Part 4

“Ev, get up!”

Ev slowly opened his eyes. “Huh? What?”

Nicole stood over him, an angry look on her face. “Explain yourself!”

Ev blinked and suddenly noticed that Claudette was cuddled up beside him, her head resting comfortably on his chest. “Um...I woke up this way?” he guessed. “She wasn’t here when I feel asleep, honest!”

Nicole frowned. “I’m going to tell Monet,” she threatened.

“Don’t!” Ev pleaded, trying to get up. Unfortunately, he found that Claudette’s iron grip held him prisoner again.

Nicole grumbled and stormed away.

Ev sighed and laid back, gently brushing a hand through Claudette’s hair. “Well, looks like we’re stuck with each other.”

Claudette only smiled and closed her eyes.

Paige watched Gambit as he tried to figure out just who had written “Jubilee eats dirt!” on the wall in red crayon. She admired his firm build and broad shoulders, though it was his face that she found most amazing. His closely shaved chin still contained a significant amount of stubble, and Paige wanted nothing more than to run her fingers along it.

But Gambit, an experienced X-Man and thief, knew when he was being watched and disliked it greatly. “You gon’ watch Gambit all day, petite?” he asked, not bothering to turn around.

Paige blushed bright red and slowly walked over to him. “Ah know who did it,” she said quietly, sticking a finger in her mouth. “But ya gotta kiss me before Ah can tell ya.”

Gambit stared at the child in front of him and sighed. “Petite, you know that ain’t happenin’. Gambit already has a girl in his life.”

“Then...ya don’t...love me?” Paige asked, a tiny sniffle escaping her mouth.

Gambit sighed again and hugged her tightly. “Gambit loves you, petite, but you have to get over him.”

“Ya think Ah’m ugly, don’t ya?!” Paige cried, tears running down her face.

Gambit shushed her and gently stroked her blonde hair. “Non, petite. Gambit t’inks you’re beautiful.”

Paige stopped crying and looked at him. “Ya do?” she asked quietly.

He nodded and kissed her cheek. “Always, petite.”

Paige turned red again, but there was a huge smile on her face as she walked away. She stopped a few feet away and added, “Ah wrote on the wall.” Then she broke into a mad run and disappeared around the corner.

Gambit shook his head and laughed.

Professor Xavier found Betsy and Gambit in the kitchen later that day, cleaning up the remains of dinner. “I wanted to congratulate you two on a job well done! It seems your success has reached the ears of others.”

Betsy and Gambit paused. “Others?” they asked.

Xavier nodded. “Apparently, this baby disease is an epidemic. I received a call from the Avengers. They’re sending more ‘kids’ today.”

“More?” Betsy asked, panic rising in her voice.

“Certainly!” Xavier replied. “Once I told them how well you handled Generation X, they couldn’t wait to send the others! In fact, they should be arriving any moment.”

Suddenly, there was a scream from the nursery. As all three turned to the door, Bishop came flying into the kitchen. He crashed into the oven and slumped to the floor.

Gambit ran over and helped him up. “What happened to you?!”

Bishop opened his eyes and moaned weakly, “They’ve come. Save yourselves!” Before Gambit could ask anything else, Bishop fainted.

Betsy looked at Xavier. “Professor, just who were these kids before they got younger?” she asked suspiciously.

Xavier chuckled nervously. “I didn’t say, did I?”

“No, you didn’t,” Gambit replied, glaring at him.

“What kind of mess did you get us into?!” Betsy screamed.

Xavier’s hoverchair whirled around and zoomed out of the kitchen.

“After him!” Gambit shouted, dropping Bishop on the floor.

They had just reached the nursery when they heard a voice that sent chills down their spines.

“HULK SMASH PUNY BABIES!”

There were several screams, followed by a cry of “Unca Gambit! HEEEEEELP!”

“You go!” Betsy snapped, drawing her psychic knife. “Baldie’s mine!” Before Gambit could argue, she ran after the fleeing Xavier.

He sighed and charged up three cards. “Dis gonna be a long day. Gambit can just feel it.”