CH. 13
Shortly after Sky's birthday Gambit and Skylar were on a plane headed to Boston on the way to see her parents. Skylar had been clutching Remy's hand for the entire flight and every time her eyes would go to the window he kissed her fingers and brought her attention back to him. Sky wasn't a nervous flyer, but she dreaded landing in her home town again. Skylar hadn't visited her parents in years trying to keep them at a distance incase she was found out for being a mutant. Gambit could see how worried she was about seeing them again and telling them about what she was.
"Skyla' you don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"No, it's time I told them. Besides I want my parents to meet you." Remy smiled at her and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as the plane began to descend. They hailed a cap outside the airport and rode in silence to Sky's childhood home in south Boston. As the scenery flew by Skylar once again grew tense.
"What is it Têtue?"
"Everything seems so different since the last time I was here. There's my dad's gym," Sky pointed out the window as they drove past, "well I guess its Ian's gym now."
"Do all of your brothers still live here?" Sky nodded and kept looking out the window as her home town whizzed by.
"Yup, I was the only one that wanted to leave. My dad moved here from Ireland when he was 9 and my mom's been here her entire life." Suddenly the cab stopped in front of a three story house with grey paneling. Gambit grabbed their bags, paid the cabby, and stood beside Skylar as she looked up at her childhood home. The lights in the kitchen and living room were on and she could hear her father laughing inside. Gambit made sure his sunglasses were in place even though it was now dusk and gestured for her to walk. Skylar approached the front door but hesitated before ringing the bell.
"They're gonna love ya Skyla'." Skylar rang the bell and heard her parents start to mumble on the other side of the door. The door swung open and Sky looked at her mother in her baggy sweater and loose khaki pants. Her glasses sat low on her nose and her face lit up the moment she saw her beloved daughter. Sky was pulled into her mother's arms and crushed. Her face was buried in her mother's untamable light brown curls now streaked with grey.
"Skylar we've missed you so much! Who's your friend? Never mind come in the both of you, your father is gonna be so happy to see you lass." Sky's mom pulled them both inside and called out for her husband. Skylar's dad, a stocky man with salt and pepper hair, came running into the living room and practically lifted his daughter up off the floor he hugged her so hard.
"Ah lass your mot'er and I have missed ya sometin' terrible. Took ya long enough to come back home." Skylar kissed her dad's cheek and hugged him tightly.
"I've missed you so much dad. How are the boys?"
"All of dem are good lass. How have you been? And who is dis?" Skylar's dad finally noticed Gambit standing behind Sky and immediately became suspicious of him.
"Sorry. Mom, dad this is Remy LeBeau. He's….he um—"
"I work at an institution with Skyla'." Skylar resisted the urge to take his hand and smiled back at him.
"Remy this is my mother Clara and my father Liam O'Riley." Remy held out his hand for Sky's dad to shake it and after glaring first at him then his hand Liam finally took it and gave it a hard shake.
"Enchanté," Gambit took Skylar's mother's knuckles and kissed them causing her to go all giddy.
"Skylar he is delightful. Please dear you must tell us all about this institute that you work at now." Skylar sat down on the couch next to her mother and started talking about her new job and Kat and everything else. Sky's dad sat in his recliner and glared at Gambit who sat in the chair opposite him. He had asked about Gambit's sunglasses but Skylar said he had an eye condition and the issue was dropped. Gambit listened to Skylar talking with her parents and smiled at how at home she felt with them, not like when he used to visit home.
"Lass don't t'ink be don't love see'in ya, but what brought this visit on all of a sudden?" Skylar looked at her parents then over to Gambit who gave her one of his lazy grins. Sky exhaled slowly and began to speak. "Mom, dad, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time now. I should have told you sooner, but..." Skylar's mom put her hand reassuringly on her daughter's arm.
"What is it sweetheart ?"
"The reason that I moved away and haven't been in touch is because I'm a mutant. » Skylar waited for her parents to throw her out of the house and disown her.
"Sky love, why didn' ya tell us ?"
"because dad I didn't want you be afraid of me or hate me." Both of her parents laughed.
"Sweetie there is nothing in this world that could ever make us hate you. We've always supported the mutant effort why didn't you think we would support you too ?"
"Because it's different when it's your child that's the mutant."
"Not to us. We always knew you were special Sky. The moment you came into this world I could tell that you were going to be something amazing. Your father and I are so proud of you and mutant or not you are our beloved little girl." Skylar hugged her mother and then her father who dashed away her tears. suddenly all eyes were on Gambit as her dad asked, " is he a mutant too ?"
"Yes dad."
"He's more dan just a coworker den. What is he to ya?" Skylar looked at Remy sitting and looking bewildered and smiled.
"A Ghrá mo Chroí." The room was suddenly silent then Sky's mom let out a loud squeal and clapped as her father started talking rapidly in a dialect that Remy couldn't identify. While Skylar argued with her dad her mom ran over to Gambit and took his hands in hers.
"This is so exciting. I'm so happy for you!"
"What's dat dere talkin' in Clara?" Clara looked at her husband and daughter and waved a dismissive hand at them.
"Gaelic. We taught the kids how to speak it. So you're a mutant, what's your power? Does it have something to do with your eyes?" She quickly took of Gambit's sunglasses and let out another squeal.
"Mom what is it?"
"He has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen Sky!" Clara held Remy's face between her palms and stared deeply into his red irises. Gambit could hear Sky and her father arguing in the background.
"What are d'ey fightin' about?"
"Hm? Oh well the phrase Sky used to define your relationship is a very special one to this family. Her father doesn't seem to think you're good enough and so they're fighting about it. Be lucky her brothers aren't here then fist would start flying. You get used to it after awhile, the temperaments, I don't think we've had a single family gathering where someone didn't get punched. You do know how to fight right?" Gambit nodded and chuckled as he watched is lovely Skylar grow red faced as her and her father continued to bellow at each other. Suddenly Skylar marched over to Remy, put her hand over his heart and yelled, "Is liomsa mo ghrá!" before kissing him possessively. Skylar's mom laughed as her father stood there gaping at them. Liam stalked over to Remy who stood up to meet his agression only to have a heavy hand land on his shoulder.
"Take care of her lad. Her bro'ders and I 'll be watchin' ya." Then he left the room.
"Mean's he likes ya Remy. Micheal just got a death threat. I'll go make up a room for you." Clara winked and left Skylar and Gambit alone.
"Feel like tellin' ol' Remy what just happened here Têtue?"
"I think they liked you." Remy kissed her impudent smile and cupped her cheek to keep her close.
"Told ya dat they'd still love ya Skyla'."
"I know I should have told them soon, but I was just so scared. Do your parents know that you're a mutant?"
"Ya and Remy wished dat they didn'. So what was all dat celtic talk 'bout?" Skylar giggled and sat down on Gambit's lap. She toyed with his long hair and nuzzled his neck, taking in his spicy scent.
"Which part?"
"What was da first t'ing ya called me?"
"A Ghrá mo Chroí. It mean's 'my heart's beloved'. In my family it basically means the love of my life." Gambit held her closely and kissed the top of her head.
"And da last bit?"
"Is liomsa mo ghrá. It means 'my beloved is mine'."
"That's it Têtue," Gambit pushed Sky off his lap and stood up, Skylar laughed as he walked away from her.
"What are you doing?"
"If ya keep talkin' sweet like dat, Remy's not gonna be able ta keep his hands off ya and dis is ya parent's house." Skylar laughed harder and wrapped her arms around Gambit's neck.
"You love me don't you?" Remy kissed Sky until she couldn't breathe.
"More den Remy ever knew he could."