Welcome to Cheechi's Place

By: Lisa Anne Hetu

Disclaimer: The X-Men belong to Marvel Comics, and I'm using them without permission. The character called Phoenix (Elizabeth Xavier), who later becomes Silent Rose, belongs to me.

It was a hot summer day at Xavier's school for mutants. It had been five months since Elizabeth Xavier had returned home to her grandmother. Although she was not forgotten, memories of her last visit were no longer painful to her most beloved friends, the X-Men. Lizzie's father Professor Charles Xavier missed her the most and often mentioned his daughter's name. Charles was the owner of the school and mentor to the X-Men.

Today, the X-Men were preparing for an all-day picnic, and fun on the beach. Rogue and Storm were setting up the picnic, while Wolverine, Gambit, and Cyclops took out lawn chairs. Beast and Jubilee were helping the professor with other matters in the school building.

As the day passed the activities became less and less energetic. All of a sudden, Apocalypse's dark riders, accompanied by Genesis, invaded the mansion. Jubilee, Beast and the professor were still inside and were unaware of the battle outside. Wolverine, Cyclops, Gambit, Storm, and Rogue were jumped by surprise but fought back on reflex. Holocaust and Genesis were beating heavily on Gambit and he couldn't hold them off. Rogue saw them and threw Gambit's attackers across the property. The dark riders decided to retreat because they weren't succeeding. Rogue flew over to Gambit but it was too late. The unconscious Gambit lay sprawled in the grass. The others came over and were terrified at the sight.

Elizabeth was with her grandmother in Boston. She was in the middle of packing her bags to leave the next morning and go back to her father's mansion, when the phone rang. Lizzie picked up the phone "Hello?" It was Beast. "Hank!" said Phoenix surprised.

"Elizabeth, you must come home right away, Gambit has had an unfortunate accident and we thought it best that you be here to assist us." said the Beast in a voice different from his usually cheerful voice.

Phoenix was worried and afraid. "Gambit? What accident? What happened Hank?" Phoenix demanded.

Beast swallowed hard. "He had an unfortunate accident," he said, "I'll explain when you arrive."

Phoenix gasped "Okay, hold on" she said calmly, " I'm on my way Hank." and she hung up the phone.

"Gramma, something happened, I have to go now, I don't know if I'll be back. I love you gramma." Lizzie informed her grandmother.

"That's nice dear" said Lizzie's grandmother, "You have a good time now"

"Geez, I'm glad Peggy agreed to stay with her, she could never keep this place running by herself!" thought Phoenix; then she picked up her bag and flew into the sky.

Phoenix flew faster and faster. She got more worried about Remy as she got closer and closer to New York and Xavier's school. Lizzie's mind was totally focused on Gambit and not on the unbearable heat plaguing the sky.

Since Beast had phoned Phoenix, Gambit's condition had gotten worse. At first he was peacefully unconscious but now he was tossing and turning and talking in his sleep. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Come home chere!" he called.

Rogue sat by him every second upset that she hadn't reached him on time. "Ah'm sorry Remy" she kept saying quietly.

No other X-Men dared go near her accept to take care of Gambit. Rogue was already upset she didn't need stress from the others.

Phoenix landed in front of Xavier's school and burst through the front door where Beast met her. "Oh Hank, what happened?" she said dropping her suitcase to the floor.

"The dark riders attacked us; Gambit was severely injured." answered Beast, "I'll take you to him" he continued.

Phoenix followed Beast to Gambit's room. "Remy!" she said when she saw him.

She ran to his side and held his hand. Then Phoenix heard Gambit say "Elizabeth! Come back! Come home chere!"

Rogue looked up at Phoenix with a tear soaked face. "He's been calling ya in his sleep for over an hour." she told Phoenix.

Lizzie put her hand on Gambit's cheek and was shocked. "Scott, he's burning up!" she cried.

Right away Jubilee ran to get a pot of cold water and a cloth. She handed the pot and cloth to Phoenix. "Thank you so much" Phoenix said to Jubilee.

The X-Men watched Phoenix and Rogue devoting their every minute to Gambit's health. The X-Men found it a sad and touching scene. It was like two gardian angels watching over Gambit. It got late and Rogue fell asleep in her chair. Beast brought two blankets in case Phoenix fell asleep later. "You should rest" he told Lizzie.

Lizzie dipped the cloth in the cold water and continued wiping Gambit's face and neck. "I'll be okay" she said.

Hank sighed and left Phoenix alone with Rogue and Gambit.

Phoenix was getting very tired but still she struggled to keep her eyes open. Lizzie's eyes drooped and she felt weak. Lizzie put the cloth in the pot of water and rubbed her hand over Gambit's cheek, then she fell asleep. Beast came back to check on Lizzie before going to bed. When he saw her asleep with her head over her crossed hands, slouched over Gambit's bed, he picked up the blanket and spread it over her back; then he retired for the night.

The next morning Wolverine went to see Gambit. He walked into the room and found Phoenix and Rogue on either side of Gambit's bed. Gambit had settled down again, as if he knew Phoenix was home. " Does anyone want breakfast?" he asked quietly.

"No thank you" said Phoenix.

Rogue shook her head. "Okay ... well if you two want anything just ask" he said and he left the room.

Then Cyclops and Beast came in. "How is he?" asked Cyclops.

"He's quiet" Phoenix answered simply.

Beast stood behind Phoenix and put both hands on her shoulders. "He'll be okay," said Beast "he should wake up soon, I hope." he finished.

Lizzie and Rogue watched over Gambit every second of the day. Every time Gambit would move or make a noise Rogue and Lizzie would look up and say "Remy?" then they'd look at each other and then look down. But this time the situation was different. Gambit groaned and lifted his hand to his face. "Remy?" said Rogue and Phoenix in unison.

"What's go'in on?" Gambit asked rubbing his eyes.

Rogue began to cry with joy "Remy, ah'm so glad your back!" she cried.

"Gambit di'nt go nowhere" he said looking at Rogue.

Just then the rest of the X-Men came in. "Gambit! Your alive!" shrieked Jubilee.

Gambit looked at her confused. "O'corse I'm alive mon petit, you t'ink a little fall gonna kill Gambit." he said smiling.

Gambit was so busy trying to figure out why everyone had been so worried about him that he didn't even notice Phoenix. Beast crossed his arms and motioned with his head for Gambit to look beside him. Gambit turned to see Phoenix crying silently. Gambit was surprised to see her and he said "Elizabeth! You came home! Don' cry chere."

Gambit nearly jumped out of bed to hug her. "I missed you a whole bunch chere" he said squeezing her tighter.

"Remy, when you were unconscious you kept on calling my name, calling for me to return home." Lizzie said to Gambit not paying attention to the people around her. "Why me?" You really scared me!"

Gambit put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I love you chere." he said.

Lizzie was shocked at his words and she didn't know if he was telling the truth or just not thinking straight because of his accident. Phoenix looked at Gambit with an awkward smile, for deep down inside she knew she loved him too. Rogue, however, was heartbroken, she loved Gambit more than anything in the world, but now it seemed that Gambit had just stopped loving her. "I love you too Remy." said Phoenix, not sure of what else to say.

Cyclops didn't want to hear what Phoenix just said; he thought Phoenix loved him. He covered his ears to block out her words. He closed his eyes to block out the sight of them together. "This can't be happening." he repeated over and over in his head.

Rogue grew tears in her eyes, but she tried to hold them in. Gambit hugged Phoenix then kissed her. Cyclops and Rogue couldn't stand it any longer. Rogue got up and flew out the window. She flew away to get away from Gambit and cry alone. Cyclops turned and ran down the hall to his room and slammed his door. He also wanted to be alone but he had his own ways of doing that. Gambit saw Rogue leave and he got up and ran to the window "Chere?" he called, but it was to late.

Phoenix also saw Cyclops leave. "Scott wait, I... " she tried to get up but tripped and landed on the floor. "I love you Scott." she said lowering her head and not getting up.

Wolverine looked discustedly at Phoenix , then went after Cyclops. Storm knew that Rogue couldn't be helped when she was in these moods but she knew Iceman was the only one who could get close enough to her to try and calm her down. So she called Iceman and told him to try to find Rogue. Gambit lowered his head and pounded the window sill with his fist. Beast told Jubilee to find the professor and she immediately left. Then Beast crouched down beside Phoenix and she leaned into his arms as he comforted her. Storm tried her best to comfort Gambit but he wasn't in the mood for conversation.

Iceman searched everywhere until he found Rogue. "Rogue, I heard what happened, I..."

Rogue turned around "Leave me alone Bobby!" she yelled.

Iceman didn't move "I can't do that; I know Gambit still loves you, but he just had an accident and he might not be thinking right ... you have to consider that." Bobby said trying to make Rogue feel better, and failing.

"He kissed her Bobby! What other proof do ya need! Gambit don't love me no more, he fell for her the moment she walked through our front door!" Rogue shrieked loosing her temper.

"Don't say that, its not true!" scolded Iceman.

Rogue didn't seem to be feeling much better, so Iceman decided that now wasn't a good time to talk to Rogue, she was too upset. So he backed away from her for a while and waited for Rogue to calm down.

Meanwhile, Wolverine was knocking on Cyclops' door. "Go away" Scott said from inside his quarters.

Wolverine continued knocking and said "Come on Cyke, let me in", but Cyclops didn't move.

Wolverine growled quietly under his breath and rolled his eyes, then he let out his claws and, as gently as possible (which isn't very gentle), slashed through the door. "I think I broke yer door," Wolverine said trying to make a joke, than he looked at Cyclops and said "Cheer up Cyke, don't start being depressed again. I wouldn't get upset over that one anyway, I don't trust her, I think she's a waste o'your breath; you don't need her."

Cyclops turned to Wolverine and said "I love her Logan, of course I need her, its' like loosing Jean all over again!"

Wolverine shook his head "Jean..." he said sadly.

Now Storm was finally getting through to Gambit. "It will be all right Gambit, I know Rogue will forgive you, she must." said Storm.

"I didn't mean to hurt her Stormy, Gambit love her too much" Gambit said feeling sorry for himself, then he sighed and said "Gambit made a big mistake, no?"

Phoenix knew she had hurt Cyclops and because she didn't know him to well she was afraid he wouldn't forgive her. "Will he ever forgive me Hank?" she asked sobbing.

"Of course he will, Cyclops is a good man, he will understand." answered Beast.

"I shouldn't have done that, I never wanted to hurt Scott, I love him!" Phoenix said than she covered her face and began to cry again.

"I knew your intentions weren't to hurt Cyclops or anyone else, but everyone will pull through very soon." Beast said comforting Phoenix once more.

At that moment Cyclops walked in, with Wolverine behind him. Storm saw them come in "By the goddess our dilemma has passed quicker then I had imagined." she exclaimed.

Phoenix jumped up and ran into Cyclops' arms. "Do you forgive me Scott?" she asked.

Cyclops nodded "Of course I do, I love you Elizabeth." he said.

"Oh I hoped you would, I sorry Scott." Phoenix said happily.

Beast wiped a single tear from his eye and sighed "Happy endings always make me cry." he said and smiled.

Back with Rogue, Bobby was still trying to convince Rogue that Gambit still loved her. "Ah fooled m'ahself Bobby, think'in Remy loved me, I shoulda let the swamp rat die." Rogue said.

Iceman didn't know what to do, he couldn't help Rogue when this time, he had failed his friend for the first time. Just then Storm came flying by carrying Gambit with her. Iceman looked up into the sky and mouthed the words "Thank you" and told Rogue to look beside her. Rogue looked up and saw Gambit. "I love you chere, please forgive me." he said as Storm flew him close to Rogue.

"Remy! ... Ya dirty swamp rat, don't you ever do that again!" said Rogue flying to Gambit.

Iceman made an ice-ramp for Gambit to stand on. Storm tapped her communicator. "Mission accomplished Beast" she said proudly; then they flew home.

Later, everything was back to normal. The X-Men were laughing and having a good time. Phoenix and Gambit finally had time to play that game of B-ball they had been meaning to play since the first time Phoenix had come; Rogue, Storm and Jubilee did what they could with the rest of their picnic; Wolverine, Iceman, and Cyclops went back and forth moving Lizzie's stuff from her old room to the pool house, which was where Cyclops was currently living; and Professor X and Beast were in the lab doing lab stuff.

Now, life would go on as usual. The X-Men could relax now that their problem was over, even though each and every one of them knew that new problems would pop up sometime soon. At least for the time being everything was normal, and without stress. The X-Men could spend their time together, learning new things about each one of their friends. Cyclops and Phoenix grew closer then ever; Rogue and Gambit slowly grew back together; Phoenix became better friends with everyone, especially Rogue and Wolverine; and Iceman got to know Gambit better. For now the world was safe, and the X-Men were safe until another problem arose and the X-Men triumphed over evil yet another time.

THE END