tx peppa
Let's hope that everything goes smoothly from here on out with Leila and her training.
Also, Rogue's gotta settle in as the new councilor. Stressful times!
It was half past three in the morning when they actually got back to the mansion and to their room. Gambit dropped their luggage by the closet and all they took off were their shoes before they climbed in bed and crashed for the rest of the night. Neither of them moved for the next seven hours and Gambit was the first to wake up and get ready for the day. He decided he'd let Rogue sleep as much as she needed as he started to unpack and put the dirty clothes in the clothes hamper. Taking the full basket, he headed out and down the hall toward the wash room. He could hear the students in the hallways, laughing and talking. It was good to be back.
Turning the corner, he saw Sam at the dryer. "Bonjour." He said, making Sam jump.
"Jesus!" Sam said, placing his hand on his chest. "You scared me."
"Sorry." Gambit said as he started up the washer and placed their clothes inside. "How de relationship goin'?"
Sam grinned. "Amazing." He said. "Thank you for introducing us. He's been the best guy I've had in a while."
"Y' talkin' 'bout pers'nality or in bed?" Gambit joked.
Sam gave him a playful glare. "Both." He said, causing them both to chuckle.
"Glad it be workin' out." He said as he turned to Sam and placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "Good luck wit' it."
"Thanks." Sam said as he opened the dryer. "Shit, I almost forgot why I was in here."
Gambit chuckled as he threw the last of the clothes inside before he closed the door. "Time fo' some coffee." He said as he walked out and headed into the kitchen.
Rounding the corner, he saw Leila's back facing him at the table. Making eye contact with Storm, he put his index finger to his lips as he quietly walked up behind her.
"Rawr!" He growled as he grabbed her and picked her up, making her squeal as he flung her over his shoulder.
He turned her around and her eyes went wide. "Papa!" She screamed with excitement as she hugged his neck tight.
"Tu m'as manqué!" He said as he kissed her cheek over and over.
"I missed you, too!" She said, giggling as his kisses kept on. "Where's Mommy?"
"She still sleepin'." Gambit said, sitting her back down in her chair. "An' don' chu go wakin' her up, neit'a."
Storm smiled. "I see your accent has come back stronger than ever."
He smirked as he walked over to the coffee pot. "Jus' fo' de time bein'." He said, preparing and starting up a new pot. "It be back t' normal soon."
"Good, because you are quite difficult to understand as it is." She joked, giving a playful grin.
"Git home and dis de way y' treat me? Col'." He said, turning and leaning against the counter.
"When did you two arrive?" Storm asked.
"After t'ree." He said, crossing his arms over his chest. "So tired, didn' even change. Kicked our shoes off and got in bed."
"With all of the traveling the two of you have done, I do not blame you. I probably would have done the same." Storm said.
"Huh." He chuckled. "Doubt dat. Y' a classy femme."
She smiled as Leila turned around. "Daddy, guess what?" She asked.
"I'm sure y's gon' tell me." He said, the smile widening on his face at her excitement.
"Bobby made me a slide yesterday!" She said.
Gambit raised an eyebrow. "A slide?" He asked, looking at Storm. "Ice slide?"
Storm nodded. "Yeah!" Leila said. "I went really fast!"
Letting out a few laughs, he walked over and knelt down beside Leila. "Don' go sayin' dat t' maman. It be b'tween us, d'accord?" He winked before he kissed her forehead and walked back over to sneak a cup of coffee. "Wha' all I miss?"
"Where to even begin?" They looked to see Jean walk in with Cyclops. "Welcome home."
"Bonjour." Gambit said, before taking a sip of his black coffee.
"Glad to be back?" Cyclops asked, giving Gambit a friendly clap on the shoulder.
"Be a nice li'l getaway, but we's glad t' be back." He said.
"Betsy is with Charles at the moment, but I'll let her know you two are back. I'm sure she'll want to speak with you both." Jean said.
"An' so do y', I take it." He said, seeing her nod. "Well, Anna still be sleepin' an' we's got a intaview at t'ree wit' de adoption agency, so it'd hafta be when we's all done t'ere."
"That's fine." Jean said as she watched Cyclops pour himself a cup of coffee that was still brewing. "Just let me know."
"We come find ya." He said as he watched Leila hop off the chair and walk over to hug his legs tight. "How y' been treatin' evaone? Bon?"
"Oui." Leila said, looking up at him as she grabbed hold of his front pockets and stood on the tops of his feet. "I've been good. Promise!"
"So, Jeanie tell me de same t'ing if I ax her?" He asked, giving her a playful smile as he took her hands from his front pockets and gently lifted her off of the ground a few inches before planting her back on the tile floor.
"Uh huh!" Leila said as she hugged his legs again.
Placing his mug on the counter, he picked his daughter up again and planted a few more kisses on her cheek, making her giggle. "Love you."
"I love you, too!" She said, hugging him again.
Setting her down, he smiled as he watched her run off into the entertainment room. "So, how was the trip?" Scott asked.
Taking his mug, he took a sip as he leaned against the counter. "Tirin'." He said, running a hand through his hair. "Got lots o' info, but still lots t' be done. T'ink we hand it ova t' Betsy now."
Jean nodded as she watched Leila run her hands over the pool table. "Dani's making progress." She said, looking at Gambit and seeing him make eye contact with her.
"Bon." He said, taking another sip of coffee.
"I thought you'd want to know." She said, seeing him look over her face.
Letting out a sigh, he smiled. "She a good kid." He said. "Look like her mama, no?"
Jean smiled. "She does." She said, watching Cyclops walk over and sit down beside Storm and open the paper.
"I kinda takin' her unda my wing." He smirked. "Promise t' Gabby."
"I know she appreciates it." She said, smiling warmly at him. "So, how was Sydney? Did you have time for sightseeing?"
Letting out a chuckle, he poured himself another cup. "Yep. We check out de sights one day."
"One day?" Jean asked. "You didn't have more time?"
He gave a playful smirk. "We was busy wit' each otha." He saw her chuckle and nod her head.
"I gotcha." She said. "Well, I'm glad you two had time."
"We needed dis." He said. "Afta Leila's accident, we was so stressed and short wit' each ot'a. It was good t' be alone."
Jean nodded and then started chuckling. "I'm sorry, but that accent needs to die." She said, making him laugh. "I'm trying my hardest to understand you."
"Jus' gimme a few days. It'll die." He said as he leaned back against the counter. "Damn, dat was a good time."
"New Orleans?" Jean asked.
"Mm hmm." He answered with a warm smile. "Plannin' on goin' back at Chris'mas."
"That'll be fun." Jean answered. "I know Leila will enjoy that."
"Oh my lord, ah'm exhausted!" Rogue called out as she entered the kitchen groggily.
"Mornin'." He said as she walked over to Jean and gave her a hug before she walked over and wrapped her arms around Gambit's torso and rest her head on his chest.
She closed her eyes. "Ah feel like ah could sleep standin' up." She said, feeling his hand run up her back, caressing it lightly.
"Go back an' sleep." He gently said, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
"Nah, ah need ta get back into my routine." She said, standing up straight and tucking her hair behind her right ear. "We've got a meeting with the adoption agency at three today."
"That's really exciting. Good luck." Jean said as Leila walked into the kitchen.
"Mommy!" She yelled as she ran over and hugged Rogue's legs.
"Hey, baby!" She knelt down and hugged her tight, adding kisses to the top of her head. "Ah missed you so much!"
"I missed you too!" Leila said, pulling away and looking up at her.
Picking her up, she rested Leila on her hip. "What's new?" She asked. "Do anything excitin'?"
"Uncle Logan took me to the zoo." She said. "Then another time Tante Ro came with us."
"How's ya schoolin'?" She asked, running her fingers through her daughter's hair.
"I don't go to class anymore." Leila said, playing with the necklace around her mom's neck.
"What?" She asked, looking at Jean. "She doesn't go?"
Jean looked at Gambit before she looked at Rogue. "Leila, honey, I need to talk to your parents in my office. Stay here with Uncle Scott and Aunt Ororo, alright?" She said.
"Okay." Leila said with a smile as she was placed on the floor and then walked over and sat down across from Storm.
Walking to Jean's office, she shut the door behind them. "So, she ain't goin' ta school anymore?" Rogue asked, confused.
"I thought Remy told you." Jean said, looking at him.
Gambit watched as Rogue looked to her left and up into his eyes. "No." She said. "He didn't."
"I called him early yesterday." Jean said. "Leila took Rikki over the other day and let herself be excused from class. Rikki has refused to let her back in due to this and I don't blame her."
"What?" Rogue asked.
"Logan said she almost took him over when he tried to take her back to class, but he defused the situation." Jean said.
"Why didn't ya tell me Jean told ya all this?" Rogue asked.
"I didn' wan' ya t' worry." He said.
She let out a frustrated sigh. "Well, ah'm worrying now. At least ah'd know what ta expect coming back." She looked back at Jean. "So, what's tha plan now?" She asked. "She's gotta get some kind of education."
"And this is exactly what I wanted to talk with you two about." Jean said. "I'm more than happy to take on the responsibility of her scholastic teacher and her mentor."
"That's a mighty big task, hun. Ya think ya can handle that?" Rogue asked, seeing Jean nod.
"You'll be the councilor, so I'll have more time to dedicate to her." She said. "Leila is so powerful and she doesn't understand just how powerful she is. We have to get this under control before someone gets hurt."
"Ain' t'ere a way t' suppress dat?" Gambit asked.
"What exactly are you proposing?" Jean cocked an eyebrow.
"I don' know." Gambit slightly shook his head as he thought. "Inhibitor? Maybe we can get one an'-"
"Absolutely not." Rogue said, cutting him off. "What tha hell's wrong with ya?"
"Den block dat part o' her mind." Gambit said, looking at Rogue before he looked at Jean. "Gotta be able t' do dat."
"No." Rogue said, raising her voice slightly. "She needs ta learn how, why and when ta use her powers. Ah ain't lettin' anyone suppress any part of her mind or make her wear a collar. You of all people should be against that, Remy."
"Then let me work with her." Jean said. "I want the same thing you do."
Letting out a deep breath, Rogue nodded. "Alright." She said, looking up at Gambit. "Next time, don't keep anything regarding our daughter from me again."
He slightly nodded. "Oui." He said quietly.
"Now if y'all would excuse me, ah'm going to go get showered and ready for our meeting." She said as she turned and left Jean's office.
"Why didn't you tell her?" Jean asked. "This is a serious matter."
"We was a'ready on a mission dat went hairy. Didn' wanna t'row somet'in' else in de mix." He said, pausing for a moment. "Y' t'ink Leila learn not t' use her powers fo' her own benefit?"
Jean sighed. "She's five, Remy." She said. "She doesn't understand. I'm more afraid for everyone else. Especially you and Anna. She can take you both under control at any time."
"T'ink she would?" He asked, the worry apparent on his face.
"It's hard to say. She didn't hesitate with Rikki and she almost took Logan over." Jean said. "There's a chance she may."
Letting out a sigh, he shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. "Why couldn' she contro', I don' know... ants?" He made her laugh.
"It's not up to us, I'm afraid." Jean said as she placed her hand on his shoulder as they turned to the door. "Listen, don't get worked up on this. I'll keep working with her and bring Charles in. We'll get it under control and make her see how important it is to use her powers for good and to help people. In the mean time, try and slip back into your routine."
Giving her a smile, he nodded as he turned and head down to his classroom. Walking in, he flipped the florescent light on and felt the cool air. He frowned in disappointment as he saw the mess the students had left on the counter tops and the floor.
"Juste parce que je ne suis pas là." He said quietly as he walked over to the small closet and grabbed the broom.
Letting out a sigh, he dusted everything off onto the floor before he started to sweep. A knock made him stop and he turned around to see Dani.
He smiled. "Bonjour." He said, continuing to sweep. "Wha' brings y' by?"
Stepping into the room, Dani hugged herself. "Do you need any help?" She asked.
"Nah." He said, still smiling. "Merci, though. How dat train'in' comin'?"
She smiled. "Alright, I guess." She said as she walked over and leaned against his desk. "I think I understand how my powers work, but I can't get them to turn off."
"Y' got it made, petit." He said, stopping and looking at her. "When I was li'l, didn' have nobody t' teach me. 'Magine blowin' shit up in yo' face randomly."
Dani laughed. "Yeah, that sounds shitty." She said, watching him go back to sweeping. "Mr. LeBeau?"
"Y' can call me Remy." He smirked.
"My mom prefers I call you Mr. LeBeau." She said, seeing him glance at her over her shoulder.
"Yo' maman be polite. A'ways was." He said.
Dani smiled. "If you had stayed in Colorado, would you have married my mom?" She asked, causing him to stop and look back at her. "I'm sorry."
"Non, it be fine." He said as he stood the broom up straight and wrapped both hands around the handle. "Reckon if I stayed, t'ere a poss'bil'ty we woulda got married. Hard t' say really. We was bot' young. I was a asshole."
"That's not what my mom says." She said, making him smile as he went back to sweeping the back of the room.
"Yeah well, yo' maman remember me 'cause I be her first." He said as he looked back at her to see if she understood. "Dat somet'in' dat stays wit' ya."
"She always talks good about you." Dani said, her eyes watching as Gambit picked up the dusting pan and placed it at the pile before he swept it up. "She wishes you were my dad... I do, too."
Gambit stopped and smiled warmly at the young girl. "I tol' yo' maman dat I watch ova ya like a fat'er while y's here. Y' need anyt'in', y' let me know, eh?"
Dani smiled with a nod as he finished sweeping and throwing the contents of the pan into the trash. "Can I call you 'Dad'?" She asked.
He chuckled. "Dat be pushin' it." He winked as he set the broom back in the closet before walking over and placing his hand on her shoulder. "I be fine with jus' Remy."
"Well, this is it." Rogue said as they pulled up to the adoption agency. "Ah'm all kinds of nervous."
"Don' be nervous." Gambit said, placing his hand on her left knee. "It be fine."
Exhaling slowly, she took her seat belt off. "Let's go."
They got out of the car and headed inside the building where they were greeted by a woman at the front desk. "How can I help you?" She asked.
"We have an appointment with Maryann." Rogue said, feeling a gentle hand on her lower back.
"Alright." The woman said as she looked at her computer screen. "Anna and Remy?"
"Yes." Rogue said.
"Perfect." The woman said. "I'll let her know you two are here."
"Thanks." Rogue said as they walked away from the desk and over to the chairs and couches that were in the lobby.
Hugging herself, Rogue looked out the large window that overlooked the pond. She smiled when she felt Gambit's hand snake around her waist and pull her close to him.
"Mr. and Mrs. LeBeau?" A woman called from behind them.
They turned around and saw an older woman in her sixties standing there with a smile on her face. "That's us." Rogue said, smiling back.
"I'm Maryann." She said, shaking both of their hands. "Please follow me and we'll get this interview started." Walking into the large office, they took their seats in front of her desk as she sat down behind it. "Lawrence Henry had great things to say about you."
They smiled as she opened a file and read the papers in front of her.
"It says here you both teach at a private institute?" She asked them, looking up to get more information.
"Ah'm actually tha councilor." Rogue said. "My husband is the culinary arts professor."
"Oh!" That seemed to get a rise out of Maryann. "Where did you study?"
"Ah'm actually a graduate of that institute." Rogue said.
"Studied in Paris." Gambit bullshitted, seeing her pleased with that answer.
"That's most impressive." She said, looking at the papers again. "Do you have a preference of gender or age?"
"No." Rogue answered for them. "We ain't picky."
"Do you have any children of your own?" Maryann asked.
"A five year old girl." Rogue said.
"Are you two planning to have more?" She asked.
"We...aren't able to." Rogue said, seeing Maryann's face slightly sadden.
"I'm sorry." She said, looking down at the papers as she closed the folder. "Well, there are thousands of children ready to be adopted out at all ages. We'll contact you once we find one that we believe will be right for the both of you. Since you're both mutants, it might take a little while to get things going. In the meantime, I wish you the best. It was nice to meet you both."
They stood and shook Maryann's hand. "Thank you." Rogue said.
"I'll be in touch." She said as they left her office and headed to the car.
Once inside, Gambit started up the engine. "Why it feel like dat went too smooth?" He asked, putting the car in reverse.
"Short and sweet." Rogue said. "Ah hope we made a good impression."
"Sure we did." He said, flashing her grin. "Win sympat'y points, at leas'."
"Ah hope so." She said as they headed down the main street and toward the mansion. "This process is gonna kill me."
"It be fine." He reassured her, placing his hand on her left thigh as they continued down the road. "So," He got her attention. "Dani ax if she could call me 'Dad'."
Rogue looked at him and smiled. "Well, what did ya say?" She asked.
He smirked, glancing at her before returning his eyes to the road. "Tol' her she be pushin' it." He said, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Even though she doesn't know ya, she feels a connection to ya." Rogue said, placing her hand on his. "Because you know her mama."
"Oui, I knew her a'right." He said, seeing her look at him out of the corner of his eye. "An' Dani knows it was in a intimate way."
"Well it's tha truth, right?" Rogue looked out the window at the passing scenery as they sat in silence. "Dani ain't really a child. She understands a lot more than what we give her credit for."
"C'est vrai." He answered as he turned on to the private road that lead to the mansion. "Wha' y' t'ink 'bout Jeanie teachin' Leila?"
Rogue let out a sigh. "Ah'm afraid she's gonna wear herself out." She looked at him. "She doesn't need that kinda stress right now."
"I agree, but she wanna do it." He said, pulling up to the gate and scanning his card. "Y' know how she get."
"Ah know." Rogue agreed as they pulled into the garage and exited the car.
Gambit walked around to where Rogue was and they headed inside, walking down the hall toward the kitchen.
Grabbing his hand, Rogue smiled up at him. "Let's go do somethin'." She suggested, wrapping her arm around his torso. "As a family. Tonight."
He gave her a smile and nodded. "A'right. Wha' y' t'inkin' 'bout?"
"Dinner." She said.
"T'ink I can make dat happen." He said as they saw Psylocke round the corner from down the hall. "Gotta lot t' share with y' Bets!"
She smiled as she walked closer to them, meeting them halfway down the hall. "Well, let's go somewhere quiet to talk." She suggested.
"Le's head t' m' room." Gambit said, leading the way and opening the door to his classroom.
Rogue was first in and turned the lights on as Psylocke followed and then Gambit. Shutting the door, he turned to the women and crossed his arms over his chest.
"What did you find out?" Psylocke asked, looking at them both.
"Ah got this recording from New Orleans." Rogue said, taking her phone out and finding the sound clip. "Here, listen."
Holding her phone out, Rogue pressed play and the recording started. They listened to it all the way through before Rogue pocketed her phone again.
"Hmm." Psylocke thought. "So several are involved. And who exactly were you interrogating?"
"Some homme in de Assassin' Guild." Gambit said. "He be in some big trouble workin' outside o' dem."
"How much trouble?" Psylocke asked.
"Pro'ly dead now." Gambit shrugged.
"Anna, will you send me that recording?" She asked.
"Sure." Rogue said, sending it to her in a text. "There ya go."
"We handin' dis back t' you." Gambit said. "We's ready t' be home."
"I completely understand. What you both have done has actually helped me out tremendously. I'll do some research on the names mentioned. I'm sure I can get somewhere with that. Thank you again for all of your help."
"We should be thankin' you." Rogue said. "Sure we were away on business, but we had time for ourselves and we don't focus on us as much as we use ta."
"Well, whenever you need a break, let me know. "Psylocke smiled, adding a wink, as they left the room and head down the hall.