Chapter 14: Aces

It was a very eventful day getting their suits made and fitted. Little did Chantel know, but her words weighed heavily in Nicole's mind. When the two girls returned to the mansion, they separated ways at the door with tired waves and a silent promise to be hold each other's secrets in vaults. Nicole climbed the stairs wanting so desperately to take a nap that night. Her feet came down heavily on the stairs like heavy bricks being dropped onto the woodened service. Her feet picked up speed as she went onward gaining momentum at as the distance between her body and her bed began to diminish. Upon reaching her floor, her eyes grew heavy with sleep. Her hands came up in mid stride to rub her tired eyes until she bumped into something hard. He grabbed her by the arms to steady herself and she reached out to him to keep from shifting backwards and possibly falling down the stairs.

"Aye Nic." He stated looking at her tired expression as she wobbled for a bit.

"Sorry Lo." She responded in shock of the impact she made.

"Nic, ya don't look too good kid." He said letting her go but greatly concerned. His nose took in her scent not smelling sickness much to his relief.

"I'm just tired is all. I really want to sleep." She said yawning and stretching. "Can you do me a big favor?" She asked looking up at him. A few students came running down the hallway then clearly on a mission to get to the television room.

"What's up?" Logan asked moving them out of the way of hallway traffic.

"Can you go to Ororo and ask for a few chamomile leaves from her garden? I really need it for a pot of tea right now." She asked hopefully watching the big burly man bristle a bit. He looked up as if the woman was around in the immediate vicinity but she wasn't. He looked back down at Nicole and nodded while searching her eyes to see if she knew something.

"Thanks big guy." She muttered before separating from him and moving on down the hall. She did manage a backwards wave. Logan was about to move onward when Nicole stopped and spoke out. "Lo!" She yelled catching his attention. Logan stopped and turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "She'll give you a small bag and you can just slide it under my door. I'm going to bed." She yelled.

Logan nodded and turned around. His nose lifted into the air when he caught the scent of the woman he was searching for. The gentle smell of summer rain and honey led him down a pathway behind the mansion and through a corridor towards her earthy children. His feet padded quickly along the concrete path under the giant arches towards the woman that baffled him as of late. Logan found he needed to take the long route to the woman's destination to somehow gather himself in her presence. He walked slowly listening to the sounds of frogs and bugs fill in the silence of the night around him. The two wooden doors that served as the entrance to her garden was wide open beckoning him to come inside. The soft humming noise of a light tune caressed his ears and warmed him inside.

Lately things between them had been…awkward to say the least. He didn't know when or how it happened but the beast himself was attracted to the goddess. He thought at first it was nothing more than him looking for an escape from the relationship problems he was having with Rogue. But, time had ticked along and he found himself seemingly in a relationship of convenience. Now however, it was more of a relationship with himself. Rogue had been distant lately even more so than usual. He knew Rogue had problems and at first he did share a fondness and wanted to be there for her. However, he wasn't a fool to not have caught on to the fact that he was being used to some degree. A low growl released and settled in the hollows of his throat building in slight aggravation. He succeeded with the help of gentle tones and a calming aroma from Ororo's scent and her plants drifting out into the evening air.

A few weeks back he ventured to his cabin in Canada to get back to basics with himself. As he was leaving, of all people coming to possibly deter him from the trip was Ororo of all people. He walked as always to his bike to find her leaning against it casually with her arms crossed in front of her while looking out over the front lawn of the mansion. Her body was sideways with her face looking around enjoying the sunlight shining down her face. He could feel his hand tightening on his duffle bag in preparation to whatever chastise or routine protocol statement she could deliver to him regarding his random acts of departure from the mansion. However, she shocked him that day when she turned around with a gentle smile and stood straight allowing him to attach his bag to his bike. He watched her smile at him and listened as she spoke with calm tones and held warm eyes telling him that he was needed and to not stay gone for too long as he would be missed dearly. Somehow her small act of kindness privately bestowed onto him shook him and rattled his instincts. Then to shock him even more, she hugged him for the first time. She smelt of everything the spring could offer to a man. Then when he looked into her eyes, he noticed something was there that possibly wasn't before. Since then he hadn't been able to get her out of his nose.

Logan shook his head to stabilize himself but, it was difficult. He moved through the night and walked inside of her world; surrounded by scents of various florae, herbs, fruit, and the like. In the back, his eyes caught sight of the woman's silhouette as her hands worked to spray her plants with a water bottle. He walked further towards her watching as she neither spoke nor waved to acknowledge him. Her white tresses were damp from a shower she recently took. It swung platted in a long braid that fell behind her back like beautiful rope white thread. Her body was wrapped with a black shawl while she donned a white maxi dress obviously having prepared for sleep. Her skin seemed soft under the gentle lights in her greenhouse and her skinned glowed like a fay performing all her wonders under nature's guidance. Her hums of Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" registered in his mind and he smirked at her selection. A smile graced her lips as her finger gentle glided over a few stems and petals. Each plant had obviously received her love in its own way.

"Something I can help you with Logan?"

Logan watched as she turned shining her gentle loving smile onto him while placing her water bottle down gently onto a wooden banister. She stood tall before him drawing her black shawl around her arms protectively. He watched her do this and he recognized her protective stance and he questioned for what purpose would she feel threatened. He shoved his hands in his pocket nonchalantly and walked forward. "Sorry for disturbin ya Ro, but Nic sent me to ask if ya got some tea? Poor girl's dead tired." He explained watching her nod in understanding before making her way to her table. He watched as she pulled open a small drawer and took out a jar filled with white pouches and herbs. Ororo opened the jar and took out a few pouchs.

"Chamomile tea. Doesn't sound too bad for tonight." Ororo smiled softly and handed them to Logan gently. His hand curled around hers as she set them in his palm trying to capture the warmth there but he let go just as quickly.

Logan thanked her before he turned to exit before she called out to him. He turned around quickly with some mysterious anonymous desire that hope was hanging on. Ororo smiled and walked to pick up a kettle she had near her work station.

"Would you like to join me for an evening drink?" She asked as if seeing things about him others couldn't.

"Give me a minute to grab a beer, Ro." He responded with a smirk as he walked away. He tossed the pouches in the air and caught them whistling the finishing notes to the tune that she hummed.

Nicole lay the next day stretched on the sofa like cat lazily bathing in the morning sunshine filtering through the windows of the institute. She had woken that morning lethargic and knew she needed to escape the confines of her blankets otherwise the day would be lost. She did manage to get free only to land in the comforting embrace of the plush cushions the couch offered her. She lay sideways on the couch now listening to the laughter of the children run around the house and outside into the warm Saturday mid-day sun. Her eyes closed and lightly dosed for a bit until she felt two strong arms grab her by her torso and lift her in the air like a doll. Her arms came out to grab shoulders for additional support as she opened her eyes partially. She looked down to see Remy smirking at her with his signature expression directed at her. She couldn't help but smile at his silent greeting wondering what thoughts were going through them but a little afraid to find out.

Remy looked back up at Nicole wondering the same thing as her head tilted causing her curls to fall to the side as well. How he wished she had woken up next to him in such a manner. He for sure would never have let her get as far as the couch if so. He bent her forward and kissed her on the lips in a nice sweet slow manner. His lips touched and pulled at her bottom plump lip loving its roundness. Her own lips curled to his trying to capture his top lip. Mindful of their environment and possible young audience, both pulled away keeping things controlled and light. He looked up to see Nicole's face was pink with joy and her eyes were now dancing brightly seemingly have woken up now. "Petite amie." He whispered to her before kissing her lips quickly and pulling away.

"Quoi?" She asked in a soft voice. (What)

He smirked. "We never ad' our card game, Cher. I believe dat day will be today, if yo' willin."

She smiled an arrogant smile down at him while sliding her hands along his biceps feeling his muscles at work holding up her weight. "I was wondering when you wanted your beating."

He laughed and placed her down gently. "Madame if it iz one ting about dis Remy it iz, yo' must never doubt is my abilities, dat will be de' worst mistake yo' ever make."

She laughed haughtily! "Well meet me outside in ten minutes by the pool and bring your cards, Gambit."

He took out a deck. "Already got yo' covered. What else should I bring?" He asked sarcastically.

She walked to the double doors leading to the stairwell. Nicole stopped at his question and looked back. "Bring some tissues for your tears. I don't want them to ruin my shirts."

Remy watched her sashay out the room arrogantly. He couldn't help himself but to look at her backside as she strolled away apparently feeling very cocky of her card playing skills. He was getting ready to go to the courtyard when he heard her yell," Chantel! I'm going to be outside kickin ass if you need me!"

He laughed and pulled out a cigarette as he proceeded to the courtyard pathway that would lead him to their spot. This will be interesting.

Chantel was laying on the lawn now with Jacob watching the kids play in the sunset in front of the mansion. She lay content with her back rested against Jacob's chest while watching a few kids play their games. Jacob's voice would boom over the yard and the pool if there were any kids doing things they knew they shouldn't. She would get up every now and then to see how Nicole was fairing in her game with Remy which was growing with hilarity as time passed. Both found a small table and two outside chairs to bring together so that they could play underneath one of the archways that blocked some of the sunlight. Nicole and Remy were neck and neck as they played Rummy. They picked the best out of five hands would decide the game. Both were tied with his hand being the deciding factor for their challenge.

Nicole was confident that she would win after all she had grew up playing cards and games alike. At first she had to make sure Remy wouldn't cheat so she made him take off his jacket leaving him in a burgundy thin cotton shirt that oddly matched his eyes. He now sat in front of her chewing on his tooth pick and with croppy brown hair cascaded around his forehead. She peaked over her flawless hand of an ace of spades, king, jack, and the little joker. All she needed now was the queen of spades then she could lay her hand down and get some points.

Remy was very taken with her good card playing skills. When she boasted about herself, she was telling the truth about her 'play to win' style. He smirked as he saw the look of domination on her face under the glow of the sun high above them. They were playing around at first till Remy had won the first two games. That was when the gloves came off and she made comeback. Remy looked down at his hand in contemplation. The ace of hearts, ace of clubs, the big joker…aka wild card and ace of diamonds.

Nicole pulled from the deck and her face lit with excitement. She found her card and laid out her hand for him to see. She was so excited she stood up and cheered loudly of her victory.

"Hahahah. I won! Give up your hand!" She boasted.

He sighed and looked heartbroken. "It would seem so… but however you didn't throw out a card into the deck pile to end your turn so it's now my turn." She stopped dancing and looked at him with wide eyes having forgotten that rule.

"Let's end this." He drew from the deck obviously not caring as to what card he picked up. He laid down his hand of aces and threw out a card thus officially ending the game. Her eyes widened as she mentally counted the points he had now after laying down his own hand.

He smirked. "No, no my dear… allow ole Remy to help you count."

Nicole's face turned into a glare as she watched him count his hand slowly with much arrogance. He then proceeded to help her count her cards while watching as he giant smile took a downwards turn. Nicole looked at him in disbelief. She swallowed and looked back up at him hoping he would disregard her previous un-sportsmanship behavior. He now was leaning back in his chair smirking at her in victory. She watched as he twirled his tooth pick around his mouth and the glint he had in his eye was unmistakable. She looked at him as he dusted himself off.

Remy rubbed his chin and looked down at her in triumph. "Let's see your punishment now Chere'!" He stated excitedly while leaning back in his seat and putting his palms behind his head thoughtfully.

Nicole swallowed, now completely resenting making a pact with a gambling con artist.