----------------------Remy Essex Lebeau:  The Road to Forgiveness-----------------

Disclaimer:  I have no rights to any recognizable characters contained with in this Fiction Produced by me, a Fan.  All characters are owned by Marvel Comics.  I will not make any money off the story you are about to read.

Summary:  This is an Alternate Universe where Remy Lebeau is the son of Nathaniel Essex (Mr. Sinister) and Maria Lebeau (Jean Luc Lebeau's sister).  This is the story of his life.  Some events taken place in the actual Marvel Universe, but for the most part this is no specific timeframe to place this in.

Now on with the Story…

--------------------------Chapter 3:  I Know You-------------------------------------------------

The X-men were surprised by the sudden turn of events, quickly trying to figure out what was happening.  What tunnels were they referring to?  Was this some kind of set up, and how should we defuse the situation?

Sabretooth snarled at Remy.  "Pup, your gonna bleed for that!  I'm gonna gut you long and hard then send your carcass back to Sinister."

"Y' t'ink y'r ready to play wit Gambit, mon ami?  Cuz Gambit definitely ready t' play wit y'!"  Gambit said with a tone that could be considered as deadly serious, but with a hint of suaveness. 

Sabretooth lunged towards Gambit, Gambit swiftly brought his bo staff from behind him to in front of him catching Sabretooth in the chest and rolling with him, tossing him back.  Sabretooth crashed into the far wall and was hit by several exploding playing cards.  This however was not enough to disarm him for long; he regained his composure and advanced on him again.

The X-Men stood at the side of the room watching this quickly escalating battle.  Professor Xavier had informed those currently there of the young man. 

"Professor, shouldn't we intervene!"  Warren shouted impatiently.

'No, I think we should see how this plays out!' Professor Xavier shot back telepathically.  He was thinking that some of their answers could be brought out in this exchange between Remy and Sabretooth.

Rogue was quite impressed with the young man she had met just forty-five minutes earlier.  Not only was he quite handsome, but also his eyes were entrancing.  And he was going toe to toe with Sabretooth.  Not many people could do that.

Scott and Warren were very irate.  Sabretooth had gotten the jump on them, they had teammates injured in his escape, and the Professor was delaying this fight by letting some stranger brawl with the animal in their dining room.  Thankfully Beast had been dispatched to the hanger to tend to those who were injured.

"You've gotten better pup, but tell me…I've been seriously wondering what you been up to since the last time I had a chance to gut you!"  Sabretooth growled as he rose once again.  Gambit had dropped his nonchalant ness to the fight and was now serious and focused.  And he was getting the better of Sabretooth.  This angered Sabretooth to no end. 

"Oh, y' know, dis and dat.  Got m' self a nice collection o' rare paintings.  Maybe y' and Gambit, we talk bout dem over coffee some time.  Non?"  Gambit asked sarcastically as Sabretooth flipped towards him and swiping his arm.  Gambit leapt from the attack but was caught in the arm.  "Look Creed, y' finally drew blood!"

"Pup I'm gonna gut y' now!  I don't care what you 'father' will say!"  With this Sabretooth raced towards him.  His claws swiped his sides, but this time got him deep.  Gambit didn't retreat; he dropped his bo staff that he was using to propel himself around the room.  He clutched Sabretooth's tattered uniform and charge it with the explosive kinetic energy that was his to wield. 

"Now, now 'Tooth.  Gambit let's go o' y' and dere be nothin' stopping y'r uniform from 'ploding.  Gambit put 'nough Kinetic energy in here t' blow y' body t' de point it ca heal it'self."  Remy said through clenched teeth.  The cut was deep.  But it would heal.  Like all the others that he had gotten from assassins when he was younger. 

"Your gonna kill me, just like you helped killed all those others.  Those tunnels pup, it was a massacre.  Go ahead, put one of their murderers into the ground.  Well that help you sleep at night.  Let me ask you something, I got paid for my part, what did you get, Daddy's pat on the back."  Sabretooth growled out with anger.

The Professor sat there in Rogue's arm wondering where this exchange was coming from.  So much anger and violence.  And Remy's rage only increased at the mention of his father.  Who was this young man's father?  And what were these tunnels that Sabretooth kept referring to?  As if to answer the Professor's unspoken question, Warren suddenly gasped, releasing just a couple words from behind him.

"The Morlock Massacre…the tunnels…. almost three years ago."  Warren let out.  It made sense; Sabretooth kept referring to the tunnels.  He said it's been three years since he'd seen this young man.  These two individuals had a hand in taking his wings…. turning him towards Apocalypse. 

Scott let Warren's words dawn on them.  They were shocked; they thought that Sinister and the marauders were the only ones involved in the morlock massacre.  But the way the two fighting figures were going on and on, it would appear there were both involved in it.  'Could this young man be a marauder?' 

            That thought also rang through Rogue's mind.  He seemed too polite to be a marauder.  But yet that's what logic would deem as a correct assumption here.  But why would he bring info to Hank about the Legacy Virus, and was that regret she heard within the young man's voice.

Gambit looked Sabretooth in the eye, rage boiling over.  He fought to control his emotions, and spoke in a shrill murderous tone.  "Tooth, Gambit gonna tell y' de truth.  Y' wanna know what I got from his pere.  I got nightmares…everyday for de last t'ree years.  But I'm not gonna kill y'…Remy gonna make y' feel pain."  With that Gambit pushed Sabretooth back, quickly bent down and snatched up his bo staff, he then connected it in Sabretooth's chest and sent him flying towards the other side of the room.  When Sabretooth connected with the wall there was huge explosion that rocked the room and blew a hole in the side of the building.  Sabretooth's uniform had exploded.  Leaving behind a very charred Sabretooth with chunks of flesh missing from his body.  Gambit said one more sentence before he dropped to his knees and grasped the deep cuts on his side and passed out from the blood loss.  "Dealer wins…just not your day…"

***X-men's Infirmary…Later that day***

            Remy had come to consciousness.  He did not open his eyes, he couldn't remember where he was at first, and not unusual for someone who drank on the weekends as much as he did, but this was different.  He was in pain, not the normal massive headache pain, but the, I feel like I just had a run in with some big nasty psychotic person pain.  'Oh wait…I did.'

            "Your awake bub, I can hear your breathing change, why don't open your eyes?"  A gruff sounding voice came from the other side of the room.  Remy complied, a bit reluctantly but he did.  He opened his eyes and saw a short man sitting in a chair next to a giant glass capsule.  "I heard this was your handy work.  Good job I must say so…"

            "T'anks mon ami…I tink…"  Remy replied as everything came flooding back to him.  "So am I a prisoner?" he asked.

            "Why would you think that?"  The voice of Professor Xavier came flooding into him the room.  Gambit pushed himself up and looked towards the door. 

"I can feel de untrust floating in de room Professor." Gambit stated a matter of factly.

"Well the fact that a powerful mutant managed to gain entry to this mansion, and destroy are dining room, and seemingly has ties to Sabretooth, Mr. Sinister, and a dead mutant named Stryfe…" Scott would have went on but was cut off by the Professor.

"Scott let me handle this, if you can not remain silent then I suggest you wait outside…" but much to everyone's shock the Professor was interrupted by a shrill that came from just outside the corridor.

"Remy Essex Lebeau!  By the goddess is that you!" and with a gust of wind a young African American woman came rushing into the room.  She was at Remy's side hugging him tightly.

"Ororo?" Remy said between winces. 

"Goddess how long has it been?  Six years?"  Ororo said softly.

"Oui, since de banishment.  What y' doing outta Nawlins?"  Remy said in a tone of disbelief.

"Well shortly after you left…I returned to Africa…to my tribe."  Storm said.  The others were shocked, their usually collected resident Weather Goddess was breaking into tears. 

"Storm, I think you might be causing my young patient some unneeded discomfort."  Hank said as he to entered the room. 

"So sorry Remy…I didn't mean…" but she was cut off.

"Storm you know this young man?"  The Professor asked.

"Yes, the man who raised me after my parents death sent me to some 'colleagues' of his for about two years when I was sixteen.  Remy was one of the man's nephew."  She said as she collected her usual poise.

Logan looked at Remy lying there; he stared intently at the young man, as if he recognized him from somewhere.  Than it clicked.  Madripoor, Viper's bar, the others said his name was Gambit.  "So how's the business, Cajun?" Wolverine asked all of a sudden.

Remy eyed the gruff looking older man.  He raised one eyebrow as he recognized Logan.  "Mon deau…Raven's friend, non?"  He asked slightly perturbed.

"I wouldn't call her my friend, but yeah two years ago Madripoor, you were having a meeting with Mystique, then her and I started to throw punches.  You didn't interfere, I respect you for that bub, but what I want to know is what in flaming hell is a master thief doing at the mansion, and don't give me no crap bout Legacy Virus info…"

"Logan!" Storm scolded.  "I would appreciate it, if I could have some time with Remy.  I feel I should be able to get the information you all want." 

Scott and Logan didn't look like they wanted to leave, but the professor had the up most confidence in Storm, and prompted them out.  Logan's voice could be faintly heard in the hallway "I'd count the good china before he leaves…if you even let him leave Chuck."

"So, how y' doing Stormmy?" Remy asked as he lay back in the hospital bed.

Storm shook her head very sullenly.  "Better than you I suppose Remy, Hank says that he was able to treat your wounds very nicely, and there should be no scarring.  But he mentioned similar scars that look a few years old?  I take it your life hasn't been easy?  Would you tell me about how you got caught up with all these people, and if you were involved in the Morlock Massacre?"

Remy looked down into his lap as she uttered the words 'Morlock Massacre' Images of the past flooded into his mind.  "What a day, t' tink of all de old people from de past t' run into.  Remy shoulda stayed in bed.  Now I just need a visit from mon pere, dat make Gambit's day."  Gambit looked up into Storms eyes and felt a wave of emotion smash right into him.  Sadness, relief, joy…fear?  'Why would she be feeling fear?'  He thought to himself.  Gambit hoisted himself out of bed and looked at Storm.  "Why don' we go f'r a walk, hehn…catch up on all de old times."  Storm helped him up and they were off.

***Xavier's Study…Later that Evening***

            Xavier had asked that all X-Men available be present for Storm's debriefing about their new houseguest.  Angel, Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Beast, Iceman and Jean were able to attend. 

            "His name is Remy Lebeau, I knew him about six years ago, when I lived in New Orleans.  His Uncle was the Guild Leader of the Thieves Guild.  This particular branch is said to turn out the very best of the best.  I can only imagine that Remy is one of them.  Especially by your own knowledge Logan."  Here she looked at her teammate, Logan nodded and she continued.  "He was banished, he had proposed to his girlfriend, she accepted, her brother was furious.  He ended up defending himself, and killed the other man.  The major problem was his girlfriend and her brother were the daughters of the New Orleans Assasin's Guild.  A blood feud would have been waged and both their clans probably would have been destroyed.  It was my understanding he was going to live with his father."

            "That's all good and well, but what I want to know, is did he help kill the Morlocks?  Did he help take my wings?"  Warren shouted with a most furious tone.  Jean placed her hand on his back comfortingly.

            Storm looked down here, but only for a second.  She raised her head and spoke clearly.  "He told me that after awhile with his father, he came in contact with a being he knew as Sinister.  This man soon became his employer, miscellaneous jobs, acquiring data, in return for helping him learn to harness his mutant gift.  He then went on to tell me how he was told of a dangerous mutant army preparing to wage war on New York, and how he was instructed to assemble a team capable of decimating the army and lead them there.  It was when they arrived and the killing started that he tried to stop them, things did not go over well, it was then he broke off his connections to Sinister."  Storm promptly finished.

            "Well, for the past couple years the damn thief has made a name for himself.  They say if you got the money to afford him, anything you want is yours.  One of the most wanted international jewel thieves, as well as the man to talk to in you need information.  Like I said, I met him about a year ago doing some kind of job for Mystique."  Logan said flatly.

            "I say we lock him up!  The murderer!"  Angel was furious.

            "You will NOT!"  Storm said sternly glaring at Angel. 

            Scott than stood up, "He's a professional thief, and he helped cause one of the worst things the X-Men have ever seen!"  Bobby Drake stood behind him, to show his support.

            Jean went and placed a hand on Scott's shoulders.  "We can't lock him up Scott, by all accounts, many of us should be locked up, in fact the X-Men as a team are wanted vigilantes."

            "Please every one sit down, I would like to talk to him, myself, before any decisions are made."  The professor stated sternly into their minds.  In the midst of all this arguing no one noticed Rogue silently slip out the door and make her way down to the med lab.

***X-Men's Infirmary***

            "Bon Jour, chere."  Rogue heard as she quietly entered the room, she knew she made no noise that could have alerted him to her presence.  She didn't even know why she was here, just that she wanted to get to know him; he made something turn in her stomach, and not in a bad way either.  She knew it was ridiculous, all the bad things she had heard in the Professor's office, but than again the same things that he was being accused of, could be very easily accused of her when she worked with her foster mother, Mystique.  And not to mention the fact that Storm thought very highly of him, maybe he wasn't all that bad, maybe he could help her with her nightmares of all the people she had hurt when she was younger.

            "Um, hi sugah…am ah interruptin?" Rogue asked a little shyly. 

            Remy opened his eyes and stared at her, then let a smile grace his lips.  "A femme as beautiful as y' chere, non y' could never be interruptin' little ole Remy."  With that Rogue approached his bedside and began to talk at first it was how impressed she was when he was fighting Sabretooth, than it was questions about Mystique and how he knew her, which he explained quite openly and honestly.  They talked for hours into the night.  They became so consumed in their conversation that neither of them notice the quiet humm of the Professor's hover chair, if they would have, they could have seen a small smile grace his lips as he hovered away, leaving the talk till the morning. 

***The Next Day, Xavier's Study***

"So, Professor, Remy been tinking, and t' be honest I still don' know if ahm a prisoner?"  Remy said as he lunged back smoking a cigarette.  The Professor allowed him to smoke in his study after all, Logan continually walked around with that lit cigar.

"Well Remy, I had talked to all my students, and most of them were pretty indifferent about what to do with you, but there were three that felt you should not be detained against your will.  But before we discuss that, I was wondering, why did you bring that information to Dr. McCoy?"  The Professor asked calmly, trying to send soothing tones in his voice.

"I take it Stormy tol' y' bout de massacre in de tunnels.  Remy was young and naïve den, a lot of mutants dead 'cuz of me.  I tought dat maybe I could make it up t' de world, ease my consciousness a lil' bit.  Sinister won' have helped de world, but Remy knows his research would b' helpful.  So I figured dat maybe dis ease m' mind a 'lil.  Gambit may be many t'ings, but de one t'ing I don' wanna be…is a murderor.  Maybe helping de rest of de world could atone for m' sins of m' youth."  Remy said casually as he exhaled some smoke into the air.

"That's what I was hoping to hear, for a number of reasons, one, Ororo was very much against holding you prisoner.  Logan stated that we probably couldn't if we tried.  And well, I can't be sure, but judging by Rogue's visit to your bedside last night speaks of anything, it's that she has found a kindred spirit in you.  So I was thinking, Remy Lebeau, would you like to join my X-Men, fight and make the world a better place for mutants.  Protect those that need protection?"  Xavier sat there calmly with his chin placed in his folded hands staring at the young man across from his desk.

Remy stared back at the Professor.  One thought running through his mind.  'Could I make a difference?'  The answer to his own silent question, and that of Xavier's was the same.

"Couldn' hurt t' try."

To Be Continued…

A/N:  Well I know its been a LONG time, but I'm sorry and here's the next part.  It shouldn't be a long wait for the next chapter, definitely not as long as the wait for this one was.  Once again, I hope it didn't disappoint. 

For those that Reviewed:

Rehsh:  Yeah, I know Remy is a name all of its own, and lets look at it this way, Sinister named him Remington, a good Victorian Era name, but when Jena Luc took over guardianship he renamed him Remy, a good Cajun name.  So his birth certificate says Remy, buy Sinister doesn't acknowledge that.

Azurielle:  As you can see, I will finish this, it just may take some time.

Acadian Angel:  Glad you found it.

Brazos:  Looks like he's getting more than breakfast after all.

Evoluationary Step Backwards:  Looks as if your mind control is a little Rusty.

Well I know others reviewed, but not many questions or comments, so, there you have it.