Sych: Thanks! And you're only JUST reading Order of the Phoenix! Its really good Nikki! I suggest you keep reading sharpish! D Yup, it was certain irony at the end; everyone seemed to like it though! Lol.

Kimenomi: Both Logan and Gambit have done some pretty bad stuff in that pervious chapter, but I don't think Charles will be too harsh. I hope this was a quick update for you!

Blix: I'm glad you liked it so much! That is one of the reason I liked it also, because Logan IS right!

Poll Concluded: What is your favourite scene type of this X-Men saga?

20percent Action scenes, 20percent 'Loved up' scenes, 60percent All!

New poll up! Go look!

Chapter 36

The soft splashes of running water was all that sounded in the women's changing room's when the three females within changed. Eventually, Aurora was the last out of the showers and was hurrying across the tile floors with her bare feet splashing in the small puddles that swirled towards the silver plugholes in the floors. She speedily slipped into the deserted changing area to dress into her awaiting clothes, only quickly drying her body beforehand. As soon as she was clothed, she rushed out of the changing rooms, a brush being dragged through her currently straight hair; hints of curls were slowly coming back to life as they dried. The door swung open as she barged through, heading into the Uniform foyer to see Scott tying up his shoes, she continued right past him, walking out of the parting circular doors.

As the doors whirred shut behind Aurora's exiting form, she turned in the corridor to see Gambit leaning on the wall, a hand gingerly touching his right cheekbone where a large and distinctly obvious bruise tainted his tanned skin. He quickly looked up when he heard the doors of the Uniform room sound, and his grimacing face spread to a welcoming smile to Aurora, "Hey, Lou," he murmured softly.

"Oh Remy," she sighed gently, coming to a halt beside the man, "Logan's really not avoiding the chance to hurt you, is he?"

"Ya could say dat," said Gambit with a bitter laugh, "Ah well, one day he'll get what's comin' to him, maybe not from me, but one day."

Aurora's eyes studied the injured man's face gently, her right palm rising to gently cup his cheek and lift his head to look at the bruise, "Do you want to go to the infirmary?"

"Nah," said Gambit softly, eyes lifting to watch Scott walk out of the whirring doors and head on up the corridor to the lift out of view, "I'm fine."

But she still continued to watch him worriedly, "You sure?" she asked, eyes flinching a little as she heard the exit of Scott behind her, "It's only just round the corner."

"Do not worry, mon chere," Gambit responded with a slight smile curling up his lips, "Remy has suffered worse in da past. Ya can take care o' him though if you like"

Then, the doors sounded again, and with only one person left to exit the changing rooms, Gambit knew who it was going to be. And before the exiting mutant could even arrive into view, Gambit had speedily extended his arms, enveloped them around Aurora and spun her to the wall as he pinned her up again it, immediately closing the gap between their bodies and launching his lips upon her in a sudden hot-blooded kiss.

Aurora made a faint noise of surprise at the sudden movement she was forced to do. Within the next second she found herself pinned against the wall, arms holding her form, and lips taking hers. Instinctively, her eyes closed, arms rising around Gambit's shoulders to hold him closer, hands folding about his neck.

The doors whirred shut. Logan raised his head slowly to wonder what the noise was, only to see Aurora and Gambit against the metal walls involved in a fiercely passionate embrace. At first his eyes widened, then slowly, he felt his stomach clench in swarms of boiling fire, which crept up into his chest, stinging and burning. His throat tightened and knuckles ached for spilled blood as they clenched tightly.

Gambit casually opened his right eye to peer to the Wolverine who was stood there with an unmistakable fury burning his eyes. Gambit slowly let his mouth drift from Aurora, who was still yet to notice the man staring at them.

"Is dere a problem?" asked Gambit in an offhand tone.

Aurora slowly let her eyes open, lips still parted in a lingering way. She firstly looked across at Gambit, and then slowly looked to see whom he had spoken to. The reaction was instantaneous; "Logan!" came her choked cry, arms instantly falling away from Gambit's shoulders.

The damage was already done.

"No, no problem," said Logan harshly through gritted teeth. He let out a low snarl in his throat as he spun round, long strides been taken as he stalked away from the pair.

A soft groan came from Aurora who lowered her face to her hands, shaking her head unhappily, "Oh, God, why do I keep screwing things up so much for that man?"

"Not your fault, Lou," said Gambit with a shrug, gently resting his hands on her shoulders, "Don't worry, huh?"

"But I feel so bad, I keep doing terrible things to him.."

Gambit sighed, pulling her close to him again, "Come on Lou, I think we need to take your mind off him. You can come and look after the invalid." He led her away with a cunning smirk taking his lips, his arm curling about her waist to pull her away with him.

Later that day, Storm was sat on the patio at the back of the mansion, enjoying the last few rays of the day's early spring sunshine. The morning's training session had been taxing, but she was pleased at the way Logan handled it, maybe not with Gambit, but the lesson itself was good. She leant back in the wooden chair, hands gently smoothening her skirt over her thighs as she relaxed in the seat. One hand held a glass of water, which she occasionally sipped from. Her eyes slowly scanned across the grounds ahead of her, watching how the lowering sun cast such a wonderful glow amongst the dancing shadows of the orchard.

The peaceful surroundings were disturbed as a increasing volume of heavy feet sounded from behind her, in the corridor. Storm frowned slightly as she heard the footsteps, lifting from the seat to glance behind her shoulder a little. Through the opened double doors, she saw Logan walk into view. He certainly did not look happy. A quiet sigh was made as Storm leant forth to place her glass upon the wooden table, she called out to the man before he had chance to leave her vision, "Logan?"

The man slowly stopped his walk, his bowed her turning to peer through the opened double doors to the woman sat in the fiery glow of the setting sun, "Hey 'Ro.." he managed to murmur in a very quiet voice.

There was no need for idle pondering, Storm instantly placed her feet to the concrete slabs and gently raised to her feet before quietly walking over to him without so much of a stumble, "What's happened?" she asked in a quiet voice, reaching his side and giving the man a reassuring gaze.

He knew she wouldn't ridicule him. She had been there plenty of times when he had been at his worst, there when no one else was. The most memorable being the time when he collapsed outside his room in the early hours of the morning - a distressed wreck from his haunting nightmare. She had stayed with him then, for perhaps hours, just consoling him. He would have to return the favour one day, if she ever needed it. However, when she asked him the question, he lowered his head once more, finding the need to avert his gaze. But apparently, Storm wasn't having this, for her left hand rose to gently prop his chin up so she could look him in the eye.

"You do not have to tell me, but it doesn't stop you looking at me, does it?" she asked, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Logan found it hard to keep the scowl on his face as he looked back at the woman, he felt a sheepish grin curl his lips as he shrugged, "No, 'course not," he murmured.

"Not done a thing and already I've got you smiling again," said Storm with a small chuckle, her hand dropping as she idly folded her arms atop her chest.

"Seems so," answered Logan, once more shrugging, grinning at her faintly.

Storm smiled at him warmly before she gently unfolded her arms and rested her hand on his upper arm, giving a reassuring rub against his shirtsleeve, "Are you alright?" she asked in a quiet voice, head dipping gently in encouragement.

Logan took in a slow breath, debating whether to be truthful or not. Did she really need to know? How would she benefit? How would he benefit? Perhaps it'd help ease the continuous flow of fire around his chest, lapping against his heavily weighed heart. He managed a slow lick of his dry lips before he turned his dark eyes upon the woman, "No.." he declared with a heavy exhale of air, "Not really."

Storm's eyebrows contracted and then relaxed in faint surprise at his admission. But it didn't take long for her to bow her head gently, the hand on his arm moving slowly against the material of his shirt, "Would you like to talk about it?" she asked in a gentle voice.

Another sigh came before Logan turned and slowly walked over through the opened patio doors, heading out into the remains of the fading sunlight, "Alright," he said softly, "Let's go for a walk."

Those last few rays had now disappeared and an inky black sky was dissolving over the faint bleed of orange on the far horizon. As Logan had requested, Storm and he had walked around the outskirts of the grounds in which during that time he had explained to her what he saw in the underground corridor, and proceeded to discuss the situation with Storm. As expected, she remained politely quiet when he spoke, and only replied where he left his sentences hanging, when they did need to be picked up. Storm offered him words of reassurance and comfort, whilst not smoothening things over with fake knowledge.

He was glad she wasn't one of those people who simply said, "Oh, don't worry, it'll all be fine," but was genuinely concerned with his words, and she helped him – still being positive, but it wasn't false sayings.

Eventually, the pair reached the water centrepiece of the ground's back gardens. Storm sat down gently on the small stonewall surrounding the long rectangular water feature and looked up expectantly. Logan glanced down across the row of water fountains along the dark surface before taking a seat beside the woman, grinning gently, "You've cheered me up," he admitted quietly.

"My, have I really cheered up the Wolverine? Have I completed this impossible task?" asked Storm with a playful chuckle, smiling at him.

Logan gave her a warning glare, but there was the telltale twinkle in his eyes that showed he didn't really mean any harm. However, he seemed to suddenly go thoughtful as he watched her, and quietly began to speak, "You know, when I first came to the mansion, you didn't like me."

A surprise look came from Storm as she stared at him, "What?" she began, "What makes you think that? I never said I disliked you."

"You didn't need to," replied Logan with a wry chuckle, "I could tell, and for some reason, I made a promise with myself to make you feel differently."

A smile rose on Storm's lips, and she shyly tilted her head at him, "Well, it looks like your determination pulled off."

"Why? Do you like me now?" asked Logan, giving a rough throated laugh.

A sheepish expression overcame Storm, "Of course I do," she informed gently, "I have learnt a lot more about you, and now I am beginning to understand the way you work."

It was now Logan's turn to look sheepish, and he only managed a small shrug in response, glancing down between his legs at the concrete slabs. However his idle pondering faded when he felt Storm nudge his arm for attention.

"Thank you," she said in a gentle tone.

"What for?" asked Logan, his head raising as he peered round at her.

There was a small smile on Storm's face as she lifted her bandaged hand out of her lap, indicating it gently. As Logan saw the hand being lifted, he gently held the underside of it, studying the bandage she wore, remembering the accident at the jungle. Storm continued with her words, causing him to look up at her, ".. for saving my life."

On the upper floor of the mansion, through the handsomely decorated windows of diamond lead was a shadowy figure looking down onto the grounds. Telltale eyes of red glinted dangerously from the dark silhouette. The gaze bore down through the glass, staring down to the pair sat in the dark on the wall of the water fountain. Eyes sharply followed the exchange of smiles, and brow furrowed at the touch of their hands, "Well dat looks cosy.." the figure said in a low voice before he turned from the window.

Gambit's eyes swept across his room before landing upon the woman sat at the foot of his bed. Hands were held over the face of this woman, and soft sighs could be heard every so often. Gambit slowly walked towards her, eyes flashing as he travelled through the darkness of the room, "Lou.." he said softly, beckoning her attention.

Aurora raised her head slowly, unhappy eyes rising up to look at the man who spoke. Upon seeing the woman's morose expression, Gambit slowly rested an arm around her shoulders, seating himself beside her, giving her a reassuring hug before his hand slipped down gently to settle around her waist.

"Come on chere, let's be taking your mind off things.." he whispered to himself as he gently rested his head to hers. As his cheek rested atop her crown, a sly and cunning smirk played upon his lips. He looked down slowly, his movement causing Aurora to look back at him, and as soon as he head was raised another, he moved in to kiss her.

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