Hearts' Desires

by heartsyhawk

Remy likes Rogue, but she has to get over her trust impediment which will prove hard as she severely misinterprets an exchange between Remy and Tabby about a life altering event. Tabby and Kitty are trying to get Rogue out of her own way so she can be wit

9. Night in Sweaty Under Armor

Grins sheepishly Hey there guys, long time no see...admittedly that would be on me though. I have valid excuses really! A whole lot has happened since I last updated (24 Hours on June 18) I graduated high school for starters, let me tell you I feel so much older now...just looking at the ickle freshmen makes me wonder if my class was that little too...And then, I started my summer job. I was working with the government (which I suppose makes me a filthy hypocrite, but I guess I'm a well paid hypocrite) doing worker's comp. stuff. That job has ended because in a short time its back to school for me. I'll be double majoring creative writing and psychology (presuming of course some financial aid comes through or I get accepted for a loan...pray for me on that one will ya?) but I still intend to write! And I swear my updates are going to be more frequent than they currently are. This six month interval is killing me. I am sorry it took so long. If it helps you forgive me this is the longest chapter of anything I've ever written and it was the most difficult of anything I've had to do yet. Oh and I threw in a shirtless sparring Remy and Scoot for extra super bonus to all you fan girls. On another note, Here's a warning right up front that this chapter is a high T rating for implied events. It isn't terribly detailed or graphic or anything, in fact its more implied than anything other than kisses but its the worst I'll do. So enough words here, time for you to read and review!

Disclaimer: Stan Lee didn't even send me a graduation present, so I didn't get the X-men as a grad present. However I do have a birthday coming up in October...

"this is normal speech"

'this is thought' 'this is telepathy'

this is a foreign language or something requiring emphasis or a flashback

this is a bad word that I'm substituting to keep my rating clean))

♥♥♥

Remy removed a deck of cards from his pocket and shuffled them with a sour look on his face. He was currently fuming at the team leader, and with damned good reason if you asked him. Gambit may have a player's reputation, but he had always been raised to treat ladies with respect. Apparently Scott Summers had been raised with different values.

Remy was seething with fury and disgust at what the team leader had implied. It was not only false, but it was disgusting and hurtful too. Remy knew his reputation spoke against him but even if he had been careless enough to father a child with Tabitha, whom he'd never even seen in any sort of romantic way, he was responsible enough to claim responsibility. But the way Summers implied that Tabitha was a dirty whore, was heartbreaking to the Cajun. He knew very well that in several months' time, Tabitha would have a living, breathing, and crying reminder that she had made a stupid decision. Did Cyclops really need to provide constant verbal reminder that she'd screwed up? And if he did couldn't he find a way to lecture that didn't involve the poor girl bursting into heart wrenching sobs?

The Cajun wondered briefly if Summers knew he had upset the young girl and decided that he probably did know. The guy just had less tact than a hippo and an elephant break dancing in a glass trinket shop.

Speaking of the devil, as Remy continued down the hall he found the current object of his disgust slumped outside his bedroom door, apparently begging his wife to let him in.

"Jean, c'mon, I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean it..." He tried hopefully.

"Y' upset Jeannie too?" Remy sneered. "Y' get some sorta sick pleasure hurtin' femmes ou som't'in'?"

"Shut up, Gambit. I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now." Scott sighed irritably.

"Well den felicitations, Slim, now y' got an inklin' how Remy feels bout y' everyday." Remy scoffed insolently. He paused and listened for a split second and felt his heart break. Jean was inside the locked room and if his sensitive ears were not deceiving him, she was crying softly into her pillow. "Y' ((fudgin' illegitimate child))! De hell'd y' do t' y'r wife!"
Scott crossed his arms. "None of your business, Lebeau."

"Au contraire, mon capitain." Remy said in an icy tone. "Plenty o Remy's business if yo' gonna be takin' up de couch in de rec room, Remy wanna know so he make sure t' disinfect it later. Wouldn' wanna make any de kids sick, non?"

Scott presumably rolled his eyes at the comment.

"What'd y' say Summers? Po' Jeannie sobbin' her heart out in dere." Remy said softly, trying to ignore the sadness she was projecting.

Scott huffed. "I said something stupid to her and she flipped out alright? Now will you keep out of my personal business Gambit?"

"Case y' forgot, Cyclops, Remy an empat' an' right now yo' wife's projectin' somet'in' wicked. She makin' it Remy's business."

Scott had no reply for a long moment. "Drop dead Gambit."

Remy rolled his eyes. "Oh harsh. Dat might make Remy cry t' de professor...if we was in second grade, dat is."

Scott gave Remy what may have been a very dirty look. "I don't like your attititude Gambit." He said sternly. "As team leader, I should be shown respect. I think maybe an early morning DR session at say...four thirty tomorrow is just what you need."

Remy scoffed. "Dat ain' de way t' get respect Scooter. Respect be earned, but not by y' de way yo' actin' lately." He shook his head in disgust. "But Remy be dere on time all de same. Dere jus' a couple conditions y' gotta meet."

Scott quirked an eyebrow to indicate he was listening.

"Numere un, it ain' guna be no fancy schmancy battle simulation on mars or what eve' else y' got programed. Remy jus' wan' a sparrin' match. Y' versus Remy. Main de main. Y' got dat?" Scott nodded. "Bon, pow'rs a go ou a non?"

"No powers." Scott said, liking the idea of humiliating Gambit first thing tomorrow morning.

"See y' t'morrow den." Remy said coldly as he stalked toward his room.

"Four thirty sharp!" Scott called sternly. "I'll have a first aid kit ready!" He said snidely.

"Y'll need it." Remy growled under his breath. "Ill be dere. Jus' see y' are."

Remy headed towards his room feeling that at least he had this one battle to look forward to tomorrow.

Scott was left with a very over confident feeling—he felt victorious even though the match had yet to start.

♥

Rogue loved the ballet; she'd wanted to be a ballerina when she was little but her dad refused to pay for a dance class for his child, insisting instead she do something tough like martial arts. But still she held onto her love of the graceful dance, and tonight, as the Phantom of the Opera ballet drew to a close, she was one of the most enthusiastic applauders. She turned with a soft smile to glance at Pietro who was clapping too.

"Ready ta go?" She asked, knowing his response.

His eyes lit up and he stood up quickly. She knew he'd been anxious to leave for a while, he just wasn't designed to sit still very long.

"Ah'll take that as a yes then." Rogue laughed. "We still have time before curfew, wanna snag an icecream?"

He glanced at his watch and shrugged. "Where?"

"Ah know this little shop downtown." Rogue smiled softly.

"Lead-the-way." He gestured and they headed out. A taxi arrived and they climbed inside it. Rogue directed the cabbie to the local diary.

"Where to then kids?"

"Ya know where Amy's Ice Cream Parlor is?" Rogue asked as she shut the door.

"Sure do, missy." The Cabbie chuckled in a good-natured way. "Best sundaes in the county and damn good prices to boot. So to Amy's then?"

Rogue nodded happily. "Thanks."

"We'll be there in about fifteen minutes, then." He informed them. "You mind if I light up?" He held up a cigarette. "Missed my usual smoke time."

Pietro said it would be fine, though Rogue pulled a face. The cab started and they headed to their destination. The ride passed in a comfortable silence. At Amy's Rogue paid the cabby who nodded and took off.

"So, how's the ice cream here?" Pietro asked, studying the shop's exterior.

"It's the best Ah've found in Bayville." Rogue smiled. "They make their own icecream in the back, with milk and cream from their family farm on the outskirts of town. And they don' just have the typical flavors. They got all sorts of interestin' ones."

"Cool." He nodded and the two entered the shop and a little bell jingled. A young girl with a pink apron looked up and smiled as she approached.

"Hi, Welcome to Amy's. Table for two?

"Please." Rogue smiled. The hostess led them to a vacant booth and set two menus on the table.

A few moments later a girl with black hair and a plastic smile on her face came over to the table. She was wearing the same pink apron uniform. But when she saw Rogue she smiled.

"Hey Rogue, long time no see." She said conversationally.

"Hey yaself Alix." Rogue smiled softly. "How's it goin'?"

"Pretty well." Alix's grin widened. "I start college in the fall, NYU accepted me. What about you?"

"Congrats." Rogue nodded. "An' me, well Ah've been doin' pretty good myself. Ah see ya don't have the purple streak any more."

Alix sighed. "Boss said either it went or I did. And I need the money. But it'll be back the moment I walk out those doors on my last day."

Rogue nodded with a chuckle. "Ah don' doubt that in the least."

Pietro, feeling very uncomfortably left out of the conversation gently cleared his throat. Alix's glance strayed to him before returning to Rogue, a gleeful grin on her face.

"Oh my gosh, you're on a date!"

Rogue simply shrugged.

"I so never thought I'd see the day!" She laughed. "Guess this means you finally got over Summers then, huh?" Rogue flushed a bit and avoided looking at Pietro. "Wait a minute is he the guy you told me about last time you came in? Rodney or Reddy or something right?"

"Remy." Rogue said tersely. "And no, this is Pietro. Pietro, meet Alix. We met in gym class and had two French classes together."

"Oh. Hi." Pietro smiled uneasily and nodded.

"So you two are certainly dressed up." Alix said curiously. "Going somewhere special after this?"

"Comin' from somethin'." Rogue corrected. "We just saw The Phantom of the Opera ballet at Worthington Theater."

"Oh, AJ's taking me tomorrow after I get off work, how is it?"

"Pretty cool." Rogue smiled. "An' Ah think yo' boss is gettin' a bit cranky." She whispered.

Alix turned to her scowling boss with a quick smile. "Ok then you two, the flavor of the week is strawberry peach, and since tonight is a Friday we have banana boats at half the normal price." The girl said quickly. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Ya iced tea still fresh brewed?"

"Ya." Alix scoffed. "The boss from Hell just made me make up a fresh container of it."

"Then Ah'll have an iced tea, no lemon." Rogue requested with a small chuckle.

"Coke for me, I guess." Pietro nodded as the girl wrote that down.

"Ok, those'll be right out, and I'll be back in a few to get your ice cream order. " She smiled perkily. "We can talk later." She mumbled as she left.

Rogue laughed. "She's gotta be the last person save me or ya sister who Ah'd expect ta be wearin' a pink apron uniform an' servin' icecream."

"Why-do-you-say-that?" Pietro scrunched his nose.

"Cause she just doesn't seem the type." Rogue explained. "Gal wears mo' black than Ah own, and she always useta swear pink off as the devil."

"Oh." Pietro snickered.

The two fell into silence as they studied their menus.

"Do ya know what you want?" Rogue asked after a while.

"Probably-vanilla-ice-cream-and-hot-fudge." He said nonchalantly.

She gaped. "Yer at an icecream parlor that makes all sorts of fantastic original flavors an' ya want a typical hot fudge sundae?"

"Yeah,-why-not?"

Rogue sighed. "Ah just figured ya could get that anywhere and yah'd go for somethin'...a little less...usual."

Pietro looked confused. "Oh. Hot-fudge-sundaes-have-happy-memories-for-me." He said softly. "It's-what-I-always-had-with-my-mom...before she...died."

Rogue's face flushed with horror and embarrassment. "Ah'm so sorry Pietro..." She breathed. "Ah didn' know, really!"

"It's-ok." He shrugged. "But-thats-why-I-always-get-the-same-thing."

Rogue didn't know what to say and so remained silent.

Alix returned a few minutes later with their drinks. "So you two ready to order?"

"I'd-like-two-scoops-of-vanilla-with-hot-fudge." Pietro said.

"Whipped cream and a cherry?"

"Please." Pietro nodded.

"Ok," Alix jotted it down and turned to Rogue.

"Ah'll take the flavor of the week with pineapple topping and gummy bears." Rogue recited casually. "Yes to the whipped cream, no cherry."

"You got it." Alix nodded. "Oh and sorry I cut ya short earler. Boss is in a ((rhymes with witchy)) mood cause we had two no-shows. Carmen and her roommate Carol were both supposed to be on tonight but they didn't show up and they haven't called." Alix rolled her eyes and headed back to the kitchen.

"So what'd ya think of the show?" Rogue asked her tablemate conversationally.

"It-was-okay." Pietro shrugged. "What'd-you-think?"

"Ah loved it." Rogue grinned. "It's onea ma favorite stories an' Ah've always loved ballet."

"Really?" He cocked his head to the side. He'd never known that about Rogue.

"Yeah. When Ah was li'l it was all Ah ever wanted ta do." Rogue gained a dreamy expression that suggested she was remembering. "Mah mom thought it was sweet, but ma dad...he di'n' so much like the idea." She closed her eyes, as if in pain. "He found out mama was gettin' me lessons an' flipped out. He said, if Ah wasn' gonna do somethin' useful like wrestling or karate, he wasn't payin' fo' it." She sighed. "So Mama switched Ballet for karate."

Pietro spent a moment pondering this information. He tried envisioning Rogue as a ballet dancer and found it just didn't mesh right. The very idea of Rogue in a tutu made him want to laugh himself sick, but then he supposed it wasn't actually that weird: the girl had spent the better part of three years publicly fighting supervillians in spandex.

He considered saying something regarding that but held his tongue after glancing at her. She looked very sad all of a sudden.

"I'm...sorry." He said softly.

"Don't be." Rogue sighed. Then she snorted. "Can ya imagine me in one of them prissy li'l tutus?"

Pietro smirked, "I-don't-know-Rogue, I-mean-I-can-see-it-working-for-you. The-whole-tutu-and-tights-and-toe-shoes-and-hair-in-a-tight-bun, spinning-around-in-little-pirouettes-and-doing-plies."

"Ah just decided Ah ain't gonna ask where ya learned ballet terminology. Ah just don' wanna know." She shook her head in amusement.

He was about to reply in his defense when the young server brought their icecreams. "Enjoy." She smiled and flitted off to assist another customer.

"Yuck, she did that on purpose." Rogue frowned and fished not one but two cherries off her sundae. "She knows Ah hate these."

Pietro snickered under his breath before taking a spoonful of his own ice-cream. They ate in silence for a long while until Rogue spoke up out of the blue.

"What about you?"

He looked confused. "Huh?"

"What did you wanna be when ya grew up when ya were li'l?" Rogue wheedled.

"Oh." Pietro raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Ah told ya what Ah wanted, ya should return the favor." He looked doubtful so she pulled on a sweet expression. "Please, Pie?"

He sighed and cursed his vulnerability to cute facial expressions. "I-wanted-to-be-a-race-car-driver." He admitted.

"Awww." Rogue cooed. "That's so cute." She glanced at him playfully. "So ya've always been a speedster then?"

He shrugged. "I-can't-help-it-the-rest-of-the-world-moves-too-slow-for-me."

She chuckled softly. "Ah shoulda expected some kinda answer like that from ya, right? Guess ya always have been an' always will be the same Pietro."

He pondered that for a moment before smirking. "You-know-you-love-me-for-it."

She rolled her eyes and laughed playfully. "Ya an' the fact that yo' just about the most humble bein' on earth helps ya case too."

"Ya-I-know." He winked.

After a brief chuckle the pair got back to their ice creams. Rogue broke the comfortable silence with a soft question.

"Pietro, has anything changed?"

He looked up relatively startled. "What?"

"Did ya change ya goal?" She clarified. "Do ya still wanna drive a racecar?"

"Why do you ask?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Ah just wondered."

He paused and frowned. "I-don't-really-know-anymore. I-mean, what-fun-is-a-racecar-when-you-jog-faster?"

"Good point." Rogue nodded pensively. "So what about now? What do ya wanna do instead of race?"

Pietro thought for a while. "I-really-don't-know." He frowned. "But-I'm-only-seventeen, I-don't-really-need-to-worry. I-usually-just-deal-with-things-when-they-get-in-my-way."

"Guess that makes sense." Rogue said softly. "That way ya don' get disappointed when somethin' goes a way ya didn' want it to."

He tensed slightly, sensing they weren't exactly talking about him anymore.

"What-about-you?" He changed the subject.

"Pardon?"

"What-replaced-being-a-ballerina?" He clarified.

She blushed a little bit and thought. "Ah think that...Ah think Ah'd kinda like ta...it's stupid." She stopped.

"Go on." He urged.

"Y'll laugh." She looked down and focused on her ice-cream.

"C'mon, now-I'm-curious!" He whined.

"Fine, but ya can't tell no one." She said seriously. "Else Ah'll kill ya."

"Scout's honor." He held up his hand.

"Yeah, like ya were ever a boy scout!" She snorted.

"Ok-you-got-me." He admitted. "Cross-my-heart-then."

Rogue smiled, looking almost shy. "Ah'd like ta teach."

Pietro looked confused. "That's-it?"

She looked taken aback and he immediately amended his statement. "I-mean-the-way-you-were-carrying-on-I-thought-it-was-something-really-embarrasing."

"Oh." She flushed at the implications of what he could have been imagining she'd say.

"So-why-a-teacher?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him. "I-thought-you-hated-little-kids."

Rogue's jaw dropped. "Where'd ya get an idea like that?" She asked, sounding a bit hurt.

He looked incredibly embarrassed and apologetic, realizing his assumption had been very wrong. "No-offense-or-anything-I-just-never-assumed-by-your-attitude-"

"Ya assumed wrong." She sighed and dropped her eyes. "Ah've always loved kids. Ah just don' have patience fo' teens who act like little kids."

"So-that's-why-you-didn't-get-along-with-the-brotherhood-boys-before-you-joined-Xavier's." Pietro joked.

"Actually, it was just ya an' Toad Ah had issues with." Rogue reminded with an amused expression. "Freddy pretty much kept ta himself, and Lance an' Ah always got along fo' the most part. He was always like the older brother Ah didn't ever have."

Pietro nodded. "He-always-was-acting-like-we-were-all-his-responsibility."

"Do ya blame him? Ah mean, he was older'n alla us, an' if he didn' look out fo' us who would?"

"You-did-a-decent-job." Pietro commented. "You-always-made-sure-we-had-clean-dishes-and-enough-food-to-get-by. And-you-kept-us-from-fighting-a-lot."

Rogue waved it off as nothing. "Well ya'll woulda driven me crazy fightin' over nothin' all the time. An' if ya'll only had chips and twinkies in the house, that's all Ah woulda had ta eat."

Pietro chuckled and shook his head. "Either-way-you-were-kinda-like-a-surrogate-mother-slash-big-sister-to-all-of-us-miscreants."

"Aw Speedy, ya makin' me blush." Rogue smiled. "An' besides, it ain' like Ah made a colossal difference ta any of y'all. Ah was only there for a month or so."

"Still, when-you-were-there-we-all-benefited. We-were-kinda-like-a-family."

Rogue snorted in a decidedly non-lady like way. "Family? Not hardly. If we was, that's one screwed up family."

Pietro shook his head. "Not-really. You-and-Lance-were-the-closest-thing-to-parents-Freddy-and-Toad-ever-had."

Rogue wrinkled her nose. "That implies Lance an' Ah were more'n just friends an' teammates...an' that, Pietro, is a creepy and unnatural thought."

Pietro nodded in agreement. "Well-then-you-were-our-role-models-then. Least-until-you-hightailed-it-to-Xavier's-and-Alvers-fell-for-Kitty. Before-that-we-were-a-semi-functioning-family. At-least-more-of-one-than-my-real-family-proved-to-be." Pietro said softly.

Rogue instantly looked sympathetic. She didn't know what to say to that, so she returned her gaze to the melting ice cream. "Well, Ah guess the both of us had ta grow up."

Pietro nodded sadly. "We-all-did. Just-you-guys-were-a-bit-ahead-of-the-rest-of-us." He sighed.

"Everyone hasta grow up sometime." Rogue shrugged. She smirked playfully. "Though I sometimes wonder if you an' Toad ever will."

He pulled a face. "You're-grouping-me-with-slime-face?"

"Hey watch it." Rogue chuckled. "He could end up being you're brother-in-law someday."

Pietro dramatically paled and blanched. "Don't-say-that!" He hissed and glanced around wildly. "He-might-take-you-seriously!"

Rogue stifled a giggle. "Ya such a drama queen, Pietro."

"You-wouldn't-say-that-if-it-was-your-sister-being-harassed-and-tainted-by-slime-breath."

"No, but then, Ah don' have a sister." Rogue smirked again. "Can' ya cut the guy some slack, Ah mean, Wanda obviously must see somethin' in Frog Face. Cut her some slack will ya, she is more'n capable of watchin' out for herself."

"I-know-that." Pietro sighed. "That's-not-what-I'm-worried-about." She regarded him with confusion in her gaze. "She-may-look-seventeen-but-inside-she's-still-catching-up-from-her-time..." Pietro looked around nervously. "Her-time-in-that...hospital."

Rogue frowned. She and the rest of the X-men had been confused when the Brotherhood girl had gotten mellower and less homicidal, but everyone agreed this more docile Wanda was safer to have around. They had all been urged to never mention her years in the hospital/asylum, and everyone chose to abide by this condition, not wanting to upset her.

"What do ya mean?"

"That-experience-damaged-her, Rogue." Pietro sighed again. "She's...fragile."

"It's sweet that ya care bout her so much." Rogue smiled, a much sweeter smile than he was used to seeing on her face.

"Well, she's-my –twin...She's-like-half-of-who-I-am." He explained helplessly. "And-I-can't-stand-the-thought-of-just-watching-as-she-blunders-into-a-relationship-she's-not-ready-for."

Rogue nodded. "That's incredibly sweet." She would have squealed if she was a squealer. "But, Ah think ya gotta give the girl credit, at least a li'l more'n ya are, sugah." She paused. "Ya can't shelter her, else the whole mess will get worse."

Pietro grimaced. "I-just-wish-she'd-be-more-selective-about-who-she-gets-close-to."

"Ah never realized ya were so sensitive." Rogue grinned playfully. "Just relax Pie, let her live her own life. A gal's first crush is supposed to be special."

"Easy-for-you-to-say." He muttered. "Wasn't yours, Summers?" He scrunched his nose.

She flushed crimson. "That was a long time ago, Pietro. Ah was young an' stupid." She muttered.

"My-point-exactly!" He scowled. "If-YOU-were-willing-to-up-and-join-the-X-geeks-just-to-oggle-Summers-what-will-Wanda, who-is-nowhere-near-your-emotional-maturity, do-for-Toad?"

Rogue shook her head. "Ah don' wanna go there. Ah guess Ah can see where ya comin from. And besides, Scott wasn't the only reason Ah left."

"He wasn't?" Pietro tilted his head curiously. "We-all-thought-"

"Ya'll thought wrong again." Rogue sighed. "On that geology trip Ah went on, Ah absorbed Mystique. Ah saw that she'd been trickin' me the whole time. Ah was supposed ta join the X-men ta start off, but she changed that, an' the resta ma supposed destiny by trickin' me. But Ah don' wanna talk about that."

Pietro looked shocked and the two again fell silent. They finished their icecreams in relative quiet and then hailed a cab back to the mansion, chatting about nothing in particular.

They arrived at the mansion and Rogue led the way to the front door. Suddenly she turned around, a hesitant smile on her face. Pietro blinked. It was almost a ...shy smile.

"Ah had a great time t'night, Pietro." She started, but he was distracted by the color that had suddenly risen in her cheeks. Dear Mother of Magneto, was Rogue blushing? "Thanks fo' comin' with me."

He blinked again, it wasn't like he'd had any choice in the matter. She'd all but threatened his life if he didn't. "Um...no problem." He said hesitantly.

Her face lit up. "Ya had fun?"

"Sure." He raised an eyebrow, as his mind raced for an explanation of the sudden weird behavior.

She beamed. "Ah'm real glad." She paused and stammered slightly. "Ah...Ah was kinda wond'rin' if...maybe...if we could try it again sometime? If ya wanted to or somethin'." She added awkwardly.

His eyes widened and he stumbled back a step. Of all the things in the world he was not expecting that from her.

"Rogue!" He said incredulously as he gaped at her. She was fidgeting nervously with her house key.

"Ya don' hafta." She said in a somewhat subdued tone. "Ah just thought that...since we had a good tahme tanight..."

And instantly he understood and cursed himself, wondering why he hadn't realized sooner. Rogue had been pouring her heart to him all night, but he'd thought nothing of it because he was doing the same thing. But apparently she had misread his intentions, grossly if his guess was correct. He stared at her, as if he was waiting for her to crack up laughing any moment.

When she didn't he sighed and stepped forward slightly. "Rogue..." He started awkwardly. "It's not like I don't like you...but...I don't think we should start...seeing more of each other than we already do."

Rogue wouldn't have looked more hurt had he slapped her. "Why?"

He bit his lip nervously. "Well, Rogue, we don't really make a good couple." He explained. She raised an eyebrow, confusion in her eyes.

He fidgeted uncomfortably, suddenly too aware of the surveillance camera catching his every word. "It's not about you...or your powers." He added quickly. "And-you-know-I-think-you're-hot." He murmured quickly. "But trust me...I'm not your type."

"Ma what?" Rogue asked, her face shifting from puzzlement to disbelief.

"Your...type." He gulped and she crossed her arms angrily. "Look Rogue, I'm-not-the-right-guy-for-you. Really."

"Oh?" He winced at her very sharp tone. The degree of shyness was gone, replaced by an icy tone. "Is that so?"

"Yeah." He said, trying to sound stern. "You-asked-me-out-with-the-intent-of-pissing-off-Gambit. I-agreed, not-that-you-gave-me-much-choice...We-had-a-decent-time-but-I-think-we-need-to-leave-it-like-that." She gave a nasty glare. "Rogue, don't-give-me-that. I-care-about-you-too-much-to-watch-as-your-heart-shatters-at-my-hand."

She huffed indignantly. "Ya flatter yaself Quickie. It'd take more'n ya ta chip ma heart, let alone shatter it."

"That's-what-you-think." Pietro snapped before he could stop himself. "You-used-to-get-emotional-over-Toad-eating-butterflies-and-Lance's-stupid-mushy-love-songs! I-know-what-would-happen-if-I-led-you-on-and-let-you-think-we're-going-out! I'd-break-your-heart-and-you'd-consequently-break-my-neck. Besides...you-can-do-better-than-me."

Her glare broke and she looked confused again. "Huh?"

"Rogue," He said slowly, patiently. "I don't do well in dating situations. I'm not much into commitment. I'm more of a hit-it-and-quit-it kinda guy." He felt his face heat up a little bit and noticed a tinge of pink around Rogue's cheeks. "You-want-something-stable, I-know-you-do." He said gently. "You've-always-wanted-affection-and-honesty, even-when-you-were-the-resident-brotherhood-babe." She bit her lip and looked like she wanted to say something.

"Ah just thought..."

"No-Rogue-listen!" He snapped again. "I-can't-give-you-what-you-want-in-a-relation-ship. Just-like-you-can't-give-me-what-I'd-want-because-of-your-powers."

He was immediately horrified by what he said. He wished he could pull the hurtful words back into his mouth before they reached her ears but the expression of hurt on her face told him it was too late. "Rogue-I'm-s-"

"Don't." Her eyes flashed and he realized he'd never quite noticed how acidy of a green her eyes were. "Ya ain' sorry at all. So don' lie an' say ya are. That's what ya really feel. No need ta explain any further." She was getting hysterical, and her eyes were shining. Exerience told him it was tears welling that she refused to spill. "Ya a guy, an' ya minds only on one thing an it just happens that Ah can't do anythin' about it."

"Rogue-"

"Ya make me sick!" She spat before turning on her heels and entered the mansion with her head held high.

Pietro followed trying to blubber out an apology. But he only made two steps into the mansion before A thick fist grabbed him by the neck.

"Five seconds."

"What?" Pietro gasped and struggled against the grip.

"You have five seconds to explain what the Hell is going on here before you find yourself in the infirmary or a coffin, dependin' on my mood five seconds from now, runt."

Pietro's eyes widened. "What-do-you-mean?"

Wolverine slammed him against the wall and Pietro whimpered in pain and increased his struggle.

"Let-me-go!" He wriggled and panicked as the feral mutant's fist tightened a bit. "I-have-no-clue-what-your-talking-about!"

Logan growled. "Rogue came in here and as soon as she turned away from the door I smelt her tears. What'd you do to her, tell me and I might be forgiving runt."

Pietro frowned, still struggling. A slight 'snikt' and gentle prick of metal on either side of his neck loosened Pietro's vocal cords. "We-went-out-to-piss-off-Gambit-cause-he-upset-her-and-then-she-wanted-to-go-out-like-a-date-and-I-said-no-because-I-didn't-want-to-hurt-her."

"That all?" Pietro gulped as the third claw slid slowly out of Logan's hand.

"I-said-something-out-of-line." He admitted. "It-hurt-her-but-I-wasn't-thinking-about-how-she'd-take-it-cuz-I-was-really-weirded-out-by-her-asking-me-out-in-the-first-place."

Wolverine snarled and released the boy. "She's in her room right now, and really upset. I expect that in the morning you'll stop by and see her to apologize-right before heading down to your-"

"I know." Pietro groaned. "My 5AM DR session right?"

"Exactly bub." Logan smirked. "Yer only gettin' off that easy because Chuck chose a convenient moment to remind me I ain't allowed to murder the students." The older mutant grimaced. "I hate that rule sometimes. Specially tonight."

"Why tonight?" Pietro asked before he could stop himself.

Wolverine grunted. "Rogue ain't the only one in her room cryin' tonight. Got two other's with a legit excuse. A legit excuse I'd really love to put through a wall about now."

"Who?" Pietro asked curiously.

"Mind yer P's an' Q's, bub." Wolverine growled. "It ain't none of yer business, less it was yer sis an' I will tell ya it ain't her." Pietro was about to question further but Wolverine gestured to the stairs leading to the dorms. "Shoo."

"But-I-wanna"

"Yer pressin' yer luck, bub." Wolverine warned. "You an' Rogue broke curfew in addition to you makin' her cry. I may not be physically allowed to murder ye, but that's one thing I love about the Danger Room, nobody said nothin' about workin' you to exaustion or anything about accidents."

Pietro caught the threat and headed up to his room with little to no further complaint as Wolverine grabbed his keys and decided to venture out to the nearest bar.

♥

At four-thirty-five, Scott was rushing down to the Danger Room, rubbing his aching back. He had the suspicion that he'd been sleeping on the TV Remote, and probably Jamie's gameboy too. But his current goal was to make it to the Danger Room before Gambit.

He cursed out the elevator when it ran slow and rushed into the training facility.

"T'ought y' said fo' t'irty sharp." The Cajun was idly shuffling a deck of cards and leaning against the wall and displaying a smug smirk.

"The elevator was running slow." Scott's eyes narrowed.

"Of course, it was." Remy shrugged nonchalantly before his smirk widened. "An' how was de rec room couch Summers?"

Scott winced and rubbed his back again but did not answer.

"Dat bon eh?" Remy chuckled. "Lemme guess, remote under center cushion an' a gameboy somewhere round yo' upper back?"

Scott deadpanned. "Have you been honest when telling us all your powers?"

"What, y' think ol' Remy a telepat'?" The Cajun snickered. " 'M flattered really, but Remy leave dat up t' yo' belle femme et le prof et all de rest of em."

"What, did you plant the stuff there then?"

"If Remy done dat, he'da gone fo' somet'in' much less comfortable." Gambit said with a smirk. "Jus' Remy recognize de signs. M' brot'er spent his fair share a nights on de couch too, at least when he an' his wife tied the not. She was a sensitive l'il thing and din' like his answer t' "does dis' dress make m' butt look big?" Course she didn't know he meant yes in de nicest way possible, as he was just nineteen and rather liked it when she wore things tight like that. Suppose that's what a fille gets when she asks a homme bout 'er back- ."

"Are we here to talk or fight?" Scott asked with an irritated look.

Remy shrugged. "Figured y' might not be up t' sparrin' what wit' de achin' back an' all."

"Shove it Gambit, I'm ready when you are." The leader growled as the Cajun pocketed his cards and stretched.

"'M ready den Scottie boy."

Scott nodded and the two young men lunged toward each other.

♥

Tabitha woke up that morning smiling after a wonderful dream, with a warm and happy feeling in her heart. She stretched and was slightly startled to see four girls sitting around the end of her bed. They were still in their nightclothes and looking as though they had been eagerly awaiting Tabitha's awakening. Lorna was seated on her own bed, which was right next to Tabitha's, and she was wearing a long green tee-shirt and bike shorts, as well as a sleepy expression suggesting she too had just woken up. Jubilee sat beside her, looking much more awake and far more energetic as she swung her legs impatiently, waiting for her roommate to wake up. Amara had sat at the edge of Tabby's bed wearing a regal red satin nightgown, and while she was more composed than Jubilee, she too looked eager to grill her best friend about the prior night's date with Gambit. And true to their word, Tabby's roommates had managed to persuade Betsy to take part in the girl talk and keep things honest.

Betsy was a few years older than Tabby and the others, but despite being legal to drink and gamble, Betsy got along quite well with the younger girls and was always ready to take part in a good gossip fest. She had brought a chair from one of the desks in the bedroom close to the other girls, and she was watching the blond just as eagerly as the others. She had been absently toying with the silk sash on her elegant purple robe until Tabby's eyes opened.

"You're awake!" Jubilee chirped. "It's about time, girl!"

"Yea Tabitha, we've been waiting for you to wake up for quite a while." Amara said gently.

"The girls tell me you were out with quite a special date last night." Betsy said and her British accent gave the impression she was amused as Tabitha yawned and sat up. "And I must admit I'm curious about the details. The first of which being, of course, who is the lucky Romeo? Jubilee told me that I would not believe it unless I heard it from you in person."

"I was out with Remy last night." Tabby smiled.

"Our resident Cajun?" Betsy looked impressed. "Do tell, luv."

Tabby grinned and closed her eyes, leaning against the headboard. "I've never, ever, had a better date."

All four of the other girls' eyes lit up and Betsy rubbed her hands together mischievously. "You do know, luv, you're honor bound to share ALL the juicy details?"

Tabby laughed from her place at the headboard. "There really isn't anything juicy to tell."

Betsy scanned her for honesty and frowned. "You two didn't..."

"No." Tabby sighed. "But maybe that's what made it so special."

Betsy laughed. "Tabby, I worked with the man when-well he wasn't quite a man at that point, we were in our young teenage years- but the point is even when he was fifteen or sixteen he had a tough time keeping his hands to himself."

"Yeah, so how far'd it really go?" Jubilee asked shamelessly. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, you know, we're your friends."

"And we totally wouldn't blab." Lorna promised.

"I know." Tabby frowned. "But it really didn't go anywhere. He was a perfect gentleman the whole evening."

"I have a lot of trouble believing that, luv." Betsy said gently.

"Scan me. Or scan him." Tabby sighed. "The most intimate thing that happened was when he carried me inside."

"You sly little fox you!" Betsy smirked. "Did you play the 'weak ankles' card?"

"What does that mean?" Amara scrunched her nose curiously.

"She's asking if Tabby acted hurt or weak to get him to hold her." Lorna explained and Jubilee looked at her curiously. "Admittedly he does seem the type to react well to 'damsel in distress'."

"How in the world do you know this, Lorna?" Jubilee raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you've tried it or something..." Lorna was the type of girl easy to perceive as quiet and shy, and rather awkward around guys, definitely not the type to play DID.

"Well no," Lorna's ears turned pink. "Not me personally." The others looked at her, curiousity piqued. "I just read a lot."

That mystery solved the attention shifted back to Tabby. "You still haven't answered the question." Jubilee pointed out.

"No." Tabitha smiled guiltily. "Actually I fell asleep on him in the taxi."

"Are you positive nothing happened?" Amara's eyes widened.

"Definitely nothing when she was out." Betsy came to the Cajun's defense immediately. "Admittedly he's got quite an impressive little black book, I'd wager, but I know him. He'd never take advantage of a girl. Ever. He has that noble streak about him."

"Oh he's noble all right." Tabby smiled at the memory. "He even bought me dinner and a boatload of snacks cuz I said I was a little hungry. And then when...somebody...said something cruel about me, he decked him."

"That's sweet, Tabby." Amara smiled at her friend. "Maybe he didn't try anything because it was only the first date. Maybe he wants you to think him honorable."

"You think so?" Tabitha was intrigued at her best friend's insight.

"Well, I'd imagine it does help erase the man-slut reputation he's earned himself." Betsy said thoughtfully. "Maybe he's serious. Though you could've told me he had morals when were young and I've have laughed, honestly. Maybe he's changed."

"But I thought he liked Rogue." Lorna pointed out. "What happened with that?"

"I heard she was out with Pietro last night." Jubilee smirked. "I heard her go into her room last night. They blew curfew by almost an hour."

Tabitha's heart clenched for a moment, but she didn't know why until, she felt the familiar feeling in her stomach. She scrambled to her feet and made her way to the bathroom.

"Tabitha, are you alright?" Amara asked tentatively as the blond fell to her knees in front of the toilet, heaving. Tabby only had enough time to shake her head before throwing up.

Amara and Jubilee looked grossed out and Betsy looked like she was putting pieces of a puzzle together, so Lorna quietly shut the door, in an attempt to preserve any dignity her roommate still had. A short while later Tabitha opened the door after brushing her teeth.

"You okay?" Jubilee asked warily.

"I think I'm alright now." Tabby's voice was small.

"Did you eat something strange at dinner last night?" Lorna asked gently.

The blond smiled weakly. "I did get a little experimental."

"Maybe something didn't agree with you." Amara said in a concerned tone. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Maybe she should go down to see Mr. McCoy." Lorna frowned.

"No, I'm fine." Tabby shook her head. "I think I'll just take a refreshing shower and get dressed. You four should probably do the same. Never know when the badger will come drag us out for a training session."

She headed over to her dresser and grabbed an outfit and a towel before heading into the bathroom again. When she opened the door again fifteen minutes later, she was wearing a bright pink tank top, her favorite jeans and her towel around her head, drying her hair. Jubilee and Amara sat on their respective beds, presumably waiting for the date interrogation to continue. Betsy had left for her own room to shower and Lorna had gone down the hall to use the community bathroom, knowing as the youngest roommate she had last dibs on shower water, and while Tabby and Jubilee were pretty quick, Amara took forever.

Tabby sat back on her bed as Jubilee took her turn in the bathroom.

"Well?" Amara asked when the door closed. Her friend gave her a blank look. "Come on Tabitha, tell me more about your date with Gambit." The younger girl giggled. "Is he as dreamy in public as he is in the danger room?"

"I'd still have to say it was the best date I've ever had." Tabitha admitted with a sigh. "He was so sweet, insisting he pay for everything, flirting, the works."

Amara swooned. "Wow, you are so lucky Tabitha." Tabby smiled weakly, not bothering to disagree. "He's such a gentleman. And he's soooooo hot too."

"I cannot deny that one." Tabby giggled. "The man has muscle on his muscles! But he's not like, steroid size or something gross."

"Exactly. He's cut like a diamond-virtually flawless and perfectly carved. My people would likely worship him as a god." Amara pointed out.

Tabby snickered at the thought. "At least the women. But that's universal."

"Very true." Amara smirked. "You are so lucky to have him." The princess smiled at her friend. "He sounds like an excellent guy."

"He is." Something like guilt floated through her mind as she remembered she had been promising to help him win the heart of the girl of his dreams. She felt bad that part of her felt a just reward would be to see him with Rogue, and the other part filled in her own image in Rogue's place. She had to admit that the side arguing in her favor liked the idea of his strong, warm embrace and tender kisses being reserved for her and her alone.

"It's a shame you didn't even get to kiss him though." Amara said sadly.

"Tell me about it." Tabitha sighed deeply.

"So what's on the schedule for date number 2?" Amara asked shrewdly. "Dinner and ballet will be a tough act to follow, but I'm sure Gambit will live up to the challenge."

Tabby nodded. "I...don't really know." She confessed. "I don't know if there will be a second date."

Amara looked scandalized. "What? What do you mean?"

Tabitha looked uncomfortable. Part of her definitely wouldn't mind going on a real date with him, but she did still feel honor bound to keep her promise to try her best to get him and Rogue hooked up.

"I don't know, 'Mara." She shrugged, looking helpless. "I'd like it, more than I ever thought I would, if he'd ask me out ag—"

Suddenly Lorna ran back into the room panting. "Guys, you so gotta come quick!"

"What's wrong?" Amara asked with a frown. "Is there a security breach?"

"No!" Lorna grinned. "Better than that." Tabby raised an eyebrow. "I just heard Paige telling Rahne that X-23 and Wanda had a session with Wolverine this morning at seven thirty but they couldn't get into the Danger Room!"

"So?" Tabby said nonchalantly. "Someone else prolly got in there first."

"It's who got in that is worth mentioning." Lorna's green eyes sparkled. "Cuz Gambit and Cyclops are sparring in their costumes! Paige said they might even be shirtless! You know what that means?" She didn't wait for a reply before squealing the answer. "There's like, two really hot and really muscley guys fighting shirtless just downstairs!"

Jubilee peeked her head out of the bathroom. "Gambit and Cyke are shirtless? Count me in!" She dressed in record timing and hurried out of the bathroom running a brush through her wet hair before checking herself out in the mirror

"I didn't know you liked Cyclops." Amara commented as she glanced at her own reflection and smoothed her hair by running her hands through it.

"I don't. He's a jerk, and besides that he's married to Jean. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the view. Besides, Gambit's way better anyway."

"Amen." Tabby laughed and the group of girls hurried to the elevator. They boarded and then made their way to the control room so they could watch the show. Apparently many of the others had the same idea. Tabby squeezed between the people and pushed her way to the front, where she watched the spectacle, impressed.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Betsy behind her, wearing a purple halter-top, black leather pants, purple and black fingerless gloves, fishnets, and a concerned expression.

"Oh hey Bets." Tabitha smiled. "Here to enjoy the show?"

Betsy moved closer to the glass and gave a half smile. "So that's what Jean sees in our fearless leader. I was worried, for a while there, thought she was just attracted to jerks." Tabby giggled. "And as for Gambit, my my, he has certainly improved since sixteen. Perhaps his claim that he is God's gift to women has some basis in truth. His muscular structure would certainly point one in the direction of believing his anatomy to have been carved by angels." She gave the younger girl at her side a knowing look. "This is quite the treat, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's not everyday two gorgeous men spar shirtless, is it?" Tabitha sighed with a smile.

"I quite agree." Betsy chuckled and quickly fell silent. "Is it his, Tabitha?"

Tabby looked at her friend, wearing a confused expression. "Huh?"

"Your little secret." Betsy said softly. "Is it his too?"

"What do you mean?" Tabitha swallowed nervously.

Betsy moved subtly closer to the younger girl and lowered her voice. "Your secret. The one you don't want anybody knowing." She raised an eyebrow and gave Tabby's midriff a telltale glance.

Tabitha's eyes widened. "How do you know about that? Did you-?"

Betsy shook her head and interrupted telepathically. 'No Tabitha, I didn't read your mind to come to that conclusion. I leave such departures from common manners for classless people-like Emma.'

'Then how...' Tabitha thought, bewildered.

'Luv, you've been dropping the pieces to the puzzle for a while now. I just put them together.'

Tabitha looked at Betsy helplessly. 'I've been that obvious?'

'Subtle as a jet wreck, luv.' Betsy's British accent chimed. 'I'm amazed it took me this long to get it to tell the truth.' She gently tugged Tabitha onto the astral plane, where their conversation would be more private.

"Woah where are we?" Tabitha panicked.

"Relax, luv, this is the astral plane." Betsy explained.

"Oh." Tabby nodded, clearly not understanding what that meant. "Why are you a butterfly?"

Betsy laughed. "It's my astral form. On the astral plane your subconscious takes the form of the image that represents your psyche."

Tabitha looked down at herself. "I still look like me."

Betsy laughed again. "You're a firstie. That is to say, you've never been to the astral plane before. Don't worry, your subconscious will modify without you even realizing it."

As if to prove the British telepath correct, Tabitha's form started shifting and soon a lithe orange and yellow-what else-tabby kitten sat staring up at the butterfly.

"I'm a cat on this astro-planet?"

"Astral-plane, and I'd say kitten if I had to guess." Betsy's voice sounded amused.

"Why'm I a cat?" Tabby asked, the kitten's blue eyes forming a very human expression.

"Haven't a clue, luv." Betsy said nonchalantly. "You figure out why I'm a butterfly, then I'll get to working deciding why you're a kitty. Though I'd suspect it has something to do with your character or maybe your subconscious is having a go at your name."

Tabby the tabby nodded and raised an eyebrow. "So why are we here?"

"Well, I got the impression you didn't want our conversation audible to anybody else. Don't worry, none of the others will notice anything. We just look like we're drooling over the lovely little display Cyclops and Gambit are putting on at the moment."

Tabby frowned and her little tail twitched. "How'd you figure out what I was hiding?"

Betsy sighed. "There are many signs, luv. In particular the sudden drastic social change, the wonky appetite fluctuations, and unexplained fatigue were big pointers. But I knew for sure when you got sick this morning. I've noticed you getting sick when you think nobody notices at least seven times. My initial thought was that you were suffering an eating disorder." Betsy admitted.

Tabitha looked embarrassed. "Nope."

"I realized that this morning." Betsy said gently. "The way you were letting the girls talk about getting into a serious relationship with Gambit of all men...something changed you."

"I guess." The Tabby kitten lowered her ears.

"Is it Gambit's baby, Tabitha?" Betsy asked in a soft voice. "Is that why you want a relationship with him so badly?"

The Tabby kitten's ears dropped further and her whiskers drooped as she bowed her head. "No." She said in a barely audible voice. "It's not Remy's baby."

"Does he think it is?" Betsy asked sternly.

Tabby was taken aback. "No! Of course not! He's never even touched me, honest!"

"Then who-?"

"I'm not entirely sure sure." Tabby sounded drained. Tears were clouding her eyes.

"Tell me the story?" Betsy asked in a kind voice.

Tabby bit her little kitten lip. "It's hard to tell."

"Then show me the memory." Betsy coaxed approaching. She fluttered her wings against the kitten's head and a flash of color took them back into Tabitha's memory.

Five Weeks Previous

"What do you mean, we can't? Why not?" The blond gave the shy teenage boy beside her an irritated look. They had been having a particularly heated make-out session in her room (as her room-mates were all mall crawling) and she had just successfully gotten his over shirt unbuttoned and tossed it behind her, before attempting to remove his white under shirt. However the second her fingers came into contact with his bare stomach, his eyes widened as if he'd just woken up and he pushed her, almost violently, away, stammering 'Wait! We can' do this..."

"What gives?" The girl frowned.

"Ah...Ah don' know if we're ready for that, Tabby." He stammered nervously. His face was flushing rapidly.

"What? What do you mean? We've been dating under the radar for months." She fixed a confused look at him.

"Ah know, an' Ah-we need ta talk about this."

"What's there to talk about?" She asked in exasparation.

"A lot." He assured her and took a nervous step backwards.

"Sammy-boy, you are the first guy I've ever met who'd pass up something like this to talk."

"Ah jus' don' wanna make a mistake, Tabby." He said softly.

"A what!" She crossed her arms. "So sleeping with me would be a mistake, would it?" She snapped.

"What, no! Ah didn' mean it like that!" He cried. "Ah just meant Ah wanted ta be sure neither of us would regret it!"

"Regret it?" Her eyes narrowed. "I thought you loved me. That's what you said anyway. Forgive me for thinking you meant it." She snapped.

"Ah did! Ah do!" He ran a hand through his hair looking extremely nervous.

"Then prove it." She smirked and moved towards him again, reaching insistently for his tee-shirt.

"Ah am." He said, restraining her away by holding her shoulders.

"Um, no, you're really not." She dropped her arms to her sides.

"Tabby, Ah'm provin' mahself by not goin' fer a roll in the hay with ya."

"Right." She said slowly. "And how precisely is that showing you love me?"

"It means Ah think yer worth more than one night of cheap fun." He explained. "Ah don't wanna rush into a physical relationship with just anyone. Ah want it ta be special."

"We've been dating for months. That's not what I'd call rushing."

"Yeah, but Ah...Ah believe in waitin' fer the right time."

"Which is now, as incase you didn't notice, my roomies are out and will be for a few good hours."

"Tabby, Ah don't think ya entirely understand." He said gently. "Ah need ta be in a commited relationship..."

"Committed relationship? For crying out loud what do you want, marriage or something?"

He nodded. "Well, yeah." His voice was meek.

She stared at him. "Why. In. The. World. Would you do that?"

"It's what mah parents always taught me." He said shyly. "They said true love waits."

She stared blankly at him. "Nobody in my family ever said that."

"Well, it's what Ah believe. Besides, waitin' for somethin' makes ya appreciate it all that much more. It's like...when yer little an' there's a toy ya gotta have. If ya go spend yer allowence on it that week, ya like it for a little while an' then forget it when somethin' better comes along. But if ya wait till Christmas, ya love it so much more."

"Ya, but Sammy-boy, this isn't a rubix cube or a magic eight ball." She pointed out.

"Exactly, it's bigger than that. It ain't somethin' to play around with. It's special."

"I know that." She admonished. "But what would a dumb old ring do to make it more special?"

"Well, marriage is the most permanent thing Ah know of on earth, Tabby." He smiled. "And if ya've kept yourself pure for that one special person, it's like...givin' a gift of yourself."

"You lost me." She said with a frown.

"Well..." He paused, searching for an analogy. "Think of ya body like a really pretty flower."

"Ok..." She said skeptically.

"Now imagine that before ya ever do anythin' with anyone, it's real beautiful an' special. It's a unique flower, there ain't no other one like it anywhere in the world."

"Right." She nodded, wondering where this was leading.

"But each time ya sleep with somebody, it's like pluckin' a petal off the flower." She winced as the analogy clicked. "When ya find the one you want to spend forever with, do ya wanna give 'em a really gorgeous special flower, or an ugly and used up green stumpy thing? Ah don' know bout you, but Ah'd be kinda ashamed of mahself if the best Ah could do was offer up a petal-less flower ta somebody Ah really loved."

She frowned and stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself. "I never thought about it that way before."

"Most people don'." He said gently. "Most people tend ta spend more care satisfyin' their wants in the present rather than looking to the future. But Ah ain't gonna do that. That way, when Ah do decide ta settle down, Ah can be proud that Ah'm givin' maself whole outta love."

Tabitha bit her lip. "That would be a special gift then, I guess."

"So if uh...all the awkwardness is over...wanna go watch a movie or something? When the new kids professor X told us about get here we'll prolly be too busy gettin' retrained to catch much alone time."

She shook her head, fighting the crushing tide of misery that was welling inside her from Sam's earlier words. "No thanks. Actually I...I think Jean wanted a little help planning tomorrow's welcome party. But you go on ahead." She said in a would-be-chipper tone.

"Oh." Sam frowned softly and looked a little put out. "Okay then, ya have fun with that." He said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked forlorn.

She nodded and watched numbly as he awkwardly picked his shirt off her floor and hastily buttoned it back on. "Well, Ah'll see ya at dinner then Ah guess." He trailed off, as if he'd been asking her a question.

"Yeah, I'll be there." Tabby gave a weak smile, which he returned, before giving her a chaste but tender kiss.

"Ah'll save ya a seat, Angel." He smiled sweetly and her heart clenched. She didn't feel much like an angel at the present time. But she nodded anyway and watched him walk slowly away.

The moment he was gone, she sighed heavily. When he put it that way...she felt ashamed of herself and her actions of the past. She had always been taught that a little fooling around never hurt anyone; in fact it was an expression of love really. If a man loved a woman he slept with her and vice versa. However, Sam's reasoning made a lot more sense to her.

She had lied to Sam (Jean had finished the welcome party details two days previous) and it stung. She felt bad about that, but she felt worse about the realization that Sam had just confessed to her he was a virgin and planned on staying that way until he got married-which he had previously hinted might someday be to Tabby herself-and she simply ...hadn't been of a similar status since the age of fifteen.

She headed up to her bedroom, simmering in shame and regret for the past. She wanted to spend a good few hours alone. She was so lost in her thoughts she walked straight into Berserker.

"Hey Tabby!" He smirked playfully. "Watch where you're going."

"Hey Ray." She said miserably. His smirk fell away.

"What's wrong?"

"A little of everything." She sighed.

"Uh oh, sound's depressing." He raised an eyebrow.

"You have no idea." She assured him.

"You're right." He thought for a moment. "Well I do know one way to cheer you up." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively .

"Thanks but no thanks, Ray." She said flatly. "It's kind of that being the main problem right now."

"Why?" A smirk crept back onto his face. "Your room-mates are all at the mall, and Berto's with them. Sammy-boy's downstairs watching a movie with Jamie and Bobby. So we have two available rooms."

"No, Ray." Tabby shook her head. "I'm just...not in the mood for that kind of thing right now."

A look of surprise crossed his features. "But...you've never not wanted to-"

"I'm just not in the mood." She said tersely. He scowled.

"Oh, I see how it is." He glared at her. "Last night you were plenty in the mood when you and Sunspot snuck into the locker room, but today, when it's me doing the asking, you 'aren't in the mood'."

Tabby's face flushed crimson. "That was a mistake. I shouldn't have done that."

"What's with you? You never cared before. It' s not like we've never been together." He pointed out.

"Yeah, but...I want to try to be a loyal girlfriend for a change."

"Right." Ray sneered. "You've done such a bang-up, knockdown job at that part so far."

She lowered her eyes. "I know. I've been lousy to him. And I regret it. That's why I decided last night is the last time I'm going to spend the night in anybody else's bed."

He stared at her incredulously. "It's not April Fools."

"I know." She frowned. "I'm serious."

"But-you can't be-but-"

"I am." She said finally. "Catch you at dinner, Ray."

He watched, scowling furiously at her as she walked away with her hands jammed into her pockets.

Nothing of consequence happened between that point and the arrival of the new team members, though dinner was a subdued and slightly awkward event. The following afternoon, the newest set of arrivals knocked on the door and all heck broke loose.

"What are they doing here?" Scott's jaw dropped in horror to find the brotherhood boys and Magneto's acolytes all on the front steps.

"We heard you lot had a few spare beds." Pyro grinned, flipping the top of his lighter. "And seein' as Bucket Head's off "findin' 'imself' after the debacle with Apocalypse and accountin' for the six of us what ain't old enough to live on our own in this country, figured we'd take ya up on the offer."

"Professor!" Scott howled, turning, horror struck to professor X.

"Take a chill pill, Summers." Lance had rolled his eyes. "We're here to stay whether you like it or not."

A large group had gathered around the door. Many of the people were gazing curiously at the eight mismatched teenagers on the step, never having seen them before. And those who had were intrigued with what they were doing at the mansion.

"So are you gonna let us in?" Pyro asked casually, shifting the weight of his backpack to his other shoulder. "Kinda rude, ain't it? Makin' us stay outside whilst you stare in fascination at us."

Jean pushed Scott out of the way and rolled her eyes before smiling. "Sorry for him. Come on in." She gestured for them to enter.

Pyro strutted across the threshold with no problem and glanced back at his fellow misfits. The rest seemed more hesitant but came through the tall double doors.

"Well, first we should probably get introductions out of the way." Jean said in an uncertain voice as she looked around nervously, sensing the mounting hostility among some of the others. "So why doesn't everyone just say their names-given and code and maybe tell your powers?" She smiled encouragingly. "Why don't you guys start?" She pleaded with the group of new arrivers..

The brotherhood and Acolytes exchanged startled and exasperated looks.

"Well, Oy'm St. John Barnabas Allerdyce. But Sheila's call me Pyro-cuz Oy'm hot stuff." He winked and flipped open his zippo, emitting a trail of flame that circled him.

"Ok Ok hothead, y're gonna make de rest o' de bums look bad." Gambit rolled his eyes. "No fire in dis house, bon?" The younger boy nodded. "Well 'nyway, De name is Remy LeBeau t' friends, an' Gambit t' foes." He gave Scott a scathing glance. "Y' can just go an' f'rget de first un, homme." Scott set his jaw but said nothing. Remy smirked. "Remy be able t' kineticly excite de molecules in any inorganic substance t' make too much energy fo' d'object t' handle an' so it explodes." He chuckled at the blank looks and fished a card from his pocket. "In laymen terms, Remy make t'ings go boom." He then preceded to create a small explosion with the card. "Oh an' de tall dark un be Petey. He be Russian. An' tres shy."

Said mutant blushed slightly. "Thank you very much Remy. But I am perfectly capable of introducing myself." He smiled softly. "I am Piotr Rasputin, and Colossus in battle. I am indeed Russian and I can coat my body in organic metal." Which he proceded to demonstrate.

A few girls giggled, and all the boys looked murderous. They clearly percieved the attractive young men with exotic accents as a threat.

"I'm Lance Alvers. Or Avalanche...I make earthquakes." Lance shrugged realizing how lame that sounded. He figured it would be better not to demonstrate his indoors. Besides, he did not need to show off to impress girls. He had the only one he could ever want.

"Freddy Dukes. Or the blob." Fred said simply. "I'm real strong."

"I'm Todd Tolanksy, yo. But everyone calls me Toad." He shrugged. "I got mad jumping skillz and a killer tongue."

"Fits with your killer breath." Wanda muttered. "I'm Wanda Maximoff, but I go by Scarlet Witch to anybody who doesn't me well." She narrowed her eyes. "And if I get one Scarlet Bitch joke..." She glared around threateningly, allowing her fists to glow blue, leaving the imagination to figure out what the punishment would be.

An awkward silence fell before Pietro broke it. "And I'm her far more charming and much better looking twin brother Pietro Maximoff." He cast a dazzling grin and ran a hand through his hair before jogging around the room in a nanosecond. "They call me Quicksilver." He said in a lame attempt to be dashing.

"Aw ya can't get em to stop?" A perky voice from the back called. Pietro's eyes jumped to the spunky blond.

"Boom Boom."

"Speedy." She grinned. "Long time no see." She rolled her eyes as he stuck his tongue at her.

Introductions continued and rooms and roommates were assigned and then Jean led everyone outside where the party began.

The party was great fun, with multiple varieties of punch and sodas accompanying dozens of homemade brownies and cookies. Kurt and Kitty had helped Jean put together a few decent cds of dance and party music, and the atmosphere of the whole thing was quite relaxed and comfortable.

Ray approached Tabitha hesitantly. "Hey Tabby?"

"Oh, hi Ray." She stepped away from her friends and gave him a wary look.

"I just wanted to apologize for...for yesterday." He said softly. "I was in the wrong, it's your body and you choose what to do with it. I had just been hoping...well it's all over now. I brought a peace offering." He held up the cup of pink sparkling punch.

She eagerly reached for it. "Thanks, Ray, dancing works a thirst up." She smiled gratefully and took a big gulp of it. A moment later she was choking and spluttering.

"You okay?" He asked, looking concerned.

"Yeah, it burnt my throat. I probably took too big a swallow." She wiped her mouth and settled for a much smaller sip. Ray smiled at her and the two chatted for a while. He got her two refils of punch during their conversation and then sat to watch as she danced with her friends. She never once saw the suspicious smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth-just as she had apparently missed the bottle of very strong liquor he'd been applying to each cup of punch he handed her.

When she stumbled a little, she told Amara and the others she was just a little dizzy and needed to sit the next few songs out, and Berserker made his move.

"Hey Tabby." He grinned.

"'lo Ray." She slurred a little bit, beaming at him. "Nice party huh?"

He handed her another glass of punch and she drained it.

"Woah, head rush." She giggled. "Guess I been dan-sting too hard or something." She put a hand to her head as if to massage her temples but she couldn't seem to remember what she'd started. "My head feels fu-nny." She slurred. "Everyfins so fuzzy." She blinked, her eyes half closed. "I don fink my eyes're workim well." She shook her head to clear it and failed. "I see spots." She observed.

Ray smirked, he hadn't realized how easy it would be to get Tabby to this point. She was already tripping over her own tongue and slurring her speech.

"Maybe you should go lie down." He suggested in a calm tone of voice.

"Yeah, mebbe." She rose slowly and she wobbled.

He caught her and held her close. "Easy there, Babe." He chuckled.

"Wuss wrong with me?" Tabby asked quietly.

"Maybe you're coming down with something."

As the alcohol from the spiked drink had been given ample time to take effect, it had left her unable to put together the pieces of what was happening.

"Maybe." She said absently.

"Come on, I'll walk you upstairs." He let her lean on him for support as he made his way to the elevator.

Once inside he gave a predatory smile that she misinterpreted as genuine. "You know, it's a shame." The elevator slowly whirred to life. She gave him a goofy look that expressed her curiosity. "It's a shame about you deciding to change your lifestyle. We never had a last night together." She nodded carelessly.

"S'wat my broyfend 'serves." She slurred.

"I quite agree." Ray grinned. "It's just that, well I like you a lot too Tabby. And it makes me mighty sad that I can't even show you one more time."

She shrugged. "Don' wanna cheat anymore."

"But Tabby, Sam's my best friend. He'd understand." Ray lowered his face to hers, pressing for a gentle but hungry kiss. "He wouldn't mind you being with me one last time."

And something clicked off in Tabitha's mind and suddenly she was kissing back, sloppily admittedly, but she was full of an energy that seemed out of place considering he'd practically dragged her into the elevator.

He smirked against her lips and forced the kiss into its French version as he tangled his fingers in her hair and pressed her against the wall. She whimpered slightly and as the door slid open he stumbled backwards, taking them both out of the elevator. He didn't break the kiss as he half carried her down the hall. She managed a slightly confused look as they passed her room.

"More privacy in here." He mumbled in explanation and somehow miraculously opened the door of the guest room behind him, half dragging her inside. He resumed kissing her passionately, all the while tugging at the string trying her bikini top.

The memory skipped forward at this point, due mostly to Tabby's inebriated state causing that memory to continue to grow fuzzier, as well as Betsy's lack of desire to watch the X-Rated ((The pun really wasn't intended here...)) scene play out. It slid forward quickly, but not before Betsy picked up a strong image of Tabby waking confused and dreadfully hung over in the guest room, feeling sick about what she knew must have happened the night before.

The memory resumed as Tabitha started feeling a little ill. She figured she was coming down with a flu or something, but as time stretched on, she recieved a nasty shock. She realized that she was late, a situation she'd never been in before. Even more horrible she realized shed made a mistake somewhere earlier and had missed two birth control pills. Thinking back, she realized with dread that the two nights could only have been the night she spent with Roberto and the drunken encounter with Ray.

This realization made the whole situation that much worse as she had been explicitly warned that missing even one could result in dire consequences if she wasn't careful-which she definitely hadn't been on the two nights in question due to Roberto's allergy to latex and the fact that she was too sloshed to care the night of the party. She felt even more ill as she put all the pieces together.

But still, she couldn't accept the possible truth, she just couldn't. She snuck out of the mansion and stopped at the nearest convenience mart. She found what she needed and paid before hurrying back home clutching her parcel. She locked herself in the bathroom joined to her room and stared at the box for several long hard minutes before opening the package with trembling hands. She followed the directions to the letter and waited for the longest five and a half minutes of her life.

When the small plastic device emitted a quiet blip she picked it up and bit her lip, keeping her eyes closed. She feared what the results would say, but at the same time she desperately needed to know. So with a deep breath she allowed both eyes to open. With a rush of horror, she felt as though all the air in her lungs had been rapidly forced out of her body. She stared at the small plastic indicator and felt empty.

It may have only been a few moments, but to Tabitha it felt like years before she slid to the floor in stunned silence, still staring blankly at the indicator as though hoping it might dissolve into thin air.

It was the most shocking of people who found her in that position, some hours later. Jean had been worried as the younger girl had missed dinner. So she went to find the girl and see what was wrong. She had felt the disturbance from the bathroom and decided that would be an ideal place to start. When Tabitha hadn't let her in willingly, she forced the lock and entered. To her great shock, the young blond was sitting on the floor, clutching her knees and staring warily at a telltale plastic indicator.

"Tabby?" Jean's voice was soft and gentle. She knelt down beside the younger girl. "Is this what I think it is?"

Tabitha, still an empty shell, merely nodded. Jean bit her lip and picked it up tentatively. "Positive. Who?"

Tabby looked shaken and ashamed as she shrugged. She really didn't know who.

"What happened?" Jean asked in a quiet voice. "I thought you were on the pill?" She said uncertainly.

"Yeah, but I missed a couple of them." Tabby found her voice, it was flattened. "And I wasn't...careful without them." Tears pricked her eyes.

Jean didn't know what to say in reply to that. She lay a comforting hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Oh, Tabby..."

"What am I gonna do, Red?" Tabitha asked weakly. "I-I'm only seventeen. I don't know what to do."

"Maybe you should talk to the professor." Jean suggested. "I'm sure he can help."

"You think so?" Tabitha looked torn between terrified and hopeful.

"Well, he always knows what to do and how to handle tough stuff." Jean smiled. "He'll know what to have you do. C'mon." She rose to her feet and extended a hand which Tabitha eyed warily.

"Now?"

"Well, yeah. It's probably better to tell him sooner rather than later." Jean rationalized.

"I guess so." Tabby shrugged and climbed to her feet. "D'you think he'll be real mad?" She asked nervously.

Jean thought for a moment. "I don't think so. I've never seen him mad before. But even so, I think as the headmaster of the school, he has every right to know."

Tabby nodded again and looked apprehensively at the door.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't…he's gonna be mad at me." She said with certainty. "I know he is."

"You don't know that." Jean tried, gently.

"Yeah I do." Tabby sighed.

"Want me to come with you?" Jean asked in a kind voice. "For moral support?"

"Would you?" Tabby asked with relief spreading to her features.

"What are friends for?" Jean smiled.

Tabby smiled back. The two of them had never really been friends, but if the older girl was willing to be there for her when she told the professor about her news, she was willing to embrace the offer.

"Thank you." Tabby muttered as they headed to the professor's study. Tabitha was a whole bundle of emotion she'd not ever felt simultaneously and having the added support was reassuring.

"I don't mind." Jean assured the younger girl. "I was worried about you when you didn't show up for dinner. We had your favorite."

They arrived at the door to the study and Tabby raised her hand to knock.

"Come on in, ladies." The professor greeted.

"It's always unnerving when he does that." Tabby shook her head as Jean smiled and opened the door for them.

"Ah, Tabby and Jean, to what do I owe the honor?" The professor asked politely, making a steeple with his fingers.

Tabitha opened her mouth to speak and found she couldn't. To her horror, she was frozen and shaking mildly.

Jean frowned slightly and turned back to the professor. "Tabitha has something she needs to tell you, Professor."

Xavier looked at Tabitha with a mildly puzzled expression. "Is everything alright, Tabitha?"

Tabby shook her head and gulped. "Well, sir…I…" She swallowed hard and focused on her shoes. Unable to utter the words she merely held out her indicator and flinched waiting for him to flip out.

The professor was silent for a few moments. "Well, this does explain a few unanswered questions."

Tabitha looked up, confused. Jean looked as though she felt quite the same. "Sir?"

"Young Elizabeth approached me a few days ago after witnessing you throwing up after a meal, Tabitha." The professor explained. "She was under the impression that you were possibly struggling with the sort of self-image issues that could contribute to Bulimic behavior. Needless to say, I am quite glad that is not the case."

Tabitha's jaw dropped. She could not help it, she had mentally prepped herself for a screaming match or to be expelled from the school.

"Why the shock, Tabitha?" He smiled in that grandfatherly way he had about himself.

"You're not pissed off?" The words tumbled from her lips before she could recall them.

"Well, admittedly I am a bit disappointed in your actions, but what is done is done, is it not?"

"Yeah but…You aren't going to punish me? Make me do manual labor till my fingers fall off or do danger room sessions with Badger til I'm fifty?" She asked incredulously.

"My dear girl, what on earth would give you that impression?"

She stared at him, confused and speechless.

"Tabitha, there is no pretending I am pleased with the decisions you've made, but please understand I respect that they were your choices to make. As is, there is little to do about the situation, other than to accept that a little one shall be joining our number in a few months time."

"You mean you aren't kicking me out?" Her voice was hopeful.

"Goodness no." He looked affronted. "I see no reason why I should even consider that course of action."

Relief flooded over her. "Really? But I broke school rules…"

"That you did, but as I've said already, what's done is done. It would only be doing you a disservice to turn you away when you are in a time of great need such as this. I find it hard to believe the world beyond these walls would be incredibly accepting of a homeless teenage mutant mother." Tabitha bowed her head. "You are welcome to continue residing at the institute, so long as you take responsibility for your actions."

She looked up, puzzled again. He looked a bit sterner. "Does this child's father know that he is indeed a father?"

Tabitha shook her head, shame prickling her cheeks.

"Then the first step is to share the news." The professor said clearly. "Following that, you must arrange the necessary medical appointments to receive adequate prenatal care—I am assuming, of course, that you intend to keep this child?" He fixed her with a pointed stare.

"Well, I hadn't thought about it yet." Tabby stammered. "I…I only just found out…"

The professor frowned. "Well, there is still time for that decision-and it is not one to take lightly. But whether you decide to raise this child as your own or put it up for adoption-"

"Sir, couldn't I just-"

"No." Xavier's eyes narrowed. "That is quite out of the question. I will not allow any person in my reach to exterminate human life as a means of birth control simply because the life they created is inconvenient!" He scowled. "You will not terminate this child, am I understood?"

"Yes sir." Tabitha said softly, slightly shocked.

The professor closed his eyes and calmed down. "Yes, in any case, you will need to ensure that both you and the child you carry within you are properly cared for. Now, I will happily cover medical finances for you, as I have excellent insurance coverage. I will also continue to provide food and lodgings. However for all other infant related expenses, I am afraid I must ask you to find a means to provide for your child. As your family is under a rather considerable financial strain, I would not feel right asking for money from your mother. I would personally recommend you take a part time job to start saving money. The sooner you secure a well paying job, the more money you will save and the easier a time you will have with this whole ordeal."

She stared at him in shock. "Job? But…I'm…I can't have a job can I?"

"Why wouldn't you be able to?" He asked calmly. "You still have many months before you would be unable to do physical work."

"Oh." She nodded. "Well, then, I'll do my best to find a decent job."

The professor smiled. "Good girl. Now, I feel I should clear up a few misconceptions about other responsibilities." He raised an eyebrow and she gulped. "For starters, this is hardly an excuse to get out of Danger Room Sessions."

She looked horrified. "You mean I'm still gonna hafta train? Even when I swell up like a blimp?"

He chuckled. "Yes, you will still be obligated to attend a daily workout. Exercise is important to maintain a healthy life. I shall have Logan slowly bring you down to a routine fit for an otherwise healthy young woman in your condition."

Tabitha sighed. "Okay."

"And second, I would strongly recommend you continue with your education, despite the fact that it may require an interruption when the baby is due."

Tabitha's jaw dropped open again. "You have gotta be kidding."

"I assure you I jest not, Tabitha." The professor said gently. "You came to the institute to acquire an escape from a tough home life, and also to receive the best education available to you. I do not believe that objective has changed."

"But…" Tabitha gaped. "You can't really mean that I have to go back to Bayville High." She reasoned.

"Tabitha, you would not be the first teenage mother in high school." He said patiently.

"Bet I'm the first mutant one." She muttered under her breath with a strongly displeased look on her face.

"She's right on that one professor." Jean spoke up for the first time in a while. "I don't know of any recorded mutant teen pregnancies out of Bayville."

"See?" Tabitha gestured to Jean. "Even Red agrees!"

"Oh I don't mean I think you shouldn't go." Jean corrected gently. "I'm just pointing out that you will endure more ridicule."

"I am certain Tabitha can handle it. I am sure you wouldn't really want to miss out on your senior year, Tabitha." The professor smiled. "Now if that is all you ladies had to say, I have paperwork to fill out."

"What for?" Jean asked.

"Well as I'm certain everyone's noticed, space is getting limited around here. I'm planning on building an addition to the mansion." He nodded. "This section will have more restrooms and its own kitchen. And more closet space. I figure I should probably incorporate a few family rooms as well, as Tabitha's child is not likely to be the last."

The girls nodded and turned to leave the room. "So where are you off to now? Scott and I are catching a movie in about half an hour."

"I think I'm gonna do what the professor advised." She sighed. "I think I need to go have a talk with…well the dad-to-be."

"I thought you said you didn't know who-"

Jean froze. She had just opened the door to find Scott standing there ready to knock. "Hey honey," she started warily, trying to gage his reaction to what he'd heard.

"Tabitha's child?" He narrowed his eyes. "Dad-to-be? I very sincerely hope I'm making the wrong connection."

"Scott…" Jean started in a soothing voice.

"Well?" He ignored his wife and glared at Tabitha. "Is it true?" He glowered at the plastic indicator in her hand.

The girl bit her lip and nodded. Scott was silent for a few long moments. His face steadily flushed an angrier and angrier shade of red. "How did this happen?" His tone was icy and he was struggling to control it.

Tabitha blinked nervously. She looked to Jean in panic as Scott lost his temper. "How in the name of Hell did this happen!" His voice rose.

"Scott, dear, calm down." Jean placed a hand on his shoulder. "Everyone makes mistakes."

Scott for his part didn't seem to notice Jean. "What's wrong with you!" He hollered at Tabitha, who cringed. "We all knew you were fooling around, but you were on the Pill! The ((fudging)) Pill which was supposed to prevent this from happening! So how did this happen!"

"I accidentally for-" Tabitha started in a weak and startled voice.

"Forgot? You forgot! How could you forget to take something you've been taking every day for the last two and a half years! What the Hell were you thinking!"

"Scott, that's enough!" Jean said sternly, forcing him to notice her. "She feels bad enough as it is! You don't need to make it any worse."

"Do you have any idea what this means?" He scowled at her.

"Actually Scott, I do." She narrowed her eyes. "It means a friend of mine has gotten herself into a big situation and my husband is being horrible to her."

"You have no idea how big, Jean!" He rolled his eyes. "This is going to cripple the new strategy I designed for the team's training! All that work is wasted now! All because she went and got herself knocked up!"

Tabitha looked as though he'd punched her across her face. Jean inflated with fury. She opened her mouth. "What's wrong with you Scott? You're being so-"

"That is enough!" The professor interrupted angrily as he wheeled over to the students. "Scott, get a hold of yourself. This chain of events was not foreseen or planned for, but it is not a personal statement of defiance against you. I would keep my temper in check if I were you. An attitude like that is a poor one for a team leader to have." He looked stressed. "That is all you may go. Oh and Tabitha?"

"Yeah?" She asked, her voice shaky.

"I'd recommend you to share this secret with your friends before it shares itself." Tabitha nodded and looked down cast. She turned away and placed her hand on the door to let herself out. As she exited she felt dejected, like the professor had brushed her aside, rushing her from his study.

In the hall Scott and Jean were still furiously arguing, though it appeared to be a telepathic conversation. Jean was glaring and her hands were balled into fists on her hips and Scott had crossed his arms defiantly. All of a sudden, Jean's eyes widened in shock and horror at something Scott had said...er thought.

"You know Jean, I don't really think I'm in the mood to catch that movie after all." Scott said aloud in a chilly tone.

Jean looked as though he'd smacked her. "But-"

"No Jean. I'm not in the mood to go out. If anyone should need me, I'll be in the Danger Room." He turned and stormed off, stomping his feet for good measure.

Tabitha looked at Jean who stared after Scott with a confused and distraught expression on her face. The younger girl stared after the team leader before breaking down into horrified sobs.

"I'm so so sorry!" She cried. "Now I've gone and ruined e-everything!"

Jean shook her head, still in shock, but rather sadly. "No Tabitha, it isn't your fault." She blinked back a few tears. "Scott had no reason to flip out the way he did." She watched sadly as he disappeared down the hall. "He'll cool down. He's just a bit shocked."

Tabitha sighed, not bothering to point out that the other woman's husband almost never cooled down and got over something that shook him into a temper like this.

"Are you still going to talk to the baby's father?" Jean changed the topic.

Tabby bit her lip and nodded.

"But I thought you didn't know who..." Jean looked confused.

"I know who it might be." Tabby said with a soft gulp. She ran a hand through her hair nervously. "I guess it's the guy's right to know isn't it?"

Jean nodded. "It is his baby too, Tabby." She said gently.

"You're right." The blond smiled weakly. "I suppose the damage has been done. It won't get any easier if I don't do this."

"Do you want me to come?" Jean asked. "I realize it will be personal but..."

"No, you don't have to." Tabby shook her head gently. "I can handle it. You probably should go check up on Scott or whatever."

"He'll be fine. It's you I'm more concerned with at the moment."

"Thanks, Red. But you go on and don't let me mess up your evening any worse. I'll call you if I need you."

Jean smiled and gave the younger girl an encouraging hug before retreating down the hall. Tabitha headed up to the boys dorms, fidgeting nervously.

She knocked on the desired door and a sudden unexplainable feeling of dread crawling to her throat. She swallowed repeatedly.

"S'open!" One of the rooms occupants called. She hesitantly opened the door and peeked in.

"Tabby!" Ray grinned. "Finally the party arrives. We just sat down for a round of poker. Want me to deal you in?"

She shook her head and suddenly found herself intrigued with the worn carpet on the floor.

"Tabby? Everythin' alright, baby?" Sam quickly rose to his feet, an expression of concern on his face.

'Interesting choice of words' she thought wryly and forced herself to look up. She suddenly cursed the rooming arrangements. This had to be the single most inconvenient group of roommates in the mansion. "Not really." Her voice was small and shaky. "I ...I need to talk to you guys. All of you."

"If it's about the dye in Logan's shampoo," Roberto's eyes shifted nervously. "That was all Jamie's idea! And Bobby helped!"

"It's not that." She couldn't even smile. She again looked at her feet, unable to meet any of the boys' eyes.

"Tabby, ya startin' ta scare me." Sam tilted his head to the side. "What's wrong?"

"I...I...I'm late." She said blandly. The silence was deafening. The three boys gaped at her, displaying varying degrees of shock. When they didn't reply she elaborated. "I should have noticed when it didn't come, but I didn't think anything of it and now..." She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I just took a test and it came out positive."

Sam collapsed to the floor, completely missing his chair. He was pale with shock.

Ray just waved a hand flippantly. "You've been on that Pill thing since you were fifteen. What you're saying is impossible."

She swallowed hard. "I'm not wrong, I am..." she hesitated, flushing. "I am gonna have a baby. And...it's one of yours." She said meekly.

"Wha...how?" Sam choked. "How could this...? Tabby?"

"Yeah, Sammy's right." Roberto spoke in an upset tone. "How did this happen?"

"You said you were on the pill!" Ray accused. She buried her burning face in her hands.

"I was!" She cried. "But I missed a couple. And that screwed up my cycle and now..." She fell silent.

"You're lying!" Roberto narrowed his eyes. "You've got to be!"

"Why would I lie about this?" Tabitha felt the tears pooling.

"Cuz you're a lying manipulative little slut." Ray spat.

Tabitha looked around at them. Roberto was shaking his head, convincing himself she was lying, Ray was sneering and muttering rude things under his breath, and Sam's reaction was worse.

His deep Kentucky tan had paled to a deathly shade. His eyes were simultaneously struck with horror and sunken. He had yet to close his mouth. He didn't seem able to speak. He looked vaguely like somebody had bashed him over the heat with a club.

"Ya...ya cheated on me?" His voice was small and sad, which made her feel worse.

"Sam..." She started. She realized this would be a nasty blow to him and she didn't know anyway to cushion it. "I'm-"

"Don't." He stopped her curtly. "Ah don' wanna hear it Tabitha." She opened her mouth to say something but he cut her off again. Their eyes met and she was startled to see tears. "Ah don' get how ya could do this, but Ah can' take it right now."

"Sam..."

"Out." He mumbled quietly. "Just get out. Ah can't look at ya right now." He turned his head, embarrassed by the hot tears escaping his eyes.

She took a step toward him, tears in her own eyes.

"JUST GET OUT OF HERE!" He snapped.

"I need to explain-" She started.

"No body wants to hear it," Sam shook his head.

"He's right." Ray commented idly.

"Sam, listen!" Tabby pleaded.

"Ah trusted ya!" He spat. "With all ma heart!" She couldn't respond to that. He kept going, his voice getting louder and shakier with each new word. "Ah loved ya more'n ya even know! An' how d'ya respond ta that! Ya go an' jump inta bed with ma best friends, thats how! How could you!"

"Sam, I..." She swallowed tears.

"Save it." He sneered. "Ah've heard enough of your lies."

She boldly stepped toward him, laying a hand on his shoulder. Her voice was hoarse, but she tried to keep her tone level. "I never wanted-"

He threw her hand away and opened his mouth to retort.

Ray beat him to it. "What, you think any of us did?" He said coldly. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at his roommates. "Funny, none of us seem to have been expecting this turn of events.

She bit her lip. "I know, alright? The point is, it is happening." She said quietly.

"Well then go let it happen somewhere else." Roberto dismissed her with the wave of his hand. "I don't personally believe you're being entirely honest."

She stared at him. "What?" She gaped.

"You heard me." Roberto shrugged.

"You think I'd make this up?"

Roberto paused for a second. "In a heartbeat." He smirked. "It's an attention ploy."

She gaped at him, at all the guys. She glanced at her fist, still clutching the telltale plastic indicator.

"And besides," Roberto continued arrogantly. "Even if you are telling the truth, I don't see any evidence that says this isn't just a sick cry for attention."

Red hot rage blinded her. She threw the indicator at his forehead with all the strength she could muster. "Is that good enough 'evidence' for you?" She balled her hands into trembling fists.

"Woah!" Ray jumped up. "The Hell's your problem ((female dog; rhymes with witch))!"

Roberto put a hand to his forehead and gingerly removed his fingertips, pulling a disgusted face at the sight of his blood. There was a thin cut in his forehead from the sharp plastic edge. "What was that for?"

"I am not making it up!" Tabitha's voice was quaking but she was practically screaming as tears threatened to fall again.

"So what?" Ray glowered at her. "Even if you are telling the truth, you can't pin it on any of us. You sleep around too much."

A large concentration of energy began building in each of her hands. "It is one of you."

"Have fun proving it." Ray snorted. "They wouldn't do a DNA test for a mutant. Especially a mutant whore like you."

BOOM! The energy balls exploded and Tabitha was seeing red. She started shouting some pretty colorful things at him and the door burst open. Wolverine was looking wild, his eyes were mad and his claws were out. Apparently the shouting and explosion had caught his attention.

"What's goin' on in here?" Wolverine asked with a snarl.

"What's the matter Tabitha?" Ray taunted, ignoring Wolverine's entrance. "Can't handle the truth?"

"Oh if that's true about me, what's it say about you!" She spat back, ignoring Wolverine as well.

"Don't ask me, I'm not the one claiming to be pregnant!" He shouted.

Wolverine paled and whipped around to Tabitha who was crying tears of hatred and rage.

"Oh she's not 'claiming' Ray, she 'IS' pregnant." Roberto said sarcastically.

"She ain' jus' claimin'." Sam spoke up suddenly. His voice was weak. In the chaos he had bent and picked up the indicator his girlfriend had thrown at his roommate. He stared at it transfixed and horrified. " 'Cordin' ta this thing...she really is."

Tabitha sighed. "I told you that part already."

Wolverine snarled. "What's this all about?"

"Boom Boom's gone nuts." Ray sneered at the girl. "She claims one of us got her knocked up and then she flipped out and went ((fudging)) spastic on us."

The older mutant turned to the girl for confirmation. She fidgeted and looked away.

"Oh boy." Wolverine whistled. "This true kid?"

Tabitha nodded and cast her eyes to the floor. "Yeah." She sounded much younger than she really was. "I'm pregnant."

Wolverine turned back to the boys with a growl. "Somebody's getting neutered tonight...Which one of these scum is it, Boom Boom?"

She shook her head.

"Oh please. Just cuz she has that, it doesn't mean she's telling the truth." Ray rolled his eyes.

Sam wasn't listening. "Ah just don' undastand ya Tabitha." He snapped. "We had somethin' good an' ya went an' screwed it up ba sleepin' with ma best friends!" He seemed to be a mixture of hurt and angry.

"It wasn't personal." Tabitha sighed weakly. She sounded emotionally drained.

"How wasn' it 'personal'?" Sam snapped. "We had a good long conversation bout why we weren' doin' that kinda thing so ya turn around ta ma roommates and hop into their beds cuz Ah wouldn't?"

"It doesn't have anything to do with what you would or wouldn't do." Tabby flushed. "I was with both of them before you ever asked me out!"

"And you never bothered to mention that!" Sam's eye twitched.

"I never thought it was that important." She mumbled. "It wasn't like I was serious with them or anyone else!"

"Anyone else?" Sam gaped at her. "Meaning you've been cheating on me with what, nearly every guy in this mansion!" She opened her mouth to defend herself but he cut her off. "Maybe Ray's right. Maybe you are just a lying whore."

The words stung like a dagger to heart. Like a bullet to her brain. He hadn't raised a finger against her, yet she felt like he'd just pummeled her. She almost wished he had. The sting would likely be significantly less painful. Without another word she turned on her heel, pushed past Wolverine and raced, sobbing horribly, for the mansion's front door.

Betsy eased out Tabitha's memories. She, like everyone else in the mansion was familiar with what had happened next. Everyone had heard the screaming and explosion and nearly everybody saw Tabitha barreling out of the mansion in tears that fateful night. According to the students who'd been right outside the three boys' dorm room, Wolverine had promised to deal with the boys later, and painfully, after he brought Tabitha back to the mansion. He had hopped on his motorcycle and raced after the distraught girl. She had a fair head start and adrenaline pumping through her body to give her a big advantage. It had been well past curfew when Wolverine and Tabitha had shown up again. Everyone was fuzzy on the details other than that, even Tabitha's three roommates had no idea what had happened to upset Tabitha so badly and she normally told them everything.

Rumors flew around for a few days but then the incident was old news to most of the students after a particularly nasty FOH anti-mutant spectacle at the mall that put seven x-students into the hospital wing as well as hospitalizing sixteen innocent bystanders. But Tabby's friends were still concerned for her. They tried coaxing her into talking about it until she made it very clear she didn't want to talk about what had happened to anybody, even them.

Betsy extracted the two of them from the astral plane. As soon as she had arms instead of wings she pulled her friend into a soothing hug. She murmured comforting words into Tabby's ear as the younger girl cried silently into her shoulder.

♥

For the past three-and-a-half hours Remy and Scott had been sparring. And though Remy was feeling he could easily go on for another three-and-a-half, the team leader was beginning to look a little worse for wear.

Remy surveyed his opponent as he continued to gracefully evade and block all of Scott's hits, which were growing increasingly erratic and sloppy. "Y' wanna hit de showers homme?" He asked in concern.

"Why?" Scott grunted. "You getting too tired?"

Remy shook his head. "Not me Remy worryin' bout."

"What do you mean?" Scott threw a punch which Remy caught in his hand and deflected before returning the blow. Scott wasn't fast enough and stumbled backwards for a moment catching his breath.

Remy raised an eyebrow. "Yo' kiddin' right? Y' look like Hell." And in honesty he did. Scott was panting slightly, and a little winded from Remy's most recent blow to his stomach. He wiped a bit of sweat from his visor with the back of his hand. His hair and chest were also drenched with sweat.

"Appearances can be decieving." Scott lunged again. Remy rolled his eyes and deflected the careless blow.

"Just sayin' y' look like y' could use a rest." Remy shrugged.

"So what if I feel it in the morning, I'll be fine. I'm not quitting until you're down."

Remy rolled his eyes again. He aimed a loose punch and Scott staggered. "Yo' feelin' it now Cyke."

Scott threw another punch. "What's wrong, scared or something?" Scott taunted.

"Not in particular." Remy shrugged. He blocked another punch and gracefully kicked. "Just offerin' y' an out mon ami."

"Funny and here I thought you'd want to show off for the fan club watching from the control room." Scott sneered and threw his own kick.

"Oh so y' did notice dem." Remy commented idly.

"Hard not to." Scott commented. "I think every girl from the mansion's up there. Look, Tabitha's at the front, isn't that endearing?"

"I notice Jean ain' among the crowd." Remy said lightly.

"Good. I don't need my wife ogling you."

Remy shrugged. Around six, Remy had peeled off the fuchsia and black top piece of his uniform. The material had become too sweat saturated to be terribly comfortable. Scott had followed suit about fifteen minutes later. The training uniforms the X-men wore were only suitable for short-term exercise. The real uniforms were much more durable and comfortable for long combat but neither Remy nor Scott had properly estimated the fight stamina of his opponent.

"Well Remy don' need Jeannie ogling' 'im either." He said placidly. "Don' wanna git me a reputation makin' married femmes break dey vows. She all yo's Scooter." Remy chuckled. "B'sides got m' eyes on a special fille."

"Tabitha? You got more than your eyes on her." Scott spat.

"Non I don't." Remy said indignantly. "Don' be ridiculous, Summers."

"You seemed pretty friendly last night." Scott scowled. "And that baby of hers, it's yours isn't it?"

"Hell non." Remy frowned. "De fille an' Remy only friends, not'n mo'."

"And yet I find that so hard to believe." Scott mock sighed. "With her sleeping around the way she is, and you being such a ((rhymes with vandoor)) you really are a perfect match."

A dark look crossed Remy's face. "Don' call her dat."

"Why not? She is." Scott said cruelly. "And so are you. But you deny liking her. You cannot possibly still be hung up on Rogue, could you?"

Remy growled, his eyes narrowing. Cyclops could say what ever he wanted about Remy, but the Cajun felt he'd be obligated to gut the team leader if he didn't stop talking crap about the girls on the team.

"Geez, you really are aren't you?" Scott laughed. "Grow up already Gambit, she doesn't like you. She won't ever like you. Your obsession scares her. And besides. She can't even touch you."

Remy's face darkened. "Dere's more t' a relationship den touch, Summers."

"Yeah, there's trust and honesty and loyalty and love. I doubt any girl will ever get that from a skirt chaser such as yourself."

Remy threw a particularly nasty punch at the other mutant. "Y' shut yo' fat mout'!"

"It's true though." Scott said with a sneer. "Who the Hell would trust you, you're a thief. That also tackles the honesty thing. You're like a compulsive liar. And as for loyal? Do you know the definition of that word?"

Remy growled again and hit harder than he meant to.

"Of course, Rogue really wouldn't care." Scott said flippantly. "If she had control of her powers she probably wouldn't care about the rest of it. Though it would tear her apart the moment you moved on to the next little challenge."

"Shut up." Remy was seeing red. "You shut up 'bout Rogue. Mon dieu, yo' supposed t' be de femme's friend!" He spat.

Scott shrugged. "I'm just telling it like it is. You're a bad influence on the girls here."

"Dat means what precisely?" Remy snapped.

"Exactly what it sounds like." Scott scoffed. "You're like...every mother's nightmare of the boy her daughter will fall for. You're a drinker, a smoker, a gambler, and a player. You show up here, and then a girl who's notorious for sleeping around ends up pregnant. Not a coincidence in my eyes." Scott said malevolently. "If you were to pick up with Rogue, how long would it be before she's in the exact same position?"

Scott may have had more to say but he was silenced with a sharp punch to the head. The blow threw him backwards and he banged his head on the wall. He swore violently and moved to retort but the Cajun's grip was around his neck and tightening.

"Take it back!" He hissed, red eyes glinting demonically. "Take it back y' sack of scum!" Remy growled and pressed Cyclops against the metal wall of the danger room.

There were shrieks and gasps from the control room. The conversation hadn't been heard but the actions were visible. " Y' take back what y' said." The Cajun snarled as Scott's face began to look a little blue as he struggled weakly.

"GAMBIT! CEASE AND DESIST!" A shockingly angry voice cut across the danger room.

♥♥♥

Hee hee, it's me again, the annoying author with scattered update pattern...well this chapter is a bit more angst and violence than I initially intended, but I promise next chapter will have lots of Fluffy happiness to counteract. And don't worry, I have not lost sight of the point of this story. And I have not forgotten Romy. Next chapter will have a bit of it. Well I'm tired and I think I've earned some sleep. Next update is for the story I cowrite with Howlerdrode: "End of the World". Check it out, you may like it; its a crossover with the Legion of Superheroes and select EVO characters. After that chapter BID gets an update and that will be quite a happy one. There's probably more I wanted to say but I'm really tired and want sleep

Reviewers get an invisible tape of shirtless Remy sparring!

August 19, 2006

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