A/N: The question was asked by a guest reviewer, "What toxin?". The answer can be found in chapter 47 of my other story, "Need To Think On It".
You don't HAVE to read my previous stories, but I guess it wouldn't hurt for times like these. I'll try and post references when I can remember.
After throwing his last card, Gambit retracted his bow staff and stood up straight. "End program." He said, turning and heading to the doors of the Danger Room.
"What's wrong?" Wolverine asked, jogging to catch up to him.
Shaking his head, they went through the doors and stopped in the halls of the lower levels of the mansion. "Jus' a bit distracted." He said, placing his hands in the pockets of his trench coat.
"What's on your mind?" Logan asked, taking his cowl off.
He shook his head again. "Jus' t'inkin' 'bout everyt'in'." He said, looking at Logan. "Leila growin' up fast, no?"
Wolverine smiled as he pat Gambit's right shoulder. "Does she know how to drive now?" He joked, causing a smirk to form on Gambit's face.
"Non." He said, looking up at the ceiling. "Prob'bly could."
"Girl's too damn smart for her own good." Logan chuckled as the elevator stopped and opened.
"Oui." He joined in with the laugh.
"Let's go to Sam's." Logan said as they head for the stairs. "You need a beer."
Gambit shook his head. "Bar ain' no place fo' a married man." He said, starting their trek up the stairs.
"Hey, I know Anna doesn't like ya going, but she ain't here and there isn't anyone there at this hour." He said. "Come on. Plus, Sam would love to see ya. You'd probably cheer him up and make his day."
Stopping at the top of the stairs, Gambit looked down at Logan. "A'right, but yo' buyin'." He said, seeing Wolverine accept that answer.
"Sure. See ya in fifteen." He said as they left and got ready.
Pulling into the bar's parking lot, both Wolverine and Gambit got out of the Jeep and head inside. "Remy!" Sam called as he ran around the bar and hugged him tight. "You just made my day. You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
Chuckling nervously, Gambit pat his shoulder. "I t'ink I do." He said as Sam pulled away and looked at Logan.
"How did you get him to finally get his ass in here?" Sam asked as they head to the bar.
"Anna's outta town." Logan said, seeing Sam nod and wink.
"Boss is away, so you gotta play huh?" He asked with a playful grin.
"Remy don' play no games when mon amour be gone. Be a fait'ful husband." He said, taking a seat on a bar stool.
"Good." Sam said, getting their usual drinks. "I'm sure Logan told you how faithful Cole was."
"Oui. Sorry 'bout dat, mon ami." He said, taking the glass from Sam and taking a sip.
"I loved that man, goddammit." Sam said, placing a bottle in front of Logan. "Apparently, I couldn't give him what he wanted."
"Ey, Cole be a asshole. Y' deserve tons better." Gambit said, as Sam leaned against the bar.
"You know what?" Sam said, standing and leaning back against she counter. "Tonight, I'm gonna go out to the club and get shitfaced. I'm single now."
"Be careful." Logan said. "There are some real punks out there that just want some ass."
"Well, that's all I want right now." Sam said. "I'm done with relationships. Haven't had sex in, probably, eight months?"
"Damn. An' I t'ought I was havin' a dry spell." Gambit said, making Sam laugh.
"But seriously." Same said. "Relationships are too hard. I think I'm gonna just make myself happy. Do whatever I want."
"Amen to that, kid." Logan said, lifting his bottle at Sam.
"You're lucky to have found someone, Remy." Sam said with a smile. "Part of me wishes you were single."
"An' into dudes." He said with a smirk.
Sam laughed. "Well, yeah." He said.
"Sorry, mon ami, but I like my women." He said, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a sip of his dark beer.
Smiling, Sam crossed his arms over his chest. "How long is Anna outta town?" He asked, watched as Gambit swallowed the beer and sat his glass down.
"Week." He answered. "We celebrate our anniversary when she get back."
"Oh, right! That's," Sam thought as he used his left index finger and counted in the air. "Wednesday."
"Mm hmm." Gambit nodded. "Give me more time t' t'ink o' somet'in'."
"And I'm sure whatever you think up will be romantic and sexy as hell." Sam said with a smirk.
"Jus' glad I can still get it up, no?" He joked making them laugh.
"You have plenty more years of great sex." Sam said, shewing his hand at Gambit. "You're still a young pup."
"Don' feel like it at times." He said with a smile. "Leila be wearin' me out."
Sam smiled at the mention of Leila. "How is that beautiful girl? I haven't seen her since she was probably two or three." He said, seeing Gambit's smile widen.
"She be good." He said, gently tapping the side of his glass. "She five, now."
"Holy fuck." Sam said. "Damn, the years fly by."
"Tell me 'bout it." Gambit said, taking a sip of his beer.
"You guys got any plans for another?" Sam asked, seeing the change in Gambit's demeanor. "Maybe that wasn't the best question."
Shaking his head, he sat his glass down and looked at the dark beverage. "Can't have any more." He said, glancing up at Sam.
"Oh." Sam said, pouting in thought. "Was the pregnancy hard on Anna?"
"Non, ain't Anna." He said. "It be me."
"I'm sorry, Remy." Sam said, reaching out and placing his hand on Gambit's. "If you need anything, let me know."
"I need you t' take yo' hand offa mine." He said with a smirk.
Sam retracted his hand as if he were about to get bit by a poisonous snake. "Shit, sorry. Instinctive reaction to comfort." He said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"S'okay." Gambit said, tapping his fingers on the bar top.
"It's those damn eyes, isn't, Sam?" Logan asked with a smirk.
Sam laughed. "It's everything about this man." He said, making them laugh.
"So, we're meetin' on neutral ground?" Rogue asked, looking over the files on her iPad.
They had met in Charles' room to go over the details of when they met the teen's parents. They had decided meeting them in a public place would keep the parents from making any outbursts or causing any scenes while they met.
"Correct. They agreed to meeting us at the plaza in town. There's a small diner we'll converse in." Charles said.
"Ah'm all kinds of nervous." Rogue said, smiling sheepishly.
Charles smiled. "Don't be." He said. "There's nothing to be nervous about. All they can do is tell us no."
"But what if that kid wants ta come with us?" Rogue asked.
"They still live with their parents and they aren't eighteen. It's the parents' choice." Charles said.
"Ah think that's a lot of crock." Rogue said, hearing a buzz and watching Scott grab his phone out of his pocket.
"Sorry. Excuse me." He said, standing and leaving the room.
"They are still a minor." Charles continued on with the subject at hand. "If the parents care about their child's wellbeing, they'll let them live and work with us."
"And if they don't, ah feel like they'll be sellin' them ta tha next highest bidder ta experiment on." Rogue said in an irritated tone. "Ah hate how we've become lab rats ta some."
Scott walked in quickly. "Professor, I have to head back." He said, a worried expression on his face.
"What's wrong?" Rogue asked.
"Jean's having contractions." Scott said, placing his hand on his forehead.
"Oh my god." Rogue said, standing up. "She ain't but five months. Are ya sure ya can fly tha plane with that on ya mind?"
"I'll book a flight. You guys keep the Blackbird in case everything goes according to plan." He said. "I've got to get back."
"No. Take the Blackbird. It will be a straight shot back." Charles said.
Rogue walked over and hugged him. "She'll be fine. They'll both be fine." She said. "Keep us informed."
"I will. Good luck tomorrow." He said, shaking Charles' hand before he head out of the room.
Looking at Charles, Rogue sat back down at the small table. "Have ya tried contacting Jean?" She asked.
"I'm doing that now." He said, placing his hand on his forehead and closing his eyes.
"Come here, Leila." Kitty said, taking the girl's hand and walking her down the hall and away from the commotion that had gathered in Hank's lab. "You wanna go with us to take Scarlet to the vet?"
Leila's eyes shot open. "Yeah!" She said, jumping slightly.
"Alright. Let's head upstairs and you can help Craig carry her." Kitty said. "We've got to let your dad know, too."
Walking upstairs, they head into Kitty's room where Craig was putting Scarlet in her cage and Madison was coloring. "Hey, Leila." Craig said with a smile. "Y' comin' wit' us?"
"Yeah." She said, walking over and looking inside Scarlet's cage.
"I'm going to let Remy know we've got Leila. I'll meet you downstairs." Kitty said with a smile.
"A'right." Craig said, watching her leave before looking down and Leila. "Scarlet ain' feelin' t' good."
"Is she sick?" Leila asked, putting her fingers in the cage.
Craig smiled as he took her hand and pulled it away. "Yeah and she might not like y' puttin' yo' fingers in t'ere. She might bite ya." He said, rubbing the girl's back before turning to his daughter. "Maddie, y' ready t' go, love?"
Madison smiled as she closed her coloring book and set her crayons down on the bed before sliding off. Taking Scarlet's cage, Craig and the two girls left and head down to the garage. Grabbing a booster seat for Leila, he put it in the back seat beside Madison's car seat and helped them get buckled in. Opening the driver side, Kitty walked in and Craig walked around, opening the car door for her.
After buckling up, they head out if the garage and toward the veterinary hospital. "So, Leila." Kitty said, looking back at the girl. "Would you like to go to the zoo tomorrow?"
"Yeah!" Leila said, her face beaming with joy. "I love the zoo!"
"Me too!" Kitty said, matching her enthusiasm. "We'll invite your dad."
"And Tante Ro and Uncle Logan?" She asked.
Kitty shrugged. "Sure. The more the marrier, right?" She said, still smiling as they pulled into the vet clinic.
Jean closed her eyes tight and Gambit knew she was having another contraction. Placing his hand on her head, he stroked her hair and smiled once the contraction was over and she looked up at him.
"I want Scott here." She said, looking at her lap, catching her breath.
"He on his way, chere." Gambit said, patting her shoulder. "Jus' don' let dat baby come now, eh? Need t' keep in dere."
"Well, that isn't really up to me." She said, placing her hand on her belly as she looked up at him and gave a small smile. "Thanks for staying with me."
"Pas de soucis." He said, smiling back. "Jus' returnin' de favor."
"I'm most certain that these are Braxton Hicks contractions." Hank said, looking over a clip board as he walked into the room. "I remember Anna having the same scare."
"Oui." Gambit said, looking at Jean. "Ain' de real t'ing yet."
"It sure feels like it." Jean said, looking at the door as Storm entered.
"Is everything alright?" Storm asked, walking over and standing beside Gambit.
"Jus' havin' a bit o' Hicks." Gambit said with a reassuring smile, patting Jean's knee.
Storm smiled as she placed her hand on Gambit's arm. "I can stay if you need to go get the groceries for the school year." She offered.
"Ain' a big deal." He said. "Don' gotta whole lot goin' on nohow."
"Where is Leila?" Storm asked.
"Wit' Kitty and Craig." He answered. "Dey were watchin' her while I went out wit' Logan."
"To the bar?" Jean asked.
"Jus' t' say hi t' Sam and have a beer." He said.
"You know Anna does not approve of your being in a bar." Storm reminded him.
"It was jus' t' visit Sam." Gambit said. "Hadn' been in mont's. Dat a crime?"
"Married men shouldn't be in bars." Jean said, joining in.
"Jus' can' win." He said with a smile as he looked at Storm. "Y' know I don' play games, chere."
"But why would she be having these this early?" Hank said to himself, loud enough for them all to hear. "I suppose it does happen. Though, Anna didn't have these until later on in her pregnancy."
"Y' talkin' t' us, mon ami?" Gambit asked, seeing Beast look in their direction.
He chuckled. "I'm sorry, my friends. I'm thinking out loud." He said, walking over and standing on the other side of Jean.
"Should I be worried?" Jean asked.
He shook his head. "I'm going to call a friend." Hank said, looking at Gambit. "Miranda Whitte."
"Ah, she be good, chere." Gambit smiled, reaching out and patting her leg. "Dat be who delivered Leila."
"I remember." Jean said with a smile. "She was nice."
"She knows more about this subject than I." Hank said.
"An' y' know a lot." Gambit said.
"Let me call her." Hank said, walking toward the desk in the back of the lab.
"How 'bout y' get a hot bat' and take it easy?" Gambit suggested.
"It might help." Storm agreed.
"Alright." Jean said, holding her hand up for Gambit to take.
"I help y' get up dere." He said, helping her out of the bed.
Standing on either side, they walked Jean up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Getting into the car, Craig sighed as he buckled Madison up before walking around and opening the door for Kitty. After Kitty buckled Leila up, she sat down and closed the door, watching Craig as he walked around and got in. Placing the key in the ignition, he turned the car on and put his seat belt on before he pulled out and headed back toward the mansion. Kitty looked at Craig and gave a small smile as she reached over and placed her hand on his forearm. He looked at her and forced a smile as he pulled on to the highway.
"Why did we leave Scarlet there?" Leila asked.
Turning around, Kitty smiled at her. "Because she was really sick." She said. "She's not going to come home with us."
"Where Scarlet?" Madison asked, joining in.
Reaching back, Kitty placed her hand on her daughter's knee. "Scarlet isn't coming with us. She has to stay there." She said, feeling herself get teary-eyed.
"Are they going to make her feel better?" Leila asked.
Craig nodded. "Yeah. She ain' gonna feel no mo' pain." He said, wiping his eyes.
Kitty knew Leila and Madison were confused, but she didn't elaborate on the subject and what was happening. "You going to be okay?" She asked Craig.
"Yeah." He nodded again, glancing at her with a smile. "I be fine."
The rest of the ride home was quiet and the girls didn't put up any fuss as they drove into the garage of the mansion. Getting out, Kitty opened the door and helped Leila out of her seat. She chuckled when the little girl ran to the garage door and ran inside.
Running into the kitchen, Leila stopped and looked around for her dad. "Daddy?" She called out, seeing a few students look at her.
"He was in Hank's office." One of the boys said as she ran out and down the hall toward Beast's lab.
Running in, she stopped when she saw Beast. "Do you know where Daddy is?" She asked, walking up to him.
Hank smiled as he stood and picked her up. "I do not, but perhaps we can find him together." He said as he walked out of his office holding her.
As they head down the hall, Beast stopped at the gym and poked his head inside. He saw Bobby and a few students working out and they made eye contact.
"Have you seen Remy?" He asked, seeing Bobby shake his head.
"Nope." He said, smiling and winking at Leila. "Good luck."
"He may be with Logan." Hank said, looking at her.
"Uncle Logan?" She asked, playing with the fur on his face.
Hank chuckled as she twirled it around her fingers. "Yes. Uncle Logan." He said as they left the gym and went back down the hall. "There he is."
Leila turned and looked down the hall to see him walking toward them with Storm. "Daddy!" She said, squirming down and then running toward him.
He smiled as he knelt down and greeted her with a hug. "Dere my li'l girl." He said, picking her up. "Where y' beed? I t'ought Kitty and Craig sell y' fo' at least two hun'red bucks."
"She is worth more than that." Ororo said, placing her hand on the girl's back.
"Daddy, guess what?" Leila asked.
"Hmm." Gambit thought. "Y' got t' drive de car."
Leila giggled. "No." She said. "Guess!"
"You..." He thought again. "Flew t' Mars."
"No." She said, still giggling.
"Um..." He started. " You joined de Avengers."
She laughed. "No!" She said with enthusiasm.
"Good." He said. "Don' know, den."
"We're going to the zoo with Kitty tomorrow." She said.
"Oh, we are? Well, good t' know y' makin' plans fo' me." He said, combing through her hair. "Have y' ate yet?"
"No." She said, shaking her head.
"Den le's go get somet'in', eh? Tante Ro can join us." He said, looking at Storm.
"I would be honored." She said.
"What we eatin'?" He asked, looking at Leila, as they head toward the garage.
"McDonald's!" Leila exclaimed.
"Non. We ain' eatin' dat crap." He said, opening the garage door and grabbing the keys for the sedan. "Where yo' booster seat?"
"In that car." She pointed to Craig's car.
"Well, dat ain' no place fo' it." He said, setting her down and walking over to the car, opening the back passenger door and getting her seat out. "Now den, wha' did y' wanna eat ot'er dan McDonald's."
"Um..." Leila thought as she climbed up into her booster seat and watched her dad buckle her belt. "Pizza!"
"Pizza?" He asked, looking at her with a confused look. "Well, if dat wha' y' want." He stood and looked at Ororo. "Pizza alright, chere?"
Storm smiled and nodded. "Pizza is quite alright." She said as they got in the car and headed toward the regular pizza shop.
"Have ya heard anything from Jean?" Rogue asked, walking into the room where Charles sat in his chair by the window.
Turning to her, he smiled. "Jean is fine. They we're labor contractions." He said. "Scott is still heading back. She needs him."
"Ah hear that." Rogue said, tucking her hair behind her right ear. "First time ah ever felt that, dadgum, all ah wanted was for Remy ta be right there with me."
Charles smiled and nodded. "Seems so long ago." He said, seeing her smile form.
"Yeah." She said, hugging herself. "Ah want another."
"Have you two tried, despite the situation?" He asked.
Rogue nodded. "All tha time." She said, taking a seat in the chair closest to him. "We try thinkin' there'll be a chance somethin' will happen, but it never does. Ah don't know why we even bother."
"Don't give up." Charles said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Maybe Hank will finally find a breakthrough cure that will reverse the damage done."
"Ah don't see how that's possible, Professor." She said, shaking her head. "It's been making its way through his body for six years. It's a wonder it hasn't killed him. And trust me, ah worry about that every day."
"Well that, apparently, isn't the reason it was created. We've learned that." Charles said, placing his hands on the arm rests of his chair.
She chuckled and shook her head. "Ah'm sorry ah'm unloadin' all this on ya." She said, looking at him.
"Don't be sorry." He said with a reassuring smile. "You are one of my former students and I see you as a daughter."
Rubbing her thighs, she took in a deep breath before letting it out. "Well, ah guess ah should focus on tomorrow's meetin' with that child's parents." She said, standing. "Ah'm gonna go hit tha town. Ya wanna join me?"
Smiling, he shook his head. "You go on. I would only be a bother." He said, causing her to laugh.
"Ya call, sugah." She said, waving. "Call me if ya need anything."
A/N: Tried to crank this out ASAP. With the recent loss of my grandfather, it's been hard trying to focus. The next chapter of this story, and "Mighty Thin Ice", will probably be postponed until I can get my bearings. Thanks for reading thus far and I promise what you wanna see will be in future chapters.