AN- Quick note I forgot to mention; Rogue's got her comic verse powers; super human strength, flight, and invulnerability. She's also (in my world, remember, I'm the author! Heheh), got control over her absorbing mutation…so yeah…on with the next tragic chappie…
I Cannot Say GoodbyeStepping out of the vehicle, Remy closed the door, carrying his duffel bag over his shoulder. He tipped the British cab driver that had dropped him off in front of Braddock Manor; where Elizabeth had been laid to rest. "Merci, m'sieu." Remy solemnly told him, handing him the cash.
"You're welcome sir. Good day."
Remy grunted, watching the car drive away, down the dirt road. He sighed, as he turned to the black metal gates of Braddock Manor, "Not for me," He commented at the driver's statement.
He pressed his hand to the buzzer, hoping Tabitha would answer. She had flown back to Britain and stayed with Brian, as comfort, now that Elizabeth had died. She would let him in, even if he came unexpectedly, which he had. "Yo!" He heard.
His lips creased to a slight smile; Tabitha's greeting came through the speaker, "Tabby, petite. It's Remy. Can ya let me in?" He spoke through the speaker.
"Sure can, hun." Tabitha cheerfully said.
Immediately, the gates opened. Remy walked through, down the dirt road leading towards the large Scottish styled Estate. This was the second time he'd stepped foot onto Braddock Manor's grounds; the first, was the funeral. The dreaded day that had broken the X-Men to pieces. As he made his way towards the doorway, he noticed the door fly open, with Tabitha smiling at him in greeting. But, he couldn't smile back; his mind began swarming with memories of Elizabeth; first; her funeral…
*~*~*~*
Brian stood in front of the open casket; staring. He hadn't budged. He just stood; and stared. His twin's body lay inside; lifeless. He had hoped she would just open her eyes, jumping up at him, scaring the life out of him. But, nothing. The dark sunglasses did no justice in hiding his emotions. His face had been soaked with tears that flooded from his eyes. Her 'sister', Rogue, had placed a white rose on to her folded hands. He looked to his side, as Remy stood, staring as well. Brian could see his face had been soaked with tears. His sunglasses did him no justice as well.
Remy turned his head, glaring at Brian. Brian stared at him for a moment, and finally turning his face to look at his twin, "She loved you." Brian spoke lowly, his voice raspy from his crying.
Remy looked at Elizabeth's body in the open brown casket. He felt a sob rise in his throat, causing the pain to rise again. He swallowed it harshly down his throat, to keep it from escaping his mouth. He wanted to be a man, to not show his emotions; but, he was almost too easily giving into the temptation of just breaking down, falling to the ground, and sobbing over the woman he had come to love. He opened his black trench coat that Elizabeth had bought him only a few months before, and pulled out two roses; a white and red. He then reached into the other pocket inside, pulling out a wrinkled card; The Queen Of Hearts. He gently placed it on top of the rose that Rogue had left behind; and placed the two roses onto her chest.
Brian let a sob escape his throat, as he pressed his hands onto the rim of the casket. He leaned down, shaking his head slowly, "Oh, if only I can trade. Why'd this have to happen to her?!" Brian sobbed.
"Oh, Brian, hun. Come here." Rogue sobbed, as she reached to him from behind.
Brian stood his ground, not moving, as sobs began to pour from his throat, "I should have been there! I shouldn't have let you guys go on that mission alone!" Brian sobbed.
"Mon' ami', there was nothin' we could do." Remy told him.
Brian finally broke, and turned, hugging onto Rogue, sobbing into her shoulder. Rogue hugged him back tightly; as he buried his face into her neck, "Let it out." Rogue cried.
Remy shook his head, closing his eyes, trying to push the tears building up, as he turned back to Elizabeth. He leaned down, kissing her cold lips, "Until our time comes, adieu, cherie." He whispered.
*~*~*~*
"How is he?" Remy asked Tabitha, as she closed the door after him.
Tabitha shook her head, crossing her arms across her chest, "Not good. And I thought I was an alcoholic." She hinted with her last sentence.
Remy shook his head, tsking at what she had just told him. "Where?"
"At the crypt. He spends all day out there, and almost all night." Tabitha told him, as the butler took Remy's duffel bag off of him.
Remy nodded with understanding, and walked towards the door, "I'll talk to him."
*~*~*~*~*
Brian sat, staring at the large crypt in front of him. In it, had laid his father, James Sr., his mother, Elisabeth, and now, his twin; Elizabeth. So many times, he had been tempted to barge into the crypt, and locking himself in there, waiting to die. He wanted to join them desperately. He felt there was no other reason for him to live.
Message, after message, he had received calls from Rogue and Logan back at the institute, worried about how he had been. But, he had been too melancholy to speak to anyone; even his fiancée, Tabitha, who had flown back with him to Britain, to give him support. He had pushed her away; wanting to go through his sorrows alone. Only a year before his twin's passing, they had lost their mother to cancer; now….this. He had prayed that this whole thing had been some cruel nightmare. That he would open his eyes, and see his twin laughing, and wanting to wrestle with him. Or to hear her stories, and her jokes.
His blue eyes were blurry; intoxicated from the liquor he had drowned himself in, and the tears that he had cried constantly. His eyes moved down to look at the bottle of liquor in his hand; he felt the rage beginning to build; he clenched his eyes shut, and finally opened them, screaming out, throwing his bottle to the ground. He heard the shattering of the glass, as he let out a sob. He stood up, and stalked towards a large tree near the crypt itself, and kicked his foot through, leaving a hole, and cursing loudly as he did so.
Remy watched Brian press his hands against the tree he had just kicked in; surprisingly, the tree survived his blow, as it still stood. "No matter what we do, she won't come back." He spoke up.
Brian swung around in surprise of the voice. "What are you doing here?" He growled.
"Same reason you're here. I couldn't stay away from her." Remy answered, as he dug into his pocket, pulling out his pack of smokes.
Shoving a cigarette in his mouth, he glanced at Brian, holding out the pack, offering him one. Brian shook his head, declining the offer, and watched the Cajun sit onto the stone bench in front of the crypt. "Did you tell anyone you were coming here?" Brian asked.
Remy exhaled the smoke of the newly lit cigarette, and he glanced at him, shaking his head, "No. Why should I? They're movin' on their own way, I'm movin' on mine. There ain't no reason for me to go back there. Ain't nothin' left." Remy told him.
Brian shrugged, as he moved to sit next to his old friend, "Same for me." He sighed heavily. "Betsy was the only reason I went to the institute in the first place." He told him.
Remy nodded in understanding, "Same here. When I was with the lackey's, the first time we met, she kicked my ass," Remy let out a laugh, as he reminisced, "I was a little distracted, if you get my drift. But, I don't know if she said anythin' to you, but I spied on her for a little bit. Then, when I came to the institute, she was the first to accept me fully," He then shrugged, exhaling the smoke, as he finished, "Probably because she was the only person on your team I didn't try killin' in battle."
Brian grunted, "Yeah, she told me." He then looked back at the crypt.
"Rogue been callin' ya?" Remy asked him.
Brian nodded hesitantly, "Tabby's been taking the messages for me. I just haven't felt like talking to anyone." He solemnly answered.
"Understandable. But, lockin' yourself up ain't gonna help you any. Why don't you, Tabby, and me go out on the town tonight?" Remy suggested.
Brian turned his head, glaring at the Cajun. He finally shook his head, "No. I'm not feeling up to it, Remy."
Remy shrugged, "Alright. But I ain't leavin' till you get up and out of this place. You gotta move around a bit." He told him.
Brian shrugged, as well, "Suit yourself."