A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my Dad, who wanted to name me Aphrodite. I'm dead serious.

Thanks to: TheBlueFoxtrot A Samba, marchforth, queenith2 (No, I highly doubt it :) and thank you!), tenchi13, blackberryhunttress (Yes, Jean will eventually explain), aecul, Rogueslove22, Indigo-Night-Wisp, stalkergurl, and forbalthegreen.

Thank you for reading and reviewing! It makes me happy :o)

…

Yeah, I had me a good, long cry. I'm one of those rare and freaky people who don't feel like crap after they cry. I feel so much better after letting everything out. It's like it just refreshes my emotions and lets me start the day over.

Remy doesn't see it this way. He hates it when I cry. So while I cried my heart out into the pillow of my hospital bed, Remy hugged me, patted me on the back, kissed me, tried to make me laugh, offered to go down to the gift shop and get me a present, and he even made funny faces and then threatened to cry too.

I ignored all of his attempts however, and cried until I felt better. So ten minutes later, I dried my face, tried to make myself look presentable, and raised the back of the hospital bed so I could comfortably sit up.

"Ok," I tell Remy happily, "you can go get everyone now."

He stares at me for one long, confused moment before shaking his head. "You are strangest person I've ever met." Then he grins. "And I love you very much."

He swoops down and kisses me before I can say anything and then sprints out of the room. Hm…Odd that he thinks that way because I've always thought that he was the strangest person that I'd ever met. He is. He's the weirdest freak of nature I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. We've been married for three years yet everyday he somehow finds a new way to shock me.

Yep, married straight out of high school I did. Now, this is NOT something that I recommend for everyone. I DON'T regret marrying Remy, not for a moment. But sometimes I wonder if I should have waited a little longer.

Ah, who am I kidding? Remy would have married me even if I had refused. You might say that that would be an impossible thing to do, but I wouldn't. Remy has a way of getting what he wants. The man was bound and determined to marry me as soon as he could, and he did it.

The first time he had brought up marriage it was in a normal, everyday conversation. He just simply asked me what I thought of marriage and…I got up from the couch and ran away. Then later, when he found me, he didn't say anything about it.

Of course, a week after that, he asked me out of the blue what my ring size was. And me, being the naturally dramatic person that I am, told him that I was going to chop off my hands so I wouldn't have any ring size to speak of. He just gave me a worried look.

A few more weeks went by and he didn't say anything else about it so I got comfortable again, and actually forgot about it myself. Those days are just a happy blur in my memory now. Just a blur of kisses and laughing and Remy, Remy, Remy, Remy, Remy, and then a whole bunch of Remy.

Then one day he comes up with a ring, demands that I marry him, and then says if I don't, he's going to jump off of the roof.

Naturally, I accepted.

Ahem. Ok, I'm just kidding.

Actually, one night he took me out on a normal date. We went to the movies, saw Lord of the Rings, then when putt-putt golfing where Remy hit the ball too hard and it ended up flying out into the parking lot and cracking someone's windshield. After paying the pissed off guy for the damages, Remy happily brought me home to the mansion and walked me to my room. He gave me a good night kiss that made my toes curl inside of my shoes and then winked before heading off downstairs.

I'd heard his motorcycle roar off when I went to bed, and had wondered where he had gone but I didn't know until years later why he was leaving.

So blah, blah, blah, I went to bed, and I was rolling over when I heard a little metallic clink on the floor. After cutting on the light, I looked down to see a little diamond ring had fallen (I think it was under my pillow) on the floor. I sat there for a moment, trying to figure if I was dreaming or still awake. Slowly, I picked it up and stared at it for a long, LONG time after that.

I'll skip all of the thoughts that went through my mind but it was something like: did Remy put this here? He must have. Obviously, no one else would have. Unless it was Bobby, he's been pulling these stupid pranks like this lately. Speaking of Bobby, I am so going to kill him for that whoopee cushion at the breakfast table this morning. Maybe I could get a sack of flour and some—oh yeah, the ring.

Then I proceeded to think well into the night. Obviously Remy was asking me to marry him without actually asking me to marry him. And putting the ring here for me to find was his way of letting me know what he was thinking and giving me time to think of my answer. Because he must have known that if he had come up and asked me I might have said no since I like to think things through.

Well, when I'm not acting stupid I like to think things through.

Because to think things through, that would make you a smart person and I am most definitely not always a smart person. In fact, if you ever saw me on one of my more frequent 'slow days' you'd think that I had some severe mental problems. Which I do.

But anyway, back to the story…

I slept a total of three hours that night after making my decision. Obviously, my answer was yes. I could marry Remy and love Remy and be with him forever, or I could say no, run off, lose the only man I've ever loved (the only man I could ever love), and end up alone for the rest of my life. And I knew that I would be alone the rest of my life if I let go of Remy. Remy is my one, he's my only one. How could anyone come after him?

They couldn't. So the next morning, I woke and dressed in a rush, ready to find Remy and tell him what I wanted. But before I could leave my room, Kitty came bounding into it, shining with excitement. I was about to ask her what was going on when she threw open my window and told me to look outside.

Nervously, I did so. And I was a bit shocked by what I saw.

Sunflowers. It must have been at least a thousand of them, all stretched out on the lawn, shining brightly in the summer sun, all facing my shocked face. It actually took me a moment to notice that they were spread out into shapes…shapes of letters.

Rogue will you marry me? That was what it said. He had even gone to the trouble of spelling out the question mark with the flowers too. Remy has always been one to extravagate on everything, but this just topped the cake. This was ridiculously over the top and…it was all for me.

Remy was standing down in the midst of all the flowers, giving me the biggest grin I've ever seen. Then he got down on his knee and well…you know what happened after that. He asked, I said yes, we got hitched, Remy was really enthusiastic about the honeymoon, we were married for a couple years and then BAM! I'm pregnant.

Well, maybe not BAM, it was nicer than that. It was more like...oh wait, you don't want to know that.

At least I hope not.

But you should know that it's all Remy's fault. Not that I mind, I want my baby very much. But what I did not want was for him to make me gain twenty pounds (though I think half of that is water weight and the baby), make my ankles swell and my bladder to be pushed to its limits. Morning sickness only lasted for a little while, but I'll tell you that it was NOT fun.

One of the least fun things is having to get used to doctors always wanting to 'examine' you…down there. But really though, you kind of get used to that. After a while it just becomes such a normal occurrence, it's like going to the grocery store or shaving your legs. That sounds so messed up, but I'm telling you, it's true.

Something else that you get used to is complete and total strangers running up and touching your belly. Why anyone thinks this is acceptable behavior is beyond me. The first time it happened, I was five months along and walking through the mall with Kitty when some woman just runs up and starts running her hands over my stomach.

She very nearly died that day. I had swung back to hit her when Kitty had caught my arm and told the woman to get lost. I would have hit everyone that had come up and grabbed me after that, but if I had, my arm probably would have fallen off, so I just gave up.

I'm getting bored. Where is everyone?

I glance over at the door, only to see that it's closed and it doesn't have one of those little windows in it. I suppose that must be because it's a delivery room. If it did have a window in it, I might just find myself asking the hospital what the hell they were thinking.

Blah blah blah…I'm bored. Ah! Contraction…

It's still not that bad though. Right now it just feels like period cramps. Wait…why didn't they give me the epidural yet? Hm…They better give it to me soon, or I will cry.

Ok, this room is already starting to feel suffocating.

"You better come out soon, little one," I murmur quietly as I gaze down at my swelled stomach. I run my hands lightly over it and then push down just a little. I'm awarded with a few kicks in response.

I really wish he or she would hurry up. I want to see if my baby looks more like me or Remy. Maybe it will have Remy's red eyes and my white streak in its hair. Ha, oh WOW, I really hope it doesn't look like that. Thankfully the thing with my hair isn't genetic.

But it will most likely be a mutant. I sigh as I think of this. I know there's only a five percent chance (according to Mr. McCoy) that the baby will be a normal human, but I find myself wishing that maybe it will be.

Being a mutant is hard…It's definitely not as hard as it used to be, when the secret that we existed first came out, but it's still not easy. You can't tell people that you're a mutant, or they'll freak out. Performing mutant powers in the presence of humans is against the law. It's perfectly legal to turn down business from a mutant, whether that be at the grocery store or any restaurant or appliance store. I don't go to school anymore but I've no doubt that things there are any easier.

But if my baby is a mutant, there's no way that it'll be loved any less. In fact, it's going to be the most loved mutant ever. And if anyone tries to mess with my kid, I'm going to feed them their own teeth. That is, after I'm done dunking their head in the toilet and burning the soles of their feet with a blowtorch.

I'm sweet, aren't I?

There's a light knock on the door before it's pushed open slowly to admit Kitty, Kurt, Professor X, and Remy.

Kitty is somehow looking more excited than she was when I last saw her half an hour ago, Kurt smiles at me, but then he notices the TV and forgets me, Professor X rolls up to sit at the foot of my bed, and Remy comes back to sit right next to me.

"Did they say how long?" Kitty asks excitedly after she leans down and kisses me on the cheek.

"No," I shrug, "But I don't figure it can take too long…I've been having contractions all day….where is Jean?"

"She had to get back to work," Remy tells me softly, "she says congratulations and she should be off within a few hours. She'll come up then-"

"Wait, I thought that when your water breaks it makes the baby come faster?" Kurt asks suddenly, cutting Remy off.

"I thought so too," I reply, "But I guess every TV show and movie was wrong. After I got pregnant and started reading the baby books, I started wondering how they went into labor so fast…I mean, how did they get all the way to be ten centimeters dilated within ten seconds?"

Kurt makes a face at me. "What does dilated mean?"

"It's my cervix opening-"

"AH!" Kurt clamps his hands down over both of his ears and looks at me as though I've just said something horrible.

Geese, it's not that bad. It's just my cervix thinning out and opening to make room for the baby to come through…Ok, so maybe I can understand why he doesn't want to hear about his sister's cervix. But still…he shouldn't yell like that…I might get scared if he does that suddenly and if he startles me I might just cry.

That actually happened two weeks ago. Remy dropped a glass, it broke, I nearly jumped out of my skin because it scared me, and then I cried because I got scared. And then I cried because it was one of my favorite glasses. And then I cried because we're not filthy rich and we're having a baby and we really can't afford to buy another glass to replace it right now. And then later I cried when Jean and Scott surprised me by buying me four new glasses.

And now I'm about to cry because I just remembered all of that.

"Are you ok?" Kitty asks softly.

"Yes," I furiously wipe at my eyes, filled with unshed tears. I hate that I'm so emotional. I hate that everyone is here to witness me being so emotional, and I hate those curtains! The décor in here seriously needs some help. This hospital is in dire need of Martha Stewart.

Oh, that doesn't help! I hate Martha Stewart too! Her show creeps me out for some reason or the other…I think it's her voice.

"Do you want some ice chips?" Kurt asks as he awkwardly pats me on the leg.

"Ice chips?" I ask in confusion, "Why would I want that?"

"I thought that's what pregnant women had to eat when they were in labor…" Kurt said, "Am I wrong?"

Oh shazbot! He's not wrong. Grrr…I should have eaten a bigger lunch. I'm hungry and now all I can eat is some stupid ice chips because if I eat food I might get sick…Have I mentioned that I want the baby to hurry up?

"No, no," I say quickly, "That's right…I'll take some ice chips. Thanks Kurt."

Kurt smiles before exiting the room.

"So," Professor X finally speaks up. "Have either of you thought of any names?"

I glance over at Remy. Oddly enough…we haven't talked about it that much…probably because everytime we started talking about it, I either cried over something, threw something up, or the baby started kicking and drew our attention to it instead. I swear I think it did it on purpose.

Ok, I know that's impossible but…I don't know…maybe…

Anyway. We had talked over a few names and we have three narrowed down for a girl, and we haven't agreed on anything for a boy. And I know the universe likes to play dirty tricks on me so that's how I know I'm going to have a boy.

I guess if we have one we'll just name it Boy. Boy Lebeau.

"Actually," Remy's eyes are bright as he takes my hand and looks at me, "I heard a name when I was in Louisiana."

Oh lord.

"Yeah?" I ask uncertainly. "What was it?"

"It's the best name ever," Remy grins, "it's for a boy…"

"Ok…"

"It's Boaz."

I let out this strange noise that I've never heard come out of my mouth before. It's a mixture between a gasp and a strangled yelp. Good great fluffy mashed potatoes—he better be messin with me. Then again, if he is, and he just made my heart race around like it is right now for no reason, I will cry over it.

But the longer I look at Remy with my wide-eyed look of horror, I slowly come to realize that he's not kidding. He seriously wants to know my child Boaz. Not only is this baby doomed to have red eyes, a white stripe in its hair, and be a mutant, but Remy wants to name him Boaz!

God, I've never asked you for much, but PLEASE let me have a girl.

WHY would Remy want to do this to our child? WHY? WHY would he want to do this to ME? Can you imagine? I can. I can see myself walking through the grocery store, pushing the baby stroller and someone coming up. They would look at the baby and say 'oh what a sweet little baby! What's his name?' And I would have to say Boaz!

And then this imaginary person would look at me like I was insane and probably call child services on me. Though they could be looking at me like that because I said the name Boaz with so much contempt, as though the name itself tasted like crap on my tongue. WHICH, by the way, I'm sure it will.

But let's look at the bright side. At least he doesn't want to name it something like Gaylord or Dick or…Adolph. And at least when child services takes him away they'll give him to a more normal family who will probably change his name to something normal like Bob or…or…Stan or Jacob.

But NO! I don't want my baby taken away or to be named Bob! Or BOAZ for that matter…I won't let Remy do this, I won't! I will threaten his life before I let him name my baby Boaz!

"Boaz?" I ask in a strangled whisper.

"Uh…" He says uncertainly as he watches the emotions flicker across my face. "I…thought it was kind of cool."

"Remy," I close my eyes and try to remain calm. "I love you but…There is no way in hell that I am going to name my child Boaz."

"But-"

I snap my eyes open and at the same time I can feel my crazy emotional and hormone fueled temper snapping as well.

"Boaz Lebeau…" Remy says in a tiny voice.

Hm…Actually, that doesn't sound that ba—AH! NO! He did not just make me think that!

"No child of mine is ever going to be called Boaz!" I whimper, feeling the stupid, stupid tears of frustration starting to build up. "I can't let my baby be taken away from me!"

Remy looks at me confusedly. "What?"

"Please don't make me name him Boaz," I cover my face with my hands and as I do so I notice that Professor X and Kitty are looking a little awkward.

"Remy," Kitty says gently, "You know I'm your friend and all, and I love you but…Boaz is an atrocious name."

Since I've covered my face and am trying very hard to control my emotions, I don't get to see Remy's reaction to this. I just hope he doesn't get his feelings hurt.

"Oh, I know," I hear him say, "I was just messin around."

And that's when I see red. Or to be more specific, that's when I slam my hands down into my lap and fix Remy with the hardest glare I can muster. I suddenly have a strong urge to pull the I.V. out of my arm and poke him with the needle. And when I'm done doing that I can kick his chair over.

And yes, I have noticed that being pregnant makes me a tiny bit mean.

Just a tiny bit.

But as I glare at Remy, I see that he isn't smirking as I thought he probably was, and he's not grinning either. He doesn't look playful at all like he usually does when he's teasing me. Instead he looks guilty and a little sad at my reaction. He scratches the back of his neck and clears his throat.

Well. At least he's not being a jerk.

"I'm sorry," he tells me apologetically, "I didn't think you would react that strongly."

Wow. It's not everyday that Remy apologizes or even feels bad for teasing me. He teases me every opportunity he gets and he's never had a problem with making me mad before. And oh my God…I had fantasies about poking him with a needle and throwing him to the ground. How horrible of me.

"Oh Remy!" I bust into tears and reach for him. He looks a little uncertain and nervous of coming closer, but he's kind of forced to when I grab the front of his shirt and drag him down to me. "Thank you for not really wanting to name him Boaz!"

I almost choke as that name comes out.

I cry into his shirt and he automatically puts his arms around me and tries to soothe me.

"Uh…" Kitty says from somewhere at my side, "Maybe we should come back later…?"

"No!" I say quickly as I draw back and start wiping at my eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little emotional." I attempt to smile at them through the tears but I can feel my lower lip trembling. "I'm fine," I say in a shaky voice, "I'm…I'm fine!"

And that's when I burst into tears again.