Special thanks to the following for reviewing!
gambitfan85 (Good guesses but nope. I'll explain about the baby in a later chapter. Thanks for the Review!)
mazdamiatta (Are you so sure. I don't think she'd give in that easily. Thanks for the review!)
allyg1990 (Don't sulk! Here's the next chapter! Thanks for the Review!)
b.a.n.h.s.f.c.x.oc. (Glad your enjoying it. Thanks for the review!)
Proud to be an X-Nerd 2216 (Sorry about all the suspense, I just have a theory that everyone will continue reading if I make it suspenseful. Thanks for the review!)
UltimateGammy91 (Well that confrontation is now! Enjoy! And thanks for the Review!)
Rose Gilmore (First, thanks for reviewing and reading, second all of your questions will be answered in the story. Thanks again for the Review!)
SouthernLoner (Thanks for the Review! Enjoy the next chapter!)
Okay guys this is a songfic chapter so I am disclaiming the song. It belongs to Celin Dion. Enjoy!
Chapter Ten
Nothing on earth could have prepared Remy LeBeau for was what sitting in front of the Thieves Guild mansion when he and Alec roared in. The jeep slid to a stop and for a brief moment Remy couldn't move. His eyes took in every inch of the large black jet that was sitting in the open area between the mansion and the swamps and his heart stopped in recognition. It was the Blackbird. The first thought that reached his mind was confusion. What the heck were they doing here? The next thought he voiced.
"Merde."
He leapt from the jeep just as Alec swung out of the passion side. "Shit," Alec copied him. "I'm dead. I'm so dead."
Warily the boys walked up to the step of the mansion and stopped at the door. Alec glanced at Remy, who glanced back at him. For a moment neither moved. Then Remy sighed and opened the door mumbling something about not being afraid of anything as he entered the house. Alec let the door slam closed behind him and Remy jumped out of his skin. He turned and glared at Alec who stared wide-eyed at him. "Oops?" Alec tried and, shaking his head, Remy turned back to the room they were in.
He heard voices coming from the living room and mustering all the courage he could he turned and opened that door. Every eye in the room turned toward Remy but his eyes only saw one pair. An Emerald green pair. His lips formed the word and he breathed it out in a sigh, "Rogue."
She was absolutely stunning, sitting on his couch with her legs crossed and her arms crossed over her chest. Her brown and white hair cascaded down her shoulders, stopping just above her bosom. Her emerald eyes were narrowed and when they saw Remy they immediately sought something else to look at.
Remy's glance turned to Charles Xavier who was sitting next to Remy's wife. "Professor. Long time no see, non?"
"Yes, it has been quite a while. Please, won't you and the boy join us?" If Remy had had a choice, he would have declined, but the glares he was receiving from all around the room told him he had better sit and join them.
Alec walked in behind Remy and Kitty leapt to her feet, nearly shoving Remy out of the way to wrap her arms around her baby. "Alec!" she cried and Alec's eyes widened as she hugged him.
"Mom?" he asked a little concerned. Remy took note of Lance, who was now walking toward the couple, and silently he pitied the boy. Lance wasn't happy.
"Where the hell have you been?"
Alec's eyes widened at his father's voice and then he frowned. Was his father faking? He'd given him his wallet for crying out loud! Figures, fear of Kitty had caused father to throw son under the bus. As if remembering she was mad at him, Alec's mother stepped back to glare at him. "Rogue and I have been, like, searching for you for days, young man. Explain yourself!"
"Well um…Sky wanted to see her dad so I took my bike and brought her down here."
"Without telling anyone!" Kitty squealed. Remy winced. What was with women and squealing?
"You could have been seriously hurt." Xavier interrupted. Lance and Kitty nodded as well but before anyone else could continue Rogue's voice broke in.
"Where is Sky?" she asked silently, as if afraid of the answer. For the first time Remy turned completely toward her. Her gaze locked with his and he cursed himself for not hiding his thoughts better. She was on her feet in a second. "Where's Sky?" she demanded marching toward him. Remy was on his feet in an instant, hand raised he raced to find an explanation. Not finding one he liked, he decided to stall.
"Bonjour to you to, chere. Remy been wonderin when you were gona drop by."
"Where's Sky?"
Remy met her gaze evenly and took a deep breath. "Ciel been kidnapped." Rogue didn't move. Not a single eye in the room blinked.
"It's true" Alec broke the silence. "We were at a bar and…"
"Ya took her too a bar!" Rogue cried, eyes wide and dangerous.
"Just to meet a friend, chere." Remy tired but Xavier interrupted.
"What did they look like?" he demanded.
"Don matter," Remy shot back. He turned his attention away from Rogue as he shoved all emotion down. He'd deal with her in a minute. Right now his daughter was in trouble. "I know who took her."
Xavier's eyes widened. "Who?" he asked.
"Sinister. Don know where he is though."
Xavier frowned and shook his head. "We need to get back to the institute. If she uses her powers I'll be able to track her down. Let's move."
Kitty and Lance yanked Alec away from the room and out the door as Storm, Jean, Scott, and Xavier left the room. Rogue and Remy stood toe to toe.
"When were ya gona tell moi she was alive?" Remy hissed, eyes dangerous.
"When ya came back." Rogue shot back. "Or don't you remember that promise?"
Remy's eyes lowered and he took a step toward Rogue. "Chere I…"
"Save it, swamp rat. Ya spend two days with our daughter and ya lose her. Now I gotta go make this right, somehow."
His head shot up but before he could retort she spun away from him and headed toward the door. Angry that she was just going to walk away Remy caught her arm. Skin to skin. Rogue jumped and before either could react Remy felt her power activate. He snatched his arm away as if something had burned him and looked at Rogue with wide-eyes.
"Guess I don't trust ya anymore." She whispered and disappeared out the door. Without another thought Remy followed. It was his daughter they were after, and he'd be damned if they were going to look for her without him.
&&&
The last thing Remy remembered was Logan's fist connecting with his face. Groaning, he opened his eyes to see the bright white room of the X-Mansion's med bay. "Good morning, Mr. LeBeau." Doctor Henry McCoy smiled at Remy from his perch upside down on the roof. He released his hold on the bar and flipped to the ground to land lightly on his feet. "Feeling better are we?"
Remy closed his eyes, groaned and then opened them again, just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. No, he was definitely in the med bay. Because of Logan. Some things never changed. Although, use to, Rogue would have been sitting by his bed, shaking her head. He sighed and took in the furry man in front of him. "What happened?"
Hank grinned. "Let's just say Logan welcomed you home in his own special way. He even left you a present."
Remy glanced at his reflection in the floor and winced. He had a black eye. "Terrific" he mumbled and climbed out of the bed. "Just what Remy needed."
Hank watched him for a moment and sighed. "Xavier hasn't been able to find Sky yet. But he is still looking." Remy nodded and headed toward the door. "A little birdie told me that a rogue of sorts was out in the garden. Perhaps you should investigate."
Remy turned slowly to regard Hank. "De femme don want to see moi." He stated and Hank's eyes sparkled.
"You've been missed, Remy LeBeau. We have all missed you." Remy raised his eyebrows but that was apparently all Hank was going to say. First thing first, Remy was going to check on the progress of finding Sky. Then he would talk to Rogue. He needed to calm his nerves down before that conversation.
&&&
He found Jean right outside of Cerebro. She was talking to a young girl with blonde hair that glared at him as he approached. "Feeling better?" Jean asked and Remy nodded.
"Just warn moi next time, s'il vous plait."
Jean nodded and turned to the girl. "You remember Susan, Remy? Susan, this is Remy LeBeau. Rogue's husband. Sky's father."
The words struck a cord in Remy and he took a deep breath. He was a father first, but a husband second. He needed to talk to Rogue. "How de professor doin?"
Jean sighed. "He sent Storm and Logan to Sky's old home to talk to her foster parents. The Friends of Humanity are crawling over that place so they have to be careful. The professor is trying to find her but until she uses her powers, we are sitting ducks." Her eyes became bright suddenly and she dismissed Susan who rolled her eyes and stormed off down the hall.
"She's alright though." Jean said and Remy raised his eyebrows.
"How do you know dat?" he asked skeptically.
"Alec told me."
Remy didn't react so Jean continued. "When they ran away…Xavier connected their minds. Neither of them know it. He did it because Alec was a telepath that Xavier knew. He didn't know Sky and couldn't keep track of her. But as long as she was linked to Alec he knew she was alright."
"So den Alec knows where she is?"
"Not exactly. It doesn't work that way. But she's alright. If she wasn't…Alec would have felt it by now."
Remy took a deep breath and nodded. "What do you know about a rogue in de garden?" he asked and Jean smiled at him.
"A lot actually. She needs some help."
Remy nodded and Jean patted his shoulder. "I promise I'll contact you as soon as we find anything. Go talk to Rogue." Remy nodded again and took a deep breath before heading out toward the garden.
&&&
Everything was going to be alright. Everything had to be alright. Rogue closed her eyes and wrapped her arms tighter around herself. Her daughter had been ripped out of her arms yet again. And there was nothing she could do about it. She hated this, having to wait. But without any leads, she could be anywhere in the entire world.
She shivered and nearly leapt out of her skin when a dark coat fell around her shoulders. "Remy?" she asked and the figure in question stepped around to face her.
"Bonjour, chere."
Rogue's heart nearly stopped. Something in her wanted to burry her face in his chest and let him hold her. But she wasn't going to have any of that. He had left her and she had picked up the pieces of her life and moved on without him. If she let him back into her life now, everything would collapse again.
"What do ya want?" she asked and he sighed, crossing his legs and sitting Indian style in the grass.
"To talk, chere. Dat to much to ask for?"
Something in Rogue screamed yes but she shook her head. "So talk." She mumbled. He looked up at her and her heart seemed to break.
"I'm sorry chere." He stated. Rogue looked away. "I'm sorry dat I left you here. I should have stayed with you, been dere for you, and instead I turned tail and ran back home to N'Orleans. For dat, I'm sorry chere."
Rogue didn't respond. Instead she rose and walked away from him. She couldn't handle this right now. Remy leapt to his feet and followed close behind her. "Che…" he started and she spun on him.
"I ain't your dear, Remy. Answer me this. Tell me if you were actually going to come back. Honestly, if Sky hadn't found you. Would you have come back?"
Remy looked away and Rogue's heart broke. She spun on her heel and stormed off in the opposite direction. "You're not letting Remy answer!" he cried, following after her.
"I don't have ta. You weren't coming back, Remy and we both know it. You left this life. Why bother now?"
Remy grabbed her hand and stopped her, turning her toward him. "Because I miss dis life." He confessed. Rogue looked away. "I miss you, chere."
Rogue's mind spun. She closed her eyes and pulled her hand slowly out of his grip. "You left me. When I needed you, you left." Something in Remy seemed to snap. His eyes darkened and he glared at her.
"What choice did I have? You tink it was easy for moi to see you dat way? For moi to have to walk out of dat room every day to tell all your friends dat I still had no idea how you were doin? My own wife! I had no idea how you were doin. You tink dat was easy? You tink it was easy for moi to watch you suffering like dat? I tried to help you, Rogue. I did. But you wouldn't even let moi in."
Rogue was silent. His words ringing in her ears. He had dropped her hands and now was glaring at her. He took a deep breath and then sighed. "I tried." He mumbled. "You just wouldn't let moi help you, chere."
"You didn't have to leave, Remy." Rogue shot back. No way in hell was she going to let him blame all of this on her. He was the one that had left, not her. He was the one that had given up on their family, on their child. She had dedicated her life to finding Sky. He wasn't going to come back. He didn't care.
"Oui, I did." He looked her right in the eye now. "I had to leave, chere. I couldn't stand seeing you like dat anymore. I couldn't stand not hearing your voice anymore. I couldn't stand hating myself for not being able to help you. I had to leave. Because I lost mon femme and mon fille all in de same day."
Rogue closed her eyes. She wasn't going to listen to this. "Remy left," he repeated. "But I left mon heart with you, chere. You've always had it."
"Then you can have it back." She regretted the words the moment they had left her mouth. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as if trying desperately to keep from saying whatever comeback was itching to be said. Instead he whispered.
"I don want it back, chere. It's with de woman dat I love."
Rogue took a step back and willed herself not to cry. How many nights had she lied alone in bed longing to have his arms around her. Longing to hear him whisper that everything was going to be alright. That they would find their daughter. But he hadn't been there. She had been forced to lie alone, longing for his warmth, his touch, his comfort.
There were nights when the wind was so cold. That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it right outside the window.
"You weren't there." She whispered and Remy lowered his eyes. How many days had she wished he was by her side, standing with her, helping her look, urging her on, telling her not to give up. And he hadn't been there. How many nights had she spent sobbing over him? Not anymore.
There were days when the sun was so cruel. That all the tears turned to dust, and I just knew my eyes were drying up forever.
"Chere, I didn't mean to hurt you dis way." He whispered. She took a step away from him. She could take this. She was stronger than this. How many times had she promised she wouldn't cry over him anymore. And finally, she had done it. She had stopped morning him, stopped crying over him, and she'd be damned if she was going to start now.
I finished crying in the instant that you left. And I can't remember where or when or how.
"The point is you left, Remy. And I moved on." She whispered and saw the hurt that hit his heart.
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made!
Remy took a step toward her and lifted his hand to her cheek slowly. "You don believe dat, chere." He whispered and the tips of his fingers touched her cheek. There was no pull this time but Remy didn't move. "You still love moi." He whispered.
But when you touch me like this.
Rogue cursed herself as she found herself leaning in toward his touch. Her eyes closed for a moment as she felt his hand move to cup her cheek.
And you hold me like that.
She knew she still loved him. But she couldn't take him back. She just couldn't. She had worked so hard to wrap that wall around her heart. And yet all he had to do was touch her and it came crumbling down.
I just have to admit that it's all coming back to me.
Slowly her hand lifted and cupped his hand on her cheek, pulling it closer to her. Remy swallowed and his eyes seemed to beg for forgiveness from her.
When I touch you like this. And I hold you like that.
She shook her head and lowered her hand. She couldn't allow herself to do this. She couldn't allow herself to fall back in love with him.
It's so hard to believe, but it's all coming back to me.
"Rems, I can't" she whispered.
It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now.
"Chere, you can't because you won' try." He protested. Rogue closed her eyes and for a moment let her mind wander to the times before all of this started happening. The time when they were inseparable. When he had always made her laugh and smile and feel like she was queen of the world. Where he had loved her even before he knew she could touch him.
There were moments of gold and there were flashed of light. There were things I'd never do again but then they'd always seemed right. There were nights of endless pleasure, it was more than any laws allow. Baby, baby.
He took anther step toward her as a tear escaped her eyes. He whipped it away and cupped her head between his hands. "Chere, I love you." He whispered and then is lips touched the top of her head.
If I kiss you like this, and if you whisper like that. It was lost long ago but it's all coming back to me.
"I want you back, chere. I want you more dan anything in dis world."
If you want me like this, and if you need me like that, it was dead long ago but it's all coming back to me.
"Remy…" she started.
It's so hard to resist and it's all coming back to me. I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now.
"You weren't going to come back." His hands dropped to his sides as his eyes touched the floor. "You promised you would. You never came back."
There were those empty threats and hollow lies.
"What were you doing at that time, Remy? How many women graced the bed of Remy LeBeau in the last sixteen years?"
Remy stepped back and glared at her. "None." He answered honestly. She scoffed, angrily whiped at her eyes to get the tears to go away.
"You can be honest with me, Remy. I told you, I don't care."
"None." He repeated. "I wouldn't do dat to you, chere. No matter how horrible you tink I am."
"Then where were you Remy? Sixteen years you are missing. What were you doing?"
Remy looked like he was going to answer but caught himself. He seemed to be considering something and then he glared back at her.
"You seem to be quick to accuse, Chere. How about you? How many others were dere? Your not exactly untouchable anymore, mon chere. Better yet, when were you goin to tell moi about mon daughter?"
"I told you. I was going to tell you when you came back."
Remy looked away as if he didn't believe her.
"I had a right to know about moi daughter." He shot at her.
"You lost that right when you gave up on her."
Remy's eyes flashed and he was in her face in an instant. "I didn't give up!" he shouted. She glared right back at him.
And whenever you tried to hurt me I just hurt you even worse and so much deeper.
"Oh really?" she asked and he snapped.
"Oui. Really" he mocked. "You tink I was just waistin moi life away? You tink dat I just left and didn tink twice about our little girl? De fact is dat doctor told us she was dead. Dead chere, or don' you remember dat?"
Rogue looked away. She remembered that. "What did you want moi to do? You pushed moi away. I had no where else to go. So Oui, I left. I went to New Orleans and drank myself into a stupor. Is dat what you want to hear, chere. Cause dat's de truth. De sad truth."
There were hours that just went on for days. When alone at last we'd count up all the chances that were lost to us forever.
"You didn't have to leave, Remy. We could have worked this out, somehow. Instead you ran and drank away your pain. Did you even think to see if I was still alive?" She hissed and closed her eyes against the tears.
"Did you even tink to see if I was?" He shot back. She looked away. She was not going to cry over him now.
He took a deep breath. "I didn't give up on Sky." He whispered, finally. "I met Sinister in a bar, and I was drunk. He told moi dat he had proof mon daughter was still alive. I believed him, and we struck up a deal. He'd help moi find Sky, if I ran whatever errands he wanted. It wasn't until later, when I sobered up, dat I realized how dangerous dat kind of deal was. I didn't realize de jobs he would want moi to do. I didn't realize dat he was simply usin moi to get to Sky. But I spent sixteen years doin de same ting you were doin. Searching for Sky." He took a deep breath and Rogue resisted the urge to move a stand of hair out of his eyes.
What if she had been wrong this whole time? What if this whole time, he had been searching for her just like Rogue had been? Something in her screamed that he was right. That she had pushed him away. She hadn't cared if he was alive or to search for him. He was alive, she knew he was alive, yet she never went after him. Instead she searched for a presumed dead daughter. She looked away. She wasn't going to let herself fall for this. But what if he was telling the truth?
But you were history with the slamming of the door, and I made myself so strong again somehow. And I never wasted any of my time on you since then!
"Chere, I love you. More den you'll ever know..." Rogue opened her eyes to look into the pleading eyes of Remy. Her heart couldn't take it anymore. She broke out into sobs. He immediately reached out and pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her and crushing her against his body.
But if I touch you like this.
His lips brushed the top of her head. "Don, cry mon chere."
And if you kiss me like that. It was so long ago but it's all coming back to me.
Gently his hands rubbed her back as she sobbed into his arms.
If you touch me like this, and if I kiss you like that. It was gone with the wind but it's all coming back to me. It's all coming back; it's all coming back to me now.
"Chere, please. It can all go back to de way it used to be. We can be happy again, chere. Please."
There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light. There were things we'd never do again but then they'd always seemed right. There were night of endless pleasure; it was more than all your laws allow. Baby baby baby.
Rogue refused to wrap her arms around him, but she couldn't refuse the comfort his arms around her gave. She sobbed openly into his chest as everything, all the stress, all the pain, all the loss, fell down her cheeks in tears.
When you touch me like this. And when you hold me like that. It was gone with the wind but it's all coming back to me.
Rogue finally sobered up a little and took a step back, out of his reach. He seemed just as hurt as she was and tears stung his eyes as well.
When you see me like this, and when I see you like that. Then we see what we want to see, all coming back to me, the flesh and the fantasies, all coming back to me, I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now.
"Please, chere. We can make dis work again. We can right de wrongs." He was to the point of tears now. And the only thing Rogue could do was cry.
If you forgive me all this.
She shook her head, and for a moment, he closed his eyes in despair and lowered his head. "I can't forgive you, Rems" she whispered and before he knew what was happening she had wrapped her arms completely around him and was sobbing into his chest again. "Because…because it wasn't your fault. I'm sorry, Remy, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you away, I should have told you about Sky, I should have gone after you."
If I forgive you all that.
Remy shook his head, holding her tightly. "Non, chere. I should have come back for you. I shouldn't have left. I should have been by your side de whole time, through all dis. Je suis desole, mon chere."
We forgive and forget and it's all coming back to me.
"Then let's pretend." Rogue whispered, the tears coming slower now and not as much. "Let's pretend you never left. I never pushed you away. Your right, Rems, we can make this work." Remy pulled away only long enough to kiss her on the head and then their lips met.
When you see me like this, and when I see you like that.
Rogue's hands pulled Remy's head closer as his arms wrapped around her stomach, their tongues dueling as they deepened the kiss.
We see just what we want to see, all coming back to me.
They broke apart long enough to breath before Remy was kissing her again. Rogue felt alive for the first time in sixteen years.
The flesh and the fantasies all coming back to me, I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now. And when you kiss me like this, and when I touch you like that. If you do it like this.
The two broke apart one more time and Remy rested his forehead against Rogue's. "Remy," she whispered and he nodded.
"Oui?"
"Don't leave me." He nodded.
"Never, chere. Never again. We be a family, now and forever."
And If we…
I absolutely love this song! "It's all coming back to me now" by Celine Dion. Hope you enjoyed! Sorry it was so sappy but they had to get back together somehow! Review! Oh, and don't think that the other family members are going to take kindly to her forgiving him. Review!