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To Catch a Fox	By : Ginevrasn Category: X-men Comics > Het - Male/Female Views: 2041 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men comics, or any of the characters from it. I make no money from from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Games
- 2-Shelter
- 3-Pursuit
- 4-Lovers
- 5-The Cabin
- 6-The Fox
- 7-Consequences
- 8-Truth
- 9-The Woman
- 10-Trouble
- 11-Sabertooth
- 12-Springtime
- 11
- 12
Authors Note/Disclaimer:
I do not own the X Men or the fictional universe they live in. This is a work of fan fiction. I�m just borrowing them for my own amusement and yours. I am making no money from this.

Please tell me what you think by posting a review or emailing me at ginevrasn@yahoo.com. Put AFF in the subject line if you do so, so I don�t delete it by mistake. I do not have a beta to proof for me, so don�t be shy.

Here we are, the last chapter. It's time to bring this little adventure to an end. Thank you for coming along for the ride.

Chapter Twelve: Springtime

Remy studied Winter Moon curiously as she listened to Logan�s tale. She seemed so much like Kit, yet behind the familiar face and gestures she was very different. While Kit�s emotions were often raw and as fluid as the changing weather outside, her mother�s seemed muted with a cool serenity.

He thought the woman was studying him as well. She had every right to do so, he supposed. Whatever she thought of him, she gave no sign. Instead she listened intently to Logan�s story, asking pointed questions about where the fight had taken place and exactly what had occurred.

�Now, ya see here. I know you and yers think ya can take him. But, he�s real tough. Almost unkillable, leastways I�ve been trying fer years and the bastard was still breathing last night. Ya see him, best thing ta do is run fer cover.�

�Are you sure he�s not dead? I think I know that place, and if he fell into the river there, he�s pretty much dead.� Kit looked skeptical.

�We seen dis one before, many times. He like Logan here, he heal up real fast. Heal from jus� bout anyting.�

�Such a one can be killed. It has been done before. It can be done again.� Winter Moon spoke softly. �But, most likely the beast has been beaten and will not return. I have spoken with Gray Mantle. This �Sabertooth� did not see him change form and has no reason to believe him anything more than an animal.�

�Den why he on de boy�s trail?�

�Creed�s not one ta give up a kill. It�s sport ta him. �Course mebbe he was following our trail.�

�I thought Grandfather and the others were going to cover our back trail.� Kit looked at her mother with an expression of concern.

�I have not spoken with him�But, I doubt anyone expected a creature like this Sabertooth. And there are always the tree codes. He may not be able to decipher them, but they are still there to be seen.� Winter Moon shrugged.

�Damn�� Kit muttered. Remy could feel a fresh wave of guilt welling up in the girl�s mind. So he changed the subject.

�We all safe now. How de boy doin�?�

�He will be fine. But, he will have some interesting scars.� Winter Moon smiled and sipped at her coffee.

�How long before he�s ready ta go home?� Logan glanced toward the tunnel.

�We�ve been talking about that.� Kit sat up a little straighter. �He can�t go back to the spring. It�s not safe.�

�He will stay here at least for now.� Winter Moon rose from the table as Jean and Scott emerged from the tunnel. �Is the room ready?�

�Yeah. Hope you don�t mind, but we shoved all the junk into the store room, Kit.� Scott brushed dust from his sleeve.

�Will you need help moving him?� Jean asked as she settled onto the couch.

�No. We�ve got him.� Kit rose and left with her mother.

�So, that�s Kit�s mother?� Scott�s tone was carefully neutral as he poured himself a fresh mug of coffee.

�Yep.� Logan stretched and they all heard his joints popping. Jean winced. �Anyways, I just got done telling �em what happened ta Sabertooth.�

�What did happen?� Jean asked as Scott settled next to her.

�Hmph�Knew I shoulda waited fer all a ya�� Logan grumbled, and then began to tell his story again. Remy listened for a moment, then left to join Kit and her mother.

The boy still looked a little pale, but he was awake and gave Remy a friendly smile as he entered Logan�s room. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and Winter Moon and Kit were checking his bandages.

Winter Moon spoke to the boy quietly and he answered, moving his arm and shoulder gently. He grunted a little. Then the boy spoke again and Winter Moon shook her head. Kit added some comment of her own and the boy rolled his eyes.

Remy smiled. That at least needed no translation.

�You lookin� much better dis morning, homme.� Remy leaned against the wall. The boy smirked at him.

�Yes�Better.� The boy looked at Kit as if checking to see if that was correct. She nodded.

�Good.� Remy nodded, pleased that the boy knew some English. Gray Mantle stood up carefully with Kit�s help. As the two young people made their way to the door, Winter Moon began to straighten the blankets on the bed. She looked up to catch Remy�s eye and gestured for him to stay.

�Kit�After you get Gray Mantle settled, perhaps he should eat something?� Winter Moon called after her.

�Sure.� Kit called over her shoulder, letting the curtain fall closed behind them.

Winter Moon continued to smooth the blankets for a moment, then sat down on the bed and gestured for him to come closer. Remy hesitated for a moment before approaching.

�Let us talk for a bit.�

��Bout what?� He cleared his throat, not liking the way he sounded. He wasn�t some teenager here.

�Logan has told me something of you and your friends�That you will leave in the spring and not return.�

�Dis not where we belong. We got responsibilities.� He tried not to fidget and leaned against the wall again.

�Yes. Responsibilities.� She nodded. �You have a woman there�Kit knows this?�

�Oui. We separated�But, dat just temporary.� He resisted the urge to shuffle his feet or look away. �Dis �ting wit� Kit�It�� Winter Moon raised her hand and gave him a small smile.

�It is just as well you have a woman to return to, else Kit might be tempted to leave us. We need young people like Kit. We cannot hide here forever. My time in the world of men showed me that if nothing else.�

�If you need her, why you leave her like dat? Don� tell her �bout what gon� happen?� He scowled at her. �Not fair. She confused. Remy too.�

Winter Moon looked at her hands for a moment.

�I did not know when or even if it would happen to Kit. There was so little of the fox in her father. I did not expect it to be so strong in our child.� She fell silent for a moment. �I left because we need her. To be the woman, not the fox. This I cannot teach her. I was not born in the world of men and I came to it too late.� She shrugged and sighed.

�Dat why you don� let her choose one o� your kind.� Remy�s voice was cold with disapproval.

�That was Grandfather�s decision, not mine.� She studied him for a moment. �And Kit did choose you. I approve�Not that that matters to my daughter.�

�It matter to her.� Remy shifted his stance, a little surprised. He hadn�t expected her to endorse the pairing. �Don� see why. Mes amis, my friends, they don� approve.�

�I expect not.� Winter Moon stood and stepped closer. �This is not the world of men and their rules have little meaning here. You care for my daughter and are kind to her. You do not seek to take her away from us. That is enough.�

�I gon� come back. See de child.� Remy straightened, feeling as if he�d somehow been dismissed as unimportant. Maybe even insulted. �Gon� send money. Make sure dey cared for, both o� them.�

�I do not question your honor.� She shook her head and gave him another of those serene smiles.

�You gon� leave her alone again?� His expression hardened and he folded his arms across his chest. He couldn�t stay, even if he wanted to, and it wasn�t right. Her expression became solemn and she was silent a moment as she studied his face.

�My return might cause too many problems for Kit. Reynard�s wife is dead. I am here. I have always been here.� She left the rest unspoken. But, he understood. Kit could have sought her out at any time. After a moment she spoke again.

�Still. I do not like the idea of her being alone any more than you. It is my hope that when spring comes, young Gray Mantle will be willing to return with her. He is young and curious.�

�He a child.�

�Yes. For now. I think you have made an impression on him. Perhaps if you were to ask him�� Winter Moon rested a hand lightly on his arm. �He might be persuaded.�

�Hmm�� He studied her face and reached out with his empathy. She was sincere in her concern, though he couldn�t tell whether it was for Kit or her people. �Remy gon� tink about it.�

�Good.� She stepped back and looked around the room. Her expression was clouded and there was a hint of sadness in her voice. �It looks the same�But it is so empty.�

Remy left the room then, unwilling to share the woman�s grief. He didn�t understand her or her people. There was truth in what she said; this wasn�t the world of men.

Remy was relieved when Winter Moon left the next morning. He wasn�t certain if the tension he felt was his own or Kit�s. A single day wasn�t enough for any resolution between the two women. But, Kit didn�t protest. Nor did Logan. The moon�s shape was growing rounder with each passing night.

Over the next few days, Gray Mantle recovered quickly. Kit was encouraging the boy to learn English and began to call him �Thomas.� The boy seemed eager to learn, especially when Jean showed an interest in helping him. In fact, the boy seemed curious about almost anything they were willing to teach him. �Thomas� didn�t seem to share Winter Moon and Kit�s preference for solitude.

As the moon changed, so did Kit�Logan left the cabin once more to seek out Winter Moon. Remy worried a bit about how Thomas would react, though neither Kit nor her mother had seemed concerned. The boy was certainly old enough to be interested, at least in human terms.

It turned out that he needn�t have worried. Thomas was indeed affected by the change in Kit. But, the boy seemed less disturbed by his own reactions than Kit had been the first time. Most likely, he�d more experience with this side of their nature than Kit. Thomas dealt with it neatly enough by leaving the cabin for much of the day to roam the forest and hunt.

This second time was easier for them both. Kit knew what to expect, both from herself and from him, so there was no fear. Remy allowed himself to relax, no longer fighting the primal effects of Kit�s heat. It was still strange to lose his sense of self, but it was no longer quite so disturbing. At least to him. He didn�t really care what Scott or Jean thought at this point.

Eventually, Kit�s urges subsided and Logan returned. They planned to finish the aborted food run, this time with Thomas�s help. By now the boy was fully healed and full of energy. If the cabin had seemed small before, it was now almost claustrophobic with the number of people and the youngster�s good natured mischief.

A few days later they set off. Remy kept pace with the sled while Logan scouted ahead. There was no sign of Sabertooth or any other intruders on the trail. Several times they heard other foxes calling to one another or to their companions. With Kit and Thomas sharing the load, the task was completed in short order.

As time went on, and there was no more evidence of pursuit, the holiday atmosphere of before began to return. It wasn�t often that the X Men got to enjoy a true vacation. Remy threw himself into the spirit, letting himself enjoy Kit�s companionship without pondering the inevitable separation. He made an effort to push his thoughts of Rogue aside, and concentrate on the here and now.

The next full moon came and went with no changes in Kit, though Logan left once more. Remy did not comment on it, but he knew what it must mean. Kit did not speak of it either. The winter was drawing to a close now, and his thoughts kept returning to Rogue. But, he kept those thoughts to himself and made an effort to be more attentive to Kit. He wanted to leave behind pleasant memories.

He also made an effort to befriend the youngster. He watched bemused as Kit renewed her childhood friendship. Often the two foxes would play rough and tumble games in the clearing in front of the cabin. To him they looked more like puppies at play than creatures of legend. He considered Winter Moon�s advice.

No. Kit shouldn�t be left alone. And he hadn�t missed the boy�s wistful envy. So when he had the opportunity, he spoke privately with the boy. They stood alone outside the cabin.

�I can�t stay wit� her. We have to go home, come spring.� He watched the youngster�s face, making sure he understood. His English was improving rapidly, but he was still sometimes confused by the Cajun�s accent.

�Spring will be soon.� The boy tugged one braid over his shoulder, shot through with several threads of black. They hadn�t been there a few days ago.

�Oui�Yes. Kit�She will be alone.� He licked his lips before continuing, speaking carefully. �I want to ask you to go with her.�

�Go?� The boy�s voice rose, along with his eyebrows. �Outside? To�town?�

�Yes. To town. Live with her. Take care of her and the little one.� He spoke quietly, not wanting anyone to hear. �For me.�

�You�� The boy paused, struggling with the language. �Do not want her?�

Remy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. That was the truth and not the truth. He wanted his life with Rogue and the X Men more. But there was no way to say that without sounding cruel.

�She not safe if I stay. Maybe Sabertooth come back. Maybe others.� He shrugged, frustrated not just with the language barrier, but with the situation itself. �An� I got a woman waiting for me. At least I hope she waiting.�

�O.K.� The boy tilted his head and gave Remy a rakish grin. �Kit ask me first.�

�Did she?�

The boy�s smile got a little wider and there was a glint of mischief in his eyes. Then the boy was gone in a flurry of gray and white fur. The clearing rang with his yipping laughter. Remy shook his head and went back inside.

So it was settled, he mused. He found Kit sitting at the table talking with Jean and ruffled her hair affectionately. The snowy stuff was now shot through with threads of copper. Yes, spring was coming soon.

Epilogue:

Eventually their little group returned to town. A few discreet phone calls reassured them that there was no longer any danger in returning home. Their pursuers had been employed by a group of rich anti-mutant activists. The organizers had since been publicly exposed by some of the Professor�s political allies.

Under the circumstances, they came to the conclusion that Sabertooth was acting on his own. So far there was no sign of the mutant, but Logan was still unwilling to count his rival as dead. They made plans to return home almost immediately.

Before they left, Remy made a few phone calls of his own. Within a few weeks, �Thomas Grey Mantle� should receive a packet of documents to establish his identity in this new world. And Kit would receive information concerning the account he had set up for her, after he was gone. No point in waiting, there was no predicting when the next crisis might come, or whether it might be his last.

They all made their goodbyes to Kit and Thomas. Remy extracted a promise from Kit to contact him when the child came, or if there was any trouble. He extracted a similar promise from Thomas. Then he made a more personal farewell to Kit.

By silent agreement, no one spoke to Rogue about Remy�s relationship with Kit. Instead, they spoke of how isolated the cabin had been and how strange and elusive the fox people had been. By then, Rogue was more than ready to forget her argument with Remy. So was he.

For a time, things between Remy and Rogue passed smoothly. Or as smoothly as they might between one crisis and another. Until one day, Rogue was rummaging through Remy�s desk, looking for a pen and paper.

Inside one small drawer she found a small bundle of letters and a photograph. In the photograph was a young woman with dark skin and red hair. In her arms was a baby. Rogue looked at the photo closely, the pen and paper she�d been looking for forgotten.

�Oh Ma Gawd�� She whispered to herself, turning on the desk lamp to check that what she was seeing wasn�t a trick of the camera. No it wasn�t. There was only one place that child could have gotten eyes like that. She flipped the photo over to read what was written on the back.

�Summer Fox Wylde. She�s got your eyes. � Kit.�

The door opened behind her and she looked up. Remy stopped short as he saw what she held in her hand. He opened his mouth to speak, but she spoke first.

�Remy Le Beau, you got some explainin� to do."

Finis.

Author's irrelevant musings below:

I wrote this story because I wanted to get to know Gambit's character a little better. I wanted to put him in a setting and situation that would take him out of his element. I wanted to expose some of his faults and watch him deal with them. Since he is supposedly such a ladies man, I figured sooner or later that would just have to have consequences.

Plus, I'm a chick...And hot damn! The man is sexy!

Wolverine is here mostly for contrast. And because I felt I needed to snuggle up to him and get to know him better, too.

One man, completely out of his element...The other one comfortably within it.

I have tried hard to remain firmly within the heads of my cannon characters and out of my OC's--despite the great temptation to experience this story through my OC's POV's. I did mention that I'm a chick and that Gambit is...Ahem!

This story also takes me out of my element. I am from the deep south folks. For me, this setting is an exotic locale. My research for this piece includes reading up on climate and wildlife. I researched the life cycle, mating habits and social behavior of real foxes. I even researched their vocalizations. I'm not claiming to have portrayed them accurately--these are fox-like creatures, not real foxes. But, I did start out with real-world details.

I even looked up how much a single dog can pull with a sled. Believe it or not, there are actually competitions where dogs may pull 10-20 times their own weight! So, pulling the sled as described in this story should be well within Kit's strength.

For those who like to write about Gambit, or just want to learn more about him, I found this site to be a great reference: http://www.gambitguild.com/

Thanks again for reading my story. Constructive criticism is always read and appreciated...Hint, hint...

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To Catch a Fox