Overall Chapter Rating/Warnings: Teen I guess. Perhaps some language. Innuendo. Can't forget the slash.

Author's Notes: I haven't updated any of my stories in the past week or so because I have been sick during that entire time and only recently did my fever start to go away. I tried to write something during that time but I was just too exhausted. I don't really feel like writing any of my other stories except for this one because I was reading these fantastic Logan x Remy stories and now I am addicted to writing for them for a while. I am trying to think up a new plot for these two. I am addicted to their angst and fluff. XD There really isn't much more I have to say right now, aside from the fact that I love receiving POSITIVE and POSITIVE only feedback. This type of feedback only encourages me to write more, whereas negative makes me want to not write the story at all. And for those who want me to continue it would be unfair to not continue because of a stupid flame. So, those who have the urge to write a flame for some reason unknown to me, don't bother. You are wasting your's and my time. Well, I figure that is enough of my ranting for now. I would love some more reviews on this story…another one with this pairing will be coming along soon. So, enjoy chapter seven…which is most likely going to be longer than the rest of the chapters of this story…the one review that I got for the last chapter severely bugged me. AND YES…there are things in the chapters that are important for later chapters…so don't tell me that it just drags on and on PLEASE. You have to pay special attention to certain things, no matter how small they might seem. Thanks.

Better In Time - Chapter Seven


Throughout the entire night and into the early hours of the morning, Rogue couldn't help but wonder just what Remy was doing. She couldn't help but wonder whether or not he was coping with his sadness in a constructive or a destructive way. Maybe those few days in seclusion made him realize that there was no point in condemning himself to his bedroom and even if he spent the rest of his lifetime there, Logan's feelings would not change. She hoped that he realized that drinking wasn't going to affect the situation, but it would only do more damage to himself. Even though Rogue said she would come and pick him up if Remy needed her to, she doubted he would go out of his way to make the phone call. Remy wasn't one to look for pity, and he handled any situation he was in the best way he saw fit.

As a way to pass the time, Rogue and Ororo were sitting in the kitchen, clad in their pajama's, lounging on two of the barstools. It may have been one in the morning, but Ororo agreed that she would stay up to keep Rogue company while she waited for Remy to return home to the mansion. Ororo could understand just why Rogue felt the way she did over him, because Remy was like a younger brother to her. She wanted to protect him just as Rogue did. Before tonight, Ororo was completely unaware of what was going on with Remy and Logan, but now she knew just about everything there was to know up until the point where Remy left the mansion. Usually, Remy strolled into the mansion around this time and they could expect to go off to bed within the next half hour or so.

After a few minutes passed, the front door opened and then slammed, as if paying no discretion to whomever was asleep in the mansion. Rogue and Ororo stood up from their barstools and hurried out of the kitchen to hopefully meet Remy before he headed up to his bedroom. They advanced on and Rogue was about to speak before she saw something that deemed to be quite deceiving to the eyes with the issue's Remy had days prior. Something was indeed very odd about what the two X-women were seeing.

Remy looked to be completely sober, smiling widely…and his arm was linked with another mans. This man was a couple inches taller than Remy, short brown hair and wearing dark clothes. He looked like the guy you would typically find in a bar---starting a fight. This taller man was whispering into Remy's ear, earning a soft laugh from Remy in turn. Remy responded with some statements in French, and nudging himself closer to the other male. They headed up the stairs slowly, two sets of eyes watching them as they did so. They were completely astonished at the site before them. If anything, Remy was a ladies man in a public place, but he managed to attract a guy. Ororo was wondering just who instigated what and how exactly was Remy going to fill this void in his heart by taking home some guy from a bar. Did he successfully manage to get rid of the feelings he had for Logan? Or was this just something to keep him busy in the meantime?

Rogue blinked and then slowly turned her gaze from the pair now at the top of the stairs. "Well then…" She trailed off and Ororo seemed to think the exact same thing. "I think we can go to bed now…he's home."

Ororo nodded, and then turned to walk to her bedroom. Rogue then went in the complete opposite direction, a bit perplexed by what just had just happened in front of her. She didn't get a good vibe from him right off the bat, not knowing what good was going to come out of having a one night stand.

--

The next morning, Rogue and Ororo failed to mention the incident that had happened the night before. It was still fresh on their minds and they wanted to actually knock some sense into Remy and tell him that perhaps this wasn't a good idea to hook up with some random guy in a bar. Of course there was nothing about this guy that Remy could have found out in the time they spent together at the bar to make him trust him. Easily, this was purely a lust-filled one-night stand. This could have been the tactic to fill the void in Remy's heart to cast Logan aside. But, this would have only been a temporary solution to his problem.

After this guy departed, sure enough Remy would be alone again and he would be back at square one. Alcohol would be back in the direction. Rogue didn't know what Remy's thoughts were. She didn't know who this guy was. But she had been up for the past couple hours and there was no sign of that man leaving. There was also the possibility that Remy was using this man to make Logan jealous, thinking that if Logan saw him with another man he might just compete for him. But if Remy knew Logan at all, that wasn't going to be the outcome. Logan was far more grown up than that--playing those stupid middle school games. He didn't have time, nor the care to participate in the crush bullshit.

There was nothing that prepared any of the X-Men for what they saw next. There was Remy---and the mysterious guy from the bar, arms linked and standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Remy had the same smile on his face that he did last night and he seemed to have an odd glow about him. Rogue smiled to them both, deciding to make a good impression, and if this really was love---which she highly doubted---Remy would never forgive her for acting immaturely or irrationally towards his new love interest. "Who's your friend?" she asked, keeping her eyes on the pair, as was Ororo and Jean. Scott and Logan had been busy arguing over who got the last biscuit (even though Jean had more in the oven), but now their gazes were aimed in the same direction as the others.

"This `s Derek…we met at da bar last night." Remy said, almost sounding quite proud of himself, thinking Derek was such a rare and incredible find. Derek wasn't hard on the eyes. Dark, spiky hair. Bright green eyes. Considerably taller than Remy but a couple inches. Slender. A piercing and a tattoo here and there. They both had on the clothes they were wearing the previous night, because what anyone could only imagine must have happened. The smile on his face spread as Derek entangled their limbs and wrapped his arm around his waist, pulling him closer. "He was `lone, so Remy decided he would go `head and keep `em some company."

Derek chuckled and grinned. "And keep me company, he did." Remy blushed. "I'm falling for this one pretty quick." he said and leant in and kissed the others cheek lightly.

They could tell by how Remy was acting that he had not intended on picking anyone up at the bar. Perhaps this was just an impulse? But apparently, with what Derek was saying, this wasn't going to end just as quickly as it started. Maybe Remy had no intentions of ending this relationship. There were so many questions that were going to remain unanswered for the time being. Rogue and Ororo smiled lightly at the site before them, not really knowing what would be appropriate to say next. "So…" Rogue decided to make a start. "What exactly happened last night…? At the bar---I mean." She blushed, feeling she overstepped the boundaries unintentionally.

Remy draped one of his arms over Derek's stomach, feeling the muscles ripple under his touch. "I was playing some pool when I noticed his pretty face all the way across the room." He turned to look at the auburn haired man and grinned at the fact that he was making him blush. "I asked what he was drinking and he told me. I wasn't expecting him to invite me to sit down, though. But I didn't let him drink too much…I didn't want him to forget what happened later in the night." He teased and Remy was now beet red at this point.

Rogue grinned. Maybe this was going to be something that could actually end up working out. "Oh? Well I can understand that much. Seems like you two had fun last night." She didn't know whether or not fun was a good word for what she was trying to describe.

"That we did." Derek finished.

"Oh--do you want to stay for breakfast? We have plenty." Jean implied and gestured to the table, which Logan just got up and left from. Logan couldn't take anymore from these two. It was almost pathetic just how they were acting, in his opinion.

"If you don't mind I haven't eaten since last night." He winked to Remy.

Logan nearly barfed as he took his leave. He too didn't get a good vibe from this guy---but perhaps the other's now how a different outtake on this guy.

-End of Chapter Seven-


Author's Notes: Obviously, Derek is my OC that I just made out of the spur of the moment. I try to make him as witty as I can, even if it might not be appropriate in front of others. XD Well, I spent nearly three days working on this chapter, as short as it might be…see…it's hard for me to make long chapters because I get bored really easily. I can't spend an extended amount of time on a chapter without eventually getting pissed off. XD I just want to finish it. On my next fic with these two, I will surely make the chapters longer. I have outlined ten chapters so far and it's going to be quite fluffy. I suppose that is a good thing, yes? Well, positive feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you.