Chapter Ten: Je t'aime

"What's the matter Hank? What happened to Bobby? Why aren't you down there?!" The gathered X-Men all but yelled as they gathered once again in the den. They were all very worried but by the look of unadulterated joy that colored the blue man's face they knew it couldn't be bad.

"Bobby gripped Remy's hand, then responded to a question. He's waking up!"

The shout of joy could probably be heard all the way in Salem Center, but everyone was just so overjoyed that they almost didn't hear Hank's more somber tone.

"But I do not know what state his mind is in, nor what it will be like when he awakes. For right now, no one is allowed down in my lab save Remy, the Professor and myself."

"Why Remy?!" Some cried, still holding a grudge for what he did to Bobby.

"Because Remy has been sneaking down to my lab every night to talk and read to him. Our Arcadian friend was nearly broken by this and Bobby is responding to him." Hank informed in his 'polite but don't you dare contradict me' tone.

"Alright folks, you heard Hank. Stay away from Medlab unless you've managed to do something to land yourself down there. And no Jublilee a paper cut does not constitute as a needed trip."

"But it's still bleeding!" she all but whined and Logan disappeared to the kitchen, returning with the first aid kit.

"Hank?"

The blue man sighed, and nodded, removing a Cookie monster Band-aid. Placing it on the offending finger, and throwing the wrapper away, Hank nodded to all of them and headed back down to his lab and the two he left there.

#

"C'mon Bobby open y' eyes. Si'l tu plais. Si'l tu plais jus' open y' eyes cher. I'll do anyt'in' 'cept give up t'ievin'."

Remy moved his eyes from the prone form on the bed to heavenward.

"I know I don' do dis like I should. Don' really t'ink I believe in y', mais..I'll do anyt'in' y' want m' t'..jus' let him wake up an' be okay." There was no response and Remy really didn't think he'd get one. But he still kept talking, more to just keep the horrid silence at bay.

"An' I swear I'll nevah steal from anyone who don' deserve it...an' I'll give some...most..almost all o' it t' de poor. I'll set up more homes for de homeless chilens..si'l vous plais Dieu. I'll do anyt'in' f' y'..jus let Bobby be okay.."

"Remy...LeBeau..praying..Have...I...died...?" A voice croaked out, and Remy whipped his head to lock eyes with the man he was praying for.

"Non, non cher. Y' still here...merci Dieu...oh Merci Dieu! T'ought I lost y'..Je suis Desolee Rober'...je t'aime cher." Remy whispered brokenly, wanting to do nothing more than just hug the man right then and there. And as if he were telepathic, Bobby tugged on Remy's hand and motioned for him to come down. Leaning down he let Bobby wrap his pink and slightly scarred arms wrap around his frame and press chapped lips to his forehead.

"Nothing to forgive...I was jealous....what happened?" He asked, letting all but Remy's hand go. His head was hurting, right behind his eyes. He wasn't wearing his glasses so something must have happened to them.

"Y' don' 'member?"

"..No...Remy.." There was a question, but it remained unasked as a pair of lips pressed against his in a chaste kiss.

"Je t'aime cher. Such a fool m'. Nevah meant t' hurt y' so bad..je suis tres desolee."

Bobby seemed confused and looked down at himself. "Re..my..?"

His throat felt like the Sahara as everything came back crashing down on him. If he could have moved without assistance, Bobby probably would have fled the room, but as he was still pretty much bed-bound he just rolled over, and curled up over a pillow.

"Bobby cher?"

Hank chose that moment to return and at seeing the obvious distress on both faces, he started asking a million questions a minute.

"Just..go away Blue." Bobby croaked out, not wanting to hear how stupid he was and how he should have just talked to someone and blah, blah, blah.

"Remy, would you mind stepping out for a brief minute? Thank you."

As Remy stood and left he sent Bobby a small empathic wave of love and caring.

##

Sprawled out on one of the plastic chairs in the waiting area, Remy thought about many things, most not really worthy of thought, just to keep his mind from everything.

"Gumbo?"

"Oui Petite?"

"How's Bobby?"

"Awake."

Jubilee pouted at the lack of information and tried another tactic. Still all she got was one word answers.

"Petite, 'm sure Bobby'll be glad t' know y' worried 'bout him, mais iff'n le loupgaroup catches y' down here y'll be needin' Henri an' his lab."

Catching the Cajun's warning, Jubilee fled down the halls and to the stairs to head one flight down to the danger room, like she was suppose to have been headed without the impromptu stop off.

As Logan approached, Remy sighed and slouched. "T'ought Henri said everyone 'cept hisself, 'zavier and moi couldn' come down here?"

"Said we couldn't see the Icepop..didn't say nothin' 'bout sittin' out here waiting fer him."

"Got a date t'night?"

"Had..dunno now.."

Remy nodded and looked forlornly at the door. "He'll be fine Gumbo."

"Je sa..mais.."

"Mais what? Yer gonna worry yer head over him?"

"Mais oui! An' what's wrong wit' dat?"

"The kid drove ya away..didn't know when ta keep his mouth sh-"

"He was tryin' t' keep m' from shuttin' him out!"

"-ut and as sure as hell doesn't know that ya still love him."

Remy deflated from his tirade and looked utterly miserable.

"Ya still love him, doncha?"

"Of course. Mais...he won't let me get two words out Logan. Damn fool, me...Should have taken him with me."

Logan raised an eyebrow and nodded. The Cajun had drifted off into thought and didn't notice when Hank stood right in front of them.

"Remy?"

"Wha-?"

The blue man smiled softly and set a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Bobby wants to speak with you."

Remy nodded and stood to head in. As he past the double doors, Logan looked at Hank and sighed. "Cancel the reservation?''

"I'm sorry Lo-"

"No. Ya can make it up ta me t'night." With that and a final parting kiss, Logan left his lover stuck down there to stew for a few hours....

#

Hesitantly Remy re-entered the room he had just vacated about half an hour ago. Looking around he spotted bobby propped up in bed, in his ice form.

"Bobby..?"

He nodded to Remy and transformed back. All of his scars were gone, just one of the benefits of his ice.

"Y' wanted t' talk t' m'?"

"Yeah.." the older mutant replied thickly, clearing his throat. "Umm..I'm sorry. I'm an idiot."

"Oh cher...y' aren't..I am. Should have just told you everything from the beginning and let you decided for yourself what you would do..I'm so sorry mon amour.."

Bobby shook his head and looked away from the Cajun, throughly ashamed of himself.

"Bobby, cher, I know y' must hate m' now, mais...si'l tus plais?"

Bobby's head whipped back around to face Remy that the cajun thought the older man might have given himself whip lash.

"Hate you! No! Never! Remy...I'm so stupid, I shouldn't have...I should have...please forgive me.." he begged, near tears, blue eyes shining.

"Oh, cher, dere's not'in' t' forgive. Mais I do. Je t'aime Bobby..."

"I love you too Rems."