Dear X-Men fans

We all know they're not mine

Please read on and review…

Chapter 7

The following week, Gambit had been feeling happier and a lot less on edge. Christmas had come and gone without a scratch, though the X-Men tended to prefer celebrating the New Year. As he woke, Gambit remembered he'd left his gifts in the dreadful boathouse. He snuggled closer to Logan.

"Something wrong, darlin'?" Logan asked, brushing his hair as he always did.

Gambit sighed. He knew he could never get tired of the feeling he got waking next to Logan, though he stopped the thought of calling him lover. "Remy just remembered he'd have to pass by de boathouse before de party tonight."

Logan crisped under him. They sat on the bed, and Logan frowned at him. "I don't want you in there, bub. The place is tearing itself apart."

"I know, homme, it's just dat Remy has some gifts dere, and he wanted to give dem, even if dey don't want dem."

He felt Logan's hand grab his chin and pull his head upwards so they could see eye to eye. "I'll get them for you, darlin', but you don't have to give one to everyone. I don't think some of them deserve your gifts." Gambit smiled sadly and Logan held him tight. "So, are you going to cook us something special tonight? Jubs started cooking herself and I know she'd love to learn some of your recipes." He prodded.

Remy nodded, a real smile creeping up his lips. "Morph said he'd teach Ol' Remy here a ting or two in de kitchen. It could be fun."

The day was someone quiet, Remy noted. He hadn't spent a moment alone. When he hadn't been cooking with Jubilee and Morph, he'd helped Beast bring out his presents. No sooner was he done that Colossus had asked for a training session with him and Nightcrawler, while Kitty monitored. Afterwards, he'd helped Storm set up the table for their feast and he realised he hadn't seen Logan since that morning.

He frowned as he set the last plate. At least no one had said anything out of line to him.

"Oh my stars and garters, what smells so good?" Beast said as he walked in.

Gambit smiled. "Just a little sometin Remy made wit de help of Jubilee and Morph."

"I made some of the deserts!" Jubilee called as she set up a few cupcakes and pies. She was quickly followed by Morph who carried out some entrées in all of six arms.

Storm laughed. "I believe someone is trying to fatten us up." She winked at Beast.

"Yes, well, let's get the celebration going." Bishop stated, starting the music. "Jubs, Morph, your food looks great."

Gambit made his way to the tree they'd set up by the window. There were a lot of gifts, but he wasn't sure where Logan had put his. Reading off the names, he noted only eight, maybe nine, where addressed for him. He smiled. It was eight, maybe nine, more than he'd expected. He hoped Logan would arrive soon.

When Logan showed up, they were getting ready to open the gifts. He smiled as Logan sat beside him, a hand around his waist. "Sorry I'm late, had a little something to take care of." He whispered.

The gifts made their way around, and Gambit noted most of those he'd made were thrown in a pile, unopened. He felt his heart dropped.

"Hey, wait a minute, there's a gift here from Xavier." Jubilee called by the tree.

"Really?" Scott stood, excited. "Pass it here, let's see what it is."

Jubilee picked it up and shook her head. "It's for you, Remy."

"Probably a pity gift. You know how Xavier can be." Jean crossed her arms, a little put upon.

Gambit frowned, but not at what she said. As he opened the gift, he realised it was a set of books. No, dis ain't just books, dis is his notes. Flipping through the top one, he realised Xavier had just trusted him with every secret the mansion held. Even some he knew neither Jean nor Scott had been told.

A letter fell out of the book. "What's it say, brother?" Storm asked, breaking the silence.

Gambit opened it.

"Dear Remy LeBeau,

I hope you can forgive me for not stepping up and helping you.

I never should have allowed the trial to take place in the first place.

I ask that someday you can forgive my behaviour.

For now, I find myself looking for a successor and hope you will accept.

Always, Charles Xavier"

Gambit wiped his eyes to not let the others see how moved he was. He'd never expected such an honour. Like everyone else, he'd thought Scott and Jean, Logan at most, would be asked to lead the team.

"I knew it, it's a pity gift." Jean spoke up, ending another descending silence. "I mean there's no way Xavier would actually give the team to you. It just means he accepts you back, that's all, right Scott?" She looked over to her husband, tight lipped.

Scott nodded. "Obviously. You'd have to be dense not to see it. Who would actually follow his leadership anyways?"

Warren and Bobby laughed at that. As Gambit began to rationalise the letter, Logan stood up. "That's it; I've had it with you, Summers. Remy's one of us, and you don't treat your own like that. If the Professor says he leads, then he leads. You got that?" He growl, claws out in the open.

Scott stood up, hand by his sunglasses. "I warned you not to take that tone with me, Logan. So long as I stand, I'll be leading the X-Men."

Surprisingly enough, Logan seemed to relax, his claws sinking back into his body. "Fine, you want to lead the X-Men, go ahead. I quit. Colossus, you still own that barn?"

Colossus frowned momentarily before seeming to catch on. Gambit was still feeling confused. "Yes, I do, and it is rather big at that. I could use some company, if it is what you have in store."

Logan nodded. "Good." Turning, he smiled briefly at Gambit. "If Chuck sees you leading his troops, I don't think it'd be right to refuse. What do you say?"

"Hey, hold on a second." Scott called. "You can't start a new team. We're the X-Men, we're Xavier's legacy."

"I for one don't see why we can't settle elsewhere, make new teams." Beast stood, arms crossed.

Bishop stood, facing him. "You can't take the jet. That belongs to the X-Men."

Logan shrugged. "Don't worry 'bout that. The Captain* owes me one."

As he turned to leave, Gambit hurried to catch up. He didn't know if he should be surprised anymore that Storm, Beast, Colossus, Kitty, Kurt, Jubilee and Morph were joining them. He did know, however, that the New Year couldn't have started better as midnight struck.

*Captain refers to Captain America, an old friend of his.