"No, you just sit there.  I'll be out in a minute."

He did not answer back.  Instead he used this time to think, "What now?"  Being the co-leader of the X-Men was a lot harder than he ever imagined it could be.  He had not realized how much he had been depending on Professor X's quiet wisdom.  Every time something out of the ordinary would happen within the team, he always found himself reflecting on the time that Charles Xavier was around.

He shook his head hard, trying to bring himself out of the funk he was in.  "No sense in wondering what could've, should've or would've been, if Xavier was still around."  But at lease I would not have all of this on my own to try to handle.

Jeans voice in his head startled him.  He had not realize that his thoughts were running deep enough for her to pick up.  "That's not true Scott.  Ororo could share more of your responsibility... if you'd let her."

"I don't know Jean.  She is so emotional now that she and Bishop are seriously dating.  Do you think I can still trust her to make clear and concise decisions?"

Jean came out of the kitchen, carrying large bowl of salad.  She sat it and the dressing down in front of his plate.  She smiled lovingly down at him.  "Why don't you ask her and see?"  She winked before she turned on her heels, then went back to the kitchen.

Scott looked at the large bowl of lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and etc...  "What, no meat?"  He teased.

"It's coming."  She called back.  "You've been around Logan too long."

Scott laughed as he watched his wife bring in a platter of two very large steaks, grilled to perfection.  He smacked her playfully on the backside when she slightly bend over placing the platter on the table.

"Cyclops!"  She blushed.

Before Jean could tell what he was doing, Scott grabbed her by her arm, pulling her down on his lap.  "Am I being a pain?"

Jean settled in his lap, placing one arm around his shoulders.  "Well, no.  But I know something is bothering you.  What is it?"

"Rogue is pregnant."

"Well, I sort of knew that ..."  He nodded back.  "... but there is something else ... isn't there?"

He slowly nodded his head up and down, Yes.  "That is an under statement."

Scott informed her of what Remy had told him about her condition. "Twins, how about that?"  She was happy for the couple, but she also found that she was a little jealous too.  She visibly shook the sensation off as she tried to refocus on her husband.

"...and that what he told me."  Scott was so engrossed in his explanation that he had not noticed any change in her attitude.  "He says that you and I can baby sit, if we like, provided she's able to carry them.  He also wanted me to court off some land for him to build her and the babies a house.  Remy said it would be something to help keep her mind off what could happen.  I think it is to help keep his mind off what could happen.  What do you think?"

"Hum?  Oh, yes.  Well the mansion is big enough, if they still wanted to stay there, but if he wants to build her a house, let him.  It could be something that everyone could get involve in.  It will be good to have something other than missions and saving the world from itself."  She reasoned.

"I agree.  We are to meet in the morning to discuss where he can tell the contractors to start."  He patted her thigh, signaling for her to get up.  She smiled as she slipped off his lap to take her chair over to his left.

"Where's Remy now Scott?"

"Well after I stopped him from destroying himself and the Danger Room, he muttered something about 'mak'in dis a night ta remember' and left."

She pulled a scowl at Scott's rendition of Gambit's accent.  Once seated, she dowel out helpings of the salad and the steak in his plate.  "Oh, I forgot the rolls and the ice tea."  She pushed back from the table.  "I'll get it."  She stood to go back into the kitchen.

Jean was a strong telepath, only second to Professor Xavier.  Shielding her thoughts from Scott was easy enough, but she felt that she needed to put some distance between them to collect herself.  She let her head drop as she  came back into the kitchen.  Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of how life was not in any way fair.  What she would not do to be able to have Scott's baby.  Meanwhile Rogue's having two for Remy, without really even trying.

"What about desert?"  He called out from the dining room.

She quickly wiped her tear stained face and lightly blew her nose with one of the paper napkin that she found on the kitchen table. She turned quickly to the sink, washing her hands then drying them on the drying clothe that laid on the counter.   "Coming."  She called out.  "Oh yeah ... the rolls and the ice tea."  She quickly grabbed the rolls from the table and the ice tea off the counter as she made ready to face Scott again.

She put on a fake smile as she came back to the table.  She gave the small basket of rolls to Scott as she poured them both a glass of tea.  "Desert ... comes later my dear husband."

Scott grinned back.

Gambit could hear voices from the other side of his door. "Dat don' sound like Hank."  He knew it was getting late.  Usually around this time everyone was either sitting down to eat or gone into town.  "I wonder who could it be?"

Rogue and Bobby looked up as he came in through the door.  "Hello Remy."

"Hi Sugah."  Rogue beamed.

"Ya've tak'in good care of my woman Iceman.  Much obliged."

Bobby stood to leave.  He had no trouble recognizing the dismissal in Remy's tone.  "Glad to help and congratulations."  He stuck out a hand for Gambit to take.

Gambit accepted the hand, shaking it firmly, "T'ank ya."  Then he released it from his grasp.

"Thanks for keeping me company Sugah."  She called out to the departing man.

Pushing the wheel chair in front of him, he headed for the door.  "Any time Rogue, any time."  He waved before he let the door close between them.

"Well ..."  Gambit turned his attention back to her.  "Wha's he do'in in here?"

Rogue laughed.  "What do yah mean?  He was keeping me company.  Hank wanted tah return tah the lab tah check on mah condition.  Bobby was kind enough ...tah..."  She let her words trail off as she studied Gambit.  "...Yah're jealous?"

"Non I not."

"Yeah, yah are."

"Well maybe I am ..."  He pinched his thumb and index finger together.  "...maybe 'jis a lit'le."  He smiled.  "I know he had a t'ing for ya Chere.  I not stupid."

"No one said yah were.  The way Ah see it, if'in yah gonna be particular 'bout who's around me, yah gotta find some way tah be here more yah'self."  She reasoned.  "What took yah so long and why are yah so dirty?"  She observed his tattered appearance.  "What happened tah yah coat?"

"Uh ...... I sorta got carried away in de Danger Room."  He could see another question forming in her eyes.  Time to change dis subject.  "Never mind dat, I got a surprise for ya."  He teased as he let the duster slide from his shoulders.

"Yeah ... what is it?"

"Now Chere.  If I told ya wha' it was, it wouldn't be a surprise."  She pouted back to him.  "Don' worry surprise number one will be here ..."  He looked at his watch.  "... in one hour.  That will give me time ta shower and change.  Then surprise number two and three will arrive at eight tonight."

"Remy, Ah hate it when yah dangle stuff in front of mah nose.  At least tell me what one of them is."

Gambit smiled as he started to take off his combat fatigues.  "O.K.  One is dinner.  I'm hav'in 'Chez Maurice' deliver a four star meal.  Do ya feel up ta eat'in it."

Rogue listened to her stomach growl.  "For 'Chez Maurice', Ah'll definitely try."

"Magnifique.  I t'ought we could spin dis even'in in our room, away from everyone else.  Plus I wanted ta spare our stomachs from Betsy's cooking."

"Is it her night tah cook?"

"Oui.  I checked de duty roster on de way up here."

Ah bet everyone made excuses and left.  Rogue grimaced.  "Mah stomach ..."  She patted her flat abdomen.  "Thanks yah."  She grinned up to him, "Now what are the other ones?"

"Unt, Unt."  He shook one finger at her.  "Not tell'in ya dat."  She pouted again.  "Not gonna work, so give it up."  He said as he bend over to pickup up his dirty clothes.  Dis t'ing toast.  I toss it after my shower.  Gambit stood back up, heading for the bathroom.  Then he winked at her.  "Why don' ya take a nap.  Ya look tired?"

"Well, Ah am ... a little bit."  She scooted up the bed to lay back on the pillows.  "O. K.  Ah'll nap until dinner comes."  Once she had relaxed, it did not take her long to slip into the unconcious void know as sleep.

By the time dinner had arrived, Gambit had showered and changed into a devastating attractive black Armani suit.  She woke up to see him standing over her holding a dozen roses and several strange men setting up a dining table.  Rogue raised an eyebrow when she saw that one of them carried a violin.  "Remy?"  She pushed herself up in the bed against the pillows.

He smiled from ear to ear.  "Sorry we woke ya Chere, but it could not be help."

She yawned and stretched.  "What's all this?  Ah know yah said that dinner was com'in but Ah thought yah meant 'take-out'."

Gambit laughed as he handed her the beautiful red roses.  "Non Chere.  Dis be a special event."

"Oh, thank yah."  She gushed.  "They are beautiful."  She looked around the preparations in the room.  Then she studied Gambit from head to toe.  "Ah feel awfully under dressed."

Gambit retrieved a medium size box that had one pink and one blue ribbon bow tied around it, from the bureau.  "Took care of dat too."

She took the box out of his hands.  Opening it, "What in tar nation ... Oh ... Remy ... it's beautiful."  She could not help the tears that sprung from her eyes as she pulled the beautiful white lace and silk  night dress out of the folds of tissue paper.  It even had matching shoes and a white lacy headband  for her hair.  "How did yah manage all this?"  She turned the dressing gown from front to back, studying it.

"I knew Bish and Storm were in town, so I called her on her cell phone.  I told her wha' I wan' ta have for ya.  She knew 'jis where ta go get it."

Leave it tah Storm tah know where tah find some'thin white.  "It's beautiful, but yah shouldn't have disturbed them on their date."

"Dey were glad ta do it.  Bish t'rilled at de prospects of being an older bro'ter."

Rogue laughed.  "Ah 'jis bet he is."

Gambit smiled, "Anyway, dey bring dis back by before dey go ta de movies."  He studied her.  "How do ya feel?  Did ya like my surprise?"

"Oh Remy, Ah love it.  Ah'm gonna go put it on raht now."

He helped her to stand.  "Are ya sure ya can do dis Chere?"

"Ah'm fine Remy.  Ah have not been naucious since this morn'in."  She pulled her arm out of his grasp.  "Ah'll be alraht."  She gathered the night dress and accessories.  "Nu'thins gonna stop me from putting this on."  She winked as she went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Rogue emerged to find Gambit sitting at a very elegant portable dining table.  He and the caterers stood up when they saw her come out of the door.  He was awe struck at the picture she painted for him.  The outfit complemented her fair complexion and the white streak in her hair.  "Oh Chere.  Ya look beautiful."  He walked up to her.  "How do ya feel?"

She laughed as she realized he would probably ask her that twenty times a day until the babies are born.  "Ah'm find Remy."  She let him guide her to her chair at the table.  He helped her sit down, then nodded to the violinist before he took his seat.

The air around her was filled with the beautiful music that the string instrument made.  The lovely table was set with silver flatware and Waterford Crystal Plates and Goblets.  A single white lit candle sat in the middle of a red rose center piece.  It's all so beautiful.  Rogue watched as the two waiters placed their meal in front of them.

Rogue's mouth watered as they was served the first course, which were the appetizers.  They were served Stuffed Crab Meat Mushroom Caps along with Cheese Straws.  Next came the main courses.  Gambit told her what each dish was as it was placed on her plate.

"Dat's called Red/Brown Chicken Jambalaya, Cabbage Casserole and de side dish is called Dirty Rice ..."

"Dirty Rice?"  She interrupted.  She then screwed her face up at such a name for food you are suppose to eat.

"Now Chere, try it first.  It's rice wit' sausage bits, diced tomatoes and Cajun spices."

"Well, that sounds good ..."  She spooned some into her mouth.  "... Ummmm, it is good."

The other waiter offered her a small basket of assorted cornbread rolls.  "Careful Chere.  De ones wit' de red specks are Jalapeno spiced.  De ones dat are orange in color or mixed with cheddar cheese.  The plain yellow ones are 'jis dat ... plain."
 
"Mah! Didn't know yah could have Cornbread so many ways."  She took a plain piece.  "Thanks for the warning."

Remy smiled as he took one of the Jalapeno pieces from the basket.  She raised an eyebrow at his choice.  "Wha' can I say?  Some like it hot."  He winked.

The two waiters removed their empty plates.  It pleased Gambit so much to see that Rogue was eating and eating quite well.   She had managed to clean her plate of everything.

"The meal was wonderful Remy. "  She patted her full stomach.  "So that's what it's like tah eat Cajun style?"

"Well not quite.  I was afraid dat if I ordered entrees dat were really spicy, it might upset your stomach."  He leaned over toward her, placing a possessive hand on her flat abdomen.  "Mustn't upset de chil'lin."  He winked then sat back up.  "Got room for desert?"

"Desert?  OOooo, what do yah have?"

Gambit motioned to the head waiter.  He brought forward two circular silver serving trays.  He placed one in front of Remy then one in front of her.  "Whoa'lah!"  He exclaimed as he took the top covers off.

"Dese are warm Apple Cake Bars Ala' Creme sprinkled with brown confectioner's sugar.  De creme is a combination of French Vanilla Ice Cream and Whipping Creme."

She breathe in the smell of the dish.   "Ummmmm, smells 'jis like apples.  Ah can't wait tah try it.  Rogue grabbed her spoon.  She cut an eighth of one of the bars off, then placed it in her mouth.  "Ummmmmm!"  She exclaimed.  "That's wonderful!"  She looked over at his smiling face.  "Yah spoiling me."

"Do yah mind?"

"Nope.  'Jis wanted yah tah know that Ah was on tah yah is all."

He was getting ready to spoon some of the desert up for himself when a knock sounded at their door.  He looked at his watch ... 8:00 o'clock.  "Right on time,"  he said as he wiped his mouth on his napkin then stood to get the door.  " 'Cuse me'. "  He bowed to her.  Rogue smiled back.

Gambit opened the door.  "Delivery for a Mr. Lebeau," the strange male voice said.

"Come raht in fellas,"  Rogue watched as Remy stepped back out of the way.

"What in tar nations ...?"  Her mouth fell open as two delivery men wheeled in two very expensive identical baby bassinets.  To her, the frames were fashion in a 'C' style.  They were solid brass with lace, silk satin and organza layettes.  The cradle itself, was suspended from the back of the frame to the end.  A large white bow was tied at the top where the organza could be draped over the entire bassinet.

"Do ya need me ta see ya out?"  He asked one of the men.

"No Sir.  Down the hall then a right, down the stairs and out the front door."

"T'anks fellas."  He smiled then tipped them generously.

"No Sir, Thank you!"  They both exclaimed as they left.

Gambit turned around to face Rogue.  She hadn't sad anything since he'd gotten up to answer the door.  Hope she liked them.  "Well Chere, wha' do ya t'ink?"  He came forward, pushing one of the bassinets over close to her.  "Ya like?"

"Oh Remy..."  She carefully reached out one of  her hands to touch the delicate material.  "... it's the most beautiful thing Ah've e'vah seen."  Rogue blinked as the tears welled up in her eyes.  "They're 'jis lovely, absolutely lovely."  She placed her hand down in the cradle, stroking the soft silk bed clothes.  Tears glistened off her eyelashes as she blinked again.  "Thank yah."

Gambit came back to his seat.  "I know dere a bit early but Gambit wanted ya ta know dat he's got e'vry confidence dat dis gonna happen and dat  mine and ya're chil'lin will not wan' for not'in."  He nodded up and down, emphasizing his intent.

"Ah know yah do, but where they gonna go in the meantime?  Even with one of us moving out in the morn'in ... dere still ain't enough room in here for them tah stay."

"Got dat all figured out too.  We can store everyt'ing in one of de empty sheds out back." Pulling out what appeared to be a small copy of a blue prints from his inside suit coat pocket,  he handed it to her.  "But dis is where everyt'ing gonna eventually go."  She took the plans from him.    Dis is wha' I wan' build for us."

Rogue unfolded the plans.  She knew how to read schematics, you had to in their line of work.  She studied the plans carefully then looked up at him.  "Remy ... this is over a four thousand square foot house!"

"Yep.  Four floors including de full basement and attic."

Her eyes grew big as she comprehend what the plans held.  "There's a full basement, six bedrooms, six baths, a four car garage, sun room ... "  She squinted.  "... a jacuzzi, a large attic and lord knows what else.  Two kitchens?"  She looked back at him.  "When did yah have this all drawn up?"

"De next day when ya finally told me ya loved me."

"But that was ..."  She did the math in her head.  "... that's  going on over two years ago."

"Oui."

She was flabbergasted.  This man is something else!  Wow!   Rogue tried to refocus on the immediate discussion at hand.  "Remy,  we ... we don't need all this."

"We might not, but it's wha' I wan' for ya."

"Do yah know how much furniture it is gonna tah take tah fill this thing?"

"A lot."

Rogue laughed.  "Yah got that right.  The bedrooms aren't 'jis bedrooms."  She studied the plans some more.  "They are suites."

He chuckled.  "Well Chere, it's de type of house I grew up in.  I wan' de chil'lin ta have all de advantages I had and den some."

She handed the plans back to him,   "Judging by this, Ah'll say yah gonna come pretty close."  Rogue shrugged.  "Go ahead and have it built."  He smiled.  "Who knows ... maybe Bish and Storm will move in with us."

"Now lets not get carried away."  He laughed.

They continued to finish their desert as they talked about the house and the prospect of having identical twins.  Gambit was so thrilled about everything within their near future.  It was hard for Rogue to think that anything could go wrong with their future being so bright.

The sound of someone knocking on Remy's door caught both their attention.  Gambit pulled his sleeve back to look at his watch again.  He then looked back at Rogue.  "Oh Well, Hank's punctual if he's not any t'ing else."  He rose from his seat.  "I'd better get dat. 'Cuse me."

"Hi Hank."  He smiled to the burly Doctor that stood on the other side of the opened door, holding several file folders.  "Ya raht on time."