Chapter 13

The time away had been nice and all too short. Gambit never thought the day would come when he actually dreaded going home. He was convinced he could have handled everything a lot better if it wasn't for this mess with the Assassins. It made him feel better to have someone to blame for his discomfort.

Still, he did have standards. There were some things he wouldn't do to get out of the house:

"I'm not going to Italy for the sole purpose of doing a job with Viviana," Gambit said firmly to Henri and Jean-Luc in his father's office. "Last time I did a job with her, it ended in... erm, well... we won't go into that."

"Actually it's funny you should mention the last job," Henri said with a smirk. "I believe you deux stole something from one of the Cosa Nostra?"

"Oui, we did," Gambit said, a mischievous grin appearing on his face despite himself. "And afterwards we buried our loot like pirates 'cause there was no way we could risk trying to sell it on the black market."

"Well, it's time to dig up ye treasure," Henri replied. "Something's going down - Viviana wasn't big on details - and she needs the loot to make it happen. Apparently there are some people-specific locks?"

"Oui," Gambit replied. "Cortical and thumb print scans. It was fairly amusing setting up a security system instead of taking it down. It needs both of us to get in."

"Exactly," Jean-Luc said.

Gambit sighed. "I have to go?"

"You have to go."

"I knew I shouldn't have let Viviana talk me into that," he said, shaking his head. "All right, fine. When do I have to leave?"

"This Saturday," Henri replied.

It was late Friday night, almost Saturday morning and pouring with rain when the tall, bedraggled figure appeared at the Guild Hall. He didn't have a problem getting in, but he didn't get very far either.

Gambit was still up, trying to soothe a teething, seven-month-old Olivier when the messenger gave him the news.

["Alright, I'll be there as soon as I've gotten Olivier to settle down,"] Gambit told him.

["Uhh, yes sir..."] the Thief replied hesitantly.

["What?"]

["He's also injured,"] the young man replied nervously. ["He's asking for Aunt Mattie."]

["So get her,"] Gambit replied, trying not to sound as irritated as he felt. ["She might bite your head off for waking her, but I assure you, she will chew you up and spit you out if you don't and the injury is serious."]

["Yes sir."]

["Is that all?"]

["Yes sir."]

["Then go,"] Gambit said, fighting the urge to snap at him.

Gambit sighed as the young man hurriedly left the room. He did not want to deal with this right now; any of it.

After Olivier finally settled down some time later, Gambit reluctantly made his way to the holding room. He really wanted to go back to bed.

He yawned as he approached the doorway and looked inside. The intruder was seated on a chair in the centre of the room, shirtless while Tante Mattie tended to his arm. There were five Thieves in the room, including the young man who had played messenger earlier.

"All right, Gris Gris," Gambit said as he stepped into the room in front of the intruder. "I'll bite... why on earth are you here?"

"Bella Donna didn't want me to lose the use of my arm, and we all know Tante Mattie's the best healer around," Gris Gris replied sourly.

"Uh huh," Gambit drawled. "Why else?"

"Not good enough for you, Remy?" asked Tante Mattie.

"Bella Donna has your phone number, Tante," Gambit said, once again trying not to sound irritated. "If that was the only reason why Gris Gris was here, he wouldn't have shown up unannounced."

Gris Gris chuckled.

"Not in front of the lackeys," he said, with a slight smirk.

Tante Mattie clipped him under the ear and Gris Gris gave a small, involuntary cry.

"Mind your manners," she scolded him, and with her back still turned to Gambit; "and wipe that smirk off your face, Remy."

Gambit laughed softly despite himself and then nodded to the other Thieves.

"Leave us," he said. "And the first homme I catch eavesdropping will be doing kitchen duty for a week."

There was some reluctance, but the five trotted out. Gambit shut the door behind them, and turned back to Gris Gris once more.

"All right," Gambit said, pulling up a chair and sitting on it back to front. "I'm listening."

Gris Gris took a deep breath, the look on his face clearly revealing that he found this whole situation highly distasteful.

"Belle and I are ninety percent certain we know who the rogue Assassin is," Gris Gris said. "Or, who's leading them, rather. There's too much variation in tactics for it to just be one person, but we think we know who the others are as well. Unfortunately, we can't act until we know for certain - I'm sure you of all people can appreciate how easy it is to frame people you know."

"Indeed," Gambit replied.

"Tonight we were given an opportunity to lay a trap," Gris Gris went on. "As you've probably guessed, one of them tried to take me out tonight. Questa is currently posing as me in a far more critical condition; we're sure they're going to try and finish the job. Of course... this means if Questa is me, then I can't be there."

Silence fell between the two men. Tante Mattie rolled her eyes.

"Belle was hoping," Gris Gris went on tersely, having realised that Gambit was going to make him say it, "that you would agree to let me stay here until the trap is sprung. Most of our safehouses will be known to the others and this was... this was the only place we knew for certain they wouldn't search. She also thought it might be in your best interest to co-operate, seeing as how they got your pretty wife."

Gambit decided to ignore that last part, which Gris Gris had clearly thrown in so that the blow to his pride wouldn't seem so staggering.

"D'accord," Gambit said. "I'll inform my men that they didn't see you here tonight, and you may stay in one of the guest rooms, where you'll be restricted -"

"I understand," Gris Gris replied, with something that looked like relief in his face.

"Perhaps one of the rooms in the LeBeau wing," Tante Mattie 'suggested'. "That's naturally restricted, so the Guild at large won't know you're there, and there's always at least one LeBeau in that part of the Hall these days anyway."

"Oui, and it's usually Rogue and Olivier," Gambit said tersely, "and I really don't think -"

"What?" Gris Gris asked with a smirk. "You think I might try to off your wife and child?"

"Not like it hasn't been attempted before," Gambit replied mildly, "but I was actually thinking Rogue might not appreciate your company."

"If you're done with the male posturing," Tante Mattie said. "I'm sure that Gris Gris will behave himself, won't you child?"

Gris Gris bristled at the word 'child' being applied to him, but nodded.

"Not worth causing trouble here," Gris Gris said.

"Alright," Gambit said. "I guess I'll pick a room and get it made up for you. We'll talk again with Jean-Luc and Henri in the morning."

"You go on to bed, Remy," said Tante Mattie. "I'll get the room done. Oh, be sure to talk to those boys first."

"Don't worry, I will," Gambit replied. "Bonne nuit, Tante Mattie. I shall see you both at breakfast."

To say that the other LeBeaus were surprised when Gris Gris entered the dining room the next morning was putting it mildly. The shock at not just an Assassin, but the First Kill, with his arm heavily bandaged and in a sling, walking into what was supposed to be a secure area was quite palpable. The only one unaffected was Olivier.

"It's rude to stare," Tanta Mattie said firmly, and then patted the chair next to her. "Come sit by me, Gris Gris. How is your arm this morning?"

"Fine, merci," Gris Gris replied as he sat down at the indicated chair.

Gambit took the moment to hurriedly explain what had happened the night before.

"Oh," he went on, "I don't believe you would have met Henri and Mercy's boy, Lucian."

"Hey," Lucian said awkwardly.

"Or my wife, Rogue," Gambit said.

"Hi," Rogue said, before scooping up another spoonful of baby cereal for Olivier.

"Bonjour," Gris Gris replied.

"Now, what would you like to eat?" Tante Mattie asked and, without waiting for Gris Gris to reply, started piling his plate with all the things she thought he should eat.

The LeBeaus wisely didn't comment, although Mercy could practically see Gambit and Henri's minds ticking over with all the smart remarks they would have loved to have said.

"And what are your plans for today, Gris Gris?" asked Jean-Luc.

"Just laying low, Monsieur LeBeau," Gris Gris replied stiffly.

"I believe you've managed that," Jean-Luc replied dryly. "As long as you stay within the LeBeau wing, you'll be fine."

"Oui, I put him up on the third floor," Tante Mattie said, now cutting up some of Gris Gris' food as he was restricted to one arm.

"You did?" Gambit asked.

"In one of the bedrooms by the elevator," said Tante Mattie.

"I'm only going to stay here until the trap's been sprung," Gris Gris said, retrieving his fork from Tante Mattie's hand. "Hopefully this should all be over before Christmas. I have no interest in getting involved in Thief affairs. Just... a computer and internet access and you'll barely know I'm here."

"I think we can arrange that," said Jean-Luc.

Gambit departed for Italy early that afternoon, feeling doubly nervous about the whole thing. He wasn't sure what worried him more; seeing Viviana again, or leaving Rogue and Olivier with Gris Gris. The rational part of him was sure that Gris Gris wouldn't do anything, but that didn't stop him from being anxious.

Viviana was there to greet him at the airport; kissing him with a little too much enthusiasm before he could push her off and remind her he was married.

["Is that all that's holding you back?"] she asked coyly.

["No, but if you really want me to go through the list..."] he replied coolly. ["Let's get going, shall we?"]

["Spoil sport,"] Viviana said.

Gambit's only bag was his travel-on luggage, so the two headed straight for Viviana's non-descript car.

["We're going to go straight there,"] Viviana informed him once they were on the road, ["but we're also going to be taking the long route."]

["That was to be expected,"] Gambit replied. ["So, how are things with the Cosa Nostra these days?"]

["Same old, same old really,"] Viviana replied. ["We think they're a bunch of thugs. They think we're elitist pigs. We hate them, they hate us, they hire us all the same and then set traps once they have what they want and wonder how we manage to escape."]

Gambit snickered.

Just as Rogue quietly shut the door to Olivier's room after putting him down for his nap, her mobile phone rang. She winced, answered it quickly, and fortunately didn't hear Olivier wake up again.

"Hello?" she said, her voice low as she moved away from the door.

"Hi Rogue," Zoe replied. "Did I call at a bad time?"

"I just put Oli down for a nap," Rogue replied. "I'm in the process of sneaking away so that I don't wake Mr Cranky-pants."

Zoe giggled as Rogue entered the lounge room. Gris Gris was seated at Gambit's desk with a computer that they had loaned him for the duration. He was wearing headphones, so Rogue decided not to worry about him, although she did wander over to the windows at the other end of the room.

"Good stealth practice?" Zoe suggested.

"Something like," Rogue replied dryly. "So, what can I do for you?"

"Well, Andre, Brad, Stephane and I have decided we're going to rob a bank," Zoe said. "It's a bank we've been trying to work out how to break into for ages actually; it's right next door to a cop shop and they have a great view of the only exposed wall of the bank vault."

"Oh lovely."

"So Rogue... this ability to walk through walls you have..."

Rogue laughed.

"Phase everyone in, collect the loot, phase everyone out again?" asked Rogue.

"Yep," Zoe replied. "You in?"

"Sure, why not?" Rogue replied, amused. "It'll have to wait until Remy gets back though."

"That's cool. We've already figured out how to bypass security; cameras and all that jazz."

"Okay, great."

They chatted a little longer before hanging up. Rogue then made her way to her computer and checked the time once she turned it on. While she waited for it to start up, she glanced over at Gris Gris' monitor and gaped in shock; he was playing World of Warcraft. She started to laugh and continued giggling even as she started the game herself. This laughter eventually caught Gris Gris' attention and he glanced over at Rogue as her character screen came up. Gris Gris pulled his headphones off.

"You play too?" he asked in surprise.

"Uh huh," Rogue said with a grin as she loaded her druid. "And Remy too."

"Damn," Gris Gris said. "And here I was thinking I was the only one."

"None of your friends like it?" Rogue asked.

"Non. They all think I'm nuts, really," Gris Gris replied ruefully.

"Yeah, everyone thinks Remy and I are nuts too," Rogue said. "What's your main?"

"Whatever I happen to be playing at the time," Gris Gris said with a shrug. "I play every class and every race, mostly because I like having access to all the professions."

"Ahh... because some recipes require things made with stuff from other professions?"

"Exactly. I'd join a guild or something, but I'm not on here often enough at the same time. But hey, this works for me. Lots of variety."

"Cool. My main's a druid," Rogue said. "But I also have an alt who's a mage, and I'm thinking of making a Goblin rogue when Cataclysm comes out."

"I can't wait for Cataclysm," Gris Gris replied, grinning.

"Same. Hey... isn't it awkward playing with one arm?" she asked.

"A little," he answered with a shrug. "But I'm mostly questing right now, so it's okay if my response time is a little slow. Not like I'm PvPing or running an instance."

"True."

Gambit was becoming more and more irritated with Viviana as time went by. She seemed to enjoy pretending they were husband and wife at every public place they went to and if Gambit didn't know better, he'd say she cooked up the whole scheme just so she could do that. However, Viviana, for all her talk, took the Cosa Nostra very seriously, and while he expected opportunism from her, he also expected the situation was quite real.

Still, that didn't make sharing one-bed hotel rooms any easier. Nor did irritating Viviana by sleeping on the couch or on the floor make things any more comfortable.

It was rather late by the time they got to the hotel. Tomorrow they would make their way to the vault, get in, get out and go home. Gambit was definitely looking forward to going home, even if Viviana was going to insist on going back 'the long way'. He was convinced she was power-mad or something.

Viviana went straight to bed – it was surprising how tiring driving could be – and had no shame in stripping off in front of her former lover. Gambit ignored her, instead preparing the couch for his use.

["You sure you don't want to join me?"] she asked. ["You'll be a lot more comfortable."]

["Somehow I doubt it,"] Gambit replied.

'Comfortable' was simply not a word used to describe anyone's relationship with Viviana, ever. 'Passionate', 'hot', even 'violent', but never 'comfortable'.

Gambit caught a few hours of sleep before he woke again. It was morning, but still dark and he glanced over at Viviana; fast asleep. Quietly, he got out of bed, pulled out his phone and walked over to the window. It would be evening in New Orleans.

"Hello?" Rogue said upon answering her phone.

"Hey Roguey," Gambit said softly, so as not to disturb Viviana. "How you doing?"

"Remy!" she exclaimed, and Gambit grinned at her happy tone. "I'm great. Been plotting with Zoe about doing a bank robbery when you get back, oh and it turns out Gris Gris plays WoW too."

"He does? Seriously?" Gambit asked in surprise.

"Uh huh. He's an altaholic," Rogue said with a giggle. "He's created a rogue and joined our guild."

Gambit laughed softly.

"Wow," he said. "Gris Gris plays a rogue. Now that I wouldn't have expected. I would have picked... shadow priest. Troll shadow priest, with alchemy."

"Well, he has a troll, a couple of alchemists and a couple of priests, although I don't know what specs or what combination, but anyway."

"Heh. How's Oli doing?"

"Good - Oh! We can finally see his first tooth."

"What really?"

"Uh huh, it finally came through just this morning, poor little thing."

"That's awesome. I can't wait to see it," Gambit said enthusiastically. "Give him a big hug from me."

"Ha, I will," Rogue promised. "How's it going with you?"

"Finally going to do the job tomorrow," Gambit said, relief evident in his voice.

["Remy? What are you doing up?"]

Gambit jumped and turned to see Viviana only half a foot behind him, with a wicked expression on her face that did not match the innocent tone of voice she used. This was the problem with working with people who walked quietly; you could never hear them coming.

["Come back to bed and make love to me again,"] she said.

["Don't be -"] Gambit began and then promptly cut himself off when he heard the phone click in his ear. "Rogue? Rogue? Merde!"

Viviana giggled wickedly, highly amused by the expression on Gambit's face as he redialled his phone.

"Come on, chére," he muttered. "Pick up... damn!"

["Ugh, Remy,"] Viviana said, tugging at his arm, ["we have a big day tomorrow. Come to bed, seriously."]

She was quite shocked then, when Gambit pushed her away quite forcefully, and she stumbled backwards. She stared as Gambit dialled another number on his phone.

"Henri," Gambit said, "I need you to stop Rogue from leaving."

"Umm... okay," Henri replied, sounding a little confused. "Nice to hear from you too."

"It's not funny, Henri," Gambit said, pushing past Viviana and locating his things. ["Viviana decided to give Rogue the impression we're having an affair."]

"Oh."

Viviana rolled her eyes.

"I need you to make sure she doesn't take off," Gambit said. ["I'm going to catch the first flight home."]

["Excuse me?"] Viviana demanded. ["I don't think so! We've still got a job to do."]

["Then you should have thought of that before you butted in on my conversation with my wife,"] Gambit snapped at her. ["I choose Rogue over you any day, and I don't even have to think about that."]

["You can't leave now!"] she screeched at him.

"Uhh, Remy..." Henri began.

"Just stop Rogue before she bolts," Gambit told him. "She won't leave without Olivier, at least, I don't think she will."

["How am I supposed to get into the vault without you?"] Viviana demanded. ["We didn't set up all those traps for the fun of it, you know!"]

["You're a thief,"] Gambit replied. ["Break in."]

"Uhh, Remy, not that I don't sympathise with you wanting to leave and sort things out with Rogue," Henri said tentatively, "but you're already there, maybe you should -"

["Screw Viviana,"] Gambit cut in. ["The Cosa Nostra can give her cement shoes for all I care."]

Viviana's fist met Gambit's face hard, splitting his lip. He tasted blood.

"I'll see you in a few hours, Henri," Gambit said, glaring coldly at Viviana, and he hung up.