I've never actually read a comic with JP in it, but I've read several fanfictions where he and Remy are friends, and I love the dynamics of this friendship! I've made them friends since childhood so there's this banter quota that I have to fill.

I'm so stoked that I got some reviews! (That's right, 'stoked'!) :)

Ishandahalf: Ohmigod! I love your stories! If you see anything that needs tweaking, let me know!

ColossusR: Thanks so much for reviewing. Let me know what you think.

Also, if there's anyone out there that has any nonflame reviews for me, I'll take them!

Again, I don't own anything...not the characters, not the lyrics, not a thing...

Anamarie

Chapter 2

I'm into having sex, I ain't into making love

---50 Cent, In Da Club

Jean Paul Beaubier hated being kept waiting. His companion had yet to appear and the more the minutes crept by the more gifts Jean Paul expected. "All right," he thought to himself, "that's it, mon ami, ten more minutes and I'll be expecting a diamond ring!" He ran a hand through his short white hair before inspecting his fingers and imagining how a sparkling ring would look.

A slender wooden case was dropped unceremoniously into the man's lap. He jumped, nearly tumbling the mug sitting on the table in front of him.

"Careful, JP, you don' wan' spill dat coffee on ya."

Jean Paul fixed his blue eyes on the smirking face sliding into the booth across from him. "You're right; I'd freeze."

Remy chuckled. "'m jus' surprised you di'n't scream like a femme." He pointed at the case, his red and black eyes twinkling merrily. "Go on, JP, you know you wan' open it."

The other man smiled, carefully opening the clasp on the sleek pine case. Silk lining shone under the restaurant's dim lighting. He ran his fingers lightly across the material before placing the case on the table and gently lifting a jewel-encrusted dagger from its resting place. "Oh, Remy…tres magnifique!"

"Bon. It's f'r you. You're such a fille when I'm late." He rolled his eyes.

"If only you were gay. I'd take you home in an instant."

Remy raised an eyebrow. "Desolé, mon ami. I don' swing dat way…still."

"It's just a waste, Remy." Jean Paul sighed and replaced the dagger. "So, I assume you've called me to watch you wallow in self-pity some more? I told you, Belladonna was not the one for you."

He winced at the name and ran a hand through his brown hair. He pushed back the strands falling in eyes, unsuccessfully tucking them behind his ears and huffing as they fell back into his line of sight. "Don' wan' t' t'ink 'bout her right now."

"Remy…it's been three months…you have to move on…and don't tell me you have…I do not consider jumping from bed to bed to be healing!"

"You been talkin' to 'Ro again, ain'tcha?"

JP stiffened. "Actually…yes…that was from her."

"Tell her not t' worry 'bout me." He winked at the server as a glass of champagne was placed in front of him. She giggled as she walked away. JP rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you come to the Institute? I know they'd take you. I'd bet they'd even let you teach a class on art appreciation."

Remy laughed as he shook his head. "I ain't a teacher, JP. Dat's you an' Stormy."

"She'd kill you if she heard you call her that." He tried another approach. "Rem, we have been friends since we were kids."

"An' you tried to kiss me…"

"You were sending signals…"

"To your sister."

"Details!" He waved his hand. "The point, mon ami, is that I care what happens to you. Ororo does too. You would really like working there. Can't you consider it?"

He grinned but shook his head again. "Non. B'sides, de reason I dragged your sorry ass out tonight was to let you know dat I'm leavin' New York."

His friend's eyes widened. "Quoi?"

"'Cause I got me a job offer…in Paris." He dumped several bills on the table as he stood up. Patting his friend on the shoulder, he leaned forward conspiratorially. "Oh, and, JP? Don't underestimate the healing effect of bed-hopping." He strode away, grinning charmingly at the young champagne server who stood waiting by the bar, a jacket slung over her arm.

X

"Anna?"

She flinched. "Just Rogue, please."

"Sorry. Rogue?"

"Yes?"

"Professor Xavier and I have decided to let you stay on at the Institute…as a full-time teacher."

The young lady leaned her head back in relief, her white bangs mixing into the auburn of the rest of her hair. "Thank Gawd." She tilted her face so that her green eyes could look into Ororo Munroe's blue ones.

The Kenyan woman nodded regally. "You deserve it. You took all of those classes at the University while still maintaining your…training…here. Besides, you've been a great teacher's assistant. I still do not know how you did it all."

Rogue offered a weak smile. "Nuthin' much else t' do 'cept study."

Ororo grimaced at the self-loathing in her young friend's voice. "I know that your breakup was incredibly hard on you. But I think…I know…that there is someone better out there for you. Someone who will not leave you for another girl."

Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Storm…every guy will undoubtedly leave me for another girl. At some point, they'll get tired of not being able to…do anything. They'll want a girl they can touch. Ah don't blame Cody…he held on for a long while. Longer than anyone else could."

"You don't believe that. What about Bobby? I've seen the way the two of you look at each other. Is there something there?"

"He says there is. An', Ah don't know…Ah do like 'im. Ah…Ah just…Ah don't want to hurt him. An' Ah don't want to get left again."

Ororo nodded. "Well, you'll know what to do. Meanwhile, you can get ready to start teaching!" She rubbed her hands together and fished a key out of her desk. "You will absolutely love your room! It overlooks the gardens." She paused. "Did you hear something?"

Rogue tilted her head. "Cell phone?"

She whipped her long, silver hair over to one shoulder as she flipped her cell phone open and placed it to her ear. "Hello? Hey, JP." She winked at Rogue who instantly sat back down. JP was a nice guy…a great teacher…but boy, could the man talk!

"He's going where! Put him on the phone, Jean Paul. What do you mean--?" Rogue watched with interest as her friend's face turned several shades of pink. She flipped her phone closed and sat down in her chair.

"Are you okay, Ororo?" She seemed much older than her thirty years.

She managed a pathetic smile. "JP and I have a mutual friend. He's practically family to both of us. He's…been going through a rough breakup…just like you."

Rogue nodded.

"He caught his girlfriend…the day he was going to propose."

The younger woman's brow furrowed. She felt a tiny piece of her heart go out to him. His breakup was way worse than hers could have been. At least, she reasoned, Cody had had the decency to tell her. She didn't know what she would have done if she'd caught him…but she was fairly sure there would have been draining involved. "So, is he, off the deep end?"

Ororo laughed. "No. Well…no more than usual."

"Why are you so worried then?"

She focused her blue eyes on a pile of papers on her desk. "He's running away."