Chapter 4: In the Bayou

Mon Dieu, Remy thought, looking at Ororo standing in the distance. He watched as she stood with her arms wrapped around her, gazing out over the expansive rolling lawns that ended abruptly into the swamp. The tall grass swayed in the gentle breeze that was only present near the weather goddess.

Remy hated not knowing what was bothering his sister and had tried several times to get her to open up to him but she refused, telling him that she first needed to speak with her husband about it before she could share with her brother.

After hearing the same response after each of his inquiries, Remy got pissed and let out a stream of French curses. Ororo matched his anger with a bit of her own, using nature to tell him to back off and to leave her be. When he didn't get the message, their father, summoned by the erratic weather, spoke to both of his children, getting them both to calm down a bit.

Sharing an apologetic gaze, Remy headed back toward the main house while his father stayed near Ororo and spoke soothingly to help her rein in her emotional outburst, watching as the water began to recede back into the swamp.

Knowing that she needed the only other someone who loved her just as much as he and his son did, Jean-Luc called and told Logan that he needed the cigars that he was due to receive right away. Stopping once to look back at his daughter, Jean-Luc hoped that Logan's presence will help his daughter begin to get back to herself, the strong, stubborn woman he loved.

Remy worked hard in the kitchen in an attempt to convince Ororo to finally join them for dinner. He knew that despite her mood, she would not be able to resist his food offering. She was his biggest fan when he donned the chef's hat. He and his father knew that she hadn't eaten since arriving to the Bayou and Remy, determine to not let his sister continue to starve herself on his watch, pulled out all of the stops and created a veritable feast fit for a queen.

He knew of his father's invitation to his X-Man colleague. Though he didn't care to think of his sister and the feral mutant together, he knew deep down that Logan loved Ororo just as much as he did and would do anything it took to break her out of the funk she was in.

Here's hoping he can do what we couldn't, Remy thought as he heard his cousin's jeep pull up, heading out to meet them.

"Ororo, please join an old man for dinner tis evenin'," Jean-Luc said, joining her in the same place she had stood hours ago.

"I'm not hungry, Papa Jean," she told him, her eyes still trained on something in the distance.

"We both know tis not true, chere," he replied, "I refuse to allow ya to come back heah and cause yoself sufferin' cause of some man who never meant ya any good," Jean-Luc replied angrily, causing Ororo to look at him.

"Papa," she began but he cut her off.

"Non. Yer better than that, chile, and tis old man will go to his grave before he let his daughter die of a broken heart," he replied, taking her face into his hands and wiping away the tears that immediately spilled.

"I know yer hurting and it hurts me and ya brother to see ya this way. He has spent the day working on ya favorite foods to apologize for upsetting ya earlier and it would be rude if ya didn't come to share a meal," he told her softly, "Won't ya come?"

Sighing softly, she nodded, causing him to smile. "Thank ya, chere. Ya make de ole man 'appy." He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently before giving her a firm, yet gently hug.

"Twenty minutes?" Jean-Luc asked.

"Twenty minutes," she replied with a slight smile.

"Alright 'n don keep us waiting. This Cajun be hungry," he replied with a wink, making her chuckle before turning and retracing his steps back to the main house.

As promised, Ororo entered the main house twenty minutes later, dressed in a simple beige dress. Her brother, in his infinite wisdom, with some assistance from one of their cousins, went out and purchased clothes for Ororo who had arrived with only the clothes on her back. She had not been able to appreciate the kind gesture until she was preparing for dinner and knew that she would have to be extra nice to him for taking such good care of her.

"Dere she be," Remy exclaimed as she stepped into the dining room, the smells of his culinary feast making her mouth water. Her stomach growled loudly in the suddenly quiet room.

"I guess that means tis time to eat," Jean-Luc replied with a smile as he rose to greet her as she joined them at the table.

"I hope ya got room for one more," a voice called out from the hall.

Ororo turned towards the sound, immediately recognizing the voice. She watched as Logan stepped into the room.

"Logan," she said.

"Hey Ro," he replied, walking deeper into the room to stand before her, "Long time no see."

She stepped closer to him and his arms immediately went around her, enclosing her in the safety of his arms.

"I've missed you, my friend," she whispered, her words for his ears only.

"Feelin's mutual, darlin'," he replied, hugging her tightly while taking a deep sniff, breathing in her unique scent that always put him at ease. Smelling the salt from her tears, he pulled back from her and cupping her cheeks in his hands, wiped away the water that stained her face. His brown eyes locked on her blue ones, a silent message passing between them as Logan leaned in and touched her forehead with his own, whispering supportive words for her ears only.

Hearing the slight clearing of a throat, Logan kissed Ororo's cheek before straightening up, his heart bursting at the sight of the beautiful face before him. "What do ya say we sample what the Cajun is cooking and then we take a stroll to walk it off?" he asked.

"I would like that," she responded, smiling fully for the first time since she arrived in the Bayou.

Seeing it, Jean-Luc glance over at his son with a slight smile and nod, telling him silently that things would be just fine.