Authors Note: this is not Zanne's character Samantha. This was written long before I met her and is one person her character would "love" to find. There is a rather large difference between Samantha Wheeler-Dayspring-Summers and Samantha MacPherson. Thank you, and enjoy.
The Getaway
The Getaway Part One
Sister Sister
Miora and Samantha arrived on time at the Institute. Serina acted as the beloved blind sister, escorted by Ororo. Xavier sensed Samantha was a little edge in responce to her sister's condition. "Now what have you gotten yerself in to?" She inquired with an irratated tone.
"Samantha please." Miora said in a stressed voice. "Serina's been through enough. I explained it to you on the flight."
Sam shifted hottily. "She's probably hamming it up again. She always does something to ruin my visits." She whined as she pouted.
"I've heard enough, Storm." Serina stated softly. "I have some work to do in the garden." She pulled away, using the light and shadows to guide her to the back of the mansion.
"I told you." Sam said bitterly.
Charles was begining to regret his descision to help this young lady. "Young lady. Although we have only met once before. I would appriciate the propper respect. You are at my home and have no idea what has transpired here. You sister's condition is very real and is obviously of no concern to you." He turned to Storm. "Would you be so kind as to show our guest to her room." Then back to Sam. "I would appreciate it if you'd stay there until you are summoned."
"Miora..!?" Samantha whined like a spoiled child.
"No Samantha, you brought it on yerself, like before." Miora stated firmly. "All these years an' you never learned compassion."
Samantha quietly fallowed Storm to her room. And, unlike she did with Serina, Storm left her there to unpack alone.
Psylock decided to spend some time swiming, seeing her friend stop as if trying to find her way. "Need some help?" Betsy asked, climing out on the side she saw her on.
"Sure." Serina replied. "Can't quite see the garden yet." She calmed only slightly.
"Anything to help a friend." She replied, sensing the tension build up in her friend. "What's up? You're as tight as a rubberband."
"You remember in London, when we had the drink off?" Serina stated, as Betsy lead her.
"Yeah. We said alot that night." She reminesed fondly.
"Yeah, well some have come back to haunt me, only now it's in the flesh and it stands to hurt me deeply." Serina said as she sat near some overturned earth. "I fear this time I'll loose my heart as well as my sanity."
"Hang in there, little sister, the horrors can be easily tolerated. She won't last here long?" Betsy comforted, knowing a little about how Serina felt about her sister. "Will you be alright here?"
"Yeah, I need to get these planted before winter sets in." She reasured her. "I just hope you're right, Beth, having one here is bad enough, but two..."
"Two?" Betsy puzzled.
"Nevermind. I'll see you later." Serina replied, begining to plant her bulbs.
Miora and Xavier fallowed Serina's path. "How is she doing? Miora inquired as they walked.
"She is getting better, but we fear that she has healed as much as she can." He said rather sadly, she was such a promising student and in little over a year she's lost her sight and her voice. "She can see light and shadow, and Forge has fitted her with a device that amplifies her soft voice, But psycologicly, her moods change like sands through an hourglass." He explained as they watched Serina at one of her tender moments.
"I apologise for Sam, she's a bit spoild." She said as they stopped to watch Serina tend her plants. "Serina's given her everythin' she's ever wanted, never caring for herself when she needed it. She always put Sam's needs and wants first, always working hard fer what she has or doin' with out." She said proudly, but in a sad tone.
"What on earth do you mean, Miora?" He looked at her in surprise.
"Serina's been payin' for Sam's schoolin'. What She don' know is that Sam quit after she left her last college an' come home to me. Sam's been squanderin' her tuition and allowence in Switzerland, an' now she's broke. I'm sure that's why she came back, but I caenna prove it."
He shook his head. "Now would not be a good time to tell her. She feels uneasy as it is, I don't want to damage what we've worked so hard to achieve. She's finally trusting me with some of her most painful memories."
"Steve." Miora gasped.
"Yes. She has privledged me with, what I believe to be, the whole story. I don't want that trust compromised." He replied. "Let's go explain the house rules to our guest." He said, heading for the house.
A short time later....
"You called for me?" Sam inquired.
"Please sit down. We have some ground rules here for new students. First off, no using X-man training equipment and rooms with out your tutor with you and permission. The hanger is off limits as is the equipment with in. You will be under Mrs. Summers care until you earn the freedom that the others here have." He paused waiting for a rebellion. She had an expression of stone, it was unbelivible that the two were related. "I want to make something perfectly clear, Samantha. If you, in any way, shape or form, cause a relapse in your sister's recovery you will be expelled from here, perminately." He said in a firm tone.
She sat there silently. "May I be excused?"
"Yes." He replied, watching her leave with Jean.
That evening....
Serina dressed for an evening out. She had no duties, no resonsibilities, so she decided to do something different, for a change. She had reservations at a very ritzy resteraunt and night club, only the 'crem de la crem' could attend.
She pulled her hair to the left side, putting it in a diamond clip. It cascaded down to her waist in a waterfall of curls, her make up accented her beauty to an irrasistable extreem. Her dress was a formal gown and black. It was a boostie/halter top with virtually no back, the skirt had a slit on the right side all the way to the bottom of her hip. She accented her ensemble with a black velvet choker with the diamond in the middle surounded by silver. She also wore a tiny silver chain around her waist and black satin over the elbow gloves and a silver bracelet. From her ears hung the simplest silver dangleing earings with a single tiny diamond in each. She grabbed her silver fox coat and purse and headed for the main door. She put her coat on as she walked, she had called a lemmo, not wanting to trouble anyone.
The rolls roice pulled in the drive as she came down the stairs, Storm was standing in the door way. "Oh, my!" She gasped, "Serina, you look absolutly breath taking."
"You think so Ororo?" Serina asked, opening her coat to show her the dress. Her breasts swelled over the top of her gown. She now stood taller than Storm due to the four inch steletto healed pumps.
"Absolutely." She replied, seeing Gambit storm up the stairs after seeing the way Serina was dressed.
"I'll be at Torinado's, should you need me. I have reservations for 8pm." She winked at Storm, knowing she was being eavsdropped on. "I'll call when I go elsewhere. Otherwise I'll be home around noon, if I'm lucky."
Storm smiled, she knew what she was doing and it was nice, for a change, to see someone tease Gambit. "I will expect you then." She heard his door slam. Serina giggled, "I will detain him as long as I can."
"Thanks, Ororo. The reservations are for 8, please don't make him too late."
"I won't. See you later." Storm waved her friend off.
20 minutes later....
Remy LeBeau came down the back stair, hopping to avoid question. "Gambit!" Storm called from the door way, seeing him sneak by in his finest tux. "I could use your help."
"Can't it wait, Ororo?" He asked, still tempered.
"No." She stated firmly, wanting to detain him til closer to 8 o'clock. "I need you to deliver a few things for me." She began to pile him up with papers. "This goes to Beast, and these go to Xavier." He could barely see over the stack. "Now if you hurry, you can still catch up with Serina." She smirked.
"Who said anyt'ing about Gambit meeting with her tonite." He grumbled as he made his way to Xavier's office.
"It's obvious to everyone but the two of you." She said softly to his retreating form.
Gambit made his way through Xavier's door, thankful that no one was there. His next delivery, he was not so fortunate. "A bit much for delivering papers, Gambit. What's the occasion?" Hank teased, Ororo had forwarned him of her plan of delaying the suave Gambit. He was definately known for his luck with the ladies, including the untouchable Rogue. Serina seemed to intensify this by being perfectly touchable, but not letting him touch.
"Yeah, yeah... Laugh it up. Gambit has a big date an' everyone keep Gambit here." He complained.
"Well... I'll cover for you, My friend. Hurry, The Lady Serina awaits at Torinado's." He chuckled at the look on his friends face.
Gambit sighed, "Gambit never say he going to meet Serina!" He got irritated as he left. Hank just shook his head and chuckled.
Torinado's.....
Serina sat at the bar. "Can I get you anything while we get your table ready?" The bartender asked, seeing an anticipating look on her face.
"Yes, a glass of '58 Don Perreion." She purred, "I'll be in the garden." She replied, taking the glass from him.
"Shall I send your gentilman there when he arrives?"
"Yes, please do." She said, heading for the door. She attracted several people's attention as she strode gracefully from the room.
She's always been drawn to water. Her grandmother had several names for her, one being her aquatic one. She could see no lights and almost walked in to a tree. "Careful, Cherie." A gentile hand took hers, guiding her to a bench on the edge of the pond.
"I'm sorry. I'm a bit blind and separated from friends." She said, sensing someone familiar near by.
He softly kissed her hand, "You be safe now." He said softly. He held a strong french accent.
"Pardon me, but are you French or Cajun?" She inquired.
"Cajun, de name's Jon." He said, caressing her hand.
She sensed jellousy from inside the resteraunt. "Seems to be all I can attract." She muttered.
"Pardon?" He asked. He hadn't released her hand since her near run in with the tree.
"Mine's Maire." She lied, using her middle name as oppsed to her first name.
"Charmed." He purred from beside her. "You give dis place grace an' beauty that has eluded it for weeks now." he again kissed her hand. This was begining to annoy her.
"You flatter me, Sir." His touch did nothing for her. `There was no fire, no spark, no....no....' She sensed sudden danger. She pulled away in time for Jon to be knocked to the ground.
"Dis one be too hot for you, Mon ami." She heard Gambit's voice. "Shouldn't touch so much."
"Gambit!" She exclaimed, teatering in to his arms. "How could you?!" She pushed away from him, hearing Jon scurry off. "I hope yer proud of yerself." Pushing him into the pond. "Chill out!" She said, before teleporting to the cloak room for her coat.
"I've had a change of plans." She told the matradee. "And you may want to clear the pond, it has something foul in it." She said, hearing Gambit enter the building. She could tell by the ripple of chuckles as he made his way through the resteraunt. She could imagine what he looked like and smiled to herself. She sensed his anger as he neared her. "Remy."
"What!" He snapped, he now smelled of fish.
"Where's your arm?" She asked, trying to hold in her laughter at him.
He reached out and touched her. "Here."
She reached out, looping her arm through his, her hand resting on his wrist. "Shall we?" She began to lean toward him.
This confused him even more, "Anywhere your heart desire, Chere." He replied as they left the reseraunt.
"Home first for a quick change, then who knows." She smiled, leaning against her limmo. "I'm not expected till noon, remember?"
"Yeah.., well." He then knew he was caught.
"Ha!" She said, bursting out in laughter. "You deserved this." She said, taking both of his hands. "How am I going to find someone like you if you're always following me around?"
"How come de resteraunt know I was coming?"
She made a dramatic gesture, as if she'd been caught. "You caught me." Her eyes fluttered. "So, now whatcha gonna do wit' me?" She laughed.
" First, I'm going to..." He grabbed her arms in a tight grip." Get you all..."
She knew just what he had in mind. "No!" She tried to jerk away. "You ever smell wet fur? I'd never get the smell out." He pushed it off her shoulders, nuzzeling her neck, his hair dripping down her bare back. "Ewe, Remy please. If you still want to go out then you best be stopin'. If not I'll have to change an' that could take hours." She said almost breathlessly.
He pulled back slightly, his lips brushing her ear. "We couldn't have that, Chere, now could we." He took the towel they had given him and wiped her off. "I'll meet you at the mansion." He kissed her lightly, then hopped on his bike.
He beat her back in enough time to take a quick shower and get his pants on. She drove up, telling the driver to wait. She went up the stairs slowly, carrying her coat over her arm. She went to her room, hanging the coat in the bathroom, he tagged it slightly. She grabbed her wrap and headed for his room. "You dressed?" She asked through the door.
"Yeah Chere, come on in." He sounded happy.
She leaned in the door way, listening to him dry his hair with a towel. She admired him, he had a well sculpted body. She knew he never had a problem attracting the ladies, he never did. Something about him drew them to him, including her, the difference was that he saw her as a girl, 'too young' he said. Well, he seemed to change that in a hurry tonight, or was he still trying to protect her? "Almost ready?"
"Yeah Chere, jus' need to grab a shirt an' shoes an' I'll be there."
"Ok, I'll wait in the car." She replied, walking out.
She was almost to the bottom of the stair when she was stopped by Warren. "You'll never get anywhere with him if you keep making a fool of him."
She looked up from her purse. "That's rich coming from someone who can only tell the one he's attracted to `Good work out, Bet'" She stated in an irratated tone. "I'm real tired of people putting their noses where they don' belong, and yours is tresspassin'. I play fer keeps, Worthington, an' he caenna choose. So why should I waste me time waiting fer him to say yeah or neah? You don' know much an' I prefer it that way, so don' be a tellin' me what ta do." She snapped, pushing past him and almost running into Storm. "Tell Gambit I couldn'a wait, somet'ing came up." She jumped into the car and pulled away.
Gambit came down as she went down the drive. "What the..."
"She said to tell you that she couldn't wait, and from her speech I'd say she was pretty upset." She saw the concern on his face. "Don't worry, Remy, she'll be back in a little bit." She said comfortingly.
Serina ordered a bottle of '43 Don Perrion and a scotch and soda, then sat down at a table and began to drink heavily. She was a quarter threw the bottle and on her third scotch when Psylock found her, at Remy's request. Warren tagged along to 'clear' things up. "God Girl, you sauced or what?" Betsy asked.
"Wha..." She listened for them sit down. "Don' ya know, Beth, if'n yer related to Wolverine, ya don' get sauced, even when ya want ta real bad. Ya jus get tipsy."
"You really shouldn't be doing this, Ravyn." He replied, counting the glasses.
"An we all know yer de reigning authority on what I should an' shouldn' do, right Angel?" She grabbed the bottle as she stood. "You know nothin', little man. I ain't lettin' him in so he caen hurt me again." She growled, leaning near him, "Don' venture in to unknown air space, bird man. De Ravyn's territory is not a pretty place." She then left, dismissing the lemmo just outside the mansion wall.
She 'ported herself just inside the outter wall, leaning against it as she drank. She had hopped that she made it passed thr alarms, not wanting company. She heard the car as Warren and Betsy returned. Xavier sensed her long before Bishop found her. "Hey ya Bishop." She slured as if drunk. "You gonna shoot me whit' that or is it jus' fer looks?"
"You shouldn't 'port yourself here, you know better." He pointed out to her, putting his gun away.
"Oh please, tell me more of what I should an' shouldn't do, I jus' caenna seem ta get enough of it." She said in full sarcasim, walking toward the mansion.
For someone who's supposed to be drunk and blind, she walked a straight line from him to Xavier in high heels, no less. "May I have a word with you?" Xavier asked.
She stepped up to stand in front of him. "Don' be tellin' me what I've done, haven' done, should do, or shouldn' do. I'm no X- man, I'm just an assistant and I need a few days off. I'm gettin' a luxurious hotel room and hiding away from all this B.S." She said, perfectly sober.
"That's not exactly what I had in mind, but if you need a few days I will arrange it so you are not disturbed." He suggested, he sensed her confusion and desperatly wanted to help. After what he'd been told, he feared her leaving. "I thought you may need to talk. I wanted to let you know that my door is open to you if you need me."
She lowered her head. "I am sorry." She said. "Well see how the next two days go. I have a project due on monday." She leaned against the pillar. "I've had so many people tellin' me what I should an' shouldn't do, I figured that you were joining them." She kissed his cheek. "I'll be in my room if you need me."
"It will be alright, Serina. My door is always open."
"I know." She paused at the stairs. "I've always known." She made her way toward her room. She heard Remy's door open as she walked down the hall. She took her free hand and caressed his face as she began to pass him, stopping just on the other side of his room. She then backed up to him. "Here," She handed him the now quarter full bottle of champaine. "This was to have been ours. You caen be givin' Warren yer thanks." She said, kissing him passionately. "An' that's fer an interesting evening. What's next, a firein' squad?" She asked as she walked to her room.
The next morning...
He opened her door quietly, finding her still asleep. Her hair hung off the side of her bed and almost to the floor. He snuck in and sat beside her on the bed. "Chere?" He said softly, toying with a strand of her hair. She began to stir from the sound of his voice. "Chere, can I talk to you?"
She rubbed her eyes, "Sure Remy, what's wrong." Her voice show some concern for what she felt from him.
"Last night you tell me to thank Warren, why?"
"Oh?" She said softly, sittig up. "On my way to the car he chose to give me unwarented advice. I got pissed and left." Her voice was soft and barely heard with out her mic, but he heard her clearly. "I guess after they hunted me down, I took it out on you. I'm sorry. I tagged Xavier as well." She dropped her head.
He caressed her cheek softly, "No Chere, I was tiffed when I came in. Got lots of wise cracks too. I guess he took it wrong." He lifted her face. "I wish you had waited for me, though, I could have cheered you up."
"Yeah? How, by kissin' my anger away?" She asked, placing her arms around his shoulders.
"Meybe. You seem in need of somet'ing. I figure it be either a kiss or a swift kick in de..."
"Come back later, Remy, I need sleep." She fell back, pulling a pillow over her face.
"Oh yeah!" He said, trying to pull the pillow free. When this failed he went to extreme tactics..... Tickling. One thing he knew about her was that she was extremely ticklish. "Come back later..come back later." He wasn't sure, but he thought he heard her laugh, she sure squirmed enough.
"Yes...yes." She began to hit him with the pillow on the head. "Later...later." Her blankets began to slide off her.
He began to feel flesh, not caring, and began to try and pin her. "Later...." He said as feathers began to fly. The pillow had split and it almost looked like it was snowing. "No....Now..." He laughed "Oh, beat me... beat me.."
She began to kick, putting the pillow case over his head as her top slid up. She covered herself before he could pull it off, and began to walk to the dresser. She sure knew how to make a man hurt. She wore a pair of high cut underwear and a tank top that had been cut in half, exposing her mid section. He saw that she hid her left leg over a jagged scar that was about 8 1/2 inches long. "Where'd de scar come from?"
"Surgery, lots of them." She said as she turned her back to him and removed her top, putting her bras on.
"For what?" He asked, laying back on her bed and closing his eyes.
She pulled on her tee shirt and jeans. "Different things, why?" She grabbed her socks and shoes, then sat beside him on the bed. "What's the difference where I got it, it's there." She said, finishing dressing.
"Curious I guess. Didn' have it in Louisi, dat's all." He put his arm in her lap. "What happened to you, Renia? You never like dis before."
"Like what, Remy?" She asked, twisting herself to lay across him propped on her forearm.
"Keepin' secrets from me. Never did before."
"Things change, Remy, people change." She pulled away, moving to brush out her hair.
He followed her, taking the brush from her. He began to brush it for her, like he use to. "True, Chere, but I'm told true love never changes." He began braiding her hair.
"When I find my true love, I'll let you know." She answered as he tied it off.
"You tell Gambit that you love Him, that change?"
"Sort of, Remy. I need love in return and you can't give that." She kissed his cheek. "I got work to do, I'll see you later." She left the room.
Serina closed herself off from everyone around her, only seeing a few from time to time. Samantha on the other hand, began to make friends. She also made Serina's life a living hell, to the point where Serina began eating alone in her room. This disturbed Charles, something Miora had said to him when she first arrived. "She gets real distant, even began to starve herself and work long hours. Nearly kills herself to avoid problems." He feared she was doing it again. He desided to check on her personally. He opened the door to her office to see her working away on her computer. "Serina?"
"Yeah..." She turned to see him (So to speak). "What do you need, Charles?"
"I was growing concerned. We haven't seen you for several days. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just busy, that's all." She replied, standing and stretching.
She had lost some weight, not dangerously, but enough for him to notice. "Miora, Sean and I are going out to dinner and I was wondering if you'd care to join us?"
"Oh, that's sweet, but I still have a long way to go." She walked over, kissing his cheek before retrieving a book from her shelf. He noted that several books were scattered on the floor. He remembered Jean's concern to the sounds of things being thrown in this room and figured Serina was just frustraited. His assumption seemed to be right. Sometimes her blindess angered her, being unable to find something the first time cause her much stress. He made a mental note to talk to her delicately about this when she was calmer, but for now his consern was her not harming herself by working too much. "This botany paper is due in three days and I'm only one quarter the way through. But thanks anyway." She walked back to her desk.
He watched her suspiciously, she was too absorbed in her work. "If you change your mind, you are more than welcome."
"Thanks, I'll concider it. I was told of the barbaque later as well. I guess I'm makin' everyone nervous. Do not fear, Charles, I am not avoiding, I'm just busy." She tried to reasure him.
"Please go to one of the functions tonight, you're too couped up in here. The air will do you good."
"I'll try." She said as he left.
Logan had spent the last few days `getting' to know his other daughter. He couldn't believe the difference, it was like day and night. Serina was like a spring rain, she was bright, tempermental and refreshing. Sam was like a wild tornado, always stiring things up and showng her feelings for Serina by down grading her. Like Serina, Sam had no problem getting the men's attiention, but unlike Serina, she made it a main objective. Attiention was something that Sam seemed unable to do with out. She was only pleasnt to be around when and if Serina wasn't mentioned or there.
Serina was disturbed by a knock at the door. "It's open." She said, pincil in her mouth.
"It's me, Renia." Gambit replied, "Hank and I were coming to see if you were going to join us?"
"Sorry, Mes Cheres, but I am in the middle of a paper. I can't really stop right now." She replied, setting the pencil down.
Hank moved to her side while Remy distracted her. "Just a moment of your time, Petite." He moved her to face him instead of the computer. "Xavier's real concerned, Chere, he said to do what we must to get you to come."
She heard her computer shut down. She turned on Hank. "Do you know what you've done?!!" She stood, her temper flairing. "I've spent the last two days working hours on end. Reaserching, hands on expiraments and getting little sleep to get that done in the next two days and you just wiped it out!" She whirled on them both. "GET OUT!!!" She screamed, dropping into her chair, almost in tears.
Beast kneeled down beside her. "Please Serina, you need to eat and we want you there." She jerked away from him. "Would you come if I told you I saved it on disk for you and that I'll reload it if you come down for an hour or so?"
She didn't answer. "Aw, come on Petite~. If Gambit have to go through another night of Sam for company, I go insane."
She thought about it for a moment. The thought of him tormented by her was almost pleasnt. "Is it an order?"
"As far as Xavier is concerned, yes." Beast replied.
"That bad out there, huh?"
"Worse with out you." Gambit groaned.
"You realise that I'm dependent on you out there with out a lot of light?" She reminded them.
"I will escort you personally." Beast assured her.
"You'll load it back for me?"
"YES!" They said in unison.
She stood, walking to the door. "You better watch it, I could get real used to this." She joked, speeding her pace to avoid what she was sure to be clawed hands behind her. She stopped suddenly. "Remy. I almost forgot, there's something in my room on the bed for you. Go and get it before I forget again."
"Meet you there." He kissed her hand.
Beast led her to where everyone was and Sam never even gave her a chance to sit down before she started in. "Are you ever going to give up this charade." She snickered. "No one will believe you much longer."
"That will be enough." Storm stated flatly.
"No Ororo. Let her speak." Serina said, interested on Sam's out look on her life. "Do go on sweet sister, I would love to hear how perfect you are. You who can only be nice if you get what you want from them."
"Your just jellous because I have it all." Sam challenged, getting in to Serina's face.
(Gaelic) "Oh speak the truth. You've used the allowence I fowarded you an' are pissed `cause I won' give ya anymore." Serina grabbed her by the shirt, pulling her closer and growling. "You know that with out me they'd leave you penniless. An' you've just pushed me too far."
"Enough!!!" Logan announced loudly, watching Serina shove Samantha and walk away.
Gambit came out in time to see her storming off. In the dark she had absolutely no sight, knowing this he ran after her. She walked awfully fast. By the time he had come near enough to catch her, she was near a small cliff drop and hadn't slowed her pace. He sped up to catch her before she walked off. He pulled her hard against him, his arms holding her tight. "Let go!!!" She screamed, kicking her legs. There was nothing below her.
He placed his hand over her mouth to quiet her. "Shh Petite~, It only Gambit. You be too near de cliff." He told her as she felt for ground. He backed up and set her down, but didn't let go of her. Pulling his hand away from her mouth. "I only want to keep you from injury." He whispered.
"Thank you, I'd hate to give her something else to complain about." She said, trying to pull away feebly.
"Me too." He replied not letting her go. He held her for a long time while she calmed, taking his time before he talked. "Why don' Gambit go an get us some of de food an' you pick a place to sit." He suggested, enjoying the fragrance of her hair.
"The garden." She whispered horsly, his touch having an effect on her like no other.
He never let go of her as he led her to the garden, his hands gentily guiding her as Logan approached. "You alright?" He asked, seeing her still upset.
"She still be a little shaken." Gambit answered for her. "Can you take her to de garden, while I get her somet'ing to eat?"
"Can do." Wolverine replied, taking his daughter's hand. He led her to a patch of grass that was almost compleatly surounded by flowers and helped her sit. "Don't let her get to you, Pet, Chuck ain't gonna put up with this much longer."
"She gets me so angry. She's like a vampire, always taking and never giving back." Serina stated.
"People are gonna see her for what she really is like they have with you. Now I have to return" He said kissing her forehead, "I leave you in safe hands... I think?" This made her laugh as he pulled Gambit aside. "You take good care of her and keep your hands to yourself."
"Right, dad, what ever you say." Serina answered, laughing at her dad's grumbled.
"I hate that hearing of hers." Logan grumbled.
"I will, Mon ami." He smiled, taking the plates to her. He set her plate in front of her. "Here Chere." He put her hand on it's edge. "Can you manage?"
"I think so." She said some what sarcasticly. "Thanks."
"Hey, what are friends for?" He replied watching her struggle with her plate, knocking her hot dog off. "Here let me help you." He said, attempting to guide her.
She began to fight him, "I can do it." She grumbled, dumping her whole plate on the lawn. "Now look what you made me do!" She said, frustraited, she reached up to wipe her face.
He began to laugh, she had smeared potato salad on her nose. "you should see yourself, Cherie." He said, removing it from her nose. "You're a sight to behold." He impulsively licked his fingers. "Here. We share Gambit's." He began to feed her his hot dog.
He fed her most of his first plate and she fed him his second. They laughed and talked and soon they forgot all about the little tiff with Sam. "You didn' have to replace de tux, Chere. But thanks just de same. De rose be perfect." He said fondeling it and the card. The card was the ace of hearts, her trademark with him.
"You're welcome. It was the least I could do after I found out that I ruined your finest tux." She smiled.
They sat out there most of the night, everyone else going in around 10 p.m., when Xavier returned. Everyone that is except Samantha, almost as if she were plotting to use this against Serina. She watched long enough to see them kiss passionatly.
"No....Gambit...Stop... " She said between kisses.
"Why Cherie ?" He asked, kissing her neck.
"You love another, that's why. She means too much to you to screw it up with me and you can't give me what I need." She replied, leaning in to his kisses.
"I know, Petite. But it feels so right." He said, holding her close.
"I know... God do I know." She snuggled closer to him, her head on his shoulder. "We need to get in before they get suspicious, besides, Ororo will have a fit if I'm late."
"Agreed." He said leading her to her room. "We do this again sometime, Neh?"
"No, Remy. I can't keep doing this, it's too confusing." She replied.
"Well...maybe not like tonight, with friends?" He smiled.
"Maybe." She answered, just before he stole a kiss goodnight. She opened the door to be faced with the ever-present Storm.
"You are late." She said in a disapointed tone.
"I apologise deeply. Gambit and I were talking after my tif with Sam, I lost track of time." Ravyn replied, begining to undress. "I was so angry, Ororo, It took me a while to calm down." She heard Ororo start the shower.
Walking back into the room, "It's not as bad as if you hadn't shown. I understand your feelings, but you shouldn't let her get to you so much, she's a child where you are a woman in every respect." She stated as Serina begn to shower. "She has a lot of growing up to do." She handed her the shampoo. "Don't give it another thought." She said, putting it back.
"I'll try." Serina replied finnishing her shower.
R.