Disclaimer: Blah, blah. Don't own them, yahda, yahda---
O.K. So I think I've sorted the format problems on the last two chapters so if you had any trouble reading them you might want to try again. Thanks to those who persevered! Now onto Chapter three!
ONE WEEK LATER.
The week gone by had been a dizzying blur for Ororo Munroe- Le Beau. Smiling faces and frantic congratulations from everyone she encountered sent her head spinning.
Not least of all her husband's reaction to the news. Initially when Ororo had haltingly informed Remy of her condition she thought he would faint! The colour in his cheeks drained, his eyes became saucers and she could have sworn tears had sprung to them, threatening to spill over.
But he instead he broke into an insanely wide smile as he practically leapt over to her slightly trembling form, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around wildly. Robust laughter of pure happiness erupted from him.
"Oh Stormy!" He bellowed through his laughter as he planted her back down to earth and embraced her closely.
"You are pleased then I take it." She managed to say through the most genuine smile she could muster.
In reply he simply showered her face and neck with quick hot kisses, repeating the words, "I love you, I love you so much!" Over and over again. Then he planted one long, soft yet passionate kiss on her moist lips Suddenly she had felt hot wetness on her cheeks and with a pang in her heart she realised what it was. Remy's tears had finally spilt, sending a stream of pure joy cascading down his smiling face.
Ororo broke their kiss then and hugged him tightly, her chin resting on his toned shoulder so he couldn't see her face. She couldn't bear for Remy to see the look of anguish, fear and guilt that lay there.
"T'ank- yo' ma chere, ma love! T'ank- yo'!"
With those tenderly whispered words echoing in her ears Ororo could no longer stop her own tears from falling.
* * *
Now here she was a week later kneeling in the dirt of her greenhouse, dressed plainly in grey sweatpants and a white vest top. A blue headscarf was tied loosely around her thick hair, keeping the platinum locks out of her face as she busied herself with planting various bulbs.
Ororo was trying her hardest to concentrate on the task at hand but it was proving impossible to keep her mind focused. She couldn't stop the thoughts that had been occupying her head all week from forcing themselves to be heard.
She leaned back slightly, turning her head up to the heavens and sighing loudly as if trying to release the tension in her body as well as her mind.
She had treated Remy abominably over the past seven days and she knew it. Shutting her eyes tightly Ororo pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger, trying desperately to block out the guilty feelings. It was an emotion she was becoming rapidly accustomed to recently.
After the first couple of days of her silence Remy had began to get irritated, he couldn't help it. At first he had put it down to shock then perhaps worry. After all fighting for the X-Men had been her whole life for so long he supposed it might of felt strange to think of giving it up. Temporarily at least, if not permanently. It would be something they would have to discuss at a later date. But right now her silence, her refusal to meet his gaze, the way she made an excuse to be else where when he came into the same room was beginning to grate.
By the end of the week things had gotten so bad that she wouldn't even let him touch her, not even when they lay side by side in bed together and he was getting increasingly worried.
Ororo stood up, throwing her trowel down into the dirt as she considered her appalling actions. Placing her hands on her lower back she stretched out the stiffness. Sighing again softly, she knew this whole situation was going to come to a head and soon
"It might be Remy's baby." She whispered faintly to the surrounding night as she closed her eyes in contemplation. Truth be told she just didn't know who the father was, she really didn't know.
* * *
A lone figure leaned against a large oak tree that was positioned on the embankment behind Ororo's greenhouse sanctuary.
Logan slowly plucked his cigar from his mouth and dropped the stub to the slightly damp grass at his feet. He exhaled out of his nose as he raised the half empty whisky bottle in his left hand to his mouth. He took a lengthy swig from it, draining a quarter of what was left, all the time never taking his eyes off Ororo as she made her way back to the mansion in a slow, dawdling walk.
His stinging eyes burned with fury as he watched her but also with passion. And although he hated to admit it to himself, regret as well. He finished off the rest of the contents of the bottle and dropped it carelessly to the ground. It must have hit a stone or a small rock because as it reached the ground it shattered into several jagged pieces.
Logan slumped down against the tree at his back, landing heavily on the damp grass. He ran his right hand roughly through his wiry, dark hair, making it even wilder. His mind was even more of a mess at this moment than it usually was. It must have been his extremely emotionally fragile state that was letting the alcohol have some kind of effect on him as it normally did didly squat.
When Logan had heard that Ororo was pregnant his mind just went numb. Betsy and Jean had been so excited when they had blurted it out. They knew it wasn't really their place to tell him but they couldn't help themselves.
He'd tried to smile but the expression came out as an odd sort of frown. He remembered muttering something vaguely positive before slopping off down the hallway, not catching Betsy and Jean exchange confused glances.
He'd gone off into the woods that surrounded the mansions grounds. Running fast and furious for all his worth, ripping his checked shirt and the black T-shirt that was underneath off as he went.
Logan couldn't rightly remember now they feelings that were roaring through him at that moment. All he could remember was coming to an abrupt halt somewhere deep in the in the gloomy woodland. Throwing his head back he let out a monstrously raw howl. He'd howled until his throat burned, unable to take it any more. When the horrifying sound subsided he had sunk limply to his knees, shaking uncontrollably with rage and god knows what else.
He had just one semi-coherent thought racing through his feral mind. "IT'S MINE!"
Since that day Logan had avoided the mansion, his X- colleagues, even Ororo but he had especially wanted to steer clear of Remy. He knew that if he so much as caught his scent he wouldn't be able to stop himself from tracking him down and gutting the bastard.
The very idea that another man might bring up his child as their own just did not compute with him. He couldn't entertain the notion for even a second without his blood beginning to boil. So fairly typically of him he had spent the week skulking around the ample grounds.
Everyone at the mansion was used to such behaviour from him so they pad it no attention what so ever. But what they didn't realise was that whilst he was skulking he was also stalking in the most predatory manner of the word. Even though he couldn't trust himself to be near her, he had been content to watch her instead. Going about her daily business of teaching classes, attending to her plants, meditating in the gardens, swimming---naked in the lake at night.
As he watched her he couldn't help but smile every time she'd left a room when Remy entered it. The way began to pull away when he touched her or even motioned that he might have been about to. His smile was dark with glee as the bitter anger that had been building in him all week came to the surface.
So now here he was, confused, angry, hurt, bitter, hopeful and against all odds slightly inebriated. The thought of that brought a wry smile to his lips but it only danced on them fleetingly as he realised that the time had come. He had to confront her.
As he thought wearily about this Logan clutched unconsciously at the ground beside him with his right hand. Blood began to pour liberally from his fist as he closed it tighter around the clumps of grass and broken glass. His fist was clenched so tight that it began to shake violently with the tension.
He didn't feel a thing.
* * *
Remy threw the remnants of his cigarette into the silent, shimmering lake as he sat on the jetty, his long legs swinging back and forth as they dangled of the edge. He immediately dug into the front pocket of his tattered, old jeans that were cut off at the knees and withdrew a battered cigarette packet. Tapping the bottom of it casually, one cigarette popped up higher than the rest. Lifting the entire packet towards his mouth, he clasped his dry lips around the protruding white stick, drawing it out from its housing. Stuffing the box back into his right pocket he then reached into his left one, pulling out a shinning Zippo lighter. Flipping the lid open with an expert flick of his thumb, he proceeded to guide the tip of his cigarette into the deathly still flame. He hadn't chain smoked like this since he'd gotten married.
Remy thought back on the events of the past seven days, trying hard to remember another time when he'd experienced so many conflicting emotions in such a short space of time. The list ranged from unparalleled elation to the deepest despair.
He smiled bitter sweetly at the memory of Ororo telling him he was to be a father. He'd never been so happy or so terrified in one single moment. But after the initial excitement, when he'd ran around the mansion like a lunatic telling anyone and everyone he came across, things had taken a somewhat odd turn.
Ororo was being strangely quite and subdued, especially at dinner on that first evening. Beast had stood up and proposed a toast to the pair, he like everyone else around the diner table was just so happy for them. Happy at the thought of having a little life in the house as a symbol of hope.
But whilst he had smiled and thanked them for their support, Ororo had remained silent, staring blankly down at the rapidly cooling food on her plate. When she had realised Remy was watching her with concern she'd forced herself to smile and politely except the congratulations that were being offered. But it didn't escape Remy's astute attention that the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
Since that evening things had gone rapidly downhill. That first evening he had wanted to make love to her, to show her just how much he really did cherish her. She had let him but Remy couldn't help but feel injured by her initial reluctance or her seemingly forced responses to his touch. But he had brushed it aside.
The next day he awoke to a cold and empty bed. This in itself wasn't unusual, Ororo had always been an early riser. But when the clock had struck for six o'clock in the evening and he still hadn't seen hide nor hair of her he began to get frantic. Just as he was about to call on Jean or the professor to search for her with Cerebra she flew in through the open French windows that opened out onto the balcony of their attic room.
After he had vented his fear induced anger on her she had simply apologised and made her way to the bath and began filling it without another word.
Remy began to grimace as he looked out over the vast expanse of still, luminous water before him. He lent back supporting his weight on his arms, the palms of his hands laid flat on the rough decking. He tried desperately to remember the last time she'd let him touch her or even come close.
Last night she had waited for him to fall asleep before she retired to bed herself. What she hadn't realised was that Remy wasn't asleep when she finally, as quietly and softly as she could climbed into bed at 3.20am. Remy knew that if she had suspected that he was still awake she probably would of stayed in that damned greenhouse of hers all night. That knowledge broke Remy's heart.
He sat on the end of the pier now, somewhere he had often in the past. During those god-awful dark days when he had first returned to the team from Antarctica, to ashamed to face his team mates. Alone again and in silence he didn't know what the hell he should do.
He racked his brain to try and recall if he'd done or said anything even remotely wrong or insensitive. Then suddenly a painful realisation came over him as a solitary tear rose in his eye and made its way slowly down his left cheek.
-TBC-
Oh, the tensions rising! What do you think? Please review!
O.K. So I think I've sorted the format problems on the last two chapters so if you had any trouble reading them you might want to try again. Thanks to those who persevered! Now onto Chapter three!
ONE WEEK LATER.
The week gone by had been a dizzying blur for Ororo Munroe- Le Beau. Smiling faces and frantic congratulations from everyone she encountered sent her head spinning.
Not least of all her husband's reaction to the news. Initially when Ororo had haltingly informed Remy of her condition she thought he would faint! The colour in his cheeks drained, his eyes became saucers and she could have sworn tears had sprung to them, threatening to spill over.
But he instead he broke into an insanely wide smile as he practically leapt over to her slightly trembling form, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around wildly. Robust laughter of pure happiness erupted from him.
"Oh Stormy!" He bellowed through his laughter as he planted her back down to earth and embraced her closely.
"You are pleased then I take it." She managed to say through the most genuine smile she could muster.
In reply he simply showered her face and neck with quick hot kisses, repeating the words, "I love you, I love you so much!" Over and over again. Then he planted one long, soft yet passionate kiss on her moist lips Suddenly she had felt hot wetness on her cheeks and with a pang in her heart she realised what it was. Remy's tears had finally spilt, sending a stream of pure joy cascading down his smiling face.
Ororo broke their kiss then and hugged him tightly, her chin resting on his toned shoulder so he couldn't see her face. She couldn't bear for Remy to see the look of anguish, fear and guilt that lay there.
"T'ank- yo' ma chere, ma love! T'ank- yo'!"
With those tenderly whispered words echoing in her ears Ororo could no longer stop her own tears from falling.
* * *
Now here she was a week later kneeling in the dirt of her greenhouse, dressed plainly in grey sweatpants and a white vest top. A blue headscarf was tied loosely around her thick hair, keeping the platinum locks out of her face as she busied herself with planting various bulbs.
Ororo was trying her hardest to concentrate on the task at hand but it was proving impossible to keep her mind focused. She couldn't stop the thoughts that had been occupying her head all week from forcing themselves to be heard.
She leaned back slightly, turning her head up to the heavens and sighing loudly as if trying to release the tension in her body as well as her mind.
She had treated Remy abominably over the past seven days and she knew it. Shutting her eyes tightly Ororo pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger, trying desperately to block out the guilty feelings. It was an emotion she was becoming rapidly accustomed to recently.
After the first couple of days of her silence Remy had began to get irritated, he couldn't help it. At first he had put it down to shock then perhaps worry. After all fighting for the X-Men had been her whole life for so long he supposed it might of felt strange to think of giving it up. Temporarily at least, if not permanently. It would be something they would have to discuss at a later date. But right now her silence, her refusal to meet his gaze, the way she made an excuse to be else where when he came into the same room was beginning to grate.
By the end of the week things had gotten so bad that she wouldn't even let him touch her, not even when they lay side by side in bed together and he was getting increasingly worried.
Ororo stood up, throwing her trowel down into the dirt as she considered her appalling actions. Placing her hands on her lower back she stretched out the stiffness. Sighing again softly, she knew this whole situation was going to come to a head and soon
"It might be Remy's baby." She whispered faintly to the surrounding night as she closed her eyes in contemplation. Truth be told she just didn't know who the father was, she really didn't know.
* * *
A lone figure leaned against a large oak tree that was positioned on the embankment behind Ororo's greenhouse sanctuary.
Logan slowly plucked his cigar from his mouth and dropped the stub to the slightly damp grass at his feet. He exhaled out of his nose as he raised the half empty whisky bottle in his left hand to his mouth. He took a lengthy swig from it, draining a quarter of what was left, all the time never taking his eyes off Ororo as she made her way back to the mansion in a slow, dawdling walk.
His stinging eyes burned with fury as he watched her but also with passion. And although he hated to admit it to himself, regret as well. He finished off the rest of the contents of the bottle and dropped it carelessly to the ground. It must have hit a stone or a small rock because as it reached the ground it shattered into several jagged pieces.
Logan slumped down against the tree at his back, landing heavily on the damp grass. He ran his right hand roughly through his wiry, dark hair, making it even wilder. His mind was even more of a mess at this moment than it usually was. It must have been his extremely emotionally fragile state that was letting the alcohol have some kind of effect on him as it normally did didly squat.
When Logan had heard that Ororo was pregnant his mind just went numb. Betsy and Jean had been so excited when they had blurted it out. They knew it wasn't really their place to tell him but they couldn't help themselves.
He'd tried to smile but the expression came out as an odd sort of frown. He remembered muttering something vaguely positive before slopping off down the hallway, not catching Betsy and Jean exchange confused glances.
He'd gone off into the woods that surrounded the mansions grounds. Running fast and furious for all his worth, ripping his checked shirt and the black T-shirt that was underneath off as he went.
Logan couldn't rightly remember now they feelings that were roaring through him at that moment. All he could remember was coming to an abrupt halt somewhere deep in the in the gloomy woodland. Throwing his head back he let out a monstrously raw howl. He'd howled until his throat burned, unable to take it any more. When the horrifying sound subsided he had sunk limply to his knees, shaking uncontrollably with rage and god knows what else.
He had just one semi-coherent thought racing through his feral mind. "IT'S MINE!"
Since that day Logan had avoided the mansion, his X- colleagues, even Ororo but he had especially wanted to steer clear of Remy. He knew that if he so much as caught his scent he wouldn't be able to stop himself from tracking him down and gutting the bastard.
The very idea that another man might bring up his child as their own just did not compute with him. He couldn't entertain the notion for even a second without his blood beginning to boil. So fairly typically of him he had spent the week skulking around the ample grounds.
Everyone at the mansion was used to such behaviour from him so they pad it no attention what so ever. But what they didn't realise was that whilst he was skulking he was also stalking in the most predatory manner of the word. Even though he couldn't trust himself to be near her, he had been content to watch her instead. Going about her daily business of teaching classes, attending to her plants, meditating in the gardens, swimming---naked in the lake at night.
As he watched her he couldn't help but smile every time she'd left a room when Remy entered it. The way began to pull away when he touched her or even motioned that he might have been about to. His smile was dark with glee as the bitter anger that had been building in him all week came to the surface.
So now here he was, confused, angry, hurt, bitter, hopeful and against all odds slightly inebriated. The thought of that brought a wry smile to his lips but it only danced on them fleetingly as he realised that the time had come. He had to confront her.
As he thought wearily about this Logan clutched unconsciously at the ground beside him with his right hand. Blood began to pour liberally from his fist as he closed it tighter around the clumps of grass and broken glass. His fist was clenched so tight that it began to shake violently with the tension.
He didn't feel a thing.
* * *
Remy threw the remnants of his cigarette into the silent, shimmering lake as he sat on the jetty, his long legs swinging back and forth as they dangled of the edge. He immediately dug into the front pocket of his tattered, old jeans that were cut off at the knees and withdrew a battered cigarette packet. Tapping the bottom of it casually, one cigarette popped up higher than the rest. Lifting the entire packet towards his mouth, he clasped his dry lips around the protruding white stick, drawing it out from its housing. Stuffing the box back into his right pocket he then reached into his left one, pulling out a shinning Zippo lighter. Flipping the lid open with an expert flick of his thumb, he proceeded to guide the tip of his cigarette into the deathly still flame. He hadn't chain smoked like this since he'd gotten married.
Remy thought back on the events of the past seven days, trying hard to remember another time when he'd experienced so many conflicting emotions in such a short space of time. The list ranged from unparalleled elation to the deepest despair.
He smiled bitter sweetly at the memory of Ororo telling him he was to be a father. He'd never been so happy or so terrified in one single moment. But after the initial excitement, when he'd ran around the mansion like a lunatic telling anyone and everyone he came across, things had taken a somewhat odd turn.
Ororo was being strangely quite and subdued, especially at dinner on that first evening. Beast had stood up and proposed a toast to the pair, he like everyone else around the diner table was just so happy for them. Happy at the thought of having a little life in the house as a symbol of hope.
But whilst he had smiled and thanked them for their support, Ororo had remained silent, staring blankly down at the rapidly cooling food on her plate. When she had realised Remy was watching her with concern she'd forced herself to smile and politely except the congratulations that were being offered. But it didn't escape Remy's astute attention that the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
Since that evening things had gone rapidly downhill. That first evening he had wanted to make love to her, to show her just how much he really did cherish her. She had let him but Remy couldn't help but feel injured by her initial reluctance or her seemingly forced responses to his touch. But he had brushed it aside.
The next day he awoke to a cold and empty bed. This in itself wasn't unusual, Ororo had always been an early riser. But when the clock had struck for six o'clock in the evening and he still hadn't seen hide nor hair of her he began to get frantic. Just as he was about to call on Jean or the professor to search for her with Cerebra she flew in through the open French windows that opened out onto the balcony of their attic room.
After he had vented his fear induced anger on her she had simply apologised and made her way to the bath and began filling it without another word.
Remy began to grimace as he looked out over the vast expanse of still, luminous water before him. He lent back supporting his weight on his arms, the palms of his hands laid flat on the rough decking. He tried desperately to remember the last time she'd let him touch her or even come close.
Last night she had waited for him to fall asleep before she retired to bed herself. What she hadn't realised was that Remy wasn't asleep when she finally, as quietly and softly as she could climbed into bed at 3.20am. Remy knew that if she had suspected that he was still awake she probably would of stayed in that damned greenhouse of hers all night. That knowledge broke Remy's heart.
He sat on the end of the pier now, somewhere he had often in the past. During those god-awful dark days when he had first returned to the team from Antarctica, to ashamed to face his team mates. Alone again and in silence he didn't know what the hell he should do.
He racked his brain to try and recall if he'd done or said anything even remotely wrong or insensitive. Then suddenly a painful realisation came over him as a solitary tear rose in his eye and made its way slowly down his left cheek.
-TBC-
Oh, the tensions rising! What do you think? Please review!