The sound on the television blared with the early evening news.
" Tensions between mutants and humans show no signs of calming down since the destruction of Asteroid M. Two major riots broke out today in Los Angeles and New York, after mutants attacked multiple anti-mutant organizations." The anchor man explained.
Clips of fighting in the streets of both cities were shown.
"When we find out which anti-mutant group destroyed our Asteroid, it won't be pretty." A random mutant spoke into the camera.
"All we wanted was our own home. We would have left this Earth behind for all the humans. " Another mutant spoke, "But you homosapiens, you couldn't even allow us to be separate and equal. You'd rather kill us all off here!"
A large crowd chanted behind the two mutants, "MAGNETO! MAGNETO! MAGNETO!"
The scene changed to an angry man standing in front of Wrigley Field. He yelled into the camera. " There's no way it was an attack from a human. We're sick of mutants! They're always terrorizing us…look at how your Magneto destroyed our stadium! I wish you were all boarding onto a space shuttle that was going hundreds of light years away! We'd finally be left alone. Good riddance!"
"We have yet to hear Magneto address the damages he and an unknown mutant created in Chicago last night during a fight. It is unknown if it had something to do with the destruction of the Asteroid." The anchorman continued. "We have Tamara Thompson live in Ohio, where a large crowd of mutants has gathered in front of Magneto's space station . Tamara, are you there?"
" Yes, I am, Todd." Tamara Thompson looked into the camera," By the looks of this scene here, it is hard to believe that the location of this space station had been a total secret a few weeks ago. Hundreds of mutants are gathered here now, waiting for some sort of appearance from Magneto." She looked over at a mutant next to her. "Sir, can you tell me what has motivated you to stand out here for the last few hours?"
" We look to Magneto as a leader," The mutant responded. "He has done more for us mutants than anybody ever has. We need him now more than ever. We need to hear his voice."
Scarlet Witch lowered the volume off the television to focus on what her father was screaming about.
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS MY PEOPLE LIKE THIS?" Magneto shoved Dr. Freeman backwards so hard that she almost fell.
"Father!" Scarlet Witch ran over to separate him from his doctor. "You can't push her like that!"
"Mr. Lensherr!" Dr. Freeman exclaimed . "Please calm down. Your blindness is temporary. I don't see any permanent damage. Your eyes are just trying to adjust. It's like having the flash of a camera go off in your eye. Eventually your sight will come back."
" And how long must I wait, Dr. Freeman?" Magneto yelled impatiently.
"I'm not sure, yet. I'm going to guess a few more hours." Dr. Freeman responded.
"I have legions of mutants standing outside. They are waiting to bow down to me and swear their obedience to me. I can't stand before them in this weakened state! We will have to resort to the alternative. Pietro! Where are you? "
"I'm here, Father!" Quicksilver entered the room. " She has just arrived. I've had her read over the speech you dictated to me."
Although he couldn't see Mystique rolling her eyes at him as she entered the room, Magneto could hear the sarcasm in her voice.
" 'And just like Moses' " Mystique read his speech out loud. " ' I have been chosen by God to lead you all to the Promised Land. I am here to demand that the homosapiens let my people go. I will rebuild and we rise from the ashes..' Eric, don't you think this speech is a little too epic?"
"Too epic?" Magneto pounded his fist down. "I do not recall asking you for your opinion . I only recall asking you to do what was asked of you! Now, woman, read me the whole speech, with better diction! And stand up straight, too. I can hear you slouching. I need to appear strong and powerful!"
Mystique let out an annoyed breath. She hated working for Magneto. He only knew how to talk down to the women around him. However, the one thing that meant more to Mystique than her feminist ideals was money. The man always paid her a lot, so she sucked it up and did as he said.
"That was decent. Read it again." Magneto nodded after she finished reciting the speech. " Then we will practice how to answer questions. In particular, if anybody asks about the incident in Chicago, go ahead and name that brat, Robert Drake. Tell them that he attacked me first and I had to defend myself. All my followers need to know is that he opposed me, and they will finish him off for me."
"All we can do is wait." Remy rubbed Rogue's hand before he kissed it.
Rogue nodded as she watched more women enter the last room at the end of the hall. They were dressed in traditional Haitian robes while carrying exotic candles and Voodoo trinkets . She tried to take a peak at the room, where Bobby had been brought into 24 hours earlier, but Remy put his arm around her.
"No, my Cherie," He whispered in her ear, "I know you want to, but you can't go in there. "
She flashed him a disappointed look.
"I'm sorry, Anna. I know there a lot of things about my family that are still a mystery to you. This is one of them. Never barge in on Tante Mattie when she's healin'. It breaks their concentration. Bobby's in good hands. " He brushed a strand of hair back from her eyes. " I promise, my Chere." He kissed her forehead.
"Remy… " She buried her face into his shoulder. "Ah just feel so bad. Bobby's been our only friend…our only friend from the X-men…an' we got him into this mess…maybe we should have kept him the dark…maybe we should have pushed him away . We should have never let him stay with us. "
"Anna, " Remy looked into her face, "Let's go downstairs and sit down, ok? I think we both could use a quick rest since last night." He took her hand and led her down the grand staircase, that was framed with an elaborate and typical New Orleans-style wrought iron banister. The living room they entered was large, yet cozy at the same time. Remy pulled her down onto the couch with him.
Rogue cuddled up to his warm body while he squeezed her tight. She sighed as she looked around the room. There was something about the warm colors and Southern charm in Jean-Luc's mansion that always made her feel like she was at home.
"My Cherie," Remy spoke into Rogue's ear, "I'm a wreck about this too. …but we gotta stay positive. None of us could have expected that mad man to do this." He rubbed her back and they both stayed silent for a long time until Remy grabbed the remote control for the television. "How 'bout we get our mind off of everythin'?"
Rogue nodded as he turned the T.V. on. They both let out a breath of frustration when Remy reached the news.
"Uh,,,yeah, that's one thing we didn't think through did we, Sugah..?" Rogue shook her head at the news anchor who was reporting on all the mutant and human riots. "Oh Remy… Ah feel so guilty….First 'bout Bobby…an' now 'bout all those mutants out there. We're responsible for these riots …..What if we made Magneto more powerful…?"
Remy stayed silent as he didn't want to admit that he had the same fear. He frowned at the T.V. as a clip of the X-men came on.
The news anchor reported on how the team had intervened and put an end to both riots.
For the first time since they had left the team, Rogue felt a pang of guilt about not fighting alongside them.
Remy could feel her shift uncomfortably. He turned the T.V. off and looked into her anxious face.
"What have we done?" Rogue shook her head and looked down at the floor. "We used to ….we used to be the peacekeepers..an' now we're the cause of all this. Ah feel so guilty."
"Guilty?" Remy pulled her face up with his hand so she would have to look into his eyes. " I told you before, my Anna, that I would do a lot of terrible, terrible things for you….but it sounds like …you are havin' regrets 'bout all this?"
Rogue didn't answer. The silence between the two of them became very long and uncomfortable. It was finally broken by Tante Mattie's footsteps.
Rogue stood up and met her in a hug. Remy rose as well, and also received a tight embrace.
"Congratulations." She smiled at them.
"Excuse me?" Rogue raised her eyebrow.
"On your marriage, ma petite." Tante Mattie sat down in between them on the couch. " I haven't seen you two in person since your weddin' and I was too buys all day upstairs. " She grabbed Rogue's hand and then looked over her shoulder at Remy. " You've given me such a beautiful and wonderful daughter -in- law. "
Rogue laughed to herself as Tante Mattie patted her cheek. The woman had a wonderful power of spreading warmth and a sense of healing by a simple touch. Rogue honestly believed that this is who had taught Remy on how to become such a compassionate person.
"I been waitin' a long time for you to be a part of the LeBeau family. Welcome. You are so special to us…an' we are gonna take care of you. "
Rogue smiled back at her.
"Remy," Tante Mattie grabbed Remy's hand and looked at him, " I am so happy for you, my boy. You are gonna be so happy, an' I am so glad I won't have to worry 'bout you no more."
Remy laughed. " You sure you still shouldn't be worryin' 'bout me? Just 'cause I'm married don't mean I still can't get into trouble. I'm still Remy LeBeau."
Tante Mattie pushed his arm in a playful way. "Boy, you are never gonna change are you?" She looked over at Rogue, "Listen here, you two. Your friend up dere. He's in bad shape, but he's gonna pull through. We put him in a deep sleep 'till his body heals. So, he won't be feelin' no pain. It's just all up to him 'bout when he wakes up. "
Both Remy and Rogue let out a sigh of relief.
"Can we see him?" Rogue asked.
"Not yet. Maybe not till the mornin' We need to do our work over him through another night." Tante Mattie smiled at them. "You two stayin' another night wit' us?"
Remy looked at her. " We were thinkin' 'bout it. We just wanna make sure he's ok. But we can walk back to my apartment if it's too much trouble. "
"If it's too much trouble?" Tante Mattie laughed, "Boy, what kind of joke you makin'? I'm not gonna repeat dat one to your father. All dat man ever does 'round here is talk 'bout his son day and night to everybody…an' you come 'round here and t'ink you have to ask dat question?"
"What's de question?" Jean-Luc entered the living room.
Tante Mattie smiled at him , "Your son was shy 'bout askin' if he can stay here wit' his wife tonight."
Jean- Luc chuckled, "Dis will always be your home , Remy." He then walked over to over to Rogue. "Now, it's your home too."
Rogue stood up and accepted his warm hug. He took her hand and kissed it. "Welcome to de LeBeau family. It's gonna be one hell of ride."
Remy let out a loud laugh.
"Thank you, Jean-Luc. " Rogue smiled at him. " Ah've been warned 'bout the family. "
" 'An you still wanted to become a part of it? " Jean-Luc gave her a warm smile, " Remy, you really did find me a special daughter-in-law. "
Remy laughed while Rogue looked around at everybody in the room. There was such a warm feeling in the room. It was almost like a positive aura, and it was making her feel so happy. It was making her forget about all her worries. Receiving this welcoming embrace from Jean-Luc made her feel like she had just been inducted into some sort of secret society.
" Ah just wanna let everybody in this room know that becoming a part of this family… " Rogue spoke. "Well, it's like bein' accepted into somethin' special that Ah've always been lookin' for…. but Ah never knew what it was or how to find it. Jean- Luc…Tante Mattie, your son is so special to me,,,an' Ah promise Ah'm gonna take care of him."
Remy gave her a tender kiss on the side of her temple while Tante Mattie squeezed her hand.
Jean-Luc nodded at Rogue. "Welcome home, Anna."
Remy then stood up to shake hands with his father, but Jean-Luc pulled him into an embrace. "Congratulations, my son. De way you look at her, it's de way I used to look at my wife. Treat her right. She's a good one."
Remy nodded while Jean-Luc walked over to the liquor cabinet. He began pulling out glasses.
" I gotta get goin'." Tante Mattie rose from the couch. " I got more work to do wit my girls up dere tonight."
"Thank you, Tante Mattie." Remy nodded.
"One last t'ing I'd like to say before I go …. Remy, I've raised you like my own son since you were ten. I always tried to keep you outta trouble…which was nearly impossible wit' dat love for mischief you got."
Remy and Jean-Luc both laughed.
"But, you an' your wife here…You gotta do somethin'. You two have to find a way to stop dat man, Magneto. He's evil. He's got bad plans for dis world, and dey involve more dan just tryin to kill your kill your friend upstairs. We've seen his future in our cards ." Tante Mattie pulled out a jewelry box from a desk.
"You've seen a prediction 'bout his future too?" Rogue asked anxiously.
"Yes, we have too. I'm sure everybody has around de world has. But, nobody has de courage to stop him. But, my son here, he has never been afraid of no one or nothin'. Not even death. An' he's found himself a very special wife who is as brave as he is. "
"When death laughs at you in de face. De only 'ting to do, is laugh back." Remy said seriously.
Rogue smiled at her husband's accent that had suddenly thickened before playfully shoving his arm. "Remy, you stole that line from 'Gladiator.' I heard you an' Bobby watchin' it the other day."
"Ey!" Remy laughed, "I was just tryin' to keep up wit' Tante Mattie's dramatic speech."
Tante Mattie shook her head and walked over to Rogue with the jewelry box. " De prediction we saw tells of de end of de world. Dat man steals a woman away into a place in de sky and he forces her to have his son against her own will. You two have destroyed his place in de sky…."
"Tante Mattie, we didn't destroy his Aster- " Remy lied ,but was interrupted.
"I know it was you two. Only you two have de type of courage to stand up to him. Dat t'ing was a prison. He was gonna turn everybody on board into his slave soldiers …he could only do dat in de asteroid, where his powers were gonna be concentrated and more powerful. He was gonna lead all his soldiers to come down years later to destroy de humans left behind here. He was gonna end dis world de way we know it."
"Anna, my Douce*,( *sweet*) this is for you. " Tante Mattie handed her a charm on a gold chain. " I don't own a lot of fancy t'ings and I've been holdin' onto dis for a long time… I found it when I was a little girl in Haiti, just before I came to New Orleans. I want you to have it….it's my weddin' gift to you. "
"Tante Mattie, you don't have to give me anythin' " Rogue was very touched. She looked down at the exotic gold charm. It was of a woman holding a small child. She had two scars on her face.
" No, no. I want you to have it. Dis is Erzulie Dantor. She's de Voodoo Goddess of protection and …vengeance. Dat is her child she holdin'. She is known to protect de people she loves at any cost…. Dose scars she got are from her own people who have betrayed her."
Rogue let out a breath and ran her fingers over the scars on the Goddess's face.
Tante Mattie continued. " You two got a tough mission ahead of you. T'ink of her energy when you need it. T'ink about how dere is somebody out dere on your side an' she be watchin' over you."
"Tante Mattie." Rogue hugged her, " Thank you. "
Remy's grin grew bigger as he watched the woman who raised him and the woman he loved embrace. He didn't remember Tante Mattie ever giving his ex-wife, Belladonna, any wedding gifts. She had felt a connection with Rogue since the first time she had met her. Watching the smile Tante Mattie's face as she looked at Rogue, made him happy that he was able to finally unite them as a family.
"G'night. Get some sleep, everybody." Tante Mattie exited the room as everybody nodded at her.
Jean-Luc passed out two glasses of scotch to Remy and Rogue. "Remy… I've never apologized to you for dis… Your first marriage, we all pushed it on you….I forced it on you. I put what was good for de Guild before what was right for you. I'm sorry."
Remy's face froze in shock. Even though his father had started acknowledging his faults over the last the year of their relationship, apologies like these were still a surprise to him. He didn't know what to say, but it meant a lot to him. "It was a long time ago, Dad. Dere's nothin' to worry 'bout now."
"I'm glad you were able to overcome my mistake an' find yourself happiness. " Jean-Luc looked over at Rogue. He raised his glass and beckoned the two of them to join him in a toast. " To Remy and Anna LeBeau on their marriage. To long years of happiness."
They all clinked glasses and sipped their scotch.
"Mmm… which one is dis one?" Remy smiled at the taste of the scotch.
"Highland Park 1980." Jean-Luc bragged.
"You'd better hide this from our friend, Bobby, up dere . In case he wakes up. He busted into my 1968 Glen
Grant. "
Jean-Luc laughed, "So, what's dis Bobby's story? He an X-man?"
"Yeah, he WAS an X-man. Actually, Dad, he's dat accountant I mentioned…."
"Really? De good accountant?" Jean-Luc raised his eyebrow.
"By 'good', you mean de kind dat might look away on a few t'ings?….maybe. I didn't have a chance to ask him yet…but I know he's lookin for a job." Remy took another sip.
"Wait…is the Thieves Guild lookin' for an accountant?" Rogue sat up.
"Sort of,…the LeBeau family might be…for a project…." Jean-Luc responded mysteriously. He walked over to pull out a box of cigars
"It's been a long time since we've had a scotch and cigar night." Remy smiled at his father. "Is dis really dat special of an occasion?"
"Sometimes when t'ings are real bad, you gotta just slow down, drink some scotch, smoke a cigar an' t'ink 'bout how it's all gonna be ok." Jean Luc passed out three cigars.
"Ah think Ah've heard Remy say that same exact line!" Rogue smiled.
All three of them laughed. They spent the next few hours chatting, and Rogue admired how Remy and his father were bonding. Sometimes, she wished her relationship with her own father or Mystique could have been turned around like theirs.
She could have easily stayed up longer with the two men. Since leaving the X-men , and not having to be on such strict schedules, she and Remy had become quite the night owls. However, she decided to let the father and son enjoy each other's company alone, and retired upstairs to the guest bedroom.
The big bed looked so comfortable and Rogue wasted little time stripping down and getting comfortable in it. She woke up two hours later when she felt Remy shifting next to her.
He planted a kiss on her cheek. "Anna, what you were sayin' earlier…'bout you finally bein' a part of somethin' you've been lookin' for….That was so sweet of you to say that."
"Ah meant it." Rogue responded in a sleepy voice.
Remy squeezed her.
"What is it, Remy?"
"Anna, I never felt like any of what I ever gave you was enough. I'm so glad you feel that way, because that's what I've always to give you. ….I wanted to give you a home. I wanted to give you a place to belong…."
"Home is wherever I'm alone with you.." Rogue sang to him softly.
"Things are not ok, Professor. Bobby can't talk. He's still unconscious… Magneto almost killed him…" Rogue spoke into Bobby's cell. Its ringing had woken her up the next morning.
"That can't be true." The Professor responded in disbelief.
"What do you mean? We saw it! If we hadn't shown up, Bobby would have been dead for sure."
"Rogue, I wanted to find a way to contact you, actually. You are mixed up in something that I don't think you deserve to be. ….I want you to know that you can come back here. This is always a home for you." The Professor's voice was serious.
"What are you talkin' 'bout? "
" Whatever it is that Gambit is involved with, it is not good for you.."
"What? Professor, we were just talkin' 'bout Bobby,…why are you changing' the subject?"
"Bobby's a lost cause. He didn't deserve that, but he's been warned about Magneto's temper."
"Professor!" Rogue cried, "How could you be so heartless?"
"Rogue, think about your surroundings. Think about the people around you and what may be happening. '
She could feel him trying to scan her mind. She quickly pushed him out. It was a trick Remy had taught her recently.
"Rogue, I have reason to believe that Gambit is involved with Sinister. You are in harm."
'You think he's involved with Sinister? He's not! Ah can't believe that after all he an' Ah went through with the team not trustin' us…you'd still think that? What are you basin' this on?"
"Someone has voiced it as a suspicion to me."
"Who? Who do you have spyin on us now? Huh? Y'all mad that you couldn't turn Bobby into one?"
"I'm just warning you, Rogue."
" Professor, Ah know that Remy is not workin' for Sinister."
"How can you be sure?"
" Ah'm his wife."
"Rogue, that doesn't mean anything. He could be lying to you…and this marriage…don't you think he rushed you into it? You have only been away for a few months. He could have done it to manipulate you. "
"No! Ah rushed him!" Rogue was in shock.
"Or is that what he made you think? Just because you played house with each other for the Summer doesn't mean
you know anything about being prepared for a marriage."
Rogue gasped.
"Rogue, you are still young and naïve. " The Professor continued. " You and I both know how you have not yet learned how to overcome being manipulated. "
"Professor, Ah don't deserve to be spoken to like this. You are talkin' to me like Ah'm a child. Ah'm a grown woman an' Ah didn't ask you for your advice on mah life choices. " Rogue could feel somebody in the room with her. She looked over her shoulder and saw Remy in the doorway with a concerned look on his face. He had just come back from bringing some spare clothes from his apartment.
He whispered to her, "The Professor?"
She nodded at him.
An annoyed expression replaced his concerned look as he walked up next to her.
Rogue frowned into the phone "What do you know 'bout marriage anyway? It's not like you've ever been in one. You're preachin' bout somethin' you have no clue 'bout." She could hear The Professor yell her name angrily as she pulled the phone away from her ear.
"Can I talk to him?" Remy asked.
She handed over the phone to him without saying any more to The Professor.
" Charles? Do you wanna explain why you called? Was it to make Rogue upset on purpose?….Then why did you call?…..Let me get this straight. You called to chastise Bobby for his behavior? You think he deserved to be nearly killed for some jokes he made? Some jokes at a man who more than deserved it?…Oh he egged him on, is that what you're sayin' ?….No? …..…Then what?…. Can I ask you why you think that Bobby should have shut it, while it was ok for Old Magsy to call my wife a child?….…Oh, you read his mind, huh?… Well, you cracked it, Charlie. Yes, that man's after my wife. And you don't think his thoughts are disgustin'? The way he sees her as a child and still wants to go after my wife?…..Then if you agree it's disturbin', why aren't you doin' anythin' bout it?"
Rogue watched as the fire inside Remy grew.
"You listen here, Charles, people like Bobby an' me makin' Mags angry are not a part of the problem….. You are a part of the problem. People like you, are the reason that Magneto gets away with everything he does. You fear him ….so you pacify him…You're not? ….Yes I think you are…..You know exactly what I'm hinting at…I think you're protectin' him because you always do. You've always stopped the X-men from ever attackin' him offensively. It's always been only out of defense…. You listen here 'bout what I think 'bout your whole idea of peace on this planet: It's a nice little fantasy. I live by the quote that in order to make to peace, you gotta prepare for war."
Remy pounded his fist down on the nightstand the table so hard that he nearly broke it. Rogue looked at him anxiously trying to figure out what words made him react that way.
"Don't you ever compare me to Magneto again. " Remy cooled his voice. " That is NOT what I was sayin' at all. I'm not evil like him….Do you know what I am? I'm that gray area in between that black and white world the both of you chose to live in….You, with your pacifist look on the world… and Mags with all his feelings of entitlement to terrorism. You both forget that the gray area in between is huge and it's there to keep the both of you in line….How is that a threat?"
Rogue rubbed Remy's clenched fist to clam him down. He opened it slightly to her soft touch and breathed out.
" Ok, whatever, I've had it up there with you, Charlie. I know you're protectin' Magneto…an' when I find out how, you're gonna look just as evil as he is. So, I suggest you start thinkin' 'bout if stickin' by your plan of pacifyin' him is really worth it. As for Bobby, we'll let him know you called, that is , if he wakes up any time this century…..an' don't you ever make Rogue upset again. We left that hell hole mansion of yours for a reason!"
With that, Remy threw the phone across the room. He breathed heavily as he looked at the pieces of it on the floor.
Rogue put her hand over his heart. It was racing with anger. He took a deep breath and put his hand over hers. He could feel her warmth calming him down. " I shouldn't have thrown that…I'll have to get Bobby a new phone."
"It's ok, Sugah." She smiled at him. "You've got a reason to be on edge….You want this all to be over like Ah do. If it means anythin', Ah've got a funny feelin' 'bout the Professor too…somethin' isn't right."
Remy sat down on the bad and looked at her. "You an' I , we gotta have a serious talk….. 'bout our next step. "
"Ah know…Our next step with Magneto…." Rogue played with Remy's hair as she looked into his face.
"You still in? Still in on the plan?" Remy asked her seriously.
Rogue took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. "Yes, Ah am. Rem, Ah know Ah said that Ah felt guilty earlier….but Ah've been thinkin' 'bout everythin'….an' this really is a whole big mess. It's complicated. It's like Tante Mattie said, nobody has the courage to stand up to him. If somebody like The Professor , who Magsy says he respects, is too afraid to stand up to him, then Ah truly believe that nobody ever will. We gotta do it."
"He can't get away with what he did to our friend. We gotta keep on with the mission….before he hurts more people." Remy leaned into Rogue and kissed her forehead. " Anna, did you sleep ok? Maybe you should sleep in a little more? You'll be no help to Bobby if you don't get any rest. " He twirled her curls in his fingers.
Rogue yawned and nodded. She pulled her husband down on the bed with her. They exchanged a few kisses. "You're right, we'll be no good to Bobby if we don't any rest. " She then shut up in bed abruptly. "BOBBY!" That's it, Bobby!"
"What are you talkin' 'bout, Chere?" Remy sat up next to her.
"All that talk 'bout Bobby bein' an accountant last night gave me an idea!" Rogue looked over at Remy. " I know how we can get all this heat off of Bobby an' us AND get back at Magneto real good!"
Remy raised his eyebrow at his wife. He had never heard her laugh like this before. It was a deep and mischievous laugh . The glimmer in her eyes was incredibly sexy.
"Remy, remember how you an' Ah. talked about possibly goin' after his money before? We were talkin' bout makin' him poor as hell so he wouldn't have the resources to fund all his terrible projects?"
" Yeah,….so are we still robbin' him?" Remy smiled at Rogue's excited face.
"Yeah… we're gonna do it….but we're not gonna take away all his money. We don't have to make him poor… we just have to take away just enough….This one is for Bobby…" She paused to smile deviously at Remy before she continued to propose her plan to him.