Thanks
Thank you to everyone who took another chance on this story and even more so to the readers who left a review! This story was born from a series of 'what ifs' in my head and so I wrote it to get those questions out in the open. It only makes me that much happier to see the enjoyment all of you get from it too. Thank you so much for the time you took to leave a note because it drives me to get the updates out that much quicker for you!
Note – this is not the original Chapter 20 I referenced in the last chapter but rather the second of the six new chapters. The original Chapter 20 occurs right before the Unification Cotillion, so you will still get that juicy content. We just have a little (enjoyable) way to go first.
Chapter 20
To say Rogue had been irritated after the meeting with Jean-Luc would have been an understatement. The only thing to come from the fifteen-minute meeting had been an explanation that Tante Mattie being the event planner for the Guild and the expectation that the married couple would be at her disposal to assist in whatever way she needed. They were to report to her daily for assignments.
Other than that, there was the same old talk about responsibilities as Guild leaders and a rough outline for the transition of power. None of it was something Rogue hadn't heard before. And after her row with Remy, she just nodded in the appropriate places but had no desire to commit to any of it. If her plan succeeded, she would be long gone and it would be up to Remy alone to handle the burden.
"Chile, did ya hear a single word of what I just said?" Mattie chastised her. "'Cause the look on yo' face tells me yo' mind is a million miles away right now."
Remy snickered at the admonishment, but Mattie just held up a finger in his direction. Her eyes never strayed from Rogue's face.
"Ah'm sorry, Tante." Rogue apologized, cutting a glare at her husband. "All this is a bit overwhelmin' fer me." Even if she didn't plan on sticking around, Mattie had been kind and fair with her and she didn't want to be disrespectful.
"Mmhm." Mattie crossed her arms over her chest, tired of their snipping. "Ya both think yo' such hot stuff. Born fighters is what de deux 'a ya are. But yo' gon' learn how t' be peacemakers under my watch. An' yo' gon' do it while plannin' this party. That way, ya put on a show fo' de Guilds that yo' nothin' but a couple a' lovebirds at this li'l shindig."
"I ain'-" Remy started, but Mattie cut him off. "I said yo' gon' show 'em, not that yo' gon' be 'em. De Good Lord knows ya can't stop fightin' like cats an' dogs long 'nough t' get anythin' worth doin' accomplished."
"Not y' too, Tante!" Remy groaned, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling.
"Ya watch yo' mouth, boy! She gets a pass fo' now 'cause heaven only knows how that brood a' Assassins brought her up, but I know that ain' how I raised you." Mattie chastised her one-time ward.
Rogue hid a smirk behind her hand, enjoying the little scene. Her satisfaction was quickly doused when she noticed a gleam in Remy's eye. Having played this conversation out before, he had learned a long time ago what appeased Mattie enough to let him off the hook.
"Yes, ma'am." He gently laid his arm across her shoulders and gave her a little hug. "Y' taught me a valuable lesson that I won' forget."
While Mattie had caught on to this game a long time ago, she had too much to get done and not enough hands to make it happen. Sometimes it was wiser to just let go of trivialities and move along.
"Hmm. Well, I'mma teach ya another one, from a German poet this time. It ain't yo' purpose t' become each other; it's yo' purpose t' recognize each other, t' learn t' see de other an' honor yo'selves fo' what ya are: each de other's opposite an' complement."* Mattie made sure to look equally at each of them as she spoke.
She wanted her expectations clearly understood. They both needed to learn to carry the heavy load laid across their shoulders, and she wasn't just thinking about leading the Guilds. For better or worse, they were each other's safe harbor and they needed to heal the breach between them. In the depth of her being, Mattie understood the connection between Remy and Rogue: they had been made for each other. And her instinct had never been wrong before.
When the pair started squirming uncomfortably under her gaze, she eased up. Turning her back on them, she swiftly continued with her instructions as she walked down the hall to the ballroom.
"A part a' recognizin' each other means spendin' time t'gether, like plannin' this Cotillion." Arriving at the doors to the great white room, Mattie spun around with a warning look to quell any objections. "An' part a' it means takin' on separate, but dependent tasks. If'n ya only half do yo' part, de other is gon' fail an' that is not somethin' that can be tolerated."
Realizing Mattie expected a response, they both quickly uttered a "yes, ma'am."
Satisfied with their agreement to cooperate, she turned back toward the doors and pushed them open with all the flair a grand ballroom deserved. Bright sunlight nearly blinded Rogue as she let out a gasp.
"Now, Remy," Mattie started giving instructions, but Rogue quickly drowned them out.
It had been late at night all those months ago when she had first seen the crown jewel of the LeBeau mansion. While impressive then, it was spectacular now. The tall windows allowed the natural light to filter in through antique lace curtains and reflected off all the creamy golden surfaces. Heavy white damask curtains further softened the structure. Crystal chandeliers hung low enough to catch the sparkle of the daylight and shoot rainbows across the room. And the floors gleamed a highly polished shine. The setting was folkloric, which made the nightmare they were planning even more unfortunate.
"I'm thinkin' somethin' classic," Mattie's voice brought Rogue back to the task at hand. "Like de platinum New Year's Eve party a few years ago. De lightin' contractors will be here in 'bout fifteen minutes, so I need ya t' go on out an' meet 'em."
Remy leaned down and planted a big kiss on Mattie's cheek. "Rien pour toi, ma Tante."
"Oh, charmer!" She shooed him away but couldn't help smiling at his boyish antics.
Alone with Rogue, Mattie's expression slowly dimmed. Instead, a sad smile graced her full features. The same sixth sense that gave her the knowledge that her boy was meant for this girl also let her feel the tragedy surrounding the young woman. Always the nurturer, Mattie wanted nothing more than to pull Rogue into a big mama bear hug, but she knew it would only put her more on guard. They had made progress, but Mattie recognized that slow and steady was the way to win Rogue's trust.
In a softer but serious tone, Mattie said, "A couturier is on de way here from Paris. She'll arrive t'morrow. Everythin's got t' have meaning since all eyes will be on ya. Every little detail is gon' be scrutinized."
Rogue visible paled at the thought of being so out in the open and exposed to everyone's questioning stares. Her whole life she'd been hidden away. Even here with the Thieves, her social circle was limited to the family and their close friends. The largest crowd she'd been around with either Assassins or Thieves had been the wedding, and even that was limited to the closest, highest ranking guild members. She tried to swallow away the rising tension, but her throat was suddenly dry.
"Ah don't know…Ah mean…Ah've never been the center of attention." Rogue tried to explain without indicating the real depth of her insecurity.
"Now ya gon' do alright." Sensing her unease, Mattie comfortingly patted her shoulder. "Mercy's gon' help wit' de dress an' we're all gon' be there at yo' side. We'll be sure ya ain' left alone at any point. 'Specially Remy. That boy may gripe, but he'll be mighty protective by de time this party rolls 'round. I'll be sure a' that."
Mattie nodded and slipped her hand away from Rogue, as if it was all a done deal. Never mind that the married couple was back to not speaking to one another again, much less feeling any sense of protectiveness. Well, at least Rogue was pretty sure Remy could care less about her. She, on the other hand, was protecting them in a way by keeping Marius' attention on her lackluster attempts to complete his assigned contract. Better his focus stayed on her failures than let it drift to alternative means of easing his bloodlust.
Still wanting to be respectful toward Mattie, Rogue silently nodded her head in agreement. The older woman may have faith in Remy, but that didn't mean Rogue believed it. She watched as one of Mattie's eyebrows rose higher than the other, as if she knew everything that had just run through Rogue's mind. As far as she knew, Mattie wasn't telepathic. But the mystic traditions of Cajun traiteurs were secretive. All the same, she schooled her features and mind into the cold blankness that had been part of her Assassin training.
"We got a lot t' do an' not a whole lotta time t' do it in." Mattie finally said, knowing an uphill battle still rose before the couple. "So that means we gotta talk 'bout centerpieces."
Mattie moved about the room describing the different floral arrangements she expected to see throughout the entrance hall and grand ballroom. At first, Rogue just patiently followed and listened to the woman as she spoke, thinking Mattie was just talking out loud to get her thoughts straight. It wasn't until the description of the third topiary that Rogue realized she was expected to take notes. Fortunately, she had an excellent memory and was able to keep up with the fast-paced planning. That was, until Mattie suddenly stopped by a tête-à-tête love seat.
"Feels like only yesterday we were makin' all de plans fo' Mercy an' Henri's weddin'." She said, transfixed with the cozy little chair. "I had such hopes fo' doin' de same fo' Remy."
Under her breath, Rogue muttered, "Yeah, well ya know what they say 'bout best laid plans."
She really wasn't in the mood to hear how dreamy Remy's wedding to Bella Donna would have been if she'd never been brought into the picture. Little did she realize Mattie wasn't talking about her adoptive sister.
"Everythin' woulda looked angelic. My boy's had a stigma a' bein' a devil just 'cause a' his eyes fo' too long. I wanted everyone t' see him fo' who he really is inside." Love shone from Mattie's eyes as she spoke, a soft sigh punctuating her disappointments.
Rogue snorted, a soft "whatever" escaping her lips before she thought better of it.
Even if they were on the best of terms, virtuous was not a word she would use to describe Remy on his best day, much less his worst. Not to mention that Bella Donna was made of nothing but pure sin. Mattie's vision of a heavenly match was laughable.
"Don't give me that sass, chile." Mattie warned. "I ain' never said I imagined that Bella Donna Boudreaux as his bride."
At this, Rogue was surprised. From the little time she'd spent around the family and the whole lot of material she'd been given to study before her marriage, she would have thought that Remy and Belle were a done deal as far as everyone was concerned. Yet this latest tidbit made her think that at least one person had a different belief. Curiosity surged through Rogue as she waited for the older woman to continue.
Mattie suppressed a grin as Rogue pretty much confirmed her suspicions. She could practically feel the inquisitiveness radiating off the young woman. And there was more than a burning desire for knowledge in that one. Deciding to utilize a different tactic, she switched back to the business at hand.
"Finally, we're gon' need two seven-foot Delphinium cascades on each side a' de French doors leadin' out t' de rotunda." Mattie said, moving through the room again. Satisfied they had covered all the floral arrangements, she turned back to Rogue. "Ya got all that, petite?"
"Yes, Tante." Rogue dutifully responded, disappointed that the conversation seemed to have turned away from Remy.
"Bon!" Mattie exclaimed, the response having double meaning.
Rogue's lowered mood on cemented Mattie's intuition. That girl felt something for her boy. Now it was just a matter of getting the two of them a chance to stop fighting long enough to give the other a fighting chance.
Taking pity on the young woman, she asked, "Ya want t' know how I knew Remy wouldn' marry that Boudreaux woman?"
Rogue almost snapped to attention with the swing back to their earlier conversation. It was only at the last possible second that she controlled the brutally honest response. Even then, she could tell Mattie must have seen something based on the little spark in her eyes.
"Bella Donna's too cold, too calculated fo' him." Mattie answered, not waiting for an acknowledgement.
"Ah don't understand." Rogue replied, confusion clear on her face.
It didn't matter if Belle ran cold to Remy's hot. From what she knew, they were so blinded by what they thought was love that reason had left them behind a long time ago. Nothing they did could be considered a rational decision. The thrill of sneaking around Romeo and Juliet style took precedence over everything else. That alone would have propelled them into marriage, even if it didn't have a snowball's chance in hell for lasting more than six months.
"If'n ya hadn' noticed, my boy is passionate." Mattie stated, matter-of-fact. "He's fiercely loyal, almost t' a fault. An' when he loves, mm-mm, it's wit' all a' his heart."
Rogue could only agree with Mattie's first statement. She could certainly attest to the fact that they had their fair share of fiery exchanges. But loyal? Loving? These were sides she'd yet to see of Remy LeBeau. Nor did she think she ever would. And she sure wasn't going to play into the trap Mattie had set.
"Ya have ta forgive me if Ah don't see him the same way." Rogue countered, laughing as she gathered the few pieces of papers Mattie had given her. "If there's nothin' else, Ah'll be on mah way."
She started toward the doors when Mattie's words halted her in her tracks.
"If only he could find someone who loved him de same way…" Mattie breathed out on a disheartened sigh.
Rogue marched back to the older woman. Standing her ground before she took Mattie's hand in her own, she returned the earlier comforting gesture.
"Ah know what yer tryin' ta do and it ain't gonna work. Sometimes love just don't happen where we want it ta be." She held Mattie's gaze as she softly spoke, her heart a little too transparent in her words.
When she was sure her message had been heard loud and clear, Rogue headed back to the ballroom entrance. She was only a few feet from leaving when Mattie called out to her.
"Rogue! Ya best go check on Remy an' de light contractors. Left t' his own devices, he'll have de whole place wired up wit' fireworks instead a' firelights." She warned.
Rogue just dropped her chin to her chest and groaned. Even if nothing came of their relationship, Mattie was going to try her best to put her with Remy as much as possible. Resigned to this knowledge, she just waved and kept walking.
Once Mattie was sure Rogue was out of earshot, she softly quoted: "A most mediocre person can be de object a' love which is wild, extravagant, an' beautiful as de poison lilles a' de swamp."*
(X)-(X)-(X)
"I can see it so clearly in my head. If only I could just, I don't know, pop it out so you could see it too!" The bubbly brunette flitted across the rotunda.
"I jus' bet y' can, petite." Remy flashed a flirtatious smile and winked at her.
Once her back was turned, he dropped the congenial expression and rolled his eyes. This was the "on-site designer" the lighting company had sent, but he couldn't remember her name. Linda? Leena? Luella? He hadn't been in the mood to do the walkthrough and really hadn't paid attention when she introduced herself. After he described the event in generic enough terms to the Guild outsider, the designer launched into her current hyperactive, over-the-top attitude. He only had to nod and agree every so often when she turned around, although she was too lost in her own vision to register anything he said. Remy gave up within the first five minutes and let her do her thing.
As she darted from one column from another, he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Rogue stepped out of one of the ballroom's French doors and headed over to him.
Turning his head back to absentmindedly watch the designer, he distractedly asked, "What're y' doin' out here?"
After Mattie's big speech about how they were supposed to spend some time apart, Rogue didn't take offense at his question. If the roles had been reversed, she would have questioned him in the same manner.
"Tante mentioned somethin' 'bout a li'l pyrotechnic fascination of yers an' sent me out ta check on ya." Rogue answered, matching both his lowered volume and focus on the designer.
"Heh." Remy softly laughed. "Guess I won' ever live down de family BBQ from a couple a' summers ago."
Though she tried to fight it, a smile quirked up the corner of her mouth. Before the action even registered in her mind, she bumped her shoulder into his and said, "Now that sounds like a story worth relivin', Cajun."
The designer's loud voice interrupted their little conversation. She continued telling them about her vision, though she never turned around to face them directly. "We'll set up scaffolding and drape yards of chiffon and pale blue up-lights to make a smoky, hazy effect."
Intrigued by Rogue's gentle teasing and polite response, opened his mouth to say he'd tell her the story later when he finally looked at her. The words died in his throat as he appraised her more thoroughly. Since he'd known her, he didn't think he'd taken a real, honest look at her. From the very beginning, he'd been blinded by the fact that she wasn't Belle. But now in the light of the late afternoon sun, he realized his wife was a beautiful, no, stunning woman.
The warm sunlight glinted off her hair, alighting the normally subtle red tones into a heated blaze. Her bright, verdant eyes were shaded more toward the golden spectrum thanks to the brightness. And her lightly tanned skin looked the perfect amount of sunkissed bronze. It was this last thought that put the idea in his head that maybe he should just lean down and find out if it tasted like the refreshing, citrusy perfume she wore today.
When he didn't answer her earlier request, Rogue turned to face him. She gasped at the look in his eyes, surprised to see enchantment. Uncomfortable with anything other than animosity between them, Rogue glanced back to the designer.
She muttered, "Ya don't have ta tell me if ya don't wanna."
"Huh?" Remy shook his head a little, knocked out of the daze.
What was he thinking, regarding her like that? He loved Belle. Didn't he? But here stood this gorgeous woman that any man in the world would give a fortune to be with. Instead, all he'd thought about since he'd met her was how to get away from her. What man with all his wits about him wouldn't want to be by her side and claim her hand in marriage the way he had? Was he even in his right mind? The thought shook him to his core.
"And don't forget the tulle lights! We'll string thousands of them from the ceiling. It will look like an Asiatic lily opening its petals for the first time." The designer spun around in a circle, finally noticing Rogue for the first time.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there!" She blushed lightly, but promptly strode over to Rogue. Holding out her hand, she introduced herself. "I'm Lorenna Kitts and I'm from Sullivan Event Illusions."
Rogue hesitantly accepted the gesture, immediately regretting it as the woman vigorously shook her gloved hand.
"Nice ta meet ya." She answered with a half-smile. The woman was way too enthusiastic.
Dropping Rogue's hand, Lorenna's lively face fell a little when she remembered a key detail from earlier.
"I thought you said this wasn't for a wedding?" She directed her question to Remy.
Not thinking anything of her question, he quickly answered, "It's not."
"So you two are…" She let the question hang in the air instead of jumping to her own conclusions.
"Um, ouais," Remy stumbled a little on the words. "We're already married."
The designer's face lit up again. "Congratulations! You know, it wouldn't take much to tweak this for an anniversary event. What was your wedding theme and how long ago were you married?"
"Ecoute, de party's not anythin' weddin' related," Remy answered at the same time Rogue said, "Five months."
"Five months?" It was clear on Lorenna's face that she couldn't reconcile their demeanor with her own idea of a happily-in-love couple. "But you're still newlyweds!"
Seeing the issue, Rogue quickly slapped a lovesick smile on her face and slid her hand into Remy's before cuddling into his side. She silently prayed he'd take her lead.
"That's 'cause ya caught us in the middle of a li'l lover's spat, didn't she sugah?" Rogue looked up at her husband with adoration clear in her eyes.
Fortunately, Remy was an excellent situational reader. Playing along with the ruse, he pulled her in closer and dropped a kiss on the top of her head as he answered, "Sure did, chérie. Are y' finally ready t' admit I was right?"
Rogue had to bite her cheek to stop from stomping on his foot. Even in their play acting, he had to pick a fight and be on the right side of it.
"Ah don't think so, darlin'." Turning to the designer, she said, "Maybe you can help solve our problem?"
Lorenna had been watching the ping pong like exchange. She'd been so focused on the verbal sparring that she missed the question at first.
"Um, okay?" She hesitantly agreed.
Rogue turned a dazzling smile on her, completely missing that it had a heart-skipping effect on Remy too.
"Perfect!" She said, never leaving her spot tucked into Remy's side. "Our Tante is willin' ta give the caterer her famous, super-secret recipe fer roast duck with dirty rice an' tart dried cherry sauce."
Before Rogue could say anymore, Remy picked up as if finishing her sentence. "An' I want nothin' more fancy than de fried chicken dinner we eat every Sunday night fo' dinner."
"Now ya tell me, hon," Rogue looked back at the designer, "which would ya pick after seeing what all we have in mind fer this li'l party?"
"Um," Lorenna's eyes darted back and forth between the absurdly smiling couple. It was clear she didn't want to pick sides and possibly lose the lighting contract. "Well, you know, you can't go wrong with either one when Southerners are invited!"
"See, Ah told ya, sugah. Roast duck it is." Rogue triumphantly smiled.
But Remy wasn't having it. "But fried chicken is a Southern staple too, ma chérie."
Before the two could get into a real argument over the fake one, another person walked up to Lorenna's side.
"Hey, cute couple." The wiry man observed. "Everythin' alright, boss?"
Lorenna's concentration over the newlyweds was broken and she turned to her assistant. "Yes, everything is fine."
Waving her hand to get everyone's attention, she said, "Allow me to introduce you to my assistant and one of your installers, Andre. If he's here, that means we're short on time and need to finish the walkthrough."
"Sure thing, petite." Remy answered, taking lead and walking down the stairs to the garden terrace.
Instead of releasing his hold on Rogue, he slid his arm from around her shoulders to rest on her waist. A gentle tug pulled her hip flush against his. Never letting her stray too far from his side, he guided her across the grassy lawn.
Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, "I'll tell y' all 'bout de BBQ firecrackers later, chère."
Remy's husky voice sent little shivers down Rogue's spine. Lowering her head onto his shoulder, she answered, "Jus' 'cause Tante sent me ta tell ya no fireworks don't mean Ah said no fireworks. Ah'm sure we can fit 'em in somewhere 'round here."
"Is that how y' earned yo' moniker, Rogue?" He asked, placing a quick kiss by her ear before he could think too much into it. "Married t' a miscreant, neh?"
She just playfully swatted him across his chest before answering, "Sugah, ya don' even know the half of it!"
(X)
*The German poet Mattie referenced is Hermann Hesse and the full quote is "We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is: each the other's opposite and complement."
Rien pour toi, ma Tante – Anything for you, Auntie.
*From Carson McCullers' The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories.
Ecoute - Listen