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This is the funeral chapter! It's kinda sad!

Rogue awoke the next morning feeling poorly rested. She showered and dressed with care and spent twenty minutes staring at herself in the mirror, she wanted to look her best for Remy. Still, she welted in the summer heat.

She took a taxi to the church where Jean-Luc had told her to meet him, the doors were thrown open and a large knot of men stood by the entrance smoking, he was not among them. She passed through and into the sanctuary, noticing the mourners were all members of the Thieves Guild.

Jean-Luc, his daughter-in-law Mercy and Tante Mattie were standing by a closed coffin in front of the communion rail, greeting the mourners as they filed by. She fell into place in line and slowly made her way up to the coffin. She wondered how many of these people Remy had actually known and how many were there merely there for formalities. She watched as a woman leaned in and kissed the lid of the coffin, she realized that it was Belladonna and that she had a far away look in her eyes. As she passed, their gazes met and it was a strange moment where two women who were not particularly fond of each other shared one grief. Then it passed and all too soon Rogue stood in front of the coffin, she wondered if she should bend and kiss it as the others did. She paused and froze up, not knowing what to do, she hadn't planned what she would say and somehow the idea that it would be a closed coffin funeral had never registered, but she should have thought of it, especially if Remy had been in some kind of horrible accident. The thought was too awful.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and Jean-Luc guided heraway to stand by him. He squeezed her shoulder and whispered for her to stay with the family. She shook hands with the others, most people just passed by and muttered their condolences, an elderly nun shook her hand and gave her a stern looking over. "I was Remy's teacher in the seventh grade." She said. Rogue nodded awkwardly and the nun said a few more words to Jean-Luc before passing on.

Finally all of the mourners had taken their seats and the priest began to speak. She was shepherded to a pew by Tante Mattie who held her hand warmly.

She sat through the service quietly, breathing in the incense and took communion with the others, Jean-Luc sat stiffly in his seat with Tante Mattie who had an almost disapproving look on her face. She wondered what could have been the cause of it. Their expressions were so out of place. Had things not been well between them at the end?

When the service was complete Jean-Luc took her arm and guided her towards a black limo outside, with him was Tante Mattie and Mercy, squinting in the sun. He held the door open for her and the two women and shut it behind himself as he slid in. She stared out the window silently as the city flashed by, they were leading the procession. The limo took several turns and they stopped outside the cemetery wall.

The pallbearers lead the way, holding the coffin high and winding their way through the mausoleums, the others followed to an old but well kept tomb in a corner. Rogue looked at it, stunned to see such an old crypt still in use. A large block had been removed from the center, creating an opening. They slid the coffin inside and the accompanying priest said his words and the tomb was resealed.

It was all so quick to Rogue, she could hardly believe it and stood numbly as tears rolled down her cheeks. Jean-Luc put a hand on her shoulder again and clasped it firmly. When the ceremony was complete and the funeral guests began to disperse, many of them talking loudly and a few even laughing as they told stories about Remy or about others whom they knew. It seemed more a celebration of life than a commiseration of death. She turned to Jean-Luc, silently asking what to do.

He waited a moment before guiding her along, following a smaller crowd of people who were talking loudly bout heading to lunch.

"Are you hungry, Chere?" Jean-Luc asked, putting his arm around her shoulders.

Rogue shrugged. "Ah guess." She said, looking back at the grave that was now sealed. Bunches of flowers were already wilting around it. With no people remaining it looked strange.

The crowd moved to an upscale restaurant and seated themselves near the window, the nun from the funeral was sitting across from her, praying before her meal. Rogue looked away, feeling distinctly unpious.

Talk had broken out and several people were laughing loudly, it was astounding how they could go from grieving to laughing. The nun, who had finished praying, crossed herself and turned to Jean-Luc to speak. "I was stunned to hear it." She said. "I taught that boy to read when you first adopted him, you remember? I just can't believe it." She shook her head.

"You taught Remy to read?" Rogue asked.

The nun nodded. "I did. Jean-Luc called me special, said he had a boy that needed help and he wouldn't trust anyyyybody else." She drew out the word 'anybody'. "So I came over and saw this little boy, big dark glasses sitting at Jean-Luc's table. I thought he might have been blind. But of coarse he wasn't, but he didn't know how to read much at all and he was stubborn too, complained that he didn't need to know how to read. Said he'd never had to before. But by the end I had him reading good as any other ten year old. So good he started school when he was eleven." She gave off a hearty laugh.

Rogue smiled at the thought. It made her sad but it also made her happy.

Jean-Luc laughed pleasantly. "My son has always been rather stubborn." He chuckled and then leaned in towards Rogue. "Wold you mind coming with me when you finish eating?"

Rogue blinked. "Oh, of coarse." Jean-Luc turned back to the nun and resumed his conversation and she wondered in her thoughts. Other than a few select people she didn't know anyone there, these were Remy's people and they belonged in a totally separate world. They talked of things and places and doings that all pertained to their world. She wasn't part of that world, maybe that was why she and Remy had fought so much. Belladonna had been part of Remy's world and it made her just a little jealous. She finished her meal and wondered just how deep the city and her people had been part of Remy, she'd never truly appreciated it.

Jean-Luc cleared his throat and excused himself, standing up. "Would y' come wit' me?" He asked, sliding out her chair. She nodded and followed him.

Out on the street Jean-Luc light up and offered her a cigarette, she declined, shaking her head. "Chere, I know this is goin' to be difficult but there are some legal maters dat need attention I was wonderin' if you would accompany me to the lawyer's office."

She nodded, glad that she wouldn't be left to her thoughts.

They hailed a cab and headed downtown. Jean-Luc didn't say anything as they went. He stared out the window and Rogue couldn't help but think about Remy as they went.

They pulled up outside the lawyer's office, the sun glaring over head. As they stepped inside a wave of cool air washed over them. Jean-Luc spoke to the secretary. "I'm here to see Judge MacGlynn about Remy Lebeau's affairs." He said. She buzzed them in and then continued her crossword.

The judge that greeted them was ancient, he was almost bald and his face was so thing he looked like a skull, in fact, Rogue could make out his bones through his almost translucent skin. He held out a hand and when he smiled his lips drew back making his skull apprentice even more frightening. She swallowed, he was a sallow reminder of death.

"Mr. Lebeau, so glad to see you again if only it wasn't under such regretful circumstances." He turned to Rogue, his crisp white suit wrinkling slightly. "And, ma'am it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She shook his hand and he motioned them both to seats in front of his desk. "Such sadness, loss."

Jean-Luc sat with his legs crossed and elbows resting on the arms of his chair. "Indeed, I never thought I would see the end of my line in such a way." Rogue thought he seemed almost detached sounding.

The Judge shook his head remorsefully. "Death is a wicked friend." He said. "Would either of you care of a brandy? I find it helps when dealing with matters such as these." He glanced at Rogue. "In a medicinal sort of way, my dear."

She nodded, a drink was just what she needed. He crossed and poured from a decanter in the corner. "Remy did not leave his affairs in order. It will be most difficult to sort them out. I suppose though, that everything will go to the next of kin."

Rogue took her glass and stared in to it. The judge continued.

"He did however leave a message only days before his, ah passing. Most unusual but I have long since given up deciphering the ways of the Thieves Guild." The Judge reached inside of his desk and drew out an envelope. "It's for the lady."

Rogue took it with trembling hands, completely forgetting about her glass and letting it slip from her fingers. Jean-Luc caught it without a word. The envelope was unmarked and thin.

"Well, go ahead, open it." Judge MacGlynn said, folding his hands placatedly.

She swallowed. Remy's last words to her were inside the envelope and she didn't know if she could open it. She didn't even know if she wanted to. Would it be better to leave it a mystery?

"Go ahead my dear." Said the lawyer, giving her a kind smile that made him look more skull like than ever.

Her hands trembled again as she reached across the desk for a letter opener which Jean-Luc promptly placed in her hand. She swallowed and sliced through the top of the letter. Inside was a single piece of paper.

Despite himself, the judge leaned forward and watched with rapt attention. After a moment she looked up, confused. "Ah don't understand."

The paper contained only four simple directions and no explanation.

Jackson Square,

8:30 p.m.

Be in front of the gates,

Wear something pretty.

Jean-Luc and the judge looked at each other with resigned looks. "My dear, I think you should do what the letter says." Judge MacGlynn said soothingly. "Perhaps it is Remy's way of giving you closure."

She looked down at the letter, horribly disappointed. She didn't know what she had expected but she knew it wasn't this. Then an idea came to her that maybe Remy had another message for her and she would find it tonight. Yes, She thought, that must be it Remy was always so secretive.

She nodded to Jean-Luc and the judge and then stood. "I'll go."

"Will you be alright getting back to your hotel?" Jean-Luc asked sympathetically.

She nodded.

"Have my driver escort you. He knows the way."

She thanked him and the judge and as she was backing out the door the judge leaned forward in a grandfatherly show of compassion and left a kiss only inches from her bare cheek. "There, there, my dear." He said. "You mustn't be too hard on the boy."

She drew back, puzzled. "What?"

But he had already closed the door to his office and she attributed it to a slip of old age.

Half way out she met two younger men coming in from lunch, the older of whom she guessed to be the judge's son and the younger, who was not really that young, to be his grandson. They nodded to her courteously and the younger one held the door. "Is he still in a meeting?" He asked.

She nodded and slipped out.

Out on the street she paused, the sun was bright and glaring, the air was warm and humid with the promise of rain and people were passing buy, languidly and in no haste. She found Jean-Luc's driver sitting in the front seat with the window rolled down, he was reading the newspaper and smoking lazily.

"You need a ride home, missus?" He asked.

She nodded and he folded up his paper.

"I'm staying at-"

"Mr. Lebeau told me everyt'ing. I know where we're goin'."

She settled back in the car and sighed, her head was swimming and now that she was alone again thoughts of Remy floated back up to the surface. She didn't want to cry but she thought that she might not be able to help it at this point. She sank deeper into the seat and closed her eyes.

Thanks for reading! I hope it wasn't too sad! Rogue's gonna follow the instructions next chapter, keep a look out for what she'll find!