Disclaimer: X-Men belongs to Marvel.

Description: takes place after X-Men 55 doing the Onslaught incident and fighting the Sentinels. Gambit dies after sacrificing himself for the woman he loves but who no longer loves him.

E-mail: NikitaB26@aol.com Please send me some feed back... Warning Gambit fans you might be a little upset by the turn of events.

The Ebon Citadel stood in the middle of Manhattan causing all viewers to sit back and be amazed by the construction of such an amazing structure. It has been only a few hours since Onslaught had made his appearance and sent a surge of magnetic energy intensified by a telekinetic might. Causing buildings to collapse... series of explosions to happen.... and destroying the city’s source of power and killing innocent people. Another result of the wave was the destruction of the gadgets of both the X-Men and that of the other heroes there to fight this being. This being of ultimate destruction that at one time had been the kind man known as Charles Francis Xavier... the man who had dedicated his life to peace between both Mutants and Human. A dream that was slowly dying.

"HOMO SAPIENS-- HEAR THE WORDS OF ONSLAUGHT! From this day forward the human’s shall no longer inherit the earth!"

"NO MORE SHALL MUTANT KIND BE SO SAVAGELY OPPRESSED-- FOR TODAY MARKS THE ULTIMATE ASCENDANCE OF THE HOMO SUPERIOR RACE! People of the world-- BEHOLD MY MIGHTY HAND!" It was with these words that Onslaught changed the world as the X-men had known and had forced there hand to try and stop him without thought about the consequences.

With a quick view of his destruction Onslaught quickly disappeared and returned to his citadel and the attack from the Sentinels once again started causing both mutant and human heroes to try and save as many lives as they could. Cyclops ran away from the blackbird’s wreckage and he unleashed his optic blast taking off one of the heads of the giant robots. Storm once again took off into the air calling forth all the elements at her control and started to hurl lighting bolts at the sentinels.

Remy stood on top of one of the buildings not destroyed by the wave and he observed the battle field with his quite demeanor not betraying the fact that he believed in his heart that this would be the last fight for one of them. ‘An de way things are looking it looks like we are going to be de losers.’ Gambit thought to himself as he hurled cards at his opponents.

He ran across the roof and then quickly charged more cards and started to help some of the Avengers that were having trouble. Remy paused at the edge of the building and looked into the distance and he saw Rogue fighting with a group of Sentinels by herself... no not by herself Joseph was fighting by her side. Where he used to be... they had been a tandem as well as a couple but she had left and now all that remained was bad memories for Rogue and regret for Gambit. ‘At least she has a chance to be happy.’ Remy thought to himself and while he was thinking about Rogue he didn’t notice the Sentinel behind turn and lock onto his position.

"Remy! Look out!" Storm yelled as she shot a lighting bolt at the Sentinel but not before a laser beam was shot at Remy.

The combination of Storm’s warning and the Sentinel being under attacked caused the beam to stray wide and Gambit was able to dive away from the blast. The Sentinel turned and made a vain attempt to grab Storm but she simply dodged the mammoth's hand and shot another bolt of lightning and opening the robot’s insides. Gambit seeing an opportunity arrive he ran towards the Sentinel and grabbed a sphere from the roof and he quickly charged it. Once he neared the opening in the Sentinel he jumped and threw the sphere inside the machine and tucked himself into a ball as he fell from the roof. Remy felt the wind push against him as he fell and it wasn’t until he felt the winds change that he stretched out his hands and grasped Storm’s arm as she grabbed hold of him and flew them a safe distance from the Sentinel.

"LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS FOR DESTRUCTION OF THIS UNIT 97%. SENTINEL # 332 SIGNING OF...." The sentinel never had a chance to finish it’s statement as the bomb Remy planted discharged making the Sentinel explode from the inside out.

"By the goddess Remy, you must be more careful." Storm said as she landed on another building and dropped of Remy.

"Don’ you be worrying about me chere." Remy said.

"As if I could stop worrying about a friend." She replied.

"Know what I was t`inking Stormy." Remy said.

"No, what were you thinking?" Storm asked.

"I was t`inking that after we save de world once again... maybe we should go on a vacation."

"Really, and where would you propose we would go?" She asked.

"Why, Paris of course... where de only t`ing we have to fear is the waiters messing up our orders." Remy said and he smiled as he saw Storm take to the air and smile down at him.

"I would like that my friend.... be safe." Storm said and quickly turned away and went to join the fight.

Remy climbed down a flight of stairs and he looked out at the window and saw the night sky lite up with fire. People were running for some sort of coverage from the carnage but they were unable to find any since the Sentinels keep on arriving and trying to destroy all those who opposed them. He ran out the building once he reached the ground level and glanced around to take into the surroundings. Remy started to run down the street towards the back of one of the Sentinels but he paused when he heard a cry of distress and he turned around to see a little boy around the age 3 standing at the bottom of stairs and holding a teddy bear. Tears were running down the little boy’s round cheeks.

"Hello, petite... are you lost?" Remy asked and then he mentally slapped himself. ‘Of course he’s lost or his parent’s are...’ Remy started to think but then he cut of his train of thought.

"Come here... Dis be no place for a little one like you neh." Remy said and he picked up the little boy and then ran back up the stairs to the ground level. He scanned the night sky and he when he saw the man that could help him he called out to him.

"Monsieur Spiderman!" Remy called out. Causing Spiderman to turn around and the flip down in front of Gambit.

"Why if it isn’t the charming romantic scoundrel called Gambit... what can I do for you?" He asked.

"Well you can take dis little homme someplace safe... dis place not be safe for the like’s of him n'est pas." Remy said.

"Of course... just another little service from you friendly neighborhood Spiderman." He said and then gathered up the boy in his arms and then he swung away leaving a grinning Gambit behind.

~~~~~

After a intense battle and having disposed of most of the Sentinels Onslaught once again made an appearance but this time he was their to fight. Gathering together heroes and mutants stood in his way. Together they waited for Onslaught to deliver the first blow and once he did they combined there powers and under the leadership of people like Captain America... Reed Richards and Cyclops they rushed straight forward at the deadly creature in front of them.

"FOOLS! YOU ARE NO PHYSICAL MATCH FOR ME!" Onslaught said.

"No! A blow like that should have staggered him... unless..."

"Rogue! Are you all right chere?" Remy asked as he ran over to his fallen comrade and for quite awhile the woman of his dreams.

"I’m fine Remy! Now let go of me." Rogue snapped and shoved Remy away from her.

"Dere’s no time for anger chere... we got to be working together."

"Fine you work with them and Ah’ll work with Joseph." Rogue said and she tried to take off into the ground but she found herself frozen to the concrete below her.

"Ah... Ah can’t move." Rogue said and then a few other heroes said the same thing. Remy started to walk towards them only to have Storm and Joseph buzz him and then Wolverine trying to help protect Rogue and the other’s from Onslaught’s attack. ‘Dey are willing to sacrifice everything for them... wonder if the would do the same for me.’ Remy started to think to himself but as he watched Storm fighting for all she’s worth and the helplessness of Rogue Remy made a decision and let his actions speak for him. He ran across back towards where Rogue was standing and he dropped to his knees and started charging the cement below them.

"What are ya doing swamp rat... you making a bomb underneath us!" Rogue screamed at Gambit who just continued to ignore her and pour out more kinetic energy. Storm heard this and she turned around and then flew next to where Remy was kneeling.

"Remy this won’t work.... you won’t be able to outrun the blast." Storm said.

"I told ya... don’ worry `bout me just get ready to run." Remy said as he increased the amount of energy he was unleashing into the ground. Sweat was pouring off of Remy and he had trouble opening his eyes but once he did he saw the familiar orange energy signature traveling around the ground but to his horror he also so it running up the abandon building next to him.

"Kay dat’s not good." Remy whispered to himself.

"Whatever your going to do Cajun you better make it quick!" Wolverine yelled as he was struck with another energy blast.

"Jus` a few more seconds mon ami!" Remy yelled back and true to his words Rogue and the rest of the heroes started to move again.

"I’m free!" Rogue said.

"Den don’t stand dere RUN!" Remy shouted as he felt his powers start to die. He was way past his limits and he was just about extinguishing his reserve of energy.

"Remy come quickly." Storm said as she walked closer to Remy but she stopped because of the intense heat she felt emanating from him.

"We have to let the Cajun handle this... let’s go `Ro!" Wolverine said and when Storm still wasn’t moving he started to physically drag her until she came to her senses and took off into the air flying away from the explosion about to take place. She looked down and saw Logan and few other’s running away and as she was about to drop down to pick up she heard the explosion. An then in a matter of a few seconds she felt the wave of energy rush behind her and then pass her. The sound deafened all other sounds and even caused both Onslaught and other people to stop fighting and turn towards the sound.

Storm tried to call forth more wind to keep her flying but on one of the rare times in her life Storm lost all control of her powers and she plummet back to the earth. Just as she was about to hit some of the wreckage from the blast she felt herself stop falling and she saw Jean Summers holding her in a telekinetic bubble and gently lower her to the ground.

"Thank you, Jean." Storm said and smiled at her friend until she saw the damage Remy had done. Around the building and around the area where they were all standing the only thing that was left was a crater. Her smile quickly vanished and she scanned the area to see if she could see if her teammate was anywhere near the crater.

"Where’s Remy?" Storm said as she ran over to where the crater was with Wolverine closely following her.

"Right here, Stormy?" Remy called from behind her.

"Remy, thank the goddess you are alive and unharmed." Storm said as she smiled as she saw Remy walk towards them. He had his arm leaning on one of overtone cars as he struggled to walk but Storm didn’t even seem to notice this. It was only until Wolverine sniffed the air and his smile was taken off his face and he muttered, "Oh kid no..."

Remy looked up and then offered a small smile towards the two people who were standing near him. Storm smile vanished as she saw his blood stained teeth and Remy stumbled a little bit more and started to fall. It was only Storm’s quick reaction that she caught him and together they fell backwards to the ground. Storm placed her arms under Gambit’s and dragged him up until his back was flush with her chest and there she pushed his head back to rest against her shoulder. The fighting once again started to take place and only a few people stayed to look at Gambit’s condition. One was of course Storm and Wolverine but soon Reed Richards and Henry Pym left the fight to check Gambit’s injuries. Rogue also strolled over to where they were but she stayed a great distance away from him.

Reed Richards looked down at Gambit and he saw the blood steadily pouring out of his mouth and down his nose and this did not encourage him as he gently pulled apart Gambit’s trenchcoat. He turned his head away and then glanced up at Henry Pym and saw that they were thinking the same thing. His entire Body suit was destroyed and along with it was most of Gambit’s lower stomach and left side of his body. They both knew that mutant known as Gambit only had a few more minutes to live. They knew there wasn’t nothing they could do but Storm had other ideas.

"Shhh... just rest my friend we will get you some medical attention soon." Storm said as she continued to brush Gambit’s hair out of his face.

"Storm... I’m sorry but with the wave Onslaught unleashed early we have no equipment to work on him... and even if we did I doubt we could do anything other than make him more comfortable." Reed said. Storm looked up at Reed Richards and then towards Wolverine who both had the same look on their face.

"Don’t listen to them Remy you will be fine." Storm said.

"Ahh chere you got to learn to stop being so stubborn." Remy said and he then went into a fit of coughing.

"Nonsense, as soon as you get better we will go on that vacation to Paris just like you said before." Storm said causing Gambit to laugh slightly and he then turned his head and his eyes connected with Rogue. He called her name and tried to reach towards her but Rogue turned her head and then Joseph landed next to her and placed his arm around Rogue’s waist and together they left Gambit and flew back to where the fight was taking place.

"Now I know I am dying." Remy said as he watched Rogue fly away from him one last time. He glanced up at Storm and he saw Storm watching them fly off as well but in her eyes he saw something he never saw before. Anger, Betrayal, and utter Hatred danced in her eyes as she watched them leave.

"It’s ok Stormy... jus` my card being played." Remy said.

"Remy... listen to me you have to fight... if not for yourself then for me... please." Storm beseeched as her tears started to fall freely.

"You were my only real friend Stormy... I don’ know what I ever did ta deserve you." Remy said.

"Do you t’ink I have redeemed myself for de sins of my past?" He asked. "Dat my time with de X-men have changed me... made me a better person?"

"Just by you saying that means that you have found the redemption you seek my friend." Storm said and tighten her arms around him.

"I’m t’inking of such strange t’ings right now." Remy said.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I’m wondering if I will see Henri... I haven’t thought of him since de day he died." Remy said and he felt himself slowing beginning to lose consciousness. He glanced up at Storm and saw her crying and he forced himself to smile once more at her.

"I am going to miss you Storm." He said. Storm looked down at him and smiled at him.

"Stormy... and you will always be with me my friend.... in here." Storm said and tapped her index finger over her heart. Remy smiled and then he gasped as a wave of pain hit him and then suddenly left. His eyes flared up with energy and then just ask quick they started to dim until there was no longer a trace of red in his eyes and Remy LeBeau stopped breathing. Storm cried harder and then started to rock back and forth with Remy in her arms.

"Storm we have to go darlin... the others have a plan to stop Onslaught." Wolverine said but it looked like she was not going to let Gambit go. "Storm... we have to go."

She looked down at Remy and then gently disentangled herself from and laid him down on the ground. Closing her eyes she ignored the sight of Remy’s blood on her silver uniform she nodded at Wolverine and then flew into the air leaving Remy behind.

<><><><><>

Storm sat on the grass in front of a simple tombstone... she placed a couple of flowers in front of and ran her fingers gently over the face of the tombstone. It said here lays Remy Etinne LeBeau... A man who gave his life for that of his friends and for a cause that they believed in. It had been only a week ago since they had the quite funeral with only a few people there. Logan, Bishop, Scott and Jean, Xavier and Bishop. The others had all sent their condolences and Storm understood some of the reasons and even accepted them. Warren and Betsy had other wounds to deal with so they had to leave. Hank and Bobby were both busy in New York helping with the wounded. But the one person she couldn’t forgive was Rogue... not only had she not been there when Remy needed her most... but she had refused to show up to his funeral. Choosing rather to go out with Joseph on the day in question.

When the service was over the group had come over and said how sorry they were but Storm had mearly gone through the movements and asked that she be left alone with her friend. It was at this time that a light appeared to the side of her and Sinister appeared. The sky’s darkened and clouds moved across the sky quickly as Storm shot a lighting bolt at Sinister’s feet.

"I do not wish to fight you or your X-men this day." He said simply.

"You dare come here on this day... if not to attack then for what reason?" Storm asked.

"To mourn."

Sinister then walked over towards the grave and gazed down at the headstone and he shook his head slightly.

"Why would you mourn Remy?" Storm asked. "How do you know him?

Sinister briefly considered telling Remy’s dark secret but as he glanced down at the headstone once more what ever humanity he had left forced him to keep that secret.

"I have an interest in all mutants," Sinister had said. "Remy had the potential to become one of the greatest mutants and that would have been beneficial to me... it’s a shame he wasted his life on your foolish life."

"Remy did not waste his life." Storm yelled at Sinister’s retreating form.

"Perhaps... Perhaps not... but I guess we will never now." Sinister said cryptically. "Good-bye X-men." And with that Sinister had disappeared once again in a flash of light. One week later Storm was at the same spot but this time she was preparing to make her journey.

"I’m going to tell your father today... that you won’t be coming home.... not even to cause trouble." Storm said aloud. "I wonder if they already know... I would guess that every parent knows when their child is in danger." She continued. "Or maybe Tante knows..."

"Either way, you make sure you break it to her easy ya hear." A voice spoke up from behind her. Storm turned around at the familiar voice and she had to catch herself before she fell down.

"By the goddess I don’t believe what I see." Storm whispered. She stared at the familiar lean figure and the gasped as he walked closer and she could clearly see that it was Remy. Well sort of anyway... he was dressed in his old clothes not the one he died in or the suit he was buried in but the ones he wore when he was just hanging around the house.

"Well, for now padnat you best believe... `cause I don` got dat much time." Remy said.

"This can’t not be... you're dead." Storm croaked out.

"How could you say that?"

"What about you?"

"I’m still working on my redemption," Remy said with a shrug. "But maybe one day we will meet again N’est ce pas?" He looked down at his arm pretending to be wearing a watch and he then started to walk backwards.

"All you have to do is ask?"

"Take it easy on Rogue when you get back... you can’t help who you be lovin`... haten her ain’t gonna bring me back... and if you lose dat femme for a friend you will regret it." He said.

"Why couldn’t you ask me to do something easy like change the temperature of the Arctic circle?"

"Because den life wouldn’t be interesting neh." Remy said as his body started to fade. "Oh one more thing Stormy... t`anks for always being dere for me... I love ya chere."

"I love you to my friend." Storm said as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. With one final glance down at the headstone Storm picked up her bags and then took off into the air. While she was flying she could of swore she heard Remy’s laugh at times. But no matter what she knew that he would always be with her.