It wasn't until the evening that we decided we had enough of skating. Our cheeks were pink from the cold and our feet blistered from the skates (except for Dad's because of his healing factor). It such an amazing day that I completely forgot about my chemistry assignment. I rode on Remy's back into the mansion at his offer (okay, I knew it was a silly thing to do, but since I was a kid I loved piggyback rides!) as we sung 'Call Me Maybe'.

"This is completely inappropriate." Dad growled in a low tone behind us. Remy didn't seem to hear, but I did.

Mom placed a gently hand on his arm. "Logan, they're just having fun."

"Fun? I've seen the kind of 'fun' the Cajun has with girls. Remember the time I caught him in the Blackbird with that girl from Brazil?" Dad countered.

"I completely trust Remy to not do anything improper with Leah." Mom defended. "He's a friend of the family."

"Why do I have a feeling that he doesn't just want to be friends with our daughter?"

They both fell back to speak more privately, but I could still hear them.

"Remy is a loyal, caring, sweet boy," Mom said. "It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they decided to start dating."

"But, are you, he-" Dad sputtered, his face going red. "He's completely too old for her!"

"Said the man who married a woman at least fifty years younger than him." Mom countered, crossing her arms and smiling.

"That's different!"

Mom wrapped her arms around Dad's neck. "The age difference isn't ideal, but they like each other. Just let the kids have fun while their young."

I blushed a deep red. How uncomfortable is it to have your parents talking about your love life? Fortunately I was saved by the bell, or rather Professor Xavier. At the exact same time, my parents stopped moving and talking and got a concentrated look in their eyes. This lasted only for a moment.

"What's up?" I asked, hopping down from Remy's back. I knew the look they wore, it was the one when they get called away for X-men duty.

"The Brotherhood's attacking a hospital in Ohio." Scott replied grimly before Dad could answer. He walked past Remy and I in his uniform.

"A hospital?" Mom repeated dejectedly.

"Apparently the hospital was known for turning down mutants in need and the Brotherhood felt like they should teach the hospital administrators some manners by tearing the place apart." Scott explained, striding in the direction of the Blackbird hangar. "Now come on, Hank's starting up the Blackbird and Jean already has your uniforms on board to save time."

Mom and Dad nodded, but Remy interjected. "Hey, what 'bout me? Ah didn't get no call."

"We don't need you on this one. The hospital is already falling to pieces without you blowing things up." Scott said calmly but coldly.

"But-"

"We've got this Gambit. Just stay here and look after the students." Scott interrupted before he rushed away. "And put my skates back where you found them!"

Mom and Dad gave me hurried kissed goodbyes before following Scott.

"Are dey serious? Dey leav'n me here ta babysit?" Remy said, mortified.

To pacify him, I linked elbows with him and lead him away. "They trust you to look after the school."

"No dey don't, dey just don't want me getting in dey way. Ah'm just as good as dem, just younger." Remy grumbled.

"Of course you are." I consoled. I understood that his pride was hurt and he needed to complain a little. "Just be glad that you are on the X-men team instead of the X-babies."

Remy shuddered at the thought, but then smiled down at me. "Hey, be'n on the X-babies wouldn't be too bad. Ah'd probably be named team captain."

I rolled my eyes. "Really? You'd be made captain? What if we were fighting some kind of ice villain and we had to skate?"

Remy paused to think then grinned. "Well den Ah'd name you my co-captain and just lean on yah while we took out de bad guy."

I let out a laugh.

"But in all seriousness," Remy said in a fake serious tone. "skating sucks."

"It does not!" I argued.

"Ah'm 'fraid it does, petite." Remy said gravely, as if he was explaining to a child that Santa wasn't real.

I couldn't even justify that completely garbage statement with an answer so I stuck my tongue out at him. So mature, I know.

"Ah petite, yah have ta make this date up ta me sometime." Remy said casually, still walking down the hall.

Not sure I heard right and blushing, I asked "Pardon?"

"Ah got more bruises dan I got kisses cher, dat is known as a failed date in my books." Remy said, a charming rumble entering his voice. "Guess dat means we're gonna have ta go out again."

Before I could reply a young voice interrupted. "Leah!"

My face broke into a smile, "Benny!"

Ben ran into my arms and I spun my favourite little guy around, laughing.

"Sweetie, what are you doing back?" I asked, completely shocked.

"Dad's gone back on tour, and he convinced Aunt Jenny ta let me come back here until he's on leave again!" Ben answered, his face lit up.

After months of therapy, Ben had finally been coaxed into talking. His voice was weak and scratchy from not being used, but soon he sounded just like any little boy his age. He had told us how he had been kidnapped by the MRD from his cousin's birthday party at a local arcade. He lived with his aunt most of the time because his dad was a soldier and was deployed for most of the year and his mom had ran out when he had developed his mutation. Unlike many mutant children, he had a loving family who accepted him (excluding his mother). When we had been able to track down his family, they had been eager to take him home (too my joy but also my disappointment. I loved that Ben had a good family who wanted him, but I deeply missed my substitute little brother).

"You're enrolled?" I asked enthusiastically. There were three kids at the school currently who were under the age of nine. They had developed their mutations early and needed a home, so Professor Xavier and Dani Moonstar developed a class for them. I guess Benny was the newest addition.

"Yup." Ben said proudly. "And I'm gonna be an X-man."

"That's awesome," I said "it's going to be great having you around the school again."

Ben nodded. "Where's Wolverine?"

"Sorry kiddo, yah just missed 'im." Remy said. "He went off ta save da world."

"Oh," Ben looked momentarily disappointed, but then recovered. "Well then is Kitty here?"

I covered my mouth to hide my smile. Of course the second person he'd ask for was Kitty. It was obvious he had a crush on the older girl. It was adorable. When he was still living at the mansion, he had this startling ability to show up at the same places as Kitty, moments after she did. One time he even sneaked into our apartment when I was having a sleep over for my girlfriends. And he always blushed an adorable shade of red whenever she talked to him. I hope he wouldn't be too disappointed when he hears about Kitty and Peter becoming an item while he was gone.

"Ah bet she in da senior rec room," Remy answered, not bothering to cover his smile. "Yah wanna go see the fille?"

"Yes!" Ben blurted out, then blushed again. "I mean, no, not yet. I have to do something first."

"Benny, you're hurting my feelings." I said, faking a hurt voice. "Here I haven't seen you in months and you already want to run off to see another girl."

Ben looked guilty, taking my teasing seriously. He hugged me around my waist. "You know I love you Leah, you're the best! But Kitty…she's a hottie with a body."

This time Remy and I both lost it. We couldn't control our laughter at hearing such a silly thing coming out of the young boy's mouth. Ben looked deeply offended that we took his crush so light heartedly, but he still accepted my offer to stay at the apartment instead of getting a room that he would have to share on the younger kids' floor. I knew Mom and Dad wouldn't mind, seeing as they loved the kid as much as I did.

Remy and I helped move Ben into the spare room next to mine, and they we made a quick dinner of chicken fingers and raw vegetables.

"Yeah know petite, Ah'm a pretty good cook." Remy said, dipping his chicken finger in ketchup. "Ah could have whipped up something real nice for yah."

"I bet you could have, but Ben and me were starving. This might not be the most elegant meal but it's quick." I replied, lifting my dish and carrying it to the sink.

"Thanks for supper Leah," Ben said sweetly. "Can we go see Kitty now?"

I rolled my eyes, but Remy said "Course we can, mon ami. Let's go find your fille."

We walked over to the students' wing and up to the senior's lounge. The Professor had assigned two big rooms for lounge's. He jokingly said that it would save him a fortune by containing the students to two rooms.

"Hey, Remy," Ben asked, riding on Remy's back like a spidermonkey. "How do yah get a girl ta like you?"

Remy let out a melodious laugh. "You want some tips little man?"

"Yeah. Girls like you, don't they Remy?" Ben asked.

"Well, Ah don't know. Leah, do girls like me?" Remy relayed the question to me in his lazy drawl.

I wrinkled my nose at the self-assured man child and directed my answer to Benny. "Yes Ben, Remy does fine in that department."

Ben grinned, "Then can you teach me Remy? Please?"

"Course it be my honour ta assist a fellow man in de pursuit of women." Remy said valiantly, making me roll my eyes again. "Now, de first thang ta do is compliment de fille. For example, Leah, yo' eyes are mo' beautiful den the sky. Ah could gaze inta dem for hours."

I faked a swoon, draping my hand across my forehead dramatically. "Oh, I think it's working. I am almost putty in your hands."

Ben looked eager, "What else Remy?"

"Well, once yah get her attention and she gets ta know yah better," Remy smiled at my mischievously. "Yah got ta know how ta touch her."

"Like hold her hand?" Ben asked.

"Sometimes its dat." Remy nodded, "But sometimes it's something real simple like, brushing her hair back from her face real gentle like."

And of course I was the practice dummy again for this demonstration.

"Or wrapping yo' arm around her waist as she walks and pull'n her close." Remy drawled as he once again demonstrated."

"Oh be still my beating heart." I said sarcastically, fighting a smile.

"And dis last move Ah'm gonna show yah little man, is de deal breaker. But Ah'm only showing yah it because Ah like yah so much." Remy said this in a loud whisper and Ben lapped up his drama like a starved cat.

"Oh this is gonna be good." I muttered.

Benny slid down Remy's back and took a few steps away, looking curiously at us. I couldn't blame him, I too was getting a little curious/nervous about the Cajun's plan. Remy, ever the class clown, made a show of stretching his arms, neck and back.

"Okay Romeo, stop stalling and-" I began to joke but was unable to continue.

In one swift moment, Remy spun and dipped me back. His strong arms supported my body while his gentle hand cradled my neck. He lowered his handsome face to mine, grinning like a cat who had finally caught a mouse.

"À toi pour toujours, petite." Remy purred, flashing his white teeth while his black and red eyes held mine.

I felt my breath get caught in my chest.

"But Remy, the girl I like is too heavy to do that." Ben interrupted our moment.

The spell was broken. Remy allowed me to move into an upright position and I busied myself with fixing my hair and trying to control the blush that had crept into my cheeks.

"It just an example, mon ami." Remy replied, his voice calm. "And as a piece of advice little man, don't ever tell a girl she too heavy. It won't be winning you no hearts."

We continued on our way.

"So petite, now dat Ah went ta all the trouble ta use my very best moves on yah," Remy drawled. "will yah do me da honor of going out ta dinner with me next weekend?"

"Oh, um," Great just when I thought I couldn't blush any more.

"Don't leave the man hanging Leah." Ben said innocently as he held my hand.

"Oh what, are you his wingman now?" I asked Ben jokingly to stall.

Ben's face became confused. "What's a wingman?"

I opened my mouth to answer the boy but ended up blurting out "Sure Remy, I'd love to go out to dinner with you."

Remy beamed but quickly morphed his face back into his mask of coolness.

We arrived at the senior common room, which was packed but unusually quiet. Usually the room was deafening but the only sound to be heard was muffled speech coming from the television. Ben scurried in, eager to find Kitty. Remy and I followed the small boy through the silent teenagers. We made our way to the sixty inch t.v to see what was going on. On the screen was a blonde woman in her late thirties speaking to the camera. In the background was a building on the verge of collapsing and emergency personal rushing around trying to help where they could. I caught glimpses of the X-men and the Brotherhood, but didn't see my parents.

There was a red warning scrolling along the edge of the screen, cautioning that this was a live broadcast and it was going to show graphic scenes that were not suitable for children.

Uh oh.

"Benny, come on." I said quietly but in a firm voice as I took the boy's hand. "You can see Kitty later."

I was about to drag Ben away and ask Remy what was on the television later, but Ben piped up "Isn't that the guy that helped you save me Leah?"

I spun back to the t.v in time to see Eric leaping into the air and coming down as a lion. He let out a blood curdling roar before leaping onto one of the nearby police officers. He slashed at the officer's face, mutilating the left side completely. I forced Ben to hide his face against my abdomen as Eric lifted his claws for another swipe.

"Eric, no!" I whispered in horror.

A red beam of light slammed into Eric's side, knocking him off the police officer just in time. Scott came into view of the camera. He held his fingers up to his visor as a warning that he's shoot again if Eric made him. Eric snarled and crouched low to the ground, readying himself to launch at Scott.

As much as I disliked Summers, I didn't want him to be hurt.

There was too much noise to tell, but it seemed like Scott was trying to talk some sense into Eric. He lowered his hand away from his visor and held out both hands in a sign of peace. He didn't want to fight him. Scott was giving him the chance to surrender and come back.

Eric paused and tilted his lion head, as if considering his options.

Then he jump up and ripped out Scott's throat.

xXx

Uh oh, spaghetti-oes!

Cliff hangers, don't they just make you want to slap the author? Ha ha, please review and thanks to everyone who's been with this story the whole time!

And for people who's interested in a love story involving Daken, check out x GigaByte x story!