked like a charm. Logan looked pleased.

"He's got a good tactical mind," Logan commented to Marie quietly as they joined the rest of the team, who were patting Remy on the back, and hugging him excitedly; in turn, making Remy look very uncomfortable. He obviously wasn't used to the show of affection. From where she and Logan stood, Remy already looked like part of the team.

Marie was curious to know what exactly it was that Remy had thought of. The only team member who looked like he'd been in a fight was Bobby, and judging by the smell of burnt leather, it was no surprise to Marie that he had been fighting with Pyro again.

Remy caught her eye through the commotion and gave her a small, unsure smile. She could tell he wanted so badly to go and talk to her; to explain why he'd done the things he'd done, but now wasn't the time. They had taken the Brotherhood out of the fray and it was only a matter of time before Remy was contacted again by either Sinister himself, or another Marauder. She could tell he was nervous, going up against Sinister was dangerous, and Remy was hoping his betrayal to the man wouldn't be sensed.

Remy received his phone call at a quarter past midnight. Apparently, Sinister was angry at the loss of such an enormous income and had called a blitzkrieg. The Marauders had been given a new set of instructions and were to attack the mansion in one hour all together. Their mission; to capture and contain all of the X-men. Without Magneto calling the shots, it seemed Sinister was still interested in the mutants at the mansion, but his interests led in keeping the X-men alive.

"We surrender willingly," Storm announced after Remy relayed what he had learnt. "I don't want any unnecessary violence. We will go in under the guise that we don't want any trouble, and we are willing to hear Mr. Sinister out."

"That way we haven't lost any of our ranks and we're all taken directly to Sinister." Logan added. "I'll be tracking along behind, and Remy will do his job as a Marauder. I want everyone, and I mean everyone blocking Sinister from their mind. Professor X taught you all how to do it, and I expect you to do it. Until he discovers I'm alive and Remy is one of us, we have an advantage. I would like to keep that advantage as long as possible."

Exactly an hour and a half later after Logan's speech, Marie was bound and gagged in a dark cell. She had been the only one taken from the rest of the team. The Marauders acted under the assumption that Regan was dead and she had killed her, since Rogue was still alive and Regan was nowhere to be found. Marie was almost positive that Remy was about to blow his cover when she was taken by two rough looking mutants.

She had thought about fighting, but wasn't sure what the men's orders were and whether or not she was expendable. Ultimately, she decided to trust her team, and trust that Remy would come and get her. In the meantime, while she was alone she worked at loosening her restraints and losing the gag. If she was all alone down here she might as well try and see if she could get out on her own.

She had successfully found a sharper edge against the stone wall where the bars started. After several minutes she'd gotten free of the rope and with relief pulled the gag from her mouth. It was much easier than she had anticipated, and carefully took in her surroundings to try and find a way out. There was no way she could pick or break the lock or slip through the bars.

She heard a loud crack of thunder somewhere above her. Storm's signature move. The fight had started and Marie was stuck down here. She had no manner of luck today in involving herself in battles.

She stiffened and pressed herself into the shadows against the wall when she heard footsteps on the staircase.

"Rogue?" A voice whispered with uncertainty.

"Here. I'm over here, Kitty." Marie sighed in relief.

She could barely see Kitty in the dark, but Kitty managed to follow her voice and found her within minutes.

"Hold on," The tiny girl instructed as she phased herself with Marie through the bars.

"What's going on up there?" Rogue asked urgently.

"Remy's been found out."

"Already?"

"Apparently, Lady Mastermind was something of a favourite to Sinister. They tried to gas you down here, Marie," Kitty answered. "And you know Logan."

"So much for the element of surprise."

"Oh, believe me, when Logan came blazing onto the scene it was a surprise. At least to the three Marauders he took down in his entrance, anyway."

"And Remy?" Marie asked.

"Officially target number one. Sinister wants him dead at any cost for being a traitor."

"And how are we doing?" Marie asked with fear as she ran up the stone staircase with Kitty.

"Bobby and Jubilee are down. Alive, but down. Hank's bleeding pretty bad, but he's still going, everyone else is still okay."

"How many of them are down?"

"Before I came to get you? Only the three Logan took out."

"The odds aren't really in our favour."

"No," Kitty answered grimly.

It was Rogue's worst nightmare when she joined the fight. Hank was down along with Colossus and Warren. That left, herself, Storm, Logan, Remy and Kitty to fight. Five against seven. Not good odds at all.

"Cover Remy!" Logan was yelling at Storm, when Marie was knocked off her feet by a green haired woman. Marie felt disoriented and off balance. It took her only a moment to realize it was a result of the woman's mutation.

"Oh no you don't!" Marie growled angrily, throwing her gloves off in a clumsy manner. The woman made her mistake when she reached out to grab Marie. Marie grabbed her first. The woman was down in mere seconds. She heard a shriek behind her as Storm was caught in a wind tunnel by another Marauder and watched helplessly as her leader was flung across the room and smashed into the stone wall behind them. Storm didn't get up.

Logan went berserk.

Another Marauder went down as Logan's claws slashed through flesh. Within seconds the one that had thrown Storm was gushing blood while Logan slashed at him in rage.

Marie was struggling with another opponent. The mutant was huge. One hand alone could crush her skull. She was sure of it. The man had gotten a hold of her waist and squeezed hard. Marie took in a sharp gasp in pain, suddenly she was hit from the side and tumbling away from the man, Kitty saving her once again. Then in the blink of an eye Kitty was slumping over in convulsions.

Marie could see the mutant from across the room doing something to Kitty. She also watched Remy snap into action knocking the man across the face with the Bo staff she'd seen the very first night she'd met him. Kitty's body stopped its erratic seizuring and Marie bent her head to Kitty's chest listening for a heartbeat. Thankful to hear one.

The scene that had played out before him was everything Remy feared. Despite all their training sessions, Logan's X-men weren't much of a match for the Marauders. Only two remained fighting now, and that didn't include himself. These people had fought to protect him when he wasn't even one of them. Rogue was still up and fighting along with Logan.

Remy knew how this fight would end. The X-men were outnumbered, Rogue was in danger and he was the cause. Sinister had taken his betrayal personally, no longer all that concerned with the X-men. His orders were simple.

Kill Gambit.

Except Logan and his team stepped in to defend him and fight by his side. The only person who had ever done that for him was Regan, and she was unconscious in the mansion's hospital wing. She had tried to kill Rogue. Regan had been his only friend for years now, and in a matter of minutes their friendship was over. He had never once suspected that Regan would turn on him. He should have known better. He had forgotten the golden rule of a Marauder.

Marauders don't have friends.

If he had been smart from the beginning, none of this would have happened. Rogue had once told him that love and relationships were all about sacrifices. He loved her.

Loved her enough to die for her.

It was a sacrifice he was finally willing to make. He hadn't been willing to die for Bella Donna. The circumstances were much different from back then, and Remy knew how to atone for it all. Sacrifice his life for Rogue's.

Sinister was far too angry with Remy to even care or further pursue the X-men anytime soon. He was almost positive that once he died, Sinister would disappear into the shadows with what was left of the Marauders. It was the one thing Remy had observed about his sadistic boss. The one single truth about the man. If angry enough, Sinister could be sidetracked. Right now, Sinister was almost angry enough. Remy and Regan had been his favourites, and Remy could see the lie that could tip the balance and seal his fate while securing Rogue's safety for sure.

He would make Sinister kill him not only out of betrayal, but out of vengeance as well. Rogue would be safe.

"I killed Wyngarde!" he shouted loudly to the man. With that one awful lie the room stopped. Scrambler, who he was fighting, even backed away from him, allowing Sinister a clear view.

The rage that flashed through Sinister's eyes was indescribable. Remy awaited his fate, standing his ground. Finally at peace with himself. He was surprised no one had cried out. Couldn't Logan and Rogue see what he was trying to do? Perhaps it hadn't clicked in yet.

Sinister advanced towards him.

"Didn't you hear me?" He heard his voice yell from across the room. "I said; I killed your precious, little, pet Wyngarde!"

Sinister stalked past him and Remy turned in horror to see himself standing at the back of the room. Sinister had already reached her when Remy had figured out what had happened and broke from her illusion.

"Regan, NO!" Remy screamed at her, already too late as Sinister hit her with a killing blow.

"NO!" He screamed again as her body crumpled to the ground.

Satisfied that he'd killed Remy, Sinister walked calmly from the battle. The man never once looked in Remy's direction or bothered with any of the X-men. Whatever Marauders were able to stand followed after him. Remy let them all go and struggled past various unconscious and dead bodies to reach Regan.

He pulled her into his lap and held her dying body. "Why'd you do it, Regan?" he asked desperately.

"You never listen, some illusions don't come cheap," she answered weakly with the hint of a smile. "Sinister's a powerful enough psychic, he'd have sensed my illusion if I didn't build it directly on top of myself. It was worth it, to him you are dead. You're free."

"I don't deserve your life for mine."

"Don't be fucking stupid, Remy. I already told you once that I'd risk whatever I chose on whoever I wanted. You can't help but take my offer now."

"I'm sorry," he answered, his voice breaking.

"Why? I don't regret this," she answered before closing her eyes.

"I do," Remy whispered as Regan died in his arms.

Rogue had managed to crawl over to Remy and put a hand on his shoulder. He turned to face her with eyes glossed over in unshed tears.

"She was my best friend. For four years she was my only friend," he said quietly. "She risked her life for mine, and I'll never understand why."

"She loved you," Marie answered simply. "She always loved you."