Part 9 
	Storm stood silent in the doorway, and watched Bobby place 
even more blankets on top of Remy’s shivering form. She’d spent 
the day in the open, enjoying the snow, riding the wind to clear 
her head and finally she’d made a decision. “How is Remy doing?” 
she asked Bobby who whirled around. 
	“Hank says that he’s cold and exhausted,” Bobby replied 
uncomfortably. He’d been here for 2 hours now and during that 
time Remy had had several nightmares. “Do you want to talk to 
him?” 
	“Yes.” Determined, she stepped inside, and cocked her head 
to get a better view of Remy’s expression. His hair hid most of 
his face. 
	“Go easy on him?” Bobby’s head jerked back, wondering where 
that remark had come from. Maybe it was because he’d listened 
too long to Remy’s feverish rambling. Hank however, had 
reassured him that Gambit was fine when he’d checked on the 
young man. Bobby still remembered Hank’s surprise at finding him 
still sitting next to Remy’s bed. He’d remained quiet though, 
still too caught up in his own troubled emotions concerning 
Remy. 
	Pleasantly surprised, Storm smiled reassuringly. She 
couldn’t recall seeing Bobby ever this… protective of someone 
and she liked the expression in his eyes. They had talked many 
times about things that had bothered him and when he’d mentioned 
he didn’t feel comfortable dating girls, she had seen the truth 
in his eyes. Only slowly had Bobby allowed that truth in as 
well, and it was only because of Hank that the young was 
starting to accept this facet of his personality. “I wish to 
talk to him, Bobby, not to hurt him.” 
	“Awright,” Bobby muttered. “Need to make some calls 
anyway.” Bobby was reluctant to leave the room, but then forced 
himself in to action. It somehow felt wrong to leave Remy alone, 
but Storm would look after him. Finally, he closed the door 
behind him and made his way to his own room. 
	Storm sat down in the chair, which Bobby had used to watch 
over Remy. As she studied the young man in the bed she noticed 
the lines of suffering marking his brow. He looked older, more 
fragile and strangely vulnerable. She didn’t want to wake him 
up, but they had to talk. 
	“Remy?” she said softly and his eyelids started to flutter. 
“Remy!” she repeated a little louder this time and his eyes 
flashed open. 
	Was it really Storm sitting at his bedside or was he still 
asleep and having another dream? He couldn’t dismiss that last 
option as he was having trouble telling reality from dreams 
these days. 
	“We need to talk,” Storm said and leaned back in to the 
comfort of the chair. 
	“I know it was my fault,” Remy said after carefully 
constructing his answer. “De Morlocks are dead ‘cause I helped 
Sinister.” 
	“Why did you help him?” Storm wanted to know and focused on 
those swimming red eyes. 
	“He helped m’ control my powers. Dey were goin’ berserk on 
m’ and he promised t’ help m’ get dem back under control. I 
didn’ wan’ anyone t’ get hurt.” 
	“Did you know about the Marauders’ plans?” 
	“Non, I didn’. I t’ought Sinister wanted t’ catch dem, not 
kill dem!” Remy didn’t ask for her sympathy or forgiveness. She 
wanted an explanation, nothing more. 
	Another chill crept in to his heart. Losing Storm was a 
terrible price. She was one of the few people he had come to 
trust and respect and he’d betrayed that trust. 
	Distressed, Storm nodded her head. “I need time to work 
through this.” 
	“Je comprends cela,” Remy whispered and restrained the hurt 
he felt inside, which was about to lash out at her. 
	Storm rose from the chair and briefly leaned in closer. 
“But I’m glad you’re alive, Remy.” 
	He couldn’t tell her how much hearing those words meant to 
him. “Merci, chere,” he whispered and craved seeing that faint 
smile in her eyes. Hopefully one day she would be able to 
forgive him. “If y’ don’ wan’ m’ t’ stay, I understan’,” he 
offered. 
	“No, you’re welcome here.” Storm pulled back and walked 
towards the doorway. “We will talk more later.” 
	“Oui,” Remy replied and pulled up his legs underneath the 
blankets. He still felt cold. 
	“Bobby? Are you going to Gambit’s room?” Jean couldn’t 
repress the grin as she noticed him running up the stairs. 
	“Yes?” he replied a little embarrassed and then showed her 
the bottle of orange juice he was taking upstairs. “Hank said 
Gambit needs to drink a lot, so…” 
	Jean chuckled softly as a weak blush crept over Bobby’s 
face. When would people learn they couldn’t hide things from a 
telepath? But in this case it was Bobby hiding things from 
himself and that saddened her a little. “I was wondering… Most 
of us need to attend that charity dinner this evening and as 
Hank is the guest of honor we can’t ask him to stay here and 
look after Remy.” 
	Bobby tried to stop the blush from spreading further over 
his face. Was she really asking =him= to stay and look after 
Remy? 
	Momentarily confused Jean wondered if she had somehow 
misinterpreted Bobby’s thoughts. “I was hoping you would keep an 
eye on him, but I can stay home and…” 
	“No, that won’t be necessary,” Bobby replied quickly, too 
quickly. “You go and enjoy yourself.” 
	“Are you sure?” Jean inquired and suddenly knew she had 
been right about him all along. 
	“Yes, I’m sure.” Bobby smiled and looked at Remy’s door. “ 
I should be going now…” 
	“Of course,” Jean mumbled amused and then winked at him. 
“Have a good time yourself!” and with that quip she left him 
standing there. 
	“What did she say?” Bobby whispered to no one in 
particular. He’d completely forgotten about that dinner, as he 
had been too busy watching Remy sleep. Watching him sleep, oh 
my. Is that why I’m now hurrying back to his room? I must be 
mad! 
	Bobby didn’t bother to knock and simply walked inside, 
fully expecting to find Gambit asleep in bed. 
	Remy’s eyes dashed over to the door as it opened. Had Storm 
forgotten to tell him something? Had she changed her mind and 
did she want him out of the house after all? He hoped not, for 
that meant finding another shelter and right now, he didn’t know 
where to go. 
	Relieved, he watched Bobby enter his room, a shy expression 
in those blue eyes. Then he remembered that Bobby had also 
walked him back to his room and felt thankful for his concern. 
	Mixed emotions flickered in Bobby’s mind and Remy tried 
hard not to read them, but his shield wasn’t as strong as it 
used to be. Had to be due to exhaustion. Suddenly realizing he 
was still lying in bed he flung back the blankets and tried to 
sit up. 
	“Hank told you to rest,” Bobby said and filled a glass with 
juice, which he handed the other man. “And he wants you to drink 
a lot.” 
	Remy stared at the glass and slowly raised a hand. Seeing 
the tremors run through his fingers he bit down his fatigue and 
sipped from the juice. “Merci.” Lacking the warmth of the 
blankets he shuddered as icy shivers ran down his spine. 
	After setting the glass aside, he pushed himself to his 
feet and carefully walked over to the window. The sun was about 
to set and he shook violently seeing the snow covering the 
earth. Suddenly, he felt like he was back in Antarctica and the 
ice was going to kill him after all. 
	Bobby noticed the shivers and picked up a blanket from the 
bed. Still wondering what was making him act in this way he 
gently wrapped the fabric around Remy’s shoulders who flinched 
at the touch. Immediately, he distanced himself from Remy but 
wished he knew what had triggered that reaction. Then he 
remembered Remy’s stuttered admission in the medlab and 
understood. “Are you hungry?” he said eventually to break the 
silence. 
	“It’s snowin’,” Remy stammered in a pain filled tone. 
	“Yes, and Jubilee and Logan built a snowman,” Bobby 
replied, pointing at figure in the half dark. “And it’s wearing 
ruby glasses?” he chuckled, recognizing Scott’s visor. 
	“Dey ‘burrowed’ it from Cycke,” Remy said softly and 
started to calm down a little, yet the sight of all that snow 
cut straight in to his soul. 
	“Are you hungry?” Bobby repeated the question, as Remy 
didn’t seem to have registered it the first time. 
	“Non.” Remy shook his head. He was still full from 
breakfast. Snowflakes descended down from the heavens and he 
moved away from the window. Maybe if he didn’t look at it, the 
hurt would go away. 
	“Gambit?” Bobby whispered and looked in to red eyes. “Remy, 
do you remember telling us about your charm power? You being an 
empath?” He wondered where the hell he was getting his courage 
from to ask Remy these questions. 
	“Oui.” Remy backed a step away from Bobby and gasped seeing 
that particular expression in his blue eyes. Mon Dieu, had he 
let it slip again? 
	“Are you using it on me now?” Bobby stuttered and looked 
embarrassed. 
	Was he using it on Bobby? Confused, Remy focused inward and 
tried to assess if the charm power had slipped from his grasp or 
not. “Non,” he said eventually. “I’m blockin’ it, why?” 
	Why indeed! Bobby quickly moved to the other side of the 
room and pretended being mystified with the orange juice. Damn! 
If it wasn’t Remy’s charm power why did he feel attracted to 
Gambit like this? “I need to talk to Hank before he leaves,” he 
said, excusing himself. He was almost out of the door as Remy’s 
soft voice caught up with him. 
	“Je suis désolé de tout.” 
	Sighing, he returned to the room. Remy’s eyes were distant 
and something simmered underneath that surface. “I don’t know 
French,” he admitted and steeled himself for Remy’s reply. “What 
did you say?” 
	“Dat I’m sorry ‘bout everyt’ing,” Remy whispered and looked 
away. Somehow, he had managed to hurt Bobby, but he couldn’t 
figure out what he’d done wrong! Why did it have to be this 
hard? Why had he returned to the mansion? 
	“Oh,” Bobby stuttered and in that moment he realized the 
truth. He felt attracted to Remy because he was falling in love 
wit him. This can’t be happening! I can’t fall in love with a 
teammate and certainly not with Gambit, who can have every lover 
he wants! And what will Warren say should he ever find out… 
	But did he care about Warren’s opinions? Angel had shown 
him a side of his personality he distinctly disliked and Remy… 
“The snow frightens you,” Bobby said in a clear tone, surprising 
himself. Had he subconsciously made a decision, which hadn’t 
reached his brain yet? 
	Remy flinched at that remark and Bobby nodded his head. 
“Logan once told me you’ve got to face your fear or it won’t go 
away.” Looking out of the window he watched the others leave. 
Jean even looked up at the window and he felt her soft touch. 
Remy’s fine, he told her as they got in to the car and drove 
off. 
	“Get dressed,” he told Remy who stared at him in 
puzzlement. 
	“Bobby?” 
	“Yes?” 
	“I’m dressed.” 
	Bobby smiled and retrieved socks, boots and a parka. “Do 
you need help?” he said as he pointed at the items. God, yes he 
had made his decision, hadn’t he? He wanted to help Remy to get 
over his fear of snow and ice and… didn’t even know whether the 
man liked him in ‘that’ way. 
	Remy stared at the clothes and refused to move at all. 
Bobby couldn’t be serious! Non! He refused to go outside where 
the snow and ice waited for him. Non, never again. 
	Surprised, Bobby noticed fear slip in to his mind, a fear 
that wasn’t his own. A bit relieved he realized that if he could 
detect Remy’s fear he would also detect any use of that charm 
power. 
	But why am I feeling his fear? The only explanation he 
could come up with was that Remy couldn’t completely control his 
ability. “I’ll be back in five,” he told Remy and then closed 
the door behind him to compose himself. What the hell was he 
doing? 
	Remy sat down on the bed and mechanically began putting on 
the socks and boots. Something in Bobby’s tone compelled him to 
obey. Maybe it was the realization that Bobby was right. He had 
to face his fear or he would be a prisoner inside his mind for 
the rest of his life. However, he couldn’t bring himself to put 
on the parka. 
	“Let’s go,” Bobby said, as he stepped inside and quickly 
draped the parka over Remy’s shoulders. “You don’t have to do 
this alone.” 
	“Merci, cher,” Remy replied absentmindedly, still uncertain 
if he could do this. 
	“Remy?” 
	“Oui?” 
	“About that charm power…” 
	“Not usin’ it on y’,” Remy objected weakly, tired that he 
had to keep repeating himself. Why was Bobby so intent on 
discussing it? 
	“I know that,” Bobby whispered softly and then opened the 
door to the garden. 
	Cold swept inside and Remy hissed feeling the chill invade 
his entire being. “Can’ do dis.” 
	“Yes, you can,” Bobby folded an arm around Remy’s waist and 
pulled him outside. They stood there in complete silence and 
shivers racked Remy’s body. 
	“Don’ wanna be here,” Remy said and started for the living 
room but Bobby stopped him. 
	“It’s only snow. We’re not in Antarctica.” 
	“What do y’ know!” Remy spat and broke free from Bobby, but 
couldn’t bring himself to leave the man in the cold. Someone 
else had left him alone in the cold and… “Are y’ comin’?” 
	“No, I like it here,” Bobby said and prayed Remy would 
overcome his fear. “Actually, I think I’m going to sit on this 
bench for a moment.” 
	Remy shivered as Bobby sat down and he almost bolted in to 
the house as Drake picked up some snow to let it slid through 
his fingers. 
	“How did you survive?” Bobby asked, scared Remy would drown 
in his memories. 
	“Don’ know.” Remy slipped in to the parka and zipped it up. 
Hugging himself he took one small step in to Bobby’s direction. 
“Ice doesn’t scare de Iceman,” he said awkwardly. 
	“No, I love it,” Bobby admitted and got back to his feet. 
“What do think of Logan’s snowman?” 
	Remy forced himself to look at it. “Not bad. I like de 
visor.” 
	“Yeah, I doubt Scott has missed it yet.” Bobby sensed the 
strain Remy was under and decided to give in for now. “I’d like 
some hot chocolate, wanna join me?” 
	But Remy was lost in memories. “When de sun wen’ down, de 
cold…” A tear escaped his eyes as he remembered being frozen, 
his body =frozen=. “Cold.” 
	Before Bobby knew what he was doing he was back at Remy’s 
side, his arm snaked around Gambit’s waist and he pulled the 
shivering body close to his. “You survived,” he muttered and 
stared at those lips, hoping the Cajun wasn’ t reading his 
emotions. Not that it would be a bad thing. Then he could tell 
me to back off. It’s not like he’s interested in someone like 
=me=. 
	“Bobby?” Remy trembled at the touch and the thought that 
accompanied it. Did Bobby really care about him, a traitor? 
Maybe it was his charm power influencing the young man without 
him realizing it. 
	“Merde!” he exclaimed, and shoved Bobby away. How was it 
possible he hadn’t picked up on his manipulation! Surely Bobby 
was only acting like this because the charm power was confusing 
him. 
	Bobby didn’t understand the sudden panic on Remy’s face and 
contributed it to being outside. “C’mon, I want that hot 
chocolate.” 
	Remy stumbled inside, sank down on to the couch, and 
resigned, watched Bobby disappear in to the kitchen. What was he 
doing wrong? As far as he could tell he was still tightly 
controlling the charm power! 
	“Get out of the parka and in front of the fire place! You 
must be cold. Hank will lecture me for hours if he finds out I 
went against his orders and actually allowed you out of bed.” 
	In spite of everything, Remy chuckled. Bobby sounded so 
serious. Looking at the door he fully realized what he had just 
done. He’d stepped outside in to the snow and only because Bobby 
had asked him to do it. Bobby doesn’ know what my charm power is 
doin’ t’ ‘im. If only I coul’ control it. Don’ understan’. I’m 
not usin’ it! 
	“Hey, where are you?” Bobby called out, as he didn’t find 
Remy in front of the fireplace. Setting two mugs on to the 
coffee table he walked up to Remy. “It’s much warmer in the 
living room.” 
	Remy nodded and managed to get out of the parka. As Bobby’s 
fingers touched his hands to help him, he started to feel light-
headed. Get a grip on y’ self, LeBeau! He’s only helpin’ y! 
	Noticing the almost shy expression on Remy’s face Bobby 
felt relieved. Maybe he wasn’t the only one being nervous here. 
“C’mon,” he said and returned to the fireplace, counting on Remy 
to follow him. 
	Remy shed his boots and sat down on the rug close to the 
fire. Extending his hands he tried to get the blood flowing 
again in his fingers. 
	“Here,” Bobby said and handed Remy the hot mug. “That might 
help.” 
	“Merci, cher,” Remy whispered and closed both hands around 
the mug, then raised it and rested his brow against it. 
	Bobby hesitated briefly but then snatched the quilt from 
the couch and wrapped it around their forms as he sat down. 
	Remy looked up questioningly. “Why are y’ doin’ dis?” But 
couldn’t help moving closer to the warm body. And why had he 
asked that question? Like he wanted to know the answer! 
	Bobby sipped from the hot liquid and stared in to the fire, 
very much aware of the cold body next to him. “Warren will never 
talk to me again!” he blurted out. 
	Remy moved away from him at the mention of that name. Mon 
Dieu! He’d forgotten that Bobby and Warren were good friends. 
His head slumped forward and the mug almost slipped from his 
hands. He’d almost thought Bobby and he could be friends. “What 
game are y’ playin’?” 
	“Game?” Bobby repeated and noticed Remy was still moving 
further away, taking the quilt along with him. 
	“Remy ain’t stupid!” he spat and quickly got to his feet. 
Rocking underneath the heavy fabric of the quilt he placed the 
mug aside and glared down. “Did y’ have y’r fun at Remy’s 
expense? Y’ almost made Remy f’rget he’s a traitor! Y’ almost 
seemed t’ care ‘bout Remy!” Then he threw off the quilt and ran 
up the staircase. In the back of his head he heard Magneto 
chiding him for lapsing back in to talking about himself in the 
third person. 
	“What?” Startled, Bobby swallowed down the lump, which had 
formed in his throat. Why the hell had he brought up Warren? He 
should have known how Remy would react. Damage control was all 
he could think about, as he ran after Remy. 
	Slamming the door shut behind him Remy stared at his 
reflection in the mirror. Angry red eyes returned that stare and 
disgusted by his betrayal he bowed his head in defeat. He’d been 
fooling himself. He didn’t deserve any love and certainly not 
Bobby’s. 
	
		
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