A/N: I hope you guys are enjoying this little story. If so, I'll continue it.
As the jet landed on the private runway, Rogue sighed. It had been a long, non-stop flight to Washington state, but they were finally there. She couldn't wait to get on solid ground and stretch her legs, getting some fresh air while at it.
"Ah'm gettin' restless." She said, smiling at Charles, who smiled back at her.
"I could use a walk around." Scott said, flipping a few switches as the jet came to a crawling halt.
Un-fastening her seat belt, Rogue stood and head for the door, opening it and flying down, landing on the Tarmac and taking in a deep breath of the air. "Weather's nice." She said, looking back at the two men that had accompanied her.
Taking out her phone, she turned it on and smiled as she dialed Gambit's number. She couldn't wait to hear Leila's voice.
Walking over and grabbing her suitcase, she smiled wider when Leila answered the phone. "Hey, baby." Rogue said, following Charles and Scott to a sedan that they had rented for the week. "Where's Daddy?" Placing the suitcase in the trunk of the car she climbed in the back seat.
"He's sleeping." Leila said on the other end.
"He's sleeping? Did ya wear him out?" She asked.
"Yeah. We went to the park and then swimming." The girl said.
"Ah'm glad he took ya swimmin'. Did ya have fun?" She asked, listening to her sweet voice.
"Mm hmm." Was all she said, making Rogue smile.
"Well, give Daddy tha phone. Ah wanna talk ta him. Ah love you." She said, not hearing her daughter respond.
Silence came over the phone and then she heard Leila's efforts waking Gambit up. Rogue couldn't help but lightly laugh at the scene she pictured in her head. Ever since Leila had learned to walk, she had been wearing them out and instead of sleeping lightly, Gambit slept hard and through everything these days.
A groggy voice answered the phone. "'Ello?" He asked.
"Hey handsome." She said, seeing Scott smile as they climbed into the sedan.
"Chere. Y' finally made it, den?" He asked, a yawn masking half of the question.
"Yep. Just landed." She answered as Scott slowly pulled the sedan out of the airport and on to the highway toward their hotel. "So, ya took Leila swimmin'?"
"Oui." He said. "Dat girl a li'l fish. Swam fo' two hours."
"She's always loved swimmin'." Rogue said, still smiling. "Ah miss ya already."
"Me, too." He said. "De week go by fast, mon amour. Den y' be home. How was de flight?"
"Not bad." She answered as she looked out of her window at the scenery. "Slight turbulence, but it ain't nothin' Scott couldn't handle. Ah was a little worried about a thunderstorm over the Midwest, but we were able to avoid it."
"Bon." She knew he was smiling. "When y' meet de kid an' de parents?"
"We decided on Monday. That way, tomorrow we'll be rested so any questions they have can be answered. Ah'm kinda nervous." She chuckled.
"Don't be. Y' de best at dis." He said, encouraging her. "Dat kid wanna join once dey know 'bout how y' couldn' control yo' powers eight years ago."
"Has it been eight years?" She asked,seeing the hotel as they pulled into the parking lot.
"A'most." He said. "I can a'ways remember dat, b'cause it was frustratin'."
"Oh, ah remember." She smirked as Scott parked the car. "Well, lover, we're at tha hotel. After we get checked in and get some sleep, ah'll call ya again."
"Sounds good." He said.
"Ah love ya." She said with a smile as she opened the car door.
"Love y', too. Get some sleep." He said.
"Ah will. Bye." She said, hanging up the phone as she grabbed her suitcase and walked into the lobby with Scott and Charles.
Setting the phone on his chest, Gambit closed his eyes again. He was hoping to fall back to sleep, but movement on the bed caused him to open his eyes and see Leila standing beside him, holding on to the headboard as she looked at the large photo of him and Rogue sharing a kiss on their wedding day.
"Wha' y' doin', petit?" He asked, seeing her look at him with a smile.
"Was I there?" Leila asked, making him smile as he sat up and got on his knees beside her.
"Y' were right over here." He stretched his arm over, causing her to hold on to the headboard as he deliberately tried to push her back. "Tante Ro was holdin' you." He said, wrapping his arm around her.
"Was I a baby?" She asked, leaning against him as he hugged her.
"Mm hmm." He said, kissing the back of her head. "Were a tiny baby. Dat was five years ago."
"I'm five." Leila said with a smile as she looked back at him.
"I know, an' it makes me sad." He said, making a sad face, causing her to giggle. "Don't want y' t' grow up."
"But I have to." She said, receiving another kiss, this time on her cheek.
"I know." He smiled as he gently pat her thigh. "Le's go see wha' everyone's doin', eh?"
Climbing out of bed, they put their shoes on before leaving the room. Leila slipped her hand in Gambit's as they walked down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, her face lit up when she heard Logan's voice.
Letting go of her dad's hand, she ran into the kitchen and hugged his legs. "Uncle Logan!" She said, causing him to chuckle.
"Hey, kiddo." He smiled, patting her back before he picked her up. "What's up?"
"Where have you been?" Leila asked, placing her hands on his face, feeling his beard.
He smiled. "I had to take care of a few things in town, but I'm done for the day. What did ya wanna do?" He asked, noticing Gambit walk in with a smile as he grabbed a glass of water.
"Well, Daddy already took me to the park and we went swimming." She said, looking at him. "But we can go to the park again."
"Non. Y' had enough sun fo' de day." Gambit said, leaning against the island bar counter.
"Daddy says no." Logan said, smiling at Leila as he sat her back down on the ground. "Anything else ya have in mind?"
"Um." She thought, her eyes flying open with excitement. "We can play cars! Bobby got me some new cars!"
"I'm sure he did." Logan said, rolling his eyes at Gambit. "The man doesn't know how to shop for little girls."
Gambit shrugged. "Don' care if she don'." He said smiling. "At least it be descent toys, no?"
"Agreed." Logan said, suddenly being drug into the entertainment room by Leila.
Setting her suitcase on the end of the bed, Rogue sighed. The room was calm and cold and it caused her to shiver. Sitting on the end of the bed by her suitcase, she hugged herself before she lied back. She would need to go over their plans for meeting the teen and their parents on Monday.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her iPad and opened the files Charles had provided for her. Looking over the first page, it was apparent that the teen couldn't control their powers. They had severely wounded four students and killed two during the incident.
Sighing, she went to the next page, learning that the teen's powers were healing but deadly. They, from what was described, were the exact opposite of hers. Instead of draining life and energy, they filled at an alarming and deadly rate.
"So much energy was surged into those kids they exploded..." She stopped reading and sat up, closing her iPad before reaching for her phone.
She needed to distract herself from the mental image, so she dialed Gambit's number. Glancing at the clock, she saw that it was Eight. That meant it was eleven in New York. After the third ring, he answered the phone.
"Hey, hun. Ah hope ah didn't wake ya." She said, crossing her legs on the bed.
"Non." He answered. "Jus' typing t'ings up fo' de new school year. Everyt'in' a'right? Y' sound a li'l distant."
Rogue smiled. "Even this far apart, ya know when somethin's wrong." She said, picking a piece of lint off of her khakis.
"Wounldn' be a very good husband if I didn'." He said.
She nodded. "Ya right and ah'm glad ah have ya." She said, sighing. "Ah needed ta get my mind off of tha report about this teen. Their powers are... Well, powerful."
He was quiet before he asked. "Dey kill someone?"
"Yeah." She answered, lying back on the bed. "Two, accidentally."
"Wha' kinda powers dey got? Do y' know?" He asked.
"Ah can only describe it as tha exact opposite of mine." She said.
"So den... Dey fill people with power?" He asked, making her nod.
"Pretty much. That's how it's explained in tha report." She said, lifting her hand and running it through her curley hair. "Those kids exploded, Remy. All that power surgin' inta them, they just..."
"Ey." He said, getting her attention. "Y' gonna help dem, Anna."
She smiled warmly. "Ah hope so." She said, looking out the window at the setting sun coloring the sky. "Since we had Leila, ah've been even more so aware of children and their well being. When a child is hurt, ah can't help but think about her."
"I know." He said, softly on the other end. "It be de same fo' me, chere."
"They're only twelve, though they call them a teen in tha report." She said, rolling on to her right, facing away from the window. "Ah feel for 'em. My god, they're still a kid."
"Don' act so surprised." He said, cutting her off. "Dis is normal. 'Bout de time it suppose t' happen. Jus' be dere fo' dem an' listen t' dem. Y' good at dat."
"Thanks, hun." Rogue smiled. "Ah love ya." She said.
"Love y' too." He answered.
"Well, hey, ah'll let ya get in bed. Ah'll call ya tomorrow." She said, sitting up.
"Sounds good." He said.
"Give Leila kisses for me." She said, still smiling.
"Will do." He said. "Y' get some rest."
"Ah'll try." She said. "Night, lover."
"G'night." He said, before he he hung up.
Letting out another sigh, Rogue tossed her phone into her bag before she got up and head into the bathroom. A bubble bath sounded wonderful at the moment, so she got everything ready and soaked in the hot water.
Lying her head back against the edge of the tub, she closed her eyes and thought about what she was going to say to the teen on Monday. "Teen." She said, coldly as she opened her eyes and reached for her body wash. "They're twelve years old."
After her bath, she changed into her night gown and climbed into bed. Opening her iPad again, she continued to read the files, knowing Charles would want to talk about them tomorrow over breakfast wit Scott.
Yawning and stretching his arms over his head, Gambit let out a deep breath as he looked at the clock. "Two?" He asked himself as he rubbed his eyes. "Damn."
Closing his laptop, he sat it on the nightstand before he got up and head into the hall and to the bathroom. After taking a quick shower, he brushed his teeth before heading down stairs and into the kitchen for some water.
When he entered, he saw Logan sitting at the bar. "Wha' y' doin' up, mon ami?" Gambit asked, grabbing a bottled water from the pantry and twisting the cap off.
"Could ask ya the same thing, Gumbo." He smirked.
"Teacher shit." Gambit said, hopping on a barstool beside Wolverine.
"Just got back from Sam's." Logan said, turning to face Gambit.
Taking a swig, Gambit nodded. "How is Sam?" He asked. "Hadn' been in over six mont's."
"Eh, he's been better. He broke it off with his guy." Logan said, scratching the side of his face. "So, he's been pretty down about that."
"Dey were toget'er fo' a long time, no?" He asked, seeing Logan nod.
"Several years." He said.
"Why Sam call it quits?" Gambit asked, setting the bottled water down on the table.
Logan sighed as he leaned against the bar. "Found him in bed with another dude." He said.
Gambit raised his eyebrows. "Fuck. Dat has ta be hard on 'im. All t'ose years toget'er and he goes and t'rows it all away. Sam's a good homme, why would someone do dat t' him?"
"People are assholes." Logan said. "Relationships can be a shit hole."
"Only if y' don't find de one fo' you." Gambit said, smiling.
"Yeah." Logan said, not really agreeing or disagreeing. "Well, I'm off to bed. You wanna hit the Danger Room later today?"
Gambit shrugged. "Sure. Jus' gotta find someone t' watch Leila." He said, standing when Logan did.
"Get Kitty to watch her. She can play with Madison." He said as they walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"Maddy's only t'ree. Don' t'ink Leila wanna play wit' a t'ree year ol'." Gambit said as they reached the second story.
"Kitty and Craig have watched her before. Plus, Leila's good with other kids. She'd probably help them out by wearing Madison out." Logan said, making Gambit chuckle.
"C'est vrai." Gambit said as he stopped at Logan's door. "We'll see wha' happens. Get some sleep, mon ami."
"You too, Cajun." Logan said, receiving a pat on his back before he entered into his room.
After Wolverine closed the door, Gambit made his way around the hall and to his bedroom. Closing the door behind him, he took his shirt off and kicked his shoes over to the closet before he stripped from his pants and climbed into bed. Reaching over, he turned the lamp off before me made sure the alarm clock wasn't set. Rolling on to his stomach, he closed his eyes and welcomed the sleep.
The alarm on her phone, woke her up in a startle. Sitting up, Rogue reached over and turned it off before she lied back down. The time change was killing her, but she climbed out of bed to start her day. Yawning, she got dressed before heading down for breakfast. As soon as she entered, she saw Charles and Scott taking a seat at a table on the far end. Smiling, she waved at them as she gathered a plate of food before getting a glass of apple juice and heading over to meet the men.
"Mornin' y'all." She said, sitting down across from Scott.
"Good morning." Scott said with a smile. "How did you sleep?"
Rogue shrugged, opening her biscuit. "Alright, ah guess. Always different when ya ain't in ya own bed." She said, spreading strawberry jam on the biscuit.
"Did you get a chance to look at the reports?" Charles asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Ah took a look last night." She said,setting her knife down. "Ah hate tha fact this kid is twelve and they've already killed two people, accidentally of course, but still. They're a kid."
"I know what you mean." Scott said, taking a bite of his pancake.
"Professor, ah feel like kids, nowadays, are getting their powers younger and younger." Rogue said, looking at him. "Could tha mutant gene be gettin' stronger?"
Charles sighed. "It is possible that, over the coarse of several generations of mutants in a family, that the gene has gotten stronger. Although, it isn't uncommon for a twelve year old's powers to manifest that early, it isn't the normal, either." He said, looking at her and adding a small smile. "I sense you're worrying about this young teen."
Rogue forced a half grin. "Ah can't help it, Professor." She said. "It's tha mommy in me that worries."
"That's part of the reason I brought you along, other than the fact you know about the other aspects of their situation." Charles said. "You're the living proof, that any power can be controlled. It just takes a little time, practice and effort."
"Ta say tha least, it ain't easy." Rogue said, her phone buzzing in her pocket. "Ah'm sorry." Taking her phone out, she read the screen, seeing it was Gambit. "Excuse me."
"Of course." Charles said.
Hitting 'accept', Rogue put the phone to her ear. "Hello?" She asked, suddenly smiling wider. "Mornin' baby. Did ya sleep alright?"
Scott smiled, noticing her change in tone and knew it was Leila.
"Did Daddy read ta ya last night before bed?" She asked. "Well, ah'll have ta have a talk with him about that." Charles and Scott smiled. "Are ya now? Well, ya lucky duck. Play nice with her. She's only three, so she ain't as advanced as ya. Advanced means, she can't read or talk as great as ya, 'cause she's a toddler. Yep, ya got it. Alright, love ya, sugah pop. Bye."
Listening for a bit, she realized, Leila hung the phone up, so she put it back in her pocket. "Giving a daily report?" Scott asked with a smile.
"Yeah." Rogue smiled, cutting a piece of waffle. "She's gonna be spending the afternoon with Madison."
Charles smiled. "It's exciting watching my students grow and have children of their own." He said, causing Rogue to smirk.
"Even if they're accidents." She said. "Leila's tha best accident that could've ever happened ta me and ah'm sure Kitty and Craig would agree with Madison."
Scott smiled. "Well, it took Jean and I several years, but we've finally got one on the way." He said. "Now I know how Remy felt when you were pregnant with Leila. It's amazing, seeing those sonograms. Like I'm in a dream or something."
Rogue nodded, smiling warmly. "Ah loved being pregnant." she said,taking a sip of her juice. "Ah just wish we were able ta have another."
"Has Hank found anything to help fight that toxin running through his blood?" Scott asked.
Rogue shook her head. "Not that ah've heard." She said. "Remy has his bi-annual check up next month."
Leaning back in his chair, Scott tapped his fingertips on the tabletop. "It's amazing that those people actually developed something capable of destroying the reproductive system of mutants. Of all the organs in the body, they chose that."
"Because some people still feel mutants are an abomination. A blight on the earth." Charles said. "That facility in Texas was developing this. They want to make sure mutants die out. Though, I believe, that will never happen. There will always be a mutation, of some sort, taking place in the body."
Stabbing a piece of waffle, Rogue shook her head. "Ah always wished we'd blown that place to Smithereens." She said. "Thanks ta them, we can't have any more children. It's a shame they can't see we're human, too, and have lives just like normal people."
"But they don't see us as 'normal people', Anna." Charles said.
"Ah know, Professor." She said, quietly. "Ah'm just rantin' and ravin'. It makes me so angry."
Charles smiled. "You have every right to be angry, but we can't bring ourselves to their level. We must be the example." He said, causing her to nod.
"You guys could always adopt." Scott said with a reassuring smile. "Maybe that's something you could explore."
"Maybe." Rogue said, looking across the table at Scott. "We ain't ever really discussed that before. Ah ain't opposed ta adoptin', but ah know that some men have a thing about that."
"With Remy being adopted himself, he might want to." Scott said. "Anyway, just a thought."
Rogue nodded. "No, ah appreciate it. We ain't never talked about adopting." She said, taking another bite before finishing her thought. "But if we did, we'd hafta jump through some hoops. They ain't exactly adopting kids out ta mutants."
"I'll look into it with you." Charles said. "In the meantime, let's enjoy our breakfast."
Humming a tune, Gambit poured himself a cup of coffee before he walked over and out the sliding glass door that led to the pool. Taking a seat in one of the lounge chairs, he took in a deep breath of the crisp, morning air before he took a sip.
Hearing running up ahead, he fixed his gaze on the garden and watched for whoever it was to run out. Hearing a giggle, he knew it was Leila and smiled when she ran out and toward him.
"Why y' out here by yo' self?" He asked, taking another sip of coffee.
Leila stopped and shook her head. "I'm not!" She said, pointing to the garden. "Uncle Kurt is out here with me!"
Just then, Kurt appeared beside Leila and grabbed her, making her giggle uncontrollably. "Haben Sie!" He said, laughing himself. "I got you!"
"Not fair! Daddy was talking to me!" She said, giggling.
"Don' go blamin' me, petit." Gambit said, smiling at his daughter. "Y' let yo' guard down."
Kurt let go of Leila and crouched down beside her, placing his hand on the top of her head. "I believe zat you are it." He said.
"Aw! But you're too fast!" Leila said as he stood.
"I vill not use my powvers. I promise." Kurt said, placing his right hand over his heart.
"And, you can't climb!" Leila threw out one last rule.
Kurt laughed. "I vill not use my powvers and I vill not climb." He said, as he kissed the top of her head before running off. "Start counting!"
Gambit smiled as Leila covered her eyes and faced him as she began to count. "One! Two! Three! Four!"
The sliding glass door broke his attention and Gambit looked back to see Storm and Jean walk out. "Bonjour, beautés." He said as they walked over and took a seat on the bench.
"Nine! Ten! Ready or not, here I come!" Leila said as she took off toward the garden.
"Hide and seek?" Ororo asked with a smile.
"An' I t'ink tag. Not sure." Gambit said, taking a sip of his coffee. "How y' feelin', Jeanie?"
Jean nodded and smiled as she placed her hand on her belly. "I feel pretty good right now." She said, receiving a pat on her thigh from Ororo.
"Y' let me know if y' need somet'in', chere. I be happy t' run an' get it fo' you." He said, smiling as he stood and walked over, sitting between them. "Anyt'in' at all."
"Thank you. I will." She said with a smile.
He looked at Storm and then back at Jean. "Start m' day off b'tween two beautiful women. Can' ask fo' not'in' better dan dat." He said, winking at Jean.
"Mr. LeBeau, you are a married man." Ororo joked.
He smiled as he took another sip of his coffee. "Where are you?" Leila called out. "Uncle Kurt?"
The three mutants turned their attention to Leila and watched as she searched for her uncle in the garden.
"No climbing!" Leila called out.
"I am not climbing!" Kurt called back.
Turning her attention behind her at the large tree, she smiled as she quietly walked over and giggled before quickly going around and grabbing Kurt's sleeve. "Gotcha!" Leila squealed as Kurt picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.
"Oh my goodness." Jean said, covering her eyes.
"She be fine." Gambit said, waving his hand. "She use t' dat kinda playin'."
"Anna doesn't protest?" Jean asked, looking at him.
He shook his head. "She know dat I wouldn't drop her, ever." He said, looking back over at Kurt as he threw her up in the air and caught her. "See? She like it."
"Okay, zat is enough for today." Kurt said, placing her feet on the ground.
"Aw! But why?" Leila asked, looking up at him.
Smiling down at her, he placed his hand on her head and knelt down. "I must go and do my daily studies." He said, patting her head before he stood. "Wve can play later when I am done."
"Okay." Leila said as he waved and headed toward the mansion. "Why does Uncle Kurt always have to study?"
"Come here." Gambit said with a smile as he motioned for her to come closer.
When she did, he picked her up and sat her in his lap, resting his chin on her left shoulder.
"Uncle Kurt be goin' t' talk t' de man upstairs." He said, smiling at her.
"God?" She asked, looking to her left.
"Oui." He nodded. "Uncle Kurt be a good man an' he keep bein' good b'cause he studies."
"Do you study?" She asked. "Because you're good."
Gambit kissed her cheek. "You an' Mommy de reason I be a good man." He said looking at Jean and Ororo. "An' Tante Ro an' Jeanie, I guess."
"Thanks for including us." Jean said, gently nudging him.
Leila looked at Jean and then down at her stomach. "Is that where babies come from?" She asked.
Gambit chuckled as he kissed the back of her head. "Mm hmm." He said. "When a mommy an' a daddy decide dey wanna have a baby, dat baby den lives in de mommy for nine, long, grueling mont's."
Jean and Ororo laughed as Leila smiled. "Can you and Mommy decided to have a little sister for me?" She asked.
Kissing the back of her head again, Gambit hugged her tight. "We see, eh?" He asked. "When Mommy get back, I talk do her. Ça va?"
"Okay." Leila said as she hopped down off of his lap and ran back into the garden.