Part 14
Willow gripped Remy's hand as they descended the stairs. She prayed the mask that she had over her features would stay in place when she first caught sight of Buffy. They were supposed to be strangers but Willow had been so anxious to see her since they arrived that she was afraid her carefully cultivated mask would slip when she saw her.
Remy squeezed her hand in reassurance and winked down at her when Willow lifted her gaze.
"Don't worry, chere. Everyt'ing will work out all right."
Remy hooked Willow's hand through his arm when they reached the bottom of the stairs and whispered in her ear, "Ready, petite?"
Willow nodded and took a deep breath when Remy opened the doors to the salon.
Willow quickly scanned the room for the familiar blonde and almost sagged in relief when she saw Buffy talking to someone in the corner.
Buffy beamed brightly when she saw Willow and Remy enter the room. Emma had invited her to stay at the mansion after she had contacted the Professor to tell him that it was okay to send Willow and Remy.
Emma had told her that morning that they were expecting two more guests for dinner at the mansion. Buffy had tentatively asked if they were going to be staying at the mansion. She knew Remy and Willow were due to arrive today and she hoped that they were the two that were coming to the mansion that evening.
Emma had gone all cryptic on her and Buffy hadn't wanted to push.
Buffy excused herself and walked over to Willow and Remy. She held out her hand, "Hi, you must be Willow. Ms. Frost said another intern would be joining us this evening. I'm Stephanie."
Willow smiled and shook Buffy's hand, "Nice to meet you, Stephanie. This is Remy LeBeau."
Remy took Buffy's hand and lightly kissed her knuckles, "Now why you t'ink Willow is the intern and not Remy?"
Buffy laughed and looked at Remy, "Somehow I don't see you in the corporate environment."
Before Remy could answer her Emma appeared behind them, "I see you've already met Stephanie, and she's correct, Remy I don't really see you at Frost International."
Remy raised an eyebrow at her, "Non?"
"You're too independent. You wouldn't follow orders and you'd probably try to take over the reins."
"Too true, chere. But. . ." his voice dropped to a seductive purr and he pulled Willow closer. "I've always played well with others when it mattered."
Willow blushed a bright pink when Remy's breath caressed her ear and prayed she wouldn't melt into a puddle at his feet. He was so going to get it when they were alone.
Emma just ignored Remy and turned her attention to Willow, "Have you decided yet where you'll be staying?"
Before Willow could answer Buffy interrupted them, "Not that I want to influence you or anything but it would be so great to have another female here at the mansion." She turned to Emma, "No offense or anything you've been great but it would be nice to have another female around."
Willow smiled and relaxed against Remy, "If it's okay with you, Ms. Frost I'll stay here."
"Of course, shall I have a room fixed up or is that taken care of?" Emma tried to subtly ask if Willow would need a room.
Once Buffy had said she would be at the mansion as well, Willow's mind had been made up. She'd stay near Buffy. Remy could come and go as he pleased and if he was caught in the halls he could always say he was on his way to Willow's room.
"I thought I'd stay with the others if that's all right?"
Emma smiled and nodded, "Let me introduce you to the others."
~~~~
Emma
waited until she watched the last of the interns go up the stairs or leave for
the evening before she turned to Remy, "Join me for a drink?"
Though it was asked as a question it sounded like a demand. Remy inwardly smiled. He wondered how long it would take Emma before she gave him the third degree.
Remy sat and lit a cigarette. He figured he may as well get comfortable for the interrogation.
Remy smiled and taunted, "Ah, ah, ah. It's not nice to try to get into someone's mind without askin', chere. I've been trained by the best in puttin' up shields."
Emma coolly stared at Remy, "Speaking of being trained, what really brings you here? As nice and pretty as Willow is I don't really seeing you joining the Club just to stay be her side."
Remy took a drag on the cigarette and blew a few smoke rings stalling for time and as an added bonus pissing off Emma.
"Very true. Probably would have let her come here on her own but imagine my surprise when Wolverine and I discovered Sabertooth trying to kidnap her." Remy turned his red glowing eyes at Emma, "No one harms what's mine. Learned that lesson long ago."
The smiling mask fell back into place, "'Sides you were right before, I don't take well to orders and the Professor's were gettin' a bit too much. Just keepin' my options open. Learned that lesson long ago, too."
She didn't trust Remy but she hadn't gotten where she was by making rash decisions. He had an open invitation to join the Club and when he had taken her up on her offer she had discussed it with Sebastian and Magneto. Remy had always ridden the fence and probably always would. His background allowed him to see the shades of gray in all possibilities. Unlike Magneto who saw things in black and white, Us versus Them.
Emma hadn't been too sure about Willow either. She knew that she had been at the X-mansion and that Magneto had turned her friend into a mutant. She probably had a hidden agenda as to why she accepted the internship after her friend was turned. Frankly, Emma didn't care. It was a coup that she got Willow within her grasp when she had slipped through Magneto's hands.
With Remy and her to guide Willow she didn't have any doubts that she would become a valuable asset to Frost International and the Hell Fire Club in particular.
Now for Remy's first test, "How would you feel if Willow joined Frost International permanently?"
Remy gave a shrug, "Not really my decision to make. Willow wants to stay, Willow'll stay."
"Do you think she has what it takes to be a member of THIS club?"
Remy gave a slow smile, "You mean does she see the many shades like we do and is not afraid to drift into the darker aspects of the world?"
Emma nodded and watched his expression carefully.
"A few months ago I would say no. Even with the darkness all around her it never seemed to taint her. She has always been a straight A student, never stepped out of line and never questioned authority."
"And now?"
"Now, chere? Now life has shown her that there is no more black and white. It isn't just good guys versus bad guys. Sometimes you have to operate in the gray." Remy thought that ought to satisfy Emma. If Emma probed Willow's mind she would see Oz's betrayal, her almost using dark magick for revenge, using magick to help her get over Oz and D'Hoffryn's offer to become a vengeance demon. He hoped he had planted enough information that Emma would twist it to her own satisfaction.
