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A/N: Sorry it took so long to get the next chapter out, guys. Life has been...life, lol. Just know these stories will continue, no matter how long it takes to get these chapters out. Please stick around, because things are going to get interesting!
Gambit smiled and leaned back in the chair on the front porch as he watched Leila run around with Madison on the front lawn. "So den, she gonna be in school and den go to school t' learn t' control her powers?" Jean Luc asked. "Don' seem right fo' a innocent li'l girl t' hafta do dat."
Gambit raised his eyebrow as he looked at his dad. "Innocent? Who lied t' you?" He joked, making his dad lightly chuckle. "In all seriousness, dat jus' de way it is. Wish she didn' hafta go t'rough dis 'till she was older, but ain' up t' me."
Jean Luc nodded as he looked back at the front door when it opened to see a little boy about Leila's age walk out.
Gambit smiled at the boy. "Well hello, Micah. Dere pancakes in de kitchen." He said.
"Yeah, I had one." Micah said, looking at Jean Luc.
"How y' mama?" Gambit asked.
"She doesn't feel good. She told me to come down and play." Micah said, looking at Leila and Madison run after each other.
"I bet she don' feel good." Gambit said with a chuckle. "We check on her later, eh?"
"Okay." Micah said, before he slowly made his way to the hyper girls.
"Who dat one b'long to?" Jean Luc asked.
Gambit looked at his dad and shook his head. "Leila's teacher." He said, sitting up straight. "She, uh, a interestin' one."
Jean Luc smirked. "She come on t' you, oui?" He asked.
Gambit shook his head and chuckled. "Non. She get shit-faced and hit on Sam." He said, seeing his dad's eyes widen.
"Sam's de gay one." He said, trying to figure it out.
"Mm hmm." Gambit confirmed.
"Wha' she t'inkin'?" His father asked.
"She t'inkin' she gonna get some." Gambit said, watching Leila set the ground rules for the game they were playing. "Husband died few years back in war. Somet'in' tells me it was hard on her and she turn t' booze t' numb de pain."
"Make sense." Jean Luc nodded as he watched Leila touch Micah and then run off with Madison. "So, y' said y's workin' on mo' kids."
Gambit gave a sideways glance at his father before looking back at the kids. "We gonna adopt." He said.
Jean Luc leaned forward and placed his hand on Gambit's forearm. "I take it y' still havin' problems." He said quietly.
The concern in his voice caused Gambit to look at him and see him give a warm smile. "Oui." He said, dusting a few random fuzzes from his pants. "Been tryin' ain' not'in' happenin'."
"Ain' not'in' t' be ashamed of, son." Jean Luc said. "Dis happens t' a lot o' hommes."
"Dis ain' somet'in' genetic." Gambit cut him off, but didn't raise his voice. "Dis was caused by people wantin' t' get rid o' mutants. Dis dere solution."
Jean Luc sat up straight and looked over to see Leila reach the tree and Micah tag Madison. "Well, dere anyt'in' y' need, y' let me know." He said, looking back at his son. "Do anyt'in' fo' y'. Hope y' know dat."
Gambit nodded. "I know." He said, finally giving a genuine smile. "T'anks."
"So this is where y'all been hiding." Rogue said as she walked out, joined by Kitty.
"Jus' watchin' de kids." Gambit said with a smile as Rogue sat in his lap.
"Thanks for watching Madison." Kitty said as she sat on the right side of Jean Luc.
"O' course." Gambit said with a smile before he looked up at Rogue and pat her thigh. "Wha's up, mon amour?"
Rogue shook her head as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Ah'm plannin' on givin' that guy a call later this afternoon. Ah want ya there." She said, seeing him nod.
"Absolutely." He said, receiving a kiss.
Rogue looked toward the kids and watched as they ran around the huge trees. "Micah said his mama wasn't feelin' too hot this mornin'." She said, shaking her head.
"Dat's wha' he said." Gambit nodded slightly. "Should check on her."
"Ah think we better let her sleep for a while." Rogue said, placing her hand on Gambit's that was resting on her thigh. "Ah know when ah was hung over ah needed quiet and a dark room."
"No kidding." Kitty said as they suddenly heard crying, causing them all to look toward the kids. "Uh oh."
"I didn't mean to!" Leila said, as Kitty got up and head toward Madison.
"It's okay, Leila." Kitty said, picking her daughter up and hugging her. "You're fine, honey. Aww, you're okay."
Leila looked at her parents with a horrified look on her face. "Accidents happen, sugah!" Rogue said adding a wink, as she got up and head other to the kids.
"Daddy, watch this!" Leila called out, grabbing their attention.
Gambit put his hand up. "I be watchin'!" He said, watching her race Micah to another tree.
"She adorable." Jean Luc said with a smile.
"Mm hmm." He agreed as he looked at his dad with a smile. "Don' like de fact she A'ready five."
Standing, Gambit made his way over to Rogue and the kids. Putting his arm around Rogue's waist, she smiled up at him before she did the same as they watched the kids race off toward another tree. Suddenly, Kurt appeared in front of the two children and they ran into him, knocking him down with laughter.
"Kurt, ya alright, hun?" Rogue called out as she started to walk over to them.
"I am quite alvight!" He called back, waving his hand in the air as he laughed some more. "I enjoy ze children."
"You want to play with Uncle Kurt?" Kitty asked Madison.
Wiping her eyes, Madison nodded, so Kitty put her down and she ran over to the trio. "He is so good with kids." Kitty said, crossing her arms and watching them run around.
"Mm hmm." Rogue agreed, looking up at Gambit, who had joined her. "We need ta plan a family vacation."
Looking at her, Gambit raised his eyebrow. "Where dat come from?" He asked, smirking.
Playfully nudging his stomach with her elbow, she smiled up at him. "Every family needs a family vacation." She said.
"But y' jus' randomly said it." He said, purposefully annoying her.
"Fine." She said, giving him a sassy look as she shifted her weight to her other leg. "Leila and Ah will go on a family vacation. Ya can stay behind and teach tha kiddos how to bake croissants."
"Y' see wha' I put up wit' de pas' five years?" Gambit asked, looking at his dad, who had walked up to join them.
"Been longer than that, hun." Rogue said, reaching up and tucking his hair behind his ear.
"When y'all gonna come visit de family?" Jean-Luc asked, placing his hands in his pockets.
Rogue looked at him before looking up at Gambit. "Maybe Christmas?" She said, looking back at Jean-Luc. "Depends on our situation, really. Us tryin' ta adopt and all."
"I unde'stan' comple'ly." Jean-Lun nodded. "Jus' know dey all ready t' see y'all."
"Ah'm ready to see them, too." Rogue said with a smile. "Wish they could've come down with ya."
"So do I, but duty calls." Jean-Luc said, lifting his hand and combing his mustache down with his fingertips. "How 'bout y' two go up and make dat phone call, eh? I watch Leila."
"Are ya sure?" Rogue asked.
"Oui, now run on. I need me some mo' grandchildren." He said, with a smile and a wink.
"Make it sound like we goin' up t' do ot'er t'ings." Gambit said, taking Rogue's hand.
"By all mean, feel free to." Jean-Luc smirked. "Now go."
Turning, they head back into the mansion and upstairs to their room. Sitting on the bed, Rogue took her phone and reached for the card. Looking at Gambit, she gave a weary smile and took in a deep breath before she dialed the number and pressed send.
As the phone rang on the other end, Rogue looked down at the business card the professor had given them, but suddenly stiffened up when the phone picked up. Gambit smiled, placing his hand on her knee and rubbing her knee cap gently with his thumb.
"You've reached Lawrence Henry. I am in my office Monday through Friday from nine A.M. to five P.M. Please leave your name, number and a brief message so I can get back to you promptly. Have a wonderful weekend."
Rogue sighed as she listened to the female voice to wait for the beep before leaving a message. "Hello, Mr. Henry, my name is Anna LeBeau. My husband and Ah use to be students of Professor Charles Xavier's and now we're both staff members and teachers. Anyway, he gave us ya card and told us ya could help with gettin' everything squared away for adoptin' a child. Bein' as we're mutants, ah'm sure there are a few legal hoops ta jump through."
Gambit smiled as he listened to his wife leave more information and their numbers before wishing him well and hanging up. "Sound good." He said, lightly patting her knee.
"Ah sounded like a bumbling fool." Rogue said, shaking her head.
"Non." He said putting his arm around her. "Done better dan me. Don' t'ink de homme know wha' I sat if I lef' de message."
Rogue chuckled as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Ah guess now we just wait ta hear from him." She said, standing. "Ah'm kinda scared."
"O' wha'?" Gambit asked, standing and placing his hand on her waist. "He say he ain' gonna help us? Y' know full well he talk t' us soon as he hear y' drop de professor's name."
"Ah guess." She said, turning and hugging him. "Are we rushin' this? Should we wait?"
Hugging her back, he kissed the top of her head. "Ain' no time like now." He said. "Rest yo' beautiful mind, mon amour. Le's go take a walk, eh?"
"See dat?" Jean-Luc asked as Gambit and Rogue walked up behind him.
"What's he tellin' ya?" Rogue asked, stopping and putting her hands on her hips.
Leila smiled up at her mom. "Papa Jean-Luc said my freckle means I'm going to be beautiful when I grow up." She said, pointing to the little black dot on the left side of her chin.
"Dat be a beauty mark." Jean-Luc said, patting her head before standing and turning to his son. "How'd it go?"
Rogue sighed. "Had ta leave a message." She said, feeling Gambit run his hand up her back. "We'll hear from him sometime this week, Ah suppose."
"Ever't'in' be fine, chere." Jean-Luc said, leaning forward and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "It all work out."
"Ah'm sure hopin' so." She said, looking down at Leila. "Hey, hun. How 'bout we show Papa Jean-Luc ya classroom."
"I love t' see it!" Jean-Luc said with excitement as he picked her up.
Turning, Rogue smiled up at Gambit before she led the way into the kitchen and down the hall. Watching them until they disappeared, Gambit turned his attention back to the kids that continued to run around. After a few minutes, the sliding glass door opened and he turned to see Sam walk out with a smile.
"Wondering where you were." Sam said, standing beside him. "Logan kinda up and disappeared."
"He do dat a lot." Gambit said, looking at his friend. "Somet'in' up?"
"Rumor has it, there's a gym here." Sam said, smiling. "Now that I know, I can keep up with my lifting."
Gambit nodded as he turned to the door and motioned for him to follow. "I show y' where it is." He said as they walked into the kitchen and took a right. "It be tucked right here. But, de door usually ain' closed."
Opening the door, they walked in to see a few students lifting and running on the treadmills, while one was using the fly cables. "Whoa. Not bad for a school." Sam said as he walked in and over to the dumbbell rack. "Nice."
"Gym ain' ever closed. Come by when y' want." Gambit said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I will. Thanks." Sam said, turning to Gambit. "Thanks again for the clothes."
Gambit shook his head. "Ain' no pro'lem. Glad dey workin' out fo' you." He said.
"I'll head and buy some clothes. I've got some money in the bank and then I'll get these back to-"
Shaking his head, Gambit put his hand up and interrupted him. "Jus' keep dem an' yo' money. Need t' be findin' a place t' live an' work, no?" He said, seeing the smile form on his face.
"God, I want to hug you so bad. You're simply too kind." Sam said, trying to contain himself.
Gambit let out a few laughs. "If huggin' me will make y' calm down, den hug away." He said, seeing Sam move in without hesitation to hug him.
Gambit pat his back as Sam still latched on. "Dat better?" He asked, suddenly hearing Sam quietly sniff his neck. "Ok, dis awkward, no?"
Sam pulled away and smiled, "You smell amazing." He said, letting out a sigh.
"A'so a married man." Gambit said.
Sam shook his head and shrugged. "Doesn't mean I can't fantasize." He said, making Gambit chuckle.
"Jus' not 'round Leila." Gambit said, giving him a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not around her." He said, putting his hand on his heart.
Turning, they started to head back down the hall when they stopped as Rikki came down the stairs holding her head. When she saw them she froze and timidly ran her fingers through her hair.
"How y' feelin', chere?" Gambit asked, breaking the awkward silence, as he took a few steps closer to her.
Rikki shook her head. "Like shit." She said, looking at Sam. "Sam, I uh, I don't remember everything I said to you, but the things I do remember, I'm so sorry. This is why I try and stay away from alcohol."
Sam shrugged. "We're good. I know you weren't in your right mind. But, damn, you hit hard." He said with a smile.
"Got 'im good." Gambit added.
Rikki winced. "I don't remember hitting you. Ugh..." She moaned as she put her hands on her face and rubbed it. "I'm sorry."
"We're good, girl. Don't worry about it." Sam winked at her. "Just do me a favor and stay away from the drinks."
Rikki smiled slightly. "Shyeah, I plan to." She said, pulling her robe tighter around her. "Where's Micah?"
Gambit motioned to the kitchen. "He outside playin' wit' Madison and Kurt. Kitty be out dere, too." He said. "If y' need t' rest up mo' go right on ahead. Micah be safe."
She shook her head. "I've got too much to do." She said, tucking her hair behind her left ear. "I'll sleep later."
"Suit yo'se'f." He said with a shrug, turning to Sam. "Swimmin' sound good, no?"
"Are you kidding? You shirtless sounds amazing." Sam joked, winking at him.
Chuckling, Gambit shook his head as they head up the stairs and stopped by Rikki. "Sure y' don' wanna join us? Get yo' blood flowin' an' open up dat head." He offered.
She smiled. "I'm sure. Thanks, though. Next time." She said as they head upstairs.
"Got a extra pair o' trunks, I'm sure." Gambit said, coming to the bedroom door and opening it.
Walking over to the dresser, he pulled the top drawer open and rummaged around. "How 'bout t'ese?" He asked, pulling out a pair of white swim trunks.
Sam shrugged. "They'll work." He said, taking them. "Thanks."
"Yep." Gambit said, taking his red trunks out. "Can change in de bat'room if y' want. No sense in goin' all de way t' yo' room."
"Alright." Sam said, heading to the bathroom.
"I'm gonna sit right here!" Leila said enthusiastically as she pulled out the small chair from the tiny desk and sat in it.
"Dat be a parfait spot fo' y' petit." Jean-Luc said, walking over and kneeling down beside her to plant a kiss on her cheek. "Wha' y' gonna be learnin'?"
"Um," Leila thought as she swung her legs under the chair. "A lot of stuff."
"Bon." He smiled, patting her thigh. "Learn it all, now."
"She's already way too smart for her own good." Rogue said with a smile as she crossed her arms.
"Dat's 'cause she a LeBeau." He said, ruffling her hair and making her giggle.
Looking up at Jean-Luc, Leila smiled. "How long are you gonna stay?" She asked as he knelt down again.
"Until y' get tired o' seein' me." He said, kissing her cheek again.
"I never get tired of seeing you!" She said, hugging him.
"Alright, now that you've shown him ya classroom, what else ya wanna show him?" Rogue asked, watching Leila stand and take Jean-Luc's hand.
"Can we go to the zoo?" Leila asked, turning to Rogue and grabbing her shirt tail.
"We can't do that today, baby. What else?" She asked.
"Swim!" Leila said, adding a jump.
"That's fine." Rogue said, looking at Jean-Luc. "Ya up for a swim, Papa?"
"Huh, o' course I am." He chuckled as they head upstairs.
Slipping his flipflops on, Gambit looked toward the door when he heard Sam knock. "C'mon in." He said, grabbing a beach towel.
"Lordie lord." Sam said, causing Gambit to smirk. "Hot damn."
"I get de idea." He said, tossing Sam a towel.
The bedroom door opened and Rogue walked in with Leila. "Well, looks like we all had tha same idea." Rogue said, smiling.
"Want us to wait for you, Anna?" Sam asked, draping the towel over his shoulders.
"Nah, y'all can run on down. Leila and ah are gonna wait for her grandpa." She said, giving Sam's torso a glance. "Didn't know ya looked like that under ya clothes. Ah'm impressed, hun."
Sam chuckled. "Well, I try." He said.
"C'mon." Gambit said to Sam before winking at Rogue. "See y' down dere."
"Yep." Rogue said as the they left.
"So, how often do you work out?" Sam asked, walking beside Gambit down the hall.
Gambit shrugged. "Weights? Only 'bout t'ree o' fo' times a week. We got some hardcore trainin' classes we do as a group, t'ough. Be mighty hard work." He said, seeing the interest in Sam's eyes.
"Is that something I can get in on?" He asked.
Gambit shrugged. "Can ask Logan 'bout it. He do some intense trainin' stuff." He said, looking at Sam. "De t'ings we do, t'ough, it ain' but fo' mutants. T'ese trainin's be fo' us t' use our powers and perfect controllin' dem fo' de younger students. I'm sho' y' could sit in on a class o' two an' watch along side de professor. See wha' all goes on."
"I wouldn't be in the way?" Sam asked as they came to the stair case and head down.
"Non. Y' be just observin'. Ain' no harm in dat." He answered as they came to the first floor and cut through the kitchen.
"I bet my sister woud've loved it here." Sam said as they head out the sliding glass door and outside toward the pool. "She had to learn on her own how to control her powers."
"Me too." Gambit said. "Can imagine me tryin'a learn."
Sam lightly laughed. "I've never actually seen your powers. You've only told me about them."
"Maybe I show y' sometime, eh?" He said, tossing the towel on one of the lounging chairs that wasn't being used, before kicking his flipflops off. "B'have y'self, now. Dere ot'er people here."
Sam laughed as he dropped his towel by Gambit's. "I'm an adult, I can control myself." He said as he ran past Gambit and cannonballed into the pool.
"Adult. Right." Gambit smiled, shaking his head as he walked over and got inside.
Heading down the stairs, after meeting up with Lean-Luc, Rogue saw Dani heading to the library. "Dani!" She called out, getting the girl's attention.
Turning around, Dani smiled. "Hey. Looks like you guys are going swimming." She said as she walked up to them.
"Yeah. Ya wanna join us?" Rogue asked, trying to encourage her.
Dani shook her head. "I don't feel comfortable." She said, glancing down at Leila.
Leila looked up into her eyes and her brows dipped. "She's thinking about hurting you." Leila said, taking Rogue's hand.
"I'm not going to hurt your mom, Leila." Dani said, putting her hands in her pockets. "I don't want to hurt anybody. That's why I kinda do my own thing and stay out of everyone's way."
"At least join us outside?" Rogue asked. "It's beautiful out."
Dani shrugged. "I guess I can." She said.
"What woman doesn't wanna look at shirtless men?" Rogue winked at Dani.
"I can definitely join you outside, then." Dani said, making them laugh as they made their way outside.
"Look like ever'one else wanna be swimmin'." Jean-Luc said as he walked over to the steps and stepped into the pool. "Woo! Dat's cold!"
Several looked at him and laughed as he slowly made his way down into the water. Leila threw her towel down and immediately jumped in the pool, creating a small splash that hit some of the older students.
"Dat girl be fearless." Jean-Luc said, watching her pop up and swim to the deep end.
"She a fish." Gambit smiled as he watched his daughter climb out and go to the diving board. "Y' make sho' y' don' hit nobody!"
Leila gave a thumbs up as she jumped off the board and cannonballed into the pool. Rogue shook her head as she dropped her towel on Gambit's before walking over and sitting on the edge of the pool, putting her legs in.
"She makes me nervous doin' that." She said.
"She looks like she's done it before." Sam said with a smile.
"Because her daddy lets her do whatever she wants." Rogue said, sliding in the pool. "She got him wrapped around all her fingers."
"How can y' say no t' dat face?" Gambit asked, chuckling as he watched her swim to the side and climb out.
"Gonna hafta agree wit' y', Remy." Jean-Luc said.
Heading to the diving board again, Leila walked to the edge. "I'm jumpin'!" She yelled, making sure the older kids heard her.
When they moved, she jumped in and splashed them again. Coming up from the water, Leila swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out. Rogue shook her head as she came up beside Gambit and put her arm around his waist before placing her other hand on the top of his head and dunking him underwater.
Laughing, she stepped away as he popped up and slung his wet hair out of his face. "Oh my god, Ya didn't see that comin'." She said, watching him wipe the chlorine water from his face.
"Ha ha." He said, sarcastically as he pushed his hair back.
"Oh come on, grumpy gutt." She said, moving closer and cupping his face. "Ah was only jokin'."
Looking into her eyes, Gambit quickly grabbed her upper arms and pushed her off balance, causing her to fall into the water. He gave a little extra shove just to make sure her head went under before he stepped back and smirked.
Popping up, Rogue wiped her face and pushed her hair back. "This means war, Swamp Rat." She said.
He winked at her as Leila jumped in and distracted her, so he splashed her by moving both of his arms inward over the surface of the water.
"Those of ya that don't wanna get splashed, Ah suggest ya get outta tha pool." Rogue said to the students.
When they didn't heed her warning, Gambit smiled and shook his haas, knowing what was next. Just as he thought it, Rogue did the same move, but with her powers, causing a massive wave to splash Gambit and all those that were behind him about 50 feet.
Standing straight, Rogue placed her hands on her hips. "How ya like that, sugah?" She asked.
"Why'd you do that?" One of the students asked, pushing her soaked hair out of her face.
"Ah told ya ta get out if ya didn't wanna get splashed." She said, turning her attention other husband, but found he was gone. "That little..."
Turning around, she was grabbed by the shoulders and tossed to the deep end of the pool. Leila laughed at their game as she moved closer to Jean-Luc, who was standing out of the way.
"Like it jus' fine, act'lly." Gambit said, watching her throw her hair back out of her face.
"Ah swear." Rogue said, making her way closer to him. "How did Ah not hear ya behind me?"
"I be good at dat, no?" He said, holding his hand out to call a truce.
Rogue smiled warmly as she took his hand and swung him out of the pool and onto the grass. "Yeah, well, ya couldn't get outta that now, huh?" She asked.
"Whoa!" Sam said, getting out of th pool and running over to Gambit. "Remy, oh my god, are you okay?"
Gambit chuckled as he got to his feet. "Rest yo' head, Samuel. I be fine." He swiped some blades of grass from his chest and torso. "Why y' T'ink she t'row me in de grass?"
"You guys play rough." Sam said, looking back at Rogue, who was smiling.
"Remy likes it rough. Don't ya, huh?" She winked.
"Mm hmm." He smirked as he hopped back into the pool.
"Innuendo alert." Sam said, looking around the pool at the older students who were chuckling.
Making his way over to her, he placed his hands on her waist before he spoke softly to her, whispering into her ear.
"C'mon now! Dis a school!" Jean-Luc said with a smile as he saw Rogue giggle. "Kids."
"I wanna know what's funny!" Leila said to her parents.
"Dat be fo' yo' parents. Dey have jokes y' wouldn' unda'stan'." He said, looking down at her and kissing her forehead. "I think maybe y' be stayin' in my room t'night, petit."
Cupping Gambit's face, Rogue kissed him softly. "Ah love ya, ya trouble maker." She said, kissing him again.
"Get a room." One of the male students said, jokingly.
"Oh grow up." She smiled at the student as they made their way out of the pool. "How's about we get cleaned up and grab a bite ta eat?"
"I'm game." Sam said as they all got out and dried off before heading inside and to their rooms to clean up and change.