A/N: Okay so I suck at updating. I apologize. BUT on positive note, thank you everyone who is following this story or favorited it or reviewed it. It's amazing how such simple acknowledgment can make a person feel so good!

I actually wrote this during the men's gymnastic team final. I love the olympics! Maybe I'll do another chapter tomorrow during women's.

The summer I met Jo and started nannying her girls proved to be a tremendous test for me. The very first week in fact, while playing in a park, Lydia became distracted by a few middle school boys playing a little way away. They had somehow gotten hold of some firecrackers and convinced Lydia to come play. Being a curious child and my attention focused on the younger girls, she agreed without hesitation.

As a joke, one of the boys lit one of the firecrackers and tossed it toward Lydia. I don't know if it was shock or just a lack of understanding, but she failed to drop it. It exploded in her hand and we had to rush her to the hospital. When we finally removed her bandages two days later, Lydia was completely blind. Eventually she regained her sight, but the three weeks leading up to her being able to differentiate between dark and light were horrible.

The doctors later told us it was my quick thinking and knowledge of advanced first aid that saved her vision. I was with the family ever since.

The point of this story? As soon as I saw the flashes and heard the bangs, I covered my face and crouched down as much as I could. I couldn't imagine being blind and lost in New Orleans when anyone could sneak up on me. And that was when I had my stroke of genius. Back when I was on the team, if anyone tried to sneak up on me, I would have blown them away. I was a Goddamn mutant! What the Hell was wrong with me? Without bothering to check behind me, I stretched one arm behind my back and let loose whatever strength I had left in one powerful burst.

Knocking myself into the wall, I coughed trying to catch my breath as the smoke settled around me. "Well well, the little girl packs a little punch," a deep voice chuckled behind me. "You should have done that five minutes ago, Chere." Catching my breath once more, I risked a glance at this new, unfamiliar person joining my attackers and me in the alleyway. Still unable to stand, I took in the man who either A: had rescued me, or B: was going to finish me off.

He stood before me, leaning against a wall. He had a smirk on his face that did not alarm me, but actually infuriated me. I suddenly realized what he had said to me and I was irate. Ignoring the pain in my face and stomach, I pulled myself to my feet, stumbled toward this strange man, and slapped him with what little strength I could muster.

"You were here the whole time?" I asked disbelievingly. "And you waited until they were literally about to fuck me up to do anything?" At that point, my voice had risen significantly, and I had begun to shake. My adrenaline was pumping, but I had nowhere to channel all my rage and energy but toward this unbelievable stranger who had opted to play the hero to my damsel.

"You were doing just fine," he argued with a wink, "until that end bit there. Next time, watch out for the sneak attacks. You wouldn't want to mess that pretty face anymore, would you?" He probably thought he was being charming by tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear and sending another wink my way. But seeing how I had nearly been raped by three guys in an alleyway, had broken at least one rib, and was bleeding splendidly from my lip, charm was not too high of my "Things That Impress Me" list. So I slapped him again and proceeded to walk away without as much as a thank you.

"Hey don't go!" he shouted, running to catch up with me. It wasn't too hard to do, considering my current state, but I refused to acknowledge him. "Won't you tell me your name?" he asked, matching his stride to mine. I continued to blatantly ignore the man whose Cajun accent was quickly thickening as he became more and more frustrated with me. "Don't you want to know how I saved you?" I knew how he saved me…he was clearly a mutant like me; I just didn't care enough to compare powers with him. "Aren't you curious about the mysterious masked man who saved you and your virtue?"

Oddly enough, that halted me. "What are you talking about? You don't have a mask," I stated, suddenly very confused.

"True! But it made you stop, oui?" he chuckled taking hold of my hand. Before I had time to respond, he was leading me carefully out of the alley and toward some unknown destination of his own choosing. Still unsure of what was even going on with my new best friend and having no clue where my actual friends were, I let this stranger lead me through the streets.

"Might this poor soul ask you name, Chere?" he asked with a grin and a flourish.

"Not like that," I replied, raising an eyebrow. He seemed to wilt before my eyes but with a huff he tried again.

"What's your name?" he tried again rather blandly. I could tell he was obviously a ladies' man and for me to react so cooly to him was a bit of a blow. I couldn't help but smile at the ridiculousness of my situation and my companion.

"It's Nadia," I told him, surprising myself. I hadn't spoken my real name in almost three years, but now that Logan was back, it was as if I had slipped right back into my old routine. Thinking harder, it wasn't just my name, but everything. How quickly did I agree to help hunt down Stryker? How ready was I to use my training to hurt my attackers? How far would I have gone for self preservation? Suddenly, it was as if the world I had worked so hard to build around me was caving in and there was nowhere for me to escape but into that tiny tunnel leftover from my Stryker years. I didn't want back in that tunnel, but it was like I had no choice.

My companion must have sensed a change in me, because he placed an arm around my shoulder and patted my hand. I almost laughed at how much this simple act of comfort reminded me of Wade, but the knowledge that he was dead stifled it.

"Well Nadia," the still unnamed stranger said, "I think you could use a little drink." He steered me into a dimly lit bar, reeking of smoke and alcohol and led me to a table for two. I probably should have declined, but the stress of everything that had happened in the last few days was overpowering. I nodded and as he walked away, I called out to him, suddenly realizing he had never given me his name.

"And what's your name Oh Non-masked Man?"

He shot me a third wink and called back with a bow, "LeBeau, but lovely ladies such as yourself cal me Remy." Jesus, where the Hell was Logan when you needed him?