Disclaimer: The surgeon general cautions against using this product while pregnant or under the influence of alcohol, oxygen, illegal substances, or massive sugar amounts.
Author's note: Here it is! The wedding in an extra long chapter!!!
Best Laid Plans:
Wedding Belles
Rogue sighed and opened her eyes, slapping the alarm clock into oblivion. She groaned, sitting up and scrubbing her hands over her face as the pale, rose tinted tendrils of dawn spread through the window. She was sure that if she could just sleep five more minutes she would remember why she had to be up…
She pulled the blankets close, curling on top of them like some immense cat…and the door slammed open.
"Chere, Remy sor…mppphhhhh!" Remy cried as he tumbled through the door he had valiantly protected for two hours. A bevy of brides maids ran over him like an implacable flood and gathered around the bed.
Rogue blinked at the whole scene for a moment…brain working slower than usual… "Ah ma gawd! Ah'm getting married tahday!"
Remy, on the floor, groaned "Chere forget? Remy get trampled fer no'tin?" he eyed the beautiful woman sorrowfully…and then his view was blocked by a woman he knew well "When you get here Tante?" he asked confusedly.
The imposing black woman simply scowled "Chile, ya know ya can't be here now! No seein the bride till de alter!"
Remy blinked and the girls descended on him. Two women, cousins no doubt, dragged him slowly around the door jam. Rogue had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the utterly shell shocked expression on his face as the last auburn curl was dragged from sight.
Her desire to laugh soon died though, as the women focused on her. She swallowed nervously "Can ah get some coffee?"
* * * * *
Jubilee, on the other hand, had a much more relaxing awakening. Her delicate nostrils fluttered, breathing in the scent of smokey bacon and cheese…and chili…and fries…
She rolled over and sighed, then awoke to see her favorite meal. Mall fries…smothered in chili and cheese, topped by bacon bits…"Something you never outgrow you know?" she asked the man she knew would be there.
"I hear ya darlin" came the rumbling reply as Logan drew the curtain, letting light in.
She sighed happily looking at his burly chest highlighted in the window and started munching. Her careful, cheerful valley girl mask was in place as her mind churned…she knew he was worried about today…heck, she was worried about today…but not for the same reasons. Right on cue Logan turned around.
"Are you sure about this darlin?"
Jubilee rolled her eyes and stood up form the bed, stalking over to him in a fit of temper "Listen up Wolvy. This is the last time I'm saying this you know? You're not too old for me, I'm not misled, and I am in love you with okay? Now you are going to get your moping butt over to the men's wing, get a decent shave, comb your hair, get dressed and meet me by the altar at noon or you are going to regret being born alright?" she accentuated each statement with a firm jab from her finger into his chest.
The picture should have been ludicrous. The slim Asian woman's head barely topped Logan's shoulder as she stood directly in front of him in her smiley face pajamas, and yet the man bent to her will like a sapling in a storm.
Jubilee sat back down on her bed as her fiancé retreated from the room with an approving sniff and commenced eating her fries. Mere moments later her door swung open once more, admitting Paige, Monet, and Penny, her bridesmaids.
All the girls shared identical evil smiles "That's telling him girl"
* * * * *
Jean-Luc surveyed the men that had come with him and tapped his foot "An what did dis teach you?"
A chorus of sullen replies answered him "Don' play poker wit' de femme"
"Cheat better den de femme"
"Don' bet de weddin clothes"
"Dere be easier ways te get de femme's shirt off…"
"Marry de femme…"
"De femme a better t'ief den us…"
Jean-Luc cleared his throat, nodding at most of the answers "All dat as it may be, Tante see you all like dis she gon' skin everyone"
The cousins shuffled nervously, eyeing each other's bare state "When Tante get here?"
"Dat don' matter. She here now, so Jean-Luc took de personal risk of getting all de clothes back…wit a condition"
Every eye in the danger room fastened on the roguish leader with a mingling of hope, desperation, fear, and wariness "What condition?"
Jean-Luc smiled like a cat that had just been hand fed the canary.
* * * * *
Remy paced up and down the long hallway of the men's dormitory. His ivory tuxedo was accented with trim of russet silk. Delicate gloves were repeatedly slapped against his hand as he paced…
The corridor was being guarded…
They didn't trust him not to sneak in to see Rogue…
But there was no telling what tale Tante Matte was filling Rogue's head with…
He had to see her…to tell her…to warn her…
With an exasperated sigh he slunk into his own room.
Anyone watching the crimson eyed man would have recognized the feral smile…the game was on. Fierce odds, fiercer penalties for failure…just the thing to take his mind off the upcoming stress…
Carefully he peeled out of his tuxedo and slid into comfortable jeans, and nothing else. Barefoot, he padded to the window, slid it open, and snuck onto the roof…
* * * * *
Kitty bit her lip until it threatened to bleed as she concentrated. It was bad enough that she still couldn't stand up for long…but having to concentrate to get into a dress…that was embarrassing.
She had her arm in the sleeve, the rest of the dress trailing through her body…in the mirror she looked like some arcane parody of the jilted bride…
Carol Danvers took that moment to step into the bridesmaid's changing room and eye her with sympathy. She hated that…people looking at her with that false concern…pity….
She passed her body through the rest of the dress, faltering momentarily and feeling the oddest sensation of silk scraping along her intestines…with a small whimper she couldn't hide, the dress was on…and floating ethereally along with her as exhaustion took over.
Kitty Pryde passed out, floating weightlessly in the middle of the room, champagne silk floating gently in the breeze around her.
* * * * *
Kurt fussed with the papers that he was to read…notes…well wishing…congratulations…and couldn't concentrate. The words kept flying out of his head whenever he stopped reading…
He put the papers down and sighed…he was worried, he had to admit it…kitty shouldn't be up and about yet…and yet she insisted on fulfilling her part in the wedding… "Verdamnt eigensinnig katzchen" he muttered under his breathe. She was going to be the death of him….
He teleported to the changing room and politely knocked…the flurry of female voices stopped and the door opened. Carol and Storm looked out at him with relief in their eyes "Kurt! Come in…Kitty's passed out…"
He didn't wait for the door to open, but ported inside…to behold the floating girl…blissfully unconscious in a breathtaking dress like some medieval ghost story…only the fading bruises on her face told another story.
He gently traced a hand along her floating hair "Ah, katzchen…" he didn't notice the looks that the girls exchanged nor the passing time as he pulled up a chair and started to wait. The wedding could wait…
* * * * *
Rogue looked at her reflection and gaped. A delicate southern belle looked back at her…
Her skin glowed from within the delicate lace gloves…the ivory and champagne color setting of highlights and tints in her that she never knew she possessed…
Who knew that this woman had ever wrestled juggernaut to a standstill? That this woman had taken on sentinels, aliens, gods…and won?
Looking at herself, she didn't believe it…not in the least…she felt…delicate.
Dimly she heard the bevy of women in her room exit…off to their own preparations…but she didn't care. It had suddenly hit home, hard and fast…she was binding her life to another. He would protect her, cherish her, die for her…and she for him.
And children. She would bear his children. She cradled her arms about her, tilting her head, curled hair tumbling about her as she thought…and dreamed.
* * * * *
Remy perched in the lee of his love's window…listening. Soon enough the women within left, leaving Rogue to her thoughts…
Now was his chance!!
He peered into the window…and caught his breathe. His Rogue…his beautiful belle…was staring into space. A slight smile played over her sensuous lips…
Her emerald eyes were sparkling with some inner light and he sighed…he was seeing dreams in her eyes…the future…
His knees, clad in faded, ripped jeans, locked him in place. He could go no further than the cool glass of the window…he spread his hand upon the clear barrier and felt his heart start beating again. Such a precious moment this was…such a beautiful sight…and such a private one. He bowed his head in shame and crept away from the window.
Slinking back to his own room, he pulled himself up short. Tante was there, and she was looking at him with the expression she usually reserved for naughty children she had caught in her cookie jar.
Remy didn't say a word, just went to her and wrapped his arms around her short, comforting body. He had seen heaven. He couldn't help but cry.
* * * * *
Jean glared out the window. Scott was in the bathroom fussing with his hair, and she was out here, angrily eyeing the wedding preparations. Her plans…destroyed so easily…so casually…
She clenched her fist, wanting to reach out and smash…to rend…to tear…
But it was too soon to show her hand. Far too soon. She sighed, letting the anger flow away into a deep pool of calm. She gently stretched her consciousness out over the area, taking in the moods…the thoughts…and found a particularly poignant worry…
"Poor dear Kurt…" she whispered with vicious glee "Lamenting over his little Katzchen…"
The mood of the blue fur clad man was like a fine wine, pouring into her and making her smile with genuine warmth as she turned from the window. Perhaps she would enjoy today after all…
She unclenched her fist, not noticing the small half moons that her fingernails had cut into her palm…cuts that soon filled with blood.
* * * * *
Jubilee spun before the mirror, the girls around her cooing in delight as the dress settled perfectly. She grinned…perfect.
Everything was perfect.
If only her parents could be here…somehow she knew that they would approve. Even if Logan was a little rough around the edges…even if he did smoke…everyone had their faults. She was quite ready to embrace his.
She turned around, facing the girls she had grown to call sisters. "What are you guys still doing here? You need to dress too!" she waved her hands and the giggling girls fled.
* * * * *
Logan breathed in steadily…he was in his room, his tuxedo was on a hangar in the closet…and he was cross legged on the floor with a sword in his lap.
Meditation to calm the nerves…or so he told himself. In truth, he reached out to one long gone…asking forgiveness and approval. Jubilee was such a precious person, full of energy and life…nothing at all like Mariko…but he loved her just the same.
He drew the incense laden air in through his nostrils and remembered the first time he had sat here like this. Mariko had agreed to marry him…he had worn a silken kimono…was ready…prepared…and she had changed her mind at the last minute.
It had taken time…but he had forgiven her…he almost felt her silken, skilled fingers sliding through his hair as he thought…a brief blast of her scent came to him…awash with the smell of cherry blossoms…and he knew that she approved.
He smiled, bowed his head, and stood, getting ready for the wedding.
* * * * *
Bobby perched on the roof and grinned. The New Orleans Thieves Guild was present once more…as help. There were setting up tables…chairs…snacks…tents on the lawn…and they were complaining the entire time.
It amused him how often they cursed Jean-Luc as a manipulative bastard…and Ororo as a crafty minx…
He glanced at his watch…half an hour to go…then he could go to his seat...watch the wedding commence…and enact his plan.
* * * * *
Kurt glanced at the clock, worried murmurs floating around him…and then Kitty stirred. She blinked her eyes opened and groaned, looking up into the concerned, fanged face of Kurt Wagner. With a little effort she was upright and panicking "The Wedding!!!"
"Is in thirty minutes Katzchen"
"Then what are you doing here?"
"Making sure you are alright" he explained patiently, searching her face for further evidence of exhaustion.
She scowled. He was looking for an excuse to keep her out of the wedding…"I'm alright elf…I promise...I'm fine. Go get ready."
Kurt started towards the door, not wanting to upset her by arguing…he cast one last worried look at her as he closed the door.
Kitty breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed…and then noticed the slightly accusatory looks she was getting. "What?"
* * * * *
Order was soon established, Creole speaking cousins leading everyone to their seats…the grooms waited patiently…Kurt stood upon the dais, facing the crowd…
A hush fell over the crowd as the ceremony began. Young Artie and Leech paced forward gravely…both bearing a cushion with two rings each. They walked under a holographic image of flowers and cherubs. At the altar they both turned smartly, going to stand beside Logan and Remy.
Following them was the double row of Bride's maids…all awash in champagne silk…all carrying a single yellow rose…they smiled and parted like a sea of soft, sunlight kissed angels…and down the aisle came three figures.
Xavier sat in his chair, beaming proudly. The two brides each had a hand upon the back of the chair as they walked. They came forward slowly to the appreciative murmurs of the crowd. Male eyes followed the woman as if they were the long awaited oasis in the desert…one set of eyes followed them even closer.
Calmly, the professor and surrogate father handed over the brides to the waiting men. The young ring bearers goggled at the woman they knew suddenly transformed into goddesses for this short length of time…and the wedding began.
* * * * *
Kurt raised his hand in benediction "…let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Bobby Drake, hearing his cue, stood up. Slowly he approached the altar, standing at the bottom step "I object" he stated calmly. A shocked murmur ran through the crowd and the couples stared at him, eyes smoldering.
Bobby disregarded the danger he was in and took the first step "I love Rogue, always have. I cannot allow her to wed another. Jubilee is my best friend, and deserves someone her own age. I cannot in good conscious allow this wedding to continue.
So saying he swept the shocked women into his arms and sped off on an ice slide. As an after thought he froze the entire wedding assemblage's feet to the ground.
High atop a towering spire of ice he released the enraged women and looked them over. "It's alright now" he said
Rogue was overcome with rage at this pronouncement "Ahlright? Ahlright? What makes ya think that sugah?" she asked dangerously
Jubilee was in a similar state of rage…the air near her hands was sparking and heating as she tried very hard not to destroy everything around her "Bobster, you are so gonna die"
"Blood will ruin your dresses" he pointed out
The girls didn't seem to care…he backed up one step…two…and slipped. He didn't fall far. He was caught…oddly enough, by Monet St. Croix. The woman looked at her catch dispassionately and tossed him to the ground…into the waiting arms of Logan and Remy.
Bobby laughed nervously "It was a joke?"
* * * * *
Kurt cleared his throat, ignoring the battered, bruised, and bound Bobby to the side of the gathering and continued "I know pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the brides"
The crowd cheered, and the future was begun.