Confusion

He contacted Jean, "She's fine. She fell asleep. I don't want to disturb her. She said she needs some time, She wants to stay here and I don't want her to be alone. I'll bring her home tomorrow morning." He half lied.
"Rogue said she was pretty upset and had been drinking, is this true?"
"Yeah, but she's sober now. I'll fill you in when we get back." Gambit stated, turning his communicator off. He grabbed the blankets from Rogue's trunk, thankful that she hadn't unloaded them since their last camping trip. He walked back to find her huddled near the fire, shivering. "Here, Cher', wrap dis around you." he said, putting a blanket around her shoulders.
"Rrreemmyy?" She asked chattering as he sat down beside her.
"Yes?" He answered, pulling her into his arms.
She took a deep breath trying to control the chattering. "Where are we?" She asked, trying to shift but found it extemely painful. "Ow, mmm. Goddess, what did I do?" She stated, her legs shooting sharp pains.
"Slowly, Renia, we're in a cove near the lake and we need to find cover before it gets too late." He said, realizing that the nap on the rocky ground was hard on her legs. "I saw a cave not to far away, will you be alright until I get back?"
"Sure, but why don't we just go home?"
"You said you needed time, I'm giving that to you." He said, kissing the top of her head before he left.
The cave was shallow, but well hidden from view and elements. It was also empty. He hauled some wood from just outside the entrance and started a fire before he went to get her. "Ok, let's go." He whispered, "I have it all set up." He kneeled beside her. She had fallen asleep sitting up. Gentile, he lifted her into his arms, she began to stir. "Shhh, It's only me." He whispered when she began to panic. She relaxed at the sound of his voice, nussling his neck.
He carried her in and set her on the blankets near the fire. He then realized that they hadn't eaten. She was drinking on an empty stomach, he just knew she was going to be sick. "I'll be back in a little while, I'm gonna get us something to eat." He said, she didn't answer. He figured that she was asleep, but she wasn't.
He drove back to Harry's and grabbed some hamburgers, fries, soda, and milk. He returned with about six bags of food. He had only been gone a half hour, but in that time she had straightened the place up. She hung the blanket he had put around her at the entrance of the cave. It stayed there on some branches, while she swept the floor with a leaved branch. He came in and set down the load if food, "What are you doing?" He asked, wondering what got into her.
"I don't know, cleaning I guess. You were gone and I got bored." She said, walking awkwardly toward the fire.
"Whoa," He said, catching her before she walked into the blaze.
"I still can't figure out what I did to my legs," She said innocently, not remembering what she had done "They're sore and I have no control over them."
He sat her down beside him, "They'll get better. You hungry?" He asked, handing her a burger.
"Does this always happen when someone gets drunk?" She asked as he took a drink of his soda. "I'm sorry, Remy. I guess I pushed it too far."
"Why did you do it, Chere'." He asked, taking a bite of his burger.
"A lot of reasons. It was easy for me to be here, as long as you didn't remember me, I could handle you and Rogue. Being attacked by the assassins didn't do much for me either, first blinding me then trying to kill me. And finally, Scott's pushing me to give him information only moments after talking with you, being forced to stay there didn't help. Now this? Maybe it would be better if I just disappeared, then things might go back to normal." She said, no longer hungry. She stood and walked out before he could say a word.
He set down his food and rushed down to the lake to the sound of a splash. She was sitting in plain sight, the moon light playing on her hair. He could see his breath, so he knew they were going to be sick if they stayed out there long. He watched her undress and slip in to the icy water. "Get outta there, Chere', you'll catch your death." He hollered.
"What does it matter, I've been told that this is where I belong ." She yelled back, swimming a little farther out.
"I promised them that you would be safe, now behave like the adult you are and come out of there." He replied, getting closer to the edge.
"No. I belong here, besides, it's better than being with you!" She challenged, treading water.
"Don' make me come after you, girl." He threatened, taking his shoes off.
"Well you got one part right, T'ieve,'you gonna have to come after me', I am not coming out for you to feel sorry for me. I have feelings too, though most don' think so." She replied, hearing him hit the water. "You don' scare me, Remy, you changed that long ago. I'm where the rest who couldn't have say I belong," He popped up in front of her, quiet as to not disturb her speech, "in ice, to match my heart." She paused trying to hear him, "Remy? did you hear me? You ruined me for the others years ago. Steve was trying to find a way out," He could hear the tears that he didn't see, "He said he'd rather marry a block of ice, it had more warmth than I." He saw her head lower, now able to hear her cry, "All I wanted was to go back to you, to be with you. My family wouldn't allow it. They changed my schools when they found out about you. They said you weren't good enough for their precious. No other will due, if not you, then no one." She said, moving toward the rocks.
He fallowed her quietly, hoping to hear more. She sat on a rock that was submerge. "I hate you." She said quietly. "You hear me Remy? I hate you!" She yelled through the tears.
"I heard you, Renia." He answered softly, placing his hands on her knees. "I heard it all." He moved closer, seeing her raise her fists. She hit him on the chest as she cried harder, he just folded her in his arms, feeling her pain.
He sat there, just holding her as she cried. When she finally slowed to a sob, he spoke. "Renia, why don' we go where it's warm. We can talk there."
She pulled away, "There's nothing more to talk about." She wiped her eyes and swam for shore, saying to herself, 'After tonight I'll never be warm again.'
They walked the cave in silence, she never raised her head. He used a blanket to dry her off, his clothes damp from throwing them on when he got out. He was drying her legs when he noticed several bruises on her left leg. "How did you get these bruises?" He asked, inspecting them closely.
"It happened when I was trying to straighten up earlier at the mansion." She said softly, "I hit my leg."
"I went to New York to find you. I was crushed when I didn' find you. No one would tell me where you were. I knew I didn' belong wit' de t'ieve's so I ended up here. You never said where you were from, so I had a disadvantage." He said, helping her dress.
"Your friends had my purse, my license was there. It had my home address." She stated.
"I never found it. I picked up de picture before I helped you run." He replied, sadly.
She kneeled in front of him, "Why did you give up? You said you'd seen me before, why didn't you recognize me? Especially when they took my contacts."
"I was afraid, I guess. I found Rogue and, even though I can' do what I dream of with her, I have strong feelings for her. Like I have for you."
She put her hands gentile on his face, slowly memorizing it with her finger tips. She leaned foreward and kissed him. "Maybe it'll happen, if you really want it to." She said softly, kissing him again. "After tonight we have to go back to what we were, but tonight, we have a lot of catching up to do. So much has happened to the two of us that we need to get to know each other all over again, as friends." She said, sitting back. They spent the rest of the night eating and talking, making their bond of friendship strong.
They headed back around 6 a.m., everyone was still asleep. Everyone that is, except Scott. "Made it back, I see." he stated, irritably.
"Ah,... yeah. I told JEAN we would." Remy turn to Serina, "Go on to bed, Jean will want to talk to you later."
"Alright, good night," She said, kissing them both on the cheek innocently.
She could hear Remy and Scott talk as she walked. "I got the description you wanted," At this, she stopped to listen. He was there, in the war room, he had to be. She never said anything to him. She listen as he described, in detail, who she saw. The strangest thing is that he was right! When the discussion changed, she went off to bed.
Later that day....
"Jean wants to see you in the war room." Scott told Serina, offering his arm.
"No thank you." She replied cold but politely, teleporting to the room. "Are we alone?"
"Yes. I want apologize for Scott yesterday. When he heard that you had seen your attackers face, he had to know." Jean explained from beside her.
"I won't be intimidated, Jean. All it gets is me angry. Remy told Scott his description. What else is there?" She asked.
"I wanted to tell you about the drinking rule." She replied, seeing her expression change from a sarcastic to a harsh ridged one. " I will not have you coming in so drunk that I get a call from the bartender to come get you." She stated, sounding like a mother.
"I had no intension of coming back. At least not that drunk. You sent out the search party, I didn't ask you to. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have studying to do before Monday." She stated flatly.
"Not yet." She replied, his hand on her arm. I need you to play as bait to trap. I want to catch this assassin before he kills you."
"What do you want me to do?" She asked, interested in the mission.
"I'm sending you and Gambit to the Mardi Grais festival in New Orleans. I want you to be as public as possible." She informed her, seeing her expression brighten.
She smiled deviously, "When do we leave?"

They were scheduled on a 4:30 flight out of New York. Serina called the car lot to tell them to ask for Jubilee, "She can sign in my absence." She told him. Rogue saw them off as Remy led Serina by the hand. They had first class seats, coach was filled. Serina had taken care of the reservations, Scott's way of including her, made her the secretary in her blindness to keep her active.
Serina dosed on the flight, Remy leaned her against his shoulder to cushion her head. The Stewardess' voice woke her as the came in for a landing. "Come on, Renia, there's a cab." Remy told her as he pulled her behind him.
"But Remy, my love, I got us a rental car." She replied, her arm hurting from being pulled through the crowd.
He stopped abruptly, "You what?" He asked. She held up the keys, making them jingle. "Well, then lets go." He said in a astonished voice. She had made all the arrangement. They were staying in one of the finest hotels over looking the parade route. There was only one room so they had to share, Remy didn't mind. how many missions would he get for a week long party, shacked up with a pretty woman?
The Marty Grais didn't start officially for a day, but that didn't stop some people. Their room had a balcony, something Remy could count on finding Serina on if she wasn't in the room.
They went out to eat most of their meals, taking breakfast only in their room. She had no problem playing the girlfriend to Remy, she found that if pervoked, she can be extemely jealous.
On a few occasions she heard Remy flirting with the ladies, she quickly showed how she could react by locking him out of their room. One evening, while he was away from their table, she showed just how easily she could attract another mans affections. He came bact to see a good looking young man kissing her hand. He then watched her leave the table to dance to a slow song with him. Moments after she began to dance, she turned seductive, driving him up the wall. He found himself hurling the man across the room and dragging her out of the club. "Why Cher? Why did you do dis to me?" He asked as they drove back to the hotel.
"Why are you aloud to?" She asked him back.
"I'm not wanted dead, Cher'." He replied, turning the corner.
"You are in my book." She said under her breath.
"I'm sure I am, Petite', I'm sure I am." He chuckled at her, her anger rising. He pulled as close as he could to the hotel, Swarms of people blocked the streets. "Look like we walk from here." Remy replied, getting out of the car. He locked his door, walking around to help her out. With the car locked they began their long trek to the hotel. People partied all along the streets, girls flung themselves at Remy and men at Serina. Somewhere near a block away from the hotel they were separated.
"Remy!!!!" He heard her scream as two men carried her off into the crowded street. He pushed his way through the crowd, keeping her in his sight. They were tossing her into the air and from person to person. It was then that he was stopped by a group of women.
"You wantin' de girl back? You know where to find 'er. Tomorrow night, midnight." She drawled, "You done us wrong, LeBeau, now you gonna pay." She dropped a smoke bomb and was gone.
Gambit stood there for a long time before going in to report to Scott. He lied, informing him that they hadn't taken the bate yet, and Renia was asleep. He then got into the car and drove to the meeting place. 'If dey don' know she's a mutant, she may be able to get away.' If she did, he'd be there waiting.
Somewhere around 3 a.m. he heard the barking of orders and the rustle of branches from the swamp land. He got out of the car and went in the direction of the swamp, figuring it to be Renia.
He heard the heavy breathing of someone near by and some not to far behind near some lanterns. "Renia." He whispered loudly, hearing the noise stop suddenly as if listening. "Renia, dis way Chere." He said, hearing the movement come closer to him.
He could see her now. He could also see the assassins not to far behind her. He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into the bushes. She attacked him, knocking him back over a downed tree. "Don't touch me!" She screeched, drawing the assassin's attention.
He looked up to see Bella Donna standing over him, hearing Serina get caught by two of her assassins. "Hello, Belle. Long time no see." He said, not too enthused.
"You gettin sloppy, Remy." She said, turning to her underlings, "Take them inside." Walking toward assassin headquarters.
Once inside, Bella Donna made a point to make him beg. "When you start going to humans for attention, Remy? She' not special, but she' a good fighter. Too bad she' a blind girl, you do it?" She asked in a purr.
"You know who did it, Belle." He said smugly, " Now that you got me, let her go. She's not in dis." He replied, fidgeting with the restraints.
"No. I t'ink I let you watch us kill her." She said, motioning them to bring her in.
They brought her in, throwing her against Remy. She reached up to feel his face. He felt a tingle, then she stood to face them."I have had about enough of this." She announced, throwing a chair the way she had come in. She charged it just before she released it. It exploded not too far from Belle, the flash giving her time to grab Gambit and run toward the door. She stopped in front of Belle, "Didn't know I could do that, did you." She said in a smart-ass voice, "The next you see this face will mean your death, remember it well." She growled, sounding more animal than human. Then teleporting them out of her reach.
She did her best to get him out of the restraints, "I didn' know you could absorb." He stated, getting one hand free.
"There's a lot you don' know about me Remy. But I only found it out at the cave." She said honestly, getting into the car. "I think it'll be a while before they tangle with me again." She smiled as he drove back to the hotel.
"I t'ink you just made a serous enemy." He replied.
"So far there's not much I can't handle"
"Do not get over confident, Cher', some one may get you in de end." He advised, pulling in front of the hotel.
They left two days later, after reporting to Scott that it had been dealt with. They spent those days shopping and talking. Remy could feel the difference in her. She seemed distant and cold since the time at the lake, something he would have to talk to her about later.


R.