Blix: Yep, she did deserve it, but does Gambit deserve the trouble he's going to receive next? Because, in all truth, he has done nothing wrong.

Hnyswtypie: I'm glad you liked it! The hate between Gambit and Logan is simmering a little now.. since soon things are going to happen that will take their minds off what is, in comparison, just a minor event. Big things are coming 0

Tamazi: I liked the previous chapter because it shed light on the Gambit that is charming and playful, not cunning and sly as he is with Logan. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

POLL CONCLUDED: Your favourite pairing so far?

60percent Scott and Siren, 40percent Logan and Roxanne. Thank you!

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Chapter 42

Once Logan had left there was a tense silence left in the air of the kitchen, it was unusually strangling and Gambit thought he would have to leave soon in a bid to get some air. However, Aurora was still stood in the doorway and he was sure that she would not let him past. Like some guardian to a secret passage, she would not move until she had heard what she wanted to hear.

The silent exchange was drawing to an end as Aurora tossed her head defiantly to push her fringe from her eyes. She continued to glare her raging eyes at Gambit, "Well?" came her words, oddly calm but seemingly strained. Gambit was sure he could hear a faint snarl in her voice and he idly pondered for a moment on if Aurora fought like Logan. She did appear ready to pounce, and it was unnerving him, especially the way she stood stock still with a calculating look, like a cat studying a mouse.

"Lou, you know Logan is only trying to stir up trouble.." began Gambit in a gentle voice. He made a quiet chuckle, trying to make light of the situation, but he quickly stopped when Aurora's eyebrows viciously dived downwards in a frown.

She stepped cautiously towards him, and Gambit felt his muscles tightening in anticipation of an attack. However, Aurora did not make any move to strike a blow, instead, she raised her head to his and Gambit was suddenly worried for her sanity for he thought he was going to either be kissed or hugged and he knew that now wasn't the time. However, copying an earlier trait used upon herself, she sniffed quietly at his neck. Gambit didn't know whether it would be best to move back out of her way or stay defiantly still, no matter how much her actions were unnerving. He chose to stay still, narrowed eyes watching how she tried to work him out. He knew he had not done anything that should really be disapproved of.

However, the scent of the tight hold of Storm when he caught her from falling was hanging upon his clothes, and a simple sniff would not reveal the difference between a touch and an embrace. Gambit continued to glare at her, meeting her eyes when she raised hers to return the expression.

"So it's true what Logan said," she finally spoke up, catching Gambit by slight surprise.

However, Gambit quickly recovered and instead narrowed his eyes upon her, "Of course it isn't," he murmured in a low voice, "All that happened was that I stopped Storm from falling – "

" – You've stopped me from falling before, and as I recall, it was far from an innocent catch." Aurora cut in front of him, eyes continuing to glare.

"Well if you're gonna be like dat.." muttered Gambit, shaking his head dismissively.

"Did you not expect me to be in the least a bit angry?" cried Aurora, voice now rising a little as her patience was thinned. Gambit cast her a careful look, but Aurora then chose to continue, voice seeming to have dropped all rapidly as her anger changed to a sudden sadness, "Remy, I thought you liked me?"

"I do," said Gambit, giving a quiet chuckle, "You're a laugh, Lou.. but that's it.. y'know?"

Once more Aurora's eyes flared, the temporary sadness vanquished in a sudden blaze of anger, "A laugh?" she repeated in a dangerously low voice, "Nothing more?" A low hiss came out of her lips, "You mean I gave up everything I had with Logan, for a laugh?"

"Chere," explained Gambit, with an air of patience like he had said this many times before, "Remy don't tie himself down.."

There was a startled expression upon Aurora's face, like a deer caught in headlights. It didn't take long for her anger to resurface and boil and melt the surprise and sadness away, "So.. we had nothing. All this was.. for nothing?"

There was a curious expression on Gambit's face like he was trying to work out what she was getting at, "It was a laugh, ya know? Entertainment. That was it," Gambit gave another quiet chuckle, one that insulted Aurora all the more.

"I don't understand," said Aurora breathlessly, hands clenching into tight fists.

Gambit made a faint sigh, idly running his hand through his hair to mess it up attractively before he let a charming smile creep out to her, "It was just some fun, and we had some fun, ya?"

"But, that night in your room?"

"Ya, dat was fun."

Aurora's eyes narrowed viciously, her hands flinched as if trying to not move up and coil the long slim fingers about Gambit's throat. Animalistic tendencies boiled inside her and made her thirsty for some sweet revenge. Gambit seemed to have notice the feral burning inside her eyes for he raised his hands ready for defence.

"I'm goin' ta bed," he informed quietly, cautiously stepping around her, "I suggest you do too Lou, ok?"

Aurora moved round slowly as he passed, never taking her eyes off him as he carefully navigated himself around her, being careful not to touch her as if she was a live current of hissing anger. He also had a feeling if he were to brush her accidentally, she'd snap and drive her claws into him, something he wasn't willing to experience. He quietly exited the room and turned into the corridor to disappear from view. Aurora was left staring at the open doorway, eyes alight with anger, fists clenched and trembling. Then, on her angry face, a single tear slid from the corner of her eye.

The next morning there was a sombre silence over the school as if everybody seemed to know of the events the night before. Students sluggishly removed themselves from their beds and dazedly dressed for the day before sounds of life rumbled around the school as the younger mutants dispersed from their dormitories to go and eat breakfast. However, not even the staff had managed to finish their morning food - excluding Logan - before Charles's voice telepathically sounded in each of the adult's heads, "X-Men, please come to the Briefing Room."

At the breakfast table, the X-Men there looked up at each other at the voice. "Come on.." said Scott softly, rising to his feet. Siren looked longingly at her bowl of cereal before nodding and rising also. Chairs scraped back noisily as the four X-Men stood to their feet to go and meet Charles. Gambit did not look up or ask why the table and suddenly decided to depart, it seemed he heard the message in his head too.

As the X-Men began to leave the kitchen, Siren paused by her brother's side and looked at him gently, "Are you going to come?"

"No, I'm suspended, remember?"

"But you heard the message?"

Gambit lifted a spoonful of porridge gently and placed it in his mouth before swallowing slowly, "Yeah.. I heard." he said quietly.

Siren took his arm, giving a reassuring smile, "Then he obviously wants you there, come on Remy."

Swallowing his last spoonful of porridge, Remy gave a small nod and dropped the spoon back in the empty bowl as he joined his sister's side and left the kitchen with her.

Down in the underground levels the X-Men stood in a small semi-circle to one side of the room whilst Charles sat in the centre of the room upon a computer. The same metallic walls of the Briefing Room still glinted with an unending cleanliness, and the glowing white lights shone brightly over the walls and floor, causing the entire room to be lighted.

After a short moment, Charles looked up slowly from one of the large flat computer monitors to survey the team carefully. Gambit and Aurora had purposely positioned themselves at opposite ends of the row, and whilst Gambit had gentle but sleepy smile on his face, Aurora had a furiously etched glare and her eyes kept darting quickly to glance down to the row to the Cajun. She kept holding the angry glance for a few seconds before she quickly looked at her feet with a saddened face. Logan seemed to have noticed Aurora's obvious unhappiness, for he kept giving an astute glance to those either side of him, Aurora and Storm. He would then flash his eyes with a hardened look to Gambit. But Gambit never met any of the gazes; he was just watching Charles as Scott and Siren were.

"Since receiving word from Scott about the Sentinels' new apparent display of power," began Charles, nodding quietly to Scott, "I took a visit to Cerebro to see if there would be any information I could find relating to this abrupt change. We all agree that there were no such power displayed when the Sentinels first arrived here."

"Did you find anything, Professor?" asked Storm, folding her arms gently across her chest as she stood in-between Logan and Scott.

"I did," replied Charles with a quiet sigh of apprehension, "It seems that there is something quite foreboding taking place." He raised his head slowly to watch the faces of his X-Men gradually show signs of unease and contemplation. "Cerebro is picking up a strange DNA in their system.." he looked across at them unblinkingly, "The same chromosomal alteration as mutants have."

"But they are not mutants," said Siren hastily, quickly finding the need to separate themselves from those ghastly killers.

Charles held an concerned stare with the woman before he said quietly, "That.. is exactly what I think they are."

"The Sentinels.. are mutants?" said Logan, in a slow voice, sounding disbelieved.

"It seems so," replied Charles, "I'm not completely sure, but it seems that way. However, I have no clue as to how this is working, perhaps mutant DNA has been taken, or maybe it has been artificially developed – "

But just then, Charles was suddenly cut off as an echoing thud sounded through the mansion, followed shortly by a slightly muffled scream of loud defiance. Every head of the X-Men shot upwards to stare through the ceiling, faces showing clear signs of worry.

Charles spun his eyes upon them with a sudden stare, "Madeline.."

Uh oh!

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