Four months passed before he went back to the mansion. When he returned the first thing that happened was being hugged by Marie. As if things had never changed.
But they had.
For one she wasn't wearing gloves, or a scarf. She was dressed in a pretty summer type dress with spaghetti straps that showed her skin off. More than he had ever seen of her. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail along with her white strips and the only makeup she wore was some lip gloss that held the light scent of strawberries.
"Nice trip?" she asked after letting him go.
"Yea." he muttered.
He knew she was waiting for him to ask her about the honeymoon but he didn't.
"How you doing kid?" She wrinkled her nose slightly at the use of his nickname.
"Wonderful!" she then smiled widely and became very excited, like a little kid on Christmas morning.
"Guess what!" she exclaimed.
"What?"
"Professor Xavier has decided that Gambit and I will now be permanent part of the X-men team!"
"That's great kid," he eyed her bracelet. "You wear that on your missions?"
"Of course not silly. Although I probably could if I wanted to."
Logan didn't know what she meant by that but quickly found out as he re-joined the X-men on missions. Watching as she easily fought their enemies without even having to result to her touch. He rarely saw her take off her gloves to use her power. She didn't have to.
He watched and noticed that her words from that night were true.
She didn't need him to protect her anymore. Marie could take care of herself.
Logan also saw that Gambit protected her fiercely. As Marie did Gambit in return. Logan had to admit they made quite the pair.
And so another year went by. Logan didn't stay around as much as he used to but still dropped by for a couple months here and there.
He watched as Gambit and Marie's marriage continued. Successfully too.
For some reason Logan thought it wouldn't last. Maybe he didn't want it to. But it did.
He watched as they would have heated arguments only later to be snuggling close to one another as if they never happened. Logan watched as his and Marie's relationship changed, sure they were still good friends but it just wasn't the same. They did still managed to spend time together but more often than not it was interrupted by Gambit. He noticed that she never minded.
He knew she really did love him. So much so that whenever her husband entered the room Logan seemed to disappear completely.
And then one day he noticed that her scent changed. No longer did she smell like herself-mixed with Gambit's scent but now it had a third along with it all.
Logan knew before she did. Marie was pregnant.
He watched as her stomach expanded and her moods changed abruptly.
He watched Gambit follow her around always making sure she had everything she needed.
He watched her eat like he had never seen her eat before.
He watched as she became a teacher at the Institute, teaching Algebra. He even sat in at some of her classes.
For some reason Marie found that amusing.
He watched as she became more and more beautiful ever day. Motherhood suited her well.
He watched her become nervous as her husband went on missions without her.
Logan didn't see that side of her very often since he usually was going on the missions too. But on those rare days his hearts always went out to her.
On one of those days he was outside sitting on a bench smoking a cigar. Hearing her even before she opened the door to make her way outside he sat there quietly. He quickly put his cigar out so that she wouldn't have to breath it in, her or the baby.
Marie noticed him right away and with some what of a struggle due to her bulging stomach she finally sat down beside him. He tried to help her but she just playfully slapped his hands away.
"I got it," She said a twinkle in her eyes. She started sniffing the air. "I interrupted one of your smokin sessions, ah'm sorry I'll leave."
She started to try to get up but he abruptly stopped her with his words.
"That's okay darlin'. You're ok."
She eased back into the bench. Then let out a long sigh. Marie then suddenly sat up. And started feeling her large stomach.
"This baby sure is being rambunctious today!" she eyed Logan out of the corner of her eye "Do y'want to feel Logan?"
"No that is... "
But before he could finish she had already grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. Logan felt it immediately. The small kicks of life. She smiled up at him as he slowly eased his hand of her stomach.
"So do you know yet?" he said after what was too uncomfortable a silence for him.
"Know what Logan?" She had her eyes closed, her hands resting on her stomach.
"Whether it is a girl or a boy."
She opened one of her eyes looked at him and then closed it again.
"No, still don't. Remy and I decided we wanted it t'be a surprise."
"Don't you have enough surprises in your life?"
"Yes, I suppose we do but not enough of the good kind."
He grunted at that. She smiled slightly in response. That was the last real smile he would see for some time.
Later that they both headed toward the sub-basement where the x jet had just returned. Marie racing there faster than he would have thought possible in her condition.
When they got there they both stood there waiting.
First Storm came out, then Nightcrawler and Cyclops. None of them looking good. Their clothes torn and some of them were slightly bloody.
The mission obviously didn't go well.
Logan saw the confused expression on Marie's face as she noticed that Gambit had not exited the craft, hurt or otherwise.
Scott turned to Marie and Logan. His face more serious than Logan had seen in a long time.
"Marie.". he said approaching her cautiously. "Marie we need to talk"
"About what?" her features getting even more worried. "Where's Remy?" She looked past Scott's shoulder and tried to look inside the Jet.
"That's what we need to talk about... why don't you come inside and we can talk about it there." Scott was doing his best to sound calm but Logan heard the slight tremors of nervousness and sadness? in his voice.
Scott turned around and started to walk toward where Ororo and Kurt where standing.
"No!" Marie shouted at the departing Scott.
Scott turned around not at all taken aback by her sudden outburst.
"I am not movin' or goin' anywhere until y'tell me where the hell mah husband is!"
Scott, Kurt and Ororo exchanged saddened glances.
Scott started to speak but Ororo placed her hand on Scott's shoulder and shook her head.
"No Scott, I will tell her."
"Tell me what!" Marie said, the tension in the room thick enough to slice through.
Ororo turned to Marie walked up to her and took hold of her hands in a comforting gesture.
"It's Gambit." Ororo paused as if to draw some energy from herself and then continued. "I'm afraid, "I'm afraid he didn't make it Rogue.."
Now that Storm was closer Logan could see that she had been crying.
"No, no Remy can't be dead!" Marie started to visibly shake. Logan tried to hold her to comfort her but she shook him off.
She looked up at Ororo with her tear stained eyes.
"How?" she asked softly.
"You know what our mission was this time?"
"Yea, Remy told me. The hostage situation at the mutant hospital. Y'were goin' t'rescue those people."
Her voice was monotone as if she was turning herself off. Logan knew she was going into shock. Ororo noticed also as she started talking more quickly. Her words coming out in a rush.
"Well when we got there we managed to get most of the people out, we were just about to go back in when the whole place exploded." Ororo looked at Marie worried for her friend. And then continued, pain in her words. "Gambit was still inside... I'm so sorry Rogue, there was nothing we could do.. we thought we had disarmed all the bombs. We were obviously wrong."
And that is when Marie did something Logan wasn't expecting.
She fainted.
Logan watched as Kurt managed to teleport himself over to her and caught her even before he had a chance to try.
Kurt nodded at Scott and then was gone again in a mist of blue smoke. Logan knew she was being taken to the med lab.
The next few days went by painfully slow. The shock of Gambits death making Marie go into premature labor. She gave birth to her son that day.
The day her husband died.
He heard from Dr. McCoy after he came up to talk to the Professor that the baby was healthy. So was the mother. But he had given her a mild sedative since she became irrational and almost delirious. Screaming Gambits name over and over.
"Her mind needs a break." He told Logan.
When she finally woke up Marie wouldn't allow anyone to see her. Logan tried to see her anyway, but the Doctor wasn't having it.
"Please Logan, she needs to be by herself, with her baby.. alone."
It Took her a week to finally go back to her room that she had shared with husband. Took a month for her to finally come down and even talk to anyone.
She always had her baby with her. Wouldn't let him out of her sight. Julien Charles LeBeau she had named him.
Over that time the Professor managed to pull together a quiet little funeral together for Gambit which everyone attended.
And then the months went by.