Thanks/AN

Thank you to everyone who left a note with the last chapter. I very much appreciate it, especially since it's good to know the extended chapters are creating the right effect! Thank you also respondents to the poll. I really needed your opinions as the readers to judge whether I had delved too deeply into the comicverse. I've read all the relevant ones, so what seems minor to me may be confusing to someone who hasn't read them.

As for this chapter, there was so much that needed to get done during the Unification Cotillion that I split it into 2 chapters at a natural "pre" and "during" break. So yay, an extra chapter not originally planned!

As always, check my Author's Profile for the latest updates in between chapters. This may be the only update for about 2 weeks, but I will try to pop in for what little news I can provide in the meantime.

Chapter 24

"Hé homme!" Remy shouted, jogging across the ballroom to stop a lighting tech from taping wires to the marble floor. "No tape. Use one of de runners."

After making the mistake of 'wanderin' 'round like a bon rien' according to Mattie, she had enlisted him to coordinate the professionals who had arrived for the night's festivities. Because while they'd all spent more than a month planning every detail, "God hadn' seen fit t' put ol' Tante in deux places at once." That had been several hours ago, and he'd done nothing but run back and forth between all the servicers.

Fortunately, they were finally down to the time when guests would start arriving for the Unification Cotillion. Unfortunately, he needed a shower after all the sweaty work he'd done for the setup activities.

Mattie had helped him most of the day until it was time for her to get ready. When she'd turned everything over to him, it had been with the express instructions that Remy wasn't supposed to stop overseeing the final touches until Henri or Jean-Luc took his place. He had no doubt that it wouldn't be his brother since he'd caught sight of him earlier in the day hightailing it back upstairs as soon as he'd seen the pandemonium downstairs. So, it wasn't a surprise when his father good-naturedly slapped him on the back.

"Go on upstairs. Get yo'self ready. I can take it from here, fils." Jean-Luc gave him a supportive smile.

"Merci, père." Remy gratefully answered.

The moment was not lost on either man. This was the last time the son would be handing control back to the father. In a few hours, their roles would be reversed. Not one for sentimentality, Jean-Luc squeezed Remy's shoulder one more time before waving him off.

With only a half hour to shower and dress in his tuxedo, Remy raced up the stairs, through his suite, and into the bathroom. Stripping down as he went, he barged stark naked into the bathroom where Rogue was still getting ready.

"Geez, Remy, gimme a heart attack!" Rogue admonished him, startled to the point that she didn't even catch a glimpse of his nude figure.

The scene was déjà vu. She was wearing her white robe again, makeup already applied, and curling her hair. He was running late again, needing a shower but also a shave this time. If it wasn't for the progress they'd made in their relationship, he might feel a bit awkward running around completely naked.

"Dèsolè, chère." Came his quick apology as he jumped in the shower. "Didn't think y'd still be in here."

The calming sound of the running water and the occasional clink of the curling wand was a soothing balm on both their souls. The day to this point alone had been stressful, but the previous week hadn't helped. The morning after Remy had pulled Rogue close to sleep, he'd woken up alone.

It wasn't like the last time when she had been purposefully avoiding him, but it also wasn't what he'd expected to find when he opened his eyes. Although what he expected, he wasn't so sure. He'd been so drained that night and hadn't been thinking straight. In the stark light of day when he was faced with the reality of his wife versus the illusion of his could-have-been wife, Remy had been peculiarly grateful Rogue hadn't been there.

After that, he didn't try any further advancements, nor did he revert to the unspoken his/her sides of the bed. If either of them happened to shift in their sleep, he simply enjoyed the comfort of her being so close.

Finished scrubbing up and washing down, Remy shut off the shower and toweled off before heading to the dual vanity. Rogue ignored him as he walked past, simply too focused on the task at hand. He was fine with the silence for the moment. Spending the afternoon under Tante's direction hadn't really given him a chance for any deep thinking and that was certainly something he needed to do.

Tonight, he would see Bella Donna for the first time since their little rendezvous by the river the night she had returned from Africa. That was the same night he'd had sex with Rogue for the first time. Remy had to force himself to bite back a groan. The two conflicting thoughts made him suddenly want to bash his head into the wall. How could his life have gotten so twisted fucked up?

Needing a moment of clarity, Remy consciously focused on the effort needed to lather up and shave. He knew he wanted to look good tonight and a clean-shaven face had always done wonders for him. Though for which lady he was taking the extra effort, he still wasn't sure.

As the razor glided over his skin, he caught glimpses of Rogue forming one perfect little ringlet before moving on to the next tightly rolled lock. Their repetitive movements continued for several more minutes in silence before he finished, as expected, before her. When he patted on his aftershave and cologne, he noticed her in the mirror's reflection. What he'd missed the last time they played out this little routine, he saw now.

Rogue's nostrils flared, and her eyes darkened. She unconsciously shifted, rubbing her thighs together with the movement. Her chin tilted up ever so slightly, suppressing her desire. But Remy already knew how much she enjoyed his scent. After how close they'd grown recently, maybe there were other things about him she was ready to enjoy as well…

He turned and gazed at her for a long moment, watching as her body tensed with the sensation of being watched. After a long pause, he walked over to her and placed his hand on her lower back. The warmth of his still moist skin heated through the thin white silk. Though it was small, he felt her shiver at the contact. He didn't know exactly when the decision had been made, but he knew what he had to do tonight.

"I know y' said Scarlett O'Hara ain't makin' an appearance t'night, mais I'm havin' a hard time not seein' it." He quietly teased her.

Rogue relaxed and rolled her eyes, ready to fire a smart retort when the words suddenly died on her lips. While she'd been distracted, Remy leaned down to place a sweet, chaste kiss on her silk covered shoulder. His lips lingered as his hand slipped around her waist to pull her closer. A soft 'oh' escaped her lips as her skin burned at the contact. Before she could react any further, Remy released her and slipped out of the bathroom. After he was out of sight, she sighed and turned her attention back to her hair. By the time she was finished, he was long gone with nothing left but his damp towel as a reminder he'd even been in the room.

Doing a quick time check, Rogue realized she was behind schedule and might miss the first toast. Most of the guests would have arrived by now and she missed greeting them in the foyer. She rushed to slip into her dress, taking extra care not to tear the delicate bodice, and stepped into the surprisingly comfortable black heels. A single, wrist length black satin glove encased her right hand. Snagging a carefully chosen pair of simple but elegant and expensive diamond drop earrings, she quickly did a final check of her appearance. Satisfied that she was as ready as she'd ever be, she ran out the door and flew down the stairs in record time. Her confidence boosted as she realized there would be plenty of time to make the grand, composed entrance she and Mercy had practiced.

However, before her foot could even touch the last stair, she ran smack into a rock-hard chest. Rogue flailed to grab the railing as her eyes rose to meet those of her adopted father.

"Père! What're ya doin' back here? The guests are in the ballr-"But Marius cut her off before she could finish.

"Don' lecture me, enfant. Y've expressly disobeyed my direct orders and I will have satisfaction." He towered over her, pausing before demanding, "T'night."

Rogue tried to side step him, but he backed her into the small alcove behind the stairs. Set on edge from his unexpected appearance and being cornered like a dog about to be beaten, she straightened to her full height and stiffened her spine in a show of confidence she didn't exactly feel. There was no way she was going to show any weakness, especially tonight of all nights.

"Don'cha think that would be a might foolish considerin' what this whole shindig is suppose ta signify?" She tilted her chin up in defiance.

Even in heels, Rogue was a full head shorter than Marius. Her insolent remark stoked his barely controlled fury. "Do y' dare call me couillon?"

His face turned an unearthly shade of purplish-red as his gloved hand shot out and grabbed her around the neck. His fingers squeezed just hard enough to restrict the blood flow to Rogue's head, but not enough to leave bruises. The beautiful gift of a master assassin: the ability to leave behind a pretty corpse.

"Parce que si vous êtes, y' will regret it." Marius promised.

Realizing he wasn't going to let go, Rogue shot out her bare left hand to reach for his exposed face. But before her skin could connect with his, a dark shadow emerged from the alcove behind her and swiftly locked her arms in a Fakhani hold. His gloved hands pressed against the back of her neck to keep her in place. As a trained assassin herself, it was a move that was very familiar. Unfortunately, she couldn't enact the countermove with Marius still gripping her throat. If she tried to break free now, either of her captors could easily deliver a death blow.

Julien's sickening voice teased against her ear, "Nuh-uh, petite sœur. No usin' that nasty mutant freakiness on daddy dearest!"

Truly panicked for the first time since Marius' cruelty with Aunt Carrie's death, Rogue struggled against the vice-like grips that held her. Julien chuckled, perversely pleased with her fighting spirit. His hardening arousal pressed into her backside, betraying the depths of his depravity. A mix of both fear and disgust flashed in Rogue's eyes as Marius's stone face twisted into a sinister upturning of his lips.

Rogue had no clue how she was going to get out of the mess. Unless someone came downstairs, no one would think to look back in the alcove. And she couldn't take a deep breath, much less shout for help. While she was strong and knew how to defend against attackers, her captors had much more experience in debilitating restraints. There was only one thing that would save her life now.

Gasping for enough air, she barely forced out, "O-kay."

Marius smirked a moment longer, reveling in her submission to him before he released the grip on her neck.

"What is le bien?" He asked, wanting her to spell it out, word for word, in her own voice.

Except she couldn't say what he wanted to hear. She'd already made a vow to herself that Remy and Jean-Luc wouldn't be harmed at her hands. What could she say that would appease her adopted father and keep her married family safe? Marius had always been able to pick out her half-truths and full-lies. Still, she had to buy more time.

Choking down the suddenly rising bile in her throat, she begrudgingly agreed, "Alright, Ah'll do it."

Marius' lips spread in a Chesire cat grin, but quickly disappeared with Rogue's added stipulation, "But not tonight."

His hand once again tightened on her neck. "This is not open fo' debate!"

He let her feel the pain for a few heartbeats longer before lessening his grip so she could redeem herself.

"If it happens tonight, after the Unification, there will be an all-out blood war. The Thieves will retaliate against the Assassins an' a lotta people will die." She said, shaking her head as Marius opened his mouth to object. "Ah know ya don't care 'bout Thieves lives, but y'all would put targets on all the Boudreaux family. And regardless of yer skill, eventually a thief would break through."

Her little speech seemed to have little effect on the Assassin patriarch as several seconds passed without his response. Realizing that she painted a gory picture that had given him second thoughts, Rogue continued before Julien could egg his father on.

"Are ya willin' ta sacrifice yer son? Or how 'bout yer daughter, Belle?" She held her breath. There was no sense including herself because she'd always only ever been a pawn to him.

"That won' happen. I won' allow it!" Marius vowed.

Rogue delicately prodded him over the edge. "How're ya gonna stop it?"

"Bien! We'll play out this little game y've started," He acquiesced, quickly releasing her neck to point a finger in her face. "But yo' half a' de joint mission is de contract on his life. Expect yo' assignment once both guilds recognize de unification."

"Père, yo' not seriously considerin'-" Julien started, but Marius cut him off with a look. "-Assez! Pas maintenant."

He nodded for Julien to release his adopted sister. After a few seconds, he begrudgingly complied. Rogue kept her composure even though she really wanted to shake out the holds and check herself for any lasting injuries.

As Marius and Julien stepped out of the alcove and walked away, her father added, "No more stallin'. When y' hear my next command, y' will obey."

The unspoken "or face dire consequences" hung in the air long after they were gone.

Slumping back against the wall, Rogue took a few deep, calming breaths. She gingerly twisted her neck from side to side and shook out her arms. Miraculously, the sheer bodice of her dress appeared undamaged.

After fully composing herself, she cautiously stepped out of the alcove. A shadowy movement caught her eye as someone quickly darted away. She hurried around the corner to the hall and then bottom of the stairs, but no one was there. Looking both ways and climbing a few steps didn't reveal anyone hiding either. With a sigh, she brushed it off as nerves after the encounter with her 'family' and hurried to join the guests in the ballroom. There was no doubt about it, she would certainly make a grand, late entrance.

(X)-(X)-(X)

Remy was wrong when he told Rogue he didn't think the titular character from Gone with the Wind was going to make an appearance at the Unification Cotillion. Little did he know his comment would be proven wrong thirty minutes later. Mattie had caught him when he first came downstairs after dressing and told him he had to greet the guests as they arrived. While standing in a receiving line wasn't what he wanted to do, it did have the distinct advantage of knowing exactly when Bella Donna arrived. However, the vision she embodied would have made Scarlett green with jealousy if the fictional character was there to see his former girlfriend. The fact that she was oddly alone and not accompanied by her father and brother wasn't lost on Remy.

Gliding across the foyer in an oversized ballgown, Belle's allegiance was clear. While the case could be made that she chose the crystal encrusted, white bodice dress to symbolize peace (although knowing her, Remy doubted she put that much thought into it), the voluminous, glittery skirt was Boudreaux bright-as-fresh-blood red. Though her blonde hair was swept away from her face as if enticingly captured by the wind, the bulk of it cascaded down her back in a waterfall of hairspray stiffened ringlets. A black as night, hyper-exaggerated smoky eye fought for attention with her deep crimson lips. And the matching set of statement earrings, necklace, and bracelet clashed with all the other pieces. What may have made her ensemble individually elegant was nothing but a sparkly hot mess when thrown together.

Remy inwardly grimaced. 'Belle never did do anythin' halfway.'

She gave him a beauty queen wave as she approached him, not waiting until they were close before she started speaking.

"Remy, cher," Her raised voice drew the attention of everyone in the small entrance hall. "What a pleasure it is t' see y' again!"

He hated when she used that sweet as saccharin voice. It had always grated on Remy's nerves, from the moment she first started using it right after their first "breakup-makeup". In the past, she had unsuccessfully tried it as a tactic to get something she wanted out of him. If it was something he was willing to give, he did so without needing coaxing. And if it was something he needed coaxing, he wasn't willing to give it in the first place. Thinking back on it, his ignoring the problem probably sent the message that her sickly sweet ploy worked instead of failing miserably.

"Belle." He politely but coolly greeted.

As she closed the distance between them, he had to fight to keep from staggering back as her heavy, musky perfume slammed into his nose. Another thing he never liked once she started wearing it but tolerated because it was her. That was an addition from their second "breakup-makeup".

She huffed in indignation. "Well, ain't y' got anythin' better t' say t' me than that? We ain't seen each other in so long, why, I nearly forgot what y' looked like, bébé!"

It was a real struggle for Remy not to roll his eyes at that. Belle always had been overdramatic. Of the guests still lingering in the foyer for juicy gossip, some were openly gaping. The rest were more discreet in their observations but watching them nonetheless.

"Cut de connerie, Belle." Remy indifferently spoke, keeping his voice low. "De only ones who are buyin' yo' act are de busybodies who would cut our throats and step on our dead bodies if they thought it would get 'em ahead."

"Bien." Belle's tone shifted to purring seductress faster than a hot knife through butter. Trailing her fingers suggestively up his arm, her sultry voice implied more as she said, "I need t' talk wit' y' in private. Where can we be alone?"

"Serieusement?" He momentarily lost his cool and, remembering their audience, had to pause to regain it. Lowering his voice again, he gestured between them, "We can't be alone t'gether, fille."

Not deterred, Bella Donna stepped closer to his side. Pressing her breasts against his bicep and leaning into his ear, she whispered, "Didn't stop y' de first night I got back."

Frustrated with both her display and lack of decorum, Remy physically shook her off. He kept to a whisper, but his was voice laced with anger. "What are y' tryin' t' do, femme, start an all out war t'night instead of de peace we're here t' achieve?"

Rather than cooling her down with logic and common sense, he only stirred her up like a wildfire. Her eyes flashed with anger and she crossed her arms over her chest like a pouting, spoiled rotten child.

"Oui, de peace that was supposed t' be brought 'bout because of our marriage. Not y' an' some Guild prophecy nobody." She unknowingly let slip.

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Remy realized their audience had turned into full on feature show. Grabbing her upper arm, he quickly and not so gently ushered her out of the foyer and into the ballroom. Once past the threshold, he released her as if he'd been burned by the mere contact.

"Dix minutes, Belle. Be out on de rotunda's balcony," She smiled like the cat who ate the canary before Remy quickly smothered her glee as he finished, "But be prepared t' say yo' peace. 'Cause it's de only shot y' get t'night."

Without waiting for her response, Remy stepped back into the foyer to finish greeting the guests. If the chore had been unpleasant before, it was even worse now. Previously, he'd at least been able to affect a dignified but aloof air. After the encounter with Bella Donna, he was almost callously cold. But then, his thoughts were a million miles away.

What the hell was wrong with that woman? First with the way she practically dry humped him in front of the others and then with her ridiculous request? It was one thing to meet secretly in the middle of the night when no one was suspecting them to still be in contact. It was another thing entirely to suggest it in front of a roomful of bystanders looking for the one tidbit that would blow up the efforts of everyone who sacrificed for this peace deal, both him and Bella Donna included.

And the first question he was going to ask her had to do with that little snippet about Guild prophecy. Either Rogue had been lying to him and knew more about the Assassin prophecies or Bella Donna had been keeping secrets from him for years.

Well, there was at least one secret she'd been very good at keeping: her adopted sister.

In all the time he'd been with Belle over all the years, she'd never once mentioned Rogue. Marius had adopted Rogue as a toddler. They'd all grown up with each other. Though if what Rogue told him was to be believed, she was kept isolated from the others. Still, Bella Donna was a terrible liar. Remy didn't even have to try that hard to get information out of her, oftentimes just waiting for her to slip up like she did now. Even isolated from the rest of the family, wouldn't Belle have at least accidentally dropped Rogue's name sometime through the years?

As the final guest walked into the ballroom, Remy slipped across the foyer to the formal dining room, into the adjoining kitchen, and out the side entrance. Using his ingrained thieving skills, he prowled around the house to approach the rotunda from the cover of the landscaping. Pulling himself up and over the railing, he gracefully swung up and behind the secluded spot Bella Donna had chosen.

"Merde! Remy, cher, y' scared me." She spun around to face him, placing a hand over her supposedly racing heart.

Before he could finish brushing himself off and stand up, she recovered and quickly threw her arms around his neck. Planting her deep red lips against his, she locked him in a passionate kiss. Remy struggled to disentangle himself without either of them looking mussed, like they'd been secretly making out on the balcony.

"Qu'est-ce que tu penses?" He angrily admonished. "Shit like that's gon' get us in trouble."

Once free, he smoothly slipped away and put some distance between them. Pulling out a handkerchief, Remy softly cursed when the pristine white fabric came back with faint red splotches. He'd have to go wash her lipstick off his face before returning to the ballroom.

"I was thinkin' I missed de man I love." Belle pouted and crossed her arms again. "Obviously, de sentiment is no longer returned."

Unwilling to step into that trap, Remy diverted her attention. "That's what I keep tryin' t' tell y', Belle. Even if I wanted t' fuck y' senseless, I can't sneak off wit' y', especially t'night of all nights."

"I'm so sorry, bébé. I just missed y' so much." She closed the distance between them, this time toning it down as she seductively rubbed his arm. "Missed talkin' and bein' t'gether."

Inwardly, he called her on that bullshit too. If she really had missed him, she'd have been bereft enough to try to initiate contact in some way. That was just how she operated. Instead, she was being maliciously playful, hoping someone would catch them. As if Remy being caught cheating on Rogue in any fashion would eliminate all the barriers in Belle's path to the altar with him.

"Just 'cause y' ain't seen me in a while don't mean I was born yesterday, fille." Remy used a softer tone with her. If he wanted information, he would have to keep her in a good mood.

"Pue," She teasingly slapped his arm, adding enough power behind it to no doubt leave a small bruise. "When did y' let that petite femme of yo's shove a stick up yo' ass. De Remy LeBeau I know don't shy away from kisses wit' jolies filles."

Remy only grimaced, not appreciating her unsubtle methods of marking him or her return to their age-old faithfulness argument. Convenient how Belle used her suspicions of his philandering in her favor when it suited her current purposes. Never mind that he never did anything with another woman anytime they were officially together. And when they weren't official, well, celibacy was never part of their equation.

"I know yo' feelin's on ma petite femme." He emphasized her words, "so I know that's not why y' wanted t' be alone wit' me."

"Actually, it is." Bella Donna smirked, leaning back against the wrought-iron railing. With little thought, she'd fluidly positioned her body to draw attention to her low-cut bodice and squeezed cleavage.

Ignoring her obvious attempts, Remy felt a guard go up when he remembered Belle's earlier comment about the prophecies.

Nonchalantly, he asked, "What 'bout her?"

"Nothin' other than I figured out a way t' get rid of her!" Belle's cheeks ached from the proud smile on her face. She thought she was so clever and Remy would fall at her feet in grateful adoration.

Instead, he regarded her with a critical eye. He'd always understood she was an assassin and that she killed people for a living the same way he stole for his. But she'd never so mercilessly plotted someone's demise that wasn't one of her contracts. At least, she'd never shared that side with him if she did.

Now that Remy had decided his course, the last thing he wanted was for something to happen to Rogue. If he wasn't careful with his next words, Belle would shut down on him and he'd never know her attack plan. Worse yet, he could set her off like dynamite and she'd ignore everyone in order to achieve whatever she wanted, including acting against the best interests of the Assassins Guild.

He appraised her for a second longer under the guise of thinking over her suggestion before asking, "And how do y' propose t' do that wit'out implicatin' me?"

Remy knew Belle understood what he meant. If nothing else, Belle wanted him. That meant whatever she had cooked up would not involve him directly. Otherwise there would be no absolution for him and therefore no wedding for her if even a suspicion was thrown his way.

Belle rolled her eyes as if it should have been obvious, her voice taking a decidedly condescending tone. "Poison, of course!"

"Poison." He stated matter-of-factly, although he felt like he'd been gut punched hard enough to vomit.

The thought of something so simple, so easy to administer, quietly killing Rogue left him reeling. Remy was hit with the sudden urge to double over as bile rose in his throat and his heart constricted. Walking over to the railing, he gripped it as he leaned out and looked at the river in the distance. The air suddenly escaped his lungs and he started choking trying to draw it back in. If his direction hadn't already been set in stone, it certainly was now.

He took a few deep breaths to compose himself before quietly adding, "Don't y' think poison isn't de first thing police investigate when a spouse mysteriously dies?"

His gaze remained unfocused as he refused to look at her. All the while, Bella Donna misread his reaction as not being acclimated to death and killing the same way she was.

"Don't y' worry yo' pretty li'l self so much!" She turned to match his stance, patronizingly patting his ass in the process. "It can be done when yo' out of town on a contract."

"And if I'm not de one deliverin' de fatal dose," Remy asked as he turned to face her, "how y' gon' get an assassin onto Thieves' property, much less de manor?"

She gave him a withering look, "Please, cher, I know y' ain't so naïve as t' think no thief could be playin' favorites wit' de Assassins."

It was true. There had been double agents in both Guilds. Sometimes entire families had gone generations without being discovered. Even within his own family, there was an Old Kingdom legend that the Marceauxs had once been Assassins.

Playing it like his goals were the same as hers, Remy said, "This is all a really bad idea, Belle. One of us is gon' get caught."

"Eh," She delicately lifted one shoulder in a shrug as she coyly looked over it at him. "We'll figure it out, cher. Like I said, don't worry. Otherwise I might see wrinkles on yo' pretty face and that would be a shame."

She moved to draw him in for another kiss, but he backed away. Having had enough of the conversation, Remy needed to get away from her. He also needed to see with his own eyes that Rogue was safe.

"Been out here too long, petite. Best get back inside before someone notices." He said, climbing up and hopping over the railing before she could do any more harm than she already had.

(X)

Hé homme! – Hey man!

bon rien – (Cajun) a good for nothing, lazy man

couillon – fool

Parce que si vous êtes – Because if you are

le bien – okay

Assez! Pas maintenant. – Enough! Not now.

connerie – bullshit

Serieusement? – Seriously?

Qu'est-ce que tu penses? – What the hell are you thinking?

Pue – (Cajun) wave away a concern like a bad smell

petite femme – little wife

jolies filles – pretty girls