Chapter 6: Labour of Love

             "I didn't want the temptation of it being there any longer…" Rogue sighed, she and Remy were sitting over coffee at 1am, talking, Rogue finally felt it was time to talk about her ordeal.  "The serum was just lying there…so I took all of it…swallowed it…then went out…I didn't even think about how weak it would make…my state of mind was so…" she wiped her tears, "I don't know what I was thinking…" she sighed.

             Remy reached over and held her hand, he sat opposite her at the kitchen table, watching her eyes as she spoke.  She'd been silent for some time, and he hadn't asked her to tell him, but she'd eventually said it was time she told him.

             "The guy…I'd seen him there before…" Rogue said, "and he seemed attracted to me…and I thought…I don't know what I was thinking…" she made a face, "I just…I was out of my mind, I think…I was so stressed…I…"

             "Take your time," Remy said softly.

             "He offered a drink – and I took it, then another…and I was just so…so mad at you that I kept taking it, thinking it would make me forget how angry I was at you…" Rogue looked away.  "It was some time later I realised somethin' wasn't quite right, and I was feeling…woozy…I guess I blacked out, and when I came too…he was there, on me…hurtin' me…" Rogue's eyes teared up more remembering it.  "It hurt so bad…and I tried to fight him off, he hit me and told me to stop…next thing I know, I was in there…alone…" Rogue sipped her coffee, a tear trickled into the cup.  "the guy took my money, my phone…I had to walk home…" she chewed her lip.

             Remy clenched his other fist, "if I ever see that guy I will fuckin' kill him…" he said, hostility in his voice, "I seriously will…"

             "You're no good to me in prison for murder, Remy," Rogue looked at him.

             "You want him to get away with it?"

             "No but…I don't wanna go chasing him and bringing it all into the open and having him charged…I don't want anyone else knowing – you and Kitty are the only ones I think I can even deal with knowing…"

             Remy looked at her, "You…need to tell the Professor about this…he can arrange some kind of counselling…or something…"

             "I'm fine," Rogue lied, she sipped her coffee, "women in America get raped every day – they go on to live full, healthy lives."

             "Chere, bein' raped can ruin your whole life…there are support groups, counselling, probably even websites for those women, I've seen all this on Ricki Lake…it really fucks them up…it's a life shattering heart breaking thing…" he said, "you should also maybe get checked out, as in medically…"

             "Medically?" Rogue looked at Remy worriedly.

             "Yes, medically," he said, "some guy been in you, don't know who the fuck he is, what if he had somethin'?  There no tellin' if he used a condom or not…probably not…you need to get checked out, maybe also have somethin' done to prevent a pregnancy?"

The thought of another pregnancy in the mansion seemed like it might be too much to handle.  Rogue looked down, "I just want to pretend like it never happened, Remy…" she sighed, "Just want to forget…"

             "Chere, you can't forget until you heal…" he gripped her hand firmly, looking at her, "I won't watch you bottle it up…I know it seems like I'm picking fights right now, but…I can't…I won't…stand by and let you just act like its okay and not take action…" he looked at her, "I'm your man, I have a say in this now…"

             Rogue looked at him, "never mind that, what are you going to do about Bella Donna," Rogue asked sullenly.  "You're forgetting you're engaged – again – to a woman, and this time she's six months pregnant.  And you're determined that me and you are supposed to be together, so you need to be straight with her – and tell her you love me and you are definitely NOT marrying her…ever."

             "I'll tell her that I've changed my mind, that it wouldn't work out," Remy assured, "I'll still take the baby, she won't be exiled from the Big Easy and everything will somehow work out…you don't have to be involved in the baby's life either if you don't want to be…"

             Rogue looked at him, "You sure you're ready to be a father?" she asked.

             "Chere, I'm not even sure if I'm mature enough to do my own laundry," he reminded, "but bein' a father isn't about bein' mature enough to handle it – it's about bein' responsible for your actions…and I am responsible for the pregnancy…and I will be a father, whether I don't know how to change a diaper or not…" he sighed.

             Rogue looked at him, "you'll be a good father, Remy…" she admitted, a soft tone to her voice, "I just always figured it'd be to my children instead of hers," she sighed.

             Remy smirked a little, "You wanna have kids with me?" he asked.

             "Not today," Rogue remarked, "Not even in this decade…but some day," she shrugged, "if we last that long."

             "I have a feeling we'll be together for an eternity…" he smirked a little, stroking her bare hand with his.

             "Remy…" a familiar voice rang out.

             Rogue and Remy both turned, Bella Donna was standing in the doorway, her hand on her large stomach, she looked flushed, and slightly pained, her hair mussed as if she'd just woken up, her eyes were slightly squinting

             "Belle, it's good that you're here, we need to talk," Remy drew a breath, deciding he needed to set everything straight – while Rogue was there, so that Rogue could see it would be well and truly over with him and Bella Donna.

             "No, we don't…Remy, I—" Bella Donna tried, but before she could get out another word edgewise, Remy interrupted quickly.

             "Me and Rogue are gonna be together, I can't marry you…" Remy said straightly, Rogue smiled a little at his forwardness.

             Bella Donna looked as if she might cry, she was gaping, looking at him, her eyes glassy, then she winced, her hand on her stomach, "Remy…"

             "I've made up my mind."

             Rogue frowned a little, there was something in Bella Donna's face that said it wasn't Remy's news that was bothering her, the girl was in obvious pain, and Rogue had guessed why before Bella Donna had a chance to even say it.

             "Remy…I'm going into labour…"

             "Labour?" Remy gaped, "You're six months pregnant!  You're not meant to give birth until September!" he gave it a second thought, just to make sure he was right.

             "I know that!" Bella Donna screamed at him.

"Okay, how do you know its labour, it could just be, I don't  know…gas or something…" Remy tried to reason.

"Remy, I'm having contractions!  Will you just get me to a hospital already!?" she demanded, she was breathing in a strange way, trying to deal with the contractions.

             Remy and Rogue looked at each other, Rogue got up, deciding to take action, since Remy seemed to be too shocked to even say anything, "I'll call an ambulance," she said, and headed for the phone.

             Remy felt a sudden rush of fear and apprehension fill his mind, his baby was about to be born – even if it was three months premature.  Within hours, he realised, he could be a father…and it terrified him.

The end…? (or is it ***wicked smile***)