Chapter 21 – Here Come The Girls [1]

A week later, the girls, with the exception of Storm who was taking part in the accountability meeting, were gathered in the living room. Jean showed proudly the big rock on her left ring finger. The cushion-cut two carat diamond surrounded by bead-set diamonds sparkled like stars. Its brilliance and that of Jean's smile lit up the whole room. The pretty red haired young woman was glowing with pride and excitement over her upcoming wedding ceremony.

"Jean, I'm so happy for you! It's what you've always dreamed of, you lucky girl! Tell us, how was it? How did he propose?" Rogue said grinning widely.

"Oh, it was so romantic!" She blushed.

"This ring must have cost him an arm and a leg!" Jubilee said.

"It was simple but special, just like our relationship. Lovely and uncomplicated. Well, we had dinner at our favorite restaurant. For me, it looked just like any other regular date, except that he was so groomed and a bit formally dressed. Even so, I just thought he felt like it and didn't give it much thought. Then, when we came back home, instead of rushing into the mansion as we always do, he took me by the hand to the very same spot in the gardens where we kissed our first kiss. I could tell he was a bit nervous as his whole body shook slightly while he kissed me sweetly. I just didn't know why that would be. Then, he kneed and held my left hand with a trembling hand and with the other he took the little blue box with a white bow from his suit jacket and proposed to me. He said he loved me more than his own life, that he was sure that love would last forever, and told me how he could never picture his life without me… so I just said yes."

The girls sighed and smiled all through her short narration.

"Ohhh this is cute!" Kitty said.

"You said it all, Jean. Simple but special." Rogue said while caressing absent-mindedly the little bump on her stomach that had just started being noticeable.

"You guys make us little girls have very high expectations towards love, seriously! I don't think everyone out there is that lucky like you and Rogue."

"You will be, too, Jubilee. Every thing in its own time, sugar." Rogue replied with a sweet smile.

"Yeah, but I'm sure there are those who are really impatient and don't even wait for this 'own time'." Jubilee thought out loud and got her ankle kicked immediately after by Kitty.

"Have you already picked a date, Jean? I want to know if I'll be picking a dress or a circus tent to attend your wedding." The other girls laughed at that. "Girls, you have no idea. You know there are two here. This is no laughing matter! While he's all proud, feeling super 'cause he's made two babies, I am terrified."

"Oh Anna Marie, please, don't be. Think of the cute babies you'll be holding in your arms in a few months. Besides, you won't be picking your dress. I was going to wait to tell you this, but, as the issue has come up… I want you and Ororo to be my maids of honor!"

"Oh Jean, really? Thank you! That's just brilliant! I'm so happy!" She hugged her friend who was sitting right next to her tightly and shed a single tear at the news.

"You more than deserve it, dear. We've been good friends since you joined us. But, Rogue, tell me something, you said you're terrified… are you feeling that way after you've learned about the twins?" Jean tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"It's just that I am afraid, you know? I mean, if you told me four months ago I'd be expecting twins in two couples of months, I'd say it was easier seeing cows flying than this happening. But yet, here I am. And knowing there are two children in here just makes the weight on my shoulders heavier. This is such a responsibility!"

"But, Anna Marie, Gambit is proving to be more than a decent man. I'm sure he'll be with you at all times. He'll support you. You're not doing this alone."

"I know. I do hope he'll always be with me, hard as it is to admit, every day my dependence on him seems to grow. It's unsettling. Right now, I'm wondering why the hell their accountability session is not over yet… It's like he's become the air I breathe, I want him to be with me at every second. This can't be normal. That man takes me to heaven and hell every day, it's unbelievable. If he's not around, my heart aches… How do you and Scott get to act so normal?"

"I don't know, it must work differently for every couple. Also, I guess as the time goes by, you'll learn how to focus on different things." She winked at her.

"Oh there he is! I mean, there they are." Kitty said when she saw Colossus coming into the room. He offered her his hand which she grabbed eagerly and they both left the room.

"Hummm I think these two have been spending too much time together, huh?" Jean raised one eyebrow as she spoke.

"I know! Remy and I had already realized that…"

Jubilee looked at the ceiling as if she were not listening to any of it trying to avoid being questioned about Kitty and Colossus. Saved by the bell, she was. Beast, Charles, Wolverine and Cyclops joined them in the room.

Logan sat by Rogue while the rest of the people in the room talked excitedly about Jean and Scott's recent engagement.

"How are you feeling today, mama?" Logan asked softly, well, as soft as he could manage, so, not that softly.

"Fine. I mean, as fine as I can be when I have to deal with morning sickness, fatigue and finding out my favorite jeans won't fit anymore. What about you? How are you feeling about the news, sugar?"

He sighed heavily. "Not great, pretty. Not great, but I'm trying to focus on how greatly happy she is. That's what has to matter at the end of the day, isn't it?"

"You're right. But I just can't imagine how I'd feel if I were in your shoes. If it were my Remy getting engaged or being married to someone else, it would kill me. Talking about my babe, where's he?"

"He and Storm beat it, I guess." Hearing that, she couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy. Totally unjustifiable, she knew it. They had been the best of friends ever since Rogue knew him. Besides, he had more than proved how much he loved her, but still. A heart has feelings of its own, feelings our mind just can't control.

"He could've told me he was going out."

"Oh you know how the Cajun is, mama."

"Would you stop calling me that?" She said a little annoyed.

"Sorry, mama. Won't do it anymore, okay? And hey, I just can't believe you are jealous because Gumbo and Weather witch went out together. You two are getting more and more alike every single day. If he was here, he wouldn't be very happy to see me talking to you, the creep!"

"I'm not jealous. But he could have at least come see me before he left… with her."

"I suppose you're right, but again, you know how he is…"

"That swamprat!" she sighed "I love that bastard."

"We know you do, mama. But if you love someone, you gotta set them free."

X X X X

"Thanks for coming with me, chér. I really needed your advice, votre avis… There's something that's bugging me long temps."

"You know you can always count on me for anything you need, Remy."

"Je sais, ma chère amie. I'm glad to have you as my best friend."

"Me too, Remy. Now what is your problem?"

"I was thinking I should introduce her to my father and brother at least. She's pregnant with my babies and even if she weren't, I love her and she's the one I want to spend my life with. I've talked to Henri about it, they want to meet her and that has other implications too…"

"Mmmm… Like what?"

"Well, you know about my…er… wife."

"What about her?"

"Well, Rogue doesn't. She doesn't know I've been married."

"You haven't been married, Remy, you are still married. And at the same time, you haven't. I mean, it's not like you two had a real married life together or anything like that. And actually, I had thought about that after you and Rogue got serious. What will you do about it?

"Bon, this is what I was going to ask you. What should I do about it? I feel that I have to tell her, to open up, be frank before she finds out from someone else."

"I thought she had seen it when she absorbed you."

"Somehow she didn't and for that, I'm really glad. She has to hear it from me."

"So what are you waiting for? Just tell her, my friend."

"I don't know how to do it. I know she'll be less than thrilled about it…"

"So don't tell her. You haven't seen the woman in years, maybe you can live without ever having to bring it up. Maybe you could tell your family to be discreet and don't bring the subject up. Remy, I can't tell you what to do, you have to feel what's right and best for you and her."

"You are not seriously saying I should do that… it's not like you."

"Ok, here's what I would do if I were you. I think the truth is always the way to go. Find a way to tell her, tell it all, all the circumstances, I'm sure she'll understand. Don't forget to reassure her of your feelings. But, can I ask you something, why now, exactly? Why was it this urgent? You said you had to talk me to me straight away like your life depended on it."

"It's just that… I've seen the look in her eyes when I told her Scott was going to propose. I guess at some point she'll expect me to propose to her too, don't you think?"

"Remy, Rogue has always said she's not that kind of girl, not that shallow. She always claimed she wouldn't mind not getting married…"

"That was before, ´Ro. Besides, she's a southern girl, of course she would like to get married. She must've said those things to protect herself from the pain, because she knew the way her powers are, her prospects of a relationship were not that good."

"Well, you've got a point there."

"Also, I guess I want her to be my Mrs. LeBeau. She's mine, elle est ma vie and will be the mother of my children. I want her to have my name…"

"Love does change a person! You said you would never ever be walking down the aisle again, Mr LeBeau."

"I know! But I hadn't tasted real love back then when I said that. Moreover, this time around, it would be purely my own choice. Mine and hers."

X X X X

Later that night, they were in their new bedroom doing what they did best to each other: making love. She moaned lightly at every touch of his. Her whole body throbbed at the deliciousness of him, of his touches, his kisses, his tongue licking all parts of her body, lingering on some special ones... his light moan on her ears… Every stroke of his inside of her sent waves of unbelievable pleasure all over her body.

She sat on top of him facing him, staring deep in his eyes while leading the moves herself. He was almost delirious, that woman, those sexy green eyes that dig deep into his soul… that divine body that he became a part of over and over again… the sweet girl that had become a woman in his arms months earlier … He would never get enough of feasting his eyes on her splendid curves, her naked smooth white skin… She was definitely the best in all senses and she was his, forever, all his, he was sure of that. The mere thought of that would make him grow harder.

Sex with love was heavenly. He never wanted it to go back to the way it was before her. That was sex as it was meant to be. Heart, soul and body connection.

While she pressed her body fiercely into his, she managed to caress his hair lovingly, her affection and adoration for that man showing through the gesture. She would alternate the pace from time to time and that would cause him to groan in pleasure.

Lifting his head, he reached out for her lips and let his tongue slip between them. She moaned sweetly as she kissed him back. Reassuringly, he hugged her tighter, resting both his hands on the small of her back.

Her heart, already pounding, began to thump even louder. Her head was swimming, and she felt slightly faint as an orgasm started building up inside of her.

"Oh Remy, sugar, oh boy, you are more than I can handle! I love you, love you so much"

He kissed her urgently in reply to that. She didn't throw out 'I love yous' all the time. Every time those words came out, he felt his heart beating would tear a hole in his chest. She sighed when their lips parted and kept meddling with his hair.

Suddenly, the soothing caress was replaced by a sharp, stinging slap. He couldn't react to it straight away, caught by surprise as he was. That was so not her. Maybe she's trying to experiment with other kinds of sex, he thought. Then, another slap, this time more violent, and she started jumping on him, moaning louder than before, until she was actually screaming in pleasure.

She, then, aggressively grabbed his hair forcing his head backwards and started licking his throat upon and down, nibbling a bit occasionally.

"Chér, what is it? Why are you doing this to me? I mean, this can be sexy, but it's just not like you. I mean, we could play this right, if you wish. But the second slap you landed on my face really hurt!"

"Call me bitch, pretty boy! Come on! Call me! Call me bitch!" She demanded angrily. Her accent was gone.

"Bitch!" he said a little scared not to comply with the orders he'd been given.

Moving her hips deeper and faster into him, she reached the sky and let out a loud moan. There was no way, his pleasure was watching her orgasm and he came right after her.

She finally let go of his hair. He landed on the bed, relieved that was over, and slipped both his hands through his chocolate brown locks. Sighing deeply, he tried to make sense of what had just happened. She didn't lay by his side cuddling up to him as she usually did but stood up and headed to the bathroom.

Expecting to see her blond hair reflected on the mirror, Carol Danvers let out a gasp. "What the fuck!" she cried.

Then it all came back to her, it hadn't been a dream. That was not a one-night stand with a random hot guy. She was in somebody else's body, in the body of the woman who had attacked her. She hated that woman so badly. Looking down she realized her stomach was slightly swollen. "Uughh! Someone's been eating too much."

Noticing the collar on her neck and feeling imprisoned by it, she took it off and put it on the sink. Back in the room, she looked at him with a wicked smile on her face.

"At least she's got good taste for men, I got to give her that."

"What? Chér, come here. What's up with you? You're acting weird."

She laughed sarcastically at him.

"Why did you take off your collar? Do you want to hurt me good now, huh? I've told you before, I'll never be afraid of your powers, mon ange. The thing is I don't understand why you're doing all this."

"So is that why she wears that thing? I don't need that, silly. I'm sure I can control her powers." She came closer to him and kissed him. To his amazement, there had been no pull coming from her skin, even though she was not wearing the collar. And that, that was not the kiss he was used to coming from those lips, it was strange. It was not her! No love from those lips, just emptiness and lust. He tried pushing her away but she was also strong and so determined… Eventually, he broke free from her.

"What's happening here? You are not you!" As he said it, he realized the madness of his own words.

"You mean I'm not her. You are the one she loves, aren't you? You see how weak she is, she can't even control her own powers, not even for you, but I can. I'm Carol, sweetie. You have just screwed me, I think I deserve to know your name too."

That had to be the strangest conversation ever. He looked at Rogue, it was her, but, somehow, her halo was gone. It was her, but it wasn't her. It was so conflicting. And now he knew who it was, Carol Danvers, the woman who had been tormenting her inside her head. It seemed she had finally taken over.

"For you, my name is Gambit."

"Ok, sexy. Whatever you say, Gambit."

"I don't know how this happened, but the professor Charles must be able to help you and ma belle. Would you get dressed so that we can go and meet him? I'm sure he'll fix this. For both of you." He couldn't care less if the professor would fix Ms. Marvel or not, what he wished he would do was to bring his lovely Rogue back. Confused and stressed as he was, he closed his eyes for a second longer and exhaled slowly.

She picked up a pair of jeans she found on the armchair. The button wouldn't close and she complained about it, so he had to inform her that Rogue was pregnant, expecting twins and begged her not to do anything that might harm his children. He wanted to say 'I swear I'll kill you if anything happens to my babies.' But how could he do that? Carol was in Rogue's body. There's no way he would do anything against her, that was the joker card she had up her sleeve. He knew that could be the end of him, so he decided to play it safe and be polite towards her at all times. He couldn't afford to upset her.

Just then, his cell phone rang. Disoriented and not knowing anything better to do, he picked it up without thinking.

"Hello, Remy. We need to talk." He hated those words, especially coming from her. He wanted nothing to do with her at all.

"Bella?"

"I'm glad you remember your wife." She stressed the last word. Then went on: "So you're going to play daddy and you don't tell me? What kind of husband are you?"

Carol Danvers had put on a dress she got from the wardrobe and was now sitting across from him checking him out in a less than innocent way. Funny how the expression on her face made Rogue look completely different. Her lovely green eyes became malicious.

"How do you know? How did you get my number?"

"Ask your brother. He's got a big mouth when he drinks, you know? You shouldn't be telling him stuff you don't want other people to know. Is she any different from the others you fuck around? Does she do to you all the things I did? Is she perverted like me? Would she go down on you in a theatre?" [2]

"It's different, Bella. I love her." Carol listened with curiosity and smirked at his words.

"I want you to know, that I'm happy for you and I wish nothing but the best for you both. But I'm wondering here if she knows how you told me you'd hold me until you died…" [3]

"Listen, I cannot deal with that right now. We can talk some other time, if you insist."

"I'm just calling to let you know I'm visiting you soon, honey. How does seeing me tomorrow sound to you?"

Wondering how in the world his happiness and calm with his belle had turned into this chaos in less than an hour, he held her arm, as gently as he possibly could, that was his belle's body, after all; and walked fast, leading her to Charles' room.

This couldn't wait until the morning.

********

[1] The title was, lacking a better word, inspired by the song Girls from Sugababes (don't even like them much) that kept playing on the Boots Tv Ad (British readers know what I'm talking about) I was thinking of a title, and I'm never too good at this, and the 'Here Come The Girls' verse popped in my mind. That's probably all I know of the lyrics of this song…

[2] [3] Extracts from the song You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette. It fit the dialogue I was going to write so perfectly, I just couldn't help it, I love the song. Katreda, you had complained about Poker Face in a review ha ha There you go, a 90s classic, I hope you like it.

Oh Can I take the opportunity to thank my reviewers once again? You guys have no idea how appreciated your reviews are. So there you go, wall of fame for you guys: Fostersb, Pennylane87, HopefulRomyantic, PetahParker, Katreda, MoonlightLilly13 and ladyecco. Also thanks to those who favorited or added the story to your alerts. I'll respect your privacy, but if that's you, you know who you are, thanks a bunch!

And hey, since I'm talking like crazy… Welcome new readers!!! Lots of people reading first chapters going till chapter 20! Wow, you guys read as fast as Quicksilver! Hopefully, you guys will feel like reviewing too.