Much later that day, Trinity dropped by...she finally knew the address, Storm had not made her wear a blindfold when she'd gone home.

Of course she had to get picked up part of the way there by Jubilee...who wasn't really supposed to take the car out, but did anyway.

"Just don't tell anyone," she said.

"Jewels, do you have a license?" Trinity asked.

"Uh...no, do you?" Jubilee said.

"My dad says if you live in New York City you don't need a license," Trinity said. "I think he means that they drive crazy, but also, we don't use cars that much...you know how it is...but hey, we might move, maybe I'll be closer to the Way, then."

"Sure," Jubilee said. "Oh...uh, by the way, Rogue and Nightcrawler aren't home, and don't mention them to Gambit, he's such a crank about things like that...in fact, maybe just don't talk to him at all. He's still sore over the dinner."

"I'd say this is a bad idea," Trinity said, as they pulled into the garage. "But I don't think it'll get any better if I back out of it."

"Hey, at least you can meet Kevin," Jubilee said. "Though we're calling him Proteus too. I think it's some greek thing."

"The prophet from Homer?" Trinity said. "Or sea god, I think."

"Huh?" Jubilee said.

"Yeah," Trinity said. "But he was a shapeshifter, you had to capture him in order to get him to prophecy to you...What? I had to study mythology in school history class. I got hooked."

"Isn't that unChristian," Jubilee said.

"Not according to C. S. Lewis," Trinity said.

"Wait...oh don't tell me," Jubilee said. "Shine quotes that guy like, every day, do you actually read that? With the lion and witch and wardrobes."

"Well, I like that, but I started reading his adult books too," Trinity said. "It's interesting...and it's good to understand your faith, don't you think?"

"I'm not committed enough to read some old books about theology," Jubilee said.

"You've obviously never read it," Trinity said. "It's really interesting. Mr. Hank is into that, isn't he? Intellectual stuff."

"Yeah, but not this girl," Jubilee pointed to herself. "It makes my head hurt just trying."

"I guess," Trinity said. "I like it."

"Well, don't mention it too much, two people like that is enough...actually more than that counting Kurt," Jubilee said.

They walked up the stairs.

"One more thing," Jubilee said. "Proteus--uh, Kevin--is a little weird...he doesn't know anything about anything, and he says things about feelings a lot...like...uh not normal feelings, more like what other people feel and he'll ask why and it's a little freaky at first...it's his power, so just...don't react."

"O-kay..." Trinity said oddly. "Um. How old is this guy? Should I be worried?

"I think he's our age, maybe a year younger or so," Jubilee said. "But he acts like a little kid a lot...he's way sheltered...not like you, I mean like a recluse."

"Jewels, are you sure you're not making this out to be a little worse than it is?" Trinity said. "I'm sure he's like anyone else, and that it's the power that makes it seem odd. Right?"

"I can't tell if that was nice or offensive," Jubilee said.

"Sorry..." Trinity said meekly. "Wouldn't you rather blame it on that then say everyone is a little off in the head?"

"Well, I didn't say he was off in the head," Jubilee said. "Just...well, we made him promise not to go inside anyone while he was here, so..."

"What?!" Trinity said.

The timing was perfect, they walked into the upper level and the kitchen right then.

Wally waved as he grabbed snacks.

Jean was already trying to start dinner.

"Hello Trinity," she said absently.

"Hi," Trinity said.

Jubilee was glad no one asked her how she'd gotten her friend there.

"Want to go game?" She asked.

"Oh sure..." Trinity said. "But, I don't really game that much...technically, we're supposed to study, aren't we?"

"I just told your mom that so she'd let you come over," Jubilee said.

"We can't lie to my mom," Trinity said, looking panicked. "I'd lose trust...and privileges...and it's not right."

"All right, all right, so we'll study a little--later," Jubilee said. "I never said it'd be for a long time, did I?"

"No..." Trinity hesitated.

"Jubilee," Wally said. "You know it's not okay to encourage someone to do something they think is wrong, right?...but also Trinity, you really should relax a little from time to time."

"Thanks, Mr. West." Trinity said.

"Is Kevin around?" Jubilee asked.

"I think he and Ryan were going to try playing sports outside," Wally said. "Kevin's never done that...sports bore me, those guys are way too slow, you know, but I guess for normal people it's fun."

"Boy do you sound like a mutant when you say things like that," Jubilee said.

Wally shrugged.

"They won't bother us then," Jubilee went on.

"Let's at least say hi," Trinity said. "I don't want Ryan to feel snubbed. I mean, we go way back to camp, you know. It's weird to just ignore it."

"Boys that age might not really care," Wally said. "But you do you, Trin."

"You know what, you're right," Jubilee said. "Kevin might freak out if he sees another stranger here, so let's just go get this over with."

"If he's gonna freak out over that, we might be in for a long ride," Wally muttered as they walked out.

They went to the back of the house's yard, sure enough the boys and half the Morlock kids were all trying to play soccer...not very well.

And they'd knocked over some statue already.

The Morlock kids played rough, as was to be expected from street urchins, and Ryan was kind of nervous about it.

Kevin didn't understand sports at all and kept throwing the ball into a tree when it passed to him. He seemed to think the point was to not get hit by it.

"Well, this looks dumb," Jubilee said.

"It looks kind of fun, actually," Trinity said. "I used to play soccer...but my highschool doesn't have it," she sighed. "Sad isn't it?"

"Uh...well, I kind of hate toys, but..." Jubilee shrugged.

"Toys? Jewels, a sport's ball is not a toy," Trinity said. "It's a tool. How can you say that? Is a video game a toy?"

"Well...uh..." Jubilee faltered.

"Oh hi," Ryan finally saw them.

"Jubilee!" The Morlock kids yelled. "Come play with us!"

"Uh..." Jubilee wavered. "Well...but we were just going to study."

"Now it's important," Trinity muttered.

Kevin glanced over.

"Right, let's get this out of the way," Jubilee said. "Kevin, this is Trinity, my new bff. Trinity, this is Kevin, our new live-in student. Everyone is gonna be nice to each other right? Don't make me come out here and blow this thing up."

"Ah Jubilee, come on, you can play with us," the kids urged.

"They're not any good," one of the more blunt ones said.

Ryan's ears turned red. "It's not our fault, Kevin just doesn't know how to play."

"I'm terrible at it!" Kevin sounded a little upset...and when he sounded a little upset, he sounded very upset. "No one likes me!"

"See what I mean?" Jubilee hissed at Trinity. "Like a kid."

"Poor guy," Trinity said. "That's just like one of the girls I played with...you know, looking back, I have to ask if it was her family pressuring her...the team was really nice."

"Could she turn into orange energy and bend reality?" Jubilee asked.

Trinity gave her a strange look.

"Yeah, I didn't think so," Jubilee said.

"Dude, come on," Ryan said to Kevin. "I told you you can't get all upset every time, we all suck at this."

"I don't think I do," the same kid said, unhelpfully.

"Billy, if you don't stop being a jerk, you're out," Ryan snapped.

"Oh, who's gonna make me huh? You, blue tongue boy?" Billy shot back.

The others snickered.

"Stop fighting!" Kevin said.

"Hey, guys knock it off," Jubilee said.

Trinity picked up the ball and spun it on her finger.

The kids stopped and looked at her.

"Cool...how did you do that?"

"It's just a trick of balance," Trinity said. "Where's the goal?"

They pointed her to between two bushes.

"You know, we should get a net," Ryan said.

Trinity kicked the ball expertly into the "goal."

"Whoa!" the kids said. "You have to play on our team!"

"We didn't have teams," Ryan said.

"We do now!" Billy said. "It can be us and her versus you and the crybaby over there. And Jubilee too."

"Why do I have to be on that team?" Jubilee said.

"Just one girl per team," Billy said, with all the disgust of a kid his age about the opposite sex.

Trinity thought this was funny, but the others didn't.

"But I don't even know how to play soccer," Jubilee said.

"Neither do we," Ryan sighed. 

"Hey, it could be fun," Trinity said. "Maybe I can show you guys a few moves...would that cheer you up, Kevin?"

Kevin was surprised at being spoken to at all.

"Oh...well..."

"Perfect," Trinity said. "First, you guys all gotta get a better stance, like this..."

After a few minutes the tiff was forgotten as the Morlocks started trying to kick the ball the actual right way. And Trinity started explaining positions and the actual rules.

Turns out the sewers were not the best place to observe sports...

Before they knew it an hour had gone by, but the boys were in fact actually having some idea what they were doing, finally, and even Jubilee was enjoying the teamwork. Was this how normal kids felt?

They didn't even notice it was getting later in the day, but then they saw Rogue flying over head, with Kurt.

"Well, what is this?" Rogue paused and landed on the ground.

Trinity hadn't see Rogue fly before and it caught her off guard.

"Football?" Kurt said.

"No, this is soccer," Ryan said.

"I believe it is football," Kurt said. "You use your feet."

"Ain't this cute?" Rogue said. "They're playin' and all...too bad y'all don't have a court...I think there's a tennis court somewhere around here, but not a field..."

"It's not cute, we were trying to actually learn," Jubilee whined. "Don't say stuff like that, it's embarrassing."

"I didn't mean it bad," Rogue didn't get it. "Nice to see all y'all getting along finally."

One of the Morlocks hit her with a ball that he kicked the wrong way.

"Of course there's taking the fun too far," Rogue frowned at him.

He yelped and ran into the bushes, where he blended in pretty well.

"Leech didn't play?" Kurt noted.

"Leech? No..." Jubilee said. " I guess...he'd be useful though, he can move stuff with his mind."

"Isn't that cheating?" Trinity asked.

"Is it? It's our natural ability," Jubilee said. "Just because none of the rest of us can use them to play...I guess Kevin could."

"I could?" Kevin said.

"No, don't say that," Rogue said. "Kevin you just stick to doing it the normal way. Don't mess up our lawn...oh...uh, by the way, y'all should probably know, we kind of had success."

"In what?" Ryan asked.

Angel flew up, carrying his bags.

"Where should I go in?" he called.

"Just use the front," Kurt called.

He flew around the corner.

"Oh no, that guy?" Jubilee groaned. "You talked him into coming?"

"I know him!" Kevin said.

"We all know that, Kevin," Jubilee said impatiently. "We were there...but he's a jerk."

"Well, maybe he'll change," Rogue said. "Now, it took some hard convincin' to get him to come back here and swallow his pride, so no one say nothin' to him to make it worse, or I'll skin you alive."

"You'll what?" Kevin said nervously.

"She means it would be hurtful," Kurt amended. "We must try to show grace."

Most of the kids didn't care anyway, only Jubilee felt nervous about it.

* * *

Shine was helping Storm re-plant some things by filling pots with soil when Rogue flew into the room.

One look at her expression, and Shine and Storm both knew Warren had shown up.

"Where is he?" Shine asked.

"In the foyer," Rogue said it with the "er" sound. "So...uh, the Professor is all right with him stayin' here while he...recovers...but figured we should run it by ya...so...?"

"Well, let's go see then, I suppose." Shine wiped her hands off.

"Should I have a backup plan ready?" Storm asked humorously. "Perhaps an escape route?"

"If he's come back, I can't imagine he'd have the gall to repeat his words of before," Shine said. "Where's Wally?"

"Already down there...come ta think of it, maybe already givin' him the 3rd degree," Rogue said. "Better hurry."

Wally was, in fact, grilling Angel already...but more on what he thought they did and didn't do. He'd learned something from Cynthia's misunderstanding.

"So you get that we teach people how to help themselves and look to a higher power for the rest?" he said. "Not that we just take away whatever is bugging them all at once, all by ourselves?"

"Yes." Warren was actually only hearing this now but wouldn't admit it.

Kurt had told him about some of it along the way though.

"And you get that it only works if you're willing to trust it and commit, not if you go through the motions?" Wally went on.

"Yes..." Warren said.

Shine walked in then, looking pleased--and a little smug, to be honest.

"And you understand that there is no disrespect or bullying allowed towards the other students, visitors, or residents of the mansion?" she finished.

"Uh....yes." Warren looked down. 

"So what changed your mind?" Wally switched tracts abruptly.

"Would you believe it if I said I got advice from a ninja thief and a monk?" Warren asked.

"One of those sounds about right." Wally was puzzled. "Who's the ninja?"

"Psylocke," Shine whispered to him.

"Oh," Wally said. "Uh...who...?"

"Pink energy sword."

"Right...her..." Wally knew next to nothing about her.

Shine didn't know that much either, but if she gave good advice, she was no one to sneeze at it.

"So...uh...am I in?" Warren said, very reluctantly.

"Well, Xavier was okay with it," Shine said. "What do you think, babe?"

"Eh, you know, he kind of looks like Hawk Man, so I'm good with it," Wally said.

"Well, you have it there," Shine said. "I guess you can stay."

"Is...is that it?" Warren said.

"Did you have something else to say?" Shine inquired.

"Well, after what happened last time, I thought you'd expect some kind of an apology," Warren said.

Shine's eyes glittered like she was thinking about it.

She glanced at Storm, who shrugged.

"Warren, while we have many hopes here for how people will come to treat each other, we don't force them to repent for things they don't feel remorse for," Shine said carefully. "When you feel sorry for what you said, you come and tell us. Until then...consider us suspending any judgment. Most of the people here have been brainwashed, enslaved, or abused in some form or else abandoned, and we're in different phases of recovering from it. I believe Kurt says it best: It is not for us to judge you. God will do that, if and when it's the right time."

She shrugged now. "As long as the point got across that a repeat of what you said will not be tolerated, I'm satisfied."

"That must have been hard to say," Wally remarked to her. "I know how you feel about people insulting your friends."

"Don't tempt me to go there," Shine said. "I'm not going to give into that. You should be proud of me, Wally--I'm acting like you."

"And I am proud," Wally said. "Oh...this was probably too soon to bring it up though...oops." He smiled sheepishly at Warren. "Sorry, foot in my mouth... Anyway, what she said. We're cool and all."

Warren turned to look at Kurt, who shrugged as if to say I told you so.

"Well...all right..." he said strangely. "Where should I put my stuff?"

"Right this way, Sugar." Rogue pointed to the stairs. "Empty rooms on the third floor if ya like height. Otherwise there's a few on the first one, but mostly we're usin' those for the older folks."

"Third floor is fine." Angel flew up the stairs easily.

"Don't lie to me. You just like having another bird-winged person around," Shine said to Wally.

"What can I say? I get nostalgic sometimes," Wally said. "Look at you--being laid back."

"Stop making fun of me," Shine said. "He clearly needs help. It was just the right thing to do."

"I was trying to compliment you." Wally picked her up off her feet, around the waist, to tease her mostly.

"Hey, put me down!" Shine protested.

"I'm glad that vent vell." Kurt acted as if this was normal. "It took some convincing, but I think he vill do all right here."

"Who's gonna tell Gambit?" Rogue said, suddenly.

"Gambit never liked him," Storm recalled now. "Oh dear, this might be a problem."

"Oh, he can suck it up." Wally wasn't worried, still holding Shine aloft.

"Getting uncomfortable now," Shine said. "As for Gambit...can he really get more angry at us? What were we supposed to do, say no?"

"Xavier okayed it. It ain't any of Gambit's business to complain," Rogue said.

"Great attitude," Wally said. "I'm sure that'll make him feel better about it--you know, having his feelings disregarded again, like they usually are."

"Ouch, Wally," Shine said. "Burn..."

"Do you think we do that?" Storm asked.

Wally finally put Shine down. "Yeah, kind of."

"By kind of, he means all the time," Shine said. "We try to take them into consideration ourselves, but I'm afraid Gambit doesn't care if we do or not. He expects as little from us. But the rest of you? Even when he's right, it tends to get pushed aside. Do you never notice?"

"No, I never have," Storm said.

"What even are y'all talkin' about?" Rogue said.

"Hmm...Bishop accusing him, Warren going beserk the first time and almost getting everyone killed, and the futility of seeking a cure for mutation, to name a few times," Shine said.

Rogue didn't actually want examples, and she frowned.

"For a guy who's right a lot, he sure doesn't get a lot of respect," Wally said. "So when he is wrong, he doesn't take it well. Not rocket science, is it?"

"Just how I felt about you and the League," Shine remarked.  "You don't have to say things the most convincing way to be right. I tend to get my way by being persistent and persuasive through sheer confidence, but I've been dismissed many times also, and it's rarely acknowledged. I sympathize, but then, people who are right are usually dismissed anyway, like the mythological Cassandra. Where's Hank when I need him to appreciate that?"

"I got it," Trinity called. She was heading to the kitchen for a cold drink (non-alcoholic, obviously).

"Oh, hi." Shine waved at her.

Trinity waved back before going through the door.

"A depressing view of things," Storm commented. "I'm sorry you feel so."

"Don't you?" Shine asked.

"At times, I do," Storm said. "But them, I have always been able to use force where persuasion would not suffice."

"It's the fact that that works that makes me wonder if the Bible comparing people to sheep is not just a little too just for comfort," Shine said. "We actually prefer to be forced to do things, you know. As long as it's not humiliating."

"All right, all right," Rogue said. "But Gambit ain't right about Warren, I'm sure of it. Warren can recover. He already has."

"Gambit is just worried about you, sweetie," Shine said. "You tend to let your guard down so easily around people who are upset. But people who are upset can be dangerous, even wicked. Just being hurt doesn't make them good. Believe me, I know the temptation to look at it that way also, but it's deadly. That kind of pity has led to so much more evil even on a global scale than people realize... C. S. Lewis observed it."

"Great Divorce." Trinity came back out of the kitchen.

"I love you!" Shine said, in the Californian girl enthusiastic way.

"Now I let my guard down?" Rogue said, annoyed. "Don't I do anythin' right?"

"Oh, don't take it that way," Wally said. "Of course you do...just not all the time."

"Rogue, the point isn't that it's wrong to have compassion," Shine said. "It's that you don't need to open yourself up to being used and abused because of it. It's called boundaries. Feeding someone's obsession is one example. You realized it later, didn't you? But only because it was hurting someone else. Not yourself. But you're a person too... There are times to take hits for someone else's sake...but those times had better be when you know you can take it and not fall to pieces or get dragged into something you know is a bad idea. And you had better believe Gambit has seen both those things happen to people enough times to know it's a disaster. Most gangs thrive off the pity of people who wouldn't be part of such things on their own but think they are helping their family or friends by participating."

Rogue stared at her.

"Vise vords," Kurt spoke. "It is difficult to live by this. Ve do not vish to be judgmental or lack compassion, but too much vill blind us. Ve must remember it is our business to do Gott's vill first, and if it coincides vith someone else's vishes, that is gut, but if it contradicts them, then ve must say nein."

"Yes," Shine said. "'The fear of man brings a snare', is how the Bible puts it. Love God first, then others, that is what we're told. Or we'll have no principles."

Trinity paused on her way out and looked sober herself.

"If our friend Gambit knew how often you defend him," Storm ventured, "he might appreciate your efforts. I confess, I think I also make this error. Letting feelings blind me."

"Very rarely," Shine said. "But we all have different levels of the struggle. And most of us will be unmoved in one area but weak in another. Pity pleas don't work on me, generally. I got heartily sick of them after I realized how I was always the loser at the end of it...but character attacks? I still have a hard time there. Where our pride or our passions are most sensitive usually, and we all need to be aware of what our weak points are so we can guard them. That's just common sense."

"And even better, have someone you can trust who keeps you honest about it." Wally put an arm around her shoulder. "No one is smart all the time, right?"

Storm nodded.

"This is what the X-men are to each other," she said.

"No good, though, if you don't listen," Shine added meaningfully. It was directed at Rogue, though she didn't look at her.

Rogue pursed her lips and left the room. She needed to think after that.

"Had better let Jean know we'll have one more for dinner," Storm said.

"She's going to have to let go of that thing where she doesn't let anyone help her cook," Shine remarked. "Jean's not gonna be able to handle it with so may people. Either that or we all get our own meals."

"Can't see that one happening," Wally said.

* * *

Somehow dinner was prepared, and Trinity stayed for it also.... To say it was a little awkward would be an understatement.

But Gambit behaved himself surprisingly well and didn't say anything to her--or to Warren.

Warren was kind of shy.... He'd probably never in his life eaten with this many people, thanks to his mutation...at least not ones who knew about it.

Morph helped though. At least he knew him.

Rogue kept glancing at Gambit, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't. He finally caught her doing it and gave her a questioning look in response, which made her look away.

Logan rolled his eyes at the whole thing.

After dinner, Gambit just followed Rogue as she headed outside.

"What's goin' on Chere?"

Rogue twisted her hands.

"All right, I've been mad long enough," she finally said, a little too fast almost. "Warren is here now...so...and the human girl, she's not goin' anywhere. You deal with it. I don't want to keep fightin'."

Silence for a moment.

"Gambit don't want to keep fightin' either," Gambit said.

Rogue nodded.

"Maybe it time to talk about what really happenin' here," Gambit said.

"It'd be nice to know." Rogue was still fiery as ever. "I mean, what is it anyway? I keep hearin' different things, and I dunno if they're right or not. I know that I ain't good at listenin' much. I know that. Ain't ever been, I think. Heck, didn't even know I needed to, but it looks like--"

"Chere," Gambit interrupted, "you ain't listenin' now."

Rogue stopped talking.

Gambit looked down.

It wasn't so easy for him to express it either...but he was sick of things going back and forth with Rogue and thought he might need to just bite the bullet.

"Maybe it right, maybe it ain't," he said finally, "but Gambit keep thinkin' if dis go on, he lose his friends to dis new notion of things, somethin' he ain't a part of...and he ain't want to be. Maybe all of ya don't think he good enough to be anymore."

"What? Who'd ever say that?" Rogue was aghast.

Gambit shrugged. "It ain't what dey say, it what dey don't say."

Rogue, if she hadn't already heard Shine and Wally's input about how little Gambit got acknowledged, probably wouldn't have made heads or tails of that remark...but with context, she began to see it.

"Maybe that's true," she admitted. "Don't say enough. None of us. Remy, you are always goin' to be part of the X-men. Ya gotta know that."

She folded her arms, pondering. "But things change too, not everythin', but what we're doin', how we do it--it can't always be the same way. And we can't hide in this mansion always, either, and not let anyone else into it. I wish ya could see that it's been a real good thing for most of us. And it ain't gonna be bad for us, even if it goes wrong later.... I couldn't imagine tradin' this kind of freedom for what I had before."

Gambit looked sad. "I reckon so..."

Rogue saw something was still not right.

"That don't mean I don't care about the X-men anymore," she said quickly. "I care more than I did--don't ya get that? I'm in my own head now, alone, and it's so much easier to see everyone else now. All that baggage? It was just makin' it hard for me to think, or even to feel, a lot, without feeling all this other stuff too. Other people's pain, and their doubts, and their fears...it was horrible. It ain't all quite gone now, anyway, but it's been gettin' less and less. That's better for the team."

Gambit shrugged. "It was fine before."

"It wasn't fine for me," Rogue said. "It was not bein' myself. I couldn't have gone on like that forever. You gotta try to understand that..."

"Gambit understand dat," Gamibt finally said, sighing. "But all da rest."

"Ain't no one think any less of you just because we got more now," Rogue said. "I think you're the one who's been pullin' away from the rest of us."

She bit her lip. "Which...is kind of worrying some of the team...gotta say."

"Which ones?" Gambit knew exactly who she meant, but, of course, he wanted to hear it.

"Storm, for one," Rogue said. "And Logan, even if he's not gonna admit it. Hank, the Professor..."

"Jus' dem?" Gambit said.

"Probably Morph also," Rogue said.

She got a look in response.

"Oh, darn you!" she said. "Fine, me too. Just had to make me say it, huh?"

"Gambit ain't goin' nowhere," Gambit said.

"You actin' like it," Rogue said. "Ya don't wanna accept all this? Fine, don't...I guess...but ya treat us different over it."

"Gambit ain't treat no one different. Everyone else act different," Gambit said. 

"I don't think we are," Rogue argued.

"Maybe you not notice it," Gambit said.

"You're right, I don't," Rogue said a little warmly. "I think it's in your head."

"It ain't," Gambit argue.

"Stubborn as a mule," Rogue said, "that's what this is.... I'm tryin' to understand here, and I just don't."

"Gambit think you don't understand 'cause you don't want to." Gambit was losing his cool also.

"And what do I not understand?" Rogue demanded.

"Dat Gambit don't want to lose you, Chere--" Gambit blurted that out before he realized he was going to and broke off abruptly.

Rogue's mouth dropped open.

No matter how many times she'd been told this was it by the DJs, she'd never really believed it. She was too insecure for that.

Gambit regretted saying it at once...though he wasn't sure why; it shouldn't have been that hard to say. Maybe because Rogue got jumpy over it and might end the conversation now.

And perhaps she would have...months ago.

But not now.

It would have been too mean--she knew that.

So she swallowed her immediate discomfort at how brazen it was, and instead she shifted nervously, trying to think of what to say.

Only one thing to say, really.

"Well, that ain't gonna happen." She tried to sound light...not very successfully. "I ain't goin' anywhere; I'm done with that...so...yeah, told ya it was dumb."

It was so...unusual for Rogue to respond in such a way that Gambit was entirely caught off guard.

And speechless.

Rogue realized this finally and began to feel better. Seeing someone else be even more off balance than her made her feel more confident. [Be honest, people, it does.]

She was emboldened enough to actually pat his shoulder. "So there.... I guess I'd better go check on the kids.... Uh, right..." She walked away.

She felt she was turning red. [Do not make the Disney jokes, please, I beg of you.]

Gambit glanced after her and shook his head, not sure what just happened.

[I say it was about dang time one of them was honest, geez. They make me want to bang my head on a wall, even though I adore their ship.]