CH. 12
By the next morning every adult in the mansion seemed to know the nature of Skylar and Remy's relationship. Sky had just stepped out of her room when Kat pounced at her and pinned her against the wall.
"Tell me everything right now!" Skylar looked down at her petite friend and cocked an eyebrow before pushing her away.
"Tell you what?"
"I let you off the hook yesterday because it seemed like you really didn't know if you wanted to be involved with him, but after last night and the fact that I can smell him all over you even though you showered you have clearly made a decision and I want to hear everything now. So spill damn it!" Sky tried to get away from her, but Kat refused to drop it. Kat shifted into a wolf and growled at Sky as she tried to skirt passed her. They stood in the hallway pacing and snarling at each other until Gambit, wearing only a towel around his waste, stepped out of Sky's bedroom. Skylar immediately blushed but still kept her eyes on the black wolf and it watched both her and Gambit. Gambit chuckled at the two of them, kissed Skylar's bare shoulder, and sauntered down the hall to his room so he could get dressed. Just as his door shut Kat shifted back and squealed loud enough to deafen her friend.
"Oh my god you guys are together aren't you?"
"Clearly we aren't together. I'm in the hall and he's in his bedroom."
"But he was in your bedroom last night. You have to tell me every dirty, sweaty, amazingly chiseled detail." Skylar shot her an irritated look and rapidly flicked Kat's pointed ear several times until she stepped away. Kat rubbed her ear and hissed at Sky. "I don't ask for a lot from you Sky, but this is kind of a big deal. I have been by your side since you were twelve years old. I passed notes between you and your first crush during math class, I stood by your side during your pregnancy scare, hell I bailed you out of jail when you were sixteen. The least you could do is tell me how you feel about him?" Skylar's eyes shot over to Remy's door. Remy stepped outside his room dressed in jeans and a black button down shirt, his auburn hair was pulled back and when he saw her looking at him he gave her a wink before walking down to the first floor. Skylar smiled as she watched him walk down the stairs before turning back to Kat's eager face.
"I think he's the last man I'll ever want." Kat squealed again and followed on Sky's heels as she walked down to the kitchen where the majority of the X-men were sitting around the table getting ready for breakfast. Skylar grabbed the cup of coffee that Beast held out to her and sat at the table next to Logan. Logan sniffed the air around Skylar, looked at Remy, then back to Sky. He stood up and punched Gambit in the arm before leaving the kitchen. Gambit smiled and took up Logan's now empty seat. Clearly some male thing had passed between the two of them that Skylar didn't understand and no one bothered to explain. Gambit casually slid his arm around Sky's shoulders and suddenly everyone's eyes were on them. Kat practically hummed with excitement, Kurt gave her a thumbs up, Scott, Storm, and Jean smiled. Sky put her hand on top of Remy's thigh and said, "Yes, we're together." The kitchen was quickly a buzz with cheers and congratulations except for Rogue who left during the commotion. Logan had said that Gambit and her had had an on and off again relationship, Skylar would have to keep an eye on her.
The months seemed to pass by like days. Skylar couldn't remember ever feeling so light hearted in her life. At first finding a rhythm was hard for her trying to balance her work and he insatiable need to be with Remy. There would be days she wouldn't be in her lab because she couldn't seem to get out of her bed. For the first time in years her research wasn't the only thing that she cared about. Instead Skylar spoke to Prof. Xavier and decided to teach a biology class at the institute. Gambit, ever the X-man, would often leave her so to try and comfort her he would leave her playing cards to remind her of him. He'd cover her bedroom floor with them or slide them under her pillow but he always stuck the queen of hearts in her hand. Rogue, while not thrilled with their relationship, never made a pass at his and was always civil around her so Skylar respected her for that. Kurt and Kat had started dating and seemed to be taking things at a snails pace, but Sky couldn't blame Kat. Kat wasn't a very social person and found it hard to open up. Skylar was watching Gambit and Logan play pool when Kat and Kurt strolled in holding hands.
"So kitty kat do you and Kurt have plans tonight?"
"Nope. Speaking of plans Gambit what are you and Sky doing the 17th?" Gambit lined up his shot and took it before answering her.
"No'tin to Gambit's knowledge. Why you ask chat?" Kat blinked at him a few times.
"Because it's Skylar's birthday." Remy dropped his pool que and stared at Skylar slacked jawed.
"And when were you gonna tell me dis Têtue?" Skylar toyed with the ends of her now breast length hair.
"After it had already passed." Gambit crossed over to her and ruffled her red curls.
"Wait Doc, your birthday is March 17th?" All the boys started laughing.
"Alright already. I get it ha ha the Irish lass born on Saint Patrick's Day. I'd rather celebrate saint patty's anyway so can we just forget it's my birthday and get drunk instead?" The "no" was said in perfect unison. The rest of the night Remy chastised her for trying to his her birthday.
"Skyla' dis is what men are supposed to do for d'ier ladies. You got me a gift for my birthday."
"It was just a new bo staff."
"Da finest bo staff Remy eva seen. Têtue ya gotta let me get'cha a present." Skylar sighed knowing that no matter what she did she wasn't going to win the argument so she simply threw in the towel.
"Fine you win. Just don't try and get me something ridiculous and don't steal whatever it is you get me." Remy kissed her repeatedly before opening the door to her room to get ready for bed. The next day while Skylar was teaching her class Gambit tried to think of the perfect gift to get for her. After coming up with nothing he went to pester Kat who refused to help him.
"Come onchat help ol' Gambit out."
"No you have to think of what to get her."
"What are you givin' her den?"
"Same thing I always do, a vintage bottle of whiskey and a charm for her bracelet." Gambit beat his head against the wall trying to think of the perfect gift for his stubborn girl when finally he had it. He ran up to Beast's lab and spun him away from his work.
"I need your helpmon ami."
"With what Gambit?" Gambit told Hank what he needed and Hank whole heartedly agreed to assist him.
"Who am I to refuse the pleas of a young man in love? Anything to woo the fair maiden." For the next few days Remy avoided seeing Skylar and worked closely with Beast on her gift. When her birthday arrived he waited until that night to present her with his gift. Skylar walked into her lab to do some light work and saw a plant pot on her table and next to it was a playing card, the queen of hearts. Skylar smiled at the pot and willed the seed inside of it to take root and grow. Out of the soil grew a single thick green stem with a multitude of leaves and several blooms. The blooms opened to reveal what had the distinct shape of a stargazer lily but the color was off. Instead of being pink and white they were teal with light blue specks and darkened to black on the inside. Skylar looked up to see Gambit leaning in the doorway.
"It's called Lilium caelum."
"Sky lily. You made me a flower?" Skylar tenderly stroked the petals of one of the flowers and bit her lower lip to keep from tearing up.
"Hank did da hard part I jus' told him how to make it look. I wanted it to look like your eyes. Do you like it?" Skylar stood up from her desk and ran into Remy's waiting arms.
"I love it! No one has ever given me so amazing. It's beautiful Remy; I can't tell you how much this means to me." Skylar looked up into his burning red eyes and pulled his face down to hers. "I love you." Gambit pulled back for a second to study her glassy teal eyes.
"Dat's da first time you eva said it Têtue. Remy loves you too." Gambit kissed her with everything he had trying to make sure she understood just how strong his feelings for her were. Skylar returned them tenfold and later that night as she lay draped across his chest listening to his heartbeat she knew what it meant to be perfectly happy. Sky thought of her future and saw him and the mansion and their children. Skylar wanted to spend the rest of her life by his side, but she knew that there was something she needed to do before she could be completely whole.
"Remy?"
"Hm?"
"Would you be willing to go somewhere with me?"
"Skyla' I'd folla' you to hell and back if ya asked me to." Skylar smiled and kissed the hollow of his throat.
"Good to know but that's not where I want to go."
"Where to thenTêtue?"
"Boston. That's where my family lives. I want to tell them about you…and about me." Gambit kissed the top of her head and held her close to his chest.
"To hell and back. I'll be everyt'ing ya need Skyla'."