Epilogue

Sixteen years later:

Rogue, Gambit and their kids were in the Blackbird II on their way to the new school. Nadine looked out the window whilst chewing her strawberry bubblegum.

"Dat it?" she asked.

"Oui," Gambit replied.

"Huh. Bigger dan Ah thought. Mama?"

"Yeah?"

"Ya plannin' on pullin' up anytime soon?"

"Worried we're gonna slam inta the hillside?"

"The thought had crossed muh mind."

Rogue chuckled, then frowned.

"Hmm," she said.

"Hmm? What's hmm?"

"Ah can't seem ta pull up, sugah."

"Ah am so not fallin' fo' dat one."

"No, Ah'm serious. The controls have locked."

Their adopted son Toby of fourteen years, nudged red-on-black eyed Olivier of the same age.

"A packet of gum says Mama pulls up at the last minute," Toby said.

"You're on," Olivier grinned at him.

"Papa?" eleven year old Becca said worriedly, tugging at his arm as her green eyes widened with alarm as she watched the hillside get closer and closer.

"I'm sure dat Mama's doing everyt'ing she can," Gambit replied solemnly.

Still the Blackbird II got closer and closer, enough so that even Nadine and Marrow (who were pretty used to Rogue and Gambit's antics by now) were nervous. Only eight year old, green-on-black eyed Kelly remain unperturbed, content to continue playing with her cards.

"Everyone brace yourselves," Rogue advised loudly.

The hillside was right on their nose.

"Mama!" Nadine yelled.

They passed right through the hillside and into the hanger of the new school. Rogue smiled smugly and put Kitty's psyche away.

"Ah'm sorry," Rogue commented lightly. "Did Ah forget ta mention the entrance is not through the basketball court?"

"Gum please," Olivier said to Toby.

"Aww man," Toby complained.

"Dat was scary," Becca said.

"Why's dat Becca?" Gambit asked, giving her a hug. "I told yo' dat your mama was doing everyt'ing she could."

Rogue chuckled.

"Oooh we appear to have a welcoming committee," she said. "Nadine?"

"Oui?"

"Don't start charmin' the boys."

"Aww Mama -"

"Nish! Ah mean it, sugah," Rogue said firmly. "Ya caused enough in-fighting back at New York with your trouble making. You're not gonna start going it here."

"By the way," Gambit added. "I'm gonna pick out your roommate."

"Aww man."

"Whoever she is, she won't be a t'ing like Tabby."

"Whatever."

The ramp of the Blackbird II was lowered and, bags in hand, the family piled out. There were a handful of people there, including a few students who had arrived early. Nadine eyed off the two boys about her age and would have approached them had Marrow not insisted on introducing her to her old friends instead. Female friends. Oh well, she'd have plenty of time to have fun with the boys later. Right?

"Rogue!" Tabitha exclaimed, pouncing on her. "You scared the life out of me when you didn't open the hanger door!"

Rogue chuckled.

"Sorry, Tabs," she said. "I just wanted ta freak the kids out. Hi Colin."

Thirteen year old Colin waved shyly.

"Colin has his powers now, dontcha?" Tabitha said smugly. "He's a chip off the old block."

"So, you're saying he can fly around the mansion wit' his legs on fire like his pere?" Gambit asked.

"No, he makes time bombs like his mother."

"Oooh," Gambit said, grinning at Colin. "Making t'ings go boom is fun."

Colin smiled.

"Colin!" Olivier and Toby shouted in unison.

They collided well before Colin could managed a 'Hi' and the three boys fell to the floor.

"I was never like dat I swear," Gambit muttered.

"Speakin' of flying," Rogue said. "Betsy and Warren's girls have started sprouting wings."

"Ha, I thought you were going to stay they were spouting something else for a second there," Tabitha grinned.

"You have such a dirty mind. Ah'm surprised Colin's turned out so well."

"Give him time," Gambit said conspiratorially.

"It must be Sam's influence," Tabitha nodded. "I think he's determined to turn Colin into some sort of gentleman."

"Is that such a bad thing?" Rogue asked.

"No, not really. I always did like southern gentlemen," she said with a wink at Gambit.

Gambit snickered.

"Anyway, we shouldn't stand around here chatting. We shall show you to your rooms," Tabitha said cheerfully. "This place is so new, you can smell the paint. Seriously. I suspect Colin, Yasmine and Derek have been getting high off it."

"Oh, so Jubilee and Bobby are here?" Rogue asked, recognising the names of their two kids.

"Uh huh," Tabitha said cheerfully as she lead the way out of the hanger. "And so are Ali and Longshot."

"Ah thought Ali's band was touring..."

"Yeah, they finished last month. The band's now on hiatus while Ali has the bay-be."

"Ali's pregnant?" Rogue asked. "Hey cool, we'll have ta congratulate her."

"Yes, yes you will," Tabitha nodded. "Okay, girls dorms are that way. Boys dorms are that way. Teacher's wing is this way. You two lucky ducks scored the big room."

"I wonder why dat could be," Gambit joked. "Couldn't possibly be because we scored headmasters of the new school, could it?"

"I swear Logan and Storm are guilty of favouritism," Tabitha muttered.

"Either that, or Storm got tired of Remy and the kids calling her Stormy all the time," Rogue grinned.

"By the way, I keep meaning to ask, how's Kendall these days?"

"Oh she's good. She's studying in Japan right now."

"Wow really? That's cool."

"Say," Gambit said, looking up at a large painting in the main hall. "Dat's Pete's work or I miss my guess."

"Yeah, it is," Tabitha nodded. "How'd you know?"

"I've always had an eye fo' fine works o' art."

"Stealin' it ya mean," Rogue teased.

"Shh!"

"I heard Kitty was thinking of running for mayor next year?" Tabitha asked.

"Yes, yes she is," Rogue nodded. "Now, Nadine, Oli and Toby are in the dorms."

"Yay!" Olivier and Toby yelled.

Nadine rolled her eyes.

"Right, so the boys'll show the boys to their rooms, and the girls'll show Nadine to hers," Tabitha said, nodding to the hangers on. "Sarah? You've got a room in the teacher's wing, of course."

"Thanks," Marrow replied.

"And... I've already forgotten your youngest girls names..."

"Becca and Kelly," Rogue said.

"Becca and Kelly have a room next to yours."

"Nadine?"

"Oui, pere?"

"No filles in the garcons wing. And vice versa."

"Whatever."

"I always knew Remy being the father of a sexy teenage girl would be hilarious," Tabitha giggled. "Hey Nadine, later you and I are going to-"

"No, you're not," Rogue said.

"Aww but -"

"No."

"But -"

"Noooo. Nadine doesn't need to dress any trampier than she does already."

"Ah do not dress like a tramp!" Nadine objected.

"Tell that ta droolin' boys over there."

The two teenage boys in question looked away like they hadn't been staring at Nadine. Nadine giggled. Rogue sighed and poked Gambit.

"Ah blame you, ya know that, right?"

"Our kids just can't escape the sexy gene, ma chere."

"And we have three daughters."

Gambit grinned, wrapped her up in his arms and gave her a wink.

"Wanna make a fourth one?"

He dipped her backwards and kissed her lips gently as their children said in unison: "Eww!"

End!

Because all parents should get to freak out their kids.

I hope you all enjoyed the story. It was certainly a novel experience for me (no pun intended) to have Penetrating the Engine Core possess my fingers and write the story for me, hehe. Went all sorts of places I wasn't expecting.

Thanks very much to everyone who reviewed. Your feedback and encouragement has meant a great deal to me.