(Six)

Six hours later, Remy briskly walked down the hallway to his father's bedroom. A small crowd was gathered there and they parted respectfully when they saw him coming. Gentle hands reached out to him as he passed, Jacques and Philippe were among them and they tried to comfort him. Their vibrations came into him in a gentle wave of sorrow. /It's okay. We will be here for you. We love you, do not be afraid. His suffering will soon be over,/ Shi'ow-ri whispered to him, translating their silent messages.

Gambit hardly heard her. He knew from the moment he had seen them gathered out here that he had barely come in time. The pain and grief surging within him was almost more than he could bear.

As he entered the room, Mr. Taylor, Jean Luc's personal physician came forward, his hands held up in caution. "Mr. LeBeau, it's good that you've finally come. He has been asking for you."

Remy was irritated at the interruption in his travel. He could see his father lying on the bed and hear the rasp of his breath. His shimmer was fading even now as he was standing here. "Den let me talk to him, s'il vous plait!"

"Please, Sir! Wait a moment," the doctor protested, putting himself in Remy's way. "My goodness... your face!"

Remy rubbed the bruise there. "It's nuthin'. I 'ad an accident on my bike."

"No helmet? You LeBeaus are all the same. Won't be happy until you've killed yourselves off," the man joked, not unkindly. "You must be told some things first. Your father's had a stroke and there is nothing we can do for him now but make him comfortable. It may be difficult for him to speak. I beg you, do not let him get too excited."

Gambit calmed a bit to ease the tension in the doctor. "Bien sur. I'll be good, je promets."

"Good." The doctor moved aside to let him pass.

Remy almost bolted to the bed but checked his stride, not wanting to upset the frail old man lying there. He knelt down and took the ice cold hand of his father, the tears leaking out of his eyes before he even had a chance to speak. Tante Mattie was there and she came down next to him, her large brown hands on his shoulders. "Father...!" he breathed, his body shaking from his breaking heart.

Jean Luc opened his eyes and turned his head in Remy's direction. "Dat you, fils?"

"Oui, Father. I came as fast as I could."

Jean Luc smiled then, his eyes glassy and unfocused. "Can't see too good now."

"C'est bien. Gambit sees you just fine."

"I've been...I've been t'inkin' a lot about you, fils."

"Oui? All good t'ings I hope."

Jean Luc chuckled softly. "Bien sur, mon fils. Dere would be not'ing else."

Remy bowed his head and a soft sob escaped him.

Jean Luc gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Shush now, fils. Listen to me."

"Oui, Father."

"I've 'ad de most pleasant t'oughts. I... I've decided sumptin' dat made my 'eart just shine."

"What's dat?"

"I...I've decided dat you must really be my son. Dere was this one girl...oh, Remy...she would make yo' 'eart just melt. She was one of dem dancers... you know ...like de ones from dat Club I used to take you to all de time."

Remy laughed. "De White Lion?"

"Oui, fils. Dat's de one. De topless place. Oh, de siens on dose girls, dey were magnifique, marveilleux!"

"Oui, father. C'est la ve'rite'."

"Dere was one dere, Mina was 'er name. She 'ave de bright, playful eyes just like you, fils. When I dream...it's 'er face I see. I tell myself dat she yo' mother. Dat she was too scared to come to me wit you...so she just take de long way of bringin' you to me, is all."

"P'etetre...p'etetre, it's true. I like de idea of my momma bein' one of dem, too. Dose girls de prettiest in town," Remy said, eager to agree and give this dying man any measure of comfort he wanted.

"I've left you some money."

"Gambit don't want yo' money. You give 'im a real name and a real home. Dat was more dan anybody else ever give me. It more dan enough."

"I'm giving it to you anyway. Give it away if you like. To de X-men if you want. De work you do dere...it more important dan de Guild...makin' peace...You... you make me so proud."

"Father!" Remy gasped with a sob, his heart breaking in two.

In his fog, Jean Luc didn't hear him. He continued to advise, "Or...p'etetre...give it to dose orphanages like you do."

"You know about dat?"

"Bien sur, I am yo' father. It my job to know de 'eart of my chil'ren. When you a father... you'll know dis, too."

"I 'ope so. Don't t'ink I could ever be as good a father as you."

"Oh, you wrong, fils. Dere is much love in yo' 'eart. Best git a move on, though. Time's a wastin'."

Remy laughed softly. "Oui, Father. I'll do my best."

"Dat's right, fils. Never know 'ow much time de Lord gonna give you. So many t'ings I coulda done, but didn't 'cause I was scared or jus' got too busy. Don' be like me. 'Ave no regrets. Live yo' life, embrace it. Drop yo' pain, it draggin' you down. Live. Live for me."

"Oui, Father. Je promets."

"Bien."

Jean Luc took another deep breath and closed his eyes. Remy saw his shine flicker and couldn't stop a soft noise of distress. Mattie's hands came tightly on him now, she knew he could see it happening. "Easy, fils. Paisible," she whispered to him. "He's tired. He been waitin' on you, now 'e need 'is rest."

"Non!" Remy wailed, trying to keep his voice down.

Jean Luc squeezed his hand, his shine brightening for just a moment. "Je t'aime, mon fils. Fo' all time."

"Father!"

"Je t'aime..."

"Je t'aime aussi!" Gambit blurted out, desperate to get the words out. "Don' leave me!"

"Always be 'ere...lookin' on you...Live..." Jean Luc's voice trailed out as the last glimmer of his shine flickered and then faded away.

Remy started to cry out, but Tante's hands came around his mouth. "Shush, now. It's over."

He shook and shivered, almost hysterical in his grief. She gently pulled him away to a corner as the doctor came to the bed to check Jean Luc's pulse. A priest came quickly, Last Rites had already been given but he was here to comfort the family. Gambit jerked away from him, almost out of control with emotion. It was coming out of him, Tante Mattie could feel it herself. "Easy, fils. Let's go outside."

He gave no argument as she lugged him out of the room, using a separate side door to avoid making a scene in front of the crowd in the hallway. Gambit was sobbing openly, his legs buckling now and again as he bawled out his pain and agony. She brought him outside through the large house to Jean Luc's garden. It was still winter and there were no flowers, but there were stone benches and statues here making it pleasant to sit at any time. The bench was made of granite but quite comfortable, and there was the pleasant crunch of gravel underfoot. This was one of Jean Luc's favorite places to sit, and one of Remy's as well. He would have many fond memories of this house and this place and she felt it would calm him. She brought him to a bench and let him cry, sometimes crying a little herself as she patted him and rocked him gently.

It took some time for him to quiet, but he eventually did and lay against her, holding onto her arms tightly as he always had as a small child. "You okay now, fils?" she asked him gently, running her hands through his thick auburn hair.

"What's Gambit gonna do now?" he asked softly, his voice cracked and strained.

"Do as yo' father tell you, what else? Find a girl, 'ave some kids, make yo' Tante a grandmother. Dat's what happiness is. Jean Luc knew dis, he a smart man. You take 'is advice, ease dis pain in yo' 'eart."

"Oui, chere. Gambit will try."

"Bien. Dat's more like my son." She gave him another squeeze, letting go when she saw a tall figure coming towards them from the house. Remy sensed his arrival and sat back, wiping his eyes. "Bonjour, 'Enri," he said when his brother came close.

Henri was a big man, just like his father. Unlike Remy, he was genetic relative to Jean Luc and shared his father's tall lithe frame and dark coloring. His hair was long and tied back like most of the thieves in the Guild and he was dressed in an expensive suit. What was most remarkable about him were his eyes. They were cold and ruthless, filled now with a wariness that made Remy distrust him immediately. "We 'ave to talk, frere."

"Not now, fils," Tante Mattie said sharply. "Can't you see dis boy's all broke up inside?"

Henri made a small noise and crossed his arms. "Dis boy ain't been around 'ere in months. Now 'e shows up just in time to remind a dyin' old man dat 'e still alive. Oui, dem some real fine tears."

"I was exiled!" Gambit protested, his face flushing now with anger.

"You come back two year ago. You stay a coupla weeks, mebbe t'ree, dan you leave again. Father don' 'ear from you fo' months after dat."

Remy's face hardened and Shi'ow-ri began to speak as the vibration from the man in front of him came at him painfully. /He's afraid of you. He thinks you are a threat./

Henri continued. "Don't be t'inkin' you can just start go t'rough de 'ouse takin' what you will. Some t'ings been put aside fo' you."

"De body ain't even gone cold an' now you wanna fight over de scraps?" Remy snapped, rising to his feet. "Fuck you!"

"Boys!" Tante said, getting up herself to stand in between them.

Henri squared off, raising his chin. "Don't get too comfortable 'ere, Remy. You pay yo' respects, take yo' money an' yo' t'ings an' you go."

"Don't need none of Father's money!"

"Den give it away, but you ain't takin' de Guild."

"I don't want de Guild!" Remy snarled, taking a step forward. "I never 'ave!"

In spite of his bravado, Henri took a step back, he couldn't help it.

/He's afraid of you and it's not the Guild. He fears you because you're a mutant. He hates them all,/ Shi'ow-ri whispered.

Gambit retreated, the vibrations from his brother more than he could take. He repeated in a lower tone of voice. "I don't want de Guild, I never 'ave. You kill Paul fo' no good reason, settin' me up like dat."

"Dat wasn't me!"

/Liar!/ "Liar!" Gambit and Shi'ow-ri both shouted at once, making both Tante and Henri shiver as the emotion left him in a ripple that could be felt. "Play whatever stupid games you want, but Gambit knows de truth!"

"No one will believe you."

"I do," Tante said firmly with no fear. "I've always known."

"It won't stop me from running the Guild. It's mine! I earned it!"

"You earned it all right," Remy said. "And Gambit's gonna be around when it eat you up alive. De Guild knows its own. You ain't got de right kinda mind to 'old onto it fo' long. Dat's de only t'ought dat give dis boy any comfort. Later, y'all."

Gambit nodded at his Tante and walked away, heading back up to the house. He wasn't eager to hang around a bunch of miserable people like himself, but didn't dare remain near Henri. He was shaking with anger and couldn't trust himself. He didn't get far when a familiar blonde man came jogging out towards him. Etienne was coming, his own tears wet on his face. He came at Remy, his arms out, and the two of them found each other. This time it was Gambit giving the comfort as Etienne cried against him without shame. "I can't believe 'e's gone!" Etienne cried, "I knows 'e was sick, but I still can't believe it!"

Remy gave him a reassuring squeeze. "It's gonna be okay, you'll see. Let's go get a drink, hien? B'fore dem cousins of ours drink it all first, saw Philippe and Jacques on de way in."

Etienne gathered himself. "D'accorde. I could use a good shot right about now."

They headed back up to the house and sat at one of Jean Luc's many small bars to share a bottle of whiskey between them. As Remy poured, Etienne's face suddenly brightened. "Oh, b'fore I forget, dis come fo' you yesterday." He handed him a letter.

Remy took it, recognizing the handwriting. It was from Nancy of the Assassins Guild. "Merci."

Etienne smiled at him as he opened it. "Guess when you make a girl smile, she never fo'get you. Ain't seen 'er around in a while."

"I ran across 'er when I was 'ere last," Remy mumbled absently, his eyes quickly scanning the note. Nancy was telling him that Babette had been spotted only two nights ago in the same club she had picked him up at before. He would check this out as soon as possible. He folded the papers and shoved them into a coat pocket. " 'Enri worries me. He already circlin', makin' sure he still top dog."

"I wouldn't worry too much about 'im. De guild looks after its own. It wasn't gonna survive after Jean Luc anyway. Too big now, got too many factions. I'm already movin' on. Got a small team of m' own workin'. We gonna pull out, move up to Boston and set up shop. Got a nice list of clients. 'Enri don't care, I'm too small fo' 'im to worry about."

"You watch yo' back, cousin. 'Enri ain't no lightweight."

"C'est bien. I know. No worries, eh? Just de 'ere an' now. It's just you an' me, two fine lookin' boys just sharin' a drink. Gonna 'ave to take you out, not'ing like a girl to shake of de blues, n'est ce pas?"

"Heh, got dat right."

"Not to bring y'all back down or anyt'ing, but Jean Luc 'ad me put some t'ings aside fo' you. Dey up in yo' room. Just some papers and some of de t'ings you left."

"Merci."

"Oh, y'know what else? Got dat ol' bike of yours workin'."

"De Harley? You musta been bored, cousin."

"Naw, just a hobby." He tossed Remy a set of keys. "Take 'er out when you get a chance. May as well take it back wit you when you go 'ome. 'Enri was gonna junk it."

"De asshole," Remy muttered. "Merci, fo' de bike, though. I missed it."

"Well, she's up an' runnin', purrin' like a kitten."

"Regular pussy machine, eh?"

Etienne just grinned. "C'est la ver'ite'. I tested it out, works like a charm."

"Ain't gonna 'ave to chisel off no crusty stuff from de seat I hope!" Remy teased, charmed by his cousin's tease.

"Non, I 'ad it detailed when I 'eard you was comin'. She's sweet."

"Merci."

The two of them drank in peace, sometimes comforting others as they passed through. It grew late and Remy went up to his room. As promised, there was a box on his bed. He opened it and pulled out a brown envelope thick with papers. It was his father's stationary and his name was on it in his father's handwriting. Remy opened it and his eyes opened wide. His father had left him money all right, twenty-five million dollars in a bank account already set up. All he had to do was activate it with a code number. It was Swedish account, sheltered nicely. It came with a credit card, one of those Diamond American Express cards, one given out only to the very rich. It was a ticket for whatever pleasure he might have in mind, complete freedom. There were more papers, some stocks and bonds his father had included as well. Remy couldn't help but let another tear dribble out of his eyes. His father had done this to set him free, to allow him to do whatever he wanted to do with his life. Gambit didn't need the money, he had plenty stashed away, but Jean Luc didn't know that. It was the thought that counted and Remy felt another surge of grief threatening to swamp him.

He put the envelope aside for now and reached into the box again. It was filled with trinkets of another life. He smiled and felt more tears run as he picked up the small brass statue he had recovered from that mysterious house, his first victory as a budding young thief. He ran his fingers over it, really looking at it for the first time. His heart quickened when he realized that what he had assumed was merely a winged woman, was in fact a crudely molded figure of a Dognan pilot just like Fallen. He didn't want to believe it, but couldn't deny what he was holding in his hands. "What de 'ell?" he whispered softly to the empty room. "C'est impossible..."

He didn't get an answer to his question. He turned when he heard a soft knock on his door. It was his Tante, coming to say goodnight. "How you feelin', fils?"

"Je suis bien, chere. No worries."

"Bien. I'll see you in de mornin'. Dey gonna 'ave a wake and den de funeral de day after."

"Oui, Etienne tell me. I'm gonna need a suit."

"Si bien. Yo' father's tailor be 'ere in de mornin' fo' you and de boys."

"Merci, Tante."

"Bon nuit, fils."

"Bon nuit, chere. I'll see in you de mornin'."

She kissed him and departed, leaving him alone once more. Remy was tired, exhausted inside and out. He placed the statue back in the box, a puzzle for another day, and lay down on the bed. The room he was in now was the room he had always slept in here as a child. It was large and had many windows overlooking the grounds. Ivy grew up the outside walls of the house on this side. That ivy had been his friend, assisting many a silent escape for a night on the town with one of the many fine girls this town had to offer. Lord knew, he had loved it here. Too bad this house would never be the same for him, Henri's last words pretty much clinched that. Once he left here, he probably wouldn't return, not while Henri ran the Guild.

Remy closed his eyes as his long day caught up with him. He didn't bother to undress, he simply rolled over and let sleep take him away.