By Seri

The children ran as hard as they could the trees to the beach in Washington. "Remy," The little girl began, breathlessly. "Are you sure about this ?" She asked as the teenage boy drug her swiftly behind him.

"It's de only way, Shema." He replied, pulling her in to a small cave and tightly in to his arms. "I can't let them, won't let them do this to you anymore."

"But where caen we go ? We're not old enough to be taken serously. We'll never survive on our own." She held him tight. "Besides, they'll only track us down." She pulled away, walking to the back of the cave. "We caenna run forever, not all of our lives."

"Maybe not." He began, building fire, charging the wood. "There may be someone out there who'll help us." He walked over, taking her by the hand, and lead her to the fire, getting a good look at her. "I've stood by too long, Shey. 3 years, 3 long years while you tried to hide the buises." He turned her face to look at a large bloodied bruise on the side of her face."No one should do this to anyone, especially not you." He pulled her close, holding her tight. "We'll make it some how, I promise. This will never happen again, not if I can help it." He slowly lowered to the floor, holding her in his lap as she cried softly.

Her tears brief, she lifted her face to his. He kissed away her tears, ending with her lips, kissing them longingly. She pulled away slowly, laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm scared, Remy. What if they find us."

"Concider yourself found." Sinister snickered from the opening of the cave.

"No!" She screamed, jumping up, still holding on to Remy.

"Don't Shema. I won't let him have you." He lifted her face, kissing her passionately. He then grabbed a rock, charging it, pushing her behind him. "You said I could have her, that she was mine! Don't interfear!" He yelled, throwing it at them.

She saw that he was in danger, being that he as all she had now, she threw herself in front of him. "Remy! No!!!" She held him tight.

One moment he saw Sinister release a blast, then he was standing in a theater, Shema limp in his arms. "Shema!!" He cried, feeling blood well between his fingers. He never felt the blast, she did. "No!" He cried, holding her tight as he dropped to his knees.

Present.......

"I'm not gone yet, Luv." Her sultry voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Caenna breath too well like this, Gambit."

He loosened his grip only slightly. "Sorry Petite, being here makes me uneasy." He replied.

"Jus' remember, this is only an act. Once we're free an' clear we go back to what we always been, friends."

"Sure Petite, Whatever you say." He replied. 'But it won' stop me from tryin'.' He thought to himself.

"Hmmm, seems we've been here before." Sinister said smuggly. "I wonder, will it turn out the same ?"

Emeryld pulled roughly away from Gambit, trying to move toward him. "No, not the same. This time you brought in our friends an' I no longer fear you!" She growled as Gambit tried to regain hold of her.

He was failing misserably. Oh how she'd changed. No longer beatened down she was now one hell of a wild cat. He got a decent hold on her, pulling her back into the safety of his arms. "Not now, Petite." He whispered, leaning near her ear. "Not de right time."

She reached up, caressing his cheek. "Is it ever, Remy ? Now is our only time, my love." She kissed him lightly. "Good bye Remy LeBeau, Should he and I survive, he will use me against you and the X-men. So pray to what ever God you believe in that someone kills me here and now." She whispered so only he could hear, then elbowed him in the ribs, leaping at Sinister when he let go.

He reflected her easily, but they never saw her hit the floor. The others took her lead, attacking those around them. It was a short lived battle as they were sevearly out numbered. They were recaptured, but from what any of them could see, The Emeryld was no where to be found. Bodies littered the floor, but she was not among them."Put them in their cells." Sinister purred with delight. "But leave Gambit in his cell alone. I have something special in mind for him."

"But Emeryld.....?" Gambit began.

"Is no longer a concern of yours." He replied. "Remove him." He ordered, watching him fight as they pulled him from the room. He laughed as he turned, deactivating an illusionary wall, seeing Emeryld safely tucked under the arm of one of his strongest men. She was unconscious as she was carried to Sinister. "Take her to My lab. We'll just see if you can resist my charms, my dear." He said, fallowing them.

Days later.....

The screams had seemed to die down today, making it easier for them to hear one another. "I don' get it, no collars, no powers.." Gambit began.

"And no Emeryld." Psylock added. "Look if she died, I'd have known. I'd have sensed the loss."

"Face it, he's got her." Angel stated. "And he'll do whatever it takes to break her."

"No Warren, we had our powers there, if he had her I should have felt her, but I didn't. It's as if she just dissappeared." Psylock replied.

"Hey ! Keep it down in there." A guard snapped from down the hall.

"Let's hope she made it out of here and is getting help." Storm replied.

"Knowing her, she's planning a one woman attack on the place." Beast added.

Gambit cocked his head. "Cut it, someone's commin'." He said backing away from the door.

The door to his cell opened up and something was dropped in. "Here, Toy Boy, somethin' for you to play with." The guy smirked, leaving.

Hearing the lock click in to place, Gambit slowly approached what looked to be a black haired woman in a white flowing dress. "What is it Gambit ?" Angel asked.

"Not what, who" He replied. "An' I don' know." He kneeled down, gentily moved her hair from her face. "My God." He gasped, looking into the angelic face.

"Who is it ?" Psylock asked.

"Serina." He breathed, caressing her cheek, feeling the tears still wet on her face.

"Is she alright ?" Storm inquired in a worried tone.

"As far as I can see." He replied, lifting her gentily into his arms. What he thought to be a dress was in actuality sheets draiped around her. They fell away to reveal her nude battered form. He laid her on the bed, taking a closer look in better light. Her lips were dry and caked with blood. Her face held healing bruises from a few days back. As his eyes moved downward he found various other bruises scattered across her chest but what bothered him most was a bloody bite mark on the upper curve of her breast. He lightly caressed the ivory velvet curve of her breast, not wanting to confirm what he was sure had happened. He forced himself to look lower, starting at her lower legs, working his way up. Bruising littered what he thought to be one of the prettiest pair of legs, despite the scar on the left one. There were marks that came from fighting against bindings on her ankles and wrists and as he reached her thighs he saw that they were not so noticeable. He carefully parted them, all the marks meant one thing, she was raped. "ARRRAAAHA!!!" He cried in frustration, holding her tightly against him.

"Gambit!" Beast hollard. "What is it?!">

"Defiler!! You're gonna pay!!" Gambit yelled, holding her as tight as he could. She began to scream wildly, trying to break free. "No, 'Renia, no. It's alright. It's me, Remy." He tried to sooth as she ran to a dark corner. She crouched there, trembling and stairing at him wild eyed. She was terrofied, and something he had never seen, hoped he'd never see, she was afraid of him.

He watched as she trembled, raising her arm to protect herself as he drew near. He pulled off his coat, slowly placing it around her shoulders. She shrank away at his touch. "No, Petite." He began, talking in a soft and gentil voice, kneeling beside her. "I won't hurt you." He pulled her slowly in to his arms. "I won't let them hurt you any more." He said, feeling her stiffen against him. He spent the whole night there, just holding her close, somewhere near dawn he finally felt her body relax, her breathing now even he knew she was asleep.

The next few days went roughly the same, she'd run and he'd hold her tight, hopefully reasuring her. After a week she finally spoke as he held her. "Please," Her voice soft and shaking. "duen....duenna hurt me anymore." She pleaded quietly.

He smoothed her hair from her face, looking in to her sightless eyes. They were filled with fear. "I won', I promise . No more." He asured her, stroking her hair.

The sliding of the door opening made her jump. A pile of clothes and trays of food were shoved in as the door reclosed. "Get her to eat, if you can." The guy snickered, laughing as he turned away. Getting her to eat was something that took great effort, on both parts. Gambit could contain his anger no longer. He rushed the door, grabbing the guard and slamming him back against the door, his hands around the mans neck. "Touch her again an' die !" He growled.

"Awe come on now, 'ol boy. Share an' share alike." One of the others drawled. "She do us real nice now." He elbowed the guy next to him.

"Yeah, ain' that right, Honey." He said sweetly. "She probably compairin' you to us now."

At this, Gambit lost it, snapping the mans neck while the other two watched. "Don' touch her again or you'll feel de same." He threatened.

"Yeah, yeah, big talk. We not that stupid, you won' get a chance." One of them mutttered as they moved toward Psylock's cell. They drug her out, dragging her past him. "Now be good Honey an no one will hurt you. Fight us an' you'll get what she got."

"Yeah, an' personally, Sweety, I hope you fight." The other said as they passed Gambit, deliberatly caressing the back of her thigh.

"Pray I don' find you when I get free." He growled at them, as they walked out of sight. He turned to see her crouched in the corner wrapped in his coat. Her eyes nearly broke his heart. They were teary and full of fear. He grabbed her clothes, slowly walking toward her. He stopped seeing her cower away from him. "No Chere." He said, dropping to his knees. He could see now that all his hard work had been wipped away in a moments anger. He began to hear tormented screams in the distance. He winced, picturing in his mind what was happening to her, laying the clothes between them. "They brought your clothes, Petite. I thought you might want them." He then stood, walking to the door. He stood there, blocking her from view, letting her dress in private.

Several minutes later he felt a small hand touch his shoulder. He slowly turned, not wanting to scare her away. It was the first time she'd come to him. She stood there, wide eyed, handing him his coat. "Keep it, Petite, if it makes you feel better." He said softly, making no sudden moves as her hand stay on his arm.

"Hey.. Gambit." Beast hollard, making her jump, running back to the safety of her corner. "How is she ?" He asked.

He watched helplessly as she hid, in fear, in the corner. Her progress lost in anothers concern. "She'd be better if people quit yellin'." He said bitterly. "I'm sorry Hank. No, she's gettin' better." He looked down, she had dropped his coat. He picked it up, holding it tightly. "She's still battered an' bruised, but she's getting better." He looked up, seeing only her eyes glittering in the darkened corner. "I jus' need to reasure her that I won' hurt her an' I won' let anyone hurt her now." He paused, seeing her eyes grow heavy. "Need to get her to eat. I tell you more when she's asleep." He laid the coat over his arm, picking up the trays of food, slowly approaching her.

"Let us know if we can help." Storm replied.

"Yeah, anything, anytime." Angel supported, fearing the screams they heard was Betsy going through the same thing.

"Thanks." He said, seeing that she didn't cower from their voices or him as he approached. "For now she jus' need to know it's alright." He replied, noticing that she was backing away. He stopped, sitting down, the trays in front of him. "Hungry ?"

She stared at him for a long time before moving, studying him closely. 'He's patient, I'll give him that.' She thought to herself, reaching for the tray of food not too far from her.

He sat across from her, near the wall so she wasn't trapped. So she could run if she wanted. They ate in silence, as usual, her watching him closely. 'I know he's safe. He wasn't there, didn't do it.' She thought as she ate. 'Just duenna trust anyone anymore.' After she ate all she could, she slid her tray to him. 'It hurts him as much as it does me.' He chuckled, "Do I look that thin ?"

This drew her back to one of her furthest most memories. They were in school, at lunch. She slid hers to him. "What do I look like, Shey, your personal disposal ?" He asked, jokingly.

"Naw, I just know you caen put it away." She smiled. "Please, Remy. I duenna need to get in to anymore trouble. As it is I'm gonna get it for that A- in trig." She said in a thick Scottish brogue.

He rolled his eyes. "No kidding, Shey, I mean what were you thinking, you missed one question. Heaven forbid, you should be shot." He teased.

"Yeah, well." She began, glancing away. "They're not as hard on you as they are on me."

He looked up to see a nasy looking bruise just behind her ear. She'd worn her hair down, so he hadn't noticed it before. "Where'd that come from ?"

This drew her from whatever caught her attiention. "What come from ?" She asked, oblivious as to what he saw, (or so she hopped).

"The bruise." He replied, knowing she was deliberatly avoiding the subject.

She started to get up, grabbing her book bag and throwing it over her shoulder. "I haeve no idea what you're talkin' aboot, Remy." She said, walking away.

"Oh no you don'." He said, getting up to fallow her. She sped her pace, hearing him catching up. "Don' give me that, Shema Marie~." He grabbed her arm, making her wince. "You know damn well what I'm talking about." He spun her to face him.

She looked at him wide eyed, shocked at his responce to a simple bruise. "You're almost as crazy as they are." She said, trying to pull away.

"No !" He snapped, pulling her into a hug. "Who did it, Shey ?"

This frightened her. "It was an accident. Remy, honestly." She said, hopping to convince him. "I didnnae see her with the mop." Her eyes wide and innocent.

He sighed, it was no good. "Yeah, an' I'm the pope." He let go of her, taking her hand. "One of these days, Petite, they're gonna go too far." He told her, walking her to class.

She felt herself being ever so gentily lifted up, cradled in arms that had held her from harm, and carried to bed. She opened her eyes slightly to see him cover her up and kiss her lightly on the forehead, as she heard them bring Psylock back and drag Storm out. She heard him walk to the door. "'Lil'beth ?"

"I'm fine, Remy. He ran tests, painful, but just tests." She replied. Something in her voice told Emeryld differently. "How's Seri?"

"Getting better. She ate some an' fell asleep." He said softly. "She don' trust me, Chere."

"Give her time, Remy." She replied. "They bragged about it. Threatened they'd do the same to me if I didn't cooperate." Her voice softened. "I didn't want to risk it."

"You did good then, Chere, you kept yourself safe." He replied.

"Yeah, well, I'm exhausted, I'm going to bed. I'll see you later."

"You do that, Try an' rest." He knew she was lieing, and he knew why. Looking back at Serina's sleeping form. Tears made thier way silently down his face as he heard Storm's tormented screams. He slowly slid down the door, somehow, later falling asleep to those screams.

He awoke to the sound of Storm being brought back in. He started to get up, but found that he hadn't slept alone. Serina had brought all the blankets and pillows and somehow laid him down without disturbing him. She was now asleep, curled up around his arm, her head on his shoulder. He gentily slid out from under her, careful not to disturb her. "Stormy, you alright ?"

"They knocked her around a bit, Remy, but other than that she's fine." Hank answered for her, while she regained control of herself.

"Jus' like 'Lil'beth, right ?" He asked.

"Yes, Remy." Storm replied, painfully. "But as she, I am fine. They made threats, nothing more."

"I'll kill them." He vowed quietly under his breath, his eyes glowing with rage. Then he felt the gentilest of hands slide around his waist, calming arms holding him tight as the delicate hand locked in one another.

"Duenna worry, Remy." Her voice as soft as a southern summer breeze. "We're strong, we'll survive." She laid her head on his back, tightening her hold.

He ran his hand over hers, feeling her wedding band, something she got the last time they tangled with Sinister. They were married. "That may be true, Chere, but it won' change how I feel."

She let go, moving to stand between him and the door. "Nothin' caen be a changin' that, Remy. But it may make you feel better a knowin' that we be survivin' this." She told him, hearing someone come down the hall. She hugged him tight, then ran to the back of the cell.

He watched as she pulled herself so deep into the shadows that she became unseen, He grabbed the blankets, making it look as if she were asleep on the bed, then sat on the edge of the bed and waited. He could feel her eyes glitter as they watched him carefully, hopping for a chance at escape. "So," Sinister purred from the door window. "How's our wild one ? Tame her yet ?"

"She's quiet, isn't she ?" Gambit snapped. "You say long ago she 'belong' to me. You give her to me as a 'gift'. So why you keep interfearing ?"

"Oh, never fear, she is yours, but you could never control her. You encouraged her to be free and promised to help her get free." Sinister paced in front of the door. "Take her away from us, away from her family. You betrayed us and now we have to correct your mistake. We have to temper the raw hot metal that you let run wild." He paused. "You have a gift with her, LeBeau. She would have done anything you asked her to, for a mere touch, a gentil caress or even a kind word. But that's even lost now. I married the two of you because you are unique, a two of a kind. I wanted to see what the two of you could create as way of a child. The enhancements she recieved during the embryo stage have shown an incredible........"

He didn't get a chance to finnish, Gambit rushed the door, getting his hands around his throat. "Remember this, Essex. She is mine an' what is mine, I keep. Touch any of my t'ings an' I'll kill you." He cut the air from Sinister's windpipe, showing him that he could. "She belongs to me an' me alone !" He threw him into the wall behind him.

Sinister gasped for breath, trying to control his breathing. "She will never be yours fully. She's sworn to never be a breeder. Oh she'll lay with you, but she won't make love to you nor will she ever bear you children, she'd rather die first. She proved her feelings for you when she slit her wrist rather than marry you, but I got passed that now didn't I. Face it Gambit, with out me, you'll never have your hearts desire, a famiy of your own." He snickered, laughing as he walked away.

"Oh God, Remy, is it true ?" Beast asked, in a shocked voice.

"Is which true, her being mine or the marrage?" He asked.

"All of the above." Storm nearly demanded. "I know about the marrage, but did he 'give' her to you ?"

"Yes Stormy." He replied. "We were real young. He'd have married us then, but we ran away. I thought she died, so I went on. Then we ran into each other in Louisiana. I married Belle, once again thinking her dead."

"So you've known her longer than 10 years." Beast summized.

"Yeah, now I have. But when Belle hung her I thought it had only been 10 years since we met. Now we be married for near six months. We begged Ororo to keep it quiet, till we find out what we wanted to do. After this, ....I don' know. Maybe he's right. She'll never be my wife. She file for devorce a few days before this happen, it's the second time. Judge told us to give it a try, so we do, but I can't seem to do anyt'ing right with her. Then there's Rogue. She keep bringing her up, re-opening de wound, trying to keep me away." His voice showed his feelings, no one said a word, but all felt his delima, his pain. Slinder, child like hands slid ever so gentily up his chest, one finger rested on his lips.

"As much as I loath the thought of either of you being right, I have to admit that you are." Her soft voice, made him look down at her, as well as caught the attiention of those who could now hear her. "I have vowed to never be a breeder, not even with you. This I have told you before." Her hand caressed his cheek as he closed his eyes at her words. "I begged you to kill me, let me die when he married us, insisting that we do as he demand, create a child for him to corrupt." She held his face in her hands. "You honestly think I'd allow him to do what he did to me to any child if I could stop it, let alone do it to ours. No, I can't allow that and in that I feel you deserve someone who can give you what I will not." She lightly kissed him, running her hands through his hair, her touch effecting him near the same as his did her "But I am a woman who has been known to be persueded from time to time and I can't deny that things weren't changing.. The change had begun long ago. I realize now that there something different between us. I duenna know if it's a power or anything like that." She paused. "Look, I'm not saying I'm ready to procreate as he puts it." This was getting difficult for her to say. "But I'm willing to try this marrage thing with you again, and no, I didn't refile for devorce." She dropped her hands to his chest. "He's wrong on one account. I do belong to you, always have belonged to you and only you." Her head dropped at her last words.

He slowly lifted her face to sightlessly look in to his. "No." He brought his lips close to hers. "You are my wife. If anyt'ing, we are equals." He brushed his lips agaist hers, making her eyes close. "I am yours as much as you are mine. We belong to each other." He kissed her passionately.

Her eyes widened in panic at first then closed in the pleasure of his kiss. 'Why does his touch have this effect on me.' She thought as her hand made their way around his neck, the kiss deepening.His hands slid around her waist, one traveling further, caressing and then cupping her butt cheek. Her eyes flew open in panic as she attempted to get away, caught between him and the door. "No!" Lowereing her hands into fists, hitting him in the chest and trying to push him away. "No more pain." She cried.

"No, Renia." He pulled her close. "No, I'm not going to hurt you." He soothed, holding her tight. If he could erase the memories, erase the pain from her mind and heart, he would, gladly. "We'll go slow, M' love, an' only as far as you want to go, feel you can handel." He lightly stroked her hair."I'm so sorry, Amore'. I never meant to scare you." He lifted her face to his, looking into her eyes. "Let's get some sleep." He said softly, touching his lips to her forehead. "I'll keep you safe, I promise, jus' trust me, please. " He said, leading her to the bed, straightening it up. He pulled the blankets back, turning to see her backing away. " No, Petite, it's ok, I'll sleep on the floor." He said, sitting on the floor beside the bed, spreading his coat over his legs.

She watched him carefully, cautiously making her way around him to the foot of the bed climbing in. She burried herself deep into the blankets, shoving a pillow off for him. She then pulled herself into the cubby hole in the wall on the far side of the bed, hiding deep in the blankets. He watched her for a long time before falling asleep himself.

The next morning, he awoke to find her hand resting on his chest. The quilt lay over them both eventhough she was still on the bed. It seemed no matter the truama, no matter what, she always slept better in some physical contact, even if it was just the touch of a hand. He reached up, caressing the back of it. "So," Sinister leered, standing in the middle of the room. "You're finally awake."

Gambit sat up, blocking her from view. "Get away before I grant my promise."

Sinister laughed, taking a step closer. "You should have taken her by now, Gambit. Made her bend to your will, fulfill her wifely duities." He motioned for his men. "Now we'll just have to take her away again."

As they moved to retrieve Serina's sleeping form, Gambit leapt up, backing her into the cubby hole, out of view. "I'll kill her myself before I'll let you touch her again." He groweled, his eyes glowing with rage. "She's mine an' mine alone! What we do doesnot concern you. We do it on in our own time and in our own home. Not for your entertainment!"

He felt hands travel slowly up his back. "She will come to us, LeBeau, you'll see." Sinister told him, seein Serina peek around from behind him. "Come child." He spoke softly, as if talking to a frightened child. "Your mother wants to see you." She began to slid out from behind Gambit, never loosing contact. "That's it, child. Come to Daddy."

Gambit put his arm around her protectively, as she look at Sinister wide eyed and innocent. She started to pull away, but Gambit pulled her back. "No, Renia, stay with me. I'll keep you safe, like I promised." He paused when she hesitated. "I love you,Chere, remember ?" He felt as though he were loosing her.

She looked up at him, confused. "Remy ?"

"Yes, Chere, Yes." He said softly.

"My Dad ?" She turned back to Sinister

He turned her face back to him. "Is safe at home with friends."

"So, she knows, does she ?" Sinister stated, being ignored.

"Not here ?" She asked with the voice of a child.

"I'm right here." Sinister stated.

"No." She shook her head. "Not my father."

"Not true. Your mother is my wife." Sinister announced.

Gambit's head snapped up. "You sick Bastard !" He growled, knowing full well he had taken a turn wiith her as well. He pulled her into a tighter embrace, holding her close.

Serina seemed to realize this all too quickly. She knew where it was leading. "My mother ?" She could sense what Gambit was thinking, her powers were back. 'Remy, Me Amore`, I will always love you, but I must play this hand out alone.' She told him telepathicly, letting him know that he had the upper hand here. She moved away enough to teleport.

"You Fool !!" Sinister exclaimed. "Who let the grid down?!!" His hands in fists. "Find her!"

Gambit took this time to charge a pillow fully, throwing it at them. "As I said before, Sinister, what is mine is mine alone an' you'll never have her again !" He growled loudly as his friends joined him, closing in around them.

"Who... how....?" He stammered.

Storm shot him with a bolt of lightening. "Complements of Emeryld." She purred.

Gambit moved deftly, as did the others to round up the group. He then approached Storm. "Where'd she go ?"

"She said something about mother. Do you know what it means ?" She asked.

"It means trouble." He replied. "Which way ?"

"End of the hall, made a right." Psylock told him.

He fallowed the path she had taken to a point where he could hear her voice. Now whether it was in his head or out loud was a mystery to him. He opened a door to see Emeryld in mental combat with a woman he barely recognised. He knew Serina was growing tired and couldn't last much longer, she was sapping all her remaining strength just to remain standing. She hadn't recovered fully from Sinister's assalt earlier, he knew what she would enevidibly do and this was the one person she'd do it to. He rushed to her side but stopped as if he hit a wall. Knowing now the voices were only in his head, beckoning him to go there, neither spoke virbaly. "Renia!....No!!!!!" He cried, hopping to stop her.

"Die." Emeryld said softly to her mother, before they both collapsed. All her friends witnessed the power of the Emeryld as the glass encasement holding her mother shattered showering them with glass, Sabine falling among them. Gambit tried his best to shield his wife, as electrodes and tubing fell away from Sabine's body. She spoke a single word, filled with love and graditude. "Serenity."

Beast rushed to Sabine's side, fearing the worst. "She's alive, barely." He said as she took a breath."It seems that Serina may have inhereted her reflective barrier from her mother." He turned to Gambit. "How is she?"

"Don' know." He said softly. If she was breathing, it was too shallow for him to see. It looked as if she were dead.

Sabine's breathing suddenly seem to stop. "Ororo, contact the mansion. Betsy, I'm in need of your assistance." He said, making them scatter, Warren rushing to help Remy. "I want you to enter Serina's mind. I need to know if she's alive."

"I'll try, but she usually reflects me." She replied.

"If she does, then she's still alive enough for us to help her." He answered, moving Sabine from the glass bed she laid upon.

Psylock sat beside Gambit, making an attempt to enter the Emeryld's mind. To her surprise it was quite easy, too easy. She walked along a white lighted road surrounded by empty black space. As she walked, tiny lights began to break through the darkness like stars in the blanket of night. At the end of the light road was a wall of stone. "Emeryld?" She called out.

"Psy?... Psylock is that you?" The voice was soft but unmistakibly Emeryld's.

"Yeah Seri, it's me." She hollard back.

"Get out! It's too dangerous for you here!" Emeryld now screamed "Too dangerous for anyone!" She expelled Psylock from her mind.

She's alive," Psylock began. "But she somehow traped, or so it seemed, behind a barrier. I couldn't see her but I spoke to her."

"Good." Beast began. "Now for....."

"I don't think so." Sinister began from the door. Then he saw it. His 'wife' on the floor. "Sabine!" He rushed to her side, pushing everyone back. He pulled her in to his arms, it almost sounded as if he were crying. "Oh Sabine. What did she do to you?" He said softly. He Looked up at the group. "What did she do to her!?!" He growled in anger at Gambit. "Get out!" He looked back down to his wife, pulling her closer. "Take your wife, your friends and go." He said softly. Observers could see for the first time that Gambit and Sinister had a few things in common. A MacPhearson and an unshakable bond that went beond any conscious or subconscious bond that any of them ever knew.

Gambit held his wife close as he led his friends from the compound. His friends now saw first hand how deep his feelings ran for Serina and knew why. Some felt that whether they were married or not, their relationship is one that has been tested and true and nothing that time can do, short of death, will distroy it. A few felt it may go farther than that.

As they walked out the main door, the black bird landed. Gambit just kept walking, boarding it with his wife held close, and sat in a seat, still holding her tight. 'Whatever you're going t'rough in dere, Petite, I keep you safe out here.' He thought as the lew home, hoping for the first time that she read his mind.

R.