Part 3

“What do kids eat for breakfast, anyway?” Betsy asked.

Gambit shrugged. “Gambit never had a kid, chere.”

“Oh, you’re a big help,” she muttered. “It’s not like I’ve had kids, either. Pass me that box of Sugar Bombs.”

Gambit handed over the brightly-colored cereal box. “They eat this stuff?” he asked in disgust.

“They do now,” Betsy replied, dumping the contents into several small bowls. “Tell me we have milk.”

“Sure do, chere.” He tossed her the carton. “Y’know, for someone who’s never had kids, Gambit t’ink you’d make a good mother.”

“We have got to work on your complimenting skills,” Betsy sighed as she poured the milk.

A few moments later, a little face peeked into the kitchen. “We’re hungry,” Jubilee announced. The rest of Generation X crowded around her, voicing their agreement.

Betsy pointed at the table. “Eat.”

Generation X poured into the room and surrounded the table. The next few minutes were filled with crunching, burps, slurping, and the occasional “She’s got more than I do!” Then the kids finished their breakfast and returned to the nursery. Only Monet and Nicole, who had some manners, were left. They quietly finished their cereal without a word.

As they left the room, Gambit scratched his head. “Dat was weird. What now?”

“Since I made breakfast,” Betsy said, “you get to clean up while I watch the kids. By the time you’re done, you’ll need to start lunch. Oh, and have fun!”

Gambit watched her run out of the room. He sighed. “Gambit don’t like dis at all.”

Ev peeked out of his filthy apartment. The cops were on to him, of that there could be no doubt. They’d find him soon, defenseless, and with the money he’d stolen. There was only one way out.

“Open up in there!” a commanding voice shouted.

Ev grabbed the sack of money and leaped out of his back window. Before he could get up, they had him surrounded.

“Don’t move!” the superior ordered, glaring at him. “You have the right to remain silent! Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law! If you can not afford an attorney, one will be assigned to you!”

Ev sighed. “Monet, do you have to do that every time? Can’t you just hit me with a club and drag me off to jail?”

Monet sighed. “That’s police brutality, and against the law. I have to read you your rights.”

Ev sighed again. “But I don’t have rights. I’m a bad guy!”

“Yes, you do,” Nicole argued. “You just don’t know that you have them. That’s why we’re required to tell you when we haul your butt downtown.”

“This happens every time we play ‘Cops & Robbers.’ I’m sick of it.” Ev tossed the sack of money down and walked away.

Claudette dropped her fake gun and followed.

“Looks like we lost the third member of the St. Croix Squad,” Nicole said. “Now what?”

Monet grinned. “Let’s follow them.”

Nicole smiled at her big sister. “I love the way you think.”

Paige wandered into the big room. “Jono, are ya in here?” She walked to the center of the room, where a pedestal stood. She was just reaching for it when a hand snatched her away.

“Now what you doin’ in here, petite?” Gambit asked, looking at the girl in his arms. “You know the professor’s room is off limits.”

“Ah was lookin’ for Jono,” Paige answered shyly.

Gambit noticed that her cheeks had grown bright red. “You sick, petite?” he asked, placing a hand on her forehead.

Paige only giggled as he carried her back to the nursery.

“You gonna stay here this time?” Gambit asked.

Paige nodded as he set her down. “Unca Gambit, how old are ya?”

“Old enough, petite,” he replied.

This seemed to satisfy the girl. “Okay. Can Ah have a hug?”

Gambit nodded, kneeled down, and embraced the child in his arms. “Anything else?”

Before he could let go, Paige drew his head down and clumsily pressed her lips to his. Then she turned bright red, giggled, and ran out of the room.

Gambit blinked in surprise moments after she had gone. “Mon dieu.”

The next morning, Betsy was again faced with the problem of breakfast. After discussing it with Gambit, they decided on something no child was likely to turn down: strawberry ice cream.

“I still don’t feel right about this,” she admitted when the kids entered the kitchen.

“Chere, Gambit don’t t’ink it gets any righter. Besides, look at their little faces.”

Though they were busy eating, most of the children had time to smile at Betsy with pink lips.

“Well, at least they’re happy,” she said. “It’s a good thing none of their parents are here.”

“Can we have seconds?” Jubilee suddenly asked, holding up her empty bowl.

“Not in this life, Lee,” Betsy replied.

Jubilee scowled and went back to the table. After a few minutes of discussion, the kids sent out their secret weapon: Paige.

She wandered over and tugged on Gambit’s coat. “Unca Gambit, can we have more?” she asked, staring up at him with big blue eyes.

“Sure, petite,” he said, handing her the whole box.

“Gambit!” Betsy cried in surprise.

“Thanks, Unca Gambit. Love ya!” Paige shouted, quickly running back to the table. The box was empty in a matter of seconds.

“I’m suddenly glad that you never had kids,” Betsy commented.

After a while, all the children gathered around, with mysterious smiles on their faces.

“Gambit, why are they looking at me like that?” Betsy asked slowly, fear creeping into her voice.

Jubilee cleared her throat loudly. “We just wanted to say thanks. Get her, guys!”

Betsy shrieked as the kids launched themselves at her, smothering her with hugs and kisses. In a matter of seconds, the kids retreated back to the nursery.

Betsy cowered on the floor, the fear apparent in her eyes.

Gambit squatted next to her. “You okay, chere?” he asked.

“Remy, I can’t take much more of this scary love,” she whispered.

Gambit smiled and patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry ‘bout it, Betsy. Gambit will watch the kids for a bit. You just stay here and collect yourself.”

Betsy nodded slightly as he headed for the nursery.