Disclaimer:
All X-Men and related characters are Property of and Copyrighted by 
Marvel Comics Entertainment and are used here without permission. This is an 
original work of fan-fiction and is not in anyway used to make material profit. 
Please send Feedback to irualA@net-magic.net and enjoy, this is written in 
response to a challenge offered to OTL by Elizabeth K .  Please
excuse any glaring errors in continuity and characterization. I usually
don't attempt most of the X-men. Also this has the original team and the new, 
after all, It's Christmas a time when families tend to all come to the same 
places at the same times. If only to eat and swap loot!.  Merry Christmas! 
P.S. I know I borrowed the title from Clement Moore's famous poem
"Twas the night before Christmas", but what could I do? It wouldn't go away, 
till I wrote it in! =3D)

Twas the night before Christmas
   
Flames danced and flickered in the fireplace; A magnificent symphony and choral 
selection of Christmas music was playing in the background courtesy of Hank's 
collection of CD's. If it had been left up to Bobby the entire mansion would 
have been subjected to repeated selections from "The Crypt keeper's Creepy 
Ghoultide Christmas" All evening.
    
 Amazingly this seemed a rare break for the residents of the X 
Mansion. No Anti-Mutant demonstrations, No F.O.H rallies, even the Super Villain 
community seemed to have declared a day off. It seemed appropriate; after all it 
was Christmas Eve.

All day Jean, Storm and surprisingly; Charles had been preparing
various dishes. Nothing had burned or turned out wrong. Everyone had eaten a 
relaxing meal without fighting or arguing and no one was even out of sorts. 
Scott kept wondering when he was going to wake from this eerie vision of 
perfection. He watched with a bemused expression as Bishop and Gambit set up
the 15-foot tree with Rogue hovering at the top adjusting the wire 
support and Storm stringing the top with lights.
     
"Chere." Gambit grimaced as he rubbed at the sticky sap in his hair, "I
still don' understan' why you wanted Remy to do dis, instead O' letting me whip 
you up some Louisiana style Christmas goodies." Rogue laughed. An easy gentle 
laugh at odds with her usual tension filled relationship with the Cajun charmer.
     
"Ah now Sugah, not every meal has to be from the bayou to taste good.
Besides, spending time picking out the tree was fun, wasn't it?" Bishop snorted 
eloquently as Gambit's expression turned to a cocky grin. Scott made a mental 
note to send apologies and damage fees to Harry. Evidently sending Bishop along 
as the only chaperone for those two had been a mistake. He felt Jean's amused 
presence come up from the kitchen behind him.
     
"Scott dear, stop being so serious, they were only gone a couple of hours and I 
just checked with Harry, everything is fine. They made it to the tree lot and 
back without a single hitch."

Scott felt his mood lighten and smiled. "I know Jean, I just keep waiting for 
the other shoe to drop." 

Charles came up to him and said gently. " Maybe you'd better wake up then 
Scott." Scott Summers woke with a start surrounded by most of the rest of the 
current residents of the mansion. Hank was just taking a vial of smelling salts 
from under his nose. Well Oh fearless leader' you certainly gave us a scare." 
Hank lifted him from the floor and easily carried him to the couch where Jean 
laid his head carefully in her lap.
     
"Just rest here a while Scott, you don't seem to have a concussion,
but better safe than sorry."

She stroked his hair out of his eyes and looked anxiously at Beast for
conformation. Who nodded and said. " All to true Scott. Rest a bit and then 
we'll see about getting you up and about a bit later. Not to worry though Jean 
he seems to be shaking off the ill effects of this little mishap very well."
     
"What happened?" Scott managed groggily. To his surprise Bobby flushed scarlet 
and mumbled. "Sorry Scott." Rogue hovered in the middle of the foyer holding a 
20-foot douglas fir in one hand and a startled Remy in the other.
     
"Merde!  Scott! Chere put Gambit down eh?" Rogue eased the tree carefully into 
the living room. The weight of the tree was no problem, but the mass difference 
between her right and left handed burdens made balancing difficult. She advanced 
into the room.
     
" Ah hav'ta say somethin' first Sugah."

She set the tree on the floor and still carefully carrying Remy who was
looking anxious and uncomfortable with everyone else looking at him she went 
over to the hapless Drake.
     
"Robert Drake! What were you thinkin'! Or were ya?" She hovered about a
foot away from him trapping him in the hearth of the living room fireplace. He 
tried to say something in his defense but before he could say anything Remy 
spoke quietly, twisting out of his trench coat and dropping to the floor with 
only a shadow of his usual energy and grace.
     
"Non chere, Don' be blaming Drake. He didn't mean to hurt Scott, Jus' me." He 
moved past the now white faced Bobby. Rogue dropped the coat onto Drake's head 
and started after Remy with a determined look in her eyes only to pause as Jean 
spoke quietly.
     
"Remy please, stay." Scott struggled to a sitting position and added. "It was an 
accident. You know it, I know it and my head knows it. Tell me what happened? 
The last thing I remember was seeing the tree, and then not being able to move."

Beast grimaced. Wolverine snorted and spoke from the library doorway. 
"When you are hit by the top of a 20-foot tree slim, it's pretty difficult to 
move I'll grant ya that."
     
" Bobby stuttered, "Gambit was looking kinda tense and I just wanted to
lighten him up, I didn't think that the tree would move so much once he let go 
Scott, I'm really sorry." He moved off of the hearthstone and extended a hand to 
Remy. " I just wanted to make you slide a little, I didn't mean any harm. 
Honest, I thought you'd end up on your butt, not Scott. It was a joke."

Charles' gentle mind touch from the kitchen startled Gambit so much he
nearly jerked before catching himself and even though he remained outwardly 
still he remained off balance mentally.
      
"The ball is in your court Remy. If you want, you can take this as an insult, 
but Robert was including you in his pranking. Admittedly, he could have used 
better judgement; but he thinks of you as one of us. As do I., I know that this 
is a difficult time, and you are still uncertain, but give us and yourself a 
chance."

Colossus placed the tree in its stand and Kitty cut the cords binding 
The branches to the trunk.
     
"Oh Wolvie. It's Beautiful!" Even though she was Jewish, the tree was definitely 
one of her favorite non-Jewish traditions. She smiled to herself as she thought 
back to the Menorah and 9 packages she had found beside her door at the 
beginning of Hanukkah. 

Even though most of the Mansion was still in a state of disrepair and money was 
tight she had received those little gifts from several different X men ... One 
from Jean, one from Ororo, one from Rogue, Charles and Nightcrawler had given 
her 2 and Wolvie had given her 2 but the other one was a mystery. She had opened 
one a night for each day of the celebration, and was putting the other one under 
the tree after it was decorated.
    
"If you say so Kitty." Wolverine stalked into the room and slapped
Gambit on the shoulder. "So Gumbo, you going to brood yourself into a corner 
again and leave us guessing?" The challenge in Logan's eyes was unmistakable. 
Remy straightened visibly the anxiety and stress in his expression faded.
     
"Non, Mes Amies Remy learned dat lesson wit de mist t'ing eh?"
Rogue landed beside him and grimaced with distaste landing beside him 
And blowing Hank a kiss.
    
"Ah'm so glad you found a way to tell us about that so we could help
you Sugah. "

She flinched mentally at the memory of his pain and hers when they had
pulled that creature from him. Even using her absorption powers and the 
containment unit borrowed from the Avengers it had been touch and go for all too 
long, She privately suspected that he was still not fully recovered.

"Come on Remy, you and Kurt can help me get the decorations from 
the attic."

Her thoughts continued on this new path. My Goodness, it sure was nice of
Jarvis to send all these decorations from the Avengers mansion. When Beast 
contacted them about needing Vision's help containing that terrible parasitic 
mist because Bastion and Operation Zero Tolerance had stripped the Mansion: he 
certainly came through with more than we expected. I wonder what they will 
decide to do with that creature? Well as long as Remy's safe I really don't 
care.

Kurt smiled winningly. "Of course Rogue. It is always a pleasure to assist a 
lovely Fraulein, especially you." He bowed gallantly from the waist and slyly 
tapped Gambit on the shoulder from behind with his tail. Gambits' spacial 
awareness warned him of the contact. Much to Kurt's pleased surprise though; 
this time he didn't flinch away. 

All three of them began to lug boxes and parcels from the attic and soon the 
living room closely resembled a war zone, or Jubilee's room. There were strings 
of lights strung out along the newly laid carpet. Tinsel, decorations and 
packages addressed to Xavier Institute and even the X men themselves were 
stacked haphazardly around the whole first floor.

Charles watched contentedly from the kitchen as Psylocke and Angel 
arrived with several stacks of gaily-wrapped packages. Good-natured banter flew 
about the room as the Mansion was transformed from it's rough-unfinished look to 
a warm wonderland. The much-subdued Iceman was singing Christmas carols along 
with Hank in an attempt to 'improve' the lyrics.

Exasperation and affection vied with each other in Beast's voice as he
Finally said: "Very well Robert. I shall concede the field to you on the 
Condition that you accurately relate the Christmas Story this evening after 
dinner. It is after all one of my most treasured traditions and the real reason 
for this Celebration." 

Robert paused in his clowning and with unwarranted
seriousness replied. "Why Hank, old buddy. I would NEVER attempt to take your 
place for such an auspicious occasion. I know I could never relay the true 
Christmas spirit the way you do. I insist that you do the honors this evening. I 
have several important errands to run this afternoon anyway." He
pulled on his coat and hat and left whistling cheerfully off key 
'Grandma got run over by a Reindeer.'

Several chaotic hours later the tree was resplendent with twinkling 
glory. A huge fire crackled cheerfully in the fireplace and a fine Holiday feast 
was just about to be served when Drake returned with several mysterious 
packages, which he placed under the tree joining the ones
placed there earlier by the other X men. 

Everyone was seated around the living room since they no longer had a formal 
dining room table and just before they ate their rare meal together; Kurt
stood and spoke with a dignity and conviction that brought an expectant
silence to the room.

"Mien Friends often at this time of year the true meaning of the
season is lost in all the other traditions that we all enjoy. I would like to 
offer thanks though for all of us... . Whither we are longtime members of this 
family, or newcomers. I say thank you Lord God for all of us here
tonight and all those we love who are not here. Please watch over us all
and help us to remember the hope that you gave us when your Son came from heaven 
to be offered in our place on the cross. I ask that those who are hurt can find 
healing and those who are sad find peace if only for
this one night in honor of you Oh Lord God. Amen. Now then...Let’s eat!" 

Of one accord people all around the room seemed to snap out of the trance they 
had been in while listening to Nightcrawler and dug into the food with gusto. In 
spite of the usual banter around the room Charles was all too aware of the 
tension and stress that filled his X Men. He sighed to himself
knowing that he was in fact a source of some of the stress in their
determined celebrating.

Marrow was staring hostilely from the staircase at the rest of the X 
Men. Rogue came to her offering a plate filled with turkey, dressing, mashed 
potatoes and green beans.” Here ya go Sugah." 

Marrow started to speak but instead took the plate with ill grace. "Why are you 
so stupid? You left that traitor to DIE! Yet he shows up and you act as if you 
LOVE him? " The sneer in her voice was at odds with the confusion in her eyes. 

Fortunately Rogue saw that and sighed. "Ah really don't think Ah owe you another 
explanation Marrow; But
Ah told ya. When Ah absorbed Remy in Antarctica, his feelings were so strong Ah 
couldn't 
shake them off right away. He felt there was no place for him with me or with 
the X Men. Ah NEVAH 
felt that way. Ah love Gambit and Ah intend ta help him heal and hopefully Ah'll 
help mahself too. 
It's Christmas Eve and Ah don't want to fight. But you jus' keep yoah hostility 
to
yoahself tonight!"
     
After dinner everyone opened gifts, many of them from the Avengers for the 
mansion. Things
like dishes, blankets even small furnishings like storage units and an
entertainment center courtesy of Wasp and Giant Man. Combined with the other 
things Jarvis 
had sent openly the mansion would at least be a bit less threadbare. Clothes and 
small 
homey touches were among the common gifts that everyone exchanged to help make 
the Mansion seem 
like home again.
     
Much to Gambit's surprise and pleasure several of the gifts were for him; 
Stormy, Rogue, The
Professor and to his shock Scott and Jean had all made it plain that they 
considered him home.

From Bobby, had come a most unusual and touching gift, for Hank. A limited 
edition King James 
Version Bible and A Santa hat so he could read the Christmas story in style to 
all. Which
he proceeded to do with much applause afterwards.

Eggnog and baked goods were handed out to all as Carols were sung with the help 
of a piano
that had been delivered for the Professor from Emma Frost and The Gen X kids as 
well as a
'seasonal' video they had recorded at Jubilee's insistence and sent along, To 
help Wolvie get
into the spirit. And to everyone's surprise, he actually was seen to crack a 
smile as Jubilee 
sang and clowned on the Video and generally embarrassed everyone at the 
Massachusetts Academy
except for herself of course.

Everyone went to bed around Midnight. Surprisingly it had been Gambit the 
perpetual night
haunt that had insisted, saying. "Well Mes Amies, if we don' get to bed, Ole St. 
Nick won' even 
leave some coal to warm our toes eh?"

Since Warren and Logan had consumed the last of the alcohol a few minutes before 
everyone
went upstairs with only a slight sense that it was unusual for them all to be a 
bed so swiftly.

Remy grinned to himself as he bid his Stormy goodnight and turned to go to his 
room. When he
reached it he found to his shock Rogue was sitting on his bed.
     
"Chere, What are you....?"

She stopped him by moving towards him and placing a gloved finger on his lips.
     
"Hush Sugah. Ah got something for ya that Ah wanted ta give ya before Ah went ta 
bed." She
removed a small package from behind her back and offered it with a shy smile. 
Remy opened it
with trembling hands. Nested in the small box was a white card folded over, he 
picked it up and
read the inscription: Remy, you are the man I love. I wish with all my heart 
that I could find a
way to show you that you are so much more than you feel you are. I can only hope 
this small
token helps.

He noticed then, underneath the card was a plain band of white gold. He took it 
out and saw
that on the inside was inscribed a delicate word; a name...

He looked at Rogue in shock as he realized that she had given him a 
secret that she didn't willingly share with anyone else at the mansion. Her real 
name. Without
another word he placed it carefully on his right ring finger. They sat quietly 
for some 
minutes watching the stars outside his window then Rogue noticed the line of 
delivery trucks 
waiting at the gate.

"What in tar-nation is all that? "
     
"Its not'ing Rogue jus' a few deliveries."
     
He left the room then.  She watched from his window as the trucks delivered 
packages, crates
and boxes of all sizes and shapes then left. Surprisingly no one appeared to 
wake in spite of the
fact that it had taken at least an hour to unload all the packages and at least 
a dozen workmen
had gone in and out of the front door and one of the side entrances as well.

Rogue was far from stupid and realized that Remy must have disconnected the 
security 
system, but then since he was the one who had not only provided it, but had it 
installed; that 
was hardly the chore it would have been with the Shiar technology they had lost 
although she 
suspected that it would have made only a little difference if they had still had 
all that.
     
She knew Hank in particular missed the advanced technology for his research. All 
of which 
had been stolen except for the copies he had sent to Muir Island a few weeks
before operation Zero Tolerance had taken over their lives. She shivered 
thinking of how 
they had been in space fighting the Phalanx for Lillandria while their world had 
gone insane 
from an entirely different but even more deadly threat.
     
She went quietly downstairs to the living room and saw to her shock that Logan 
had pinned
Gambit against the doorway to the kitchen and looked as if he was seriously
considering hurting the Cajun. She started forward but Remy's voice stopped her. 
The quiet
conviction and hurt in it held her motionless at the bottom of the stairs.
     
"Well Logan, what's it going to be? Either you trus' Remy or you Don'.
I tol' you I didn' use any powers or anyt'ing to convince everyone to go to bed. 
An' I also 
tol' you dat all dis stuff is sent dis way so dat everyone can accept it without 
knowing I had 
anyt'ing to do wit' it. If Warren or Bobby or Marrow Know dat dis stuff is cause 
O' me you know what day 
will say and do as well as I do."

Wolverine stepped back a pace and then said quietly. "You may be right about how 
some of the others will react at first
Gambit. But... Aww Hell! You just had to go and be secretive again." Logan 
stopped and took a 
deep breath. " You smell honest anyway. "

"That is out of line isn't it Logan? " Came the quiet voice of the Professor 
from his study.
"Besides, I am the one who influenced the house to retire so Remy could 
do this. And yes you are right to think it dishonest of me in a small way. 
However, You 
notice that most are awake and doing what they chose in spite of the suggestion 
I offered to leave 
the downstairs area for the night. And yes, I knew he planned something like 
this several hours ago, 
and it was me who screened the workmen's presence from the others. Honestly
though, Remy this seems a bit excessive doesn't it?" He gestured to the large 
crates and
equipment boxes stacked all around the living room and foyer. Many were marked 
as 
Medical equipment, Electronics, Computers and other expensive, hard to find 
and/or acquire items. 
Some boxes even had foreign labels and looked to contain plants and seeds as 
well as clothes
from Paris and London design houses. These had been signed for by Remy before 
being 
left stacked around the room. Those were the ones Gambit was removing the 
invoices from as the
professor spoke.
     
"Maybe so Professor. But a lot of dis stuff is useful for everyone an' it didn't 
cos' me so much.
Dere are a lot o' people who owe Remy for favors here an' dere. After all
Tis de Season to be givin' right?"  The professor smiled wryly and said .
     
"It's much appreciated then; and in accordance with your wishes, I will tell no 
one about
your involvement. I think now would be a good time for me to retire for the 
night though."
Charles smiled at Rogue and closed the door to his study firmly to give the two 
of them privacy.

Wolverine snorted and said . "I guess I was out of line Gumbo. " He glanced at 
Rogue and then
smirked. You two crazy kids behave yourselves now".

"Rogue came up behind Remy and said quietly. "Of course it is Sugah, I can think 
of one thing I want for 
Christmas that I didn't get." She pulled him toward the fireplace which still 
had glowing embers and 
placed a log on the fire. Then seated herself on the couch patting the seat 
beside her with a 
smile.

 "Sit with me a while and lets start Christmas day right. What do ya say? " Remy 
sat beside
her and patted a pocket absently.
     
"Den I guess you don' want dis huh?" He handed her a small square box and gave 
her a smile
that was almost his old confidant, cocky grin. She stared at the package for
a moment and then tore open the wrapping to find an exquisite shimmering crystal 
on a 
chain that glowed faintly in the firelight.
     
"Oh Mah Gawd!" Rogue breathed." It's Beautiful." It was at least an inch across 
and the
setting appeared to be platinum.

"It's not as beautiful as you Chere." Remy helped her with the clasp and 
confessed carefully."
When I had dis made for you, I wasn't sure you'd want anyt'ing from me 
but I couldn't resist, not when I polished it up an' saw how it shone wit' fire 
inside, jus' 
like you."

Rogue looked at him in surprise and asked. "Where did you get this Remy?" 

He smiled and admitted." South Africa de same time as I was choosing some o' de 
plants fer Stormy." She Gaped at him and realized that the stone around her neck 
had to be one of the biggest diamonds she had ever seen. His smile turned bitter 
for a moment as he added. "Don' be worrying Chere. It's honestly gotten. I would 
never 
steal a present I meant for you. One of the diamond cartels owes me a lot more 
dan  jus' dis one 
bauble." 

She sighed and placed a gloved hand over his lips kissing him through her 
protective gloves. "You forget Cajun, Ah'm no angel an' Ah don't expect you ta 
be a
Saint, It's wonderful. Just like you." They snuggled together on the couch for 
at least two hours.
Falling asleep only to wake as the unmistakable strains of the 12 things at 
Christmas that 
are such a pain to me' at what might be charitably called dawn echoed from the 
direction of 
Robert's room and a loud crash announced that a certain Russian was not amused.
     
"Comrade Drake if you do not cease this at once I will be forced to take drastic 
measures!"

"I thought you did that last night with the vodka Pete! Quipped an unrepentant 
Robert just
a step ahead of the thundering horde of X men who had given up on sleep and
were now in pursuit of the proverbial prankster. As everyone took in the state 
of 
the downstairs though Drake was forgotten. Hank openly wept at the medical 
equipment and Kitty was
beside herself at the Computer system which she was enthusiastically opening. 
Betsy and Jean 
were examining the fashions and Warren was drooling as he opened the boxes 
containing 
sporting equipment. He held up a fishing pole to Scott and smiled as he offered 
to catch a 
bigger fish than A certain Summers. Scott was however speaking urgently to the 
Professor who 
smiled and said. "Not to worry Scott. Consider all this a gift from a certain 
Santa's helper. Gambit, This appears to be for you." Surprised Remy got up and 
went over to the 
Professor who handed him an apron that said 'Kiss de Cook' .
     
"I guess dat's Remy's cue to make some Breakfast eh?"
     
"Only if we all want to eat Cayenne pepper and Crawfish for breakfast." Laughed 
Jean. She
kissed Scott on the way to the kitchen and said, I'll help you Remy the
sooner we eat the better.

As the day progressed, the X men all realized that for two whole days nothing 
and no one had
attacked them! A true Christmas Miracle if ever there was one.

On that note Merry Christmas to all and ...... You know the rest!

Authors Note:
Please excuse any tacky song titles that you don't recognize. My brother has 
played every tacky Christmas tune I have ever heard and some I wish I had never 
heard. Although I wish I had a copy of Twisted Christmas to torment the people 
at work with. They had to settle for Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas Favorites 
this year! * G * I hope this is a good read and I apologize for being late, but 
Cie la Vie Especially at our house! Happy Holidays and May your New Year Be 
Healthy and prosperous. 
Irual