"Are you sure your parents are alright wit' dis?" Remy asked, nervously running his fingers through his hair.

The last year had been kind to him. He'd mostly recovered from the malnutrition of his captive years, shooting up a couple of inches and developing some muscle from the training sessions.

He wasn't fully recovered… not mentally.

"I-I mean… dis sounds like a family t'ing."

David and Kurt both glanced up at their friend, tilting their heads to one side in unison.

"You are family…" David rolled his eyes, "… why would you think that you weren't? Now come on! They're waiting for us downstairs, and I can promise that they will leave without us."

Kurt nodded in agreement, "Zey did five years ago."

"Yep, Pietro came back and got us though."

"Ve vere a lot smaller zen…. He won't be able to carry us zis time."

Remy opened his mouth again to protest, only for David and Kurt to grab one arm each and pull him out of the door, the bags floating behind them.

Down in the hall, David's parents and siblings were waiting, along with Kurt's parents and sister.

"Finally!" Wanda rolled her eyes, "Why are you two always late?"

David scrunched up his face, "Why are you two always late?" he mimicked, jumping behind Kurt as Wanda growled at him.

"Children, children…" Charles held up his hands, in a silent call for order, "… can we have at least one family holiday without arguing?"

"They take after us Charles…" Erik muttered fondly, "… it'll never happen."

Remy laughed nervously along with the rest of the family, as they all nodded in agreement. He hoped the metal-bender was only joking.

It hadn't been that long since he heard the story of their last argument… and the one before that.

******Flashback******

"I knew it!"

David and Kurt frowned, glancing at Remy, who was staring at the computer screen.

"I knew I'd seen him somewhere!"

Before the other two could say anything, Remy spun the screen around and gestured at the video he was watching.

"Why didn' you tell me your Vati was de mutant who tried to kill de president?!"

On the screen, the pair could see Erik dressed in his old Magneto uniform, arms out-stretched as he made his speech.

"It… didn't seem important?" David winced, watching as he and Kurt raced out onto the scene (Kurt wearing his concealer watch) to protest his Vati's words and actions, "Him and Dad were going through a rough patch… Dad was pinned under something at this point I think."

Remy scowled, turning the screen back around as his eyes widened again and he gestured at it again, "And dat's you! I'm sure of it… you and Kurt with dat watch!"

"Yeeeeaaaaahhhh…" Another wince, "… It wasn't that important."

Remy stared at them in silence for a few moments, before shaking his head and groaning, "I can't believe you two! How could you not tell me?!"

"It's… complicated."

When Remy just stared at him, David sighed. "It's hard admitting that my Vati was once considered a super-villain. The man who once threatened to kill the president of the United States… It was a hard couple of years before all that, dealing with Dad's depression and I guess I- I just wanted to forget about it all."

Silence.

"Yeah…" Remy finally whispered, shutting the laptop, "… I get that."

****End Flashback*****

If Erik could think about killing the President after an argument with his husband, then what would he consider doing after another argument.

"Alright, is everyone ready!" Charles called out, smiling as they all nodded, "Excellent. Azazel, if you would do the honours?"

"Da." The older teleporter muttered in Russian, silently gesturing for everyone to link hands, before they all disappeared in a red cloud of smoke, reappearing in a clearing in the middle of a patch of wood.

Within seconds, Pietro had set up the tent (and Erik had neatened it up), and a fire was crackling merrily in the middle of the campsite.

Unsure about what to do, Remy hovered uncertainly on the outskirts of the site, fists clutching at the bag strap.

"Remy, come and sit down." Charles asked gently, patting the space beside him as Erik covered him with a blanket, "There's no point in hovering around like that. You'll find that it never takes us very long to set up."

"Oui, I-I can see dat." Remy did as he was bid, glancing around in amazement. Within seconds, four tents had been set up and all the equipment lay on the floor.

"Bagsy not getting the food!" Pietro suddenly piped him, cackling as everyone else called out "Not it!" as well (Remy only joining in at Kurt's nudge).

David called it out just a little too late, face twisting in frustration as he rolled his eyes and pushed himself to his feet. "Alright! Alright! Fish coming right up!"

"Need any help?" Raven asked, only for David to wave her off.

"Nah, let's call this a lesson in control."

The whole group watched as David walked to the edge of the river, hands outstretched in front of him as he took a deep breath. Within a minute of careful concentration, ten flapping fish were hovering inches above the surface of the river.

And then they were all hitting Pietro in the face, causing the speedster to fall backwards off of the log he was sitting on. Within seconds of her twin falling to the ground, Wanda flicked her fingers, red magic darted out and hitting David in the back of the legs, sending him falling backwards to the ground, legs splashing in the water.

"Bullies! Both of you!" the teenager cried out in indignation, "Treason!"

"Deserved!" "Deserved!"

As the rest of the family chuckled, David sheepishly made his way over, removing his jeans until he was left in his swimming trunks underneath.

"Remy…" Charles looked exasperated by his children's bickering as he turned to the surprisingly silent teen, "… have you ever tried fish roasted over a fire?"

Remy nodded, thinking back to the days of travelling with his Papa, automatically curling up at the memory. Thankfully, Charles didn't push any further, clapping his hands together. "Well then, why don't you help Azazel with the fish, and let's have dinner!"

…

The fish disappeared in almost an instant, as night fell.

With the only light being the fire in the centre of the camp, and blankets wrapped all around them, they all started to tell each other stories.

Well, Charles started to tell stories… he was the best of it anyway, animated hands telling the legend of Atlantis.

It should have been distracting.

It should have taken Remy's mind off of everything.

And yet, when everyone had clambered into their sleeping bags, inside the tents, Remy remained where he was, sunglasses off as he stared up at the moon.

"Remy?"

Remy flinched, spinning around to see Erik leaning against a nearby tree, yawning, before moving over.

"So, what's got you down?" he asked the teen, taking a seat beside him, "I know this family is a bit chaotic and this isn't quote the peaceful camping trip you expect, but- "

"- I used to do dis wit' my Papa." Remy interrupted, not really caring that it was rude to do so, "When we used to travel across de country, we'd spend de night in caravans, and he'd teach me all about de stars."

"… They're gone now, aren't they?"

Remy nodded silently, pulling his legs up as he wrapped his arms around them.

"Charles has been asking around you know…" Erik continued, undeterred by the silent treatment, "… trying to find out if anyone knows what might have happened to your family."

"Don't bother…" Remy mumbled, "… I know dey're dead, and de Thieves Guild has probably disappeared under-ground. If de Assassins haven't took advantage and killed dem all anyway."

"… Sounds like you live in interesting times."

Remy couldn't help but chuckle, "Yeah, you could say dat."

Silence fell over the small area once again, and Remy's mind once again turned to New Orleans…. Maybe the Assassins did attack… maybe they managed to kill the Thieves.

Did anyone survive?

Henri's family?

Tante Mattie?

Anyone?

The thought was too depressing to think about. Huddling up, Remy didn't hear Erik shuffle closer until a gentle hand was on his shoulder.

"It's getting cold…" the man muttered, thankfully seemed to understand that the teen didn't want to talk about his family anymore, "… you should probably get inside."

"Oui… I will."

Thankfully, Erik didn't push any further and turned to leave.

Remy, turned his attention back to the stars.