Even though they would miss each other, they both agreed that the child and Rogue's safety had to come first.

"Welp ...... at least now we know."  He shrugged.

"Remy, Ah can't stay upstairs for six tah eight months ..."

"Now Chere."  He interrupted.  "Ya heard wha' de Doc said.  Ya got no choice."

She sunk down into her chair dejectedly.  "Ah know, ah know."  Rogue cocked her head to one side.  "Are ya excited at the prospects of seeing ya son or daughter for the first time?"

Gambit shook his head, No.  "Unt, unt," he disagreed.  "Dis be like open'in a present before Christmas.  It take all de excitement out of it."

He's got a point there.  "Well Ah wan'na know.  'Jis think 'bout all the guess work we can bypass 'bout the nursery if we knew?"

"Chere, de last t'ing I'm worried 'bout is whet'er ta use pink or blue."  The second it was out of his mouth, he regretted it.  Ooops!  Dat was stupid.  He grimaced.

His comment stung.  Well it ain't like Ah worried 'bout it neither.  "Ah was 'jis trying tah distract yah a little.  Ne'vah seen yah look so worried."  Rogue's bottom lip began to tremble in sadness.

Remy looked over at her pouting expression.  He chuckled.  "Sorry Chere.  I appreciate de sentiment.  I guess if ya put it dat way, it would save on paint, furnishings and fix'ins."  He smiled for her.  "Money is no object.  We get'cha every baby catalog from here ta Paris.  Ya 'jis let Gambit know wha' ya wan' and he'll get it."  I hope dat will make up for my idiotic remark.

Rogue returned his smile.  No matter what Ah have tah do, Ah'm gonna make sure we have this baby. 

Rogue swallowed yet another glass of water.  If'in Ah drank anymore, mah kidneys are gonna start float'in.

"Drink up Rogue,"  Instructed Henry.

She turned the glass up until it was empty.  Rogue tried to suppress the small burp that rose up in her throat.  "Excuse me."  She smiled.

"That's quite all right.  One more glass should do it."  Hank took the glass out of her hand to go refill it with more water.

"Did ya say it had tah be 32 ounces in order tah get a clear picture?"

"That is correct."  He sat the now full glass before her.  "Bottoms up."

She made a face at him as she turned the glass up into the air and started to swallow.

Gambit looked at his watch.  It's gett'in late.  I'm due in the Danger Room in less than two hours.  I wonder how long dis gonna take? Oh well, so I be late again.

Rogue finished the last glass.  She frowned as she swallowed the last drop.  This time a loud belch escaped her.  "Oooo, Excuse me."  She blushed.

"That's quite all right my Dear."

"Do Ah have tah put on that collar again?"

"No.  That want be necessary.  However, you will need to remove your clothing.  You will find a clean gown hanging up in the changing room over there for when we are finished."  He pointed in the direction she should go.  "By the time you are ready, the chamber should be set and your bladder should be full."

"O.K."  Rogue nodded.  She paused midway, "Remy?"

"Yeah Chere."

"Don't go nowhere!"  She called out over her shoulder as she started back on her way.

"I wan'!"  He called back.

She smiled as she went out of sight into the dressing room.

Gambit visibly deflated in front of Henry.  He braced his forearms on the counter behind where he was leaning.

"Gambit, may I get you something?  You really looked drained."

"I'll be all raht Hank."  He sighed.  "Its 'jis dat it is everyt'ing wrong dat I t'ought it would be and so much more." He dropped his head down.

Hank patted him on the shoulder.  "I know my friend but I will do everything possible to make sure she carries the baby to term."

Remy could feel the tears well up in the leak of his eyes.  He gazed up at the blue furred man beside him.  "I know ya will, but if ya can't, can ya at least make sure I don' lose both of dem?"

Hank started to answer him, but closed his mouth on what he was about to say.  "Sure Remy."

Rogue stood naked in the ultrasonic chamber.  Her hands up over her head, held on to a bar that was position just above her.  Ah wish he'd hurry up.  Ah'm 'bout tah pea all over mah self.

"Are you ready Rogue for me to begin?"

"Yeah.  Hurry up!  Mah bladder is 'bout tah explode!"

Hank chuckled from where he and Gambit stood at the control council.  "All right.  Try not to make any sudden movements and breathe as shallow as possible.  The first light you will see, is a warning beacon, telling you that the process is about to start.  The whole reading should take about three minutes."

"Fine."

Hank looked at Gambit and Gambit looked at Hank.  "Here goes."  He pressed the main control button.  Almost immediately, the panel lit up before him.

Rogue was startled at first by the bright flash of yellow light that started above her, then worked its way down, illuminating her nude body from every angle as it went.  Woe!  Didn't he say tah breathe shallow?  She made her self stand perfectly still as she slowed her breathing.

The next light was green in color.  It started from her feet, then worked its way up her body.  Once above her head the light changed to take on a cross-grid type affect.  From then on it kept with the same type sequence until it was finished.

Almost to the second.  The process took three minutes to conclude.  Hank studied his readings on the panel, then he pressed the 'off' switched.

Rogue could tell that they were finishing.  The light spectrum had slowed tremendously before it stopped altogether.

"All right Rogue you can relax now."  She breathe a sigh of relief.  "Don't dress just yet.  Put your robe on and join us will you please."

Rogue reached behind her for the dressing gown.  Slipping it on, she tied the sash before she opened the chamber's door.

Gambit left Hank's side to meet her at the door.  He let his arm encircle her waist as he led her back to where Hank was developing the precious film.  "How ya feel Chere?"

Rogue smiled.  He is so concern.  Look at the expression on his face.  Do Ah e'vah love him.  "Ah'm fine Remy, 'jis fine."  Boy!  Am Ah'm glad that's over with.

Hank turned to regard the approaching couple.  "It will take me a few minutes to develop these.  If you would like, you can wait for me in my lab upstairs."  He then turned his attention back to the processor.  "Oh Rogue.  You may relieve your exploding bladder for now."

"Great!"

"O.K. Hank."  Gambit turned back to Rogue.  "Ya heard wha' he said.  I'll wait for you.  Den we'd better go upstairs."

"All raht Remy."

"We be upstairs wait'in!"  Gambit called out as he carefully turned her toward the door.

Hank didn't answer, just nodded, acknowledging that he had heard Gambit.

Gambit checked his watch again.  It was really getting late.  Actually he did not care if he made it to his session on time or even at all.  But he knew that Cyclops had ways of making your life difficult if you disobeyed a direct order.  His only edge was that Jean would hopefully step in on his behalf.

Rogue nervously strummed her fingers on the arm of her chair as she chewed frantically on her bottom lip.  "Ah wonder what is taking Hank so long?  He said it would only take a few minutes.  It's been almost an half hour."

"Easy Chere.  Ya know de Doc likes ta be t'orough."

The outer door opened up to let Hank in.  He was scratching behind his ear as he came to sit back down in his chair behind his desk.

Gambit studied him.  Doc looks confused.  "Hank, is somet'in else wrong.  Ya look like ya seen a ghost."

He started to open his mouth, then shut it back up.  He sat up in his chair, then sat back.  Hank turned his attention fully toward Rogue.  "You know it never occurred to me that this could be part of the problem."

"Part ... of the ... problem?"  Rogue squinted at him.  "What are yah talk'in 'bout?"

Hank sat up in his chair.  "Follow me.  I have something to show both of you."

Rogue and Gambit exchanged puzzled looks as they followed Hank to the X-Ray viewer that hung on the right wall.

He took several darkly color celluloid pictures out of the folder in his hand.  Then he pushed each one of them upward under the clamps.  Hank smiled at both of them.  "Take a look at this."  He then flipped the light switch, illuminating the back drop of each picture.

They both squinted as they came up closer to see the pictures.  Gambit was the first to react.  His mouth fell open but nothing came out for a while.

".........Oh _hit!!  Saints!!"

"Oh ... mah ... Lord!!"