Disclaimer: As I already noted, nothing belongs to me


A/N – Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far! I love you guys! BJ2 - I don't like making Rogue all that innocent either, as much as I love her. In this story she just happens to be like that. Anyway, I haven't read the comics, I've just read some summaries on the net. I know what happened on Antarctica, but I chose to ignore it as well as this new thing with Gambit as the Horseman of Apocalypse. TAS Gambit and Rogue rock! All the rest is just background to me...:)

Note – Just in case you don't remember, or you haven't read 'Father of the Bride', Remy's still the only one who can touch Rogue due to the development of his powers (that thing from the comics that I borrowed and decided to keep permanently :) )


CHAPTER 7

Show must go on

October, a couple of weeks before the prologue; Westchester, New York

Shady autumn sun peeked through the windows as the mansion's Southern Belle came down the stairs to the kitchen to get some coffee. It was around 3 PM and the mansion was half-empty, as usual. Storm and Jubilee were on the mission, Hank was probably in the hospital, she had absolutely no idea where did Jean and Scott go, Logan was probably in the Danger Room, the professor in his library, Remy… She didn't actually know where Remy went. After that fateful night in August, things kind of went back to normal. He didn't go on much missions anymore and she got some time off too. However, he was still out of the mansion a lot. He would come back late, stay even longer up with the computer, than sleep long in the mornings and somewhere in the afternoon – simply leave again. What happened that night was never again mentioned between them. The next morning, Rogue woke up to find Remy sleeping on the sofa, his leg bandaged. When he woke up, she just began to act like nothing happened. He asked him worriedly about his injury, smiled sweetly as always, if not for the occasional faraway look in her eyes, no one would ever suspect their marriage wasn't perfect.

Remy on the other hand tried to talk about what happened. Wanted, to be more accurate. He never got the courage to bring up the subject, too afraid of seeing that painful look in her eyes again, that look that still haunted his dreams. Instead, he just used the illusion of idyll they made to 'investigate' the nature of Rogue's 'relationship' with Warren. He was almost convinced she really didn't cheat on him, but his heart wasn't completely rid of the doubt.

Still, they talked, about trivial every day stuff, but they still talked, smiled, held hands in public and even though it was more of a façade, Rogue held on to it, desperately hoping something will bring those happy moments back. As she finally reached the kitchen, she was pleasantly surprised to see Hank having his dose of caffeine for the day.

"Hey Hank? Whatcha doin' outside the hospital?"

"Can't a doctor have a day off?" he smiled to her and offered her a chair

"Thanks." She smiled as she sat next to him, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

They continued their small-talk for a while and it immediately reminded her of her first years as an X-man. It reminded her of their mutual breakfasts and jokes. The house was never empty back than. Things were really different now.

After a while she stood up to place her cup into the sink, excusing herself to Hank. She wanted to get to the Danger Room before Logan reoccupies it again. Suddenly she felt strangely dizzy. Her vision got blurry and her legs felt like they were detached from the rest of her body. She gripped the counter as the cup escaped her fingers and broke into pieces, leaving brown coffee marks on the white-tiled floor. Her stomach flipped and she felt like she was going to throw up. Her head was heavy and the buzzing in her ears irritated her.

"Rogue? What's wrong dear." Hank gently grabbed her from behind and helped her to a chair. "Were you feeling sick?" he asked in his best doctor voice.

She described him the feeling in a few short words.

"Aha. And has it happened before? Early in the morning perhaps?" he continued to ask

"A couple of times, but Ah usually have low blood pressure in the mornin'. Ah'm tend ta feelin' sick than. Ah'm sure it's nuthin'." She already made a move to stand up. She didn't like being sick. She rarely was. Still, Hank stopped her.

"Just one more question. When did you have your last period?"

"It skipped a month or so, but Ah nevah was a regular. It's probably the stress playin' with muh hormones."

"I wouldn't say so." Hank smiled knowingly as he finally realized what was wrong with his young friend

"Whaddaya mean, Hank?" Rogue replied, looking at him with an confused expression.

"My dear, I think you're pregnant. I'd say for about two months judging by your enhanced appetite and the symptoms of sickness you just described. But I suggest you go to a specialist just to make sure. I'm not really…"

It wasn't important anymore. After the first line, she didn't even listen carefully to him anymore. She was expecting Remy's child. Her face lit with a smile that hadn't been seen on her for a while now. She placed her hand on her abdomen absentmindedly. Maybe this was a miracle she was hoping for…


A/N – I'm hardly capable of writing anything longer at the moment. I blame the school that doesn't leave me alone not even on weekends…You'd be happy to know that there are only a few more chapters 'till the end. Just two or three.