MARIA FABRICIA
Thank you! I'm glad you liked Chapter 22! I wanted something completely different from what others have written for Gambit and Rogue's child(ren). Let's hope I can keep it interesting for you all. And yes, you will see more power usage from Leila!
DANIELEMLAC
Estou feliz que você gostou! Haverá mais emoção por vir!
"Mommy?" Rogue heard closely in her left ear.
"Mm." She protested being woken up as she rolled on to her back to faintly see Leila looking down at her. "What time is it?"
"Um," Leila said as she looked over at the clock behind her dad. "Five, three, seven."
"Lord." Rogue sighed as she rolled back over on her right side. "Let us sleep a little bit longer, alright, hun?"
"Okay." Leila said as she climbed off their bed and head out of the bedroom and into the hall.
Letting out another sigh, Rogue nestled in close to Gambit. "How she awake so early?" He asked, quietly.
"Hell if ah know." She replied. "At least she's back ta normal."
"Vrai." He answered, rolling on to his left side to face her and wincing at the pain that stabbed his ribs
It was dark and he couldn't see her face. Only the outline with the help of the dim light coming through their window. He felt her hand on the side of his face and then her fingers trace the wounds from the car accident.
"Sounds like ya hurtin'." She said, softly.
"Mo' dan yeste'day." He said, placing his hand on his side. "M' ribs, mos'ly. I go see if anyt'in' be broken."
"Good." She said, gently patting his face. "Now hush up. Ah'm tired."
Chuckling, Gambit felt the sharp pain before he kissed her forehead and pulled her close lying his head down. It only seemed like he just fell asleep, but he opened his eyes when he felt fingers through his hair and saw the sunlight pouring through their bedroom causing him to close his eyes and slowly open them to let them adjust. Focusing his sleepy vision, he was looking up at Rogue. She winked at him before she leaned down and kissed his forehead.
"Leila wants ta go eat breakfast." She said.
Letting out a sigh, Gambit winced as he sat up. "Den le's go." He said, placing his hand on his left rib cage at the sharp pain. "Mm!"
"We don't have ta." Rogue said, placing her hand on his face. "Ah think ya need ta rest. Ya ain't indestructible like me. Ya got banged up pretty bad."
Sitting back against the headboard, he let out a sigh he didn't realize he was holding in. He watched Rogue as she moved in close and traced the long cuts on the side of his left his face.
"Ya think they'll scar?" She asked.
He shrugged. "Ils pourraient." He said. "Look deep enough. Why? Scars make hommes look sexy, eh?"
Rogue cracked a smile as she leaned in and kissed him softly. "Ya know ah'll love ya, scars or no scars." She said as he kissed her back.
"Daddy!" Leila suddenly burst through the bedroom door and jumped on the bed before jumping on her parents.
Gambit tried not to let it show that he was in pain, but was failing miserably.
"I'm sorry!" Leila froze and looked at Gambit.
With his hand still on his ribs, he smiled at his daughter. "It be fine, petite. I jus' be a li'l sore." He said. "Maman say y' wanna go eat."
"Yeah!" She said, her smile coming back.
"Where y' wanna go?" He asked.
"Um." Leila thought. "McDonald's!"
Chuckling, Gambit winced at the pain again. "A'right." He said.
"Come on sugah." Rogue said, grabbing Leila and picking her up. "Let's let daddy get dressed."
Heading into Leila's room, Rogue helped her daughter get dressed and get her shoes on before she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. Heading back into the bedroom, Gambit was sitting on the edge of the bed with his own shoes on, but they weren't tied.
"Can' reach dem." He said with a smirk. "Hurts. Could bearly get dressed."
"Ah don't' know if ya should be goin' out." Rogue said helping him tie his shoes before she placed her hands on his knees. "Ya look pale, Remy."
Gambit shook his head. "T'ink I stay in." He said.
"But I want you ta go!" Leila whined.
"Daddy ain't feelin' too well. How about we go see if ya aunt and uncle wanna join us?" Rogue asked.
"Okay!" Leila said as she ran out of the bedroom door.
"Ya need help makin' it downstairs?" Rogue asked, watching Gambit slowly stand.
"Non. I be fine." He said.
"Well, ah'm gonna walk down with ya anyway." She said, taking his hand.
He smirked as they left their bedroom and head downstairs toward Hank's office. "Hope he's up." Gambit said as they entered and saw him eating a piece of toast.
"Mm!" He said, swallowing the bite. "Good morning."
"Remy's hurtin' bad, Hank." Rogue said.
"Well, let's see what's going on." He said, noticing Gambit holding his side. "Ribs?"
"Mm-hmm." Gambit answered as Hank lifted his left hand up over his head. "Ah!"
"Well, this might be worse than we thought." He said. "Let's get an x-ray."
"Ya let me know what's up." Rogue said as she kissed Gambit's cheek before she left the lab.
Going over to the machine, Beast got it set up before Gambit slowly got on it and lied down. Clicking the x-ray, Beast helped him sit up before he took the slide and placed it into the machine.
"Hmm." He said, placing his blue furry finger on his lips. "There's definitely a break. These two ribs."
Gambit hopped off the table in pain as he slowly walked over and looked at where Beast was pointing. "Clean breaks, no?" He said.
"Indeed." Beast said, studying the x-rays closer. "I'm making sure your lungs aren't punctured. We wouldn't want fluid getting in there."
"Non." Gambit said as he watched Beast.
"I don't see any signs of a puncture." He said, turning to Gambit. "You're quite lucky."
"Wha' y' gonna do t' fix dem?" He asked his blue friend.
"Well," Beast said as he put his hands behind his back. "I'm going to have you place a cold pack on the injury for fifteen to twenty minutes every hour you're awake."
"Dat's it?" Gambit asked. "No wrappin'?"
"Wrapping is old medicine and causes more problems." He said as he walked over to his desk and pulled out his file on Gambit. "I'll get you some strong pain meds, as you're going to want them and I suggest you rest. You look very pale, my friend."
Trying to stretch, the sharp pain hit him again. "Yeah." He said as he watched Beast flip through his past medical charts.
"You should recover quite quickly since you're a remarkably healthy young man." He said.
Gambit chuckled and then caught his breath as the pain stabbed him. "Young. Right." He said.
Beast turned to him and smiled. "You're younger than me, my friend." He said as he pushed his glasses up. "Now, here. Let's get that ice pack and I'll show you some exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles as you recover."
"Attendez. Why can' we jus' have Rikki fix m' up?" Gambit asked as he watched Beast grab the ice pack from the freezer. "Worked fo' Leila, no?"
Shutting the freezer door, Beast put an index finger to his lips. "I suppose we could." He said, tossing him the ice pack. "Until she's free, you're my patient."
Giving a grin back to his furry friend, Gambit placed the ice pack on the ribs that were cracked. He watched as Beast took his file, wrote something in it and then set it on his desk.
"Let me go see if Rikki is available." He said as he left the lab, leaving Gambit alone with the ice pack.
Curious, Gambit walked over and looked through his medical record. He smirked when he turned to the very front and suddenly remembered his first days here. He was a dick and no one liked him, at least that's what he thought. Broken finger, twisted ankle, bruised collarbone, dislocated shoulder and even when he was out cold in that coma. Glancing to the right, he watched his weight and body mass stay the same. He was so vain back then. He noticed it change once they had Leila. He had gained more body fat and just a few more pounds. Guess it was true that kids did that to you. He looked up when he heard footsteps, so he closed his file and leaned against Beast's desk.
"You're in luck. Rikki is not busy." He said, Rikki in tow.
"So you're banged up too, huh?" Rikki asked with a smile as they walked up to Gambit.
"Oui." He said, holding the ice pack on his ribs. "Pretty bad."
"Well, let's get you fixed up." She said. "You'll want to lay down. Sometimes it's painful, but it's a rare thing."
Walking over to the bed, Gambit slowly climbed up and lay down like Rikki had instructed. Taking the ice pack off, he rested his arm beside him and tried not to breathe too deeply, because of the pain.
"I'll need you to lift your shirt up." Rikki said as she saw him grin.
"How fo'ward." Gambit joked as he lifted his shirt up with the help of Rikki.
"Please." She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I have to be touching skin in order for my powers to work."
He grunted at her touch as he felt a warm tingle start to manifest at the sight. Looking down, he saw the yellow glow around her hands where she was touching him. It was a strange sensation in the area of his cracked ribs. Almost as if he could feel them being mended back together. When she was finished she opened her eyes, showing them glow bright yellow.
"Any other areas?" Rikki asked.
"Maybe dis?" Gambit asked, placing his hand on the large patch on his torso.
"You got it." She said as she gently removed the bandage, placed her hands on the wound and closed her eyes, letting her powers flow to the area to mend it.
"Incredible." Beast whispered as he watched her heal the gash before her powers died down and her eyes returned to normal.
"There you are, Mr. LeBeau." She said. "All fixed."
Pulling his shirt down, he then sat up and twisted his torso left and then right before he smiled at Rikki. "T'anks, chere." He said, hopping off the bed and turning to Beast. "By de way, y' t'ink dis'll scar?"
Beast looked at the cuts he was pointing to on his face. "Hmm." He said as he took a step closer. "It's possible."
"Want me to heal them?" Rikki asked.
Gambit shook his head. "Nah. It ain' a big deal." He said, placing his hand on Rikki's left shoulder. "T'anks again."
"Anytime." She said as she walked with him out of Beast's lab. "Where's the rest of your family?"
He shrugged as he ran his fingers through his hair to try and tame it. "Don' know." He said, stuffing his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. "T'ey went out fo' breakfast. How's yo' boy doin'?"
Rikki shrugged as they slowly made their way down the hall. "Alright, I guess. Just a normal five-year-old." She said with a smile.
"Psht! Is t'ere even a real t'in'? Dey be crazy." He said, making her laugh. "My girl wear me out."
"We are talking about Leila, right?" Rikki joked.
Gambit looked at her and smirked. "Anna wear me out, too." He said, making her laugh again as Gabby came around the corner where the entertainment room was.
"Hey." She said with a smile as she saw Gambit.
He got a little more serious as she came up to them. "I feel like I should leave." Rikki said, pointing in the opposite direction.
"Non. Y' be fine, girl." Gambit said. "Dis jus' a ol' friend."
"Uh huh." Rikki said with a smile. "Old girlfriend?"
"It was years ago." She said, looking up into his eyes.
He looked at Rikki. "I'm going to leave you two alone." Rikki said raising her eyebrows. "Have fun!"
Gambit cursed inside as Gabby stepped closer. "Remember our first kiss?" She asked him.
"Which one?" He asked, giving her a playful grin.
"Touché." She said, crossing her arms. "But to be serious. How have you been? I'd like to catch up. You're obviously a teacher at a private school, married to a drop dead gorgeous woman and have a beautiful little girl. What else has happened with you?"
He smiled at her compliments. "I jus' been tryin' t' find where I b'long." He said, looking around at the mansion. "T'ink I foun' dat here."
"I'm glad." Gabby said as they started to slowly head down the hall to where the classrooms were. "You know after you left I decided to go to college in Washington. That's where I met my, soon to be, ex-husband. He was fun, he wasn't you but he was fun. We had a good time but he was verbally abusive at times."
Gambit's brow dipped in anger. "Bastard." He said.
Gabby shrugged. "Is what it is." She said. "He wasn't like that when we were dating. Just all of a sudden after we were married. Of course when Danielle..."
He looked at her to see her tears start to roll down her cheeks. "Hey." He said, turning to her and pulling her into a hug. "Dani be fine now. She be in de best place in de worl' fo' mutants."
"I know." Gabby sniffed, taking in his familiar scent before looking up at him. "The first time she accidentally killed someone with her powers... It was just like any other day. I was waiting for her to cross the street with the other students. When the light turned red, they all began to follow the crossing guard. Every day, she'd give him a high five. So when she reached up and touched his hand, he just...exploded."
"Jésus..." Gambit said as he looked into her eyes.
"It happened that fast. Just that little contact and in the blink of an eye he was gone." She said, staring off into space as she looked at his chest.
Tilting her head up, he forced her to come back. "I'm sorry y' had t' see dat." He said.
She smiled at his concern. "Thank you for putting up with me. I know you probably want to keep your distance." She said.
"Absurdité." He said as he pulled away and they continued slowly down the hall. "Y' one o' de women from m' pas' I don' mind seein'."
"Thank you?" She asked, sharing a laugh with him as she sniffled and then let out a sigh. "God, that was one of the most intense days of my life."
Looking down at his shoes, Gambit nodded. "M' li'l girl got powers." He said, looking up and seeing her do the same.
"Already?" She asked confused.
He nodded. "She be a type o' telepat'." He explained. "Not de normal kind. She have t' be lookin' int' yo' eyes t' see what y' be t'inkin'. Can' seem t' see de pas', t'ough."
"Wow." Gabby said as they came to the end of the hall where his classroom was.
"She, uh, contro'ed a boy de ot'er day." He said, swallowing at the statement.
She looked up at him with a surprised look. "Controlled? Like mind control?" She asked.
He nodded. "De woman I was wit', Rikki? She be Leila's teacher and saw de whole t'in'." He said, his turn to let out a sigh. "Guess dis payback fo' me, eh?"
Gabby cracked a smile as she placed her hand on his upper right arm. "I think that's what children are in general." She said, making him smile before she head into his classroom. "So this is where you teach?"
"Mm-hmm." He answered, following her.
"How long have you been teaching?" She asked.
"Six years." He said, walking over to his desk. "Dis room, five years. Built it fo' me."
"I take it you're in high demand?" Gabby asked, grabbing a lock of hair and twirling it around her right index finger as she looked at the ovens built into the walls.
"Somet'in' like dat." He said, watching her look around the room.
"It's an amazing room." She said, looking back at him with a smile. "I'm glad you've become successful at what you love to do."
He smiled warmly at her. "T'anks." He said. "I was encouraged by Anna and Jean. Glad I did it. I like it." He rubbed his chin, feeling the stubble from the past three days.
Walking back to him she took his right hand and smiled up at him. "I wish you the best in the coming years." She said.
He smiled down at her, giving her hand a light squeeze. "T'ank you." He said. "Hope y' have a good life too."
"Well, after the divorce I will." She said, crossing her arms in front of her. "I think I'll move back to Colorado. Help my dad out."
"How is David doin'?" Gambit asked, looking at her.
Gabby shrugged. "He had to have his left foot amputated due to diabetes." She said. "You know how big he was. He couldn't say no to the sweets. Other than that, he's his jolly self. I try to call him at least once a week."
"Well, de next time y' call 'im, tell 'im I said hi." He said.
Gabby gave him a warm smile. "I will. He'll be happy to know I got to see you again." She said.
"Remy got him hands full wit' dis one, fo' sho'." Mercy said as they watched her boss the other children around in the play area of McDonald's. "Petite fille folle."
Rogue shook her head. "Ya have no idea." She said with a smile as she watched Leila slide down the slide. "She has my stubbornness and his determination."
"Sound like yo' screwed." Henri joked, making them all chuckle. "Remy be a handful when he was a kid."
"Turn out jus' fine, t'ough." Mercy said, winking at Rogue.
"Ah wasn't no angel, myself." Rogue said, leaning against the table as she took a sip of her orange juice. "Lord knows ah put my family through hell."
"T'ink dat be expected o' kids, no?" Henri said, sipping his black coffee.
"What about y'all?" Rogue asked. "Do y'all have any kids?"
Mercy shook her head. "Non." She said, smiling at Henri. "Decided it was bes' if we didn'."
"Ah see." Rogue said, seeing Leila run out of the play area and to their table. "Ya ready ta go?"
"I just need a drink." Leila said, taking her chocolate milk and chugging it.
"Slow down." Rogue said, taking it away. "Ya gonna make ya self sick."
Breathing heavily to catch her breath, Leila smiled up at Mercy. "Don' go t'rowin' up, now." She said, running her fingers through Leila's hair. "Don' want dat."
"Ya daddy would kill me if ya got sick." Rogue said, winking at her daughter before taking a napkin. "Come here. Ya got pancake all over ya face. People are gonna think ah don't care about ya."
After wiping her face off, Rogue held on to her hand. "I wanna go play!" Leila exclaimed.
"We need ta go check on ya daddy." Rogue said, standing and gathering their trash. "Need ta make sure he's alright and able ta take ya ta tha zoo in tha future."
"Sound like mighty impor'nt business." Henri said with a smile as he took the tray from Rogue and threw the trash away.
"Tha zoo is serious business. Ya don't mess with this girl and tha zoo." Rogue said as she put her sunglasses on and walked with them out to the car.
After piling in, they head back to the mansion where they entered and Leila immediately ran off. "Au revoir." Henri chuckled as she disappeared down the hall.
"Ah swear." Rogue said as she smiled at Henri and Mercy. "Don't think she ever stops."
"'Ey! Where my li'l girl at?" Gambit called from down the hall as he and Gabby walked up to the group. "Y' go off an' sell her?"
Rogue smiled. "She's off doin' her own thing." She said, looking Gambit up and down. "Ya seem all fixed."
"Rikki." Gambit said, placing his hands on his torso. "De woman got some mighty pow'ful abilites."
"Yes she does." Rogue said as she looked at Gabby. "My goodness, how rude of us. Gabby, this is Remy's brother and sister-in-law."
Gabby looked at Henri and Mercy. "Well, I never knew you had a brother." She said, shaking their hands. "It's nice to meet you two."
"Doesn' su'prise me dat y' know dis belle jeune femme." Henri said, kissing the back of her hand. "Pleasure, chere."
Gambit rolled his eyes before turning to Rogue to see her amused at his brother's comments. "Where y'all eat at?" He asked.
Rogue shook her head. "McDonald's." She said. "Ah swear ta god ah'm gonna throw up."
He smirked. "Den why'd y' eat t'ere?" He asked.
"Because that's where ya daughter wanted ta eat." Rogue said as she looked down the hall. "Speaking of, ah need ta find that child. Y'all excuse me."
As Rogue walked off, Gambit watched her and looked over her backside before a hand waved in front of his face. "Y' was gone." Henri said.
"Wha'? I can' be captivated by m' wife?" He asked.
"Wish yo' brot'er looked at me like dat." Mercy said, jokingly.
Henri got defensive. "Excusez-moi?" He asked, seeing her playful grin. "Je pensais que je te gardais satisfait."
Gambit laughed as Mercy grabbed his shirt. "Y' do." She said, giving him a kiss.
"I have no clue what is happening, but I think it's good?" Gabby asked.
"Oui." Gambit chuckled as he placed his hand on Gabby's upper arm and gently led her to follow him. "Bes' be leavin', chere. Dey pro'ly gonna make out now."
Gabby laughed as they walked into the kitchen. "I think ya lost this, bub." Wolverine said with a smile as he had Leila draped over his shoulders.
"Daddy!" Leila said with a smile.
"Was beginnin' t' t'ink mommy sold you." Gambit said as he took her from Logan. "How was breakfas'?"
"Good!" She said, feeling the stubble on his face. "I got to play in the play area."
Gambit pouted. "Lucky." He said, making her giggle as he looked at Wolverine. "Y' up fo' some trainin'?"
Wolverine's brow dipped. "I thought you were banged up?" He asked.
"Rikki help me out." He said, looking into Leila's eyes before kissing her forehead. "Mommy be lookin' fo' y'. Bes' go find her."
Kissing her forehead again, Gambit put his daughter down and watched as she ran off. "That kid sure knows how to tug on the heart strings." Wolverine chuckled.
"She get away wit' murder." Gambit said as Charles entered with Cyclops. "Ey, y' should get Rikki t' fix yo' foot."
Smiling, Cyclops stopped and opened the fridge. "I don't want to use her." He said.
Gambit shrugged. "She mo' dan happy t' help me out. She do de same fo' you, mon ami." He said.
"I'll think about it." Cyclops continued to smile as he took out a bottled water.
"How is your little one doing?" Charles asked, looking up at Gambit. "I can sense her running all over the place already."
Chuckling, Gambit shook his head. "She be back t' normal." He said, placing his hands on his hips. "T'anks fo' everyt'in'."
"Of course. You need only ask." Charles said with a smile. "By the way, I'll be sitting in on Leila's next training session with Jean. If she's as powerful as Jean and Betsy claim, then we need to make sure she knows how to control it and use it as soon as possible."
"Don' gotta tell me dat." Gambit said, letting out a sigh as he slightly shook his head.
"And I'll be starting your daughter's training tomorrow." Charles said to Gabby.
"Thank you." Gabby said. "What is this school going to cost me?"
Charles put his hand up and shook his head with a smile. "There is no cost." He said. "I'm helping these kids because they need to learn how to control their gifts in society. There needs to be peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants and if I can help in any way, I'd like to."
"Well thank you." Gabby said. "I'm glad that someone cares enough for our children to help them. And I'm glad I know a good man here."
She looked at Gambit and smiled. "Remy has come a long way since he first came to this school." Charles said.
"A long way." Cyclops added, making them chuckle.
"A'righ', don' be gangin' up." Gambit said as he leaned against the island bar and crossed his arms over his chest and sighed.
Wolverine stepped closer and stood beside Gambit. "You and Anna should take off." He said. "After this week, you two need a vacation."
"That is an excellent idea." Psylocke said as she entered the kitchen with Jean. "And I know just the place."
"Do y' now?" Gambit asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Sydney." Psylocke said with a smile.
"Australia?" Gambit asked as he chuckled. "Why t'ere?"
"Betsy and I have been chatting. She needs someone to help her find that young mutant that broke into her house." Jean said. "Plus when the job's done, you two can enjoy yourselves however you like."
"All expenses paid." Betsy said.
"Hmm." Gambit thought as he looked at the tile floor. "I talk wit' Anna. Sound good, no?"
"Talk with me about what?" Rogue asked as she walked in holding Leila's hand.
Betsy smiled. "I was just proposing the two of you come to Australia and help me with something and then you can take a vacation while in Sydney." She said.
"A vacation sounds really nice." Rogue said as she looked at Gambit. "Haven't had a real vacation in probably a year."
"Jus' de two o' us, anyway." He said.
"I can't come?" Leila asked, looking up at her mother with a sad expression.
"Leila, you have your training and school to go to." Jean said, placing her hand on the back of Leila's head.
"But daddy does cooking." Leila said.
Rogue smiled. "Ya daddy can find someone ta teach his class for him. There ain't anyone that can go ta school or do ya trainin' for ya, sugah." She said as she picked Leila up and kissed her cheek before looking at Betsy. "When would we leave, if we decide ta go?"
"As long as Jean feels comfortable with Leila's training, I would say as early as Wednesday." Betsy said. "But of course, you would tell me how much time you need to prepare. I know this was just thrown on you."
Shaking her head, Rogue looked at Gambit. "Ah'm up for it. What about ya, lover?" She asked.
Gambit shrugged. "Sound good." He said darting his eyes back to Betsy. "I'm in."
"Perfect." Betsy said. "I'll arrange everything for you two. Flights, hotels, etcetera. Thank you both for helping me."
"It's tha least we can do since ya helped with Leila." Rogue said.
A/N: Thanks for reading guys!
Just so you know, the next chapter will focus more on Leila and Dani while Gambit and Rogue get ready for their trip.
I'll dive in to their minds and let you all see what they're thinking.
Also - I've started on a new story called 'Colorado'. It has Gabby in it, just to hit on her and Gambit's past.
Of course you don't have to read it to understand anything in this story. Just a fun little thing I decided to do, since everyone was hating on her lol.
It isn't going to be a long story, by the way.