A/N: And now, here it is....the 'long'-awaited conclusion. Hehehehe...... Seriously, has anyone successfully connected a Bluetooth adapter to their computer? I keep getting error messages. I thought I had it this afternoon, but it was unable to link to my phone. AAARRGGGGHHHH!!!
Chellerbelle: Yes, he is. Sympathy hugs for Rogue all around! Remy too. :)
courtneykutie: Good! :D It is a sad sitch to be in. Rogue 'slapping him up' would make for an interesting courtroom scene, but then she would probably be arrested also...sooo......
drummerchick66: No, he is a real pain-in-the-butt when it comes to Rogue. I would agree on the self-absorbed part. We'll just have to knock him down several pegs, won't we?
Disclaimer: …..And again, I don't own X-Men or Marvel.
"It's nice meetin' ya, Mr. Goldmann. What can ya tell me about my husband's case?"
"It's Chandler. Professor X. has informed me that you prefer to be called Rogue. Am I right?" At her nod, he continues. "Today will be Remy's arraignment hearing. I spoke with him yesterday, and he has agreed to plead 'no contest' to the charge filed against him. This will work in his favor, not only resulting in a low, or no bail situation, but it will also give him favor when it comes to sentencing. When we return home, we will discuss the trial itself, as I'm sure that is what Mr. Robbins is hoping for. A long trial to attempt to stir up sympathy for him and place attention on why we need mutant registration acts, legislation and whatnot. This can all be hashed out later. Right now, let's concentrate on getting him released into your custody."
At the courthouse, they enter through a back door, as the front entrance is filled with news media. ~I bet this is all Cody's doin'~ Rogue thinks sourly to herself. It would be just like him to take every advantage. His anti-mutant buddies probably called in every favor owed to them to make this happen. Especially over such a small deal. Remy hit him once. Once! They'd hit enemies much worse than this, but they're not turning this into a major spectacle, are they?
They are seated behind where Remy will sit with Chandler. Cody is already seated with his attorney. She's seen him before. He's a major proponent of the aforementioned legislation. He's always looking for high-profile cases that will bring him more media attention. No doubt, he's convinced Cody that this case will be a massive victory for their side. Cody looks over and just happens to catch her eye. He grins smugly and the evil gleam in his eyes brings a spark of fury to her own. She purposely breaks contact and turns toward the front where the judge is approaching the bench. Rogue and Professor exchange a relieved glance. This particular judge is fair in the dealings with mutants. Mr. Samuels, however, looks disgusted and whispers something to Cody.
Remy is brought out wearing a suit, minus the tie. She grins to herself. Not even in court will he wear a tie. He searches for Rogue and upon finding her, blows a kiss toward her. She smiles in return as he is seated.
The hearing begins with Mr. Samuels. "Your Honor, we believe that Mr. Lebeau should be kept in the custody of the state. He is a danger to others, as my client will testify later. His 'mutation' also makes him potentially unstable. Bail should also be withheld at this time, as Mr. LeBeau might be considered a flight risk." He takes his seat with a satisfied smirk.
"The defense will now address the court. Mr. Goldmann, if you please, how does your client plead?"
"Mr. LeBeau pleads 'no contest', Your Honor. As for these allegations of being a danger to others, that is ludicrous. My client has no prior convictions and is a happily married family man. This accusation of his 'mutation' being unstable is completely false. He has control over his ability, and is therefore not a danger for that reason, also. There is no chance of him being a flight risk, for the same reasons I listed. Mr. LeBeau and his wife have twin infants, which does not make it easy for them to flee by any means." Chandler takes his seat, clapping Remy on the shoulder.
"The court will take a 10 minute recess. I will render judgment on this matter then." The judge bangs his gavel and exits the courtroom.
The minutes slowly tick by. Chandler is outlining the possibilities with Remy. Professor reaches over and squeezes Rogue's hand reassuringly, but he is surprised to see a peaceful expression in her eyes. He smiles slightly to himself. He also is of the opinion that the scales seem to be tipping in their favor.
The recess is up and the judge re-enters the courtroom.
"I have taken all arguments into consideration. It is this court's decision that Remy LeBeau shall be remanded to the custody of Charles Xavier immediately and that no bail shall be posted. There is no reason to think that he would be a danger to others because of one isolated incident. I do not believe that he could even be considered a flight risk with two small children at home. The date of the trial to determine the outcome of this matter will be set two weeks from today at 10:30 am. The court is adjourned."
Rogue leaps up into Remy's arms with a glad cry. "I jus' knew they'd let ya go!"
"Didn' know y' were so 'appy t' see me, cherie." Remy teases, savoring the closeness of his wife. He finally sets her gently on the floor. "Nev'r wan' t' be in dere again!"
"Don' worry sugah. We'll see that ya not put in there ever again." Rogue reassures him. She notices Cody looking intently their way. She gives him a pointed look, full of anger then passionately kisses Remy, who is taken by surprise for once.
"W'at was dat f'r, Roguey?"
"Jus' showin' someone what he will never have." Rogue smartly replies.
"Don' be like dat, mon coeur. If anyt'in' I feel sorry f'r de homme. 'E los' out on somet'in' tres precieux w'en 'e treated y' de way 'e did. Y'r t' good o' a femme t' let 'im affect y' like dat. Alt'ough if 'e were t' do w'at 'e did t' y' again, den I would react de same way. No one treats ma cherie dat way. Kiss me 'cuz y' love me or wan' me. Maybe bot'. Not out o' revenge." He strokes her cheek, wraps an arm around her waist and guides her out of the courtroom. He stops, turns her toward him and speaks loud enough for only her. "Maybe y' will kiss me like dat later, non?" He passes that sexy smirk her way and resumes guiding her to the waiting car. She nudges him playfully and laughs.
They return home to a chorus of cheers and whistles. After a few minutes of celebrating, the twosome retreat to their apartment after retrieving the twins. Rogue delivers on that promised kiss, leaving the possibility open for more later. She is aware that he is tired. He looks like he hasn't slept a wink the previous night. She doesn't blame him. If she were in the same situation, she probably wouldn't either. She goes about, preparing their dinner. It's his favorite, jambalaya. She's in the middle of chopping the 'trinity' when a knock sounds at the door. Answering it, she admits Logan, who is clutching a "welcome home" bottle of brew for the Cajun.
"Jus' wonderin' how the Cajun's holdin' up after bein' holed up in cell all night." he gruffly inquires.
"He's fine, jus' tired. He'll appreciate that ya stopped in ta look in on him."
"Yeah, well...I jus' wanted ta know when our next game is gonna be."
Rogue chuckles quietly to herself. "I'll have him get back ta ya on that."
"How're ya doin', Stripes?"
"I'm great, now that he's home where he belongs. Thanks fer askin'." She passes him a soft smile.
"Good. The twins givin' ya trouble?"
"No more than usual."
"They're pretty good kids, Rogue. You're doin' a good job. Both of ya."
"Thanks, Logan. It means a lot that ya think so."
"Anytime, kid. I gotta go now. Got sessions in ten."
The two weeks pass and they are back in the courtroom. Chandler was very thorough on briefing them with what would happen next. This time, Cody approaches her and sneers "This time I'm gonna see that ya both get what's comin' ta ya. He'll get time an' ya will be left all alone, or maybe not. Maybe I'll come fer ya. Ya won' know when." he gives her a lustful once-over and takes his seat. She walks by his seat and states scathingly "Not in this life, or tha next, Cody Robbins, will I evah be with ya, an' if ya don' stop threatinin' me, I will advise our council. Ya know, I jus' might do that anyway. Seein' as I'm witness ta what happened months ago. Let people see ya fer who ya really are." She stalks to her seat and proceeds to let Chandler in on what just happened.
"I see. This will definitely help our case, not that it really needs much, but it will shed light on his true character."
The trial begins and Cody is called to the stand to recount what happened that day. Of course, he tries to paint himself as innocently trying to talk to Rogue and Remy as some jealous, uncontrollable animal.
Rogue snorts to herself. ~Yeah right. An' I'm actually a multi-millionaire!~ By sheer control, she doesn't disrupt his fractured twist of actual events.
It's Remy's turn to recount the events that transpired that day. Rogue nods in agreement with everything he says for the record. He adds this to the end. "I know I prob'ly shoudn' a hit 'im, but he was t'reatinin' m' wife. I was jus' defendin' 'er as she was in no condition t' do it 'erself." he steps down and it is Rogue's turn at the stand.
"Mrs. LeBeau, can you tell us, in your words, what transpired that day in late March at the Institute?"
She takes a deep breath and dives in: "I was sittin' in our media room, watchin' TV when tha intercom wen' off. I didn' hear who it was, so I tried gettin' up. I had ta have help as I was near tha end of my pregnancy, but we wen' ta tha door as Faith answered it."
"Before you continue, can you state to the court who Faith is?" Chandler inquires.
"Faith is an acquaintance, now friend of mine from when I was attendin' school down south. She's his ex-girlfriend, who is also a mutant like me."
"Thank you, Marie. Please continue your recollection."
"Okay. She answered tha door an' it was Mr. Robbins ova there." She points to the plaintiff's side of the room. "He said he was lookin' fer me. I tol' him before that, that I was married an' that I was expectin' babies."
"When did this event take place?"
"About.....5 weeks befo' this one."
"Thank you. Please go on."
"Anyway, he didn' listen. He babbled on about how he an' my momma were lookin' fer me fer years, an' dat he supposedly loved me an' I owed it ta him ta go away wit' him! When I refused, he became violent an' tried ta take me away by force. This is tha same guy, when I made my trip home, he an' an anti-mutant mob chased me an' tried ta kill me! But yeah, he became violent an' my brotha-in-law, Renoir, diverted his attention for a moment. Then Remy came an' punched him. Only once. It wasn' a beatin' as the plaintiff will have ya believe. He punched him once, in defense a' me."
"You say Mr. Robbins accosted you when you were visiting your hometown a few years ago?"
"Yes. I was tryin' ta find Momma an' ran inta him an' his cronies, instead."
"I see. Thank you for your testimony, Mrs. LeBeau." Chandler states in a satisfied tone.
Mr. Samuels sits with his head in his hands. He knows this was damaging testimony.
"The court will recess for half an hour for lunch. I will then render my verdict."
"Mr. Robbins, why did you leave out that first meeting that occurred weeks before the one we're on now?" Mr. Samuels asks in an eerily calm tone of voice.
"I-I didn' think about that. Nothin' happened then!" Cody tries to defend himself.
"That doesn't matter. You see, you just destroyed your case by leaving out that important meeting. And what was that about the events from a few years back? It's not that I don't agree with what you were going to do, but yet it is another fatal blow."
"No! Isn' there somethin' ya can do? I gotta win this!" Cody shouts, attracting the attention of those remaining in the courtroom..
Chandler hides a smile. He can't wait to share this with everyone.
Half an hour later, they reconvene.
"It is the decision of the court that all charges be dismissed against one, Remy LeBeau. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were only acting in defense of your expectant wife. You are free to go, Mr. LeBeau. Mr. Robbins, I would highly suggest that you get all of your facts straight before going to trial. I am going to place you under arrest at this time for perjury. You will be remanded to your county of residence to face charges there. I would suggest you learn your lesson from this experience. Court is dismissed. Bailiff, escort Mr. Robbins here to Central Booking."
Rogue wastes no time. Paying no attention to Cody's protests, she sashays right up to Remy and kisses him most amourously.
Professor clears his throat. "I think it's time we return home. Congratulations, Remy." He chuckles as he takes his leave to the waiting car.
There is a festive air at the mansion that night. Bobby keeps teasing Remy about how he "beat the rap". After awhile, they sneak away to go home and celebrate their own way.
A/N: For those not familiar with Cajun cookin', the 'trinity' spoken of here is a staple in most of their dishes. It consists of onions, celery and green pepper. I know this isn't actually how a court proceeding goes, but hey...what can I say?