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Ok, general thanks. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I'm really pleased, cancel that, ecstatic, overcome, that you all liked chapter 14 and I hope my writing can live up to the standard it apparently set. I thank you, my ego thanks you, my creativity thanks you, etc.
As for whether this is a rebound thing, well, I think you all know my answer: read and see. ;-)
****************************************
Chapter 15
Remy woke up warm for the first time since Antarctica. Not only was their a warm body pressed tightly against his, but he was surrounded by warm feelings of contentment, affection, friendliness. Pulling the body closer, he rubbed his cheek against the hair happily, before falling back into a deep sleep.
******************
The sun was high in the sky when Betsy woke up, but she did not notice. It was dark in the room with the curtains pulled and she nuzzled the lean chest she was lying on before placing a kiss on the smooth skin. Looking up at her bed partner, she smiled into red on black eyes that stared down at intently. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"
"Oui, better dan a long time." His long fingers stroked the side of her face, tracing her delicate features and she turned her head slightly to press a warm kiss against his palm.
"I am glad."
He smiled and cupped her jaw, turning her toward him so he could press a light kiss over her lips. "Moi, aussi."
There were several minutes of silence and Betsy wondered at how they could be pressed so intimately together yet feel so awkward. She wished she knew how he felt about last night. She was not sure where this would lead or even where she wanted it to lead but she did know that she did not regret it. She wondered if he did. It suddenly occurred to her that she should know if he did or not. Last night, she had been able to feel everything and now, it was gone, making the room to silent. He had turned off the link, retreated behind his shields. A small touch and she could feel that they were just as tight as ever. A sadness came over her.
Remy pulled her closer, stroking her back, trying to soothe her. "Betsy, what's wron'? Y'can tell Remy. He help, no matter what. C'mon tell moi why you so sad?" She closed her eyes, enjoying the touch while trying to think of what to tell him. "Is it las' night? Don' worry, it's Remy's fault. Je suis désolé."
Betsy quickly covered his lips with her fingers to quiet him. "No, I do not regret last night. Any of it. I just..." She looked away and played with the sheets nervously.
"Quoi? Tell me." His hand continued to stroke her back soothingly.
"I just miss the empathy." His body stiffened but she could not tell why. Was he angry, disgusted, afraid? "The closeness. Last night was special and...I do not know how to explain this, but I miss it."
"Remy didn' t'ink you'd wan' him in your head. Didn' wan' you to t'ink he messin' wit' your heart. 'Sides, Remy's not used to usin' it so much. Try real hard to keep it inside where it don' cause trouble."
Betsy nodded at his logic but was saddened even further by his reasoning.
"Hey," She looked up at him, "still frien's?"
"Of course."
"Good, den as a frien', move." His eyes were dancing with laughter as she looked up at him confused. "You too heavy, Remy's arm's goin' to sleep."
Betsy sat up with a gasp of outrage and grabbed the nearest pillow, beating him with it while he laughed and dodged out of the room. Throwing the pillow at the closing door, she fought back a smile as she went into the adjoining bathroom to take a shower.
Almost an hour later, she was dressed in a new outfit, her previously worn clothing in an empty bag along with Remy's clothes from the previous night. Remy emerged from the other bedroom, still smiling as he asked, "Is it safe?"
She smiled back. "For the moment, but that is only because I am hungry and we need to go get my car."
"Remy hears and obeys."
"Liar."
"Part of de job description." His words were said in a bantering tone but Betsy looked at him sharply, worried about a possible deeper, more painful, meaning. She really wished she still had the empathic link with him. Right after the thought crossed her mind, she felt a small thread of emotion from Remy. It was soft and untouched by bitterness. He had been kidding. She smiled in relief but did not say anything, not wanting to call attention to it, and he gave her a shy smile in return. "Let's go get your car 'nd get you fed. You gettin' cranky."
Betsy immediately took his offered arm, smiling up at him. "You have not seen cranky yet."
They had a pleasant ride to pick up her BMW and a pleasant lunch, they had slept through breakfast. The two of them continued to discuss most anything and Betsy found that the Cajun actually had good taste in, as well as extensive knowledge, in art. He even told her that several of the paintings in various museums were fakes and she was not sure whether to believe him or not. The mischievous glint in his eye made her doubt. She could not be sure, however, knowing he was a superb thief and that many of his guild were just as good, perhaps better. She decided to take a closer look the next time she went to an exhibit featuring Picasso. Remy swore that the you could tell one was a fake because his adopted father's brother had stolen the real thing decades ago, leaving a fake with a silhouette of Lady Godiva hidden in the shapes and colors.
"'S true, chere, he put it dere so all us t'ieves could go look at it 'nd have our own laugh 'bout it. Painted de fake hisself."
"Yes, but which one is it?"
"Remy not tell, dat take all de fun outta it. You jus' goin' to have to look 'nd find it, chere. But maybe, if ya ask real nice, Remy take ya ta see de real one."
She smiled in return as the two of them finished their desert.
It was late afternoon when the two wayward mutants found their way back to the mansion. Parking the BMW, they walked inside, arm in arm, to see what they had missed. If something bad had happened, they would rather find out now than be surprised later. Betsy could feel Remy's nervousness and tried to send him comfort in return but was not sure if it was helping since he was sure to feel her nervousness as well. They found Logan in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge and he greeted them without looking up.
"So, you kids have fun?"
Betsy smiled at her longtime friend, even though he could not see it. "Yes, we did. We went dancing."
He looked them over, pulling out some leftovers to be heated up. "Uh-huh. Glad to hear it."
Betsy studied the shorter mutant intently. "What do you mean 'Uh-huh'?"
His grin widened as he set the microwave. "Just that, uh-huh. Don't get paranoid."
"When de Wolverine flash dat smile, it not paranoia it jus' good sense."
Wolverine grinned even wider at Remy's defense of Betsy.
"Oh, Ah don' know. Ah think we can all guess what ya'll were really up to." Rogue leaned against the door jamb, her eyes glancing pointedly at Betsy hand tucked into the crook of Remy's elbow.
"Good afternoon, Rogue." Betsy's voice took a very formal edge and she did not release her hold on Remy's arm.
For his part, Remy did not pull away. Instead, he inclined his head to the Southern woman. "Bon jour, Rogue."
"Rogue?" The woman raised an eyebrow. "Why, sugah, whateva happened to chere? Wasn' that what ya always called me before?"
"Non, you not been chere to Remy for a long time, girl."
"Ah see. Ya got yourself a new toy. Don' wanna play with the one ya broke, huh?"
Betsy could feel the whirlwind of emotions stirring in Remy and she tried to think of a way to get him away from Rogue. However, due to the belle's powers, there was nowhere to escape her. No door could keep her out. The only way would be to knock her unconscious and Betsy was hesitant to give others more ammunition than they already had.
Remy opened his mouth as if about to answer back then closed it and shut his eyes, shaking his head briefly. "Non, Remy not gonna 'splain to you." Opening his eyes he stared into her green eyes and Betsy could feel his emotions growing cold. "Tried to 'splain on de ice 'nd after 'nd even before but you didn' wan' hear. So, non, Remy not gonna even try now."
"You are correct, brother, we are past the time of deserving explanations. However, I would hear one, if you are still willing to give me one." Ororo stepped into the kitchen, her eyes fixed on Remy who stared back in disbelief.
"Stormy..."
She gave him a small, tentative, smile as she stood in front of him. "Do not call me that."
They stared at each other for several moments, neither making a move when suddenly, they fell into a hug, holding each other tightly. "Stormy."
"I've missed you, brother, so much."
Betsy wiped a tear from her eye at the tender scene and she could feel his happiness stronger over the link.
"Well, ain't that the sweetest thing." Rogue's voice was dripping with sarcasm but no one paid her any heed.
Ororo and Remy finally broke apart but did not separate and Betsy could see that the African mutant was crying as well. "Will you speak with me? Talk to me?"
Remy agreed quickly and the two of them left the room without another word. Betsy was neither offended nor surprised. Over the past few days she had picked up a few things about Remy and had pieced it together with what she already knew. He had been very close to his family growing up and it had been agony to be separated when he had been exiled. Ororo had taken away much of that pain by becoming a sister to him, family. When he thought he had lost her, it had been exile all over again only worse because he could see her every day, feel her pain and the separation. Betsy did not think he had ever truly believed that Ororo would speak to him again but he had never stopped loving his adopted sister just as he had never stopped loving his family back in New Orleans.
Logan waved a box of tissue under her nose and she took it gratefully, overcome with happiness and hope for Remy.
Rogue had left sometime earlier, though no one had noticed, but was now replaced with Scott and Jean. "Betsy, where have you been?"
She quickly wiped her eyes before turning to the team leader. "I was out, why?"
"You're supposed to be on monitor duty tonight. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up for it."
Truthfully, Betsy had completely forgotten about it. She had been a bit distracted lately. However, she was glad that she was assigned it tonight because she had some things she wanted to research and that was most easily and privately done when on monitor duty. "Well, Scott, as you can see, I have arrived on time for duty. Excuse me."
She turned and left without another word, her mood buoyed be the happiness she could still feel from Remy.
Ok, general thanks. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I'm really pleased, cancel that, ecstatic, overcome, that you all liked chapter 14 and I hope my writing can live up to the standard it apparently set. I thank you, my ego thanks you, my creativity thanks you, etc.
As for whether this is a rebound thing, well, I think you all know my answer: read and see. ;-)
****************************************
Chapter 15
Remy woke up warm for the first time since Antarctica. Not only was their a warm body pressed tightly against his, but he was surrounded by warm feelings of contentment, affection, friendliness. Pulling the body closer, he rubbed his cheek against the hair happily, before falling back into a deep sleep.
******************
The sun was high in the sky when Betsy woke up, but she did not notice. It was dark in the room with the curtains pulled and she nuzzled the lean chest she was lying on before placing a kiss on the smooth skin. Looking up at her bed partner, she smiled into red on black eyes that stared down at intently. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"
"Oui, better dan a long time." His long fingers stroked the side of her face, tracing her delicate features and she turned her head slightly to press a warm kiss against his palm.
"I am glad."
He smiled and cupped her jaw, turning her toward him so he could press a light kiss over her lips. "Moi, aussi."
There were several minutes of silence and Betsy wondered at how they could be pressed so intimately together yet feel so awkward. She wished she knew how he felt about last night. She was not sure where this would lead or even where she wanted it to lead but she did know that she did not regret it. She wondered if he did. It suddenly occurred to her that she should know if he did or not. Last night, she had been able to feel everything and now, it was gone, making the room to silent. He had turned off the link, retreated behind his shields. A small touch and she could feel that they were just as tight as ever. A sadness came over her.
Remy pulled her closer, stroking her back, trying to soothe her. "Betsy, what's wron'? Y'can tell Remy. He help, no matter what. C'mon tell moi why you so sad?" She closed her eyes, enjoying the touch while trying to think of what to tell him. "Is it las' night? Don' worry, it's Remy's fault. Je suis désolé."
Betsy quickly covered his lips with her fingers to quiet him. "No, I do not regret last night. Any of it. I just..." She looked away and played with the sheets nervously.
"Quoi? Tell me." His hand continued to stroke her back soothingly.
"I just miss the empathy." His body stiffened but she could not tell why. Was he angry, disgusted, afraid? "The closeness. Last night was special and...I do not know how to explain this, but I miss it."
"Remy didn' t'ink you'd wan' him in your head. Didn' wan' you to t'ink he messin' wit' your heart. 'Sides, Remy's not used to usin' it so much. Try real hard to keep it inside where it don' cause trouble."
Betsy nodded at his logic but was saddened even further by his reasoning.
"Hey," She looked up at him, "still frien's?"
"Of course."
"Good, den as a frien', move." His eyes were dancing with laughter as she looked up at him confused. "You too heavy, Remy's arm's goin' to sleep."
Betsy sat up with a gasp of outrage and grabbed the nearest pillow, beating him with it while he laughed and dodged out of the room. Throwing the pillow at the closing door, she fought back a smile as she went into the adjoining bathroom to take a shower.
Almost an hour later, she was dressed in a new outfit, her previously worn clothing in an empty bag along with Remy's clothes from the previous night. Remy emerged from the other bedroom, still smiling as he asked, "Is it safe?"
She smiled back. "For the moment, but that is only because I am hungry and we need to go get my car."
"Remy hears and obeys."
"Liar."
"Part of de job description." His words were said in a bantering tone but Betsy looked at him sharply, worried about a possible deeper, more painful, meaning. She really wished she still had the empathic link with him. Right after the thought crossed her mind, she felt a small thread of emotion from Remy. It was soft and untouched by bitterness. He had been kidding. She smiled in relief but did not say anything, not wanting to call attention to it, and he gave her a shy smile in return. "Let's go get your car 'nd get you fed. You gettin' cranky."
Betsy immediately took his offered arm, smiling up at him. "You have not seen cranky yet."
They had a pleasant ride to pick up her BMW and a pleasant lunch, they had slept through breakfast. The two of them continued to discuss most anything and Betsy found that the Cajun actually had good taste in, as well as extensive knowledge, in art. He even told her that several of the paintings in various museums were fakes and she was not sure whether to believe him or not. The mischievous glint in his eye made her doubt. She could not be sure, however, knowing he was a superb thief and that many of his guild were just as good, perhaps better. She decided to take a closer look the next time she went to an exhibit featuring Picasso. Remy swore that the you could tell one was a fake because his adopted father's brother had stolen the real thing decades ago, leaving a fake with a silhouette of Lady Godiva hidden in the shapes and colors.
"'S true, chere, he put it dere so all us t'ieves could go look at it 'nd have our own laugh 'bout it. Painted de fake hisself."
"Yes, but which one is it?"
"Remy not tell, dat take all de fun outta it. You jus' goin' to have to look 'nd find it, chere. But maybe, if ya ask real nice, Remy take ya ta see de real one."
She smiled in return as the two of them finished their desert.
It was late afternoon when the two wayward mutants found their way back to the mansion. Parking the BMW, they walked inside, arm in arm, to see what they had missed. If something bad had happened, they would rather find out now than be surprised later. Betsy could feel Remy's nervousness and tried to send him comfort in return but was not sure if it was helping since he was sure to feel her nervousness as well. They found Logan in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge and he greeted them without looking up.
"So, you kids have fun?"
Betsy smiled at her longtime friend, even though he could not see it. "Yes, we did. We went dancing."
He looked them over, pulling out some leftovers to be heated up. "Uh-huh. Glad to hear it."
Betsy studied the shorter mutant intently. "What do you mean 'Uh-huh'?"
His grin widened as he set the microwave. "Just that, uh-huh. Don't get paranoid."
"When de Wolverine flash dat smile, it not paranoia it jus' good sense."
Wolverine grinned even wider at Remy's defense of Betsy.
"Oh, Ah don' know. Ah think we can all guess what ya'll were really up to." Rogue leaned against the door jamb, her eyes glancing pointedly at Betsy hand tucked into the crook of Remy's elbow.
"Good afternoon, Rogue." Betsy's voice took a very formal edge and she did not release her hold on Remy's arm.
For his part, Remy did not pull away. Instead, he inclined his head to the Southern woman. "Bon jour, Rogue."
"Rogue?" The woman raised an eyebrow. "Why, sugah, whateva happened to chere? Wasn' that what ya always called me before?"
"Non, you not been chere to Remy for a long time, girl."
"Ah see. Ya got yourself a new toy. Don' wanna play with the one ya broke, huh?"
Betsy could feel the whirlwind of emotions stirring in Remy and she tried to think of a way to get him away from Rogue. However, due to the belle's powers, there was nowhere to escape her. No door could keep her out. The only way would be to knock her unconscious and Betsy was hesitant to give others more ammunition than they already had.
Remy opened his mouth as if about to answer back then closed it and shut his eyes, shaking his head briefly. "Non, Remy not gonna 'splain to you." Opening his eyes he stared into her green eyes and Betsy could feel his emotions growing cold. "Tried to 'splain on de ice 'nd after 'nd even before but you didn' wan' hear. So, non, Remy not gonna even try now."
"You are correct, brother, we are past the time of deserving explanations. However, I would hear one, if you are still willing to give me one." Ororo stepped into the kitchen, her eyes fixed on Remy who stared back in disbelief.
"Stormy..."
She gave him a small, tentative, smile as she stood in front of him. "Do not call me that."
They stared at each other for several moments, neither making a move when suddenly, they fell into a hug, holding each other tightly. "Stormy."
"I've missed you, brother, so much."
Betsy wiped a tear from her eye at the tender scene and she could feel his happiness stronger over the link.
"Well, ain't that the sweetest thing." Rogue's voice was dripping with sarcasm but no one paid her any heed.
Ororo and Remy finally broke apart but did not separate and Betsy could see that the African mutant was crying as well. "Will you speak with me? Talk to me?"
Remy agreed quickly and the two of them left the room without another word. Betsy was neither offended nor surprised. Over the past few days she had picked up a few things about Remy and had pieced it together with what she already knew. He had been very close to his family growing up and it had been agony to be separated when he had been exiled. Ororo had taken away much of that pain by becoming a sister to him, family. When he thought he had lost her, it had been exile all over again only worse because he could see her every day, feel her pain and the separation. Betsy did not think he had ever truly believed that Ororo would speak to him again but he had never stopped loving his adopted sister just as he had never stopped loving his family back in New Orleans.
Logan waved a box of tissue under her nose and she took it gratefully, overcome with happiness and hope for Remy.
Rogue had left sometime earlier, though no one had noticed, but was now replaced with Scott and Jean. "Betsy, where have you been?"
She quickly wiped her eyes before turning to the team leader. "I was out, why?"
"You're supposed to be on monitor duty tonight. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up for it."
Truthfully, Betsy had completely forgotten about it. She had been a bit distracted lately. However, she was glad that she was assigned it tonight because she had some things she wanted to research and that was most easily and privately done when on monitor duty. "Well, Scott, as you can see, I have arrived on time for duty. Excuse me."
She turned and left without another word, her mood buoyed be the happiness she could still feel from Remy.