Confusion 2

Confusion 2

The Trip Home

Belle's furry raged at the audacity of the blind girl. How did she hide herself from her telepaths? She appeared to be no more than a normal human. This she would pay dearly for.

They had decided to drive back to Salem Center, Serina was enjoying the trip and he wanted to talk to her. They pulled in to a small gas station in Tennessee. "You find it on you're own?" Gambit asked as she climbed out of the car.

"Think so, Luv." She flashed a seductive grin, running her hand along the edge of the window of the car. "I'll just feel my way."

He chuckled shaking his head. "You do that, Chere, jus' be careful who you feel."

She laughed as she used her telepathy to find the rest room. She was almost glad she couldn't see what she smelled. It was like someone had killed a small animal a week ago and hadn't cleaned it up.

Her bruises were gone now and she felt great. She was freshening up when she sensed something, seconds before she felt it.

Gambit was hit with a wave of pain that every telepath with in hundreds of miles had felt. He rushed to the bathroom, her purse lay open, it's contents spilt everywhere. It looked clean but smelt bad. Foot steps led away from the station to an orchard that grew behind it. The dirt was loose so they were easy to track. They stopped at a rather large apple tree, no one was there and he found no more. He stood there, a bit confused, feeling something brush his shoulder. He reached up to move it away, not looking. He heard something hit the ground, he looked down, her shoe.

He looked up, expecting to see her sitting in the tree, but he never dreamed she'd be hanging from it. He charged a card, cutting her down. He laid her down, gently un doing the rope around her neck. It was bloody as was the left side of her forehead where she'd been hit. "Ravyn, come in.....Serina, are you alright?" It was Psylock.

He opened her shirt enough to see that she had pinned her communicator to the top of her bras. "Bets, Gambit...Need a pick up fast. Don' know how long she last."

"On our way." She said, getting the coordinates from the tracking device in her badge. She turned to Xavier, "Now what?"

"Now we brace ourselves for the worse" He said sadly, "Prepare for critically injured mutant." He announced over the loud speaker, before leaving ahead of her for the black bird. "I should have never sent her there." He said as they were approached by Storm and Beast.

"What has happened, Professor?" Storm asked.

"Assemble your team, Ororo, and meet me at the black bird. I'll explain on the way." He then turned to Beast, "You are needed there as well. Serina's been injured, that's all we know."

He watched the two leave. "It's all my fault. I should have drawn them back here, where she'd have been safe."

"I know how you must feel, Professor." Psylock replied. "But you couldn't have known that they wouldn't have killed her here as well. Besides, Gambit's usually good about taking care of women. He's probably a mess now."

"I shouldn't have put this responsibility on him. It wasn't right, she's not his responsibility, she's mine and Logan's and he's not here right now."

Tennessee.....

Gambit had begun C.P.R. "Come on girl, give Gambit a sign." He worked as hard as he could, trying to get her to breathe. "Gambit can' loose you again. Don' leave me!" He began to panic, then she began to breath. It was shallow, but it would keep her alive. "That's it, Petite, don' leave wit' out Gambit. He be real lonely wit' out you." He said, carrying her back to the station.

The black bird landed 20 yards away from the station in a newly plowed field. As they neared the station they found the bodies of two men. They had been killed by a knife of some type. They were only yards away from the station and in a peculiar position. "The guild?" Storm inquired.

"I would assume." Xavier answered.

Gambit sat with his back to them, cradling Serina in his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder, his head down as if he were talking to her. Psylock was the first to approach him. His face showed a look of anguish, anguish that she could sense before they even got close.

His chest was covered in blood and she was still unconscious. "Gambit?" She asked as Beast came up behind her.

"He's been thare since he brung her back." The attendant said. "Won' let us call an ambulance for her. Just sits thare." He handed Storm Serina's purse. "We gathered all we could find. Don' know if any of it's a missin'. She's hurt real bad." He shook his head. "Ain' nut'in' happen like this 'round here before."

"Thank you. We appreciate your help." She replied.

Psylock saw Gambit start to toy with the ring on Serina's left hand. "Let's take her home, Remy. It's time to go."

He didn't look up, but she swore there were tears in his eyes. "She always wear it. Cheep li'l t'ing." His voice was soft and monitoned, as if in shock. "I got it for her for her birthday when I take her to de carnival. Got her a bear too."

"Let me take her, Gambit. We need to get her home so we can help her." Hank said, starting to take her from him.

"No!" He half screamed. "No one touch her!" He lifted her as he stood. "Gambit carry her home." He began to walk to the plane. "De car need be returned." He shot over his shoulder, Beast and Betsy right behind him.

"I'll see to the car." The owner said to Xavier. "Ma wife's real shook up over this. We hope she'll be alright. Here's ma number. Please let us know how she is, our own child is her age."

"Thank you. I will call as soon as we know anything." She said softly.

"She's so young." The woman sobbed. "Why would someone do this to a child."

"Someone who is very sick." Bishop stated, following Xavier to the plane.

"I will call." Storm reassured them before leaving.

On the black bird...

"Gambit, be reasonable!" Xavier snapped, "We can't help her if you don't let go of her." He was loosing his patients with him. He refused to let them treat her.

"You give her back if Gambit let you?" He asked, coming back to reality slowly.

"You have my word." Xavier promised. This was a strange side to Gambit. He had acted similar with Rogue, but never this extreme. One might think there is more to them than friends.

Beast examined her as they flew home. "This wound on her neck, it's almost as if she were..."

"Hung." Gambit finished for him. "She was. With this." He pulled out a paper from his pocket. "The Raven.... Nevermore. It be all Gambit find."

"Did you see anyone?" Xavier asked, the bodies of the men brought with them at Hank's request, something to do with the wounds.

"No. No one. Why?"

"Two men were found dead just yards away." He replied.

"They're over there if you can identify them." Beast told him as he bandaged her throat.

Gambit pulled the sheet back. One had his throat slit the other had no head, attached that is. "Assassins." He said, dropping the sheet. He walked back to Serina, taking her hand. "Dey want revenge, now dey got it." He said as they docked.

"Gambit, go with her and Beast. The rest of you stand by, we don't know what they may try next." Xavier said, following Gambit.

The infirmary..

Serina's eyes fluttered open, all she could see was blinding light before she lost consciousness again. Henry gave her a sedative so he could work on her.

"I need to know what's between you two. How long have you known her?" Xavier asked.

"10 years. We met 10 years ago." He answered softly. "She go to school there. She stay in de dorm for a while den we share an apartment together. Two bedroom." He dropped his head. "She be de only one Gambit never...." He sounded sad. "She leave shortly after de trouble star between de two guilds. Before I marry Belle. She suppose to transfer to New York but go to Switzerland instead. I thought she be dead."

"Say no more, my friend." Best sympathized with him, although he couldn't imagine him sharing an apartment with her and nothing happening unless Gambit were dead. She was beautiful and Gambit loves beautiful women. "She's out of danger now. Go get some rest, I'll keep a close eye on her for you." He led Gambit to the door. "You can visit her tomorrow." He said, walking him to his room.

Minutes later....

Wolverine burst through the door. "What the hell is going on!" He growled, "I barely drive up and.... Oh my god!" He exclaimed, getting a better look at his daughter. For some reason she wasn't healing as fast as she usually does. "What... why?" He said, sitting hard beside the bed.

"It's my fault." Xavier began. "I sent her on a mission while you were gone. I was so sure she was ready. The assassins guild is after her with a vengeance. I was using her as bait. I sent her with Gambit. They got her in a bathroom in Tennessee, and they hung her. She awoke when we arrived but Henry sedated her to work on her." He patted Logan's hand. "I'm so terribly sorry."

"What the hell were you thinkin' Chuck." He growled, "I barely find out she's mine two months ago* an' she almost killed on one of your missions." His voice raised. "She's BLIND! For Christ's sake, what were you thinkin'?" A finger lightly touched his lips. He looked down to see is daughter's sparkling eyes. She carefully shook her head, then pointed to herself. She attempted to make him understand with hand gestures. It took Xavier a moment to realize that she was using sign language.

"Slow down Serina," He told her, calling for Hank. "Wait for Henry, he's much better at translating than I." He placed his hand over hers. It was obvious to him that she had full knowledge of sign language and or possibly had something like this happen to her before.

Hank entered the room to find Serina sitting with her hands in her lap. "How do you feel?" He asked, checking her thoroughly.

(sign language translation) "My father woke me. He's upset. Hard to swallow. Neck hurts. Belle." She was fast and accurate.

"And where did you learn to sign?" Xavier inquired.

(S.L.T) "When Belle failed the first time." She had deft hands making it hard for Henry to keep up. "She thinks I'm out to steal Remy." She stopped a moment, turning to Logan. "Dad, I went on this mission because I wanted to. I would have been fine if I didn't get cocky. Gambit tried to warn me, but I didn't listen. Bell has had it in for me for years now. Ever since she found out that we... we were friends." Beast stuttered over what she actually said.

She repeated it several more times, but he wouldn't say it. She got frustrated and grabbed her chart, scribbling something on it.

Xavier saw what she had wrote. "Child, now would not be a very good time to bring that up." He told her telepathicly. "I know you fear him finding out another way, but you could loose one, the other or both right now." He tried to reassure her. "It can wait till tomorrow."

"He never touched me the whole time we lived together. Tell him that for me." She said telepathicly.

"I will." He replied aloud. "We'll let you rest now. We'll talk in the morning."

She nodded her reply, talking with Beast after they left. "Hank, could you let Remy know I'm awake?" She asked in sign.

"Sure will, Sweets." He said, "I'll tell him in person." He smiled, leaving the room.

She waited for what seemed like hours. She began to wonder if he even cared anymore. She doused the lights and began to walk to the door. "Going somewhere Petite'?" He had been watching her for some time, trying to find the right words. He was informed that her voice was gone.

She turned to where she had heard his voice, raising her hands. She mouthed a single word. `Remy'. "Yes, Petite'," He said, taking her hands to his face. She threw her arms around his neck. Holding him tight. "You gave Gambit a bad scare." He told her, holding her as if she'd dissappear. She nodded her acknowledgement. "Where did you t'ink you were going?" She gestured to outside. "Oh, Gambit see, going to get into more trouble eh, Jinxy?" She smiled, shaking her head. She reached into his pocket and pulled out his cigarettes. "Oh." He acknowledged, "Gambit go wit' you. Keep you safe dis time."

She raised her finger to his lips. "I have been hunted by Belle for years now. She would have come after me no matter what. I'm only glad that she didn't get you when she got me." She told him telepathicly. "She now knows I'm the Ravyn, giving her the information that has eluded her till now. That I'm a mutant. Worse yet, that I'm the one who has thwarted her projects from time to time. She will be more insistent on my death now."

"Why didn't she recognize you?" He asked.

"She thought me dead. She left me for dead after you left her in the bayou. Apocalypse found me and I escaped him as well." She placed her hands on either side of his face. "It's not your fault. She has had a contract out on me long before I met you." She kissed him lightly. "You didn't fail, if you did I'd be dead." She turned and felt for the door.

He took her arm. "Here Chere, Allow me." He opened the door, leading her out.

He led her out the back door to the garden. She dearly loves it. Xavier gave it to her as a project when she began to turn her room into a tropical rain forest, minus the animals, or so he hopes.

Archangel and Storm were watching the sunset by the pool. "Hi, how are you doing?" Storm asked.

"She is doing better, she wanted some fresh air." Gambit answered for her as she pulled away to go to the garden.

"So what's the diagnosis?" Warren inquired.

"Don' know yet if it be permanent. She can' talk, no voice at all." He answered, watching her lean to smell some flowers that she had planted a few weeks ago.

In the distance he could see that Xavier had begun construction of a green house for her to work in. She was attending State university for her P.H.D in botany. "Remy?" She called him telepathicly.

"Pardon Gambit a moment." He said, going to her side. "Yeah Chere."

"Can you cut some of these for me? I want to put them in my room." She said, telepathicly. "They smell wonderful."

"Sure, Petite'." He said, pulling out his pocket knife.

Henry watched as she lit a cigarette while Gambit cut the flowers that she had pointed out. Gambit showed so much tenderness when it came to her wants and needs. It made one suspicious as to what their relationship really was.

On nights when Gambit missed Rogue, she sing to him softly and hold him tight. Other times they'd tease each other like long time lovers, as if she knew he was safe to tease. She seemed to hold a lot of secrets to Gambit's past and now they knew he knows many of hers.

Seeing him cater to her, no one would believe they held a purely plutonical relationship. The fact that Serina wears his badge, and he hers, still baffles some people. What did she pick up from it that was so horrible that it still haunts her now? She refuses to say, but from time to time you can catch her fondly caressing it, thankful that it reminds her of him.

The only assumption I can presume is that she has Psychrometry, Xavier won't say. He made some sort of bargain with her about knowledge of her less dangerous powers. I became suspicious when she accompanied me to an art auction. I wanted to buy a Picasso and she told me it wasn't worth it as she ran her hand lightly over it's edge. Later, I read that several frauds were sold at that particular auction, the picture in the paper was the one I had wanted to buy.

Being that she's a birth mutant, which gives her unbelievable powers. The latest, according to Gambit, is controlled absorbstion. Add that to her known powers; teleportation, telekinesis, telepathy and flight (I can't prove she can but I have my suspicions.). If I am correct, psychrometry is a gift none of us have. When she came she was limited, now she's virtually limitless. She has the gymnastic grace and talent of a pro and the accuracy of a seasoned marksman. Her latest shows us that she also has some martial arts background.

The curious thing is the wounds of the dead assassins. They had been killed by a very sharp instrument. He would have thought it was done by Wolverine except that they were too thin to be done by his claws. The fact that Gambit had no knowledge of them until the black bird made him wonder who helped her. The feather darts were black and quill tip with adamantium, making them deadly. They were also the trademark of the Ravyn.

I've begun to wonder just what exactly she inherited from her father. Could she too have claws? He wandered back to his lab to go over her x-rays, something should show on them. What caused the wounds on the men, was it her or did she have help.

Weeks later....

Wolverine watch as Gambit cater to his daughter, it was fine until he saw them cuddle near the cliffs edge, something they had done every night since they came home.

Gambit sat behind Ravyn, his legs out side hers. Her head rested on his chest, his strong arms wrapped around her. She rested on hand on his, the other on his thigh. They sat in silence as usual.

Her wounds had healed and still no voice. He had taken a sign language class so they could talk with out her tiring from over using her telepathy. "Renia," He said softly, "You t'ink you ever get your voice back?"

(S.L) "It took several months last time. But Xavier sent for Forge and he's creating something to amplify what you can't hear." She turned to face him, leaning close to his ear. (verbally) "I can be heard if it's very, very quiet."

The sound of her voice was like the finest music to his ears, the feel of her breath nearly drove him insane. "Renia, you can talk!"

"Ever since I was a year old." She purred softly, "How 'bout you." She nipped his lobe.

He closed his eyes, trying to control himself. "Since Gambit was real young, Chere, real young." Her hair hung off her shoulders, giving him access to her neck and shoulder. He lightly brushed his lips against it.

She found herself leaning into him, her body ignoring what she commanded it to do. He seemed to have the luck to hit one of the most sensitive spots on her body, where the neck and shoulder met. She intertwined her fingers in his hair, pulling him back slightly. She leaned to kiss him and he was willing to let her. But they kissed metal instead. "I don't think so, Gumbo." Wolverine growled.

"I apologize, Mon Ami. We get carried away, neh?" Gambit said.

Ravyn jumped up, ranting and raving with her hands. Logan ignored her. "It's not bad enough that you break the heart of every woman you meet, but you want to add my daughter to your score card! It ain't happenin'!" He began to advance on Gambit. He never saw it coming and those who watched couldn't believe what they saw. Ravyn leaped, punching Wolverine square in the face, knocking him to the ground. She then pounced on him, pinning him there.

Telepathicly: "If you think for one moment that I was being taken advantage of, you are sadly mistaken. I am an adult! Just because you missed the first 21 years of my life duenna mean you caen start running it. I will see who I want to see, when and how I want to see them." He started to get up and she pinned him right back down. Her anger raging now. "I lived with him for almost three years an' he nea'r touch me this way. I longed for it an' he nea'r do it, treated mae like a sister, he did." Her brogue almost made it hard to understand her. "Try being a father first before tellin' mae wha' ta do. Hell! You don' even haeve control of yer own life an' you be a dabble in mine. Stay out of it!" She leaped off suddenly, leaving him stunned, and stalked to the mansion, leaving the group baffled as to what she told him.

Gambit had ducked into the crowd, attempting to fallow her. Xavier stopped her just inside the door. "What the hell is going on ?!"

Ravyn just crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Gambit heard his question from the porch. "Her and Logan have a disagreement." He explained, "Don' know what she tell him but he go for a drive." He turned to her. "You alright, Chere?" She was still tempered and ignored him.

"I think I'll let you escort her to her room." He turned to her. "When you are ready to discuss this in a mat...." She disappeared.

"Don' worry, Gambit know where she go." He said leaving for the woods.

He found her sitting by the lake, if he heard correctly she was crying. "Renia?" He said softly.

She wiped her cheeks, confirming what he assumed. She rarely cried, much less let it be known. "Why Remy?" She asked telepathicly. "Why apologize to him? You that ashamed of me? Ashamed of what we were doin'?" She turned to face him. "I could arrange for it to never happen again."

"No Chere, Gambit only try to avoid a confrontation wit' him, dat's all." He said trying to touch her, she side stepped him easily. "Gambit never be ashamed of you. You are de warm rays dat nourish de rose to bloom." He said, dodging her blow. "Be reasonable, Chere, Gambit no good wit' de ladies fathers." Again side stepping another of her attempts. He knew she needed to get it out of her system. "It don' change de way Gambit fee..." She caught him hard on the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Pinning him there while she repeatedly hit him. She never seemed to hit to hurt him after the initial blow, it seemed more frustration than anything else. He watched as tears slid down her cheeks as she hit him.

She finally collapsed on him in exhaustion, crying softly now as he held her tight. His jaw still stung from her first blow. "It ok Chere, let it all go, Gambit can take it."

She suddenly stopped, sensing danger, she sat up suddenly. Her head snapped the direction that it came from.

Gambit saw a quick flash of silver then heard a loud thud on the forest floor. He never saw her move, but in her hand was a simple silver fan, open as if to cool herself. He got up and went to see who it was. "Don' bother Chere, Gambit t'ink he be cool enough." He said, seeing a loaded blowgun not far from the mans hand. When he looked back, the fan was gone. It was almost as if he imagined it, he shook it off as Bishop and Beast arrived to investigate. Ravyn had her back to them as they approached, as if she were looking over the lake.

No matter how many times she killed as the Ravyn, harming another creature still bothered her deep inside. She cautiously felt for the fan in her arm, feeling safely in it's hiding place.

Beast inspected the body, he was barely alive and his wounds matched that of the assassin at the station. One of them had done it, either Gambit lied or she's got a new secret that even Gambit don't know. "Let's get him inside, fast. We may find out who he's after." He said, lifting the body and heading to the mansion.

"It's obvious to me who he's after," Bishop said, his head gesturing toward Serina. "Her." Making his way behind Hank.

Gambit moved to stand behind her, he wanted to see if she was alright, but mostly to find out what she used on him. "Renia" He began, "How.."

She raised her hand to stop him. "Nothing. I used my telepathy to knock him down, the injuries he gained from the fall." She said softly, he could barely hear her. "I'll see you in the morning." She started to walk away.

He grabbed her, pulling her hard against him. "You worry Gambit, Chere. One day you have to trust some body, neh ? You not as tough as you seem to t'ink you be." He let her go, finding what he was looking for. "Gambit fear no one over a girl." He muttered just before she tripped him.

She pinned him easily, (course it ain't hard when de victim be willing) getting real close to his face so he could hear her. "An' I don' fear anyt'ing." She mocked him. "But de Ravyn, she no play de go between for no man. Gambit do dis to de Ravyn before, only den, he marry Belle. Now de Ravyn to be de toy for Gambit till his Rogue return. NO! Ravyn not get hurt like dat again." She kissed him with all the passion he missed so many years ago, then disappeared.

Gambit sat there for a moment. "Dat one, she be full of surprises." He muttered to himself, he never dreamed a woman could make him feel like that, more specificly that She could do that.

The next morning...

Serina waited in the danger room for her daily work out. Today Beast observed from the booth while Psylock was to spar with her against the room. "I want to boost the level today, Ravyn. You've been able to master your regular routine." He said as Xavier, Storm, Gambit and Angel joined him.

"What ever." She seemed to be in some what of an irritated mood today, probably due to last night. Forge had fit her with a mic and amp so she could be heard, earlier that morning. Other than the head set, you really couldn't tell.

The routine started simply enough, but they had the surprise of a life time when Psylock deliberately got caught by the tenicles of a droid. There was a quick flash of silver, then she dropped to the ground. Several lazers went off simotainiously, before Psy could move. Ravyn blocked them with spinning objects in both her hands. "Oriental fighting fans?" Psylock asked breathlessly as she stood up. She watched as in one fluid moment, Ravyn knocked out the lazers ending by standing back to back with Psylock. "What are they made of, adamantium?"

"Yes." She replied, finishing the session. When it ended, she turned to face the observation booth. "Now you all know my little secret." She said. She could sense who was there. "Did you really think I could be taken that easily? Oh please, I'm not that helpless. I've studied since I was four. I hope we were `entertaining'." She growled, teleporting away to cool down.

"Enlightening, but where does she carry them? They wern't there when I examined her." Hank stated.

"You not look high enough, Mon Ami. Above de wrists. De be de length of her forearm." Gambit supplied, he bore a bruise from being hit last night. "She punch wit' dem, dat's how she take Wolverine an' Gambit down last night. She not strong enough to do it alone." He said walking out of the room.

"Well, that clears up the wounds on the three men." Beast stated, "But I've never seen a fan do that kind of damage."

"I have now." Betsy said, entering the room. "They're adamantium. Specially designed for cutting and killing. If she throws them just right she can take a man's head clean off, no jagged edges." She leaned against the door frame. "I'd hate to have her against us in battle, no matter how `handicapped' she is. She's deadly." She left to catch up with her friend.

Serina preferred to cool down in the lake, something few knew. Among those few were Gambit and Psylock.

Gambit found her uniform folded on a rock near the lake. At one glance, you'd think she wasn't there, unless you knew where to look. Up a ways from where he sat was a small waterfall, large enough for someone to shower under, which she was at that moment.

He heard a splash at the other end of the lake, he ducked back out of sight. He watched as Betsy joined her at the waterfall. He watched them for almost an hour before Betsy left. Serina stayed in a while longer, swimming to a few feet away from him. The glint of silver could be seen as she moved, two bands on her arms that held the fans underneath. She threw her head back, her wet hair cutting the air like sword.

She walked out of the water right where he was sitting. She wore only her underwear, no bras, no bathing suit. She dried off and dressed not saying a word to him until she put her mic in place. "Do you find me entertaining, Remy?" She asked as she stood at his feet.

He shifted uneasily, she wore her uniform, the one that showed the fullness of her breasts, making him uncomfortable. He easily saw where she carried her weapons, not like she hid them they were just hard to find. She had several throwing daggers in her boots and in an un-noticed pocket on both her thighs were her feather darts. She wore her high heeled pirate boots making her his height, making him see every curve to her body. "No Chere, But I do find you disgustingly attractive." He said, standing in front of her. "You could make a man die happy with but a kiss."

She moved to stand face to face with him, resting her arms on his shoulders while she toyed with his hair. "Ah yes, but I can also make a man suffer from want and desire." She said, moving as if to kiss him. He closed his eyes, but it never came, he kissed air instead. A smile played on her lips as she walked across the grass where she had teleported to. "Hurts don' it." She stated to him telepathicly.

Later...

She bounced in to Xavier's temporary office after dressing for her afternoon classes. She was taking botany and performing arts at State University. She wore her hair down, for a change, something she never does for school. It hung in long curls down to her knees, red streaks now led to deep onyx black, the red framing her face. She wore a denim mini skirt, black leggings and tank top and a denim waist coat style jacket. "I'm off to recording class, Charles. Do you need me to pick up anything on my way home?" She asked, sitting on his desk.

"Actually, yes. We're running short on a few things from the kitchen." He answered, suspicious of her sudden change of mood. He sensed it was genuine.

Cable found this amusing. Very few people had a sense of humor these days, and she defiantly was one of them.

"Gimme a list and I'll pick them up." She replied in an uplifting voice.

"Who's driving you?" He asked.

"Who said anything about driving?" She piped, pushing her hair behind her shoulders. It was the first time Cable and Domino had ever seen it down, she usually wore it up and it hung straight down her back in loose curls down to her knees.

"You know how I feel about you doing that. Thing are still not calm where mutants are concerned."

"And I'm sure me being seen driving away from here is a real bright idea?" She said sarcasticly.

"She has a point, Professor." Domino interjected.

"Don't take sides, Dom." Cable scolded.

"She's not." Serina defended. "Look Chuck, I'm gonna be late as it is, either give me the list or have someone else do it later." She said sounding just like her father. "I have a recording scheduled, I gotta go."

He handed her the list. "Bring me a copy." He said, seeing he couldn't win with her.

"Love you too, Charles." She said, kissing his cheek before disappearing before their eyes.

"I'll never get used to that." Cable stated, after she left.

"I could." Dom smiled.

Hours later..

She had recorded five songs when she felt Remy's presence. She hopped out of the booth, almost bouncing toward him. She made a quick stop at the teachers desk, snagging two her two tapes. "It seems you have a family emergency." He told her. "I won't expect you till monday. Have your mid term ready for me then."

"No prob." She said, going over to Gambit. "Ok, what's up?"

"Gambit tell you in de car." He said as they walked out.

"My car, I assume?" She more said than asked.

"But of course, Chere." He purred as he held the car door for her, stealing a kiss before closing it.

They had began to drive to the store when he finally told her. "Your sister, she be coming. She be here in a few hours."

It really wasn't a surprise, Xavier had warned her before that she'd be coming. "Oh." She said, she knew there'd be trouble. "Just what I need, the Bitch." She muttered, facing the open window.

"What, Chere?" He asked, as if he didn't hear her, which he did.

"Nothing, Remy." She said, her thoughts wandering.

He stopped at a few stores, none of which she went in. She chose to stay in the car, deep in her thoughts. So deep that she didn't even notice that he bought her roses, white ones with red trim. He even stuck a card in them. He had also picked up her favorite candy, chocolate covered caramels, hand dipped. They were just outside the mansion wall when he finally disrupted her thoughts. "What's wrong, Renia? You be so distant, you don' like de flowers?"

"The wha.." She felt the flowers in her lap. "I'm sorry Remy, of course I love them. They're from you aren't they?" She smelled them deeply. "The king of hearts." She smiled, holding the card. "You always seem to know what I need and when I need it Remy. Thank you." She kissed his cheek.

"How you know which card it is, Chere?" He asked, surprised.

"One is the weight of the ink, secondly because it's what you always put in the flowers you give me." She replied. She was good, he thought. "You're right, I am." She answered to his thought.

"Don' do that Chere, you may not like what you find some day." He said. He hated when she read his mind. "What's got you so distracted?"

"You know the phrase, when it rains it pours? Well that's how I feel."

"Meanin'?"

"Meaning that first I'm blinded, then I'm hung and now the spoiled bitch is on her way to make my life more of a living hell. Hell, I don't even know what's going on in my own life and now I'll have to deal with hers."

"It can' be dat bad, Chere."

"Answer me something Remy. Where do we stand?"

"What?!" He said, slamming on the brakes.

"Are we together, apart, friends, fooling around, what?" She asked turning to face him. "When Rogue returns, am I to be set aside, again, and be a friend, like with Belle. You used to be afraid to kiss me, now you wont stop, but you won't go any further. You drive me insanely close to the brink of unbridled passion then hit the cold showers. What's wrong with me? What have I done wrong?!" She got out of the car, slamming the door and began walking.

He jumped out, grabbing a candy, running to catch her. "Are you nuts?!" He said, stepping in front of her to stop her. "Gambit never use a woman as a toy, one night stand meybe, but never a toy. Gambit is very fond of you, always have been." He popped a chocolate in her mouth, hopping it would calm her like it used to. "You're very special to me, always will be. Just so young for Gambit, that's all. It make me nervus."

She finished the candy, looking up to where he shadowed her. "I'm the same age as Rogue, Remy." She said softly. "I look younger 'cause of somethin' with my healing factor." She lowered her head, turning away from him, she could feel his eyes burn through her. "No one makes me feel the way you do, you see. I fell in love along time ago, but he married someone else, not noticing how I felt about him. When I left, I found that he stole my diary. I tried to find someone new, but no one made me feel the same as he did when he touched me." She heard him step closer, but he didn't touch her. "He could make me melt with one touch, do anything for him if he asked me to. But he saw me as a child, someone to protect and keep him out of jail. I only wanted some one to love me the way I loved him."

"Tell me true, Renia. Do you love me?" He asked, deliberately not touching her.

Her shoulders sank, her head low. "Yes." She almost whispered. "Always have, always will. No one has touched me other than you." She paused, "Oh I've been kissed, but it wasn't the same, didn't feel right. It never went any farther. It wasn't like..."

"When Gambit, I kissed you." He said, pulling her into his arms. "I'm sorry, I had no idea." He turned her to face him, holding her tightly against him. "I get those feelings too. You are very precious to me, Serina." He rarely called her by her full first name. "I'm jus' torn right now. Rogue means much to me, as much as you do. I jus' don' know how she feel now that she know so much, she may not feel de same as before."

"I know what she does and maybe more. It doesn't change how I feel. If she feels as I do, it won't matter." She tilted her face to his. Him holding her calmed her faster than any candy ever could.

"I know, Renia, but that's what makes you special. You know what you know, know what you want an' it don' matter how good or bad he may be, you don' care." He kissed her deeply, their passions ignighting. They pulled apart, needing to get back. "I jus' don' know yet."

She pulled away fully. "Then I am free to date who I ever I want." She said stiffly, teleporting away.

"What I say?" He asked aloud, baffled. "De more I love dem, de more I get confused." He muttered as he walked to the car and drove home.

R.