This is the first X-Men related story that I have written.  Of course the first story I write would have to be a 
Gambit story.  I thought I would take a different approach and write about Gambit’s past, about how 
Jean-Luc LeBeau took a young Remy in.  This story does not follow any Marvel time line, so it falls under the 
alternate universe category.  Sue me I had to be different.

The usual disclaimer.  If it smells, looks, sounds, feels, or tastes like a Marvel character, chances are it is a 
Marvel character.  All others belong to me.  If you want to use them ask first, I will more than likely say yes.
I wish I was making money for this story but I’m not.  Don’t sue me I have no money and I am still living with 
my parents.  If you want to post this story to a page, let me know.  Thanks, in advance.

<> Means translated from French.  I was too lazy to translate it.  I haven't spoken French in years, so I 
forgot. Just because I am Canadian doesn't mean I speak French all the time.  Also I don't know what bus 
ticket prices were like 25 years ago so don't freak out or anything over it.  Remember it's only a story, it's not 
real and you will be OK.

If I think of any thing else I will post it with future chapters.

Comments, praises and questions are welcomed at admiraldraala@hotmail.com

Enjoy!!!  

Admiral Draala


THE TIES THAT BIND

PROLOGUE

The Past

    It was a cold rainy night in a small French Canadian town in Quebec.  A mother was running from 
something or someone and her two young children were with her.  She needed to get out of the city as fast 
as she could.  She feared for her children’s lives if they did not leave soon.  Where she would go she had 
no idea, all she knew was the farther away she was from this town the better.  Money was the problem.  "If I 
can get to Montreal I can get the money I need," She thought to herself.
    She looked down at her now soaking wet children.  "<Maman, I am cold,>" the little girl said.
    "<I want to go home>," the boy said looking up at his mother.
    The mother could not help but feel guilty about taking her children from their home in the middle of the 
night and into a rain storm.  But her overwhelming need to protect them, was what kept her going.  "<I know 
dear ones, but we have to leave.   We are going on an adventure>."  She knew it was a lie but the truth 
would only scare them.
    "<Why can’t papa come?  I want to see my papa!>" the girl yelled.
    "<Me too!>" her brother added.
    She kneeled down in front of her children and put her hands on their cheeks.  "<Papa can’t come right 
now, but you will see him again.  Right now we are going to see maman’s family.>"  With that the two 
children quieted down, she took their hands and they continued walking to the bus station.  
    As they walked she kept looking over her shoulder, trying to see if they had been found yet.  Perhaps the 
saints would smile on her and her brother-in-law won’t discover they are missing until they were out of the 
city.  With luck he won’t have his spys in the States.  Her thoughts turned to her husband who was trying to 
buy her time so she could get the kids out of the country.  She knew they would never see each other 
again, or the children when this was done and over with.
    They entered the bus station and the children sat down while their mother went to get the tickets.
    "<I’m scared.  Why isn’t papa here with us?>"
    "<It will be OK. Maman won’t let anything happen to us,>" her big brother said as he took her hand in his. 
 "<Besides you always wanted to go on an adventure.>"
    "<Yeah, but I want papa to come too.>"
    "<Don’t be such a baby!>"
    "<I am not a baby! Don’t call me a baby!>"  she yelled hitting him in the arm.
    Their mother looked over at them from where she stood in line and smiled.  "Well if they are fighting, they 
must be feeling better," she thought to herself.  "<Quit your fighting and hush.>" She called over to the two 
still fighting children.  Upon hearing their mother’s warning the children stopped. 
    "<Next please,>" the man behind the counter called.
    "<Three tickets to Montreal please. Two children and one adult,>"
    "<That will be $30.>"  She handed him the money.  "<Bus leaves in 20 minutes.>"  She took the tickets 
and walked over to the locker area.  She reached into her purse and pulled out a key.  Walking over to the 
appropriate locker she opened it and pulled out three bags.  Walking back over to her children she handed 
her son a bag and told him to change into dry clothes.  Taking her daughter by the hand she proceeded to 
do the same.
    By the time they were done the bus was loading its passengers and the mother quickly ushered her two 
children onto it.  As the bus pulled out of the station she felt a brief wave of relief wash over her.  She looked 
down at her sleeping daughter in her arms, her son looked up at her.  "<Why do we have to leave now?  I 
didn’t say good bye to papa.>"
    She reached down to brush a stray hair from his eyes.  "<Things happen that way, mon petit fils.  Why 
don’t you try and sleep we have a long way yet to go.>"  The boy yawned and closed his eyes and went to 
sleep.  
    The journey to Montreal only lasted a couple of  hours.  The station was crowded with people and she 
took this as a good sign, he would have less chance of finding them.  They walked over to the ticket booth 
and waited in line.  "<I’m tired maman.  I want to go to sleep.>" The girl complained as they stood in line.  
    "<Don’t be such a baby.  You don’t hear me complaining do you.>"  Her brother teased.
    "<Leave your sister alone.  She is younger than you and you should know better.>" 
    The line moved slowly and the longer they waited the more danger she was in of being discovered.  
When she finally got up to the ticket counter, she wondered if the tickets were waiting for her as promised.  
If not she just endangered her children’s lives for nothing.  "<Yes there should be some tickets waiting for 
Elaine Duchette.>"
    "<One moment and I will check.>"  The ticket agent walked into a back room.  He came out a short  time 
later with an envelope in his hand.  "<Three tickets for New Orleans, correct?>"
    "<Yes that’s right.>"  She took the tickets in her hands like they were priceless objects.
    "<The bus leaves in two hours and you will have two transfers once you reach the states.  It will take you 
at least two days.>"
    "<Thank you.>"  She led her children to the waiting area where they spread themselves out over the 
seats so they could sleep.  Elaine’s eyes were constantly scanning the room they were in, checking to see if 
anyone could be watching them.
    "Beautiful children you have.  They are yours?"  An elderly woman asked breaking Elaine from her 
search.
    "Oui, yes, they are, my angels.  Eight and five, my son is the oldest."  She answered stroking the hair on 
her son’s head as he slept.
    "Going to visit their father are they?"
    Elaine was hesitant about answering the elderly woman.  "Yes they are.  Their Father has a job working 
out of town and they haven’t seen him in a while."  She answered, deciding it best to lie.  
    A boarding call was made and it was time for them to leave.  Once more she was forced to wake her 
children.  They followed her reluctantly, still half asleep.  They boarded the bus and their journey continued.  
Elaine knew that they were only a short while way from crossing the border.   Once that happened they 
would be home free for a short while.  She knew eventually her brother-in-law would clue in to where she 
took her children, she only hoped they would arrive in New Orleans before he did.
    True to what she was told the trip to New Orleans took two days.  As she neared the city of her birth an 
overwhelming sense of joy over took her.  If she made it this far with no problems, her children were as good 
as safe.  "Look mon enfants, this is where your maman was born,"  Elaine said waking her children from their 
sleep.
    "Maman it’s pretty.  I like all the lights," her daughter said with her face pressed against the glass window 
of the bus.
    "I like my old home better.  I miss all my friends, I hate it here!"
    "Now  who’s the baby, baby!"  His sister teased sticking her tongue out at him.
    "That’s enough!  I want you two on best behavior."
    The bus pulled into the station and everyone unloaded.  As Elaine and her two children walked into the 
station they were met by a strange man who led them to an old church not far from the station.  Elaine led 
her children into the church.  Once they were inside Elaine dropped her hold on her children’s hands and 
their bags and ran into the arms of a man at the front of the church.
    "Jean-Luc I was afraid you won’t come,"  Elaine said as she let go of the man. 
    "I am still your brother am I not?  I helped you because we are family.  You and I made a pact a long time 
ago that we would always be there for each other."
    "Children came here,"  Elaine called over her children.  They waked over holding each others hands not 
sure of what exactly was going on.  "This is your oncle Jean-Luc, mon frere."
    "Bonjour," they said so quietly they could hardly be heard.   He smiled back at them.
    "Can you help me, Jean -Luc.  We have done all we can to save them," her voice trailed off.
    "I will take Remy and raise him as my own son.  That is the best I can do.  The Guild will only accept one. 
 I tried to change their minds about Celeste, but when you married-"
    "I know.  The Guild did not approve."
    "You said yourself they want Remy more than Celeste.  The Guild will protect him and so will I."
    Celeste and Remy looked at each other unsure of what was going on.  Remy still had a firm grip on his 
sister’s hand when their mother kneeled down in front of him.  "Remy I know this is hard for you to 
understand but you must.  Your sister and I must go away for awhile and you are going to stay here with your 
oncle Jean-Luc."
    "Non maman, I want to stay with you!"  She wrapped her arms around her son, and they cried.
    "Elaine, I have arranged for you and Celeste to have safe passage out of New Orleans.  A safe house 
has also been arranged, but you must leave now."
    Elaine nodded as she let go of her son.  She stood and took hold of Celeste’s hand.  "Be good for your 
oncle, do you hear me Remy?"  The boy nodded as tears streamed down his cheeks.
    "Do you still want Remy’s-"
    "Yes.  It will be easier on him if he has no memories of me or Celeste."  Jean-Luc nodded as he took hold 
of Remy’s hand.  Elaine left one bag behind as she and Celeste left the church.
    Remy held onto his uncle’s hand and cried.  He did not realize at the time that this was the last time he 
would see his mother or even remember her.  

To Be Continued....