After packing up, Gambit and Rogue thanked their host before they head back toward the mansion. after when seemed like forever, they finally pulled up to the mansion and into the garage. Killing the engine, they got out and grabbed their bags before heading inside. Placing his hand on the small of her back, Gambit escorted her upstairs and to their room where they put their suitcases on the bed.
Turning and heading for the door, Rogue felt Gambit grab her wrist and pull her close to him. She smiled as he leaned in and kissed her passionately before he broke the kiss and walked with her out of their room and downstairs.
They heard Leila talking loudly in the kitchen, so they head that way and walked in. Looking in their direction, Jean smiled before she nudged Leila with her hip.
"Look who's home." She said.
Leila looked to her left and her eyes flew open as she ran over and hugged Rogue when she knelt down. "Hey, baby!" Rogue said with a smile as she hugged her and gave her several kisses on her cheek. "Ah missed ya so much!"
"I missed you, too!" She said, pulling away and hugging Gambit's legs. "I missed you, Daddy!"
Gambit chuckled as he picked her up and littered her face with kisses. "A'ways miss you, petit." He said, hugging her tight. "Y' b'have yo'self?"
"Uh huh!" She said as she hugged him before reaching out for Rogue to hold her.
Taking Leila in her arms, Rogue hugged her tight and kissed her cheek again before she walked over and gave Jean a hug. "How ya feelin'?" She asked, rubbing her back.
"Pretty good, so far." She said with a smile. "Happy anniversary."
"Thanks." Rogue smiled as she walked over and hugged Storm. "Did she really behave herself?"
"She was an angel." Storm said with a smile as she reached out and tucked Leila's hair behind her ears.
"So," Rogue said, looking at Leila. "Ah heard ya have some special abilities."
"Yeah." She said quietly as she played with the charm of the necklace her mom always wore.
"Well, show me." Rogue said. "Ah wanna see 'em."
"I can't." She said, still fiddling with the necklace.
"Why not?" Rogue asked, looking into her eyes.
"Because I can't." Leila said, quietly and a little ashamed.
"That's alright, hun." Rogue said, stroking her hair. "We'll help ya learn ta control it and use it when ya need ta."
"Dat's right." Gambit said, walking over and placing his hand on her back. "Got de best teachers here fo' y' t' learn."
"We've already done a little training today. Tomorrow will be a new session." Jean said with a smile. "She's still learning to activate it, as it happens when it wants right now."
"Which is how it is." Rogue said, smiling at Leila.
Storm walked over and placed her hand on Gambit's back. "Happy anniversary, my friend." She said, as he turned to hug her.
"T'anks, chere." He said, kissing her cheek. "Five down an' plen'y mo' t' go."
"I hope you share that many more." Storm smile as she placed her hand on Leila's head. "I love this little girl like my own."
"Dat's why we keep her in yo' care when we gone. We know she be treated right." He said, looking at Jean. "No 'ffense, Jeanie."
"None taken." She said, turning the stove off. "Alright, Leila our dinner is ready."
"Oh yeah!" Leila said as she squirmed out of Rogue's arms.
"An' wha's fo' dinner?" Gambit asked, walking over and taking the lid off of the huge pot.
"Gumbo!" Leila said, full of excitement.
He raised an eyebrow and looked at Jean. "An' y' let her cook dis?" He asked, chuckling when Jean stuck her tongue out at him. "Couldn't wait 'til I got home, eh?"
"Hey, I think I did pretty good." Jean said. "Of course, I'm not sure how spicy it is, but you guys can let me know."
"I let you know." Gambit said, taking a spoon out and giving it a taste.
They all watched and smiled in amusement as his brows dipped and he looked at Jean. "Is it that bad?" Jean asked.
He swallowed whatever was in the contents of the pot and nodded. "It be really bad. Not even a taste." He said, opening the spice cabinet. "I fix dis up. Gimme a couple minutes."
"I'm hungry!" Leila whined, watching as her dad put a few more spices in.
"It be ready in a snap, petit." He said, grabbing his red pepper sauce and pouring a good amount it before he gave it a good stir and then added a few spices before he tasted it. "Mm, bon. Much better."
"I wanna taste it!" Leila said, grabbing his jeans.
Taking a spoonfull, Gambit knelt down and let her try it. "Wha' y' t'ink?" He asked, seeing her smile.
She gave a thumbs up and Gambit stood, giving Jean a triumphant grin. "Well, happy eating." Jean said, with a smile as she pat Leila's head before she walked over and sat down at the table.
"What are ya gonna eat, hun?" Rogue asked, grabbing several bowls down from the cabinet.
"I already ate." She said. "Had to. Was feeling way too nauseous to hold out."
"Ah understand." Rogue said, watching Gambit take a small amount and place it in Leila's pink bowl. "Go sit down, love."
Leila ran over and took her seat beside Jean. "I need a spoon!" She called out, leaning against the table on her elbows as she sat on her knees in the chair.
"Ah'm gonna get ya one, hold ya horses." Rogue said, grabbing a small spoon before walking over and setting the bowl in front of her. "What do ya want ta drink?"
"Um." She thought before she smiled and looked up at Rogue. "Soda."
Rogue raised an eyebrow before she looked at Jean and Storm. "Has she had any soda today?" She asked.
"Not that I know of." Storm said.
"I don't think so." Jean said.
"I haven't." Leila said, grabbing hold of Rogue's shirt. "I promise. I haven't had soda. Not even Uncle Logan gave me any soda today."
"Jus' let her have soda." Gambit said, chuckling.
"Alright, but ya start eating on ya dinner, first." Rogue said, walking over and grabbing a small kiddie cup out of the cupboard. "This stuff fills ya up and then ya don't wanna eat."
Walking over to the fridge, Rogue took the bottle of soda out and poured a little in the cup before she returned the soda to the fridge. She received a smack on her backside as she closed the fridge door and she smiled at Gambit who smirked at her. She winked before she head over and placed the cup in front of Leila at the table.
"Merci, Mommy!" Leila said as she took another bite of the make-shift Gumbo.
"Ya welcome, baby." Rogue said, sitting at the end of the table beside Leila. "So, what did ya do while we were gone?"
Leila kept eating and looking down at her food. "Uncle Logan took me to the park." She said, taking another bite.
"Did ya have a good time?" Rogue asked, seeing her nod. "Did he play on the equipment with you?"
"No." Leila said, wiping her mouth on her arm. "But there were other kids there."
"Leila, don't wipe ya mouth on ya arm." Rogue said, standing and walking over to get a wet paper towel. "Here." She wiped her mouth before she sat back down. "So, there were other kids. Did ya play with 'em?"
"Mm hmm." She said with a mouth full as Gambit walked over and placed a bowl in front of Rogue.
"Thanks, hun." She said, winking up at him again.
He smiled as he walked behind her and sat down beside Storm and across from Leila. "Y' keep all t'ese grown ups in line?" Gambit asked, taking a paper towel and tucking it into the collar of his shirt.
"She sure did." Logan said walking in as he raised an eyebrow at Gambit.
Gambit smiled, putting his hand on the paper towel that was tucked into his shirt collar. "Dis how y' eat Gumbo, mon ami." He said, picking up his spoon.
Leila giggled as she took Rogue's paper towel and tucked it into her shirt collar too. "At least she'll be clean." Rogue said, taking anther bite of the make-shift Gumbo.
Jubilee walked in and smiled, seeing Gambit and Rogue. "Hey guys. When did you get back?" She asked as she walked over and playfully pushed Wolverine out of the way of the fridge.
"Just a bit ago." Rogue said, taking another bite.
"Well, welcome back." Jubilee said, taking a soda out and popping the top. "You pregnant?"
Rogue smiled and chuckled. "No." She said.
"Hey, you guys gotta keep positive." Jubilee said, taking a swig. "It could happen."
"Highly doubt that." Rogue said, looking at Leila and smiling. "Besides, ah already got my angel."
"Yeah, but you need more." Jubilee said.
"Well, if it's meant ta happen, we will." Rogue said, smiling at Gambit. "We've been talkin' about adopting."
Jubilee smiled. "I think that's awesome. You have no idea how much that'll change a kid's life." She said.
"Jus' hope we pull de wool over dey eyes." Gambit said, taking a bite. "Don' t'ink dey adoptin' kids out t' mutants jus' like dat."
"Hey, they don't need to know you two are mutants. Just get some contacts for Gumbo and you're good." Jubilee smiled.
"I'm sure something could be worked out for you two." Jean said. "There's got to be an adoption agency out there that helps mutant families."
"Jeez, if there is, they're laying low." Jubilee said, leaning against the counter. "With all this registration stuff going on, I don't even wanna go out."
"Doesn't mean we should go into hiding." Wolverine said, looking at Jubilee as Dani walked in.
"Hey gal." Rogue said with a smile.
"Hey." Dani waved with a smile. "When did you guys get back?"
"Just a bit ago." Rogue said, wiping Leila's chin. "Grab ya some dinner and join us."
Leila took a bite and watched Dani get a bowl and fill it before she sat down on the other side of Storm. "So, what are we eating?" Dani asked, smelling it. "It smells good."
"It's suppose to be gumbo." Jean said.
"Suppose t' be." Gambit said, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, it's food." Jean said, giving him a smirk.
"Ey, I be t'ankful y' feedin' m' li'l girl while I be away." He said, smiling at Leila.
"So, Dani, how ya likin' it here?" Rogue asked, looking at her.
Dani shrugged as she took a bite. "It's alright. Everyone's nice to me." She said with a smile. "Never had that before."
"We're all in the same boat." Jubilee said. "We all know where you're coming from."
"Ah'm sorry ah up and left ya." Rogue said, looking at Dani.
"Oh, don't worry about it. It's fine. You have your life." She said with a smile. "Like I said, everyone's been nice to me. A few of the older students have shown me around."
"Good ta hear." Rogue said, helping Leila grab her soda cup and handing it to her and watching her gulp it down. "That's enough soda, good grief. Ya gonna fill up on that and not ya soup."
"Gumbo." Leila corrected her.
"Whatever." Rogue said, seeing Leila look at Dani and then look down. "What's wrong, sugah?"
Leila didn't look at Rogue. "Dere she go." Gambit said. "She do dis de ot'er day. Don' know wha' gets int' her."
Rogue reached out and placed her hand on Leila's head. "What is it, hun? Are ya seein' somethin' in her eyes?" She asked, seeing Leila nod. "Ya wanna tell me?"
Leila looked at Dani and then leaned closer to Rogue, whispering into her ear. "When I look in her eyes, I see people hurting." She said, as quietly as she could. "I see you and daddy and uncle Logan and Tante Ro."
Rogue smiled. "Dani's just afraid she'll hurt us with her powers, that's all. Don't be afraid of her, sugah. She's here ta learn ta control her powers like ya are with Jeanie." She said, giving Leila's back a gentle pat.
"I'm sorry." Dani said, looking down at her food.
"Don't be apologizin', gal." Rogue said. "Ya can't help it."
"That's right. There's nothing wrong with you." Jean said with a smile.
"Let's forget about it." Jubilee said.
"So, Mr. LeBeau." Dani said, getting Gambit's attention. "Did you ever find the chocolate thief or a lead of any sort?"
Jean looked at Gambit and raised an eyebrow. "Chocolate thief?" She asked.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Gambit leaned back in his chair and smirked. "Someone been thiefin' chocolate from de pantry in de culinary wing, as well as ot'er t'ings." He said, taking his napkin and wiping his mouth. "Gonna do some investigatin'."
"Need someone to sniff 'em out?" Logan asked.
Gambit smirked and shook his head. "Wanna catch dem in de act." He said. "Teach dem a lesson."
"Please be civil about it." Storm said.
"What's that mean?" Leila asked with food in her mouth.
"Don't talk with ya mouth full, hun." Rogue said, reaching over and covering Leila's mouth with her hand.
Swallowing the bite, Leila looked at Rogue confused. "But what's that mean?" She asked.
"Civil means ta treat 'em right. Not hurt 'em." Rogue said as she smiled at Leila.
"Why would daddy hurt someone?" Leila asked, looking at her dad and then seeing the others smirk.
Jean placed her hand on the girl's back. "Your dad has a way with the students that can sometimes be, what's the best word, questionable." She said.
"I like t' embarrass dem." Gambit said, smiling at Leila. "When dey be doin' somet'in' wrong, I wanna make sure e'erybody know 'bout it."
Leila nodded as she looked around the table before looking at her dad, seeing him looking at her mom and smiling at her. When he glanced at Leila, Leila looked at Rogue and put her hand to her mouth as if telling her a secret.
"Daddy wants to kiss you." She said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Rogue raised her eyebrow and looked at Gambit. "Well, Daddy needs ta remember how ya powers work." She said, seeing his eyebrows slightly raise.
Snickering began as Gambit sat up straight and cleared his throat. "Good t'ing I only be t'inkin' o' kissin' y', mon amour." He said, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Don't think you wanna be havin' 'the talk' with her at the age of five." Logan said, crossing his arms over his chest and smiling at Leila.
"What talk?" She asked.
"Nothin', baby. Finish ya dinner." Rogue said, raising an eyebrow at Wolverine.
Buzzing broke their conversation as Gambit took his phone out of his pocket and looked at who was calling. "Ugh." He moaned, leaning his head back slightly with his eyes closed before he answered it. "Oui?"
Leila made eye contact with her dad and smiled widely. "Papa LeBeau!" She squeeled standing in the chair. "I wanna talk!"
"Leila Noel, sit ya tail end down before ya fall." Rogue said, grabbing her daughter's arm to balance her.
"She eatin' dinner." Gambit said, holding his finger up to Leila. "She startin' school next week, so she ain' spendin' de week wit' you."
Rogue smiled at the frustrated faces he was making as Leila grew more and more antsy to talk to her grandpa. "I wanna talk!" She whispered loudly. "Daddy, I wanna talk!"
Gambit rubbed his face. "Here, talk t' her b'fore she have a conniption." He said, holding the phone out to her.
Leila took the phone and smiled as she put it to her ear. "Papa LeBeau!" She said with a grin. "Good. Are you coming over, because I have school."
"S'il vous plaît, Dieu, non." Gambit said, looking around the table before his eyes settled on Leila.
"No." Leila said, looking down at the table. "Because daddy said I can't."
"Sounds like he's tryin' ta bargin with her." Rogue said, looking across the table at Gambit.
"He ain' gonna win." He said, shaking his head. "Dat man gotta learn he ain' her fat'er an' dat he can' jus' be takin' her whenever he want."
Storm smiled as she looked at him. "He lives so far away, surely you can excuse his want to see her." She said.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he glanced at Leila. "Guess yo' right." He said, pursing his lips together in thought. "Still don' need t' be invitin' himself. Dat's jus' rude."
Smiling, Rogue reached out and tucked Leila's hair behind her ear. She watched as the girl kept her excitement as she talked to her grandpa. Leaning against her elbow and resting her chin in her hand, Rogue looked at Gambit and smiled, adding a wink. He smiled back, knowing how much Leila enjoyed talking to him, and listened to their conversation.
"Gumbo." She said, taking her spoon and stirring it around in her bowl. "No, daddy didn't make it." She laughed.
Jean smiled and shook her head. "Just can't win." She said, standing and walking over to the fridge.
Leila's conversation went on for another five minutes before Rogue took the phone and put it to her ear. "Alright, Leila's gotta finish her dinner before she can finish talkin' with ya." She said.
"Well, I ain' heard yo' voice fo' a long time chere." Jean-Luc said. "How y' been?"
"Ah'm doin' fine." She said, watching as Leila started to eat again. "How's tha South?"
"Same ol', same ol'. Hot, muggy and charmin' as ever." He answered. "When y' bringin' dat beautiful granddaughter o' mine t' visit? 'Cause Remy keepin' her from me."
"It ain't gonna be for a while, ah'm afraid. She's startin' school." Rogue said, smiling at Leila.
"All dis school talk." Jean-Luc said. "I didn' go t' no school. Hell, Remy didn' even go t' no school. Taught him everyt'in' he know."
"That may be, hun, but she's our daughter." Rogue said, winking at Gambit who was smiling back at her.
"Can' make a exception an' have a long weekend t' come down here?" He asked.
"No can do." She said, taking a sip of her drink.
"Den, I'ma take a vacation an' come visit y' up dere." Jean-Luc said.
Rogue shrugged. "That's fine. Ah don't mind that at all." She said. "Just no distractions from her schoolin'."
"Y' have m' word as a gentleman." He said. "Well, I'ma let y' go so y' can finish yo' dinner. It was real nice talkin' t' you, Anna."
"It was nice talkin' ta ya, too, Jean-Luc." She said.
"Non, call me Papa LeBeau." He said, making her chuckle.
"Excuse me. Papa LeBeau." She said with a smile. "We'll catch up some other time."
"Oui. Have a good evenin'." He said.
"Ya too, hun. Night." She said, ending the call and handing the phone back to Gambit. "He's gonna come visit sometime."
"Fantastique." Gambit said, putting his phone back in his pocket.
"The guy isn't that bad." Jubilee said, taking a sip of her soda.
"Non, but he a distraction an' can be a li'l much sometime." Gambit said.
"All done!" Leila exclaimed with a mouthful as she put the spoon in her bowl and wiped her mouth on her arm.
"Leila." Rogue said, taking the napkin from her shirt collar and wiping her mouth before wiping her arms.
"Can I go swimming?" She asked, taking a sip of her soda.
Rogue sighed. "Ah guess." She said. "But ya ain't goin' by ya self."
"Will you come with me?" She asked her mom.
"Ah don't feel like swimmin', sugah." She said.
"I go wit' y', petit." Gambit said. "Lemme finish dis here bowl."
"I'll go, too. Haven't been swimmin' this year." Logan said with a smile.
"What the heck, I'll go too." Jubilee said, shrugging.
"Looks like a pool party." Jean said, smiling at Leila.
"Sure y' don' wanna go?" Gambit asked Rogue as he finished his dinner.
"Ah'm sure. Y'all go on and have fun. Ah'll be out there ta watch y'all." She said.
"Le's go get dressed, eh?" Gambit asked, standing and walking around the table to pick Leila up.
The five trekked off upstairs to get ready while Rogue took their dishes and placed them in the sink before she washed them and placed them in the dishwasher.
"Ya gonna join them, hun?" Rogue asked, looking at Storm.
"I shall watch from the sidelines with you." She said with a smile. "I have already been in the pool today."
"And Leila didn't know about it?" Rogue asked with a smirk.
"She was with Logan." Storm said as Jean took a seat beside Storm. "Will you be joining us to supervise?"
"Sure." Jean said. "I'm just going to stay seated until they head down here. My feet are killing me."
"Gal, ya need that man o' your's ta rub ya feet." Rogue said, wiping her hands on the dishtowel before she walked over and took a seat in front of Jean.
Jean sighed. "I'd hate to ask Scott to do something like that. He's so busy these days." She said, seeing Rogue shake her head.
"Ah bet ya anything he'd love ta do it." She said, pointing her thumb at the kitchen entrance. "Remy use ta drop everything and rub my feet when ah asked. He was more 'n happy ta do it."
"Foot massage does sound nice." Jean said.
"How about ah give ya a foot massage while we watch them swim?" Rogue suggested. "Ah don't mind. Ah know what ya goin' through."
"I wouldn't want you to feel like you have to." Jean said.
"Shut it. Ah'm gonna rub ya feet." Rogue said, making Jean chuckle.
"Well, if you insist." Jean said.
"There is no sense in fighting her." Storm said with a warm smile.
"I know and I appreciate your stubbornness." Jean said as they heard running upstairs. "Sounds like one is ready to go."
"That girl. Ah don't know what ah'm gonna do with her. Ah keep tellin' her not ta run down the halls or tha stairs, but she don't listen ta a dang word ah say." Rogue said, shaking her head.
"She is just an energetic child." Storm said. "There is a time when you should let them be just that."
"Oh, ah know." Rogue said, standing. "Ah just don't want her ta break her neck. She's tha only child ah got."
Leila hopped off the last stair and ran toward the door. "Come on! Let's go!" She said, unlocking the sliding glass door and opening it.
Rogue quickly followed, as did the other two women, and they took their seats under the awning and watched as Leila jumped in, joining a few of the older students.
A/N: Aaaand, another update. This one is short due to other things coming up in the story.
I didn't wanna chop anything in half and have it turn out weird.