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The night air was quiet. Too quiet. The intruder alarms had gone off over an hour earlier, but no one had managed to find the intruder. It had been agreed upon that if no intruder was found during the last sweep of the grounds, everyone would return to the mansion.

"Mon ami, Gambit t'ink dat de alarms be malfunc'ioning," the taller man said with a bit of weariness.

"Shut up, Gumbo," Wolverine snarled. "I can't hear a thing when yer yappin' like that."

Gambit rolled his demonic eyes heavenward. "What t' hear? No' a t'ing out dere, Logan." When the shorter man unsheathed his adamantium claws with a snarl, Gambit backed off.

"I said ta shut up, Gumbo. I mean it." Wolverine turned his hunter's attention back to the trees at the edge of the Xavier property. "Besides, I can smell someone over there." He sniffed the air. "A woman. With a familiar scent, except it's different. Muted, maybe."

Gambit charged a card and started towards the trees, Wolverine behind him. But what they found in a small clearing shocked the two men.

A young woman lay on the damp grass, blood covering her slender body. Her skin had the same pale golden sheen as Jubilee's, indicating her to be of Asian descent as well. Her black hair lay spread around her, a lustrous cloak in the moonlight. She wore a silver earcuff on her left ear, a tiny silver feather dangling from it. On her left hand were two silver rings, a simple band on her forefinger, and a braided design on her thumb. On her right hand were two gold and amethyst rings, the larger emerald cut ring on her middle finger, and the smaller heart cut ring on her ring finger.

Next to her lay a quietly fussing baby girl. She was a miniature version of her mother, her eyes an unnerving golden colour. When she saw the two men, she began to coo.

"Bloody hell," Logan swore, sheathing his claws and squatting next to the woman.

Remy tossed his card aside, watching as it exploded harmlessly a short distance away. The baby noticed it too, and giggled. "Why dere be a femme an' a bebbe dis close t' de gates?" he wondered out loud.

"¡¦ause she couldn't get any further, Cajun. She's lost a lotta blood," Wolverine snarled, then slapped his communication badge. "Hank. We got a woman and a baby out at the north end of the property. Gumbo and I are gonna bring ¡¦m in." Carefully, he scooped the woman into his arms. "You get the kid, Cajun."

Gambit considered protesting; he wanted to hold the pretty woman. But instead, he scooped the young girl into his arms, bouncing her lightly. "C'mon, p'tite, let's go ¡¦ ge' y'r momma inside." The girl giggled in response, and snuggled closer to him.

*****

"Ohhh¡¦ a moan rose from the bed. Storm smiled gently down at the young woman with the grey eyes.

"How do you feel, child?" she asked gently.

"Once I stop hurting, I'll let you know," the woman replied. "Where in the name of the Bright Lady am I?"

"You are in the infirmary of the Xavier Institute. I am Ororo Munroe."

"Serene SkyDancer." A sudden flash of panic entered her eyes. "Where's Summer?"

"Your daughter is fine, Serene," Storm said soothingly. "Gambit has been playing with her. Would you like to see her?"

Serene hesitated. "I think I'd rather have a shower first. I feel so grimy."

Storm wordlessly helped the young woman to her feet. "I'll get Gambit while you shower." Serene nodded and shut the door to the bathroom.

*****

"Her name is Summer, Remy," Storm said quietly, watching the Cajun thief play with the baby girl.

"Summer? Dat a pretty name, ¡¦o. De femme woke, den."

"Her name is Serene SkyDancer. She's showering at the moment, but she would like to see her daughter. Perhaps you would take Summer up to her?"

"Certainly, mon ami. Gambit ¡¦ Summer are great friends now; mebbe Serene be friends too, non?" With that, he rose and carried the girl up the stairs.

Storm smiled. She wasn't surprised that the Cajun had a soft spot for babies. But then, he did have a heart of gold.

*****

A scream of terror shattered the quiet. Logan was the first to reach the infirmary, and flung the door open, a snarl on his lips. Jubilee was behind him, as she had been practicing moves with him in the Danger Room.

Gambit was staring at the young woman in surprise and shock, his arms around the baby. Serene was as far from him as she could be, shaking in pure terror. Every time he tried to approach her, she shrank from him, her grey eyes wide and unfocused.

"What's going on here?" a new voice demanded. Cyclops had shoved his way into the room, taking in the scene. When it became apparent that Serene wasn't going to answer him, he glared at Gambit.

"Don' be blamin' Gambit, mon ami," Remy protested. "I bring de bebbe up for de femme t' see. Nex' t'ing I know, de femme be screamin'."

Storm had joined the growing crowd by then, and worked her way over to Serene. "What troubles you, child?" she asked quietly.

Serene's answer came in the form of telepathy, a flood of images rushing over the Wind Rider. Remy, leering down at her, his hands tearing away her fragile clothing as he tore at her fragile body. Pain and terror. Pleading. The horror of discovering that she was now carrying Remy's child. Her determination to be stronger than him, and raise the girl, the one she had named Summer. And her new fear; she was in his home.

Storm groaned and stumbled backwards. "Goddess¡¦ she whispered. She glanced at Jean Grey-Summers, whose ashen face confirmed she had seen the images as well. When Remy glanced at the two of them, neither could look him in the face.

"Wha' Gambit do dis time?" he demanded.

Jean took Summer from him. "Go outside, Remy," she said softly. "Serene can't handle seeing you right now." He seemed ready to protest, but Storm shook her head at him. Growling softly, he stalked out the door.

"Do you believe it, ¡¦o?" Jean asked quietly, bouncing the fussing infant.

"I don't know," Storm answered with a distant look. "It's so unlike him, but her memories are quite vivid."

"Indeed¡¦ Jean sighed, and approached the shaking woman. "Serene¡¦ am Jean Grey-Summers."

Serene didn't answer, but instead flicked her gaze to her daughter. "Summer."

Jean handed her the baby, and took a step back. "Remy is her father?"

A gasp rose from the rest of the group. Storm took a step forward to gaze down at the young woman. When Serene nodded, a low growl issued from Logan.

"No way," Logan contradicted. "The kid don't have the Cajun's scent on her. He ain't the daddy."

Serene turned her furious gaze on him. (It's always so easy to say that about your friend. Who wants to believe the truth?)

"He's not the daddy. The kid don't have the Cajun's paternal scent."

Her only response was to flood his mind with the images she'd projected to Storm. Unintentionally, however, those same images flooded the minds of everyone else. Including an irritated Cajun.

*****

Remy burst into the room, stopping at the sight of his friends on the floor, moaning and clutching their heads. When he turned his flashing red eyes onto Serene, she shrank away from him, holding Summer against her. "Dat was no' Remy!" he shouted at her.

"It was your evil twin?" she shot back sarcastically. "Oh wait, I got it. You're a schizophrenic!"

"Enough!" Charles Xavier commanded as he slowly made his way into the room, his face grey and haggard looking.

"Dat no' Remy, Professor," Gambit repeated. "You can look in Remy's head, Remy no' a liar."

Xavier and Jean both took the opportunity to take Remy up on his offer. A moment later, they broke the link to his mind.

"He's telling the truth," Xavier said softly.

"And so is she," Jean answered.

"Wonderful," Jubilee said sarcastically. "So the Cajun's the father when he's not. Or is he not the father when he is?"

"Remy no' de daddy o' Summer." Gambit glowered at Serene.

"Damned right you're not. All you did was contribute genetic material. Summer is my daughter."

"I t'ink I remember if I had t' ever force a woman," he snapped, his anger growing.

"If you're telling the truth, then why couldn't someone have scrambled your brains?"

"Why no' t' y'?"

(Who in the name of the Maiden would want to try and scramble my brains? I have a high psi rating, and I know how to defend myself.) She shouted telepathically at him, her mental voice overwhelming.

"Enough!" Xavier demanded. "I want to see the both of you in my study in ten minutes. And Beast will run genetic tests on Summer; I want a confirmation as to whether the child is the daughter of Serene and Gambit, or not."

Remy nodded and stalked out the door. Beast took the crying child from her mother and wandered down to his lab. Most of the others left in a daze, leaving Storm, Wolverine, and Jubilee.

"Jubilee, please go to my room and get something for Serene to wear," Storm said quietly. The young woman shrugged and disappeared. "Serene¡¦hat if Beast's tests determine that Gambit is, in fact, not the father?"

"I don't know," came the small reply. "Let Xavier muck around in my head, I suppose."

Logan sighed and crouched next to the woman. "Chuck'll take care of ya, darlin'. He'll be gentle ¡¦out it."

"It doesn't matter. If it turns out that Gambit isn't the father, then I'll let Xavier muck around in my head. And I'll apologise to Gambit. Then I'll leave." Serene closed her eyes, and sighed.

"There is no need to leave, child," Storm said quietly. "Your telepathy is powerful, and quite overwhelming. You can stay and learn how to moderate it."

"If she did that, she'd need a codename," Logan interjected. "Mindblower?"

It had been meant as a way to lighten the mood, but Serene looked even more upset. "I already have one¡¦'ve been called the Priestess."

Before Storm could inquire, Jubilee returned with a long silver caftan and silver sandals. Logan left the room while the Storm and Jubilee helped Serene get dressed and look presentable. "Silver's your colour," Jubilee said admiringly.

"Grey." The answer was almost automatic.

Storm finally stepped back. "Let us take you to see the Professor, child."

*****

Serene studiously avoided looking at the Cajun seated next to her. Nor did she look at the stern man behind the desk. She focused her attention on her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. It didn't help that Charles Xavier was studying her intently. It didn't help that Remy LeBeau gave off sex appeal in tidal waves, and was glaring at her. She was beyond uncomfortable.

Remy was so angry, he couldn't look anywhere but at Serene. He had never in his life been accused of rape. Never. And now, this slip of a girl had not only accused him of it, but had also put those images in his friends' minds!

Xavier sighed inwardly. Remy had a dark past, certainly, but he had never been anything but courteous around women. And Serene apparently had some secrets of her own. Secrets that she would defend as fiercely as she had defended herself when Remy had argued against her accusations. "Shall we begin?" he finally asked.

The two of them finally managed to look at him, Remy with a barely controlled nod, Serene with a look of caution. "I'm simply going to delve into your minds, see if I can sense another presence who may have tampered with memories. I will not look at what you do not want me to see, and I will not be invasive."

"This whole idea is invasive," Serene muttered.

"I will begin with Gambit," Xavier continued, ignoring her comment. When the Cajun nodded, Xavier reached out and touched his mind.

There was nothing out of place, nothing unexpected. Except his feelings for Serene SkyDancer. She was beautiful, certainly, but she didn't have any of Rogue's Southern charm and beauty. Instead, there was a quiet pride that surrounded the Priestess, a pride that had touched the Cajun. And her innocence. Except she had then accused him of that horrid crime, and his admiration for her had changed to fury. But underneath it all, he still found her intriguing.

"I'm afraid I could sense nothing in Gambit's mind out of place," Xavier finally said. "If I may, Serene?"

She straightened visibly, her face pale. She started to say something, but instead clamped her mouth shut and nodded tersely.

Secrets. Dark secrets. Xavier found that her mind was organised, and instead of finding a foggy mist, he found himself in a long corridor. A corridor with a single door at the end. A voice beckoned him to the door, a voice that promised the answers. But it wasn't Serene's voice; it was a male voice. A soothing male voice with a hint of malevolence. And as Xavier glided towards the door, he found Remy LeBeau in his path. But he knew that Remy wasn't the one he sought. He saw Serene SkyDancer pleading with him to turn back, to respect her secrets, dressed in skintight cotton trousers, ankle high leather boots, and a cotton sweater that dipped in the back to her waist, all pure white. He saw a white-blonde man, dressed almost identically to Serene, though he wore his clothes comfortably loose, a long sleeved turtleneck instead of a sweater, and he wore pure black. Then he saw the door. And he knew that if he opened the door, he'd find the true identity of Serene's attacker. He heard the white-blonde man urge him to open the door, even as he heard Serene plead with him to leave it alone. Then the door opened, and Xavier found himself face to face with Victor Creed.

*****

A cry of agony sounded from the study, a sound that sent all of the X-Men running. That sound was abruptly cut off, only to be replaced by a heartbreaking scream. Then the sound of shattering glass, and a string of French curses.

"What happened?" Scott Summers demanded as he burst into the room. Professor Xavier was slumped in his hoverchair, breathing deeply, with Gambit leaning over him in concern. The large picture window was shattered, and Serene was gone.

"Serene discovered the identity of Summer's father," Xavier said hoarsely. "And a few other secrets she wanted forgotten."

"Who's the daddy of that kid?" Logan demanded, his eyes narrowed.

Xavier hesitated. "Sabretooth."

Remy and Logan began cursing, the latter heading towards the window. "And she knows this?"

"Yes."

"I thought the kid smelled familiar." He watched as the distant figure of Serene fled into the trees. "I'm goin' after her."

*****

Serene sank to the ground, struggling to control her tears. When Xavier had opened that door in her mind, she had remembered everything. "Damn you, Jaden," she whispered.

"Who's Jaden?"

She didn't seem surprised to see Wolverine emerge from the trees. "He was the Priest. But he ruined the balance that he and I had to keep, and I had to destroy him." Tears began to stream down her delicate features. "He didn't understand that just as life needs death, death needs life. He thought he didn't need me; I knew I needed him. So I absorbed his essence into me. I am the only one left now, and he still plays games."

"And Jaden is the one who made you think it was LeBeau?"

"Yes and no. I didn't know that he had promised Sabretooth me. And when Sabretooth had me, and I escaped, Jaden ignored it until he realised I'd reached these grounds. Then he changed my memories slightly; whichever male I saw first when I woke, I would remember him instead of Victor Creed. Remy LeBeau just happened to be the first man I saw. It could have been anyone else." She took a deep breath. "I wish I could expunge myself of Jaden Blacktouch. Except I can't until there's another Priest." She trailed off for a long time. "I need to go apologise to Gambit."

"He understands, darlin'. You're not the only one with a past."

"That doesn't excuse my hysterics."

Logan settled next to her, and comfortably pulled her into his arms. She stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. "Tell me about yourself first."

Serene shrugged. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything."

She was quiet. "I don't remember my parents very well. I remember I hated my stepfather and loved my mother. I never knew my father. I had a twin brother and a younger brother. Then I discovered my talents and I answered a strange calling. That was when I became the Priestess. I worked in tandem with the Priest for many months, until he became corrupt. I had to destroy him, but I wasn't ready for his corruption. I used to wear white, and Jaden would wear black. Except I can't wear either colour now; I wear grey. After I destroyed him, I joined with Sabretooth and his companions; I was reveling in my newfound powers. But I defeated Jaden again, and when Sabretooth realised that they were going to lose me, he attacked me."

"And you escaped."

"Yes. I gave birth to Summer four months ago, and I've tried to stay one step ahead of him." She took a deep breath. "I can't stay here, Logan. I have to keep moving; I don't want Sabretooth to corrupt my daughter."

"You can stay here, Serene. We'll protect you, and we'll protect Summer." He was quiet for a moment. "And even if the Cajun don't like you anymore, he adores Summer."

Serene twisted around to look at the burly man. "Why should any of you go to that trouble? I falsely accused one of your friends of a crime he didn't commit."

"Because you didn't know what Jaden did, and we can't fault you for that."

She was quiet. Then she reached out and plucked an orchid that hadn't been there before, handing it to him. "You think my only talent is telepathy. It's not. I'm the Priestess of the Earth Mother, and of Life. Jaden was the Priest of the Earth Mother, and of Death." She offered him a wry smile. "Both of us are connected to the elements of the Earth. I can manipulate the air, or the water, or the earth, or the fire."

Logan smiled back at her. "You can't scare me, darlin'." He stood and helped her to her feet. "Go find LeBeau, Serene. He should be cooled off enough." When she started to turn away, he caught her arm. "One other thing. Just be straightforward and frank with him. He'll appreciate it more." He watched her wander off into the darkness, and sighed to himself.

*****

Serene had no trouble finding the Cajun thief. She simply allowed the earth to guide her to the boathouse, and watched him sit on the dock, smoking in silence.

"What y' wan' with dis ol' thief, chere?" he asked caustically. "Come t' accuse Gambit o' murdering y'r husband?"

"I've come to apologise." When he turned to look at her from his red eyes, she took a deep breath and plunged ahead. "I had no right to accuse you of raping me in public. I should have simply told the Professor in private, and let him sort it out. Instead, I reacted to the terror I felt when Creed¡¦nd when Jaden had rearranged my memories." He studied her for a moment, still smoking in silence, and she lowered her eyes. "Logan has asked me to stay, but I don't think I can. I¡¦t's best if I leave." He still didn't answer, and she gave him a slight bow before disappearing into the darkness.

*****

She crept through the mansion silently, her sleeping daughter in her arms, a duffel bag on her back. As she reached for the handle to the front door, a hand shot out and caught hers. She gasped in surprise, and took a step back, looking up into Remy's demonic eyes.

"Do you ¡¦ree dat you owe dis Cajun a debt f'r y'r claims?" he asked bluntly, his voice low.

Serene hesitated, then nodded once. "Yes, I do."

"Den y' pay de debt, chere. Dere be no running." He took Summer from her gently. "Dis be de deal, chere. Y' stay here with de p'tite, and y' learn t' control y'r powers. All of dem."

Serene was silent, then glanced over his shoulder. Behind Remy stood the rest of the X-Men, in various states of dress. Logan and Jubilee had moved from the group, and now Jubilee reached out and took her duffel bag. Logan held a hand out to Serene, giving her an encouraging smile.

(Are you sure, Gambit?) Serene reached out with her mind. At his nod, she slowly took Logan's hand.

"We'll protect ya, darlin'," Logan said softly. "Me an' Jubilee." He glanced at Remy thoughtfully, who nodded once more. "An' Gumbo there."

Serene glanced at Remy, who held out his hand as well. She understood what he was asking. To accept the debt she owed him, and to let him help her. And to be her friend. He knew that she was uncertain, but he was still asking. So she took his hand.

*****

Professor Xavier had chosen to forego the Danger Room; Serene had said that her powers were practically useless in a room she didn't want to destroy. So he had had the team set up in the back yard. He himself was going to mentally monitor the Priestess; Hank McCoy was going to watch the whole thing on the surveillance cameras.

The team was hidden among the trees on the eastern edge of the property. Serene was the only one visible, her thick dark hair tied back in a braid that fell to her waist. Hank's eyes widened as he realised what Serene was wearing. Or rather, what Serene wasn't wearing.

She wore skintight trousers, and ankle high boots, both made of a soft leather. Her tight cotton top was wide necked, and cut short enough to show her flat toned midriff. The short sleeves were also tight around her arms. And the entire outfit was grey.

The woman was a looker. A definite looker. Hank tried to keep his objectivity, but he couldn't help himself. She had that exotic Asian look that Jubilee had; she had a body that was lithe and obviously strong; she had a dancer's grace.

And she was going to be tangling with a lot of males.

Beast suddenly laughed. Smart girl. She was using her weapons at her disposal; she was counting on the display of her body to help her.

She suddenly jerked around, raising her hand and closing it in a fist. Rogue stopped her headlong flight, suspended in the air. And the Southern belle looked shocked.

The ground at Serene's feet exploded as Cyclops got one shot off at her. She cartwheeled away, then raised her hand towards him. A single sheet of fire sped towards him, hitting him and pinning him to the tree's trunk. Every time he tried to fire a shot through the wall of fire, it was simply absorbed.

Jean fell out of the tree she was crouching in, holding her head in pain and confusion. But Beast noticed that Jean didn't hit hard - it was as though she floated down. Odd.

*****

Serene extended her senses, letting the earth guide her to the others. She could hear Cyclops cursing as he fought the band of fire that bound him to the tree; she knew it wasn't pain, it was frustration. She'd made sure the fire wouldn't burn him. Just as she'd made sure that the air caught Jean as the telepath fell. And that the air didn't suffocate Rogue.

It had been easy, really, to feel the air stirring as Rogue came up behind her. She'd simply encased the Southern woman in a bubble of air. But that bubble was unable to move.

She'd let Cyclops get the better of her; but that was a temporary state as she had her fire pin him. Well, maybe she'd wanted to wound his pride. But, Goddess, he was a stiff one! She hated people who had no personalities.

Jean had been probing at her mind, trying to find a weakness. But Serene was no fool. She'd learned well, and instead, she turned the tide. She convinced the other woman that she didn't know telepathy, that Jean wasn't a telepath, and had never been. Jean's mind had believed it, and had stopped being her instrument.

Storm tried to attack her with a lightning bolt. But while Storm was the Mistress of the Weather, Serene was still the Priestess of the Earth Mother. Storm was no match for Serene. She was also encased in an unmoving bubble of air.

Jubilee gave her position away too soon, and she found herself pinned next to Cyclops, grumbling. Wolverine would kill her when this session was over. But even the Chinese woman didn't know that the fire had told the Priestess that the ¡¦ire-child' was approaching.

That left two. Gambit and Wolverine. She extended her senses, and her elemental senses, carefully making her way through the trees. The air rustled above her, the trees shook, and she instantly released a blast of water upwards.

Too late. Gambit had tackled her to the ground, and pinned her hands on either side of her head. Serene struggled, but her memories flooded her. She knew that Jaden had altered them, she knew that Sabretooth was the guilty party. But she still attacked out of sheer passion.

Gambit was thrown backwards by the force of the wind that came out of nowhere, but he flipped neatly, landing in a crouch. Serene threw fireballs at the Cajun with more strength than accuracy, trying to erase those altered memories from her mind. He managed to get one card in, a card that exploded at her feet, sending her flying backwards.

Serene flipped easily, her body remembering the gymnastics she'd taken as a child and teen, and the martial arts she'd mastered as an adult. She timed herself just right, and planted her feet on a tree, springing towards the Cajun with unerring accuracy.

*****

Hank winced. Serene had just tackled Gambit and was obviously trying to exorcise her demons. She had given up on using her powers; she was physically attacking the bigger man. It would turn ugly real soon.

*****

Gambit was furious. She was taking her anger out on him, and she suddenly seemed oblivious to her surroundings. He charged a card, and shoved it into her face, where it exploded.

Serene screamed and jerked away from him. The charge had been harmless, but the light had hurt her eyes intensely. She tumbled to the ground, and found herself pinned again.

"Firs' lesson, chere," Gambit said, leaning close to her, his voice harsh. "Never let y'r emotions get in de way o' y'r fight."

"Second lesson, Cajun," she growled. "Never underestimate your opponent." A geyser of water shot the two of them into the air.

Gambit let go of her in surprise; the water vanished abruptly, leaving the two of them in midair. Well, leaving the Priestess in midair. She could float, apparently. But he couldn't.

He plummeted to the ground at bone breaking speeds. And he knew with a deadly certainty that she would let him fall.

Serene abruptly came back to reality, and cried out in horror when she realised that Gambit would die. Because of her. "Noooooooooo!!!!!!" she screamed, automatically summoning her mastery of the earth's elements.

Inches from the ground, a gust of wind caught the Cajun thief, bringing him back up to Serene's side. A gush of water rose to cushion him, allowing him to remain in the air safely.

Gambit was shaking, unable to contain his fright. Serene air-dashed to his side, dropping to her knees next to him as she slowly caused the water to drop back to the earth. "Are you alright?" she asked breathlessly, terror in her eyes.

He waited until they were both back on solid ground before answering. He was so angry, he pushed her to the ground, when he really wanted to punch her. But he'd never hit a woman before, and he didn't plan to start now. "Non, Gambit no' alright!" he shouted at her. "Gambit never been so close to death in a trainin' session in his life, and I wasn' looking f'rward to i' now!"

She closed her eyes, accepting his anger silently. "Dere be no e'cuse f'r carelessness in trainin' sessions, ¡¦ dere be no reason y' try t' kill me!" he continued, suddenly needing to vent at her.

Serene twisted away from him and sat up, pressing her hands to her face. She continued to remain silent, however, though she did drop her restraints against the others. It was a clear signal she was through with the session.

Wolverine sidled up next to the distressed woman, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders gently. "Ease up, Gumbo," he said gruffly. "This was a test of her abilities, remember? And now we know that she can kill people, and she can save their hides. You're not dead, so relax."

Before Gambit could offer a scathing reply, Serene twisted away from Wolverine, jumped up, and dashed off. No one thought to follow.

*****

"She's deadly," Xavier said when the team reassembled in the War Room. "She has incredible powers, powers that she cannot control half of the time. It was sheer luck that she caught you, Gambit." He sighed. "It appears that this Jaden Blacktouch is vying with her for control. She needs to dominate him, and soon."

"So she's not deadly. She's simply unable to control her powers over the elements when her feelings get in the way." Storm spoke quietly. "I do not deny that she could have killed Gambit today, but she didn't. We mustn't forget that." She leveled a gaze at the sulky Cajun. "Do you still want her here, Gambit?"

Gambit thought about his friend's question. He certainly couldn't blame her for Jaden's meddling in her mind, and she had caught him. But it was apparent that it would take a bit of work on his part to keep himself safe around her. A challenge. He liked challenges. "Oui, Stormy." With that, he rose and walked out, looking for her.

No one called him back.

*****

He found her in the small clearing that she'd initially hidden in when she and Summer had first arrived. But what he saw was astounding.

She was sitting on the ground, her knees to her chest, crying as though she would never stop. Vines of flowers surrounded her, and were climbing over her, while a gentle breeze filled the clearing. Small sprays of water came from the ground, creating a mist like effect, while a circle of fire encircled her protectively.

Gambit walked closer, and found that fire had risen to tower over him. The elements were protecting her from him, the beast in their midst. Instead of testing the elements, however, he simply held his hands away from his body. "Chere?"

Minutes later, the fire parted to allow him access. He walked through it, amused at the way it closed behind him, and came closer. The vines slithered off Priestess, allowing him to see her. "What?" she asked, her voice muffled.

"Y' alrigh'?"

"No."

He paused. Waited. Finally, "Remy here t' listen, chere."

Serene shrugged, looking up at him. Her face was streaked with tears, her grey eyes turbulent. "What's there to listen to? I lost control and you almost got killed." Tears welled up in her eyes, and she brushed them away impatiently. "I'm the Priestess of Life, not of Death. It was never my job to kill anyone. I was the Healer.

"But it seems that both jobs are mine now. I'm Serene, and I'm Jaden. I'm the Priestess of Life and Death." She gave him a grim smile. "And I almost killed you, and I caught you. Hell of a thing to know, isn't it?"

Gambit crouched next to her. "Y' can' control Jaden?"

"No more than you can kill Logan by stabbing him with plastic knives."

He had to laugh at that mental picture. "Den y' no' wan' t' kill Gambit?"

"Yes and no." Serene sighed and looked at the ground. "I know here that you're not responsible," she tapped her temple, "but here," then she touched her heart, "I still believe it's you. I know it was Creed's doing, and I know that you never even saw me until two weeks ago, but that made no difference today.

"I didn't want to kill you, Gambit. I wanted to rid myself of those memories that Jaden altered. That's all." She brushed away the tears again. "Except I can't do that either. As long as Jaden lurks there, I can't."

So she'd frightened him badly. Big deal. She'd frightened herself even more, and now she was alone in her guilt. Gambit opened his arms enough to invite, but not enough to demand. "Come here, chere," he said quietly.

Serene looked at him cautiously, then threw herself at him, accepting his invitation. And as she clung to him, she cried. She cried for herself, and all that she'd been through. She cried for her daughter. She cried for her guilt. And she cried for her newfound friend.

And the earth cried with her.