Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel characters; please don't sue me I am a poor college student. I am not making any money off of this and I am just writing it for the benefit of my own entertainment as well as the entertainment of the other fans out there. Also, this is a story from my own imagination, any resemblance to real life events, or even those in fiction is completely coincidental. As an additional note, there are so many fan fiction stories out there on this site as well as others, so any similarity is coincidental or great minds just happen to think alike. I do claim the non-Marvel characters, such as the Williams family and the new offspring of the LeBeau and Summers families. Thanks!
Note: I apologize for the spacing and random indents and anything of the sort. When the pages are loaded onto this site everything seems to get a bit messed up. I noticed that single lines get double spaced randomly. Sorry about that.
[[Text in these brackets denotes French.]]
Through the Years
Chapter Twenty: A Night of Celebration
For weeks the LeBeau house was under surveillance, just in case the mysterious force that put a hole in the nursery wall was of an unfriendly sort. But nearly a month of monitoring turned up nothing. Storm did admit that she had been a bit distracted due to her growing responsibilities and other factors lately and that perhaps there was a slight chance that she did not detect a lightning strike in the vicinity. Xavier also proposed the theory that Bobby and Jubilee's charges at the Xavier Institute of Education liked to experiment with their growing powers at night and perhaps one of them accidentally hit the house, though the location of the LeBeau's residence being a few miles down the road left this a slim possibility unless a student or two snuck out of the dorms. In any case, nothing seemed to be happening that could threaten the family and life soon returned to normal. Gambit and Wolverine repaired the damage while Rogue took Jessica to the toy store to replace the destroyed teddy bear.
A few weeks later on a dreary Monday morning the entire LeBeau family piled into the car and headed to the Mansion. Rogue had to help Wolverine make modifications to the Blackbird while Gambit needed to cover Jubilee's classes. As a result, Jean would be watching Jessica, who would spend her day playing with Nathaniel Summers and David Williams since his mother, a professor at a local college, had classes all day. His sister was attended school, but Jean did have to pick her up at the end of the day and watch her until her mother's night class was finished. Once at the Mansion, Gambit parked the car in the garage where he greeted Wolverine, kissed Rogue good-bye and watched them head to the hanger all the while discussing which modifications should be done first. Then hand-in-hand he walked Jessica up to the Summers' family suite, greeting Beast on the way who was on his way to work in the lab before his first class of the day. Once at the Summers' suite, he barely had a chance to say good-bye to his daughter as she sprinted away, pigtails flapping in the air, to greet her playmates. Chuckling at his girl's energy, Gambit thanked Jean for watching Jessica, said a fast hello to Cyclops who was on his way to conduct a Danger Room session, and then headed to his first class of the morning.
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"Ok, settle down," the teacher said with the class complying faster than most high school classes should. Of course, it doesn't hurt that this substitute had the ability to charm people into doing what he wanted, and of course he was quite good looking which aided his ability to get the attention of the ladies. "Now, Ms. Lee couldn't be here today 'cause t'Professor sent her to recruit a few new students, so I will be coverin' her classes for the week…." Gambit continued telling the students what they would be doing for the week and proceeded with the lesson. When he had a second to think about it, he realized that the guys in the Big Easy would never recognize him. Oh sure, physically he hadn't changed much, but inside he was a different person. Now he was a married family man who (perhaps the biggest shocker) made money in an honest profession. The same man who had been stealing valuables from the wealthiest homes in the world was now teaching Shakespeare to a bunch of mutant teens who would more than likely rather hear about his previous adventures than hear him read the works of a long deceased writer (well except for the ladies who could sit there all day listening to him read the phone book {1}). But most importantly, Remy LeBeau was truly happy. When the lesson ended and the students had some extra time before their next class started, Gambit allowed them to talk rather than assigning the extra work Jubilee left, he would do that tomorrow. While his mind wandered, a voice called his name snapped him back to reality.
"Mr. LeBeau. Mr. LeBeau?"
"Oui Miranda, what is it," he asked the young brunette gifted with the ability of flight who had recently been recruited into the ranks of the Institute.
"Well we were all talking about what we would have been doing if we weren't going to school here. I mean, granted we'd be getting beat up for being mutants, but say we weren't mutants, we would be doing other stuff too…," the girl rambled.
"What Randi's saying, Mr. LeBeau is that if we weren't mutants we'd be regular kids experiencing regular high school," continued Kendrick, a young man who's mutation was purely physical, that of his green-blue skin and blue hair. He was one who didn't have any special powers, one who would have been particularly vulnerable at a normal school if it wasn't for his impressive physique acquired from daily workouts. The word football player came to mind when looking at him. "We'd be going to sporting events, dances, field trips, clubs, signing yearbooks, all the stuff we can't do because we are here."
"So we were wondering if you thought it would be a good idea if we like asked Professor Xavier if we could hold a prom, not just for us seniors, but for all the students, I mean there aren't like many of us. And all the adults could come too, I mean it would be like a 'celebrating your mutantness' party," finished Vanessa, a good-natured, but slightly ditsy girl who could shoot energy blasts from her hands.
After thinking about it for a few moments, realizing that these students were crying out to feel normal, just like he and the other X-men wanted for their lives growing up, just like he wanted for Jessica, Carlie, David, and Nathaniel in case any or all of them ended up being mutants. "Oui, I t'ink dat's a great idea. You all deserve a night of bein' like everyone else."
"Do you think that the Prof will go for it though," questioned Kendrick.
"I t'ink t'Professor would be t'rilled dat you are strivin' t'live your lives rather dan let others tell you what you can an' cannot do."
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Midway through the day and already Rogue and Wolverine had completed the necessary modifications to the Blackbird. Before moving onto their next project they decided that they deserved a coffee break. While sitting in two folding chairs in the hanger next to the Blackbird, Rogue filled her friend in on details of his goddaughter from the day before. After taking a sip from her cup she looked at her friend and nonchalantly said; "So what's with ya and Ororo lately?"
Eye glaring Wolverine grumbled, "Cajun can't keep his mouth shut."
"Whoa, easy there Shugah, Ah don't know what you and Remy discuss, frankly Ah'm shocked you discuss anything beyond yoah bikes, but Ah'm drawing on mah own conclusions."
"I don't discuss anything wit' Gumbo and I ain't discussing it wit' you," he grumbled and with that he got out of the chair and headed to the toolbox on the other side of the room.
"Now hold on there Logan," she said as she chased after him. Ya might be trying to hide some feelings or something, but this is me, ya can't hide anythin' from me. Besides, if ya act all suspicious with everyone who tries to talk to ya, well than you aren't hiding anything from anyone are ya," she questioned. After reading his expression for a minute she put a hand on his shoulder and stated, "Ya like her don't ya?"
Knowing that it was no use hiding anything from the woman in front of him he lowered his head, eyes staring intently at a non-existent image on the floor. "I can't be hurt again, Darlin'. I've lived too long, experienced too much. Every time I get involved with a woman, every time I allow myself to fall in love, someone gets hurt. I can't put 'Ro through that, I can't put myself through that."
"Ah know ya've been hurt in the past, Shugah, believe me, Ah know what it's like to feel like you can never open yoah heart an' yoah life up to anyone eveah again. But in mah opinion, yah have t'give Ororo a chance. Yah might be surprised by the results. Now, ya said it yoahself, ya didn't wanna talk, so we better ge working. The broken wing on the mini-jet isn't going to fix itself." Then Rogue walked passed him to the mini-jet, hoping that she gave her friend something to think about.
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A few weeks later the students of the Xavier Institute of Education had they're dreams come true. The ballroom at the Mansion never looked lovelier in the eyes of those present. Oh sure, it had been decorated more professionally in the past than with some streamers and balloons, but never had it been done with such excitement and hope that filled the students. Slowly the students streamed into the ballroom, some in couples, others in groups of friends, wearing tuxes and dresses, lining up to have photos taken by Nightcrawler and Beast, and for the first time in a while, just being normal. Rogue and Gambit shined on the dance floor, gracefully moving from everything from waltzes to line dances to hip-hop. Jean sat at a table laughing with Monica Williams while watching Jessica, David, and Nathaniel dance together. They smiled when 10 year old Carlie was asked to dance with a group of the high school girls, completely making the young lady's night. The Professor smiled at the sight of his friends and students having a wonderful time. It made his heart happy to see them enjoying a night of just being themselves. After some of the students came to him with the idea of having a prom he didn't know why he didn't think if it himself. Since tonight was such a success, he decided that it might be a good idea to have one every year. Ororo, Bobby, and Jubilee stood to one side of the room, monitoring all activity. Wolverine walked around the room both enjoying the sights around him and feeling uncomfortable and out of place at the same time. As he walked passed Cyclops busting a kid trying to spike the punch, he spotted a green-blue student sitting at a table by himself, eyes intently looking at a group of girls laughing and dancing.
"What's wrong kid, why are you just sitting here while everyone else is out on the dance floor," questioned Wolverine, taking a seat next to the young man.
"Just thinking," replied Kendrick.
"'Bout what?"
"There's this girl, Randi, and I wanted to ask her to prom, but then I chickened out. Now I want to ask her to dance, but I can't."
"Why not? You can speak can't you?"
"You don't understand, she's a good friend of mine. I like her a lot, as more than just a friend, but I don't want to lose what we have, you know?"
Starring at the gorgeous weather goddess across the room Wolverine replied, "Yeah I know. Look, it's just one dance, no strings attached, why don't you just ask her and then see what happens from there?"
The blue-green boy looked at him, "You know, you're right, thanks man." Logan watched as the young man got up, walked across the room, tapped a young brunette on the shoulder, and both wind up on the dance floor with huge smiles on their faces.
"Perhaps I should take my own advice, eh" he mumbled, as he made his way over to Storm, who was now standing alone since Bobby and Jubilee had made their way to the dance floor. "Just one dance, no strings attached."
Tapping Storm on the shoulder Wolverine cleared his throat before asking, "May I have this dance?"
"I do not know Logan, as chaperones we should be monitoring the children…"
"Come on 'Ro, would it kill ya to have a little fun," he smirked at his friend.
She smiled back, "No Logan, I guess it would not." She extended her hand and he took it, leading her to the dance floor.
They made a slightly odd couple, she was tall and elegantly graceful in every manner, he was shorter and slightly rugged and wild despite the tux he was in. And yet as they moved in time to the music they seemed so perfect together. Rogue, who was dancing with her husband smiled and pointed them out to Gambit who also smiled. They looked at each other hoping that this was just the first small step to their friends finding happiness with each other.
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Author's Notes- I presented a few of the mutants at Xavier's new school so you can get a feel for who the X-men spend a lot of their time with. If some of their powers seem familiar I'm sorry, but let's not forget the Marvel constantly repeats powers, I mean I recently acquired the Ultimate X-men book that is like the encyclopedia of X-men and so many have the same powers (Scarlet Witch, Longshot, and a few others can turn probability to their favor for instance.)
{1}- That's for you ishandahalf who long ago suggested back in Chapter 9 that Remy would have girls drooling over him if he ever was a teacher. :-)
Kitsu Lebeau- Perhaps deep down psychologically Rogue does enjoy toying with Remy. And of course he would do anything for his Rogue, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :-)
Star-of-Chaos- Perhaps, or perhaps it isn't lightning at all, hmmmmmm ;-)
T- Can't wait to see what happens next? Your wish is my command :-)
Ishandahalf- What? Me? Let something bad happen? (feigning shock) Don't worry, I can't be too evil in this story, at least not for long. I was hoping that people would suspect the worst in Remy's behavior only to be pleasantly surprised, my own little response to Marvel's idea of making Remy or Rogue cheat on the other. As for the mysterious force that hit the house, we might have to wait a while for the answer ;-)
Tammy- I hear you about Marvel, I fear what they might do. I just hope the fans can appeal to their sense of compassion. Then again, who knows, maybe they are hyping it up with the intention of making them stay together, sort of like how I tried to lead everyone on in thinking that Gambit was cheating on Rogue in this chapter when all he did was quit smoking. :-)
PS: WOW! I NEVER expected to make it past 100 reviews! I was prepared to be happy with only a handful. Thanks you guys, you are all so super, I can't wait to post a new chapter in hopes of hearing what you all have to say each time! Keep on reading because I'm going to keep on writing, there is so much story left to tell! Lots of love to you all!