Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men. Ilehana Xavier belongs to Corrinth. All other characters belong to me.

A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers out there; you really are all stars. I don't like to finish stories on depressing notes, so here's a nice cheery end to 'All or Nothing'. Thank you all again for your support

Epilogue

Three weeks later:

Again, the day was sunny. The sky was clear and blue, an endless roof of light and warmth over Westchester, so huge that just looking at it made Blaze feel a little dizzy. Not that at the minute staring aimlessly at the sky was high on her list of priorities...

She was on the basketball court, dressed in trainers, soft pink strappy vest and ludicrously short torn-off jeans. And she faced Logan down with a grin, diving in as he bounced the basketball to successfully steal it, twist round him and shoot for the hoop. The ball rattled around the rim for a second, before falling back the wrong way. Laughing, Logan stole the ball back and forced Blaze to go on the defensive, putting herself between him and the target.

"Obstruction, Blaze." The redhead stared in consternation at the referee, Gambit sat on the edge of the court in a wheelchair that was slowly driving him insane. He could walk, that wasn't a problem, but he was often short of breath if he over-exerted himself. Still, him being ill didn't mean Blaze would let him get away with dodgy refereeing.

"Obstruction?" She protested, hands re-tying her hair into a scruffy knot at the base of her neck. "Gambit, I'm about half the size of him! How is it possible for me to obstruct him?"

"Non-contact sport Petite..." Gambit pointed out with a glint in his eye. Basketball was hardly Blaze's thing anyway, nearly as bad as soccer wasn't his.

"This game is worse than netball, and that's saying something." Blaze moaned, dropping her arms and walking back towards Gambit. "I give up."

"What, I win again?" Logan grinned, cracking his knuckles on the ball annoyingly.

"Not so fast, Logan." Gambit cautioned, red-on-black eyes twinkling at some great hidden joke. "I'se take you on..." And he got up, tugging straight his grey basketball vest over dark blue jogging pants. He certainly looked like he meant what he said as Logan and Blaze just stared at him, slack-jawed and not understanding. "What?" Gambit teased, striding forward purposefully as if he'd never been ill in his life. "Vixen gave Gambit the all-clear two day ago, mes Amies. I'se just takin' it easy, non?"

"Taking it easy?" Wolverine stuttered, trust the Cajun to play them all for fools ...

"You..." Blaze started, lunging forward as Logan frantically caught her arm and slapped a hand over her mouth to cover her obscenity. Last thing they needed was Blaze putting Gambit right back in the infirmary again, no matter how much Logan thought he deserved it. Still, at least finally Blaze's arms were healed... Carefully Logan moved his hand, and Blaze continued her tirade as though he'd never stopped her. "You've just been winding us up, making us run after you!"

"Easy Firefly..." Logan tried to calm her down, but she wriggled and scorched the Wolverine, making him gasp. Flinging herself at Gambit, she locked her arms around his neck, the force of the redheaded fireball hitting him making him stagger back slightly before he could return the hug. Smiling he let Blaze hide her tears of relief from the two men, burying her face in his chest. Not letting on that he knew she was crying, Gambit's hand stroked her spine tenderly. Finally, things could get back to normal around here...

"You heard the homme, little one." The Cajun spoke evenly, at ease with his emotions. "Don't go squeezin' too hard... So what you say Logan, t'ink you can beat me yet?" At his challenge Blaze unwrapped herself and trotted off to the sidelines, sniffing once, and getting well out of the way. She knew how competitive her two friends could be.

"You're kiddin' right Gumbo?" Logan bounced the ball to Gambit, who caught it casually and span it on one index finger, showing off. "You know I'm gonna have to go easy on you, or Ilehana'll skin me alive..."

"Again..." Blaze piped up cheekily from where she had sat sprawled in the sunshine, examining her nails rather than meet Wolverine's sceptical glance.

"Still, what she don't know..." Logan finished, eyes dangerous as Gambit grinned lopsidedly. "You ready to lose Cajun?"

"Whenever you ready, Logan. There a first time for everythin', non?"

"Huh." Logan snorted, "Well here goes nothin'..."