It Is Always Easier To Hate

McCoy's apartment

She'd never felt this nervous before in her life and she almost faltered as Remy stepped aside to let her enter his room. Perhaps it would be best to just tell him she'd made a mistake and leave before she embarrassed herself and him. She could always tell him she was worried about the X-Men coming after them or some other such lie. She considered these possibilities and firmly dismissed them. She was Marrow, she wasn't a coward and she didn't run away from her problems. She still thought he could never have feelings for her but she remembered Alex's words. She was sure McCoy and Logan would have told her the same thing and she respected their wisdom. It was better to tell Remy and find out what he really thought then to always wonder at what might have been. She wasn't going to blurt straight out that she loved him though. She'd approach it cautiously; say that she wanted to thank him again first.

"So chere what is it dat you want to tell Remy about?" asked Remy in his gentlest voice.

Sarah took a deep breath and fought to calm her nerves. She was about to tell him she'd like to thank him again for saving her long ago. She'd got the conversation planned out and it would elegantly lead round to an admission of her love for him. Alas no plan of battle survives first contact with the enemy and so it was the case with Marrow's diatribe. She caught the compassion in Remy's gaze, the tenderness of his voice and it unnerved her. Faltering she asked the first question that came to mind.

"Remy do you, do you think I'm ugly," she whispered.

Red on black eyes blinked in surprise, why would Marrow ask him a question like that. Remy couldn't remember anything he'd said or did to make Sarah believe he found her hideous. To be honest he'd never really considered the question. Still it seemed she was desperate to know the answer so he would have to be truthful. He had to look at her and tell her what he saw.

She certainly wasn't conventionally beautiful; the bones marred any chance of that. They were constantly growing breaking through the skin and making her appear hideous to most humans. Yet after a while you hardly noticed them. She was still young yet, maybe one day she'd gain control enough over her ability to pull those bones back inside. Then she would be truly beautiful even to bigoted humans. Until then you could see beauty if you looked hard enough. Remy looked hard and yes, he could find her beautiful.

"Non chere, Remy not think dat you ugly just dat you different from most of de other women dat he knows. You have de most beautiful eyes chere," gently his fingers reached out and brushed at her hair. Pink was an unusual color but it suited her. It was true about her eyes as well, they were beautiful.

"You really mean that don't you? You're not lying?"

"Non chere, dis de truth dat dis Cajun tells, thief's honor."

Marrow blinked once in shock maybe as she realized Remy was telling the truth. Then something rather wonderful occurred. Sarah smiled, hesitantly at first and then a genuine smile which lit her whole face up. To Remy's eyes bones or not she looked truly beautiful then. Now perhaps she'd tell him what was on her mind. He listened attentively as she took a deep breath and came straight to the point.

"Remy I don't know how to tell you this but I like you. No scratch that, I think I could love you. Hell I know there's no chance you could love me. I mean how can I compete with Rogue or even Fatale? I don't want you taking me out of pity but I don't want to hide my feelings. I just want you to know that I think I love you and if we have any chance at all."

Could he love Marrow? Remy knew in his heart that he and Rogue could never be back together again. They might be friends but that would be all. As for Fatale there wasn't love between them, friendship but that was all. Remy wasn't sure whether he would love Marrow or not. Still he wanted someone and perhaps she could be the one.

"Remy can't promise dat he will feel de same way chere but he willing to give it a try. Remy not saying dat dis will work but he think dat yes he can love you. De question is dis; do you want to gamble chere?"

"Yeah I think I do."

Sarah found it hard to read the red on black eyes but he sounded sincere. He wasn't promising that he could love her but he was willing to give it a go. That was more than she had expected and she was willing to take the risk. She smiled again and this time he smiled back. They would try and what more could they do than that.

Remy put his arm around Sarah's shoulder and leaning close gave her a first tentative kiss. Marrow taking the initiative kissed him back rather more firmly. Yes it was worth a gamble.

Hellfire Club

Fitzroy was tugging absently at his goatee as he waited for his visitor to arrive. Selene didn't seem interested in hearing his concerns about Emma Frost. He was sure that Dark Beast would contact his old ally sooner or later and if it involved the Hellfire Club Emma was sure to be interested. He certainly knew Emma would want revenge on him for his hand in the death of her Hellions. When he'd raised his concerns Selene had simply stated that the White Queen no longer mattered. She had even gone as far as forbidding Fitzroy from making any move against her. Intellectually Fitzroy knew she was right, there was no point in alerting someone as dangerous as Emma to their plans. Still an opportunity to eliminate an enemy like the former White Queen was too good to pass up. Luckily Fitzroy had an ally who felt the same way and who was a fellow Inner Circle member to boot.

"Adrienne Frost, darling it's such a pleasure to see you again," purred Fitzroy, English accent dripping with oily charm.

He tilted his head slightly in a gesture of respect and planted a kiss on the proffered hand. Adrienne gave him a desultory kiss on the cheek and then stood waiting, hard eyes glittering with expectation.

"You said you wanted help in dealing with my sister. I'll be glad to be of service," with these words a cold predatory smile marred Adrienne's beautiful face.

"Yes then we'll finally finish the job we started with her precious Hellions. Just think of the look on her face when she loses another set of students. I just wish I still had myself some Sentinels. I doubt Dark Beast and his little friends would find those so easy to deal with,"

There was more tugging at his beard as Fitzroy pondered the problem of McCoy. Like him Dark Beast was an anomaly, a being not native to this timeline but now marooned here. Fitzroy just found it hard to believe that the man was causing them so many problems. It was unbelievable that he and his followers had survived two attacks using their best available forces. In Fitzroy's eyes McCoy was just an animal, a grotesque beast resembling nothing intelligent. Of course if he Trevor Fitzroy confronted Dark Beast, there would be no doubt of the victor. After all he was the Chronomancer master of time and what chance did an overgrown ape/werewolf hybrid stand against that?

"Still I don't think either your sister or Jojo the Dog-Faced Boy will be a problem for much longer will they dear?" chuckled Fitzroy.

"No especially if Marius will agree to help us. Yes I'd say I'll soon be mourning the tragic and untimely death of my poor dear sister," purred Adrienne.

Restaurant somewhere in New York

It was ironic really the way staff at these restaurants became instantly obsequious once they realized you were rich. The rather snooty doorman had looked askance at Thomas Fireheart on first appearance. Admittedly he could perhaps have done with a shave and well his attire wasn't entirely appropriate. Still the man had seemed almost as aghast as he would have been at Puma's feline form. As soon as he realized just who Thomas was he'd been almost falling over himself bowing and ushering them inside.

"Penny fer yah thoughts sugah,"

"Sorry Rogue, I was lost in thought. It's remarkably easy to get distracted with such pleasant company," he purred with a wink and a grin.

"Are yah trying tah make me blush Thomas? A lady could get used tah this yah know. Ah remember when Remy used tah treat me the way yah doing now,"

Rogue sighed heavily and the light left her eyes. As much as she still felt anger and hurt over Remy's attack on her she couldn't find it in herself to hate him. She could forgive him his betrayal of her since in a way she felt like she'd deserved it. Hadn't she betrayed him by saving him only to abandon him in the Antarctic? She just wished things could have turned out different, wished she'd looked harder for him or perhaps found it in her heart to forgive him. Maybe they could still have had a chance together, learned to love and trust each other again. Now it was too late and she had to live with the knowledge that things were over between them. The worst was that Remy felt nothing at all for her, even hatred would be better than that. She wished she could talk to him but that was impossible.

"Rogue, you still miss him don't you?"

"Ah'm sorry sugah, yah right ah guess a part of me will always miss him."

"Then talk to him Rogue. I've been around you both and let me tell you this. Remy feels no hatred for you, just regret. You can both forgive each other and if you cannot love each other then perhaps you can still be friends. Do you think you could do this for me Rogue, do you think you can talk to Remy?"

"Ah don't know what tah say. Ah'll think about it."

Puma smiled, his senses were acute after all and he knew Rogue's answer before she did. He could smell it. She would speak to Remy and perhaps something of their relationship could be salvaged after all. Puma hoped that would be the case.

"Are you ready to order sir, ma'am?" asked the waiter politely.

Thomas frowned, he sensed something wrong about the man but he couldn't quite place it. Putting these thoughts aside for now he and Rogue ordered their meal. The waiter nodded, smiled and then left. Puma rubbed at his stubbly chin trying to work out what was wrong. Finally he shrugged and decided he must be getting paranoid. Soon he and Rogue were lost in pleasant conversation and completely oblivious to the danger they faced.

"Yes enjoy yourselves while you can my dears for very soon you die," chuckled the waiter.

Puma had been right in that there was something very wrong with the man. He certainly wasn't entirely himself and hadn't been since that morning. For inside him he carried a parasite, a parasite that went by the name of Mountjoy. It had been a simple matter for the mutant to meld himself with the man, hide inside him and wait the perfect moment to strike. When he did it would be utterly without mercy and he was sure it would be with total surprise. Inside his host body Mountjoy allowed himself a chuckle.

"Of course they won't be prepared to face the enemy within."

At his table Puma found that he couldn't suppress a growl. Looking up to see Rogue staring at him with concern he shrugged.

"I just can't shake of the feeling that we're in some kind of danger. Trouble is I just can't put my finger on it."

"Don't worry sugah; we'll be on our guard."

Xavier Institute of Higher Learning

"I can understand how angry Warren must be Bobby. None us will ever forget the Mutant Massacre and none of us escaped unchanged. Warren paid perhaps the highest price of all, he lost his wings. How can we hope to understand what it is like to have the freedom of the skies and then to lose it so violently? Perhaps he also blames Remy for his own fall from grace when he became Death. Yes believe me I understand his anger," mused Hank head resting on his hands.

He performed a quick back-flip landing neatly on the sofa between Ororo and Bobby.

"Yeah Hank he's angry but I haven't seen him so out for blood since he was Death. You should have heard him speaking about Wolverine; hell you would have thought he was Wolverine. He's angry Hank and it frightens me," for once Bobby's tone was deadly serious. There wasn't a trace of humor in Bobby's eyes and the usual immature prankster seemed for once completely adult.

"Yes that's the trouble Bobby, Warren is angry. Anger like that can consume you and lead you to actions you'll regret. We need to remember that this is Remy, not Sinister, Sabretooth or Apocalypse. This is a man who we all counted as a friend and ally. Maybe his crimes were heinous but as I've tried to tell Scott many of us have dark secrets in our past. Can we really blame Remy for turning away from us? Are we right in pursuing a vendetta against him and his new friends when they may not be the true enemy? Most important of all are we prepared to kill Remy if that's what it comes down too?" Hank's voice was bleak and desolate.

"I remember I was the one who first brought Remy home to us. I knew even then that he had secrets, that he wasn't as virtuous as some of us. Yet he saved me from Nanny and protected me, befriended me and I knew I could trust him with my life. Remy has always walked in the shadow, never coming entirely into the light yet never falling completely to the dark. By the bright lady, it will break my heart to have to fight him," whispered Ororo.

"The thing is what are we going to tell Scott? He seems to be an Ahab in pursuit of a gray and furry cetacean. Alas our fearless leader has always been the most zealous in regards to pursuing Charles's dream. Now in the absence of our mentor he feels more driven than ever. I hate to say it but, he's as bad in his way as Warren. I'll admit I hate Dark Beast even more than he does but still he is but one enemy. Perhaps Ororo you should speak to him. Maybe he'll listen to his co-leader."

"Don't bet on it Beastie-boy," muttered Bobby.

"I'm afraid Henry in the end there is little that we three can do,"

"Stars and garters, you're right Ororo and I really wish you weren't," sighed Hank.

Hank sighed and embraced his two friends in a comforting hug. They were interrupted from their melancholy mood by the opening of the door. Looking up Hank saw Scott standing with a broad grin on his face, an equally exultant Warren by his side.

"It's time ladies and gentlemen. Get suited out because we're going to kick ourselves some X-Traitor butt. Oh and Hank, Dark Beast is yours,"

"My gratitude Scott cannot be put in words," muttered Hank with heavy sarcasm.

McCoy's apartment

"I would have thought by now Scott Summers you'd have upgraded your security. I expect you'd be even more livid with me if you'd found the bug I'd left. You believe you have the advantage of surprise, an illusion I'm happy for you to retain. Well bring on your entire little X-Men Scotty boy, the more the merrier I say. It matters not because in the end we will crush you. Don't worry though I don't desire your death, not yet anyway. You're just not worth the bother. No I'll settle for you beaten and cowering at my feet, begging me for mercy. You need a lesson Scott and I am a good teacher. One way or another you'll learn it is best to stay out of my way."

Sharp fangs were displayed in a cruel grin and yellow eyes glittered with menace. McCoy closed his eyes and hummed Beethoven's fifth symphony as he thought of the pleasant feeling of Scott's jaw breaking beneath his fists. It would be so satisfying to see Xavier's favorite pupil suffer the humiliating defeat he deserved in McCoy's eyes. Hopefully once this little charade was over the X-Men would stay out of his way. Perhaps a miracle would occur and they'd realize who the true enemy was. After all the Brotherhood would need all the help they could get if they were to defeat the Hellfire Club. A polite cough interrupted his train of thought and he turned to see Random waiting patiently to be noticed.

"Ah Random, just the man I wanted to see. Go and alert the others because guess what, yet another attack is going to take place. This time it's the X-men,"

"Yeah well they're soon going to be Ex-Men. Don't you worry boss we're ready for them," snarled Random.

Still humming happily away McCoy set off to find Remy. He just wanted to be sure Remy was ready to face his former comrades. As he turned the corner he saw a sight that managed to melt even his heart. There must have been something in his eye since what other reason could there have been for a tear. Alright he'd admit to himself, it was a touching scene. Who could ever have thought that Marrow would ever smile so sweetly? Silently McCoy wished Remy and Sarah good luck and that they would find happiness together.

"Ya know bub; I just wish that she'd smile at me like that,"

Logan too was watching the happy pair with a tender expression. For once the hazel eyes were calm and his smile gave his face an almost boyish look. He seemed wistful too perhaps remembering someone special to him who'd once smiled that way. Mariko perhaps or maybe Silver Fox, perhaps even Kitty Pryde or Jubilee. McCoy grinned and patted Logan on the back.

"Don't worry Logan you'll soon be reunited with an old friend. You see I've decided it's time I called an old 'friend' for help. I think once she hears what I have to say Emma Frost will be only too glad to be of assistance. You will see Jubilee again soon so be happy."

Then McCoy leaned close and whispered in Logan's ear, all his fangs showing in another of his savage grins.

"Besides you'll be fighting again soon so I'll ask you this. Are you ready to face you're old friends the X-Men? I'll let you sit this one out if you like."

Logan's growl and the flash of canine told McCoy all he needed to know.