Fluffing her hair again, Rogue turned to her sleeping husband and smiled. He was lying on his stomach with his head turned toward her, not even on the pillow. How he slept like that was a mystery. She had gotten up early and was surprised she didn't wake him. Sleep didn't come to her last night. She was too excited about today. Walking over, she moved the hair out of Gambit's face and kissed his cheekbone before she grabbed her phone and head out of the bedroom.
Checking her missed messages, she saw one from Dani. Smiling, she opened the text and read it. They would be here at seven in the morning and she was so excited for her mom to meet everyone and see the 'awesome school'. Glancing at the clock in the corner of her phone, she saw it was almost seven. They were suppose to come in last night, but they had a change in plan. Rogue had chatted with Storm before she went to bed and the girl was exhausted. She now thought maybe she had gone with her, since Rogue had met her mom and Dani was comfortable around her.
Heading downstairs, Rogue dismissed the thoughts. What's done was done and she couldn't fix the past now.
Walking into the kitchen, she saw someone had already started a pot of coffee and it was still full. "First cup is always the best." She said as she walked over and grabbed a mug out of the cupboard and poured herself a cup.
Adding a touch of creamer and sugar, she took a sip. "Any good?" Scott startled her.
"My lord, ya scared me." Rogue said, placing her hand on her chest.
He chuckled. "Sorry about that. Wasn't my intent." He said, pouring a cup for himself. "What are you doing up so early?"
Taking another sip of the warm, lightly sweetened coffee, Rogue shook her head. "Ah couldn't sleep. Got a big day ahead of us."
"The adoption." Scott said with a smile.
"Well, we're gonna see if it'll be possible for us ta adopt." She said, looking down into her cup. "Ah pray ta God we get to."
"Everything will be fine." Scott said, patting her back softly before he hobbled over to the bar stool.
Looking at the boot on his foot, Rogue leaned against the counter. "How ya holdin' up?" She asked, seeing him chuckling in annoyance.
"It's slowing me down." He said, setting his cup down. "But I know it'll take time until I'm one hundred percent. How are your ribs?"
Touching her abs, she ran her hand over either side of her rib cage. "Ah'm fine now." She said.
"Strange how you were even hurt." Scott said. "I thought you were indestructible."
"So did ah." She said, glancing at him.
"You ever feel like Carol's powers will one day just stop?" He asked.
"Sometimes." She said, knowing the conversation was a friendly one. "Ah mean, ah know that ain't ever gonna happen, but ah think about it."
"But when you touch someone, you have their powers for a time frame and then they wear off." Scott said. "Wouldn't it be the same with Carol? Even after all this time, there's a chance they'll wear off."
Rogue shook her head. "Ah highly doubt that." She said. "What ah did ta that woman, she's stuck with me 'till the day ah die."
The ding of her phone broke their conversation. Getting it out of her pocket, she saw it was Dani.
"They just landed." Rogue said, tucking her phone back in her pocket. "Time ta be a Southern Hostess."
Cyclops smiled as they made their way to the hangar where they watched the three women exit the jet. "Good morning." He greeted them with a smile.
"Good morning, my friends." Storm said with a smile as she helped Gabby carry her suitcase.
"Nice ta see ya again, hun." Rogue said, hugging Gabby. "Make ya self at home. Let me know if ya need anything."
"Thank you." Gabby said as they head inside and into the hallway.
"Ya wanna stay with Dani or do ya want ya own room?" Rogue asked. "Ya let us know."
"I can stay with Dani. It's no problem." She said. "I'm only here for a short while, anyway."
"Alright." Rogue said as they walked into the kitchen. "Y'all hungry? Ah can have my husband make breakfast. He needs ta get up anyway."
"Ooh!" Dani said, taking her mom's arm. "He's a great cook!"
"If he's asleep, I don't want to wake him for us. Especially for someone he's never met." Gabby said.
"Nonsense." Rogue said, waving her hand. "He likes tha attention."
Pulling her phone out, Rogue called him. It took a few rings but his groggy voice finally answered.
"Hey, lover." She said with a smile. "Get down here and make me some breakfast." There was a pause as she listened to him. "Ah'll let ya know when ya get down here. Don't keep me waitin' too long, hun."
"Are you sure it's alright?" Gabby asked. "I feel like a burden."
"Please, he'll be more than happy ta cook for us." Rogue said, leaning against the counter and took a sip of her coffee. "Mm! Get ya some coffee if ya want. Got a whole pot."
Taking a moment to wake up, Gambit closed his eyes as he lay on his back. He didn't want to get out of bed, but he also didn't want to keep his wife waiting. Finally sitting up, he got out of bed and pulled the jeans on that he wore yesterday and opened the dresser, pulling out a short sleeved Heather gray tee. After slipping that over his head, he ran his fingers through his hair several times before he head out.
Making his way down the hall and toward the stairs, he rubbed his eyes as he heard the sound of more than just one person in the kitchen. Sighing, he knew he'd have to make breakfast for everyone that was there. It was fine, really. He didn't mind doing it occasionally for his friends. After all, they do put up with him.
Reaching the ground floor, he rubbed his left eye as he took a right and entered the kitchen. "A'right. Wha's wit' all de noise, eh?" He asked.
"Good morning, Remy." Storm said with a smile.
"Remy?" Gabby asked.
Focusing on her, Gambit's eyes widened. "Wha'... wha' y' doin' here?" He asked.
Gabby chuckled. "I'm Dani's mother." She said standing and walking up to him.
"Well, looks like y'all know each other already." Rogue said, knowing full well how.
"We dated." Gabby said. "Twenty years ago."
"So this is the mutant ya were talkin' about." Rogue said as she walked up and stood beside them.
"You dated my mom?" Dani asked, looking up at Gambit.
"Fo' a few mont's." He said, seeing her excitement build.
"You're like my dad, then!" She said excitedly.
"It don' work like dat." Gambit said. "Dis a li'l awkward, no?"
"I wish you were her father." Gabby said. "Her father is an idiot."
"I'm sorry yo' goin' t'rough all dat." He said, his tone was sincere.
"It isn't your fault, Remy." She said, placing her hand on his forearm. "But thank you."
Rogue pursed her lips together. "How about that breakfast, hun?" She said, breaking their conversation.
"Right." Gambit said, turning toward the oven and started to gather necessary pans.
He kept quiet as he made their meal, but listened in on the conversations they were having. Knowing one of his his exes was talking with his wife was making him even more uncomfortable. He could only imagine what Rogue was thinking. Actually, he didn't want to know. Dani's next question made him cringe, bringing up a past he'd been trying to forget.
"How did you meet Mr. LeBeau?" Dani asked her mom.
"Uh." Gabby started, he could hear the uncertainty in her voice. "He did some work for your grandpa when we were living in Colorado."
Gambit appreciated that she kept it at that. Their summer was more than just dating and he didn't want to bring up any of that, either.
"T'ere done." He said, getting their attention as he set the plate of pancakes on the counter, before pouring the scrambled eggs in a bowl.
The awkwardness in the room was noticeable to all, but no one said anything or left. Taking the scrambled eggs, he walked over and placed it in the middle of the small table before he did the same with the plate of pancakes and the bottle of syrup.
"This looks great. Thank you." Gabby said, giving Gambit a warm smile.
"Don' t'ank me." He said, taking a seat beside Rogue. "T'ank my wife."
Rogue smiled as she plated up some pancakes and handed them to Gabby. "We're happy ta have ya." She said, giving Gabby a friendly wink.
"Mr. LeBeau is the culinary teacher." Dani said, shoving a piece of pancake in her mouth. "I'm in his last class."
Gabby smirked. "You always did like to cook." She said, glancing across the table at him, making eye contact. "Always tried to impress."
"So Gabby." Cyclops spoke up, trying to help lighten the mood. "How long will you be staying with us?"
Gabby shrugged. "A few days." She said, looking at Dani. "Just to take a look around the school, since Dani is so adamant about staying. I wanted to see what the hype was."
"This is an excellent school." Storm said. "Not only will Dani learn to control her powers, but she will also have scholastic studies."
"Good." Gabby said, smiling at Dani. "I don't want her slacking. You let me know if she does."
"I won't." Dani said, rolling her eyes.
Shuffling feet were heard and they all looked over to see Leila enter into the kitchen. "Morning, angel." Rogue said, picking her up and putting her in her lap.
Leila leaned against her mom and closed her eyes. "Who is this?" Gabby asked.
"This is our daughter, Leila." Rogue said, brushing Leila's hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "She ain't a mornin' person for the first few minutes of wakin' up."
"I don't blame her." Gabby said with a warm smile. "Aww, she's beautiful."
"Thanks." Rogue said with a smile as she glanced at Gambit, who was smiling also before he took her in his arms and let her rest against his chest.
"Daddy's girl." Gabby said, watching him pat her back softly.
"Absolument." Gambit said, kissing the top of Leila's head. "Love dis petit."
They finished their breakfast and loaded their dishes in the washer before they went their separate ways. Gambit and Rogue were up in their room getting ready for their big day and helping Leila get dressed as well. Rogue had kept quiet the entire time, only talking to Leila when necessary. Gambit knew it was about Gabby and their past relationship. He couldn't blame her, but it wasn't like he was sleeping with her now. That was in the past.
"There ya go, sugah. Now run on. Ya daddy and ah will be back ta take ya ta the zoo." Rogue said, standing.
When Leila left the room, Gambit walked up and placed his hand on Rogue's lower back, running it up into her hair. "Why y' so quiet?" He asked, finding her neck and lightly massaging it.
Rogue pulled away and turned to him. "Ya know why." She said, looking up into his eyes.
"Chere, dat was twenty years ago." He said.
"Ah know, but it's awkward and ah feel jealous." She said, looking away. "Ah know ah shouldn't, but ah do."
"Hey." He said, taking a step closer and cupping her face. "Don' be jealous. Sure I got a past wit' Gabby dat's pretty intimate, but I didn' marry her. I married you. Dere ain' not'in' b'tween us, chere."
"She's still hung up over ya. It's obvious." Rogue said, placing her hands on his.
"Well, seein' me brought back good mem'ries." He said. "Her life is not'in' but shit right now. Fallin' apart wit' a divorce an' her daughter's powers be outta control. Let her 'member somet'in' good, eh?"
Rogue sighed before she looked up into his eyes and smiled. "Ah'll try my best ta not get jealous." She said, kissing him.
"Bon." He said, kissing her back a little longer this time, lingering on her lips. "Je t'aime."
"So, the adoption process is mainly paperwork." Lawrence Henry said, handing them contracts. "There will be interviews. Just to get to know the both of you so they can put the right child with you. Have you decided on an age?"
Gambit looked at Rogue, who spoke for them both. "Ah think we'll be fine with any child under five. We have a five year old already." She said, seeing Lawrence nod.
"That's good." He said as they read over the contract. "Mr. LeBeau, if they do what to interview you, you might want to think about contacts. Just for the interview."
"But dey know we mutants, no?" He asked.
"Well, yes, but you don't want to scare them right off the bat." Lawrence said. "I've worked with several mutants who've come to me for help with adopting and the more human looking you are, the better your chances. It isn't fair, no, but that's how it works."
Looking at Rogue, Gambit smirked. "Wha' color y' want m' eyes?" He asked.
Smiling back at him, she ran her fingers through his hair. "Maybe gray, like Leila?" She asked.
"A'right." He said as Lawrence sat a pen down in front of them.
"If you want to start the process, go ahead and sign the contracts, after reviewing them of course, and I'll submit it for you." Lawrence said. "It could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how they feel about you and which children are up for adoption. The numbers fluctuate often."
"That's horrible." Rogue said, skimming over the contract before picking up the pen and signing.
Taking the pen from Rogue, Gambit looked the contract over before he signed his name at the bottom. "Dere y' are, mon ami." He said, handing the contracts and pen back to Lawrence.
"Perfect. I'll submit these first thing Monday morning." He said with a smile. "Tell Charles hello for me."
"We definitely will." Rogue said as she and Gambit stood, shook his hand and left his office.
Walking outside and into the beautiful weather, Rogue flashed him a smile as she brought her hand up and blocked the sun from her eyes. Smiling back, he took her left hand as they walked to the car.
"Ah can't believe it's already happenin'." She said as she watched him open the door for her.
"Might have t' wait a while. Jus' be prepared fo' dat." He said, making sure she was in the car before closing the door and going around to the driver's side.
"Ah'm fine with waiting. We've waited this long, right?" She asked, smiling at him again.
Gambit sat there for a moment, starring at the steering wheel before he looked at her with a seriousness she hadn't seen in quite some time.
"What's tha matter, hun?" She asked, placing her hand on his right forearm.
"Wha' if dat stuff I drank fixed me?" He asked.
Rogue gave him a warm smile as she took her hand from his arm and placed it on the side of his face. "Then that's great." She said, rubbing the apple of his cheek. "But until that's confirmed, we should proceed with tha adoption. What do ya say, lover?"
Softening his look, he finally smiled and gave her a little nod before starting up the car and heading back toward the mansion.
"How old are you, Leila?" Gabby asked with a smile as she sat in the floor of the game room and combed the mane of the stuffed giraffe.
"Five." Leila said, letting Gabby comb Freddie's hair.
"Wow." Gabby said. "You're a big girl, then."
"Mm hmm." Leila said as she smiled at Logan, who sat in the recliner across from her. "I'm going to the zoo today."
"Oh that's exciting!" Gabby said. "Do you like the zoo?"
"Yeah." Leila said, looking over at Dani. "I go a lot. I like giraffes."
"Giraffes are the coolest animals!" Gabby said as they heard footsteps in the entryway of the game room.
"Here's where tha party is." Rogue said with a smile as Leila's face beamed.
"Mommy!" She yelled as she got up and ran over to her.
"Hey baby." She said, picking her up and kissing her cheek. "What have ya been up to?"
"She introduced me to Freddie." Gabby said, standing and facing Rogue. "I learned giraffes are her favorite and she goes to the zoo often."
Rogue smiled. "Are ya makin' friends with Miss Gabby?" She asked Leila, who nodded.
"Where's Remy?" Gabby asked.
Narrowing her gaze, Rogue kept her smile. "Puttin' tha car seat in tha car." She said as she looked at Leila. "We promised a trip for this little princess."
"We're going to the zoo!" Leila exclaimed.
"I'm jealous." Gabby said with a smile. "Have a wonderful time."
"Listen." Rogue said, placing her hand on Gabby's shoulder. "Go talk ta him if ya want. Ah don't mind, gal. Go on."
Giving Rogue a smile, she head down the hall and opened the door that lead into the garage. She saw Gambit in the back seat of the car, strapping the car seat in and securing it before he got out and stood up. Closing the door, he turned and paused when he saw Gabby standing there.
"Hey." She said, crossing her arms.
"Hey." He answered, darting his eyes back and forth.
"Anna said I should talk to you." She said, seeing him relax some.
"Oh, a'righ' den." He said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Giving him a warm smile, Gabby looked him over. "You look great. The years have really treated you well." She said, seeing him smirk. "I know I've gained weight and have wrinkles from my shitty marriage from stress. Grey hair popping up every day it seems."
"Non." He said, causing her to stop talking. "Y' look good. Jus' like de day we met."
"You're such a liar." She said, chuckling.
"Ain' lyin', chere." He said, seeing her look at him. "Bad choice o' words?"
She shook her head. "No." She said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I just hate my life."
"Gabby." He said walking over and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Why didn't you just stay with us?" She asked. "Weren't you happy?"
"Listen. I'm sorry fo' jus' up an' leavin' y' like dat. I know y' never und'stand it, but I lef' t' keep y' safe." He said, shaking his head. "At dat time, had some bad t'ings goin' on in m' life. People be after me. Didn' want y'all gettin' hurt."
"Were you happy?" She asked, looking him in the eyes.
"Of course I was." He said, running his hands through his hair. "But I had t' leave t' protect y' and yo' dad."
She sarcastically scoffed. "Bullshit. You don't up and leave if you're happy." She said.
"I was scared, ok?" He said.
"Of what?" She asked.
"Gettin' too close." He said, seeing her reaction.
"Too close?" She asked. "Remy, we had sex multiple times. How is that not 'too close'?"
"Y' know wha' I mean." He said, giving her a serious look.
The garage door opening broke their conversation as Rogue walked out with Leila. "Hope ah'm not interruptin'." She said, seeing Gabby's red eyes.
She shook her head. "Not at all." She said, sniffling. "Just reminiscing. I'll let you get going on your family outing."
Watching her walk past and into the mansion, Rogue looked at Gambit. "Is everything alright?" She asked.
Sighing, he rubbed his face before he smiled at her. "Le's go t' de zoo, eh?"
"Yay!" Leila said as they got in the car and head out.
A/N: Shorter chapter. I have a lot going on at the moment. Went to MegaCon Tampa Bay, finished up several commissions and have another set I've gotta get finished up. Plus, hurricane Irma didn't help with finances, lol. I hope you all are enjoying this chapter. Let me know what you think about Gabby! I have a surprise coming soon!