A/N: ok lets just jump right in to this thing:
Chapter 13: "I…do?"
It all happened so fast. Rogue clenched her eyes shut but was pulled out of her shock and thrown into a new state of terror as Logan easily unclipped her seatbelt and threw her out the driver side door, him close behind. Rogue couldn't keep her eyes open, the wind stung her face as she fell. From up above the two heard their pursuer's cries of horror and the dreadful screech of metal as the train went by over head but only Logan and his enhanced hearing could hear the crunch of bone on the tracks. The water below grew closer, the dark waves tossing menacingly. The small car was the first to break the surface. The black grimy water consumed it in a large slash the spray reaching up high enough to wash over Rogue's face. Rogue felt Logan grip her wrist and looked back at him.
"Take a deep breath!" He yelled over the wind and the splash from the car. She did what he instructed and took in a long breath before going into a dive. Seconds later they hit the water. It was freezing and felt like they were swimming though slug. Rogue pushed up towards the surface but the drag from the car pulled her further down. She kicked out trying to escape the current. Panic soon took over and she thrashed under the water. An abrupt blow to the back managed to knock the air out of her lungs. Lose of air and sudden dizziness caused her to sink deeper into the depths of the water. Perception gone Rogue couldn't tell up for down or which way she was being pulled. Her eyes shut tight and rush from swallowing water; Rogue didn't notice the arm that wrapped around her waist. The light-headedness was getting to her; she needed air. She felt a quick pull and her head burst up from the water. Instinctively Rogue inhaled then started a fit of coughing. She coughed up the water from her lungs. Still coughing Rogue looked to see what was holding her above the water. On her left, his arm still placed securely around her, was Logan.
"Logan." Rogue wheezed, her train of thought returning to normal.
"Just relax." He answered as he started pulling her towards the shore.
Logan gently set Rogue down on the gravel as she regained her breath. He began to stroke her back lightly before asking,
"How ya feeling?"
Rogue lifted her head; her watery eyes met his for an awkward second then looked away again. She coughed once more pushing herself up onto her knees to sit next to him. "Fine, just fine." Logan nodded before getting to his feet. Rogue continued to sit silently for another second or two before also standing. There was a break in the clouds overhead and for the first time the moonlight seeped through and Logan was able to make out where they were. They stood on a rocky support base under the bridge, if they climbed up the hill in front of them they would be just outside the train yard. Rogue stepped back trying to see above them. She groaned as the moon disappeared once more and their surroundings fell into darkness.
"Well this sucks." She said utterly frustrated. She put her hands on her hips and looked around once more. Rogue did a double take when she saw that Logan no longer stood next to her. "Logan?" Rogue said turning around. She whirled around feeling a tap on her shoulder. He stood arms length away; Logan smiled slightly then turned to leave. Rogue fallowed.
---
Remy lay wake in his bed and for the eight or ninth time that night he glanced over at the clock next to the bed, 11:59pm…nope, 12:00am. He moaned loudly rubbing his sleepy eyes. Not able to withstand lying around Remy pushed himself up and out of bed. His room was dark; the only light was from the glowing number on the digital clock by the bed. For a moment he sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. He groaned again as his hand began to twitch. He needed something, alcohol, a smoke, anything that could take his mind off his problems. Remy got up and padded over to the chair his coat hung on, fished around for the pack of cigarettes in his pocket and flopped down in the chair to light it. Taking a long drag Remy finally relaxed in his chair. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the blackness of his mind till a hot pain hit his fingers.
"AH." He said dropping the cigarette. Remy looked down at the half gone cigarette then over to the clock, 12:15. Picking up the cig off the floor he put it out on the armrest of the chair. Remy yawned walking back over to his bed and fell back before finally closing his eyes. Why, was all his mind kept asking. 'Why me? Why god, why would you take every thing that was important to me but not my life…if you could call this a life.'
Married to Belladonna Boudreaux, Belladonna LeBeau. He inwardly cringed. It didn't sound right, and he knew it never would. For him, there was only one person in the world that would suit the title of Mrs. LeBeau and it sure as hell wasn't Belle.
Mrs. LeBeau. He smiled to himself. When he thought of it, he thought of one person. About a head shorter then he was, long thick auburn hair with white bangs, lily-white skin that was smooth to the touch, the unforgettable green eyes. He physically smiled this time. 'Rogue.' He thought happily. Even thought it hurt, the only was he could be even remotely happy was if he was thinking of her. He saw her in his minds eye:
She smiled at him. Blush rising on her cheeks; an angelic giggle escaped her lips as she pushed some hair away from her face. He saw her standing on the front lawn of the institute. How he wanted he could be there with her. She turned in his direction and could swear he heard her call his name. How he missed Rogue, it was odd really, he'd been apart from her for a little more then two days and he missed her immensely. Rogue blow him a kiss and smiled sweetly. Remy would have given anything to reach out and take her in his arms. He could breath in her sent, sweet peaches and vanilla. The smoothness of her hair, the black and green clothes, even the heavy make up. It was all there. For this short time, she was with him.
Remy rolled over onto his side, the lack of sleep finally catching up with him as he fell into a blissful slumber.
---
Knock Knock Knock
"Come in." Called a stern female voice on the other side of the door.
Julien opened the door but didn't enter. He stood in the doorway with an all but pleased look on his face. Belle, who had been waiting impatiently for Julien's return, stood in the centre of the room tapping her high heels on the hardwood floor.
"Sorry I'm late but…things came up."
"I know she's here you idiot. Where is she now?" Belle snapped.
"Heading are way, and she's brought the big guy from before." Julien said closing the door.
"Perfect." Belle paused. "And the other's?" She asked walking over to the desk in front of the large window, which took up most of the wall in the study, starting to finger the glass lamp.
"Just a miner set back…"
"Where are they?" Belle yelled at him.
"Dead!" Julien stated. Belladonna screamed in anger and threw the lamp at her brother's head but missed. The glass shattered as it struck the wall behind him. "How? Never mind, I don't need to know." She rubbed her temples to ease the headache she was getting from all the self-inflicted stress.
"Look Julien I marry in eleven hours," She said looking over to the clock that hung on the wall to confirm that it was two am. "I don't need this now. You're an assassin. Now act like one. I want them out of our hair but noon today."
"They're quick. The stupid mutants are giving us more trouble then we originally thought."
"Then you give them some trouble." She slurred, putting an emphasis on 'trouble'. Julien step up to the desk and rested his hands on the smooth wood top.
"What did you have in mind?" He asked softly. Belle reached into the top left-hand drawer. She pulled out and thrust a close range handgun at him then headed for the door but not before saying over her shoulder,
"Get creative."
---
Remy woke several hours later to constant loud banging at his door. He frowned throwing the sheets off of him. Who ever had woken him up from his dream was dead. Remy threw open the door and snapped, "What?" at the person knocking.
"That isn't very polite Remy." Remy sighed looking down and the tall blond before him. She was dressed in black dress pants and s light pink camisole, the high stiletto heels on her feet making her a good inch to an inch and a half taller then her normal height of 5 foot 8".
"Sorry, now what can I help you with Mercy?" Remy asked putting on a fake sweet smile.
Mercy, Henri's wife, rolled her eyes. "You can't pull the wool over my eyes Remy so stop smiling like that. Anyway, I was sent up her to wake you up so you could start getting ready." She said, annoyance consuming her normally soft southern voice.
Remy groaned loudly, and started banging his head against the doorframe. Mercy sighed in frustration and snacked Remy on the arm getting his attention. He looked over at her, head still resting on the wood frame. She crossed her arms. After another couple seconds of continues silence and stares Remy shock his head. "Fine! I'm going" Mercy smiled and started walking back towards the end of the hall, the direction of the stairs. "…What time is it anyway?" She stopped looking back.
"Almost 11:00."
---
"Logan where are we?" Rogue asked staring down at her tired feet as they trudged along the dirt road. Rogue felt hot and sticky even with the refreshingly cold wind hitting her back. Logan looked around, trees on both sides of them, nothing at either end of the road. The clouds had grown and blocked out every inch of sky above them.
"We should be getting close." He answered. The little detour along the rocky beach had threw them off a good hour or so and now they we walking to, at this point, anywhere that could give them directions to where they wanted to be. He looked back at Rogue from his place in the lead and grimaced. She looked so sad to him. Her head hung low, hair cascading forward hiding her pretty face; even the way she was walking was depressing him. Logan stared ahead of them in deep thought. So, this was it, then end of everything for him. He was helping Rogue find her prince charming, which was the last thing he ever wanted to do. But this was the way he knew things would end, ever since he showed up at the beginning, she was Remy's, not his.
Rogue raised her eyes and saw the back of Logan's head through her hair. She knew this was killing him, she just didn't know how much. She could tell he loved her, and she didn't want to hurt him, but she was. By him being the one with her now was deliberate torment, murder to him. Rogue felt like crying, but she refused to. She bit back her sorry, bit back all the pain, all the rage. She felt sorry for every thing, like it was all her fault. Sorry for Remy leaving, sorry for hurting Logan like this, sorry for every thing that was happening, but she still refused to cry. The last thing she would do was brake down now. Logan could feel Rogue's gaze but didn't look back. As long as he held his gaze and kept putting one foot in front of the other he'd make it through this. The wind seemed to change direction and hit Logan in the face. The sudden gust of wind made Rogue finally raise her head to see what was going on. But not fast enough, Rogue took another step forward and bumped into Logan. He stood motionless, glaring ahead of them. Rogue backed up. "Logan?" He closed his eyes sniffing the air. That sent. It was the same as the people fallowing them before…or incredibly similar. "What's wrong?" He bared his teeth and unshielded his claws. Rogue looked around, slowly sliding off her gloves and putting them in her back pocket.
The low rev of engines could be heard off in the distance. Rogue stepped closer to the trees to her left trying to see up the road. "Logan?" She whispered again. Finally hearing her Logan looked over and said quickly, "Rogue, stay behind me and keep to the trees." Before she could ask what he meant half a dozen motorbikes came into view. Rogue watched backing up slowly as they approached. Logan remained grounded in place, just waiting silently. Backing up another step Rogue placed a hand uneasily on the bark of a thick tree trunk.
The first strike was made, a gun shot ripped throw the air sending birds. Rogue yelped as the bullet that had be fired became imbedded no more the a few centimetres away from where he hand had been on the tree trunk. Rogue's scream rang in Logan's ears, rage boiling inside him. He broke out into a sprint towards his adversaries hoping Rogue would do what she was told. Bullet after bullet, Logan kept running, claws held out. Again an again bullets ripped through Logan's shirt and pant legs, they tore throw his skin and struck bone. Blood splattered on the dirt at his feet. He momentarily slowed down but didn't stop moving towards the bikers. The men watched him in shock as he did not die or fall to the ground from the wounds made. The six thugs stopped firing. They all simultaneously pull out knifes, guns of all kinds as Logan stumbled closer. About a yard away Logan stood upright and whipped some spin away from the corner of his mouth wit the back of his hand. Time appeared to freeze, no one moved.
"You Cajun's come to fight or not?" Logan grunted regaining feeling in his arms thanks to his healing powers. The thugs aimed their guns waiting to see who'd have to make the next move. This time Logan did. He lunged at the man closed to him claiming his first victim. Puncturing his stomach with his one set of claws as the other went for the next man over.
Rogue clamped her eyes shut; the sound of gasps, shocked grunts, gunshots and splitting fabric filled her ears.
---
Remy glared at his reflection. Here he was back where he started. With a sigh he lowered his head. 'Great' he thought 'just great!' he hated Belladonna. He hated her, her family, his family for making him do this, his father, his brother, himself…he hated Rogue…no not Rogue, yes Rogue he hated her for throwing him to the dogs. No, no he didn't hate her, he couldn't, as much as he wanted to hate her, blame this all on her for no reason, but he couldn't hate her. He loved her more then family honour, more then any one else in the world, more then death, and more then life it's self.
"Remy?" Came a pleased voice behind him. Foot steps on his right, a hand on his shoulder. "Son, we're ready to start now."
Remy nodded, "Alright." This was it. All hope was gone now.
The wedding started and Remy watched as Belle walked up the aisle with her father.
Belle smiled up at Remy as the ceremony started. He inwardly grunted.
As hard as he tried he just couldn't find one good thing about Belle or being married to her. But he was there. He had to do this. He had made up his mind. "Try like hell to live through this!" was what he kept saying.
---
Again a bullet hit Logan's shoulder. He was getting tired and couldn't keep fighting like this for much longer. This one man appeared to be the only one with a brain. He kept his distance and kept firing. Logan's problem was he was using too much energy healing himself he couldn't dodge bullets fast enough. The air filled with another gunshot. Logan fell this time, the shot to his chest bled fast and thick. Down on one knee Logan hand held the bullet wound. He shut his eyes tightly fighting the pain, trying to stand back up. A thud in front of him hit the ground and Logan opened his eyes to see the thug laying face down in the dirt. Looking up he saw Rogue a yard or two away smiling light-headedly over at him.
---
Remy kept blanking out on what was going on but a swift kick in the shin brought him back. He stared, a bit confused, at Belladonna who was glaring back at him. "Remy say, 'I do'." She hissed quietly through clenched teeth.
"I do." He said softly. Belle smiled brightly giving a little giggle.
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