ViciousAssassin: Thanks I'm glad you liked it so much. Eric won't show up and I do have an OC planned for her. If you want to know more about Sparky e-mail SparkyGenocide at:

Ldypebsaby: I don't plan on bringing him back, and read An Empath's Life for more details. Actually it was Logan and Ororo.

Erich: Thanks I fixed that problem. I'm not sure if Slayer will show up anytime soon, Sparky's background was actually from his creator in his fics. It's hard to tell how long time has passed actually considering all I've written it's too hard to make it accurate so I just guessed. I'm not sure he would have a couples only floor.

Slickboy444: I think I'll let the Logan/Ororo thing go a bit more slowly I want to work my way up to it. Glad you liked the sex talk, and enjoyed Logan's reactions. Yeah I figured that was the best way for Slayer to make an exit.

Episodic: OH she'll get the hang of it, eventually. I mean 14 years of hell can screw a person up. Actually you might like this chapter.

Darkness1: Maybe I'll do a Kurty fic one day, after my Wandurt maybe or my Blink/Kurt story idea. Anyways I'll get back to Town X one day but now one with the rest of the story.

Edger: I actually do have plans for Mimic to show up in this and you might like it.

Xmenfan: Yeah you know they'll get hounded by that, and you'll see her. Try Wanda's Life to satisfy your Wanda needs.

The Uncanny R-Man: Yeah well Sinister is a busy man, and Rogue in the comics does play guitar so I brought that in. You'll see Dazzler in a future fic. I don't know about the nose bleed thing it's an anime joke. Yeah him and Rogue are still going to pay for that prank.

Thanks to: Ruby631, X00001, Sparky Genocide, Ranndie Mazda

ADJUSTMENTS

CHAPTER 37: GAMBIT'S JOURNEY

Remy Lebeau, also known as Gambit was sitting in a first class seat on a jet for Paris. He was shuffling his cards thinking on matters. He had no direction for his life at the moment and this was what the trip was all about. To find himself.

All his life he listened to others and did what they wanted him to do. First the thief's guild then Magneto and he didn't want to do the same at the Xavier Institute. He needed to know what he believed in and what he felt he should do with his life. That and he did make a mess of things.

He sighed thinking about it. Yes he was attracted to that girl but damn it you'd think he would have known better, but that was one of the problems with himself. All those years as a thief taught him to look out for himself and go for the target no matter who or what got in your way, or who got hurt in the process. IT was something he knew he needed to work on. He needed to think beyond the moment and he hoped this little journey of his would do that.

Maybe one day he would go back and make up for the way he had acted. He should have known better but he let his damn ego and stupid pride about not admitting he had lost to get in the way. He would have to apologize to Rogue one day, and to the others…especially a certain lavender skinned girl. He really needed to say he was sorry for that.

At least he knew he still had his old friend still there at least.

While flipping through the cards he came to the queen of hearts and stared at it for a moment before shuffling it back into his deck. He needed to put her out of his mind. Besides she was happy, although he had to admit that if that guy messed up and he found out she was free he would see if he could swing by. But before that he needed to just get away from it all. There was no way he was going back to New Orleans, that place was no longer home for many reasons.

So he decided to go to his roots in a way and go to Paris. See the land his ancestors came from. Well that he assumed came from, since he was adopted he didn't know where his real family if he had any was from.

"Something to drink sir?" Remy with some shades on to hide his eyes, looks at a pretty and young sturdiest looking at him. He flashed her his charming smile and he saw her smiled back and even blush a little.

"Not now cher, maybe later." He said smoothly and he watched her leave he also noticed how she looked over her shoulder at him and Gambit grinned. He always did have a fantasy about him and a flight attendant but he put that thought aside for the moment. Although tempting and he was sure he could have a very nice time with her, he had other matters to think on, mainly what to do with his life.

-Paris-

It had been two days since he had arrived in Paris and with the money he saved up from thieving and from working with Magneto he had a nice little nest egg to live on for a little time, well more like a couple of years. He was actually enjoying his time, he looked around the city and he felt like he was coming home or something. It was strange he had never been here yet it seemed to call to him in a way.

He was just wondering the city taking in the sights, he already went to the Eiffel Tower, and the few of the other tourist places and he had to admit it that it was nice to see. He noticed a personal gallery was opening up at this museum and he decided to go in. He always liked to go to galleries and museums. Mostly it had been to keep up to date on what was valuable and what wasn't and how to spot fakes and stuff. But he also got an appreciation for art too.

He wondered the public museum and saw a few of the public displays. He also couldn't help but check out the security system, it was force of habit but also he liked to challenge himself even in his mind he saw several ways of beating the security and even though it was just for fun he wasn't thinking of stealing anything. He was tempted if just for the challenge. He looked at an artifact in a glass case in the center of the room.

"Very interesting isn't it?" Came a voice in English. He turned and saw this stunning women who had to be at least nineteen with long white hair all in black with a mini skirt on that showed off a pair of very long and shapely legs.

"Oui it is."

She smiled at him. "It's on loan from this man LeBlanc, you know who that is?" Gambit shook his head and she still looked at it and talked like it didn't really matter. "He's this arms dealer that is also into drugs at least unofficially and the cops have never been able to prove any of this. He likes to play nice you see, put on a good face. In fact I found out this is actually stolen, a few people died in for it too."

Gambit was speechless looking at this strange woman. "Why are you tellin' Remy dis?"

She grinned without taking her eyes off of him. "Oh I saw you checking out the security system…I did the same." She turned to him. "Old habits huh?"

Remy was no fool, he knew this woman either had been or still was a thief. "So what are you planning on doing?"

"Simple…I'm going to take this from him."

"What makes you t'ink dat Remy will not go to de cops?"

"Because people like us don't go to the cops…too many 'complications' if you know what I mean." She turned to walk away and he watched her go. Things sure did just get a lot more interesting and now he had two choices since she was right about the cops. He either could stay in or…he grinned at that thought.

'Maybe Gambit will find some fun tonight.' He thought to himself going back to this suite.

-That Night-

Gambit had placed himself on the roof of the next building waiting for this woman to show up. After three hours and more solitaire then he ever wanted to play in his life he was thinking about calling it a night but then he saw someone land on the roof. He pulled out a pair of binoculars from his duster and he pulled it away and rubbed his eyes and looked again, thinking he saw wrong.

He was sure it was the same woman, not many woman had hair like that but she was dressed up in a black leather cat suit of some kind, and emphasis on cat. There was white 'fur' on the neckline on the boots and gloves and some kind of mask with cat ears. (think Ultimate/Marvel hybrid costume)

"Well…dat's different." He muttered and made his way to the rooftop as she went in. He watched her from a sky light as she lowered herself down to avoid the pressure sensors on the floor and watched with fascination as she worked. He had to admit she had style and was good too, about as good as he was.

When she came out of the skylight Gambit came out of the shadows. "You know dat was actually kind of good." He got a better look at her now and that suit sure did show off every curve very nicely.

She turned to face him knowing she was going to run into him. "Good? I just broke their security in fifteen minutes flat."

"Gambit would have don it in thirteen." He told her smiling.

She scowled at him a little. "Liar. I thought you're name was Remy anyway?"

He just shrugged. "Gambit is another name dat I go by. So now what are we going to do now cher?"

She grinned. "Well now that we're going with the new names you can call me Black Cat as for what to do now, how about tag? You're it." She ran off and Gambit took a moment to watch her before grinning and ran after her. He ran after her on the rooftops but when he jumped off a ledge he thought she wasn't going to make it. Then he saw a grapple hook fire from her wrist and she started to swing over the streets to another building. She turned and blew him a kiss and he knew he had a challenge on his hands now.

He was loving every moment of this, luckily he took the time to get to know the street, another habit he had learned. It always paid to know the lay of the land. And he knew where he could intercept her. He ran to the edge of one building and extended his Bo staff and used it to launch himself to the next building like a pole-vaulter.

Black Cat looked behind her disappointed that he couldn't keep up, then again Peter her old boyfriend had been the only man to keep up with her. She heard some kind of high pitched sound and turned back to see a glowing playing card. Then it exploded slightly and she landed not too pretty on her butt. "You okay?" She turned to see the smirking Gambit there with playing cards.

"You did that?" She pointed to where the card was.

He walked over to her and nodded. "Oui, you are not freaked out I am a mutant?"

"You don't know who my old boyfriend was, if you did you wouldn't be surprised."

"Mutant?"

"Not exactly, but he was different." He offered her his hand and she took it as he pulled her up and she placed her hands on his chest. "So…now that you caught me what are you going to do with me?" She asked playfully.

"Once Gambit would have stolen dat t'ing you stole and sell it, but Gambit is trying to go a new way."

Black Cat make a pouty face at him. "Oh I was hoping for a little more fun…oh well, by the way sorry about the groin, I really am." Before he could ask what she was talking about she kneed him in the crotch and he fell to his knees in pain. She ran off the roof and disappeared into the night. By the time he could stand again she was long gone.

"Well…at least Gambit still have dis." He muttered to himself and hefted the stolen item he pick pocketed from her.

By the time Felicia Hardy AKA The Black Cat got back to her own suit she stretched out and felt a little disappointed that the other thief hadn't joined her, he was really cute. Then she went to get her stolen good from a pouch connected to her belt but when she reached in she pulled out a playing card of the King of Hearts. "What the-THAT BASTARD! He stole my loot!" She sighed and pulled out a wallet. "But at least I got this from him." She pulled out a drivers license. "Remy Lebeau huh? Damn even his picture sexy."

-Gambit's Suit-

The next night, after some searching for information on Remy she found his hotel room and waiting until three AM to sneak into his room. It was dark and she quietly made her way through the room looking to see if her stolen item since it wasn't returned as she found out.

She reached the middle of the room when the lights went on and she saw Gambit sitting in a chair obviously waiting for her. "Bout time you showed up cher, I was worried dat maybe I lost my wallet on de street. You did bring it with you?"

She grinned and pulled it out and threw it at his lap. "So you still have it?" Remy nodded. "Why didn't you return it?"

"Remy looked up this LeBlanc character and he is a nasty piece of work, but if you really want to hurt 'im, you doin' it all wong."

"Oh and how would you do it?" She crossed her arms looking at him.

Remy grinned at her. "How about stealin' everythin' dat would incriminate him?" Black Cat thought about it, she had been planning something on his penthouse but the security was really tight and she would need help. If Gambit was as good as he claimed then maybe she could pull it off.

"You think we can also take everything that's not nailed down too?" She asked him and he laughed. He was really liking this girl, she was a girl right after his own heart. After some talking they went back ot her place where she had all the info on the penthouse, like blue prints and stuff and together they came up with a plan of attack for the next night. He also learned that her name was really Felecia Hardy and was in fact the daughter of the famous cat burglar The Cat.

Gambit was impressed, he had heard of him. Hell every thief had at one point he was the Houdini of buglers and now he was working with the legend's own daughter. His adopted father back when Gambit was much younger and when his father wasn't being a rotten bastard had used to tell him bedtime stories about famous thieves and The Cat had been one of his favorites. In fact the Guild had once tried to get him to join but failed.

Felecia had been impressed that he was an ex-member of the famous Thief's Guild of New Orleans. Now she knew how he had caught her and from a few stories they swapped he was definitely good.

-The Next Night-

The two thieves were looking across the street at the penthouse. A pretty lavish place too and they saw guards over the place. "You ready for dis cher?" Gambit asked her feeling that old familiar adrenalin rush coming.

"You know it." She smiled at him and then leaned in and kissed him on the lips slightly. "For luck." Then she jumped off the roof and Gambit smiled at seeing her go. The found herself in the shadow her dark costume easily helped her to hide in the darkness and she was on the roof looking at one of the guards taking a smoke break. He leaped on down on top of him and quickly knocked him out. She pulled the limp body out of sight.

She heard a click that she knew was from a gun and someone speaking in French. Then a twack sound and a thump. She turned to see another guard on the ground with his staff over one shoulder and a smug grin on his face. "Show off." She said to him.

They took out a few more guards and they found the inside of the place was empty but that was due to the fact that they planned this from the information that Felecia had compiled. LeBlac liked to party on night like this. She was at his personal computer hacking her way inside the system.

Gambit looked around, he hated having to wait while on the job, he preferred to go in, get what he wanted and get out without staying more then necessary, that lessened the change of someone finding out about you. "How much longer?"

"Some more time, why don't you go look for some pretty things to take a souvenirs." He shrugged and started to search the place. After some time Felecia found what they needed and copied all the info they planned on giving to the cops and the newspapers the next day, anonymously of course. Then just as she pulled the disk out and slipped into a small pouch on her belt the lights kicked on and she saw LeBlac and a few of his personal guards with guns.

"Well who is dis?" He asked seeing this woman at his computer. She was about to say something clever but he interrupted her. "Kill 'er." He said coldly and just as she was thinking where the hell Gambit was when three glowing playing cards landed and exploded at the men's feet.

"Dat is not how you treat a woman." Gambit said racing from the door he came from and disarmed one of the guards with his staff and attacked another. Felicia jump kicked at ather connecting with his jaw knocking him out and did a spinning kick into LeBlanc's gut. He doubled over and Remy knocked him on the back of his head with the staff and he fell to the ground out cold.

"Gambit t'ink we should leave now."

"I agree." As she started to move he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him and kissed her.

"Thanks for de luck earlier." He ginned and she smiled and traced a finger along his cheek.

"Play later big boy, escape now." He nodded and they both made a dash for the roof.

-Hotel Room Suit-

Remy and Felicia were enjoying their success. Felicia had taken off her mask and sitting across from Remy holding some campaign and Remy across from her grinning at the sight of her sitting there poised like a cat. "I must say Remy that was brilliant." She nearly purred out to him.

He took a glass of the liquid and took a sip. "Gambit admits it feels good to steal from someone dat deserves it for once."

"Yeah now you know why I only hit scumbags, not only does it hurt them but it's not like they can go to the cops now is it? Besides I like to give a little of what I steal to the people sometimes."

Remy smiled. "Were you always like dis cher?"

"Naw, my old boyfriend kind of made me see things in a new light." She looked a little sad thinking about him and how it ended. "I sometimes wish we could have worked things out but…"

"Not everything works out like you hope it does." Remy finished for her remembering his own loss.

Felicia smiled kindly at him, she knew he felt the same regret that she did, but then again there were other things that she could focus on then regret. She put down her drink and walked over to her swaying her hips and straddled him and placed her arms behind his head and grinned hungrily at him. "Now…how are we going to celebrate this little partnership of ours?"

Remy grinned. "Remy though you liked to work alone?"

"I changed my mind, besides I know a good thing when I see it and I don't fail twice." He said to him referring to her failed relationship with Peter.

"You want this partnership to go on?" He teased her but he knew she liked it.

"Yes, want to hear my offer?" She said sweetly and kissed him on the lips, it was a deep kiss full of passion and Remy returned it without hesitation. After a minute they broke away both panting for breath. "So?"

"Remy t'inks he's goin' ta like dis 'partnership'." And started to kiss her again running his hands over her back and he felt every curve through the skintight material and Felicia moaned in his mouth. He started to kiss her chin and moved down to her neck. Felecia took and hand and started to unzip the front of her costume until it reached her stomach. He kept going to her collarbone and she started to run her hands into his brown hair.

"Oh god…Remy." She moaned out as he went further down and his hands grabbed her ass gently. She started moving her hips against him in response to his stimulation then he picked her up into his arms and she actually giggle as he carried her to the bed.

The next morning Remy was greeted with a warm body with creamy smooth skin and a mane of white hair that he loved the smell on laying on his chest sleeping soundly. He looked down at her and smiled and he stoked her lovely long hair. She stirred a bit and he saw her waking up and she smiled at him before adjusting her position slightly. "Morning."

"Morning cher, sleep well?"

"You mean after last nights 'activities'? Then yes I did. How about you?"

"Remy slept very well." He told her stoking her hair she gaze a slight moan snuggling closer to him. After a few minutes she got up and out off the bed stretching and Remy couldn't help but gaze over her well toned nude body in the morning light.

She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. "Well I'm going for a show." She told him and walked to the bathroom. He leaned back staring up at the ceiling and heard the water start to run. He was thinking about how he came her not knowing what he would fine. And here he was using his talents against those that harm others and also found a woman that was like him in many ways. She was beautiful, sexy and a thief like him who had a sense of honor about her.

Not to mention he had the best sex of his life with that girl too. Thinking about last night but a huge grin on his face. "Hey." He turned to see Felecia pop her head out the door of the bathroom. "Aren't you going to join me or am I going to have to shower all alone?" She said making a cute pouty face at him before going back in.

Remy smiled and threw away the covers. Oh yes he really found a great girl in Felecia and he was wondering just how far their relationship could go, he wasn't sure but he sure as hell would want to make the most of this and a part of him wondered if she might be the one, or at least the one to be his new 'queen of hearts'. He didn't know but as he entered the bathroom and saw a certain silhouette in the shower he sure was going to find out if they were meant to be or not.

Either way he was glad he met her and he felt better abut his life at the moment and he would wait and see what the future would bring.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 38: RETURN OF SHADOW