Sorry for the LONG wait on this chapter. I had some events happen...
I drew out my first Marvel licensed art for Upper Deck Entertainment. They're a trading card company, if you' aren't familiar with them. 16 out of 20 were approved, so not bad for my first set. Some lucky souls out there will end up with my originals and then put them on eBay, lol. Second thing are commissions. I've had TONS of commissions and haven't had a moment to even type up the rest of this chapter, but I'm caught up enough that I sat down and finished. Third was hurricane Irma. Headed straight for us and THANKFULLY hit land earlier than expected and broke up. So I wasn't home and couldn't update the chapter because of that.
Hope you enjoy!
Rogue had finally gotten a training session in that wore her out. Leave it to her husband to try and kick her ass, but she appreciated that he didn't hold back. It was the only way to show improvement and to grow.
As the lights turned on and the room went back to normal, Rogue landed on the ground and tried to catch her breath. "Did a good job, chere." Gambit said over the intercom as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"Yeah?" She asked, looking up at the control room and seeing Gambit standing at the window. "Ya think so?"
"Absolument." He answered in French. "Y' looked amazin'. Took on mo' dan I see y' take on in a good while. I be impressed, Anna."
Rogue smiled. "Ah guess it don't take much ta impress ya, huh?" She joked, seeing him smile and chuckle. "Ah'll meet ya outside."
Sifting her fingers through her sweaty hair, she walked to the entrance of the Danger Room where the doors opened and the cold air from the hallway blasted her as she stepped out. Chills ran over her body and she shivered, causing her to hug herself. Her uniform was damp from her sweat and that wasn't helping with the cold air. When the door to the control room opened, she smiled and quickly walked over to Gambit and pressing herself into his chest.
"Ah'm freezing." She said, causing him to wrap his arms around her and rub her back.
"Den le's get y' warmed up." He said as he lead her to the elevator. "Damn, y' are cold."
Rogue shivered again. "Ah'd be alright if ya hadn't made me work so hard." She said, feeling him rub her arms.
"Den I start t' go easy on y' now, eh?" He asked.
"Don't ya dare." She said as they elevator door opened and they stepped inside. "Ah really enjoyed it. It was fun. Ah feel like ya tha only one who knows how hard ah like it."
"Um, we still talkin' 'bout trainin'?" He asked jokingly as Rogue slapped his chest lightly.
"Ya know what ah mean." She said, seeing him chuckle. "Damn child, sometimes."
Rubbing her arms again, the door opened and they stepped out and head toward the stairs. "How 'bout a warm bat'?" Gambit asked as they walked up the first flight.
"What time is it? Ah don't wanna be late picking Leila up." She asked as he turned and head up the second flight.
"Don' worry 'bout Leila. I go get her. Y' jus' relax." He said as they head up the third flight and toward their room. "Take as long as y' need, mon amour."
"Ya spoil me, lover." She said, kissing him softly before she head inside their room and over to the bathroom. "Ya gonna join me for a bit or are ya gonna run off and take care of things?"
"Can join y' if y' want." He said. "A'ways make time fo' y', chere."
Turning on the light, she walked over and started up the tub, stopping it with the stopper before she took her belt off and then stripped from her uniform. "Oh my god, it's drenched." She said, throwing it at Gambit.
He caught it and walked over, tossing it in the dirty hamper. "We clean it up t'is ev'nin'." He said as he stripped from his shirt and followed her to the tub, where the water was a nice level and temperature.
Stripping from his pants, he watched Rogue climb in and add some soothing bubbles and oil to the bath before she lied back. "Don't keep me waitin'." She said, playfully lifting her leg up and kicking.
He chuckled as he walked over and climbed in, facing her. Sitting up, she leaned forward and smiled as he planted a quick kiss on her lips. "Feels nice." He said as she lied back and leaned her head against the edge of the tub.
"Ah feel like it's almost too hot." She said, opening her eyes and looking at Gambit.
"Dat's 'cause y' cold." He said, finding her legs and started to massage them.
"Makes me sad that I don't get called on missions much." Rogue said, watching Gambit massage her left leg.
He smiled at her. "T'ink maybe Scott goin' easy in y' since we have petit." He said. "I notice y' don' go out much wit' de team. De ot'er night be de only time y' come back bruised up."
"That's exactly my thinkin', sugah." Rogue said, watching as his hands gently massaged her calf. "Ah ain't sure what he's tryin' ta protect. Ah can't be hurt."
"Maybe y' can." Gambit said, looking at her in all seriousness. "Chere, maybe it be best if y' take it easy. 'Specially if we gonna adopt."
"Well, what about ya, hun?" Rogue asked.
Gambit smiled lovingly. "Dat be up t' Scott." He said. "Do I like t' go out and kick ass? Y' know I sure as hell do. But, de older we get and de more I see Leila grow, I wanna be here. Don't wanna miss anyt'in'."
Rogue smiled as she leaned forward. "Ah love you." She said, watching him lean forward as well.
"I love y', too." He said, kissing her softly.
"Hello?" A muffled voice was heard from their bedroom.
Breaking the kiss, Rogue raised an eyebrow as Gambit got out of the bathtub and wrapped a towel around his waist, after drying off a bit. Walking out of the bathroom and into their room, he saw Rikki standing in the doorway and noticed her looking over his chest.
"Oh, uh, sorry." She said, turning her head. "I'm sorry to interrupt."
"No, no." Gambit said, taking a step closer. "It's a'right. Wha's de matter?"
Rikki swallowed. "Leila's...well...she took control of student." She said, looking up into his eyes.
"What?" He asked, stunned.
"I don't know. He wouldn't give her the toy he was playing with, so she...took control of him and made him give it to her. Then, she made him walk over to the desks and sit down. He couldn't move." Rikki said, she was obviously frightened. "Remy, I don't know if I can have her in my room."
Rogue walked out in a towel and saw Rikki. "Hey hun." She looked at Gambit and saw the seriousness on his face. "What's wrong?"
"Leila be usin' her powers on her classmates." Gambit said, slowly looking at her.
"Are ya sure?" Rogue asked, looking at Rikki.
Rikki nodded. "I watched it happen." She said. "I'm sorry to upset you two, but I'm afraid for the other children's safety. I can't take the risk and have her in my classroom. I'm sorry. She's with Jean right now, so she's safe."
Quickly walking over to the dresser, Rogue took out a shirt and some jeans. "Ah can't believe this is happening." She said, as Rikki left, leaving them alone. "Ah've gotta get down there and see if she's alright."
"I t'ink she be fine." Gambit said, making eye contact with Rogue after she pulled the shirt over her head. "She obviously know how t' use her powers."
"How can ya stand there so calm?" She had raised her voice louder than she had wanted. Fear obviously grabbing hold of her.
Giving her a loving smile, he walked over and cupped her face in his hands. "Y' mean we been t'get'er dis long an' y' don' know when I'm puttin' m' poker face on?" He asked, kissing her softly. "Je suis terrifié. I be jus' as worried as y', Anna."
Placing her hands on his, she calmed down a little, able to smile back at him. "Ah'm sorry." She said.
He dipped his brows in confusion as she pulled away and finished getting dressed. "Fo' wha'?"
"For always over reactin'." She said, slipping some tights on. "Ah always let my emotions take over first before ah let my brain."
He smiled. "Dat be wha' I love 'bout y', chere." He said, making her smile again as he got dressed with her.
After getting dressed, they made their way to Jean's office. Once they arrived, they opened the door to see Leila laughing with Betsy. They were obviously playing some sort of game. Leila looked over and them and her face beamed with excitement.
"Mommy!" She said, running over and hugging her legs before doing the same to Gambit's. "Hi Daddy!"
"Hey sugah pop." Rogue answered as she picked her up and kissed her cheek a few times. "What are ya up to, hun?"
Leila turned toward Betsy and pointed. "We're playing a game." She said. "It's fun."
Jean and Betsy stood and walked toward them. 'Everything is fine.' Jean communicated to Rogue telepathically. 'I honestly believe she had no idea she did what she did."
'Are ya sure?' Rogue asked back, suddenly hearing Betsy in her mind as well.
'I cautiously danced around the subject with her and she doesn't seem to remember taking control of the boy at all.'
Darting his eyes back and forth between the three women, Gambit knew they were talking amongst themselves telepathically and that was fine by him. Even though he knew he could trust these women, he still hated it when people were able to get into his head. It was a good thing his mutant powers were the way they are and kept them at bay.
Leila reached for Gambit and he smiled, taking his daughter in his arms and kissing her forehead. "Show me wha' y'all be playin', eh?" He walked over to the coffee table and sat down on the couch to let the women discuss in their minds the situation.
Watching her husband and daughter, Rogue hugged herself as she talked to the women through her mind. 'Ah don't know what ta do. Ah'm scared outta my mind. And with us tryin' ta adopt, ah don't know if that's such a good idea with her havin' these powers.'
'Anna.' Betsy got her attention, her eyes focused on her. 'Jean and I have been discussing a way for her to grasp and understand her powers. Would you mind if we worked with her for the rest of the afternoon?'
Swallowing hard, Rogue looked over to see Leila showing the game to Gambit. "Ah guess not." She said, quietly.
Jean placed her hand on Rogue's left shoulder and smiled as she added a light squeeze. "It won't be anything too difficult to discourage her."
"Take your husband and go enjoy yourselves." Betsy said. "Everything will be fine."
Sighing, Rogue lightly nodded as she walked over and forced a smile. "What're y'all doin'?" She asked sitting beside Gambit.
"I'm showing Daddy the game Ms. Betsy taught me." Leila said enthusiastically.
As Leila went back to the items on the coffee table, Rogue looked at Gambit and he recognized the worry in her eyes. Placing his hand on her right knee, he gave a loving smile as he turned his attention back to his daughter, keeping his hand on her knee.
"And that's how you play!" Leila said with a smile as she turned around to see her parent's smiling at her.
"Sounds fun." Rogue said, leaning in and kissing the top of her head. "Ya daddy and ah are gonna leave ya alone ta play with Jeanie and Ms. Betsy, alright?"
"Okay." Leila said, watching as they stood.
"Amusez-vous, mon bel ange." Gambit said, placing his hand on the top of her head as they head toward the two women.
"Ya let me know if anythin' happens." Rogue said as she took Gambit's hand and they left Jean's office.
Slowly, and quietly, they made their way down the hall. Gambit was following her lead and he noticed she was heading for the garage. He didn't say anything as she opened the door and took him over the the Harley that was parked by the convertible. Cocking an eyebrow, he watched as she took a helmet and threw it at him.
"Ah think a good time will help." She said, smiling at him as she put her helmet on.
He did the same and grabbed the keys off the wall and mounted the bike. "Been a while since I ride a hog." He said, placing the key in and turning it, bringing the engine to life.
Giving the throttle a twist, the engine roared. Rogue climbed on behind Gambit and he took the kickstand off and started out and down the driveway. He picked up the speed and smiled, feeling Rogue lean against his back and hold on to him tight. They kept quiet and Gambit drove the bike up a rode leading to some cliffs. He parked and they hopped off, looking out over the neighborhoods below.
"Ya know, it's funny ya drove here." Rogue said, breaking the silence.
"Why's dat?" He asked, placing his arm around her.
Rogue smiled fondly. "When ah was just stayin' here at tha school, ah'd fly up here ta be alone." She said, turning around and pointing to the cliffs just behind there. "There, actually. And then when you came along ah did a lot of thinkin' up there, too."
He chuckled lightly as he hugged her. "I t'row y' fo' a loop, no?" He asked, kissing the side of her head.
"Ya confused tha hell outta me, for sure." She said, resting her head on his shoulder. "But ah'm glad ya did."
"Me too." He said softly, rubbing her back.
"Remy?" She asked, getting his attention. "What are we gonna do about Leila's schoolin'?"
Letting out a big sigh, he shook his head. "No damn clue, chere."
"Rikki's afraid ta have her in her class, and for good reason." Rogue shook her head. "Ah don't know."
"We fig're it out later, eh?" He said, kissing the top of her head. "No sense in worryin' 'bout it righ' now."
"Ah guess ya right." She said, wrapping her arm around his waist.
"How y' ribs?" He asked, gently combing the back of her long hair.
Rogue chuckled lightly. "They're alright." She said, looking up at him with a smile. "Don't hurt unless ah take a deep breath."
"Den maybe dat trainin' be a bad idea, earlier." He said, rubbing her back lovingly.
Still smiling, she wrapped her other arm around him and hugged him. "Nah. That trainin' was good for me. Ah don't hardly get enough trainin' in like ah used to." She said, still feeling him rub her back as they stood in silence for a few minutes more before she decided to break it. "Ah can't wait for ya ta meet Dani's mama."
"Dey comin' back t'night?" He asked, burying his nose in her hair and taking in her sent.
"Ah think tomorrow." She said, pulling away and looking up at him. "That would be too exhaustin' for them just ta get there, pack up and then head back."
Gambit shrugged. "Done it b'fore. Jus' t'ought." He said, looking into her eyes. "I'ma be serious wit' y' right now."
Rogue slightly pulled away and nodded. "Alright, hun." She said, giving him her full attention. "What is it?"
"Should we be adoptin'?" He asked. "I mean right now? Only say dat, 'cause o' Leila an' her powers growin' fast. Y' t'ink it be safe enough?"
Placing her hands on the sides of his face, she looked into his eyes before she slightly shook her head. "Ah don't know, but ah do know that Jean and Betsy are workin' with her ta understand her powers and how ta use them. Ah'm scared as all get out, but ah'm also tryin' ta be hopeful and positive that it'll all click for her soon."
"Y' bein' positive, helps me be strong." He said with a soft smile that caused her to smile back.
"Ah said tryin' ta be." She said, tucking his hair behind his ears.
"Still." He said.
Softly kissing him, her phone rang and they lightly chuckled. "Damn." She said as they pulled away and she answered it. "Hello?"
Turning around, Gambit head back to the bike and leaned against it as he watched her pace back and forth. He smiled at her body language. She would place her hand on her hip and then run it through her hair, fluffing some volume into it before looking out over the view. After a few minutes, she hung up the phone and turned, smiling at him, before she walked over and stood in front of him.
"Well." She said, leaning against his chest. "That was Ororo."
Raising his eyebrow, his placed his hands on her hips. "An'?" He asked.
"They're heading home right now." She said. "Ah'm surprised they're makin' tha round trip."
"Jet be de fastes' way, no?" He said, kissing her forehead.
"Well, yeah." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "But they've gotta be tired. Hell, ah know ah was."
"Dey sleep when dey get back." He said. "Glad Dani like it at de mansion."
"Mm hmm." Rogue said, lying her head on his chest. "Ah hope she learns ta control her powers quickly."
"Dat be up t' her." He said, combing his fingers through her hair. "Y' gonna be her 'go-to' person o' int'rest?"
"Ah thought ah would, considerin' ah was there when we first met her. Plus, she knows about my history with my powers. She's gotten pretty comfortable around me." She said, standing up straight. "Let's head back."
"Thought we was gonna have a good time." He said, watching her put her helmet on.
"There are ways of havin' a good time at home." She said, winking at him. "Besides, we need ta finish that bath."
"Damn. A'right den." Grabbing his helmet before he straddled the bike and brought it to life.
Walking into the hallway, Rogue smiled when she saw Logan heading toward them at the opposite end of the hall. "Hey kid." He said, returning the smile. "What are y'all up to?"
Slightly shaking her head, she took Gambit's left arm. "Just killin' time." She said. "Borrowed ya bike."
He shrugged, taking a sip of the drink he was carrying. "Saw Leila in there with Jean and Betsy. Must be some serious stuff." He said, seeing the mention made Rogue uneasy. "Sorry. I didn't know that-"
"It's alright, hun." She said. "Ah just don't understand why this is all happenin' so fast for her."
Logan chuckled. "Well, you two are pretty powerful mutants. Maybe that jump started the whole process. But, I ain't no expert or scientist. Just my opinion." He said with a sigh. "You wanna hit the danger room?"
Rogue shook her head. "We already did." She said. "Maybe next time."
"Alright." Logan said, taking another sip. "Take care, guys."
Walking down the hall, Rogue slipped her hand in Gambit's as she lead him down and into the library. Heading over to her favorite chair, they sat down and snuggled close. "Ah just wanna sit here for a while, if that's alright." She looked up at him.
"Fine by me, mon amor." He said, kissing her forehead. "Don' mind being anywhere, long as I be wit' you."
Rogue chuckled. "Ya so full of shit." She said, making him chuckle. "But ah love it."
Smiling, he wrapped his right arm around her and hugged her as they sat there in the silence and for what seemed like an eternity. Moving his hand, he began to lightly massage her neck.
"Ya don't gotta stay with me, lover." She said, looking at him. "Why don't ya go to tha danger room with Logan. Ah'm just gonna sit here and wait until they're done with Leila."
"Don't wanna leave y' 'lone." He said, looking back and forth between her bright green eyes. "B'sides, we never finished our bubble bat'."
Rogue chuckled, smiling a real smile this time. "Ah guess we need ta go up and do that, huh?" She asked, playful. "Ah even said we'd come home and do that."
"Mm hmm." He said, looking at her lips. "Don' be lyin' t' me now."
"Never." She said, standing up and taking his hand. "Let's go."
"I think we'll call this session done." Jean said with a smile as she looked at Betsy and then Leila.
"Brilliant work, Leila." Betsy said, patting Leila's back.
"Merci!" Leila said, proud of herself for completely the tasks they gave her.
Betsy smiled. "Is she bilingual?" She asked.
Jean smiled and shook her head. "No. Just a few phrases she's learned from Remy." She said. "Well, you're all done little miss."
Leila hopped off the chair and skipped out of Jean's office. "Bye!" She said as she continued down the hall, passing several students as she made her way to the kitchen. She knew someone would be in there. "Uncle Kurt!"
"Leila!" He matched her enthusiasm as he knelt down and picked her up. "Vhere are you running off to?"
"I just finished a class with Aunt Jeanie." Leila said as she combed through his messy hair.
"Ah, I see." He said as he sat her on the bar island counter. "Vut ver you learning?"
"About my powers." Leila said, distracting herself with fuzz on her uncle's shirt. "Betsy was there too. I like her."
Nightcrawler chuckled. "She is quite remarkable." He said placing his hand on either side of her knees. "So, I vus just about to make a turkey sandvich. Vould you like von?"
"Yes please!" Leila said as she watched her uncle turn around and gather the ingredients needed as she noticed Kitty walk in.
"Hey guys." Kitty said, getting Kurt's attention. "What's up?"
"Just making sandviches." Kurt said, looking at Kitty and smiling warmly. "Vould you like von?"
Kitty shook her head. "No thanks. I'm a little sensitive right now to foods." She said.
"Ah, that is right." Kurt said, continuing to make the food. "Another von on ze vay."
"Another what? What's on the way?" Leila asked.
"I'm having a baby." Kitty said with a smile.
Leila smiled as Kitty grabbed a bottled water from the fridge and head out the back door.
"See you later! Enjoy your sandwiches!" She called as she closed the door.
Leila looked into Kurt's eyes when he looked at her and saw what he was thinking before he went back to finishing up the sandwiches. "I'm sorry you're sad." She said.
"It is not your fault." Kurt said, knowing she wouldn't understand. "It is my own."
"Why?" Leila asked as Kurt turned around holding her sandwich with a smile.
"You vill understand ven you are older." He said, setting the paperplate in her lap. "Now, let us eat!"
A/N: You guys are going to meet Dani's mom in the next chapter. Don't miss it, because it's going to be hilarious.