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Love conquers all.

- Sleeping Beauty

"Yes, This is my favorite so far."

"Tell me honestly. Is the guy in the library your dream man?"

"Maybe. You are my best friend but I do have secrets."

"What secrets?"

"A secret is something you don't tell anyone. Even you."

"Is one of your secrets that guy freom the pet store?"

"How do you know about that?"

"All of the United States knows."

"Overstatement."

"Alright how about the entire neighborhood."

"I hate small towns."

By Beth and Adam

The day was unusually warm for a spring day in Westchester New York. The sun was shining brightly and it's shimmering reflection on the lake looked like a miracle in itself . Only a few fluffy clouds hung angelically in the sky.

Heather Nightengale was sitting quietly in one of the many large trees surrounding the mansions lake. She was reading The Bell Jar. She contemplaited the authors life and end. She had been saved but still ended up destroying herself in the end. Could this be her fate?

She was there because of the serenity the lake offered. She needed time to get away from the stresses of being an x-man.

Heather was in her early twenties. She had reddish brown hair and brown eyes. She always wore dark clothes that unremittingly matched her demeaner. The shadows of her past were sure to catch up with her eventually.

Although being an x-man had it's problems but never a day went by that she wasn't greatful to John for bringing her here. She had only arrived at the x-mansion a few weeks ago but it already felt like home.

Suddenly she heard two voices. She crawled a little further out on the branch so she could get a better look.

It was Gambit and Rogue. Remy Lebeau a.k.a. Gambit was a tall man who was in his late twenties. He had hair about the same shade as Heather's. His eyes were red on black. He had a slight cajun accent. Nightengale had met Gambit the day she arrived at the mansion. She hadn't liked him to begin with but she liked him even less when DNA tests proved that he was her biological brother.

Rogue was a young woman in her mid twenties. She had long red hair with a skunktail through it. Her eyes were emerald green. She was without question the saddest of the x-men because her mutant ability prevented her from ever having physical contact with anyone. Heather liked Rogue alright. She was friendly.

Gambit had his arm around Rogues waist. They stood staring into the lake just gazing at the reflection. It brilliantly reflected the surrounding forest.

Finally he turned to her. His gloved fingers caressed her cheek. He kissed his fingers and then touched them to her lips. Rogue smiled at this but her eyes shown saddness. The saddness of a woman who wanted to touch his face, his fingers, and his lips.

Heather marveled at her brother. She had always been able to read people accurately. However she realized she had misjudged her brother. She had never yet met a man, with the exeption of John,who didn't want a woman for her body. Gambit seemed to love Rogue though he had no hope of ever kissing her let alone having sex with her.

What really amazed her was how much of a gentleman he was. His eyes and hands never left her face. Heather couldn't believe any man was that wonderful. She had certainly never met any.

Heather's attention turned to Rogue. Rogue obviously loved this man. She also trusted him.

Heather had never loved a man but she had resented hundreds. To trust a man was irrational. Men are snakes who slither into your lives and take all you have. Of course Heather had always had very negative experiences in the men department.

She continued to watch as Gambit and Rogue talked. She couldn't really hear hear what they were saying but she could tell it was about Rogues powers.

Rogue had always felt she was a lousey girlfriend because she couldn't give Gambit the pleasures every man needs. He told her not to worry about it and that he didn't need what the other men needed. He only needed her love. Her heart.

Rogue began to cry. This is the test. Heather thought. Gambit will probly get annoyed with her like any man would. He might even hit her. Heather had been hit before by men annoyed with her emotions.

Gambit pulled Rogue close and held her. He stood silently with her in his arms for a few moments. He wished he could take the pain away from her. As much as he longed to kiss her, to touch her, he could live without that. He needed only her.

Gambit then proceeded to crack a joke. Rogue laughed. He took her hand and they went back into the house.

Heather attempted to continue reading however she found it increasingly difficult as her thoughts drifted back to what she had just witnessed. She couldn't get them out of her mind. A strange thought crossed her mind. Perhaps she could help them. Just maybe she could save their love and fix Rogue's life. She knew she had to speak to Xavier.

*********

"May I speak with you?" Heather asked.

"What can I do for you child?" Professor Xavier answered.

"I'd like to read Rogue's file."

"That's confidential information."

"Please let me. I think I can help her. I don't know how but I just have this feeling."

"I do believe your right. I'll get the file."

*********

"John I need your help with something."

"Who did you kill? Gambit? Warren? Please say it wasn't Cyclopse." John joked.

"As much as I would like to I have thus far refrained from killing any of them."

"Alright ,what can I do for you?"

"I need your help in the danger room. I need to find something out."

"You want help from the guy who couldn't figure out how to use the tracker on his computer."

"You trust my cooking and I trust your use of electronics."

"Need I remind you when the last time you cooked for me was?"

"Please." She said bringing her hands to his shoulders giving him a seductive look. Plus her puppy dog voice.

"Heather, please knock it off. I hate when you do that."

"Sorry, old habits die hard. Please help me."

"Do I get an explanation?"

"Can we recreate powers in the danger room?"

"Yes. Whose power do I need to recreate?"

"Rogue's. Intensify it at least by half. More if you can."

"Why."

"I think I can figure out how to help her."

"Your gonna try and see if you can become imune to her powers. That is crazy. You could get killed. The danger room isn't a game."

"John, you have to trust me." She said gently.

"I know how to do that." John sighed. He never could say no to her.

"Good. Set it up. You got time now."

"Suppose I have plans?" John joked.

*********

Heather walked slowly down the long hallway towards the rec room. She had been right. She knew how to make Rogue's powers unaffective.

In the rec room Wolverine and Gambit were playing a game of pool. The short little man had just shot the eight ball into the left side pocket. They had made a twenty dollar bet. At this point Wolverine was winning.

"I need to steal my brother for a moment."

"You ready to quit yet cajun?"

"I'll be returning in a minute to beat your sorry..."

"Come on. I need to talk to you." Heather said. She pulled Gambit out of the room and into the hallway.

"You can touch Rogue." Heather whispered.

"I knew you were a little crazy since you came here but now I think your nuts."

"Listen to me. I recreated her powers in the danger room. They had no effect on me. I wish I could teach Rogue but I only know how to work as the toucher not the one being touched.. Do you want my help or not?"

"This might look bad. My sister teaching me to touch my girlfriend."

"Everyone knows we hate eachother."

"Then how are you going to be able to stand training me. You can't even stand to be in the same room I'm in."

"If you don't want to learn just tell me. I do have better things to do."

"I do want to learn. If you'll teach me."

"First I need you to understand some things and agree to a few simple rules."

"Such as?"

"You can't tell her until you've completed training to my level of approval."

"What is your level of approval?"

"When the second you see her you unconciously block her powers. When you can do this without thinking you can tell her."

"I can live with that. Anything else."

"This is actually more of a request. This request is for always. Remember that Rogue is a human being. She can feel. Hold her in the highest respect. Never ask her to do anything you'll both regret. A man can destroy a woman." Heather said wiping the tears from her eyes.

"What was done to you?" Gambit asked tenderly traking her hand.

"I can't tell you. I'm sorry." She cried.

"Tell me when your ready. I'm here for you. I'm your big brother."

"I will tell you. You should know I have many things you can't ever know about me."

"I know a man hurt you. I know you were brought here so you could heal. I know you don't trust me or any other man. If I knew who he was I would kill him for hurting you."

"Thank you." She said giving him a hug.

"Friends?"

"Family."

*********

Gambit and Nightengale had been working long hours every day. They'd been working now for three months. Many times Gambit had felt his work was good enough but Heather had forced him to the next level. Though she wasn't known for her patience she made a good teacher. Many times Gambit had been glad Jedi was around. Heather would get frusterated with him but Jedi seemed to always have a calming effect, like a hot bubble bath at the end of a hot day.

It was almost September. They had finished working for the day. Heather had gone outside to swim. John had decided to join her.

Gambit planned to spend the whole day with Rogue. He invited her for a picnic.

The day was warm with a gentle breeze blowing. Rogue was absolutely beautiful. She was wearing blue jeans and long sleeved robin egg blue shirt. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail.

Gambit wished he could reach out and touch her. He knew he couldn't or his sister would kill him but it took great strength to fight the urge.

"You've been busy. I've missed you." Rogue told him.

"Oui ,tres occupe."

"You've been in the danger room."

"Oui"

"You weren't working with Wolverine. What have you been doing?"

"I've been working on a little project. I'm sorry but I can't tell you anything else."

"Why."

"I just can't. It's a secret."

"Haven't we learned yet what secrets can do to relationships?"

"Trust me on this. I'll tell as soon as I can."

"Not if I can find out first."

*********

That evening John and Heather sat, in his room, discussing the project. She was seated on his bed. He was stretching beside her. He kicked off his shoes.

"Your feet smell."

"I'm not putting the shoes back on."

"Alright, you got any better suggestions?"

"Take off your shoes and it will even out the smell."

"Right I'm just gonna take off..." Heather was cut off by Iceman entering.

"Can I watch." Bobby joked. Heather took a deep breath so she wouldn't rip his throat out.

"What do you want?" John said asked ignoring Icemans comment to Heather.

"Some of the guys are going out. You want to join us Jedi?"

"Where you going?"

"I'd rather not say in front of her. You know women. They get upset about every little thing."

"Heather, will you step outside for a moment?"

"I should probably go back to my room. See you whan you get back." Heather said slamming the door behind her.

*********

Heather was seated on the floor. She leaned against the bed as she read The Honorable Imposter.

"Heather, can I come in?" John asked. He was the only person brave enough to come to her room without backup.

"It's unlocked." John entered cautiously. He wasn't really afraid that Heather would cause him physical harm. He had just learned to be cautious in her vicinity. Especially when she was mad at him.

"You okay?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You seemed upset when you left."

"Where are the guys going?" Heather asked coldly.

"I'm not going with them."

"Go, have fun."

"You know where they are going, don't you."

"Yes. It's alright. You should go and enjoy yourself."

"Heather, I'm not going." John sat down beside her.

"Don't let me hold you back." She stared at her feet . She felt so guilty.

"Heather." He said lifting her chin with his finger so she would look him in the eye. "I don't want to go. You aren't holding me back. You taught me something important. The girls at that place are being hurt just like you've been hurt. I won't be responsible for that. Men like Bobby don't have any respect for themselves let alone anyone else. I know what you've been through and I can never look at a woman in the way they do."

"Sometimes I just worry I'm to dependant on you. I worry that by being here I may ruin your life."

"I could never be happier to have you here. Someone has to keep me in line."

"I don't keep you from hanging with the guys?"

"No more than I keep you from the girls. Besides, Iceman wouldn't be my first choice to hang out with." He said then kissed her forehead gently.

"I'm sorry."

"You never would have forgiven me if I'd gone."

"Probly not." Heather laughed.

*********

Nightengale was reading in the living room. Rogue walked in.

"Nightengale. What is this top secret danger room project you and Gambit are working on."

"He's been helping me with something. If you promise not to tell anyone I'll show you."

Heather telepathically called to John. She instucted him to put in the decoy they had decided to use.

They entered the danger room and the door locked. The room appeared to be an ordinary street corner. A men wearing a blue cardigan headed towards them. Heather reached out and touched the mans face. Her hands glowed black as did the mans body. He colapsed. Laying on the floor unmoving. Dead.

Rogue took a deep breath. She wasn't sure what to think of this."

"I still can't effect alpha mutants. I'm not sure why." Heather said proudly. Rogue turned around quickly and left the room.

*********

It was now December. Christmas was only a weeks away. It still hadn't snowed. The weather was only slightly cold.

This was partially due to Storm who was in a very good mood. When asked what was so great she claimed her and Forge had had a wonderful weekend. That may be true but great sex only lasts so long.

Gambit and Heather worked harder than ever. They had been in the danger room for hours every day. Finally the day they'd all been waiting for arrived.

"You've done great. Your training is complete. Whenever you want to tell her you can." Heather told him.

"I have to make it a perfect moment. It has to be special." Gambit said quietly.

*********

Christmas preparations were made. Stockings were hung. The tree was decorated. Shopping lists were made.

The smell of baking food saturated the air. The girls were busy cooking. The guys sneaking into the kitchen for a taste before dinner.

Two years ago John had visited Heather at Christmas. She had never celebrated it before. He wasn't much of a holiday person but he still managed to light up her life at that very special time of year. They had decorated cookies and he had taught her Christmas carols. Now she could again share Christmas with him.

*********

Xavier was in the library showing the newest x-man around. Jason Hawk was a young man. Only about 22. He had short brown hair and grey eyes. He'd chosen the codename Apollo because of his great love for mythology.

"We're glad you could be here with us this holiday." Xavier told the young man.

Heather entered. She went over to a shelf on the far end and took an old blue hard covered book. Then she exited. She aparently hadn't seen them.

Apollo had been watching in amusement the whole time. Apollo turned to Xavier.

"Who was that radiant creature?"

"Her name is Heather Nightengale."

"Who does she belong to?"

"She doesn't have a boyfriend."

"This Aphrodite has no love? How can this be?"

"Her big brother is Gambit. Her very protective best friend is the man acurately known as Jedi. Most men find her beauty not worth the risk of life and reproductive organs. Not to mention she is a bit fiesty."

"I live dangerously."

"You want me to introduce you?"

"Would you."

"You can work with her in the danger room. From there your on your own."

*********

Christmas eve came. The lights had been turned off in the parlor so that the brilliantly lit tree could illuminate the room. The rest of that floor was illuminated soley by candles.

Gambit and Rogue entered the parlor. He stopped in the doorway. When he saw her questioning look he looked toward the mistletoe hanging above them. She took a step away.

"You know I can't." Rogue whispered. Gambit took her gloved hand and kissed it. She smiled. He led her over to the couch.