"...It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all,
It's a small, small world.
It's a world of hope,
It's a world of pears, it's a --"
"Pears, p'tite?" Remy Lebeau's deep voice rumbled slightly with
amusement as he tucked his four-year-old daughter into bed.
Renee's auburn hair tumbled carelessly from beneath black Minnie
Mouse ears that hid all but a few wisps of the white locks she inherited from her mother. She had
insisted on wearing the ears to bed, and after such a long day at the amusement park, neither Remy nor
Rogue were inclined to argue.
"It's not pears, you dope," Cody said from the opposite bed with an exaggerated roll of his eyes.
Rogue was trying in vain to get Cody tucked in as well, but the boy was
still too wound up from the exciting day. Each time he appeared
to settle in, he jumped up to look once more at his souvenirs or
to look out the hotel window to see if he could glimpse any more fireworks over the Magic Kingdom.
"Cody LeBeau, what have Ah told you about calling your sister names?" Rogue's soft tone didn't
disguise the censure in her voice.
"I'm sorry, Mama."
"Apologize to your sister, honey, not ta me."
"I'm sorry, Rennie," he said contritely, then the grin that was so much like his father's appeared.
"But it's not pears. It's fears, right Daddy?"
"I b'lieve you're right," Remy agreed as he handed Renee the stuffed rabbit she always took to bed.
"...It's a world of hope, it's a world of fears..." she continued singing softly. "That was my
favorite ride today."
"T'ought so, p'tite, we rode it five times t'day alone."
"Guess what my fav'rite ride was," Cody called out.
"Well, sugah, since you had to have that sword and that pirate hat, not ta mention that patch for your
eye, Ah'd guess it was the Pirates of the Caribbean."
Cody grinned then started singing in a voice loud enough to outmatch Renee's, "Yo ho ho ho, a
pirate's life for me ..."
Rogue met Remy's amused gaze and shook her head. In an undertone, she said, "Ah'm gonna have those two songs in mah head all night."
Remy turned with a laugh to draw the drapes, but Renee stopped
him. "Leave them open, please Daddy. I wanna see the
castle." The brightly lit blue spires of Cinderella's Castle
could be seen from
their hotel room, and the children thought it was magical. Magical or not, Remy found it very
convenient for watching the fireworks without having to battle the crowds.
"I'm gonna live there when I grow up," Renee said as she gazed dreamily out the window.
"You are, honey? Who are you going ta live there with?" Rogue sat down beside her daughter.
"You, me and Daddy."
"What about Cody?"
Renee giggled. "He's going to marry Rachel. They'll come to visit. So will Grandpa, Grandma
and Remi."
"Am not!" Cody protested. "You're gonna marry Mickey Mouse!"
"No, I'm not. I'm gonna marry Prince Charming." Renee stuck her tongue out at Cody. "You're gonna
marry Daisy Duck!"
"You're gonna marry Goofy!" Cody returned the expression.
"Dat's enough, y' two. Time t' go t' sleep."
Remy and Rogue kissed each of their children goodnight and turned out the lights in the bedroom
of their two-room hotel suite. As they left the room, Renee whispered, "I'm going to marry Uncle
Scott."
Remy raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Y' t'ink your Aunt Jean might have somet'ing t' say 'bout
dat, p'tite?"
"She won't mind."
Rogue hid her smile and with as much sincerity as she could muster assured her daughter, "Ahm sure
she won't, honey."
"Ah thought they'd nevah go ta sleep," Rogue drawled as she stretched out on the sofa in the
other room. "Ahm so tired and mah feet hurt. How long were we there today?"
"I t'ink we been at it since seven dis morning. Y' know dis whole Disney t'ing was Scott's idea and he
managed t' get out o' it. Much rather be at de beach m'self." Remy moved his wife's feet to sit
down at the end of the sofa. He replaced them in his lap and taking one in his hands began a
soothing foot massage. "Goin' t' need a vacation after dis."
"Mmm, sugah, you just keep that up." Rogue closed her eyes and stretched languidly. "Ahm not sure
Scott feels like he got out of anything. Ah feel so bad for Rachel. That child was inconsolable."
Scott and Jean had been planning to take Rachel to Disney World and had
invited Remy, Rogue and the children to join them. They invited
Charles, Lilandra and Remi along as well, but Charles had already made
arrangements to spend two months on Chandilar. For four months,
Rachel, Renee and Cody drove their parents to distraction with their
excited anticipation for this vacation. Then four
days before, Rachel developed a fever and was quickly diagnosed with
chicken pox. Rogue and Remy planned to cancel the trip as well
and wait until they could reschedule, but Scott and Jean insisted they
should still go. It was Hank who finally convinced them. He
was relieved that Cody and
Renee showed no indication of contracting the disease themselves, and although it should have
been past the infectious stage, with their mix of Shi'ar and human blood, he preferred not to take
any chances that they might still.
"Poor Rachel," Remy murmured in sympathy.
"Poor Scott," Rogue countered, thinking of how Scott started breaking out in the tell-tale rash
two days later. "Hank couldn't believe that he never had the chicken pox as a kid. That man must
be miserable."
"Or chicken spots as Cody called dem." Remy grinned. "Act'lly, poor Jean . . . she be de one
needin' a vacation after takin' care of dose two, neh?"
Rogue smiled but remained silent as Remy shifted his attention to her other foot. She started to
drift off to sleep when she felt her husband lightly nip her toes. Her eyes flew open with a
startled gasp as she tried to yank her foot back in vain. Remy's eyes were full of mischief as he held
on and proceeded to tickle the sensitive sole.
"Ticklish, ma cherie?"
"Remy, stop!" Rogue shrieked while trying to kick her foot loose from his grip.
He grabbed her flailing legs and pulled her into his lap. "Dat's what y' get for fallin' asleep on
me, chere," he laughed. Moving his hand to the back of her neck, he idly traced the cleverly
disguised inhibitor collar that allowed him to touch her at all. He then resumed his massage on
the back of her neck.
"Hmm. Know what sounds good right now? A nice long, hot bubble bath in that oversized tub." She
tossed him a sultry look and added, "Room enough for two, sugah."
"I like where dis is goin', cherie. Shall I go draw your bath, Madame LeBeau?"
"Ah've got a better idea. Why don't you run down to that overpriced gift shop in the lobby and buy
us a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine for a nightcap while Ah draw the bath?"
"Y' jus' full of good ideas t'night," Remy said as he rose from the sofa carrying Rogue with him. He
deposited her at the doorway with a lingering kiss as he turned to leave. "Be right back."
After he left, Rogue went into the bathroom to start the water running spending several moments
making sure the temperature was just right. Piling her red hair with its signature white stripe
on top of her head, she undressed and slipped on the terry cloth robe that hung from the back of the
door. After spending all day in the park, she looked forward to a long soak in the tub. And
whatever may come after, she thought with a smile. She found a small complimentary bottle of
bubblebath on the vanity and bent to dump the entire contents under the running water.
A sound in the outer room made her pause. "Back so soon, sugah?" she called out.
"Mama?"
Rogue sighed as she turned toward the door. "Renee, honey, what's the matter? Can't you --"
Her words died in her throat as a tall, imposing figure appeared suddenly in front of her blocking
her way from the bathroom. "You! What d'ya think you're --"
A sharp pain pierced the base of her skull and her world went black.
Remy whistled happily as he stepped off the elevator with a very expensive bottle of wine tucked neatly under his arm. He stopped short and grimaced as he realized what he was whistling. What y' expect, homme? Had t' ride dat one five times.
Reaching their suite, he opened the door and announced softly, "I'm back, chere."
There was no answer, but he could hear the bath water running. "Startin' wit'out me, cherie?" He
scooped up two glasses from the bar near the door and headed toward the bathroom.
As he turned the corner, his heart leapt into his throat at the sight of Rogue's still form lying prone on the tiled floor. Water overflowed from the tub to pool around her.
"Rogue!" He dropped to his knees and turned her over carefully looking for signs of injury. Quickly
shutting off the water, he lifted her gently off the wet floor. A low moan escaped her lips as he carried her to the sofa.
He lightly patted her cheek, coaxing her to full consciousness. "Rogue, c'mon, cherie," he murmured
to her as she opened her eyes. "Y' mus' have fall'n an' hit y' head. Y' all right now."
Rogue shook her head as if trying to clear it. Her voice shook and her confusion was evident as she
protested, "No, Remy, Ah didn't . . ."
Sudden panic filled her eyes as she struggled to sit up. "Oh mah god, Remy . . . Sinister . . .he was here! It was Sinister!"
Remy felt the blood drain from his face at her words. Sinister here? What did he want now --?
Realization struck him as he shot up and ran toward the bedroom where
he prayed his children were still sleeping. With Rogue on his
heels, he flung open the door.
"No! Mah babies!" Rogue's cries echoed his own at
the sight of the two empty beds.