A/N: I was going to wait to post it but decided to go ahead. I was waiting for more reviews, opinions, and speculation to be sure I was going in a direction that wouldn't cause folks to hate me. However, I think we've all been waiting for the confrontation. I just hope I don't disappoint. It's been a long time coming. The next chapter is almost completed too and I think I may get hate mail for it. LOL. maybe not...

Just Curious: I almost answered your latest question but just as I began to type I changed my mind. lol. So I'll say...maybe.

Street Scene: Chapter 26 is N'Dare's chapter.

Gator Bait: Thank you as always for your comments. I don't want to reveal too much about the Remy's reaction as they were a big focus of Ch. 26.

Brazos: I left you a message on my front page today. And I never expected to update so soon either. I'm coming to find that it's pretty easy to start and finish a story, it's those pesky middles that'll flub you up. lol

Valkyrie: She's not kidding! lol. She realize he's for real soon enough.

Bobo: Sure, they've met before. Emma's been tramping around for a while. lol I guess I could of gave a bit of a backstory on that. I've really got to work on my detail... sighs...

Archadian Angel: You make me blush.

Breakersmom!: I see you got an account. When are you going to start writing?

And to everyone else!: I'd also like to thank you for reading and reviewing! Even if you're just commenting on how hot Remy is (cuz he is) or making a general statement. I love them all!!

Designated Things

Chapter 25

Jean-Luc watched the couple exit the cottage through the soft drizzle of the rain. He noted the solemn look on Ororo's face. She reminded him of a woman walking to her execution. Other than that, she was lovely in her evening gown. He could see clearly why his son was so smitten with her.

Remy's hand was on her lower back, guiding her down the path. Jean-Luc couldn't see his emotions under his downcast face but he could imagine what he'd see. Remy's look of despair was etched in his mind. He'd seen it so frequently but since Remy had been dating Ororo it had all but vanished. He guessed that's why he was so willing to help his son out and concocted this harebrained scheme. He just wanted him to have some happiness.

Remy opened the back passenger's side door to allow Ororo to slide in then slid in behind her.

"Hello, Mr. LeBeau," Ororo said quietly.

"Ororo…," he said to her, watching through the rearview mirror as she settled behind him.

"Papa…," Remy greeted, still not making eye contact.

"Son…," Jean-Luc wished that he could just snap his fingers and make it all better, make everything perfect for him. But he knew that he couldn't. Instead he pulled out of the drive and began to chauffeur the teens to Ororo's house with Remy giving quiet instructions of when to turn left or right.

Through the darkness of the sedan Jean-Luc could hear Ororo's soft sobs behind him. They were low but their soft timbre didn't lessen the affect they had on his heart. He listened as Remy whispered what he assumed were soft words of support to her. He wanted to apologize to them both, for not being able to come through for them.

"Remy, I don't know what to tell you. I think it may have been Emma that tipped them off."

Remy began to seethe. The hate he held for her quadrupled in capacity.

When Remy didn't respond he continued. "She won't be in our home anymore as of tonight…"

After Jean-Luc's confrontation with David he went immediately to Emma. She swore that she said nothing more to her parents. Jean-Luc told her that since he even had to question her spoke volumes about their relationship, and he thought it may be time for them to part ways. Emma was dumbfounded at first before she quickly regained her icy exterior. Jean-Luc had never hit a woman before but listening to the words spewing out of this woman's mouth was pushing him to the edge. She basically called him pathetic for wasting his time and money on someone like Remy. However, she really crossed the line when she reminded him that his wife was "worm food" and to "deal with it." Two minutes later Emma was on one of the speed boats that were on standby for attendees that had to leave before the ferry docked back on shore.

Ororo's eyes were closed tightly. She could hear her heart beating in her ears, hard…heavy palpitations. They were in time with the steady rain hitting the glass . With each turn that brought them nearer to her house her stomach began to clinch and tie itself in knots.

Remy became concerned when her breathing became short bursts of air, "What is it? What's wrong, Cherie?"

"Stop the car. Stop the car."

"Papa! Stop the car," Remy yelled but Jean-Luc was already pulling over.

Ororo quickly opened the car door and fell onto the concrete of the quiet residential street that was just one block away from her house. She felt the bile rise from her belly and into her throat. Her body lurched violenty dry heaving before her stomach emptied its contents onto the pavement.

Remy was by her side, holding her shoulders as she sat back on her hunches.

"Better?" he asked sympathy and worry marring his face.

"No," she said as she took the handkerchief he offered her and wiped her mouth. "I'm in so much trouble, Remy." She looked around at her conditions. She was sitting almost in the middle of the street over a small pool of vomit, in the rain, in a ruined gown. Her hair had fallen into a slack bun with most of it hanging down in curly coils. Her eye makeup had smudged around her eyes with dark trails running from the corners. She was embarrassed but not enough to make her hide her emotions of her situation. She looked at Remy and began to laugh. "Look at me. I'm a mess. And I'm in so much trouble."

Remy watched her. He knew she was at her wits end. The sound of her laughter wasn't one of happiness but of a person that knew they couldn't do anything else. He pulled her to him and kissed her on her forehead as her laughter turned again to soft sobs.

"Want to know what I do when it seems like nothing can get any worse?"

She nodded.

"I think about tomorrow. Tomorrow it will be all over."

"What if it's not?"

"Then I think, next week, next month, or even next year… Ororo, everything gets better with time and love," he said mimicking the words his mother had told him before her death. "Come on, Cherie, let's go make this better."

When they arrived, Ororo's parents were not there yet. The house was still dark with only the porch light shining.

"I think we should all stay here and wait for them. We can go in together," Jean-Luc advised.

Remy looked to Ororo, "Does that sound good to you?"

"Neither of you have to stay. I can do this by myself."

Before she could complete the sentence both men were expressing their objections.

"Ororo, chere, we said we'd do this together. We will."

Ororo sighed in defeat and somewhat in relief.

No one spoke for the next ten minutes. Ororo's nerves had subsided as she lay in Remy's arms, her head pressed against his chest. She let the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as well as the firm caresses of his hand on her back soothe her.

Remy sat looking out of the window into the darkness, listening to the rain alternate between soft sprinkles to noisy downpours. It was between the two when the headlights turned the corner of the street and eased into the drive triggering the motion sensitive flood lights.

"Oh God...," Ororo breathed out on a whisper.

Remy kissed her temple. In the quiet he had been silently praying that everything would go well. He knew it wouldn't. There was no way he was going to come out of this looking good but he prayed anyway.

As soon as Jean-Luc saw the car turn into the drive he exited the car. He was hoping David had calmed down or at least give him the opportunity to make pleas in the kids' benefit.

David didn't bother pulling the car into the attached garage. He barely put the car in park before he exited, leaving the door open. N'Dare quickly got out and moved quickly so that she could catch up with her husband who was advancing on Jean-Luc with long deliberate strides.

"I don't want to talk to you," David said through clench teeth pointing at Jean-Luc.

"Mr. Munroe, please don't be too upset," Jean-Luc started.

Remy emerged from the back of the car and Ororo right behind him.

"Don't tell me how to raise my child. Ororo, get over here now!"

"Look, this isn't their entire fault. I'm the majority of the blame."

"Oh, I don't know who is completely at fault. But what I do know is that we didn't have any problems out of my daughter until your son came around. Now she's lying and disobeying her mother and me at every turn."

David observed how Remy led Ororo up the drive, his hand gripping hers. He took in her disheveled state and his blood began to boil hotter than it already was.

"Mr. Munroe, I assure you that Remy is a good boy."

David looked at Jean-Luc in disbelief. He knew that love was blind but this man had to be in denial.

"Are you serious? Your "good boy" has a wrap sheet longer than my arm," David spat, emphasizing Jean-Luc's words with disdain.

Remy lowered his head in shame. His father had told him on many occasions that his recklessness was going to come back to haunt him. Remy realized this was one of those times.

"Ororo, get over here!"

His words were echoed by N'Dare but in a more loving tone and choice of words, "Dear, please come here."

Ororo stepped from behind Remy and further into the light. The harsh light illuminated her from head to toe bringing attention to the round dark bruise on her neck from her and Remy's kiss on the floor earlier.

David thought his head was going to explode. He grabbed Ororo's head and tilted it to the side to get a better look.

"What the hell have you two been doing?" he said to Ororo not giving her a chance to answer before turning his outrage on Jean-Luc. "What are you? Your son's pimp? Do you think my daughter is a whore?"

"David!" N'Dare scolded. She didn't know what to do. She was upset too but she didn't think that yelling and insults would accomplish anything.

Remy finally found his voice, "Mr. Munroe, I adore Ororo. I haven't done anything but be respectful to her."

"You call this respectful? Look at her," He turned Ororo to face them not caring about the tears streaming down her face.

"Daddy! Stop!" Ororo snapped and faced him. When she spoke again her voice was hushed, begging him to listen. "Why are you doing this? Has it occurred to you that I'm an adult now? I'm no victim. I had choices and I made them."

N'Dare stepped forward to stand next to her husband, "Ororo, I know that you're growing up but we're just trying to protect you, honey."

"From what? You can't shelter me forever. From who? Remy? We're going to see each other whether you like it or not." Her lips twisted into a bastard version of a smile. It used all the same muscles but the furrow of her brows and her falling tears conquered the illusion.

Remy ran his fingers through his hair grabbing a handful. This wasn't going well at all. "Mr. Munroe, Ororo and I would much rather have your permission. I don't want to sneak around with her like I'm ashamed of our relationship."

"Maybe I'm the one that would be ashamed to say that my daughter is dating a criminal. There is no more relationship. This ends tonight, right now."

David grabbed Ororo's arm and began to pull her up the drive. Remy quickly moved, grabbing David's elbow to stop him. "Mr. Munroe, please…" He didn't want it to end like this…in a total mess.

David swung around causing Ororo to stumble in her heeled shoes as he pulled back his fist. Both N'Dare and Ororo gasped. Remy stepped back as Jean-Luc stepped up, ready to protect his son.

"Daddy please…Don't. Just don't." Ororo began to sink towards the earth, her defeat weighing heavy on her shoulders. Only David's firm grip held her upright.

"Get out of here, the both of you, before I call the police. And don't you bother coming back," David grounded out through clenched teeth before he once again maneuvered Ororo towards the front door.

Ororo looked back over her shoulder as she was being practically dragged up the front steps. Tears were streaming down her face and Remy watched helpless as she croaked out a wet apology.

Jean-Luc was disgusted. He didn't know what to say to his son after watching Ororo disappear through the front door and N'Dare close it softly severing their contact.

"Remy…" Jean-Luc tentatively reached out towards him.

The contact on his arm jolted Remy into motion. He turned towards his father with that morose look he'd worn for too long.

Remy closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply. When he opened them, he saw right through his father. Jean-Luc had never seen such a hard expression on his son's face. His handsome face was replaced with a feral intensity, deep furrowed brows and clench teeth accentuating his firm cheekbones.

Remy turned back towards the house.

"Damn you!" he roared at its exterior. Remy walked down the drive briskly stopping at the edge of the drive kicking over the two tin cans that sat on the street.

Jean-Luc followed him calling for him to stop. Remy heard him but at that moment he didn't care. His anger had taken over his body and there was no getting through to him. The damage he'd done to the tin cans wasn't enough. It didn't make him feel any better. His eyes settled on a brick that lined a flowerbed. He picked on up and readied himself to throw it as hard as he could through the large picture window. Jean-Luc stepped in front of him and grabbed his arm. The motion light turned off at that moment darkening the drive once more.

"Remy! What the hell are you doing?"

Remy didn't know what he was doing. He dropped the brick and turned and ran. His father's voice followed after him through the dark and rain but nothing was going to stop him at that moment.