Chapter Twenty-Six – Worst Timing Ever

Remy let out a contented- albeit exhausted, sigh as he slumped back into the comfort of the sofa. 'Finally…' He had never welcomed the silence and space of his apartment so willingly before. He vowed silently that he wouldn't give anyone keys to his apartment again. Especially not to Peter since it was practically the same as giving them to Kitty in a gift box and ribbons. Another sigh escaped his lips as he ran his hands over his face. 'Dat femme is gonna kill someone wit' all de kindnesses she hands out…' His thoughts became a little fuzzier as exhaustion began to course through his body. The warm room, the comfy seat beneath him and the gentle murmur of the television was a concoction designed to put him to sleep. He had just let his head fall back against the head of the sofa and barely closed his eyes when the phone rang. With a groan of defeated irritation, Remy reached for the phone before it started the second ring. His eyes were still closed when he replied candidly.

"Bonjour, dis is Remy speaking-"

He barely finished his response when he was cut off by a sharp, impatient voice.

"This is Jill Baker, calling on behalf of Sebastian Shaw of Worthington Publishings. I need to speak with Anna-Marie Howlett."

Remy barely opened his eyes as a bemused look spread across his face. He knew Jill Baker- or more he had heard of her through Rogue. Everything he knew about the woman caused him to wonder why she of all people would be calling at- 'Eight o'clock at night? Mon Dieu, it doesn't feel like it.' Remy was broken from his musing by an impatient 'hello?' from the other end of the line. He cleared his throat lightly at sat up before he replied.

"She's indisposed at de moment, mais I can give her a message if y' have one?"

Though Remy wasn't entirely certain, he thought he had heard a light scoff on the other end of the line. That, or a slight coughing on the other end.

"Just tell her that there are a couple of copy right forms she needs to have cleared in regards to her final work. If she still wants us to use her latest works that is. We can't have any legality law suits put against the company."

Remy's brow furrowed deeper with confusion. What?

"Excuse moi for being obvious, mais isn't she a part of de company? Don't dey have copy right forms-"

He was cut off by an impatient sigh, followed by a string of intolerantly voiced words.

"Well considering the fact that she got fired today, the legality of her last works is considered invalid. Just make sure she get's the memo would you? Thankyou, you've been a great help."

The line went dead before he could even muster the will to respond.

He sat there in silence for a few minutes as Jill Baker's words washed over his mind. Realisation hit him quickly as her words folded into answers but as did many new questions. 'Fired? Why would dey fire her? She's been wit' de company for years wit' not'ing but success et praise on her resume. Why would dey fire her now?' He had been right to think something wasn't right earlier in her room. However, realisation was quickly turned to anger as he listed the injustices of it all. Rogue was good at her job, hell she was talented and good at her job. He couldn't think of a single reason why they would fire her. 'Somet'ing happened.' That was all he could decipher. They wouldn't have no reason as their justification for firing her. His hands clenched into fists as he recalled Jill Baker's tone of voice. She obviously wasn't sorry for Rogue's misfortune. She was, as her tone dictated, broodingly impatient about the matter. It was at this point that Remy came to a new realisation. 'When was she gonna tell moi about dis?' A bemused expression spread across his face as he turned his gaze to the kitchen from across the step-divided rooms. Rogue was contentedly walking about the kitchen as she waited for a steaming kettle to finish boiling.

'She wasn't going t' tell moi?'

Hurt flashed across his unusual eyes, as did concern and a bout of annoyance that was centred completely on her. Had she planned on telling him before the night was out? 'Or leave it until everyone but moi knows about it?' He couldn't believe how much it actually hurt to believe that she would do that…again. Of course, the circumstances had been different last time. There had been so much working against them and he understood she had been scared… but this was different. Despite the feelings he currently harboured for her, they were still best friends. Didn't best friends tell each other these things? What's more, they were living together! He was sure that he wasn't wrong in that notion even if his thoughts were a little clouded by his feelings.

He was broken out of his turmoil of thoughts when Rogue returned with a pair of mugs in her hands. He rose to his feet before she could set them down. When he caught her gaze however, all the anger he had mustered against her for not telling him turned to useless ash. He couldn't be angry at her for too long. He never stood a chance against those pools of green. Ever. The best he could do was frown at her as he spoke in a calm, gentle voice.

"When were y' gonna tell moi y' lost y' job chére?"

The mugs nearly slipped from her hands in shock. He was quick and wordless as he carefully took both of the mugs from her hands and set them down on the coffee table. When he turned back to face her, he regained a portion of his anger. He fuelled his frown with it as he waited for an answer.

"How- how did ya know?"

She was genuinely shocked that he knew. It only made him painfully more certain that she hadn't planned on telling him that night. But when did she plan on telling him? He had to know. He took a step closer to her and took one of her hands in his as he spoke. He made sure not to lose her gaze.

"When did y' plan on tellin' moi?"

Rogue turned her gaze away, ashamedly. She suddenly became very interested in the wood panels of the floor as she bit down on her lower lip. Remy let out a slightly aggravated sigh as he grasped her chin and re-directed her gaze to meet his. Only then did he speak again.

"Were y' going t' tell moi?"

Her eyes widened ever so slightly, not just because of his words but because of the sarcastic tone in his voice. After a moment or two, Rogue let out an ashamed sigh and replied with a soft voice.

"Ah was gonna tell ya…"

"Oh? When exactly? After John et Wanda know?"

She flinched slightly at his words as they became cold and indignant sounding. Again, she refused to meet his gaze. Remy eyed her suspiciously before he spoke.

"Dey already know don't dey?"

Rogue gave him a guilty look. He knew instantly that he was right. An aggravated sigh-turned-growl escaped his lips as he let go of her and turned away for the moment. He couldn't believe it! He felt her shift close to him again before she spoke up in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

"Ah told Wanda about it but only after she badgered meh to-"

He turned abruptly on the spot to face her, causing her to jump slightly as he spoke coldly. His own hurt fuelled his words as he scowled down on her.

"I asked y' if dere was somet'ing wrong earlier et y' didn't tell moi."

Rogue made a shamed expression as she replied meekly.

"Remy ah was gonna tell ya when ah was ready to-"

"Oh really chére? When would dat be? When everyone else but moi knows?"

Her eyes pleaded with him as she reached out for him. It took every muscle of power within him not to crumble at her touch.

"Ah didn't know how ah was gonna tell ya…"

She let out a deep sigh as she lowered her gaze from his for a moment and continued.

"If ya knew what happened today-"

"Y' don't trust moi, do y'?"

Her widened as her mouth fell open in shocked disbelief. She barely managed to stutter her words out.

"No-! No! Of course ah trust ya- How- how could ya think somethin' lahke that?! Ah do-"

"How can I t'ink somet'ing like dat? Hm… let's see, y' didn't tell moi about mon enfants until two weeks after y' found out but y' had no problem wit' John et Wanda knowin' b'fore moi!-"

"Remy that was-"

"We be friends since we were kids Rogue! I t'ought dat at de very least would mean dat y' would confide somet'ing like dis in moi-"

"Remy please, jus'-"

"Why couldn't y' bring y' self t' confide in moi about dis-"

"MEH LOSIN' MAH JOB HAD NOTHIN' T' DO WITH OUR FRIENDSHIP!"

Her words erupted like a volcano only instead of molten lava pouring from her mouth, an emotion burned voice came loose. Remy became completely silent. His hurt and anger that had erupted through his words turned to silent shock as he gazed down on her with new eyes.

He wanted to take back everything he had said in an instant. However, the damage was done.

New tears clouded Rogue's ever-emerald eyes while old tears stained her flushed cheeks. Her lips trembled as she tried to keep a stern face but it was a useless battle. He found himself reaching out for her, despite better judgement. She stepped out of his grasp before he even reached her hands. He was amazed she managed to speak again in her near-breaking state. Her voice was stained with trembles and light sniffles as she spoke. He wished she would at least yell at him. That would've made him feel better compared to the near-shattered whisper she was using now.

"Ah only jus' lost mah job t-today, Remy. Ah don't- Ah don't need ya goin' off the handle at meh b'cause ah didn't have the so-called decency t' tell ya straight away - which, in case ya forgot, was nearly- nearly impossible b'cause o' the party. But ya gotta understand that ah do trust ya, more- more than anyone. So don't ya dare base mah trust in ya on somethin' lahke- lahke this."

Her voice broke on the last couple of words and before he could try to say something, she was briskly walking away from him in the direction of her door. The door slammed behind her and echoed back to him as he stood frozen in the living room.

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-Gams