Cross Country Escape
Chapter 11: The LeBeau Family
"Ah can't believe yah use tah live here." Rogue said as they drove up the long winding driveway. The house at the end was a large Victorian Greek style plantation. The façade was white wash with vines climbing up it and dingy coating of dirt covered underneath.
The driveway itself ended in a miniature cul-de-sac with a large white marble fountain in the center. Gambit pulled up to the front door which was a massive white double door and parked.
"Chere." He began. "Welcome to 'da house o' Remy LeBeau." She barely heard him as she studied the lush green lawns and beautiful rose gardens. Her eyes darted from place to place trying to take in the purely southern atmosphere.
"God Ah missed the south." She mumbled as she opened the door and stepped out of the car. Gambit smirked after her and followed her lead.
"Glad yo' like it Cherie." He said coming to stand next to her.
"It's beautiful." She replied. Suddenly the front door flew open followed by a screaming young child.
"UNCLE REMY!!!!" they heard as the young girl dashed out of the house and down the front stairs. Gambit chuckled as he bent down to scoop her up.
"Good t' see yo' too, petite." He replied as she clung to him like a life line. Rogue smiled at the adorable scene in front of her. She looked the young girl over. She looked almost exactly like Gambit, with the same reddish brown hair and southern tan.
"I missed you so much. I waited up all night, I really did." She said very fast and very excited. Gambit chuckled.
"Well Remy missed yo' too petite. He drove as fast as he could t' get 'ere t' see yo'."
"Really?!" she exclaimed. Gambit nodded. She fell forward wrapping her arms around him again.
Rogue watched the exchange fascinated. She had never before seen Gambit in such away. He seemed like the perfect uncle. She watched the young girl continue to chatter on about how much she missed him and how much she was happy to see him and even all the things she wanted to do with him. She was adorable.
It suddenly became apparent to her that the young child was looking at her curiously.
"Hi." She said simply."
"Hi." Rogue replied.
"Cassie." Gambit started. " 'Dis 's uncle Remy's good friend Rogue. Rogue 'dis is moi niece Cassie." He introduced.
"Hi, are you here for Mardi Gras too?" she asked excitedly. Rogue nodded. Her smile widened as if she knew something they didn't. "Then we can all go together!" she continued just as excited, this time with a hint of mischief.
"Cassie, don' smother yo' uncle and his friend, petite." A deep familiar voice called. The three looked up to see Jean-Luc step out of the house. He walked down the steps and stopped in front of them, smiling at Cassie and then turning his attention to Rogue.
"Rogue, 's good t' see yo' 'gain Chere, 'specially under betta' circumstances." Jean-Luc said kissing the back of her hand. She smiled politely in response. Jean –Luc then turned to Gambit. " 'S good t' see yo' too ma boy." He said offering his hand in friendship. Gambit took it hesitantly. When they let go of each others hands Cassie spoke.
"Mommy and Daddy and every body are waiting inside for you." She said to Gambit.
"Well, let's non keep 'dem waiting." He replied, turning to Rogue and gesturing for her to follow. She did and he led her into the house, Jean-Luc close behind. "Where 'dey waitin' petite?" he asked.
"In the kitchen, with Tante Matti." she explained. Gambit smiled and led the familiar path toward the kitchen. As they neared the swinging kitchen door, they could hear voices of people laughing and having a good time. Cassie squirmed until Gambit set her down on her feet and she took off through the door. They laughed as they heard her announce their arrival.
"Look who I found!" she exclaimed, just as Gambit led the way through the swinging door. The talking was soon replaced with exclamations of welcome.
"Remy!" a tall lean man in red button down shirt and black slacks said stepping up to greet the young man. "Mon frere, 's good t' see yo' 'gain." he said as they hugged.
" 'S good t' see yo' too Henri." Gambit replied. The tall leggy blonde sitting next to Henri stood up, a big smile on her face as she grabbed Gambit and pulled him into a tight hug. Rogue recognized her as Merci from pictures of her and Henri's wedding.
"We missed yo' Remy." she said. "Welcome 'ome." she continued. The greetings continued from the rest of the group two brothers Theoren and Etienne, tall handsome young men one a few years older then the other and with a similar resemblance to Gambit and Henri.
The last to greet them was an older woman with silky grey hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Oh my babies home." she said, pulling Gambit into a tighter hug then Merci could even attempt. "Look at you, you too thin. I knew gonna up north was a bad idea. What you don' eat. You need to eat, I make you a big pot o' jambalaya." Gambit chuckled.
"Remy look forward t' it Tante Matti." he replied. The older woman smiled, looking over Gambit's shoulder.
"Remy." she scolded. "I know I taught you betta'. why you leave this belle petite thing just stand there left out." Gambit turned to Rogue and smiled sheepishly.
"Remy apologizes," he said walking over to stand next to Rogue. " 'Dis 's Remy good friend Rogue." he finished. "She a southerner born an' bred an' misses good ol' southern celebrations."
"A southern bell, eh?" Etienne said suddenly interested. He smirked a smirk she only ever saw on Gambit and soon realized it must be a family thing. Tante Matti stepped up and swatted her son in the back of the head. He looked back at her innocently and she glared before looking back at Rogue with a sweet inviting expression.
"Where you from petite?" she asked.
"Mississippi Ma'am." Rogue replied. Tante Matti smiled.
"Well," Merci interrupted. "We practically neighbors." she said. Rogue smiled.
"An' bein' as 'dat is, Remy was hopin' yo' might let us stay 'ere while we 'ere fo' Mardi Gras." Gambit added.
"Of course, you know you an' yo' friends are always welcome Remy." Tante Matti said taking Rogue by the arm and turning her around. They walked back out the door, Tante Matti talking to Rogue all the way. Gambit sighed in exasperation as her voice got farther away.
"Yo' betta' go afta' 'dem Rems." Theoren said. "Yo' know mama. She gonna talk yo' girlfriend's ear off."
Remy turned to leave, nodding in agreement. He stopped at the door and turned to his family.
"Not moi girlfirend." he said simply a tinge of regret in his voice. He turned and walked out the door, following the voice of his Tante Matti up the stairs. He saw them just as they entered a bedroom on the second floor, Tante Matti talking about Remy and what a sweet gentleman he was.
"He's such a heartbreaker though, a flirt if nothing else. But can you really blame him Cherie, he is such a looker." she said. Rogue smiled sweetly at the older woman as if she wanted to agree, but found it a matter of pride not to. Tante Matti stopped walking as they stood in the door way. "This room is all yours hun." she continued. The floor creaked behind them and they turned to see Gambit standing there. Tante Matti turned to Rogue. "I'll leave you two alone, I'm sure Remy will be gentlemanly enough to show you around and help you if you need it."
"O' course Tante, Remy be mo' 'den happy." he replied, as she walked by. She smiled up adoringly at him. She then leaned up and pecked him on the cheek before walking away.
When Gambit turned around to face Rouge he found her smirking at him.
"Ah just love how yah aunt knows what a flirt yah are." she said amused. Gambit chuckled.
" 'S 'da Cajun way." he replied.
"Yah family is so nice, Rems, Ah don't know why but Ah kinda expected everyone tah be like…"
"Jean Luc?" he cut her off. She nodded, looking away toward the window. Neither of them spoke as she walked to the large window and looked out onto the back yard.
Down below she watched as little Cassie splashed around in the large Olympic sized pool with her mother, while Tante Matti tended to the rose gardens near the rock façade wall around the property.
Gambit stepped up behind Rogue, looking over her shoulder.
"Remy miss 'dis place, quite a bit cherie." he said softly, almost as if he were talking to himself. She smiled lightly.
"Ah can see why." she replied. "Reminds me of…" she cut herself off realizing she was about to say something she wasn't prepared to reveal.
"Reminds yo' o' what Rogue?" Gambit asked now very curious. She snook her head and turned to him.
"Nothin' sugah, fo'get Ah said anything." she said heading for the door. "Ah'm gonna go get my bag from the car." she continued. Gambit nodded in understanding and watched her walk out. He made sure to give her a little space before he too left and headed for the car.
Rogue opened the door to Gambit's car and fumbled around in the back seat until her duffle bag came loose. She smirked in triumph and turned around only to be startled when she bumped into a tall muscular chest.
"Moi apologies, petite." a deep voice drawled. She looked up into the face of Etienne. He smiled down at her charmingly. She blushed a little, finding him equally as charming as Gambit. "Fo'give moi fo' pryin' chere, but what 's yo' relationship wit' moi dear cousin?"
"Oh, well, we're friends." Rogue replied.
"So yo' duex are non involved?" he asked his smirk widening. She shook her head a little nervous as to his proximity. "Shame." he finally said, taking her by surprise. "Yo' know yo' 'da first femme, Remy eve' bring 'ome. Well except fo' Bel…ow!" Etienne was cut off as something hard hit him in the back of the head. They both turned to see Henri standing at the top of the steps. He glared warningly down at Etienne, who sheepishly grinned.
Etienne started up the stairs and past Henri still rubbing his head.
"Moi bad." he said, before disappearing into the house. When he was gone Henri turned to Rogue who was just standing there confused.
"Sorry 'bout 'im chere, he's…a strange sort." Henri explained. Rogue smiled lightly.
"Ah dare yah to point out a person south of the Mason-Dixon whose not strange in their own way, darlin'." she replied. Henri laughed.
"I suppose yo' right petite." he continued. Just then Gambit walked out of the house.
"Hey, wha's wrong wit' Etienne, homme look like he been hit ove' 'da head wit' something'." Gambit said. Henri looked at Rogue and they both smiled at Gambit, who looked a little put out to be left out of the joke.
"I wouldn't worry 'bout it mon frere, yo' know Etienne, hard headed." Henri explained. Heading for the door. "Oh,' he continued as he reached the door and turned around. "We all havin' lunch in 'da back yard." he explained, before turning back around and heading inside. Gambit turned to Rogue and took her bag from her.
"Remy take 'da bags upstairs an' meet yo' in 'da back." he said, turning to walk down the stairs to the car. Rogue said nothing as she turned back into the house.
A/N: Chapter 11 done 12 up soon. Please review.
-RED
