Even with the soft mattress, clean sheets, and the comfort of familiar smells, Lauren had trouble sleeping. She tossed and turned all night—once she vaguely remembered searching for Gambit. After reminding herself he was only downstairs, she rolled back over and, fortunately, found some rest. She had slept better in the woods with Gambit holding her than here.

Lauren didn't get the sleep she wanted, but the shower was divine. The warm water massaged her constantly tensed body and the calming scent of the floral shampoo and moonlight body wash relaxed her. Bathing with not-stolen shampoo and soap made it even more freeing. She wanted to stay in there forever, but she forced herself to finish and get out—her parents might begin to wonder why she's taking such a long bath.

She relished the moment of brushing and drying her hair and took the time to apply a fresh coat of mascara. They weren't hurried or looking over their shoulder, so she could indulge a little. Since her mom had washed her clothes last night—Gambit's too—she actually got to wear a clean set of clothes.

Coming downstairs, she found Gambit sitting at the dining table listening to her father; both had a cup of coffee in their hands. She turned to the kitchen to find her mother sipping a cup of coffee and reading a novel on her Kindle.

"Morning sunshine," she greeted. "I wondered when you were ever going to come down."

Lauren stifled a yawn. "Sorry; I must've been really tired. Did I sleep in that late?"

"Not too late; Remy did too. We figured you two were exhausted from your trip and walking here, so we decided to let you sleep." She closed her tablet and got up from the stool. "Go ahead and sit; I'll get you some breakfast."

She sat at the counter and talked with her mom as she whipped up some eggs and fried some ham. Eva informed her that they couldn't leave until Abby and Paul showed up—they wanted to see them off. Along with the plate of scrambled eggs and a slice of cooked ham, Eva also toasted some bread and, including jelly, set it all before her. After spreading some strawberry jelly on her toast, she set to eating; Lauren would miss having filling meals like this when she and Gambit got back on the road.

Speaking of that handsome devil, he sat on the stool beside her when her father had risen to refill his mug.

"Sleep well, amour?" he asked.

She couldn't tell him the truth, that 'not really because he wasn't beside her'; she went on a half-truth instead. "Mostly. You?"

"Mostly," he said with a grin at her as he took a drink.

She wondered why he hadn't been able to sleep. Whatever his reason, he kept it to himself for her question was written plainly on her face.

"Keep your secrets, then. By the way, we can't leave until Abby and Paul get here," she told him.

He nodded. "Your mother's already warned me."

After finishing breakfast and visiting with her parents more, her sister had yet to arrive. To pass the time waiting for Abby and Paul to get there, she and Gambit decided to play poker.

"Do we really have to go?" she asked.

Gambit chuckled. "I'm afraid so."

"Boo," she pouted; he chuckled again.

"Lollipop, can you come in here?" her father called from the kitchen.

She laid her hand down and got up. "Don't cheat by looking at my cards."

"Why cheat? I already know you hold three hearts, and a king and queen of diamonds."

Lauren looked back at him in shock; Gambit held up his hand. "These are my cards, remember?"

She muttered about it being unfair as she turned and headed into the kitchen. She walked in to find her mother and father behind the counter and Abby and Paul in the dining room. All of them looked nervous and tried to stay out of sight of the living room—their eyes constantly shifted to the doorway.

"Abby? Paul? When did you get here? Did you come through the back?"

Her sister shushed her. "Keep your voice down!" she whispered.

Their anxiety was making her nervous. "Alright, what's going on?"

Henry stepped forward. "Honey, we know you're in trouble and that Remy is a mutant."

She was stunned; Gambit hadn't done anything to show that he had powers. "How do you know?"

"On our way here, we stopped by the Pilot up the road for some gas," Paul began. "Their machine was broken, so I went in to pay, and saw a wanted poster for a Lauren Binns and a Remy LeBeau. The descriptions for both of you were exact."

"You're wanted for questioning, Lauren," Abby said. "What did you do? Did you see Remy doing something?"

"Is he holding you against your will, Lauren?" her mom asked.

"No! Stop! Remy didn't do anything; it's those people who sent out that poster who did!" she declared.

"Lollipop, listen; he has an ability to persuade others to believe him. Remy's brainwashed you," her father said.

"No, you listen to me! Remy can't use those powers on me. The people who put that warrant out for us kidnapped me just because I met him. They threatened to kill me if I didn't help them bring Remy in. He helped me escape and we've been running from them!"

All of them looked at each other in shock. Abby paled. "You mean, the police..."

Dread settled on her. "What did you do?"

Her sister's mouth opened and closed, working for words, but none came out.

"Lauren Binns and Remy LeBeau, we have the house surrounded! Come out with your hands up!" a male voice ordered, amplified through a bullhorn.

She looked at Abby; the fear seizing her body overpowered the anger in her eyes.

"I'm sorry; I was scared for you! I thought they could help!" her sister cried.

"Remy!" Lauren called as she whipped around.

He was already there. "I heard them, chérie. I've looked; what they say is true." He pulled her back into the living room. "Stay away from the windows."

"What do we do?" she asked once she caught her breath from hyperventilating.

Gambit looked into the kitchen through the back windows, then glanced behind him, coming up with a plan. He finally looked at her. "I have to make a path."

She understood the seriousness in his eyes. "Don't hurt them too badly."

He nodded. "Keep hidden."

Lauren scurried to get behind the sofa she had just sat in playing poker, as Gambit headed for the front door. He twisted the knob and, with him to the side of the door, threw it open. Lauren heard the multiple clicks as guns aimed at the empty doorway.

"Keep your hands visible and walk slow, and we won't shoot!" the policeman on the bullhorn shouted.

In answer, Gambit flicked his wrist and cards already glowing pink appeared in his hand. He took a step into view and threw the cards at the police surrounding them. Vehicles exploded and men yelled in fear; the mutant stepped out into the porch, throwing more cards.

Eventually, he walked further, getting completely out of Lauren's sight. A gunshot cracked the air, freezing her in dread; she never heard the thump of a falling body like Gambit had been shot. More guns fired, followed by a metallic clink, as she presumed, Gambit used his staff to deflect the bullets with his supernatural reflexes. She desperately wanted to go check on him, but she stayed put like he said—she'd only get in the way, anyway.

Shattering glass and her sister's high-pitched scream had Lauren whipping around. Keeping low, she crawled to the kitchen doorway and looked: four men, dressed in black armor like a S.W.A.T. team, had broken through the glass door. One spotted her and began advancing.

"Remy!" she screamed as she scrambled backward.

Something whizzed over her head and the man fell back as a card exploded in his face. The others hurried to avenge him when Gambit launched over her and, with his glowing staff in hand, began hand-to-hand combat with them.

She returned to her feet, switching between the fight and watching the front for any reinforcements. One fell, followed by another. Gambit turned to deal with the last, but he shot a Taser; the prongs dug into his chest and with electricity jolting, he fell convulsing.

Lauren panicked at seeing him down and jerking in pain as the electricity coursed through his body. The man's back was to her, so he didn't see her enter the kitchen and grab the frying pan off the drying rack. She swung with all her might at his head; the pan collided with his skull with a loud clang and he fell against the wall to his left. He slid down it and remained still.

She kept her impromptu weapon in hand in case of more men as she hurried to Gambit's side. He had stopped twitching with the flow of electricity being removed, but he still grimaced and breathed heavily.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Oui; Tasers are no fun." With a grunt, he jerked the cords to pull the prongs out of his skin. Gambit started to get up, but he almost fell back down when she attacked him for a hug; he hugged her back.

Remembering her family, she looked over to the dining room to find them all huddled in a terrified group. Her mother had tears in her eyes and was so pale she looked like she might faint; Abby clutched Paul's arm, probably leaving imprints of her fingers. Other than being shell-shocked, they weren't hurt.

"We should go, amour," Gambit suggested.

She helped him stand; he wasn't steady on his feet yet and had an arm draped across her shoulders. Her arm around his waist gave him extra support, too. After making sure he wasn't in danger of falling, Lauren looked back at her family again.

"I'm sorry."

No one responded as they shuffled over to her mother's purse; Lauren dug around for the keys to her Toyota Camry. As they headed for the front door, she pressed the button to open the garage door.

"Be careful, Lollipop," her father said from the dining room.

"I will, Dad," she said, then they stepped out of the house.

Policemen and women littered the front yard; blackened frames of the still-burning police vehicles were all that remained of the blockade. Inside the garage was Eva's red car; Lauren helped Gambit into the passenger's, and she got behind the wheel. The car purred to life and, after maneuvering around a destroyed Tahoe, they drove away.