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- Two: Homecoming

The children continued to play and sometimes cause light mischief throughout the summer. During one rainy July weekend Gambit was walking by the living room where he found his daughter sitting on the couch, her little legs dangling off the side. He decided to investigate what kept the little girl quiet for so long.

"Whatcha got dere petite," Gambit asked as he found his daughter flipping through a book.

"Picture book," the youngster answered looking up at him with her emerald eyes.

"A picture book, you say. What kind of book, Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty?"

No Poppa, a REAL picture book. I see pictures of you and Momma and lots of other people," she said emphasizing her point with hand gestures to show there were lots of people.

"Oh, a photo album den."

"Oui," she replied as Gambit sat on the couch next to her. She took the opportunity to scurry into his lap, open the book and point to a picture. "See, there's you and Momma and the Professor."

"Dat's right petite. Boy dat's an old picture, before you were born, back when Momma and Poppa first met." The child giggled, as if there had never been a time before she existed and that Momma had always been Momma and Poppa had always been Poppa. A quick look at the album made Gambit recall that this photo album was one filled with pictures that he and Rogue couldn't place anywhere else. There weren't from any holidays or events, just random pictures placed in there to keep them safe, not in any particular order. Most of them were older, all from before Storm formed the team to search for Destiny's Diaries so long ago.{1} For the next half hour he spent time explaining the pictures to the inquisitive youngster, telling her tales of the people in them, many of whom were people she knew but they just looked so different in the photos than the way they do now. Some of the people, such as Colossus, she would never meet and Gambit carefully told about how he gave his life "t'save all t'mutants from a bad sickness." He was so engrossed in the story telling and Jessica was so entertained by the tales that neither of them noticed that Rogue was standing in the doorway watching them. She wanted to tell them that lunch was ready, but after stumbling upon this cozy scene, she didn't have the heart to break it up. So instead she leaned against the doorframe, smiling at her family.

As Gambit turned a page in the album, a picture fell out from between some of the pages. The little girl took it in her hands and stared at it. She held it up to Gambit and asked "Who's that Poppa?"

Gambit took one look and the photo and it made his mind raced to his own childhood. "Well, dat dere is your Poppa wit' his Poppa."

"OOOOOOHHHHHH. And he lives in New Orleans right," she asked, slowly, carefully pronouncing the name of the city Poppa said he grew up in.

"Dat's right petite, dat's where your Poppa grew up."

[["Is it pretty there, Poppa?"]]

"Oui, [[it's a very special place." ]] Gambit lifted his head up and seemed to gaze into space. His eyes met Rogue's in the doorway, and he looked at the little girl in his lap and told her that it was time to eat. So she hurried off his lap and into the kitchen. Rogue patted her daughter on the head while she ran past. Gambit got off the couch and made his way over to his wife. She noticed the far-away expression on his face and asked him, "Ya alright Shugah? Ya seem deep in thought."

He stood behind his wife and put is arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder. "How would you like to go to Nawlins, just you, me, and Jessica. It's beautiful dis time of year and I haven't seen mon Pere in ages."

"Remy LeBeau, are ya homesick?"

Non, Chere. I can't be homesick when my home is right here wit' you and [[our baby girl]]," as he said that he pulled her in for a kiss. "But I do miss it dere, what do ya say? Pere and I haven't talked in years, I don't even know if he got word dat we were married, let alone that he has a granddaughter."

Rogue held her husband tightly as she said, "Ah say that we could use a vacation and that if New Orleans is where ya wanna go, then New Orleans it is!"

"I love you Chere."

Before she could answer a little voice was heard from the kitchen. "Momma, Poppa, I can't reach the 'sandmiches' on the counter! My legs and arms are too little!"

"Well den climb it like you do t'tree," Remy started to say but Rogue hushed him by saying "Don't give her any ideas!"

They chuckled as they made their way, arm in arm, into the kitchen.

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By the end of the week the LeBeaus were on a plane headed to New Orleans. If it was just the two of them Rogue would fly them herself, but she knew that a four year old would get restless in her arms after a while, so it seemed safer to take an airplane. Gambit got word to his father through a contact in the Guild. Jean-Luc LeBeau didn't have a phone since he resided so far out into the bayou on an old plantation. It was his own way of maintaining a shred of privacy while being the head of the Thieves' Guild. But Jean-Luc wasn't the only one who found out that Gambit was coming home for a visit. As much as the Thieves and the Assassins tried to keep secrets from each other, word always managed to leak out. Belladonna was furious when she heard that Remy, the man she still considered to be her husband was coming back to New Orleans with another woman! She had her spies find out as much as possible and she learned all about how her father had managed to trick her into signing annulment papers years ago and that she and Remy were no longer legally married.{2} To make matters worse, he had gone off and married that skunk haired harlot and had fathered a child with her! If she had found out about all this years ago, she would have hunted him down and made him hers again. But no matter, he was coming back to her, she would just have to sit and wait for the right time.

Determined to get Gambit back once and for all, Belladonna devised a plan so flawless that it had to work. She factored in all the variables, capture Remy's child and use the brat as ransom. She knew how Remy felt when it came to the safety of children, it was his weakness, and she could only imagine what he would do to save his own flesh and blood.

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After arriving at the airport, the LeBeaus rented a car and then drove out to the old plantation house that Jean-Luc LeBeau called home. Rogue and Jessica both slept in the car while Remy though of all how he was going to explain everything to his father, about why he hadn't been to see him after all these years. When they pulled up in front of the house Remy woke his wife and daughter to let them know they had arrived. As her parents got the suitcases out of the car, Jessica looked up at the huge house in awe.

A few moments after Remy knocked on the door, they were greeted by an older, but distinguished looking gentleman. He pulled Remy in for a hug and they exchanged some words in French. Then Jean-Luc looked at Rogue and gave her a hug as well, and told her how happy he was that she and his son finally tied the knot. Then he looked at the little girl who was staring up at him.

"Are you a king," she asked in all seriousness.

He looked at the curious child and laughed, "Non petite, why do you ask dat?"

"Cause you live in a castle," she stated while motioning to the large house.

Jean-Luc let out a hearty laugh before crouching down to her level. "And who do we have here? What's your name child?"

"I'm Jessica Rose LeBeau," she said as a matter-of-factly. "Wait, I know you, I saw your picture only you were little younger."

"Oh really," Jean-Luc exclaimed with a twinkle in his eye, "Den who am I?"

"You're Poppa's Poppa!"

"Dat's right, I'm your Grand-Pere," he said as he stood up again, "Why don' you go inside to de kitchen, Tante Mattie brought over some cookies earlier, I put dem on de table. Go have one."

"OK," exclaimed the little girl as she took off running into the house.

"Jessica Rose slow down," Rogue called after her while she smiled and shook her head as her warning went unheeded. "And one means one not six!"

[["She a beautiful little girl, looks just like her mother, smart little one too.]] But come in, come in, we have a lot of catching up to do!"

Jean-Luc motioned them to come inside and to leave there bags in the entrance.

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Remy sat in Jean-Luc's library later that night, long after everyone else had gone to bed. The day went well. He had a chance to talk with the man he considered to be his father and exchange words with each other that should have been said years ago. Jean-Luc got a chance to tell Rogue how happy he was for the couple and how he knew from the first time that he met her that she and his son were soulmates. Remy smiled as he recalled Jean-Luc sitting at Jessica's level and just talking with the little girl, trying to get to know his granddaughter. Remy aimlessly walked around the room, every so often taking an antiquated book off the shelf and flipping through it, then placing it back in its spot. Although he had a hard childhood before coming to across Jean-Luc, and even while living in the LeBeau household life wasn't always easy, he did always find solace in this room. Whenever he couldn't sleep at night, or whenever he wanted to escape his life, he would pick up a book and travel to places and times far and wide. He must have read nearly every book in here, a few of them a number of times in fact. He picked up an old favorite, The Three Musketeers ,off the shelf, right where he had left it years ago, in fact, it still had his bookmark in it marking a favorite passage. Then he sat in a chair and read it for a bit, noting that the famous motto of "Les Trois Mousquetaires" should be used for the X-men as well: "All for one, one for all."

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The LeBeaus had been at the old plantation house for a few weeks and all had gone better than anyone had predicted. Remy was happy to share a piece of happiness that he recalled from his childhood with his own daughter. This was the way he always recalled New Orleans and this is the way he wanted Jessica to think of it. Since this trip went so well, perhaps others would be on the horizon in the future. One Sunday afternoon after a lovely outdoor picnic, the LeBeaus decided to take a stroll around the lake behind Jean-Luc's home. Rogue and Gambit strolled slowly hand in hand as they watched in front of them, their four-year old running, jumping, and making all sorts of hand motions as she told a story to her attentive grandfather. Remy noted how he had never seen his father so peaceful and happy before. After arriving in New Orleans he learned that Jean-Luc had retired as the head of the Guild and the leadership position went to a cousin since Remy was no where to be found. It suited him just fine, he tried to be the leader of a unified Guild with less than stellar results in the past.

"I can run really fast Grand-Pere, just like a big girl, wanna see? Right to that tree!"

"Sure petite, ready, set, go!"

He laughed as the little girl took off, a pair of pigtails flapping in the wind. Jean-Luc turned to face the couple behind him. "I wish I could bottle her energy an' sell it, I could make millions."

"Now Pere, with all your years as head of the T'ieves Guild, you tellin' me dat you need t' make millions?"

Non, but I wish I had dat energy! I t'ought I was doin' pretty good considerin' how old I really am, but she's got me beat tenfold!"

Since they were distracted, Belladonna took this as the perfect opportunity to strike. She had been watching them for weeks now, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, but it never arrived until now. She had been crouched in the tree and as the little girl came close to it she leaped down from her hiding spot and grabbed the little girl. As the child screamed she drew the attention of her grandfather and parents who all got into attack positions. Both Jean-Luc and Rogue were stanced ready for a fight and Gambit had drawn and charged a handful of cards in his hand.

"Now Remy LeBeau, what manners you have? You come all de way to Nawlins and you don' call on me, your own wife?

"LET HER GO BELLE! You know dat we are no longer married. Just let her go and get out of here."

"Non Remy, I've come t'collect what's mine, and that's you! Oh sure, I was mad atcha at one time, but now I jus' want us to be together again! I can forget that you left me for that whore, and I can ignore the fact that you fathered a child with her. In fact, I'd be willing t'raise this little one as my own. But take your time t'inkin' it over, I can wait."

With that she snapped her fingers and a large group of Assassins appeared out of no where and began attacking. The three of them each fought off their attackers the way they knew how. Gambit tossed charged playing cards, Jean-Luc ducked, rolled, and fought hand-to-hand, and Rogue flew as she punched and dropped their enemies. She made sure not to fly too close to Belladonna as to not risk endangering her child. During the melee, Jean-Luc was rendered unconscious when he was flipped by an Assassin.

Unknown to anyone present Belladonna knew that it wouldn't be easy getting Remy back, so she took extreme measures to ensure her victory. Being the head of the Assassins Guild she found someone who could give her great technology in order to assure a speedy escape. She somehow acquired a hover craft that was strapped to her feet and allowed her to float above the fight. Gifted with the ability to emit plasma blasts, she also found someone to increase her powers tenfold, if only temporarily.{3} She did this as soon as her Assassin forces were defeated. Belladonna rose into the air above Gambit and Rogue and shot powerful plasma bolts at them. They screamed in agony as the power of the attack increased with every passing second.

"If you don't leave her for me, I will kill you where you stand, but don't worry I won't kill your fille. I'll do somet'in' much worse. I'll raise her as my own t'despise you, dat is worse dan any death, don't you t'ink. To have someone you love hate you?

Child in hand, Belladonna started to laugh wickedly. "Remy you have no choice but t'obey me! I have your daughter."

"LEAVE MY POPPA AND MOMMA ALONE!" The child screamed. Her cries were not heard over the noise of the wind and waters of the lake, as well as Gambit and Rogue's own screams. It is said that mutant powers are often triggered at the onset of puberty or during a life threatening or greatly traumatic experience. For Jessica Rose LeBeau this experience was now. The little girl's eyes changed from green to red. Belladonna didn't realize that by holding the child by her exposed arm, she spelled out her own doom. Her lifeforce flowed into the child and rendered her powerless. The attack on Gambit and Rogue stopped immediately. Jessica cried out, fell off the hoverboard, and began to fall unconsciously to Earth. Concerned with her own saftely Belladonna sped away as fast as possible allowing the child to drop to the ground. Jean-Luc picked a good moment to regain consciousness as he sprung forward with the quick reflexes of a thief and caught his falling granddaughter just in time. Jessica opened her eyes, which had revered back to their green color, and began to cry.

{1}- the basis of X-treme X-men

{2}- Chapter 4 of this story

{3}- I had to look up Belle's powers on a website, but I made up the part about her powers being made more powerful only because I didn't know how strong her power was. I figured, it was more menacing to make her temporarily strong.

Author's Notes- I learned after writing this chapter that Jean-Luc LeBeau died at some point in the comics, but I really liked this chapter and didn't want to change it. This was my first stab at some sort of action. I mean I can't keep writing about the X-men without infusing some action after all. PS: Any limited French in here is from my electronic language pocket sized translator. Blame it if it is wrong.

Ishandahalf- What, you think that I enjoy keeping you all in suspense?! Maybe a little on some level, but I stink at keeping things like this secret, I'm sure I'll slip if I'm not careful. Oh and I totally wish I had a professor like Gambit, you are right that'd be great! As for Storm and Wolverine, we'll have to wait and see what develops on that front. :-) PS: Your latest story is driving me NUTS (in a good way), I can't seem to get enough of it! Keep up the great work!

Kitsu Lebeau- Don't look at me to draw it, I am no artist at all! But still a dressed up Remy is always good stuff. Hope you enjoyed the JELL-O. Personally, I'm a bigger fan of the pudding…hmmmm chocolate pudding! :-)

Tammy- Hmm, maybe it's Magneto and maybe it's not. I promise, it will be reveled though in the future so stay tuned. I think you will all be a bit surprised. I really hope that Marvel keeps Gambit and Rogue together. Hopefully people are still emailing/writing to Marvel and expressing their opinions. But in the end the fans can only do so much. PS: Back in Chapter

Five, I promised you that there would be an appearance of Belladonna, so just letting you know I am now making good on that promise :-)

Star-of-Chaos- Yeah, I definitely thing that Logan and Storm would make a nice couple, and maybe I missed it, but I don't think that the comics ever really touched upon it. :-)

T- Me too, all the X-men deserve some happiness! :-)