–SQ. I am writing the beginning of this chapter as though you did not visit my homepage since some of you may not have. – SQ

(Seven)

It was an hour or so later when Gambit slowly came to. What had begun in the Engine Room had concluded in Fallen's little shop bed in the next room over. He and Kimble had let go with their pent up feelings with a passionate bang and like all the encounters Remy had shared with the other Siskans he had met, it was explosive enough to send him and Kimble both off into the darkness of an orgasmic blackout.

Remy was on his side now and Kimble was laying behind him, his body spooned and hot against him pleasantly. Kimble was awake and patting Remy's cheek, his face tight with worry. He seemed as dazed as Remy was and Gambit guessed they both must have passed out and Kimble had revived first. Remy didn't think they had been out for more than just a couple of minutes, sweat still dripped from Kimble's chin and his eyes were glazed.

"You okay?" Kimble asked when he saw Gambit's eyes had opened. There was relief in Kimble's voice. He had never blacked out before and he was scared. He was even more frightened when he had come to first and found Remy still out cold and unresponsive. He had no idea what was going on.

"Je suis bien, cher. I just can't feel my legs," Gambit replied with a chuckle. This wasn't his first orgasmic blackout by far and he was much more comfortable with it than Kimble was. His body was humming with a pleasant vibration he wondered if Kimble could feel. His Siskan's shine was bright now, shimmering with such happiness and joy, Remy was thrilled to see it. The dream he'd had at Trishnar's of this moment didn't do the real thing justice. He felt like he was just going to float away on a white cloud of bliss. So dis what Babette mean when de Siskans fuck demselves stupid. Hmm...it kinda nice...

"What happened? Why did we's fall asleep?"

Remy reached out to him gently. "It ain't sleepin'. It's a blackout. You an' me, we got a feelin'. A feelin' of love an' power. Gambit's felt dis b'fore. When it real strong like wit you an' me, Gambit black out. Guess it de same fo' you, too."

"Is that what makes it happen? The love?"

"Oui." It was the easiest explanation for now. He was much too comfortable and drowsy now to go into the whole Kundatesh thing. "Gambit love you, cher. 'E love you fo' all time."

"What do ya know 'bout that?" Kimble teased with a kiss. "Guess the feelin's mutual. You ain't the only one what blacked out. Felt kinda nice."

"Oui, mon amoureux. It real fine."

Kimble laughed softly again, and gently pushed the thief away from him. Remy whimpered softly in protest but Kimble didn't go far. He settled in next to him on the bed a little more comfortably, easing Remy onto his back, and rubbed a hand over Gambit's belly in gentle circles, loving him with every stroke of his fingers.

Kimble was still curious about what Gambit had said. His mind was filled with questions - questions and a small amount of jealousy. Who else did Gambit love so much that he had blacked out? He didn't think it was Molly, not so soon. "When didja black out b'fore?"

Remy smiled in the dimly lit room, his eyes still closed. "Got some 'elp wit de empathy down in N'awlins, just like I told you. Made some friends, some dat I care about. Don't worry, cher. You my first like dis."

Kimble had known this already, the Kundatesh had told him so. He let go with his jealousy and his questions. He sensed Remy would tell him more later, now wasn't the time. "I knows. I loves ya, Remy, fer doin' this. I always loved ya an' I always will."

Remy laughed softly, shivering from the powerful love vibration that came next, and opened his mouth to reply, What a fool I am, t'inkin' de words 'My Lover' could possibly be enough to describe what I feel... but Kimble beat him to it with another loving kiss. They lay like that a couple more minutes, simply kissing and touching gently before Kimble made to rise.

"Where you goin'?" Remy slurred, his eyes heavy now. He was coming down from the rush and was nicely relaxed.

"Not far," Kimble answered, brushing his lips against his one last time before departing. He lifted off, using his power once more so as not to disturb Remy with his motion and shuffled off down the hall, a little wobbly himself. Remy smiled when he heard the water start to run in the downstairs lav, Kimble was starting a bath.

Remy wasn't quite ready to move so soon, he had serious doubts about his body's ability to function, but Kimble had an answer for that, too. He returned and picked him up, precious cargo once more, and carried him to the lav, easing him down into the war water as gently as he would the baby that slept upstairs. They both settled into the tub, Kimble lying back with Remy in front against him, all the better for him to pamper Remy some more by washing him and rubbing his shoulders.

Remy was loving this, he was never one to pass up post coital affection. As much as he got around, it was with very few women that he had spent this kind of "after time", his guests most often left soon after the lovemaking. A little cuddling wasn't all Kimble had in mind. Gambit watched with some amusement as Kimble used his telekinetic power to open the medicine cabinet and remove a couple of items from the shelf - a flask of whiskey and a wooden box. The items floated merrily across the room and into Kimble's hands. Remy took the flask gratefully when Kimble offered it to him but couldn't help but be surprised by what Kimble did next - Kimble had removed a small baggie of pot from the box and was skillfully rolling two marijuana cigarettes.

"Where you get dat, cher?"

"Around," Kimble replied evasively with a casual shrug. He gave off a slight vibration of nervousness, he was hoping not to get yelled at for it.

Remy could have cared less, he had merely been curious about where Kimble had gotten it. "I t'ought you never leave de 'ouse, man."

"Don' hafta. I ain't the only one who uses this."

"P'etetre, but you ain't real close wit folks here."

"Close enough with the right ones, I guess." The truth was Henry had given the marijuana to him to help with his depression and anxiety. Kimble was a lot better now that he had Angel, but sometimes it still came up on him. His experiences in the City hadn't been pleasant and it would take him many years to fully recover. His former Masters Creed and Mary had smoked pot with him before and Kimble recalled how it had calmed him, smoothed him out. He thought it might also help some with his remaining longing for plasma, soothe the need a bit, and make the powerful cravings less painful. He sought out Henry for some relief and the doctor was all too willing to help. Kimble didn't have a brain in the real sense, so most of the medications Henry might have prescribed wouldn't have worked anyway. Kimble was, however, sensitive to chemicals in smoke or in drinks. Henry didn't approve of marijuana for casual use and kept track of what Kimble used, not letting him get too carried away with it. Kimble had enough squirreled away that he could splurge like this.

Kimble lit one of the cigarettes and took a good sized hit. He held in the smoke and gave the joint to Remy before lighting the other for himself. Gambit took it with a smile. He had been good and kept his promise about quitting smoking, but wasn't about to refuse Kimble's offer. It had been a while since he had smoked like this and had forgotten just how much he enjoyed it. Really was a shame this wasn't legal. He felt the buzz come and he gave Kimble a loopy grin, stoned now after a couple more good sized hits. This was high quality weed and potent enough for him to feel it quickly. Henry had good sources it seemed.

Kimble laughed at Gambit, amused at his high, but asked after a moment, "I felt ya come inta m' mind, Remy. I felt ya touchin' me before with it when we would talk about stuff, with the vibrations an' all, but never like we just done. That...that wuz sumpthin' else. Ya wants ta tell me how ya done it?"

Remy shrugged casually. "Oui. You done it to me."

"Me?" Kimble asked in confusion. "When did I do that?"

"When we share de files. You boosted m' empathy de same way I can speak de Siskan so well now. I won' lie to you, Gambit 'ad a hard time wit it, when you was gone. 'E didn't have nobody 'e could talk to about it an' 'e missed you sumptin' awful. 'E was sufferin', feelin' too much, an' gettin' a little crazy an' scared."

"I'm sorry if I hurtcha," Kimble said, his voice soft with guilt.

"You didn't do it on purpose, little brother. It ain't yo' fault. I was sufferin' an' I was scared I'd never be able to make love again wit'out losing my mind, but I got some 'elp for it an' I'm better now. Gambit's got some control over it."

"Who helped ya with it? The Professor?"

"Non. I made some friends down in N'awlin's when you was still so sick. Dey were de ones who tell me 'bout de Games Master. I was gonna tell you 'bout all dat, but I wanted to make sure you was all settled down first. Settled down in your mind."

"I ain't settled down so good just yet, Remy," Kimble said softly, his voice growing soft with sadness.

Gambit turned a bit in the bath, palming Kimble's cheek and saying gently, "Gambit knows. He gonna wait for you, den we talk some more about a lot of t'ings dat happen when you was gone. Dere ain't gonna be no secrets 'tween us. Not 'tween you an' me, mon amoureux."

Kimble shivered at Remy's words, he couldn't help it. The Kundatesh worked both ways. It whispered to him that the man before him had never spoken those words before. Not like this. Mon amoureux. My Lover. He shivered with happiness at hearing it, but it didn't lighten his mood. It was too significant a thing, too much of what he had waited so long to hear. It was something Sheyman would have said – not Raul, not Mary, not even Kristalay had ever meant what Remy had just said. Not the way Gambit did.

Remy sensed this great love all at once, all of Kimble's love returned to him as a tangible, solid thing and he felt a stab of pain in his chest as it came to him what he had been missing all this time. Rogue had never loved him this way. Not in Kimble's 'just as you are, no questions asked, nothing you could ever do would kill it' sort of way. The pain stung his eyes and he closed them, not wanting Kimble to know how much of that he had felt, the enormity of it was a bit frightening.

"Hey, kid," Kimble said, a little concerned. He thought they were supposed to be still having fun, he hadn't wanted this to get all moody. "You all right?"

Remy nodded, daring to say, "Oui, just hopin' my wife's gonna love me like dis. Dat Gambit ain't gonna do nuthin' stupid and screw it all up."

Kimble gave him a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "You won't and she's gonna loves ya, don' you worry yer pretty little head none about it. I'm gonna helps ya find 'er, and then you'll see."

"Gambit already got someone in mind, cher," Remy threw out cautiously, worried that Kimble would be jealous.

"Not Rogue, I hopes. She ain't no good fer you."

"Non, it ain't Rogue. I just got to wait some, she too young fo' me right now."

Kimble chuckled softly, now having an idea who Remy had in mind. He was pleased with Gambit's choice. "Good. I likes yer Molly. She's just the sweetest, most thoughtful thing. When ya marries her, ain't no one gonna be happier than me."

Remy couldn't hide his relief that Kimble had found his choice for future wife not only acceptable, but didn't seem to be showing any sign of jealousy about it. He wasn't sure how Kimble would take it, the idea that he wasn't committing himself to Kimble right now, not even after what they had just done. He had enjoyed what they had shared today but at the same time didn't want to give Kimble any wrong impressions about where this was going. Remy wasn't ready to commit to anyone on either side just yet.

He was a bit surprised by what Kimble said next. "Yer the best friend I ever had, includin' Fallen. No one's ever done fer me what you did. If it wuzn't fer you, I'd've never found my Angel. I'd do anathin' fer you, anathin' you asked, no questions."

"Non. You don' owe me nuthin, cher. You gave Saby de sword for me. We square."

Kimble mumbled something not quiet in agreement, but not arguing either, and rose from the bath. He was buzzed, a little drunk, and feeling more than a little fine, but Angel would be waking up soon, he couldn't linger much longer. He reached for a towel and began to dry himself off. He was thoughtful before speaking, "I'll understand if ya don' want to, but I'm hopin' you'll come lay with me again, seein' as how ya gots some time 'fore you decides about that wife of yers. It would be just for fun, like it wuz today, just fer us. Yer gonna marry yer girl and all there will be fer you an' me is a love that ain't never gonna quit. You say we're square, but fer me there kin never be a payin' back fer yer love and loyalty, yer honor. You never left me, never gave up on me. Yer the best Master I ever had. You an' Sheyman," Kimble said seriously, a sad smile teasing the corners of his mouth.

No way was Gambit going to sit still for a statement like that. He stood, splashing a little water himself, and stepped out. He placed a hand on Kimble's chest, 'feeling' him as Kimble had so often done. They were still close enough from what they had shared this day that Remy could still see Kimble's shine shimmering all around him. It was there, loving him and wishing only for his happiness, Kimble loved him that much. "Gambit ain't never gonna leave you. And being together agian? Well, dat sounds real good to me, cher. Like sumptin' we bot' gonna enjoy, but what about you, fils? Where's your girl?"

"I gots all I need right here," he said, gesturing up to the second floor where Angel would be sleeping. Kimble still spent his nights in the holding cell with Angel there, but he had bought a crib to be kept here as well, just for times like this when he might be working. "All the love I kin take in is waitin' there fer me. When she wakes up and looks up at me with them shinin' blue eyes...it's like my whole world is gonna explode from the power of it. That's all I need. Anathin' else I fancy, I kin pick up along the way as it finds me." Kimble paused to give Remy another serious look. "I'm glad ya finally come ta me today, I been wantin' you since that firs' time we wuz dancin'. Lord knows, that seems like years ago now. I always wanted ta feel yer love fer real and do my best fer you. Make ya laugh and shake. I gots my wish and I'm grateful. There ain't no happier creature than me right now." He gave Remy a deep passionate kiss, just to emphasize his point.

He didn't need to. Remy still had the picture he had found in Kimble's locked box on the night he had been kidnapped and taken away. It was a pencil drawing on butcher paper, but it was an unmistakable wish for nothing more than Remy's happiness and ecstacy at Kimble's own hands. Kimble had never asked where the picture had gone, even after the rest his drawings had been returned to him. Later, when he saw it up on Remy's bedroom wall proudly displayed in expensive wood and glass, he never said a word. He didn't need to. There was no one else who would have known the true meaning behind what he had made. He had seen it in Remy's eyes the first time he had seen him after his repair.

As if in jealousy of the unspoken message of love and loyalty between these two friends, Angel came awake and squawked loudly on the baby monitor, loud enough for them to hear with the Engine Room door fixed open such as it was. Kimble turned to leave but was stopped by an unexpected question.

"She's yo' Mistress ain't she? No jokin' around."

Kimble had wrapped his towel around his waist and was fiddling with the knot, taking a second to consider his answer. "Heh, I suppose she is. I kinda likes the sound 'a that."

So did Remy. He thought it might be one more thing to boost Kimble's fragile self esteem. "Well, den it's official. At least amongst ourselves. We shouldn't rush ta change de papers up at SHIELD. Dey ain't gonna understand how a baby now got custody of you."

Kimble looked at him, his eyes serious. "I wants ya ta still have custody of me. I still needs lookin' after. I always wants ya here with me, helpin' me."

"Don't need to be yo' Master fo' dat, Kim. All you gotta do is ask."

"This is me askin' ya ta keep helpin' me. Angel bein' my Mistress don't change nuthin' 'bout how I feels about ya. I needs ya here with me and I don't ever wants ya ta leave."

Gambit reached out and lay his hand on Kimble's shoulder. "Gambit ain't goin' nowhere, buddy. You an' me, we a team. We always gonna be together."

"I loves ya."

"Gambit loves ya, too," Remy teased, using Kimble's words. This phrase was becoming easier and easier to say each time. Kimble embraced him, sending more of those powerful vibrations of love. He broke away and left him, going to his tiny Mistress upstairs.

Remy dried off and gathered his clothes, dressed and went back upstairs. He found Kimble in the bedroom Fallen had made for him, his tiny Mistress in hand. Kimble had picked her up with a smile and sniffed at her diaper, making a face. "Uh, huh. But yer little surprises gots ta git better than this, darlin'," he teased, moving her to the changing table.

Remy lay back on Kimble's bed, stretching out and getting comfortable. He watched while Kimble skillfully tended the infant and smiled as Kimble bent over her and blew sloppy bubbles on her round little tummy, making her chortle with joy. She pawed playfully at his face, fingering his nose with her chubby hands and Kimble sneezed, making her laugh again. Remy felt a surge of jealousy, he wanted this, Kimble's kind of happiness. He wanted a wife and babies and every other thing, but wasn't certain it was ever going to happen, not even with Molly so close to him. He just didn't seem that lucky.

Remy's stomach growled loudly and he grinned as Kimble glanced back at him.

"Oh, really?" Kimble teased.

"Guess I need a refill," Remy said with a laugh.

Kimble looked at the clock. " 'S almost six. If Molly ain't too spooked 'bout yesterday, she might be up makin' pizza. T'day's Wednesday, it's movie night."

"Hmm, Gambit forgot. Too busy workin' I guess."

"Yeah, well, Kimble never fergits. It's too much fun," the Siskan teased with a laugh. He quickly packed a bag for Angel and they went upstairs into the Mansion. Kimble was relieved to find Molly in the kitchen, two large pizza pies ready and waiting. He thought she might look at him funny, make some kind of discriminatory judgement against him like so many of the others here had done, but she simply received him with a happy face. She smiled up at him and started to sign when Remy's stomach growled loudly again.

"This one is starvin'," Kimble said with a grin. "He's been workin' hard all day."

Molly watched as Kimble set the baby down at the table and got Angel situated. She had observed them coming in as she had so often done, the oddest couple of friends anyone could have. She loved them both beyond measure, something that gave her the sharp insight to know that something had changed.

Kimble came to her first and stood next to her, his face seeking something from her. He wanted to know if she was still spooked from what had happened yesterday. She didn't fully understand what she had seen, that was true, but Karen had spoken to her about it. They'd had one of the strangest conversations where she was briefly educated about homosexuality and how Kimble had ...problems. He had been severely abused and had fallen victim to a sick way of doing things, something Karen and Remy were trying to fix in the Siskan. Something that would take a long time and might never happen. Molly loved Kimble and was very accepting of people, how could she not be? She had claws and bestial temper, fangs and fur and all of it. She was in no position to pass judgement on anyone. She let Kimble know by giving him a deep, loving hug and a soft peck on the forehead. His relief was instantaneous and she felt it in a vibration of thanks that left his body.

Molly had come to learn about these vibrations and had been given a name for them - empathy. Karen had educated her on this as well. Kimble wasn't the only one to have this, all eyes had turned on Remy. This was the explanation for his odd behaviors while Kimble had been gone, Karen had said to her. Karen felt that Molly should know about their suspicions about Gambit's new talent since she was so close to both of these guys and they both needed watching after. Molly was all too willing to oblige.

Molly was not an empath herself, but she was sensitive to things around her. She wasn't aware of the vibrations constantly, only when they came at her intensely. Oddly, she felt more of these from Remy than Kimble, though the Siskan was supposedly the more powerful. But then, Kimble wasn't in love with her.

Once Kimble had been repaired, things had quieted. Kimble was still unpredictable, but no longer so lost and afraid all the time. He had gone from shattered to simply spooky quiet. He watched everyone and spoke very little, though he was more likely to laugh and play around with her and Gambit, especially if it was the three of them alone like this. He was uncomfortable in the presence of the others and Remy was working hard on breaking down Kimble's walls. For this reason, he was around the Mansion a lot more than he had been before. The more time he was here, the more time he spent with Molly.

They two of them had grown quite close. Like Kimble, he grew to express himself physically with her. He touched her often - it started as him always having to put an arm around her if they sat closely, accompanied with some lecherous wisecrack just to make her laugh. Then she would find his fingers gently stroking her hair or sometimes her cheek. His kisses were chaste, but lingering, never on her lips though she sensed he wanted to. That's when the most intense vibrations would follow. He loved her, wanted her, but held himself back. He didn't want to hurt her. When she was alone at night, sometimes she would cry herself to sleep in frustration. It was maddening, this stupid sensibility that was forcing him to wait. And now, something significant had happened. Just now. Today.

It was in the strange half lidded look in Remy's eyes. It was as if he was stoned or high on something, but all she could smell on him were the odd soaps that came from those who spent time on the Lucky Dragon. Clearly he had been there and showered. Check that, there were traces of marijuana, but they were muted, old. Not fresh enough to make him as out of it as he seemed right now. He wouldn't exactly look at her, a habit she had come to associate with deception. Remy felt guilty about something.

When Kimble had spoken — This one is starvin'. He's been workin' hard all day - Gambit noticeably shivered and laughed oddly. It was a sound she would become very familiar with in time. That and the stiff way he bent when he went to sit in the chair. Like he was sore.

Molly knew then. Remy had finally done it. He had made his decision about Kimble, but was still uncertain about whether or not it was okay. When he did manage to look at her, he seemed sad, pained. She was certain he still loved her, but now some line had been crossed. She was left with a choice – forgive and forget, or walk away.

After they ate, they all moved to the Common Room where the big screen TV was. It was fortunately vacant and she set up a movie for the three of them to watch. They all clambered up onto the large couch, Remy in the middle. As they got comfortable, he leaned against Molly and lay his head on her shoulder. Her decision made, she slipped an arm around him and nuzzled him gently, an unspoken forgiveness. She heard a soft sigh escape him and he noticeably relaxed. Kimble leaned against him from the other side and they lay in a lazy, comfortable pile, three inseparable friends.

Poor Remy, the food and the exercise caught up with him. He conked out after the first half hour, his eyes closing from the warmth of the bodies all around him. His hand once more tangled in Molly's hair, she was glad to have him there. If Kimble was jealous, he gave no sign. He just chuckled softly and pulled the afghan over Gambit, tucking it in around him, and then settled down again.

The movie was good but ran a bit long. It wasn't quite finished when Henry came and collected Kimble to return him to his holding cell for the night. Kimble gave no argument, he just gave Molly a kiss goodnight and left with Angel, leaving Molly alone with her sleeping thief. She shifted, rolling onto her back, and Remy adjusted himself over her, mumbling in soft French without really waking. A moment later he raised his head, half opened his eyes and mumbled, "Where's Kim at?"

She tapped his head so he would look at her. He's gone back to his cell. Henry came and got him.

"Oh? Guess dat just leaves you an' me, chere." He grinned at her lecherously. He had noticed he was now over her, her legs wrapped around his hips. They had the whole couch now.

She smiled. Some date you are, you hardly made it past the opening credits.

" 'Ad my nap now," he teased suggestively.

She wondered just how serious he was. That thing behind his eyes he had brought with him to dinner was gone. Was she so certain that he and Kimble had paired? She decided to test. She stroked her hands through his hair, calling his bluff. He allowed it, shivering off a vibration of enjoyment she could feel, but when she pulled him closer for a kiss, he balked and that thing was right there again, right behind his eyes.

You okay? You seem on edge tonight, she probed.

/ She knows, Shi'ow-ri whispered to Remy.

She's gonna kill me. Gambit's done blown it. Damnit!

/ If that were true, she wouldn't be here touching you. She knew the moment you and Kimble walked in together, Shi'ow-ri said, doing her best to calm him. / She decided it didn't matter. Not just yet, anyway. /

"Je suis bien. Gambit's okay, Just been a strange kinda day," he replied, not wanting to lie.

Molly sensed his need to be honest and it made her happy in a strange, small way. Part of him was still hers. You want to go to bed?

He smiled and lay his head on her belly, listening to her breathing. "Non. Can Gambit stay 'ere wit you?" He had been intimate with Kimble and had shared something inexplicable and wonderful, but now all he wanted was this quiet time with her, with his Molly. He was certain it was wrong and selfish to think of her as his, especially after what he had done this day, but he couldn't help it. His desire for her had not changed. If she was willing to forgive and to wait, he would do his best to let her know he was still very much interested.

Of course, you can stay, she replied, wanting him close. She shifted some more, finally settling down. He lay over her, comfortable with his face up to her neck, and drifted off to sleep again, her fingers tangled in his hair. She wanted more than this, so much more, but for now she would wait, patience being a strong suit of hers. Perhaps this thing with Kimble was something that would pass.