12

Jean propped her sunglasses on her nose, sitting down on the lounge chair with a smile, a glass of orange juice in her hand.

"Geeze… I feel so frumpy." She shook her head, pulling the beach towel over her stomach.

"You're four months pregnant. You haven't quite popped yet." AJ shrugged, popping a handful of chips in her mouth "You still look damn cute."

Kitty let out a laugh "You can't even tell!"

Jean lay back in the chair and closed her eyes in the sun. "I guess."

Kitty, rolled over onto her stomach, reading her magazine quietly to herself. "So you got any plans for tonight? The mansions gunna be pretty empty." she asked without looking up from her magazine.

AJ shrugged. "No."

Jean smiled "You mean t'tell me that you have no plans for a date or anything? At all?"

"That my dear, is none of your business." She winked, sitting up and tossing her towel over her shoulder, showing off her chocolate brown bikini. She slid on her flip flops and blew the two girls a kiss announcing that she was baked for the day.

Truth was she didn't feel comfortable talking about dates with anyone. No one ever found out about her and Logan and she intended to keep it that way. It had been a few weeks now and they'd barely said two words to one another. She'd convinced herself it was better that way. Storm had gotten too close to figuring it out.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a low whistle.

"Dat's a dangerous weapon chère." Gambit gave her a wink, falling in step beside her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in "If Y'need t'release some… tension mon fleur…"

"Not with you." She pushed him away with a smile.

"Y'tryin' t'make someone jealous?" he smiled.

AJ frowned "No. I was tanning." She tossed her dark blonde locks over her shoulder as she walked away. She could tell he was watching her. She was used to it.

AJ popped up some popcorn and poured it into a large bowl, making her way down to the rec. room. Kitty was right, the mansion was empty. She turned on the TV, pulling her feet up underneath her and hitting the play button on the remote. The speakers started playing the theme music to AJ's favorite movie. She shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth, grateful that she finally had a moment alone.

"Y'watchin' a movie?"

She spoke too soon.

She looked at him over her shoulder with a smile "Yeah Gambit. I'm watching a movie."

"Gambit likes dis one…" He sat down next to her, grabbing a few kernels of popcorn.

"You must be bored."

"Rogue's on a date wit' Bobby." He rolled his eyes "No one to bug."

"Except me." She smiled.

"Except you chère." He winked with a nod.

They watched the movie in silence. Gambit looked over at her with a grin. She was mouthing the words with a smile.

"Sorry. I'll stop."

"No… it's cute." He chuckled "Weird… oui, but cute."

AJ let out a laugh "I don't even realize I'm doing it… that's the weird thing."

The smile fell from her face. She reached out and grabbed him, yanking him in close.

He stared at her, obviously shocked, until he heard the gruff voice from down the hallway. He gave her a grin.

"Now y'tryin' t'make someone jealous..."

"Shut up." She turned to face the TV. He put his arm around her, letting her drop her head on his shoulder.

Right on cue they heard the light chatter between the two in the hall stop.

"Oh… sorry. I didn't realize there was anyone here still." Storm smiled apprehensively. The two looked over their shoulders at Logan and Storm. "We're just heading out. Will you… be alright alone?"

Gambit grinned. "Remy's sure we'll manage…"

AJ laughed lightly, turning her attention back to the TV. "Have fun!"

AJ listened to the two of them head off, closing the large door behind them.

She moved away from him slightly "Thanks."

He smiled "Any time chère."

She popped a kernel in her mouth, watching the movie in silence.

"God… I shouldn't care you know. I never used t'care." She muttered, shaking her head with a frown.

He grinned, running the back of his hand along her cheek "Don' frown mon fleur. Doesn' look good on you."

She let out a small laugh. "Yeah. I'll keep that in mind."

"Y'know chère, as odd as dis sounds… Remy sort of knows how y'feel."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He took another drink "Don' let it get out… but Ah actually… have feelin's for someone. Remy don' ever let it get dat far."

She shook her head. "It's like, my whole life I've been mastering the art of deception. One night stands. Going from bed to bed, not a care in the world." She let out a small laugh "I come here and suddenly I grow a conscience."

He laughed. "Trust me. Remy understands."

She looked him in the eye. "Really?"

He nodded, turning to face her. "Really."

He wasn't lying. She could read it in his eyes. They stared at eachother silently, the soundtrack from the movie providing the only noise in the entire mansion and then without a thought, she moved in.

She pressed her lips against his, her tongue pushing its way in his mouth, massaging his tongue gently in such a practiced way.

He let out a small groan. She pulled back, looking him in his red eyes.

"You are an expert chère." He shook his head.

She didn't say anything, she moved in again. He didn't protest or push her off; instead he ran his hand down her back, letting her kiss him passionately.

AJ stood up, pulling him with her, their lips permanently locked.

She led him to her room, letting him press her up against the door, moving down her neck, his warm breath against her soft flesh sent shivers down her spine. She let out a small groan, running a hand through his hair.

She fumbled with the doorknob, opening the door. They fell in the room, laughing as he closed the door behind them.

AJdragged him towards her, unbuttoning his shirt. She threw him down on the bed, straddling him, running her hands down his chest, lowering her body down onto his. He smoothed his hands up her jeans stopping at her hips. They both breathed heavily as she stopped, staring him in the eye again.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

He closed his eyes as she lay down beside him. "Yo'right."

"It's disgusting how alike we are you know."

He grinned "But if dere weren't any others in d'way… we'd be pretty amazin'."

She laughed "You know it."

"Now Remy knows why dey called you d'fox." He gave her a wink as he sat up.

"Nah… that was just the tip of the iceberg…" she smiled, standing up. By the time she noticed, it was too late. Her face went blank as she jumped over to the door.

"What is it chère?" Gambit asked, buttoning up his shirt.

The knock on the door caused him to freeze.

AJ opened the door slightly.

"There you are!" Rogue grinned. "We came back for a sweater before the movies. Ah always get cold in the theater."

AJ laughed awkwardly "Yeah."

"Can Ah borrow that nice green one from you?" Rogue knit her brow, recognizing that AJ was acting odd.

"Yeah. Sure. Hang on." She closed the door and scurried around the room shushing Gambit before opening the door and handing Rogue the sweater. "There y'go. In fact… keep it!" She put her arm against the doorjamb so she couldn't see in.

"Thanks…" Rogue tried to look past AJ with a small smirk "D'you have someone in there?"

"No?" AJ raised her eyebrows.

Rogue pushed AJ's arm out of the way. Her eyes began to burn as she stared at Gambit who was doing up his shirt quickly. He stared back at her with a frown.

"Right. Ah understand." She handed the sweater back to AJ, spinning around and storming back down the hall.

"Rogue… what is it?" Bobby, looked over his shoulder as she pulled him away.

"Rogue! Wait!" AJ chased her down the hall.

"No you wait." Rogue stopped and turned around, giving AJ a shove. "How could you!"

"You don't understand Rogue."

"Ah don't understand? Ah'm not that stupid." She shook her head.

Bobby held up his hand. "Woah… Rogue… relax."

"Stay out of it Bobby." Rogue frowned. "Ah should've known. Y'nothin' but a damn whore!"

Gambit pulled AJ back. "Don' say things y'regret. 'Least let us explain."

"No. Ah don't want t'hear anything from you. Either of you."

She took Bobby's arm and walked away.

AJ was on the balcony, sitting on the wall, looking down at the 30 foot drop. She dropped her cigarette, watching it fall. Mesmerized by the plunge. Intrigued by the idea of closing her eyes and drifting away. She'd never do it, but she'd always wondered.

"Thanks for coming with me tonight; I know it was a stretch for you." Storm said with a grin as they walked through the hall of the mansion.

Logan grinned shoving his hands in his pockets. "Yeah. Don't mention it."

She opened her mouth to say something else when something caught her eye. Logan followed her gaze out onto the balcony.

"Go on." Storm smiled. "It's late anyways." She gave him a peck on the cheek, rubbing his arm. She knew him well enough to tell when he had a soft spot for one of the mutants there, just not well enough to see what kind of a soft spot it was. He nodded walking out onto the balcony.

"Jesus, what do you have to do around her for a little privacy… kill someone?" She knew who it was.

"You alright?" Logan frowned.

"I'm serious about killing someone." AJ looked over her shoulder. "I'll do it."

"I don't doubt it." He stopped beside her "Answer the question."

"I'm fine. Just go."

"Y'know I'm not about t'do that so you might as well start talkin' kid." He crossed his arms.

She looked him in the eye firmly. "I had a lot of fun with Gambit tonight."

He just stared at her, waiting. He knew her too well. Eventually she broke, looking away with a frown. "You know what I am Logan. It's on the tip of your tongue and God knows it's in your mind."

"Don't… a lot of things were said that night."

She swung her legs over the other side of the wall, carefully climbing off. Her deep blue eyes glistened with tears in the moonlight. There was no doubt about the way he felt about her. She could read that from a mile away.

He stared into her eyes before actually trying to read her. She wouldn't look him in the eye.

There was something else there.

"Yer crying." He pressed his lips together.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, her lower lip started to quiver. She looked away quickly. It was obvious she didn't like anyone seeing her cry.

"Talk to me." He said tenderly, putting his arm around her shoulder. "You used t'be able t'talk to me."

She sniffed "You won't wanna hear what I have to say."

"Try me." He sat down on the ground, helping her down with him.

She buried her face in his chest, letting him hug her.

"You can do better than me Logan. Don't fall for me."

He shushed her "Knock it off kid."

She closed her eyes. After a few minuets, she'd drifted off to sleep.

Uh oh... how's Gambit gunna fix this one?

Hah... I love the between scene banter. :)