"Remy, did you get the champagne?"
"Oui, Jean."
"And the nibblies?"
"Oui, Jean."
"And the sparklers?"
"Oui, Jean."
"And the confetti?"
"Don' y' have two men o' y' own, Jean?"
"They're busy cleaning out the ballroom." Jean continued down her list.
"Noisemakers?"
"Oui."
"Hats."
"Oui."
"Condoms."
"Jean!"
"Answer?"
"Oui."
"Lube?" Remy growled and grabbed for the list.
"Dis be de wrong list, chere." He flipped over the page to the party list. He glanced down it and to the bags strewn across the kitchen. "It's all dere, chere. An' it all be on Wheels' card." Jean stopped poking through the bags to stare at him.
"So it's your fault. I should have guessed."
"Guessed what, chere?"
"You're the one that started Jubilee calling the professor 'wheels.'" Remy shrugged, unrepentant.
"De professeur don' care, why d' y'?"
"He deserves respect, Remy."
"Remy respect de man and so does Jubilee. Dat don' mean dat he don' like t' not be taken seriously ev'ry once an awhile. He like de name, but he can pretend t' be stern 'bout it. Sam home yet?"
"Yes, Remy. All the chicks are back in the nest. When did you become such a worrier?" Jean paused. Her eyes narrowed and she tried to scan his mind. Her probe bounced off of his shields. He grinned infuriatingly at her. She put one hand on her hip and stared at him. "What are you planning, Remy?"
"Moi?" Xavier rolled into the kitchen. He took one look at the situation and fixed his eyes on the young thief.
"How much of what's in the bags was actually paid for?" he asked.
"Y' be payin'." Remy shrugged. "Dere's no point in no' payin'."
"And there's no need to lie about it, Remy." Remy looked startled. His eyes narrowed. "Now, tell Jean what you're plotting so I can get some rest for tomorrow night."
//Encule!//
//Pot kettle, Remy. Pot kettle. Now, hush.// Remy stared after the older man and Jean looked at him thoughtfully.
"Not one word," he said slowly. He started to unpack the bags.
Scott grumbled as he started the waxer. "I can't believe Jean talked me into this."
"Us, bub. That's 'us.' I blame you."
"Hey, what did I do?"
"Kept me from thinkin' straight. I shoulda been helpin' Ice cube with the shoveling or something."
Scott snorted. "So you'd rather be out in the snow?"
"Anythin's better than settin' up a bar when you aren't allowed to drink from it. Where's the Cajun anyway."
"Here," Remy said depositing the bags with a black look. He handed Logan a small bag. "And dis be from Jeannie's lil' list. Don' f'get the Ginger Ale f' me, Jubilee and Sam."
"Rogue make you promise not to drink?" Scott asked from across the room as he smacked the side of the machine. It kicked to life before Remy could answer. Logan raised a brow.
"So?"
"Champagne makes Remy drunk. It be hard t' control when I be drunk." Remy shrugged. Logan looked in the bag.
"Jeannie asked you ta pick this up?"
"Oui. She be too busy t' do it herself. So dis po' boy have t' do it."
"So, whatcha pick up fer Rogue there?"
"Don' be askin'. Y' still haven' given Remy de details y' promised."
"When the kids let me outta bed I'll tell y' a bedtime story, okay?" Remy grinned.
"Oui. Remy wan' t' talk t' y' 'bout Jubes."
"Better not be getting any ideas, bub. I'll slit yer throat."
"D'accord. Listen, Remy be talkin' t' Wheels 'bout getting Jubes here permanently." Logan studied the younger man.
"Why?"
"One, I don' like Frosty an' neither does she. Two, I dink she need t' be here so she know dat she still important in y' life. T'ree, I promise t' teach her. Can' do dat if she be in Massachusetts."
"Teach her what?"
"All de dings y' can'. I been dinkin' dat it might be good if dere be anot'er t'ief 'round here. Y' know dere be dings y' can' get wit' y' contacts. And dere be dings dat can' be gotten legal. She already got some of de skills. Y' know she has de patience."
"You askin' permission?"
"Oui." Logan nodded.
"If Chuck's okay with it, I ain't got a problem with it. But I find out yer pullin' any of yer stunts with her, yer dead."
"Don' worry. Gambit don' do children."
//Send Gambit back to the kitchen. He's avoiding me.//
"Jeannie says get back to the kitchen. She's got something fer ya ta do."
"Great," Gambit muttered.
Scott moved backwards through the room and Logan watched him move. Scott grinned over his shoulder. //Ya shouldn't wear those jeans. Give a man ideas.//
//Any I want to know about?//
Logan just grinned and didn't answer. //Boys, get back to work.//
"I swear, they're worse than three year olds." Rogue looked up from where she was slicing cheese into cubes.
"Yahr boys?"
"Who else?"
"They fightin'?"
"Anything but. They're stalling instead of working."
"Ah don't see why we're goin' t' such trouble. It's only gonna be us fah New Years."
"Actually, I think the professor's expecting more than just us. But it's no different than getting ready for Christmas dinner."
"But we nevah have anyone else here on New Years!" Rogue exclaimed.
"I think there are standing invitations with a few people who never show. Like Peter and Mary Jane."
"Really? I wonder why they don't come."
"There's some party they go to every year with Mary Jane's cousin I think."
"Makes sense."
"How is Mystique? I thought she was going to stop by for Christmas?"
"Oh, she's fine. She did. Ah fo'got ta give out her presents. Ah'll have ta do that tonight."
"Why didn't security get us up?"
"The professor sent Remy ta take care of Mama until Ah was decent."
Bobby stretched and settled more firmly in front of his computer. It was time for some quality on-line time. Hank was in the lab and wouldn't miss him before lunch-time. "Better see what the latest lies are," he said searching the net for references to the X-men. He stared in shock at what he found. "Secret lives of the X-men? What the hell?" He clicked on the link.
If he'd thought about it, he would have called Bishop first. As it was, he hunted down Remy. "Remy, I've got some computer trouble. Can you give me a hand?"
"Sure." Jean and Rogue waved the young man away. They could handle the preparations well enough.
Remy settled down. "Dis is interesting." "Isn't it though."
"What're ya dinkin'?"
"Profit sharing. You give me a cut, I don't tell anyone what I've found."
"Ten percent?"
"Fine. And I want to see the tapes." Remy grinned.
"Not a problem, mon ami. Not a problem."
Jubilee sat nervously in the professor's office. "What's up, Wheels?" she asked, mask of false bravado on.
"Jubilee, I wanted to talk to you regarding your schooling. It has been suggested to me that it might be best if you were to stay here at the mansion as a part of the X-men. We can continue your regular school schedule if you would prefer."
"Like, I can stay? That would be so great. I mean totally great."
"And it has been brought to my attention that you would benefit from some additional training. This offer has been made in the strictest confidence and I am not sure if I am completely convinced, however, I will leave the decision up to you. You have proven yourself more than capable of making decisions on your own. Gambit has asked me for permission to teach you his trade." Jubilee's eyes widened.
"Cool."
"You may take the matter up with him, then. As for staying at the Mansion? I assume your enthusiasm means that you would like to stay."
"Oh yeah. Completely. I so don't want to deal with Frosty." Xavier hid the twitch of lips that was the beginnings of a smile. He nodded. "You are nearing the end of your necessary classwork, I believe. I will discuss your progress with Headmistress Frost and transfer your things here before the next term." Jubilee threw her arms around the professor and kissed him. She ran off to find Logan and tell him the news.
Xavier looked after her. "What have I gotten myself into?" He smiled ruefully at the computer. "This is all your fault," he told the screen holding his started email to Magneto.
New Years' Eve was bright an clear. Everyone was sleeping in except for Scott Summers. Scott was in the security control room. He looked at the security parameters. "Damn it, Gambit. Tell me when you're updating the security boards," he muttered crossly. He flipped through the channels of security cameras. He stopped dead. "Oh, shit." He knew that bedroom. It was a very familiar bedroom. He spent a lot of time in it. It was Logan's bedroom and the two figures curled up on the bed were Jean and Logan. His eyes narrowed. "Now why would there be a security camera in Logan's bedroom, hmmm? Let's see, I think Sinister would be a good Danger Room session for tomorrow, don't you, Remy? No? Poor baby," he muttered.
"Remy, would you help me with my hair?" Storm asked. The thief smiled.
"Of course." He followed her up to her room. She settled on the floor by the bed and Remy sat behind her. He brushed out the long white hair. "So, how dings wit' Bishop?"
"They are fine, Remy." He frowned. That was a stonewall answer if he'd ever heard one.
"Fine? How fine?"
"You will get no details from me, my friend. You are incorrigible aren't you?"
"Remy just worry 'bout his Stormy. If Bishop not treatin' her right, he'll have a talk wit' de homme."
"He is treating me well. We are becoming much closer. There is a lot we have in common. I had not realized that. Thank you, brother."
"Anyt'ing f' you." He pulled her hair up into a delicate twist, holding it in place with blue tipped hairpins. He dropped his hands to her shoulders for a moment. "Y' grew up beautiful."
"Thank you, Remy."
"Is the band here yet?" Jean demanded as she dressed.
"Yes," Scott answered. He rolled his eyes, content that she couldn't see it. He was lounging against the headboard, already dressed. He was wearing a trousers and a shirt. It was New Years, not Christmas. He didn't understand the women's urges for formality. Logan had grumbled and growled until Jean had charmed him into at least wearing dress pants and a button down for the occasion. Scott hid his smile behind the bland "leader look" he tried so hard to perfect.
"Are they set up?"
"Yes, will you stop worrying? The band is the professor's responsibility. He can handle it. He hired them."
"Well, this is our first New Years as a threesome and I want it to be special." Jean pouted. Scott really wished that Logan would take her over his knee like he'd been threatening. In that almost dress she was wearing it would be interesting to say the least.
"What happened to the rest of your skirt?"
"You complaining?"
"Not at all." He really, really wished that Logan would live up to that threat. "I like seeing your garters. But the professor might not be so, uh, liberal?" Jean laughed.
"The professor doesn't give a damn what I wear." Scott choked on his laughter. Sure, right, whatever she wanted to believe. He hadn't been the only one who liked the short skirt on her Ms. Marvel costume.
"You okay, boss?"
"I'm fine, Logan. Just a little water down the wrong way." Logan raised a brow. "Lookin' lovely, Darlin'. Can we get down there now? The party started fifteen minutes ago." "No, it didn't. Everyone's running late."
The band was playing a selection of jazz and traditional dance music. Waltzes and foxtrots were mixed in with the jitterbug and Lindsay-hop. Jean looked around the ballroom with satisfaction. The sconces and chandeliers made the waxed boards glow. The decorations were minimal, a silver banner here and there on the walls and shimmering spanners between the chandeliers. Elegant silver and crystal held court at the bar and platters of food lined one wall next to it. The main part of the floor was left open for dancing.
Remy and Rogue were of course the first couple on the floor. They'd coordinated outfits, which wasn't all that unusual. Remy was wearing rather tight green pants and a poet's shirt with a green leather vest and a cape. Rogue wore a body-suit of green with a black leather bodice. They were waltzing around the room with wide smiles and barely an inch between them.
Storm looked stunning in a royal blue pant-suit. She was talking earnestly with Bishop about something. When the next song started her offered her his hand and led her onto the ballroom. Remy led Rogue off the dancefloor and fetched her a glass of champagne.
"Everyone's running late?" Scott queried as Logan forayed off for drinks.
"More than one set of us is running late," she amended. "See Betsy and Warren aren't here yet."
"I'm surprised they know how to get out of bed."
"Like you and Logan?" she purred dangerously.
"We get out of the bed. Besides, there's three of us and two of them. We have more reason to be there." Scott took her hand. "May I have this dance?"
"Of course." He spun her into a graceful waltz. "Where did Bishop learn to dance?"
"Hmmm? Oh, Remy gave him lessons," Scott told her.
Sam stood uncertainly by the bar. He was drinking Ginger Ale and looking nervous. Logan glanced at him. "What's up, kid?"
"Ah was wonderin', sir, if'n you would mind terribly if Ah asked Jubilee ta dance." Logan grinned.
"Sure. Just keep your hands above the equator."
"Sir! Ah've a sister about her age."
"Paige ain't nothin' like Jubilee. That's a fact, kid. Don't let her drag ya inta anythin'." Logan took the drinks to his companions on the dance floor, seamlessly handing them to them during a spin. Sam looked scared to death. Rogue poked Remy in the side.
"Go help tha boy." Remy went to Sam's side.
"What's de problem? Y' tell Remy, he help y'."
"Jubilee."
"Oui, an' what de petite chere do?"
"Ah want ta ask hea ta dance, but..." he shrugged.
"Y' afraid Logan's gonna shred y'?"
"No, Ah got his permission. Ah just don't know..." Sam shrugged. Remy patted his arm. He looked at Jubilee. She was wearing a multi-colored skirt over black leggings with a bright yellow top. She was talking excitedly to the professor about something.
"De chere wan' t' be asked, Sam. She don' like bein' treated like on o' de guys. Y' treat her like a lady an' she gonna respond. She love t' dance, but she don' have a partner 'cept Logan. Go on. If y' too nervous, pretend she y' sister." Sam swallowed down the last of his soda. He took a deep breath and crossed the room. The professor drew their conversation to a close as he approached.
"Miss Jubilee," the Kentuckian drawled, "might Ah have the pleasure of the next dance?"
"Why certainly, kind sir." Jubilee smiled shyly. She looked up at him through her lashes.
Scott leaned against the wall and watched Logan and Jean dancing. He knew he had a sappy smile on his face and couldn't figure out how to tone it down. Jubilee and Sam were on the floor as well. There was a good foot between them out of deference to Logan's claws. The professor was hovering by the bar watching the proceedings with an indulgent smile. Betsy and Warren were at the food table loading up the little china plates. Betsy was wearing a little black dress. It was unremarkable except when she moved and the light played off the iridescent spangles all over it. Her hair was down over her shoulders. Remy and Rogue were by the patio doors watching the fox-trot.
"Sorry, chere, I stopped taking lessons before dis one." Remy shrugged. The smile on his face and the glint in his eye told Rogue he was lying through his teeth because he knew she couldn't do it.
The patio door opened. "Stop lying to my daughter, Thief." Mystique swished in. She twirled and suddenly, she was blonde and dressed in black leather pants, a black silk shirt with a red leather vest and red cape. She stalked to the band. "Give me a tango, boys."
Remy handed his glass to Rogue and stalked after her, eyes gleaming. Mystique took the floor. She threw down a dagger. Remy answered with one of his own as the first strains of the tango began. The floor cleared immediately. This was obviously a duel. Logan growled. Rogue stared. Remy stalked forward on silent cat feet. Mystique gave ground. With a swirl of cape he took her hand and spun her around. She ended up leaning against his shoulder. She spun out and black stalked after green. Suddenly, Remy stopped moving backwards and caught her in his arms. She ran one leg behind his knee as he dipped her. Her cape trailed along the floor as she came up from the arch and moved around to his back. He seemed to ignore her as she ran a hand down his side and cradled against his back. He walked forward as she moved down him, hands caressing his leg as she moved. She was on her knees when he brought his gloved hand to her chin and pushed her away.
The music throbbed around them. Logan's nostrils flared as he smelled anger and lust. Mystique shot to her feet and stalked after him as he moved across the boards. He spun to meet her advance and caught her wrist as she moved to slap him. He spun her around him. Her cape flared out. He caught up the edge of his own cape using it to disguise a gentle caress down her side. She leaned into his shoulder, blonde head tucking neatly under his neck, half covered by the green cape. The she spun away, drawing him back towards the center of the floor. The music crashed as they ended in a tight embrace, his lips almost touching hers as he held her hair. They split and Remy picked up his dagger and made it disappear. He moved towards Rogue, then suddenly spun, caught Mystique's wrist and threw her into the wall. He was on top of her a second later, pinning her there. He whispered harshly into her ear as the room seemed to stand still.
"If you ever disrespect the woman who's face you are wearing again, I will show you that Creed is an amateur." Mystique shuddered. Logan's ears pricked forward to catch the hissed words and his eyes grew large. Remy kissed her harshly on the mouth, splitting her lip and overloading her with the mixture of anger and lust she'd invoked. Then, he turned to Rogue and kissed her hand as her mother slid down to the floor, dazed. Rogue's eyes were glazed.
"Who is tha blonde?"
"My wife, Belladonna." The sadness was evident. "Don' be worryin', chere. She been dead almos' t'ree years now."
"Oh, Remy." She put her arms around his neck and drew him close. "Ya'll really gonna kill, Mama?"
"If she disrespect Bella, oui." Remy shrugged.
Scott felt his eyes slipping shut as he settled on Logan's lap. He shook himself awake. "Think ya need a little fresh air there, Slim. Come on." The fresh air of the patio was also cold air. Scott snapped awake.
"Damn. How does Mystique handle hiding out here without a coat?"
"She makes herself into a teddy bear. Better?" Logan grinned. Scott nodded. He hurried back to the warmth and stopped dead. There, chatting with the professor stood a tall, pale man with red eyes and a diamond in his forehead. Remy was staring at his drink with suspicion.
"Y' sure y' give Remy de right glass den, chere?"
"He has never come here for New Years before."
"So. You be de one he so hot t' get his hands on. 'The Summers' bloodline is necessary for the continuation of the mutant race. The blend of Summers and Grey genes will create the most powerful mutant possible. A child able to defeat Apocalypse himself.'"
Scott couldn't help it. He laughed. "You do a wicked Sinister impression."
"Ah, merci, Fearless." Remy looked confused.
"Which forces me, as team leader to ask the following questions," Scott said with a saintly smile. "When did you meet Sinister? How long were you involved with him? Don't take that the way it sounds. And what did you say to Mystique before dropping her?"
Remy blinked. Scott's smile was beginning to look a lot like Logan's. The thief backed up a step. Then another, until his back was against the wall. "And Remy, if Sinister did come in through our security. That's your responsibility."
It was at this point that the arrival of a rather dapper older gentleman interrupted them. Scott blinked and rubbed a sleeve across his glasses. "Good evening, children," Eric Lehnsherr said as he went into the ballroom.
"Okay, Remy take de responsibility f' dat one, but Sinister is all you. Y' de one dat tol' me not to worry 'bout security."
"Bullshit. If the tesseract opened within the mansion, it is the responsibility of the man in charge of security. That's what having a resident thief was supposed to clear up. Holes in security."
"Y' de one dat tell Remy dat Sinister not be a problem." Remy shrugged. "It y' blood he want, not Remy's."
"Oh, he seemed rather interested in your health. I should have told him you've been mentally unstable since you came here. Now, answer my questions." The smile was still there. Remy lit a cigarette.
"I tol' Mystique dat she ever disrespect m' wife like dat again, I kill her."
"And Sinister?" Remy took a deep breath of smoke and sighed. Scott's nose twitched. "And give me one of those." Remy lit it and handed it over. Scott took a puff and closed his eyes. "Christ, have you never heard of filters?"
"Filters are f' wimps. Remy met M. Essex in college. He been beat up pretty bad and de local hospital didn' know how t' take care o' someone who blow up de beds. Mon advisor, he found a doctor dat could take care o' me. M. Essex be de only doctor dere dat wan' t' take care o' mutants at de time. He don' need money, so Remy pay him back wit' services."
"How long did you work for him?"
"T'ree years, I dink. De beginning be a lil' fuzzy. An' at de end, he force me t' work wit' Creed. Creed! Dat miserable chat try t' kill m' brot'er an' me! An' dat man he try t' make us allies. He gutted Gambit in de end, but," Remy shrugged. He took another puff. "So what be so special 'bout de Summers' blood?"
"You two, get in here. Magneto is dancing with Jubilee," Logan hissed from the doorway. The two men stubbed out the cigarettes and scrambled inside. This was not something to miss. Waltzing around the ballroom was the regal Magneto, with a bubbly giggling teenager.
"And what are your plans for the future, Little One?" Magneto asked.
"Oh, like, I don't know. I'll probably like, go to college, or something."
"And what will you study?"
"Oh, I dunno, maybe law or something." She shrugged. "Go into politics like Wheels." Eric couldn't contain a smile at that one.
"Wheels? You mean Charles?"
"Yep."
"And, my little meshugga, have you found yourself a young gentleman?" Jubilee flushed.
"Maybe. Sam, he's the blonde next to the band, he like, asked me to dance, and he like doesn't have a girlfriend, and he like already asked if I would like, you know, want to go to a movie with him or something and I sorta said sure as long as Wolvie doesn't mind and he said that was cool with him. So we're sorta gonna start dating I think." Eric untangled the sentence in his mind.
"I'm very glad for you. What do you think, should I give the meshugga yenta a dance or a handshake."
"Like, I think a dance. Most def. I wanna see that. Like make him blush or something."
"Oh, really?" Eric said with a sly grin.
On the edge of the dance space, Remy was getting nervous. The smile on Magneto's face and the calculating look on Jubilee's face worried him. Logan snickered. "She won't embarrass you too bad, kid."
"Dat's not comforting." The song ended and Jubilee curtsied as Eric bowed. He escorted her back to her companion for the evening.
"I'm gonna go find Jeannie for a dance." Logan handed Scott his glass and sought out his other lover. Scott sipped the scotch. Magneto was headed right for the doors. Remy stepped back so that Scott would be the first one to greet him. The older man frowned at him.
"Not going to work, Gambit," Scott informed him. "Take your punishment like a man. You said you'd take responsibility for this one." Remy sighed and granted the point.