Gambit Fanfiction -- Shadow Walkers, Separate Trails, A Question of Answers

Separate Trails

A Question of Answers

(Part of the Shadow Walker series)

By JF Jackson

Bobby Drake looked out the window and sighed. He was upset, but trying not to show it, although he was alone in his room. He had learned a long time ago that to show his anger sometimes made it worse. It was like giving in to it, admitting it was bothering him. It was much better to put on the brave face, pretend nothing was wrong, and to crack jokes. If you did it enough, eventually, you could fool yourself into thinking all was fine. Sometimes though, it was harder than other times.

I can't believe this, he thought as he looked out over the back yard of the mansion. I'm being sent away like a little kid. The professor can say what he wants, but I know they don't need me to help teach in Massachusetts. I'm not being sent to something, I'm being sent from here. What I can't figure out is why? He had a pretty good feeling that it had a lot to do with Remy's "friend" Rhiannon, who had been staying at the mansion the past few days. Bobby did not know much about her except that she was some strange half-vampire creature and she was carrying Remy's baby. It was because of the baby that she was staying at the mansion. Apparently, pregnancy and half vampirism was not a good mix and Hank wanted to keep a heavy eye on her. That was understandable, especially with Gambit being gone to parts unknown to get his head together. What did not make sense was why everyone was being so damned vague about her with him. When he asked about her, people gave him short answers and quickly changed the subject. He had not seen much of her either. She was spending most of her time in the Medlab. But it did seem, no, it was definite, that everyone in the mansion was trying to make sure he did not see her at all.

Even worse, he had a feeling there was so much more to this situation. More than what he knew, more than what people told him. He found himself wondering about Rhiannon a lot. Sometimes images came to him, images of her younger. There was a part of him that felt he knew her, although that could not be. If he did know her, he would remember her. He would know how they met and what he thought about her. He would not feel disjointed when he thought about her, certainly thinking about her would not make his head pound and his temples ache as it often did. Thinking about her would not give him a headache.

The headache problem led to him being sent to the Massachusetts academy. He knew this, although the professor would not say. He had mentioned the headaches to him last night and suddenly this morning, Bobby was being told to pack up that he would be heading to Massachusetts for "an undetermined amount of time."

This being sent away hurt and bothered him on two levels. First because he always hated being treated like a child and that was exactly how they were treating him. He had been the "baby" of the X-Men when he first came here and sometimes it seemed as if many of them would or could not accept that he was not a child anymore. Sometimes I think they treated Jubilee as more of an adult than they treat me.

It also bothered him because he wanted to know more about Rhiannon. He wanted to know more about this mystery woman who caused so much commotion among the X-Men, who had somehow converted Remy into what she was, a half vampire, and apparently had a past with at least one of the X-Men, Scott. He felt he should know more about her on some level too.

So, now you know the problem, Drake. What do you do about the solution? he asked himself.

Another voice came from inside him A voice that he could not remember ever hearing, yet seemed eerily familiar. A woman's voice. You damned well know what the solution is; you have to talk to the source of the problem itself. You have to talk to Rhiannon.

Easier said than done, he responded.

When there's a will, there's a way, the familiar yet unfamiliar woman's voice taunted back. Yes, Hank is keeping a close eye on her and she is being monitored to some extent, but they aren't doing a 24/7. You aren't leaving for Massachusetts until this evening. That gives you all afternoon to find and talk to her.

Exhaling sharply, Bobby abandoned his packing tasks and left the room to find Rhiannon. He was not sure if he would succeed or not, but he was not going to leave the mansion without trying. He owed that to himself. Perhaps he even owed it to Rhiannon.

Rhiannon was not in the Medlab when he peeked in, but Hank was, studying something on one of the computer screens. A good sign, actually. If Hank was busy, he would be less likely to go looking for Rhiannon. Now all Bobby had to do was hope he could find her.

As he walked past the Danger room, he saw the yellow light was on, indicating that the room was in use, but the program running was not a dangerous one, or that the room was restricted. Bobby hesitated, then tapped his access code into the keypad. The heavy metal door slid open and he peered inside. The Danger room had been programmed to simulate a lush, green, meadow. It was a very well done program, he realized as the smell of fresh green grass and wild flowers hit his nostrils. He could see the grass swaying gently in a faint breeze; he could hear birds calling to each other as they bobbed from the branches of some small bushes. While it was possible to program the danger room to simulate almost every situation, environment, or place, it had to be told everything. Most of the X-Men skimped on the more minor details, like scents, especially with a recreational program, which Bobby knew this had to be. Only one person would bother to go to such lengths to make the program seem this real. Someone whose senses were heightened to the point where no matter what he did, he would not be able to completely fool himself into thinking this was a meadow. Someone who would take the time to try extra hard, even if all this meadow would ever do was provide a place for a quick escape. This has to be one of Wolverine's programs.

He looked around for his fellow X-Men, finally spotting him partially hidden behind a young maple tree. Rhiannon was with him. They were sitting together on the "grass," legs folded beneath them, eyes closed. Bobby felt a sharp pang go through him. She looked so beautiful, although the difficult pregnancy was leaving her face gaunt, her skin even paler than normal. There was a fire radiating inside of her; a determination to make sure that this baby she carried survived. This inner fire gave her a new beauty, one of strength. He had the strangest feeling that Logan was helping her find this inner strength and it bothered him. Why? he wondered. Why should it even matter? Why should I feel jealous because she's friends with Logan, or that she's carrying Remy's baby, or that she supposedly slept with Scott Summers? Why does it matter at all?

He found himself moving towards them, trying to be quiet, although he knew with Logan it was useless. Sure enough, when he was barely in the room, both of them turned to look at him, their eyes opening. "Uh, hi," Bobby said, his voice sounding small and guilty, as if he truly was a child and had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"'Lo, Drake," Logan said. His voice sounded gruff, but not unkind.

Since Logan was good at letting people know without any doubt when they were unwanted in his presence, Bobby moved closer, focusing his attention to Rhiannon. "So, you're the mystery guest, huh?"

Bobby would have sworn that for a moment, her face twisted into an expression of pain. Logan softly cleared his throat. Her expression changed to a blank look that Bobby could not read. "Yes," she said quietly, "I am." Her voice was the mystery woman's voice, Bobby had heard in his head earlier. Part of him was surprised, yet part of him was not.

She turned her head so Bobby could not see her face and looked at Logan. Although he had no idea of her expression, Bobby knew she was trying to communicate with Logan using only body language.

Still moving closer, Bobby tried not to fidget. "Look, I know there is some plot going on to make sure you and I don't get much of a chance to talk, but I don't think ten minutes of conversation will kill us. I'm leaving tonight for Massachusetts."

"Uh," she stammered, as if trying to think of the right thing to say then gave up and looked at Logan. "What do I do?" she whispered.

"Maybe it's time to face the demons in your past for both of your sakes," Logan suggested, his expression never changing from one that seemed totally emotionless.

Demons? Bobby wondered. What is going on around here? "Look, if you say no, I understand," he said, softly, although he knew a part of him really would not.

Rhiannon drew in a deep breath through her nose and exhaled slowly through her mouth. "I-I don't know if this is right," she finally said. "I have a feeling that Charles would not approve of this at all."

Although she was answering Bobby's question, she looked at Logan as she spoke. Bobby did not know who should speak next. He looked over at Logan, who rose slowly to his feet.

"Charles has his reasons, and I don't fault him for 'em," Logan's voice was carefully modulated, as if trying to make sure the only thing they could hear were the actual words themselves, not any hidden meaning behind them. "However, you're both adults and maybe, rather than thinking what's best for Charles, you should be thinkin' 'bout what's right for the both of you."

"Does that mean I should or I shouldn't talk to him?" Rhiannon asked, her lips twisted into a wry grin.

"It means you have'ta decide that for yourself," Logan said.

Bobby's brow furrowed "Uh, I never got my script," he said, trying to joke. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to be saying now."

"Just wing it, Bobby," Logan suggested. He walked from the room, not even bothering to look back or say good bye.

Bobby watched him for a moment, then turned his attention to Rhiannon to see what she would do. She bit her lower lip, but said nothing. When the door shut behind Wolverine, she looked at him. "If this really makes you uncomfortable, we don't have to do it," Bobby said.

"Noooo," she said, drawing out the word as if buying herself a few more seconds to think. She had such a lovely voice too. It was low and sweet, but with a thread of steel running through it. The voice of an angel with the strength of the devil. "Bobby, believe me when I say this, I do want to talk to you, I feel I owe it to you to talk to you, but I don't want to hurt you a-" she cut off the last part of the sentence abruptly.

I think she was going to say, "I don't want to hurt you again," Bobby thought. Why? He decided to cut to the chase. "Rhiannon, we know each other, don't we? We have some sort of past, don't we?"

She hesitated for only a second, then nodded. "Yes."

"What was it?" he asked, sitting down next to her on the grass. "And why can't I remember?"

She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. "You and I were friends, you and I were lovers," she whispered the last part, refusing to look at him.

He let out a long whistle. A part of him wanted to deny it, how could he ever forget being so close to such a beautiful woman? How could he not remember making love to her? But deep inside of him, in his heart, he knew she was speaking the truth. He had the strangest feeling that if they were to make love right now, in this artificial meadow, he would know her body almost as well as he knew his own. Bobby's experience with women was limited almost into nonexistence, but he knew he could make love to Rhiannon, that he would know the things to do, the things that she would enjoy. "Why don't I remember?" he asked, his expression bewildered and hurt. "Rhiannon, how could I forget someone like you?"

She looked over at him, her ginger lashes fringed with tears. "Because... because the professor made you forget me."

A flash of red-hot anger raced through Bobby like a fire. "He made me forget you?" he repeated, his voice stunned. The only way that could have happened would be if the professor had tampered with his mind, an idea Bobby found repulsive. The mental equivalent of rape, or worse. To meddle with someone's mind was the ultimate violation. "Why did he do that? For God's sake, how could he do that to me?"

"Please, Bobby, don't judge him too harshly," Rhiannon pleaded. "He did what he thought was right. He did what he thought he had to do."

The pleading in her voice slowed the anger. It was still there, but it was put into idle mode. "Can you tell me why he did it?" Bobby asked.

"Do you promise to keep an open mind?" she answered his question with a question. "To keep your anger in check until I can tell the whole story?"

"I promise to listen," Bobby said. "I can't promise more than that until I know."

She hesitated for a moment, thinking about his words, then slowly nodded. "All right, I can't ask for more than that. Get comfortable, Bobby, because it's a long story."

When Rhiannon finished telling him the story, Bobby was glad he had not promised to not be mad because it was a problem he would not have been able to keep. He was very angry, angrier than he had been earlier. Instead of red-hot anger, it flared into white heat then converted itself into a hard, encompassing black anger that fed into him like a tidal wave. "I don't believe it," he muttered, rising to his feet. "I don't freaking believe it."

"Why?" Rhiannon asked, wiping at the pink tears that had fallen down her face while she told him the story. "Bobby, I had you totally under my control and I had no idea what I had done or how I had done it. I had no clue of how to stop it, either. Charles knew something had to be done."

"It doesn't matter," Bobby said, shaking his head. "If it was as bad as you say it was, then I couldn't have given consent to Charles to do that to me. It was wrong."

"It's a catch-22," Rhiannon countered. "He had to do something to bring you back. I couldn't help. Bobby, if you want to be mad at someone about this, be mad at me. I'm the one who turned you into a mindless idiot."

"You didn't mean to," Bobby said, rising to his feet. "You made a mistake. What the professor did was deliberate." He looked down at her. "Rhiannon, you say we were lovers, before that, we were the best of friends. How would you like it if you couldn't remember your best friend? Or someone you used to love? How would you feel if you had no idea whose child you were carrying? If the professor decided the best thing for you would be to take all of your memories with Remy away from you?"

"I wouldn't like it at all," she admitted. "But this is a different situation!"

He looked at her, not only looking, but studying her. "Rhiannon, I know you were trying to hold back some things, but you told me enough. I cared for you; I cared for you a lot. I may come across as naive at times, but I'm not the type to willingly offer my blood to someone I didn't care about and I did with you. Easily. You must have owned part of my heart."

"I-I did," Rhiannon whispered, "but you owned part of mine as well."

He reached out to her, his hand trembling. He did not know why, but he had to touch her. Part of him expected her to bat his hand away, or flinch, but she did not. She merely looked at him, her eyes a deep, sad brown. His fingers brushed along her cheek. Her skin felt both cool and warm to the touch, as if the artificial sunshine from the danger room had warmed the outer skin, but not the blood that flowed within. His fingers lingered, curling slightly so he was touching her with the backs of them. I should know this. This should feel familiar to me and I swear part of me does know her skin, but I just can't remember! It's not fair. No one has the right to do this to anyone. No one. He suddenly pulled away from her and rose to his feet. "I'm going to talk to him."

Rhiannon leaped up an expression of alarm on her face. "Bobby, no!"

"Why not?" He looked at her. "He owes me an explanation."

"I gave you the explanation!" Rhiannon reminded him. "Bobby, I messed up your mind! I took away your free will! Yes, it was an accident, but it still happened. The professor gave it back. You can't fault him for that!"

"I'm not upset that he broke the bond," Bobby said through clenched teeth. "I'm upset that he took away my memories of you."

"I don't think he had a choice."

"Well, thinking is all fine and good. I want to find out for sure." He turned and started out of the room. Part of him wondered if she would come after him, but she just stood there, staring at him. He could feel her eyes drilling into the back of him. Part of him wanted to stop, to turn to her, and ask her what she thought he should do. Did she really expect him to just shrug this off? But he did not stop, he kept going.

Bobby walked up to the professor's office. The door was open and when he peered inside, Charles was sitting behind his desk, looking at him, as if expecting him. He probably was, flashed through his mind. He probably knows everything Rhiannon and I talked about.

"Somewhat," Charles said calmly. "I have a lot of trouble picking up anything from Rhiannon anymore. I think that might have something to do with her half vampire state."

The anger Bobby had tried to push away while he had walked up to the office came flooding back. "Who gives you the right to probe through my mind, professor?" he asked, walking into the office and closing the door. "When did you decide you have the right to make decisions for me, to read my private thoughts? When did I stop being a person to you?"

"You never stopped being a person," Charles said his expression still calm and collected. "I have been keeping a bit of a watch on you since Rhiannon came, for your own protection. I could have easily stopped you from looking for her earlier, but I did not. I didn't feel it was a good idea, but I let you do it, because it was your right."

"So you'd rather I just lived my whole life being unable to remember Rhiannon?" Bobby asked, nostrils flaring. "You think what you did was right?"

"It was never a matter of wrong or right, it was a matter of best and worst." Charles pressed his fingers together, looking at him steadily. "I could not leave you bonded to Rhiannon, I had to try to stop it. If you feel that was wrong, I am sorry, but if the situation were to happen again, I would do the same thing."

"How can you say that?" Bobby cried. "How can you just take away my memory of someone, someone I cared about, someone I loved and say it was the best thing to do?"

"Because you didn't really love her anymore," Charles said. "You didn't have the ability to love anymore. She had your mind totally enslaved. Love is something that happens with free will. Take someone's free will away, and they cannot love."

"And there was no way to get rid of the bond, the mind enslavement without taking away the memories?" Bobby asked.

"Unfortunately, no." Charles sighed, his brow furrowing. For the first time since Bobby had walked into the room, the man actually looked bothered by this. "Bobby, you have to understand, I was dealing with something unknown to me. She was able to manipulate your mind in ways I never saw before."

"It was an accident," Bobby said stubbornly. "She didn't mean for it to happen."

"I know that," the professor said. "But accident or not, it happened. I tried to merely isolate the bond itself and remove that, but I could not do it. Somehow, when you and Rhiannon bonded, it linked you together, not only mentally, but in a physical sense too. When I tried to destroy the bond, I hurt her. That is why she passed out."

Bobby stared at him, swallowing. This was a new twist. "I-I didn't know that," he said slowly.

"I am not surprised," Charles said. "She doesn't know. But trust me, Bobby, I have no hard feelings for Rhiannon. She was a student of mine and I was very fond of her. I did not want to see her hurt and I knew that removing the bond was hurting her. I may not be able to read her mind as easily as that of a fully living person, but her pain was coming through."

His mind whirling with this new information, Bobby sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. "So there was no other way," he whispered. "You had to erase my memories of her."

"I didn't erase them," Charles said.

"Huh?" Bobby stared at him, then shook his head. "What do you mean, you didn't erase them? I can't remember her!"

"Yes, but you feel some sort of connection with her," Charles gently reminded him. "Part of you knew there was more to her and you, that you weren't strangers. If I had erased ever memory of her, then you would not have felt that. You would have thought of her as a stranger, nothing more."

Bobby thought about that and realized the professor was right. "Th-then why don't I remember her? You're right, I feel the connection, but I don't have specific memories. Professor, Rhiannon, and I were lovers! I spent weekends with her, yet I don't remember any of it!"

"The memories are locked away," Charles said. "I was able to shift them deep into your subconscious and close them off. Since Rhiannon made it a point to avoid the X-Men, I thought this would be fine. I didn't realize she would get involved with Remy and come back into your life again."

"So you're saying that these feelings I have are the memories trying to break free from my subconscious?" Bobby asked, biting his lower lip.

Charles nodded.

"So, could you unlock them?" Bobby asked slowly. "Give them back to me so I can remember them?"

Again, Charles nodded. "Yes, I could do that. However, if I do, you will be bonded to her. In a sense, you still are bonded to her, but the reason why it does not affect you is because you can't remember her."

Bobby closed his eyes and swallowed. "So, in order to remember her, I have to become a mindless zombie?"

"I don't know," Charles answered. "Perhaps there are other ways. At the time this happened, Rhiannon did not know much about what she had become. She's had time to learn more, perhaps we should be talking to her too."

"Can you call her here?" Bobby asked.

"I can't summon her mentally," Charles said. "But I can ask someone to find her and tell her to come here." He looked at him. "Are you absolutely sure you want this?"

Bobby did not even hesitate. "Yes."

Charles asked Jean to find Rhiannon and bring her to his office. Neither Bobby nor the professor spoke in the five minutes it took for the two women to show up. When Jean and Rhiannon walked in, Rhiannon looked even paler, worry drawn into every line on her face. "Charles, I'm not sure this is a good idea," Jean said. "Hank is trying to keep Rhiannon's stress level down."

"It's all right," Rhiannon said softly, sitting down in the chair next to Bobby. "There are obviously issues here that must be faced." She looked at Charles. "I'm sorry I told him, but I just couldn't keep letting him wonder."

"I understand," Charles said, allowing a small smile to play across his lips. Not necessarily a smile of affection, although there was some warmth to it, it was more a smile of assurance to let Rhiannon know she did nothing wrong. "However, we now have a problem. Now that you have come back into our lives, Bobby wants to be able to remember you."

"But you took those memories away," Rhiannon said.

"No, he didn't," Bobby said, looking at her. "He just locked them away in my subconscious. All he has to do is unlock them."

Rhiannon's breath drew in with a sharp gasp. "But that would mean that you're-"

"Still bonded to you," Bobby finished for her. "Yeah, that's the problem."

"Do you know how to break a bond?" the professor asked.

Rhiannon nodded, frowning. "I know how. I-I've never done it, but I do know how. However, I don't know if there will be any problems, especially considering that the original bond was tampered with and it's been there for a long time." She looked from Bobby to the professor, her eyes wide and round. "I don't want to see him hurt. I've done enough damage to him."

Charles nodded. "I understand that, however, I can restore the bond and his memories of you exactly the way they were left. I think the risks are minimal at best. Just for extra precaution, Jean is here. I will have her monitor Bobby's mind as well." He smiled to Jean, who nodded slowly.

"Could we not talk about me as if I wasn't here?" Bobby asked sourly.

"I'm sorry," the professor said smoothly. He looked at the young X-Man. "The decision is yours. Do you want us to try this?"

Bobby looked over at Rhiannon. "I-it's up to you too, Rhian. I don't want to see you hurt either. I know that your, uh, pregnancy is a difficult one."

Rhiannon ran her hand over her stomach with a small smile. "It-it's all right." She looked at Charles. "I don't see why this should be a problem, do you?"

Charles shook his head.

"I have a faint sense of your child," Jean reminded her. "Since I'm just here to monitor Bobby, I can monitor your baby as well. If I sense the child is under any stress because of this, I'll let everyone know."

"Thank you," Rhiannon said, looking at her with an expression of sheer gratitude. Considering the past Rhiannon shared with Scott, perhaps her gratitude was not too surprising. Jean smiled.

Bobby looked at the professor. "Can we just do it then?" he asked.

The professor nodded. Putting his fingers to his temples, he looked at Bobby. Charles Xavier's mind was powerful enough that he did not even have to be in the same room as Bobby to do this, however, it helped him to focus to look at the man. Bobby looked back, staring into his eyes.

Bobby could feel the professor enter his mind; it was not an unfamiliar sensation. Over the years, he had grown used to feeling the presence of another mind with his. However, he never really could say he enjoyed it. It was not painful, or even uncomfortable, but there was always this... prickly feeling, as if he was preparing to fight against it. When he first came to the mansion as a young boy, he had tried to fight off the mental intrusions, not deliberately, but by instinct. It had taken training to teach him not to react by trying to push the presence away. He had learned, all the X-Men, past and present had learned, but Bobby was never able to stop the initial reaction of wanting to fight it. He drew in a deep breath and forced himself to relax.

Charles entered easily, going right for Bobby's subconscious. He knew exactly where the memories and the bond were hidden, after all, he had put them there himself. Closing his eyes for a moment, he mentally "unlocked" the door, allowing the memories of Rhiannon to escape, knowing they would go where they belonged. He let the door open slowly, letting the memories ease back, rather than flood. He did not want to shock him. Putting memories from the subconscious into the conscious was a tricky business at best, especially when forced. It was a bit easier than he expected however, probably because Bobby's own mind had been starting to try to open the door himself, since Rhiannon had arrived.

While Charles worked on Bobby, the two men just looking at each other, Rhiannon watched both of them. Her lower lip was drawn into her mouth, and she was biting on it. Her hands were folded over her stomach, the knuckles white. Although Jean was not even trying to read her mind, she still knew the woman was upset and concerned. Gently, Jean reached out and put her hand on Rhiannon's shoulder. Rhiannon looked over at the hand, looked up at Jean, and smiled weakly.

"It will be all right, you'll see," Jean whispered softly.

"It better be," Rhiannon murmured.

As the memories and the blood bond slowly eased back into Bobby's conscious mind, he stopped fighting the professor. Actually, his whole awareness of the situation began to diminish. Instead, his mind began to flood with Rhiannon. The memories for her, his awareness of her. Other things that were important to him, his family, his fellow teammates, the X-Men, began to seem less important. All that mattered was Rhiannon. Everything began and ended with her. She is my heart, my soul, and my reason for being. Without her, I am nothing, played in his mind, over and over again. Nothing counted but her; nothing meant anything but being with her. He whimpered softly, looking around like a bewildered puppy. When he saw Rhiannon was sitting next to him, he relaxed slightly, reaching out and touching her arm. All he wanted to do was touch her, hold her, and be with her. Only Rhiannon could make him feel good. Only Rhiannon could make him feel at all.

Gently, Rhiannon reached out, taking his hand with hers and squeezing it gently. She remembered this behavior from before and it had upset her. Time had not changed that opinion at all. I bound him so tightly, she thought. God, how could I do this to him? Accident or not, it's too much power. I don't want it; I never wanted it. What if I bound Remy this tightly?

"Rhiannon," Bobby whispered.

Charles looked at Rhiannon. "I have done what I can. It is up to you, now."

Rhiannon nodded and looked up at Jean. "Is... everything all right?"

"As far as I can tell, Bobby is..." she hesitated, trying to find the right words, "...all right. He's certainly not himself anymore, but he doesn't seem to be in any danger. And I sense no stress from yours and Remy's child."

"Good." Rhiannon drew in a deep breath and turned her chair to look at Bobby. She wished Stealth were here to monitor this. It was not that she felt Charles and Jean were not to be trusted, but this was a vampire matter now. Jean and Charles should not even watch this, but she could not send them out of the room.

Bobby turned his chair so he could face Rhiannon. Reaching out, he put his hands on her legs. Part of him remembered all that had happened, he knew that he had not truly been bonded to Rhiannon before, but now he was and that is exactly what he wanted. "I love you," he whispered. "God, Rhiannon, how could you leave me? How could you just let Charles do this to me? Don't you know that you're the most important person in the world to me?"

"I'm sorry," Rhiannon said. "I never meant to hurt you."

Bobby frowned. While he wanted Rhiannon to know he had not wanted to be away from her, he did not want her to feel bad. "It's okay, Rhian. Because we're together now. And we're never going to be apart again." He ran his hands up her legs.

"I know," Rhiannon said. "I'm glad to be with you as well, but Bobby, I'm hungry."

Bobby's eyes widened. He reached out and gathered Rhiannon into his arms, drawing her into his lap. Rhiannon did not protest, but allowed this. He moved his head, exposing his neck. "I like it when you feed," he whispered.

She leaned over, drawing her tongue across his neck, licking at the vein. She felt uncomfortable, doing this in front of an audience, but she knew she had to. At least Jean and the professor were not staring at her. Closing her eyes, she let her blood teeth drop, and plunged them into his vein.

Bobby's face twisted into an expression of pain for a moment then quickly changed to one of bliss. With the bond and all his memories back in place, he was trained to associate being fed from with pleasure. He was feeling it before the rapture completely took over. The path Rhiannon had created years ago was back; she took it, easing into his mind gently.

Rhiannonthisfeelsogood!

Rhiannon swallowed, taking only small sips of his blood. God I wish Stealth were here, she thought, I've never done this, I've only been told how to do this! She let her mind enter his, finding the area with the bond. As Stealth had taught her, she tried to picture the bond as something real. She saw it as a cage, surrounding all of Bobby, all of what he was. Iron bars, thick and strong, the door locked and chained shut. She drew her mouth away from Bobby's neck, the bond, and image of it still firmly in her mind. Bringing her wrist to her mouth, she pierced the vein and brought it up to Bobby's lips. "Drink."

No. His mental "voice" was no more than a whisper.

Please, doitforme, itwillmakethebondwesharestronger. In the part of her mind where her thoughts were still her own, she begged to whatever gods might look out over vampires that she would be forgiven for this lie.

Bobby took her wrist, clutching it in his hand and bringing it to his mouth. He looked into her eyes and fastened his lips around the small holes, drawing some of her blood into his mouth, swallowing it.

Rhiannon's lips drew back, inhaling sharply through her teeth in low, hissing noise. Part of her was tempted to get caught up in this, the complete sharing of souls, but she knew she could not. She had a job here; she had to free Bobby from the mental cage she had trapped him in. Leaning over, she kissed his neck, drawing gently on his blood.

The room and the surroundings seemed to vanish to both of them. They were both completely in the "bondscape," looking at each other, in the cage. Their physical bodies were still in the study, being observed, but neither of them was aware of it. They saw themselves inside the bondscape, the area forged inside their minds. Whatisthis? Bobby asked.

Rhiannon fought the instinct to fall completely into the bond. She had to keep control. This is what I've done to you, she "whispered."

No, youwouldn'tdothis. The "bondscape" shifted and instead of a cage, began to reform itself into Bobby's vision, a room filled with crystals and sunlight that glimmered magically, looking almost like a palace of ice.

God, he's stronger than I thought! Rhiannon thought, eyes widening. Stronger, but dumber. Why is he picturing this as something wonderful? Why can't he see what I've done? She traveled around Bobby's vision of the "bondscape," looking for something that would show her and him that deep down, Bobby knew this was not what it seemed, that this was not a place of beauty and wonder. She looked at the windows where the sunlight streamed through, making the crystals seem to dance. They were like picture windows that could not be opened. This means something, but what?

Rhiannon, Iwanttobewithyouforever.

Suddenly she knew. She spun around, looking at the entire room. Bobby, you have no doors!

Wha? His bondvoice sounded slow and thick.

She grabbed him by the arms. Look! There are no doors in this room and the windows don't open! This room is as much of a cage as I pictured it!

He looked around, frowning. It could not be, nothing this wonderful could be a prison. He stared at the windows, then at the walls. Faint feelings of doubt began pushing at the corners of his mind.

When Rhiannon felt the glimmer of doubt, she mentally pushed her image of the bond with all her inner strength. The "bondscape" shimmered then transformed back to the cage.

No! Bobby's mental voice was an anguished cry. He tried to recreate the bondscape back to what he saw it as, but Rhiannon held firm. Gritting her teeth, she mentally pushed to keep the bondscape what she saw it as with all her strength. Rhiannon!

She stared at him. This isn't good, Bobby. What I did to you was awful. I took away your free will; I made you a prisoner of my soul. Even worse, you've convinced yourself you like it. We have to destroy it. We have to free you.

Idolikeit, he protested. Rhiannon was amazed at how much free will he could show inside the bondscape.

No, please! She wanted to cry, wanted to smash her head against the bars and wail in frustration. She was not as strong as she normally was; the pregnancy was taking a heavier toll on her than she had thought. Not just on her physical body, but her spiritual one as well. I can't deal with this, she whispered.

Thenletitstay!

We can't! she shook her head. I don't want it, and neither do you. I'm bonded to Remy! I don't have the strength to handle anymore. Please, Bobby, for my sake, for the sake of my child, please, help me destroy this!

Yourchild? For a moment, Bobby seemed to freeze in one place, then the stubborn frown he was wearing crumbled. Youreallydon'twantthisanymore? It was more of a statement than a question.

No!

He took her hands in his, holding them gently. Idon'tknowhowtodestroyit.

You don't have to know how; you just have to help me. She looked into his eyes. Most people want their soul, their free will back. You have to want it too.

Ido, he said, his voice weak.

Say it again, louder!

Ido! he screamed.

When she heard the scream, she pushed at the bondscape with everything she had. The iron floor began to crack; the ceiling above them seemed to melt. The chain on the door began to rattle and shake, then seemed to blow apart, the door flying open. The bars began to glow with heat. C'mon! She grabbed his hand. We have to leave, now!

They ran from the cage. Once they were safely outside, Rhiannon whirled around and stared at it. Die! she screamed. Give him back his soul and die you motherfucker!

The cage glowed red, then white with heat. Then there was a blinding flash and the cage exploded. For a moment it just seemed to hover, shaking as if alive, then it looked as if it were expanding, growing, then it exploded into fragments. The moment it did, both Bobby and Rhiannon felt as if their minds were being ripped in two.

Rhiannon!

If she lived to be a million, Rhiannon did not think she would ever forget his last cry through the bond. It had burned itself into her mind forever.

Blackness threatened to envelop her, but she fought it. I still have one thing to do! She fought to find her way back to her physical body. The moment she gained control, she bit her tongue to seal the pinholes in Bobby's neck. The moment she did, the link into his mind and soul completely ended, as if a door that had once been open between the two of them shut down completely. She was thrown back into reality with a sickening lurch.

"Rhiannon, are you all right?" It was the professor's voice. Opening her eyes, she realized she was still in Bobby's lap, their arms around each other. She moved away from him, quickly rising to her feet.

"I-I'm okay," she muttered. She looked at Bobby. His eyes were closed, his brow furrowed, breathing heavily through his mouth.

"Bobby, are you all right?" she asked.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "I have a whopper of a headache."

"Me too," she confessed, smiling. "But hopefully, this is the last headache you'll ever get because of me."

She looked at the professor. "This took more out of me than I thought it would. I-I'm pretty sure I'm okay, but I think I should go see Hank."

"I think that is an excellent idea," Charles said, nodding as well.

"Let me help you," Jean said, moving over and taking Rhiannon's arm gently. "You really look as if you could use someone to lean on a bit."

Rhiannon smiled at her, letting Jean help her. "You're nice Jean. I'm glad you came back from the dead."

Jean suppressed a chuckle as she led her from the room. "I'm glad of that myself, although technically, I was never really dead."

"Well, forgive me, I don't know the whole story," Rhiannon said, as they left the room, closing the door behind them. "Maybe someday you can tell me about it."

"Perhaps," Jean said. "I don't think it would be a bad idea if you and I had a chance to talk more while you're here. But first things first."

"Yeah," Rhiannon agreed. "One problem at a time."

When the two women were gone, the office door shut firmly, Charles looked at Bobby. "Perhaps you should go and talk to Hank as well," he suggested.

Bobby shook his head. "I just need a couple aspirin and a quiet place to lie down for a couple hours. I'll be fine."

The professor nodded. "If you're sure."

"Yeah." He stood up from the chair, slowly. "I-I'll be ready to leave for Massachusetts tonight," he said softly.

The professor looked at him, his head tipped to one side. "You are welcome to go if you wish, but it is not a necessity anymore. There is no reason to keep you and Rhiannon separated."

"Oh, yes there is," Bobby disagreed.

The professor looked puzzled, but said nothing, just motioned for Bobby to continue.

"The bond is gone, Professor, but we have another problem."

"What is that?"

"There were feelings I had for Rhiannon that started long before the bond." Bobby looked down; studding his hands rather than look at Charles. "Maybe the bond is gone, but not the feelings. I'm still in love with her. And she's carrying Remy's baby."

The professor merely nodded. There were no words to say in this situation. This was something Bobby would have to work out for himself.

"When we were inside, getting rid of the bond, I saw a lot of things. Rhiannon loves me, but it's not in the same way I love her. It never will be. She looks at everything we had as in the past, kids stuff."

"Bobby, I know it is cold comfort, but time does help these situations," Charles said softly.

Bobby forced himself to look at the professor. "Oh, I know it does. That's why I figure it'll be better for me to go to Massachusetts. A little time and distance is just what I need. Now, if you'll excuse me, Professor, that aspirin and quiet room is starting to look too good to pass up." He hurried out the door before the professor could say another word.

He made his way up to his room quickly and shut the door behind him. The headache was not as bad as he made it out to be, and he knew the professor knew it as well. He had left abruptly because...

Because he did not want the professor to see the tears in his eyes.

I don't know where you are, Gambit, but if you've got half a brain, you'd give up this stupid behavior and head back home. Cause if you're not here by the time the baby is born, I'm coming back, and I'm gonna try again. If she could break the bond with me, she can break it with you as well.

He sat down on the bed, burying his face in his hands. It was a nice thing to think about, possibly having a chance to get Rhiannon back, but he knew better. Deep down, he knew Remy would be back.

The End.