Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel, X-Men, or Fox Movie Studios. I wish I owned Remy, or you know.. Just kinda borrowed him -cough-

"I don't know about this." The uncertain voice of Scott Summers sounded.

"Oh come on Scooter, it's not that much of a bad thing." Logan's gruff tone replied.

"But I'm just not sure."

"Homme y'eit'er grow a pair and t'row caution into de wind, or jes sit dere." Remy's Cajun tone was faintly... pressed.

"Fine! I'm in! I'll see your twenty and raise you ten!"

"Finally. And you say he has played zhis game before?" Kurt's german voice called.

"Yes Elf, he has, he always does this. Logan replied.

The boys were sitting in the kitchen, playing a rousing game of poker. The stakes were unbelievably high, that is if you count, nickle, dime, quarter high stakes. It was late evening, most students were either watching television or doing their homework. Kurt, Remy, Scott, and Logan had tacked up a note on the door of the kitchen, stating that it was a teachers meeting in progress; this is to insure that the students don't walk in on them while they're drinking beer and playing cards.

"Show 'em or fold 'em boys!" Remy lays down a full house, Jacks over Aces. He gave a broad grin, resting his hands behind his head.

"Fold!" Kurt cried, he only had a pair, he knew he was beat.

Logan shook his head. "Looks like you got me beat man." He only had three of a kind, deuces at that.

Scott stared at the full house, before shaking his head. "Well, I have a straight." He tosses the cards down. Sure he had a straight, a straight flush. "Flush that is." He grinned, raking in the money.

"I t'ink we be had." Remy glared dubiously at Scott, who just gave the best boy scout innocent smile ever.

"Ja, me too."

Logan got up, moving to the fridge and grabbing beers for everyone. He paused for a moment, hearing something outside the door to the kitchen. He put his fingers up to his lips for the boys to quiet down as he near silently made his way to the door. He could smell two well known scents. His little girl, and.. The Fire Bug. He couldn't help but listen idly for a moment.

"Think they're done in theah yet? Ah'm starved. Didn't get ta finish eating dinnah tonight because Kitty had this huge crisis." Marie's southern voice drawled out.

"I dunno, what are they doing in there? What was Kitty's crisis?" The Fire Bug's voice asked. They were more than likely staring at the door.

"Oh, it's stupid. Just somethin' involvin' her crush or somethin'.. Ah just remembah gettin' pulled outta the room. And knowin' them, they're playin' cards."

Now Logan couldn't let Marie go hungry. He didn't know that Half-Pint had taken her away from dinner. He frowned gently, and shrugged his shoulders, then opened the door just a little bit. "You two can come on in. Just don't repeat what you see in here. Got me?"

They both gave quiet nods, and quickly came in. John was already dressed for bed, so was Marie. As the three other men in the room turned around to see two of the students entering they quickly tried to hide the beer bottles. Marie rolled her eyes, and headed towards the fridge, and began to dig in it looking for something to eat. Remy watched her as she bent over, and he couldn't help but give a sly grin.

"Cajun, eyes somewhere else." Logan growled as he sat back down, handing out the beers. John had moved to sit on the counter beside the fridge. Remy brought his eyes up looking to Logan, looking faintly sheepish. He began shuffling the cards, but his mind was ten thousand miles away from the game.

Pulling out some of the corn-dogs left over from dinner that night, Marie moved over to the microwave and popped them in to heat up, before she too hopped up onto the counter there and sat beside John, they were both quiet, watching the four men, who were equally quiet.

After two minutes of un-nerving silence the microwave went off, and Marie hopped off of the counter and began to put mustard on the corndogs, humming gently under her breath, and she could feel sets of eyes on her, she groaned inwardly. "If ya'll don't mind, Ah would appreciate it if ya'll didn't stah at me like that." She turned around, and quickly saw that they all began to busy themselves. "It ain't lahke Ah've nevah seen Logan drink beah before, let alone play cards. Ya'll are actin' strange."

Remy winked at Marie, before he began shuffling cards. "Hey Firebug, y'ever play cards 'afore mon ami?" He glanced up at John, giving a debonair smile. As Johns hook his head faintly, he kicked out the empty seat. "Den make y'self comfy, Scott 'ere will be glad t'cover y'fo'tonight. Ain't dat right Scotty?" Scott gave a small nod, and split his current chips in half.

Marie moved over to sit beside Logan, who made enough room for her to set her plate down. It was like an unspoken bond between them, that just seemed to be stronger. As Remy started shuffling the cards once more, as he noticed Marie take a bite of the corn dog, the cards went flying all over the place. 'Dieu, dat girl should not be allowed to eat those things in front of me.' Marie busted up laughing. "Sorry 'bout dat." Remy cleared his throat and began to gather up the cards that were all over the table. Finally getting the cards shuffled he dealt them. "Now de game of poker isn't dat hard." He stared intently on John, while he was explaining the game, only way he wouldn't get impure thoughts.. Well more so than what was flowing through his mind at the moment.

While Scott, Kurt, and Remy were explaining the game of poker to John, as well as writing the rules to the game down on a small piece of paper to help him out during the actual game, Logan took the time to look at Marie. He smiled and nudged her gently. "So, how ya doin' tonight kid?"

Marie smiled, her hand coming up to wipe away a stray bit of mustard to lick it off of her finger, before giving a faint shrug of her shoulders. "Ah feel all raght. Went ta give Bobby back a book he let meh borrow a while ago, but he wasn't around. Ah just left it in his room, would rathah not be around him." She offered the corndog to Logan so he could have a bite.

After taking a bite, chewing and swallowing he sat back some, and reached up, stroking Marie's hair for a moment. "Don't blame you. He said he was going to some coffee house or something to read some." He shrugged, sitting forward to pick up his beer and take a sip. He then handed it over to Marie so she could have a sip as well. As she picked it up and took a drink, she glanced over towards Remy a moment, before looking back at Logan. Setting the bottle back down, she leaned against Logan some. "He changed yanno? Ah feel foolish foh believin' that someone. . . " She trailed off with a sigh, looking to her food and not feeling hungry much anymore. She shoved the plate away from her, as Logan put his arm around her shoulders and held her close for a moment.

"Listen darlin', that was a little boy who didn't want to have anyone else play with his basketball, if you know what I mean. People don't care about your mutation, and they find ways around it, believe me, remember. I walked in on.." He trailed off, smirking lighty. Grinning as he saw Marie blushing, burying her face into his arm.

"Shut up riaght theah!" He could hear it even if it was mumbled, and this brought forth a great chuckle from deep within his chest.

- - -

"We were coming back from the mall, it was Logan, Scott, myself, and Bobby." John rolled his eyes as he said that name. "We were picking up presents for Ororo's birthday, Logan decided to pick her up a stock supply of oil for her car, with the promise he'd change her oil instead of her risking having one of the shop kids mess up her car. . . Again. Anyways." He clears his throat, and he could -feel- the death glare that Marie was giving him, which caused him to grin. "We get back to the mansion, and the first thing we see, is hanging on the flagpole, is Marie's thong underwear and matching bra. Apparently Jubilee and Kitty decided that it was a perfect way to get back at her for waking them up with ice cold water balloons." The guys were all laughing, John leaned back and tossed a card down. "I'll take one."

Remy was caught in a faint daydream, thong eh? He'd have to remember that, he gives John the card he asked for, Doing the same for Kurt, Logan, and Scott, and then himself. "So what 'appened after dat?" He arched an eyebrow, finishing off his beer.

"Well Marie decided to get back at the -guys- for saluting her uh.. Unmentionables. Somehow she was able to get into each of our rooms and add icey hot to our boxers, or briefs." Scott filled in for John. This caused a round of uncomfortable wiggling, except from Marie who was laughing now.

"Have t'remember dat so I don't end up pissin' off de chere." Remy grins.

They had been sitting in the kitchen for two hours. John had made out like a bandit, having picked up the fundaments of poker right away, and ended up cleaning house pretty much. "The guys were walking bowlegged all day." Logan said with a grunt and a grin.

"Yea, amazingly enough, when Ah went ta get Logan's, Ah couldn't find anything t'put the icey hot on." Marie grinned. "Nevah figuahed Logan to go commando." She snickered softly, standing up to get beers for the guys. This caused a line of laughs, except for Logan who cleared his throat.

"They were all in the wash that day."

"Raaaight and Ah'm de Queen of Sheba." She handed out the beers and sat back down.

- - -

ob·ses·sion n.

1. Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.

2. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion

Bobby had drove to the park where Marie had been attacked, he had been sitting there for hours, just waiting for Magneto and the rest. It wasn't like he knew they'd be there, in truth he had no idea where to look for Magneto or the others, but he had to do something to prove to Marie that he was what she needed. He covered a yawn, and kept his backpack close. In truth all he wanted to do was go back home and go to sleep. His hand coming up and rubbing the knick on his neck, and remembered why he wouldn't go back, not yet at least.

He looked down at his watch, it was after ten, he groaned. Why is it that no one ever showed up when he needed them to? He closed his eyes and got as comfortable on the bench as he could. He allowed his mind to drift off to Rogue. She of course had to be confused about everything going on, she didn't mean what she had said. After all he saw the looks everyone gave her. The looks the guys gave her, they wanted her, they wanted her because he had her. When she had confronted him about what he had thought about her, he didn't realize that the action of giving hre a kiss would cause such a thing. It's not like it mattered, it's how everyone saw her anywas. She just needed to realize that she was in the wrong, that he was the one for her. The only way he could do that is by demanding metal head to remove that chip in her. Then she'd see.

- - -

puppy love n.

Adolescent love or infatuation.

After the poker game, Kurt had left the kitchen in search of some quiet, at least that's what he told the others in the kitchen. He had wandered quietly around the mansion until he came upon the small sitting room that held the piano. There she was, the beautiful white haired weather goddess, playing a classical piece. He leaned against the doorframe and smiled softly to himself. 'She is so beautiful.. Didn't think that she was talented like that.' He folded his arms in front of her and just smiled softly, enraptured.

Kitty was sitting in the living room, her algebra book set beside her as she looked to the kitchen door that was now open. She could see John sitting there, talking with Remy and Scott still. She sighed gently as she was leaning against the couch. She had been so happy when he had come back to the school, but it just seemed he only talked to her when Rogue was around. It was like he didn't even know she existed. She frowned lightly, looking back down to her book for a moment, before glancing back to the kitchen. 'He's so totally cute!' She blushed at that thought, before picking up her book and began going over her homework again.

Jubilee was sitting on her bed, going over some of the pictures she had taken throughout the weekend. She had gotten quite a few of the guys that had been working on that motorcycle in the garage. She grinned as she saw one of them, a picture of Logan by himself. He was such a hottie, definately rated right up there with Orlando and Johnny. She closed her eyes, falling back onto her bed, and kissed the picture.

Logan had dismissed himself, leaving Marie, John, Remy, and Scott to talk in the kitchen while he had wandered into his room. He looked to the three picture frames that were resting on his dresser. A picture of him and Marie taken during the picnic the school had had a few weeks ago. There was a picture of the entire X-Men team, and then there was one of just Ororo, Scott, Jean, and Logan. He sighed, his hand coming up to stroke Jean's face for a moment, before he shook his head and sat down on the bed, reaching underneath the mattress he pulled out his wrestling magazine and began reading about Kalysto's career.

John Allerdyce was grinning the entire time that he was listening to the tales that everyone in the kitchen was telling. He gave a sideways glance into the room where Kitty was sitting, working hard on her homework. He had to give a small smile, he was glad he had come back. He had missed the endless banter and the word "like" coming up into almost every sentance. She made him smile in ways he couldn't before. Maybe he should try and talk to her when he was on his own sometime. But being around Rogue when he did it gave him strength. Ugh, girls.

- - -

love n.

1. A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

2. A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.

Remy watched Marie most of the night, he couldn't help but feel this emotion towards her, an emotion that he himself couldn't even understand, or put a name to. He had never felt like this about some.. female before. In all his time, in all his traveling, no one had caught him so. . . Spellbound like this girl did. Every time he found out something about her, he wanted to know more, it was like an addiction, and he was happily becoming a junky. He was hooked in so many senses of the word. It wasn't about physical beauty, or attraction. It was something that pulled him to her, in ways he couldn't understand. He had the need to protect her, to treasure her, to make her realize that the world isn't such a cruel place, and not all guys are jackasses. If someone had told Remy LeBeau he had fallen in love with the "Untouchable" he would have laughed at them. He was the Prince of Thieves, the King of Hearts, he didn't fall in love. But he would know, he would know he was lying to them, and himself. The guy had fallen head over heels for a girl that seemed to be just as confused as himself.

After John had excused himself to go to bed, Scott too took his leave to go to his room. He sat at his desk, going over the study plan for class tomorrow. His eyes slowly drifted towards the picture of Christmas last year, Jean and he were standing under the misletoe, looking into each others eyes. He sighed softly and fought back the tears that wanted to come. He had put on the wedding band the he and Jean were going to use at their wedding, in rememberance of her. No woman was ever going to take the place in his heart like Jean had. He loved her from the moment he had seen her, and would always love her. He sighed and closed his eyes.. Vowing to himself, and to Jean that he would never forget her, or the love they had shared.

Marie had decided to go to sleep, it had been a long night. Remy had walked her up to her room, and then kissed the back of her hand gently. He murmered something in french to her, before he turned and left her to go inside. She fell onto her bed, curling up with her teddy bear and thought about the simple fact that the butterflies had grown even more powerful in her stomach since the night he had kissed her. She hadn't broken up with Bobby because of the kiss that she and Remy had shared, she had broken up with Bobby because it just wasn't right. But when she was in Remy's arm, when he touched her, when he looked at her. That.. That felt more right than anything in the world. She wasn't sure what love was, she had never truly seen it before, not even when she lived in Mississippi. She didn't feel it for David, she sure didn't feel it for Bobby. The love she felt for Logan was like that for a father. But perhaps this.. This could be love, but it was still too early to realize. She fell asleep, a small smile alighting on her lips.

- - -

Magneto sat behind his desk, going over a few files, while the others were busy doing whatever they were doing.. He had in his hand three files, one on the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Britain, and the Leader of NATO. These three would do wonderfully well for what he was planning.

Eric Lensherr smiled to himself, it was a perfect plan really. To find out what the government was planning against the Mutants of the world. And being one step ahead of them. To absorb their memories, their thoughts, and even possibly triggering the effects of death were pretty much bonuses in his venture to save Homo Superior and prove to the worthless Homo Sapiens that they were the dying breed.

Over the years, he had believed in Charles Xavier's belief that mutants and man can live in peace. But something had happened while he was a prisoner. He realized that it would never be safe for mutants to live in a world where men were stupid, and lower beings. His plans to kill all of humanity were quickly thwarted though, once again and he would have to do something to change that. This was the only course of action he could see now. There was no way around it anymore. The war was coming, and instead of waiting around for it to start, he would begin it, with the aid of the little girl with the chip in her heart. He grinned as he looked towards the control that sat on his desk.

- - -

The Institute was quiet, each person having finally slipped into the dreamscape. Charles Xavier however wasn't asleep. He was once again scanning with Cerebro. He was aware of two things, of dire importance. Bobby Drake hadn't returned tonight, which while in and of itself wasn't important, he had a feeling of bode of ill will about it. He should have known something like this would have happened after what Mister LeBeau had told him. He was also aware of the simple fact that Eric had been quiet for far too long.

Allowing Cerebro to heighten his awareness, he found Bobby. He was in the park where the attack had happened to Marie. He would keep a proverbial eye on his movements, to find out what was going on, but he could not force anyone to come back to the school. He was a man who believed in free will. He marked off the area with his mind, and continued his sweep for Eric or the signs of his Acolytes.

Nothing, absolutely nothing. He was too quiet, far too quiet. He had no idea what Eric was planning, but he, Charles Xavier, felt betrayed by his one time friend. He had put his students at risk again, and nothing had changed. He had never learned a single thing from his time in prison, the time that he had helped the X-Men. It was as if Eric didn't give a care in the world to the rights or the wrongs. Like he had no self concious to worry about. This troubled Charles greatly, he remembered a time when Eric wasn't this way. He was begining to think that perhaps he had spent too much time in that plastic prison.

- - -

It was late at night, and there was not a soul to be seen nor heard. One shadowy figure lurked through the institute, as quiet as death itself. Moving without hesitation, but with great care. Silence and shadows masked the figure, hiding it from the view of the untrained eye.

Moving up the stairs with extreme stealth, hesitating for a moment as it reached the hallway of the dormitory. Before the figure continued on it's way, heading towards the east balcony exit. The moonlight bathing the person gently in it's silvery rays, before the person exited, and began to move around the winding balcony, hopping over the walls that seperate the balconies.

Silently it moved to one of the doors, opening it quietly, before slipping in.

Author's Notes: Wow, everyone is running to conclusions about what Bobby has in that bag. Well guess what I ain't tellin'! Not yet at least hehe. I know this chapter is kinda short, but.. I'm snail pacing the three days. Giving myself some time to get a few things out of the way. Plus it gives me more chance to write some fluff.. I admit it, I'm a sap!

MJK: I couldn't help but have Remy beat him down right then and there, Remy is a man of action. Act first, think later. I've always loved that about him. And I honestly think if I were face to face with Wolverine who had his claws popped, I'd nearly piss myself too. I'm glad you liked this chapter.. Just wait, there's more in store.

Ishy: I'm glad you liked Wolvie threatening Bobby, it was so needed. It was part of the theory I had for getting his butt out of the picture. The chip idea came from my friend Janet, I was trying to figure ot how he'd find out, and she just was amazing and popped up with the most realistic bit. Now the fact of how Bobby finds Magneto (if he findds him) you will have to wait and see dun dun dun! I love your rambling reviews!

Brenna: Unstable seems to be on the menu for more than one character in this story -snicker- BUT alas, it's not done just yet! And cliffhangers seem to be my forte as well..

Queen: Charles wasn't always the old man that we see today, he understands romance better than most. After all he did get to see the blossoming love between Jean and Scott. I liked having him being understanding, though the danger room sessions are going to be interesting to type up hehe.You got the pun! I'm so glad someone did about Bobby having a cold Muwhah I was so bad about that. Oh, he's very lucky, but Logan's trying not to let the Wolverine out so much, he wants to be the man not the animal. So he got a knick instead, fitting anyways, Logan wouldn't want to get the garage dirty. Serotonin is indeed the chemical the brain makes that makes one happy. Woot matchbox car! Hehe I can put it next to my harley matchbox.

Orion: Hehe yea Remy's got sore knuckles after punching Bobby, poor guy (remy that is). -Hugs back and grins- and yes Logan had to show the little fucktard who's the boss. I'm glad you love the story so much! I'm already plotting other things for this.. well for the next one muwhaha.. I'm ebil.

Janet!: Yaaay I got a review from you! Girl you are the bomb, I have to say that right now. You have helped me so muchw ith this, and in turn have been a muse for me. I figured this is a good break from the normal crud you have to read for school Hehe and those wrestlers, woo boy what am I ever going to do with them ;-) -Big hugs-

Thank you everyone for your great reviews, I am glad you're still enjoying this very much. And don't worry an interlude of fluffiness will be coming up! I just finished reading a romance novel so it's all up here in the li'l thing I call a brain. Once again sorry the chapter is short, after the interlude, I'll try harder.


Oh, one more thing, the definitions I picked up from