MARIA FABRICIA
You'll see some excitement in the next chapter, for sure! Just stay with me!
As for Leila having more powers, don't you think that's enough? That poor girl!
TROUBLEDOBSESSION
Yes. Jean needs to calm the fuck down and wait for G&R to get back! I know she's worried, but jeez!
Just read this chapter and you'll be satisfied with this whole situation... I hope!
AMBERLADY42
We'll never know what Henri was doing in NOLA before returning home...
As for the kid, you'll see what's going on sooner or later ;)
And yes, I wish they could've brought Leila with them, but they'll come back as a family (hopefully) soon!
NOTE: I'm really trying to bring the "Yat" accent out. Those of you who don't know, it's what they call the accent down in New Orleans area. Marvel and The Animated Series has lied to you about Gambit's accent all these years, lol. Try and read their Cajun accents with a flavor of Jersey. That's the only way I can describe it. Hope you enjoy!
Killing time, Gambit took Rogue down to the bayou he would visit frequently with Henri and Emil when they weren't out doing jobs. They didn't stay long as the mosquitoes began to eat them alive, so they head back and opted for relaxing on the front porch. Since they were an hour behind, they talked with Leila for a while and let Jean-Luc talk with her as well. She was a little upset that she wasn't there with her parents, but they assured her that they would return on a family vacation to visit.
A car pulled up and Mercy was the first to get out, shutting the door behind her. "Remy?" She asked, a smile on her face as she looked their direction, seeing them on the porch. "Anna? Wha' chu doin' hya?
Standing, they walked down and hugged her. "We's here t' talk t' yo' husband." Gambit said.
"Oh?" Mercy said as she looked back to see Henri gathering some things from the back seat. "Well, he be worn out. So, don' keep 'im from him bed too long, no?"
"We won't." Rogue said with a smile as she saw Henri walking towards them. "Hey, hun!"
"Shit, wha' chu's doin' down hya?" He asked as he walked up and hugged Rogue, giving her a kiss on the cheek, before he hugged Gambit. "Good t' see y' fin'lly come t' visit."
Gambit forced a smile. "Been needin' t' talk t' you, Henri." He said. "Me an' Anna be here on business."
"Oh?" Henri asked, looking at Rogue before he looked back at Remy. "Qu'Est-ce que c'est?"
Gambit shook his head. "En privé." He said.
"Hmm." Henri said jutting his jaw to the right. "Bien. We go upstairs."
After getting their things inside, Gambit and Rogue walked with Henri upstairs to his and Mercy's bedroom. Closing the door, he looked at the both of them and saw the concerned looks on their faces.
"I do somet'in' t' offend y'all?" Henri asked.
Folding his arms over his chest, Gambit sighed. "Jus' need y' to be honest wit' me." He said.
"Ok." Henri said.
"I need t' know 'bout Australia." Gambit said.
Henri's brows dipped in confusion. "Australia?" He asked. "Wha' 'bout it?"
Looking at Rogue, he saw her smile so he continued. "We jus' flew in from t'ere on business. Someone be hirin' dis mutant kid t' break into places and thief stuff." He said, seeing Henri even more confused. "Took somet'in' from a friend o' ours."
"Wha' dis hafta do wit' me?" Henri asked.
"Need y' t' be honnête." Gambit said. "Whachu know 'bout it?"
Looking at Rogue and then back at Gambit, Henri shook his head. "Remy, I don' know wha' de hell y's talkin' 'bout. I ain' neva been t' Australia." He said, being caught off guard as Gambit grabbed his shirt roughly.
"Ne me ment pas!" Gambit lowered his voice. "Anna saw it in dat boy's mind. You. Makin' a deal wit' someone. Now dat boy is dead! Sniped t'rough de chest!"
"Remy..." Rogue said, trying to calm him.
Henri shoved Gambit, but he still had a grip on his shirt. "Get yo' hands offa me, boy!" He said, raising his voice. "Look like y's been played. I ain' neva been t' Australia. How y' even gonna come here an' accuse me o' such a t'ing? Yo' brother! Callin' me a killa. Swear on m' mama's grave I tellin' y' de trut'."
Gambit calmed down, knowing full well he was telling the truth, so he let go of Henri's shirt.
"Henri?" Rogue asked, getting his attention and calming him as she placed her hand on his upper arm. "Ah know what ah saw. Ah saw ya making a deal with a someone. Maybe ya weren't in Australia, but ah know what ah saw when ah took that boy's memories."
"I bein' honest witchu. I ain' got no clue wha' y's talkin' 'bout. I t'ink t'ere someone out t'ere tryna frame me fo' somet'in'. I ain' neva dealt wit' de likes o' dat." Henri said, explaining to Rogue and then looking at Gambit. "De only ot'a t'ing I can t'ink of be de Assassins. Dey de ones dat ain' got no problem killin'."
Gambit sighed. "Don' wanna deal wit' dem." He said, looking at Henri and then Rogue.
"I go witchu." Henri said adding a smirk. "A'ways like seein' dem get all uppity at de sight o' a t'ief."
"How about tomorrow?" Rogue said. "It's getting mighty late."
"Oui." Henri said. "We go t'morra."
"Henri?" Gambit asked, making his brother look at him. "Je suis désolé."
He smiled at his younger brother. "Ne t'inquiète pas pour ça." He said, placing his hand on Gambit's left shoulder. "I know y's jus' tryin' t figure dis all out. Neva could keep yo' cool, no?"
"Non." Gambit said as they left the bedroom and head down the stairs.
As they entered into the kitchen where everyone else was, Rogue slipped her hand in Gambit's and smiled up at him when he looked at her. "When y's leavin'?" Emil asked, handing Gambit a beer.
"Don' know." He said, looking at Rogue again. "Two days?"
"That sounds fine." She said as Emil handed her a beer, making her laugh.
"Well, le's enjoy de time we have!" Emil said as he clashed his beer bottle against Gambit's.
"With Anna taking taking over as councilor, I was thinking I could not only mentor Leila but also teach her scholastically." Jean proposed to Charles.
"Are you sure you can take that on?" Charles asked. "In your state, that may be an extra strain for you."
Jean shook her head. "I'm willing." She said. "Leila is too advanced for the children that are her age. The school work she receives isn't even a challenge for her like it is with the others. Being telepathic, she knows more than a five year old should. Part of me worries about that. Plus, her classmates are frightened of her."
"What do Anna and Remy think about this?" Charles asked.
Once again, Jean shook her head. "I haven't discussed it with them, but I know they would agree."
"Jean," Charles began as he placed his elbows on the arm rests of his chair. "Before you go any further with this plan, I want you to talk with them. It is their child, after all."
"Alright." She said, nodding. "Nothing will change until they get home and I have a moment to chat with them."
"Good." Charles said as he smiled at her. "Now go and take care of yourself."
Jean smiled as she stood up and left his office. Heading down the hall, she smiled at Kitty who seemed distant. She could sense sadness.
"Kitty, is everything alright?" Jean asked.
She forced a smile. "Not really." She said.
"You know you can talk to me." Jean said seeing her eyes starting to water.
"I think I'm miscarrying." Kitty said as she hugged Jean.
Jean sighed as she hugged her friend tight. "I'm so sorry." She said.
"I noticed it this morning." She said, crying into Jean's shoulder. "Why?"
"These things happen. I can't tell you why, they just do." Jean said, pulling away and looking into her eyes. "Does Craig know?"
Kitty shook her head. "He'd be devastated." She said, her breath shaky. "I can't tell him unless I know for certain."
Jean forced a smile. "I miscarried twice before this one." She said. "I know exactly what you're going through. Feelings and all. Please come and see me if you need anything. I mean that."
"Alright." Kitty said as she hugged Jean again. "Thank you."
"Of course." Jean said as she watched Kitty walk away.
"What's up with Kat?" Wolverine asked.
Jean shook her head. "She's having a rough time." She said as she looked around them. "Where's Leila? I thought she was joined at the hip with you."
Wolverine chuckled. "Dropped her off with Kurt." He said. "She wanted to hear more stories."
Jean looked at her watch. "It's nine twenty seven. I think she needs to be in bed." He said.
"Mach dir keine Sorgen." They looked to see Nightcrawler carrying a passed out Leila. "She fell asleep during ze story of ze ark."
"Don't blame her." Wolverine said as he took the sleeping child from Nightcrawler. "She passed out quick."
"Vell, she had been running avound." Nightcrawler said as he pushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "She is a remarkable child."
"That's one way of puttin' it." Wolverine said as he looked down to see her start to drool. "Alright. Bedtime. See you in the morning."
The light poured into the bedroom causing Rogue to finally wake up. She noticed Gambit was still in bed, but not sure if he was asleep. Moving closer, she kissed his shoulder and saw him turn his head and look at her.
"So you are awake." She said.
"Mm hmm." He answered as he rolled on his right side and faced her. "Bein' here's brought back memories. Good an' bad, no?"
She smiled at him as she cuddled close, placing her hand on the side of his face but looked at him confused. "Are you...naked?" She asked.
He smirked. "Oui." He said. "Hot as hell down here. Can' be sleepin' in sweats an' a shirt. Ain' no A/C in dis house."
"Damn." Rogue said. "Ah was comfortable."
"Even open de window." He said. "Swamp cool t'ings off a bit, but not enough t' be comf'table at night."
"Wait." Rogue said, propping herself on her left elbow. "Ya got lights in this big house, but no A/C?"
"Be a luxury." He said shaking his head. "Never needed de A/C b'fore. Jus' open de windows."
"How do y'all live like that?" She asked, watching him sit up and lean against the head board.
Gambit shrugged. "Jus' do. Been use t' it. But since I been away fo' so long, prefer de A/C, no?"
Sitting up as well, Rogue moved in close and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "So last night, when we were chattin' with Henri," She began, feeling him rest his head on hers. "Ah noticed when he mentioned his mother's grave, ya calmed down. She must've been an amazing woman for an argument like that ta be fizzled out in a heartbeat."
"Didn' know his mama, but from de li'l t'ings I do know, she be impor'nt an' Henri loved her dearly. Never axed b'out her, neit'a." He said, feeling her lift her head so he let her.
Her gaze at him was one of confusion. "Did ya just say 'axed' instead of 'asked'?" She asked as she smirked.
He smirked back. "Tol' y' m' accent get worse here." He said. "Don' t'ink y's gonna be able t' unde'stan' me once we's gone."
"Ah'll just have ya write everything down 'til we get back ta New York." She joked.
A knock on the door caused them to look in that direction. "Qu'est-ce?" He called out.
"Be yo' préféré cousin!" They heard Emil say from behind the door.
Gambit smirked and let out a little chuckle. "Come on in!" He said.
"Remy." Rogue said as she started to fix her hair.
"Wha'?" He asked as the door opened. "Y' look fine, chère."
Stepping inside, Emil paused as he looked at them. "Hmm." He said as he saw the two of them sitting against the bed frame. "I be in'erruptin' somet'in'.?"
"Jus' talkin'." Gambit said. "Quoi de neuf?"
"Henri say somet'in' 'bout visiting de ot'a guil' t'day." Emil said.
"Oui." Gambit said getting out of bed and taking the blanket with him. "Gotta go talk wit' dem."
Emil raised his left eyebrow at his obviously naked cousin. "Y' sure I didn' in'errup' not'in'?" He asked, a smirk forming on his face. "I can come back."
Gambit chuckled and shook his head. "Non. Got hot las' night is all." He said.
Looking at Rogue, Emil winked. "Reck'n so." He joked, seeing her smile and shake her head at his silly comment. "But sérieusement, breakfast be down dere fo' y'all. Don' be lettin' it get col' or Tante be up here t' pull y's outta dis hya room."
Gambit smiled at the mention of her. "We be down in a bit." He said, seeing Emil nod before he left the room, closing the door behind them.
"She must've arrived this mornin'." Rogue said in an asking fashion.
"Yeah." He answered as he locked the bedroom door before tossing the blanket at Rogue. "Guess we bes' get dressed."
After getting dressed and looking presentable they head down stairs and into the kitchen where Mattie saw them, causing her face to beam with joy. "Remy!" She squealed as she left the stove to run over and give him a bear hug.
He chuckled as she pulled away and then hugged Rogue. "Bonjour." He said.
"Why y' not tell me y's comin' down?" She asked. "Dat li'l chil' wit' y'?"
"No." Rogue said. "She's in New York."
"We're here on business." Gambit said.
"Where y' at?" She asked, the smile still on her face.
Rogue was a little perplexed by the question. "Bon." Gambit answered. "I be teachin' still. Anna gonna be de counci'r o' de école."
"Chil', dat's excitin'!" She said, looking at Rogue. "When dis happen?"
Gambit looked at his wife with a smile. "Ah'm not quite sure. Ah'll talk with them once we get back." She answered, feeling Gambit rest his hand on the small of her back. "Ah'm kinda nervous."
"Don' chu's be nervous, sha." Mattie said, waving her hand. "Y's gon be fine."
"Thank you." She said as she saw Jean-Luc stand.
"No mo' talkin' Mattie. Let dem eat." He said, motioning for them to join Henri, Mercy and Emil at the table.
"I get chu's a plate goin'." Mattie said, returning to the kitchen as Gambit and Rogue head into the dinning room just off of it.
"Hope y' slept good in y' ol' room." Jean-Luc said as he sat down.
Pulling the chair out for Rogue, Gambit nodded. "Slep' a'right. Boilin' t'ough. Hadda sleep naked." He made everyone chuckle.
"Y's fo'get how hot it got down hya?" Henri asked.
"Oui." He said, sitting down beside Rogue. "But, she sleep good, eh?"
Rogue smiled and nodded. "Ah did. Comfy bed." She said, hearing the snickering from Emil.
"Chère, y' ain' de firs' femme t' say dat." He said, getting a whack from Mercy. "Ow!"
"Don' chu pay no mind t' him." Mercy said. "Remy ain' neva brought home no femmes. Ain' dat right, Rems?"
"Vrai." Gambit said. "Dat be de trut'."
"Ici." Mattie said, setting a plate down in front of each of them.
"My lord. This looks delicious." Rogue said, picking up the fork that was beside the plate. "Thank you."
"Mm hmm." Mattie said as she disappeared back into the kitchen.
"Henri say y's goin' ova t' de Boudreaux house." Jean-Luc said.
"Oui." Gambit answered coolly as he took a bite.
"Pourquoi?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Part o' de business I be here on." He answered.
"Wha' de hell dis bus'ness, eh?" His father asked, getting annoyed as he looked at Henri before looking at Rogue and then Gambit. "T'ink it be wise bringin' yo' wife int' de house o' yo' ex-wife?"
Setting his fork down on the table more forcefully than he had anticipated, the plates and sliver ware rattled. "We're just tryin' ta find out if they're connected to a murder we witnessed in Australia." Rogue cut in, plainly telling him all he needed to know.
"T'ink I bein' framed by dem." Henri said.
"What?" Mercy asked looking at Henri and placing her hand on his. "Tu n'as rien dit."
"Didn' wan' chu worryin', mon amour." Henri said, lifting her hand and kissing it.
Jean-Luc sat with his eyes glared as he focused on Gambit. "Dey ain' tried anyt'in' in years. Why dey do dis now?"
"Dat's why we's goin' t fin' out." Gambit said. "Y' mo' dan we'come t' tag 'long."
Sitting back, Jean-Luc let out a sigh as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Her père died, y' know?" He asked, seeing Gambit's expression soften.
"Non." He said, taking a sip of the black coffee. "When?"
"Guess it be six years ago now." He said, stroking his mustache with his thumb. "Died jus' b'fore y's got married."
"So," Gambit began as he looked at Henri. "She leadin' de guild?"
"Oui." Henri nodded. "An' doin' a helava job."
"When y's goin'?" Jean-Luc asked.
Gambit shook his head as he took another bite. "Noon?" He asked, not seeing any of the others object.
Jean-Luc looked at his watch. "T'ree hours." He said. "Well, bonne chance. Ima stay b'hind. Ain' no reason fo' me t' be ova t'ere."
"Can' wait t' crash de party." Emil cracked a smile.
"Anna." Mercy said getting her attention. "Y' ain' a coffee drinker?"
Gambit smirked. "She like t' ruin it wit' all dat fancy shit." He joked.
"Mm hmm, y's a white girl." Mercy joked, making them all laugh.
"It be good. Give it a sip. Ain' dat Maxwell House shit Scott buy fo' de school." Gambit said, coaxing her to try it. "Dis here be real coffee."
Smiling, she took the mug of coffee and took a sip, her face immediately going sour. "Ugh." She said setting it down at they all chuckled at her. "No. Nope. Nu uh."
"Mattie!" Jean-Luc called.
She came through the kitchen, all ears as she dried a pan off.
"Get dis femme some crème et sucre." He said, seeing Mattie wink at him. "We accomm'date fo' y', petit."
Taking a sip of water to wash the flavor of coffee away, she felt Gambit kiss her cheek. "Stick out like a sore t'umb here." He said, placing his hand on her back and played with the curls that teased his finger. "But I love it."
"Aww." Mercy said as she watched them share a kiss.
"Why ain' I found a femme?" Emil asked. "I be charmin', too. Anna say so las' night."
"Pro'ly didn' wanna hurt yo' feelin's." Henri jabbed.
"Merde." Emil said, stroking the red facial hair on his face as they laughed at him. "Col'."
"Y' know y' loved." Mercy said, winking at the red head.
"Well," Gambit got their attention as he stood. "Ima get me a shower b'fo' we head out."
"Y' leave some o' dat hot wata fo' de ot'as." Henri said.
Gambit smirked. "Don' take long showers no' mo'." He said, glancing down at Rogue. "Only 'less I be distracted."
Rogue chuckled. "Well, ya ain't gonna be distracted this time, hun." She said patting his hip as Mattie returned with the cream and sugar. "Thank ya, kindly."
"Mm hmm." Mattie said as she left the room again.
"Well, if y' change yo' mind." Gambit said as he grabbed his empty plate and glass and head into the kitchen.
"So, y's gon be de councila o' dat school?" Henri asked. "Heard y' tellin' Tante."
Rogue nodded. "Yeah." She said, looking at Henri and the others. "The councilor now is huge pregnant, so ah'd decided ta take over that roll. Ah ain't too sure what she'll be doin' once she's ready to be back. We haven't discussed that part of it."
"Maybe dey jus' need t' have deux?" Mercy asked. "Dat school mighty big."
"Mm hmm and it's grown a lot." Rogue said. "Remy started out with twelve students total for the day. Now he's got around forty."
"Damn." Emil said. "Wha's Remy do?"
"He's tha culinary teacher." Rogue said with a smile to the red head.
"'O course he is." He said nodding. "Dat boy do know how t' cook."
"Lord, and ah've got the weight on me ta prove it." Rogue said, making them laugh.
"But y' look great, chère." Mercy said with a smile.
"Ah appreciate that." She said, taking a sip of her sweetened coffee.
"I t'ink we's t'row a party fo' y'all t'night." Jean-Luc said.
"Oui!" Mercy said. "Goin' away party. We invite eve'one."
"Y'all really don't have ta do that." Rogue said.
"Absurdité." Jean-Luc said, putting his hand up. "We's gon t'row y'all a party."
"Alright." Rogue said with a smile as she shook her head.
"Anna, y' ain' neva seen a Cajun party je te parie." Mercy said with a smile.
"No, ah haven't seen one." She said. "Ah'm assumin' there's a lot of drinking and loud music?"
"Dat be only part o' it!" Emil said with excitement. "We ain' t'rown a party in years! Dis gon be a fun night!"
"Y's gon get drunk, aren' chu?" Merci asked.
"Heeeeell yeah!" Emil said, slapping the table top. "Ima go and tell eve'one righ' now!"
Jean-Luc chuckled as he watched Emil quickly leave the dinning room. "Dat boy." He said, looking at Rogue.
Rogue chuckled. "Listen, ah ain't partied in years, so ah'm lookin' forward ta tonight." She said. "Ah haven't been able ta let loose in a long time."