Too Little Too Late (August 2012)

Peter kept his hands on respectful places. Serena has a lithe waists and the feel of her pressed up against him made his heart want to burst. Her kisses were sweet and yet hungry for his lips at the same time. He rather liked this. Getting to know Serena again, dating. It was fun and Serena made him feel loved and relevant to her life. After they made out with one another for a while they turned back toward the cityscape where she leaned against his chest as he held her to him with his arm.

“I will help you and your father build your suit,” he said. “I won’t train unless you train to,” he said and he meant that.

Serena enjoyed kissing Peter. His kisses were different than Gambit's, but not in a bad way. Peter was also respectful of her body and did not feel her up the way she knew Gambit would have. Part of her liked feeling a man's hands on her body, but part of her also enjoyed moment's like these. Peter was just happy to be with her and wasn't expecting anything more.

They kissed for a while before separating and she turned around so Peter's chest was against her back and one arm was wrapped around her. She was rather surprised by what Peter said about not training unless she did. She looked at him over her shoulder and could tell he meant it.

"Why would you do that?"

“Because I lived that already...and I can’t...I won’t do it again,” Peter said. He touched her face and tilted her chin up for him to kiss her again. He did over and over. Soft, loving kisses that made his head spin. “I don’t mean to put pressure on you but I came here for you...and myself,” he said. “I love you Serena, I’ve always loved you,” he said.

Serena wasn't sure what to say at first. She knew she felt something strong for Peter. The bond she felt to him was very real and rather overwhelming. Everything about this situation was strange, and yet in many ways it felt perfectly natural. She looked up into Peter's eyes.

"I love you too Peter."

Peter hung out under the stars with Serena for a little while but eventually he had to leave. He had work in the morning and so they kissed one another goodnight.

The next morning Serena woke to the heady, spicy scent. Before she had awakened fully Gambit had undressed and was sliding into her bed. He kissed her lips as he settled the sheet over atop him. “Hello beautiful,” he said as he kissed her.

Serena slept well that night. Her sleep was filled with dreams of Peter and working with him at Osborn Corp. The following morning a spicy scent filled Serena's nose and she slowly began to awaken. She knew the scent well and as she opened her eyes she found Gambit there in bed with her. She was rather surprised to find him there.

"You seemed rather angry and upset the last time we talked...I'm surprised to find you here."

“I missed you Serena, I doubt I could ever stay angry with you for long,” He said as he kissed her again. She’d notice that he wasn’t wearing any clothes and he shifted his right hand to her left breast over her tank top. “C’mon, take this off,” He said as his hand shifted to between her legs. Obviously he wanted to make up in a big way.

Serena began to realize that Gambit was naked. She felt his hand come up to cup her left breast over her tank top. As she felt his other hand start to go between her legs she sat up and shifted away from him.

"Gambit...please don't."

Gambit smiled and grabbed hold of her wrist. He chuckled and pulled her toward him. “You act like we weren’t engaged just a little bit ago cherie mwen,” He said and then he saw her hand. There was no ring on her finger and he let go of her and his face drew down into a frown.

“Where’s your ring? What the hell is going on Serena?” Gambit asked.

Serena glanced down at her left hand and then looked up at Gambit. "I took it off," she said softly. "I still have it...I just took it off." She was quiet a moment and could tell Gambit was starting to get upset again. "Things have gotten...complicated Gambit. The truth of the matter is is that I don't think I'm ready to be engaged or married. Things just happened so quickly between us and I thought it was what I wanted...but now I'm not so sure."

“What aren’t you sure about?” He asked as he shifted toward her. He knelt in front of her on her bed. “We go out, we tear up the town, we fight and train as X-Men, you teach and we make love whenever possible,” He said and shifted again to kiss her and pull her toward him.

Serena felt Gambit kiss her and she started to kiss him back. Gambit had this way about him that just made her turn to jelly. His accent...the spicy cologne he wore...the way he looked at her. But she knew now that although she did love Gambit, she ultimately lusted after him. Peter though...she loved him...she saw a future with him.

She pulled back and looked at Gambit. "I'm remaining here at the Tower. I got a job at Osborn Corp. and I'm going back to school."

Gambit smiled. “Well that’s awesome, you’re getting what you wanted right? I couldn’t be happier for you. I won’t be that far away. I don’t think any of this is a reason to end our engagement though. We can just postpone the wedding until you are ready,” He said. He took her hand and kissed it then put her hand onto his chest. He leaned forward and kissed her again. “C’mon Serena, make love to me cherie mwen, I need you right now,” He whispered. His red eyes were nearly glowing with desire for her and his hands were everywhere. So was his lips.

Serena realized that Gambit wasn't getting what she was saying. She had been trying to be delicate about it, but now she was going to have to be more direct and that upset her because she didn't want to hurt him. She pulled back again and this time she got up out of bed and looked at him.

"Gambit...I'm in love with Peter. I...I love you too...just not in the same way I love him." Tears came to her eyes. "I'm truly sorry Gambit. I didn't expect any of this to happen. I never meant to hurt you."

“What!?” Gambit said angrily but it came out in a near growl. His face was a mixture of anger and hurt. He began to get dressed.

“I guess I over-estimated you Serena. You play poker very well,” he said as he continued to dress. He was referring to her ability to bluff, a way to bold face lie. “I hope Peter comes to know how little your love and your word means these days,” Gambit said. He stood not caring that she was crying and presented her with her card, a queen of hearts. He charged it and flung it into the air. It caught on fire and burned up in moments. He stepped toward her.

“You make me regret not taking Charlotte up on her offer!” He said then left her room and headed toward the elevator.

Serena felt hot tears roll down her cheeks. She had just hurt a man she loved and seeing the look in his eyes made her feel like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. She watched as he pulled out the Queen of Hearts, her card, and charged it and flung it into the air. It caught fire and burned up in front of her.

She followed him out of her room and caught him at the elevator. "Gambit...please...I'm so sorry..."

Gambit could take alot of things but to be dumped like this. Knowing that it was another man that Serena had taken over him was just too much to take. It had never happened to Gambit before and it was like their was a massive gash that bled like a sliced artery in his heart and ego. ‘Where did I go wrong? What did I do?’ He wondered as he felt her hand pull him around to face her. A tear had escaped his left eye and his face was all just hurt now. The anger had leaked away in the few steps he had gone since being in her room.

“Is this really what you want Serena? I mean, after all we’ve been through? New Orleans, Nyx, everything? How can you exchange one love for another? I don’t understand it. It’s like as soon as Peter stepped into your life you’ve forgotten everything we did, everything we were together. We were happy, at least I thought we were,” He said. His cheeks were damp and he was trying very hard not to break down in front of her. They had been through so much in such a short time.

Serena was glad when Gambit didn't shove her away, but seeing the pain in his face was almost too much for her to bear. It wasn't that she didn't love him anymore...she did and she knew that she likely always would, but she just knew that Peter was the man she was supposed to be with. Stringing Gambit along for her sake would only make things worse in the end.

She forced herself to look up into his eyes and Gambit would be able to see just how difficult this was for her. "It's so difficult to explain Gambit. I'm just barely figuring it all out myself. I swear to you Gambit that I truly do love you. That was not a lie...none of it was. You were there for me when I needed you the most and I will never forget that. You're a wonderful man with a good heart and you've come such a long way from where you were in New Orleans. You deserve more than I can give you Gambit."

“That’s not true Serena. You’re only saying that because you don’t want me, you want Peter. God, can’t you just be honest with me, this once? I don’t ‘need’ more, I just need you so don’t make it sound as if you’re not capable or that you won’t make me happy. You already did that. You knew what you’re getting with me. Its all out there, every scrap, my entire life you know it,” he said as he put his hands on her shoulders. We have passion and love and alot of fun together. What else do you need?” he asked. “And I am willing to bet that if you took me back into your room, I could change your mind. He did not give her a chance to respond to that he pulled her into another kiss. A passionate one. He hungered for her lips and her tongue.

Serena tried to speak, but before she could Gambit had taken her up into his arms and begun to kiss her. It was an incredibly passionate kiss and she would be lying if she didn't say she was tempted. However, the thought of losing Peter made her even more heartsick than the thought of losing Gambit. And so she slowly pulled back away from Gambit and looked at him and then down at the floor. "I'm sorry Gambit..."

Gambit felt her pull away and then look down so all he saw was the top of her head. He let go of her and a spike of anger appeared again. Hot and sharp. “No, I’m sorry for ever letting myself love someone like you,” he said as he turned his back on her and began to walk toward the elevator. “Keep the ring, you can keep it as a trophy!” He said angrily. The elevator opened and he got inside. He pushed the button and the doors closed. When she looked up she would see Logan there at his door. His arms were crossed over his chest and he his expression was obvious disapproval. He didn’t say anything though he just shook his head and stepped back inside and shut the door.

Gambit's words stung but she stood there and took it. She decided if she couldn't give him anything else that she would at least let him have the last word and say whatever he wanted to her. However, as soon as the doors closed she burst into tears and he would be able to hear her sobbing as the elevator started to descend. She went back to her room and laid down in bed and cried into her pillow.