The Funeral (February 2012)

Charles asked to talk to Serena. A couple days had passed and Gambit avoided her as much as he could avoid her in a mansion. He didn’t apologize to her and she didn’t apologize to him. Charles was in a black suit, today was Rogue’s funeral and he wanted to see how Serena was holding up.

“I’m sorry I haven’t spoken to you earlier,” He said. “But I wanted to ask you if you’d come to the funeral with us. Storm says you and Gambit are not getting along so you can drive with me. I honestly thought you two might find a common ground, considering your recent losses,’ He said.

Serena wasn’t allowed to attend Evans funeral. His mother had refused to talk to her and had told her mother she never wanted to see Serena again. It was not clear why she had severed ties with her and it was likely Serena would never know.

Charles noticed her troubled expression and he smiled up at her. “Serena, tell me what you were thinking just then. You look...troubled,” He said.

Serena avoided Gambit as much as he avoided her. Serena would not apologize for slapping him. He had deserved it after what he had said to her. Her grief was slowly starting to lift. She no longer cried. She had cried herself out of tears for Evan. Now, she just felt lost...as if she had no purpose. Her life, up until very recently, had been very scheduled and she had barely had any down time. Now, she was overrun with downtime and she didn't know what to do with herself. She mostly just read. It was too cold to go outside so she remained in her room or in the library. Storm had discussed the possibility of Serena taking over the open science teacher position they had and possibly starting to train with the team. That, however, would mean interacting with Gambit and those two weren't even speaking to each other at this point.

Tomorrow was Serena's 21st birthday. She knew that Evan had been planning a big surprise celebration for her after all the hints he had kept dropping. She knew her parents would be coming by to see her, but there wouldn't be a party. Her birthday would likely pass without anyone else in the mansion knowing about it.

Serena was reading in bed when Charles suddenly came in and asked to speak to her. She knew today was Rogue's funeral and she planned on just staying in her room to avoid Gambit. However, Charles asked her to come. She sighed softly and looked away from Charles for a moment before looking back at him.

"I wasn't allowed to attend Evan's funeral. I wasn't allowed to say goodbye to him. His mother hates me...and I don't blame her. I hate me too. It should have been me...not him. I made the call to run the program as it was when I knew something had changed in it. It...it should have been me."

Gambit really didn’t want to go to this but he knew he needed to. He needed closure and he needed to reconcile his feelings of guilt and remorse over what happened. It happened so fast and there was no ‘last moment’. She was just gone before he could even say goodbye. He was returning Jean’s scarf, it was going to be cold today and she had loaned it to him because he had been spending a lot of time outside in the orchard.

He stopped short when he heard voices and listened to what was being said…

Gambit had been avoiding Serena. He wasn’t certain what his problem was with her. She just seemed to make his feelings want to come up to the surface. He hated not having control over his emotions and though he wouldn’t admit it, his heart, as if on its own, went out to her. That had the added undesired effect of making him ‘feel’. And anger came in place of crying on her shoulder.
Something he desperately didn’t want to do.

The slaps definitely got his attention though. She wasn’t someone he could get away with incivility. He heard what she said. She was not able to say goodbye to her Evan and she blamed herself for his death. He could not imagine that for himself. Their was no upside to that and once again his heart went out to her.

“You are a scientist Serena. I employ you to resolve your assertions about who is really at fault with some empherical study,” Charles said.

Serena had no idea that Gambit was standing outside her door listening to what she was saying. She understood that Charles was trying to do something good and have them help each other through their pain but Gambit clearly didn’t want her help. She sighed as she listened to what Professor Xavier said but decided to try what he suggested.

“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

The day was cold and there was a light fall of snow and a slight breeze. Charles, Scott and Jean were in one of the limos and Storm, Hank and Mystique were in another. Gambit came out late and Charles had instructed Colossus on which limo he wanted Gambit to ride in. Serena was already seated but the door opened and Gambit, who had not looked first came into the car and Colossus shut the door. The limo took off after the others and then he looked over to the other person in with him. Not only that, he was sitting right next to her.

Gambit grunted and shifted to say something to the driver but they had already started out and cars began to file in behind. He decided not to make a fuss and just deal with the situation.

He was dressed in an all black suit with a black button down shirt. He wasn’t looking at Serena and he tilted his head back and closed his eyes.

Serena had a black dress she chose to wear. It was knee length with long sleeves. She put on black tights and black pumps. She put on just a little makeup and fixed her hair. She grabbed her coat and put it on before going down to meet the others. She was told which limo to get in to. She got in and slid over. She thought that the car was full before suddenly the door reopened and Gambit got in. They looked at each other but he wasn’t able to get out before the car started moving. She sat there quietly beside him and looked out the window.

When they got to the site she got out with the others but stood back a ways as the funeral began.

There were quite a lot of people there and the entire thing was held outside. The priest was a tall, thin man with gray hair. When he began to speak Serena felt someone grip her hand. To her surprise it was Logan. Logan with Natalya beside him.

“Hey kiddo,” he whispered. He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. Natalya reached over and squeezed her arm. “Hi Serena,” she said and had a smile for her as well.

Other people murmured about Logan’s presence there but he ignored them. Serena and the funeral were all he cared about right then.

Serena felt awkward being there since she had not known Rogue. She was standing by herself at the back of the group and suddenly she felt a hand grip hers. She looked over and saw Logan and Natalya there. Serena didn’t know why but she felt better having them there with her. She gave them each a little smile and then leaned against Logan slightly.

After the priest Charles spoke and then a ready eyed Storm. Jean spoke next and then Scott spoke. Everyone had nice, kind things to say about Rogue and funny things to that has endeared her to them. Rogue was everyone’s big sister it seemed . Someone who had a big heart and whose capacity for love was boundless. Gambit did not speak he just stood there like a statue though his long, black coat shifted in the breeze.

As everyone began to depart Logan moved up to Gambit. Natalya drew Serena away down the cemetery path a little ways so she could speak to her. “Your parent wanted to come but they worry that you might think that they were being over protective,” she said. “Logan told them that that was nonsense but they remained at the tower. They miss you Serena, we all do,” Natalya said and smiled at her again. Several of the people that passed by them looked at them. At Natalya especially. She had her hair up off of her neck and she wore a form fitting black dress and a long black dress coat. She looked like some kind of sexy, Russian agent dressed like that and some of the men, young and old goggles at her though she didn’t seem to notice. Serena had a view of Gambit and Logan. The two men actually hugged and Logan patted him on the back as he left Gambit there near the grave. As he began to walk toward them she saw Gambit fall to his knees and bend over to put his hands into the cold soil that covered the grave. She saw his back jerk as if sobs wracked him. He had held out until the end and now was overcome with grief.

Logan looked back at him and then moved up to her and Natalya. “Bought her a ring and everything...god damn I liked that woman,” he said and to Serena’s surprise Logan’s eyes had some moisture in them. She had never seen that. Never. Proof that Rogue must have been everything they all said she was.

Logan and Natalya went with the others back to the mansion after the funeral was over. A buffet was put out with various finger foods and hors d'oeuvres. There was also some wine and other types of alcohol for those who were old enough to drink.

Natalya and Logan each got a glass of bourbon. They sat with Serena a little ways away from the rest of the group. Natalya had a little bag next to her and she picked it up and handed it to Serena.

“Since the rest of us won’t be here for your birthday tomorrow Logan and I decided to bring you your gift today. It’s from Logan, Malcolm, Steve, Kate, and myself.”

Inside, Serena found some birthday cards from everyone and a very expensive bottle of bourbon.

“This is the one Logan and I really like. I think you’ll like it too.”

Serena hugged them both. “Thank you.”

Gambit had not been hungry and he didn’t feel much like socializing. He walked amongst the leafless trees and the few pines that now had a fair bit of snow on them. He liked the grounds in winter. The cleanness of it. The pureness of the snow-covered trees and ground. He was cold but he had felt cold all day. His feet were freezing but he didn’t even really notice.

It was late but he wasn’t tired at all. The library was probably the last place he would have expected to be right then but he wanted to find that book of poetry that Serena had been looking at. He slung his coat and his jacket over a chair and turned on a desk lamp. The library had a little light, a soft glow from the lights up in the ceiling. They weren’t bright, just enough so that people who came there could see the books and read their titles.

He knew why she came to the funeral, Charles asked her to. It was good to see Logan again but he recalled moments when the three of them, Logan, Rogue and himself, were thick like thieves. The best of friends. With Logan gone he felt now more like an outsider though he knew it wasn’t true. The kids really liked him and respected him and he was an integral part of the team.

‘Where is it,” He whispered as he looked for that book. He knew he was in the right place and his eyes searched hard for it. They spotted it on the 3rd shelf and he reached up and took it. He opened it then came out of the shelf area toward the fireplace that crackled sputtered as a fire blazed inside it. He sat lazily on the small, burgundy couch and rolled up his sleeves to reveal the beginnings of several tattoos. He had several all over his body. One he and Rogue shared. He began to read.

Serena had not been able to sleep again. She looked at the bottle of sleeping pills on her bedside table but she didn’t want to take them. She sighed and got up and walked down to the library. As she walked in she saw the light from the fireplace and knew someone else was in there. She was slightly surprised to see it was Gambit though. She saw the book in his hands and saw it was the book of poetry she had recommended to him a few nights ago. He looked up at her and neither of them said anything for a while until Serena finally broke the silence.

“Rogue sounds like she was a great person. I’m certain she will be greatly missed.”

She then heard the grandfather clock strike the hour...midnight. “It’s my birthday. Evan had a surprise party planned for me. He was trying to keep it a secret but he never was very good at keeping those.”

Gambit didn’t expect anyone to be up so late but he was so why it was a surprise he didn't know. But he found that he was...pleased to see Serena though he didn’t really know that either. Perhaps he just didn’t want to be alone? And perhaps that he knew he had treated her terribly and for no reason. He stood up to regard her and thumbed the book closed and left it on the couch cushion.

“I want to apologize for how I’ve been...treating you Serena,” He said sincerely. “I know you’ve lost too...your Evan, someone you really loved and who loved you,” Gambit said softly. He had been trying to come up with a poem for Rogue. The book of poetry had ignited a creative spark inside of him. She was always able to do that. He held up a finger and he closed his eyes. His brow furled as if he were concentrating and then he began to speak.

“”

Gambit opened his eyes. “I...I miss her so much Serena,” he said as he rubbed his forehead with his fingers. His eyes welled up with moisture but he managed to keep the tears at bay. “Since she will never hear my words, then I offer them to you, on your birthday,” He said as he looked at her. “Not a grand gift but the best I could do on short notice,” he said as he shrugged and spread out his arms before her.

Serena was overcome by Gambit’s words. They were truly beautiful and meaningful. So much so that it brought tears to her eyes. She was glad to know that the anger between them had dissolved. She really could use a friend right now and Gambit was the only person who really understood what she was going through. When he opened his arms out she moved forward and embraced him. She felt his arms slowly go around her and they just stood there like that for a while before she spoke again.

“I have a bottle of bourbon in my room. Would you like a drink?”

Gambit scoffed. “Fuckin Logan,” He said as he guessed he had gotten her that. The woman had just turned 21...he thought it was 21 anyway. Serena did feel good in his arms though and he rubbed her back in hopes that it soothed her in some way. He still felt guilt for how he had treated her but perhaps this was a new start for them.

He chuckled softly. “Lead the way,” He said.

Gambits arms felt...good around her. They reminded her of the feeling she got when Evan had put his arms around her. She felt comforted and safe.

Serena walked with Gambit to her room. They picked up a couple of glasses on the way. They sat on the floor and she opened the bottle. She poured a little into each glass and handed a glass to him. She then raised hers.

“To Evan and Rouge. May they never be forgotten.”

Gambit clinked his glass to hers and then took a good sip of the bourbon. “Mmm, hints of vanilla, caramel and maple. Delicious,” he said then chuckled when Serena coughed. He guessed it was probably her first real drink. “Just sip it,” He suggested with a smile. It had been a while since he had a real drink. Rogue couldn’t drink so he didn’t much these days but he might remedy that. This was very good.

“I think we both owe it to ourselves to forgive ourselves. We don’t ‘control’ We can’t look at what happened with hind sight and think about what we did or could have done. We need to move on,” He said. “I’m tired of feeling guilty Serena, I really am,” He said as he shifted his free hand and suddenly there was a deck of cards in it. He shuffled them with one hand as if holding them was born to him. He did that as if it was something he did normally or at rest. In truth he didn’t even realize he was doing it. His fingers knew the feel of them, the glossy plastic, the crispness of them in his hand.

He held up his drink. “To new beginnings and new friends,” He said and held out his glass toward her. His eyes glowed red but she could tell that he had a gentleness to him that belied his vigorous demeanor.

Serena sat with her back up against her bed as they drank the bourbon. Her first sip was too big and she was embarrassed when she began to cough some. Gambit didn't seem to judge her though and she took his suggestion for a smaller sip. It was rather good. It warmed her throat and her cheeks began to feel flush from the alcohol. She looked over at him as he began to speak about them not blaming themselves for what happened. She couldn't forgive herself quite yet, but she hoped in time that she might.

She suddenly saw a pack of cards in his hand. She didn't even know where they had come from. With an exact precision he began to shuffle them with only one hand while holding his drink in the other. He didn't even seem to realize he was doing it. She smiled though at his toast and clinked her glass with his and took a small sip.

"So, what is your mutation exactly?"

Gambit smiled. “You tell me yours first?” He asked quickly and then shook his head to let her know he was just joking. “I can use the potential of an object or person and convert it to kinetic energy,” He said then brandished a card. He held up a Jack of Spades and didn’t even look at it. “This card for instance, my card, I can convert its potential energy, its resting energy and convert it to kinetic energy,” He said then energized it but only very little. “I can make this card explode, He said and tossed it up into the air and then hit it with another card. It exploded but only in so that it destroyed the card. The pieces of the cards fluttered back down onto the floor. “I can energize a person and hurt them or kill them. Energy an object to put a whole in someone’s armor or shield or bring down a house if I so chose,” he said. “I’m trained in several different forms of fighting as well,” He said.

“What about you cherie, He said in his sexy, creole drawl. He also twerked his eyebrows at her to show her he really wanted to know.

Serena was fascinated as she listened to Gambit explain his powers and show them to her. She smiled as she watched him use one card to explode another. When he said he could energize a person she became even more intrigued. It almost sounded as if their powers could complement each other.

When Gambit asked to see her powers she smiled and turned over her right hand. Within it a red, glowing orb the size of a baseball hovered in midair a few inches above her hand. It pulsated with energy.

"My abilities, like yours, are related to energy. I am able to use energy around me, including energy from my own body, to create energy orbs, blasts, and shields. Unfortunately, when I use the energy from my body it drains me so I have to be careful about how my energy I pull. However, I can take energy from other things, such as the kinetic energy you create."

Gambit was intrigued by Serena’s powers and he agreed that they complimented one another. He asked her all sorts of questions. ‘What kinds of energy could she absorb’ ‘Could she absorb more than one kind at a time’ ‘How far could she throw an orb or a blast’

“So I could charge a card, throw it toward you and you could absorb it or would you need to be in physical contact with it? I could charge you too,” He said as he took another drink. “So...whats it like being the ‘Princess’ of New York?’ He said with a grin. He was looking at her and smiled when she blushed. “Well, It’s what I heard. Tony and Isabella Stark are probably two of the most important people in the country and well, Your their daughter, your beautiful...like a Princess,” He said though he wasn’t looking at her then.

Serena tried to answer as many of Gambit's questions as she could. She agreed that they should test out their powers together, but perhaps not when they were drinking. She knew about the Danger Room and they decided to find a time to go there in the next few days and test their powers together.

When Gambit asked her about what it was like growing up being the daughter of Tony and Isabella Stark she smiled and blushed a little at his compliment but then sighed.

"To be honest it's not always been easy. From the moment I was born I was known by the press and they used to swarm us whenever we would go out. Sometimes it got scary when they pressed in around us. Camera flashes would be going off everywhere and they would be shouting all of these questions. I had to be privately tutored and I never actually stepped foot in a real classroom until college. I didn't grow up having any friends my age and no part of my life was normal by any stretch of the imagination."

She took another sip of her drink and looked down. "And then there's living up to my parents. It feels almost impossible. I mean my father is a genius. I mean I'm smart, yes, but I always feel inadequate compared to him. And then my mother...she is so beautiful and graceful and elegant. She always knows what to say or do. She remains calm and composed in difficult and stressful situations and the entire world loves her. I don't know how I could ever live up to them...especially now...after what happened with Evan..."

Gambit offered his glass for her to put a bit more bourbon in it. He took another sip. “I’m not certain that you need to be like your parents. You are your own person Serena. I doubt they expect anything more from you than you do of yourself. And who gives a shit about the press? I don’t,” He said. “I don’t do what I do for a clap on the back, or a thank you. I do it because if I don’t, who will? There aren’t enough of us to help the whole world. I base my worth, my value in what I feel I can do and what I do do, not by what someone else thinks. You will always remember Evan but he never defined you as a person. And a hero is just someone who exhibited courage and bravery at the right time. Evan was a hero. He protected you and your friends. Try not to worry so much about how the world judges you Serena. No one expects you to be another Isabella Stark. Just be Serena Stark. Be the Serena stark that you want to be,” Gambit said as he downed the rest of his drink. He rubbed at his eyes and then blinked.

“Well, I think I’ve had quite enough,” He said and chuckled. He stood up carefully. When she stood he handed her his empty glass. He leaned in toward her. “Would it be alright if I told you a secret?” Gambit whispered and then held a finger up to his mouth and made the ‘Shushhing sound’ She would notice he was obviously tipsy and quit happy to boot.

Serena looked at Gambit as he spoke. The only other person she had ever opened up to like that was Evan. As Gambit finished speaking she found that she was smiling. She knew in that moment that she had a friend in him. He was someone she could trust and be open with about her feelings. Gambit wouldn't judge her. He would just listen and offer advice. She needed a person like that in her life.

After Gambit finished his drink he stood up and she stood up as well. She took his empty glass and then he leaned in towards her and asked in a whisper if he could tell her a secret. He was clearly tipsy, but also seemed happy. That made her smile.

"Yes, you can tell me a secret."

“You really, really...hit hard,” He said with a very bright smile. He lingered for a few moments above her. His face was close to hers and he did not have the piece of mind to school his eyes as they drew down to her lips, up to her eyes and down to her lips again. He wanted to kiss her right then but then bit his lip and sighed as he straightened. “I enjoyed the talk Serena...good night,” He said and then he was gone.

The next day she had been summoned to Charles office. “So Serena, have you thought some on teaching for us? We’re looking for a life sciences teacher. A mix of different sciences. There would be 2 classes a day, 3 days a week, monday, wednesday and fridays. Your first class would be older students and your afternoon class would be for young students,” he said and presented her with one of the text books.