Ooooo... I just can't wait to get to the good part... not quite in this chapter... soon! SOON!

4

AJ met with Professor Xavier as she did every other day, but this time she had a new idea.

"What's on your mind AJ?" he said with a smile, sensing she had something weighing heavily on her.

"It's Rogue." She shook her head "I know this sounds weird… but I wish I could help her some way. I'm a few years older then she is… but I see myself in her."

"You do have quite a bit in common. Aside from your similar pasts, you both have very free spirits."

AJ smiled "She's pretty stubborn too isn't she."

Xavier grinned.

"I was thinking… she can't control her powers right. What if I… figured out a way… to teach her how to focus? I know it sounds…"

"I think it's a great idea." He said with a nod. "Of course we'd have to ask Rogue's opinion, but I'm sure there won't be a problem. However, keep in mind that your powers aren't fully developed yet either."

AJ nodded. "Of course."

When their meeting was over, she made her way to the rec. room. The place everyone always was. She shook her head to herself. What did he mean her powers weren't fully developed! She was almost 25 after all, and he was there to see her combat with Logan. He was about ten years older than her and she nearly took him out. Sure she had to work on her fighting skills, but her mutation? She shook the thought from her head as she rounded the corner. No sense dwelling on it.

She moved over to the girls on the couch, sitting next to Kitty.

"What did you say to her?" She whispered, her eyes falling on Rogue. "She's been in a terrific mood since last night."

AJ smiled with a shrug. "Nothing much."

Jean smiled "As long as you two are getting along."

Kitty raised an eyebrow "Did you tell her your name?

AJ smiled "No. I didn't. I'm sure you'll be the first to know."

"Can I have a hint?"

"My middle name starts with a J."

Kitty raised her eyebrows "What about the A?"

She shrugged "Now that you'll never know. I have to have some mystery right?"

"You have d'right t'anyt'ing y'want chère." Gambit said, crouching behind her seat on the couch. "Y'want me right?"

"I'll tell you what I want when I decide." She grinned.

"What about pool? Y'want Remy t'show you how t'play?"

"That, Cajun, I don't need. I know. And I could take you out."

He chuckled. "Sure."

"Let's make it interesting then. How about we put a little money down? Fifty." AJ turned to face him; she could feel Rogue's eyes on her. She'd keep true to her word. No funny business.

"Uhh… I don't know about that AJ… he's really, really good."

"No no chère… d'girl wants t'play… let her play. Everyone needs t'learn d'hard way now an' den."

AJ stood up, moving over to the pool table. She kicked Bobby and Kurt out with a simple look.

"Hell, I wanna see this." Bobby said with a grin, dropping his pool cue on the table.

She pulled a wallet out of her pocket, furrowing her brow slightly. "Wait… this isn't mine."

Gambit narrowed his crimson colored eyes. She tossed the wallet to him with a wink "Had t'make sure y'had the goods before makin' the bet… right?"

Somehow between her walking in the room and right now, she'd managed to swipe his wallet. She was good. She had practice.

She picked up the pool cue with a smile.

"Yo'cocky chère." Gambit winked "Remy likes dat. Too bad y'gunna lose."

"That's pretty big talk Cajun. Hope you got the skills t'back it up."

"Why don't you make it really interesting?" Logan piped in, his arms crossed as he leaned against the door jamb. "Strip pool?" He said with a small smirk. He'd seen her play. She wouldn't lose.

AJ nodded. "You tryin' t'get me t'take my clothes off there Wolvie?" She said with a grin. "I'm game. That is… if you can handle it. With… an audience."

Remy shrugged "Remy don' need t'worry. Don' plan on losin'."

He set up the rack, offering for her to go first. She shrugged. "If you say so."

She leaned down, closing one eye as she took aim. She took her shot, managing to knock three striped balls into the corner pocket.

"I'll take stripes!" She grinned.

"Y'good chère. Jus' don' get too comfortable."

She studied the table. She wanted to bait him along, don't show your hand right away. She'd fudge the shot.

"Ten ball, right corner pocket." She announced, taking aim and shooting. Rather than hit the ball, the cue ball grazed by, arcing around, bouncing off the side bumper, coming to rest at the back bumper.

"Oops." She made a coy grin. "My bad."

Sure she sacrificed an article of clothing, but she'd made Gambit's next shot near impossible.

Gambit smiled. He knew what she was doing. Down playing her ability.

"Shrit." He narrowed his eyes with an evil grin.

She pulled her shirt off tossing it at him. To his surprise was wearing a white tank top underneath.

He aimed his cue, pointing it nearly completely down towards the table.

"Seven, side pocket." He grinned, taking his shot. The cue ball traveled, slower then usual due to the extreme back spin on it. It hit the orange ball coming to a complete stop. The orange ball moved on its path, knocking into the eight ball before moving across the table and dropping into the side pocket.

AJ smiled "I'm impressed."

Gambit announced his second shot, sinking it and his next one as well. He missed on the fourth turn.

"Your turn."

Gambit smiled, pulling his shirt off causing the girls to hoot and holler.

She declared her shot, sinking it and two other striped balls at once.

AJ simply smiled. She'd set up her next shot perfectly, making it easy to sink her next two shots as well.

She took her next turn, narrowly missing.

"Shoes." Gambit grinned "Remy bein' nice."

"Yeah yeah… you just say that cuz you know it's your turn next…" She pulled off her high heels, stepping on the hem of her jeans.

Gambit took his shot, hitting the wrong ball first. Automatic foul.

"Take 'em off boy."

She took aim as he took his boots off. She couldn't resist. She had to start showing off.

She shot the ball, causing it to jump over three of the wrong balls before making contact with the correct ball, knocking it effortlessly into the proper pocket.

She flashed him a cocky grin. "What should I do with my $50.00?"

Gambit laughed.

"Gloves. Just cuz I'm nice." She winked.

"Pants." He winked back. "Remy ain' nice."

With a hand on her hip she narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you serious?"

"Dead."

She shrugged and unzipped her jeans. "Just remember, I'll get you back."

Gambit watched her take her jeans off before she tossed them at his head. He cocked his head with a grin. Her boycut underwear had a picture of Spongebob on the back, as if she knew she'd be showing them off.

She waved him on, leaning on her pool cue before looking over her shoulder at Bobby who was staring shamelessly. "Take a picture hun, cuz you'll never see this again."

The girls laughed in unison. Truth was they enjoyed watching Gambit get his ass kicked by a woman. Even if she was half undressed.

He sunk another ball but that was where his luck ended.

"Take 'em off cutie." He wouldn't get away from it.

She looked at Rogue with a smile giving her a discreet wink. Rogue tilted her head back and laughed.

"Ah'm all outta ones!" She shook her head.

"Y'give Remy ones! Dat's it!" he said with a mock look of offence.

"Alright Cajun. Game over." AJ cracked her knuckles, taking aim on his remaining four balls. She sank them all in one shot. The ball careened around the table before slowly tapping the eight ball and pushing it into the pocket.

"Done!"

She put the pool cue down on the table. "I told you y'wouldn't win."

Gambit shook his head "Y'good."

She pulled her pants back on, shaking her head "I'm not good, I'm awesome."

"So is that what you did?" Bobby shook his head. "Play pool?"

"I think that's called swindling." Scott grinned.

AJ stiffened up slightly. Sure that's what she'd done, but not with Gambit. She'd had fun.

"What else aren't you telling us?" Kitty grinned "AJ's secret life."

She pulled her shirt back on looking at Logan. "Yeah."

"So who taught you how to play?" Scott asked as she sat down.

"No one. I taught myself." AJ shrugged. She could tell he was probing. He didn't trust her. She could pick that up in a second.

"I just mean… you must have grown up with it or something."

"No. They didn't have a pool table in any of my foster homes." She said firmly. "Or in juvenile hall, or the orphanage."

He didn't seem phased. "I lost my parents when I was young too." He said with a sympathetic nod.

"Really? Did your mom drive you up to the social services office and leave when you were 13 too? 'Cuz if she did…" She chuckled sarcastically slapping her knee "That is more than a coincidence."

This time he had nothing to say back.

He looked at Jean who sat next to him.

"I don't think Scott meant anything by-"

"Y'know what? I don't care." She stood up "You've been overly interested in my past since I got here. If you don't trust me, come out and say it. Don't act like a private detective."

"I don't trust you."

"Fine." She stood up, storming out.

Tee hee... I enjoy making Gambit strip.

Oops... that was my thinking voice... eee...