"I want to stay here. At the Institute," Rebecca explained.

"No," Remy was firm. Rebecca stood with her mouth open. Her brain felt like the static of an old TV. Her eyes leapt to Olivier with a pleading look and he only stared back at her, just as helpless. Rebecca felt déjà vu from the moment, as if this had happened before in her early childhood. Olivier took a breath and stepped forward to Remy, who turned swiftly to face him.

"List—" Olivier started but Remy quickly dismissed him.

"No. I make the final decisions here. We are leaving. Immediately," Remy interrupted. His voice was bordering on yelling and there was a blaze in his red eyes. Rebecca gracefully moved between the two men and held up begging hands to her father.

"Please, Papa," Rebecca pleaded, and added in her French, "S'il vous plaît. I won't ask for anything ever again."

"Becca, that's what ya say every time. Ya said that to get a pet. Then, again, when ya asked Remy to take in Louis!" Remy argued. Rebecca felt a surge of regret. Nerves wracked her body as she felt her eyes begin to water. All those times before this moment had felt like the most important thing. Yet, at this point had surpassed them all. Remy, with dark circles under his eyes despite sleeping all night, added, "Did you forget about 'em ? Louis hasn't seen ya in two months! And Mercy and Henri too ! How do ya think they feel?"

A sob escaped Rebecca's lips. She had not thought about Louis all day and she had barely mentioned Henri or Mercy, except to Marissa. Now, a headache was growing in her skull and she felt the twinge of guilt. Remy sighed as he took in the sight of a sniffling Rebecca.

"Why do ya want to stay here?" Remy asked. Rebecca wrung her hands in front of her. She peaked back at Olivier, who was also waiting her answer. She wracked her brain for an answer and licked her dry lips. She had to say the right thing. The thing that would convince her father to let her stay. The truth could not be enough and the truth was that Rebecca did not know for sure herself of what the truth was. She did not like any of the adults at the Institute, except Olivier. Emma Frost had the possibility to alter memories, ridding her of the anxious thoughts of her recent past. She missed Henri and Mercy terribly. So much so that it made her feel ill. Although, Rebecca had already made friends with Marissa and Ben. They wanted her here and she felt this natural pull towards them like magnets. Yet, she had not even had the chance to talk to Louis about where they left off. Was she still angry? There were too many emotions to feel at once. Her mother was no longer here. There was nothing left of her, except a grave. And Olivier. He was still here. Memories and stories of their mother locked within the mind of a brother she had not been able to see in years.

"I…er, Oli is here," Rebecca managed an answer. Olivier was smiling to himself. It was a natural smile, one that came on immediately and without thinking. Remy stared down at Rebecca.

"Ma pricnesse," Remy tried on a soothing voice, suddenly quieter, "We gotta go back. Remy has somethings to take care of back home wit' the guild. But after we can talk 'bout this stuff. First, there's some loose ends to tie up."

"There's always loose ends," Rebecca bit back with an anger that came out of nowhere. This time it was Remy's turn to stand there with his mouth open and stunned. Rebecca could only imagine that his brain was now full of that same static that stopped him from speaking. Yet the idea was hainting. Her father always had something to say. Remy seemed to be looking beyond Rebecca, at something else that she could not see even if she tried. His movements were suddenly stiff as he looked to both his children then began to turn away.

"We're gonna pack now," Remy said.

)0(

Back in their guest room, Remy was grabbing a few things and stuffing them into a backpak. He had only brought the essentials in the single back. He preferred traveling light. Meanwhile, Rebecca changed out of Marissa's borrowed clothes and neatly folded them. Olivier was standing in the doorway so Rebecca handed the clothes to him. She was now wearing sweatpants that were a bit too long and had the institute's logo on them. It was a spare that they had lying about. She was wearing a t-shirt of Olivier's that he let her keep. Rebecca was thankful. If she was going to leave, she would have the shirt to keep Olivier's scent on.

Remy was oddly sweating. The evening was hot in this pecular heatwave. He wiped the sweat from his brow and moved to open the window. Pulling back the thick curtains. The sky was blue and there was a day moon outside. Remy could see the reflection in the glass of Rebecca and Olivier behind him as he unlocked the window and opened it up. A cool breeze entered the room and Remy stared outside with vacant eyes, as he listened closely to his children's discussion.

"The X-men will find Sinister soon. They are already hot on the trail, so there's no need to worry," Olivier reassured his sister, placing a hand on her back. Rebecca was staring up at Olivier, taking in all the details she could. She noticed a faded scratch on Olivier's cheek and how his nose had a slight point to it.

"I'm not worried, " Rebecca stated. This was true. Of all the emotions that had happened in the past 48 hours, Sinister searching for her again was not at the forefront of her mind. She also could not even understand why Sinister would go after her again.

"At the end of this semester…I could, well…I could come down. Get a little apartment there and a job. To stay close by, if you need me. That is if we have not found him yet," Olivier said. Rebecca offered him a little smile at the idea and so Olivier added, "You should say bye to your friends here. I know they'd like that."

Remy turned to face his children and felt the late winter's air on the back of his neck. Rebecca moved and wrapped her arms around her brother. Olivier returned the embrace. Remy felt unsettled as he examined his options. He tried to imagine what Rogue would say in this situation. He could picture her in the room with him and looking at their pair of children, then back at him. She'd have her hands on her hips and the natural pout on her lips with a sharp look in her eyes. Remy felt a tremor from within him. He rubbed the back of his neck to notice the hairs were standing on end. He moved and quickly shut the window, having enough of the fresh air. He caught sight of the day moon again.

"Oh, mon chère…what're we gonna do ?" Remy whispered at nothing. Although the window was shut once again, a chill went up his spine. Remy could hear Rogue's words but he could not tell if they were from a memory or if the answer was coming from himself. His body moved on its own before he could change his mind.

Remy walked up to Rebecca, who looked up at him with glossy eyes and downward eyebrows. She looked stubbornly mad at him, despite the sadness in her eyes. Remy noticed how her hair looked a lot like Rogue's hair and how beautiful it was on both of them.

"Rebecca Marie LeBeau, I am your father and you will listen to me. You will follow all de rules Remy sets for ya, do ya understand ?" Remy's voice was booming with authority. Rebecca quivered at the sound of her full name. This was something her father had not done in years. Remy continued, pointing a finger at her, "You will call me every day. You will keep your grades well for the end of this year. You will be polite and 'member your manners."

Rebecca nodded. Remy turned and pointed the same finger at Olivier. This was something that none of them had seen in years, since Remy and Olivier were living under the same roof. Olivier's eyes widened.

"And you. You will call me every other day. You will not let her go on any missions. I want updates on all that goes on here while she is stayin' with ya," Remy ordered. Olivier was nodded even though it took him a moment to register what he was saying.

"Wait, what?"

"She can stay?"

"Oui. But, Becca, if ya change your mind…Remy is only one phone call away, and he'll come to get ya. If ya stay, you gotta come home once summer starts, d'accord?" Remy continued. Rebecca quickly rubbed the tears out of her eyes and wrapped her arms around Remy's waist in a bear hug. She was almost waiting for him to change his mind again. When Remy returned the hug, she wondered what had been the thing to make up his mind. Remy leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Je t'aime."

"Je t'aime," Rebecca repeated, "Je t'aime."

Remy grabbed the backpack from the bed and slung it over his shoulder. He still needed to return to New Orleans, even if Rebecca was not coming back with him. The siblings stepped aside to let their father pass through the doorway. Remy patted Rebecca's head as he walked past her, and he stopped for a moment to look at Olivier. The two men stared at each other. Rebecca nervously waited for one of them to say something. Remy's eyes seemed to scan his son's face, that was very much like his own. He looked as if he had something to say, but Remy continued to pass by Olivier and out into the hallway with words unspoken.

Olivier and Rebecca shot smiles at each other. Olivier raised a palm up and Rebecca eagerly gave him the high-five he wanted. Their hands meeting an impressive pop. Rebecca felt as if she could breath after holding her breath under water for hours. She brushed her hands through her hair and let out a stress-relieving laugh. Suddenly, with a sense of lightness upon her as if she were floating, Rebecca announced, "I gotta find Marissa!"

Rebecca tore off down to the floor below in search of her friends. Olivier stayed behind to wander and wonder. He would have to take Rebecca to get some new clothes and they would have to figure out what dorm would be hers. Olivier could hear the excited squeals of Rebecca and Marissa one floor up. A grim thought reached his mind: that he was now tasked with the main responsibility of his younger sister's safety.

)0(

Remy was on the plan shortly after and was heading back down south. He was staring out at the window. The evening sky was growing dark by the second. Night fell so quickly during the earlier months of the year. The temperature dropped just as fast. Remy kept his cell phone in his hand. He was sure that Rebecca would not change her mind right away. The young child was too stubborn to do so, even if she had changed her mind. She would stick it out for either the entire time or a month at least. Still, he wanted to keep his phone nearby, just in case she called just for a chat. Remy remembered doing many things on his own at Rebecca's young age but, now that it was his daughter, Rebecca just seemed much too young to be away from her parent (since she only had one now). Remy began to hum a tune, almost forgotten from years past.

The resturaunt was small and past cozy to almost cramped. Yet the food was authentic and made with the fine care necessary. Remy had been there a few times and, because he was such a memoriable man, the staff recognized him immediately after he graced their doorway. A floaty tune would always play faintly in the space and it was soothing. This time, he was not alone at the end of a night. It was a weekend night and Rogue was sitting across the small square table. Her cheeks were a little pink from the wine they had with dinner and her eyes were sparkling in the dimmed lighting. Rogue had come down for a short visit and Remy had taken her to this hidden gem of an eatery. Remy was in the middle of telling a story and Rogue's gaze wandered out at the windown. The evening was dark and scattered old streetlamps were lit.

"…so, this bet with mon frère Henri was—" Remy was catching up Rogue on all the stories that had happened in New Orleans. She had met Henri, Mercy, and Tante Mattie on a couple of occassions and they all had gotten a long so well. So, Remy included them in all his stories. However, this time, Rogue interrupted him at a seemingly random moment.

"Rems…you're close to ya brother, ain't ya?" Rogue asked. Her chin was resting in her hand and her eyes were still watching the street outside of their window. Remy wondered if his story was boring her. He lifted an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair.

"Oui. Henri was the best thing I got outta bein' adopted by Jean- Luc. But ya know how that goes," Remy answered, because he knew that it was true. Remy had been adopted because Jean-Luc saw him as an opportunity. He was the helpful mutant of the family and the prince he could attempt to marry off when it was convenient. Rogue had too been adopted by Mystique after running away from her home in Mississipi. While Rogue had been a young teenager, it was the opportunity of her powers that attracted Mystique to her and not the blue woman's kind nature.

"Except Ah nevah had any siblings…"Rogue thought out loud, "But our kids do. Plus they get along so well."

"That they do. Even if they are livin' in different states, they still talk," Remy was piecing together what Rogue was trying to talk about. Despite the split, niether of them wanted to keep Rebecca and Olivier from being close.

"Ah wonder if they miss each other, though," Rogue said. Remy reached across the table and held Rogue's hand in his own. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and Rogue tightened her grip on him. Remy was staring at Rogue, admiring her beauty, and he could no longer hear the music or background noise of the small resturant. She was all that was there. It was times like these that Remy forgot why they had split up in the first place.

"Why don't we plan a time to get us all together again, hm?" Remy asked. He was pleased when Rogue smiled at him.

"Really, Sugah?" Rogue leaned forward and Remy was staring at her lips, thinking about kissing them.

"Oui. Remy just gotta tie up some loose ends first is all," Remy winked, keeping the information of his guilde's business very vague. Rogue never needed to know the details and Remy knew she did not want to know. Not truly. Yet, he was surprised when Rogue pulled her hand away from his. He looked up into her emerald eyes and found them looking grave.

"There's always loose ends," Rogue sighed.

)0(

Entering a new school was strange and almost surreal. Rebecca had her old school memorized. She knew every hallway and every classroom. She knew all the teachers which ones were good and which ones were bad. In the morning, Rebecca's new schedule was to attend classes at the local public school with Marissa, Ben, and Julian. They only had a half day because then they would return to the Institute where they had specific classes that dealt with the mutant-kind. She was not yet allowed to attend sessions in the danger room. Olivier kept promising it would happen soon enough, which made her both excited and nervous.

Rebecca felt like she was a new version of herself. No one in this whole state, besides her brother, knew her personality or likes and dislikes. She bought all new clothes and was feeling stylish each day she dressed herself. It was like she took a shower that cleared her of the recent past. At the same time, she had entered into a truer version of herself. Walking into the public school side-by-side with Marissa, everyone automatically knew she was a mutant. In New Orleans, she hid under the cover of her normal appearance. She never hid her powers but she was not publically announcing them through a megaphone. Rebecca was prepared for the looks of fear that had once struck her peers before her but…the looks never came. She did not get any extra stares. People in their classes would give her a second glance because she had a fresh face, but soon she blended into their normal background. At the Institute, everyone knew who she was related to. She was Olivier's little sister and the daughter of Rogue and Gambit. It gave her an unplaceable sense of pride in who she was. Easily recognizable and distinguishable from the rest.

Rebecca was enjoying her time at the new school despite the exta school work that she had to complete in order to finish the semester with her peers. Marissa had helped her catch up. They would sit in the library of the Institute and do their homework. Rebecca's extra work forced them to be there long than usual. Marissa did not mind. She was very smart and found the tutoring of her peer to be pleasurable. Rebecca learned more about her friend too. Marissa excelled in science classes and, although she rarely wore them, she needed glasses to see. Marissa would bend over the desk and place her face a mere two inches away from the textbook with her squinting eyes. Rebecca would often have to remind her friend to put on her glasses before their work begun.

Rebecca and her friends would have lunch at the public school before leaving to return to the Institute. The school was larger than the one back in New Orleans. One seating area in the middle of the building had a glass dome roof. Many students wanted to sit there so the place was packed, especially since it was too cold to eat outside. One had to get their early and reserve seats for their friends. Julian was always the first of the group to get there. He would place his jacket, backpack, and books on chairs at a table so that Marissa, Rebecca, and Ben could sit with him.

That day was no different. Rebecca and Ben were talking about the difference between New York and Louisiana. Ben always took an interest in her time living in New Orleans. She had learned that Ben was originally from Texas. Rebecca got the feeling that Ben's stories of Texas were overexagerated. She must admit that she skimmed over the negatives to New Orleans and only focused on the most fun aspects of the culture there.

"…a few blocks from there's the Sorcière Museum," Rebecca explained to Ben, who was leaning over the table to get closer. His eyes were wide with interest, even with his long bangs over them.

"What's that mean?" He asked.

"French for witch," Rebecca said in a hushed, mysterious tone. She gave a wink to her friend as she watched Ben's face light up with amusement. Julian, who was sitting next to Rebecca, sang the X-files theme song. Rebecca wanted to point out the X-files is about aliens and she was talking about voodoo, but she chose to just laugh instead after seeing Julian smile at his addition to the conversation. Rebecca opened her mouth to add something else when Marissa reached across the table to grab Rebecca's hand.

"Hey, don't look behind you, but this guy has been, like, staring at you this whole time," Marissa said with urgency. Her eyes were darting from Rebecca to just behind her. Rebecca froze. She was reminded once again of the way that her peers in New Orleans had all stopped to stare at her when she announced her mutant status. Rebecca resisted the desire to turn around and confront the staring eyes. Marissa added, "I'll tell you when to look. He's blonde. And kinda cute."

"What?" Julian spoke up in confusion. Rebecca jumped at Julian's voice. She was not expecting him to speak out. Her brain quickly changed focus as she wondered as to why Julian was so quick to react in such a way. The pull of curiosity tugged her in two directions. She wanted to turn around and see the mysterious boy and she also wanted peek over to her right to see what answered Julian's facial expression held. Rebecca instead stared straight ahead at Marissa.

"Ok. Look," Marissa gave a nod. Rebecca quickly turned over her shoulder. There indeed was someone a few tables away who was alone and staring over at Rebecca. She clenched her jaw and turned back to her friends.

"Merde," Rebecca cursed.

"What's that mean?" Ben asked.

"Shit,"

Rebecca stood up and grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder. She gave no explanation to her friends as she stormed off to confront the stalker. Rebecca crossed the crowded room swiftly and with grace. She got to the table of the lone follower. Those familiar blue eyes widened in fear. Rebecca did not understand how or why Louis had traveled all the way from New Orleans up to New York, but his surprise appearance was not welcomed. Louis attempted to stand and make an escape, but Rebecca had reached him quickly. She slammed her palm down on the table in front of Louis, making him jump.

"Louis, what're you doin' here?" Rebecca demanded. She had not expected to see him until the inevitable summer break, where she would return to New Orleans. Her time under the captivity of Mister Sinister, softened her to the last experience she had with Louis. However, after her rescue and her time living among a community that was so different from the one that she lived in before, the last memory of Louis left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"What're you doin' here?" Louis shot back. Clearly, their time apart had left bitterness in him too. Louis stood in front of Rebecca and looked her in the eye as he spoke, "You don't belong here."

"I do too! You don't know what you're talkin' 'bout!" Rebecca argued. She put her hands on her hips. Louis' eyes traced over her figure and then something flashed in his eyes. It was as if he was seeing a ghost.

"No, no. You belong back livin' wit' me! And your family. Not these…" Louis trailed off. Rebecca felt smoke with her nostrils as she huffed at Louis' comment.

"These people are my family. Jus' my…mom's side of the family…" Rebecca explained. Louis frowned at her.

"The mom ya haven't spoken to in how long? This is a bad idea. That's why I'm here!"

"Who sent ya?" Rebecca questioned. She already knew the answer. She grinded her teeth. She was not prepared to talk to Louis. She had just felt the past of those relationships washed away. It had left her feeling clean. Rebecca leaned in towards Louis and whispered, "I'm not goin' back to N'Awlins. So, do yourself a favor and get lost."

Rebecca turned hotly on her heel and began to walk away. She stopped after a few steps and turned over her shoulder, shouting back to Louis, "And they're mutants like me, so get used ta sayin' it."

)0(

Rebecca had not returned to her table with her friends. Instead, she took a walk around the school before needing to head back to the Institute. She was boiling over with rage. It felt like there was smoke in her ears. She had not wanted to see Louis and she did not want to talk about her last week back home. All the new faces in New York were welcomed. Here, she did not feel ashamed to have shouted that she was indeed a mutant in a crowded room. If she went back with Louis, would she even get a chance to live a normal life? Elijah would have told everyone who was not at that party. And Louis would never be the same friend that she thought he was. Rebecca reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone.

"Bonjour ma princesse," Remy answered the phone with his usual charm. Rebecca would usually enjoy the French greeting, but this somehow made her even more angry.

"Met your spy today," Rebecca announced in a haughty tone.

"Non. Not Remy's spy. Just an act of defense for you. If ya need anything, ya can come to Louis," Remy explained.

"So, he can tell you 'bout it after? No thanks," Rebecca gave a fake laugh. She realized she would have to explain to Marissa, Ben, and Julian who Louis was.

"Ya started it. You wanted to let Louis into our home. He's your responisbility. Like a puppy," Remy said. Rebecca was about to make a remark that she had begged for a puppy for years and that she'd now trade Louis in for a puppy. She chose to keep this comment to herself.

"How's he livin' here with you down there?" Rebecca asked.

"I got him set up with an apartment nearby. And grocies delievered there too, so he's got plenty of fruits and vegetables. He's fine,"

"Ugh! I can't believe ya would do this!" Rebecca hung up the phone quickly.

)0(

I hope you enjoyed the new chapter. Reviews are welcomed and appreciated. I hope you are enjoying your week so far!

-Kit